SPORTS
Gombe Faults FG Support for Pinnick’s FIFA Council Seat Bid
A former Chairman of Gombe State Football Association (FA), Alhaji Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe, has faulted the alleged Federal Government backing for the FIFA Council seat aspiration of President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Melvin Pinnick.
Pinnick is vying for a shot at the FIFA Council in the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) elections slated for Morocco on March 12.
Recall that Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr Nebolisa Anako, had on Thursday, March 4, 2021, stated that Mr Amaju Pinnick’s ambition would further reposition Nigeria in the global football map where the country has made remarkable inroads, stressing that Pinnick’s triumph would follow in the glorious steps of illustrious compatriots like Dr Akinwunmi Adesina (re-elected as President of Africa Development Bank) and Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (first female/African Director-General of the World Trade Organization) in recent times.
Reacting to the Minister’s statement, Gombe described the comparison of Mr Pinnick’s ambition to the illustrious Nigerians like Adesina and Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as a slap on Nigerians’ sensibilities.
He said there was no logic in the comparison of Pinnick’s selfish ambition with Adesina and Okonzo-Iweala, urging the NFF President to clear himself of all corruption cases filed against him by the anti-graft agencies in Nigeria.
“The Minister’s claim that the Federal Government is showing support to Amaju Pinnick was faulty. Likewise, the comparison of Pinnick’s selfish ambition to that of Dr Ngozi Okonzo-Iweala and Akinwumi Adesina was a big slap on Nigerians. There was no basis for comparison.
When Akinwumi was campaigning for his second tenure as president of Africa Development Bank, he came and he met with the president, the president hosted him and we all saw it. Dr Ngozi also met with the President and we saw the pictures everywhere.
“She didn’t go to the Ministry of Trade and Investment for the Minister to say the federal government is supporting her, no. That is not the way to show support. If they are serious about supporting Pinnick, they should take him to go and see the president so that we really know whether we are fighting corruption in this country or not. We are Jokers.
“Pinnick is facing a lot of corruption cases and there is no anti-corruption or law enforcement agency in Nigeria that is not investigating him, the person we want to send to FIFA. Let him be investigated and clear of the corruptions against him before you compare him with Adesina,” Gombe said.
Gombe, who accused Pinnick of undermining Nigeria’s national interest for personal gains, urged the government not to encourage arbitrariness.
“Nigeria does not mean anything to Pinnick. You are giving him support yet he arbitrarily withdrew from CAF Presidency for a South African candidate. Unless the Minister is telling us that Nigeria withdrew for South Africa in a continental position like that. We must not reward arbitrariness and undermine our national Interest for personal interest. It is hypocrisy for anyone to endorse Pinnick,” Gombe concluded.
SPORTS
Ono Akpe Stages Refresher Course For Referees In Bayelsa
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
The Governor’s Cup in Bayelsa was initiated and managed by Mr. Onoriode Kelvin Akpe since the time of former governor Henry Seriake Dickson.
He started the tournament with the titled “Restoration Cup” which produced young bayelsans football athletes and since then, the governor’s Cup has come to stay in Bayelsa and has been acknowledged by government across the federation.
Ono as is fondly called was the former Director General on New Media to former governor Dickson.
Not relenting in it efforts continued from where he stopped after Dickson left office with the current administration of governor Douye Diri but this time termed “Prosperity Cup”.In May, the Prosperity Cup Season 6 was kicked Off by the state deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewrhudjakpo at the main bowl of the Samson Siasia stadium in Yenagoa the state capital.
Ono Akpe who is the Director General of Prosperity Cup was not only interested in recruiting young talented footballers that will represent the state and by extension Nigeria as a country and also play in an international clubs but also interested in equipping Bayelsa Referees by training them to understand new techniques in carrying out there job and acquire knowledge that will help them Excel in order to be at par with their counterparts in other states and across the world.
Seeing and knowing the importance of training decided to collaborate with the Bayelsa state Football Association to organised a One Day Training for all of them with the mindset of equipping them with required knowledge by an erudite, a scholar and thorough bread professional with several years of experience in the field to come and refresh the Bayelsa state Referees for them to perform maximally and effectively without biased and good sense of judgement especially in the ongoing Prosperity Cup.
It’s with this love and passion that the Referees Refreshers Course was organised for the Referees at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.Participants who participated in the training not only commended the Organisers of the Bayelsa State Governor’s Football Tournament Season 6, (Prosperity Cup 2024) for putting together a one-day refresher course for the national referees’ council, Bayelsa chapter,but implored other states to emulate it, as the importance of training and retraining for any professional body cannot be over emphasized. While talking to the participants, the man who initiated and bring to birth the Governor’s Cup, Mr Ono Akpe, said the refresher course which was in partnership with the Bayelsa State Football Association, was aimed at enhancing officiating skills of the referees and equip them with updated information of the game, inline with best global practices.
Speaking to journalists in their various interviews after the refresher training for referees, a resource person Mr Chukwudi Chukwujekwu (FIFA RTD) and Deputy President of Nigeria Football Referees Association, Mr Kelechi Mejuobi believed that the initiative of refreshers course for training of referees was not only worthy of emulation by other states, but timely in view of the on going prosperity Cup ,a grass root tournament targeted at hunting professional youth footballers.
The duo described the collaboration as fantastic and promised that the young referees will be invited to Abuja soon.According to them , they are happy with Bayelsa state government’s target at young referees,other states needs to emulate this initiative.Also speaking , Mrs Felicia Okugbawa Okonji ( FIFA RTD ) reiterated the essence of refreshers course for referees and the training will go along way for the improvement on officiating of matches in line with global practices. On his part, the Tournament Director of the Prosperity Cup season 6, Perela Aboro , host of the event, averred that the training will enhance the participants confidence on modern techniques in Nigerian referees in their officiating of matches.
The Chairman of Bayelsa state Nigeria Football Referees Association, Ebi Nwankwe applauded the organizers of the training and with rich contents from distinguished resource persons, the members have been massively impacted and that will bring about improvement on their officiating henceforth,while soliciting for more regular programmes for the improvement on the skills and performance of it’s members.” We look forward to more of such collaborations in future and to our members to whom much is given,much is expected ” he said.
The one day event had the Director General of the Prosperity Cup season 6 ,Mr Ono Kelvin Akpe as it’s chief host and was graced by Chief Patimidi Tukuru, permanent secretary, Ministry of special projects, as special guest
SPORTS
2026 WC qualifier: Finidi invites Lookman, Osimhen for Bafana, Cheetahs
Rave-of-the-moment Ademola Lookman, and African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen, are among the 23 Super Eagles players invited for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches by Coach, Finidi George.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles will tackle South Africa’s Bafana Bafana and the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in the qualifiers.
George, also selected goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, England-based defenders Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi and Alhassan Yusuf.
Forwards Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface and Terem Moffi are also invited for the qualifiers.
Similarly, Remo Stars’ hard-as-nails defender, Sadiq Ismael, is called for the first time, with Turkey-based midfielder Fisayo Bashiru, Bayer Leverkusen of Germany’s Nathan Tella and lanky forward Paul Onuachu also called.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria will clash with South Africa on June 7 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, starting from 8.00 p.m.
The team will then fly to Abidjan to tackle Benin Republic at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on June 10 by 5.00 p.m. (Nigerian time).
Super Eagles full team list
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC).
Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Sadiq Ismael (Remo Stars FC); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Benjamin Tanimu (Ihefu SC, Tanzania).
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayspor, Turkey).
Forwards: Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France). (NAN)
SPORTS
Para Badminton: Bolaji, Chigozie qualify for Paris 2024 Paralympics
The duo of Mariam Eniola Bolaji and Jeremiah Chigozie have qualified for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games coming up from 28th August to 8th September.
According to the Badminton World Federation, Multiple African Champion, Mariam Bolaji will represent Nigeria in the Women’s Singles Standing Lower 3 (SL3) while Jeremiah Chigozie represents Nigeria in the Men’s Singles Standing Lower 4 (SL4).
An elated Francis Orbih, President of Badminton Federation of Nigeria said the qualification of Mariam Bolaji and Jeremiah Chigozie is a testimony of hard work, consistency and perseverance.
Orbih who was full of joy revealed that Nigeria stands a good chance to make history by winning medals in para badminton in her debut appearance.
He said, “Today, history has been made as two players for the first time will be representing Nigeria in the para badminton event at the Paralympic Games. I am full of joy because the sacrifices of the players and the Federation were not in vain.
“Mariam Bolaji and Jeremiah Chigozie have consistently attended the African Championship winning gold medals in the singles and doubles events. Last month, Mariam Bolaji won two gold medals at the Spanish Internationals in Victoria and Toledo putting her in a better position to make it to the Paralympics; which has become a reality.
“With adequate camping, foreign tours and proper funding, I believe Nigeria will win a medal in the Para Badminton event when we make our debut this year”.
Orbih once again, called on well meaning individuals to support the Badminton Federation of Nigeria in ensuring the athletes get maximum support ahead of the Olympic/Paralympic Games in Paris next August.
He said, “I will not get tired of calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the private sector to key into our brand and give more support to the Badminton Federation of Nigeria. We have athletes who are marketable and will sell their brands to the world with their sterling performances”.
Mariam Eniola Bolaji shocked the world by winning her first gold medal at the Spanish Para badminton International 2021 beating Oksana Kozyna from Ukraine.
Bolaji won the women’s singles SL3 at the Uganda Para Badminton International 2023, All African Para Badminton Championship 2023 (Doubles and Mixed Doubles).
She won gold medals at the 5th Fazza Dubai Para Badminton International 2023, Egypt Para Badminton International 2024, World Para Badminton Championship 2024 in Thailand and Spanish Para Badminton International 2024.
Bolaji is also the first African player to be ranked among the top 10 in the BWF world rankings as she is currently ranked number 5 in the world.
Meanwhile, Jeremiah Chigozie won bronze medal at the Uganda Para Badminton International 2023 and three gold medals at African Para Badminton Championship 2023
He played a lesser number of championships compared to Eniola; playing in Egypt, Dubai, and World Championship in Thailand.
Chigozie got to the quarter finals in the men’s singles SL4 category in Thailand and currently ranked number 16 in the recent BWF para Badminton ranking.