The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • 20 states set for 2013 President Cup

    20 states set for 2013 President Cup

    : YSFON says it will boost Bayelsa’s economy

    No fewer than 20 states have registered for this year’s edition of the President Unity Cup. The competition which is exclusively for U-17 boys will run from 24th February to 3rd March 2013.

    The President Unity football cup competition was initiated by second republic president, Shehu Shagari in 1982 and is played in the home state of the serving president.

    The bulk of footballers that have played for Nigeria’s national football teams participated in previous editions of the competion. It would be recalled that Bayelsa-born John Felagha who played for Nigeria at the U-17 World Cup in 2009 was a product of President Unity Cup competition which Bayelsa won in 2008. Most of the indigenous players in Bayelsa United and Divine Warriors FC of Yenagoa are products of the President Unity Cup which Bayelsa won in 2010.

    In a chat with newsmen, the National vice president of YSFON in charge of the South-South, Kali Gwegwe said that a total of twenty states have registered to participate in the competition. He also explained that each of these states would spend a minimum of N5 million while in Bayelsa. Gwegwe said that this will help to inject about N100m into the economy of Bayelsa State.

    For a state that is desirous of moving away from depending on oil revenue, Gwegwe called on the Bayelsa government to create the enabling environment to boost sports tourism.

    He commended the governor Seriaki Dickson-led administration for investing massively in the sports sector. This, according to him, would help to develop the capacities of youths pursuing careers in sports and thereby reduce the menace of youth unemployment and crime in the state.

  • Eagles camp reopens first week of March

    Eagles camp reopens first week of March

    The Super Eagles will in the first week of March resume camping for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Kenya, which is slated for the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar on Saturday, 23rd March, 2013.

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu confirmed on Tuesday that the home boys will hit camp two weeks before the arrival of the overseas-based professionals one week to the crucial game.

    “Now that we are the champions of Africa, we know that every team will prepare much harder whenever they are to play Nigeria. We don’t want to leave ourselves open to any sucker punch. Getting to the top and staying there requires a lot of hard work,” Amadu said.

    Super Eagles’ Head Coach Stephen Keshi is expected to release the list of his pick for the match after a meeting with the NFF Technical Committee.

    African champions Nigeria currently top the Group F of the African series for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, with four points from a 1-0 home defeat of Namibia and a 1-1 draw against Malawi in Blantyre in June 2012.

  • AFN to train athletes in steeplechase, says Technical Director

    The Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) on Monday said the country would feature for the first time in the steeplechase event at the maiden edition of the African Youth Athletics Championships (AYAC).

    AYAC, which would feature athletes from 24 African countries, is scheduled for Warri in April.

    AFN’s Technical Director, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the event would be experimented at various national trials in March.

    The All Nigeria Relays Challenge will hold from March 15 to March 16 at Ijebu-Ode, while the second leg holds from March 22 to March 23 in Warri, Delta State.

    “For the first time in Nigeria, we are going to have the steeplechase for boys and girls. I do not think we have had the event before. And we are trying to make sure that we have it during these trials that are lined up.

    “It involves the construction of barriers because there are different heights for the boys and girls. We have to do it now and expose the athletes in the main competition. Even if we dodge it now, we will still compete in the event in the next three or four weeks, so it is better we expose our athletes to it now,’’ he said.

    He said the AFN would have in its programme, the half marathon and all the different relays would also be started, to ensure Nigeria got back to its glory days.

    “We want to go back to the glory days. We have our areas of strength, so that is why we have included different types of relays in our programme, this year. We want to see how we can qualify early for the different international meets and avoid a last-minute approach,’’ he added.

  • Ogba pleads with governments: Use sports to curb crime

    Ogba pleads with governments: Use sports to curb crime

    The President, Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Solomon Ogba, on Monday urged Federal and State Governments to use sports as a tool to curb crime in the country.

    Ogba told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that sports was a veritable tool which could motivate the youth to stay off crime.

    “Sports is a tool that affects the psyche of citizens, especially the youth and because of this, governments should take it seriously by funding it adequately. For example, during the 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos last year, we did not hear of the Boko Haram crisis. This shows that sports can help to reduce crime.

    He also said that sports helped to reduce dropouts from the various callings in life and also enhanced unity.

    “If you go to countries like the U.S. and Australia, you will notice that entertainment and sports are the major tools their governments use to check hooliganism. Our government should not see sports as a lesser ministry, they should also emulate these countries,’’ he said.

    Ogba also said it was important for athletes to be educated because the AFN was interested in the athletes’ welfare, even after their sports careers.

    “Education must go with sports because when your legs cannot assist you anymore, the brain will continue from there and that is where the certificates come in. In AFN, we are also interested in our athletes’ careers, after their sports days are over,’’ he added.

     

  • Kenya to rival Nigeria

    Kenya to rival Nigeria

    : DR Congo, Liberia, Zambia, Algeria table bids

    Newly crowned African Cup of Nations champons, Nigeria look set to face a stiff competition for the hosting rights of the 2019 edition of the continent’s biggest football fiesta as Kenya has confirmed its intention to bid.

    SportingLife gathered from The BBC that the East Africans – who last qualified for the tournament in 2004 – have never staged the continent’s biggest sporting event and now DR Congo, Liberia, Zambia and Algeria are in the race to host the 2019 finals.

    DR Congo announced its plans to stage the event last week.

    The Kenyans are also bidding to play host to the 2015 African Youth Championships.

    “Kenya stands top in Africa as favourites to win these bids,” Football Kenya Federation (FKF) chairman Sam Nyamweya said.

    “As a federation we are excited with the support of our parent ministry in this ambitious mission.”

    The FKF plans to use two existing stadiums in the Kenyan capital Nairobi and to upgrade venues in the port cities of Mombasa and Kisumu.

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has yet to formally accept bids to host the 2019 finals but is expected to do so later this year.

    The next two Nations Cups’ hosts have already been decided, with Morocco set to stage the 2015 finals and Libya organising the 2017 edition.

    The Libyans had originally been due to host this year’s finals, before it was moved to South Africa following conflict in the North African country.

  • Emeghara nets brace for Siena

    Emeghara nets brace for Siena

    Nigeria-born striker Innocent Emeghara is enjoying a new lease of life with Siena, a club he joined on loan during the January transfer window.

    Emeghara , now the idol of the fans, netted a brace in Siena’s 3 – 0 surprise win over Lazio on Monday night.

    He said in his post-match comments: ”Of course I’m happy that I scored two goals against Lazio. As a striker, it is always great to score goals, but the main thing is the result of the team.

    ”Despite the score, the match was difficult, because Lazio have several very good players.”

    The 23-year-old has now scored four goals in his last three matches in the Italian championship.

    AC Siena can purchase Emeghara outright when his loan deal expires in the next four months. He has contractual obligations with Lorient until June, 2015.

  • NFF mourns Okey Isima

    NFF mourns Okey Isima

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed deep shock at news of the death of former international defender Okechukwu Isima, MON, which unfortunate incident occurred in the Federal Capital, Abuja on Monday.

    “The news of the departure of Okey Isima, MON at a time we are still celebrating the Super Eagles’ triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa hit us like a thunderbolt. He was a gentleman on and off the field.

    “We are deeply saddened by his death and we pray that the Almighty God will grant him eternal rest and grant those he has left behind, including the Nigeria football family, the fortitude to bear the loss,” said Emeka Inyama, Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee.

    Better known as Okey Isima, the renowned left back won the Africa Cup of Nations trophy with the Green Eagles in 1980 and also played for Nigeria at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow as well as the 1982 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Libya.

    He played for a few more years with the Eagles after the Libya ’82 adventure, scoring a famous goal in the 1-0 defeat of Tunisia in a 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Lagos in 1985.

  • OPERATION CONQUER KENYA: Eagles’ list out February 28

    OPERATION CONQUER KENYA: Eagles’ list out February 28

    The list of the Super Eagles players who will battle Kenya in a 2014 World Cup qualifier in March will be announced this month end, officials have said.

    Nigeria will host the Harambee Stars of Kenya in Calabar on March 23 and a training camp will be opened in Abuja soon.

    It is believed coach Stephen Keshi will keep faith with the squad who won the 2013 AFCON in South Africa recently.

    Eagles spokesman Ben Alaiya said a date has not been fixed when the camping will begin, but he is hopeful the list of call-ups for the match will be released by the end of the month.

    “The list of the players who will play the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Kenya should be made public before the end of the month,” he disclosed.

    “The game is on March 23 and as usual the home-based players will be the first set of players to resume while their foreign-based counterparts will join up later. There is no cause for alarm as our foreign-based players are back at their clubs and doing well, while the home lads are with their club preparing for the new NPL season.”

    Nigeria lead their qualifying group with four points from two matches, a point ahead of closest rivals Namibia. Malawi are third on two points, while Kenya have a point.

  • ‘Ambrose has made Celtic better’

    ‘Ambrose has made Celtic better’

    Celtic manager Neil Lennon has praised his centre back pairing, saying that Efe Ambrose has caught the attention of “top clubs in different countries”.

    Nigerian Ambrose, 24, played in Celtic’s 3-0 defeat to Juventus in the Champions League last 16, with the former receiving considerable flak following a poor performance that saw him make vital mistakes in defence and attack, just a few days after he had helped Nigeria win the African Cup of Nations.

    Speaking to The Scotsman, Lennon said: “Efe is strong-minded regarding the criticism. He is very humble and was extremely disappointed after last Tuesday night.

    “I don’t think we will lose him in the summer as he is just in the door and there is more he can add to his game. But he has a few admirers out there with his performances this season.

    “Efe has been a great signing for us. He has also brought the best out of Kelvin Wilson, who has been magnificent this season. At European level, they have made us better.”

  • Foreign training tour ‘ll motivate us, says Obuh

    Foreign training tour ‘ll motivate us, says Obuh

    John Obuh, the Coach of the National U-20 soccer team, said on Monday that a foreign training tour would motivate and help the team to prepare seriously for the African Youth Championship (AYC). The competition has been scheduled for between March 16 to March 30 in Algeria.

    Obuh told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, that the team was as at now prepared for the competition, but that the foreign training tour would assist them to prepare better.

    He noted that although the team had not performed well in some of their friendly matches, the training tour would afford them the opportunity to be well-prepared.

    “We should be prepared, but not at 100 per cent now as we are still playing friendly games. Going for camping abroad will enable us to further sharpen our skills for the competition,” he said.

    According to him, the two friendly matches against Algeria and Egypt on Feb. 20 and Feb. 22 will enable him to know how prepared the team will be for the tournament.

    He assured that the success of the Super Eagles in winning the Africa Cup of Nations would not put pressure on the team, but would rather encourage the team to follow their footsteps and defend the trophy.

    The national team won the competition by defeating Cameroon 3-2 at the finals in 2011. The team would have their final phase-camping in Tunisia, where the final 21 players would be selected, ahead of the tournament.