The Nation Newspaper

Tag: upset

  • Ihenacho still upset by his 2015 election loss, says Okorocha

    Ihenacho still upset by his 2015 election loss, says Okorocha

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday said former Minister of Interior and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2015 election, Captain Emmanuel Ihenacho, is still brooding over his failure in the election.

    The governor, who was reacting to Ihenacho’s newspaper interview where he referred to him (Okorocha) as a dictator, described the former minister as a “briefcase politician” who saw politics as a personal business.

    In a statement in Owerri, the state capital, by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, the governor said: “The truth is that Captain Iheanacho is still nursing the wound of his abysmal outing in the governorship election of 2015 in the state. He lost his deposit in that election and he is yet to keep that frightening experience behind him.

    “Again, Captain Iheanacho, with due respect, is a briefcase politician who sees politics as part of his personal business. The expectation at the end of the day is the huge profit. That was the reason he could not win, at least, in his Owerri North Local Government Area in the 2015 governorship election in which he was the candidate of a party like APGA, which Owelle Okorocha used to win the 2011 governorship election and won majority seats in the House of Assembly and a House of Representatives seat without help from any quarter.”

    The statement added: “It was not surprising, therefore, that Captain Iheanacho could only have 393 votes in the 2015 governorship election in his Owerri North Local Government Area, while Okorocha had 13,493 votes.

    “Even his agents and coordinators

    allegedly voted against him because he was not forthcoming in appreciating that they were working for him.

    “We had taken time to go through the interview to see whether Captain Iheanacho said anything to justify the accusations against the governor; we could not find any. He only talked about the governor demolishing houses in his urban renewal programme. He could not also explain how the state is in trouble under Okorocha.

    “For the umpteenth time, we have told those who care much about the truth that no building has been demolished since the dualisation of some major roads in Owerri began. What have been demolished were fences, shanties and kiosks erected on the roads. We have challenged anybody, including Captain Iheanacho, to mention or publish the location of any building that has been demolished, including his own. But all to no avail.

    “In the interview, he never accused Governor Okorocha of non-performance and he never said the list of Okorocha’s monumental achievements published in some newspapers were false. We take the floor to celebrate that. Then, if Okorocha is working as governor, how then is Imo in trouble under him?”

    The statement added: “He was minister, and it is up to him to tell his audience why he does not talk about his outing as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “Finally, we want to sincerely appeal to Captain Iheanacho to face his business where he is doing exceptionally well and leave politics for those who know that you can invest in the venture without expecting anything in turn at the end of the day.”

  • Team Hope vows to upset Team Civil Defence in Asaba

    Team Hope vows to upset Team Civil Defence in Asaba

    Team Hope, newcomers to the NCC Tennis League, have vowed to cause a major upset when they take on Team Civil Defence, last year’s runner-up, at the Government House Squash Club  in Asaba this weekend.

    Team Hope had a very shaky start in Abuja last week when they were pummeled by Team FCT which won six out of seven matches.

    “We were a bit nervous this being our first time. And the occasion and the big opening ceremony with the Minister of Sports there overwhelmed our players a little bit. But we are playing at home and I am sure we have the team to cause a major upset,” said Collins Edison, the manager of Team Hope.

    Team Hope is banking on a much improved Ikechukwu Iloputa who snatched a point from immediate past national champion Thomas Otu in Abuja as well as hard hitting Paul Emmanuel who lost narrowly in the two singles matches he played in Abuja against Otu and Sunday Emmanuel.

    Team Civil Defence which parades two former national champions – Babalola Abdulmumuni and Shehu Lawal – for the men and current ladies’ champion, Christie Agugbom, as their lead players is not bothered by the threat.

    “They are joking! exclaimed Agugbom, known for her resilience and determination on court. ” We missed the title narrowly last year and we  are not going to take any chances with any team,” she said.

    The other tie for the week will have Team Goshen host Team Lead Way at the Kwara State Stadium Tennis Courts, Ilorin. The Kwara State capital, which has not hosted a major national tournament in decades, will have two top 10 players – Joseph Imeh (men) and Ronke Akingbade (ladies) featuring.

  • Howard upset at sack

    Howard upset at sack

    3SC head coach, Franklin Howard said he is depressed following the reported sack from his duty post at the Oluyole Warriors.

    Reports went wide on Thursday that the amiable former First Bank coach has been relieved of his job due to the string of poor results in the 10-week old Nigerian top flight.

    Howard said he has not been issued any sack letter but insisted that it would be killing if the reported sack turned out to be true.

    “I’ve been down and shaken to the marrow since the news filtered in on Thursday. I just heard my sack at 3SC over the news and social media same as any other person.

    “I’ve no letter to that effect as we speak as we’re still observing a break to reconvene on Monday.

    “I’ve not collected any letter, I’ve equally tried to reach the General Manager who claimed ignorance of such development. The General Manager advised me to remain calm.

    “I’ll be at the secretariat on Monday to ascertain the true state of affairs. I just want to disbelieve the reported sack until I’m confronted with a clearer and superior position of thing.

    “However, I’m still surprised at the source of the reported sack as the top hierarchy of the club encouraged us to keep doing our very best as the fortune of the side will shortly improve for the better.

    “On my part I know I’m doing my very best to uplift the fortune of the side as nobody envisaged our position on the log at the moment.

    “It’ll be really sad if that genuine effort to turn around the fortune of the side is terminated with a sack.

    “If by Monday the rumour is confirmed to be true, it’ll be painful to me personally but I’ll brave it to pick the pieces and move ahead with my life and career,” said Howard to supersport.com.

    The Ibadan warlords are at the bottom of the 20-team log on poorly eight points from possible 30 though with a game at hand against Warri Wolves in the 10-week old top flight.

    3SC are expected to host the Pride of Benue, Lobi Stars in match day 11 clash on resumption of football hostilities on June 14.

  • Commonwealth Games journalists upset by charge for information

    Commonwealth Games journalists upset by charge for information

    Reporters are  complaining that  Commonwealth Games organisers want them to pay to obtain “basic preview information”, reports the Sports Journalists’ Association  (SJA).

    On the eve of the event in Glasgow, the journalists say they must pay £70 plus VAT to access “simple details such as competition timetables and athlete entries.”

    The so-called GamesINFO also includes biographies, historical results, transportation details, weather reports and, during the Games, results and athlete quotes.

    The editor of Athletics Weekly, Jason Henderson, is quoted as saying: “I was shocked when Glasgow 2014 told me that I had to pay £84 just to see a track and field timetable.

    “We usually run the timetable – which is the most basic piece of information – in our preview issue for the Games, but I was directed toward the rate card team and encouraged to sign up to myGamesINFO.”

  • Voters upset judges on Nigerian Idol

    Voters upset judges on Nigerian Idol

    As the ongoing Nigerian Idol reality show sifts contestants for the Top 12 stage, the first set of three candidates that scaled through via public votes did not seem to satisfy the judges.

    The three-man panel expressed its disappointment, Saturday night, during the show, saying that voters were sentimental, as there were better candidates with the least number of votes.

    R’n’B singer, Darey Art-Alade was the first to speak. According to him, although the three contestants adjudged by the voters as the best in the group are talented, there was at least one person who could have also been voted in. He however did not mention the candidate.

    On the previous show, Darey, who was asked to sum up his experience for the day, gave a nod to Evelle, Daniel Buba and Elvis Jay. “Unfortunately, the judges don’t get to decide which contestants has to go on to the next stage, only the votes of viewers at home will determine who goes home or stays back to battle for the coveted Idol crown,” he had said.

    Of the three, Elvis Jay, was the only one favoured by the viewers.

    Going by the outcome of last week’s public votes, Germany-based Nigerian soul singer, Nneka Egbuna was less diplomatic. “I am upset,” she said. “I came all the way to add credibility to this show, but it is unfortunate that you guys (voters) are not on the same frequency with us (the judges).

    For Dede, protégé of the Afrobeat precursor, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, there was no point shying away from mentioning the guys who could have been among the best-three. Expressing his disappointment, he said two guys; Evelle and Daniel Buba should have been voted in, because they are undoubtedly talented.

    There was palpable silence in the studio as show anchor and On-Air Personality, IllRymz was about to announce the voting result. The quiet soon gave way to murmuring as Jezzy Rae and Lisa were called out.

    Over the years, there have been criticisms of voting patterns in reality shows, because contestants with the least performance appear to be more aggressive in canvassing friends and family members for votes. Often times, they come tops, while the guys with the audience hype expect fans to vote for them naturally.

    This year, telecommunications company, Etisalat is the headline sponsors, through which the votes are collated, while Pepsi as official beverage company of the competition.

    Despite the criticized choice of voters, there is a leeway for any contestant whose promotion to the next stage, the judges feel strongly about. Although they declined using the Lifeline, as that could only safe one contestant of their choice, the judges may use the Wild Card, another prerogative with the capacity to safe three candidates, by putting them on the next stage.

    The show is blazing hot week after week, as 12 of the numerous contestants are selected for the gala rounds. The number of contestants is still enormous, and fans’ followership of the individual contestant has not been pronounced. However, with several side attractions, the event continues to excite TV viewers.

    For example, memories of the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti held sway, with Dede, putting up a remarkable performance during the recording of the first group of Top 30 contestants.

    Dressed in a black t-shirt, that had the image of Fela, and the inscription; ‘United We Stand’, Dede, as he is popularly called said, “Fela influenced who I am today greatly, though he is no more in body, he constantly remains in my heart.”

    The show which airs on Saturdays and Sundays on NTA, STV, HIP TV, CRBC Calabar, DRTV Warri, and Startimes Channels promises a grand prize is N7.5 million, a Galaxy Tab, a Blackberry, an iPod and a brand new SUV car. The first runner-up gets N1.5 million, a Galaxy Tab, Blackberry and iPod, while the 2nd runner-up will receive N1million, a Galaxy Tab, a Blackberry and an iPod.

    Organisers say each of the finalists from 4th to 10th place will also receive a cash prize of N100, 000, a Galaxy Tab, a Blackberry and an iPod.

  • Asoju-Oba table tennis championships: Kazeem Adeniyi is first upset seed

    Asoju-Oba table tennis championships: Kazeem Adeniyi is first upset seed

    The ongoing 44th Asoju-Oba table tennis championships on Wednesday recorded its first upset as Kazeem Adeniyi, the number two seeded player, lost his quarter-final match to unseeded Olarenrewaju Ojongbede.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adeniyi of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) lost 8-11, 7-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-5 and 8-11 (2-4) to Ojongbede of the Nigeria Air Force (NAF).

    The highly-entertaining encounter received a standing ovation from the appreciative crowd at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos. Adeniyi, who was last year’s men’s singles runner-up, told NAN that he prepared well for the competition, but still found it hard to believe how the upset happened.

    He said he would work hard on his shortcomings, in order to perform optimally at the 2013 edition of the championships. “I trained well, but I still find the upset hard to believe, I will continue to work on areas where I performed poorly,’’ he said.

    Ojongbede said that the match was strenuous and that he was ready to take on other top-rated players in his quest for the men’s singles title. “I never believed I could defeat such a brilliant player; the game was tough, but I think God was on my side,’’ Ojongbede said.

    Meanwhile, Oluranti Lajide, an International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Umpire, also said that the competition had become more challenging as most of the new players were holding their own against the accomplished ones.

    “The competition has just recorded its first upsets and with the calibre of players on parade here, we will witness more upsets before the end of the tournament,’’ Lajide said.

    He noted that the players were playing according to the ITTF rules, adding that they only needed to be brushed up in the area of services.

    Results from other gruelling matches in the second round showed that other seeded players in the men’s singles were able to scale through to the quarter-finals of the championships. Ganiu Ashimiyu, number one seed of NSCDC defeated an unseeded Kehinde Awobajo of Union Bank Club 11-7, 11-0, 11-4 and 11-4 (4-0), to move to the quarter-finals.

    Olajide Omotayo, seeded number six at NSCDC, also defeated an unseeded Adeyinka Ahmed of Spring Fresh 11-6, 11-5, 11-8, 6-11 and 11-0 (4-1). Number three player, Gbenga Anthony of Union Bank Club also outplayed an unseeded and clubless Bolaji Shobayo 11-10, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5 and 11-10 (4-1).

    NAN reports that semi-final matches at the championships will be played on Thursday.