NFF mourns late Okugbe

The Nigeria Football Federation on Saturday expressed shock at the death of ace journalist, Felix Osagie Okugbe, who passed on at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital on Friday night.

Chairman of the Edo State Football Association and a close friend of Okugbe, Mr. Frank Ilaboya, told thenff.com on Saturday that Okugbe had traveled to India for spine infection surgery, which was successful. However, he later developed complications, after returning to Nigeria about two weeks ago.

“He was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital on Monday, and when his condition deteriorated on Wednesday, he was placed on oxygen. The family wishes to commend the management and consultants at LASUTH for a tremendous job they did to try and keep him alive, but he gave up on Friday night,” Ilaboya said.

NFF President Amaju Pinnick, who is in Belgium for the Super Eagles’ friendly match against Cameroon on Sunday, expressed sorrow over Okugbe’s passing.

“He was no doubt one of the most resourceful, dedicated and gifted journalists around. He had real passion for the job. I spoke to him while he was in India for the surgery and I thought all was well with him again.

“It is a sad situation, but we pray that God Almighty will grant him eternal rest and also grant the family he has left behind the fortitude to bear the loss.”

Okugbe, 51, left behind a wife and three children. Burial plans will be announced by his family.

Edo Media Practitioners List Oshiomhole, Keshi, Amodu For Awards

Edo Media Practitioners List Oshiomhole, Keshi, Amodu For Awards…Itemuagbor, Ihonvbere Also…Calls For Corporate Support For Okpekpe Race

The umbrella body of sports journalists of Edo State extraction, Edo Sports Media Practitioners Forum, has unveiled an ambitious programme for its maiden award night that is scheduled for the later part of the year.

The body which convened in Lagos on Wednesday decided that Governor Adams Oshimhole of Edo State, Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, former national team handler, Shuaibu Amodu, Okpekpe race initiator, Mike Itemuagbor and Secretary to the Edo State Government Prof. Julius Ihonvbere will be honoured for their contributions to sports growth in the state in particular and Nigeria in general.

The body which consists of prominent journalist like Ade Ojeikere, Frank Ilaboya, Felix Okugbe, Patrick Omorodion, Smarts Ebhodaghe, Aikhoje Ojeikere, Mike Maiyaki, Cecilia Omorogbe, Ojieva Ehiosun, Ben Alaiya and chaired by Osaretin Emuzie, said it was about time that sports in the state is redefined and the first step is to reward those who have been trying to reposition sports in Edo State.

Emuzie said in a release that Oshiomhole is being specially recognised for launching the revival of Bendel Insurance as well as the
reinvention of Edo State Sports Festival. Keshi is getting a special honour as a honorary citizen of Edo State and his achievement with the Super Eagles. On his part, Amodu is being recognized for his outstanding achievements as national team coach and the only Nigerian coach to have qualified the country twice for the World Cup.

Itemuagbor is being praised for his achievement in sports marketing in Nigeria and for initiating the 10 kilometre Okpekpe road race, while Prof. Ihonvbere is being recognized for his love for sports and the support he has been giving to sports development through several programmes that the government of Edo State has initiated through the SSG’s office.

While the body said it was in total support of Governor Oshiomhole, laudable sports programme, it urged Corporate Nigeria to back the Okpekpe Road race, which the IAAF has already listed on its international calendar for gold status. “We believe in the sports activities of the people and government of Edo State and throw our weight behind the Okpekpe Road, that has the potential of making Nigeria a sports and tourism destination in the nearest future.

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.