Published Thursday 16 August 2018 at 11:34
Blackburn’s inspirational boxing coach Yaqoob Hussain, MBE, has been asked to represent the borough at The Aiba 2018 Youth Women’s and Men’s World Boxing Championships in Budapest.
Yaqoob, who re-mortgaged his own home to open the first boxing gym in the Audley area of Blackburn, will be flying out to Budapest today (Thursday, August 16, 2018).
He received an official invitation to volunteer from the Hungarian Boxing Association who are staging the tournament – which is set to shine a light on the next generation of talented young female and male boxers from around the world.
Yaqoob, who has refereed at events all over the globe, will be in Budapest for 10 days of action, overlooking the best 174 women and 244 men youth boxers in the world.
In 2011 his dedication was recognised by the Queen who awarded him with an MBE.
He said:
To get these opportunities is a real honour for me and gives me a chance to champion our borough on an international stage. Along with my family, boxing is my life and passion.
The 64-year-old, who is happily married to wife Sakandra, has four children and seven grandchildren, joked:
I’ve been married for 44 years, but I have only been home for 22 of those years!
It’s just a good job I have an understanding family.
I love helping young people and seeing them progress. Being a coach you almost act as an agony aunt for them, you are an impartial ear, there to listen to their problems and to teach them valuable life skills which they will never forget.
Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Councillor Mohammed Khan, said:
Yaqoob is a wonderful, selfless man doing great work for young people in the borough.
We are really proud that we have Yaqoob representing the borough on this international platform.
He is a great ambassador for our borough and for volunteering.
Yaqoob first took up boxing in 1973.
His boxing heyday saw him compete in 60 bouts and achieve 45 wins until he decided to pass the gloves onto young people living in his neighbourhood, training them in the disciplined art of boxing.
He recently extended the opening hours of his Burnley Road gym to better accommodate different ages, and to try and to appeal to more females to come along, providing a better opportunity for more young people to get involved in boxing.
He is also fundraising, along with volunteers at the Blackburn with Darwen Police ABC club, to get the leaking flat roof fixed. It is estimated the repairs will cost around £10,000.
Yaqoob added:
It is a big struggle to raise enough money to get it repaired. The dream is to have it so our young people don’t have to keep dancing in the rain to avoid the leaking areas!
The love for the Audley club is there for all to see. The club’s Facebook page has five star top reviews with one commentator writing:
What this club does for the local youth cannot be overstated. To teach youngsters fitness and discipline will set them up later in life.
Yaqoob has called for anybody who can help make a donation for the roof repair appeal, no matter how small.
Yaqoob has called for anybody who can help make a donation for the roof repair appeal, no matter how small, to contact him on 07787570273.
