The International Volleyball Federation “FIVB” Financial Commission during its meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland this week approved the African Volleyball Confederation “CAVB” financial and auditing reports for the year 2014.
The FIVB Financial Commission headed by FIVB President Dr Ary Graca and the commission President Mr André Meyer was attended by CAVB President Dr Amr Elwani, CAVB Treasurer Mr Habu Gumel and CAVB Board member Mr Majore Timba.
FIVB President Dr Ary Graca showing unity with CAVB President Dr Amr Elwani, treasurer Habu Gumel and Board member Majore Timba
The FIVB President Dr Ary Graca appreciated the work done by CAVB under the leadership of Dr Elwani and the financial transparency during their un preceeded development programme and the wide volleyball and Beach VB activities. He also appreciated the unity and team work of CAVB officials and stakeholders.
CAVB presented the financial report for the year 2014, approved by the external Auditor Ernst & Young which is one of the largest 4 Accounting companies all over the world as it gives a fair view of all internal respects of the confederation’s financial position, performance and its cash flow according to the International Financial Reporting Standard “IFRS”.
The European Equestrian Federation (EEF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the FEI.
The organization is headquartered in Brussels (BEL) and was founded in 2010.
A total of 43 of the FEI’s 133 National Federations are also members of the EEF, which is focused on maximising the potential and development of equestrian sport in Europe and globally.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the FEI Sports Forum 2015, which was attended by over 270 delegates, many of whom represented the FEI’s 27 National Federations based across Europe.
FEI President Ingmar De Vos (left) is pictured with Dr Hanfried Haring, President of the European Equestrian Federation, following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding at the FEI Sports Forum 2015 held at the IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland. (FEI/Germain Arias-Schreiber)
“On behalf of the EEF, I am very excited to take the next step forward in our relationship with the FEI”, said Dr Hanfried Haring, President of the European Equestrian Federation.
“For us, this is the beginning of a new working environment where a continental federation is joining forces with the FEI and improving the already fruitful cooperation. The EEF will continue to strive for its mission values now in collaboration with the FEI.”
“The FEI has worked closely with the EEF ever since the organisation was created,” said FEI President Ingmar De Vos.
“We are now looking forward to many more years of close collaboration with the EEF, and with the many other continental organisations we work with, as our sport grows within Europe and globally.”
Former Edo State Sports Commissioner, Chris Okaeben has been named the Events Director of the 3rd IAAF Okpekpe Road Race, while Stella Nwala serves as the secretary of Secretariat.
Okaeben who was newly elected into the Edo state house of Assembly will also coordinate all the activities of the race in the state as well as interface between the state government and the organisers of the race.
The Director of Organisation, Zack Amodu stated that the Organising Committee intends to take the third edition to a higher level because the race has been accorded a bronze label recognition by IAAF.
Meanwhile, the organisers have also decided to move the secretariat of the Race from Benin to Auchi after a world press conference on May 12.
Amodu, however, advised all the coordinators of various departments of the race to intensify efforts to ensure that Edo State delivers a world class event.
Athletes who have not registered for the race have also been advised to pick free entry forms at various designated centres in Benin, Auchi and Okpekpe from May 5.
…West Indies, Bangladesh and Pakistan in a close race to qualify for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017
ICC World Twenty20 winner Sri Lanka maintains top spot in T20I table
World Cup winner Australia has doubled its lead over second-ranked India on the Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings from six to 12 points following the annual update while the West Indies, Bangladesh and Pakistan are now locked in a tight struggle for the remaining two slots in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 whose cut-off date is 30 September 2015.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2017 will be played from 1 to 19 June in England and Wales, and the host country (England), plus the next seven highest-ranked ODI sides will participate in the event.
The annual update is carried out to ensure the table continues to reflect results from the last three years. As such, results from 2011-12 have been dropped while the results from 2013-14 have been reduced to a weighting of 50 per cent.
The updated rankings now see a battle between the West Indies (seventh, 88 points), Bangladesh (eighth, 88 points) and Pakistan (ninth, 87 points). The three sides are separated by one point and will be vying for the last two places in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, adding significant interest to their ODIs in the lead up to the cut-off date.
The latest Future Tours Program lists the following ODI series for these teams.
West Indies (88) No ODIs scheduled
Bangladesh (88) vs India (home, 3 ODIs, June)
vs South Africa (home, 3 ODIs, July)
Pakistan (87) vs Zimbabwe (home, 3 ODIs, May)
vs Sri Lanka (away, 5 ODIs, July)
The ODI and T20I rankings tables, unlike the Test ranking table, are updated after each match.
The annual ODI update has also seen New Zealand and England head in opposite directions.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 runner-up New Zealand has made the biggest move, jumping eight points to be third-ranked ahead of South Africa. In contrast, England has had the biggest fall as it has surrendered seven points, dropping to sixth-ranked, 12 points behind fifth-ranked Sri Lanka.
In the T20I update, ICC World Twenty20 champion Sri Lanka has extended its lead over second-ranked India to 11 points. The top three positions in the updated T20I table are unchanged while the West Indies has gained two places to rise to fourth, pushing Pakistan into fifth spot. South Africa has also slipped two places to seventh, allowing New Zealand to move up one place to sixth.
Australia and West Indies have gained five points each while Netherlands has conceded eight, Scotland seven and South Africa six points.
The annual Test Championship update will be released after the completion of West Indies versus England and Bangladesh versus Pakistan series.
Indian Cricket Team Photo credit Nazly Ahmed
RELIANCE ICC ODI RANKINGS (following annual update)
Rank* Team Ratings Points*
1 (-) Australia 129 (+7)
2 (-) India 117 (+1)
3 (+1) New Zealand 116 (+8)
4 (-1) South Africa 112 (0)
5 (-) Sri Lanka 106 (-1)
6 (-) England 94 (-7)
7 (-) West Indies 88 (-4)
8 (+1) Bangladesh 88 (+7)
9 (-1) Pakistan 87 (-5)
10 (+1) Ireland 50 (+6)
11 (-1) Zimbabwe 45 (-5)
12 (-) Afghanistan 41 (+3)
* Figures in brackets denote changes in rankings and ratings post annual update
The Managing Director of Warri Wolves, Davidson Owumi has praised the sports loving Governor of Delta State for coming to the teams rescue by bailing them out after providing funds for the team to travel to Congo.
Apart from making available fund for the trip to Congo, the Governor equally released money to offset part of the salary being owned the players and that really gladdened the heart of the players who have vowed to play their hearts out in Congo on Friday as they confront Entancheite in the second leg which ended 2-1 in their favour two weeks ago in Warri.
According to Owumi, the Governor deserves kudos for coming to bail the team out at this time otherwise, the story would have been different.
“We are very grateful to the Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan for bailing us out by given us fund for the trip and he also made available money to pay part of the salarys. This has gone a long way to motivate the boys and one can see the way they are behaving now. I pray that we qualify so we can dedicate the victory to the Governor once again.” said Owumi.
Gov Uduaghan addressing Warri Wolves players before the match vs MK Etancheite. photo credit Moses Etu Media Manager Warri Wolves
It would be recalled that before the first leg in Warri, the Governor visited the team and motivated them and promised to pay whatever that is accruing to the players this week.
Meanwhile, the team which left Nigeria on Wednesday afternoon via Asky Airline through Lome arrived Kinshasha around 8pm and have since settled down.
The fourth qualifier of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping 2015 season will take place in Lummen, Belgium tomorrow, Friday 1 May, attracting a field of eight teams.
The starting order, which was determined by a draw held in Lummen today, will be as follows:
1. France
2. Netherlands
3. Sweden
4. Belgium
5. Ireland
6. Great Britain
7. Italy
8. Switzerland
Conor Swail and Grafton clinched victory for Ireland in the opening leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping 2015 series at Ocala, Florida (USA) today. (FEI/Anthony Trollope)
This is the first leg of the Europe Division I League, and the teams from Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy and Sweden will be eligible for Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping points. A total of 10 nations will compete in Europe Division I during the season, and seven teams will qualify for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping 2015 Final which will take place in Barcelona, Spain from 24 to 27 September.
Friday’s competition will begin at 16.00 CEST (local time in Belgium, GMT+2 hours) and will be broadcast live on FEI TV, the FEI’s official online video platform.
The FEI is providing a wide range of online information resources in connection with the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping.
The chairman, Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia, Chief Emeka Inyama has congratulated the Governor-elect of Abia State, Dr, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu for his victory at the polls.
In a congratulatory letter signed on behalf of the Board, Management and the entire Abia Warriors family, Chief Inyama noted that Dr Ikpeazu’s victory did not come as a surprise to the citizens
considering his antecedents and achievements in areas where he held sway.
Governor-elect of Abia State, Dr, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu
According to him, his victory is a continuation of the legacies by His Excellency Chief T.A. Orji in many areas of life especially Sports and commended the Abia electorate for standing behind Dr. Ikpeazu.
The Abia Warriors chairman pledged the club’s unalloyed support to him even as the date for his swearing in draws near.
Chief Inyama called on all those who contested the Governorship election and lost to Dr. Ikpeazu not to distract him by engaging in unnecessary litigations, but rather toe the path of honour by joining
hands with the winner in order to take Abia to greater heights.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has issued its decision in the arbitration procedure between Legia Warszawa SA (the “Club”) and UEFA. The CAS has dismissed Legia Warszawa’s appeal and confirmed the decision issued on 14 August 2014 by the UEFA Appeals Body.
The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body (UEFA CEBD) primarily found the Club to have breached the UEFA Champions League Regulations and UEFA Disciplinary Regulations by selecting a player serving a disciplinary suspension, Bartosz Bereszynski, to take part in the second leg of the third round qualifier against Celtic FC. The UEFA CEBD declared the match Celtic FC v. Legia Warszawa played on 6 August 2014 as forfeit and deemed Legia Warszawa to have lost the match 3:0 meaning that the Club would exit the competition. The Club appealed such decision to the UEFA Appeals Body, which dismissed the appeal.
On 15 August 2015, Legia Warszawa filed an appeal to the CAS to overturn the UEFA decisions, as well as an urgent request for provisional measures, requesting provisional admittance to the 2014/2015 UEFA Champions League matches while the CAS proceedings were in progress. The President of the CAS Appeals Arbitration Division denied Legia Warszawa’s request for provisional measures.
The arbitration procedure was referred to a panel of CAS arbitrators: Mr Manfred Nan, the Netherlands (President), Prof. Ulrich Haas, Germany, and Mr Fabio Iudica, Italy. The Panel heard the parties at a hearing held at the CAS Court Office on 28 January 2015.
Legia Warszawa argued that the UEFA rules and guidelines surrounding the need to include Bartosz Bereszynski’s name on the official list submitted to UEFA were unclear and amounted to “excessive formalism” and that the sanction was disproportionate. The Club also sought financial compensation of EUR 1,854,385. UEFA, in turn, explained the relevant rules and circular letter in Tribunal Arbitral du Sport Court of Arbitration for Sport order to demonstrate why a player needs to be registered to serve a suspension, and noted that Legia Warszawa had followed the correct procedure on a previous occasion.
The CAS Panel found that UEFA’s requirement that only listed players can serve pending suspensions did not constitute excessive formalism and that it was compulsory for the club to list the player in order for him to serve his suspension.
The Panel further found that Legia Warszawa’s violation of this requirement constituted a disciplinary infringement justifying the imposition of a disciplinary sanction, and that UEFA’s decision to declare the Club’s match against Celtic FC to be lost by forfeit was not disproportionate. In view of the foregoing, the Panel found that it was not necessary to address the claim for compensation.
The Arbitral Award will be published on the CAS website in due course.
Nigerian Women league and Federation Cup holders Rivers Angels were beaten 2-1 by Bayelsa Queens in a friendly game at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
The game was used as test for both sides who were drawn in separate groups of the upcoming Nigeria Women league season which kicks off on Saturday in an abridged format.
Fringe players such as Mabel Effiom, Peace Obioma, Uju Joseph, Emenike Ijeoma, Obi Ijeoma and NWPL topscorer last season Amarachi Orjinma were given the nod to show their worth in the absence of 10 key players who are away on national duty with the Super Falcons.
In the 7th minute, former Pelican queens forward, Orjinma fired her team’s first real attempt over the bar.
River Angels however went behind soon after as they conceded a free kick in the 21st minute when new recruit, Effiom brought down Uzoamaka Igwe on the edge of the 18 yard box.
Igwe dusted herself up and converted the kick from an acute angle position directly into the net, leaving goalkeeper Charity John with no chance.
Three minutes later, Effiom drew the host level after being awarded a free kick a few meters from the right hand of the 18 yard box.
The remaining part of the first half ended with not many clear cut chances created with more of the battle taking place in the midfield.
The second half started with the visitors acting like a house on fire with most of the action played in Rivers Angels half in the first 15 minutes of the second period.
Bayelsa Queens enjoyed the larger part of the possession, dominating play, and having the highest completed passes in the game.
Rivers Angels
Charity John who was in goal for Rivers Angels, had her hands full making three saves from Edeji Chidinma, Esther Udegbe and Rafiat Sule who all combined well on different occasions to cause terror on a porous Rivers Angels defence.
Amarachi Orjinma yet again found her shot roll over the bar in 63rd minute but the Flamingoes star Cynthia Aku made better use of her chance which was saved by Favour Nwaaha in goal for Bayelsa Queens.
In the 71st minute, another Flamingoes star, Joy Bokiri who was a torn in the flesh in the second half , linked up well with Rafiat Sule in the 18 yard box who slotted home the winner for Bayelsa Queens.
Two minutes later, Mabel Effiom yet again almost got the equaliser for the League champions but she was stopped by Favour Nwaaha.
Coach Ronaldson Odeh got the midfield orchestra, Edeji Chidinma off the pitch for Edith Eduviere who quickly made her impact felt by finding Joy Bokiri in the middle with both players linking up but her shot went far wide.
With eight minutes to regulation time, the visitors still proved unstoppable creating chances and winning a free kick which was taken by Lucky Odiri but Charity John was alert to avoid another goal into the back of her net.
Despite the win against Rivers Angels, Bayelsa Queens coach, Rolandson Odeh said he still has a lot of work to do before the league kicks off on Saturday.
“It has been able to expose a lot of lapses and i was thinking i was ready for the league but based on what i have seen today i have less than 24 hours to correct the mistakes i have seen here so to me it is still work in progress, said Odeh.”
Odeh added, it’s a friendly game not all teams would have come with their talented players and coupled with the fact that Rivers Angels are the household name of women football in Nigeria but it was a good game.
On his part, assistant coach of Rivers Angels, Whyte Ogbonda attributed the loss to the absence of his key players who are on national duty with the Super Falcons.
“Despite losing to Bayelsa Queens in this match we all know it is a friendly match but it is preparatory match to our league match which kicks off this weekend. Most of our players are not in the Rivers Angels camp but in the Super Falcons camp. We just managed to use what we have to execute this match but all the same we think the players at home will be able to execute the league match pending when the rest of the team will return to Port Harcourt, Ogbonda explained.”
Patience Okpe scored a team high 19 points and 4 rebounds, as Dolphins maintained their unbeaten run in the Zenith Bank Female Basketball League with a 92-29 points victory over weeping girls in Group B Coalcity Queens of Enugu.
With a commanding start from the jumpball the 2014 league runners up lead by double digits in each of the 4 quarters to send signals of their title ambitions this season.
Speaking after the match, leading scorer of the game, Patience Okpe said ” Our aspirations this season is to go a step further than we did last year which is getting the title”. Our team is built on hard work and determination and we are taught to play without any inhibitions” She added
Zenith Bank Female Basketball League: Benue Princess vs Sunshine Angels
In other results from Wednesday, First Deepwater also maintained their 100% record in the 1st Phase of the Zenith Bank Female Basketball League with a 77-16 points victory over the Taraba Hurricanes.
The fourth day of the Qoros 2015 World Table Tennis Championships ended, in dramatic fashion, with two of the biggest names of in table tennis crashing out of the competition in the second round.
World ranked six, Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER), one of the favourites for the title suffered a surprise 3-4 (11-6,11-9,4-11,8-11,11-6,3-11,11-6) defeat against the number 36th seed LEE Sangsu (KOR), bidding goodbye to his World Championship title.
MARCOS FREITAS, 2015 ITTF World Championships. photo credit ITTF Media
After his loss, OVTCHAROV, who beat the World and Olympic champion ZHANG Jike at the 2014 World Team Championships was devastated after the lost: “Of course I am extremely disappointed, I prepared every second for this event and to be knocked out in the second round is disappointing for me. He surprised me today to be so fast and aggressive from the very beginning. I wasn’t expecting it, and I was most surprised by his level. It was tough for me to get the flow and come back after trailing behind 0-2, 2-3 in the match.”
On the opposite end of the spectrum, LEE was celebrating his best ever win: “I believed. I believed. I believed I could win. So happy that I did to record the biggest win of my career against one the best players in the world.”
In the Women’s Singles event, number eight seeded Japanese Superstar Ai FUKUHARA became the biggest casualty after losing to Tetyana BILENKO (UKR), 55 positions after her on the ITTF World Rankings.
FUKUHARA was unable to keep up to the momentum of her opponent, losing 2-4 (11-3, 7-11, 11-6, 9-11, 3-11, 10-12) to the 31 year old Ukrainian.
“I am sad about my overall performance, I should have been more aggressive. I lost points and became a little bit passive with my tactics. I can’t believe my singles event is over so quickly” shared FUKUHARA after her match.
Dimitrij OVTCHAROV, 2015 ITTF World Championships, photo credit ITTF Media
The 26 year old Japanese was not the only loss suffered by the Japanese team. Sayaka HIRANO who part of the Japanese team that won the silver meal at the London 2012 Olympics with FUKUHARA, was shocked by unseeded qualifier Hana MATELOVA from Czech Republic.
In the mixed doubles’ quarterfinals, defending champions KIM Hyok Bong and KIM Jong from North Korea overcame the Chinese pairing of WU Yang and YAN An in a thrilling 7 set encounter 5-11,11-8,11-8,4-11,11-6,7-11,11-7. The number one seeds now face the Japanese due of Kasumi ISHIKAWA and Maharu YOSHIMURA, who were also successful in their quarter final clash.
More excitement can be expected tomorrow in Suzhou, with the quarterfinals of the doubles events getting underway and more singles action.
NFF President Amaju Pinnick has reiterated strongly that the Federation made no mistake in re-appointing Stephen Keshi into the role of Super Eagles’ Head Coach.
Speaking on the BBC’s Focus on Africa programme, the NFF boss was categorical that a Stephen Keshi with enhanced capacity, working together with a Technical Study Group headed by former Nigeria captain Jay–Jay Okocha and with the benefit of the world–renowned ProZone match preparation software would, in aggregate, be better than any foreign Coach.
Stephen Keshi – Super Eagles Coach
“We made no mistake in re-appointing Keshi. In his first term, Keshi did a lot to encourage the boys in the domestic League, and the boy who scored our winning goal at the Africa Cup of Nations, Sunday Mba, was playing in the domestic scene.
“We don’t live in the clouds. If we wanted a foreign Coach, we would probably go for someone in the class of Jose Mourinho or Arsene Wenger. We don’t have that money presently and we don’t want to be owing our Coach.”
Pinnick said the ProZone software, for which four NFF officials are currently in the United Kingdom for special training, will be of great help to the Nigeria National Teams.
“In the past, we played matches blindly. We didn’t know enough about our opponents and we didn’t even know enough about our own players – their strengths and weaknesses. If we had the ProZone match preparation software before now, we probably would have beaten France and reached the quarter finals of last year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil.”
NFF President, Amaju Pinnick
The NFF President also revealed that capacity–enhancing programmes have been lined up for Coach Keshi, who is the only man alive to have won the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and as a Coach, and captained the Nigeria senior team for 11 years.
“Our vision is to see the Super Eagles reach the semi finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia. We are very positive and we will work hard towards that.”
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