The Nation Newspaper

Tag: sports

  • Ambode eager to boost sports in Lagos

    Ambode eager to boost sports in Lagos

    •Commissions Ikeja Golf club House

    Lagos state Governor Akinwumi Ambode has promised to give sports and tourism industries a huge boost in the Centre of Excellence.

    Describing the two industries as fertile ground for creating employment and fully engaging the youths for better future, Ambode added that his government will do everything possible to maximize the gains of available talents in the state even as he challenged the youths especially those involved in sports to aspire to greater heights and write their names in gold.

    The governor was speaking Thursday at the commissioning of Ikeja Golf Club house. The governor who was represented at the well attended event by Chairman Lagos state Sports Commission Deji Tinubu expressed hope that the club will continue to play a major role in identifying golfers and those who will ultimately toe the line of Tiger Woods and other great golfers.

    In his reaction, Club captain Air Commodore Tokunbo Ajomale (rtd) informed the gathering that Ikeja golf club is not only playing  a leading role in promoting ecological balance in the state, but  also serves as a tourist attraction for sports men and women, and as a platform for corporate social interaction.

    He thanked the government for bankrolling the cost of reconstruction, while promising on behalf of the club members to put the new edifice into good use.

    “I want to use this opportunity to express our profound appreciation to the governor and the state government for their support. We shall forever remain grateful and we promise to put the building into good use,” he said.

    The reconstruction of the club house started in 2012 under former governor and current Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola who contracted Messrs Arem Global for the job.

    The high point of the occasion was the presentation of a custom made new golf set to Governor Ambode. Among dignitaries that graced the occasion include the club president, Dr. Funsho Peter, Clement Olowokande, Gen Olayinka Sule (rtd), Lagos state APC Chairman, Henry Ajomale among others. Ikeja golf club was established in 1968, 30 years younger than Ikoyi  Club which was established in 1938.

  • MTN fights breast cancer through sports

    MTN fights breast cancer through sports

    The fight against breast cancer in Nigeria received a boost as Nigeria’s leading ICT Company, Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN), sponsored the 2015 edition of the African Patrons Cup Tournament.

    The tournament, which focused on sensitising individuals to the dangers of breast cancer, brought together female polo players from Nigeria, South Africa and the US participating in the two-day tourney.

    Speaking at the event, wife of Niger State Governor, Dr. Amina Abubakar Bello and Ambassador of the Pink Polo Day commended MTN for its sustained efforts in the fight against breast cancer.

    She said: “Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers. On behalf of the Nigerian women, I would like to commend MTN for being a strong advocate against the breast cancer scourge.”

    Also speaking on the tourney, Hajia Hadiza Nasir El-Rufai, Chief Host of the event and wife of Kaduna State Governor, expressed optimism that the Pink Polo Day would draw awareness to the devastating effects of breast cancer in the country. She also called on other corporate bodies to emulate MTN’s commitment towards fighting breast cancer.

    She said: “We hope that well-meaning Nigerians, especially in the private sector, will emulate MTN’s efforts at confronting the challenge of breast cancer in Nigeria. The truth is, it is possible to defeat breast cancer. But it is a fight that requires collaborative effort. MTN has led the way and we urge others to join this fight. This is the only way we can win the fight against the disease.”

    In his response, Events and Sponsorship Manager, MTN Nigeria, Dola Bamgboye, who represented the General Manager, Consumer Marketing, Richard Iweanoge, assured of MTN’s constant support in the fight against breast cancer.

    “Mammograms are critical for early detection thus lowering the risk of death from breast cancer. To complement government’s efforts in reducing the death rate from cancer, MTN, through its Foundation (MTNF) established six mammography centres and embarked on several awareness campaigns across the country,” he said.

    Richard further said MTNF Mammography centres are located within public hospitals across the six geo-political zones as follows:  General Hospital Marina Lagos; Specialist Teaching Hospital Irrua Edo State; Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto; Federal Medical Centre Nguru Yobe State; Federal Medical Centre Lokoja Kogi State and University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu.  The MTNF Mammography centres offer affordable breast cancer screening services.

    In the opening day exhibition of the MTN African Patrons Cup Tournament, the South Africa female polo team defeated their USA counterpart on toss, after the tense match had ended on a 3-3 deadlock at the end of four chukkers.

    The USA/5th Chukker team comprising Kailey Eldredge, Terri Brennan, Devin Cox and Kylie Shehaan had hit the Kangimi Resort turf running with the first goal of the match. But the South African/MTN quartet of Jessica Henrich, Sansy Gabriella Sarmaek, Dominique Thoenes and Erin Morgan Jones fought back to equalise before the first chukker break.

    The second and third chukkers were ding-dong affairs with USA and South Africa sharing the lead, until the decisive last chukker when South Africa took an early 3-2 lead and hanging on till the last two minutes of the game when USA secured a 30 yard penalty to end the game at 3-3 draw.

    Dignitaries present at the event included wives of governors of Katsina, Kebbi and Niger states.

  • NB advocates grassroots sports development

    The 4th Lawn Tennis Tournament sponsored by the Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc has ended in Onitsha Sports Club, Anambra State with a call for grassroots sports development.

    The tournament, which began in 2012 through the sponsorship of Nigerian Breweries Plc at the Onitsha Sports Club aimed at encouraging sports and physical fitness among members of the club.

    At the end of the tournament, Mr Kingsley Okoye emerged winner with the highest point of 18 while Mr. Kenechukwu Aniobi and Emma Odenuga emerged second and third respectively and received microwave sets as gift.

    Speaking at the grand finale of the event, the Public Affairs Manager of NB Plc, Mr. Patrick Ejidoh said sponsorship of the event was part of the company’s corporate social responsibilities to the society in which it operates.

    “We have been partnering with Onitsha Sports Club on Lawn Tennis for the past four years. We have also been funding the tournament.

    “We have organised the tournament in Benin, Makurdi, Enugu and Aba. We also organise Gulder Ultimate Search in Anambra and somebody went home with a car, courtesy of the NB Plc,” he said.

    In his remarks, the captain of the club, Mr. Uchenna Okpalaobiokoye expressed his happiness over the   tournament.

    He said since NB began sponsorship of the tennis tournaments, the lives of the members have improved physically and mentally.

    “We really appreciate what NB Plc is doing in Onitsha Sports Club. Since we began the tournament, there have been a lot of improvements in the lives of the members. The game of tennis helps the body to keep fit. We will continue to thank and appreciate them for their continuous sponsorship of the event,” Okpalaobiokoye.

    Also in his remarks at the closing ceremony, the President of the club Chief Felix Nwosu commended the NB for sponsoring the tournament, saying that the advantages of the championship could not be over-emphasised, as they enable members to be abreast of the rudiments of the game.

    He noted that the competition always raised the standard of their games and will make the participants to maintain good body fitness and good health, which keeps them busy and active as well as to upgrade the facilities of the section.

    Nwosu, however, urged other multi-national companies and organisations to sponsor other games in the club, saying the NB Plc has sponsored the tournament for four consecutive years.

    Highlights of the event were the awards of prizes to those who performed well in the tournament as well as luncheon for members courtesy of NB Plc.

  • Ogun launches School Sports Festival tagged OGSSFEST

    The Ogun State government is set to bring back the glorious days of yesteryears in sports, following the launch of the Ogun State Schools Sports Festival (OGSSFEST) in Abeokuta last week (Dec 30, 2015).

    Speaking at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) between the government and the consultants on the project, Youth and Sports Commissioner,  Moroof Afolabi Afuwape, said the Amosu administration was committed to making the state “the factory of sports stars in Nigeria”.

    “The administration has upgraded the sport infrastructure in the state to first-class status and no state in Nigeria boasts of what we have at our stadiums and we have the technocrats. What remains for us is to bring in the private sector to drive first-class competitions. The GT Principals Cup and OGSSFEST are the pioneering efforts in this regard,” he said.

    The commissioner said the government believes success in sports is connected to age and that sports super stars needed to be caught and nurtured very young.

    “It is of no use discovering a football, tennis or athletics star in his or her late 20s. Most sports thrive on the ‘catch them young’ and now that sports is big business, we also see OGSSFEST as a way of fighting crime and unemployment in the land,” he said.

    Afuwape called on corporate organisations and philanthropists to embrace OGSSFEST “not just as corporate social responsibility(CSR) but in order to reap heaps of marketing advantages as over 4,000 kids will participate in the yearly competition.”

    In his response, the Managing Director of Newswatch Times Magazine,  Bolu John Folayan, said the competition would be the first of its kind in Nigeria and perhaps in Africa.

    He said a consortium of sports marketing and sports media experts are coming together to complement the state government’s initiative, not just to discover the stars of tomorrow but to also nurture them to stardom and make them financially self-sustaining.

    Folayan commended the Amosu administration on the initiative and expressed confidence that the festival would fulfill its objectives.

  • Abuja Resident Doctors Association warns: Sports journalists risk stroke without regular exercise

    The Chairman of Association of Resident Doctors, FCT Chapter, Dr. Olubanjo Akerele has urged sports journalists  to take physical exercise very important since their job is very demanding and sometimes takes more hours than usual in their dissemination of news and information to the citizens of the country.

    The ARD boss, in a chat with Sportinglife at the Old Parade Ground Stadium at the maiden edition of the association’s week where the ARD team defeated Prince and Princess team 1-0 in the final of the football event on Saturday, said it was high time sports journalists take their health situation very important. He said the best way to checkmate live threatening diseases like stroke is to exercise their body regularly.

    “Losing of weight apparently helps you to control  diabetes if you have it, it actually prevents diabetics, hypertension and invariably prevents stroke. I also want to tell you that physical exercise on its own helps your cholesterol to be better because you will burn more energy and then you will keep fit and your heart would be better.

    “Adding weight on its own is gradually becoming epidemic in Nigeria. Again you can see that the life expectancy of Nigerians is coming down. Recently, I had to review a patient and a young 34-year-old man had a stroke. It means that stroke in the young is growing.

    “It means that the traditional things that are responsible for stroke in the young are being changed to non-communicable diseases. This young man has been having diabetes for a very long time unknown to him. He told me that he was told that his sugar level was high in 2013 but did not take it serious,” he disclosed.

    Among the dignitaries that graced the competition  included the Director of Sports in the FCT, Mallam Musa Alim and Medical Director, Maitama General Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Adetoun Shotimeyin.

    “It is in our constitution that picnics and family refreshment are very important. So we included sports as part of our family refreshment and picnic. It’s just a way of appreciating the role of physical exercise and blending it into our programmes.

  • StarTimes strengthens bouquets for sports lovers

    Digital-TV operator, StarTimes is promising interesting times for sport enthusiasts as it introduces two new add-on bouquets called Sports Play and Sports Plus.

    The new add-ons, according to StarTimes’ management, are specially designed for sport enthusiasts on the Basic and Classic packages on the Digital Terrestrial (DTT) and on the Smart package for Digital Satellite (DTH).

    Confirming the new development, Mr. Israel Bolaji, Public Relations Manager at NTA Star TV Network, remarked that the additional bouquets option demonstrates StarTimes Nigeria’s commitment to offering the most innovative and exciting pay television options by giving sports lovers more premium sport in the Basic, Classic and Smart range of bouquet options.

    “We are delighted to launch this new option and we are sure that it will be well received by our loyal subscribers.  We remain committed to the provision of exceptional customer services to our subscribers by ensuring that they have access to the finest premium quality local and international contents on a carefully selected bouquet designed to meet the viewing needs of the whole family, while providing flexible pricing options,” he noted.

    According to Bolaji, with StarTimes’ five-year deal to broadcast the German Bundesliga football league and a three-year deal for the Italian Serie A, subscribers can enjoy the best of football in Nigeria and across Africa.

    “Meanwhile, old and prospective subscribers can also participate in the ongoing promo which gives a guaranteed bonus of 50% discount on the second month recharge if they recharge for two months on any of the bouquets. They also qualify to be selected as one of the lucky ten winners for a free trip to Germany or other consolatory prizes like generator sets, smartphones and TV,” he said.

  • Ambode pledges to increase investment in sports

    Ambode pledges to increase investment in sports

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Thursday pledged to increase investment in sports development to encourage greater participation and talent discovery to turn vulnerable youths away from criminal activities.

    Ambode made the pledge at the Lagos House, Ikeja, while receiving the Green Team which represented Nigeria and Africa at the Mini International Basketball tournament recently in Matera, Italy.

    The members of the team are the first Africans to participate in the competition since its inception in 1993.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Green Team Nigeria is an international basketball organisation that promotes the development of the game amongst children.

    Ambode, represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, said that sports remained one of the avenues to develop the younger generation and encourage social integration among people of different races.

    “In furtherance to our campaign promises, this administration remains committed to the development of sports and sporting facilities in the state to encourage greater participation.

    “While efforts are ongoing to reduce crime and criminal activities in the state, attention will be given to the provision of modern sports facilities.

    “This will encourage our young sportsmen and women and turn vulnerable youths away from criminal activities using sports as a veritable alternative,’’ he said.

    He enjoined the team not to rest on its oars but to continue to strive for excellence in basketball.

    “Our government will continue to support the team and other similar groups committed to the development of sporting prowess of Nigerian children, especially of Lagos extraction,’’ he said.

    Earlier in his address, Mr Jerry Aigbede, President of the Green Team Nigeria, thanked the government for receiving the team.

    Aigbede said the children were delighted to participate in the competition as they were more exposed and had cultural exchanges with children from other countries.

    He urged government at all levels to see sports as development strategy for youths who constituted about 70 per cent of the population.

    “In order to address the societal disadvantage, marginalisation and discouragement which youths face today, government must use sports to develop them.

    “Sporting activities will take them out of their present state of despair and they will continue to do the country proud at international competitions,’’ Aigbede said.

    Highlight of the visit was the presentation of awards won by the team in Italy to the governor.

    The Green Team that visited the government house included the children who participated in the competition, their parents and coaches as well as the members of management of the organization.

  • A new orientation in sports

    President Muhammadu Buhari has turned his attention to sports, seeking to revolutionise it.

    He wants Nigeria to be second to none in major sporting events not only in Africa but globally.

    As a starting point, the President last Monday tasked the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Alhassan Yakmut to do everything possible for Nigeria to top medals table in swimming and other sporting events at the 11th All African Games holding in Brazzaville, Congo from next Thursday to 19th of September. 2015.

    From his body language, he was not satisfied with the levels of Nigeria’s performance in the various sporting events.

    Nigeria, which was ranked 3rd in Africa based on her performance at the 2011 All Africa Games with 29 Gold, 29 Silver and 42 Bronze medals, has now been ranked 2nd based on the result from the 2015 African Championship.

    At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glassgow, Nigeria was ranked 9th with 11 Gold, 11 Silver and 14 Bronze medals.

    Nigeria Female Football Team, the Falconets won the Silver Medal at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada.

    Before flopping in Beijing, China last week, Blessing Okagbare was ranked 2nd in the world in the 100m event, while Aruna Qadri is currently rated 2nd in Africa in Table Tennis.

    But Nigeria, however, currently holds number one position in power-lifting and scrabble.

    Buhari is now determined to develop Nigeria’s sports sector to world class level for a number of reasons.

    Apart from exploiting agriculture and other non oil sectors to reposition the Nigeria economy, President Buhari is also focusing on sports to address youth restiveness and ethical orientation.

    Through sports, he also wants to promote national unity and social development in the country.

    He plans to use sports to prevent crimes in the country by gainfully engaging a large segment of the youth population in sports.

    The President also aims to boost the image of Nigeria internationally through sports.

    To further raise sports as a cross-cutting sector in the Nigeria economy, Buhari wants to use it for infrastructural development, foreign currency earner and to boost tourism and the environment.

    The President did not mince words last Monday when he gave his mind on the direction he wants sports to now take in the country.

    Yakmut as a technocrat, who is normally referred to as ‘Armored Tank’ in the sports circle for his ability to evolve strategies that can demolish Nigeria’s sporting opponents and his experiences of transforming raw talents to champions, promised the President to carry out the directive of turning around the fortunes of Nigeria sports.

    Speaking with State House correspondents, Yakmut said: “We briefed Mr. President on sports development in Nigeria and its retinue of social economic values. Mr. President was impressed with the presentation but he raised observation on the need for us to rekindle the exploitation of the medals available in swimming in order to make Nigeria top in All African Games table in future and that is actually the presidential observation that we have taken technical interest to ensure that it is implemented to the letter.

    “You know that we also have cultures that are oriented with gymnastics and that culture is the one that we will first of all technically invest in terms of facilities, coaches and programmes to make sure we compete with other … in swimming.” He added

    Despite commending President Buhari for his supports to sports from the federal government purse, he pointed out that a major challenge was inadequate funding from the private sector and the Nigeria Lottery Trust Fund.

    Besides the issue of inadequate funding, some of the weaknesses facing the Nigeria sports sector include sports medicine and sports science, coaching and officiating, policy implementation and poor sporting facilities at local government level.

    Threats to the sector include insensitivity of private sector, technology and innovation, advanced sports medicine and science, inadequate International Technical Officials (ITOs) and representation in international sports bodies, high leadership turnover and doping.

    It is hoped that these challenges would be adequately tackled in order to take sports in Nigeria to higher heights.

     

    Celebrating Buhari’s media aides

     

    The day 21st August, 2015 is a day that the two Presidential media aides to President Muhammadu Buhari will not forget in a hurry.

    It was a day drums were rolled out to celebrate the appointments of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

    The dinner, which was organized by the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, was attended by who-is-who in the journalism profession.

    The joy of the two presidential aides knew no bound as the night was dedicated to them, and standing tall as their citations were read.

    The duo, who were at one time or the other President of the NGE, were also made to dance before other guests joined them on the dancing floor.

    They did not leave the hall without first getting gifts presented to them by their colleagues.

    The two aides, who got the promises of the NGE to back them up on their new assignments, expressed their appreciation to the group.

    With all these, they can now settle down with all confidence to continue with their national assignment.

     

    Buhari as SSS

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari, due to his unique style of governance has been given another acronym, SSS.

    The acronym, which describes what Nigerians should expect from his pace of work, was given to the President by some Nigerians in Diaspora.

    The former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa disclosed this while speaking during the commemoration of the 2015 Diaspora Day at the Presidential Villa, last Tuesday.

    According to her, Nigerians abroad now refer to President Buhari as Slow, Steady with Surprises (SSS).

    Nigerians are definitely waiting patiently for those surprises that will turn around the fortunes of the country.

     

  • Kanu denies controversial sports firm

    Kanu denies controversial sports firm

    Former national soccer team captain, Kanu Nwankwo, has disassociated himself from Capstone Sports Management, the United Kingdom-based company.

    The former African Footballer of the Year, who starred for some clubs in the UK, alerted general public, clubs and other football stakeholders he had nothing to do with the company.

    “This is to inform the general public, clubs and all sports business marketers, agents, directors of football in Europe, Africa, Asia, America and anywhere in the world that Kanu Nwankwo, ex Arsenal and former national captain of Nigeria, hereby declares publicly that any company and clubs as well as football stakeholders dealing with Mr Samuel Okoronkwo of Capstone Sports Management UK is doing it on their own risk henceforth be careful,” Kanu said.

    This follows allegations the company had been using the name of the football legend to raise its profile.

    Okoronkwo, whose profile suggests he is a leading barrister with 29 years of commercial, professional and legal practice experience, runs Capstone Sports Management.

    Capstone Sports Management made headlines for the wrong reasons in 2013 after Arsenal sued the company, which was a corporate box holder at the Emirates Stadium, for £375,000 after an alleged bust up over unsliced bread

    The football side launched a High Court writ against the company amid claims it stopped paying for executive seats after Arsenal staff refused slice bread the company’s guests had brought into the team’s corporate box.

  • Nigeria may parade only 10 sports

    Financial constraints may force Nigeria to participate in only 10 sports at the All Africa Games in September.  Secretary of Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Tunde Popoola who dished out the information said past performance will be used as yardstick for deciding the sports to be dropped

    “We would have loved to participate in all the sports chosen but paucity of purse will not allow that so we are likely to drop some sports. On the yardstick to be used to determine the sports to drop, we shall look at your past performance at the last Games and then performance in the last two Games,” he said

    Nigeria it would be recalled had originally planned to participate in 21 sports at the Games billed for September 4-9.

    The sports are athletics, basketball, badminton, boxing, beach volleyball, cycling, football, gymnastics and handball.

    Others include judo, karate, table tennis, Para-athletics, power lifting, taekwondo, tennis, rugby, swimming, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.

    Nigeria finished 3rd at the last Games in Maputo clinching a total of 98 medals, 31 Gold, 28 Silver and 39 Bronze.