Team Lagos And Team Delta Win 4th Edition Of The Honorable Victor Ochei International wheelchair basketball Tournament

Lagos state put up a spirited effort over the weekend at the men’s final of the 4th edition of the Honorable Victor Ochei international wheelchair basketball tournament to claim the sum of 1.5 million niara cash prize and a giant trophy for emerging as the 2015 champions.

Honourable Victor Ochei Addressing the players and fans during the finals while Director General, Lagos state sports commission, Mr Ayo Agbesuwa looks on

The game witnessed by the sponsor and former speaker of the Delta state house of assemble, Honourable Victor Ochei, President of the Wheelchair Basketball Federation, Hon. Bukola Olopade, Director General, Lagos state sports commission, Mr Ayo Agbesuwa, Lagos state Liason Officer of the National sports commission, Pastor (Mrs) Tayo Oreweme amongst other notable dignitaries saw a determined Lagos team reclaim the title they lost last year by 39points to 34 against Oyo.

In the women finals, Delta state outclassed Imo by 14 points to 5 as they went home with a giant trophy and 500,000 naira as the grand prize.

The third place of the women category went to Oyo who defeated Ogun while Edo beat Ogun, 53-1 in men’s category.

The duo of Remi Obasanya and David Segun were awarded 100,000 each after they emerged as the Most Valuable players of the tournament.

Speaking after the medal and trophy presentation to the teams, Ochei expressed his delight at the improved level of the competition as he promised to continue doing all his best for the sport as the grand patron of the federation.

He praised Olopade for his tenacity and vision in reposition the sport which is fast becoming popular in Nigeria as he appealed to well meaning Nigerians and the corporate society to invest in the sports.

Lagos, Oyo To Battle For 1.5million Victor Ochei International Wheelchair Basketball Tournament Prize Money

The Lagos State Wheelchair Basketball team on friday booked a ticket to the finals of the 4th edition of the Honourable Victor Ochei International Wheelchair Basketball Tournament after defeating their counterparts from Ogun State by 87points to 3.

4th Victor Ochei International Wheelchair basketball tournament

Defending champion, Oyo state also continued where they left off in their last group game as the ousted Edo state by 44 points to 28 against Edo in a keenly contested encounter.

In the women’s category, Imo scored 6points to qualify for the finals against Oyo state who only managed to score only 2points.

Delta State also booked their place in the finals after scoring 19 points against a hapless Ogun side.

The 3rd place and the finals will take place tomorrow at the Indoor sports hall of the National stadium, at 9:00 am.

Victor Ochei International Wheelchair Basketball Tournament

The winner of the 2015 edition in the men’s category will cart home a sum of 1.5million Naira, 2nd will pocket 1,000,000, Naira while the 3rd placed team will go home with 750,000 thousand Naira.

In the women’s category the winner will be given 500,000 naira, the 2nd placed team will settle for 300,000 and the 3rd prize will smile home with 200,000.

The competition is expected to end on Saturday, 17th of October, 2015.

Oyo, Ogun, Lagos Progress As Victor Ochei International Wheelchair Basketball Tournament Enters Semi Final Stage

Edo recorded their 2nd victory on matchday 3 of the 4th edition of the Honorable Victor Ochei International Wheelchair basketball tournament taking place at the Indoor sports of the National Stadium, Lagos.

In the men’s category, Team Edo condemned their neighbours, Delta state to a 45 to 9 points loss to finish 2nd on 5 points and march on to the semi-finals of the tournament.

Host, Lagos inflicted a defeat on Imo State as the match ended 50points to 10 in favor of the team from the centre of excellence.

In group A, Kwara State beat Rivers State by 16 points to 14 points but that was not enough as both failed to advance to the knockout stages.

In other matches played in group A, Oyo State were merciless in dismantling Ogun State by 67 points to 2 with both teams still booking their ticket to the semi finals despite the result.

Ogun State crawled past Kwara State in a low scoring game to finish 2nd in group A of the women’s category while Rivers State finished bottom of the table with 3 point after losing to Oyo State.

4th Honorable Victor Ochei International Wheelchair basketball tournament

In group B, Delta State defeated Imo State by 10point to 2. Lagos State set an unenviable record, losing all their 3 matches as they once again lost to Edo State. Semi final actions will resume tomorrow.

In the women’s semi finals, group B winner, Imo will clash with group A runners up, Oyo while Delta will face Ogun.

In the men’s semi finals pairing, Oyo will face Edo as invincible Lagos will hope to crush Ogun

The winner of the 2015 edition in the men category will cart home a sum of 1.5million naira, 2nd will pocket 1,000,000,while the 3rd placed team will go home with 750,000 thousand naira.

In the women category the winner will be given 500,000 naira, 2nd will settle for 300,000 and the 3rd prize will smile home with 200,000.

The competition is expected to end on Saturday, 17th of October, 2015

Grand Reception Thrills Ogba…

Grand Reception Thrills Ogba…Ojeagbase, Irabor Join Dignitaries

Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), President, Chief (Dr) Solomon Ogba, has declared his joy at plans by his kiths and kin from Edo under the aegis of the Edo Sports Media Practitioner s Forum (ESMPF), to host him to a grand reception this Sunday, July 26 in Lagos.

“I am overwhelmed and will call on all my friends and well wishers to come and join me at this event, I feel even if I deserve, I didn’t solicit for it but some of my friends in the media feel I deserve to be honoured. God will reward them bountifully”, he said in a statement from Asaba.

Solomon Ogba

Event organizers ESMPF, also declared that it has reached advanced plans to bring to the event the respected and revered Publisher of Complete Sports Group of Newspapers, Dr Sunny Obazu-Ojeagbase, who is also a shinning light for sports development in Nigeria and former Vice Presidential Spokesman and also pioneer head of the League Management Company, Nduka Irabor.

“We are working round the clock to ensure that important dignitaries make the cut, because they are the ones we are honouring at the next big event of this organization”, declared Scribe of the body, Smarts Ebodaghe.

Maurice Green For Ogba Grand Reception…,Amaju, Green, Ige On The Cards

The Organising Committee for the Sunday, July 26 Grand Reception for the Athletics Federation of Nigeria President, Dr (Chief) Solomon Ogba, has announced that the event will be graced by former world 100 metres champion, American Maurice Green.

A statement by the Scribe of the Edo Sports Media Practitioners Forum, Smarts Ebodaghe, also revealed that the NFF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick is expected at the event, with the powerful NFF Disciplinary Committee Chairman, Barr. Chris Green in tow. Respected Sportscaster of note Taiye Ige, has also been listed for the A-grade event that will hold at the Adna Hotel, 28, Ladipo Bateye Close, GRA, Ikeja.

Solomon Ogba

A member of the Organising Committee and Chairman of the Edo FA, Frank Ilaboya, declared that in the coming days more dignitaries will be unveiled for the event that is expected to kick-start several others in honour of the sons and daughters of old Bendel State now Edo and Delta and Nigerian great sports achievers in general.

Executives of the body have said that the event will assume a wider dimension in the coming days, as plans have reached advanced to also honour sons and daughters of the states and beyond who have made more than a passing contribution to sports development and growth in Nigeria.

TOP STARS JET IN FOR OKPEKPE

All the invited foreign athletes confirmed for Saturday’s 3rd Okpekpe 10km road race in Okpekpe, Auchi,Edo state will jet in today according to organisers of the race.

In the travel itinerary made available to the media in Lagos by former Nigeria track and field star, Yusuf Ali, who is a member of the main organising committee for the race, all the athletes except Foimi Justilin of Cameroun will arrive Lagos from as early as 5.30 this morning till a few minutes past noon.

Foimi was expected in Lagos late Tuesday evening from Douala, Cameroun while Morocco’s Lahbabi Aziz is expected to jet in at 5.30am today.

Also expected in Lagos today are three former winners of the annual Obudu international mountain race, Abebe Dinkesa, Hunegaw Yismaw and Genet Yalew who will jet in aboard an Ethiopia Airline flight.

Meanwhile Ali has assured that Saturday’s race will be very different from the two earlier editions because of the international recognition it has received.

‘As you all know the Okpekpe 10km road race is now one of the few races the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has designated as one of the leading road races around the world. In fact we have only three of such in the African continent,’began Ali,

‘The Okpekpe race is now an IAAF bronze label race and what this means is that all rules regulating the organisation of the race as layed down by the IAAF must be strictly enforced.

‘For example the number of nations that must participate in a bronze label race must be at least four and we have satisfied this requirement by having athletes from Cameroun, Morocco, Kenya and Ethiopia who have ran faster than the standard set by the IAAF for the year.

‘We are also going to ensure the specified number of doping tests is carried out after the race while in the area of prize money,the gender equality rule is also followed such that what the male winner earns is also what the opposite sex will get,’explained Ali.

The former national and African long jump champion also revealed that the granting of the bronze label status to the race means world and area records set in Okpekpe will be recognised by the IAAF.’

Ali has also revealed that the race course which starts from Apama Road and ends in Okpekpe will be closed to vehicular traffic.

The Okpekpe 10km road race is organised by Pamodzi Sports Marketing,a leader in sports marketing, sponsorship, hospitality and rights acquisition business in Nigeria in conjunction with the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and Edo state government.

The race is run over hills and sandy path and it starts in Apama road and ends in Okpekpe, a town in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. It is located about 25 km North East of Auchi.

Kaduna Beat Lagos To Win Veterans Cup

Hosts Kaduna won the 7th Veterans Cup after they edged past Lagos 3-2 in the final at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna on Saturday.

The annual competition, which is for top former internationals, was sponsored by Shehu Dikko.

Winners Kaduna were presented their trophy by Kaduna State commissioner for sports Bashir Zubairu.

General secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Musa Amadu also graced the occasion.

Edo edged Abuja 5-4 on penalties after there were no goals at full time to win third place.

Kaduna skipper Garba Lawal receives the trophy from Kaduna sports commissioner Bashir Zubairu

In the final, Lagos stunned the home team with a goal by former Eagles star Victor Agali, before Bilyaminu Nasiru drew Kaduna level from the penalty spot.

Lagos regained their lead again through Agali before another ex-Eagles star Garba Lawal equalized for Kaduna.

The championship winner was scored by Abubakar Balarabe aka Keegan.

SOUTH WEST RUGBY UNION LEAGUE WEEK 4 – Nigeria Police RFC sets new South-West League points record

More records are being broken and set at the on-going South-West Rugby Union League season as the Nigeria Police RFC white washed Eco II RFC by 121 points to 0 at the National Stadium, Lagos. The “Men In Black” started the game well as Muyiwa Olawunmi powered through the Eco II defence to score the first try of the game. The Police side further scored 19 tries with Sulaymon oyebola converting 7 times.

The match between Racing RFC and Hawkster Athletics RFC ended 6-3 in favour of Racing after both fly halfs, Ekpo Williams and Steven James traded penalties. Hawkster mounted pressure on Racing towards the end but the lads from Lekki defended well to ensure their victory. Gosar RFC recorded their second win of the season as they beat Royal Stallion RFC from Ilorin 13-3 to move up to fourth on the log while defending champions, Cowrie RFC secured a 31-0 victory against Lagos RFC in the last game of week 4.

Nothing has changed at the top of the table; Cowrie RFC still sits on top with 20 points followed closely by Racing RFC’s 17 points. The bottom two clubs remains Royal Stallions RFC and Eco II RFC.

The South West Rugby Union League will be on hold to resume on the 28th of June, 2014 due to preparations for the AFRICA NATIONS CUP 1C to be held in Garborone, Botswana in which Nigeria’s “Black Stallions” will face Botswana, Morocco, Zambia, Mauritius and Swaziland.

SOUTH WEST RUGBY LEAGUE WEEK 3 REVIEW….

NIGERIA RUGBY FOOTBALL UPDATE

SOUTH WEST LEAGUE WEEK 3 (CLASH OF THE TITANS)

The highlight match of the South West League week 3 games between Cowrie RFC and Police Machine ended in favour of Cowrie RFC by 31 point to 6, the arsenal of the Police Machine was neutralized by Cowriere RFC as they fought viciously to retain their six years 15s unbeaten race in West Africa, in other games, Racing RFC retained a clean sheet by demolishing Eco II RFC by 70 points to 0, Lagos RFC lost to Gosar RFC by 5 point to 12, while Hawkster Athletes won Royal Stallions RFC by 24 points to 13.

Cowrie RFC sits on top of the league table with 15 points, Racing RFC with 13 points is in second place while Eco II is at the bottom of the table with no point.

The South West League continues with its week 4 games on the 17th of May at the Main bowl of the National Stadium.

(GIR) GET INTO RUGBY ENDORSEMENT

The experts to undertake the Get into Rugby programme will arrive into the country tomorrow 5th May 2014, the Get into Rugby programme was initiated by the International Rugby Board in a view to spread the sport to schools and also for grass root development of the sport.

The training progamme will be held at the Media center of the national stadium on the 6th, 7th and 8th of May 2014, already 50 coaches and 35 teachers from eight states (Lagos, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Plateau, Kaduna, Abia and Imo state) have registered to participate in the first phase of the programme.

NATIONAL TRIALS

Following the invitation of the Nigeria National team to participate in the AFRICA CUP 1C 15s tournament in Gaborone, Botswana from 13th – 22nd of June. The Southern trail which was coordinated by the national technical crew led by the technical adviser was held at the main bowl of the National Stadium Surulere in Lagos on the 3rd of May 2014, the trial had over two hundred and fifty players in attendance,. The technical crew will be in Abuja this weekend to conduct the Northern trail.

NIGERIA RUGBY FOOTBALL UPDATE ! SOUTH WEST LEAGUE WEEK 3 (CLASH OF THE TITANS)

NIGERIA RUGBY FOOTBALL UPDATE

SOUTH WEST LEAGUE WEEK 3 (CLASH OF THE TITANS)
As the week 3 of the southwest league set to hold on the 3rd of May 2014 at the main bowl of the national stadium, Cowrie RFC will be taking on Police RFC, the game which will be the highlight game of week 3 games is tagged ‘clash of the titan’, Cowrie RFC with six years unbeaten 15’s game race in West Africa set a record last week in the country (highest scored point in a single match) by winning the Royal Stallion RFC by 97 point to 0 in the second match of the week two games will face the determined Police RFC in the last match of week 3 games, Police RFC once sting Cowrie RFC in the final of the independent 7’s tournament held last year at the onikan stadium.
In other matches of the week 3 games, in the first game, Racing RFC will take on Eco II RFC, Lagos RFC and Gosar RFC will knock heads in the second game while the third game will be between Royal Stallions RFC and Hawster Athletics RFC,

(GIR) GET INTO RUGBY ENDORSEMENT
Following the NRFF endorsement as one of the union to participate in the IRB Get into Rugby programme, The Get into Rugby experts will be in Nigeria to undertake a three day training programme for coaches and teachers, the training will be held at the Media center of the national stadium on the 6th, 7th and 8th of May 2014, already 50 coaches and 35 teachers from eight states (Lagos, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Plateau, Kaduna, Abia and Imo state) have registered to participate in the first phase of the programme.

This endorsement will automatically trigger grass root development of rugby in Nigeria.

“Try their potentials, let them play and motivate them to stay”

NATIONAL TRIALS
Nigeria National team will be competing at the AFRICA CUP 1C 15s tournament to be held in Garborone, Botswana from 13th – 22nd of June. Our opponents includes; Botswana, Morocco, Zambia, Mauritius and Swaziland. However, trials for National Team selection will be held in two regions i.e. North and South, the southern trials will be held at the main bowl of the national stadium surulere on 3rd of May 2014 during the Southwest League Week 3 games while the Northern trials will be held in Abuja on the 10th of May 2014, Players from oversea have been contacted to participate in the trails. The NRFF technical team will only pick players from these trials to participate in the National closed camp in order to prepare for the tournament.