The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Olalekan Okusan

  • ITTF condoles with Nigeria over Ogunlade’s demise

    ITTF condoles with Nigeria over Ogunlade’s demise

    Executive member of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Khaled El-Salhy has condoled with the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) over the untimely demise of former junior star, Azeez Ogunlade.

    A saddened, El-Salhy who is also the President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) described the passing on of the player as a big loss to table tennis in Africa.

      “I am so sad for such sudden news, we have really a remarkable player who represented Nigeria and Africa at both cadet and junior levels”, said Khaled El-Salhy. “My deepest condolences on behalf of African Table Tennis Federation Executive Committee are extended to the family of Azeez  Ogunlade family and the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation.

      Like El-Salhy, Vice President of ATTF, Olabanji Oladapo said: “The death of Azeez  Ogunlade came as a rude shock to me in d US where I am currently holidaying. It is very unfortunate that ATTF had to lose such a budding star at a tender age. I commiserate with the President, Secretary-General, entire members of the board of NTTF, players, family and his friends on his demise. May we not witness such sudden death again in the federation.”

    Anan Executive Vice President, Development of ATTF, Farah Hassan Farah said: “This is a heart breaking news! ! It is shocking to hear it. On behalf of Djiboutian federation, tennis table players, and specially my son Abdourazack are join me to present their sincere sympathies to Azeez Family and President Wahid Oshodi.”

    Ogunlade died on Sunday 15th November after a brief illness; he was only 20 years old.

  • Lagos plans glamorous Federation Cup Finals

    The atmosphere will be enlivened with sports and entertainment as football fans are expected to have exciting moments in the finals of 2015 Federation Cup which will take place on Sunday, 22 November.
    This was disclosed by the Director General of Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr Ayodeji Agbesanwa during a media parley ahead of the finals held on Thursday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.
    According to Agbesanwa, the female final, which will take place between Sunshine Queens and Bayelsa Queens, will be played by 12noon,while the male final,which comes up by 3pm,will see Lobi Stars and Awka United slugging it out for the star prize of N2 millions at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
    Agbesanwa disclosed that the organising committee of the Cup Finals headed by Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, the Chairman of Lagos State Football Association, who also doubles as the First Vice President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has been working round the clock to ensure a glamorous event.
    “We want to ensure that football fans enjoy good games in an entertaining and relaxed environment. We are planning an innovation where families will come to the stadium with their children to watch the finals. This will be the first of its kind the country, “said the Director General.
    “We also want to give the first 500 fans to the stadium free T-shirts, while all the fans that come to the stadium will be given raffle tickets to win fabulous cash prizes.
    “The Sports Commission has also opened a Twitter handle : @lagossportscomm where we expect fans to send exciting photos of past Federation Cups taking with players and some other stakeholders of the competition. We also want them to take selfies of themselves inside the stadium on that day and send them to our Twitter handle for them to win handsome prizes.
    “Three posthumous awards will be given to past football heroes, while nine awards will also be given to some living football legends including referee and sports journalist, ” he said.
    The 2015 Federation’s Cup Honorary list include former Shooting Stars strikers, Rashidi Yekinni, Baba Otu Mohammed of Mighty Jets, Best Ogedegbe, former Standard of Jos defenders, Okey Isima, Friday Ekpo , Sam Opone, Amusa Adisa, Inua Rigogo, Dairu Sadi, and Ifeanyi Ifeanyi Onyedika of Enugu Rangers.
    Others are FIFA graded referee Linus MBA, and veteran journalist, Segun Adenuga.
    Chairman of the organising committee, Akinwunmi said adequate security will be provided to safeguard the lives of people. He commended the structure put in place by the Lagos State Government that made it possible for the organization of the Cup Finals at a very short notice.
    “The delay of this year’s Finals was caused by transition in government, but we are happy that the event will finally take place. Sunday, 22 November is a day of Football Fiesta in Lagos State, ” Akinwunmi said.
    Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

  • Nigeria risks sanction over absence from Wrestling Grand Prix

    Nigeria risks sanction over absence from Wrestling Grand Prix

    There are strong indications that Nigeria may be sanctioned by the United World Wrestling (UWW), if it fails to attend next week’s UWW-organised Golden Grand Prix in Azerbaijan.

    Being the end-of-the-year tournament organized by the world wrestling ruling body is expected to have the top four athletes in each weight categories with continental champions competing to have a share of the mouthwatering prize money for the top three.

    NationSport learnt yesterday that African champions, Nigeria’s Blessing Oborodudu and Odunayo Adekuoroye have been listed among selected athletes across the globe expected to compete at the three-day championship holding in Baku.

    Despite getting the approval of the National Sports Commission (NSC) to attend the tournament, the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) is yet to secure the required fund to embark on the trip.

    It was leant that if Nigeria fails to make it to the tournament, the country will be fined and sanctioned by UWW and this might affect the country’s chances of qualifying more athletes for the Olympics.

    Being among the few athletes that were invited from Africa to compete at the championship, Adekuoroye and Oborodudu are also using the tournament to tune up for the Olympics Qualifiers holding in Algeria as well as the next African Championship in Alexandria, Egypt.

    Aside from being the African champion in the women’s 53kg freestyle, Adekuoroye qualified to take part in the tournament as being among the top four in the world in the weight category.

    Oborodudu qualified to take part in the competition following her triumph at the 2015 African Championship in the women’s 63kg freestyle.

    However, the recent development may deny these athletes to be part of the championship and wrestling federation has not been able to access the fund approved for the championship.

    24 events will be competed for at the tournament taking place at the Baku Sports Hall with winner in each event carting home $10,000 while runner’s up gets $5,000. The third place athletes will get $2,000 each.

    For coaching the eventual winners, the coaches of the winners will get $2,000 for their efforts.