The Nation Newspaper

Tag: sports

  • Victorious U-19 cricket team returns to Nigeria

    Nigeria U-19 cricket team, the Young Yellow Greens, returned to the country on Monday after their victorious performance at the ICC U-19 World Cup qualifiers in Windhoek, Namibia.

    The team’s unbeaten run at the qualifiers earned the country a slot in the ICC-19 World Cup slated for South Africa in 2020 for the first time.

    The country also won the Africa Division 1 after defeating Sierra Leone, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and host, Namibia.

    Ogbimi Uthe, Coach of the team, told NAN at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos that the victory was a feat for the country in cricket.

    Uthe attributed the team’s success to hard work and adequate support from the Nigeria Cricket Federation before and during the competition.

    “I am happy and proud of the boys with what they have been able to achieve for the country in cricket.

    “Before the qualifiers in Namibia, the team was in Zimbabwe for tournament tour and that really brought the best out of them because Zimbabwe is far ahead of us in cricket.

    “They faced some of the top countries at the qualifiers and were able to achieve an unbeaten run at the end of the event,” he said.

    The coach said that the next agenda was to prepare the team early enough for the World Cup, adding that they want to compete with the best.

    “The next thing on our agenda is preparations for South Africa 2020, we don’t want to be there for participating sake but we want to compete as well, ” he said.

    Also, Silvestre Okpe, captain of the team, told NAN that he was grateful to God for the team’s performance in Windhoek.

    Okpe thanked the NCF for doing everything possible to ensure a good outing for the players, urging for more support for the task ahead in 2020.

    “I am excited and the team is grateful to God for giving us the victory because it was not an easy one for us.

    “We appreciate the federation and we hope our performance will spur the government and other corporate organisations to support our preparation for the World Cup,” he said. (NAN)

  • Favourite sports of the rich and famous

    WHEN it comes to leisure, the rich and powerful roam in two worlds. There are sports and pastimes that are exclusive to the rich. But there are also sports and leisure that the rich and poor enjoy together.

    Nigeria’s rich and powerful, especially the young and upwardly mobile, like to play golf, polo sport, boating in customized yacht and other extravagant relaxations or pastimes! But like the rest of us, they also enjoy football, basketball, boxing and other types.

    From vintage car collections and art, to golf and polo, we present to you some of the favourite extravagant pastimes and cravings of the rich and famous people in Nigeria.

     

    Exercise

    The most popular pastime among the Nigerian rich is exercise. Whether they sit atop a business empire or jump from one movie location to another, our celebrities still manage to make fitness a priority in their busy schedules. Nigerian economist, entrepreneur, philanthropist and chairman of Heirs Holdings and United Bank for Africa, Tony Elumelu, belongs to this class. Nollywood actress and model-Kate Henshaw is also a member. These rich and famous have some things in common: they are super fit; they take their fitness routines seriously and their skins are well textured and toned. While most of the fellows in this class only share photos of their latest cars and houses on social media, these ones share snippets of their lives and lots of exercise photos.

    But unknown to some people, these personalities did not start exercising when they became successful. They had cultivated their fitness exercise lifestyle even before the rise to stardom. They grew the habit over time, slowly and gradually. It is hard work, balanced diet and persistence.

     

    Football

    Unknown to many, Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote is a great lover of football. He once owned the Benue based club- BCC Lions. And another thing that he desired in life is to buy the Arsenal football club which he bided for, but the bid was rejected; something that would have been a major achievement for him.

    Femi Otedola, just like Aliko Dangote, asides enjoying watching live football matches, also likes cruising, having meetings or good times on his customized yacht.

     

    Golf

    It has long been known as an exclusive preserve of the rich and famous. The fees are high, the clubs are expensive, and skill comes with professional lessons which can cost a fortune! Golf courses in the country are the places the creme-de-la creme of Nigeria’s political and financial institutions spend their days hitting around the little golf balls, which they consider therapeutic and recreational. Admission into the club costs millions, excluding the cost of golf kits that could cost hundreds of thousands.

     

    Polo

    Polo is popularly referred to as the game for the kings, nobles and the wealthy and is considered to be one of the oldest sports in history. Known for its surrounding glamour on and off the field, polo spectators usually put their best foot-forward.  Muhammad Babangida is an avid polo player and founder of the El Amin Polo Club, a member of the Nigerian Polo Federation.

    Bode Malamutes is one of the heirs to the Caverton Group, a $1 billion Nigerian conglomerate with operations in gas distribution, offshore support vessels and aviation services. Their father, Remi Makanjuola, ranks as one of Nigeria’s wealthiest businessmen. Bode and his younger brother Rotimi, are patrons of the Caverton Polo club.

    Sayyu Dantata, a half-brother to Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, heads MRS Holdings, a leading West-African oil marketing firm which acquired Chevron-Texaco’s downstream assets in 2007. At the moment, Sayyu Dantata ranks as one of the best Polo players in the country.

     

    Yachting

    Yachts owned by celebrities range in style and size, but one thing that unites these ocean toys owners is their love for the sea. If you have always dreamt about cruising atop the ocean on a yacht, then these rich and famous yachts will spark your imagination and give you a desire to roll around in one.

    Kola Aluko once rented out his super-cool yacht to American music industry power couple, Jay Z and Beyonce, for a holiday cruise. Kola is the Co-Chief Officer and an Executive Director of Atlantic Energy, an indigenous, private upstream oil and gas company, focused on independent exploration and production (‘E&P”) participation in Nigeria. Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, luxury yacht called the ‘Mariya’ and Chairman of Forte Oil, Femi Otedola yacht called Nana are very similar. There are also Jim Ovia, Mike Adenuga and a host of others in the league of exquisite class, top taste and very expensive sports lovers.

  • FIFA bans Chelsea from transfers over irregular signing of young players

    World Football governing body, FIFA, on Friday confirmed English Premier League club, Chelsea has been banned from any signings for the next two transfer windows, after breaching rules by signing minors.

    The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) found Chelsea guilty of 29 cases of breaching Article 19 of its rules, which are related to signing players under 18 years.

    The English football club was also fined around 600,000 Swiss Francs (600,000 dollars), although the decision can be appealed.

    Report says the decision means Chelsea will not be able to buy any players until the summer of 2020, though they will still be allowed to sell.

    “This ban applies to the club as a whole, with the exception of the women’s and futsal teams; and does not prevent the release of players,’’ FIFA confirmed in a statement.

    Chelsea is not the only big club to receive similar punishments from FIFA, as Spanish sides, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, were all punished in the past for irregularities in selection of players.

  • Tearful Osaka stunned by Mladenovic in Dubai

    A tearful Naomi Osaka said she was struggling with the attention of being the world’s top-ranked woman after being stunned 6-3 6-3, by France’s Kristina Mladenovic in her opening match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Tuesday.

    Japan’s Naomi Osaka in action during a match against Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova.

    Playing her first match since claiming the number one ranking with her Australian Open triumph, the Japanese 21-year-old capitulated in just over an hour, having won less than half of her first serve points while making 25 unforced errors.

    It was the second major surprise in a week involving U.S. Open champion Osaka, who announced she had parted ways with Sascha Bajin, the coach who had guided her in both her Grand Slam victories.

    “This match is the result of that,” Osaka told reporters of her coaching shake-up.

    “I’m pretty sure as time goes on you guys will stop talking about it. For now, it’s like the biggest tennis news, I guess.

    “See, it’s a little bit hard because I feel like people are staring at me, and not in a good way.”

    The hard-hitting Osaka has become one of tennis’s most bankable players since upsetting American great Serena Williams in the final at Flushing Meadows, but has always spoken of feeling uncomfortable in the spotlight.

    Osaka wiped away tears as she spoke of the challenge of adjusting to her new celebrity.

    “I don’t think I necessarily understand what position I’m in a way,” she said.

    “And because last year I wasn’t even anywhere close to this ranking and people didn’t pay attention to me and that’s something that I’m comfortable with.

    “I don’t know why I’m crying,” she said with a smile. “I don’t know why this is happening. I don’t really like the attention, so yeah, it’s been a little tough.”

    Mladenovic, ranked 67th, hit fewer winners than Osaka, but converted seven of 10 break points to claim her first win over a world number one.

    “It means a lot, honestly,” Mladenovic said after booking a match with a Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro in the last 16.

    “I know I’m capable of beating great players.”

    Osaka aside, most of the other big names progressed safely to the third round.

  • CAF Confederation Cup: Rangers intensify training for C S Sfaxien

    Rangers International FC of Enugu have opted to train twice daily for their upcoming Confederation Cup match against C S Sfaxien of Tunisia on Feb. 13.

    The fixture between the Flying Antelopes and their North African opponents in Tunisia is the second match of the ongoing Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederation Cup Group B.

    Confirming the club’s preparedness to newsmen in Enugu on Friday, Rangers’ spokesman, Norbert Okolie, said that the club would train in the morning and evening hours.

    “We know what it takes to survive the North African clubs and that is why we are preparing seriously for the match.

    “C S Sfaxien is a big club and one time Confederation Cup champion, so, we are not going to take them for granted and do not forget that they subdued Etoile du Sahel 1-0 in their first match of the group.

    “Sfaxien is a familiar foe in the continent and I remember we beat them in 2013 but they used protest to kick us out and went ahead to win the competition.

    “Although it is only change that is permanent, but I believe that they have not changed much and even if they did, not better than us,” he said.

    He said that the club had been doing well in the ongoing Confederation Cup and would not falter as they want to maintain their unbeaten run in the competition.

    Okolie also said that the club would do all in its capacity to record a good result in Tunis.

    According to him, two Tunisian clubs in their group may likely pose a major threat owing to their continental experiences.

    “I know that we have players that can withstand the North African weather and who are familiar with their style of play.

    “North African clubs are not new to our players as many of them have engaged them while playing for us or in another club in the country.

    On the tendency of playing at night in Tunis, Okolie noted that most of the player had played at night while in their previous clubs.

    “We have players who joined us from Enyimba FC, Akwa United FC, foreigners, even those who have played abroad before coming home to join us and they have night match experiences.

    Rangers top the group B with C S Sfaxien with three points but on superior goals difference, while Etoile du Sahel and Salitas FC of Burkina Faso remain third and fourth respectively without a point each. (NAN)

  • Fans urge Rangers on extra effort for CAF group stage

    Enugu Rangers International FC fans in Ebonyi have urged the team to put in extra efforts in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage which draws hold on Monday in Cairo, Egypt.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the team defeated Bantu FC of Lesotho 2-1 in the play-off return leg in Enugu on Sunday, to qualify for the competition’s group stage on a 4-2 aggregate.

    The fans, who spoke to NAN on Monday in Abakaliki, congratulated the team for scaling the preliminary round hurdles but noted that the group stage would be stiffer.

    Desmond Ome, Secretary of Ebonyi Football Association hailed the team’s resilience, noting that it had carried its AITEO cup winning streak unto the competition.

    “Rangers have been impressive in the confederation cup competition as the players have shown unparalleled dedication, commitment and desire to excel.

    “The team’s away-record in the competition has been splendid with the favourable results eliminating the pressure it would have encountered while playing at home,” he said.

    Melvin Uzor, Defunct Nitel-Vasco Dagama FC Player however noted that the competition in the group stage would be stiffer because of the presence of champions like Rangers.

    “Teams that would compete at the group stage are those which won their preliminary matches and are there for business.

    “The players should therefore redouble their efforts by heeding to the coaches’ instructions, playing with more sense of purpose and strengthening the bond of unity among them,” he said.

    Chief Basil Anagha, a businessman and soccer buff, urged the technical crew to review the team’s performance in all its matches to correct areas of defect.

    “From the team’s matches I watched, the players tend to relax and become serious only when their opponents ‘take the game to them’ or when they are on the ‘back foot’.

    “They should realise that teams competing at the group stage are highly technical and experienced and might seal the encounters if given such opportunities by Rangers,” he said.

    Read Also: Rangers seek icing on the cake as lobi battle Asec Mimosa

    Mrs Chika Okoro, a teacher and ardent Rangers fan, urged the team to still concentrate on its league matches despite participating in the confederation cup group stage.

    “The team should approach its first league encounter with MFM of Lagos on Wednesday with utmost seriousness, including other domestic engagements on its schedule.

    “It should avoid a repeat of the 2016/17 season where it was eliminated in the CAF Champions league preliminary rounds and struggled to remain in the domestic league’s elite division,” she said.

  • Pogba praises Solskjaer for revitalising Man Utd’s attack

    Manchester United have rediscovered their attacking verve under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, midfielder Paul Pogba has said.

    Solskjaer replaced Jose Mourinho in December and has made the most successful start by any manager in the club’s history, winning his first six games in all competitions.

    The 45-year-old has abandoned the stifling defensive approach favoured by Mourinho and tried to reinstate the free-flowing football that was the hallmark of Manchester United’s most successful sides under Alex Ferguson.

    “The way we are playing we have more possession of the ball. We know more where to attack and where to go.

    “We have more of a pattern of play and more of a structure. That makes it easier for everyone,” Pogba told Sky Sports ahead of Saturday’s English Premier League home game against Brighton and Hove Albion.

    Pogba, who was often asked to fill an unfamiliar defensive midfield role under Mourinho, has been granted greater attacking freedom by the Portuguese’s successor.

    Read Also: Pogba gets another double as Solskjaer extends perfect start

    The France midfielder has responded with four goals and four assists in his last five matches.

    Pogba also credited the form of goalkeeper David de Gea for their recent run.

    “He’s obviously one of the best, if not the best, goalkeepers in the world and when we need him he is there,” Pogba said.

    Manchester United Football Club is a professional football club based at Old Trafford in Greater Manchester, England and competes in the Premier League, the top flight of English football.

  • ‘We will empower 500,000 youth through sports’

    The Youth Organising Secretary of the Lagos State All Progressive Congress (APC), Aregbe Idris, has said the party is ready to empower another five hundred thousand youth in the next administration.

    Idris, in a statement at the grand finale of a soccer competition sponsored by the office of the youth of the APC in Surulere, Lagos, added that sports and tourism were the most viable ways of engaging the youth and that the APC-led government was ready to leverage on these avenues to ensure every youth in Lagos was productively engaged.

    “Our programmes are designed to bring the youth together, engage them, and let them know that the party cares. We so much believe in the youth, their energy, and their power. As a party, we are ready to assist them; that is why the office of the youth has constantly been developing the community by coming up with different projects and support programmes. Sport is a major development tool that will help the youth and connect them,” Aregbe said.

    He also urged Lagosian to vote for candidates ready to move the city to the next level, adding that  the youth should play their part and participate fully in the electioneering process.

    “As youths, there is an urgent need to play our part and be sure we are not tossing the government into the hands of people who will set us back again, we need to do our part for this country to move forward,” Aregbe added.

  • Cross River government urged to invest more in sports

    The member representing Calabar Municipality in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Ntufam Efa Esua, has called on the state government to invest more in sports.

    Esua, who spoke after the final match of the third edition of the Northwest Unity Cup sponsored by Northwest Petroleum and Gas in Ishie Town, a community in Calabar Municipality, said this would keep young ones engaged, thereby checking the crime rate as well, and also fast-track development.

    The lawmaker, who sponsored a team, Efa Babes, who came second in the competition, lauded the organizers saying it was properly organized and well officiated.

    Esua, who is also the Vice Chairman, House Committee on Sports, said the competition also provided opportunities for the youths, as there were international scouts who came in to look for talents.

    Group Security Adviser, Northwest, Labaran Salihu, who represented the company urged the government to always engage the youths.

    “We thank God the tournament has come to a successful end and winner has emerged. We pray that by next year we do the same. We do not intend to relent in ensuring that this process continues. Next time we would do better than this. I urge the government to try as much as possible to engage youths just as Northwest is doing so we would be able to eliminate all those criminalities in the society. When youths are engaged of this nature, I think we would do better,” Salihu said.

    Read Also: Make child protection a priority, UNICEF tells parents, guardians

    The sponsor of Ward Nine FC, who won the competition, Elder Willie Etim Okokon described the competition as a thing of joy.

    “In three years of the competition, we have won twice. The tournament is good because it deviates our youths from crime and so on. For two to three weeks they were always here, some participating. Some youth talents are also being discovered because some scouts were here to look at what they are doing,” he said.

    The competition, which kicked off on November 19, 2018 had ten teams representing the ten political wards of Calabar Municipality participating.

    Ward Nine FC, who emerged winners of the competition at the weekend, went home with a cash prize of N250, 000, while Efa Babes, who came second got N150, 000.

  • Expect more medals, Ondo Sports Council GM assures

    The General Manager, Ondo State Sports Council, Wande Fabuluje says more medals are being expected to improve the medal haul of the state in the ongoing 19th National Sports Festival in Abuja.

    Fabuluje, who made the promise, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, expressed satisfaction on the performance of the state athletes in the festival, so far.

    NAN reports that Ondo state clinched five gold, one silver and five bronze medals.

    Three athletes representing the state won two more gold medals in Track and Field and Para-swimming events to increase the state total medals won so far to eleven.

    Powell Ofoyeju defeated other competitors to win gold in the 100 Metres Breast Stroke para-swimming.

    Read Also: 2019: I’ll reward hardwork, loyalty this time — Buhari

    Boluwatife Bukola triumphed in the 100m Women event gold medal in 11.45seconds by defeating Akwa Iboms Peace Uko who crossed the line with the time of 11.52s and Joy Gabriel of Delta with 11.53s.

    Fabuluje said the athletes had justified the confidence reposed in them by the state government.

    “I am proud of these youngsters. They are doing us proud. We will win more medals in Volleyball and wrestling, in semi final stage,” he said.

    He appealed to the athletes whose competitions have been rounded-off to stay behind and support those still competing.