The Nation Newspaper

Tag: tourney

  • 150 golfers for FOC West Invitational tourney

    No less than 150 golfers made up of 25 professionals and 125 amateurs will this weekend converge at the Dolphins Golf Club situated in Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos for the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command invitational championship.

    Chairman, Organising Committee for the event, Babatunde Ajayi told our correspondent that all arrangements have been concluded for the invitational championship sponsored by the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sylvanus Abbah.

    According to Ajayi, a former captain of the Dolphins Golf Club, Nigeria’s number one player Oche Odoh who recently returned from South Africa will lead the professionals to compete for a handsome fee and other gifts as well as appearance fees. Also expected is Gift Willy fresh from the Eko Challenge Cup organized by the West African Golf Tour.

    “This weekend promises to be exciting as the best pros and amateurs will converge here at the Dolphin Golf Club, Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos for the FOC West invitational tournament billed for 9-11 March. The professionals including Nigeria’s number one Oche Odoh has confirmed participation as well as 125 amateurs.”

    Expected at the invitational are retired and serving officers of the Nigerian Navy, Army and Air Force as well as golfers from the Canadian ships visiting Nigeria this weekend.

    Ajayi stated that players from Abeokuta, Ikoyi Club 1938, Ikeja, Ibadan, Jaji, Zaria, IBB, Goodluck Jonathan golf clubs are already on their way to the Dolphins Golf Club which is already wearing a new look ahead of the event.

  • Pillars battle Espanyol, Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa tourney

    Pillars battle Espanyol, Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa tourney

    Kano Pillars will feature in an invitational tournament in South Africa that will attract Spanish La Liga side, Espanyol, South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaiser Chiefs, officials have announced.

    This year’s Amanxamalala Mzanzi International Cup (AMIC 2016)is a charity cup that identifies with 40 charity organisations in South Africa.

    “Both the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the League Management Company (LMC) have approved our participation in the tournament,” disclosed Pillars management board member, Hassan Abdullahi Garo. We will be good ambassadors for Nigeria football.”

    A delegation of 35 players and officials will depart the country for the competition next month.

  • Lagos wins 4th Victor Ochei Wheelchair Basketball tourney

    Lagos wins 4th Victor Ochei Wheelchair Basketball tourney

    • Agbesanwa hails team

    Director General of Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) Ayodele Agbesanwa expressed happiness over the Team Lagos Wheelchair Basketball victory in the finals of the 4th Victor Ochei International Wheelchair Basketball Championship.

    Speaking at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, on Saturday, after the Tope Ogunkoya led Team Lagos 39-34 points win over their Team Oyo counterparts, Agbesawa commended team’s fighting spirit in the course of the match, stating that Lagos remains one of the leading sporting states in the country.

    He revealed  Governor  Akinwunmi Amode led government plans to use sports and tourism to drive youths empowerment and job creations,  saying the Commission will continue to support all the sporting associations in the state, working closely with them in bringing  glory to the State.

    “LSSC is working gradually in bringing Lagos back the glory and to make it one of the sport leading states in the country”, he noted.

  • Mr Flex Nigeria Bodybuilding tourney hits Lagos again

    Mr Flex Nigeria Bodybuilding tourney hits Lagos again

    Notless than 150 athletes will participate in this year’s Mr Flex Nigeria Bodybuilding championship, which will take place in Lagos on  November 1.

    According to Stephen Odene-Okolie, President, Steco Productions, organisers of the championship, the tourney which will take place at Freedom Park, 1 Hospital Street, Lagos Island, opposite General Hospital, will also feature Ms Flex Nigeria Figure.

    Speaking in Lagos to announce plans for the tournament, Odene-Okolie said arrangement has been put in place to make this year’s edition tagged Season 4 a big success.

    “The aim of this championship is to give the desired mileage in the field of bodybuilding and to give Nigeria a sustainable place in world building ranking. In Nigeria, the general perception of an average person as regards bodybuilders is associated with thugs. But all that perception we have been able to so far has been erased.

    “We aim at providing employment for the unemployed youths who are roaming the streets in search of jobs. Mr. Flex and Ms Flex Nigeria Bikini’ bodybuilding championship is designed to promote, develop the youth, bring out the best in them where they will represent the country and Africa in bodybuilding championships.

    “Ms Flex Nigeria, which was introduced into the programme last year, is a muscle and bikini exhibition which will express the unique figure of the female gender. “There will also be a sport fashion show, music by Iroko percussion of Africa and Jasparazzi”, Odene-Okolie stated.

  • Orji to host wrestling tourney

    Orji to host wrestling tourney

    Thrilled by the outcome of the Commonwealth Champion of Champions wrestling competition in Aba on August 31, Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, has pledged to host the Commonwealth/ Americas Unifying Championship in the state later this year.

    Nigeria’s Osita Offor, also known as De Ultimate Commander, defeated South Africa’s Tornado to become the undisputed Commonwealth heavyweight champion.

    He will now face the winners of the Americas and European championships in a battle of champions to determine the king of world wrestling.

    Speaking during a reception for the Abia-born Ultimate Commander, Governor Orji, an avid wrestling fan, said the victory demonstrated the state government’s belief that given adequate encouragement Nigerian youths will excel in all their endeavours.

    The governor recalled that a certain Giant Alakuku from Umunneochi, which is De Commander’s local council of the state, was once the strongest man in Nigeria, adding that he was not surprised that another giant from the council is flying the state’s flag at the world arena.

    “I want to say that you have done well for Abia State and Nigeria in general. Your feat is in line with our policy of encouraging the youths of the state to maximise their talents in gainful endeavour. We are behind you in your quest for higher achievements.”

    He promised to ensure that the Commonwealth/Americas Championship is brought to Abia State in December, adding that the state government would also provide the space and other things De Ultimate Commander would need to establish his wrestling and other combat sports academy in the state.

    The championship, which attracted fans from Abia, Imo, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Rivers as well as Cross River states, also featured Hulk Hogan lookalike, Mr Wrestling, Kwaito Kidd, Ananzi, as well as such notable musicians and comedians as KCee, Spyderman,  God Pikin and Kanayo O. Kanayo, among others.

  • Bamanga Tukur swimming tourney holds August 11

    Bamanga Tukur swimming tourney holds August 11

    The maiden Edition of Bamanga Tukur National Youth Open Water Swimming Competition, Peace and Unity Cup 2013 named after the National Chairman, People Democratic Party of Nigeria, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur will hold in Asaba, Delta State between August 11th and 15th, 2013.

    The competition which has also gotten the full backing of the PDP boss and Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is organised by the Nigeria Aquatic Federation in conjunction with Josdan Global Peace Foundation Network in conjunction.

    According to the National Programme Coordinator of the competition, Mr. Godwin Nbienu, “the competition seeks to engage the minds of Nigerian youths, leaders of tomorrow with the spirit of peace amongst their peers all over the country. Preaching peace through sports is an instrument of the Olympic Movement as well as the United Nations which has proven to be effective worldwide”, Nbienu disclosed.

    He also stated that the competition is in line with the directives of the Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, who directed that other sports should be developed in Nigeria apart from football. He is of the opinion that since swimming generally attracts lots of medals in the Commonwealth Games and Olympics, the competition is coming at a good time when all hands are on deck to get quality athletes that can win medals for Nigeria in this sports.

    The Acting National Secretary of the People Democratic Party, Dr. Charles Aderemi Akitoye, however received the giant golden Trophy that would be won in the competition on behalf of the National Chairman of PDP at Party’s Wadata Plaza Secretariat yesterday and pledged total support for the competition on behalf of his boss.

    He disclosed that the Party boss could have received the Trophy personally but he had travelled to Saudi Arabia for Lesser Haj, a very important tenets of Ramadan Fasting.

    Dr Akitoye said: “Firstly I want to thank you for honouring our dear Chairman, Bamanga Tukur (CON) for the good things he has done to this nation. The Chairman has the progress of our national party and the development of Nigeria at heart and has impacted positively both socially and economically.

    “This competition is a very laudable and good innovation by the organisers because it will help to focus on the development of our youths and since they are the leaders of tomorrow, this kind of competitions would prepare them positively for the future task. We are also sending our profound gratitude to the Delta State Governor for always finding time and resources to help the youths and also empower them through sports in this country.

    “I would also emphasise that this is the very first time we will see a political party dwelling on partnership and sponsorship of a sport competition in this country. We will make sure that this competition is an annual event which will be supported fully by the Party”, he summed up.

  • SENATOR DAVID MARK TOURNEY

    SENATOR DAVID MARK TOURNEY

    No. 1 squash player vows to retain position

    SADIQ TAIWO, the country’s number one male squash player, says he is ready to maintain his dominance of the game at the 2nd Sen. David Mark National Open Squash Championships.

    Taiwo said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos on his expectations of the competition. The championship got underwa on April 21 to end April 25 in Abuja.

    “I’m ready for the championship, as the country’s number one male player, I need to ensure that I remain on top; I know most players will come prepared too, but I’m confident. The competition is just what we need right now, after our return from the Africa Senior Squash Championships in Windhoek, Namibia.

    “We hope that more tournaments like this are organised to help the players. So far, the preparation by the organisers, the Nigeria Squash Federation is good; we are ready for a showdown. We will also entertain our spectators with quality squash that will be worth their while,’’ he told NAN on telephone.

    NAN reports that Wale Amoo of Lagos State won the men’s category at the maiden edition in 2012, while Dunni Okikiola also of Lagos State won the women’s category.

     

  • Kaduna Utd win pre-season tourney

    Kaduna Utd win pre-season tourney

    Nigeria Premier League side, Kaduna Utd emerged winners of this year’s Kaduna Pre-Season Tourney after a 6-5 victory over Wikki Tourists of Bauchi on Wednesday.

    It took a penalty shoot out to decide the championship winner after both teams had played goalless in a tension-soaked game that saw players from the teams failing to covert the half chances that came their way.

    At the end of a thrillinhg shootout, Coach Saleh Lato emerged the better side after they converted six kicks, leaving Wikki Tourists to rue their miss.

    In the third place game, Kano Pillars made Dynamic Sports Solution pay for their failure to reach the final with a 3-0 thrashing.

    The Nigeria Premier League reigning champions also claimed one of the tourney’s best prizes as Ike Gabriel was named the Most Valueable Player (MVP).

    Raymond Godwin of Kaduna Utd scooped the best goalkeeper award for his brilliant form during the five-day championship with one of his best showings at the penalty shoot out with Wikki Tourists, while Aminu Umar got a consolatory prize for the Bauchi side with the top goal scorer award.

    Speaking at the finale, Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Ramalan Yero praised the sponsor of the five-day tourney Abdulazeez, and promised to foot the bill of a pre-season championship for Kaduna based teams in the Nigeria Premier League, National League and Nation-Wide come next month with the final match to be stagged on New Year’s day.