The dreams of male synchronised swimmers came true as mixed duet made its first appearance at the FINA World Championships in Kazan.
Bill May and Christina Jones (USA) were the favourites of the first technical routine before the start.
May is 36 years old. He is the most experienced and the most famous male synchronised swimmer in the world. He is actually the pioneer of this discipline. Back in 1998 Bill took part in his first international competition – the Goodwill Games, where him and his partner Kristina Lum competed with “ordinary” duets and lost only to Russia’s Maria Kiseleva and Olga Brusnikina.
Bill May and Christina Jones
Ten years ago May left sport for the Cirque du Soleil show but got back to synchronised swimming with one goal in mind, to grab the first world gold medal. And he did it!
Super Eagles Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh is happy with results of the 2018 World Cup preliminary draw held in St.Petersburg, Russia on Saturday.
Drawn bye from the first round of the African qualifiers, Nigeria begins her campaign for a place at the 2018 finals in Russia in November away to the winner of the Djibouti vs Swaziland first round playoff.
While appealing for caution, the Super Eagles handler told thenff.com that there are a number of reasons for him to be happy.
“Of course,I am happy with the draw,”Oliseh stated.
“We are not playing the first round, which is a preliminary round and which we knew before the draw. We will also be playing the first leg of the second round away which means we have an advantage of playing the more crucial return leg at home, in front of our fans”.
Sunday Oliseh photo credit sundayoliseh.tv
The coach also warned against complacency, revealing that there are lots of dangerous teams around that could hurt if taken for granted.
“Djibouti and Swaziland need to be given the respect that they deserve and either of them that we face in the second round will not be underrated. We respect every nation and will battle anyone that emerges with our full strength.
“With the draw now concluded, we can safely say that the race to Russia has officially started. I am optimistic we will run this race very well, we will give it our very best and pray it will be good enough to get us one of the five slots available for Africa,” Oliseh concluded.
Hugo CALDERANO (BRA) & WU Yue (USA) are the 2015 Pan American Games Champions and have hence secured their position at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The pair both won tight seven game matches in front of the capacity crowd today in Toronto, Canada.
2014 Youth Olympic Games bronze medalist Hugo CALDERANO was able to hold his nerve against his team mate and number one seed Gustavo TSUBOI (BRA) in the final, prevailing 11-6, 6-11, 4-11, 11-7, 13-11, 9-11, 11-2 to book his place at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the city he has grown up in.
“I just cannot describe how I feel, it’s incredible, there are no words. It was a tight match, it was always going to be a tight match, we know each other so well” said the 19 year old.
“I went two-one down; then I led three-two and 9-6 in the sixth game and lost that game; I cannot explain the seventh game. Now the feeling, it’s just the same as last year when I won the bronze medal at the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games; today is the equal.”
WU Yue continued the USA’s dominance of the women’s event, ensuring the USA took home the women’s singles gold for the eighth time in ten attempts.
WU, who works part time at the table tennis bar SPiN New York as a coach, won an extremely tight final against GUI Lin (BRA) 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 8-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-7 to become the Pan American Champion.
Hugo Calderano and Wu Yue bags singles gold at 2015 Pan American Games
“After winning the second game, I started to think too much about winning the gold medal; that’s why I lost the next three”, said 25 year old WU. “It was important that I really concentrated better.”
“At the change of ends in the seventh game when I was losing 5-1, I didn’t really change anything: I just tried to play my game, try to be the first to attack and eventually I won!”
The win means that WU is only the second confirmed member of Team USA for the Rio 2016 Olympics, which is something that WU has always dreamt about: “I feel amazing. I am going to the Olympic Games. This is a dream come true, I can’t believe it.”
The women’s losing semi finalists Lily ZHANG (USA) and Caroline KUMAHARA (BRA) both take home the bronze medals as does Thiago MONTEIRO (BRA) and home town favourite Eugene WANG (CAN).
Earlier in the week Brazil claimed the men’s team gold led by singles champion CALDERANO and USA bagged the women’s, which means WU heads back to New York with two gold medals.
The table tennis world’s attention now turns to North Korea where the GAC Group 2015 World Tour Pyongyang Open will take place on 29 July to 2 August 2015.
Debutant Ahmed Bello dazzled as Nigeria’s Union Bank Sports Club yesterday finished third at the 2015 ITTF African Club Championships concluded in Yaounde, Cameroon.
Bello who was making his international debut for the bankers’ team failed to save the team from losing 3-0 to Egypt’s Ahly in the semifinal stage of the men’s event at the Multi-Purpose Complex in Yaounde.
To make it to the last four, Union Bank tutored by Coach Samson Ajayi nearly caused an upset in their first group match against defending champions, Club Avenir of Congo Brazzaville made up Chinese-born stars – Jianan Wang and Bin Hu as well as their Nigerian imports – Suraju Saka and Saheed Idowu.
Ahmed Bello Union Bank Sports Club
After Azeez Ogunlade fell to Wang 3-0, debutant Ahmed Bello caused the biggest upset of the competition when he defeated Africa’s number six ranked player, Suraju Saka 3-2 to give the Nigerian team a ray of hope. But David Fayele could not withstand Saheed Idowu as he was beaten 3-0. Again, Ahmed Bello became the cynosure of all eyes as he gave Wang a run for his money in the fourth match and without any doubt it was the experience of the Chinese that aided his 3-1 triumph over the unknown Nigerian. The Congolese team won 3-1.
However, this defeat did not dampen the spirit of the young Nigerians as they walloped their counterparts from Cameroon and Ethiopia to set up a semifinal clash against Ahly of Egypt which has top players like Omar Assar, El-Sayed Lashin and Mohammed El-Beiali. The Nigerian side surrendered to the Egyptians to settle for bronze medal.
However, Saheed Idowu was particularly thrilled with the performance of Bello, saying, “He played as if everything was at stake and he never bothered about the pedigree of his opponent especially being his first international outing. I am impressed and I hope players like this can be encouraged in Nigeria,” Idowu said.
The question on everyones’ lips would be, why is she thinking about Mikel Obi. Surely, Mikel Obi’s girlfriend Olga’s eyes would pop out at the headline. Seriously, this is all about his dwindling career.
Mikel was that young lad, a delight of the nation when at the age of 12 he made it as a talented player to the prestigious Pepsi Football Academy.
He dazzled us with skills and humility and in no time, big clubs had to battle for his signature. He was prematurely unveiled by Manchester United before being gazumped by Chelsea. Indeed, It was a war between the English football mighty. Mikel was that superb.
Ten years after winning medals with Lionel Messi in the same tournament under different categories, he has not really progressed as Messi has done.
So far as a Chelsea player he has not done so well for his career but done superbly well for his bank accounts.
Mikel Obi
Truth be told, he has not been productive, his presence has not been felt at club and country. Till date, he is the biggest name and biggest player in the current squad of the super eagles.
Unfortunately, he is one of the less productive with minimal impact or contribution to the team, I wonder what went wrong.
Jose Mourinho recently showed his confidence in Mikel and insisted he will not be leaving. Great News he is staying back at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho, every player wants to play under a great Coach like him.
However, he was linked with a move to Fenerbahce and another team in Dubai, so you mean no club in the EPL wants to buy Mikel? That’s a confirmation of his regression.
As a prospective Super Eagles Captain, his leadership skills leaves a lot to be desired. Another super Eagles midfielder, John Ogu once said in an interview that he was inspired by Mikel Obi.
No doubt, Ogu might be one of many others, but how long has he carried on inspiring? Which of the upcoming players want to watch his video to learn, backpass or overlap? Judging by his recent contributions to club and country.
Mikel was suspended in 2007 by Berti Vogts and after apologies he was seen as deemed fit to adorn the Green and white jersey. This same player won the man of the match against Iran at the 2014 FIFA world cup in Brazil.
Mikel has won the English Premiership twice, FA Cup four times, UEFA, African Cup of Nations amongst others, but can he be proud of his personal contributions to this medals after his retirement?
Not forgetting, he played different roles for Nigeria and Chelsea, maybe he will be better served by playing for a team that can utilize and use him in a position where he is best at which is attacking midfield. Hanging around at Chelsea is not necessarily good for his own career progression or any positive impact he might make in the Nigerian team.
He seems to have lost his zeal/mojo, maybe because of the financial reward he is priviledged to be making at Chelsea which is synonymous with other players. He needs to rediscover what got him to this stage in the first place.
With the generation of new midfielders joining Chelsea and being one of the oldest Chelsea players, he should be celebrated in the team. Coming home now, Can Oliseh build his midfield around Mikel? Can we say he is the next in line to become the Super Eagles captain?
It seems Chelsea can’t wait to sell him off, even this past premier league season he didn’t appear much. Isn’t he worried himself. He is dispensable to Chelsea and looking like a matter of ‘for now’ and I am truly concerned about where he will end up in August.
Mikel Obi
Moreover, he is yet to be allocated a squad number for the upcoming season in Chelsea. Anything is still possible before the transfer window closes. Victor Moses we know for sure will be staying at Chelsea as he has gotten his squad number.
Mikel should still be on top of his career at age 28. My advise; He should get back his zeal and desire to be the best. It is never too late for him to work harder, The potentials are still there, he can still make more powerful effect in the team.
Nigerians are looking forward to him performing to the best of his abilities which can be better than recent years.
Gerrard at age 35 is still doing well, I picture another 10 years of active football career for Mikel if he wants it. He is certainly too skillful to be “bench-warming”
It is never too late. Mikel Obi should get back in the groove of enjoying his football, start working hard, look back and search for where he has gone wrong and make amends, we miss him.Nigerians missed his on-field skills.
Get back to basics. Please come back our dear Mikel Obi
The preliminary competition will span 32 months featuring 851 matches (between March 2015 and November 2017) until it is known who will join the host Russia in the 32-team line-up for the 21st edition of the FIFA World Cup.
African draw:
Round 1:
Ties to be played between October 5 & 13.
Somalia v Niger
South Sudan v Mauritania
Gambia v Namibia
Sao Tome e Principe v Ethiopia
Chad v Sierra Leone
Comoros v Lesotho
Dijibouti v Swaziland
Eritrea v Botswana
Seychelles v Burundi
Liberia v Guinea-Bissau
Central African Republic v Madagascar
Mauritius v Kenya
Tanzania v Malawi
* The winners of each tie progress to round two.
Round 2:
Two-legged ties, will be played November 9/17
Somalia/Niger v Cameroon
South Sudan/Mauritania v Tunisia
Gambia/Namibia v Guinea
Sao Tome e Principe/Ethiopia v Congo
Chad/Sierra Leone v Egypt
Comoros/Lesotho v Ghana
Djibouti/Swaziland v Nigeria
Eritrea/Botswana v Mali
Seychelles/Burundi v Congo DR
Liberia/Guinea-Bissau v Ivory Coast
Central African Republic/Madagascar v Senegal
Mauritius/Kenya v Cape Verde
Tanzania/Malawi v Algeria
Sudan v Zambia
Libya v Rwanda
Morocco v Equatorial Guinea
Mozambique v Gabon
Benin v Burkina Faso
Togo v Uganda
Angola v South Africa
* winners of each tie will progress to round 3 which is a group stage format.
fifa world cup trophy
CONCACAF draw:
Round Three:
Curacao v El Salvador
Canada v Belize
Grenada v Haiti
Jamaica v Nicaragua
St Vincent and Grenadines v Aruba
Antigua and Barbuda v Guatemala
Group Stage:
Group A
Honduras
Mexico
Curacao/El Salvador
Canada/Belize
Group B
Panama
Costa Rica
Grenada/Haiti
Jamaica/Nicaragua
Group C
Trinidad & Tobago
USA
St Vincent & Grenadines/Aruba
Antigua & Barbuda/Guatemala
Oceania draw;
Group Stage:
Group A
Winner of Round One between American Samoa, Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Tahiti
Group B
New Zealand
Vanuatu
Fiji
Solomon Islands
* winner of each group will be play each other to determine the Oceania champion.
South America draw:
Group stage:
Colombia
Chile
Paraguay
Argentina
Brazil
Ecuador
Venezuela
Bolivia
Peru
Uruguay
* The top four qualify – with fifth place going into a play-off against the Oceania champions
European draw;
Group stage:
Group A: Netherlands, France, Sweden,
Bulgaria, Belarus, Luxembourg
Group B: Portugal, Switzerland, Hungary, Faroe Islands, Latvia, Andorra
Group C: Germany, Czech Republic, Northern Ireland, Norway, Azerbaijan, San Marino
Group D: Wales, Austria, Serbia, Republic of Ireland, Moldova, Georgia,
Group E: Romania, Denmark, Poland, Montenegro,Armenia, Kazakhstan
Group F: England, Slovakia, Scotland, Malta,Lithuania, Slovenia
Group G: Spain, Italy, Albania, Israel,
Macedonia, Liechtenstein
Group H: Belgium, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Greece,Estonia, Cyprus
Group I : Croatia, Iceland, Ukraine, Turkey, Finland
* The first place team in each group qualifies – the 8 best placed runners-up from the groups will play a play-off round to qualify for the World Cup.
* Asia is the only continent without a draw today – qualification is already under way.
South West League coordinator Olatunji Fasimoye has announced that the CMB Building Maintenance & Investment Company Limited sponsored League will resume its final round of matches on the 1st of August. Teams have swung into action as they intensify preparation in their quest to improve and consolidate their positions on the log with three games remaining.
After weeks of break occasioned by the National Team engagements which were primarily prosecuted by predominant home based players which saw the Black Stallions book a place in the 50th edition of the All Africa Games in Congo and the Olympic qualifiers ticket in South Africa later in the year, Fasimoye expressed optimism that with the experience gathered by the players after mixing with their foreign based counterparts, the last 3 sets of matches promises to be explosive with a lot of technical and tactical improvements.
Hafis Ayinla of Cowrie RFC Breaking a Tackle at SWL Fixtures agains Eco II RFC
Three matches will be played at the National Stadium main bowl on the 1st of August starting at 11:00 am.
Third placed team, Police RFC will take on Eco II RFC whom is still searching for their first win this season. Fourth placed Gosar RFC of Ajegunle will hope to fend off the surge of fifth placed Royal Stallions RFC of Ilorin in the second match and the last match will be an explosive encounter between Victoria Island rivals; table topping Cowrie RFC parading the likes of Christian Ogar, Onoh jato and Azeez Ladipo against Racing RFC who are second on the log tutored by Ayo Olatunbosun. Racing will be looking for a revenge after Cowrie scored four tries on their way to a 26 – 8 victory in the first leg.
Cowrie RFC is a breakaway faction of Racing RFC in 2005 and has since dominated the rugby scene in the country.
Lagosians are enjoined to come all out and support the league on the 1st of August.
Please find attached for pix, League Fixture, League Log Table and League Scorer Chart.
newfanzone 