Singapore Joins Stellar World Rugby Sevens Series Line-Up From 2015-16

Singapore is the latest new venue for the World Rugby Sevens Series 2015-16 to be announced.

World Rugby

*Singapore joins 10-destination Series from 2015-16 cycle

*Singapore joins Vancouver, Sydney and Cape Town as a new host on record-breaking Series

*Rugby sevens experiencing record-growth in Olympic qualification year

Singapore is the latest major global city to join the exciting line-up of host destinations for the World Rugby Sevens Series from 2015-16.

The new state-of-the-art national stadium will play host to the world’s top male sevens players ahead of the discipline’s Olympic Games debut at Rio 2016.

A major financial and tourism location, Singapore joins Vancouver, Sydney and Cape Town as a new location on the 10-stop Series within the next four-year cycle.

The announcement comes as rugby participation in Asia continues to grow with 445,000 men, women and children actively enjoying the sport, an increase of nearly one-third over four years.

World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “The World Rugby Sevens Series continues to go from strength to strength, proving a hit with fans, broadcasters and sponsors around the globe with its winning blend of compelling and competitive action, global destinations and festival atmosphere.

“As a major tourism and business destination, Singapore’s inclusion on the Series is great news for fans and great news for rugby as the sport continues to experience record growth ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.”

World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper added: “Asia has been at the heart of the rugby sevens success story and it is exciting to add another fantastic location and an incredible stadium to the stellar and expanded line-up of World Rugby Sevens Series host destinations from 2015-16.

L-R Jean Ng (STB, Director of Sports Division), Low Teo Ping, President(SRU), Toh Boon Yi Chief, Strategic Development and Marketing Group (SportSg) and Philippe Colin Delavaud CEO (Sportshub) at the press conference to announce Singapore as a new destination on the World Rugby Sevens Series from 2015-16. Photo: SINGAPOREMAVEN.COM

“I am sure Singapore, with its major event experience and passion, and superb new stadium, will become a fan and team favourite on the record-breaking World Rugby Sevens Series.”
Singapore’s inclusion follows a highly competitive tender process featuring 25 global locations with the successful Singapore Rugby Football Union and City of Singapore bid focusing on furthering the growth of rugby across Asia.

Singapore Rugby Union President Low Teo Ping said: “We truly believe that our event at the iconic national stadium has the potential to match the excitement surrounding current tournaments in the Series.

“Engaging rugby in Asia and growing the sport in Singapore is our prime vision for the tournament and the key associated events and community outreach as part of this tournament will be critical to the long-term sustainability of rugby as we strive to ignite passion in the next generation of players and fans in Singapore, South-east Asia and ultimately across Asia.”

With qualification well underway for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the 2014-15 HSBC Sevens World Series has been exceptionally competitive with England’s victory in the Tokyo Sevens at the weekend meaning that there are now just 29 standing points between England in fourth and South Africa in first with four teams progressing to Rio 2016 from the Series.

Ntiense Williams

Cowrie RFC Withdraw From Cape Town Rugby Tens

Cowrie RFC will not be present at the 6th Edition of the CapeTown Tens Tournament schedule for the 6th and 7th of February 2015 due to Visa constraints; they are a pioneer team at this tournament and this will be the first time the team will be absent

Captain of Cowrie RFC Azeez Ladipo in Action

Club captain Azeez Ladipo expressed his disappointment towards the difficulties encountered in the visa process. “the visa processing is a lot different now from what we are used to, the changes hindered us from getting the Visas but nevertheless we will put adequate plans in place next year to meet up with the visa processing requirements.

Cowrie Team Manager; Fasimoye Olatunji also expressed disappointment‘ “we were ignorant of the new South African Visa procedures and started preparation for the tour early in January as usual which is too late for the new Visa process. Though the boys are frustrated for missing out in the tournament the club’s management is now looking at compensating the them with a substitute 10s tour to Europe later in the year.

Cowrie RFC with Father and Child school in Dubai, photo credit CRFC

Local based players for Racing RFC will also be missing out in the tournament for the same reason but Racing RFC will be featuring in the tournament for the first time.

Afcon 2015 Qualifier South Africa Holds Nigeria In Cape Town

Our man Joel Musa takes a look at the Afcon 2015 Qualifier between the “Bafana Bafana of South Africa and the “Super Eagles of Nigeria, for comments or feedback you can tweet @slysage and @NewFanzone also follow both handles and we will follow you right back

Nigeria Super Eagles starting 11 With Babatunde Micheal at the 2014 World Cup photo credit Reuters

The Super Eagles took an arduous trip to Cape Town after getting outclassed on home turf by the Red Devils of Congo on a wing and a prayer. The morale was dampened, perhaps aided by the uncertainty surrounding the Coach’s future and maybe the shenanigans of the egg heads at the Glass House.

Shakes Mashaba, source Facebook.com

Shakes Mashaba had been throwing taunts all week and had raised the hope of his countrymen who are desperately seeking for a competitive win against their bitter rivals but were able to snatch a fair draw, their second competitive point against the reigning African Champions in 20 years, after a dogged performance.

The game started on an attritional note, both sides easing their selves into the game with short, sideways passes. Both teams maintained a good shape but the Bafana Bafana sat deep, overcrowding the trequartista – Nosa Igiebor and allowing bulky forward Emmanuel Emenike no space at all. Ahmed Musa hadn’t no joy on the flank as the fullback was equipped to nullify his pace.

The notable moment of the half came towards its end when Mikel got into a spat after South Africa’s No. 11 rough handled him. Nigerian fans might still be frustrated by his performances but he seems to have some passion lately.

Stephen Keshi – Super Eagles Coach

The second half saw the standard of the game degenerate. The visitors visibly fatigued while the hosts were seemingly content to hold out for a draw.

Osaguana Ighodaro, who came in for Gbolahan Salami almost scored after good work on right by Ahmed Musa on the 63rd minute but a defender cleared on the line.

On the 71st minute, former England youth player Sone Aluko came in for Igiebor and his most notable contribution was a tame shot from outside the box.

South Africa almost snatched a late win after a goal-mouth melee, but the Eagles defenders cleared. The draw means Nigeria is third in the group with a single point. It also means that Stephen Keshi’s team has won just one of its last ten matches.

Joel Musa

Keshi: I Did Not Invite Uche Brothers…,Ejide Says Bafana Game A Must Win

Super Eagles coach, Stephen KeshI, breezed into Cape Town Tuesday morning to link up with rest of the squad, declaring that he never extended any new invitation to new players, especially the Uche brothers Kalu and Ikechukwu for Wednesday’s game against Bafana Bafana.

He called on the media to cross check facts properly before rushing to the press or the social media. “I have heard it myself and I just laughed because those who should know that we have no time between our last game and the match against Bafana Bafana are the same people misleading Nigerians.

These players are professional footballers and there are processes for invitation, you don’t just bump into them and say come and play, that is very unprofessional and I never did that”, he declared.

Keshi said the game against Bafana is a very important one that the Eagles must take like a World Cup final, instead of depending on any team to make it the Nations Cup in Morocco next year. “We are the champions of Africa and we must start showing that not only against Bafana but in all our remaining games”.

Austin Ejide, Super Eagles Goalkeeper

Team standin captain, Austin Ejide in his own submission vowed that the magic wand of the team will be seen in the Bafana game.

“There are no easy games again but we have our backs to the wall now and we must do what we have to do to move on in the chase to qualify for the Nations Cup”, he declared at the team’s Southern Sun Hotel in Newlands, Cape Town.

Eagles Arrive Cape Town, Ready For Bafana Challenge…,Keshi Joins Team Tuesday

Reigning African champions, the Super Eagles of Nigeria, have landed in the rainbow city of Cape Town, South Africa, ahead of Wednesday all important Nations Cup qualifier against host Bafana Bafana.

The team made up of 21 players, technical officials and backroom staff was led into South Africa by NFF, Director of Technical, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme. The team flew into Johannesburg from Lagos in a South Africa Airways plane. The flight from Lagos lasted six hours before it took another flight to Cape Town for the duel.

Among the 22 players that prosecuted the ill-fated game against Congo Brazzaville, only Elkanemi FC goalkeeper, David Obiazor, did not make the trip. Head Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi decided to keep faith with the same squad and the team will have its first training session for the match at 8pm local time, which is 7pm Nigerian time.

Keshi who did not travel with the team on Sunday night due pressing personal issues will link up with the rest of the squad on Tuesday morning. In his absence, Dan “the Bull” Amokachi, will handle Monday work-out. The team is quartered at the serene Southern Sun hotel on the outskirts of Cape Town.

2015 Afcon Showdown: Congolese FA Plays Hide-And-Seek With NFF

The Nigeria Football Federation has been compelled to report the Congolese Football Federation to the Confederation of African Football, following the latter’s refusal to afford Nigeria details of its travel plans for Saturday’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Super Eagles in Calabar.

On Tuesday, NFF’s Head of International, Bola Oyeyode brought CAF up to speed with the strange silence of the Congolese, after which the Congolese Federation forwarded a terse message about its ‘advance party’ arriving in Nigeria on Wednesday and in need of visa-on-arrival.

“We are surprised at the attitude of the Congolese FA. They have kept silence all along, refusing to give us details of their travel plans, only for them to be requesting visa-on-arrival for their advance party which they stated would arrive in Nigeria on Wednesday.

“They gave no details of which persons constitute the advance party and no passport details. In any event, we have written to CAF to say we cannot arrange visa-on-arrival for them as we have no details, and moreover, there is an Embassy of Nigeria in Brazzaville. They should secure their visas before coming to Nigeria,” Oyeyode said.

The camp of the African champions has been buoyant with 19 players in camp before dinner on Tuesday, and all arrangements in proper shape for Saturday’s showdown.

NFF’s Director, Technical, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme has been in Calabar since Monday to ensure flawless organization for both teams, match officials as well as other logistics.

“Everything is in great shape here, thanks to the Government of Governor Liyel Imoke, CON. The only thing missing is information on the travel plans of the Congolese delegation. But everything has been arranged for them and things are moving according to plan,” Ikpeme said on Wednesday morning.

The Red Devils, who won the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon 42 years ago, were restored to the campaign after losing on penalty shoot –out to Rwanda’s Amavubi, following CAF’s disqualification of Rwanda for using an ineligible player.

Saturday’s showdown at the U. J. Esuene Stadium is the first of six matches for each of the teams in seven groups of four teams in the qualifying series for the finals scheduled for Morocco early next year.

The match kicks off at 5pm.

Clashes between Nigeria and Congo at international level are few and far between, but the Devils famously held the Eagles to a 0-0 draw in Lagos in a group phase match at the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations, and last year, the Golden Eaglets mauled the Congo U-17 side 7-0 at the African U-17 Championship in Morocco.

The Super Eagles’ delegation is expected to fly into Cape Town on Tuesday morning for the clash with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana on Wednesday next week.

CAF CHAN Finals/Finale Fixtures Feb 1 2014

Finals/Finale

Game 32.

Libya vs Ghana

Date : 01/02/2014

Time : 19h00

Venue : Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town

CAF CHAN 3rd Place match – Match de classement Feb 1

3rd Place match – Match de classement

Game 31.

Zimbabwe vs Nigeria

Date : 01/02/2014

Time : 16h00

Venue : Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town

CAF CHAN – My Defenders Shocked Me With Tackles-Konadu

Blackstars coach Konadu

My Defenders Shocked Me With Tackles-Konadu

…Eagles, Blackstars Co-habit In Cape Town

Black Stars of Ghana Coach, Maxwell Konadu, says he was shocked at the attitude of his defenders in the semi-final game against the Super Eagles of Nigeria on Wednesday and had to call them to order at a point if they were to avoid a second red card.

Speaking at Cape Town’s Garden Court hotel on Thursday afternoon, Konadu, said while he desires victory against Nigeria he never wanted to use unorthodox methods to achieve that. “Honestly, my defenders shocked me and I had to call them quickly to order, because it seems at a point they were losing their heads and it would have been very bad for us. But we are still very happy that we won the match at the end of the day.”

The coach said his side was not in any way better than the Eagles but were the luckier side on the night of the encounter. “We were the luckier side today and we have to savour it now until the Nigerians find an opportunity to take a revenge on us”, he said.

The Super Eagles returned to Cape Town on Thursday evening to commence preparation for the third place game against Zimbabwe. The team is returning to its abode at the Green Court hotel De Waal, where the Ghana Black Stars are also staying for the final day hostilities.

MTN Lagos Street Soccer: U-15 winner for CHAN finals

Winner of the maiden U-15 junior category of the yearly MTN Lagos Street Soccer Championships will on Friday, January 31, depart for South Africa to watch the finals of this year’s African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The final, which holds on Saturday February 1 at the Cape Town Stadium, will have the 12-man team made up of 10 players and two officials present at the stadium to cheer the teams to victory.

The trip is in fulfilment of the promise made by the organisers as part of the reward for the outstanding team that took part in the championship sponsored by MTN Nigeria Plc.

According to the executive secretary of MTN Lagos Street Soccer, Deji Aladegbemi, the players would be exposed to top class training and mentoring sessions to be handled by qualified football experts in South Africa.

“As part of our promises before the championship, we have decided to take the winner of the U-15 junior event of the MTN Lagos Street Soccer Championship to South Africa to watch the final of the ongoing CHAN. For us, the players are the future of the game and it is very important they experience what they intend to become in future. Aside watching the finals of CHAN in Cape Town, they will be in Johannesburg for training and mentoring session under the guidance of qualified football coaches. We believe this alone will inspire the players to aim high in future and continue to work hard,” he said.

The LOC scribe added: “In Lagos State, we are committed to grassroots sports development through schools sports and for us this is the uniqueness of this year’s tournament as we hope to improve on the reward in 2014. Also, we will also emphasis the need for the players to be in schools so that they can combine sports and education because this is what the International Olympics Committee (IOC) is preaching now.”

CAF CHAN Quarter Finals – ¼ de finale FIXTURES JANUARY 25th

CAF CHAN Quarter Finals – ¼ de finale FIXTURES JANUARY 25th

Game 25.

Morocco VS Nigeria

Date : 25/01/2014

Time : 17h00

Venue : Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town

Game 26.

Mali VS Zimbabwe

Date : 25/01/2014

Time : 20h30

Venue : Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town

Maigari Pumps Up Keshi At 52…Tips Team For CHAN Honours…Hotel, Players Celebrate

Maigari Pumps Up Keshi At 52…Tips Team For CHAN Honours…Hotel, Players Celebrate

Nigeria Football Federation President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, took his fatherly role a step higher when he was one of the first to wish Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, a happy 52nd birthday here in Cape Town through a phone call early Thursday.

After him was the Chairman of the NFF Technical Sub-Committee, Barr Christopher Green. In his message, Maigari said Keshi’s birthday is another opportunity for him to demonstrate his coaching and leadership credentials by winning the ongoing African Nations Tourney (CHAN), in South Africa. “On our part in the NFF, I can assure you that support will not be lacking despite the huge challenge of funding football. We congratulate you on the occasion of your birthday and while wishing you many happy returns we pray that you continue to bring Nigeria joy through excellent coaching of the national team with the immediate task being victory at the ongoing CHAN tourney”, he said.

Keshi himself said he was overwhelmed by the message of Maigari and other well meaning Nigerians and promised not to let the nation down. “As a matter of fact we have suspended any form of celebration till we achieve what we came here to do in South Africa”, he said.

The management of Green Court Hotel, will however steal a time during lunch hour to celebrate the coach, as the staff pulled out birthday balloons and cakes for the former Anderletch of Belgium and Strasbourg of France skipper. The players also sang the happy birthday song for Keshi, who was a bit taken aback by the spontaneity of the event. “All these for me, I’m surprised but very grateful”, he said as he admired the birthday balloons in the dinning hall.

The team continues preparation Thursday evening at the Green Point training ground here in Cape Town in preparation for Saturday’s quarter final duel against the Atlas Lions of Morocco.