SPORTS
China Partners Nigeria to Enhance Kung Fu Culture in Africa
By Gom Mirian, Abuja
Organisers of Wu Li Feng , WLF, the biggest martial arts competition has signed a landmark agreement with Nigeria’s cultural and creativity hub, Heritage Africa to host WLF Continental first Kung Fu Mega Fight come February, 2020.
WLF is the biggest martial arts competition televised by China’s Henan Television.
It is the longest running martial arts program in China.Since 2007, the competition has become more international in nature, bringing in more challengers from many countries and filming bouts abroad. Some of the countries includes Germany, New Zealand and the United States.
In 2013, it was ranked among the top 100 most viewed satellite and cable television programs in China.
With Nigeria leading the way as the biggest market on the African continent, WLF and its partner, Heritage Africa are exploring the possibilities of tapping the huge opportunities for the brand in the areas of combat sports, cultural exchange, movie production and job creation.
Much of the preparatory stage involves designing programmes, which would engage the Nigerian combat sports and entertainment market.
Already, Nigeria has won the exclusive right to host the continental headquarters of the WLF, just as an imposing edifice in the highbrow Cadastral zone in Kado District has been picked to host the secretariat.
Speaking on the plans to storm the Nigerian market with its fiesta of combat sports and entertainment, Head of the WLF Delegation to Africa, said the intervention would be taken a cue from the massive exchange, which is already taking place between Nigeria and the Chinese.
Kung Fu, the unique and exciting martial arts sport, which used to be popular in Nigeria in the early 1980s is projected to make a comeback through the programmes being planned by WLF in Nigeria.
The benefits of Kung Fu, according to the WLF Africa delegation head is that it could be used for self defense, and to motivate people to work on themselves for good bodies and better health.
“Kung Fu can help you protect yourself and your family, and you will get confidence when you are strong enough. So this programme WLF is bringing to Nigeria is for the young people and for children.
“We are working to make the first fighting happen next year, may be in February or March.”
According to him, it was important for these cultural exchanges to happen so as to get Nigerians and Chinese to know one another better, and explore the possibilities of their commonalities.
“In when you talk about Africa, the first image is very dangerous; people think about problems and disease. That is why it is very important for us to work through cultural exchange to show the real Africa to China.
“I want these two peoples to know each other better; may be the challenge is the language because most of the Chinese don’t speak English, and most of the people in Africa do not speak Chinese.
Yet, most people can understand Kung Fu because the fighting is not as a result of hate; it is a fight that promotes friendship.
The beauty of Kung Fu is that it gives a better body and health, and you can use the skill to protect your family.”
The relationship is very warm between the two countries and Nigeria is a good friend of China. A lot of people think Chinese people only come to Nigeria for business,” he said.
On his part, the Chairman of Heritage Africa, Moses Ayom enthused that with the WLF partnership coming on stream, Nigeria would reap massive benefits in the areas of job creation, as well as boosting the local economy.
Ayom, who recently bagged the prestigious recognition from the Chinese government due to his commitment to the promotion of Nigeria-China cultural interface, has continued to advocate that beyond the traditional areas of trade, Nigeria should leverage culture and creativity in its relationship with China.
“Creativity is something we have as black people, and we must tap it; if we can tap just 5 percent of the creative wealth, which is around us, we will not need oil money,” said Ayom.
This is what this partnership is about; it comes from the fact that we have a huge population of young people who can take up Kung Fu, and reap the many benefits, not just economically, but in terms of good health and well being.”
The Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Enoh, has said that the ministry would ensure the timely release of funds to prepare Nigerian athletes for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The games will take place from July 26 to Aug. 11 in Paris .
The minister gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Diana-Mary Nsan.
Enoh stressed the importance of securing funding in a timely manner to facilitate comprehensive preparations for the Olympic Games.
He added that the ministry will actively pursue partnerships with private individuals and the corporate sector to bolster financial support and ensure that athletes are set up for success.
Drawing from the successful model implemented during the African Games in Ghana, where all athletes were insured, the minister pledge to build on that success.
“Plans are underway to provide insurance coverage for Team Nigeria athletes to mitigate risks associated with injuries and unforeseen circumstances, reflecting a proactive approach to athlete welfare,” he said.
Enoh also announced plans to implement salaries for grade A athletes, noting that the initiative aims to provide ongoing support and motivation to athletes as they prepare for the Games, enabling them to focus on their training and performance without financial constraints.
The minister expressed confidence in Nigeria’s athletes and their potential to achieve success at the Paris Olympic Games.
Reports says that the Paris 2024 will feature the debut of breaking (also known as breakdancing) as an Olympic event.
The Games will be the first to feature identical number of athletes between men and women. (NAN
Paris St Germain Manager, Luis Enrique, said he is still confident his team can overcome a 2-3 home loss to FC Barcelona in their Champions League quarter-final.
Enrique hopes PSG can shine against the Spanish side next week to progress.
Still looking for a first Champions League crown, PSG gave up a 2-1 lead late in the second half on Wednesday against an FC Barcelona side who made the most of the chances they had.
The result meant FC Barcelona earned a narrow advantage for the return leg in Spain.
“It is clear that all defeats hurt and annoy, but I believe we played a good game against a very strong team,” Luis Enrique told a press conference.
“We are only going to change the things that didn’t work, we always have to appreciate what a match of this magnitude means.
“We’re going to Barcelona with a lot of desire. It’s a positive point of view to think that we can win there. It’s going to be a final for us. I’m confident in my team.”
Luis Enrique refused to comment on Kylian Mbappe’s performance, as the France captain was shackled by Barcelona’s defence and had little impact on the game.
The Spanish manager, who won the treble with Barcelona in 2015, said his side deserved to win and that Barca were not necessarily favourites even with a win in hand and the home field advantage.
“We are going to go to Barcelona to fight a war,” he said.
“I never see the opposition as favourites, whoever they are. In top-level competition, that’s how I see it. And I will continue to believe that we will go to Barcelona to win the game.
“I repeat. We could have won this game. (Football) is about small details and let’s hope that the small details go our way in the second leg.” (Reuters/NAN)
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane returned to north London to score his customary goal against Arsenal, as the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie ended 2-2 on Tuesday.
The former Tottenham Hotspur player, so often Arsenal’s nemesis in north London derbies, stroked home a penalty in the 32nd minute as the Bundesliga side hit back to lead 2-1.
Premier League leaders Arsenal, playing in their first Champions League quarter-final for 14 years, had gone in front early on with a clinical Bukayo Saka strike.
But Bayern, whose reign as German champions is as good as over as they trail Bayer Leverkusen by 16 points, showed they remain a European force to be reckoned with.
Arsenal were stunned as their former striker Serge Gnabry levelled six minutes later and Kane rolled home his 39th goal of an incredible first season for Bayern.
This was after Leroy Sane was brought down by William Saliba in the box.
Mikel Arteta’s side ensured they will head to Bavaria next Wednesday full of hope as substitute Leandro Trossard equalised in the 76th minute to leave the tie hanging in the balance.
The return of Kane, who scored a record 14 goals for Tottenham in the north London derby, to one of his favourite haunts was the big pre-match talking point.
And he duly silenced the Arsenal jeers.
“It wasn’t an easy game,” Kane said. “Arsenal are a really good team.
“They’re top of the Premier League right now so we had to dig deep at times but it’s a good result and hopefully we can make the difference at home.”
Predictably, Kane was booed every time he touched the ball although the England captain was hardly involved in the early exchanges as Arsenal seized the initiative.
Six-time champions Bayern, seeking salvation in Europe after a poor domestic season, were handicapped by having no fans inside the Emirates Stadium as punishment for their supporters throwing fireworks in the previous round.
They went behind in the 12th minute when Ben White played the ball inside to Saka who picked his spot and curled a low left-footed shot beyond Manuel Neuer.
White should have made it 2-0 soon afterwards but shot straight at Neuer and then Arsenal’s defence, so impregnable in the Premier League of late, suddenly went missing.
They carelessly lost possession in the 18th minute and Bayern punished them as Leon Goretzka fed a perfect pass to Gnabry who clipped a finish past the on-rushing David Raya.
Sane was then allowed to run and run from deep before being toppled by Saliba and referee Glenn Nyberg had the simplest decision to point to the penalty spot.
The 60,000 crowd suddenly went quiet as memories of heavy European defeats by Bayern, notably a 10-2 aggregate defeat in the last 16 in 2017, flooded back.
It would have gotten worse but for a goal-saving tackle by White on Sane.
Bayern, with another former Spurs player Eric Dier impressive in defence, looked comfortable after the break.
Arteta sent on Trossard and Gabriel Jesus just past the midway point of the second half. They combined in the 76th minute as Jesus fed Trossard to slot a low shot inside the post.
A frantic ending saw Bayern substitute Kingsley Coman strike the post from close range while the game ended with Arsenal screaming for a penalty.
This was after Saka went down in the area claiming he was fouled by Neuer.
“We’ve got a draw so the situation is clear, the winner moves on,” Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel said.
“We need the same devotion, passion and quality as we had tonight – and we’ll get through.”
Security was stepped up ahead of the game after Islamic State threatened drone attacks on Europe’s top club tournament.(Reuters/NAN)
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