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“Sports is my life’’ – Morris Atula
Morris Atula who started Wrestling at age fourteen when it was newly introduced into the Nigerian nation by Coach Mike Bamidele the former World light-heavyweight wrestling champion also known as African Tiger was among the first group of wrestlers that started the sport in Nigeria has indeed contributed a quota to wrestling development in Nigeria and at the International level considering his unfailing supports to the development of the sport.
Morris who would be sponsoring the Morris Atula Cadet Amateur Wrestling Championship scheduled to hold at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, Edo State from Monday 19th to Wednesday 21st July, 2021 who was full of excitement during the interview session was a great amateur wrestler in his days as he won several laurels and awards during his amateur wrestling career as a trainer in Niger State where he pioneered wrestling sport.
‘’I have reasons for deciding to sponsor the timely championship. My reason for sponsoring the Morris Atula Cadet Wrestling in Benin, Edo State is basically a motive of identifying with the young talents at the school level and grooming them to excel in sports. I also want to see to the enduring legacy of the “catch them young” philosophy and project as it is also a life-fulfilling career seeing the involvement of school kids and youths in sport and beyond the tournament period, they would definitely become elite young athletes by taking part in competitions and regular training from their tender ages’’ explained Morris.
Morris who graduated as a Wrestling Coach in 1979 at the National Institute for Sports (NIS) at age 19 established Wrestling in Niger State and groomed many young talents among who was Emeka Obidinma Kenton a director at the Anambra State Sports Council currently. Those young talents have excelled to the ranks of Sports Director in various Nigerian states now.
Morris who had his professional wrestling debut in Portland, Oregon USA in 1982 won the World Wrestling light-heavyweight wrestling championships in 1986 and defended his title worldwide and retired undefeated. Currently based in the UK and contributing back to what sports have given to him over the years by dedicating his life to promoting sustainable sports development projects across board, he is the CEO of the Multi-Sports Academy, London; Modern Independent Learning Academy, London; 1st Healthcare Ltd, London; 1st World Boxing Club, Ijegun project, Lagos, Nigeria; Morris Atula Cadet Wrestling Club Benin project, Edo State, Nigeria; President at the Pro World Wrestling Federation (PWWF) an international body set up to regulate wrestling and the JB Atula Charity.
Over the years, Multitalented Morris has organized series of events such as the Isa Yuguda 19 Northern States Wrestling Championship; Nigeria @ 50 International Marathon held in Abuja to mark the Nigerian Millennium celebration; 1st National Music Championship held in Lagos at the Union Bank sports complex, Surulere, Lagos and a host of other sporting events.
Morris once said that Sports is his life and in truth and indeed, this has been affirmed by his actions over the years.
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