The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Teslim Balogun Stadium

  • Lagos to host Federation Cup final October 30

    Lagos to host Federation Cup final October 30

    THIS year’s Nigeria Federation Cup final between Nasarawa United and FC Ifeanyi Ubah will be played on Sunday, October 30, in Lagos.

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced the final will be staged at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

    Both finalists have yet to win the cup competition. The winners of this cup final will represent Nigeria in next year’s CAF Confederation Cup along with Wikki Tourists, who finished third in the league.

    Akwa United won last year’s edition of the competition. In the women’s version, Rivers United will battle Bayelsa Queens.

    Meanwhile, Nasarawa United centre-back Samson Gbadebo has described as normal the Federation Cup final clash against top-flight side, FC Ifeanyi Ubah (FCIU).

    The two NPFL sides will square up for the top prize in this year’s Cup final billed for the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos on Sunday, 30 October.

  • Nigeria premier lotto: ITTF promises fierce competition in Lagos

    From the 81 players from 11 countries that featured in the 2015 ITTF Nigeria Open, this year’s edition has set another record in the entries as 122 players from 16 nations will be competing for the $46,000 prize money at stake.

    Beginning from May 18 to 22 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, Lagos, players will be aiming for ranking points and targeting places at the end-of-year World Tour finals.

    Attesting to impressive entries for the Premier Lotto-sponsored Nigeria Open, Competition Manager, Mohamed Dawlatly believes the turnout would surely add glamour to the championship.

    “Although it might not be as high as the organizers wanted, but still, it’s better from last year as we now have 122 players from 16 countries compared to 81 players from 11 countries in 2015 which means players are now more interested to attend this important event. Following the last year’s event, I’m expecting some high level of Table Tennis especially with the increase of entries and also with the importance of the event in Nigeria, which can be felt from care and follow-up of the organizers trying to make sure that everything is covered and presented in its best way,” Dawlatly said.

    On his expectations, he said: “As I had mentioned, I’m expecting a high level of competition with the players from 16 countries and also the big number of Nigerian players which we all know how strong and competitive they are.

    “I know that it’s well organized from the Nigeria TTA trying to provide the best possible condition for the player, also I know that Nigerian spectators are very active and loves to support their players, actually I was told by our Marketing Director who attended the last year’s WT that the atmosphere was one of the best he attended in the last years with many spectators excited and supporting their players,” he added.

    Being his first trip, Dawlatly said: “Well, it’s always exciting to visit new countries all over the world and Nigeria is a very special destination for me as a former Egyptian player as we all know that Nigeria and Egypt were and still the top two countries fighting for the African Gold Medals

    One the impact of the presence of European players, he explained: “For sure this is a very good step forward to have those top European countries coming to Lagos for this year’s WT which mean that they followed last years and they feel that it would help them to attend such event, it also helps the event exposure inside Nigeria and World Wide that might help to attract more countries next year and finally it will definitely help those new Nigerian players participating in the event.”

  • Record entries for ITTF premier lotto Nigerian Open

    For the first time in the last three editions, the annual ITTF Premier Lotto Nigerian Open has record entries of participants for this year’s tournament scheduled for May 18 to 22.

    Since its inception in 2013, the tournament competitors have not exceeded 100 but from the list of registered participants for 2016 edition as at Wednesday, April 27, more than 120 players have been confirmed for the championship holding at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

    According to the Tournament Director, Ranti Olajide, the quality of players coupled with the number of entries is a reflection of the organisation and the standard of play.

    “I must tell you that this year we are having more players coming from Europe, unlike in the past. Also, players across the world are now beginning to realize that Nigeria is a mecca of table tennis in Africa considering the achievement of our local players taking a cue from Aruna Quadri’s global resurgence, which has now become a rallying point for all the players across the world,” he said.

    Olajide, who is a certified ITTF-certified international referee, believes the presence of the top players from Europe would halt the rivalry between Nigeria and Egypt which has dominated the tournament in the last three editions. “I think this year, the tournament will be particularly competitive with the players coming Europe and they will surely give the home players a run for their money,” he added.

    Officials from Egypt and Algeria will handle proceedings at the five-day tournament, which is the highest prize money ITTF World in the 2016 Challenge Series, with $46,000 (N13.8m) at stake.

    Six events are to be competed for and these include singles (men and women); doubles (men and women) as well as U-21 boys and girls. According to the prospectus for the tournament, any player entering for the tournament will agree to abide by all ITTF rules and by the rules and regulations of the Organizing Committee.

  • ITTF names Egypt, Algeria officials for 2016 Nigerian Open

    ITTF names Egypt, Algeria officials for 2016 Nigerian Open

  • ITTF Nigerian Open: Media accreditation opens

    The media accreditation for the 2016 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Lagos World Tour tagged Nigerian Open begins across the country.

    Intending journalists and media houses willing to cover the five-day championship are expected to send their names and medium to nigeriattf@gmail.com. The deadline for registration has been fixed for May 10.

    According to the organisers – Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), this year’s tournament promises to be exciting as top players from Africa and Europe have confirmed their participation in the highest-paid Challenge series in the ITTF World Tour calendar.

    According to ITTF Director of Competition, Karl Jindrak, the Nigerian Open is one of the Challenge Series tournaments in the ITTF calendar, and it holds on May 18 to 22 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

    Participants will jostle for $46,000 (N13.8m) this year, while defending champion, Egypt’s Omar Assar will be making a return to Lagos after the disappointing defeat he suffered against Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri at the ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup in Khartoum, Sudan.

    Also, other top players from Egypt who have been part of the championship in the last three years are expected to return to Lagos in their bid to sweep the prize money.

    Six events have been listed by the world table tennis ruling body and they are singles (men and women); doubles (men and women) as well as U-21 boys and girls.

    There are indications that top players from Europe and Asia will be gracing this year’s tournament as part of their efforts to garner world ranking points as well as make it to the end-of-the-year ITTF World Tour Finals.

    According to the prospectus for the tournament, any player entering for the tournament will agree to abide by all ITTF rules and by the rules and regulations of the Organizing Committee.

  • ABL secures partnership with Lagos State Government

    ABL secures partnership with Lagos State Government

    Preparations are in top gear for the debut of the first ever Pan African Basketball League (ABL) in the history of Africa, Africa Basketball League as the league has sealed a major partnership deal with the Lagos State Government through its Sports Council.

    The new deal was announced in a Press Conference on March 3rd at the Teslim Balogun Stadium by Ugo Udezue, ABL Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and the Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Sports, Deji Tinubu.

    Deji commended the efforts of the ABL, calling the partnership a worthwhile partnership which would provide employment and bring Lagos onto the world map for sports.

    He further stated that Lagos State is willing to partner with anyone who will bring positive light to sports in Lagos.
    In a swift reaction, the CEO of ABL stated that ‘’One of the ABL’s core value is to drive local content by producing all ABL accessories and merchandise locally thereby generating economic growth, sports tourism ,employment and developing the African youth both in character and potentials.”

    The Director General Lagos State Sports Commission, Ayo Agbesanwa, Chairman Lagos State Basketball Association, Babs Ogunade and the CEO of Wakanow, Obinna Ekezie amongst others were present at the briefing.

    The ABL is a pan African league that starts with three teams in Lagos, one respectively in Dakar, Abidjan and Libreville. The expansion plan of the ABL will have a minimum of one team in thirty (30) African countries within five years.

    The African Basketball League will tip off on March 5th at the Landmark Event Centre.

    Tickets are now available here.

    The ABL is proudly supported by TRACE, Union Bank, Wakanow, Cornerstone Insurance, Cruz Vodka, THE BEAT 99.9FM , Pulse.ng, ASKY Airline and the Lagos State

  • NTTF U-16 National League to debut

    NTTF U-16 National League to debut

    To unearth talents that will join the growing list of players already discovered, the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) is organizing U-16 national league that will involve players across the country.

    The league is meant to give new players the opportunity to make national junior teams as well as work their way into the senior team.

    It will hold on March 29 to April 8 at the National Training Centre in National Stadium while the grand finale which is known as Super League will hold on May 14 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

    Each state across the country is expected to present two boys and two girls while the top eight players in the boys and girls event will qualify for the Super League.

    According to the prospectus of the tournament, states wishing to participate will register with the NTTF, while only the first 20 boys teams and the first 16 girls teams to register for the League shall be accepted to participate while only players registered by states which are affiliated to NTTF are eligible to participate, while all players shall hold the current NTTF Player’s License, which must be produced on demand.

     For the President of NTTF, Wahid Oshodi, more talented players would be given the opportunity to showcase their skills to the national handlers.

    “I think our focus in 2016 as in 2015 is that we must continue to develop the junior and cadet players. We must give our most talented young players the right atmosphere for them to grow. This of course means giving them the best coaching and affording them the opportunity to play in tournaments internationally so we can assess how well they are doing against the best young players in the world. We have done quite well in this regard in the last two years but there are a lot more gifted players all over the country and we must do our best to discover and harness them. We hope to be able to create new tournaments outside Lagos and Abuja. If we can find the right partnerships with the private sector this will assist greatly in boosting the spread of the game all over the country,” Oshodi said.

  • Funsho Williams Avenue shut for today’s convention

    Funsho Williams Avenue shut for today’s convention

    •Stadium wears new look

    The Lagos State government has ordered the partial closure of Funsho Williams Avenue, Surulere, today to control traffic due to the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

    Commissioner for Transportation Kayode Opeifa, in a statement yesterday, said vehicular movement around the venue would be affected and congestion expected, especially on Funsho Williams Avenue, Surulere, Yaba, Masha and Costain areas.

    The affected areas are Funso Williams Avenue from Olumegbon to National Stadium; Funso Williams Avenue from Alaka to National Stadium; Alhaji Masha Road from Shitta Roundabout to Alaka and the Shitta Flyover.

    He said vehicles from Lagos Island to Surulere would be directed to exit at Costain to link Surulere via Eric Moore, while vehicles from Ikorodu road, Mushin, Yaba and the Mainland to Surulere would be directed at Ojuelegba to link Surulere via Itire- Lawanson road or at Iponri via Bode Thomas.

    Opeifa  added that vehicles to Agege Motor Road, Mushin and Ikorodu road from Surulere would be diverted to Bode Thomas, Eric Moore, Akerele Road and Itire Lawanson Road to link Funso Williams Avenue and Agege Motor Road at Ojuelegba Roundabout.

    Also vehicles from Surulere, Alhaji Masha and Shitta to Lagos Island and Apapa will be diverted to Bode Thomas and Eric Moore to link Eko Bridge.

    “Parking will be available only at the stadium while pedestrian access to the convention venue will be restricted to only accredited APC members, accredited observers, accredited media personnel.”

    Opeifa said bus shuttle and taxis would be available from hotel and airport to the convention venue.

    He assured that officers and men of the State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) had been deployed to manage traffic and reduce congestion on the roads.

    The commissioner urged delegates to contact LASTMA’s General Manager Babatunde Edu on 08029728271, and LAGBUS’s Managing Director Tunde Disu on 07041446001.

    The Teslim Balogun Stadium is wearing a new look.

    A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who was at the stadium yesterday said the party’s flags and banners of its presidential aspirants dotted the venue of the convention.

    Security men were present at the main entrance of the stadium.

    Toyota Hilux vehicles belonging to the police were also parked on the premises.

    Eigh thousand delegates are expected to converge on the 25,000 capacity stadium for the convention.

    The convention is expected to produce the party’s presidential candidate in next year’s election.

    The aspirants include a former military Head of State, Maj-Gen Mohammadu Buhari; a former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Kano State State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso .

    Others are Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and Publisher of Leadership, Sam Nda-Isaiah.

  • England’s Grant signs up for Lagos International Squash Classics

    Former world’s top 10 rated player, England’s Adrian Grant has signed up for the Lagos International Squash Classics holding at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on November 13 to 16.

    Grant, winner of the 2012 Lagos Governor’s Cup will return to Nigeria to compete with other top 15 players in the main event of the classics. The runner’s up at the 2009 British National Championships after losing in the final to Nick Matthew and he is now ranked 20 in the world.

    The $40,000 prize money championship will also have current Nigeria top seeded players, Jonathan Peters and Yemisi Olatunji, while winners of 2012 National Sports Festival tagged Eko 2012; Wale Amao and Ebifemi Taiwo of Lagos State will also be part of the tournament.

    However, prior to the main event, local players will compete in the qualifiers from this Thursday November 7 to 10 to secure places in the main event.

    16 male and eight female players will jostle for honours in the main event, while a referee training course to be handled by director of the referees’ committee of World Squash Federation (WSF), Rod Symington will also be part of the event.

    According to Chairman of the Lagos State Squash Association, Sanya Akindele, eight players would make it to the main draw from the qualifiers.

    “We shall expect the top 16 players, according to Nigeria Squash Federation (NSF) rankings to participate in the qualifiers. The top eight will qualify for the main draw of the tournament and we shall give wildcards to some players. We shall expect the top 16 players based on the NSF rankings to participate in the qualifiers. The top four will qualify for the main draw of the tournament. More players might have the opportunity to play in the main draws if the four international slots are not fully utilised,” he said.

    For the U-19 event, Akindele said: “This will be treated as an open and the top four players will qualify for the main draw of the tournament. More players might have the opportunity to play in the main draws if the four international slots are not fully utilised.”

    He added: “This laudable initiative by the Lagos State Government will give the local players an opportunity to compete against international players which can only give them further exposure and improve their game. There is a general excitement in the squash community on this tournament generally.”

  • 300 secondary schools for annual `scrabbulympics’ competition

    Toye Allen, the Project Manager of the 2013 Scrabbulymipcs, on Monday said not less than 300 secondary schools were participating in the 3rd Scrabble competition, holding in Lagos.

    The scrabble competition being sponsored by Fryda, tagged `Word War III’, started on Nov. 4, to end on Nov. 8, at the Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

    Allen told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the competition started in 2010 with 100 secondary schools in attendance, saying the number had grown over the years.

    According to him, in 2011, the number of participating schools rose to 150, while in 2012, the competition did not hold because of logistics problems. “Right now, we have at least 300 secondary schools participating annually,” he said.

    The manager said that the competition would help in the discovery of talents that could be nurtured to represent the country at international competitions.

    “It is from grassroots competition like this that we discover those that will be adept at playing with words. You will be surprised to find out that these kids are really good at constructing and scoring high points with words on the boards,” Allen said.

    According to him, prizes to be won will include a brand new car for the Office of the Principal of the winning school, laptops and android phones.

    Allen said that among the most prized items would be a trip to Dubai by two male and female players for the 2013 World Youth Scrabble Championships.