SPORTS
Aiteo Cup Final: 50,000 Kano Fans to Storm Kaduna For Pillars FC
From Abdulgafar Oladimeji, Kano.
At least 1,000 supporters drawn from each of the 44 Local Government Areas in Kano state have been recruited to cheer Kano Pillars FC to victory at the finals of this year’s edition of Aiteo cup scheduled to hold in Kaduna on July 24.
The chairman, Kano Pillars Fans club, Bashir Muazu(Jide) disclosed that preparations to ferry the fans to Ahmadu Bello stadium venue of the final match have been completed.
According to him, aside the anticipated 44 thousand supporters expected to be at the crucial game, thousands of independent sympathizers would hit the road to Kaduna to give support to their darling side.
He though expressed fear over the presence of a huge crowd at the game, he said the situation might be uncontrollable, “we had similar experience in Lagos, where those who were just sympathetic to our course, misbehaved and the football authorities tagged them to be members of our fans cub and punished us for their erring.“we want to state categorically that, we are aware ABS is a 30, 000, seating facility, we have registered fans that are going to Kaduna and they are humble and law abiding, there are other thousands unregistered sympathizers, beware some would even trek to Kaduna for the game, this we cannot control, but we are appealing to our sympathizers to always comport themselves in line with the spirit of fair play.” Bashir appealed .
He further said “we lost in the final last year to Enugu Rangers, this time, we have worked hard, we must commend the players and coaches for a job well done, we have a continental ticket in our pocket and we will ice the cake with the Aiteo coveted trophy.”
Kano Pillars fc of Kano have set up a final match against Niger Tornadoes of Minna, in the Aiteo final slated to hold at Ahmadu Bello stadium, Kano, on July 24.
The Kano lads and members of the technical crew will arrive Kaduna 72 hours prior to kick off time.
SPORTS
2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup: Flamingos Smash New Zealand 4-1
The Nigerian team on Wednesday in the Dominican Republic defeated their New Zealand counterparts 4-1 in their opening match at the 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.
Report says that, in the match played at the Cibao Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros, the Flamingos were outstanding in recording their first victory.
Shakirat Moshood opened scoring in the second minute of the game, before Taiwo Adegoke doubled the lead in the 13th minute to give the team a good advantage.
Faridat Abdulwahab scored the third goal in the 28th minute to take the game beyond their opponents by the end of the first half of the match.
The New Zealand girls fought back but they could not convert any of their goal scoring chances before the end of the first half.
On resumption of the second half, the Flamingos continued to dominate the game and Taiwo Afolabi duly scored the fourth goal in the 55th minute.
Hannah Saxon went on to score New Zealand’s only goal in the 60th minute to make the final scores 4-1.
The Flamingos will now in their next game on Saturday face Ecuador, who beat host nation Dominican Republic 2-0 later on Wednesday.
Nigeria will end their Group A campaign on Tuesday when they take on the host nation at the Felix Sanchez Stadium in Santo Domingo.
Report says that Nigeria have participated in every edition of the competition, finishing in the semi-finals in the last edition at India in 2022.
That was the closest they have ever got to winning the competition.
Report says that 16 teams from six confederations are participating in the ongoing 2024 edition which began on Wednesday and is expected to end on Nov. 3.(NAN)
SPORTS
Kellyrae Wins BBNaija “No Loose Guard” Season
Kellyrae of the former Doublekay duo in the Big Brother Naija “No Loose Guard” season has emerged winner of the show.
He was announced winner by host of the show, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, during the grand finale of the show on Sunday night in Lagos.
The winner was presented with N60 million cash prize and a new SUV.
Kellyrae, a 33-year-old professional singer from Delta, who came into the show with his wife, Kassia, is a graduate of Delta State University.
The eight housemates who made it to the finals are Kellyrae, Sooj, Anita, Nelly, Onyeka, Wanni, Victoria and Ozee.
Sooj, the first finalist to be evicted , said “I am thankful for the journey so far, I feel like a winner and a champion regardless of the situation; I am coming for any and everything; I’m taking the world by storm.
”This was followed by Anita, a model, who expressed her desire to be engaged on the international runway.
She said, “I am excited and grateful right now, I wanted to win the prize but I am here till the last day; I am happy. I will be taking my modelling business to the next level.”
Ozee said: “It’s not about the final winner but the fact that I made it to the end. This platform is like a social experiment where I have learnt about myself. I have a lot am working on. Just look out for me, this is just the beginning.”
Nelly, who got auditioned nine times before her final success to the show, said, “I am very happy. I will be growing my restaurant brand. You people should expect something big. I can’t wait to work with all the brands that love me.”
Victoria, the fifth finalist to leave the house, said she would be going back to her business as a travel consultant and would remain open to more collaborations from brands.
For Onyeka, she spoke on her interest in singing, dancing, acting and directing.
The reality television show began July 28 with 28 housemates.
The show witnessed lots of twists, drama, controversies, steeze and romance, as the housemates came in pairs of 14.
The pairs are: Chekas, Zinwe, Mbadiwe twins, WanniXHandi, Aces, Nelita, Double Kay, Shatoria, Radicals, Floruish, Tami, Ndinne, Beta and Streeze.(NAN)
SPORTS
Lobi Stars Appoint Amokachi as Technical Adviser
The Board of Lobi Stars FC has appointed former Super Eagles coach, Daniel Amokachi, as the new Technical Adviser of the club.
This is contained in a statement issued by the club’s Head of Media, Mr Emmanuel Uja, on Sunday in Makurdi.
Amokachi’s appointment takes immediate effect, as the club sought to revitalise its strategy and improve performance.
Uja stated that all the backroom staff had been relieved of their duties and instructed to reapply if they wished to continue with the club.
He said that they were directed to hand over all the club’s property in their possessions to the club’s Secretary, immediately.
Uja explained that the club’s former Coach, Eugene Agagbe, had been relieved of his appointment as Chief Coach with immediate effect.
“This decision follows the board’s review of Agagbe’s failure to meet a five-match win target, managing only one victory while losing three,” Uja said. (NAN)