The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • LASG begins a test-run of Games facilities

    LASG begins a test-run of Games facilities

    The Lagos State Government has begun test-running the facilities to be used for the 18th National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Lagos from Nov. 27 and Dec. 9.

    A check by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, one of the festival venues, showed that the test-run, which is to ascertain the readiness of the venues and facilities for the 14-day fiesta, started on Tuesday.

    A correspondent of NAN who was at the venue reported that the main bowl was a beehive of activities, with Team Lagos sprinters warming the tartan tracks. Also rehearsals on boat regatta, calisthenics, choral songs and seven other activities for the opening and closing ceremonies were also ongoing.

    Waheed Adelekan, Secretary for the Venues and Facilities Sub-Committee of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), said the test-run was to evaluate the work done by the contractors, ahead of the Games.

    Adelekan, who expressed satisfaction with the durability the work, added that: “to whom much is given, much is expected’’. He said the State Government attached a lot of premium to the festival and would not accept any sub-standard job for the Games.

    According to him, if, in the process of the test-run, any contractor is found wanting, the contractor will be made to face the wrath of the law. NAN reports that apart from the athletes and facilities, other units with responsibilities at the Games were at the stadium, examining the facilities.

    NAN also reports that officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Police and the Nigerian Navy were seen demonstrating various security tasks at the venue.

  • Elderson vows: Eagles ‘ll win back fans

    Elderson vows: Eagles ‘ll win back fans

    A third AFCON triumph in South Africa would restore the fans confidence in the Super Eagles, according to defender Elderson Echiejile.

    Nigeria have won the Nations Cup twice, in 1980 and 1994. And the Sporting Braga star said another continental conquest after a long wait would get the country fully behind the team.

    “The fans lost faith in the team after we failed to qualify for the 2012 Nations Cup. But to clinch the trophy would get the entire country back behind us, so our target is to win in South Africa. We are very positive and ready to give our best,” Elderson told FIFA.com.

    The Eagles are drawn in the first round against defending champions Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia in Group C based in the north-eastern South African city of Nelspruit. The Braga star picked out the Chipolopolo as the biggest threat in the group, while insisting the other two teams will also not be pushovers.

    “Obviously, our main group rivals would be Zambia. They keep the ball very well and their confidence is now sky high after what they achieved at the last competition. We know we will have to work for everything we will get in this match, but we have the quality to beat any African team on the day,” Elderson admitted.

    He added: “Zambia remain the biggest threat, but the other teams cannot just be wished away. They earned the right to be in the competition and we just have to beat them to go past the group stage.

    “For the past four tournaments, Côte d’Ivoire have reached at least the semi-finals. They have some great individuals like Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure. Many will again fancy them to win it, while Ghana have also been very consistent since 2008.”

  • Justice Christopher to prove himself in NPL

    Justice Christopher to prove himself in NPL

    Ex-Nigeria World Cup star Justice Christopher has promised to relaunch his career with NPL new boys Nasarawa United.

    The versatile Christopher who featured at the 2002 World Cup told MTNFootball.com he will prove that he still has a lot to offer in the game.

    “I am now a Nasarawa United player. We have agreed and I signed a year’s deal with them. I am happy and this is an avenue to prove that I am fit as many offers are waiting for me in Europe and Asia. I will do my best with Nasarawa to show that I am still the Justice Christopher people know,” he said.

    “I could leave at a point I get an offer to return to Europe, but I am sure I will play till next summer.

    “I am fit so I have to start playing because all the club that I contacted in Europe and Asia tell me it’s been long I played, so they want me back in action before anything.”

    A lingering knee injury has dogged his once promising career after he last played for Hefolge in Denmark in the 2006/2007 season.

    Christopher has also featured for Katsina United, Sharks, Insurance in Nigeria as well as Royal Antwerp (Belgium), Levski Sofia (Bulgaria), Trelleborg (Sweden) and Alania (Russia).

  • Rotimi Sunday stays at Dolphins

    Rotimi Sunday stays at Dolphins

    Dolphins’ goalkeeper, Rotimi Sunday has said he is ready for the coming 2012/2013 Nigeria Premier League season.

    Sunday at the weekend agreed new terms with the management of former domestic champions which will keep him in the post for the coming season.

    The former Enyimba goalkeeper said the new improvement at the Garden City side made him retrace his step to their camp.

    “I’ve entered into an agreement with Dolphins to stay back for the new season. I saw lots of improvement in the team and I fell for it. I’m set for the new season, ready to give my best and I’m confident we’ll win trophy or at least better our past performances.

    “The challenges are (growing) more now as every team wants to win the league shield, majority of the old players didn’t leave the team and that is an added advantage. It will help us immensely in achieving our target coupled with the few quality new ones joining the side,” the former Sunshine Stars shot-stopper said to supersport.com.

    Dolphins managed to escape relegation on the last day of the past season on 49 points from 36 matches.

    Stanley Eguma’s team on Wednesday embarked on a two-week pre-season camping in Onitsha where they are expected to engage selected sides in tune-up matches.

  • Team Ondo suffers setback, as some athletes abscond

    Team Ondo suffers setback, as some athletes abscond

    With just six days to the commencement of the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF), some of Team Ondo’s elite athletes have absconded abroad, according to a top official.

    Bola Akinbobola, Special Adviser on Sports to the Ondo State Governor, disclosed this during a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

    Akinbobola, however, dismissed insinuations that the `unceremonious departure’ of the seasoned athletes could hamper Team Ondo’s chances at the “Eko 2012’’ fiesta.

    “We lost some athletes; they travelled abroad for greener pastures, but we believe that our athletes on ground will prove their worth at the festival.

    “So when we carried out an assessment on Monday with the governor, we perceived that we may not be able to do better than we did in Port Harcourt in 2011.For most of them, it is their first competition and the enthusiasm is there. They have shown us that they are ready to take the centre-stage,’’ he said.

    The special adviser went on to say that while the departure of the elite athletes was regrettable, Team Ondo would strive to maintain its consistency at the NSF.

    “ We will ensure that we maintain our position and possibly push hard to surpass our feat at the 2011 Garden City Games in Port Harcourt. Though most of our athletes will be participating in the festival for the first time, we will still expose them to the rigours of the competition,’’ Akinbobola said.

    NAN reports that Team Ondo finished in the fourth position at the 2011 Games in Port Harcourt with 30 gold, 32 silver, and 43 bronze medals. Team Ondo is expected to arrive in Lagos on Nov. 24.

  • Mikel blames team for defensive frailties

    Mikel blames team for defensive frailties

    After losing 0 – 3 to Juventus on Tuesday night, Chelsea could be the first defending champion to fail to progress to the knock out rounds of the UEFA Champions League since Steaua Bucuresti, Romania.

    Nigeria international John Obi Mikel has blamed the side for the defensive frailties exhibited against the Italian champions.

    Interviewed by ITV, Mikel said: ”Sometimes we were very good going forward. But at the same time, when you lose the ball you have to defend as well and we didn’t seem to do that. It has to be the team.

    ”That’s how we were successful last year. We played the way we wanted to play. People said we didn’t play fantastic football but we won a prize. This year we play attractive football but this is what we get. Maybe teams that play attractive football don’t win games.”

    Chelsea sacked manager Roberto Di Matteo on Wednesday morning, citing the recent poor performances in the EPL and the Champions League.

  • Ahmed Musa named in Russian racism saga

    Ahmed Musa named in Russian racism saga

    Nigerian forward Ahmed Musa was mentioned in a racism saga at Russia’s CSKA Moscow. While Musa who has been in superb form banging goals for his team is not the major attraction, the man at the center, Russian defender Sergey Ignashevich in a stout defence of his action made reference to the in-form Nigerian.

    CSKA Moscow’s Ignashevich said he didn’t expect such strong negative reaction on a “funny” photo of his African teammate, Sekou Oliseh, he posted on Instagram.

    The picture, which showed Oliseh holding an edition of the “Black Monkey” novel by Russian writer Zakhar Prilepin, was accompanied by the text: “Sekou is an expert in books”.

    Many, who saw the picture, considered it a racist prank, suggesting Iganshevich gifted the book to the unwitting Liberian player.

    “I didn’t give him this book as I’m reading it myself now. When I posted the photo on Instagram I miscalculated the reaction of outsiders on the humor inside the team. It’s my mistake. I never thought that I’d have to explain my actions. For people, who see life in black and white only, I can say that Sekou appreciated the joke, “Iganshevich explained in a statement on his website.

    The Russian international added that the one, who laughed at the picture the most, was another CSKA’s black player, Ahmed Musa of Nigeria.

    The “Black Monkey” novel tells the story of a journalist, who investigates a secret government laboratory which specializes in research on violent children.

  • Chelsea sacks Di Matteo

    Chelsea sacks Di Matteo

    Chelsea has sacked Roberto Di Matteo following the team’s 3-0 defeat to Juventus on Tuesday evening, Goal.com reports.

    The defeat has put the club’s prospects of qualifying for the Champions league knockout stage in doubt.

    A statement on Chelsea’s official website reads: “Chelsea Football Club has parted company this morning with Manager Roberto Di Matteo.

    “The team’s recent performances and results have not been good enough and the owner and the Board felt that a change was necessary now to keep the club moving in the right direction as we head into a vitally important part of the season.

    “The club faces a difficult task ahead in qualifying for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League as well as maintaining a strong challenge for the top of the Premier League while competing in three other cup competitions. Our aim is to remain as competitive as possible and challenge strongly on all fronts.

    “The owner and the Board would like to thank Roberto for all he has done for the club since taking over in March. Roberto helped guide us to an historic Champions League victory and a seventh FA Cup. We will never forget the huge contribution he has made to this club’s history and he will always be welcome at Stamford Bridge.

    “The club will be making an announcement shortly regarding a new first team manager.”

     

  • LASG paints houses around Teslim Balogun Stadium, other venues

    LASG paints houses around Teslim Balogun Stadium, other venues

    Residents of the Lagos State Property Development Corporation (LSPDC) estate adjacent to the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos have had their houses painted by the state government, ahead of the 18th National Sports Festival.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Games, tagged “Eko 2012,’’ will hold from Nov. 27 to Dec. 9.

    A check by NAN showed that houses on streets opposite the LSDPC estate, such as Ogunmola, were also similarly painted. The government is also painting and fumigating houses around the stadium and the other venues for the festival.

    The venues are: the University of Lagos, Akoka; the Yaba College of Technology and the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka. However, some of the residents have called on the government to ensure effective monitoring, to prevent the contractors from doing shoddy jobs.

    Mrs. Iyabo Balogun, a petty trader, who resides at Block 4 of the LSPDC housing estate, said: “Our houses are now very beautiful and our environment is fumigated; thanks to Eko 2012”.

    She said that she would like the Lagos State Government to continue to host Eko 2012 every year, so that the state government would continue to keep their neighbourhoods clean.

    Mrs. Kemi Ajose, a housewife residing in Block 3 of the LSPDC estate, said though painting of her building had yet to be completed, she was grateful to government for it. Ajose, however, expressed disgust with the painters whom she said, had skipped her building for the next block for some two days now.

    Another resident of Block 3, Mr. Alex Obi, said the contractor should be monitored by the government to ensure that he delivers a good job. He said the uneven nature of some of the paintings might derail the government’s plan of having a uniform outlook for the buildings during the Games.

    Omolara Williams, a resident of Ogunmola Street, told NAN that the house painting started on Friday.

    She said that she was happy with the development, which was in the spirit of Eko 2012.

    NAN reports that the painting of houses around the Games venues was part of government’s efforts to create awareness for the fiesta and to ensure that the neighbourhoods remained clean.

  • Niger budgets N75m

    Niger budgets N75m

    • Annouces naira rain for athletes
    • Targets gold in Hockey, Handball

    Niger State is determined to make the best use of N75million on the table for this year’s National Sports Festival dubbed Eko 2012.

    The state which is parading hockey, handball and volley ball as the only three team events of comparative advantage remians optimistic that her athletes will shine, especially after their qualification at the zonal elimination at Ilorin.

    In the same vein, the state hopes to clinch the medals in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres races in both the male and female categories, as well as to sweep all the medals in javelin and shot put because of the calibre of athletes currently in camp.

    Most of the athletes numbering about 200 that make up Team Niger have expressed readiness to make sure that records posted at the last two festivals in Kaduna and Port Harcourt respectively are improved upon.

    Already the Secretary to the Niger State Government Daniel Shashere has assured the athletes that it is going to be a naira rain if they justify their selection, and reminded them that the state is known for recognising and rewarding hardwork.

    He said: “What is on the front burner in the recognition of athletes by this administration is to give cash rewards to any athlete that makes the state proud; it is now a policy that N2.5million should be given to teams that win gold medals and N1.5million for silver while N1m will go to a bronze medal team”.

    On the individual event each athletes with a gold medal will be given N300,000, silver medal N200,000 and the bronze medalist will go home with N150,000, this arrangement according to the Secretary to the state Government is to keep the athletes on high spirit.