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Tag: Nigerian Sports Award

  • Nigeria Sports Award hails Eagles, Quadri,

    Nigeria Sports Award hails Eagles, Quadri,

    Organisers of Nigerian Sports Award,(NSA) have lauded The Super Eagles for securing  the World Cup ticket after beating Zambia by one goal to nil in a World Cup Qualifier held on Saturday.

    It equally commended Aruna Quadri, Nigeria number one Table Tennis champion for winning the ITTF Polish Open.The Nigerian defeated Japan’s Kaii Yoshida after six sets (11-7, 11-13 11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 14-12) to become the first African to win an ITTF title outside the continent.

    In a statement issued by the management of the award and signed by the executive member of the panel, Kayode Idowu, he expressed delight over the hard won victory even as he commended the coaching crew, the management of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and other sports stakeholders for rallying round the team to secure the ticket.

    Similarly, the organiser praised Aruna for putting up outstanding performance at the Open that saw him emerge winner.

    Kayode said” It is most gratifying news to hear that Nigeria has eventually qualify to flag the nation’s flag in next year World Cup holding in Russia. For us in NSA, we are most excited about the piece of news. We believe achievement such as this is a clear testimony to the improvement being witnessed in football and other sports in general. We believe it can only get better as we have seen in some other sports. I think commendations should go to all the players for giving everything to earn this most coveted ticket. We must commend the team, the coaching crew for putting up a gallant fight to secure the ticket. They truly deserve all the accolades. If you follow the last few matches, you would notice the level of consistency and skillful display by the national team. The victories over other arch rivals in the group alone are pointers that Nigeria has what it takes to beat any team if there is unity of purpose and drive to succeed. By this feat, it has shown that Nigeria football and sports in general can still get back to its rightful place that we were known for. 

    While applauding the role of the management of the Nigerian Football Federation and Federal Ministry of Sport on the Super Eagle sterling performance, he tasked them to support the team by starting preparation in earnest  to avoid a repeat of our last outing at the World cup.

    According to him, with quality friendlies and adequate training, Nigeria has what it takes to surprise the world Cup by being the first African country to win the Cup

    He said’ I need to state that we cannot afford to go to sleep now that we have secured the ticket. This is the time to begin preparation for the World cup if we are really concerned about putting upa good showing or winning the World Cup at best.

    The management of the award however advised the table tennis federation to lend their support to the tennis sensation as World Cup draws near noting that Quadri needs all the backing to perform excellently.

  • Nigerian Sports Award: Okusan is Sports Journalist of the Year

    Nigerian Sports Award: Okusan is Sports Journalist of the Year

     

     
    NationSport Senior Correspondent, Olalekan Okusan has emerged winner of this year’s Nigerian Sports Award as Sports Journalist of the Year in the print category.
    Okusan, who is currently in Cape Town, South Africa for the coverage of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Junior Championships, won the 5th edition of the award held at the Banquet Hall of Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos on Friday.
    Okusan, 2012 Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) winner, beat other nominees including New Telegraph’s Tobi Emmanuel and two other journalists from Goal.com to the coveted gong.
    The Mass Communication graduate of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic had been a nominee of the awards in 2012 and this year, three of his works were considered by the award panel.
    He had devoted time and energy to comprehensive coverage of the Tennis beat and is a past winner of the Sports Business Media Award Sports Writer of the Year.
    In 2015, Okusan was also listed by an online medium – Ynaija.com as one of the most powerful young people in sports.
    In the other Journalist Category of the Award, Moses Praiz of Channels TV was awarded the TV Journalist of the Year, while Olawale Adigun of Top Radio named as the Radio Journalist of the Year. The Photo Journalist of the Year award went to Ayodele Ojo of Daily Sun newspaper.
    However, Men and Women of the Nigerian Paralympics team dominated the 5th edition of the award as Kehinde Paul and Lucy Ejike emerged Sport-man and Sport-woman of the year respectively.
    The duo also won the Special Sport Person of the Year (Men) and Special Sport Person of the Year (Women) Categories. Kehinde Paul won gold medal in the Powerlifting Men’s – 65Kg category while Ejike Lucy not only won gold in the 79kg, 86kg and 61kg powerlifting event respectively at the 2016 Paralympics games, but also broke the Paralympic Record (PR) and World Record (WR) by lifting 136kg, followed by a lift of 138kg, and then a massive lift of 142kg.
    Also, Special Recognition Award was given out to some deserving sport personalities. The first was given out to the League Management Company in recognition of its great job of turning around the Nigerian League.
    The next Special Recognition Award went to Nigeria first sporting heroes among who are the Nduka Ugbade-led 1985 Under-16 FIFA World Cup winning team and they were represented by two members of the team, Imama Amapakbo and Jonathan Akpoborie.
    The third Special Recognition Award went to Atlanta ’96 Olympic Gold Medal-winning football team, captained by Kano Nwankwo, represented at the event by the trio of Emmanuel Babayaro, Dosu Joseph and Victor Ikpeba.
    Also the 4X400 Nigerian Quartet Team that won silver but was later upgraded to Gold with the ban of the US team at Sydney 2000 were also given the Special Recognition Award.
    The duo of Maureen Madu and Joseph Yobo won the Special Recognition Awards for being the first ever Nigerian Woman footballer to achieve 100 caps and first Nigerian Man footballer to achieve 100 caps respectively.
     
  • NationSport’s Okusan makes 2016 Nigerian Sports Award nominees list

    NationSport’s Okusan makes 2016 Nigerian Sports Award nominees list

    The NationSport Senior Correspondent, Olalekan Okusan has made the list of nominees for the Sports Journalist of the Year 2016 (Print) of this year’s Nigerian Sports Award.

    In a letter signed by the secretary of the award panel, Kayode Idowu, Okusan was nominated alongside four others in the category.

    Okusan, the 2012 Sports Journalist of the Year of the annual Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) was nominated by the public and the winner is expected to be named on December 2 at the Banquet Hall of Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    “We are pleased to inform you that you have been nominated for SPORTS JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR 2016 (PRINT) category along with other colleagues in the Nigerian Sports Award 2016. The event will hold on the 2nd of December, 2016 at The Banquet Hall of Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos from 6pm Prompt. For the judging process, you are expected to submit any three (3) works of yours published between November 2015 and November 2016. Deadline for submission is Sunday, November 27, 2016. We, therefore, say congratulations and wish you continued success,” Idowu said.

    In 2015, Okusan was also listed by an online medium – Ynaija.com as one of the most powerful young people in sports.

    “Formerly of the Guardian newspapers, but now with The Nation, Olalekan Okusan is one of the hardest working sports reporters in the country, devoting time and energy to comprehensive coverage of the often underserved Tennis beat. A past winner of the Sports Business Media Award Sports Writer of the Year prize, Okusan commands a lot of clout in his field and has helped countless talents secure much needed press coverage,” the website wrote.

  • Paralympians dominate nomination for Nigerian Sports Award

    Paralympians dominate nomination for Nigerian Sports Award

    This year’s Nigerian Sports Award witnessed dominance of nomination by Rio 2016 Paralympians with most of them making the nominees for sports man and woman of the year categories.

    According to the chairman of the award panel, Ikedi Isiguzo, 11 out of the 20 categories of the award would be given out this year following the lack of nomination from the public for nine of the awards.

    Isiguzo who spoke at the unveiling of all the nominees for this year’s award, said that only excellent and not popularity would be rewarded.

    The Executive Director, Unmissable Incentives, Kayode Idowu unveiled Manchester City of England star, Kelechi Iheanacho, Wikki Tourists’ striker, Godwin Obaje and Rangers International star, Chisom Egbuchulam in the footballer of the year category.

    For sportsman of the year, Paralympians Kehinde Paul, Ezuruike Roland and Nnamdi Innocent will compete for the gong, while five Paralympians – Omolayo Bose, Orji Josephine, Lauretta Onye, Lucy Ejike and Flora Ugwunma will jostle for laurel in the sports woman and special sports person of the year.

    The trio of Kehinde Paul, Ezuruike Roland and Nnamdi Innocent will also jostle for the special sports person of the year (men).

    The team of the year is between Dream IV and Rangers International while the coach of the year will be a battle among Samson Siasia, Are Feyisetan and Imama Amapakabo.

    Idowu however, disclosed that there would be special recognition got six athletes who are referred to as sporting heroes. “The performances of our athletes and sports in Nigeria in
    2016 has been very poor. There’s really nothing major to celebrate aside the exploits of our Paralympians. We therefore needs we have decided to add colour to the 5th edition of the award by celebrating some first in Nigerian sports at the highest level with six special recognition to be awarded during the event on December 2 at Banquet Hall, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos,” Idowu said.

    Publics are expected to vote for the sportsman and sportswomen of the year from November 8 to 27.

  • Glitz and Glamour At 2015 Nigerian Sports Award

    Glitz and Glamour At 2015 Nigerian Sports Award

    • as Sports Minister Commends Organizers

    Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalong has described the Nigerian Sports Award as the best way to reward sportsmen and women who have distinguished themselves in this country and make Nigeria proud.

    Dalong made the statement at his first official outing since his appointment as minister during the award ceremony held on Friday at the Marquee, Oceanview, Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Dalong who admitted that the reward system in this society of ours has been consigned to materialism, commended the vision of the organizers for their initiative to recognize talents, contributions, skills and performances of the distinguished sportsmen and women through the award.

    The Jos-born administrator added that the establishment of the Nigerian Sports Award has developed a society where the reward system is functional.

    “I am very elated from what I have seen here and we would improve on it. My passion as a person is that we should be able to develop a society where the reward system is functional. I believe a society without an effective reward system is a society destined to doom,” Dalong said.

    “Of course, in this society of ours the reward system was consigned to materialism. You are not recognizing because of your consistent, you are not recognized because of your talent, you’re not recognize because of your skills but you’re recognize by the size of your pocket. Indeed, that has contributed immensely in destroying the progress of the country. And here stands the viability of the vision of organizers of this award, which we are all gathered here to recognize excellence.

    “We are here to recognize the talents, the contribution, the skills and performances of our sportsmen and women who have distinguished themselves in this country and make Nigeria proud. This was made possible with the organizers of this award, which is commendable.  Sports we all know is one of the basic instruments that can unify not only the country but also the whole world,” he stated.

    At the end of the award distinguished sportsmen and women was recognized with awards.

    The FIBA 2015 MVP Chamberlain Oguchi emerged Ball Sportsperson of the Year, for helping National Basketball team, D’ Tigers won the just concluded FIBA Africa tournament. He defeated Aruna Quadri and Olumide Oyedeji.

    Are Feyisetan, Nigerian Powerlifting Coach, beat off a stiff competition from the National Men’s Basketball team, William Voight and the Women Cycling Coach, Bashir Mohammed to be crowned the Coach of the Year category.

    Kelechi Nwanaga (Javeline) was handed the Discovery of the Year award at the expense of Awoniyi Taiwo (Footballer) and Amusan Tobiloba.

    In the football category, Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa was named the Footballer of the Year (Men) ahead of Odion Ighalo, and the Sunshine Stars striker, Tunji Adeniji while Ngozi Okobi dethrone Asisat Oshoala to emerge the Footballer of the Year (Women) category.

    World record breakers at the just concluded All African Games, Yakubu Adesokan went home with double awards of the Special Sport Person of the Year and the Sports Man of the Year.Loveline Obiji humbles Balqis Otunla and Lovina Onyegbule to emerge the Sports Woman of the year.

    The Director General (DG) of the National Sports Commission, Yakmut Al-Hassan was named the Sports Administrators of the Year category ahead of the President of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali.

    For the School Sports Award, Eyeanugie Primary School, Edo state emerged the winner while Nigerian Men Basketball Award team, D’Tigers, was named the Team of the Year category.

    Tosin Oke (Triple Jump), a gold medalist at the just concluded All African Games overpower Kelechi Nwanaga (Javeline) and Uke Claire (Discuss), for the Track and Field Star of the year while Balqis Otunla conquered Mariam Usman for the weightlifter of the Year award.

    For the Sport Journalist of the Year (Print) category, Tana Aiyejina of The Punch Newspaper retained the award after he triumph over Oludare Shina of Goal.com, Johnny Edwards Complete Sports and Kayode Ogundare i-Soccer while Ganiyu Yusuf of the Complete Sport was named the Photo Journalist of the year ahead of Bola Omilabu of the Nation/ SportingLife Newspaper, John Ebota of The Nation, Segun Ogunfeyintimi and Akeem Salawu of The Vanguard Newspaper for.

    The Radio Sport Journalist of the Year went to Chinasa Ibonye, City FM after a competition from last year winner Godwin Enakhena, Top Radio, Murphy Djemba of Brila FM, and Udeme George, Love FM, Abuja while Austin Okon -Akpan of Channels TV emerged Sport Journalist of the Year (Television) after surmounting pressure from Miyen Akiri of Galaxy TV, and Moses  Praiz of Supersports.

    The Special recognition award category goes to the President of the Nigerian Boxing Federation, Major General Kenneth Minimah and the 2015 World Scrabble Champion, Wellington Jighere.

  • Nigerian Sports Award: Nomination excites Greensprings

    Nigerian Sports Award: Nomination excites Greensprings

    For its genuine commitment to grassroots sports development coupled with a robust sporting calendar, Greensprings School has once again been nominated for the school sports award category of the prestigious Nigerian Sports Award.

    Announcing the nominees for this year’s award, General Manager, Unmissable Incentives Limited, Kayode Idowu noted that the panel received overwhelming nominations for the 2014 editions of the award from members of the public adding that it was a tough job collating before the selection of the top three nominees for each category.

    Greensprings was nominated alongside, Toybat international School, Lagos and St. Barnabas, Ilorin for the school sports award.

    Since winning the maiden edition of the award last year, Greensprings has remained committed to sports development with its annual school sports forum as well as the Greensprings Kanu Football Camp, which also produced two scholarship awardees this year.

    Toybat School won the last Channels Kids’ Cup while St. Barnabas emerged winner at the Milo Africa U-13 Championship. But Greensprings also earned some laurels with the school becoming the first private school in Africa to win the annual Keele International Cup in United Kingdom while Musa Alli was also named as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the championship.

    An elated Head of Sports, Greensprings School, Oluseyi Oyebode said the school would not relent on its efforts while the nomination would surely spur the school to continue to affect the lives of Nigerian youths. Also, Nigeria’s golden girl, Blessing Okagbare and Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama top the nomination chat as they have been nominated in two categories.

    Okagbare, a double gold medalists at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, was nominated for the Track & Field Star of the Year and Sportswoman of the Year Awards while Enyeama was nominated for the Sportsman of the Year and Footballer of the Year Awards