By Victor Okoye

Members and friends of Mike Ekoja, the outgoing Captain of the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, have showered encomiums on him as his tenure gradually winds down.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ekoja’s reign as the club’s captain will end in May after one year at the helms of affairs at the club.

A cross section of members who spoke with NAN on the sidelines of the 2023 Captain’s Cup in his honour on Sunday in Abuja, said Ekoja was an outstanding captain who left an indelible mark on the club.

Boboye Oyeyemi, the Chairman, Organising Committee of the 2023 Captain’s Cup said it was a great privilege to have played a part in the organisation and planning of the tournament in honour of the outgoing Captain.

Oyeyemi added that Ekoja was a team player, as well as an amiable and humble captain.

“Indeed, what you have witnessed throughout this week is as a result of the painstaking and dedicated efforts of the members of the committee to celebrate our very humble and amiable captain.

“This year’s Captain’s Cup has turned out to be a remarkable success as shown by the number of participants. We all ensured that it ran its course with a great sense of collective achievement.

“It proves once again that golf has remained one of the powerful games that unites people from diverse backgrounds and ages aside from its tremendous health benefits,” he said.

Oyeyemi who is the immediate past Corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), thanked all the sponsors, participants, members and the media for their support in ensuring that the event was a huge success.

“On behalf of the organising committee, I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated in the 2023 edition of the Captain’s Cup.

“It has, indeed, not only been a run away success but has also cemented the reputation of our great club.

“We thank all those who made the tournament possible through their generous donations to honour our Captain, Mike Ekoja.

“We thank members of our club, invited guests, staff, the media, other well-wishers and the international participants,” he said.

Lami Ahmed, a past lady Captain of the club (2016) said Ekoja was a dedicated and hardworking captain and a very good team player.

She added that the huge number of participants during the tournament was a good testament to Ekoja’s contribution to the growth and success of the club.

“Every year, the Captain’s Cup is the climax of all activities in this club and therefore the members come together to celebrate the captain who has devoted and dedicated a full year running the affairs of the club.

“It is noteworthy to mention that Ekoja is a special person. He is a man who gave his all and committed 356 days on a daily basis carrying out one activity or the other.

“He also supported the ladies’ section and brought glamour to the club by embarking on a lot of projects like the renovation of the club house, maintenance of the course, to mention a few, alongside his dedicated team members.

“He is a very good team manager as he was able to put members of his team together and they all worked to give us the best value we have ever witnessed in a long time.

“So, it is worthy that he is being celebrated by distinguished and respected individuals from various works of life.

“This was, indeed, the highest gathering we have ever witnessed in the history of the club,” she said.

Julie Acholonu, also a past lady Captain (2018), said Ekoja was a diligent and resourceful person who did very well in his capacity as the Captain of the club.

Acholonu noted that he also worked with a formidable team, which made it possible for him to achieve so much within a short period of time at the helm of affairs of the club.

She also expressed joy at being one of the podium finishers at the end of the tournament, promising to improve on her performance in the next edition.

“I am so elated as I finished as a runner up in the vetran ladies (handicap 19 to 54) category this year.

“Everybody wants to be appreciated for little efforts. You come here and spend about five hours playing under the sun and so you just hope to do something special.

“Sometimes, you are not going for the award, but when one is called up for recognition it kind of pleases the mind and makes you feel that you have done well in the time you have committed.

“It also encourages you to put more of your best. So, I am go back to practice and challenge myself to do better and win bigger things,” she said.

Ekoja in his response, appreciated members, staff and friends for the honour, adding that it was a testament to the fact that he performed well during his time at the club.

“The successful outing we all witnessed could only have been made possible through the painstaking planning of the Organising Committee headed by our own Boboye Oyeyemi and his hard working team.

“We enjoyed tremendous goodwill from our members which goes to show that if the goodwill of members is properly harnessed, there is so much we can achieve together for the overall interest of the club.

“We remain ever grateful to our members who supported the event in cash, material and in kind.

“Special thanks also go to all our sponsors, donors, helpers too numerous to mention, as well as the press and staff of our great club for your selfless contributions which made this day possible.

“Finally, I will like to appreciate my dear wife, Olufunke David-Ekoja, without whose support I couldn’t have achieved much in the service of the club,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Salif Atojoko

By Victor Okoye

Jacob Ihesie has emerged as the overall winner of the 2023 Mike Ekoja Captain’s Cup in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the week-long 2023 Captain’s Cup which was its 24th edition began on Tuesday and ended on Sunday at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.

Ihesie was crowned the overall champion after he played off handicap 17 and returned a gross score of 85 and 68 nett to claim the 2023 Captain’s Cup top prize.

The champion smiled home with a 5kVA Phocos Inverter, 5.3kWh WeCo Lithium Battery and 8460W Yingli Solar Panels worth N 5. 59 million.

The solar system is expected to be installed free by one of the event’s major sponsors, CDD Infrastructure.

“I feel so happy and fulfilled after training so hard for this tournament and winning the star prize at the end of the day.

“It shows that hardwork and commitment pays.

“I really feel honoured and grateful to the organisers, executives and board of trustees of this great club as well as the sponsors of this wonderful tournament for this valuable prize given to me.

“My goal now is to continue to train very hard and improve myself in the game, so as to defend my title again in the next edition of the Captain’s Cup,” an elated Ihesie said.

Amina Wilfred, playing off handicap 0, with a gross score of 76, won the prize for the best gross ladies.

In the ladies category for handicap 0 to 18, J. Ayu playing off handicap 18, with a gross score of 94 and 76 nett emerged as winner of the category.

D. Mamza (18) and Rachael Danjuma (0) finished as runner up and second runner up with a gross score of 95, 96 and 77, 79 nett respectively.

In the ladies category for handicap 19 to 28, A. Yaduma playing off handicap 24, with a gross score of 93 and 69 nett emerged as winner of the category.

E. Umana (26) and MaryRose Richard-Obioha (23) finished as runner up and second runner up with a gross score of 99, 97 and 73, 74 nett respectively.

The ladies’ veteran category (handicap 19 to 54) was won by F. Olateju playing off handicap 27 with a gross score of 101 and 74 nett ahead of former IBB Lady captain Julie Acholonu (38), who returned 113 gross and 75 nett.

U. Wada playing off handicap 24 with 93 gross and nett score of 69 won the Super Veteran Ladies category (handicap 19 to 28) ahead of F. Anyanwu (24), who returned a gross score of 114 and 91 nett.

In the Vetran Ladies category for handicap 0 to 18, M. Saleh with 90 gross and 68 nett emerged winner, while former IBB lady Captain, Lami Ahmed returned a gross score of 107 and 73 nett to finish as runner up.

In the Auxillary prizes category, M. Makosi won the prize for the longest drive ladies on day 1 with a distance of 218 metres, while Wilfred won the prize for the longest drive Ladies on day 3 with a distance of 230 metres.

Adedoyin Oyenusi and Godwin Okoko carted home the prizes for the longest drive men on day 2 and 3 respectively with a distance of 240 and 270 metres respectively.

O. Babasola won the prize for the nearest to the pin men on day 1 with an impressive 11.2 feet effort, while G. Bamidele and A. Tarfa won the same prize for their efforts of 3.8 and 2.3 feet on day 2 and 3 respectively.

Patience Katchy won the prize for the nearest to the pin Ladies on day 1 with a 20.3 feet effort, while Wilfred won the same prize for her 11.9 feet effort recorded on day 3.

NAN also reports that the well attended tournament, adjudged the best ever organised Captain’s Cup in the history of the tournament, had in attendance a delegation from Cameroon and some other African countries. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Salif Atojoko

By Emmanuel Afonne

Seven players have been selected from the South-South zone for final of the Global Grassroots Football Tournament (GGFT) scheduled to take place at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, next month.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tournament is organised by an Abuja-based football academy, Prestige Football Academy (PFA).

Uchendu Nwabara, President and National Coordinator, GGFT, told NAN over the telephone on Saturday that the seven players would proceed to Abuja for the final selection scheduled to hold from May 23 to May 26.

Nwabara said the tournament which started in the six geo-political zones of the country on April 17 with South-South taking the first shot, would end in North-East on May 5 before the final in Abuja.

He said the tournament organised for players between 16 and 19 years would be used for scouting of players for the national teams and various foreign clubs.

“We are done with the South-South zone with a base in Port Harcourt; we are heading to the South-West zone with Lagos as the base.

“We have been in Port Harcourt since Monday but ended our programme there on Thursday and arrived Lagos on Friday.

“This tournament is the maiden edition and we have our target, which is to help revive football in Nigeria through scouting of super quality players.

“So many of them have been doing well irrespective of our different layers of scouting; every player has to be physically fit and must know everything that concerns football on the pitch.

“Also, the player’s medical history is part of the criteria and not just that, we also make sure that the player’s cognitive development and attention span is accessed as well as his character and discipline.

“Some of the players we have seen are very good and ready for the tournament,” Nwabara said.

Obafemi Olugbemi, Coordinator, South-South zone, Global Grassroots Football Tournament, also told NAN over the phone that exceptional players were selected out of the over 200 that participated.

Olugbemi said that the tournament would henceforth serve as nurturing ground for football talents for the country’s national teams.

Edwin Yobo, the Co-coordinator of South-South, urged those who were not selected to up their game and prepare for the second edition next year.

Edwin, who is the elder brother of former Super Eagles Captain, Joseph Yobo, said the screening would now become part of the youth population in the area especially the footballers among them.

Ernest Osuagbenironiso, one of the lucky players selected for the grand finale in Abuja, said the training was awesome but intense.

“We have a large turnout but I thank God I am part of the players selected.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Victor Okoye

Organisers of the 2023 Mike Ekoja Captain’s Cup have set aside a N2 million prize money for the professional golfers category of this year’s golf tournament in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tournament, which is in its 24th edition, is in honour of Ekoja, the outgoing captain of the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.

Julius Fadero, the Competition Secretary, IBB Golf and Country Club, on Tuesday said that the tournament would be different and more exciting with a lot of mouth-watering as well as consolation prizes.

“As you are aware, no two Captain’s Cup are the same and the goal is always to go a step further.

“So, this year, for the golf professionals, there is a N2 million prize money set aside for the winners of that category.

“While there is a N500,000 prize money for those in training.

“For the amateurs, we have different categories, but the overall which is the star prize as it were is a N5.5 million worth of solar system to be installed for the overall winner, which makes this year’s event unique.

“We have other consolation prizes such as free business class tickets, courtesy of our sponsors, Ibom Air and Qatar Airways.

“We also have some refrigerators, air conditioners and television sets donated by some of our sponsors, to mention a few,” he said.

He said that the format of play would be stroke play with the tournament expected to get under way on Wednesday and end with the prize presentation and dinner on Saturday.

“The Captain’s Cup kitty, tennis and the pros will slug it out in a one-day 18 hole winner-takes-it-all event on Wednesday, while the Ladies handicap 19 to 28 and 29 to 54, Vetran Ladies handicap 19 to 54 as well as the Super Vetran Ladies play on Thursday.

“Also, the Men handicap 19 to 28, 29 to 54, Vetran men handicap 19 to 28, 29 to 54, Super Vetran Men as well as Tennis will wrap of activities for Thursday.

“On Friday, it will be the Men handicap 13 to 18, Vetran men handicap 13 to 18, Super Vetran Men handicap 13 to 18 and tennis action.

“The curtain falls on the tournament on Saturday with the ceremonial tee-off at 9 a.m. followed by the ladies handicap 0 to 18, men handicap 0 to 5, 6 to 12, as well as the Sponsors and Captain’s Guest categories,” he said.

Boboye Oyeyemi, the Chairman, Organising Committee of the tournament, said that this year’s tournament promises to be unique and the biggest ever in honour of a great club captain who worked very hard

“Mike Ekoja set out on a journey to steer the ship of this great club on April 30, 2022, as the Captain for the usual one year term.

“As is our tradition, towards the end of every tenure, we celebrate the stewardship of the captain by organising a golf and tennis tournament for our caddies, staff and members of the club.

“It is also an opportunity to let people know about the game of golf. Golf is health, good living, age friendly and builds camaraderie and friendship.

“When you are a golfer, you build a lot of network and improve your mental faculty,” he said.

Boboye, who is the immediate past Corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), noted that over 500 golfers were expected to participate in the tournament.

“We have a lot of sponsors from Defence Headquarters, Central Bank of Nigeria, Defence Intelligence Agency, Federal Ministry of Transport, Transmission Company of Nigeria and Federal Mortgage Bank.

“We also have individual sponsors as well companies such as Pepsi, PD Homes, West Africa Ceramics, NIMASA, to mention a few who have all contributed to this 24th Captain’s Cup which is unique and the biggest ever in the history of the tournament,” he said.

He added that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was expected to be a special guest of honour at the ceremonial tee-off on Saturday.

Francis Adigwe, the Captain, IBB Tennis Section, said this year’s event was unique as over 60 tennis players would be taking part in the tournament, including the females.

“The tennis section of the club is quite young but we have been making waves with no fewer than 100 active members currently.

“We have decided to organise a huge tennis tournament as part of this year’s Captain’s Cup. We are playing in three categories namely; the Open’s singles, Vetrans’ singles as well as doubles for open and vetrans.

“Also, for the first time in the history of the tournament, we will be having the Ladies Open.

“The tournament promises to be very competitive and is expected to wrap up with the finals on Friday,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Olanrewaju Akojede

The Tournament Director of West African Little League, Kehinde Laniyan, says  the hosting of the tournament by Nigeria is historic.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria is hosting the maiden edition of the  League in Lagos.

NAN also reports that the participants comprised two African countries and some other local clubs.

The ongoing tournament at the Igbobi College, Lagos, which  kicked off on Tuesday, is  expected to end  on Saturday.

Laniyan told NAN that the tournament would revive the grassroots development of Baseball and Softball in Nigeria.

“This maiden West African Little League being supported by Little League International, is unique even anywhere in the world.

“This is the first time West African Little League International will be supported  in Africa and of course, West Africa and by extension, Nigeria.

“Little League is the children arm of the softball and baseball game.

“What we are set to achieve is to develop the sport for the children between the ages of eight and 16.”

Laniyan said  that the  League would encourage more aspiring sportsmen to the sport that is still growing its base in Nigeria.

“We are improving the game in Nigeria and that is the reason we are saying that the maiden edition  is important to us.

“From this tournament, two teams will emerge to  represent Africa at the Europe-Africa Little League Championships  in Poland in July.

“Also if we are fortunate enough we will have representatives at the World Series of the  League in the U.S. in August,” he said.

Laniyan said the hosting of the league saved Nigeria  from the challenge of  processing travel documents to travel out of the country for competition.

“We will see that the Little League becomes a yearly event in our calendar and for this,” he said.

He  appreciated the sponsors, Transcorp group, First Bank and Little League International among  others.

“Sports should get more supports from the private sector because they are the ones that can drive it, government only need to provide the infrastructure.

“Baseball and Softball are money spinning sports in other advanced countries and we expect that such will be replicated in Nigeria in no distant time.

“Nigeria is blessed with abundant talents that can play the sport professionally in other countries,”he said.

He said there was  a need to develop talents through age group programmes and grassroots developments. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh