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 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.
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Nigeria’s table tennis pacesetter, Aruna Quadri, on winning the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Cup title.
Quadri achieved a resounding victory in the final match of the 2024 ITTF Africa Cup in Rwanda, reclaiming his title and sealing his place as Africa’s table tennis champion.
The President commended the table tennis star for his dogged pursuit of excellence even in the face of gnawing obstacles, declaring that the zeal for distinction, the hardiness to succeed, and the inventiveness to solve complex problems are the exceptional qualities that define Nigerians.
The President also noted the recent progress in the nation’s sports sector, with remarkable performances in the African Games, the Africa Cup of Nations, and the World Relay Championships, and emphasized that his administration will continue to foster the growth and development of sports in the country.
The Board of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Finidi George as Head Coach of the Senior Men National Football Team, the Super Eagles.
A statement by Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Communications, on Monday said the NFF approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to appoint George.
Reports says that the ace winger spent 20 months as assistant to José Peseiro before the Portuguese voluntarily left the post after guiding the team to silver medal at AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.
George took charge of the squad in acting capacity during two friendly matches in Morocco last month.
His squad edged Ghana 2-1 in the first match, ending an 18-year winless streak against the Black Stars, but then lost 0-2 to Mali in the second game.
He was a member of the so-styled ‘Golden Generation’ that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Tunisia.
The team also emerged the second most entertaining team in Nigeria’s debut at the FIFA World Cup finals in USA the same year.
George won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals. He also won gold, silver and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2002 AFCON tournaments.
The 52-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and Real Betis (Spain) forward made a scoring debut for fatherland in an AFCON qualifying match against Burkina Faso at the National Stadium, Lagos, on July 27, 1991.
He also featured for Calabar Rovers and Sharks FC in the domestic scene before heading to Europe.
He assisted Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory) to score Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Bulgaria in Dallas, USA, on 19th June 1994.
George had actually scored the goal that took Nigeria to that FIFA World Cup debut, when he put Nigeria ahead against hosts Algeria in a crucial qualifier in Algiers on 8th October, 1993.
The match eventually ended 1-1 and earned Nigeria a ticket to the finals in America.
George’s immediate task will be to guide the Super Eagles to victory in two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic in Uyo and Abidjan respectively, in a little over five weeks.
The matches are must-win encounters, with the Super Eagles lagging behind in third place in Group C of the African campaign behind Rwanda and South Africa.(NAN)
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