SPORTS
SWAN Applauds Team Nigeria’s World U-20 Athletics Championship Feat
By Orkula Shaagee, Abuja
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) hails the outstanding achievements of the Team Nigeria at the just concluded World Athletics U-20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya.
SWAN President, Sir Honour Sirawoo, in his tribute commended the entire team for fussing into one unit and once again displaying to the world that Nigeria is made up of men and women with the resilient spirit to overcome challenges.
Sirawoo further noted that the feat in Nairobi has again proven that the country is still maintaining the tradition of generating hardworking and talented young people who are ready to be nurtured into world champions.
The SWAN President while giving kudos to the team which harvested a total of four gold and three bronze medals to finish overall third on the final medals table, also advised the sports administrators to always pay premium attention to the training and welfare of the athletes. A total of 114 countries participated in the championship.
However, he also advised the Minister of Sports and all those who made the feat possible not to relent but to even increase their efforts in seeing that whatever that was done to adequately prepare the young athletes is extended to other Nigerian contingents going forward.
“We in SWAN while congratulating Minister Sunday Dare, will however charge him to ensure that these young heroes and heroines are supported, monitored and invested upon so as to serve as possible medalists at other international championships especially the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games and the All Africa Games.
“To the federal government, we will urge that instead of the now famous presidential handshake, efforts should be made to give these young athletes scholarships in some of the world’s renowned Sports Universities and Institutes. This will enable them to acquire education while engaging in active sports”.
Sirawoo also advised the nation’s contingent to the ongoing Paralympics to borrow a leaf from their compatriots who apart from making the country proud in Kenya also succeeded in writing their names in gold, by putting in their best to ensure that Nigeria makes podium appearances at the Games.
He reminded them that they should strive to at least equal the record they set at Rio 2016 in Brazil, where they emerged as the most successful Team Nigeria, which equally became the best African and 17th overall on the medal table with eight gold, two silver and two bronze medals.
Nigeria achieved her best ever outing at the U-20 World Athletics Championship after finishing third behind the host nation Kenya and Finland.
Nasarawa United Football Club of Lafia on Saturday defeated Lobi Stars of Makurdi 1-0 in a pulsating North Central derby.
The matchday 16 fixture of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premiere Football League (NPFL) was played at the Lafia Township Stadium, Nasarawa State capital.
The Makurdi side had adopted the Lafia Township Stadium as their home ground for the 2024/2025 NPFL season.
The only goal of the match was scored by Qamar Adegoke in the 12th minute of the match to give all three points to the Lafia side.
Adegoke’s goal, who joined the Lafia team recently, was his second in four matches.
The Nasarawa attacker capitalised on a defensive error by the opponent’s backline and hit the back of the net to give Nasarawa United the advantage.
In a post-match interview, Kabir Dogo, Technical Adviser of Nasarawa United, hailed his players for taking all three points.
He explained that his team had improved by scoring five goals in their last three matches and expressed optimism that they would do better in subsequent games.
“We had a problem in the area of goal scoring in the past, but this has changed in our last three games,” he said.
With the win, Nasarawa United climbed to 14th on the NPFL table, while Lobi Stars remain on 17th position. (NAN)
The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) is organising a two-day National Coaching Seminar, with the theme: “Leadership and Management Skills”.
The event will take place from Dec. 17 to Dec. 18, at the Additional Sports and Entertainment (ASEP) Pro Limited, in Mowe, Ogun State.
The seminar will enhance the capabilities of Nigerian table tennis coaches, with a particular emphasis on female coaches, aligning with the International Table Tennis Federation’s (ITTF) Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) Initiative.
A statement issued by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, on Tuesday, said that the seminar was part of the one-week sports and leadership boot camp titled “Awaken the Giant, She Can 4.
0,” proudly supported by NTTF.“This seminar will also represent the third stage of the 2024 “My Gender, My Strength” programme, which has table tennis star Abosede Akinsete, as a beneficiary.
“NTTF President,Tikon Ishaku, Vice President, Adesoji Tayo, and other board members are dedicated to initiatives that support the development of coaches.
“Wahid Enitan-Oshodi, ITTF Executive Vice President, and President of ITTF-Africa, reaffirms his commitment to empowering women in sports, in line with the GEDI Initiative.
He explained that the seminar would feature people, who would speak on leadership and management skills, to enhance the abilities of coaches to identify and develop talents, as well as encourage the development of high-performance table tennis players capable of competing globally. (NAN)
Rivers United Football Club of Port Harcourt on Sunday returned to the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) summit as strong rivals Remo Stars FC faltered on Match Day 13.
Report says that Rivers United beat visiting Abia Warriors of Umuahia 1-0 after an Ndifreke Effiong 58th minute goal from the penalty kick spot.
Effiong’s goal in the match at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium helped them to move to 25 points from 13 matches, after seven wins, four draws and two losses.
Former leaders Remo Stars dropped to second with 23 points from 13 matches after seven wins, two draws and four losses, following a 0-2 loss to hosts Katsina United.
Plateau United of Jos beat visiting Nasarawa United of Lafia 2-0 to bolster their position.
Shooting Stars Sports Club also struggled to a 1-0 win over visiting Bayelsa United of Yenago.
A 15th minute goal by Anthony Okachi at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan gave them the win.
El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri had on Saturday beaten Akwa United of Uyo 1-0 to move into third place on the table with 22 points from 13 games.
Enyimba International of Aba remained in fourth place with 20 points from 12 matches, with their week 13 game against Sunshine Stars of Akure on hold.
Rangers International of Enugu are in fifth place with 20 points also, after a goalless draw with hosts Heartland FC ain Owerri on Saturday.
Bendel Insurance of Benin had also beaten Kwara United of Ilorin 3-1, while Lobi Stars of Makurdi drew 2-2 with visiting Kano Pillars in Lafia.
NAN reports that the league will enter Match Day 14 on Wednesday.(NAN)
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