Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping 2016 – Preview

Furusiyya 2016 season gets underway with a double-header….

There is an Olympic ring to the new Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping 2016 season which gets off to a flying start this week with legs in Al Ain (UAE) on Thursday 18 and Ocala (USA) on Friday 19 February.

Just five months before horses and riders set off for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, the series is set to provide the perfect platform for preparation as national team managers test, and confirm, the form of the combinations they hope to select in the battle for both team and individual Olympic glory next August.

This is the fourth season of sponsorship by Furusiyya under whose banner some dramatic changes have been made to the sport of Nations Cup Jumping which, this year, celebrates its 107th anniversary. Revitalised and reinvigorated, the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie, along with that unique sense of national pride that sets crowds of spectators alight wherever the competition takes place, has ensured it continues to hold and even grow its appeal.

The pre-season excitement is already at an all-time high as competitors from six regions and 46 nations prepare to do battle in the 19 qualifying legs, and set their focus on the Furusiyya 2016 Final which, once again, will take place at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona (ESP) in September.

Strong line-up

Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stages the single leg in the Middle East and although only three countries from this region will be taking part, there is a strong line-up of 11 nations in the opening round on Thursday. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE will battle it out for the two qualifying places at the Final, while a three-strong side from Egypt will also compete alongside teams from France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, Syria and Ukraine.

Qatar came out on top at this qualifier 12 months ago and could be a difficult side to beat once again this time around, but Saudi Arabian riders were in flying form in the recently-concluded FEI World Cup™ Jumping Arab League, so they are likely to present some stiff opposition.

At Ocala on Friday there is another strong entry of eight nations, but only Canada, El Salvador, Mexico and the USA are in the race for Furusiyya qualifying points in this region in which there are three qualifying events. Teams from Australia, Colombia, Ireland and New Zealand will also be in action at this second fixture of the season, and the host nation will be hoping that things go a little better for them than they did at this event last year where, in a competition full of surprises, their crack side had to settle for runner-up spot behind the Irish while Colombia and Canada shared third spot.

With McLain Ward, Beezie Madden, Lauren Hough, Laura Kraut and Todd Minikus already listed in Robert Ridland’s US squad the host country looks very strong indeed, but unpredictability is in the very nature of the sport of Nations Cup Jumping which is a major part of its attraction for fans and competitors alike.

Europe

Lummen in Belgium launches the premier Europe Division 1 league which once again will be contested by teams from 10 countries: Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. And the host nation athletes will be feeling the pressure as defending series champions on home ground when the action gets underway on 29 April.

Europe Division 2 is arguably the toughest of all, because teams from 17 countries – Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey and Ukraine – will all be trying to clinch one of the top two places on the final leaderboard.

Team Belgium topped the podium at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Final in Barcelona (ESP) last season. The excitement begins all over again this week with the first two qualifiers of the 2016 Furusiyya series taking place at Al Ain (UAE) and Ocala (USA). (FEI/Dirk Caremans)

This series begins at Linz-Ebelsberg in Austria on 6 May and continues with the second leg at a new fixture in Celje, Slovenia a week later. There are seven legs in total, concluding with a visit to Gijon (ESP) at the end of August. The leading country at the end of this series will be promoted to Europe Division 1 for the following year, but while the second-placed team will earn a place at the Furusiyya Final in Barcelona only a top-eight finishing spot there will allow them to also earn promotion.

In changes to the Division 2 rules this season, National Federations do not select/declare the events at which they intend to participate for points. They can earn points at any and every event in Division 2, but can only count their four best results for the overall standings. Points will be distributed at each Division 2 event according to each team’s classification in the competition, not their classification in relation to other teams from the same region.

Louise Parkes

Nigeria Wins Hosting Right Of Africa Beach Soccer Cup Of Nations

The Confederation of African Football has awarded Nigeria the hosting right of this year’s Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations.

In a letter addressed to NFF President Amaju Pinnick on Tuesday, CAF noted with excitement the decision of Nigeria to switch the event from 2017 to December 2016.

The letter from CAF read, inter alia: “Considering indeed that the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup might be held early 2017, and that CAF in odd years do organize three major events back to back, namely the Africa Cup of Nations followed by the U20 and U17 Cup of Nations from January to April 2017, the CAF Executive Committee decided to ease the overall calendar of events by organizing the Beach Soccer Cup of Nations every even years from now on.

Supersan Eagles at Copa Lagos 2015

“Hence, we look forward to a tremendous competition and to meet your team as soon as possible to start the preparations of the said competition.”

The 2nd Africa Cup of Nations of Beach Soccer to be hosted in Lagos in December this year will serve as the qualifying tournament for the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, which will be held in The Bahamas.

Ogba Pledges Continued Strong Backing For Pinnick-Led NFF

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth and Sports, Senator Obinna Ogba has promised to continue to lend strong support to the Amaju Pinnick-led Nigeria Football Federation, stating that he is very much impressed with the performance of the administration so far.

Ogba spoke in his office at the Senate on Tuesday, while receiving a delegation of NFF Executive Committee members, led by the president, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick.

“Let me congratulate you on the very good job you are doing. Of course leadership is always associated with challenges, so there must be challenges here and there. But the important thing is that your team is putting up great efforts and you are united.

“The truth is we cannot win all matches, and the earlier we realize that, the better for us as a people. I appeal to you to remain united and committed to the development of Nigerian football in all areas,” said Senator Ogba.

Ogba insisted that only one person can be NFF President at any time, and pulled no punches in declaring that “this is a properly –constituted authority and I firmly believe in the rule of law. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth and Sports, I want to assure you that we will continue to work as a team in the interest of Nigeria football.”

Speaking earlier, NFF President Pinnick commended the efforts of Senator Ogba and other members of his Committee for the support they have been giving NFF and Nigeria football.

“You have continued to demonstrate quality leadership and we are excited that you, one of us in the Nigeria football family, is the person here. We have been facing a number of challenges, some human –made, but we assure you that we because we are united, we are strong enough to deal with all these challenges. Our unity has seen us win four major trophies in our 16 months in charge, with several off-the-field accomplishments.

“We are very grateful to our great leader, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) for the immense support for football and indeed other sports. We also commend the Honourable Minister for his wise counsel at all times, and your Committee and the House Committee on Sports have been excellent.”

Ogba pledges continued strong backing for Pinnick-led NFF

Also with Pinnick during the call were NFF 1st Vice President, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi, Alh. Ibrahim Musa Gusau, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, Alh. Sharif Inuwa, Otunba Sunday Dele-Ajayi, Alh. Babagana Kalli, Barr. Chris Green, Alh. Ahmed Yusuf Fresh and General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.

Kano Pillars Ready For 2016 Season – Babaganaru

Kano pillars fc yesterday resumed training at the Kano Pillars Stadium Sabon Gari Kano after a comprehensive 3 weeks pre season tour of Kaduna and Ijebu Ode, Ogun state.

Addressing the players yesterday morning just before the commencement of the training the technical adviser of the club Babaganaru charged them to be focused and to tighten their belts for the challenges ahead of them in the forthcoming season which is expected to kick off next weekend.

Babaganaru said the team is ready for the new season and that he is very confident with that with the quality of players he has on ground coupled with his technical crew he is sure that he and his players would not disappoint the government and people of Kano and the entire Sai Masu Gida fans across the globe.

kano pillars fc, photo credit kanopillars.com

According to the media officer of the club Rilwanu Idris Malikawa “Most of the newly signed players of the club like Mathew Ifeanyi, Prince Aggrey, jamiu Alimi, Nafi’u Bala Kabuga, Omo Johnson, Tijjani Adamu, Ibrahim Pius and Chris Madaki, fully participated in yesterday’s training session.

Pillars Fc would host Enugu Rangers in a week one encounter which comes up on 21st of February 2016 at Sani Abacha Stadium kofar Mata Kano.

Manchester United To Name South Stand In Sir Bobby Charlton’s Honour

Sir Bobby Charlton
Attribution: Foto: Michael Lucan,
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/legalcode

Manchester United are to rename Old Trafford’s South Stand in honour of club legend Sir Bobby Charlton.

Sir Bobby Charlton is United’s all-time leading scorer with 249 goals in 758 appearances and won three First Division titles, one FA Cup and the 1968 European Cup during his playing career with the club, which lasted from 1956 to 1973.

The former England midfielder also won the 1966 World Cup and was the winner of the Ballon d’Or in the same year.

Manchester United confirmed that the rebranded South Stand will be unveiled at the home game against Everton on April 2.

Charlton, told the club’s official website: “This is a great honour and I am very proud — for myself and my family — that the club has chosen to name the South Stand after me.

Manchester United’s Old Trafford a.k.a The Theatre of Dreams, photo credit http://www.guts.com/en https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode

“Manchester United has been such an important part of my life and I have so many wonderful memories of this Theatre of Dreams. As a player, I remember the goals and the marvellous players I played with. As a director, I have seen some outstanding matches and players. It is a special place indeed.

“I would like to thank everyone connected with Manchester United. So many people work so hard to keep us at the top, their effort should never be forgotten.

“But most of all, I would like to thank Norma, my wonderful wife, and my family for the support and encouragement they have always provided. This is for them.”

Paul Ayorinde