The 2014 League Bloggers Awards (LBA) will take place at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers in Lagos on December 15.
According to the CEO of LBA, Ojeikere Aikhoje, the award night for actors in Nigeria’s top flight, the Glo Premier League, will have players, coaches and clubs vie for awards in 16 categories.
Aikhoje also revealed that the nominees for the 16 categories will be made public on Friday.
“The League Bloggers Awards event for this year’s ending season in the Glo Premier League will come up on December 15, and we want to make it a glamorous one at that.
There will be awards up for grabs in 16 categories but one of them is already concluded and there is no dispute about that.
The highest goalscorer award will go to Mfon Udoh of Enyimba for scoring 23 goals in a single season-the first player to do so. But the other 15 are up for grabs.
“The most prestigious among those 15 awards is the Player of the Season which we are sure everyone will be looking forward to. As for the nominations into each categories, we had to painstakingly review them with some of the best minds in the league including players, coaches, a handful of league writers and even highly-placed administrators in the top flight to come up with the names.
By noon of Friday, November 28, 2014, the nominees for the 16 categories will be announced,” he said.
The 2014 LBA like its previous edition remains a black tie event. Last year, Kano Pillars midfielder, Rabiu Ali, emerged Player of the Season.
Former Flying Eagles coach, Issa Ladan Bosso has officially extended his contract with Umuahia based Abia Warriors Football Club for another season as the club’s Technical Adviser.
Speaking at the signing ceremony at the club’s modern secretariat in Umuahia, Chairman of Abia Warriors FC, Chief Emeka Inyama said the Board and Management were satisfied with Bosso’s performance in his first season with the club and decided to renew his contract for the sake of continuity.
According to him, the club placed 7th at the end of the season with 58 points, became the only team to win three away matches and scored 51 goals which was only bettered by three-time champions, Kano Pillars who had 57, describing this performance as massive.
He said Bosso will still work with all his backroom staff which have been left intact for the forthcoming season, describing Abia Warriors as one of the three best managed clubsides in Nigeria as the club is run with international standards.
Chief Inyama who promised that the Board and management will continue to support the technical crew, expressed confidence that the club will consolidate on its achievements in the forthcoming season and commended Governor T.A. Orji for his financial and moral support to the team.
In his speech, after putting pen to paper to tinker the premier League outfit for yet another season, Ladan Bosso, who has been highly itinerant in the domestic scene, said he decided to remain with Abia Warriors not for pecuniary reasons but to pay back for the love and support the people gave him in his first season through an improved performance.
The former Niger Tornadoes, Wikki Tourists, Kano Pillars and Bayelsa United tactician said he was satisfied with the way Abia Warriors is run and will contribute his quota in making the club a household name in Nigerian Football.
BOSSO RENEWS CONTRACT WITH ABIA WARRIORS
Bosso lamented that despite winning unassailable three away games during the season, Abia Warriors could not still hit the continent and attributed it to ill-luck and some other human errors which will be corrected this season.
“We will work together again with the Management to achieve better results this season”, Bosso promised and commended the management for retaining his backroom staff.
The Niger State born coach revealed that some players who did not live up to his expectations will be shown the exit door while more energetic and young players have been penciled down to strengthen identified areas of need, assuring that no Abia Warriors player of note will be snatched by other clubs.
The IAAF Diamond League is delighted to announce the distribution of event disciplines for the 2015 season.
Commencing on 15 May 2015 in Doha (QAT), the sixth season of the IAAF Diamond League comprises 14 of the best invitational track and field meetings in the world. The meetings are spread across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the USA, and compose the top tier of the IAAF’s global one-day meeting competition structure.
This series of 14 meetings, which began in 2010, showcases 32 event disciplines which are carefully distributed among the meetings.
In each of the 32 event disciplines there is a ‘Diamond Race’ with points available throughout the 14-meeting season. Winners of each Diamond Race receive a USD $40,000 cash prize and a spectacular trophy, but more importantly they will have shown season-long consistency to earn the unchallenged honour of being the world No.1.
Each of the 32 event disciplines is staged seven times with the top three athletes being awarded points at each meeting – four for the winner, two for second place, and one for third – with the exception being the finals in Zurich (SUI) on 3 September 2015 and Brussels (BEL) on 11 September 2015, where the points are doubled.
Roche Caiman, Seychelles, November 25, 2014- Seychelles clubs swept the 2014 Dr Elwani- Zone 7- Challenge Cup after the finals held at Palais des Sports in Mahe, Seychelles on Monday.
Beau Vallon team claimed the Men’s trophy after they beat their compatriots Premium Spikers also from Seychelles, while Anse Royale clinched the Women’s title.
The competition which was held under the name of CAVB President Dr Amr Elwani featured the participation of clubs from Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles, beside Reunion and Mayotte who were invited to participate in the Championship.
Nine clubs participated in the Men’s competition and 8 in the Women’s gender.
After the finals Ms Giovanna Rousseau -CEO of National Sports Council Seychelles presented the Men’s cup to Beau Vallon team and Zone 7 President Kaysee presented the women’s cup to Anse Royale.
FCT Wrestling Association has indicated its interest to participate in the 2nd edition of the Governor Seriake Dickson Wrestling championship billed for Bayelsa state next month.
To this end the association has shortlisted ten wrestlers for camping in the first week of December.
FCT Wrestling Association chairman Chris Yaba Amkpila speaking after the Associations board meeting in Abuja noted that the FCT would be part of the championship.
“We are prepared for championship which is the second edition. Our technical team have been working before now in preparation for the National sports festival but since the festival has been pushed forward, we thought it wise to enter for the Governor Dickson Cup to test our efforts so far”
“As at last year there was no association in place but now there is one and as such we want to make sure we make a good representation of the FCT” he said.
FCT Wrestling Association, head Coach, James Gorge stressed the importance of attending the Governor Dickson Championship.
“The competition is very important for my programme because its like an opportunity to assess ourselves and test the new techniques we have learnt.
You know when you keep training and you beat your partner all the time you would think you have arrived but this would expose our Wrestlers and help them learn other tricks and technique as we prepare for the National Sports Festival next year” he explained.
The 2nd Governor Seriake Dickson Wrestling championship runs from the 15th -20th of next month.
FCT managed only one silver medal last year.
NAME OF LISTED WRESTLERS
Victor Okon, Nnamdi Ojofor, Emeka Okafor, Innocent Agada, Kelechi
John, Adam Ahmed, Innocent A, Miracle Ernest, Afam Okeke, Emma John.
The Nigeria Football Federation has mourned the passing of former Stationery Stores FC and Green Eagles’ ace Yomi Peters, who died in Lagos on Wednesday at the age of 71.
NFF’s General Secretary, Barr. Musa Amadu on Thursday described the departed Peters, nicknamed Kwango by his team-mates and fans of Stationery Stores FC of Lagos, as “one of the most passionate footballers of his generation.”
Incidentally, Peters was one of the ‘Legends of the Federation Cup’ paraded at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere on Sunday by the Lagos State Government, as part of the Grand Finale of the 2014 Men and Women Federation Cup competitions. He was represented by his wife, as he was on hospital bed.
Yomi Peters at the Onikan Stadium
“We all remember Yomi Peters as a very committed player of Stationery Stores FC in those days; he was a lion of sorts whenever he was wearing the jersey. Football fans who are old enough can also testify to his utmost sense of dedication anytime he donned the National Team jersey.
“Only on Sunday, he was remembered and honoured by the Lagos State Government for his contribution to making the Federation Cup what it had become. We earnestly pray to God to grant him eternal rest and also grant the family he has left behind the fortitude to bear the loss,” Amadu said in Abuja.
After a career spanning stints with Mandilas, Metal Construction and Cadbury Football Clubs, Yomi Peters pitched his tent with the famous Stationery Stores FC and won the Federation Cup with the darling team of Lagos in 1968 and 1982. He also played his part when the Lagos club reached the final of the now-defunct African Cup Winners Cup competition in 1981.
Back to back Federations Cup champions Rivers Angels secured a second title in four days as they clinched the Nigeria Women Premier League title on Wednesday.
Angels secured only their second away win of the season by beating Edo Queens 3-1 at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin.
And just like the Cup final in Lagos on Sunday, Golden girl of Nigerian Women Football, Asisat Oshoala was at the centre of the team’s success.
Asisat Oshoala Going for Goal against sunshine stars of Akure During the Finals of the Fed Cup 2014
Oshoala continued her superb form as she opened scores in the first minute of the game. Thirty minutes later, the newly crowned Nigerian Women’s Footballer of the year added another when she pounced on a cross from the Angels right full back, Ugo Njoku to extend the visitors lead.
Hosts Edo Queens pulled a goal back nine minutes before the break after Angels goalkeeper, Ibubeleye Whyte misjudged a cross from a corner.
The second half started brightly from both sides but the Fed Cup winners were guilty of missing chances with the worst culprit being Oshoala who ultimately failed to complete her hattrick on the day.
Rivers Angels’ momentum faded as the game wore on as they lost dominance to the home side who took charge of the second period.
However, With 3 minutes to the end of regulation time, Edo Queens conceded a corner and set piece specialist, Ngozi Ebere sealed the victory with the third goal and her seventh goal of the season after she took a short corner to Aminat Yakubu who returned the pass to Ebere, allowing her curl the ball beyond the despairing hands of U-17 Fifa Women’s World Cup goal keeper, Onyinyechi Okeke.
The Rivers state government sponsored Angels by the virtue of the victory thus secured the league title after amassing a total of 39 points, three more than Pelican Stars of Calabar who stole into second place after a 1-0 win over last season’s league champions, Nasarawa Amazons.
Full Results
Ibom Angels 2-0 Sunshine Queens
Pelican Stars 1-0 Nasarawa Amazons
Delta Queens 0-0 bayelsa Queens
Edo Queens 1-3 Rivers Angels
Taraba Queens 3-0 Osun Babes
Rivers Angels coach, Edwin Okon was excited with the win.
Rivers Angels Coach Edwin Okon
“For the past four, or five seasons we are always in the Fa Cup finals, league finals, and we always lose in the finals of the league but we always win the Fa Cup that s why we have won it for 5 times but in the league in the last match like this, we sleep off that’s why you saw me throughout the game on the touch line like a mad man because I don’t want what happened in the previous years to happen today. The winning mentality is there so I think they tried it’s okay, I think am the happiest person today, said okon.”
Coach of Edo Queens Keneth Aigbeyi laments lack of pay for team as reason for defeat but credits Angels.
“It is a fair victory it is a good game both teams played well, But in football you know it is either it ends in a draw or one side wins and they have good motivation that is carrying them. We had to push our players out to play today if not that, they won’t have come out because it is been like 11 months with no salaries, we just have to force them to come out a lot of them have not been training, said Aigbeyi.”
Over 270 sailors from 38 nations are prepared for the on-coming battle at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
With practice racing done and dusted the sailors, racing across the ten Olympic and open kiteboarding fleets, are ready to kick start at 12:00 local time on 27 November.
Welcome To Abu Dhabi
ISAF President Carlo Croce gives his views on the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final and we catch up with several of the sailors who are looking forward to competing in Abu Dhabi.
URL – http://youtu.be/psq3rmVjR7I
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*Says it will bring stability, ensure neutrality and restore confidence
The ratification of the League Management (LMC) governing structure has been described as a welcome development that will add greater impetus to the reform processes initiated when the body was set up by the immediate past board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The NFF at its Annual General Meeting on Sunday, November 23 approved and adopted the governing structure of the LMC as presented by the Executive Committee of the NFF which at its inaugural meeting in Abuja had accepted a 7-member Board for the League Management Company (LMC).
Commenting on the decision, Harry Iwuala, the LMC’s Head of Special Projects noted that “The ratification by the AGM has addressed the issue of league governance structure and made clear how the league will be operated and regulated. It has more importantly assured stability and allowed nimbleness in the business operations of the league administration”.
Observers have acclaimed the decision as a major breakthrough in the process of reforming the league which began with the setting up of the then interim body, the League Management Committee by the former NFF Executive Committee led by Alhaji Aminu Maigari in December 2012. It was pursuant to its mandate to take any decisions and measures it deems appropriate for the successful implementation of the reforms, that the League Management Company was incorporated in March 2013.
“There will be stability in administration of the league, there will be neutrality in decision making and the LMC will be surefooted to go out and speak to potential corporate partners. The ratification will create confidence both locally and internationally that a new era of stability has commenced in professional football league administration in Nigeria and to give the league a proper foundation in law”.
The new governing structure will have an Independent Chairman, two other independent members with three representatives of all the Clubs admitted to the league from time to time and a Chief Executive Officer. The NFF will maintain a representative who does not sit on the board but holds a golden share and power to veto decisions on technical matters and constitution of the Board.
Iwuala said the LMC would have a governing body that perpetually reflects and represents the best interest of Nigerians, the Clubs and the Federation as custodians of the rules of the game.
On the place of the Clubs in the LMC, he explained that the approved governance structure makes it more inclusive for the clubs which now have a documented stake on the company and a voice in creating and sharing expected fortunes that will naturally flow from a stable and properly structured league administration. It is a mix of league governance models adopted to suit our local circumstances and brings the advantages of independence and expertise without alienating participating clubs.
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