MOC hoists flags for DAWN Game

The hoisting of flags for the South-West Secondary Schools Games tagged DAWN Games was held yesterday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Members of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) chaired by Wahid Oshodi attended the flag hoisting ceremony.

The MOC boss said at the ceremony that the hoisting symbolised the readiness of the host, Lagos to stage a glamorous competition.

“I want to tell our brothers and sisters that from other south-west states that we are expecting them for the Games. We want to show again that we can repeat the show and the glamour of the last National Sports Festival tagged Eko 2012 during the DAWN Games,” he said.

“The athletes and officials will experience the hospitality Lagos is known of at the championship. Everything from health, security and all those things that will make us put in place a glamorous competition are ready. The facilities are world class and by Friday this week, the Games will begin,” Oshodi said

The DAWN Games, which will kick off on May 16 to 24 and will be staged at three centres: Agege Stadium, Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba and the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Over 2000 athletes from six states made up of Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti and host – Lagos are expected to compete in 12 school sports events.

Sharks-management congratulate coach Ogunbote and Pyagbara

Management of Sharks fc has congratulated the duo of Gbenga Ogunbote and Christain Pyagbara for winning the League Bloggers Awards LBA for manager and player respectively for the month of April.

General Manager of Sharks fc Okey Kpaluku who sent the congratulatory message onbehalf of the management of the club from Kenya described the award as timely and well deserved by the coach and player.

Kpaluku added that the award will go a long way to motivate the team to break more ground this season and consolidate on its good run so far in the league by not dropping point at home and picking valuable point on the road.

“Let me congratulate you on the award which did not come to us as a surprise because you truly worked for it and am sure this honour will spur you (coach and players) to do more in the field of play”.Kpaluku said

Responding to the award, technical adviser of the club and coach of the month of April Gbenga Ogunbote who was excited with the award commended the League Bloggers Awards for recognizing the input of coaches on the growth of the game in the local scene.

He however attributed the award to the entire team and used the opportunity to call on the teeming fans of Sharks fc to come out in their numbers and support the team to victory against Giwa fc tomorrow(Wednesday) stressing that the ugly incident after the match against Enyimba fc will not repeat itself again.

“Ah am very happy with this award, it goes to show that somebody somewhere appreciates what we coaches are doing in our team’ and I commend the initiators of this award for doing a great job “.Ogunbote said

And player of the month of April Christain Pyagbara who expressed shock after he was singled out of the lots in the elite league for the award assured fans of the team that the award will ginger him to channel his energy into achieving the ambitions of the team this season.

“ I was shocked when I got wind of the award for the month of April and the much I can do now is do the best I can to ensure that Sharks fc wins a major silverware this season”.Pyagbara said

Gbenga Ogunbote nicked the manager’s award by edging out Kelechi Emeteole of Heartland, Salisu Yusuf of El-Kanemi Warriors and Paul Aigbogun of Warri Wolves, who were also shortlisted for the monthly award.

Ogunbote was honoured for guiding Sharks to the top spot of the league table and also masterminded their away win at Kaduna United while they went unbeaten in five matches from Match Day 7 to 11.

In the players category Pyagbara beat Saibou Badarou of Heartland, Osaguona Ighodaro of Enugu Rangers, Gbolahan Salami of Warri Wolves, Emem Eduok of Dolphins, Nnamso Edo of Akwa United and his teammate and goalkeeper, Danladi Isah to emerge winner.

Pyagbara in the month under review scored three goals in the Glo Premier League including two in the road trip victory at Kaduna United and one against Nasarawa United and also played a vital role in the team’s overall performance in April.

Imoke Picks Strong Team To Revive Rovers…Inok, Ene Okon Listed

Imoke Picks Strong Team To Revive Rovers…Inok, Ene Okon Listed…Wishes Eagles Well In Brazil

Cross River state Governor and the number one governor supporter of the national teams, Senator Liyel Imoke, has made good his plans to make football a thriving enterprise in the state by appointing a robust team to reinvent Unicem Rovers of Calabar in the coming years.

State Sports Commissioner, Hon Patrick Ugbe, said in statement that former Chairman of the Cross River State Sports Council and respected DJ and sportscaster, Maurice Inok, will head a 12-man management committee of the club that includes some of the best hands in the football game in the country. He also revealed that Gov Imoke has been praying daily for an excellent outing for the national team come Brazil 2014.

Inok, will be assisted by Paul Atila Edum, while Paul Akoli and Charles Unoh Eko will serve in the management committee. Okori Ijani will serve as Team manager, Ene Asuquo as Media Officer, Hon Ukot Obono Eno will be Marketing Manager, while George Obi Etu will serve as Team Secretary in a determined force to make the club a brand name in Nigeria.

On the technical side, Imoke picked former Super Eagles midfielder, John Okon Ene as Acting Head Coach, he will be assisted by John Aniah, while former goalkeeper Ifeanyi Harcourt will serve as the goalkeepers’, Michael Ushie was named team Coordinator.
Speaking on his appointment, Inok said it will witness a new phase in Nigerian football management as he was ready to go to the private sector to solicit for support even as he believes he will not be abandoned by the state government.

“I thank Governor Imoke, his deputy and the Sports Commissioner for this challenge and I wish to assure them that I will not fail in this onerous task of rediscovering football at the highest level in Cross River state”, he declared.

Metro Pro League Week 13 Standings

Home Away
Position Team P W L D F A W L D F A GD Pts

1 Union Bank FC 11 4 0 1 12 3 4 2 0 13 11 11 25

2 Apapa Golden Stars 11 5 0 1 13 4 1 2 2 5 7 7 21

3 Remo Stars 11 2 0 1 6 2 4 2 2 12 12 4 21

4 Bridge FC 11 4 2 1 8 5 1 1 2 5 6 2 18

5 Nath Boys FC 12 3 2 1 17 12 1 3 2 10 11 4 15

6 Bolowotan FC 13 3 1 2 7 4 0 4 3 5 16 -8 14

7 AS Racine FC 8 4 2 1 12 10 0 3 0 2 5 -1 13

8 Yobo FC 10 1 2 2 6 7 2 5 0 7 7 -1 11

9 36 Lion FC 11 2 3 1 6 11 0 4 1 3 11 -13 8

10 Collins Edwin Sports Club 8 0 1 3 3 5 0 2 2 1 4 -5 5

ITTF World Tour: Ondo T/Tennis players canvass for Govt sponsorship

Players of Ondo State Table Tennis Association yesterday in Akure called on the state government to come to their aids by sponsoring them to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World championships.

It was recalled that the state Teams; senior and junior were invited to represent Nigeria in the world tour following their excellent performance at the NTTF Pilot League and Toyin Okenla National Secondary School championships held respectively in Lagos.

In a separate interview with newsmen, the players thanked the state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko for his timely love and support for Table Tennis begging for his quick intervention in order to participate in the career boosting championships.

“It is not common to invite a state to represent it’s country in an international championship and this shows that we have records. We want to thank the government for the encouragement, the World Tour will boost our rankings as players and a state”, Ojo Onaolapo said.

“Attending the championship will improve and expose the standard of the grassroots programme of the Dr. Mimiko led government. We need to improve on our knowledge and skills”, Akinyinka Kehinde added.

According to the invitation letter, the Sunshine senior team is expected to represent Nigeria in the GAC Group ITTF World Tour, China Open Chengdu Super Series between June 4 and 8 while their junior counterparts will do same at the Funchal Junior & Cadet Open ITTF Circuit in Portugal between September 3 and 6.

However, The Teams head coach, Adedotun Omoniyi urged the state government to sponsor the teams which he said will help in preparing the players for the forth coming National Sports Festival slated for Calabar.

“Table Tennis remains the states’ number one area of advantage in a competition so there is need to expose players to modern techniques”.

“The penalty for non show policy, there be a charge of £150 per player and coach and cancellation amounts will be added to the association’s invoice to be paid together with the hospitality costs to the organisers either by bank transfer or by cash on site.

Also the association will not be allowed to enter future World Tour events if any cancellation fees remain outstanding”, ITTF Competition Manager, Karl Jindrak said.

The senior players include; Ojo Onaolapo, Boboye Oyeniyan, Fagbamila Akinwale and Akeem Lasisi while Oladiran Joshua, Akomolafe Sunday, Amadi Umah and Akinyinka Kehinde form the junior team.

FIVB VCP Course starts in Uganda

The FIVB VCP Uganda Volleyball Federation, Course for Coaches was opened on Monday morning with 28 coaches registering for the one week event. The event that is taking place at the Uganda Olympics Committee, offices in Lugogo is coordinated by the Federation’s Technical Director Mr Tonny Lakony.

FIVB Coaches Instructor, Mr. Alemayehu Shoatatek is the Director for the 10 days course. “I am happy to be back here again” Said Alemayehu Shoatatek. Alemayehu has been conducting courses in Uganda for the last 24 years. “Uganda is my second home” He added Participants in the course will tackle both technical and organisational approach to the game. They will be examined in three front; Theory, practical and Oral.

UVF President Sadik Nasiwu is impressed by the turn out. “Some of you have been coaching without the qualification but with this course, I expect that you are better coaches for your clubs”. Said Sadik Nasiwu. KAVC’s Shilla Omuriwe, KCCA’s Anthony Ashaba and Sport-S coach Mugisha Benon are among the 28 coaches attending. “I expect at the end of this that the game of Volleyball will grow technically” Nasiwu added.

Milo African Championship: Team Nigeria completes first phase of Camping

Team Nigeria completed their first two weeks of intensive training in a closed camping at the Kwara State Football Academy in Ilorin with Coach Paul Adams Odey who took charge of the training declaring the boys as ready to become champions.

The 18 boys from St. Barnabas LGEA were taking through basic drills including positional play, stamina building and target shooting ahead the 3rd Milo Africa U-13 Football Championship to be hosted in Lagos from May 29-31.

“We completed the camping exercise which was scheduled to last two weeks and the boys have been primed to face any opposition at their level. The important thing is they responded very well to the drills we put them through and this can be seen in the number of friendly matches they played and won”, disclosed Coach Odey.

He also expressed satisfaction with the depth of strength the boys have built up saying, “we put them through three hours of football in one day and it is significant that they played at the same strength and in fact, stronger in the second game and winning both games”.

Coach Odey said though the Ilorin camping program has been completed, he will be working with the boys daily until their departure to the next camping program. “We just have to keep up with the boys so they don’t lose the strength gained in between the period and this we will be doing outside the academy for now”.

The Team Nigeria squad are expected to undergo another camping exercise at the International Football Academy in Wasimi, Ogun State which is run by ex- international and former captain of the Green Eagles, Chief Segun Odegbami (MON).

The Milo African Championship was first held in South Africa with Nigeria’s Ashegun College, Oyo State winning that maiden edition while Ghana hosted and won the second edition edging St. Stephens School, Lagos in the finals. South Africa, Ghana and Kenya make the quartet of nations that send schools champions to the tournament which will be played at the Campos Square Stadium, Lagos Island.

IBENEGBU BOOST FOR WARRI WOLVES

Warri Wolves Football Club received a boost during the week when attacking midfielder, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu returned from a long span injury he sustained in Bizerte, Tunisia in the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup and will be available for selection against Lobi Stars on Wednesday in Katsina Ala.

Ibenegbu popularly known as mosquito will thus feature for the first time for the Warri based team in the domestic league and this will help the team in no small way as they look forward to consolidate their position in the league.

Speaking before the team travelled to Katsina Ala on Monday, Ibenegbu who is a member of the national beach soccer team expressed his joy that he is back to action to help his team.

The former Heartland midfielder who switched to Warri Wolves at the beginning of the season said he is also happy because Warri Wolves will play host to Heartland on Sunday at the Warri City Stadium.

“I am happy to be back to play in the league. Football is what I know and to be on the side line nursing injury is something one cannot stand but I thank God that I am back to help my team. I am also aware that we are playing Heartland on Sunday and for me, it is going to be an interesting match. I spent quite some time with that team and to play against them will be fantastic. ”

Ibenegbu also commended his team mates for doing a good work, presently, occupying the fourth place in the Globacom league with 17 points and believed the team can do more.

” I am happy that they were able to get where they are in the league. They have done well and I know we can still do more. If the Coach picks me, I will do my best to lift the team.” said Ibenegbu.

Isaac Success joins up with Flying Eagles

Granada CF striker Isaac Success is expected to fortify the Flying Eagles strike force when he joins up next week.

Team secretary Auwal Aliyu Ibrahim said a formal contact will again be made to Success’ Spanish La Liga club in this respect.

“Coach Manu has asked that Success join the rest of the squad in Kaduna as soon as he arrives Nigeria on holidays,” Aliyu Ibrahim said.

Granada did not respond to earlier contacts for the player to be released in time for the Flying Eagles African Youth Championship second round, first leg qualifier in Tanzania.

It is believed that this was because the big striker was very much part of their plans to beat relegation from La Liga.

He was an unused substitute for two of the club’s league games.

Granada are still in danger of relegation as they are just two points clear of the drop zone and they face second from beat Real Valladolid away in a final game on Sunday.

A win for Valladolid could well see Granada sucked into the drop zone.

FC Porto forward Chidera Eze, who has recovered from a hamstring injury, as well as Bernard Bulbwa, Abubakar Lawal and Ifeanyi Nweke are the other players to join the 18-man squad from the first leg in Tanzania.

The return leg match is fixed for May 24 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.

Ogunbote, Pyagbara win April LBA

Sharks duo of Christian Pyagbara and Gbenga Ogunbote of Sharks have won the League Bloggers Awards (LBA) Player and Manager gongs respectively for the month of April.

In the players category, Pyagbara beat Saibou Badarou (Heartland), Osaguona Ighodaro (Enugu Rangers), Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves), Emem Eduok (Dolphins), Nnamso Edo (Akwa United) and his teammate and goalkeeper, Danladi Isah, to emerge winner.

Pyagbara in the month under review scored three goals in the Glo Premier League including two in the road trip victory at Kaduna United and one against Nasarawa United.

He contributed to Sharks’ overall performance in April which saw the Blue Angels go unbeaten in five matches and stay top of the Glo Premier League.

Ogunbote nicked the manager’s award by edging Kelechi Emeteole (Heartland), Salisu Yusuf (El-Kanemi Warriors) and Paul Aigbogun (Warri Wolves), who were also shortlisted for the monthly award.

In April, Ogunbote guided Sharks to move into top spot of the league table and also masterminded their away win at Kaduna United while they went unbeaten in five matches (from Match Day 7 to 11).

Emeteole, who led Heartland to a seven-game unbeaten run missed out of the manager’s award following his team’s inability to win games with most of them being either goalless or score draws at home.

Past Winners This Season

MARCH 2014

Player: Nnamso Edo (Akwa United)
Manager: Patrick Udoh (Akwa United)

Nigerian Sports Award: Organisers Unfold Plans for 2014 Edition

Organizers of the prestigious Nigerian Sports Award – Unmissable Incentives Limited has unfolded the plans and activities for the 2014 edition of the award which is instituted to for recognizing and rewarding outstanding Nigerian sports men and women for their excellent performances in their respective sporting events.

Speaking at the Press conference to herald the activities for the 2014 edition of the award which is also the third edition, the chairman of the Award Panel, Mr. Ikeddy Isiguzo noted that the award has evolved to be recognized as a respected award for Nigerian sportsmen and women for their exploits in the world of sports.

Isiguzo further disclosed that the organisers of the award will not relent in its effort to continue to improve on the processes of the award by taking public feedbacks and comment with a view to make the award a legacy within the sports sphere in Nigeria.

Presenting the timelines for the 2014 edition of the award to the Press, the General Manager Unmissable Incentives Limited Mr. Kayode Idowu disclosed that entries for nomination from the members of the public for the various categories of the award will open on May 14, 2014 and closes on September 7, 2014 while the main award ceremony will hold on November 13, 2014 at Muson Centre, Lagos.

Idowu disclosed that the media category of the award has been expanded from two to four in response to the clamours from the Sports Journalists. He declared that from the 2014 edition of the award, the media category will now include Sports Journalist of the Year (Print), Sports Journalist of the Year (Radio), Sports Journalist of the Year (Television) and the Sports Photo Journalists of the Year which will all be determined by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN)

He stressed further that some deserving Nigerian Sports Heroes will be bestowed with the honour of the Life Time Achievement in Sports award by the Nigerian Sports Award in line with the ongoing centenary celebrations of the nation.

On the back of the centenary celebrations, Mr. Kayode Idowu also announced that the organisers of the award will be publishing a compendium on the Top 100 great moments, teams and people in Nigeria sports.

He reinstated that the Nigerian Sports Awards is open to Nigerian sportsmen and women plying their trade within and outside the country. The categories include: Football (Male & Female, Foreign & Domestic),Track and field (Male/Female; all races, Long Jump, Javelin, Discus, Shot Put, High Jump), Ball Sports (Table Tennis, Tennis, Basketball, Volley ball & handball), Combat Sports (Taekwondo, Karate, Judo, Kung-Fu, Wrestling), Weight Lifting (Male & Female), Boxing,

Others include; Team of the year, Sports Man & Woman of the year, Coach of the year, Discovery of the year (Male & Female), Special Sports Person of the year, Lifetime Achievement Award in sports, School Sports Award, Sports Governor of the year, track & field star of the year, ball sports, combats sports, weight lifting, boxer of the year and many others.