SPORTS
Sports: What Nigeria stands to gain from Euro 2020- Bright Sodje
Bright Sodje, the most senior member of the famous Sodje sports family that has produced notable international footballers like Efe Sodje and Sam Sodje speaks on his impression of the just concluded European Nations Football Championship[Euro 2020]. In this interview from London with Danusa Ocholi, he explains what Nigeria and indeed Africa stand to gain from the Championship.
What is your general impression of Euro 2020,especially in terms of organisation and quality of play?
My impression is positive, really good.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, Euro 2020 was a relief welcoming, to thousands of fans, as well as opening football doors to the public after a long time. The Championship gave people the opportunity to meet up with friends and families in the pubs, parks to watch the games. Above all the mental state of people was really good. In terms of organisation, it was top class, for it was the first time a major tournament was holding across all major cities in Europe almost at the same time. In football terms, it gave a greater access to fans to support their respective countries. It was cost effective by this one had the opportunity to stay in one’s country without spending extra money to travel to other cities or nations. Not everybody can afford this. And also it gave opportunity for the local bars, hotels to make extra money for their country’s economy. What is more, Euro2020 gave us some quality play from all the participating nations, with , different formations which were very exciting. For example England employed two to three different formations. In some games England used four players at the back and in other games they used three at the rear. All depended on what country England was playing. When the tournament started, majority of bookmakers tipped the big nations to get to the final like: France, Belgium, Germany, England, Spain. A lot of noise was made about them, but we had other nations like Denmark, Italy, that just went about their own business and made tremendous impact . Above all the quality was very good.Expectations were high of England success. What do you think went wrong with the ‘Three Lions” ,where did Manager Southgate get it wrong?
In any major tournament the expectation of the British public is always high. The British always believe it’s their rights that England should win. To certain degree yes they should win, because the country invented most sports including football. The British press do not help either due to the pressure from their writings on how good the country is in sports, not only in football, same applies to cricket, and rugby. If you speak with any British person about football, they will tell you they have the best league in the world. I am lucky to be in a position to speak with people in the football industry. In my view the EPL is the best product in the world in terms of promotion, but not the best league overall in the world. You have to go to Spain to prove yourself as world class player. Those that win the best players in the world, majority ply their trade in Spain. Don’t get me wrong EPL is special in different ways. It is not right to ask the question where did it go wrong. In my view, both teams England and Italy did their homework on each other in terms of strengths and weaknesses, it was more of mental toughness that decided at the end of the day, I believe more pressure was on England playing at home ground with die hard supporters. Italy had less pressure, even when England scored in first two minurts,you can see the body language of Southgate, he did not celebrate that much from the touch line, because he knew Italy will comeback into the game. Those that follow Italian League will tell you when the time is right the team will come out and stick to the game plan. Harry Kane did not enter the Italian box to have a shot for 120 minutes, he was dropping a lot deeper hoping that one of the defenders will follow him,so Stering can use his pace to run into the hole. Italian team knew this right from the start. It is therefore not fair to say that Southgate got it wrong. England did the homework on Italy but it did pay off.
What do you think this youthful England squad learnt from the competition for the future?
The youthful England team are very very talented group, it was a big experience for them to play in major tournament on home soil, it can only get better for the country. I had the opportunity to watch most of these boys playing Academy football, they are on different planet, Mason Mount, Jaydon Sancho, Saka and the rest. For the 2022 World Cup watch out for England.
What do you think Africa and Nigeria in particular could learn from the event, especially in organization ?
To be fair not much we can learn from this, we had World Cup 2010 in South Africa, the biggest football event in the World . What can we learn as Nigerian? We should try to move away from government funding and look forward to get the private sector to do more in sponsoring major events in Nigeria. We need to plan ahead instead of last minute dot com; this does not help any team to prepare. As a nation if we get it right the whole world will sit up and respect Nigeria. Who ever thought that Nigeria Basketball team will beat the Mighty USA team? If we get it right we can beat any team in the world. In my view, we should focus on developing the Country league, if South Africa and other Africa countries can do it, no reason we can not.
Pinnick, the NFF president was at Wembley , do you have any advice for him .
Mr. Amaju is a well travelled person, he understands how the sport industries works around the world. I am sure he still looking for ways to improve the standard of football in Nigeria.
Thanks for granting me the interview.
You are welcomed.
Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi has unveiled a Finnish tactician, Mika Lönnström, as the new head coach of the club.
The club chairman, Philip Nongu, said at the unveiling ceremony on Wednesday in Makurdi that Lönnström was hired as part of measures to improve the performance of the club.
Nongu welcomed the new coach, saying his expertise and passion will undoubtedly elevate the team’s performance.
“We are here at this important event to introduce to the Benue community, the players, as well as sports journalists, the newly appointed head coach, Mr Lönnström.
“He will be working together with the other technical crew members with the needed intent of moving the club out of its current position as well as making it more competitive.
“The board is committed to repositioning the club under my watch. The current position of the club is just temporary, and I am optimistic the club will soon move away from the red zone,” he stated.
The chairman charged the players to be disciplined, stating it wouldn’t be business as usual.
He thanked Gov. Hyacinth Alia for finding them worthy to serve the state in this capacity.
James Iorpuu, a member of the board, congratulated the Finnish tactician on his appointment and assured him of the needed enabling environment that would help him to succeed.
He lauded Lönnström for accepting to work with the team and promised him that he would not regret making the move.
“The governor’s desire for sports, especially football, remains unwavering.
“His desire for Lobi Stars to be at the top competing at the highest level remains key to his administration,” he said.
The club’s technical adviser, Daniel Amokachi, expressed delight to have Lönnström under his technical crew, saying the club will experience positive development.
“Mika Lönnström is a man of pedigree; his working ethic will help us a lot. In modern football, you must have young players who would work tirelessly.
“I have identified good young players in the team, and we shall be working with them pending when the window of the league is open for other decisions,” he said.
Lönnström, in his remarks, expressed excitement to join the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side.
The new head coach said that he was honoured to be part of Lobi Stars’ rich history and expressed commitment to driving the team to success. (NAN)
AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw, Alvaro Morata and Tijjani Reijnders all got on the scoresheet in a surprise 3-1 win at holders Real Madrid in their Champions League clash on Tuesday.
Thiaw gave seven-times European champions Milan the lead with a header from a corner in the 12th minute but Vinicius Jr equalised with a penalty 11 minutes later.
Morata put the visitors back in front by netting from a rebound in the 39th and Reijnders fired home a Rafael Leao cross after a counter attack to wrap up Milan’s statement win over the lacklustre title holders.
Real are languishing in 17th place in the 36-team Champions League table with six points, one spot ahead of Milan on goal difference after four games.
(Reuters/NAN)
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Handball stakeholders in Kogi State have called for a comprehensive leadership reform within the state’s handball association to restore the sport’s prominence.
Addressing journalists after a visit to the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Monday Aridaojo Anyebe in his office in Lokoja on Tuesday, the stakeholders outlined the achievements and setbacks of Kogi State handball since its inception in 1991, pointing the need for immediate change to revive the state’s handball culture.
They noted that Kogi State’s handball history includes significant accomplishments from winning national underage tournaments in the 1990s to representing Nigeria in international competitions.
Kogi’s under-15 boys’ team won gold in Italy in 1995, while local teams performed well in various national championships uptile 2019.However, the stakeholders noted a decline in participation and development initiatives, which they attribute to issues within the association’s leadership.
They revealed that since 2020, Kogi’s Confluence Stars, the state’s premier league team, has struggled to participate in the league due to financial constraints and a lack of support.
This situation according to them has led some players to seek opportunities with teams in other states, undermining team cohesion and player morale.
Additionally, the once-thriving Confluence Queens female team, which participated in national tournaments until 2020, has since disbanded”
Stakeholders attribute much of the sport’s recent decline to the leadership of Jibril Saidu, the current chairman of Kogi State Handball Association. They allege that Saidu’s decision to withdraw sponsorship, along with personal conflicts, has prevented Kogi from participating in critical national events. This includes the under-12 and under-15 championships held in Sokoto over the past five years, where Kogi teams were notably absent.
In response to these challenges, the stakeholders called for the dissolution of the current board, citing a lack of effective leadership and commitment to the state’s handball development.
They propose the formation of a new board that will prioritize regional representation, involvement from former players, and individuals with strong sponsorship capabilities.
The stakeholders also endorsed Okpanachi Mark Ogah as the next chairman, describing him as a capable leader who they believe can restore Kogi State’s handball legacy within two years.
Speaking during the visit, His Royal Highness, Oba Luke Oludoyi from Isanlu who is one of the handball Stakeholders appealed to the Commissioner to give them necessary support in making handball sporting activities in the state a laudable venture for the overall growth of the State Sports Sector.
On his part, Hon. Mark Okpanachi Ogah said he is ready to further the ideals of the stakeholders and rebirth a new and active handball sport in Kogi State.
He assured that if given the mandate, the Kogi State handball team will take its rightful place again as champion.
Responding, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon Monday Anyebe, noted that Kogi State Government is committed to ensuring that the sports sector in the state continues to receive the necessary support towards enhancing sporting activities in the state.
The Commissioner said under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo all sporting activities will be given adequate attention and Support.
He called on members of the handball stakeholders in the state to be united and continue to promote the activities of the handball sport in the state.
Also Present during the visit includes the Permanent Secretary of the state ministry of sports, Jibo Haruna Muhammed, the Director Kogi State Sports Council, Onipe Obakachi and other Directors of the Ministry.
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