ITTF Lagos World Tour: Nigeria’s Onaolapo dumps out Congo Brazzaville’s Suraju

ITTF

Despite the pedigree of Congo Brazzaville’s Saka Suraju, Nigeria’s proved bookmakers wrong after edging out Suraju in the round of 16 match of the men’s singles at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Lagos World Tour.

In all the matches played on Wednesday, top seeds like Egypt’s duo of Omar Assar and El-Sayed Lashin as well as Nigeria’s pair of Segun Toriola and Aruna Quadri had easy passage to the quarterfinal stage.

But it was the end of the road for Saka, a semifinalist at the 2013 Lagos Classics when the young Nigerian dazed him.

From the beginning of the encounter, Onaolapo knew what was at stake if the match ended in his favour and he put everything right to bundle out Suraju who was rattled by the mesmerizing style of the Nigerian.

To the excitement of the spectators at the venue, Onaolapo finished the match at 4-1 to set up a quarterfinal clash against the tournament number two seed, Egypt’s Lashin.

An elated Onaolapo told journalists after the victory that he was sure that he would overcome the Nigeria-born Congolese.

“I had not played against him before but I had taken my time to watch his matches and I discovered that he was a defensive player and I had to be attacking him. While he also found it difficult to return my service, This really helped me a lot.

I am happy and I am aware of the challenges ahead of me as I face Egypt’s Lashin in the round of eight,” Onaolapo said.

Meanwhile, former African champion, Egypt’s Lashin has commended the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) for the quality of organization, saying, he was impressed with the atmosphere.

Ojo Onaolapo

Golden Eaglets to tackle Congo DR July 20…thrash CRS selected 4-1

Federation Congolaise de Football Association (FECOFA), the soccer governing body of Democratic Republic of the Congo, has confirmed July 20 as the D-Day for the first leg, second round African U-17 Championship fixture against Nigeria.

In a message to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), FECOFA stated that the match against the Golden Eaglets would take place at the Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi.

The stadium which is reportedly located in the Kamalondo suburb of Lubumbashi is the home of two-time
CAF Champions League winner, TP Mazembe and CS Don Bosco.

It has an artificial surface with a maximum capacity for 30,000 spectators. Meanwhile, in continuation of their preparation towards the CAN under-17 qualifiers, the Golden Eaglets on Wednesday again thrashed
the Cross River State selected U-18 team 4-1 at the Abraham Ordia Stadium Complex at the University of Calabar.

Three first half goals by Samuel Chukwueze, Jack Ipalibo, Kelechi Nwakali and another by second half substitute Victor Osimhen saw off the hard-fighting CRS side who got a consolatory goal towards the end
of the match.

Chukwueze grabbed the opener in the 9th minute after latching on to an institutive pass from right winger, Promise Orji and the fleet-footed striker was the architect of the second goal six minutes later.

In a beautiful solo run almost from the half of the field, Chukwueze evaded his markers before laying a beautiful pass for in-form Ipalibo to register his third successive goal in as many matches for the
Golden Eaglets. From then, Eaglets dominated the game and in the 36th minute, Orji was fouled in the box and the resultant penalty was converted by Captain Kelechi Nwakali.

Changes were made at the interval but the other goals came towards the end as Eaglets’ Anas Muhammed conceded a penalty which was buried by Vincent while Osimhen got the last goal of the match via a header.

Golden Eaglets

Debutants, Rayon Sport Win Genocide Memorial Volleyball Tournament in Rwanda

It was Rayon Sport’s maiden appearance at the Rwanda Genocide Memorial, and they did come out on top. Formed just this year, and the influence of money to sign good players, from the likes of Inatek and National University of Rwanda, Rayon Sport ascended to the title in emphatic style, defeating APR 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-23).

Led by tournament most valuable player Nelson Murangwa, Rayon Sport seemed so apart in every department of the games. From intimidating services, to defending to defending them on backline, net defense, court cover, Murangwa had it all.

“New team with experienced players, winning is what we are all about and we have started on a high note,” he said. “I should say, the competition wasn’t that tough like we had expected, but coming out on top shows that we never took anyone for granted,” added Murangwa.

Rayon sport players

Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) also recovered from last year’s crush in the final to defeat Kenya’s National Water 3-1 to lift the women’s title. Uganda’s best performance came from Sport-S who finished third after a 3-0 (25-19, 25-13, 25-17) defeat against Kigali Volleyball Club (KVC).

Vision Volleyball Camp settled for fourth in the women category after losing 3-2 to APR in the third place playoff. Sky and Nemostars had decimal performances as both teams failed to leave their groups, the former losing both matches to Muzinga and KVC.

There was some consolation for Ugandan clubs as Sport-S’ Dickens Otim and VVC Peace Busingye were named best attackers in the men and women categories respectively.

WSB Unveils New Policy on Foreign Boxers

The World Series of Boxing (WSB) invites all boxers wanting to seize their chance to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games to participate in WSB Seasons V and VI, the next two instalments of the competition, as they will form part of the AIBA Olympic Qualification System.

Due to the next two WSB Seasons doubling as Olympic Qualifying Events, each franchise has agreed to reserve a select number of places on their roster for foreign boxers in order for them to receive an opportunity to qualify for the Games.

“This new policy should be regarded as WSB Stages for two Olympic Qualifying Events and all National Federations are kindly asked to send their boxers to participate in these events,” said WSB Chief Executive Officer, Mr Karim Bouzidi.

“The only difference is that WSB must screen the level of quality of these boxers before they are added in the WSB Foreign Boxers Draft to be further selected by each Franchise.”

The deadline for boxers’ submissions is August 22 with the WSB Foreign Boxers Draft being held on September 10, 2014.

FIFA Opens Disciplinary Proceedings Against Luis Suarez

fifa brazil 2014

Following an incident that happened during the crucial Group D game between Italy and Uruguay at the ongoing FIFA World Cup between Uruguay’s Luis Suarez and Italy’s Giogio Chiellini we can confirm to you that the World’s Football governing body FIFA have opened disciplinary Proceedings against Luis Suarez.

Following what FIFA refers to as “an apparent breach of article. 48 and/or article. 57 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ match Italy-Uruguay played on 24 June 2014”

The Uruguayan FA and Luis Suarez have until 5 pm today (Brasilia time) the 25th of June 2014 to prove to FIFA why disciplinary action should not be taking against him.

Suarez is not new to controversies, especially at the World Cup. Many African and especially Ghanian fans watched in horror in 2010 during the quarterfinal match at the FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 as Luis Suarez brazenly “palmed” a goal bound Dominic Adiyah header as the quarterfinal match between Uruguay and Ghana headed towards extra time.

The game was tied at 1-1 at this time and Adiyah’s “goal” would have virtually sent Ghana into the history books as the first African Nation to make it to the Semi-final Stage of the “Mundial”.

Luis Suarez was sent off by the Ref but Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan failed to convert the penalty that was awarded, and Uruguay went on to win the match via penalties.

The Suarez #Bitegate is also a recurring decimal in this Prolific goal scorers career, in 2013 he was banned for 10 games after Video evidence showed that he had bitten Chelsea Defender Branislav Ivanovic during a game between his club Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC .

Suarez was also banned for 7 matches by the Netherlands football federation in 2010 after biting PSV Eindhoven player Otman Bakkal during a game between Ajax and PSV Eindhoven.

Although it is believed that the referee missed the Suarez/Cheilini incidence Article 77 of the FDC (FIFA Disciplinary Code) states that the “the FIFA Disciplinary Committee is responsible for sanctioning serious infringements which have escaped the match officials’ attention. Furthermore, according to art. 96 of the FDC, any type of proof may be produced (par. 1), in particular are admissible, reports from referees, declarations from the parties and witnesses, material evidence, audio or video recordings (par. 3).”

While the Italians will feel “hard done” by the result of the game and the Match officials inability to spot the incidence during the game, the whole world waits with “bated breath” for the outcome of FIFA’s Investigation into #Bitegate

Sola Rogers

FIFA