PHOTO: Freddy Kiwite at the center holding titles with staffs, trainers, and well wishers
By Augustine Octavius,augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The first Liberian to win the light weight championships of the African and the European titles has ended a week-long trip aimed at promoting boxing in Liberia.
Freddy Kiwite was in Liberia based on an arrangement by the Save More Kids, a charitable organization in the United States, and the Boxraw based in the United Kingdom.
He was forced to flee Liberia with his parent at the height of the country’s civil war to Germany.
Mr. Kiwite came with about 18 persons including the executive directors of the Save More Kids, the Boxraw, trainers, coach, sponsors, medic and promoters.
Speaking a press conference shortly before departure earlier this week, Mr. Kiwite, said he and his team of visitors were in Liberia to help improve boxing among the young people.
According to him, he also wants to represent Liberia at an international match where he hopes to put Liberia on the map in terms of boxing.
Kiwite, who is currently based in Britain, told journalists that lots of young Liberians have the hope and they are excited to use as an opportunity to prove their talents.
Also speaking at the press conference, the Executive Director of the Save More Kids, Quanuquanei Kermue, who also a Liberian expressed the belief that boxing can work in Liberia because a vast majority of the population comprised of young people.
According to him, it was Kiwite’s coach who helped him (Kermue) to link to the Liberian boxer who was eventually encouraged to visit Liberia in a bid of promoting the boxing in the country
Kermue pointed out that this is the second time for him to bring international boxers from all over the world to Liberia.
He explained that Kiwite was also here about a year ago but that time he has not reached the level he has obtained in recent months.
“This is the time to unleash Freddy to Liberia and there is no better time than now,” he said; adding” Liberians should be proud that they have their compatriot putting the country on the map of boxing around the world.”
For his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Boxrow, Ben Amana, claimed that the idea of bringing boxing to Liberia is intended to share with Liberians the benefit of the sports.
According to him, a vast number of young people have shown love for boxing as one of the sporting areas that they can venture in because there are hopes and potentials in their faces.
Amana noted that children in Liberia must be given the opportunity that those in developed world have in order for them to make progress.
“We are not trying to make everyone in to world champion,” he said; noting: “our goal is to shift the mind set about boxing in Liberia.”