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Tag: Sport

  • Minister wants sports legacies, history preserved

    Minister wants sports legacies, history preserved

    The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has said that sports legacies and sports history must be preserved to motivate and inspire budding talents to aim high.

    The minister inspected the Nigeria Sports Hall of Fame yesterday and he was led by the President of the Nigeria Sports Hall of Fame, Nicholas Kwanta through the tour.

    The Sports Hall of Fame was established to celebrate Nigerian sports legends and icons with outstanding records of success in their various careers. It also honours individuals who have contributed to sports development in the country through philanthropism.

    Prior to the tour, the Minister called for a comprehensive briefing to ascertain if the vision of the Hall of Fame is expansive enough to cover the sports legacies of Nigeria and Nigerians.

    Read Also; Why Nigeria needs to ramp up effort against illicit drugs 

    Senator Enoh mentioned that recognition brings honour, motivates athletes, and inspires budding talents to do more.

    He said sports legacies and sports history must be preserved and held in esteem, as it is a significant heritage for the nation at large.

    The Sports Hall of Fame was established in 2019 by the African Image Ventures in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

    The partnership has also birthed the Nigerian Sports Book of Records from 1884, a comprehensive sports reference and historical compendium which chronicles the achievements of great Nigerian sports men and women that blazed the trail in their sports, entrenching Nigeria’s name on the global stage. It also captures Nigeria’s participation in all international tournaments.

    He affirmed the commitment of the Ministry, to continue partnering with the African Image Venture in preserving the sports history and legacies of the nation.

  • UI Vice-Chancellor decries state of sport  facilities 

    UI Vice-Chancellor decries state of sport  facilities 

    The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale has lamented the fall in the standards of sports development in Nigeria.

    He spoke yesterday  while receiving  a contingent  of the Nigeria Olympic Committee paid  a courtesy visit to his office.

    The VC described as disheartening lack of many  functional sports academies in the country even as he insisted  that  Nigerian athletes  are not excelling due to poor state of facilities.

    He noted that sports encourage the total development of an individual, adding that the sports academies would have helped to identify talents even at very young ages.

    The VC said Nigerian Universities needed to have sports academies but would require a lot of funds to establish them.

    Read Also: Man Utd take Antony abuse allegations ‘seriously’

    According to the Vice-Chancellor, universities provide the grounds for the development of sports talents and recalled that many students in the past were offered university admissions because of their sporting prowess.

    He said there was no doubt that sports is very important and that the relevance cannot be overemphasised.

    Secretary General  of the NOC, Tunde Popoola who  pointed out that  many Nigerian athletes are from universities, said  it was important for the Directors of Sports of Nigerian Universities to be  acquainted with sports  at  the Olympic Games in order  to bring out the best in their athletes.

    The visiting team was in the University of Ibadan for a three – day conference organised by the International Olympic Committee in collaboration with the Nigerian Universities Games Association for Directors of Sports and Head Coaches of Nigerian Universities.

    It  was an Olympic value education programme that would emphasise the core values of respect, friendship, and excellence.

  • Rohr picks Azeez, Olayinka for Brazil game, as Omeruo, Abdullahi, Awaziem return

    Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr has invited midfielder Ramon Azeez and forward Peter Olayinka into Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the Oct. 13 friendly with five-times world champions Brazil in Singapore on Sunday.

    Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), disclosed in a statement on Thursday that Rohr is also having defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Abdullahi Shehu and Chidozie Awaziem back from injury.

    “Otherwise, the squad is largely unchanged from the side that was forced to a 2-2 draw by Ukraine in Dnipro on Sept. 10,’’ he said.

    Olajire said goalkeepers Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Maduka Okoye were also retained in the squad.

    “But England-based Leon Balogun and Russia-based Bryan Idowu are however left out of those called up for the defence.’’

    The NFF spokesman said Azeez, a former under-20 national team captain now with Spanish La Liga side Granada was called up just as English side Leicester’s Kelechi Iheanacho was left out.

    “Girondins Bordeaux’s Joshua Maja will sit this one out, with his place taken by another new boy, Olayinka,’’ he said.

    Olajire disclosed further that England-based midfielder Wilfred Ndidi also returns after missing the Ukraine encounter with injury.

    “Alex Iwobi, Oghenekaro Etebo and Scotland-based Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, who scored on his debut against Ukraine, are all back in midfield, with Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Samuel Kalu, Paul Onuachu and Emmanuel Dennis all back in the frontline.

    “Substantive captain Ahmed Musa is still down with injury,’’ he added.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all invited players are expected to arrive in Singapore on Oct. 9.

    Read Also: Brazil good test for Super Eagles, says Rohr

     

    Nigeria and Brazil will face each other at the Singapore National Stadium at Kallang in Singapore on Oct. 13.

    The clash is coming 23 years after Nigeria, on their way to winning Africa’s first Olympic football gold medal, spanked Brazil 4-3 after extra time in the Atlanta Games’ semi-finals.

    The match was played at the Athens Stadium in the State of Georgia, U.S.

    THE INVITED PLAYERS

    Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland FC); Emil Maduka Okoye (Fortuna Dusseldorf, Germany)

    Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Chidozie Awaziem (CD Leganes, Spain); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England)

    Midfielders: Alexander Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Anderson Esiti (PAOK Salonica, Greece); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Ramon Azeez (Granada FC, Spain)

    Forwards: Victor Osimhen (Lille OSC, France); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Emmanuel Dennis (Club Brugge, Belgium); Peter Olayinka (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic).

    (NAN)

  • Barcelona’s prodigy Fati granted Spanish citizenship

    Barcelona’s 16-year-old forward Ansu Fati is eligible to join the Spanish national football team after he was given the country’s citizenship.
    Having lived in Spain since 2009, Fati was born in Guinea-Bissau in 2002.

    Fati’s citizenship application was processed by the Spain’s Interior Ministry before the 2019 FIFA Under-17 World Cup squad deadline ends.

    The tournament will begin in Brazil on Oct. 26th.

    Read Also: Barcelona held to surprise draw at Osasuna

    Fati, who became the youngest player in the Champions League, is expected to be called to the squad of the Spanish national team for the 2019 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.

    He also became the youngest scorer for Barcelona, making a great start in his career with two goals and one assist in four games so far.

  • Why my life ban should be upturned, by Siasia

    FORMER Super Eagles’ Chief Coach Samson Siasia has appealed the life ban slammed on him by world football governing body FIFA.

    Siasia disclosed at a press briefing held at the Media Center of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium yesterday that his lawyers filed the appeal to FIFA on August 27, 2019, while the other appeal was sent to the Court of Arbitration for Sports on the 29th of August, 2019.

    Siasia, however, denied involvement in the illegal activities that are contrary to the ethics of football.

    “I wish to state that I have never been and would never be a party to any form of unethical conduct or perversion in the discharge of my duties in any capacity. I built my career in the football industry on the foundation of hard work, integrity, consistency and God.

    “In all my career, I have done nothing but serve my country clubs to the best of my personal and professional ability, with all my strength and might, with discipline, pride and passion and an awareness that it is a privilege to be an ambassador of our great nation. It is my greatest hope and belief that my Country also stands by and with me at a time like this.

    “The entire proceedings and decision were only brought to my notice on the 16th of August, 2019 when the news broke in the public domain and friends and family started to call. I was unaware of the proceedings until I heard about FIFA’s decision.

    Read Also: FIFA bans Samson Siasia, fines ex-Eagles Coach N18.5million

    “While I may not be able to publicly divulge the details and specifics, I think it fit to inform you that I have appealed against FIFA’s Decision and you all will probably hear the results as you hear about the ban. I am currently taking legal advice. My lawyer Mr Austin Otah has been liaising with the NFF and their counsel.

    “I thank everyone who has supported me in one way or the other. I must state that this is the most trying period of my life. I am still dealing with the pain and challenges of my mother being kidnapped again and fighting to secure her release. I urge the nation to support me with prayers, goodwill and support of all kinds. The demands are very heavy”, Siasia disclosed.

    His lawyer Mr Austin Otah also reacted on the appeal. “We have assisted Mr Samson Siasia to file his appeal and we are awaiting FIFA to acknowledge the receipt of the appeal. We are awaiting feedback from FIFA and CAS.

  • World-class doctor operates Fregene in major surgeries

    FORMER Green Eagles’ goalkeeper, Peter Fregene is recuperating at the Intensive Care Unit of the Reddington Hospital after undergoing two major successful surgeries.

    About three months ago, Tina, wife of the former goalkeeper who won the Nigeria FA Cup with both ECN and Stationery Stores, cried out for a lifeline for her ailing husband.

    Contrary to the widely held opinion that the former shot-stopper suffered from stroke, his wife said it was discovered that he had paralysis as a result of a spinal cord injury.

    Fregene had battled this ailment for 18 years before billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola came to his rescue and offered to pick up his medical bills after Tina’s passionate appeal to Nigerians to save the life of her husband.

    Last Wednesday, two major operations were performed on Fregene at the Reddington Hospital Victoria Island Lagos by one of the Best Neurosurgeons in the World, the United States-based Dr Olawale Sulaiman.

    Otedola flew in Dr Sulaiman into the country from the United States, to perform the surgery on Fregene who had been bedridden for three years.

    Before Otedola’s lifeline, the 71-year-old former Nigeria International moved only on his buttocks or was supported to move around his house, a routine which drained his energy and that of his ageing wife.

    Former Lagos state governor, Babatunde Fashola took Reneger to Lagos where he had an operation some years ago but further treatment was discontinued due to lack of funds.

    Similarly, the former Delta state governor, James Ibori, also funded his treatment at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) during his tenure. Apart from these, no further help came the way of the septuagenarian former footballer.

    The Delta state-born footballer was a member of the Nigerian team that participated at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City and two years after Fregene broke into the Green Eagles squad.

  • Multichoice to show 1,140 football league matches live

    Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, UEFA Champions League and other top flight football leagues is here again after the FIFA World Cup break.

    The English league will kick off on August 11, and others will follow suit.

    The General Manager Sales and Marketing, MultiChoice Nigeria,  Martin Mabutho, however provides answers to the questions on the minds of Nigerian football fans who are looking forward for the games in this interview.                                                                                                                                                       Excerpts.

     

    The new football season is here again, what should Nigerian fans expect from Multichoice?

    We are happy when we put smiles on our customers’ faces by bringing the best of World sports through our SuperSport channels. This year is no different as we present; The Premier League (PL), The UEFA Champions League (UCL), La Liga, Serie A, Super Cup and Super Spanish Cup.

    And of course we are proud and excited to be the sole broadcaster of the new UEFA Nations League. Think of the UEFA Champions League for Nations! The best European sides we saw at the World Cup are in it. This is going to be HOT! 

     

    Why doesn’t SuperSport have rights to the Community Shield and FA Cup this season?

    The elephant in the room…we were outbid for the Community Shield and FA Cup. Another provider offered a lot more than we did, and they got it. I am not sure why they did not show it though.

    However, we were able to bag the rights for Serie A. It’s the league that has the best footballer in the world; CR7. In hindsight, a whole season of Serie A against a once off game between two teams from the Premier League. Come to think of it, even the FA Cup is a subset of the same Premier League that we have all 380 games live off. I’d say it worked out ok in the end.

    Ronaldo’s move to Juventus was a pleasant coincidence, as we trust CR7 to make his mark on Italian football. It’s football drama that Serie A is sure to deliver.

    We all missed Italy at the World Cup. I am sure the lead up to Qatar 2022 will be lit with Serie A.

     

    What should we look forward to as the new football season kicks off this week? A lot!!! In High Definition

    –       All 380 Premier League games

    –       All 380 La Liga games

    –       All Serie A games

    –       All UEFA Champions League games…need I say MORE?

    Our priority is to deliver the best sporting content and reaffirm our commitment to delivering world class sporting action. To usher in the new football season this year, we will deliver an unmatched viewing experience as the Premier League kick offs on Friday, 10 August 2018 whilst the La Liga season will start on Saturday, 18 August 2018 followed by Serie A on Sunday, 19 August 2018. Customers can look forward to the best expert analysis from football legends, live performances, celebrity experiences, music and more.

     

    Last year was epic as you facilitated the parade of the English Premiership cup in Nigeria.  Are customers expecting the same treat?

     

    Yes it was indeed a great year for football, and the PL trophy tour was the proverbial icing on the cake.  All this we did with our customers in mind. We thought that with the English Premier League being the most anticipated league in the world, it was only fitting for the most ardent fans – our customers to experience results of their passion in a very palpable way by way of photo Ops with the trophy.

    However, I cannot confirm at the moment if the trophy will make a return this year, but let’s watch this space for perhaps more thrilling news in the next few months.

     

    What football action can GOtv subscribers look forward to?

    This is where again, we have amped up the value. GOtv now offers more Premier League games than any other DTT service provider in Africa. That’s an extra game of PL, all La Liga, all Serie A, and we brought down the cost of the lead bouquet from N3,800 to N3,200. Also GOtv Plus subscribers will have access to LIVE Matches. GOtv Value and Lite subscribers are not left out as they can enjoy matches on FTA channels. They will be spoilt for choice with big league titles such as The Premier League (PL), The UEFA Champions League (UCL), La Liga, Spanish Super Cup and Serie A.

     

    How many matches will be available to DStv and GOtv subscribers this season?

    SuperSport will showcase all 1,140 matches of the new football season: 380 Premier League matches, 380 Serie A matches and 380 La Liga games with most of the matches from each league broadcast LIVE and in HD on SuperSport.

     

    Is there a discount on Explora and other devices?

    You know us, we always run promos during this period, and as is the norm, we welcome the new football season with open arms by dishing out some great offers. The DStv HD decoder, which includes a dish kit plus one-month subscription on Compact package now goes for N11,900 from the normal N18,500. In addition, the GOtv decoder, which comes with the antenna and one-month on GOtv MAX is available for N6,900 rather than the normal rate of N7,900.

     

    What is your take on the hike in pricing of Pay Tv services in Nigeria

    I can’t respond to what others say, it’s not our culture to do so. I can only speak on behalf of and about DStv and GOtv. Having said that, we have brought down a lot of content including football and general entertainment, increasing the value for money to our customers, whilst also keeping an eye on our operational costs.

    Our Compact bouquet at N6,800, gives all the football matches…all the most revered leagues, even more than what is shown on TV abroad.

    We put our customers at the center of everything we do which includes offering the best content at unbeatable prices.

     

    What’s the deal with Iwobi?

    Alex, he is the latest addition to our family. We have been working on an awesome campaign that we will roll out soon. He is a gifted player and embodies the brand values of our Compact bouquet.

     

    You are a Man United supporter, we know…How market?

    Well we kick off on Friday with Leicester. We have made a few changes to the squad, so yeah let’s see how it goes. Pre-season outing was a disaster but that’s not always a reflection of what happens through the season.

  • 4 Nigerian lifters qualify for 2018 Commonwealth Games

    4 Nigerian lifters qualify for 2018 Commonwealth Games

    Four Nigerian weightlifters have qualified for the 2018 Commonwealth Games scheduled for Gold Coast in Australia, an official of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) said on Monday.

    NWF Secretary-General, Umar Lambu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the lifters qualified following their performance at the recent African Junior Championships in Uganda.

    Lambu named the lifters as Monica Uweh, Fatima Yakubu, Michael Anyalechi and Favour Agboro, and added that the qualification was good for Nigeria.

    He said their performance had also led to an improvement in their ranking.

    “The October Commonwealth Ranking puts Uweh in the ninth position in the women’s 48kg category, while Yakubu is ranked 12th in the women’s 53kg category.

    “Anyalechi is ranked seventh in the men’s 85kg category, while Agboro is ranked 16th in the men’s 62kg category,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that Nigerian lifters won a total of 18 medals — 13 gold, four silver and one bronze — at the championships in Uganda.

    Read Also: Saudi women to gain access to football stadia in 2018

  • Umar applauds Pillars as they retain Kwese League title

    Umar applauds Pillars as they retain Kwese League title

    Kano Pillars at the weekend successful defended their Nigerian basketball premier league title, when they defeated Gombe Bulls in the final 8 of the Kwese Premier League concluded at the Kofar Mata in Kano.
    Pillars defeated Bulls by 20 points 74-54 to confirm superiority in the Nigerian league. They took home the N20 million champions’ grand prize.
    The factional president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Tijjani Umar, was full of praises for the Nigerian champions, which he described as very consistent in the past years. “Pillars gave their best in the Kwese Premier League throughout the season, so retaining the league title was not a big surprise. We don’t have any doubt in our mind that Pillars would represent Nigeria well at the next edition of the FIBA Africa Club Championship, together with the runner’s up, Gombe Bulls.”
    For finishing second place, Gombe Bulls got N15 million, While Hoops and Read of Lagos that defeated Kwara Falcons 61-52 in the loser’s final took home N10 million.
    Kano Pillars’ Celestine Nwafor Peter, was voted the Most Valuable Player of the 2017 Kwese Premier League. He was also voted the league’s Highest Scorer.
    Pillars’ Abubakar Usman Nda, was voted the Best Scorer, Gombe Bulls’ Timothy Kapon got the Best Offensive Player award, while Hoops and Read’s Mustapha Oyebanji was voted as the Best Shooter.
    The Kwese Premier League Best Five were David Godwin of Kwara Falcons, Dele Ademola of Pillars, Mustapha Oyebanji of Hoops and Read, Abubakar Usman Nda and Celestine Nwafor Peter.
    Some of the top sports personalities that presented prizes and individual awards to winners at the grand finale of the Final 8 include: Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, former chairman of the Nigeria Football Association and chairman Kano State Sports Commission, Engr. Sani Ndanusa, former President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Senator U.K Umar, former President of the NBBF, Alhaji Aliyu Bappa, Treasurer of the NOC, Alhaji Abba Yola, former Director, National Sports Commission and Prince Ado Bayero.
  • Final 8: Hoopers Attack Kida, Decries Boycott

    Final 8: Hoopers Attack Kida, Decries Boycott

    Rivers Hoopers basketball club of Port Harcourt players have opened fire on Musa Kida for stopping them from participating in the ongoing Kwese Premier Basketball League Final 8 holding at the Indoor Gym of the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

    Captain of the team, Bob-Manuel  Ngowari  who said the Port Harcourt club was aiming for a place on the continent blamed Musa Kida for killing their dreams of representing Nigeria at the African club championship for the two qualifiers from the competition maintaining that they would have qualified having prepared for the task.

    Speaking in Port Harcourt Ngowari described Musa Kida as a man playing politics with the career and means of livelihood of Port Harcourt born players while describing his antics against them as unfortunate.  “It is unfortunate that we are not participating in the Final 8 after coming second in Atlantic Conference 6 and preparing well for the Final 8. We knew we stand a chance of qualifying to play at the continent and have worked very hard but cannot understand why the Musa Kida led board should say we should boycott the Final 8 and go and stay at home without any meaningful plans for us. We heard Musa Kida is the chairman of Rivers State Basketball Association but we don’t know him and have never seen him around us doing anything for us. Where was he when we had challenges of salaries, owed backlog of allowances when we fought hard to qualify in the 2011 and 2012 season without salaries? We did not see him, neither did he come to our aid. If he claims he has our interest at heart we would have been seeing him around us. What has he done to help Rivers Hoopers all along. Now that we have an opportunity to reap from our labour and better our lives he is destroying us. It is really sad!” He cried.

    According to him they are all Port Harcourt boys and graduates struggling to earn a living through basketball but Musa Kida is using their destinies to score cheap political points. “Rivers Hoopers is made up of Rivers State players and full indigenes and 80 percent of us are graduates, married with families using the game to eke a living. We want to play basketball and cannot play politics.”

    He said the players don’t have any problem with their employers, the Rivers State government but with Kida. “When our employers said we should not go we took it in good faith, but when we realized it was Musa Kida who because of politics ill-advised them we became very sad because the decision was politically motivated”