Hawkster Athletics RFC, others pardoned by Disciplinary Committee

The Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation has announced that Hawkster Rugby Football Club of Lagos has fully served their 24 weeks suspension in any NRFF organised event after the club launched verbal and physical abuse on match officials and tournament organizers at the 2014 edition of the Independence Sevens Rugby tournament held in Lagos.

Rising from their 2015 Annual General Assembly after deliberating on the subject matter, the Disciplinary Committee announced the lifting of all sanctions placed on Hawkster Athletic RFC, Stephen James and their coach; Emeka Ukome.

Stephen was slammed with a 24 weeks ban while head coach of the side; Emeka Ukome was suspended for 48 weeks according to the International Rugby Board Sanction Regulation-17, 10.4 (m & s) and 10 .4 (m) in which Nigeria is affiliated.

Tunde Olukorede of Gosar RFC delivering a superb tackle to an Hawkster Athletics player

According to the president of the federation, Sir Edward Pam Fom, despite the club failing to officially apologize for their misconduct, the decision was taken in consideration of Hawkster Athletics players and also for the development of game.

The committee promised to continue maintaining the standard of World Rugby in ensuring that no form of misconduct is tolerated as they encouraged Hawkster to participate in all NRFF sanctioned tournament starting from 2016.

CHINA RETAINS OVERALL TITLE AT SYNCHRO WORLD TROPHY

Team China was the best this weekend at the 10th edition of the FINA Synchro World Trophy, in Shaoxing, an industrial city located in the Chinese province of Zhejiang.

Host China was the dominating force over the two-day competition as the team clinched four golds out of five at stake, totalising 363.3333 points in the overall ranking. Despite the fierce battle for the medals, the team excelled in the Free Team, Highlight, Free Combination and the Thematic Duet events (see results below).

China currently holds the past four World Trophy titles (2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015), while Spain and Russia, other favourites last weekend, respectively hold three (2008, 2010, 2011) and two (2006, 2007) titles.

In Shaoxing, Russia ranked second in the overall rankings with 349.5000 points, while Ukraine came third to the audience surprise with 347.8335 points.

China, Czech Republic, Italy, Spain and Ukraine guarantied the show with the mixed duet routine, an event first introduced this summer on the occasion of the FINA World Championships in Kazan (RUS). Italy’s pair Giorgio Minisini / Mariangela Perrupato, World bronze medallists (with Manila Flamini), emerged victorious with 89.1667 points. Ukraine took silver giving the nation it’s third place in the overall ranking and the third place went to the Spanish duet.

Synchronised swimming stars from Australia, China, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine and the United States took part in the World Trophy 2015.

The next major synchronised swimming rendezvous will be the Olympic Games Synchronised Swimming Qualification Tournament on March 2-6, in Rio de Janeiro.

CHINA RETAINS OVERALL TITLE AT SYNCHRO WORLD TROPHY

Medallists in Shaoxing:
Free Team: 1. China 91.8334 pts, 2. Italy 91.1667, 3. Japan 86.5000
Highlight: 1. China 91.3333 pts, 2. Russia 87.666 pts, 3. Japan 86.83333
Free Combination: 1. China 89.666 pts, 2. Russia 86.8334, 3. Japan 86.3333
Thematic Duet: 1. China 90.5000 pts, 2. Italy 89.1667, 3. Ukraine 88.6667
Mixed Duet: 1. Italy 89.1667 pts, Ukraine 86.6667, 3. Spain 86.5000

RIVERS SWAN CUP UPDATE: OLD-WAR HORSE, ACHERU STUNS RSTV AS COOLWAZOBIAINFO GETS PUMMELLED

The 2015 5-A-Side Football Competition organized by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Rivers State chapter for all media houses in the state got underway to a fantastic set of first round games on Wednesday.

Day One of the tournament tagged “Henry Kalio Cup” was characterized by goals, misses, gaffes and modest form of novelty as journalists enjoyed themselves in a fun-filled but competitive manner.

HENRY KALIO CUP

The ceremonial kick-off was taken by the Special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor on NDDC, Barrister Aribitonye Okiri. The combined team of Tide and Independent Monitor Newspapers started the goalfest with a 5-2 victory over Wave FM. Isaac Mbah scored a brace while goalkeeper Gabriel Nwanetanya also registered his name on the scoresheet.

In Group A’s other game, CoolWazobiaNigeriaInfo were annihilated by an effortless Garden City Radio side who steamrolled over their much vaunted opponents by 5 goals to nothing. Sports writers, Damiete Sanipe, Fisayo Dairo and Benjamin Sawadinho were among the goals as the Ufuoma Egbamuno-tutored CoolWazobiaInfo side wondered what they were to do with the ball for long spells in the game.

In Group B, substitute China Ikwerreman Acheru was in goal scoring form as Today FM hammered RSTV 3-0. Acheru, who received the loudest ovation when he came on in the 2nd half scored his team’s 3rd barely five minutes after entering the fray.

Meanwhile, a brace from Maxwell Barilee propelled Treasure FM to a 4-2 win over Rhythm FM. Okey Onwugbonu was also on target for the FRCN side who rattled the Gbenga James-led Seasiders for longer periods in the game.

Group Standings
Group A
1. Garden City Radio 3pts +5
2. Tide/Independent Monitor 3pts +2
3. Wave FM 0pt -3
4. CoolWazobiaInfo 0pt -5

Group B
1. Today FM 3pts +3
2. Treasure FM 3pts +2
3. Rhythm FM 0pt -2
4. RSTV/Radio Rivers 0pt -3

THURSDAY’s SCHEDULE
Group A
1:00pm – Wave FM vs Garden City Radio
1:50pm – The Tide/Independent Monitor vs CoolWazobiaInfo

Group B
2:40pm – RSTV/Radio Rivers vs Rhythm FM
3:30pm – Today FM vs Treasure FM

Travel Grant Prize Fund Confirmed for 2016 ITF Junior Masters

The ITF today announced that a total prize fund of $160,000 in travel grants will be made available to participants in the second ITF Junior Masters to be held in Chengdu, China on 8-10 April 2016. The event enjoyed a successful launch in 2015, with Russia’s Andrey Rublev and China’s Shilin Xu, both former junior world number ones, claiming the men’s and women’s titles respectively.

The ITF Junior Masters is an international event showcasing eight male and eight female players who qualify on the basis of their 18-and-under ITF Junior World Ranking at the end of the year. The ITF Junior Masters consists of two knock-out singles events, with each player guaranteed three matches to determine their final finishing position and level of grant. Players will also compete for wild cards into professional events, with further details to be confirmed next year.

The provision of travel grants is one of the ways in which the ITF Junior Masters assists these top juniors in making a transition from junior tennis to the professional game. Each player to qualify for the 2016 ITF Junior Masters will earn a minimum travel grant of $7,000, while the boys’ and girls’ champions will both be awarded $15,000 travel grants.

The 2016 ITF Junior Masters will take place at the Sichuan International Tennis Centre in Chengdu as part of a three-year agreement with the Chinese Tennis Association and the Chengdu Sport Bureau.

The Sichuan International Tennis Centre, which was built in 2008 and consists of 12 match courts and 20 practice courts, has hosted a number of international events. The ITF Junior Masters is staged on two match courts, including a 6000-capacity stadium court, with matches broadcast by Sichuan TV and streamed live over the three days.

The ITF Junior Masters joins the ITF junior team competitions, the 14-and-under ITF World Junior Tennis competition, and 16-and-under Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas, as the premier junior events on the 2016 ITF calendar.

ITF President David Haggerty said: “Following the success of the first ITF Junior Masters in 2015, we are looking forward to a great edition in 2016. I am confident that the amazing fans in Chengdu will once again throw their support behind the top junior players, who are competing for travel grants, helping them to transition into the professional ranks.

Ms Tan Xuejun, Director of Chengdu Sports Bureau, said: “We were proud of the successful staging of the 2015 ITF Junior Masters, and are grateful for the support of the ITF, the citizens of Chengdu, and the players themselves for some memorable performances. The Masters fully embodied the slogan ‘Me, Future’ and attracted much interest around the world. We are confident that the 2016 edition of the event will be even better.”

Madam Li Lingwei, Vice-President of the Chinese Tennis Association and IOC member, said: “The ITF Junior Masters is a milestone event in junior tennis, contributing significantly to the development of the sport both in China and worldwide. By hosting the Junior Masters in China we hope that the next generation of Chinese players will be inspired to take up the sport. In 2016, the China Tennis Association, working closely with Chengdu City, will make the second ITF Junior Masters even more exciting.”

Falode Thanks South South Congress, Hails NFF Achievements

Foremost sports journalist and Women’s Sports Development icon, Aisha Falode, has sent her words of thanks and encouragement to the South South Congress of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), following her endorsement as the candidate for the NFF Women’s League leadership.

Falode, said the body headed by Rivers FA Chairman and Chairman of NFF Committees, Barr. Chris Green, is an outstanding body for choosing her to run for a position as important as the NFF Women’s League Chairmanship. “Seriously, I am short of words, humbled and will like to thank my kith and kin in the South South for this trust bestowed on me. I promise that when the time is ripe I will again officially thank them”.

Falode declared that after she has been endorsed by the NFF South South Congress, she was now waiting for the rules of the elections to the rolled out before she throws her hat into the ring.

Aisha Falode

In another breath, she congratulated the leadership of the NFF, led by Melvin Amaju Pinnick for the huge strides in has made in recent times and hopes the NFF Congress that meets in Abuja this Wednesday, December 16, 2015, will not only pass a Confidence vote but give the NFF Executive Committee a pat on the back.

“If a federation wins the U17 World Cup, the U23 CHAN tournament, qualifies for virtually all tournaments in both the male and female cadre, I think they deserve praise and support from all sports loving Nigerians”.