Kickboxers plead for scores at GATEWAY GAMES 2006

World Kickboxing Association, WKA wants every stakeholder in the nation's sports to tell Nigeria's sports minister, Dr. Samaila Sambawa to endorse kickboxing as medal- scoring event in the forth- coming National Sports Festival billed to hold in Ogun State next year.

This was contained in the report, of the body which was signed by Pegon Useni on behalf of the national president, Sensei Bassey, during the recent Niger Delta National Open Kickboxing championship.

Their request read in part: "The association requested from Hon Minister of sports for kickboxing to be recognized and made a medal scoring sportsat the 15the edition of the National Sports Festival, tagged GATEWAY GAMES.

The following offices and groups were sent copies of the Association's quest for recognition as a scoring event during the Abeokuta Games;

Among them include; Hon. Minister of sports, president of Nigeria Olympic committee NOC; Permanent Sectretary, Federal ministry of sports, Abuja, Directorsof sports; all sports officers across Nigeria's, Armed Forces and Police.

I would be recalled that Rivers State came tops in all categories of the IBBI- packaged tournament which was attended by states in the South South including Lagos.

They won 8 Gold, 2 Silver, and 2 Bronze medals. While Akwa Ibom came 2nd with 5 Gold, 10 Silver, and 6 Bronze medals. Finally, Lagos had 4 Gold, 4 Silver and 2 Bronze medals.

An all-paid trip for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd over all best atheletes to France have been put in place in by the Kaduna- based company IBBI.

.GIFT EGUMA, Port Harcourt