By Victor Okoye

No fewer than 200 players, including over 400 enthusiasts and spectators are expected to participate in a Chess and Scrabble fiesta in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the week-long tournament organised by BeeCass Chess Club, is expected to run from Aug. 21 to Aug. 26 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

Cassandra Otobong, Co-founder of BeeCass Chess Club/Foundation, Abuja told NAN on Monday that the Nigeria Chess Federation and the Chess Players’ Association of Nigeria were in support of the tournament.

“This is why we are using the National Stadium as our venue because of the large number of participants expected to attend the event.

“Chess is not just for the players but for everyone to come and participate and enjoy the game,” she said.

She said that the tourney would serve as both fiesta to raise funds for vulnerable children as well as a pre-tourney qualifier for the National Championship.

“The first day is going to be BeeCass Chess and Scrabble fiesta.

“The purpose of this tournament is to foster unity between chess and scrabble players and also an avenue to raise funds to send orphans and vulnerable children back to school.

“This event will also serve as a pre-tourney for the much awaited and anticipated North Central Zonal Championship,” she said.

Otobong said that the north central zonal championship was a pre-qualification tournament for the National Championships.

She said that the winner of the championship would represent the North Central zone at the preliminary stage.

According to her, qualifiers will participate in the National Chess Championships in Lagos in October.

“This tournament is a highly-rated event for the North Central because without this tourney it simply means that there will be no North Central representative at the National Championships.

“So, that’s why this tournament is very important not just for the players who will have the opportunity to improve their ratings, but for all chess stakeholders and enthusiasts here in the north.

“The chess and scrabble fiesta will be played in the rapids format on the first day, while the classical format will be used from the second day to the grand finale for the north central zonal chess championship,” she said.

She appealed to well-meaning Nigerians, philanthropists as well as private and corporate organisations sponsor the event, adding that chess was not just a game but an educational tool.

“We want to change the narrative as we have realised that chess is not just a game but an educational tool that you can use to improve your social and mental agility.

“So, that’s what we intend to achieve as well as push for its inclusion in the curriculum of schools across the country,” she said.

She advised parents to encourage their children to participate in the game so that they can also benefit, and imbibe some good values that the game teaches at an early age.

“It helps the children’s development so that when they get to a certain stage in life; they already have good planning, strategy and execution skills,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Joseph Edeh

By Victor Okoye

Chess enthusiasts have advised parents on the need to encourage their kids to learn and be involved in the sport.

Some of the enthusiasts spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of a chess tournament organised by Rupetta Academy, to celebrate the World Chess Day in Abuja on Friday.

Katmaan Senlong, an Education Advocate, said the importance of engaging in the sport could not be overemphasised.

“We are here to celebrate the international World Chess Day. This is a tournament to celebrate everyone that plays chess in Nigeria.

“I can’t overemphasise the unique skills you learn by playing chess; reasoning, logical thinking, strategic organisational skills, attention to details and most importantly to think outside the box.

“So, we are here today not just to celebrate the international World Chess Day, but also to encourage youths to embrace this noble game.

“They say it is a game for geniuses, but it’s actually for everyone because today, we are celebrating the fact that we are family,” she said.

Selong who is also the CEO of Rupetta Academy, the organisers of the World Chess Day Tournament, said there was a need to create more awareness about the game in the country.

She said the game needed to be introduced into the curriculum of schools, and parents should be encouraged to enroll their kids into chess clubs, to teach them the skills.

Selong also said that her academy was doing a lot in this regard, adding that they were set to also organise a maiden Summer Tech, Swimming, Coding and Chess programme for kids between six and 12 years old.

“They learn skills they will need to become fantastic leaders tomorrow such as coordination, focus, discipline, concentration, paying attention to details, amongst others.

“I am sure these are familiar words in curriculum vitaes nowadays when one is applying for a new job.

“So, we are here to teach these children these skills because I am a firm believer in the notion that practice makes perfect,” she said.

Bode Durotoye, Chairman, Technical, Nigeria Chess Federation, emphasised on the need for children to learn the game at a very young age.

“This is because it is going to be a gift for life. Chess is life generally and as you develop in life, you develop in the game too.

“I met a young lady here at the age of 10. She was crying after I defeated her, but I had to pet and encourage her that the game of chess was a continuous process.

“You win today, you lose tomorrow. These are the kind of values which the game of chess builds in the lives of children.

“Life is not always rosy, you can be good today, tomorrow is a different situation,” he said.

Anthony Ogor, Chairman, Zalika Chess Club, Abuja, on his part said chess had always been a fun and a game of kings.

“When you play chess, there is this aura of reputation that goes with it. When you see the class of people that play chess, you will quickly attribute intelligence to them.

“Besides that, internally, what chess does to you is that it gives you that air of confidence, especially when you are faced with challenges or troubles.

“Whatever it is, you are able to come up with quick solutions with even few options available to you,” he said.

For eight-year-old chess champion, Ivie Urieto, playing the game made her imbibe the values of discipline, timeliness, politeness and obedience.

“I was introduced to chess by my father at the age of four and I always watched him while he played the game; that was how I fell in love with the game.

“My dream is to represent Nigeria in various International competitions and become a grand master in the next five years,” she said.

Joshua Adejo, a Senior champion, who emerged the winner of the event’s biggest prize, said he was elated to have won in spite of all odds against him.

“I started the game awkwardly but I was able to gain some momentum with my play and deliver those wins at the very critical moments when it mattered most,” he said.

NAN also reports that about 50 players participated in the tournament with mouth-watering prizes awarded to winners in different categories.

The general and female categories both had a prize purse of N100,000 each spread across different winners.

The children category had a N100,000 cash donation with exercise books, mathset and other learning materials. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chidinma Agu and Emmanuel Afonne

By Victor Okoye

Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie’s 50th minute save denied Canada’s Christine Sinclair a place in history in scoreless draw at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The result meant Nigeria and Canada shared the spoils in their tight Group B opener in Melbourne, with the two captains involved in the game’s pivotal moment.

After a goalless opening half, Canada were awarded a penalty shortly after the break.

Their captain, Sinclair, stepped up to the spot but was thwarted by a superb stop low to her left by the Super Falcons skipper Nnadozie.

A tight first half saw Canada shade possession but the best of the chances fell Nigeria’s way.

Ifeoma Onumonu had an effort parried wide by Kailen Sheridan midway through the half.

This was followed by a vital intervention from Vanessa Gilles, which kept Asisat Oshoala’s goal-bound effort out after a missed clearance from Sheridan.

Five minutes after the restart, came the game’s key moment with Canada awarded a penalty as Sinclair was brought down by Francisca Ordega.

But the 40-year-old missed the chance to become the tournament’s oldest scorer as Nnadozie made a fine save low to her left.

NAN also reports that four of the last six penalties awarded at the FIFA Women’s World Cup have been missed, with Sinclair’s effort the latest on that list.

Both nations went in search of a winner, with Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie having a shot well blocked with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Canada substitutes Evelyne Viens and then Cloe Lacasse also had late efforts cleared.

The Super Falcons will be without midfielder Deborah Abiodun for their next match though.

This was after she was shown a red card late in second half stoppage time, as Nigeria saw out their first scoreless draw in 27 Women’s World Cup matches.

The Super Falcons will take on tournament’s co-hosts Australia on July 27 after defeating Republic of Ireland 1-0 on Thursday in their opening fixture.

They will then round off their group stage matches against Republic of Ireland on July 31.

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup which is being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, kicked off on July 20 and will end on Aug. 20. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Joseph Edeh

By Muhyideen Jimoh

George Aluo, newly appointed Chairman, Nigeria National League (NNL), has pledged to reposition the league with focus on improved officiating, professionalism and qualified coaches for clubs.

Aluo said this at the inaugural news conference of the NNL board on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said the new board was ready to hit the ground running and at the same time take the league to the next level in line with international best practices.

“As a board, we are already working on how to make the league more professional and take care of the indemnities of the referees.

“We all know that the greatest challenge facing the league is officiating, so we need to change that.

“The moment we get officiating right, security at match venues, coaching and professionalism right, then we are good to go,” he said.

The veteran sports journalist said that a framework would be put in place to ensure that only coaches with the mandatory minimum professional qualification of CAF ‘B’ certificate would be allowed to coach in the league.

Aluo also said that club registration and licensing would now be done online, as the league’s website and registration portal would be reconstructed to reposition the league.

The NNL boss said that the board had on Tuesday held its inaugural board meeting, with a communiqué issued on the way forward for the league.

“The Board approved the composition of a five-man Rules and Regulation/Club Licensing Committee that will review the entire NNL framework in order to enhance the operations of the League.

“The Board charged the Chief Executive Officer to embark on aggressive sponsorship drive to secure credible sponsors for the League,” the communiqué read in parts.

Aluo, subsequently appealed to the media to support the NNL and give it all the publicity it needed to become the most important league in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was graced by board members of the NNL and some football stakeholders.

Ibrahim Gusau, President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), had on Monday in Abuja inaugurated the boards of NNL, Nation-Wide League one (NLO) and Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), with a charge to reposition the leagues.
(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Emmanuel Afonne

By Victor Okoye

Olabanjo Obaleye, the newly elected Captain of the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, said on Tuesday that the 2023 Inaugural Captain’s tournament would mark an era of new developments for the club.

Obaleye said this while addressing newsmen on tournament expected to tee-off on Wednesday at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2023 Captain’s Inaugural tournament will be organised alongside a tennis tournament.

Obaleye said the tournament would usher in the a new era of innovations into the club.

“Abuja is the Federal capital city of Nigeria. So, this club should carry that image by being the best.

“This club should be able to compete favourably with the best of the golf courses anywhere in the world.

“We know we have a lot of challenges in the area of capacity, but I can assure you that many things are being put in place now to ensure that the club measure up to world standard,” he said.

Obaleye expressed gratitude to the chairman and members of the organising committee for all their efforts towards ensuring a successful hosting of the event.

He said that even though the tournament was tagged the ‘Captain’s Inaugural’, it is however not just for him alone, but also for all the executive committee members, to usher in the new administration.

Chris Jemitola, Chairman, Organising Committee of the tournament, noted that the event was in honour of Olabanjo Obaleye, the newly inaugurated Captain of the club.

Jemitola said plans had been made to ensure a successful tournament going by the personality of the new captain and sponsors eager to be a part of the event.

He added that no fewer than 400 golfers and 100 tennis players from across the country and beyond were expected to participate in the week-long tournament.

“The tournament will officially usher in Obaleye as the 26th captain of our prestigious golf club.

“The golf tournament will tee-off on Wednesday with the pros taking to the course, while Thursday is meant for handicaps 19 to 54 as well as the veterans (ladies and men).

“Handicaps 11 to 18 (ladies and men) will play on Friday, followed by a cocktail event in the evening to round up activities for the day.

“We will have our ceremonial tee-off on Saturday, followed by more golf action by players in the category of handicaps 0 to 10, with the dinner and awards/prize presentation to close the event,” he said.

Shola Adebayo, the Competition Secretary, noted that the course was in good playing condition ahead of the tournament and prayed for good weather during the event.

“The IBB Golf and Country Club is one of the best courses in the country, hence the high number of golfers who have expressed their interest to participate in the tournament.

“It can easily be classified as the best golf club in Nigeria and so much work has been done to make the course very beautiful, kudos to the new captain and his team.

“For the tournament proper, we have the tennis section with three categories of event, including the men singles, women singles and the veterans.

“For the golf tournament, the format would be based on stroke play with three handicap levels as well as the pros participating.

“The tennis tournament served off on Monday, while the pros will take to the course on Wednesday, followed by other handicap levels with the ceremonial tee-off on Saturday,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Emmanuel Afonne

By Babatunde Ogunrinde

The newly appointed Head Coach of the Nigeria Senior Women’s Basketball Team, D’tigress, Rena Wakama, has named 20 players for FIBA Africa Women Championship.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team would be camped in Abuja ahead of the Afrobasket Women’s Championship which begins on July 28 and ends Aug. 6 in Kigali, Rwanda.

The team would be going for their sixth title, having won three in a row in the past Afrobasket continental showpiece.

The 12 nations championship will also serve as qualifications for the FIBA World Championship scheduled to hold in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.

Nigeria in defense of her title, is made up of 15 players, plying their trade outside Nigeria and five others from First Bank, MFM and Customs Basketball Clubs in the domestic league.

The home based players that made the cut are MFM’s Hembam Wandoo, Akaraiwe Nkem Uwa of Nigeria Customs as well as First Bank trio of Murjanatu Musa Linan, Mac-Dangusi Theresa and Theresa Ebiega.

The Head Coach, Wakama, will be assisted by Sotiminu Samson, Juli Negedu, Prince Eazela and Aisha Mohammed.

Plying their trade outside the shores of Nigeria are Toyosi Abiola -PG- Eastern Michigan University, USA; Tomi Taiwo -PG- Texas Christian University, USA.

Onaibe Believe Jessica -PG- ASPAC, Benin Republic; Okoro Ifunaya -CG- KPA, Kenya; Sarah Ogoke -SG- Ferroviario, Mozambique.

Elizabeth Balogun -F- Duke Blue Devils, USA; Mariam Olawoyin -F- Chipola College, USA; Adeyeye Adebola -F- Kentucky Wilscats, USA.

Amanda Okodugba -F- Grindavik, Iceland and Amy Okonkwo -F- Halcones, Mexico Lix Dixon -F- Connecticut, WNBA, USA.

Pallas Akpanah -PF- Campobassi, Italy; Olawuyi Adenike Olayemi -PF/C- Pea University, Hungary Lorine Ebo Notre Dame, USA and Blessing Ejiofor, Western Virginia University, USA.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Saidu Adamu/Idris Abdulrahman

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Taiwo Oriss, Secretary General of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), said the federation has assembled a stronger team more than before, ahead of the U19 World Cup Africa Division One Qualifiers.

Oriss spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the backdrop of the level of preparations the team ahead of the event beginning on Sunday in Tanzania.

He said the NCF has prepared the team to compete well enough for the event.

“We have put together one of the best teams for the tournament, in fact, a stronger team than ever before.

“We know what is at stake. We know it is just one slot available and we have prepared the team adequately for the task ahead,’’ he said.

The Secretary recalled the team’s qualification in 2019, a feat that took the country to her first ever World Cup appearance in 2020 but regretted their failure to qualify again in 2021.

He said the board reviewed the lapses suffered in 2021 and have worked to correct them.

“We have better chances of qualifying this time.We have been able to look at what the chances are and have been able to identify the lapses suffered earlier.

“After the team’s qualification from Division Two in September in 2022, they have been in camp in both Benin and Lagos.

“In June, the federation sent the team for two-week training in India, the Omtex CWC training institute, which has one of the best facilities in India.

“At the moment, the team is in Kigali, Rwanda for a training tour where they face some selected Rwanda teams in preparation for the tournament in Tanzania,’’ Oriss said.

He said that the team has got lots of support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, as well as motivation from the president of the federation.

“They have the support of the Ministry as well as the biggest motivation from Uyi Akpata, the NCF president, who is doing everything to ensure the team’s qualification.

“I really don’t see anybody that can stand in the way of Nigeria this time. We have done our analysis and have looked at the teams we are facing.

“I think it is our time,’’ Oriss noted.

NAN reports that Nigeria will face hosts Tanzania, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Namibia and Uganda for the sole ticket to the 2024 World Cup in Sri Lanka.

The Qualifiers is scheduled for July 23 to 31. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

IHA/JPE

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(Edited by Joseph Edeh)

By Emmanuel Afonne

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, has pledged his support to the Benue State Football Association (BSFA), led by its Chairman, Paul Edeh.

A statement issued on Sunday by Malu Iorngulum, Secretary, BSFA, stated that Gusau made the pledge when he hosted the executive members of the Benue FA at the NFF Secretariat.

He commended the vision of the new State FA leadership, as well as their dedication in developing football from the grassroots.

While expressing his admiration and confidence in the Edeh-led leadership, Gusau expressed optimism that the programmes of the BSFA would achieve great success with its emphasis on grassroots development.

Gusau said that the grassroots football development programme of the BSFA was in tandem with the vision of his board to develop the game in Nigeria.

He added that the BSFA would get the necessary support it deserved from the NFF to succeed.

“I want to assure you that under my watch, we shall do everything possible to support your leadership.

“When Hon. Icheen met me to communicate that she was not going to contest again. I told her I don’t want to talk about that now, that she should give me a little time to think about it.

“But later, Edeh told me his intention to contest for the Benue FA Chairman.

“It was then I felt a little bit relieved, because the whole essence is to get people that are interested and committed to the game of football.

“If we don’t have people that are interested and committed to man the positions of leadership, then we are deceiving ourselves.

“God in his own wisdom will see us through to make sure we achieve our goals as FA chairman and NFF president respectively, ”he said.

Gusau also said he was deeply honoured by the presence and presentation of the delegation, stressing that the visit by the BSFA was the first of its kind by any FA in the country and urged them to sustain such a leadership style.

“I am proud of you Paul because your board is the first FA board that is making this kind of visit in the history of the NFF, I stand to be corrected.

“This is a pointer to the fact that your leadership as Benue state Chairman will be exceptional.”

Earlier, the Chairman of the BSFA and President, Ratels Sports Development Foundation (RSDF), Edeh, said the visit was to interact with the NFF and for the football house to be acquainted with his programme.

“When I made up my mind to contest for the Benue state FA Chairman, I first swept through your manifesto so that I can understand the vision of the man who is currently the first citizen of football in Nigeria.

“One fundamental vision of yours that caught my attention was your vision to develop football from the grassroots. Today, I must confess that the President and I have a couple of similarities.

“The first is the fact that the President has two women on his board and so do I. The President’s General Secretary is a PHD holder and so is my Secretary General.

“As you can see Sir, I am following in your footsteps,” Edeh said.

He appreciated the NFF President for granting his board audience within a short notice and appealed for the football house’s assistance to develop football facilities in Benue.

According to him, Benue has made tremendous contributions to football in the country but current infrastructural deficit if not urgently addressed will affect football development in the state and the country.

Edeh further advocated the need to embrace a policy direction that would encourage the combination of sports and education.

Two big hamper baskets of fruits were presented to the NFF President, which portrayed Benue as the food basket of the nation.

Other memorabilia were handed to the NFF President by the leadership of the BSFA to symbolise why the state was regarded as the food basket.

Other notable figures, including NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi and NFF Board members Margaret Icheen and Alhaji Sharif Inuwa were in attendance. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vivian Ihechu