Dalung Orders NFF To Respect Court Orders

Interesting times seem to have returned to Nigerian sports and indeed football as the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung has started to make his dreams clear about how he wants Nigerian football to be managed.

Indications are that the Minister has ordered that the NFF leadership must respect all court orders pending his assumption of office as the Sports Minister. He noted that there have been flagrant abuse of court orders by the past leadership and there was urgent need to correct the trend.

Sources said the Minister make the declaration at a meeting with the NFF Executive Committee, during which he declared that all will not be good for Nigerian football, if court orders, including those that have given on the way forward have been flouted. He therefore ordered that Barrister Chris Giwa, who was ordered back into the fold of the NFF leadership but the decision was flouted should now be immediately respected.

Already, the NFF leadership have become panicky following the Ministerial order for due process, especially legally. Below is the full text of the agreement reached during the meeting with contending parties in Nigerian football.

The Executive Committee of the NFF duly Elected and lawfully sworn in on 26 August, 2014 held its meeting from 21st – 22nd December, 2015 in the FCT, Abuja.

Honourable Minister For Youths and Sports Solomon Dalung

After extensive deliberations on wide ranging issues affecting Nigeria’s Football, the following Resolutions were made:

1. That this Exco forthwith appropriates its mandate which was given on 26 August, 2014 and is to last until 26 August, 2018.

2. That all decisions taken and resolutions passed by the purported Board of the NFF led by Amaju Pinnick are declared null and void.

3. That all appointments and resignations made during the time the purported Board of the NFF led by Amaju Pinnick unlawfully operated in the NFF are declared null and void

4. That this Exco of the NFF will resume at the NFF Secretariat on 12 January, 2016. All relevant bodies (FIFA, CAF, Minister of Sports and both the Senate and House Committees on Sports would be duly notified.

DATE SET FOR IAAF TASKFORCE VISIT TO RUSSIA

The first visit to Russia by the IAAF Taskforce will take place from 10-11 January 2016.

The visit was confirmed yesterday at the first meeting between Rune Andersen, the independent chairperson of the IAAF Taskforce, and Gennady Aleshin, chairperson of the ROC Coordination Committee for the re-entrance of Russian Athletics into the IAAF family of nations.

Andersen and Aleshin, who have been respectively appointed by the IAAF and the Russian Olympic Committee to supervise the inspection and verification process, met yesterday in Brussels.

ARAF must satisfy the IAAF Taskforce that they have met and will continue to meet the Reinstatement Conditions and Verification Criteria set out by the IAAF on 11 December, in order for Russian Athletics to be recommended for IAAF membership following ARAF’s acceptance of their full suspension on 26 November.

“Yesterday’s meeting marked the formal beginning of our work to confirm Russia’s commitment to the verification process,” said Rune Andersen.

“We have established a good working relationship as the basis of our future discussions and meetings together. I look forward with my fellow members of the IAAF Taskforce to visiting Moscow in three weeks’ time.”

IAAF

GOVERNMENT AWARDS CONTRACT FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF UMUAHIA STADIUM

The Abia State Government has awarded contract for the reconstruction of the Umuahia Township Stadium in readiness for the kick-off of the 2015/16 Premier League season.

Chairman of Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia, Chief Emeka Inyama disclosed this at the club’s secretariat during an end-of-year get-together organized by the management and board for staff, supporters club and well wishers.

He disclosed that MONIMICHELLE Sports Facility Construction Limited will handle the reconstruction project, assuring that work will be completed before the beginning of the season.

The chairman also announced that the State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu will soon perform the ground-breaking ceremony of the club’s 40-hectare sports complex situated in Umuahia.

According to him the first phase of the project will begin next month and will include the construction of an ultra modern office complex, a 40-room hostel for the players and two practicing pitches while the second phase will witness the construction of a multi-purpose hall, a three-star hotel, an ultra-modern housing estate and a swimming pool which will generate money for the club.

He said most of the job will be carried out in partnership with the private sector, pointing our talks have also reached an advanced stage with a Chinese firm in this regard.

The chairman disclosed that when finalized, the deal will run into millions of naira and save the government the inconveniences of sponsoring such huge projects.

He commended the state Governor for having the interest to carry the burden of sponsoring two premier league sides and a National League club despite all odds disclosing that Abia Warriors remains the only side without having money issues with either management, staff or players as the club has paid salary up to December, 2015 and is not owing any match allowance or bonuses.

Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, Governor Abia State

Chief Inyama said the club will continue to be run professionally in order to set the pace and urged the technical crew led by Kennedy Boboye to do its best to win the league or at least grab a continental ticket at the end of the season.

The ceremony was attended by members of the supporters club, the Abia State Director of Sports, Isaac Ogbonnaya Isaac, a representative of the sports Ministry, Boniface Arukwe, members of the Abia State football Association and the club’s supporters and well wishers.

French SL16 Sailors Tagged As Youth Worlds Favourites

France’s Louis Flament and Charles Dorange have the favourites tag pinned on them at the 2015 Youth Sailing World Championships having taken the title in Tavira, Portugal last year.

From 27 December through to 3 January the high flying French duo will in amongst the 16-boat SL16 fleet aiming to defend their title in Langkawi, Malaysia.

2014 SL16 Youth Worlds fleet

The Langkawi Youth Worlds will break all previous records in terms of participation and number of nations. More than 430 sailors from 80 nations across nine fleets are registered to sail on the Malaysian waters off of Langkawi. New and returning nations make up the numbers to easily surpass the previous best of 67 set in Tavira, Portugal last year.

As returning gold medallists and 2015 World Champions, Flament and Dorange come into the Youth Worlds as the ones to beat but they won’t be taking anything for granted. “Our title in 2014 gives us a little advantage because we have been there before and others have not, but we do not underestimate our opponents. Nothing is certain and it is a long way to victory,” the pair said.

The French duo took seven race victories in the 2014 series and whilst they made some mistakes along the way, allowing their rivals to see them in their sights heading into the final race, they made no errors on the last day, taking the bullet and with it gold.

Their bond in the boat stems from a long term partnership that started when they were just seven and ten respectively. By looking up to their idols the pair always knew what they wanted to do as they explained, “When we saw Billy Besson [Nacra 17 and Formula 18 World Champion] racing the SL16 we wanted to be like him because he is a World Champion. We always wanted to be like him so we are happy that we are a world champion, like him.”

Besson is a three time Nacra 17 World Champion and is arguably the favourite for Rio 2016 glory. Whether the pair can follow in their hero’s footsteps remains to be seen but the journey to stardom begins at the Youth Worlds and a second gold in Langkawi could set them on their way.

Further competition for medals will come from Australia’s Shuan Connor and Sophie Renouf, Great Britain’s Jack Butters and James King, New Zealand’s Tamryn Lindsay and Will McKenzie as well as the USA’s Mark and Anderson Brunsvold.

The SL16 fleet will be sharing eight boats throughout the Youth Worlds with a qualifying series and a final series. Boats have been assigned to blue and yellow fleets for the opening day of racing based on their performance at the last four Youth Worlds.

Flament and Dorange at the 2014 Youth Worlds

Four races on the opening day are scheduled for the blue and yellow fleets. Boats will then be assigned fleets on a daily basis based on their overall position. Each fleet is scheduled to sail four races each day leading up to the final day. On the final day the fleets will be split into Gold and Silver where the final placings will be decided.

Sailors will start to arrive at the Langkawi venue on 27 December where they will receive the supplied equipment from Ovington, UpMarine, Nautivela, Sirena Voile, Neil Pryde and Laser Performance/Maclaren.

From there, the ceremony on 28 December will signal the start of the Youth Worlds before racing commences on 29 December. Racing will run through to Sunday 3 January with Friday 1 January a lay day for the sailors.

GOtv Boxing Night: Skoro Will Fall In Round 5, Boasts Uganda’s Kakembo On Arrival

Ugandan boxer, Edward “Shaka” Kakembo, arrived Lagos on Wednesday ahead of his 26 December African Boxing Union featherweight title fight with Nigeria’s Waidi “Skoro” Usman at the GOtv Boxing Night. Kakembo, who has won all of his nine professional bouts, arrived with his manager, Paul Akoth, a Kenyan.

Speaking on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Kakembo, the Ugandan Professional Boxing Commission champion, dismissed Skoro’s chances of beating him.

“I have trained so well for this fight to ensure that Skoro is beaten in front of his fans. His defeat will be my Christmas gift to Ugandans. I have seen the tapes of his fight and he will not go beyond round 5,” he boasted with eyes bulging.

His opponent, however, dismissed his boasts as impotent. “Kakembo cannot beat me. Never. He will not last the distance. Saturday is almost here and I will beat him so much that he will be afraid to come back and fight in Nigeria again” Skoro said.

Ugandas Kakembo Arrives Lagos for GOtv Boxing Night

Two other title fights will be staged at the event. Sadiq “Police Machine” Ahmed will defend his national welterweight crown against Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi, while Sunday “Capo” Olalekan will take on Stanley “Edo Boy” Eribo for the national light welterweight title. The fourth fight, a challenge bout, will be between Sunday “Golden Child” Ajuwa and Rasheed “Afonja Warrior” Abolaji.

The event, which kicks off at 5pm, is supported by MultiChoice, SuperSport, Newsbreak.ng, KSquare Security, Paragonis Multimedia Limited, Brilla FM, Bond FM and Complete Sports. The fights will be broadcast live on SuperSport to 47 African countries.

Line Up Confirmed For World Seniors Snooker

The draw for snooker’s World Seniors Championship in Preston has taken place, with legends including Jimmy White, John Parrott, Ken Doherty and Mark Williams among the line-up.

The popular tournament runs on the weekend of January 30-31 and will be staged at the iconic Guild Hall in Preston for the first time.

The Sky-Sports televised event will see Welshman Williams defending the title against 15 other players aged 40 or over, having captured the title and £18,000 top prize on his debut last year.

Williams faces qualifier Anthony Hamilton in a tough first round draw, while crowd favourite Whirlwind White will meet Gary Lees. The full draw and schedule is below.

Tickets are ON SALE NOW and are selling rapidly so fans are urged to book quickly. Tickets make a brilliant Christmas gift for anyone who enjoys live sport!

For details visit http://www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

Jimmy White

January 30th
From 1pm

Peter Ebdon v Nigel Bond
Mark Williams v Anthony Hamilton
Tony Drago v Robert Milkins
Joe Johnson v Darren Morgan

From 7pm

Ken Doherty v Mark Davis
John Parrott v Dominic Dale
Rory McLeod v Fergal O’Brien
Jimmy White v Gary Lees

January 31st

From 1pm

Quarter-finals

From 7pm

Semi-finals

Final

All matches are best of three frames.

BOBOYE PROMISES FAIR PLAY FOR ABIA WARRIORS

Newly appointed Manager of Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia, Kennedy Boboye has assured the players that he will not witch-haunt any of them as long as hardwork and respect to constituted authority is maintained.

Boboye, who addressed the players at the Umuahia Township Stadium shortly after conducting his first training session for the players, noted that fair play has always been his watchword, in all the clubs he has been.

“I am one coach who gives all the players equal opportunity. I will never sack any player without giving him a chance”, he told them.

The former Sunshine Stars tactician said he was happy at the turn-out of players during the session as camp re-opened as well as their dedication to duty and urged them to maintain the tempo.

He expressed happiness that majority of the boys who featured for Abia Warriors last season were still around insisting that the team would be built around them while only a few players would be introduced to strengthen some weak areas in order to make the team more competitive.

He also commended management for retaining more than 90 per cent of the coaching crew, pointing out that this would further make his work easier, describing the coaches he met on ground as some of the best the nation can boast of.

KENNEDY BOBOYE

While promising harmonious relationship with the management, coaches and players, Boboye said he has come to Umuahia to make a mark for himself and the team calling for all hands to be on deck.

Earlier the secretary of Abia Warriors Football Club Oliver Ndife had welcomed Boboye to the training ground and assured him of the club’s support to enable him succeed

PRESIDENT BUHARI TO REWARD ATHLETES IN THE NEW YEAR

AfroBasket 2015 champions Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari has set a machinery in place to reward athletes and footballers who excelled in various sporting endeavours accordingly in the New Year. The Minister of Youth and Sports Barr. Solomon Selcap Dalung gave the hint in Abuja yesterday.

The Minister said efforts were being made to ensure that all athletes who excelled in various Sports disciplines from 1985 when the players won the FIFA U-17 World Cup till date.

Wellington Jighere, World Scrabble Champion

“Reward for excellence is part of this government’s agenda especially for youths in Nigeria. So we are working hard to offset the backlog of recognition for hard work by Nigerian athletes.

We are looking at January so that we start the New Year on a clean slate” Barr. Dalung said.

It will be recalled that athletes and footballers who won laurels at various International Competitions were yet to be officially received by the Federal Government since they won trophies in various sports event.

Golden Eaglets

Among those yet to be rewarded are the Golden Eaglets of 1985 who were promised houses for winning the maiden edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in China.

Others are the victorious National Men’s Basketball Team, D Tigers who won the 2015 FIBA Africa Basketball Championship in Tunisia, Team Nigeria to the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa, the World Scrabble Champion, the National U-23 football Team that won gold in the African U – 23 Championship in Senegal, the Golden Eaglets that won Gold in the FIFA U17 Chile etc.

NFF hails Minister, says statement tallies with own policy

The Nigeria Football Federation has commended the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Barr. Solomon Dalung, for his statement that the NFF should stick to a proper developmental framework for players of the U-17 and U-23 National Teams before approving International Transfer Ceritificates for these players.

Speaking on Tuesday, NFF President Amaju Pinnick said the Minister’s statement and general comments with regards to the monitoring of the players were in tandem with the plans of the Nigeria Football Federation for the glory boys.

“We said it a number of weeks ago that we are developing a framework for monitoring the career progression of these players, with a view to ensuring they sign contracts that will be in their best interests and the best interest of the nation.

“The Minister did not talk about NFF selling players, because he knows very well that the NFF is not in the business of selling players. The NFF only issues International Transfer Certificates after due agreement between the concerned Clubs, and the player in question. The bit about NFF selling players was never part of the Honourable Minister’s comments.”

Golden Eaglets

Pinnick once more urged the media to endeavour to always put issues in proper perspective, and to support the push of the NFF for greater involvement of Corporate Nigeria in football by avoiding negative headlines.

“I want to reiterate that the NFF does not sell players, and has never been in the business of selling players. The Honourable Minister has given the right charge for the NFF to develop a framework to monitor the type of contracts the players sign, for their own career progression, and to checkmate the selfish plans of football agents. This is very much in line with our own policy as a Football Federation.

“We will work assiduously to ensure that the players sign only contracts that will benefit them, their future, their families and the nation.”

ITF appoints Mary Pierce and Mark Woodforde to Board of Directors

The ITF announced today that Mary Pierce (FRA) and Mark Woodforde (AUS) have been appointed by the ITF Board to four-year terms as athlete members of the ITF Board of Directors, subject to ratification by the ITF Annual General Meeting in June 2016. Pierce and Woodforde will join the other 13 Board members alongside President David Haggerty.

The ITF AGM in Santiago, Chile last year approved this change to the ITF Constitution mandating athlete representation on the ITF Board. The AGM agreed that two former players (one man and one woman) would be appointed by the Board for four-year terms to help the ITF have a better understanding of the players and their importance to tennis.

ITF President David Haggerty said: “After an intensive process where we talked with many talented athletes, I am pleased to announce that the ITF Board of Directors has appointed Mary Pierce and Mark Woodforde for four-year terms. They are the first athlete members of the ITF Board and will provide good insight into the needs of the players and help us to grow the game of tennis around the world. Their perspective and collaboration is very important to the ITF as we work to keep tennis strong and vibrant. Both Mary and Mark will also lead the ITF’s Athlete Commission and will be members of the ITF Olympic Committee.”

Mary Pierce, aged 40, was ranked as high as No. 3 on the WTA rankings, won two Grand Slam singles titles at the 1995 Australian Open and 2000 Roland Garros, and reached the final at the 2005 US Open. She reached the quarterfinals at the 2004 Olympic Tennis Event in Athens, and represented her country in Fed Cup by BNP Paribas in 22 ties over ten years, playing on two winning teams in 1997 and 2003. Since her retirement from tennis in 2006, she has worked as a coach and commentator, helped junior players in Africa, sponsors two ITF Pro Circuit tournaments in Mauritius, and participated in the ITF’s Worldwide Coaches Conference.

Mary Pierce
photo credit: closermag.fr

Pierce said: “I am very proud and honoured to join the ITF Board. I am convinced that their role in the tennis world is crucial, and I will do my best to bring as much as I can to their action. Thank you so much for welcoming me.”

Mark Woodforde, aged 50, was ranked as high as No. 19 in singles and No. 1 in doubles on the ATP rankings. He won twelve Grand Slam doubles titles, eleven with long term partner Todd Woodbridge and one with John McEnroe, and was also a singles semifinalist at the 1996 Australian Open. Partnering Woodbridge, he won the gold medal in doubles at the 1996 Olympic Tennis Event in Atlanta and a silver medal at the 2000 Olympic Tennis Event in Sydney. He represented Australia 24 times over ten years in Davis Cup by BNP Paribas, played in three Finals and was part of the 1999 winning team. With Woodbridge, he holds the record for the best Davis Cup doubles team in Australia’s history. The Woodies were inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 2010 and received the Philippe Chatrier Award, the ITF’s highest honour in 2014. Since retiring from tennis in 2000, he has worked as a coach, tournament director and commentator.

Mark Woodforde

Woodforde said: “It’s exciting to be appointed to the ITF Board of Directors. “Some of the proudest accomplishments of my career came when I played for my country in Davis Cup and the Olympic Games and was able to see at first hand the work of the ITF. My life continues to be centred around tennis as a commentator and coach. I think that this gives me both insight and perspective on the views of the players that I can share with the Board as we work together to grow tennis around the world.”

Newfanzone BPL team of the week (Game week 17)

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Goalkeeper-Wayne Hennessey (Crystal Palace):

The Welsh shot-stopper was at his best at the weekend, making three crucial saves to guarantee his team got a victory at Stoke.

Right back- Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea):

Ivanovic had a stand-out performance against Sunderland at the weekend. He put in a good shift at defence and capped it off with a lovely goal.

Centre back- Per Mertesacker (Arsenal):

The German defender had an exceptional game against Manchester City on Monday night. He made nine clearances, five aerial clearances and won 100 percent of his aerial duels.

Centre back- Craig Cathcart (Watford):

The Northern Ireland international defender was a “rock” in the heart of Watford’s defence against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

Left back- Charlie Daniels (Bournemouth):

The English defender had a lovely defensive display against West Bromwich Albion at the weekend and scored the penalty that sealed all three points for Bournemouth.

Centre midfield- Etienne Capoue (Watford):

The French midfielder had an outstanding performance against Liverpool at the weekend. He was in control in the midfield and made Liverpool look weak in the middle of the pack.

Centre midfield- Alexander Tettey (Norwich City):

The Norway international midfielder was impressive against Manchester United at the weekend. He was in control of the midfield and scored a beautiful solo goal to help Norwich City to get their first victory at Old Trafford in the Premier League era.

Newfanzone BPL team of the week (Game week 17)

Right midfield- Oscar (Chelsea):

The Brazilian midfielder was at his best against Sunderland at the weekend. He was creative and made Chelsea play a fluid attacking style that has been lacking in the Blues’ team this season. He capped off his outstanding performance by scoring a penalty.

Attacking midfield- Mesut Ozil (Arsenal):

The German playmaker continued his blistering form on Monday night against Manchester City. He assisted Arsenal’s two goals and took his assist tally to 15 assist in 17 league matches.

Left midfield- Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City):

The Algeria midfielder continued his scoring form at the weekend scoring two well-taken penalty against Everton to guarantee Leicester City will be top of the league at Christmas.

Striker- Odion Ighalo (Watford):

Just like his captain Troy Deeney said in the post-match interview, Odion Ighalo is “on fire”. He scored two beautiful goals in the 3-0 demolition of Liverpool on Sunday.