Kick Boxing for Festival, calls for registration

Following the endorsement of the combat sport of kick boxing as a medal-scoring event in Nigeria Sports Festivals by the Federal Ministry of Sports and Social Development, the Nigeria Kick Boxing Federation, NKBF has sent letters of invitation to all states across the nation for onward registration.

This is important in order to be part of the Firstever Demonstration in the festival history and to participate in the great Open Championship as well. In a release signed by its president, Sensei Victor E. Bassey, the federation noted that as part of requirements all the thirty six states are expected to send in their parties to themassive action tagged Gateway Games which kicks off next month in Ogun state.

This, they stated, would also draw martial artists from the large pool of Nigeria Police, the Air force, Navy and the Army. However, a fee of N500 on a fighter, per weight is to be paid by every state. The amount includes pass, certificate and medal monies to be provided by the ministry.

Among other conditions, state affiliation fee of three thousand naira per contingent for 2005/2006 year and pugilists' cash of N1,500 per combatant, are to be forwarded to NKBF secretariat in Port Harcourt Or Abuja. Action kits for both full contact and kick boxing encounters should be made available by all participants. For details consult the secretariat.

Meanwhile, the combat art body has expressed its profound gratitude to stakeholders in the game all-over the world who have stood by it in mass-mobilizing calls and aggitations for the recognition of the art and its inclusion in the chart of the country's sports festivals as a medal-winning event.

President of the body, Sensei Victor Bassey particularly thanked the sports minister, the national assembly and the mass media for their consistent backing in the battle for recognition.

.GIFT EGUMA, Port Harcourt