The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • Soccer Academy: Akpoborie commends Glo for empowering Nigerian Youth

    Soccer Academy: Akpoborie commends Glo for empowering Nigerian Youth

    •10 outstanding players emerge at Lagos screening

    EX- INTERNATIONAL and former Stuttgart of Germany Striker, Jonathan Akpoborie, has described the Glo Soccer Academy as another platform of empowering Nigerian Youth and reducing social vices in the country.

    Akpoborie, who was at the Legacy pitch, National Stadium venue of the Glo Academy screening exercise in Lagos over the weekend, joined the technical team comprising Victor Ikpeba, Tijani Babangida, Anthony Baffoe, Mutiu Adepoju, Zion Ogunfeyinmi, and Segun Odegbami to select the top ten candidates out of thousands of talented footballers that registered for the exercise.

    He described the Academy as the viable platform that thousands of talented youth need to showcase their skill and develop their career.

    According to Akpoborie, “there was nothing like this in our own days, we practically rose through the ranks”. He added that football helped to shape his life and shift his attention from vices that were common among the youths in his younger days in Ajegunle.

    He therefore called on Nigerian youths to make maximum use of the opportunity offered by the Glo Soccer Academy to fast track their football career, noting that this will help to reduce unemployment and social vices among the youth. He called on other corporate organisations to emulate Globacom in developing youth talents in football.

    Also speaking on the Academy, Ex- Super Eagles Midfielder, Mutiu ‘Headmaster’ Adepoju commended Globacom for initiating the Academy.

  • Ordega parts ways with Rossiyanka

    Ordega parts ways with Rossiyanka

    •Returns to Rivers Angels

    Ex-Falconets’ striker, Francesca Ordega does not plan to return to Russia to continue with WFC Rossiyanka having left the club on a mutual consent, SportingLife has authoritatively gathered.

    Ordega returned to Nigeria some weeks back to treat her ankle injury but sources close to the Benue born striker disclosed that she complained about the freezing weather condition in the Eastern European nation among other things and so was not too keen on a return to Russia.

    The source further scooped that the striker is poised for a return to Rivers Angels, the club from where she jetted to Russia alongside Desire Oparanozie about two months.

    It was also revealed that Ordega is in high level discussions with other clubs outside Russia where she hopes that the weather condition will suit her best.

    The striker is expected to lace her boots for her Rivers State’s owned club in the Women’s Super 6 which kicks off on November 16th and the Women’s Challenge Cup which has reached the semi-final stages.

    Ordega was in fine form for the Falconets at the recently held FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Japan where she overcame ankle injury barrier to plunder 4 goals in Nigeria’s march to the semi-final including a hat-trick against hapless Italy.

  • Anambra dangles cash prizes on athletes

    Anambra dangles cash prizes on athletes

    AS PART of strategies to ensure optimal performance at the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF), the Anambra government has announced cash rewards for athletes that will win medals at the games. The Games, scheduled to be hosted by Lagos, will hold from Nov. 27 to Dec. 9.

    Disclosing the prizes to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Monday, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dr Edozie Aroh, said that gold medal winners would receive N200, 000 each.

    According to him, winners of silver medals would be rewarded with N150, 000, while bronze medal winners would get N75, 000. Aroh said there were other incentives being packaged to further motivate the athletes, such as ensuring adequate logistics support.

    He said this was the first of its kind in the state, stressing that Anambra was determined to reverse the dismal performance of the State in past festivals by boosting the morale of its athletes.

    “It is part of our commitment to the athletes, as well as to ensure a superlative outing; motivation is paramount in sports and we want to provide that as much as possible. They now know what is at stake. It is not just about the state but for them as individuals; they must give in their best because they have never had it so good,” Aroh said.

    On the medal prospects of Anambra in Lagos, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Dr Cyprian Amuzie, said it was targeting about 30 gold medals and many silver and bronze medals. Amuzie said taekwondo, gymnastics, and the swimming team handled by a newly-engaged coach, Joseph Okechi, had high medal prospects.

    He also said that the athletics team being jointly handled by Johnny Igboka and Uchenna Emedolu, would be expected to win many medals. The Permanent Secretary said that monetary prizes attached to the medals by the state government would spur the athletes to fly the flag of the State to higher heights.

    “The commissioner has noted with regrets the poor outing of the State in the NSF and has resolved to reverse the ugly trend. He pledged to provide all necessary logistics both for camping and the games proper, including the announcement of mouth watering prizes for every medal won at the games,” Amuzie said.

  • Rosberg not worried by Hamilton

    Rosberg not worried by Hamilton

    Nico Rosberg says he is confident that he’ll be able to compete with new Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton in 2013.

    The 2008 world champion confirmed his move to the German outfit in October, ending a 14-year stint at McLaren, following a number of disappointing seasons.

    Hamilton certainly has big shoes to fill, with his transfer coming as a result of Michael Schumacher’s decision to retire but he has already spoke of his confidence of transforming the previously under-performing team.

    Rosberg previously raced alongside the Englishman in karting and the German is convinced he has the ability to match his team-mate next season.

    “There’s no concern, I’m pleased he’s joining the team and it’s a new challenge for me,” he said. “And yes, he’s one of the best out there so it’s going to be very interesting going up against him. But again, I’m convinced that I’ll do well and we’ll see how he goes.”

     

  • AWC FALLOUT: FALCONS’ OUSTER UNFORTUNATE -MAIGARI

    AWC FALLOUT: FALCONS’ OUSTER UNFORTUNATE -MAIGARI

    NFF President Aminu Maigari has bemoaned the woeful performance of the senior women national team, Super Falcons at the just concluded African Women Championship held in Equatorial Guinea.

    Speaking to SportingLife on his way to Miami, Florida, USA on Sunday, the former Bauchi State FA Chairman said: “This is the worst assemblage of senior women team Nigeria has ever had. The annoying aspect of it is that the girls were well motivated, and they were given whatever they requested for, I never knew what went wrong.

    “We would have to wait for the technical report from the Head Coach before we would know the next line of action. The annoying aspect is that this debacle is coming when our junior teams excelled at the world level.

    “We had expected the senior team to capitalized on that to rule Africa again, but all that has now become mere wishes. It is very unfotunate, and unbelievable.” Maigari led Super Eagles delegation to friendly against Venezuela.

  • Špotáková named Czech Athlete of Year for sixth time

    Špotáková named Czech Athlete of Year for sixth time

    Barbora Špotáková was named the Czech athlete of the year for the sixth consecutive year during a live televised ceremony on Saturday (10).

    Olympic title defender in the Javelin Throw, Diamond Race Trophy winner (as in 2010), world leader. What else could Špotáková have done? Well, perhaps break the World record, but she’s held that standard since 2008.

    The Czech Javelin star achieved an easy-looking win in London, under the guidance of men’s World record holder Jan Železný and with help from former sprinter Tomáš Drímal, who is currently her physio and running coach.

    Špotáková hasn’t been beaten in the national poll since 2007. More impressively, for the seventh straight year she’s returned home from a major championship with a medal, beginning with the 2006 European Championships in Gothenburg.

    Czech Athletic Federation’s poll was organized for 50th time since 1962 (1969 excluded). Officials, coaches & media selected their top ten names in the main category and best coach, junior and breakthrough. The 152 votes cast was the highest count in 14 years.

    The race for second place was clearly won by Zuzana Hejnová who won Olympic bronze in the 400m Hurdles after the frustration of failing to make the podium at the European Championships in Helsinki. Finishing third was Javelin thrower and 2012 world leader Vítezslav Veselý who came away empty handed from the Olympics, where he finished fourth, in an otherwise excellent season in which he won the European title and Diamond Race Trophy.

    Helsinki 400m champion Pavel Maslák, who also won European Rising Star honours this year, was fourth, with pole vaulter Jirina Ptácníková, another European champion, finishing fifth.

    Železný, who also coaches Veselý, was named Coach of the Year for the second time, with 112 out of a possible 152 votes. As an athlete, Železný won the annual honours six titles – seven if counting former Czechoslovakia.

    Anežka Drahotová, who finished sixth in the 10,000m Race Walk at the World Junior Championships, was named Junior Athlete of the Year. Veselý finished ahead of rising combined events star Adam Sebastian Helcelet in the Breakthrough category.

     

  • Hughes needs time —Marsh

    Hughes needs time —Marsh

    QPR chairman Tony Fernandes should wait until Christmas before deciding whether to sack Mark Hughes, according to Rodney Marsh.

    The London club returned to the foot of the Premier League on Saturday after they suffered their seventh defeat of a so-far winless season at Stoke.

    Speculation continues to mount over the future of Rangers boss Hughes despite public statements of support from Fernandes, who is also the club owner.

    Marsh, who played over 200 games for QPR, admits the team’s start to the season has been poor, but he insists sacking the manager would be wrong.

    “I believe you should give the manager until Christmas,” former QPR striker Marsh told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme.

    “If you look at any successful team it is always based on continuity and consistency.

    “Just look at Arsenal and Manchester United and what they have done with Arsene Wenger and (Sir) Alex Ferguson. Yes, they have gone 11 games without a win, but I hate it when owners keep on sacking their managers after a run of bad results.

    “Mark Hughes has been under the cosh for the last four games. It was only six games into the season when they were saying ‘Hughes out’.

     

  • MOC YET TO RELEASE ATHLETES’ ACCREDITATION LIST

    MOC YET TO RELEASE ATHLETES’ ACCREDITATION LIST

    THE LOCAL Organising Committee (LOC) for the 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos has assured stakeholders that the names of accredited athletes and officials would soon be made public.

    The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that less than 15 days to the Games, the Main Organising Committee (MOC) had yet to publish the list of participants. However, the MOC only concluded the Delegation Registration Meeting (DRM) on Sunday in Abuja, an innovation in the biennial competition.

    The meeting is where athletes and officials are entered for the Games and the ineligible ones have their names removed, to check mercenaries and two states entering one athlete.

    The Secretary of the Games Services and Secretariat, Deji Aladegbemi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday that the MOC had yet to release the list.

    “We are relying on the MOC for that all-important document. We have been working on assumptions in the provision of logistics and accommodation but believe that the document’s timely release will help us a lot in our planning,’’ he said.

    The Secretary said the LOC had made provision for athletes and officials based on their past experiences of the festival. He explained that the LOC would be responsible for the welfare of athletes, while state governments would cater for their officials.

    Meanwhile the Assistant Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee, Fred Edore, told NAN that more than 400 journalists had been accredited and that more were still being expected.

    Edore, Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), said that their accreditation cards would be released three days before the Games.

  • Prandelli surprised by El Shaarawy form

    Prandelli surprised by El Shaarawy form

    Cesare Prandelli has admitted that he has been surprised by Stephan El Shaarawy’s form for AC Milan this season ahead Italy’s friendly with France on Wednesday.

    The young forward has been in fine form this season, and currently leads the Serie A scoring charts with eight goals from his 11 appearances.

    “El Shaarawy is a young lad who is surprising everyone,” Prandelli told Rai 2.

    “He has been able to bring quality to football, and also done very well in terms of scoring goals.”

    The former Fiorentina coach went on to praise his old club for their start to the season, which has seen them rise to fourth in the table.

    “Fiorentina are the big surprise of the season so far, as [coach] Vincenzo Montella has given them a style of play that is attacking, entertaining and effective.

    “I am happy for everyone in Florence.”

     

  • Akinfenwa praised after hat-trick

    Akinfenwa praised after hat-trick

    Northampton Town manager Aidy Boothroyd praised striker Adebayo Akinfenwa after his first hat-trick in the 4-2 win over Accrington Stanley.

    The 30-year-old has scored 107 Football League goals in his career, but had never hit three in a game before.

    Boothroyd told BBC Radio Northampton: “I think Bayo is a fantastic player, he’s better than League Two but I think that about a lot of our players.

    “He seems to be thriving at the moment.”

    The Cobblers boss, who was appointed a year ago, added: “When we arrived, I thought he had lost a little bit of what made him so good. But he’s running about, he’s proving his worth.

    “I won’t let him away with anything. I won’t with any of the other players.”

    And the former Watford, Colchester and Coventry manager has revealed how an innovative approach has helped his side move up to within three points of the play-offs.

    “We had a phenomenal amount of points from Tuesday night games but Saturdays we weren’t very good,” he said.

    “I started bringing them in Saturday mornings so they’re actually getting almost 9-5ers now. Players want to lie-in and have a rest but the fact that they’ve woken up is starting to help us. Bayo likes his lie-ins.

    “It’s like with my kids, I don’t always give them what they want, I give them what they need. I always listen to them but at the end of it daddy has to decide. We have some good characters but I’ll give them what they need, not what they want.”