Sports
Bash Ali won’t give up on Guinness World Record Boxing Title
Former World Boxing Federation (WBF) cruiserweight champion, Bashiru Ali, popularly known as Bash Ali, has expressed his determination not to give up on his Guinness World Record (GWR) which will make him the oldest boxer in history to fight and defend his title.
Ali, 67, whose last fight was against Tony Booth in 2004, in a release he personally signed and titled “Bash Ali: The Dream Waiting To Happen Can Never Be Killed”, and made available to Tribune Sports, said he would never give up on his dreams but rather make sure that the fight becomes a reality.
Ali, who has had more than 80 fights with 46 knockouts (KOs) under his belt, described himself as an extraordinary man who is set to “accomplish my dream and continue to fight till I am 70 years old, retire young and healthy with a lot of money.”
He said if were to be a white man, his dream and ambition would have seen the light of the day and would have been supported without a second thought in order to rewrite boxing history.
“Dreams, they say hardly die. It is not for fun that 17 years ago, African Boxing Ambassador, Nigeria’s Bashiru Lawrence Ali’s (OON) dream of becoming the Guinness World Record Boxing Champion refused to die. Many have given up on their dreams or even died with it, however, for Bash Ali, the man has remained on course until the mark is made.
“There are many doubting Thomases, who have dismissed this dream with a wave of the hand, wondering if he wants to kill himself in the adventure. Those who want to listen to themselves speak on the initiative, would prefer he be stopped in his tracks.
“Being a man of conviction that Bash is, I know that many people give up on their dreams and die with it but I am an extraordinary man. I will accomplish my dream and continue to fight till I am 70 years old, retire young and healthy with a lot of money, and then go into politics and become the President of Nigeria.
“If Bash Ali were to be a white man living in the West, his dream and ambition would have seen the light of the day, despite the assertion of those against the dream. Older persons desirous of fulfilling an ambition in the west and other saner climes would have been supported without a second thought in order to rewrite boxing history,” the statement read in part.
Sports
NLO’s Shola Ogunowo Earns Praise for Driving Grassroots Football and Exemplifying Integrity
Joel Ajayi
The Nigerian football community has lauded Mr. Shola Ogunowo, Chief Operating Officer of the Nationwide League One (NLO), for his unwavering commitment to integrity and the development of grassroots football, earning him widespread respect and admiration across the sporting landscape.
In a statement released in Abuja and signed by Okechukwu Okebugwu, Mr. Ogunowo was praised as a transformative leader who has redefined the ethics and standards of football administration at the grassroots level. According to the release, Ogunowo has emerged as a “leading figure in the fight against match-fixing, bribery, and all forms of corruption” that have plagued the lower tiers of Nigerian football for decades.
Through consistent enforcement of transparency, fairness, and accountability, Mr. Ogunowo is steering the NLO toward becoming a credible platform where talent can be discovered and nurtured based on merit, rather than manipulation or favoritism.
“In an environment where shortcuts and compromises are all too common, Shola Ogunowo has remained a pillar of integrity,” Okebugwu stated. “He is restoring credibility to grassroots football by ensuring that fair play, discipline, and professionalism are non-negotiable.”
Since taking over as COO, Ogunowo has spearheaded a number of structural reforms aimed at instilling discipline and operational excellence among participating clubs. These include stricter licensing requirements, performance audits, and compliance monitoring to ensure clubs uphold the league’s code of conduct. His administration has also emphasized youth development, with a renewed focus on coaching education and player welfare.
The result is a reinvigorated Nationwide League One that is beginning to attract renewed attention from fans, corporate sponsors, and local communities. Observers say Ogunowo’s leadership is helping reshape perceptions of grassroots football—not just as a stepping stone to the elite leagues, but as a vital foundation for the future of Nigerian football.
“His leadership is not only impacting the pitch—it’s rebuilding trust, creating real value, and setting a good standard for sports administration in Nigeria,” Okebugwu concluded.
As the NLO season progresses, many stakeholders believe that with figures like Shola Ogunowo at the helm, the future of grassroots football in Nigeria is not only secure, but promising.
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