Nigeria’s leading 360° events and venue management company, Balmoral Group, through its sports entertainment subsidiary, Game Rush, is the proud sponsor of the 4-day “Pro Boxing Judges/Ring Referee Course.”
The programme in partnership with the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC), took place from November 5th to 8th, 2024, at the Brai Ayonote Boxing Complex, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Led by Ghanaian veteran judge and referee Roger Barnor, the programme brought together over 15 referees from various states, including Lagos, Ogun, Osun, and Akure, to enhance the skills and standards of boxing officiating in Nigeria.
Participants engaged in detailed video analyses of past matches with critical evaluations of refereeing decisions and learnt techniques for handling complex match situations to ensure fairness and accuracy in officiating.
Speaking at the event, Ezekiel Adamu, CEO of Balmoral Group, said, “At Balmoral Group, we believe in telling the African story to the world, and boxing is a powerful medium to achieve this. Many see boxing purely as a sport, but it’s also a form of showbiz. With Mr. Barnor’s mentorship, we are confident that this course will produce officials capable of representing Nigeria on the global stage. This is the beginning of many such efforts to raise boxing’s profile in Nigeria.”
The intensive programme ended with an interactive session, during which referees exchanged insights and participated in a live scoring exercise, testing their real-time decision-making and deductive skills. The last day also covered technical aspects such as scoring cards and built upon skills introduced in previous sessions.
The lead judge, Barnor, encouraged participants, commending Balmoral Group and Game Rush for their dedication to the sport and expressing hope for the future of the Nigerian boxing industry.
“Thank you to my colleagues for coming, and to Mr. Ezekiel Adamu and Rafiu Oladipo for making this event possible. I would be honoured to see each of you rise to the top with the knowledge gained here. Let us work together to achieve the purpose that brought us all here,” he remarked.
Rafiu Oladipo, President of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC), expressed heartfelt gratitude to Balmoral Group and Game Rush for their invaluable sponsorship.
“This event is only possible because of the unwavering support of Ezekiel Adamu, CEO of Balmoral Group, who has ensured we have everything we need. We are immensely grateful for his dedication and commitment to advancing Nigerian boxing, “he said.
With boxing often overlooked in Nigerian sports, Balmoral Group’s latest initiative through Game Rush reaffirms its commitment to grassroots sports development, championing the growth of boxing, and nurturing skilled officials and athletes.
This intensive training further highlights Balmoral Group’s vision for a thriving future for Nigerian boxing, empowering the sport to secure its rightful place in the nation’s athletic landscape.