The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PREPARATION

  • Preparation for Lagos Ankara Festival in top gear

    National Convener, Lagos Ankara Festival 2018, Mr Wole Oladunjoye,  has said  the sale of Ankara textile materials in Lagos market monthly is worth over N1billion.

    This revenue, he said, would be quadrupled in the first three years of the Ankara festival.

    Oladunjoye, who spoke at a briefing in Lagos on the forthcoming Lagos Ankara Festival, said Ankara textile has become a household name in Africa, particularly in Nigeria where the fabric has been glamorised and made prominent. He said this year’s festival would hold in November at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, describing it as one of the creative events that will drive tourism.

    He said the festival was being organised as an event that  could compete with others, such as Calabar carnival and Rio Carnival in Brazil.

    “Ankara is more than colourful fabric as people now go creative in designing other items like shoes, bags, and bangles. This will boost the internally generated revenue of Lagos State. I dream of it daily and we will use the festival to partner state governors in reactivating the ailing textile industry,” he said.

    According to him, the festival was borne out of the need to create laudable initiatives to support Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s unparalleled vision to make Lagos entertainment and tourism capital of Africa.

    The festival, which will feature exhibition, pageant, carnival and award is also designed to develop a colourful and unique tourism-driven festival that is synonymous with the city of Lagos by attracting Africans and the world.

    Festival National Coordinator Mr. Tunde  Laface said Ankara culture is here to stay as every Owambe party is not complete without Ankara fabric. He said: “The Caribbean’s and Brazilians have built a great carnival culture using their bright, colourful patterned fabrics and way of life as a focal point to attracting millions of tourists yearly to Rio and NottingHill carnivals.’’

    An Assistant Director from Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture  Mrs Foluke Oluwasanmi praised the organisers of the festival, saying it is a laudable project not only in attracting internally generated revenues but in empowering the youth and women. She noted that the festival will also bring out the creativity in the people.

    Present at the briefing were Mrs Adenike Dairo, a textile dealer from Balogun Market and Alhaja Risikat Eniola, who represented the Iya Oloja-General, Mrs Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, among others.

  • Preparation for the next Olympic

    Shortly after the return of the nation’s contingent from the Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil, South America, a disappointed Nigerian through an electronic media suggested that the country should forget about upcoming 2019 edition of the games and look forward to 2023.

    Other stakeholders and lovers of sport in the country called for earnest and unhindered preparations for the next Olympics. It is, however, sad that we seem to be putting the sad event behind us so quickly.

    Actually, it is glad to hear of desires and arrangement to pursue grassroots sports in many parts of the country. How far this effort will improve the fate of sports in the country is left for conjecture or the future to tell.

    In the early days of nationhood, Nigeria did quite well in many areas of sports and indeed emerged African and world champions. That era that is nostalgically referred to as good-old-days witnessed sports competition from primary, schools secondary schools and tertiary institutions. Other institutions like the armed and paramilitary forces made outstanding contribution to sports as well. Corporate bodies like multinational companies were not left out.

    Emphasising or highlighting what went wrong may not be as important as finding a way of moving forward and ensuring that honours and glory should return to Nigeria in the area of sports.

    While private enterprises are also relevant in sports development, government has a pioneering role to play. Sports complexes and stadia must be established in local councils, state capitals and other densely populated areas. The establishment should also be followed by maintenance and steady and consistent organisation of competitions.

    Not only does sport help in growing sound minds, it also plays the role of full employment to active participants. Surely, Nigeria needs huge investment in sports especially now that we are seeking alternative sources of forces to remain relevant in global economy.

    • By Dickson Nnaji Ogbodo Agbani, Enugu State
  • Organisers begin preparation

    Organisers begin preparation

    Preparation for  the third edition of the annual Okpekpe Road Race has begun, according to the organisers of the event.

    The coordinator of the event and former international, Yusuf Alli, who disclosed this to our correspondent, said the organisers decided to start preparation early because of their determination to achieve much more this time than the two previous editions.

    “Between now and May, I will be going to the venue more than 10 times because we need to perfect everything. We have already pencilled down some top athletes that will be competing at this year’s event because our target now is to get the Gold Label.

    “If you look at all the races in Africa now, Okpekpe race is the only one with a label, but we don’t want to stop at Bronze Label, we are targeting Gold Label and we need to put so many things in place to achieve that,” Alli said.

    Speaking further, the former quarter miler said they were putting the necessary things in place to hasten the conferment of the Gold Label.

    “Before a race can be awarded a Gold Label, there must be at least six nations taking part in it, also athletes with Gold Label and we have already pencilled down 12 of such athletes that we hope will be part of this year’s edition.

    “If we can achieve that, then before the end of the year, we can get the Gold Label from the International Association of Athletics Federations.”

    It would be recalled that the IAAF conferred the IAAF Bronze Label status on the 10km Road Race last year. The IAAF said in a release to the organisers that: “We have reviewed your application for an IAAF Road Race Label.We are pleased to inform you that your race has been awarded a Bronze Label for 2015.

    “We remind you that all requirements included in the Road Race Label Regulations must be met in order to be considered for an IAAF Label the following year.”

    The maiden edition of the Okpekpe International Road Race was organised by the Edo State government under the leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomole in 2013.

    Since inception, more than 200 top athletes from across the globe have been part of the race, which Moses Massai of Kenya won the maiden edition in a time of 29 minutes, 39 seconds.

  • Eguma wants early preparation for Confederation Cup

    Eguma wants early preparation for Confederation Cup

    Dolphins of Port Harcourt Manager, Stanley Eguma has appealed to the Rivers State government and other well meaning people of the state to  ensure that the club sorts out issues relating to funds before the start of their continental pursuit in the CAF Confederation Cup.

    Eguma was also in charge of the Pride of Rivers when the club crashed out of the CAF Champions League in 2012 in the first round to Coton Sport Garoua of Cameroon after unrest in the team’s camp from players over outstanding debts before the first round first and second leg ties of the 2012 CAF Champions League ties ensured they didn’t progress beyond that stage.

    The head coach recalled that the players almost held the team to ransom over unpaid debts and refused to train and have adequate preparation for both legs against Canon Sport and the result was a close 2-1 home win and a narrow 0-1 loss away to exit on the away goal rule. With Dolphins on the continent again next year after finishing second behind Enyimba in the 2014 Federation Cup, Eguma has made a passionate call to the handler of the team to ensure that players entitlements are settled before the start of hostilities so that it doesn’t derail their ambition in the competition.

    The former U-23 coach stated that despite a turbulent season marred by players’ strike actions because of the failure to settle two seasons signing-on fees and match bonuses, Dolphins still tried to end the season well and a place on the continent is a fitting result of the hard work put into the team.

    “I cannot say that we had a bad season despite all we have been through because we were still able to qualify for the continent since 2012. We had it tough this year with the players not having enough motivation to play because of the debts owed them,” he said.

    “We did all within our reach to ensure we finish the season strongly. We are through to the continent and I will like the orientation to change this term. We were eliminated in 2012 because of issues relating to money and it will be fine if this is ironed out once and for all before the start of the competition. It won’t augur well for us to be kicked out again in the early stages because of our own errors.”

    Dolphins ended the season in the Premier League in ninth position with 55 points from 38 games but a second place finish in the Federation Cup where they narrowly lost 1-2 to Enyimba and booked their flight in the second tier CAF Confederation Cup with the People’s Elephant already assured of a place in the CAF Champions League. Enyimba finished second on the league table behind Kano Pillars in the just ended season.

  • Federation Cup: ‘3SC step up preparation to avoid early exit’

    Federation Cup: ‘3SC step up preparation to avoid early exit’

    The Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan on Wednesday assured its teeming fans that it would do everything possible to avoid an early exit from the Confederation Cup, this year.

    Ajibade Babalade, 3SC’s Team Manager, speaking against the backdrop of the team’s early exit from the competition last year, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) In Ibadan.

    Babalade said that 3SC, last year at the preliminaries, lost to a relatively unknown Lagos-based club, Fame FC, but that this year, it had learnt its lesson to avoid such pitfalls.

    3SC emerged the Oyo State Federation Cup champions by beating Crown FC of Ogbomoso 1-0 last week in Lagos, but are now pitched against Gateway FC of Abeokuta, the Ogun champions.

    The manager said that although the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was yet to fix a date for the competition, the team had nonetheless stepped up preparations for the clash.

    “The ‘Oluyole Warriors’ are not taking things for granted both for the early match against Gateway and other teams in the competition.

    “The Federation Cup is on knock-out basis and because of our past experience, the club will do everything possible to beat Gateway and other clubs to advance. We had promised our teeming fans and the management of the club to approach the match against Gateway and other clubs in the competition with all seriousness,” he said.

    Babalade said that to achieve its aim in the Federation Cup, the club’s coaching crew would use its Premier League matches against Nembe City and Warri Wolves to fire up the squad. He maintained that 3SC was desirous of a continental ticket next season, assuring their fans of their preparation to have a good run in the competition.

    NAN reports that the Ibadan soccer outfit has been having fluctuating fortunes in the Premier League since they lost 0-2 at home to Heartland FC of Owerri in a week 12 match of the league.

  • Etim calls for early preparation of female teams

    Etim calls for early preparation of female teams

    Nnenna Etim, a former Super Falcons Coach, on Thursday charged the country’s football authorities to commence early preparation of the female national teams for their various engagements in 2013.

    Etim told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that it was important to keep the teams in shape, so that they could perform well in their various competitions.

    “It is important for these girls to start early preparation because the fire-brigade approach usually does not yield good results. The male teams usually get preference; I heard that by March, they will start preparing for the Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifiers. I implore the authorities to arrange quality friendly matches for the female teams to keep them at par with their male counterparts,’’she said.

    Etim pleaded with the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) to throw its weight behind the female teams to enable them to be able to execute their programmes without let or hindrance.

    “The NWPL should be revisited in terms of the support given. There are also some home-based players who can do the country proud, but they lack exposure. We can see from the performance of the Super Eagles at AFCON that the league has lots of domestic talents that are waiting to be tapped,’’ she said.

    Etim added that the home-based players were just waiting for calls from national team coaches for them to represent the country.

     

  • 2014 World Cup: Super Eagles to commence preparation, says Sports Minister

    2014 World Cup: Super Eagles to commence preparation, says Sports Minister

    Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi says that with the Africa Cup of Nations now over, preparation had begun for the Super Eagles’ qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

    Abdullahi disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Johannesburg, South Africa, moments after the Super Eagles defeated the Stallions of Burkina Faso 1-0, to lift the 2013 AFCON trophy.

    The minister said that upon returning to Nigeria, he would ask the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to forward to him plans that would make the Eagles prosecute the World Cup campaign creditably.

    The minister expressed his determination to build on the success the team had achieved at the Nations Cup. He said his ministry would collaborate with the NFF to formulate plans for the team’s adequate preparation for the World Cup.

    According to him, the Super Eagles’ victory at the competition was the outcome of long preparations which would be similarly adopted in preparation for the World Cup.

    Abdulllahi noted that the Eagles’ victory at the 2013 AFCON was an indication that with enough preparations, the team could go places. He commended all Nigerians, the NFF and the Supporters Club for their relentless support to the Eagles to achieve success.

    “I believe that the support Nigerians and the supporters club members, led by its President-General, Dr Rafiu Oladipo, had given the Eagles would continue in all international competitions,” Abdullahi said.

    He expressed gratitude to the players and the coaching crew, led by Stephen Keshi, stressing that the victory had made Nigeria to become the best football nation on the continent.

    The Eagles scored the match clincher through Sunday Mba of Warri Wolves FC.

    Emmanuel Emenike was awarded the golden boot of the competition, Mikel Obi was the Man of the Match, while Victor Moses received the fair play award of the tournament.

    With the 2013 AFCON victory, Nigeria has now won the continental football trophy three times, first in 1980 as hosts and in 1994 in Tunisia, when Keshi was the Eagles’ captain.

  • AHEAD 2013 AFCON IKE UCHE DEMANDS EARLY PREPARATION

    AHEAD 2013 AFCON IKE UCHE DEMANDS EARLY PREPARATION

    •Super Eagles boss hits Durban for draw

    SPAIN-BASED striker Ikechukwu Uche has said Nigeria will shine at the 2013 Nations Cup if the new team have enough time to prepare.

    Uche has therefore demanded for adequate preparation for the Eagles ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    Uche, who has lately averaged a goal-a-game for Nigeria, noted that the present crop of Eagles players needs more time together so as to play as a team.

    “It’s one thing for us to qualify and another for us to have a good showing at the tournament. We need time for early preparation because this is a new team and we need time to understand ourselves very well,” said the Villarreal striker, who came off the bench to score against Liberia in an AFCON qualifier in Calabar.

    “But I am confident that we would have a wonderful tournament in South Africa.”

    Meanwhile, coach Stephen Keshi has arrived South Africa for the AFCON draw.

    The Eagles coach is in Durban, South Africa with team secretary Dayo Enebi and chairman NFF technical committee, Chris Green.

    The officials, according to a top NFF official, “would outside attending the draw touch on other things the team need for a successful outing at the Nations Cup”.

    The AFCON draw will take place on Wednesday night in Durban, South Africa.