Former National Champion, Peace Epia told www.aclsports.com that former Bayelsa State Governor, Late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha offered her employment after she lost her Semi final bout at the 2004 National Sports Festival in Abuja.
The Bayelsa female boxing coach said the presence of the late governor changed her life for better.
She said, “Before the National Sports Festival, we were told that automatic employments will only be given to gold and silver medallist. I took that mentality to the festival and I qualified for the semifinals.
“Unknown to me, the late governor was present during my semi final bout. After the bout, my opponent was declared winner by unanimous decision which did not go down well. I wept on the ring and the governor noticed me, instructing his aides to call me. Upon reaching the governor’s seat, he asked me what the problem was and I told him I just lost an opportunity of gaining an employment because I was not an indigene of Bayelsa state.
“Immediately, the governor told the director to employ me because he felt I had the potential of making the state proud in subsequent championships”.
She revealed that at the 2006 National Sports Festival in Ogun state tagged “Gateway Games”, she won a gold medal.
“After I gained employment which gave me the opportunity to work and study, I trained very hard for the 2006 Gateway Games and fortunately, I won gold for Bayelsa state”, she said.
Bravo to coach Peace Epia