Nomination Open For 2015 Nigerian Sports Award As Organizers Unfold Plans…Calls For Sponsorship

The nominations for the 2015 edition of the prestigious Nigerian Sports Award are now open as the organizers- Unmissable Incentives Limited unfolds the plans for the 4th edition of the award.

Speaking at a press conference held in Lagos, on Thursday, the chairman of the award panel, Mr. Ikeddy Isiguzo disclosed that the 2015 edition of the award promises to be more eventful than the previous editions.
He noted that the panel is set to introduce some new activities which include the Nigerian Sports Dialogue and Legacy Project for the winners of the Lifetime Award to further promote sports development in the country.

Nigerian Sports Award

Isiguzo who is also the chairman, editorial board of Vanguard Newspaper, described the proposed Nigerian Sports Dialogue which is scheduled to hold sometimes in August 2015 as an avenue for the Nigerian sports stakeholders to converge and deliberate on issues bothering on sports development in Nigeria.
Also speaking at the press conference, the General Manager, Unmissable Incentives Limited, Mr. Sope Durodola revealed that 19 categories will be awarded in the 2015 edition of the Nigerian Sports Award. He also hinted that the Award ceremony will be held in Lagos on the 13th of November at a yet to be disclosed venue.

According to Durodola, the categories includes; Ball Sports Person of the Year (Tennis, Table tennis, Basketball, handball) ,Coach of the Year, Combat Sports Person of the Year (Karate, Judo, Taekwondo, Wrestling, Boxing ),Discovery of the Year, Footballer of the Year (Women),Footballer of the Year (Men) ,Special Sports Person of the Year, Sports Administrator of the Year and Sports Governor of the Year.

Others are; Sportsman of the Year, Sportswoman of the Year, Sports Journalist of the Year (Radio), Sports Journalist of the Year (TV), Sports Journalist of the Year (Print), Sports Photo Journalist of the Year, School Sport Award, Team of the Year, Track and Field Star of the Year and Weightlifter of the Year.
On the nomination process for the 2015 edition, Durodola announced the inclusion of the social media platforms of Twitter and Facebook in addition to the nomination via the award website to enable more participation.

“In the last three editions of the award, the nominations were only through our website , but this year, we have expanded the platform for nominations to include Twitter and Facebook, while we will also print some hard copies of the nomination forms , which will be submitted at the Sport Ministry (State & Federal) and Sports Federations for the interest of people who may prefer hard copy nominations”.

Nigerian Sports Award 2015

In his own remarks at the press conference, a member of the Award Panel, Mr. Ejiro Omonode of MasterSports International called on sports loving Corporate Organizations, Government, well-meaning individuals and Sports philanthropists to throw their weight behind the Nigerian Sport Award by sponsoring the 2015 edition
He noted that their contributions in supporting the Nigerian Sports Award will go a long way in sport development by motivating Nigerian Athletes by rewarding excellent performance while leveraging on the platform to promote their products and services.

Nigerian Sports Award: Organisers Unfold Plans for 2014 Edition

Organizers of the prestigious Nigerian Sports Award – Unmissable Incentives Limited has unfolded the plans and activities for the 2014 edition of the award which is instituted to for recognizing and rewarding outstanding Nigerian sports men and women for their excellent performances in their respective sporting events.

Speaking at the Press conference to herald the activities for the 2014 edition of the award which is also the third edition, the chairman of the Award Panel, Mr. Ikeddy Isiguzo noted that the award has evolved to be recognized as a respected award for Nigerian sportsmen and women for their exploits in the world of sports.

Isiguzo further disclosed that the organisers of the award will not relent in its effort to continue to improve on the processes of the award by taking public feedbacks and comment with a view to make the award a legacy within the sports sphere in Nigeria.

Presenting the timelines for the 2014 edition of the award to the Press, the General Manager Unmissable Incentives Limited Mr. Kayode Idowu disclosed that entries for nomination from the members of the public for the various categories of the award will open on May 14, 2014 and closes on September 7, 2014 while the main award ceremony will hold on November 13, 2014 at Muson Centre, Lagos.

Idowu disclosed that the media category of the award has been expanded from two to four in response to the clamours from the Sports Journalists. He declared that from the 2014 edition of the award, the media category will now include Sports Journalist of the Year (Print), Sports Journalist of the Year (Radio), Sports Journalist of the Year (Television) and the Sports Photo Journalists of the Year which will all be determined by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN)

He stressed further that some deserving Nigerian Sports Heroes will be bestowed with the honour of the Life Time Achievement in Sports award by the Nigerian Sports Award in line with the ongoing centenary celebrations of the nation.

On the back of the centenary celebrations, Mr. Kayode Idowu also announced that the organisers of the award will be publishing a compendium on the Top 100 great moments, teams and people in Nigeria sports.

He reinstated that the Nigerian Sports Awards is open to Nigerian sportsmen and women plying their trade within and outside the country. The categories include: Football (Male & Female, Foreign & Domestic),Track and field (Male/Female; all races, Long Jump, Javelin, Discus, Shot Put, High Jump), Ball Sports (Table Tennis, Tennis, Basketball, Volley ball & handball), Combat Sports (Taekwondo, Karate, Judo, Kung-Fu, Wrestling), Weight Lifting (Male & Female), Boxing,

Others include; Team of the year, Sports Man & Woman of the year, Coach of the year, Discovery of the year (Male & Female), Special Sports Person of the year, Lifetime Achievement Award in sports, School Sports Award, Sports Governor of the year, track & field star of the year, ball sports, combats sports, weight lifting, boxer of the year and many others.

LAGOS SWAN CUP 2014: Team SWAN calls up Ogazi, Alao, Obi, Awogu and others

LAGOS SWAN CUP 2014: Team SWAN calls up Ogazi, Alao, Obi, Awogu and others….Rafiu Ladipo as Centre Referee and Seyi Akinwunmi, Match Comm

Ahead of the Lagos SWAN Cup 2014, the technical committee in conjunction with the Team SWAN Coaching crew after weeks of scouting and deliberation has released a provisional list of players that will take on the Nollywood All Stars at the novelty match to herald the official opening ceremony of the SWAN Cup 2014.

A Shortlist of 34 players has been submitted to the coaching crew but this list will be pruned down to 18 players and 4 officials. The game which will last 50 minutes with 25 minutes both halves will be 11 a side and each team will be made up of male and female players, with an unlimited number of substitutions.

Top on the list is long standing captain Paul Ogazi, the Mastersports duo of Ejiro Omonode and AIPS Africa President Mitchell Obi, also invited to camp is Brilafm Boss Larry Izamoje, Hotsports MD Taye Ige, Supersport GM Felix Awogu, Jenkins Alumona, Mumini Alao and Super Eagles Media Officer Ben Alaiya while a high powered women’s list consist of Ejiro Babafemi, Nneka Anibeze,Henrietta Ukaigwe, Blessing Nwosu, Pepsie Adiukwu, Mercy Igbafe, and Barrong Tony-Uranta amongst others.

Meanwhile, Dr Rafiu Ladipo, President General, Nigerian Supporters Club Worldwide, will be the Centre Referee. The no nonsense centre referee has asked that both teams come with their “A” game as he would not be showing them any favours but concluded that FIFA rules will be applied to the fullest, while the Lagos State FA Chairman, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi has been appointed match commissioner of the day.

In the same vein, the Sponsor, Winners Golden Bet speaking through their Assistant General Manager, Deji Beecroft, have promised to spice up the event in their own way. Beecroft is set to lead a large entourage of supporters to the game while stating that this is just the beginning of a long and mutually beneficial relationship between his company and Lagos SWAN.

On its own part, Organisers of the Nigerian Sports Awards, Unmissable Incentives LTD have stated that their drive to use Awards as a form of stimulating growth in Nigerian Sports is what informed their decision to provide all the medals and trophies that will be won during SWAN CUP 2014.

Kits for all the teams that make it to the Semi finals of the Lagos SWAN CUP 2014 will be provided by OWUSPORTS Nigeria, and C.E.O. Of the company Barrister Tunji Brown has promised fresh designs which he says are the hallmark of OWU.

So come Thursday, April 24, 2014 all roads lead to the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere, as Team SWAN battles Team Nollywood in the SWAN Cup 2014 opening ceremony novelty match.

The Full list for Team SWAN below:

Paul Ogazi

Mitchel Obi

Ejiro Omonode

Larry Izamoje

Mumini Alao

Felix Awogu

Niyi Oyeleke

Felix Okugbe

Taye Ige

Onochie Anibeze

Adekunle Salami

Chris Opara

Dapo Sotiminu

Ben Alaiya

Tony Ubani

George Aluo

Jide Alabi

Jenkins Alumona

Ladi Egbedire

Godwin Enakhena

Ken Ochonogor

Femi Obong Daniel

Mike Maiyaki

Ejiro Babafemi

Henrietta Ukaigwe

Blessing Nwosu

Deola (NTA)

Pepsie Adiukwu

Mercy Igbafe

Barrong Tony-Uranta

Nneka Anibeze

Mariah Olatunji

Cecilia Omorogbe

Anulika (VON)

Anabel Okweri )FRCN)

Chisom Mbonu.