Nigeria Taekwondo Federation boss, Ashiru, loses mother

President, Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), George Ashiru is bereaved after the demise of his mother, Princess Funmi Ashiru-Suinner.

Ashiru was leading the Nigerian team to the World Junior Taekwondo Championships in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei when the incident occurred in United Kingdom (UK).

Ashiru who has been with his mother since last year while she was ill in the UK had to leave UK to lead Nigerian team with encouragement from her late mother.

It was while his mother was in hospital that Ashiru led Team Nigeria to the World Cup, Grand Prix as well as the World Juniors during which she passed. He had to leave Taipei during the tournament to attend to his family.

The late Ashiru-Suinner was the first female President of the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, Kaduna State, and was until her demise the President of the Alumni Association of the United States Government Leadership Programme and also a graduate of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Kuru.

Durban (South Africa) and Edmonton (Canada) to bid for the XXII Commonwealth Games in 2022

The President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, HRH Tunku Imran, announces today that Durban (South
Africa) and Edmonton (Canada) have formally advised their intention to bid for the XXII Commonwealth Games in 2022.

The CGF will now work closely with Commonwealth Games Canada and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and their local Games planning partners as they look to develop their formal bid proposals.

These are due to be lodged in March 2015 with formal consideration by the CGF’s members taking place at the Federation’s General Assembly in Auckland, New Zealand in September 2015.

HRH Tunku Imran said:

“This is an exciting development for the Games movement, one that reinforces the Games position on the world’s sporting stage.

“The future outlook for the Commonwealth Games is extremely positive. Last week we saw the final visit of the Federation’s Coordination Commission to Glasgow in preparation for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and it highlighted the excellent progress being made there. Glasgow will be followed by a great Games on the Gold Coast in 2018 and now we have the prospect of these being followed by what I’m sure will be an outstanding Games in either Canada or South Africa in 2022.”

Gideon Sam, President of SASCOC said:

“These are exciting times for South African sport. Over the years we have shown our ability to stage the biggest sporting events, with Rugby and Cricket World Cups being an example, plus of course the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“We’ve done exhaustive background work and are now of the opinion the country is ready for a major multi-code sports event and we are proud to announce our intention to bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. It’s a huge step forward in our history – and that of the African continent.”

Dr. Andrew Pipe, President of Commonwealth Games Canada said:

“Canada is the birthplace of the Commonwealth Games, with the British Empire Games held in Hamilton in 1930. We welcome the opportunity to bring the Commonwealth’s best summer athletes back to Canada in 2022. Congratulations to Edmonton for this exciting initiative; we look forward to working with the city on the bid’s next steps.”

Horseed wins Somali Volleyball championship.

After its recent return into the world volleyball platform, the Somali Volleyball Federation successfully concluded the country’s 26th men’s championship with the Somali military team Horseed winning the final match over the weekend.

Horseed which is recognized as the country’s most powerful volleyball team defeated Dekedaha by 3-1 in the match which was played at the Wiish stadium. The match gathered a big number of spectators including Somali NOC executive committee members Haji Mohamed Ahmed Olow and Ibrahim Hussein Ali Rombe.

Somali Volleyball Federation Secretary General Mohamed Abukar Hirei who addressed at the closing ceremony of the competition said that Volleyball had attracted an increasing interest amongst the Somali people since the federation returned into the world volleyball platform last year.

“ On the behalf of Somali Volleyball Federation I would like to thank the Nation Link Telecom, a friendly network company which donated complete equipment to the participating teams—because our teams have no sponsors and without Nation Link telecom we couldn’t have done such successful competition” Somali Volleyball Federation Secretary General Mohamed Abukar Hirei told the closing ceremony over the weekend.

“Volleyball is now growing here in Somalia and we are planning to participate in the near future Zone 5 beach volleyball competition” the Secretary General said adding that his federation will also participate in the FIVB and CAVB meetings. “I confirm to the Somali people that we will also never miss any international or continental meeting” Mr. Hirei told the media.

For his part, Somali Volleyball Federation President Engineer Abdulkader Omar Abukar thanked the President of Confederation African De Volleyball CAVB Dr Amir Elwani who he said was always committed to helping the promotion of volleyball in Somalia.

“I also would like to thank CAVB Director Mrs. Howyda Mondy who assisted in the revival of Somalia’s influence in African and as well as the Zone 5” President Abukar noted during the closing ceremony over the weekend.

13 Year Old Japanese Duo Create History on the ITTF World Tour

Japanese 13 year olds Mima ITO and Miu HIRANO have created table tennis history by winning the women’s doubles event at the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Super Series German Open, which concluded today in Magdeburg, Germany

The victory means that the dynamic duo are the youngest ever pair to win an ITTF World Tour gold medal. Additionally, ITO, at 13 years and 160 days, becomes the youngest ever winner of any ITTF World Tour medal, surpassing the achievement of China’s GUO Yue who was 13 years and 224 days old when she won the Austrian Open women’s doubles title in 2002.

To achieve this historic feat, ITO and HIRANO defeated the one and only triple Paralympic champion Natalia PARTYKA who now made a name for herself as an abled bodied athlete and doubles partner Katarzyna GRZYBOWSKA 11-9, 11-7, 11-7.

An ecstatic ITO stated: “We have been playing together since we were four. We are very happy winning this big title and being the youngest ever players to do so. We are not satisfied, we want to keep on winning titles.”

Mima ITO and Miu HIRANO being told that they won prize mone, in addition as well as the historic gold medal. Photo: ITTF,

When asked about a possible Tokyo 2020 appearance, ITO responsed: “Yes, that is our dream, but Rio 2016 is first, so we plan to be there.” This would be remarkable, as they are both still too young to even compete at the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games.

London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER) brought his home crowd to their feet after a dramatic 11-9, 5-11, 9-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-2, 11-9 win over Jun MIZUTANI (JPN), who has been playing since he was 12.

After one of the best performances of his career, the 25 year old stated: “This has been a great tournament for me. I have had a lot of tight victories which was very satisfying. The end of the game was amazing. Probably the best finish to a game that I have ever had.”

“I am very happy as this is my first World Tour Super Series gold and I am much more confident now heading into the World Championships next month in Tokyo.”

OVTCHAROV’s victory inspired his team mate SHAN Xiaona (GER) to a dominant victory over the number one seed and heavy favourite SEO Hyowon (KOR) 18-16, 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 to secure her first World Tour crown.

The 3,000 people that flocked to the GETEC arena in Madgeburg on Saturday will never forget the experience. They witnessed German world number 100 Steffen MENGEL (GER) cause one of the biggest upsets in table tennis history, by beating five time Olympic medallist WANG Hao (CHN) in seven of the most gripping games you will ever see.

WANG Hao made up for this surprise loss in the singles, by pairing with LYU Xiang (CHN) to claim the men’s doubles gold, by defeating TAN Ruiwu (CRO) & WANG Zengyi (POL) 13-11, 10-12, 11-4, 11-2.

The next stop on the GAC Group 2014 World Tour is the Spanish Open, which begins on Wednesday 2 April 2014 in Almeria, Spain.

After the Spanish Open, the table tennis world’s attention turns to the premier table tennis event, the ZEN-NOH 2014 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Tokyo, Japan on 28 April 2014.

Lagos SWAN Week: Teams seek for extension of deadline

With the Wednesday, April 2 deadline for collection and submission of forms for this year’s Lagos Sports Writers Association Nigeria (SWAN) Week at the corner, teams willing to participate in the competition are seeking for the extension of the deadline given by the Sports Committee.

According to the teams, a week extension by the Sports Committee will be appreciated in order for them to pick up and submit their forms.

“The time frame is just too short and we will appreciate if the deadline can be extended in order for us to pick up the forms and submit on time,” said one of the officials.

It will be recalled that the 2014 SWAN Lagos State Chapter week-long celebration has been slated for April 24 through May 2 with the traditional football competition and seminar on the bill.

According to Lagos SWAN chairman, Fred Edoreh who held a meeting with members of the association sports and marketing committees, the seminar will have as its theme: ‘Sports Reporting and Nation Building’ with resource persons drawn from the sporting world and the media.

The seminar, Edoreh said is meant to bring to the fore the importance of the sporting industry as an important tool for nation building. The One-Day seminar is schedule for April 29.

The week will open on April 24 with football matches among media houses in Lagos State with defending champions, Complete Sports Newspaper staking the title it won last year.

Media houses willing to be take part in the Lagos SWAN Week football competition are however enjoined to pick up the form at the Lagos SWAN Secretariat between now and April 2, 2014.

Media houses are advised against registering ineligible players in their teams as the football competition is meant for only practitioners on the sports beat as severe sanction await any media house who contravene the rules of fair-play.

Flying Eagles for Morocco test

Nigeria U20 team, the Flying Eagles, will engage their Moroccan counterparts in a two-legged friendly in Casablanca on April 9 and 11.

The team will depart the country for Morocco on Sunday, April 6, with a 20-man squad.

The team have already regrouped in Abuja preparatory to a 2015 African Youth Championship qualifier in May.

This followed a short break given the players after a month-long rigorous screening exercise in Abuja.

Coach Manu Garba has called up 35 players, who have been booked into Serob Legacy Hotel in Area 1 Abuja.

The seven invitees who are based overseas are also expected to join up with the rest of the squad this week.

Team secretary Aliyu Auwal Ibrahim said letters to their various foreign clubs have been sent out to that effect.

Nigeria are billed to face the winners of the qualifying match between Kenya and Tanzania next month in continuation of the qualifying tournament to be hosted by Senegal in March 2015.

The Flying Eagles have won the competition a record six times.

World Series Of Boxing, Germany 2-3 Kazakhstan

Arlans ease ahead

The Astana Arlans Kazakhstan came one step closer to defending their World Series of Boxing (WSB) Champions title when they defeated Team Germany away from home.

The Germans managed to get a proverbial foot in the door however by winning two bouts. This could be crucial if the team wants to progress to the next round as they go into the second quarter-final leg next weekend in Kazakhstan.

The Light Flyweights (46-49kg), Bantamweights (56kg), Light Welterweights (64kg), Middleweights (75kg) and Heavyweights (91kg) contested this match.

Bout of the match
Artem Harutyunyan put on an excellent display of boxing against Askhat Ualikhanov of Kazakhstan at Light Welterweight. The young German boxer first popped into international consciousness last October, following an outstanding performance in the AIBA World Boxing Championships, which somewhat ironically was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Since then he has notched up two wins in the WSB with his only loss coming to London 2012 Olympic silver medallist Denys Berinchyk in his debut. For his part, Ualikhanov made it an interesting bout by doing enough to take round three and physically pushing the German to borderline exhaustion in his bid to prevent his first ever WSB loss. However, unfortunately for the Arlans man, it was not to be and his record slides to 3-1. Harutyunyan now goes to 2-1.

Boxer of the match
Vasilii Levit continues to impress at Heavyweight, with only WSB number one ranked boxer Erislandy Savon of Cuba having done enough this season to stay ahead of him. Still, Levit has clocked up five wins this season, including one over top-rated Abdulkadir Abdullayev. It was always going to be a tough ask for his opponent Artur Mann, the German number two, to unseat him tonight. Levit showed his now usual but still astonishing grace for such a big man and the full repertoire of boxing strikes that make him so difficult to defend against. As spotted by the commentator, if he lacks one quality, it is perhaps demonstrable knockout power, which is something that Savon possesses in abundance. But Levit is a smart boxer that outguns his opponents in frequency of shots thrown and landed, and that so far has been enough. More than enough in fact.

The turning point
Cometh the hour cometh the man. With the Kazakh team 2-1 down to the Germans, the Arlans pushed the boxing equivalent of the nuclear button and sent in Ukrainian athlete Sergiy Derevyanchenko, the most successful WSB boxer in the four year history of the competition. The 23 fight veteran has only lost one bout in his WSB career, which was exactly a year ago in last season’s quarter-finals against the Argentina Condors and Brian Castaño. It was a comfortable points’ victory for the great Derevyanchenko over the young Denis Radovan of Germany. The 21 year old deserves credit for the way in which he approached the bout however. As noted in the preview, he came to the ring with nothing to lose and leaves it having hung tough with the best boxer in the category. That has to be good experience for him going forward. The 2010 Youth World Championships bronze medallist slips to 3-2 in the WSB.

Fact/Stat of the match
How close is Vasilii Levit to being the WSB’s number one Heavyweight? Well he and Erislandy Savon have both won the same number of bouts this year (five), neither have lost any, therefore the only thing separating the two is the fact that Savon has won two by TKO and one by KO, whereas Levit has just one TKO thus far. How much do we want to see these two fight? A lot…Actually an awful lot! Both teams will need to make it to the Finals for that to happen though. Neutrals will be keeping the fingers crossed for that one.

Wrap up
Ovidiu Berceanu took on Temirtas Zhussupov of the visiting Arlans at Light Flyweight in what turned out to be a straight forward affair for the visiting team with the Kazakh winning every single round on all three judges’ score cards. This was his first win in the WSB, taking him to 1-1. Berceanu meanwhile slips badly into the negative at 0-3.

Ireland’s Michael Conlan put in a stunning performance at Bantamweight for Team Germany against Meirbolat Toitov. The highly rated Kazakh boxer came into the bout with a 4-1 record against Conlan’s 1-1 record. What that didn’t show of course was that Conlan also managed to bag a bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games and his only loss in the WSB comes to fellow Celt, double World silver medallist and 2011 European Champion Andrew Selby of Wales (and the Dolce & Gabbana Italia Thunder), and that bout was extremely close. Thus (as the Irish are fond of saying) Conlan “put manners” on the Kazakh, winning by a comprehensive points margin.

Coming up next
Team Germany claim that the team they are sending to Kazakhstan is even stronger than the squad that competed today. If that is true, then today’s result has kept the door open for the return leg next weekend. But Kazakhstan is a difficult away venue to get results in, with the Arlans fans having turned Almaty into something of a fortress this season.

Catch up!
Don’t miss out on anything with our new service AIBAboxingTV.com! Highlights are provided with commentary shortly after each match so that you can keep up with the season as it unfolds.

FINA Grand Prix 2014 Maurer and Ferry Dominate Race In Cancun

A total 36 swimmers (14 women and 22 men) from 16 countries took the plunge in the third leg of the FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix 2014, organised in Cancun (MEX) on March 29.

Powerful Angela Maurer from Germany took out the women’s race in 3h25m26s3. It is the first podium for Maurer in the Grand Prix circuit this year, who won by the slimmest of margins ahead of Anna Olasz from Hungary (3h25m27s2). Local swimmer Melissa Villasenor created a sensation, making her Grand Prix podium debut with the bronze in a time of 3h31m22s6. Argentina’s Pilar Geijo finished at the podium’s door in 3h31m48s2.

The men’s race was won by Dutch Weertman Ferry in 3h04m06s3. Ferry bested veteran Simone Ercoli of Italy, second in 3h04m07s8 and compatriot Marcel Schouten, third in 3h05m14s6. These podium appearances are a nice boost for the three medallists, who have been regular competitors in the FINA Grand Prix circuit for several years.

Source: FINA.ORG

NWPL, ANGELS FLY TO THE SUMMIT AFTER ROAD WIN !

Rivers Angels on Sunday fought back from a goal down to secure an impressive 2-1 win over their host Confluence Queens at the newly constructed Confluence Stadium in Lokoja .

It did not look quite easy at the start as the host drew the first blood in the 17th minute courtesy of a controversial penalty. The centre referee pointed to the spot after he adjudged an Angels” defender to have handled inside the box when Angels’ goal keeper, Charity John punched a cross clear.

In the 37th minute, a through pass from Loveth Ayila from outside the 18 yard box to Cecilia Nku got the away team the equalizer.

Rivers Angels doubled their advantage with 10 minutes left to play from a well-connected cross from veteran striker, Stella Mbachu spotting the Ghana born striker Elizabeth Addo to allow her tap the ball into the net.

This is the first away victory for Rivers Angels and it takes them to the top of the League table with 11 points from 5 games.

Assistant coach of Rivers Angels, White Abunda expressed happiness over the result.

”Rivers Angels have taken their rightful position on the league table and from now we would retain it till the end of the season and no turning back, said Abunda”.

“We scored five goals and the referee disallowed three goals. I am happy the girls fought hard to win the game despite the controversial penalty awarded against them, he concluded”.

Rivers Angels will slug it out with Osun Babes in their next game this weekend at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt.

Zenith Bank Women Basketball League – First Deepwater, First Bank keep clean slates, lead groups

With the conclusion of the first phase of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) organized Zenith Bank Women Basketball League last weekend in Abuja four-peat champion First Deepwater basketball club and former champion First Bank basketball club remain the only clubs to maintain a hundred percent record in their respective groups.

Sixteen began the race for a comfortable finish ahead the second phase billed for Ilorin, Kwara State from May 1 through May 11 but at the end of the energy sapping round-robin league the reigning champion First Deepwater basketball club proved to be real champion though not without some sort of competition from it group-A opponents especially the game against the IGP Queens basketball club which ended 64-45 points with the Police team providing some scary moment in the first two quarters.

Coach Lateef Erinfolami and his girls clearly define their mission, to keep a clean slate going into the next phase which they have successfully done leaving other teams to fight for the remaining three slots going into the final phase schedule for Lagos later in the year.

In group-B it was First Bank basketball club who is clearly ahead of other teams in the group as it maintained an unbeaten run as the first phase to a logical conclusion in Abuja.

Though not without some patch moment against Nigeria Customs basketball on Match Day-4 when the border girls gave the former Nigeria league champion something to address, First Bank went to win the game by 42-31 points its head coach Adewumi Aderemi did confess that the game against Customs was a wake-up call that no team is a push-over in the Zenith Bank league.

As if the fight Customs gave the former ten-time champion of the Nigeria women league was not enough last season runner-up Dolphins basketball club was out to prove a point that her last season semi-final win over the Elephant Girls was not a fluke as the Wale Aboderin girls match the bankers strength for strength in a game described by pundits as the best game of the first phase.

Coach Aderemi and his wards prevailed at the buzzer by 48-41 points but were quick to admit that the Zenith Bank league has indeed come of age and standard.

All sixteen teams in the league will move over to Ilorin for the next phase in May with the top-four teams from each group making it to the last leg of the league in Lagos.

Coach Abraham Ogaba of the IGP Queens basketball club has vowed that the Police team will make the final cut to the phase playoff.

Coach Ogaba applauded the NBBF and Zenith Bank for providing a platform for Nigerian women players to continue to exhibit their talents.

The soft-spoken Police coach, however, calls for total support for the Tijjani Umar-led NBBF in delivering the gains of the league to Nigeria basketball community.

Segun Ikuesan

GLO NPL “Double Header ” Sharks-fans did not harass team

Our attention has been drawn to a news paper publication over the weekend that soccer fans popularly called area boys threatened to unleash mayhem on both Sharks and Dolphins fc if money is not given to them to support both teams most especially Sharks fc. We wish to state that never did our fans threatened to unleash mayhem on the team, never did they demand for money from the management of the team in exchange for their support.

The dream of the fans, supporters, officials and players of the team is to play continental football by ending the season on high, a feat that has eluded the team since it was founded in 1972.

So it was with disgust the team received the news of the purported plan which according to the reporter of the story was averted because our match against Crown fc was live on television according to the media officer Peter Abaje

“For the records Sharks officials and players were never threatened by anybody and the story was only the figment of the imagination of our detractors who have been dazed by our Good start this season compared to their wishful thoughts”. Abaje said

And to say that the excitement that greeted Sharks 2-1 victory over Warri Wolves in a pre season friendly in Port Harcourt amounted to a chaotic scene by the fans was just to give credence to a monkey business story.

“Our supporters and fans have been an epitome of orderliness in recent times and that status we intend to maintain for a long time to come and do not forget in a hurry that we have lost and drawn matches at home without a single threat to our opponents, match officials and even our players so to say fans demanded money in exchange for support to the team is unfounded”. He added

“And we only celebrated the new found form in the team even though it was friendly game on that particular day”. And for the story that concerns sister club Dolphins let it be on record that Sharks fans will never harass or stop sister club Dolphins from honoring matches at Sharks stadium for any reason because they are both funded by the same parent and don’t forget that their fans did not harass us when we used the liberation stadium as our home ground some few season ago so why would anybody think otherwise.

“We have always supported Dolphins which was evident when they were down by a lone goal against Sunshine Stars in the first double header in the history of domestic football in the country until they found their rhythm and won the match”. Abaje stressed

So we appeal to those mischief makers to desist from misinforming the public and journalist to cross check their fact before going to press.

SOUTH WEST RUGBY LEAGUE KICKS OFF 5th of April

Official club rugby makes a long overdue return to Lagos at the National Stadium, Surulere, on the 5th of April 2014 as the South West Rugby League kicks off the regional leagues as announced by the Nigerian Rugby Football Federation (NRFF).

The regional league includes the South West League, Northern League and South South League. These leagues will run concurrently this year and the winner of each regional league will contest in the Super League for the title of the 2014 best team in the country. The Northern League is comprised of seven teams, while the South West and South South/ East League comprise eight and four teams respectfully.

Eight clubs will contest the South West league over two rounds during a twenty four week season with all matches being played at the National Stadium. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Mr. Tunji Fasimoye, the Vice President and Technical Director of the NRFF, said it was important for the growth of rugby for players to get regular competition and opportunities to show their skills ahead of the international season.

“Nigerian rugby players around the country have been starved of regular competition and it is the NRFF’s intention that the leagues will provide players with the chance to play and put their hands up for selection to the national team ahead of the Confederation Of Africa Cup Group C tournament in Botswana in June,” Mr Fasimoye said.

The Vice President thanked CMB Building Maintenance and Investment Company for their drive towards the development of Rugby in Nigeria and their support in sponsoring the 2014 Regional Leagues. He also thanked the media for their growing support for rugby and acknowledged their role in rugby’s development.

The Chairman of the Friends of Rugby FOR (Mr Kelechuckwu Mbagwu) said the South West League, matches will be played every second Saturday with the first match of the day beginning at 10:30am and the last game ending at 6 pm. A lunch time interval, between the first two games and the last two games of the day, will provide opportunities for schools, women and social rugby games to share the platform and build a rugby culture in the country.

League points will be awarded on the basis of 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw and 1 point for losing by 7 points or less. In keeping with international trends to encourage attacking rugby 1 bonus point will be awarded for scoring four tries or more in a game.

The draws for the South West League was conducted in the presence of the clubs and their captains.

“The media have a crucial role to play in growing and developing rugby. We count on you to help spread the word among boys and girls as little is known about the game. There are a lot of young boys and girls who would like to play the game and your reports on the matches and the leagues will help grow a fan base for clubs and the national teams,” he said.

Teams competing in the three regional leagues announced by the NRFF are:

SOUTH WEST LEAGUE:

1. Cowrie RFC
2. Police RFC
3. Lagos RFC
4. Hawckstar Athletics RFC
5. Racing RFC
6. Eco II RFC
7. Gosar RFC
8. Royal Stallion

NORTHERN LEAGUE:

1. Kano RFC
2. Kaduna RFC
3. Zaria RFC
4. Sabon Gari RFC
5. Jos RFC
6. Kano RFC
7. Barewa RFC

SOUTH SOUTH/EAST LEAGUE

1. Abia RFC
2. Imo RFC
3. Delta RFC
4. Edo RFC