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By John Kaponi Editor-in-Chief
- Its hard work developing a community in London's "shank town", one man’s mission to eradicate street crime from one of London’s most notorious areas, Costakis Evangelou has used God and the boxing ring to "guide" troubled youths and speaks with John Kaponi on how a man of the "faith" has turned to boxing for redemption. When you first meet the founder of Edmonton Eagles Boxing Club, Costakis Evangelou, you would think that someone who is working in the notorious Edmonton neighbourhoods were certain media outlets have labelled the area "shank town" after a spate of knife related murders, you would be meeting someone who is a reformed criminal or a current member of the "underworld". In fact Costaskis Evangelou is a theology graduate from the University of London and holds a Bachelor of Divinity, and PGCE, Post Graduate Certificate in Education, and is licensed by the Amateur Board of Controls and the British Board of Boxing to coach boxing. It was his son Christopher Evagelou a national Light Welterweight champion, who inspired Costakis to adopt boxing and immerse himself in the rough and tumble of the sport.But how dos a man who holds a degree in theology, a practicing Christian, in the Apostolic Christian church, which he helped establish, promote a harsh sport like boxing to his own children and others in the local Edmonton community?
"Boxing teaches you self control, self respect and confidence" was how Costakis Evangelou justified his passion for boxing.
On the day of the interview Evangelou had come from Highbury Magistrates court were he was helping two of the members of the Edmonton Eagles in a hearing.
"One boy is a Muslim the other Christian, I do not differentiate from either, I want to help all the boys and girls in my club if they are in trouble".
With youth crime particularly high in certain parts of Edmonton, local estimates range between 15-20% of youths up to their early twenties are unemployed, many black African and Caribbean boys are those who find themselves out of work and particularly vulnerable to recruitment by the powerful gangs that operate in the area. "Here we have gang members from Enfield, Edmonton, Somalis, Turks, West-Indians, all working and training together. The boxing club is one of the only places in Edmonton that gangs are forgotten about and aggression is channelled in the right way".
Former British champion Audley Harrison, used to train at the Edmonton Eagles, as have other British boxers, but the star name at the Edmonton boxing club is Christopher Evangelou who is now known as "The Flash"; turning professional last year with five victories to date out of five. Sights are high for the young Evangelou with top trainers already tipping "The Flash" to be a name to watch in 2011 and beyond and has worked with Freddy Roach, and is known by the Calzaghe's and Hatton camps.But the former deacon and founder of the Apostolic Christian Church, Costakis Evangelou is truly "multi-layered" with a thriving congregation of worshippers at his church in Edmonton, and missionary work to Africa. Over one thousand ministers have been ordained into his church across Africa and the world, and according to him "2.5 million people oversees have affiliated to the Apostolic Christian Church". Prince Charles invited Costakis Evangelou to High Grove House to attend a meeting of the "Friends of Mount Athos" a group that helps maintain parts of the holy peninsula of Mount Athos in Greece. The dip in crime levels in areas like Edmonton, when in 2008 25,062 crimes were recorded in Enfield; to 2009 24,363 crimes recorded, is down according to Evangelou, because of "the work that is done by the Edmonton Eagles" which has "eradicated" crime in areas around the club based on Montagu Road.
Mayor Boris Johnson personally has put his name on investing in Edmonton and had recognised the need to help local youths via education to leave gang culture. In Mark 2010, he viewed the so called "Boris Academy" at the The Turin Grove located in Edmonton, recognised as being a school in a "high crime area" with high levels of youth crime and anti-social behaviour. Since the launch of the "Mayoral Academies" schools like Turin Grove have become beacons of hope for the local community and has seen students, from backgrounds were English is the not the first language, prosper.It is now up to City Hall to work with groups like Edmonton Eagles Boxing club to help local youths irrespective of colour or creed, follow a path towards a life that is crime free, and to produce citizens and not criminals. Funding for much of the work undertaken by Costakis Evangelou at the Edmonton Eagles comes from funds of the Metropolitan Police, The Jack Petchey Foundation, local authority bursaries and private individuals. The new coalition Government should be aware that if groups like the Edmonton Eagles see major cuts in funding, this could lead to according local law enforcement officers, "a major crime wave" in Edmonton. City Hall tomorrow announces the impact of the cuts in funding for the Metropolitan Police, with 20 per cent expected to be cut from central Government. If you want to find out more information about the Edmonton Eagles Boxing Club visit www.edmontoeaglesabc.com photo credit: Costakis Evangelou inside the Apostolic Christian Church
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