Florida’s Global Wrestling Federacy looking to make a mark in Africa, holds initial meeting in Togo
GWF WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN IN AFRICA – “The Golden Boy” Jim McDowell
The President/CEO of the Golden Wrestling Federacy (GWF), headquartered in Florida, USA, “The Golden Boy” Dr. James McDowell has said that the federacy is set and ready to take the pro wrestling crusade of training in Africa to the next level with the first of its kind professional Wrestling training for West African athletes in Africa.
“I have the heritage of Benin Republic & Togo both in West Africa. At GWF, we are indeed glad that we would be kick starting a project in West Africa, my origin, in six months’ time. No place like home and I am indeed glad to be going back to my source. I also want to thank and appreciate Olusesan Olukoya, who doubles as the Pro Wrestling Africa (PWA) Secretary General and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the GWF for seeing to the project kick off and visiting the Association Togolaise de Catch (ATCATCH) to discuss the starting point,’’ explained The Golden Boy in a telephone interview.
The President of the Togolese Wrestling Association (ATCATCH), Adam Habib, was so excited to welcome the team of PWA in person of Olusesan Olukoya, Muyiwa Ilori and Ismail Jimoh Sanil. ‘’We are happy to welcome you to our country Togo. We hope that this working session will be the beginning of a long collaboration between ATCATCH, PWA and the world body GWF for the development of wrestling across Africa. It must nevertheless be recognized that this sport is new in West Africa nations, apart from Nigeria that has been involved in the sport over the years, and we are counting on your supervision to achieve our common objectives in the other nations in West Africa. On our side, just rest assured that ATCATCH is ready to give in all that is needed for this project. Hosting the training of coaches and wrestlers from West Africa in Lome, Togo early next year will be an honor for our country. We are looking forward to the date of this great training camp in February 2024. We would like to take up the timely advantage of this initiative of the GWF from Florida, USA,’’ emphasized Habib.
Other members of the host organization the ATCATCH at the meeting were: Amao Madina, Yom Igor, Kpatchassou Kodjo, Lomou Kéméabalo, Akpandja Yawovi, Issifou Faouziou, Ouro Tagba Samou-dine and Martin Nwakwo while Awizoba Esso, Atcha-alaza zarif, Ouro gouni akim, Deh Kossi, Adjimoti Jean Paul, Amah Gisèle , Gozo Claire, and Laré Florence. Kpatonou Yao and Kpante Napo received permission from President Adam Habib that they would not be able to attend the meeting.
At the timely meeting held at Agoe, Lome in Togo, Olusesan Olukoya was able to answer various questions after the meeting on the proposed West African training such as: who are those that would be trained, how many African nations would be attending, what are the arrangements for lodging and feeding during the training, what time frame would the training hold per day during the training session and for how long? He welcomed the meeting attendees and explain to them the purpose of PWA in collaboration with GWF to set up training of future champions in West Africa.
Olukoya, in his address, welcomed the meeting attendees and explain to them the purpose of PWA in collaboration with GWF to set up training of future champions in West Africa. He said: “We are indeed glad to be in Togo today. We are here today to start a journey. A journey of 1,000 miles must start with a step. Thanks to ATCATCH for hosting us. We are indeed excited and we appreciate your honoring us. Why are we here? We are here to discuss how we can set up in Lome, Togo by early next year, a training camp for West African professional wrestling future world champions. We have 16 West African nations and we are currently discussing with Benin Republic, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Liberia and Ivory Coast. We hope to reach out very soon to the other nations of Cape Verde, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger Republic, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Sao Tome.’’
‘’Interested professional wrestling athletes would be trained as the sincere interest matters from the athletes as we would be expecting at least six athletes in male and female categories from all the West African nations we would reach out to. We have plans to lodge the trainees at a nearby hostel or dormitory where they will be fed thrice a day at a subsidy rate to make it easy for them. The training will always commence in the morning by 7am to around 11.00am and hold in the evening again for 3 or 4 hours,’’ he concluded
