Lagos — PRESIDENT of the Nigeria Professional Powerlifting Association (NPPA) Sunday Henshaw has said that a properly organised powerlifting sports in the country is capable of generating hard currency for the country.

Henshaw who equated the potentials of powerlifting to that of football told Sportschampion in Lagos recently that because Nigeria has over looked the immense benefit inherent in the sports country like South Africa has become an over lord, dominating the sports and reaping its large benefits.

Powerlifting is a multi-million naira sport and could rake in money more than football. It became saddening that this black gold sport has been neglected. In south Africa it is a big sports and they are always smiling to the banks. Nigeria could challenge them, but foremost, you must organise the sports properly.

The NPPA boss who said the 1st National Open powerlifting champions billed in Lagos between January 29-30 was part of the organisation's effort to create adequate awareness of the sport among Nigerians, stated that they hoped to cash in on the opportunity provided by the championship to allow their targeted sponsors see the sport for themselves.

"The championship is essentially a show event, aimed at creating awareness and popularising the sport among Nigerians. We will also allow our would - be sponsors to have the feels of the sports and its mileage it could bring to their products. I know after the event the appreciation level of the sports will go up".

Describing powerlifting as a strenuous sports involving bench press, deadlift and squatting vis-a-vis weigtlifting, Henshaw said the sport is for naturally strong persons.

"Weighlifting is junior and not strenuous, powerlifting is for the strong and strenuous too. It involves three areas - bench press (which is what the disabled powerlifters do), deadlift (deadly as the name implies) and squatting. All these areas are strenuous", he said.