Cynthia and Hadija have just one goal; make it to the boxing event of the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020, just three years from now. Boxing is their way to the Olympics under the watchful eyes and of their coach and trainer.
Despite all the odds, they are making progress.
At just 16, Hadija is the Lagos state champion in the Light-fly 48 weight category. She combines schooling and boxing and trains everyday not just to remain champion but to make it to the Olympics.
“Each time I watch boxing on TV, I see ladies like myself slugging it out in the ring. I always wanted to be like them. I want to be a champion like them. I want to represent Nigeria at the next Olympics in 2020. I just finished my exams. I intend to use the holiday to train very hard to make it to the Olympics in 2020.” Said Hadija Gbadamosi, Boxer
It’s the same story for 16-year old Cynthia as well. She is the current Lagos State Champion in the Bantam weight category.
“I’m preparing for Olympic 2020 to win the gold medal. The training is difficult and it’s not difficult because to be a champion is not easy. You have to train morning and night before you can become a champion.” Said Cynthia Ogunsemilore, Boxer
But both Cynthia and Hadija still have some way to go to achieve their dream of not just representing Nigeria but winning the gold medal in their categories, which their ultimate objective.
They would need to compete and beat every opponent that comes their way in the national trials. And perhaps importantly, they would need better training facilities.
For now, they train in the open in one the public primary schools in a poor neighbourhood of Lagos. All the training kits and facility are provided by the man, who doubles as their coach and trainer.
Tajudeen Kazeem discovered all the youths in his boxing club and brought them in for free. He also provides their boxing kits and pays the school fees of some of his trainees including Cynthia and Hadija.
“We need individual companies. We need government to support us in our club. We want people to help and sponsor us. I am the one sponsoring the club by myself and sponsor the kids because they come from poor family.” Said Tajudeen Kazeem, Boxing
Despite the meager condition of the training facility, the make-shift boxing gym has produced quite a number of local champions in the nine years since Tajudeen started the initiative. And in 2015, he was voted the best local boxing coach in Lagos.
And if Cynthia and Hadija go on to live out their Olympic dreams, Tajudeen, their coach, would have fulfilled a life-long ambition of producing Olympic boxing champions.
