By Chimezie Anaso

The Anambra Sports Commission is set to unveil sports associations for sports development in the state, its Chairman Patrick-Estate Onyedum says.

Onyedum said this during a familiarisation visit to his office by Tony Nezianya, the newly elected Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) in Awka.

According to Onyedum, the Commission has taken inventory of the performance and contributions of the previous boards, whose tenures have elapsed.

“We have identified that this will be the way to begin our quest for sports development from the grassroots.

“There is no doubt that a few made sterling contributions for which we are indeed happy but a number of them are moribund.

“We shall seek the approval of the government to reactivate the associations by formally dissolving the previous boards,” Onyedum said.

He said the idea was to use the association to discover the numerous talents that abound in the state which must be made clear to the chairman of their executive committee members.

“We shall certainly have some goals in mind in reconstituting the boards. We shall allow new associations and new sports to be grown in our state.

“They must hold regular meetings and competitions by raising funds from the private sector in support of their sport that will invariably be supported by the government. Government cannot develop sports on its own”.

Onyedum, who served the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, said he hoped to allow relatively new federations to be established in the state.

“We shall allow them so long as it will facilitate the human development index of the state as well as our quest for medals and honours to the state from local and international competitions.

“We do not have all the resources we require to develop our sports and infrastructure. We shall encourage those that will attract the development of infrastructure to support the growth and development of sports in Anambra.

Earlier, Nezianya requested Onyedum to allow federations like the Nigeria Triathlon Federation to start an affiliate Association in the state.

Triathlon, an Olympic sport, comprises three-in-one sports including Cycling, distance running and swimming, where an athlete can win an Olympic Gold by amassing points.

“There are some others that may wish to make similar requests. Let us welcome them. They may be the ones that can secure the state the honours they have been looking for,” he said.

Nezianya had served twice in two Olympiads from 2001 to 2005 and 2005 to 2009. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Maureen Atuonwu

By Victor Nwachukwu

The Commander, 34 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Obinze, Owerri, Brig.- Gen. Sani Sulaiman, has described sports as critical to the intellectual development of students.

The Commander said this on Friday at the 2023 Inter-house Sports competition of the Army Day Secondary School, Obinze.

Sulaiman said that sports had a role to play in helping individuals to discover and develop their God-given talents.

He said: “Sports has a special place in the development of individuals.

“It exposes you to opportunities that will help you discover your talents and aids intellectual development as it stimulates mental awareness.

“I want to urge you to try to identify your talents, using this opportunity so that beyond classroom work, you can be more useful to yourselves, families and Nigeria at large,” he told the students.

Sulaiman commended the school for organising the event.

In a speech, the Principal for Senior Secondary, Mrs Chigozirim Echefu, said that world champions could be discovered through secondary school sports.

Echefu advised the students to take the annual event seriously.

She thanked Sulaiman for his logistics and other forms of support to the school.

She cited the renovation of classroom blocks, provision of white boards, a water borehole as well as volleyball and basketball courts for the school.

Also, the Principal for Junior Secondary, Mr Thompson Amadi, said that sports was necessary to turn possible social vices into virtues.

Amadi said that society becomes virtuous and safer as students get more productive in their academic activities.

Highpoint of the event was the launch of the school’s brochure, entitled “The Champion Within”, by the Director of Sports, Imo Secondary Education Management Board, Mrs Dorathy Ajoku.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Yellow House emerged the overall winners of the competition with five gold, four silver and four bronze medals.

Blue House came second with five gold, three silver and three bronze.

The students competed in junior and senior categories of 100m, 200m, 1×400m, Egg and Sack races, amongst others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sam Oditah

Manchester City defender Nathan Ake struck in the second half to earn his side a hard-fought 1-0 victory over visitors Arsenal in the FA Cup fourth round.

The current top two teams in the 2022/2023 English Premier League (EPL) cancelled each other out in the first half on Friday.

Erling Haaland twice went close for Manchester City, while pacesetters Arsenal forced home goalkeeper Stefan Ortega into two fine saves to keep them at bay.

Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola brought Julian Alvarez off the bench early in the second half, with the Argentina striker playing a big part in the winner.

He fired against the post before Ake slotted home from the follow-up in the 64th minute.

Arsenal’s coach Mikel Arteta rang the changes in search of a leveller but they could not break Manchester City’s resistance.

The hosts progressed to remain in the hunt to win the domestic trophy Guardiola has claimed just once during his time in England.

Arsenal started the brightest at the Etihad in spite of making six changes to the side that beat Manchester United last weekend.

January signing Leandro Trossard from Brighton & Hove Albion looked lively, setting up an early opening for Takehiro Tomiyasu, who was denied by Ortega.

Haaland, eyeing his 32nd goal in all competitions in a remarkable debut season in England, was feeding off scraps.

All he needed was a half-chance and the striker used his pace to capitalise on two Arsenal errors but was unable to find the net.

Kevin De Bruyne curled a shot wide, but it was Trossard who went closest to breaking the deadlock in the opening period, bringing out a fine one-handed stop from Ortega.

Manchester City upped the ante after the break, finally wearing Arsenal down as Dutch defender Ake showed the finishing skills of a striker.

He calmly found the bottom corner after Alvarez’s effort had thundered against the upright.

With their main attention clearly elsewhere, Arsenal did not offer enough to find an equaliser.

With the Premier League the priority, fewer games in a congested season could benefit the London side’s quest for the big prize. (Reuters/NAN)

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Edited by Olawale Alabi

By Olasunkanmi Onifade

Mr Abubakar Rilwanu, Principal, School For The Gifted, Gwagwalada,, on Thursday, appealed to Nigerians to support efforts of government towards developing sports in schools.

The Principal, who made this appeal during the annual Inter-house sports competition in Abuja, said this would promote the expansion of current activities and encourage participation.

He said the school had been faced with the challenges of insufficient sporting facilities, adding that this had dampened the enthusiasm and love for sports.

“From among these youngsters today can emerge national and international champions. It is my sincere desire and prayers that young talents be discovered in this event.

” As you all know, sports is a goldmine in disguise, so students should use this opportunity, but remember to cultivate the spirit of sportsmanship,” Rilwanu said.

He said sports played major role in the mental, physical and psychological development of an individual, saying that was the reason why the FCT Secondary Education Board encouraged public secondary schools to carry out sporting activities.

The Chairman of the Occasion, Mr Clement Oluwafemi, stressed the importance of sports in schools, adding that education was holistic, ”hence learners are expected to develop mentally, emotionally and physically.”

He, however, encouraged the students to exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship, adding that sports required teamwork in the pursuit of mutual goals to achieve success.

“With sports, young people learn to recognise as well as value the unique and important contributions of their diverse teammates.

” Sports is essential to learning as it teaches children life skills like teamwork, leadership and patience, “Oluwafemi said.

The Sport Master of the School, Mr Ghazali Mohammed, said the purpose of event was to bring out the spirit of competition in the students as it is a tool for the students’ academic performances.

” Sports make the students aware that this life is equally a race which one must continue to strive and not give up as well as there is no room for laziness at all.

“From the results of the competition, it is also observed that sometimes when you fail in life, it is a challenge and an opportunity not to be discouraged on becoming successful in life,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Peter Uwumarogie

Akinade Onigbinde, the Technical Adviser of Doma United Football Club of Gombe, says the absence of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) was not good.

Onigbinde particularly said it was very bad VAR was non-existent during his team’s match against Dakkada FC of Uyo on Sunday at the Pantami Township Stadium in Gombe.

“The absence of VAR affected the outcome of the match,” he lamented after the Match Day 3 fixture in the abridged 2022/2023 (NPFL) season.

The coach said his newly-promoted side would have had more goals recorded in their favour if VAR had been used during the match.

He therefore urged the NPFL’s Interim Management Committee (IMC), organisers of the league, to consider introducing VAR in the Nigerian top tier of domestic league.

“The goal that was not given to us was a good goal. Now is the time to call for VAR in our football too, because actually we had a goal there.

“After that, we had a clean handball situation against our opponents and it was supposed to be a good penalty kick.

“We were supposed to make use of the advantage because it passed through the line I saw the ball which is a goal,” the coach said.

He, however commended the improvement made by referees in terms of officiating matches in the NPFL.

“Nowadays, you can go to an away ground and win, which we have seen this season, and it is good for our football development.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Doma United beat Dakkada FC after an Ogwuche Emmanuel 59th minute goal.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Olawale Alabi

By Victor Okoye

The Association of Former Female Athletes of Nigeria (AFFAN), says mentorship of young female athletes in the country is its top priority.

Esther Aluko, the association’s President, gave this indication in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of an Awards night, organised by AFFAN to honour former female athletes of the 60s and 70s on Saturday in Abuja.

Aluko noted that AFFAN was established in response to the yearnings of hundreds of former female athletes who had distinguished themselves in various spheres of life.

“We needed a platform through which we could come together as a body and give back to the society that gave us the platform in the first place, to be successful in life through sport participation.

“AFFAN is passionate about contributing to the peace and development of our nation by serving as role models, using our wealth of experience and exposure as former female athletes and as mothers.

“We want to positively impact the future leaders of our nation through sports participation at the primary and secondary school levels.

“We also discover and assist in nurturing future star athletes in schools and inculcate values that will make them useful to themselves and the society at large,” she said.

Aluko stressed that AFFAN was committed to sparking the interest of young girls in sports and teaching them to effectively combine sports and education.

“We help them to take advantage of the benefits of sports participation through coaching clinics, career seminars, sports workshops and competitions.

“Our strength lies in the spread of our members across the country; and with a little support and encouragement from the government, sports loving organisations and individuals,” she said.

She added that AFFAN was also committed to ensuring that the neglect of ex-athletes would soon become a thing of the past.

She said the association was poised to meaningfully engage them to do what they know how to do within their domain.

The president called on well-meaning Nigerians, relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, philanthropists, private and corporate organisations to come on board and partner with AFFAN.

“This is so as to fulfill some of our objectives such as: Construction and upgrading of schools’ sport facilities.

“Donation of sports equipment, talent identification programmes, training and retraining of schools’ sport coaches and teachers as well as the provision of scholarships to potential athletes,” she said.

NAN reports that some of the athletes recognised at the awards night were those who had done the country proud in their various sports in the 60s and 70s.

This was when there were only eight sports Associations, namely Athletics, Badminton, Swimming, Handball, Basketball, Volleyball, Hockey and Table Tennis.

The president explained that these group of special athletes had not been recognised and honoured by any organisation in the country.

“AFFAN believes that these sport ambassadors of the 60s and 70s richly deserve to be honoured; after all a line in our National Anthem states that “the labour of our hero’s past shall never be in vain.”

“It is for this reason that our Association decided to recognise and honour these unsung heros who had at various times in the 60s and 70s made the country proud through their outstanding sport performances.

“Though some of them are now deceased, we deem it fit to celebrate and put smiles on the faces of those who are still alive,” she said.

No fewer than 147 athletes were honoured during the Awards night, including 127 living and 20 deceased persons respectively.

The list include; Aluko (Handball), Anthonia Bamidele (Hockey), Essien Anwan (Volleyball), Gloria Ayanjala (Athletics), Modupe Oshikoya (Track and Field), Mary Akinkuowo (Athletics), Utitofon Nkantah (Athletics), Olufunke Ortoho (Swimming, Badminton and Squash).

Others include; Nnena Ekezie (Handball), Ngozi Mammah (Swimming), Grace Asagba (Badminton), Kate Oyoyo (Volleyball), Marian Donald (Netball, Handball and Basketball), Margareth Nzombato (Basketball), Juliet Abiose (Netball, Handball and Basketball).

The rest are; Joy Oliwe (Handball), Marhereth Porbeni (Basketball), Patricia Odion (Basketball), Roseline Adiole (Track and field), Rabi Egujie (Volleyball), Elizabeth Adada (Hockey), Udogu Virginia (Basketball), Bukky George (Badminton), Enofe Tinuke (Swimming), amongst others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vincent Obi

By Segun Giwa

Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti on Sunday in Owo emerged overall winners of the 21st edition of Nigeria Polytechnic Games Association (NIPOGA) after garnering 23 gold, 14 silver and nine bronze medals.

Lagos State Polytechnic came second with 13 gold, 22 silver and 17 bronze medals, while The Polytechnic of Ibadan finished third with 10 gold, one silver and 11 bronze medals.

Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who declared the event closed told newsmen on Sunday in Owo said the competition’s Local Organising Committee (LOC) had done a great job.

Akeredolu, represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Bamidele Ologun, congratulated the management of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo (RUGIPO) for successfully hosting the games.

He also used the opportunity to charge the next hosts to embark on early preparations.

“The next hosts should not wait till few days to the games before they start their preparations. They should avoid the fire brigade approach,” the governor said.

Gani Ogundahunsi, President of NIPOGA Council, who is also the RUGIPO Rector, attributed the successful hosting of the 21st NIPOGA to God.

He appreciated the governor for the support and attention which helped in the successful hosting of the games.

Ogundahunsi added that resilience, hard work and proper preparations kept the LOC going from the beginning to the end of the games.

“The ultimate thing is to organise a befitting competition that brings honour to the name of our institution and the state at large. We remained focus by not allowing anything to distract us.

“I expect the next hosts, Delta State Polytechnic in Ogwuashi-Uku, to do better than what we did, because they would have learnt a lot from us,” he said.

Rector of Delta State Polytechnic, Prof. Emmanuel Achuenu, after receiving the NIPOGA flag as hosts of the games’ 22nd edition, said their target was to do better than what RUGIPO had done.

“No doubt, RUGIPO has done a very good job, but we are going to ensure that we surpass them by organising a better games in 2025,” he said.

Achuenu charged all the institutions in NIPOGA and their athletes to start preparing for the games’ next edition since the dates have been known.

Meanwhile, the female football team of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic their defeated Yaba College of Technology counterparts 3-2 in the final of their competition.

Also, Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa beat Federal Polytechnic Ede 3-1 after a penalty kicks shootout to win the male football event, after a goalless draw in regulation time. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Olawale Alabi

By Peter Uwumarogie

Akinade Onigbinde, the Technical Adviser of Doma United Football Club of Gombe, says the absence of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) was not good.

Onigbinde particularly said it was very bad VAR was non-existent during his team’s match against Dakkada FC of Uyo on Sunday at the Pantami Township Stadium in Gombe.

“The absence of VAR affected the outcome of the match,” he lamented after the Match Day 3 fixture in the abridged 2022/2023 (NPFL) season.

The coach said his newly-promoted side would have had more goals recorded in their favour if VAR had been used during the match.

He therefore urged the NPFL’s Interim Management Committee (IMC), organisers of the league, to consider introducing VAR in the Nigerian top tier of domestic league.

“The goal that was not given to us was a good goal. Now is the time to call for VAR in our football too, because actually we had a goal there.

“After that, we had a clean handball situation against our opponents and it was supposed to be a good penalty kick.

“We were supposed to make use of the advantage because it passed through the line I saw the ball which is a goal,” the coach said.

He, however commended the improvement made by referees in terms of officiating matches in the NPFL.

“Nowadays, you can go to an away ground and win, which we have seen this season, and it is good for our football development.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Doma United beat Dakkada FC after an Ogwuche Emmanuel 59th minute goal. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Olawale Alabi