Award-winning cultural acts from all five continents set to showcase NOCs’ cultural diversity Bangkok; 31 October 2014:
The Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) today announced that performers from each of the world’s five continents will perform traditional dance and music routines at the 1st ANOC Gala Awards Dinner in Bangkok to commemorate the success of athletes and NOCs from across the globe.
The ANOC Gala Awards Dinner is the first awards ceremony of its kind and will provide a unique opportunity to celebrate and honour the outstanding achievements of Olympic athletes and NOCs.
The traditional performances will form part of the evening’s tribute to each of the Continental Associations and NOCs.
· Africa will be represented by award-winning Themi Venturas Productions from South Africa who will perform a traditional dance of the Zulu people entitled “Silencing the Hurricane”.
·samba dancers from Brazil will represent the Americas, bringing a taste of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games with “America to the Beat of the Samba”.
· The continent of Asia will be represented by Global Raytur from China who will perform the 500-year old water drum dance of the Miao ethnic group.
· Europe will be represented by the internationally renowned Cecilia Goméz Danza from Spain who will perform “Flamenco Passion” showcasing all the drama and excitement of the flamenco dance.
· Te Matatini Kapa Haka Aotearoa from New Zealand will perform the haka dance – a traditional war dance performed by the Māori tribe – in homage to Oceania
The event will be broadcast live in high-definition on TrueVisions, the leading pay-television broadcaster in Thailand, to more than 20 broadcasters around the world, as well as distributed across major international news outlets.
The ANOC Gala Awards Dinner will be attended by the best athletes from London 2012 and Sochi 2014 as well as representatives from all 204 NOCs, IOC members, International Federations, future organising committees and candidate cities.
ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said:
“We are delighted to announce the cultural performers for the ANOC Gala Awards Dinner. We want the event to be a true celebration of our diversity and a festival of sporting achievement. Part of what makes ANOC so special and unique is it represents 204 countries from all around the world.
Sport has the power to bring us all together and unite us and that is what we will be celebrating at the ANOC Gala Awards Dinner. The event will be about more than individual athletic performances. It will also be about promoting the tireless and sometimes unrecognised work the NOCs do for their athletes.”
The Chairman of the House Committee of Sports has described the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan into the lingering crises of the NFF as crucial and timely.
The chairman of the House Committee, Hon Godfrey Ali Gaiya who said this in Abuja on Thursday praised President Jonathan for finding time in his tight schedule to attend to football matters and consequently advised aggrieved parties to desist from taking football matters to civil court to avoid embarrassment in the future.
Honourable Godfrey Gaiya , Chairman House Committee on Sports
“I think we can only say thank you to our President for finding time to meet with the aggrieved parties and consequently the withdrawal of the Jos court case to avoid the FIFA ban which was imminent. But my advice is that we should avoid this kind of court scenario in future because it is not good for our reputation in the international community.”
Chris Giwa, was persuaded upon by President Goodluck Jonathan during a meeting which also had the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick in attendance, on Tuesday night to withdraw the court case.
Consequently, Giwa on Thursday informed the Jos based High Court he no longer wished to continue the case. Meanwhile, Gaiya who has declared his intention to return to the house in 2015 as he braises up for election in his constituency of Jaba/Zangon Kafat, in Kaduna state, also backed President Jonathan on his decision to have coach Stephen Keshi returned as the Super Eagles head coach.
“Mr. President has asked that Keshi be reinstated and I think it’s in the best interest of the country.” Gaiya who recently turned 50 years, concluded.
Reports have it that President Jonathan at the meeting with the two factional presidents of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick and Chris Giwa, on Wednesday night asked that Keshi be reinstated.
It is now official. The 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying cracker between the Super Eagles and the Bafana Bafana of South Africa will take place at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium, Uyo.
Vice President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Mr. Fred Crentsil, who was mandated by the Confederation of African Football to inspect the facility, has given the infrastructure very high marks.
“You guys have a wonderful facility here. It is one of the best I have seen anywhere around Africa and elsewhere. It is of the same standard and mould as Soccercity (the main stadium in Johannesburg that hosted the final match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals) with a lower capacity.
“I am particularly amazed that there are provisions for the physically –challenged persons. Everything is taken care of here. I am hugely impressed,” Crentsil said in Uyo on Thursday.
The CAF official inspected the stadium as well as hotel facilities in the Akwa Ibom State capital, in company with the NFF’s Assistant Director of Competitions, Mr. Bola Oyeyode.
NFF President, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick had, after inspecting the magnificent facility three weeks ago, announced that the venue would host the Super Eagles, Bafana Bafana clash.
The NFF Electoral Appeals Committee, constituted at the Extra-Ordinary General Assembly of 20th September, 2014 in Warri, Delta State, will on November 11 and 12 sit on pending appeals from the NFF Executive Committee elections of 30th September in the same city.
Alhaji Muazu Suleyman, a former Member of the NFF Executive Committee, who contested for the post of Vice President alongside Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi (eventual winner), High Chief Emeka Inyama and Hon. Shehu Adamu, has appealed against the result.
Barr. Iyke Igbokwe, Vice Chairman of the NFF Disciplinary Committee, is also contesting his defeat in the election of the South –East representative. The contest was among eventual winner Felix Anyansi –Agwu, Barr. Jude Obikwelu and Igbokwe.
The NFF Electoral Appeals Committee is headed by Barr. Okechukwu Ajunwa, with Mr. Dotun Coker and Mallam Sani Mohammed as members. Mr. Victor Nwangwu and Mr. Bala Garba are substitute members. The Secretary is Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.
Egypt are ready to host the first ever edition of the Men’s U23 African Nations Championship due to start in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt November 4 to 14, 2014.
The competition which acts also as a qualifier for the 2015 FIVB World Championship of this age category will feature 7 countries competing for the 2 African slots in the prestigious finals.
Agrebi (C) from Tunisia attacking against Egypt
Hosts Egypt will be joined by Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Rwanda and Botswana in the 10 day championship to be hosted in the best touristic city by the Red Sea.
The host team had a couple of weeks preparing for the competition where they played friendly matches against Libya as well as the senior Egyptian team.
The Libyan were the first team to arrive Egypt where they have set up a preparation camp for the competition, playing some friendly matches.
The Marketing Manager GOtv, Oludare Kafar, Executive Business Director, Noah’s Ark Communications, Victor Oyarero and the General Manager GOtv, Mrs. Elizabeth Amkpa exchanging pleasantries with match officials during the semi-finals of the GOtv Hood to Hood Football Championship.
SATECH FC of Mushin will trade tackles with Kings FC of Ajah in the final of the Season 2 of the GOtv Hood to Hood Football championship.
The two teams are expected to battle for honours in the final match which is planned to kick off at 2pm at the Legacy Pitch in the National Stadium, Surulere, on Saturday, 1 November 2014 during the closing ceremony.
SATECH FC defeated IGI Premier FC 2-1 in the first semi-final match while Kings FC made it to the final by beating Rainbow FC of Iyana Ipaja 4-2 on penalties in the second semi-final match after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
Speaking during the semi-final matches played on Tuesday, the General Manager, GOtv, Mrs Elizabeth Amkpa expressed satisfaction with the Season 2 of the championship which she described as a bigger and better than the first edition of the championship.
The Marketing Manager GOtv, Oludare Kafar, Executive Business Director, Noah’s Ark Communications, Victor Oyarero and the General Manager GOtv, Mrs. Elizabeth Amkpa with match officials during the semi-finals of the GOtv Hood to Hood Football Championship.
Amkpa commended the board of the Lagos State Football Association for their technical support towards the successful hosting of the season 2 of the tournament especially by ensuring that only eligible aspiring football players and teams were allowed to participate in the competition.
While congratulating the four teams that will be playing in the third place match and the final on Saturday, she enjoined the participating teams to continue to demonstrate the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play throughout the tournament.
She reiterated that GOtv will reward the winning team with the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira only (N500, 000.00). The second place team will be rewarded with the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only (N250, 000.00) while the third and fourth will go home with One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N150, 000.00) and One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100, 000.00) respectively.
Mrs Amkpa then charged the teams to mobilize their fans and supporters to the stadium on Saturday, 1 November 2014 for the closing ceremony as the event promises to be fun-loaded. She announced that a leading artiste will be performing live at the ceremony while there will be lots of other side attractions and freebies to give away to the fans.
The performance of Aruna Quadri should rub off on the fortune of table tennis in Nigeria. These were views of President, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Thomas Wiekert, after been thrilled by the extra-ordinary outing of Quadri at the just concluded ITTF World Cup in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Speaking during a briefing over the weekend, the ITTF helmsman said Quadri’s feat was a sign of development of the game in Nigeria.
Wiekert, a former German national player who played alongside Nigeria’s trio of Sunday Eboh, Francis Sule and Olawunmi Majekodunmi in the 1980s said he was not surprised by the display of Quadri but was amazed with his the way and manner the Nigerian beat three of the top players in the competition.
“For me I am surprised with the skills of Aruna Quadri because I had played against some Nigerian players in the past and I know that they are very talented.
I also want so that that the climax of this year’s World Cup was the scintillating display by Quadri, who not only caused upsets but defeated three top rated players in a row and this alone for us was the major highlight of this championship.
Nigeria’s Quadri is biggest mover in ITTF latest ranking, now world’s 73rd
This is a good sign of development in Africa and we are indeed fascinated by the extra-ordinary skill of this young Nigerian.
I think this goes to show that the game is growing in Nigeria and efforts must be made by Nigeria to sustain this so that other players can emerge just like Quadri,” Wieker said.
He however, admitted that he was never surprised with the Nigerian player but admitted that Nigeria has a tradition in the game. “I had played against some of Nigeria’s top players like Francis Sule, Sunday Eboh and Olawunmi Majekodunmi and I am aware of the enormous potential possessed by the players.
Even the likes of Atanda Musa and Segun Toriola were indeed great players, so for me I was not surprised. But what baffled me was the manner and way the players conducted himself to endear himself to the heart of the German fans with his superb forehand,”
ITTF AFRICA
Also, the President of African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy was full of praise for the Portugal-based Nigerian, describing his performance as heroic.
The ATTF boss said: “I am honoured and excited with the excellent results posted by Africa’s representative at the 2014 Men’s World Cup in Dusseldorf-Germany.
Aruna Quadri of Nigeria did well in his first day of the world title event and this has made it a day of honour for Africa.
He did by beating Kenta Matsudaira of Japan, rated 27 by the ITTF, followed by Russia’s Alexander Shibaev, ranked 37 to top his group as well as compete for the top 16 positions.”
“His performance against Hong Kong’s Tang Peng also showed that Africa is getting back and we hope more players like him will come up and shock the world with exceptional performances in major events.
I congratulate the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) for this feat and I hope we will build on this success on the continent,”
Tournament manager of the Independence Rugby 7’s Championship ‘Fasimoye Olatunji’ as affirmed that despite the withdrawal of international teams, the tournament promises to be of top standard, 13 teams from all over the regions in Nigeria will be competing for Cup, Plate and bowl silverware.
The tournament which will be staged at the Onikan Stadium Lagos on the 31st October and 1st November 2014 from 10am – 6pm on both days will feature defending champions,
Independence Rugby 7s Tournament
Police Machine and last year’s runner up Cowrie RFC.
Other teams are:
Hawkster Athletics,
Racing RFC,
Gosah RFC,
Covenant University RFC,
Royal Stallions RFC,
South-South RFC,
Abia Buffalos RFC,
Zaria RFC,
Barewa RFC,
Plateau Tigers and Abuja RFC.
The tournament promises to be a fun filled one and entry into the venue is free. Fasimoye as has called on all rugby fans and the general public to come out en-mass to support and enjoy the tournament.
Among the 10 countries including the host – Nigeria that will compete at the second edition of the Lagos International Squash Classics, England and Egypt have been seeded as the top teams in the men and women events of the tournament, which serves off on Monday November 3 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
The two nations were ranked top following the rating of their players globally.
For England, Adrian Grant will hoist Britain’s flag in Lagos while the British-born is rated 24 in the world, while Egypt’s Heba El-Torky, who is ranked 28 in the world is the top seeded female player in the tournament.
Other seeded male players apart from Grant, are Egypt’s Omar Abdel Meguid, Pakistan’s Nasir Iqbal, South Africa’s Shaun Le Roux, Egypt’s Karim Ali Fathi, Pakistan’s Farhan Zaman and his compatriot, Danish Atlas Khan as well as Wales’ Peter Creed. The only Nigerian playing from the main draw is Babatunde Ajagbe.
Egypt’s El-Torky will lead other top female from the globe to the $40,000 prize money tournament, which has the sanction of Professional Squash Association (PSA) and Women Squash Professional Association (WSA).
Qualifiers for the tournament will commence on Monday November 3 with 16 players competing for the four slots available in the main draw.
According to the Chairman, Lagos State Squash Association (LSSA), Sanya Akindele the tournament is a point hauling event with players also jostling for honours in the boys’ U-19 event.
Egypt’s Heba El-Torky
Officials from the World Squash Federation (WSF) – Pakistan’s Tahir Khandaza will be in charge of proceedings at the tournament, while the draw for the competition has also been conducted by PSA and WSA.
The prize money in men’s category is $25,000 while the women will jostle for the $15,000 prize money at stake.
England’s Adrian Grant
The LSSA boss described the listing of the tournament by PSA and WSA as a major stride for the country.
“This is a major stride for the development of squash in Nigeria and this is the first time any tournament has been accorded such status.
We intend to retain this status by ensuring no stone is left unturned in hosting a memorable tournament,” he said.
Fed Cup by BNP Paribas is the World Cup of Tennis. It is the largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with 95 nations taking part in 2014.
The League Management Company (LMC) has postponed by 24 hours the rescheduled Match Day 35 fixture between Giwa FC and Nasarawa United billed to hold Wednesday, October 29 at the FIFA Goal Project, National Stadium, Abuja.
The postponement was sequel to Giwa FC’s reference to the ruling of the Federal High Court in Jos on the elections into the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Executive Board.
In a letter to the Chairman of Giwa FC communicating the postponement, the Chief Operating Officer of the LMC, Salihu Abubakar reminded the Club that the said ruling has been appealed by the NFF which also filed for stay of execution.
The letter read, “The said court order you referred to has been appealed by the NFF and a stay of execution has been filed. Until the final determination of the pending issues by the courts the ordinary course of events must continue”.
The LMC further stated that it has been properly advised on the issue and arrived at decisions to ensure that the league season is concluded as scheduled without hitches and arrears of fixtures.
Accordingly, the LMC has directed that the Giwa vs Nasarawa game must now be played tomorrow Thursday 30th October 2014 at the same venue in Abuja.
The LMC reaffirmed its earlier decision that Giwa FC shall play three home matches in Abuja as communicated to the club on 21st October 2014, and that this match and the other matches for which the club was banished shall take place in Abuja as earlier directed.
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Borussia Dortmund
News from Germany;
Borussia Dortmund
– Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has admitted the club have put contract talks with Marco Reus on hold for the foreseeable future in order to focus on their performances on the pitch. “Nothing has changed about our intentions to continue our collaboration with Marco,but the current situation demands full focus from everybody at the club. Our biggest priority at the moment is to get out of this difficult situation. Everything else comes after that for now.” He said – Robert Lewandowski has warned his Bayern Munich team-mates not to underestimate Borussia Dortmund ahead of Saturday’s Bundesliga showdown at the Allianz Arena – despite his old club’s disastrous start to the new season. “This is an important game: Dortmund are always dangerous, they can beat anyone in a one-off game. They have so many players injured and they have the whole season to turn things around. It has all gone wrong at the start but Dortmund are always difficult to play against. They still have great players, so the biggest mistake for us would be to underestimate them.” – Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola is confident that Bastian Schweinsteiger will soon be available for selection again after a spell on the sidelines due to injury. “The end of the recovery process is getting nearer. I think he will soon be able to train with the team again,it depends on the physio and the doctor when exactly he can resume squad training. He will be able to make his comeback when he no longer feels pain.” News from France; – The French Football Federation (FFF) has come out in support of Zinedine Zidane, who received a three-month suspension from the Spanish FA. “The FFF would like to reiterate its support for Zidane following the decision by the Spanish Commission to sanction him for not having the necessary coaching diploma”, the FFF said in a statement. “The fact that such an iconic player such as Zidane, who has decided to follow the internationally recognised French coach training system, is not able to carry out his duties as permitted by UEFA, is damaging to European football” , FFF president, Noel Le Graet said in a statement. “The FFF National Technical Directorate has sent the Spanish Federation all the relevant elements attesting to the fact that Zidane is pursuing all training modules with professionalism and diligence”, the statement concluded. – Olympique de Marseille manager Marcelo Bielsa has explained his decision not to include young defender Doria in his recent team selections. “The decisions are made in context, and I think for Wednesday’s game, the suitable replacement for Morel is Nkoulou, and an adequate replacement for Nkoulou is Fanni. Of these three options for each position, I think the best pair will be Fanni and Nkoulou,and I have not considered Sparagna or Doria.” Bielsa said News from Italy;
Ashley Cole Asroma.it
– Fiorentina are reportedly close to agreeing terms for a new contract with goalkeeper Neto, apparently in compromising on a new salary. – Christian Maggio’s agent says his client can be key for Napoli, just like Gonzalo Higuain, even if his future beyond the summer is not settled. “Maggio is fit and feels fine at the moment. He’s got strength and I think his performances are always good. Obviously no game is easy at this level but I think that Rafa Benitez is aware of this too. It’s difficult to do well in the League but I think that some key players like Maggio and Higuain have recovered just in time for Napoli.” – Barcelona forward Luis Suarez has revealed that he was very close to a move to Juventus in the summer of 2012. “In that circumstance, I didn’t speak a lot with Brendan Rodgers but I told him that there was a chance for me to join Juventus,” – Vincent Candela has backed Ashley Cole to come good at Roma, and suggests he just needs a period of adaptation to Serie A. “The foreign players can have difficulty in their first year in Serie A. Even Platini struggled to adapt. I hope that Cole can return to how he once was, you have to give the full-back time. Foreigners in their first year must be able to acclimatise. Last year he played few games, but Rudi Garcia has shown him a lot of confidence. You have to have patience with him, otherwise I’ll have to put my boots back on!” Candela said News from Spain;
James Rodriguez
– Vicente del Bosque says he will be “stubborn” over calling up Diego Costa for international duty, even as Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho continues to blame Spain for the striker’s continuing injury issues. “We have not had luck with Diego,he did not arrive at the best moment, nor did the injuries he had help him. But in some things we are very flexible and in others stubborn. And in this we are stubborn. I do not know if we are correct or mistaken. But in these moments if we had not brought Costa into the national team, for sure we would have been criticised for not having done so.” He said – James Rodriguez says he is surprised at the quality of Real Madrid teammate Isco. “All the [Madrid] players have a lot of quality,maybe the one who has surprised me the most is Isco. I like him a lot.” Rodriguez said – Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has said it is impossible to keep FIFA president Sepp Blatter quiet, while backing Blancos talisman Cristiano Ronaldo to win this year’s Ballon d’Or award. “It always surprises me what he [Blatter] does, but what are we going to do,it is impossible to shut up the FIFA president. This is a matter which is always talked about. It is Cristiano’s year, he is scoring goals and winning important trophies, so there is no doubt that he is the Ballon d’Or. So [Blatter’s] words do not make much sense.” Ancelloti said – Argentina icon Jorge Valdano believes that Lionel Messi is not the player he once was,he believes the Barcelona ace has lost his ability to “disrupt” defences. “Looking at the last game [at the Santiago Bernabeu], Messi is a little off-form,his position has changed on the pitch and now his job is more to provide assists. But he has lost his ability to disrupt the defence – something which used to solve many past games for Barca. In the Brazil World Cup we saw that something was up with Messi: he walked around the pitch. He was physically not at his best and maybe that is the reason for playing further back: to not tire himself so much.” News from England;
Mark Clattenburg-Referee For The 2014 UEFA Super Cup
– The Football Association have suspended Mark Clattenburg from refereeing any Premier League games this weekend after he travelled alone to West Bromwich Albion’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace last Saturday. According to reports, Clattenburg made his way by himself to The Hawthorns so he could head back to Newcastle quickly after the match in time to attend an Ed Sheeran concert that evening at Metro Radio Arena. FA rules state that referees must travel with their assistants to and from games for security and integrity purposes, leaving the Association with little choice but to punish the official for breaking protocol. – Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has defended under-fire team-mate Mario Balotelli, insisting he is “just a regular young guy” and that a lot of people his age have done “crazier things”. “Mario is really cool and I get along with him – I enjoy working with him,but everyone says similar things about him like he is wild and then he ends up getting stereotyped. He is under the microscope and he is at that level where he is known around the world and he does get scrutinised. I think the average 24-year-old or guys who go to university who are a little younger will have done a lot crazier things than him. Everyone makes mistakes and has flaws – he is just finding his way.” He said – On-loan Barcelona midfielder Alex Song is planning to stay in England for the foreseeable future after an impressive start to his West Ham career. “I think my future will be here [in England],my family, everyone is happy here. I’m very happy to come back to England. I’ve always said if I move from Barcelona, I’ll come to England and my future is here anyway. I just want to enjoy playing at the moment and we’ll see what is happening at the end of the season.” – Former France boss Raymond Domenech has called Jose Mourinho “a translator” and suggests the Chelsea manager has an inflated opinion of himself. “That’s the problem with translators,” Domenech said when referring to Mourinho. “There comes a time when they convince themselves they wrote the text themselves.” – Rio Ferdinard has been handed a 3 match ban and fined £25,000 by the FA for his tweet. Rio is also “ordered to attend an educational programme, arranged by the FA within four months” -James Wilson believes the departures of Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez have given him the opportunity to compete against Manchester United’s striking superstars for a place. “It’s great to be in contention with such names in the world of football as theirs. Obviously with the competition in training and even in the games as well, if I can just get a few minutes here and there, then hopefully I can get my chance further down the line. “It’s an important time for me. Obviously with those two going — Chicha [Hernandez] on loan and Danny getting a move to Arsenal — it’s given me a great opportunity. It’s going to be really important for me to get the minutes on the pitch.” Wilson said News from other parts of the World;
James Rodriguez
– Russia today unveiled The Official Emblem of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the emblem was revealed with the assistance of the International Space Station crew, and complemented by a light projection on the historic Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. – Brazil striker Diego Tardelli says he will continue to offer the side another dimension operating as a ‘false nine’. “When I was drafted into the squad I wanted to do something different than what we saw at the World Cup. I’m not a no.9 like Fred or Jo. A reporter reminded me a bit before the match [against Argentina] that I had not scored goals in the shirt of the national team. So I carried a big weight on my shoulders that day. Now the joy is coming back. I had a chance to be the centre of attention for a day. It was remarkable, we always dream of scoring the winning goal, and I got both.”He said – IF Elfsborg have announced that coach Klas Ingesson has passed away at the age of 46. The former Sweden international, who was capped 57 times by his country, had been fighting the effects of an incurable type of bone marrow cancer, multiple myeloma, since 2009. “It is a very sad statement to make that Klas Ingesson this morning [Wednesday] passed away,” read an Elfsborg statement.
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