Nigeria Ex-International Boxers Association (NEBA) has donated the sum of N300,000 to former national champion Friday Felix who has partial stroke, Completesports.com reports.
The money was presented to Felix by head coach of the Nigeria national boxing team Tony Konyegwachi, also a member of NEBA, on Friday at the national stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Present also was Secretary General of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) Sunny Obot.
Speaking after the presentation, Felix thanked the ex-International boxers for coming to his aid.
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“I feel so happy because I believe now miracle will happen in my life thanks to what the ex-boxers have given to me,” he told Completesports.com reports.
“I believe this will boost my morale, I really appreciate them and heaven will appreciate them.”
Recounting how the ailment started Felix, who fought in the Light Flyweight category during his boxing career, said:”This sickness started August 2019. I just got home, ate and went to bed. I then got up to go and ease myself around 4am, I came back to bed suddenly I fell from the bed.
“I tried to stand up but I couldn’t, my wife and my daughter started shouting and from there I started getting medication where it was discovered I have partial stroke.
“But I thank God for keeping me alive and may God bless everyone that contributed towards my good health. I will now start my treatment because before the coronavirus I had been going to General Hospital and I have spent a lot of money. I had to stop when no money was coming in. But we thank God for the ex-boxers I can now start my treatment again.”
On his part, Obot said:”It’s so touching that we found ourselves in this kind of situation. I’m just hearing this for the first time, I’m sure the federation is not aware as a body.
“But now that I’m aware I’m going to put it across to the President of the Federation to see how he’s going to look at it.
“Friday Felix is someone I know personally. I remember in the early 90s when he was boxing as a national boxer, he was one of our good boxers.
“Nobody prays for sickness, it’s unfortunate he has fallen victim to this sickness and it’s important that the next step is taken. We thank God he’s still living and working, it’s a partial stroke which can happen.
“Like I said I’m going to tell the President of the federation who is someone that is keen about the welfare of athletes especially boxers.”
An indigene of Lagos State, Felix began his boxing career in 1985 and became the state champion for nine years in the amateur ranks.
He also became national champion and represented Nigeria at the Harare 1995 All Africa Games where he won bronze.
In 1996, he turned professional and became Nigerian and African champion in his weight class.
After over 20 years in the ring, he retired from boxing in 2007 and became a coach and personal trainer.
By James Agberebi
