The Nation Newspaper

Category: SOS

  • Govt should focus on sprint, middle distance competitions

    Govt should focus on sprint, middle distance competitions

    Lagos State Athletics Association boss, Solomon Alao sat down in his Lagos office to share his thoughts on state of athletics, challenges of COVID-19 and athletes’ state of mind, system, structure, sponsorship and where government focus should be. Taiwo Alimi captured his words.     

     

    Can you help us to better understand the mindset and challenges of your athletes during in the past months due to inactivity occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic lock down?  

    I can tell you for free that these are very trying times. When there is inactivity, depression can set in. There is uncertainty, there is no performance, and there is nothing to look up to.

    Don’t forget that many of these athletes are programmed athletes. They have programmes set out from the beginning to the end of the year. It is like a season, there is time for doing over-distances, your regular training, peak performance, competition. This is a total disruption of the programme, so it is tough.

    In terms of mindset, we are just trying to pick up the pieces, and it is difficult. One of the things I am trying to look at in terms of the Sports festival is, how do you take an athlete that have been dried of activities and train the athlete for two months? They are going to have injuries and challenges. But I leave that to the expert to advise appropriately. But I know it is not going to be a smooth process.

    Just last month, Delta State was in the forefront of programmes, where some athletes were given scholarship. What LSAA doing in this area to encourage its athletes? 

    It is a good programme, but it has to be done well. As an association, we are very careful with these things. However, we do have some partnership with some Universities locally, because those ones can easily be verified, and the students can easily be monitored. That is on one hand.

    On the other hand, when athletes do obtain scholarships to go abroad, we support them as best as we can. However, we are not the initiator of such scholarships to go to such Universities, we just support them. A case study is the gold medallist in long jump at the Abuja Games-Benjamin Arinze. He went on scholarship to the United States and we supported him. We have Esther Isah, the high jump female champion, she is also on scholarship in the United States and we are supporting.

    But we do not initiate because, these are delicate matters, and we are unable to commit resources to monitor them abroad or manage their welfare or wellbeing.

    How do you deal with sponsorship? What can government do to have private sector put in their money to run sports in our country?

    That is a big question. There is no synergy in a lot of the activities we do. All the various associations chase the same sponsors; the sports associations also chase the same sponsors. So I ask a simple question. If you have a chance to sit at the table with the state government, why would you want to sit at the table with the local government? The difference at the national level in Nigeria is that the ministry go for state-sponsored competitions and events, then, they leave the associations to go out and look for sponsorships, so the associations chase the private sector.

    However, if you look at it on the state level, what you have is both the sports commission and all the associations’ chase the same sports inclines sponsors as it were.

    So there is a bit of apathy, sponsorship fatigue, and also, the question of what is in it for the sponsor continues to come up.

    It is one thing to say it is corporate social responsibility, which is a hard one. Sports need to be seen beyond making some money and giving back to the society. We need to look at sports from a different perspective.

    There need to be a paradigm shift. Government needs to promote sports. They promote education; they also have to promote sports and leisure. Every business we do attracts 1% education levy.

    Then they came up with the local contact development act, which is now a law, and everything done in the oil and gas sector attracts 1% for that. What do sports attract?

    We complain that we have insecurity and all other social vices; it is because people do not have avenues to express themselves positively. Where are the recreation grounds? Where are sports facilities? I remember a time they said that they wanted to build one sports facility per local government, where are those? We spend a lot of money on other matters and neglect the thing that can help us bring down the crime rate; pent up anger, and so on. So we need to look at sports from a different perspective.

    Where will the money come from? The Money will come when we start to treat sports, not just as a recreation, but as a developmental tool or as a business.

    With the second of Coronavirus in town, what are your programmes for this year?

    Honestly, again it is tough to deploy programmes. As we speak, even the sports facilities are running at sub-optimal levels skeletal services are going on. But like I said, we are optimistic that maybe by March, if the second wave of COVID abates, then we can start some work.

    We are having some meets amongst all the athletic clubs in Lagos, and then we have the Lagos State Association of coaches handling competitions to rate the athletes and discover new ones. All of these ceased because of the COVID-19, but we are hopeful that once we get it all clear, we can go back to these things and start getting our athletes back to speed.

    How would you advise the athletes in this trying time?

    I can tell you for free that there is no monopoly of knowledge, and he who wears the shoe knows where it pinches. I will like to see our athlete take more interest in their own affairs. They should get involved in associations, they need to organize themselves and ask questions, they need to play sports as a stakeholder. That is my advice to athletes.

    You sound frustrated with the system, what do you think can be done differently to achieve better results in the running of sports in Nigeria given that Nigerian sports is going down? 

    My take is simple; there should be more transparency in the system. Let us all know what we are doing, even if we disagree, let us agree to disagree. Get everyone a seat at the table, so that we can all together forge ahead and move forward.

    There is no frustration here, what you see is an honest yearning to see changes. There is no messiah to fix sports, we all have to decide that we want to see changes, and then we begin to promote the change that we want to see. I would like to see things done properly.

    What is your motivation in this job?

    First off, I am not a politician; I do not hold public offices. But I agreed to take on the responsibility, and it is not something I take lightly or joke with, I take it seriously because life and future is at stake.

    What is your opinion about road races in Nigeria? Do you think it is motivating Nigerian athletes?

    All of us have different motivations, but one thing is for sure, we have cut our teeth and made our marks in the sprint, and middle distances.  You can say that if that is where we excel, then that should be our primary focus.

    But there is no gain saying also that there may be others who are motivated to do road races, or long distance running. I am not part of those who would scuttle a dream even before it starts, but I also know that whatever resources we have, need to be planned for adequately, and deployed in such a way that it gives the maximum back for our good. If you are spending money, spend it on what will bring you returns. I won’t say more than that regarding long distance or road races.

  • OYINLOMO QUADRE : ROGER FEDERER INSPIRES ME

    OYINLOMO QUADRE : ROGER FEDERER INSPIRES ME

    She’s only 17 and has conquered Nigeria’s tennis, Oyinlomo Quadre opens up on her journey that started at four-year old and her dreams of winning a grand slam in the near future, write Morakinyo Abodunrin & Taiwo Alimi.     

     

    Nigeria’s women tennis No. 1, Oyinlomo Quadri is inspired by the fairy story of former world No. 1 Serena Williams. Like the world acclaimed grand slam winner Serena, Oyinlomo is motivated by the love of his parents and siblings. Born, into a tennis family, she derives her stimulus from her father; a tennis lover and patron of sports shop, and two siblings that play the game of tennis before her.

    Speaking exclusively with The Nation in Lagos, 17-year old Oyinlomo began with her tough journey from a four-year old dragged to a ragtag local court by her older siblings.

    She narrated: “I started playing when I was four years old and my love for tennis was inspired by siblings, most especially my sister, Aminat Quadre Growing up, I was really attached to my sister and I followed her to train at a place called Akagbe, right in front of City Mall and not so far from Lagos Lawn Tennis Club where my dad had a sports shop. Back at Akagbe, my sister’s coach watched me and I guess he saw how much I loved being on the court and how much I enjoyed picking balls for my sister and learning from her. He encouraged me to play and told me that I could start by playing for thirty minutes and that was how I started to develop my skills. Later on, the coach and my dad became members of Lagos Lawn Tennis club so things became much easier for me because I could just practice and train with him.”

    It was not an easy task considering she had to train with players older than her, and in a harsh condition but that toughened her.

    Oyinlomo Quadri
    Oyinlomo Quadri

    She said: “When I started at Akagbe, what kept me focused was the passion I already had despite the fact that the training conditions were poor. The courts were bad, so I just had to focus on my love for the game and not mind the surroundings. I enjoyed practicing then and it was more enjoyable for me because I already started beating other children there and a lot of them were older than me. After my dad became a member at the Lagos Lawn Tennis club, things became much easier for me because it was better than Akagbe. They had standard courts which meant I could play on better courts and for as long as I wanted to. It was easier for me to combine school with tennis because at that point, my routine was ‘from school to the club and back home.”

    The tough situation, she confessed sometimes get to her but another thing kept her going is the wise words and encouragement of her parents, coach and siblings-her support party.

    “Honestly, I think this is what makes me different from a lot of people. My parents have always been supportive of me and I am grateful for that. When I was younger, my parents would tell me that I could beat Serena Williams and when I played alone, I would usually imagine I was playing in the Grand slam against Serena. My dad sees how hard I work to train and be better and my mom is always supportive of me. There have been times I would be sad and cry after a match and I would call them and this is something I am always grateful for. I think a lot of parents should be more supportive of their children’s dreams because it’s very important.”

    Oyinlomo Quadri
    Oyinlomo Quadri

    FROM LAGOS TO AFRICA

    In a little while, Lagos tennis buffs and watchers could no longer ignore the gifted Oyinlomo, as she began appearing in local tournaments and beating older players. At nine years, she once played in an U16 tournament and whipped experienced and older girls to the trophy. Her mentor and coach Chris Enahoro noticed this and quickly pushed her to the national championships. He realized that he had a potential star in his hand that couldn’t be locked up in a box.

    “When I started playing, I only played at tournaments in Lagos, but this was a problem for me because I was only known in Lagos. My dad didn’t know much about how to get me to other competitions outside Lagos.  The breakthrough for me was when I played at the Under-16 tournament at the age of nine and I made it to the final that was when I started getting noticed. Shortly after this, I was invited to represent Nigeria in a tournament in Abuja where I beat Marylove (former Nigeria No 1) and that was the first time I played outside Lagos. After, I went ahead to the African Junior Championship (AJC) qualifiers for West Africa in Abuja and I won the qualifiers and then proceeded to the main AJCs for Africa which was in Tunisia and I made it to quarter finals where I lost. The following year, I played AJC qualifiers and won again and I made sure to play at other tournaments before playing at the main AJC. I played in Benin Republic and in Togo in the Under-18 circuits when I was thirteen years old and I gained more CAT points before I played at the semi-finals. At a point I was in the top eight in Africa and I was only twelve years old. So, I went to play top eight Africa’s masters for Nigeria.”

    It was apparent that Oyinlomo is a Serena in the making. A tigress has been unleashed and she practically broke all records and hurdles before her. At 17, Oyinlomo is Nigeria’s to women player and the world is at her feet. She narrated how she found herself at the top. “I think it is both motivating and overwhelming at the same time but I am just glad that I have been able to achieve a lot at a young age. There are times I get criticized because but tennis has helped me develop a more matured mind and not pay attention to negativity. I like to remind myself of what I have been able to achieve and see it as way of making more improvements. So, I just try to keep my mind focused on being better till I am the best there is.”

     

    TENNIS GIRL FROM MACAULAY STREET

    The tennis girl from Macaulay Street-Lagos has high dreams to play among the world’s best. Her work is clearly cut out.

    “The first step for me was going for tournaments. As time went on, my mentor at the time, Chris Enahoro wanted me to go to an academy. I was at a tournament when I was asked if I would want to attend the high-performance Centre in Morocco. It was the best option for me because it is an ITF certified Centre. The Nigeria tennis federation also trusts them to deliver results as we have had some Nigerians who also went to the centre. So, when the opportunity came, we took it immediately.

    “For as long as I can remember, I have worked hard at achieving goals I set for myself. I won ITF juniors Under-18 when I was thirteen years old, and at that point I was the youngest in the world with that ranking. So, I think my biggest motivation is to do better than my biggest accomplishments and beat my best records. And I am blessed because I am surrounded by people who encourage me to be better and support me.’

    Little wonder the world’s best tennis icons attract her. “Roger Federer inspires me since I was little. I have always seen him as an inspiration. He has managed to make tennis look easy and his calmness is al most contagious. I am still aspiring to reach that level of calmness at some point.  Also, I have always admired Serena Williams.”

    She hopes to keep working hard and her goal is to play among the best in the world and win a grand slam in the near future. “One goal I have always wanted to accomplish is to beat Serena Williams’ grand slam record and I hope I can still do that soon.”

    Oyinlomo QuadriOyinlomo is already thinking of giving back to the society and has set up a foundation to take care of struggling ball boys. “I have a foundation called Fusion Foundation and it is something my siblings and I set up as a way of giving back to the society. Since when I was younger, I have always been close to tennis ball boys and I see some of them struggle with things like food and even clothes.

    “Whenever I see them, I ask what tournaments they have played in and most times they’ve not had the opportunity to play and it just breaks my heart. This was my inspiration to set up the foundation, to help the ball boys develop themselves and give them the opportunity to be recognized for their talents. It is something my siblings and I do together and we are hoping to get sponsorships from individuals and organizations too. So far, I have sponsored two tournaments. Although my life is just about tennis, I will like to further my education and get a Master’s degree in psychology. And for my fans, I am quite active on social media and my handles are @oyinlomoquadre on Instagram, twitter and tiktok.”

     

    CHALLENGES

    Oyinlomo is aware of the challenges faced by tennis players in Nigeria and has become an advocator for tennis to be better funded by both the corporate and public sponsors.

    “I think tennis is underrated and it is hard to get sponsorships. So, I think the federation should work on getting sponsorships so there can be more tournaments for players to develop themselves in. A lot of players in Nigeria only wait for CBN and after they just hang their rackets till the following year. Another thing is I do not think tennis players are celebrated in Nigeria. There is no recognition unlike some other sports.  If the federation can work on these, I think it would be a good starting point.”

  • African Games gold medalist, Gbenga Oluokun: I attempted suicide twice

    African Games gold medalist, Gbenga Oluokun: I attempted suicide twice

    By Olanrewaju Agiri

    One of Nigeria’s promising heavyweight boxers and African Games gold medalist Gbenga Oluokun has been to hell and back. The ebullient boxer who made it to the round of 16 at the 2004 Summer Olympic in the colours of Nigeria moved abroad shortly after the Olympics where he had a fledging professional career going.

    At the early stage of his career he was on a roller-skater winning his first 16 bouts with more than half by KO. Boxing buffs instantly nicknamed him ‘Bang-Bang’ to give credence to his ferocious KO instincts that seemed to come from the blues. Oluokun could go toe to toe with an opponent and in a split second knock him out.

    Thereafter, his career took a nosedive as he suffered successive defeats, 14 in all winning only three in between. Due to the turn of fortune, the Germany based suffered depression. Oluokun in a recent interview while promoting his come-backing campaign in Ibadan, Oyo State revealed that he almost took his own life during the worst state of his depression. Twice, he said he thought of ending his life.

    The skillful boxer, who represented Nigeria in the 2004 Summer Olympic after clinching the gold medal in the super heavyweight division in the in Abuja 2003, said this in Ibadan during an unveiling event held for him by D’Colossus Boxing Promotions

    The Ibadan-born boxer started well after the Olympic Games by turning professional and won his first pro-fight against Vlado Szabo in Germany.

    He had a blissful boxing career for about eight years in Germany doing well and raising a family and not until 2019 that he considered coming home to help Nigerian boxing and raise grassroots boxers, before he lost it all. A loss he claimed is unexplainable. He became depressed, deteriorated mentally and fell back to the street.

    “I started well and everything was going on smoothly, until suddenly everything turned sour. I won my first 16 fights as a professional boxer then I lost to Syrian boxer, Manuel Charr in 2009.

    “After a professional career of 19 wins with 13 knockouts, 14 losses, I decided to come back home in 2019 to help Nigerian boxing and raise grassroots boxers to international standard, I lost it all. A loss that led to depression, deteriorated mentally and I had to fall back to the street to survive,” Oluokun said.

    In a bid to bounce back, Oluokun narrated how he sought help from with old friends to get a contract in Dubai as a trainer and a fighter, but unfortunately, the whole trial turned pitifully bitter when he suddenly collapsed on his arrival at Dubai International Airport and went into coma for about 115 days.

    “After my bitter experience in Nigeria, with the help of some of my old friends, I got a contract in the United Arab Emirate as a trainer and boxer and unfortunately, I collapsed on my arrival at the Fujairah International Airport, Dubai and I was in coma for over 3 months.

    “Having recovered from the coma, I was brought back to Nigeria and I was in a hellish, traumatic, and a pitiable condition,” he added.

    “After my recovery from coma I had to relocate to Ibadan from Lagos where I believe many people will not identify me but when I cannot bear it, I attempted to kill myself with over dose of different drugs but to my disappointment, I excreted all the drugs I took the previous night. Again I tried it the second time and I got the same result. That was when I knew that God still had a mission for me to fulfill,” Oluokun said.

    Oluokun is back on his feet and ready to return to the ring at 37 years-old.

    On his comeback bid, as fate will have it, Oluokun came in contact with an Ibadan based boxing promoter, Mr Ezekiel Oshinmi the CEO of D’Colossus Boxing Promotions, who went into the streets to recruit boxers into his stable. After having intense discussions with the embattled former champion, the promoter became touched by his predicament and decided on a mission to help him find his footing and get him back to the boxing gym.

    Speaking on the Oluokun’s recovery and come-backing bid, Oshinmin said. “Serena Williams said ‘I really think a champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall’ Oluokun has returned to been training vigorously for three months. He’s back on his feet. He’s healthy and mentally stable after going though medical doctors that specialize in the treatment of mental, emotional, or behavioral problems.”

    Finding motivation from Serena Williams’ quote and Tyson Fury’s comeback, Gbenga Oluokun is ready to come back to the ring, and his case is a potential booster to other people around the world that are suffering setbacks and those in different hopeless conditions.

    “With a winner mindset, Gbenga “Bang Bang” Oluokun is looking forward to a comeback bout anytime soon”, said Oshinmin.

    “I’m now better and I believe I can do it more that before because I trained twice a day now, Oluokun said.

    Dr. Oladimeji Odewale, the CEO of Mocdim health and fitness center, who handled his medication, said a lot of detoxification programs had been done for him, and that is flushing of his system to reduce the alcohol in his blood streams to the barest minimum.

    “He’s still has strength and is more positive than ever before. A good boxer needs somebody to tell him how good he is and I think I have been able to assure him; we placed him on treadmills and essentially worked on his stamina.

    “We’ve changed his diet which was the first priority, after flushing his system as you can see we’re all over him, monitoring him and encouraging him that he can do better and I can assure you that he’s fitter to return into boxing ring and do better”, said Dr. Odewale, the Psychiatrist who claimed was once an amateur boxer.

  • OYEKOLA: My rough journey from ‘Okada’ rider to world boxing champion

    OYEKOLA: My rough journey from ‘Okada’ rider to world boxing champion

    After a thrilling fight to win the World Boxing Federation (WBF) International Super Featherweight title on December 27, 2020, for Nigerian Ridwan ‘Scorpion’ Oyekola, it was a long walk to stardom having experienced an extremely rough ride. Life has not been so rosy for Oyekola who showed his great potential with an outstanding win over Argentinean Lucas Mattias Montesino in the fight tagged ‘Fight of the Year’ by WBF.

    Oyekola secured a unanimous decision against Montesino after ten rounds of action packed bout to win the coveted WBF title in Ibadan-Oyo state. He also created history as it was the first time after 57 years that a Nigerian will be winning a world boxing title on local soil after late Dick Tiger.  

    Before life smiled on Oyekola, he had tasted the bitter end of existence. He hawked drugs, then, poultry and was a commercial motorcycle operator.

    Armed with only a secondary school certificate, Oyekola had little parental support as a youngster, and to make ends meet he had to do menial jobs to survive.

    He said: “After I finished my secondary education at Islamic High School in Bashorun in Ibadan, I used to sell drugs at Agbeni in Ibadan. We call it ‘chemist work.’ I started as an apprentice but when I graduated there is no money to establish. So I started to hustle and when there was no job I moved to Lagos to sell cockerel, broilers, and layers around Mowe. We used to put them inside a cage and hawk them around Mowe and Ibafo that time. I left the trade when I fell into a pool of water and the chicken died, and I lost all I had made from the business.”

    In between amateur boxing and turning professional, he also operated commercial motorcycle. “I got into ‘okada’ (commercial motorcycle) business in Ibadan. I used to ply Gate-Bere-Molete to Challenge-Orita-New Garage-Podo routes. It was when I met my promoter Olusola Ayodele that I stopped riding ‘okada’ and he took care of me to get to this level.”

    Boxing promoter Ayodele recounted how their path met, “I met Ridwan when he was working as an ‘okada’ rider. I flagged him down at Gate area of Ibadan. On our way I saw some people hailing and calling him ‘boxer’. Out of curiosity I asked him if truly he was a boxer and he said yes. When he dropped me at my office in Imalefalafia area, I paid him and he left but to my surprise, he resurfaced again with a polythene bag and showed me some of the medals and certificates he had won as a boxer. I was moved and impressed by what I saw in him wondering how someone could have all these medals in his kitty and still be suffering. I saw medals he had won for Oyo State at National Sports Festivals and other boxing competitions yet cannot make ends meet. I decided to promote his boxing ambition and I realized he’s a faithful and sincere person, we thank God he has become a champion today.”

    After his feat Nigeria President Mohammadu Buhari and Oyo State Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde after winning the vacant WBF World title belt.

    Though, Oyekola grew up in a tough environment of Oje-Ibadan where the ability to defend oneself against bullies comes naturally, he would have not gone into boxing, if his girlfriend and pride were not on line.    

    He said: “I started boxing because I was being bullied in my area in Oje in Ibadan. It happened that one Sunday I was escorting my girlfriend and a guy intimidated me. I challenged him and the boy, who I did not know was a boxer, beat me blue-black. He embarrassed me in front of my girlfriend and her friends and I was ashamed. That drove me to train in boxing.”

    Of course, his parents would not hear of it and they discouraged him. “When I started, my parents were against it. They won’t give me food or money because they believed only irresponsible boys do boxing. They would ask if I wanted to be a street fighter, that a responsible person doesn’t do boxing. However, I was focused and was going for training without their knowledge. So while I was learning how to sell drugs, I would still go for training in the evening. After training, I would jog home.”

    Oyekola improved within a short time and got the attention of Oyo State Sport Council and began to represent them at amateur meets.   

     “One day my Dad saw one of my fights on television. He was happy and he gave his blessing. My father and mother were at ringside during my WBF fight at Ilaji Resort. They are extremely happy after I won the belt. They are proud of my accomplishments. I am happy that I have made something of myself through boxing. I am yet to reach my target in boxing. I am aiming higher. I have the full support of my parents because whenever they walk on the street, people hail them as ‘daddy Scorpion’, and ‘mummy Scorpion’. I now support my parents and siblings financially.

    Like they say, ‘success has many friends,’ the girl that left him for a better fighter is planning a comeback into his life now that he’s famous.     

    “She has gone her way but recently launched a comeback when she got to know I’m now a famous boxer. Though, we got married and had a kid together, she left me due to my financial status, then. Women are not my focus right now. I have career to develop.”

    Oyekola spoke more on his sojourn to stardom in the interview with Olanrewaju Agiri, excerpts:

     

     How do you manage advances from ladies now that your status has changed for the better?

    I politely turn-off advances from ladies. I want to focus on my career and make headway in boxing before thinking of settling down with a woman. I handle advances in a polite manner.

    Will you allow your kids to take to boxing?

    Only God knows the path everybody will take to be successful in life. If God says one of my children will box, all good. But, if He says they will make it through other means, no problem. However, it is my wish that one of my kids take to boxing.

    How did you feel after beating Lucas Matias Montesino?

    I was very happy. I can’t really describe my feelings that night. I just know I’m happy to emerge victorious, the guy came very prepared.

    Montesino really gave you a real fight?

    Yes! He gave me a tough time. No fighter has ever given me a tough time like he did. I never laboured like that since I took boxing as a career. But, I prepared well, trained hard and fought very well too and then God was on my side. Montesino really rattled me, I must tell you the truth but I was more determined and returned all his punches with multiple knocks expecting him to give-in especially at the third round that my right hook landed and he fell into a corner. I had to dig deeper. He’s a good boxer.

    How can you describe the support you got from your fans?

    The fans were morale support. I have a large fans base in Ibadan; if not for the Covid19 protocol they would have come en-mass to support me. Their support really propelled me to put everything I have into the fight; I thank them very much for their love for boxing. Now, in Ibadan, they watch boxing than football because there’s no amount of money they cannot pay to watch boxing. People pay as much as N5000 to 50000 to watch boxing and the same cannot be said about football.

    What was going through your mind when coming into the ring?

    All I was thinking is how to destroy my opponent, because I know what is at stake. I watched his training in Nigeria and I understand that he’s a good boxer. I had a plan and as I walked into the ring, that was plan was uppermost on my mind.

    How do you intend to spend the money you got from this big win?

    Boxing money is not what you can spend alone. I will extend it to many people. At the end of the day, I will have to be contented with what is left, but I believe there will be more good things to come with this belt. For example a fan, Abdulwahab Adekunle Hamex gifted me a car that is worth N6 million. I’m grateful to him. Before the fight he had been telling me that he’s going to give me a car if I win. He also whispered it into my ear when I was walking the ring.  They are part of what motivated me to destroy my opponent.

    How did you prepare for the fight?

    Ha! I prepared very well. Big thanks must go to my promoter, Core Afrique Boxing Promotion and my trainer, Coach Sunny Bruce for the training and care they gave to me prior to the fight, I was in closed camping for three months ahead of this fight. I trained morning and evening and abstained from women throughout.

    What is your pro record like?

    I have fought six fights since I turned professional. I fought Lukman Hogan Jimoh Jr at Boxing Night 13 and knocked him out in 17 seconds. My second fight was at another boxing show against Prince Lion Nwoye at Police College in Ikeja. I defeated him but because he was at home, it was declared a draw. He challenged me again in Ibadan at the GOtv Boxing Night 15 and I defeated him. I faced Nurudeen “Prince” Fatai in a national lightweight challenge bout at GOtv Boxing Night 17 that was held at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos and beat him. I dethroned long-reigning champion, Taofeek ‘Taozon’ Bisuga at the GOtv Boxing Night 18 to win National super featherweight belt. I fought Sikiru ‘Omo Iya Eleja’ Shogbesan at National Stadium in Lagos on October 12 and lost controversially to him before my fight against Montesino.

    Now as a world title belt holder, what is your advice to other boxers?

    I want to urge boxers in the country not to relent. There will always be challenges. I went through a very tough time that I almost gave up, but I never did. When I was an amateur boxer with Oyo State Sports Council, I was getting half salary that could not sustain me for a week not to talk of the whole month. I will walk to training and back. Most of the time I sleep on empty stomach and wake up with nothing to eat, I didn’t give up on my training. They should not relent, keep praying, when you pray, there is nothing God cannot do. I want to advise them not to take drug; it’s a fast killer of career. I have never smoked or taken any substances in my life. When God answers one’s prayer, it will get to a stage that people will not know how you make your money. Favour will just be coming from right, left and centre. You just have to endure, and there is no job that does not have its obstacles. Perseverance is the key to success.

    So, what is your next target?

    I am back in training; I train morning and evening. I’m going to the next level. I’m ready to fight anyone to defend my belt anywhere in the world and I know God is behind me. I don’t have any other job than boxing, so I’m ready for anybody that wants to challenge me. And let me use this medium to thank people that contributed to mu success; the media, my promoter, the Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Hamex, Dotun Sanusi and my fans around the world.

     

    OYEKOLA’S TOP 10

     

    Favourite Food:  Eba and Okro Soup

    Favourite Colour:  White

    Favourite Boxer:   Floyd Maywheather

    Favourite kind of music:  Fuji Saheed Osupa

    Favourite Car:   Mercedes

    Favourite Designer:   Versace

    Favourite holiday destination:   Las Vegas

    Mentor:   My Coach and promoter

    (Coach Sunny Bruce & Sola Ford)

    Low moment:    My Fight with Shogbesan in Lagos where I was robbed

    Happiest moment:    My fight against Montesino

  • OLAWALE OKUNNIYI: How we made world title fight happen in Nigeria, 57 years after

    OLAWALE OKUNNIYI: How we made world title fight happen in Nigeria, 57 years after

    After recording a huge success organizing a World Boxing Federation (WBF) sanctioned Super Featherweight world title bouts in Nigeria on 27th December 2020 at Ilaji Sports Resort, Ibadan where 23 year old Nigerian pugilist Ridwan ‘Scorpion’ Oyekola beat Argentina´s Lucas Mathias Montesino by unanimous decision to win the vacant belt for the first time in 57 years, chairman of the local organizing committee of this epic event, Sir Olawale Okunniyi shared his experience on how the feat was achieved and what the victory portends for youths and boxing in the country. He spoke to Olanrewaju Agiri.   

    How did your team organize a world boxing event within a short time and record absolute success?

    Well, all glory to God for grace and enablement. However, organising a world class boxing championship for the World Boxing Federation, WBF in Nigeria and the subsequent victory of Ridwan ‘Scorpion’ Oyekola were essentially driven by the patriotic and resilient spirit of all stakeholders in the LOC.

    Like I mentioned recently in the account of my stewardship to members of our LOC, although there had been ongoing discussions and negotiations concerning the bout by the promoter and the leadership of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, (NBB of C), there was practically no operational support and solid awareness on the ground, as at the time I was drafted to come and lead the process of organising the event.

    Moreso, the time was quite short, just about two months to the event. So what we did given our wealth of experience in mobilising and publicity, especially as national activists, was to quickly look around for available resourceful human capitals at our reach; of varying interests and co-opted them into the process to help guide the planning process, work as volunteers and consultants. What we did was to sell the historical and international significance of the project to them and they bought into it instantly. Some of these stakeholders we ran to include, the Oyo State government, the respected Alaafin of Oyo, The Olubadan of Ibadan, a major promotional consultant and a media guru, among others, who in turn gave the project an instant morale booster, inspiring the event to a huge success and subsequent victory of the scorpion, (Oyekola) while we also interfaced in the LOC with the Promoter, the leadership of the NBB of C at the national and state levels as well as the management of Ilaji Sports Resorts, which hosted the event in Ibadan apart from the major donations and support the Sports resorts towards the successful hosting of the event.

    The State Government however gave the LOC a veritable secretariat accommodation and rooms from where the committee operated throughout the planning of the event.

    May I also acknowledge that my co-chairman, Dr Rafiu Ladipo brought a lot of technical expertise and guidance into the project, just as the secretary of the NBB of C, Mr Remi Aboderin was also of immense asset to the whole project. So in essence the success and victory of Nigeria in this event was collective.

    How are you able to prepare the boxers especially Ridwan ‘Scorpion’ considering non availability of first class facility here as against his opponent that came from South America with better workout?

    Well, we must give serious credit to the promoter of the bout, Mr. Sola Ford the CEO of Core Afrique Boxing Promotions and the trainer of our boxers Sunny Bruce, who were able to enforce a Spartan programme of training and discipline in the camp. Both of them worked tirelessly to keep the boxers, especially Ridwan, in a killer shape and fit within their weights before the bout. The drilling was tough and concentration and discipline in our camp was very high, that the Nigerian Boxers were already roaring to go before the day of the bout.

    Finances for the event, what’s the level of support from the government and corporate body?

    Finance as usual with Nigerians was a challenge, but the Oyo state government and Ilaji Sports Resorts came to our rescue on different budget heads and at different times both in kinds and in cash. While the government gave the LOC secretariat and operational logistics and accommodation and some financial support, as part of what was requested by the LOC, the Ilaji Sports Resorts apart from providing the venue of the event also gave the NBB of C and the promoter inspiring financial support for the boxers and officials of the match in terms of boxer’s purse, flight tickets for officials and boxers coming from outside Nigeria and what’s termed sanction fee in Boxing to bring the world boxing belt down to Nigeria. However, I am aware there are still outstanding bills to be settled, especially as regards allowances to our consultants, volunteers and some of the boxers and I hope Government both at the State and National levels will come to our rescue before it’s too late. We have already written to that effect and are waiting for their action.

    Again, other corporate organizations are yet to respond to our request for support. But we hope that now that we have won the coveted world title belt for Nigeria they will do the needful to help us offset some of our various outstanding bills.

    What does Oyekola’s victory portends for Nigerian boxing?

    Nigeria’s era of glory in boxing is back after 57 year ago. That was the last time late Dick Tiger won a world boxing title on our soil. More Nigerian youths will also derive a strong inspiration from this victory and move out of the street to engage more in productive activities of sports especially if they see government show appreciation and encouragement to the new Super featherweight world champion by a way of grand reception and support for the boxer and his team. Boxing is now more acceptable to our youths as against the overriding popularity of football over other sports. As you can see how our own boy swept WBF awards after the fight. Scorpion won Boxer of the Month for December 2020 Award and also the prestigious ‘Newcomer of The Year’ award apart from his fight with Montesino, which was adjudged the best in 2020 according to official statement released on the WBF website over the weekend.

  • El-Amin in Guinness Book of Records radar, clinch 15th Georgian cup title

    El-Amin in Guinness Book of Records radar, clinch 15th Georgian cup title

    Our Reporter

     

    There were lots of sunshine, windy evenings, spectacular atmosphere, and epic finals at the recently concluded 2020 Kaduna international polo tournament that reaffirmed EL-Amin invincibility as Georgian Cup  kings, providing a fitting silver Jubilee anniversary  for the all-time champions.

    Unlike other Kaduna tourneys, this one was special in many ways. First it was the edition that heralded the Guinness Book of Record recognition of Georgian Cup and First Bank as the longest run sporting sponsorship in the world, and the 101 edition of the prestigious event.

    Unarguably Nigeria’s most accomplished team ever, EL-Amin polo organization made history on their Silver Jubilee celebration, defeating title holders, Abuja Rubicon for a record 15th title of the highly revered Georgian Trophy.

    Secondly, the 2020 Kaduna polo extravaganza provided a platform for EL-Amin to book their entry for recognition by the global institution, the Guinness Book of Record as the first Nigerian team to ever win one of the oldest polo trophies a record fifteen times.

    It was on this very ground that they archived their high-goal status, earning their first Georgian title in 1999. Ironically, it was at the same legendary Murtala Square in Kaduna that they lost their treasured crown thrice to Abuja Rubicon last year.

    That accounts for their only defeats in 11 years of high-goal polo campaign, before sweeping past Jos Malcomines and defeating title holders Rubicon 7-6 in a tense final, to reaffirm their supremacy as kings of Nigerian polo.

    “Winning the Georgian Trophy on our Silver Jubilee anniversary means everything to me. I feel like it’s my first win,” team patron and defender, Mohammad Babangida, declared.

    “We are happy we participated in the tournament, we are happier we won back the Georgian Cup for the 15th time which is the longest winning run by any team in the history of the Georgian Cup series” he added in a chat.

    “Interestingly, the team has been together for 25 years now with the same players, myself, Ibrahim Mohammed and Bello Buba. We have contested for the Georgian Cup twenty times and having won it fifteen times, EL-Amin remains the only team to have won all high goal cups across the country.”

    Founded in 1995, that, in truth, doesn’t confer the club with a long history. But their trailblazing achievements, as the kings of noble games, have been nothing short of phenomenal.

    Thanks to their self-belief and consistency, Babangida and his Big Boys are proud winners in top polo laurels within and outside the country, with multiple wins of Nigeria’s high goal prizes.

    Notably the IBB Cup, Majekodunmi Cup , Emir of Katsina Cup, Nigerian Cup, General Hassan Cup among other medium, and intermediate titles, many of which they have won multiple occasions. “When we started, the first four years were tough. We were trying to get a strong team, good horses and good support base, so we sat back and reassessed the whole situation.” “This was the period between 1995 and 1998,” Team Patron, Mohammad Babangida pointed out.

    In 2009, the EL –Amin team, with Bello Buba, Aminu Abubakar Alhaji, Ibrahim Mohammed and  their Patron, Babangida, participated in the Al—Habtoor Cup Challenge  in Dubai. The team also remains the first and the only African team to play in the prestigious Dubai Gold Cup series.

    Babangida as national team captain, Bello Buba and Ibrahim Mohammed, Hamisu Buba as well as Abdulmalik Badamasi, Baba Dawule competed in the Federation of International Polo (FIP) World Cup tournament in Malaysia in June, 2011.

    But the game of kings and victories are not the only passion that EL-Amin is known for, as the polo organization is also making a name for itself in the area of philanthropy.

    For Mohammad, real sporting success is about affecting the lives of people positively, and EL- Amin Foundation is already a leading name in giving back to society.

    Earlier this year, the foundation was one of the first private organizations to support the ongoing fight against COVID-19 Pandemic, in the well acknowledged donation of a well-equipped Isolation Centre in Minna.

    “For me, success is about impacting the life of others positively and that’s why we created the foundation. If I could better the life of one person, I have achieved a lot” he added.

    As we are all aware that sports can help in bridging the cultural, ethnic, religious and political divides, promote tolerance, peace; create jobs and advocate a healthy lifestyle, I want to touch the life of the less privileged through sport” Mohammad vows.

  • BUKAYO SAKA: My Goal against Chelsea special

    BUKAYO SAKA: My Goal against Chelsea special

    Arsenal starlet Bukayo Saka has been talking about Arsenal new found form, the role played by manager Mikel Arteta and how he’s enjoying every bit of it plus the special goal against Chelsea.

     

    England and Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has revealed how Mikel Arteta has helped turn the club’s form around in recent weeks. The 4-0 win over West Brom three Saturdays ago was their third victory in a row in the Premier League with Saka playing a major role.

    Saka opened up over the reason why the club have turned their fortunes around.

    The Gunners moved into 12th – six points behind the top four – after their victory over West Brom.

    It was their third victory in a row in the Premier League; their best run this campaign, which kicked off with a 3-1 result over Chelsea on Boxing Day.

    Saka netted once again, continuing his brilliant form in recent weeks, joining Kieran Tierney and Alexandre Lacazette on the scoresheet.

    And the England international has revealed why Arsenal are suddenly so good all of the sudden.

    He said: “The perfect way to start the new year, we’ve won three in a row so we want to keep building. We’re really happy with the performance.

    Saka’s goal was a brilliant team goal, with the 19-year-old trading passes with various Arsenal players before slotting past Sam Johnstone while Tierney opened the scoring after 23 minutes.

    “Amazing team goal and luckily I got the tap-in. I love those goals,” he said.

    “It was so cold but I was getting so many touches in good positions so I enjoyed the game a lot.

    “[Tierney] deserved [his goal], he’s put in amazing performances all year and that was something we’ve never seen before from him, right foot, and top corner.”

    Arteta had come under mounting pressure in recent weeks after a series of poor performances but has silenced the doubters after a brilliant seven days where his side have won three times.

    He said: “We had a big week, three games in seven days, and we managed to win them and everything looks much better.

    “It was difficult conditions but the team looked sharp from the start. It’s a big win.

    “After the results we had before we had to lift things straight away. Now we have got some discipline back.

    “We look more creative in the final third and we look solid at the back.”

    As for the wonder goal he netted against Chelsea, Saka said he actually went for goal when he spotted Edouard Mendy off his line and deliberately lobbed the stranded keeper.

    He said: ‘I saw him off his line!’ it wasn’t a miss-kick as some as suggested. I was going for the goal and that’s what made it a great goal.”

    The match also signalled Arteta turnaround for the famous London team. The Gunners ended t

    heir long wait for a victory with a 3-1 win over their London rivals at the Emirates on Boxing Day, with Alexandre Lacazette, Granit Xhaka and Saka all getting on the scoresheet.

    Arsenal took a two-goal lead in the first half, with Lacazette netting from the spot and Xhaka powering in a brilliant free-kick, before Saka effectively put the game to bed at the start of the second half.

    The teenager picked up the ball on the edge of box, darting forward, and appeared to have a look up to see Gabriel Martinelli unmarked at the back post, though then proceeded to whip the ball into the far corner of the goal.

    Mendy was helpless as the ball sailed over his head, with commentator Gary Neville

    convinced it was a cross that went askew, but Saka was adamant he was aiming at goal and had seen Mendy out of position.

    Asked by Sky Sports if he meant to score? Saka said: ‘Of course man! He was off his line.’

    In another interview, Saka also insisted it was an attempt on goal, telling BBC Sport: “I saw him off his line so I thought I could chip him. Really? Yeah!

    “We feel that we are a good team who have been unlucky with results and red cards but this is a big one for our confidence.

    “It’s been tricky, tough, but we have come out of it and we are trying our best.

    “We grew up with each other, the young players all want to play and have the passion for this club. We want to make the fans happy.

    “It’s been a great turnaround for the team. I’m enjoying every bit of the wins and we have been talking and laughing about the goals. It’s a good feeling and that is helping us to understand each other better and to believe in ourselves more.

    “It’s good that we are getting to give our fans what they want. They deserve it,” Saka added.

  • IWOBI: I want to win trophies with Everton

    IWOBI: I want to win trophies with Everton

    Our Reporter

    Nigeria and Everton player Alex Iwobi talks about the scaring experience while on international duty back in November, discovering the power of his voice, the factors motivating him to improve every day, and where Carlo Ancelotti’s team need to get better.

    Close to two months after a difficult 4-4 score line against Sierra Leone in Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Benin-Nigeria, utility player, Alex Iwobi has opened up on what went down.

    Iwobi, who has played more than 40 games for Nigeria and grown familiar with the country’s feverish football public, said it was a mad, terrifying evening for all.

    “I can’t even tell you what happened in the game, I don’t know, it was mad,” says Iwobi.

    “There was a lot of heated discussion in the changing room. The Nigerian Football President came in and said a few words. He was hurt, like all of us.  Trying to go back to the hotel, people were throwing stones at our bus. One cracked a window and hit a player. It was crazy.”

    Nigeria are all but assured of their place in the 2022 finals but that didn’t spare Iwobi and his mates the wrath of the natives.

    “They are proper passionate. I see where they were coming from, the result was hurtful.

    “But we were almost physically hurt because of it!”

    Iwobi confesses Nigeria’s international footballers are – for the most part – treated like kings in their homeland. He accepts the other side of that deal, then – and is grateful to represent people who care so deeply. There is one caveat, though, and he’s laughing as he says it.

    “Of course I like the passion and we want the fans to show it,” begins Iwobi.

    “Just don’t hurt us, please!

    “Only Lord knows how they’d react if we could win a tournament. It is what everyone dreams of and, hopefully, we can make it a reality.”

    Iwobi, 24, has come of age from a teenager whose platform of choice was photo-sharing site Snapchat. It was here, he said that he realized his leadership ability.

    “I’d do something on there, and then go in Tesco or Sainsbury’s and someone would say, ‘I just tried that challenge you did on your Snap’,” says Iwobi.

    “I was like, ‘Woah’. I didn’t feel people actually looked at my Snapchat and used it in what they were doing every day.

    “I was around 20 and it was then I realised I had a small influence on other people’s lives.”

    Iwobi today has more than two million followers across Instagram and Twitter.

    He recently used both accounts to highlight the plight of innocent civilians being murdered in his birth-land of Nigeria.

    Protestors were allegedly killed demanding the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a unit of the African country’s police force allegedly guilty of human rights violations.

    Iwobi posted an image from one demonstration of a Nigerian flag, its green and white obscured by human blood.

    Additionally, the 24-year-old is playing his football in black boots embroidered with the words, End Police Brutality.

    “It is awful to see what is happening in Nigeria,” says Iwobi.

    “It is so sad. People are protesting for their rights and being killed.

    “I am in a position where I am able to influence a lot of people and I will always use my voice to speak out about what is right.

    “Odion Ighalo and other Nigerian players have spoken out and we want our voices to be heard.

    “It is important we use our platforms to make people aware of what is happening.

    “I also feel I have to let people know with my feet. I was able to get customised black boots, so people all over the world can see I am supporting the cause.”

    The Premier League’s global audience, reasons Iwobi, is why players must continue taking a knee as a statement against racial injustice.

    Les Ferdinand, the former Newcastle United striker, said in September last year he felt the impact had been “diluted” in the period since the gesture’s introduction before matches in June.

    Iwobi, though, sides with England captain Harry Kane, who reflected the majority opinion when declaring: “When children are watching the game for the first time and seeing us all take a knee and asking their parents, Why? … It’s a great chance to explain”.

    Iwobi contends: “Taking a knee will forever have value. It shows everyone around the world, we are behind the movement for change. By us doing that before every match, in front of millions of viewers, the conversation continues, which is vital.”

    Iwobi is a terrific interviewee. His open, unguarded manner is mirrored on the field, where he is at his best playing off-the-cuff.

    He gets more enjoyment from having a ball at his feet than anything else. Iwobi started training with Arsenal aged six and officially joined when he was nine.

    He provides a rebuttal to those who accuse Premier League academies of producing monochrome footballers.

    It is easy, though, to fall into the trap of mistaking a free-spirited performer for someone without fire in his belly.

    Listening to Iwobi explain what motivates him when he goes to work in the morning, then, is enlightening.

    “Every day I try to prove to myself I should be here, that I should be playing for Everton,” starts Iwobi.

    “That I should be in the starting XI. That I should be representing my country.

    “I always have that motivation.

    “Especially because of what my family went through for me to get where I am.

    “It gives me that hunger to improve myself and I work every day to try to do that.

    “I had a lot of downs growing up. Moments when I was told I wasn’t good enough, times when I was almost released by Arsenal.

    “I want to fight for not just me but the hundreds of thousands of Evertonians and the people who follow and support me.

    “I feel I owe it to them to give 100 per cent every day.

    “And I always want to do well for my family.

    “Everything I do is for them.”

    There is a trace of wonder in Iwobi’s unmistakable Cockney tone as he reflects on settling so quickly at his new club and in a new city.

    “I was really comfortable here straightaway, I just can’t get the Scouse accent yet,” he laughs.

    Iwobi played in some excellent Arsenal teams, Premier League runners-up in his first season and never outside the top six. He reached three cup finals with the Gunners and played 26 games in European competition, including a Europa League final when he scored in a loss to Chelsea.

    This Everton squad, he reckons, is a match for any of those he was a member of at Emirates Stadium.

    “I think we are good enough to compete in Europe,” says Iwobi. This Everton side is as good as the Arsenal teams I was in, 100 per cent. We have talented, international players, in the team and on the bench.

    “The chemistry in the dressing room is great.

    “Seamus grabbed us together and said we could do better.

    “We always discuss our potential and what we should be achieving.

    “It is good to get every player’s idea on what they believe we can improve.

    “We know we can give a lot more in games like those at Southampton and Newcastle – we see the quality in training every day.

    “It needs to consistently come out on the pitch and all of us know we can improve and offer more.”

    Back briefly to Iwobi’s social media pages.

    A couple of months ago, he wrote: “When some things go wrong, take a moment to be thankful for the many things that are going right.”

    The message, explains Iwobi, was a reflection of his attempt to make sense of the out gone year.

    “With what is going on with coronavirus and people losing their lives, so many negative things are happening, you have to be grateful for what you have,” says Iwobi.

    “I am forever grateful for the position I am in.

    “I remember when my mum and dad were working so hard just for me to have football boots.

    “Now, I am able to take care of my family.

    “There are little things you have to be grateful for, even though we are in a pandemic and such a difficult time.”

    The things going right for Iwobi on the pitch aren’t happening by chance.

    His unexpected recent conversion to wing-back – beginning with November’s win at Fulham – was preceded by manager Ancelotti subtly refining Iwobi’s defensive smarts.

    “He told me where to be when we don’t have the ball to prevent the full-back on my side of the pitch bombing on and getting in crosses,” says Iwobi.

    “I need to be in certain positions to help us be more solid.”

    Given the perception of him as a player in his element when free styling, and his stated enjoyment of expressing himself, it will surprise some to discover Iwobi rather likes the other side of the game.

    He owns the discipline and selflessness to do the ugly stuff.

    Alex Iwobi

    Learning precisely how to carry it out from a deeper position, he says, is a work in progress.

    Iwobi religiously analyses sections of every match with a football analyst from his management company.

    He follows the same routine with Simone Montanaro, Everton’s Video/Tactical Analyst.

    “Simone has been helping me a lot, we’ve spoken about what I need to work on,” says Iwobi.

    “Things like needing to come across to cover when the ball is on the other side of the pitch, to always have the right body shape and get in position quicker.

    “I want to be tactically sound defensively and instinctively know the right positions to be in.

    “Simone breaks down things for me but its valuable having an extra voice, someone who can go into detail every week.

    “At any club, there are times when the focus is on helping other players with aspects of their games, because in that moment, it is more important for the team.

    “If you want to improve, you have to take responsibility for yourself, analyse your performances and be honest about what you can do better.

    “Yes, I want to be an expressive player but it is not an issue matching that with your responsibilities.”

    When the ball arrived at Iwobi’s instep in the opening half against Fulham, he heard a voice – he’s not sure whose – barking from Everton’s dugout.

    “’Alex, go, go, go’,” it implored. He did as he was told. A picture of balance and agility, Iwobi glided beyond a trio of befuddled opponents, before sliding the ball to James Rodriguez.

    Two passes later, Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored Everton’s second goal.

    “My first thought is always to go forward, whether it’s a pass or dribble,” says Iwobi.

    “You rely on instinct in those situations.

    “The manager and his staff want me to be positive, to be producing crosses and shots.

    “I surprised people in training with how fast I can run with the ball.

    “When I did it a couple of times, they obviously thought, ‘Maybe he can collect the ball deeper and run at his man’.

    “I think everyone was a bit shocked I could do that.

    “The one at Fulham, I just started carrying the ball and, all of a sudden, I was past three players and had created space for my teammates.”

    Iwobi’s reputation for versatility previously rested on an ability to occupy any role directly behind a main striker. When operating in those advanced areas, he concedes, his goals and assists numbers need fortifying.

    “I pay attention to my stats and I need to add those things and it starts in training,” says Iwobi.

    “I’ve been working hard on my finishing and crossing.

    “I’ve been creating chances and, hopefully, I will start getting in more scoring positions.”

    There is a personal wish to have a big say in Everton winning honours, too.

  • UMAR SADIQ: My dream is to play in La-Liga

    UMAR SADIQ: My dream is to play in La-Liga

    Our Reporter

    Umar Sadiq, 23, has made stops in eight European clubs before berthing in Spain. The Nigeria international, who has an Olympic football bronze to show after playing in all matches of the 2016 summer Olympics in Brazil and notching four goals along the way, has scored in nearly all the clubs he has featured.

    Born in Kaduna, Sadiq started playing football on the streets of his hometown at an early age. He later played for local team Kusa Boys before joining the Future of Africa Football Academy and finally the Football College Abuja (FCA).

    At 16, he travelled with FCA to Croatia and participated in the Kvarnerska Rivijera Youth Tournament finishing as the competition’s top scorer with his team emerging champions.

    Scouts spotted the lanky player, quite tall for his age, but it was Italian club Spezia that came for his signature. Playing in Spezia youth team, Sadiq made appearances in 24 games and scored an impressive 26 goals in his first season with them.

    At the end of the 2015 season, Serie A side Roma came for Sadiq and he did not disappoint as he bagged eight goals in his first three Primavera matches for Roma. By November of same year, he was ready for his Serie A debut. He played five more times for Roma and netted two goals.

    By 2020, Sadiq has made stopover in Bologna (Italy), Torino (Italy) NAC Breda (Eredivisie), Rangers (Scotland) Perugia (Italy) and Partizan Belgrade (Serbia). Sadiq nicked goals in all these teams before Partizan gave him a permanent contract six months ago.

    That was not to be permanent for him with Spanish side Almeria that have been on a lookout for him coming for him on the 5th of October 2020. Sadiq signed for the second division side on a five-year deal.

    Speaking exclusively with The Nation, the 6ft 4in striker who was named in Nigeria’s final 18-man squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil and appeared in all six of his team’s games, scoring four goals in the process, including a brace in the third-place victory over Honduras, spoke extensively on his street to stardom story.

    “I was born and grow up in Kaduna in a family of three girls and two boys. I attended nursery, primary and secondary schools all in Kaduna. After attending two other schools, I finished at Standard Foundation School.”

    He said of his journey to Europe. “I was playing for an academy in Nigeria and went to Croatia to play a tournament where I emerged the highest goal scorer. From there I got offer to Spezia in Italy and became the youth highest goal scorer. So, I made a transfer to Roma youth side and from there I moved to Almeria-Spain after going through some loan spell.”

    In all these, Sadiq remembered his childhood friend Nura Abdullahi who was with him in Spezia and Roma. “Abdullahi is my very good friend and we are always together. We were together in Italy but there is a thing in life you just have to keep the faith believing that what you desire will come if you work harder. He has been waiting for result and now he’s okay and just waiting for permit to come back to the system and he’s training harder than ever to be in good shape. It is not over for him because he had a medical recently and the result is good. I think this New Year will be better. You know Kaduna is like the Brazil of soccer in Nigeria. You will see a lot of players in Kaduna that can hold their own anywhere. He’s a good friend and I wish him all the best. He’s also a good guy apart from being a good player. That is also important.”

    He said the transfer to Roma helped him made progress by learning the rope in the youth team, which assisted him to get the call up to the Nigeria Olympic team.

    “Taking a retrospective look at the Olympic team and winning a bronze medal under Coach Samson Siasia, I would say that was my first international tournament and its always a pleasure for me to represent my country. I will say it is like a dream come true because when I was young the first thing I know watching football on TV is watching the Super Eagles and I wake up seeing myself in green and white jersey. It is a big dream come true.

    “Playing regularly in Roma was a booster and I’ve already made my debut with Roma as I was on the bench in the Champions league, but playing in the Olympics and for the national team is a different feeling entirely.”

    He also had a chance to play against his dream club Manchester United at Partizan Belgrade in the 2019 Europa League.

    “I’m living my dream. At Partizan we played Manchester United at home but unfortunately, we lost. That game is a big one but we were unlucky and I always remember the match in my mind. Sometimes, when I think about how we lost that match, I feel sad.”

    SHORT & SHARP WITH UMAR SADIQ 

    What is your Phobia?

    Losing my mum is my phobia. I’m so so afraid of losing her because I lost my dad five years ago and she’s the only thing I have now. I’m scared of losing my mum.

    What do you live for?

    I live for my family and people in need.

    Who bought your first boot?

    It was my uncle Mohammed Naiara who bought my first boot and he’s late now.

    What was your first signing outside Nigeria?

    That must be Roma in Italy.

    What did you do with the first professional pay?

    I sent the money home and my dad used it to fix the house and I don’t know what he did with the rest.

    Who was the first coach that taught you the basis in football?

    He’s now in the military and his name is Alilu Kusso and I remember that during the u-13 competitions, even if it is raining, he used to come to our house and insist we come out.

    Who is that first football hero you wanted to meet?

    To be honest those days watching Ronaldinho is like a great thing and when I came to playing in Europe I remember telling my Brazilian teammate in Roma that he would greet Ronaldinho for me whenever he is going to Brazil.

     

    The second meeting at Old Trafford also did not go as planned for Sadiq. Partizan were whitewashed 3-0 in the November 2019 Europa League clash.

    Now that he has landed in Spain, he looks forward to playing in the La-liga.

    “The ambition first is to play first division (La-liga). That is why I signed for Almeria because they have a huge budget and everyone at the club wants to go to the first division.

    “Even right now with the budget of the new stadium, everyone knows that the team are supposed to be in La-liga because it is a big budget, but you have to go to the first step, which is to promote then from there and we see what will happen.

    “Well! Spain has one of the best leagues in the world. After the World Cup, Champions League and the Europa Cup, everyone knows that La-liga is next. I can say that it’s like the premier league of Europe because it’s always about one on one counter attacks and it’s a good experience for me and I look forward to playing there.”

    How ready is Sadiq to play for the Super Eagles? He answered: “First of all, Nigeria is blessed with young talented players. We have a lot of them. We are growing and there in all leagues of Europe. You can see a good number of Nigerian players in all the leagues of Europe. Some are even playing for the England national team. I will say that I will just wait for my time and when it comes, I hope I will just grab it. I have no doubt about it one day it will happen and we would all see it. At the moment I’m focusing on my club after playing in the Olympics.”

  • At last, NPFL returns amid COVID-19 protocols

    At last, NPFL returns amid COVID-19 protocols

    Months after the abrupt termination of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), the domestic teams are warming up yet for the 2020-21 season amid COVID-19 pandemic challenges. Correspondents TUNDE LIADI and TAOFEEK BABALOLA examine the preparations cum expectations ahead of December 27 take off.

    Finally, the 2020/21 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season would expectedly start on December 27, after several postponements this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Months back, the lifting of ban on contact sports across the country was received with mixed feelings by domestic league clubs following the laid down strict compliance to COVID-19 protocols by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

    Even when the new season league’s kick off date was moved from December 5 to 27, it was the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare that insisted that the league must take off as he urged the Amaju Pinnick-led Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to start the NPFL in earnest.

    “I spoke to the NFF officials, spoke to Amaju Pinnick last week, and I told him, ‘before this year ends, our Professional League must start’; football is a content stupid,” a miffed Dare said in Lagos last week.“ We watch EPL (English Premier League), we are transported to Wembley, through the power of television, and it’s clear that there is no way our domestic league can develop without content.

    “I have charged them (NFF and LMC) that there must be content in our League. We might not be able to cover or show 5 or 6 matches, the content must be there. I have received an assurance from them (LMC) that there would be content.

    “The content might be gradual but it is just some clear markers laid down, even most especially now that stadiums will be empty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fans would be able to watch their team play on television,” he added.

    After the Minister’s pronouncement, the organisers of NPFL, League Management Company (LMC) broke its silence by confirming the December 27 kick off date for the 2020-21 seasons.

    LMC said the commencement date was arrived at after consultations with NFF, the participating football clubs of the NPFL and Redstrike Group UK, the NPFL commercial rights holders and strategic commercial partners of the LMC.

    However, the LMC Chairman Shehu Dikko said huge progress has been made especially in the areas of the infrastructure upgrade, noting that the support of the NFF and the Minister of Youth and Sports Development has been critical in attaining this level of compliance.

    “In line with the core objectives of the LMC-Redstrike partnership, which is to repackage and reposition the NPFL as one of the best football leagues on all parameters, Redstrike Group has engaged a reputable and experienced production company from Europe, which will deploy state of the art facilities and other equipment for the television production of matches and activities of the NPFL to meet world-class standards,” declared Dikko.

    He added that the production company will be working with other domestic agencies that have the capacity to deliver media contents of NPFL activities.

    For this season, the LMC has proposed prize moneys for the top three finishing positions for the 2020-21 season as N75m for the winner, N50m for the first runner up and N35m for the third paced team. Other Clubs will also earn prize monies based on the final position on the league table.

    Meanwhile, from the North to the East, the South to the West; things seemed to be looking up in readiness for this long-awaited kick off.

    Apart from getting new management, several new players have been recruited by teams aiming for the top prize this season.

    Starting with Akwa United that missed CAF Inter club competition participation by the whiskers, club’s media manager Mfon Patrick told The Nation that the Promise Keepers are training intensely with a view towards gaining match fitness under stiff adherence to the COVID-19 protocols.

    “Our training has been very intense; we received an invitation for the Governor Wike Preseason Tournament and we used it to test our players’ readiness to competitive games,” Patrick said.

    He continued: “We know that COVID-19 is no respecter of anybody and it is still very much in force because we still get regular updates on it from around the world.

    “Even before the arrival of the players, we have made provision for the observance of COVID- 19 protocols and we are keeping to that.

    “We did everything to ensure our environment is COVID-19 free. I am sure we will do every necessary thing possible to ensure that we maintain the level of COVID-19 protocols compliance even when the season is on,” he emphasized.

    In the same vein, Enugu Rangers’ striker and the highest scorer in the league last season with 12 goals, Israel Abia, disclosed the routine at the Flying Antelopes since the return of football and he thumbed up the Rangers head coach, Salisu Yusuf with the ways he has conducted the affairs of the club thus far.

    Abia also stressed that the Flying Antelopes management has done so well to ensure that the players and officials keep in strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocols at all times.

    “We are training under a professional coach and the kind of training we are having is different from the ones other teams are having,” Abia said.

    “Coach Salisu Yusuf’s experience speaks volumes and it is moving the players to go the extra mile.

    “I feel that we can do better in the coming season than we did last season, with the type of preparations that we have had; and personally, I am still hoping to top the goals chart again like I did last season.

    “We are keeping every protocol that is needed for us to stay healthy since our lives are more important than anything else and we have been making sure that we stay safe with the support of the management of the club.”

    Elsewhere, Abia Warriors’ Sporting Director, Patrick Ngwaogu, revealed the plans of the club to aspire for a top three finish in the league this upcoming season based on the recruitment exercise they embarked on and the signing of revered coach Imama Amapakabo.

    Ngwaogu said that Abia Warriors decided to drop 10 of the players with them last season that couldn’t measure up to standards and that the same 10 have been brought in to fill the void created by the departed players and that they have discovered four youth players who are set to light up the NPFL.

    “Expectations of every club are to ensure they do well and strive to maintain their status in the NPFL and possibly contest for the continent. We recruited a ‘capable coach’ who has his record intact,” Ngwaogu began in a chat.

    Meanwhile, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries (MFM) FC Head Coach, Tope Bolus has admitted that the COVID-19 pandemic hindered his team’s preparation for the 2020-21 seasons.

    Bolus said the team, in its bid to adhere strictly to COVID-19 protocol; has been very tough for them to prepare well for the coming season.

    “We are doing everything with care in our team. We have to be very careful in order not to endanger the life of the players and staff as we ensured that all players are free of COVID-19,” Bolus said to the Nation.

    He added: “We are currently working with the retained players; even with that, preparation has been very difficult because you cannot go to the stadium with all the players. We have to select the number of players that will go for a particular training. We have to use two balls for the training so as to observe all the COVID-19 rules.”

    Wikki Tourists of Bauchi Technical Adviser, Usman Abd’Allah, said his team was nearing fitness level after a series of pre-season friendly matches ahead of the new season.

    “We engaged in a series of pre-season friendly matches but it was very tough to prepare because we don’t have enough time for training due to COVID-19 pandemic,” Abd’Allah said.

    He stated further: “The essence of the pre-season tournament is to work on the fitness level of the players and I can say their fitness level is about 70%. And the cohesion and integration of the players is about 70 to 75 % but we still have some work to do, most especially on our finishing.

    “The government and management are trying their best for the team and we can only urge them to do more. We are also happy that our home ground Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium met the requirements to host NPFL matches.”

    Following the removal of the restriction on football activities by the Federal Government through the COVID-19 Task Force, LMC wrote to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubs providing guidelines for license application in line with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Licensing regulations/conditions.

    NPFL participating clubs were invited to submit their respective licensing application which is a compulsory requirement for all clubs intending to participate in the 2020/21 NPFL season.

    From Makurdi, Lobi Stars has hit the ground running as soon as the ban was lifted on the football activities following the COVID-19 according to the club’s Team Manager, Barnabas Imenger; the team engaged the services of new Technical Adviser, Kabiru Dogo as a replacement for the former manager, Gbenga Ogunbote.