SPORTS
Bayelsa Woos Banks, IOCs for Sport Development
From Tayese Mike, Yenagoa
In its bid to promote sports development, the Bayelsa State Government has called for partnership and support from commercial banks, international oil companies (IOCs), construction firms and other corporate bodies doing business in the state.
The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made the call yesterday at a meeting with managers of the commercial banks and representatives of some major construction companies in Government House, Yenagoa.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo said the state has great potential in music and sports, especially in traditional wrestling, which he noted, should be harnessed for the physical, social and economic development of youths in the state.
According to the Deputy Governor, government is desirous of collaborating with the banks and other development partners to support the state’s main football teams, Bayelsa United, and Bayelsa Queens.
He expressed hope that such support would enable the state to win the FA Cup back to back, even as the 2021/2022 Nigerian League season is expected to resume soon.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo maintained that the current focus of the state government was to build consensus with corporate organizations, as it is the standard practice in every clime where sports is thriving.
He said unlike some governments elsewhere that commandeer corporate bodies for sponsorship, the state government has always employed moral suasion in appealing to them to see supporting sports as part of their corporate social responsibility.
“Some of the areas Bayelsa State is good at are music and sports, especially wrestling. We believe that if we begin to plough enough energy, and manure the land for sports and music, we will make our youths very productive.
“We believe that if we catch them young and direct their energies towards these areas, it will be more profitable to us, because sports itself is business. In fact, sports is an untapped business in Nigeria.
“Our intention is to build an effective collaboration between you and our Sports Ministry, especially for Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens, and in other areas of our sports programmes.
“We are really bent on collaborating with you. We don’t want to build imposed relationship with you. We know that is what some states do; they will just call the bank and say, ‘You, this is the amount, pay.” We don’t do that because believe we are not operating in a dictatorial hemisphere,” he said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Daniel Igali, described the kind of collaboration being sought by government as the catalyst for sports development elsewhere in Africa, Europe and the rest of the world.
Hon. Igali pointed out that Bayelsa was doing quite well in the field of sports especially in recent times due to the attention and resources government had provided so far to the sector.
The Commissioner, who said it was part of his dream that Bayelsa becomes the sports capital of Nigeria, expressed confidence that the partnership, when actualized, would accelerate the pace of sports development in the state.
The Super Eagles camp in Cairo has grown to 22 players with the arrival of Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Alebiosu, ahead of Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) international friendly match against Egypt.
News reports that Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman and defenders Semi Ajayi and Bright Osayi-Samuel reported to camp earlier on Monday at the Renaissance Hotel, joining a steadily increasing squad.
Goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, defender Igoh Ogbu and midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi were also among the latest arrivals to bolster the team.
They linked up with early arrivals Francis Uzoho, Stanley Nwabali, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who had checked in on Sunday.
Super Eagles Media Officer Promise Efoghe said that 20 players participated in the team’s first training session held on Monday evening.
“Training went smoothly and the players showed good energy and commitment, which is encouraging at this stage of preparations,” Efoghe said.
Efoghe said that Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika and Alebiosu arrived shortly after training, raising the number of players in camp to 22, with six more expected.
He said as part of preparations, the Super Eagles would play a friendly against the Pharaohs of Egypt on Tuesday at the Cairo International Stadium.
“The friendly will help the technical crew assess team shape and readiness ahead of the AFCON challenge,” Efoghe said.
Nigeria, three-time champions, and seven-time winners Egypt will clash at 8 p.m. Egypt time (7 p.m. Nigeria time) in the build-up to the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.
Efoghe confirmed that the team will depart Cairo for Féz on Thursday aboard a chartered flight to continue final preparations.
Nigeria’s quest for a fourth continental title, following victories in 1980, 1994 and 2013, begins on Dec. 23 against Tanzania, under the theme “NAIJA 4 THE WIN.”
The Eagles will also face Tunisia on Dec. 27 and Uganda on Dec. 30 in Group C, with all matches scheduled for the Complexe Sportif de Féz.
Egypt, the only nation to win AFCON three consecutive times, will battle South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe in Group B, with matches holding in Agadir.
As anticipation builds for the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, set to kick off on December 21 in Morocco, the Confederation of African Football has released a list of items prohibited across all tournament stadiums.
According to the guidelines cited on CAF’s website on Monday, the rules are aimed at ensuring fan safety throughout the competition.
Fans attending AFCON 2025 matches in Morocco will be subjected to security screening.
They are advised not to bring prohibited items into stadiums to ensure safety, order and a smooth match-day experience.
Below is the list of items fans are advised to leave at home before entering AFCON stadiums:
Alcoholic beverages, Illegal substances and drugs, Weapons and sharp objects, Fireworks and pyrotechnics, Glass bottles or containers, Flammable materials, Racist, violent or discriminatory banners, Unauthorised political, religious or commercial signs, Drones and animals, Large umbrellas and oversized hats, Professional cameras and recording equipment, Musical instruments and loud horns, Radio-emitting devices (except mobile phones) and Heavy or large bags.
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has disclosed that the team are still a work in progress following his expensive overhaul of the squad since last season.
The Spanish tactician made this known after the Citizens thrashed Crystal Palace 3-0 in Sunday’s Premier League game.
In a chat with the club’s website, Guardiola stated that the team are in a better position than last season.
“Many things we have to improve.
Madrid gave me a lot of things, that still we are not ready, not in mentality but in how to approach certain games. They are young some of the players. But 3-0 here is a big statement for us.“When you win in the past, you believe the past was perfect, always brilliant, always the red carpet.
When we won with 100 points, all the things we achieved, we had a lot of games like today. The resilience was part of that.“There are moments that you struggle. Madrid was not the perfect game, but it was a step. We fought unbelievably to achieve that.
“We are in a better position than last season. We are close in the competitions we are in.”
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