The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Olalekan Okusan

  • Eagles can’t stop our World Cup ambition – Zambian coach

    Eagles can’t stop our World Cup ambition – Zambian coach

    With just 48 hours to the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Zambia’s Chipolopolo, the coach of the southern nation, Wedson Nyirenda says they are poised to pick the sole slot from the group which has the continent’s powerhouses – Nigeria, Algeria and Cameroon.

    The coach told The Post of Zambia that having put the AFCON miss behind them as their ultimate aim is to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in Zambia’s history.

    “We just have to qualify. I have always said even if we are building the team, we have to qualify for the World Cup for the first time. The arrival of professionals has boosted morale in the team, we are looking good with the brotherliness I am seeing in the team. We are going to maintain Rainford Kalaba as captain,” Nyirenda said.

    He however, insisted that Rainford Kalaba remains the team’s captain.

    The tactician says it was an easy decision for him to convince Russia-based midfielder Chisamba Lungu to end his brief self-imposed exile from Chipolopolo duties.

    Speaking during the training session on Wednesday, Nyirenda said the arrival of professionals had boosted morale in the team.

    And Nyirenda said it came as a surprise for him when he heard that Chisamba had excused himself from the national team.

    Chisamba, a Nyirenda protégé from the Under-17 days, has been a consistent member of the Chipolopolo side that won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations but announced his retirement from international football saying it was frustrating that he was not seeing enough game time during the national team’s 2017 AfCON campaign that ended in failure.

    Following his appointment as interim Chipolopolo coach last month, Nyirenda recalled the Ural FC captain who unconditionally accepted the invitation.

    “Chisamba is a good player, that’s why it came as a surprise to me when I heard that and it was easy to call him and tell him. Whatever the issues he had with the team I had to call him and say, ‘this is your team’,” Nyirenda said.

    “We are all here to do national duties and he accepted without any conditions he is just coming to do work.”

    [news_box style=”2″ display=”tag” link_target=”_blank” tag=”World Cup” count=”6″ show_more=”on”]

  • Minister to Chipolopolo: You must defeat Super Eagles

    Minister to Chipolopolo: You must defeat Super Eagles

    Zambia’s Chipolopolo is doing everything possible to kick-start their campaign in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers on a good note.

    In the view of this, players and coaches have been spitting fire on their readiness to beat Nigeria’s Super Eagles this weekend., the Zambian sports minister, Moses Mawere believes beating Eagles remains a must for the team.

    Similarly, the Zambian sports minister, Moses Mawere believes beating Eagles remains a must for the team.

    According to the Post of Zambia, the minister believes qualifying for the 2018 World Cup is the only hope for Zambian football, saying there were high expectations from football fans.

    He charged the country’s national team to raise their game when they confront the star-studded Eagles at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on October 9.

    “The country’s expectation is high, the only hope is the World Cup after failing to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. I challenge the players and coaches to step up and perform better. We need to beat Nigeria, we can do it,” Mawere said.

    However, he said the match against Nigeria would help the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) to convince the government on the need to engage an expatriate coach.

    “The engagement of the coach is not ours, it is up to the FAZ. Let them convince us that yes we need an expatriate coach or we can do with a local coach. Ours is just to support them,” the minister insisted.

  • ITTF W/Cup: Quadri unfazed by setbacks in Germany

    ITTF W/Cup: Quadri unfazed by setbacks in Germany

    Aruna Quadri has taken his early exit at the just concluded ITTF World Cup in good faith while remaining optimistic that the defeat would affect his dream of progressing in his career.

    The 2014 ITTF Star Player was beaten by Sweden’s Par Gerell 4-2 and Singapore’s Gao Ning to miss out of the second round of the third most prestigious tournament in the ITTF Calendar.

    But a determined Quadri told NationSport before his departure to Portugal from Germany yesterday that the defeat has taught him to continue to work harder.

    “I think my performance at the World Cup was not too bad because I really gave a good fight but I was not lucky enough to go out of the group. I had chances which I failed to utilize and this really cost me the two losses. Before the tournament, I really worked harder but sometimes you don’t get the results of hard work immediately of which I believed that better days are ahead. I have given my whole ability in Germany and I hope to bounce back positively in subsequent tournaments.

    “It is true that the results in Germany will affect my world ranking but I am not bothered about the ranking as there are more events in future which I could amass points to shore up my world rating again as I will keep working hard,”  he said.

    However, Quadri is still bothered that despite his rising profile globally based on his quarterfinal berth at the Rio Olympic Games, the Ministry of Sports has not deemed it fit to support his career.

  • ITTF World Cup: Quadri’s win inspired my quarterfinal berth – Swedish star

    ITTF World Cup: Quadri’s win inspired my quarterfinal berth – Swedish star

    Sweden’s Par Gerell was not initially considered as a participant at the 2016 ITTF World Cup but the absence of some top players gave him an entrance into the competition but when the competition ended he was considered to be among the top eight in the 20-man competitors.

    However, the Swedish star told Nation Sport after his quarterfinal exit that the first group win against Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri gave him all the needed confidence and determination to go further in the championship.

    “I must tell you I respect Aruna Quadri a lot because he is one of the most feared players in the world. In the last two years, he established himself as a force to reckon with in the game.

    As an African champion, he stunned the world in Rio when he edged out some of the top seeded players. I could recollect that in our first meeting at the 2016 German Open, he showed his stuff to me when he defeated me. But when I saw the draw that I will be facing him in the group stage, I knew that when it comes to rally, I cannot cope with him particularly with his powerful forehand. So I decided to rely on my service which I loaded with a lot of topspin. This was what really helped me in the victory I recorded against him.

    Being my first match in the tournament, the victory will go a long way in motivating me to progress beating players like Aruna showed that you are capable of beating anyone in the championship,” he said.

    Gerell, whose fine run was cut short in the quarterfinal by China’s Xu Xin expressed satisfaction with his performance in his first outing in the championship, while admitting the superiority of the Chinese star.

    “After winning the first game, I was leading 7-4 in the second game but he won. Also I was leading in the third game, he caught up with me and he won. I knew that if I can win the second or third games, I could put him under a lot of pressure because I noticed he was nervous in the first game. I also missed a lot of easy balls. I am happy with my performance in the competition being last to be included in the tournament and getting to the last eight is encouraging,” the Germany-based Swedish said.

  • ITTF president seeks fresh term in office

    The incumbent President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Thomas Weikert is seeking election as the number one table tennis person in the world after officially launching his campaign in Saarbrucken, Germany at the weekend.

    The former Germany Table Tennis Association President during a press briefing at the weekend during the 2016 ITTF World Cup said that he hopes to bring a lot of changes to the fortune of the sport having paddled the canoe of the sport in the last two years after the erstwhile President, Adham Sharara resigned in 2014, while he provisionally took charge.

    “In 2014 no election was necessary for me to take on the responsibility as president. I am delighted that I can now also stand for the delegates’ vote for the first time in Dusseldorf in 2017,”the lawyer from Limburg said.

    With five central themes on his agenda, Weikert said: “The ITTF is firmly committed to keeping table tennis attractive for players, spectators and media and further improve its appeal. Current key words include game speed, game length and TV broadcasts. In collaboration with relevant experts, topics such as net height, rapid set decisions and angles of television cameras shall be discussed and put to rest.”

    He however added, “We need to take some important and necessary decisions in our sport in the next four years. My goal is to not only secure an excellent position for table tennis within Olympic sports, but also further develop it.”

    The 54 year-old sports law expert promised to further develop the sport in ‘small’ nations with the help of the federation’s development aid as well as promoting training programmes at the highest level in order to raise the level and peak of the sport to an even broader basis.

  • Registration begins for NTTF national championship

    Registration begins for NTTF national championship

  • 2016 ITTF W/Cup: Quadri hopes for good feeling in Germany

    2016 ITTF W/Cup: Quadri hopes for good feeling in Germany

    Having won the heart of German fans with his performance at the 2014 ITTF World Cup, Aruna Quadri is hoping for a good feeling when he competes at this year’s edition in Saarbrucken this weekend.

    With his quarterfinal berth in 2014 while his recent quarterfinal outing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Quadri who has established himself as one of the best in the world said: “As I am preparing very well and I believe that the most important thing is to have a good feeling during the tournament.”

    “I am not under any kind of pressure to play in Germany again because I am now getting used to playing under pressure and as a matter of fact, I am going to Germany to enjoy myself without any kind of pressure. Statistics showed that I am not one of the favourites for the podium finish but similarly I am not really going to be playing without confidence as I always believe strongly in my capability. I am praying for a favourable draw that will favour me and if God answer my prayer to be on a good side of the draw, I believe that surprising the world more than I have done in the past is possible,” he said.

    Quadri, whose performance at the 2014 edition of the championship remains the best by an African when the Nigeria got to the quarterfinal stage and the Oyo State-born athlete will be making his third appearance at the tournament as the continent’s flag bearer added, “It is not going to be an easy task for anyone but with God’s favour on my side. It is very possible to perform beyond expectations. I am also hoping for the best ever feeling during the championship. As I am preparing very well and I believe that the most important thing is to have a good feeling during the tournament.

    Quadri’s debut at the tournament was in 2009 and he is expected to compete against top 19 players across the globe including world’s number two and three, China’s Xu Xin and Fan Zhendong as well as Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov, who is the current European champion ranked sixth in the world.

    The draw for the tournament holds on Friday, September 30 at Saarland Hall while the group matches will start on Saturday October 1.

  • Nigeria finishes seventh at Africa rugby cup sevens

    Nigeria finishes seventh at Africa rugby cup sevens

    Nigeria’s Black Stallions improved their eighth place finish in 2015 to end their campaign at seventh spot at this year’s Africa Rugby Cup Sevens held in Nairobi.

    After losing their first match to host – Kenya, the Nigeria failed to make it to the semifinal stage despite defeating Senegal in their second group match.

    However, to finish seventh, the Azeez Ladipo-captained side defeated Morocco 19-5 to settle for the spot behind Tunisia, who was edged for the fifth place spot by former champion, Zimbabwe.

    Meanwhile, Uganda was crowned champions after beating Namibia 38-19 in the final at the Safaricom Stadium in Nairobi at the weekend.

    It was Ssebuliba Kayiwa that put Uganda ahead, scoring after a strong run and carries by Ramadhan Govule. Philip Wokorach converted for a 7-0 score.

    Sunday Haitembu responded immediately with a converted try for Namibia but Pius Ogena ensured that the Rugby Cranes retook the lead, Wokorach converting for a 14-7 score. The Namibians were taking the fight to the Ugandans, Jean Jacobs grounding for an unconverted try that brought the encounter to 14-12.

    Namibia would spill the ball with Uganda on the ropes, Wokorach pouncing on the loose ball to first step past his opponents before racing clear to score and convert his own try before James Odong landed for a 26-12 lead at the interval.

    Odong would land his brace, fortuitously gathering the ball from Wokorach’s speculative punt, touching down before Namibia scored a consolation try, Karuuombe Nandicatu’s converted effort bringing some respectability.

    Hosts Kenya finished third with a 41-0 whitewash of while a 55-0 win over Botswana saw Senegal claimed ninth place as Zambia took eleventh place with a 45-0 result over Mauritius.

  • Genuine school sports development is very vital – Oyebode

    Against the backdrop of dwindling fortune of Nigerian sports, Oluseyi Oyebode a foremost grassroots sports developer believes those in charge of Nigerian sports must pay more attention to school sports development.

    Oyebode, whose efforts made Lagos-based Greensprings School a household name in school sports believes that a revival of national sports will have to start with a strong school sports programmes.

      “The only way forward is to have good structure for school sports development. We need to realize that the days of cutting corners are over. School sports needs to be managed by professionals who are grounded in school sports development not opportunists that see it as an avenue to bolt away with sponsors’ money. Sports promotion should not confused with sports development. More support should be provided to public schools and the education ministry to develop school sports by assigning consultants to assist them with their annual programs and plans. Some private schools have identified school sports development as an important part of the curriculum and they take care to marry sports and education together. Parents are also encouraged and supported to nurture a budding talent,” he said.

      The former Head of Sports at Greensprings School added: “Government still has a major role to play by revisiting the national grassroots sports policy “School sports is the bedrock of any sports development programme in any nation. Many children are introduced to sports at school age. As they get older, specialized coaches can take over the training of talented youngsters in specific sports. Stars are developed through such programmes.

    The role of school sports in the nation building cannot be over emphasized as school sports increases youth empowerment, skills development, self-actualization and self-esteem as well as reduces crime.”

      Recalling the efforts made by National Academicals Sports Committee (NASCOM) led by Yemi Idowu, Oyebode said: “NASCOM under the leadership of Yemi Idowu really did her best most especially supporting schools programmes and initiatives but unfortunately this has not being sustained. It is now critical for Nigeria to revisit school sports if we desire genuine sports success,” he added.

  • 2016 Africa rugby cup sevens: Nigeria is no pushover – Kenya admits

    2016 Africa rugby cup sevens: Nigeria is no pushover – Kenya admits