SPORTS
Cricket World Top Bowler Aho Eyes Indian Premier League
Peter Aho, a Nigerian cricketer who recently broke a world bowling record, says he is hopeful of featuring in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
He told the Newsmen yesterday in Abuja that he is hoping on improving his game and consequently feature in the IPL.
The 19-year-old took the record away from Indian Deepak Chahar on Sunday to become the bowler with the best figures in an innings of a T20 international cricket tournament.
Aho, who achieved this feat at the just-concluded six-match bilateral series against Sierra Leone in Lagos, said the tournament was a good preparation for the T20 Africa Qualifiers.
“Every cricketer’s dream is to play in the IPL.
It is my dream also that one day I will be good enough for a club in the Indian league.“So, I will just continue to improve my game and contribute my best to the national team and help rewrite the history of Nigerian cricket,’’ he said.
The player whose battling prowess helped Nigeria to qualify for her first-ever World Cup in 2020 said he was happy to improve on his bowling abilities.
He said this helped him to create a new world record.
“I am happy to have broken the record, though I wasn’t expecting or looking forward to such.
“I think that, over the years, I have been able to play under tight conditions. But, anytime I have a good start to a game, I always want to finish very well,” Aho said.
The bowler however praised the efforts of his coaches, saying this also made it possible for him.
“For me, it means also too that there’s still a lot of work to be done,” he added.
The fifth game of the series saw Aho improving his statistics to become top with six wickets, conceding five runs, one maiden in 3.4 overs.
Team Nigeria eventually won the game by 19 runs.
Aho, who was recently promoted to the senior team from the under-19 camp, however added that the result of the competition did not reflect its intensity.
“Nigeria won five out of the six matches played and this made it to look easy, but it was very tough because they (Sierra Leone) put us under pressure.
“We played under tight conditions as the schedule of the games were usually adjusted due to weather conditions.
“But it was a good test for us ahead of the T20 World Africa qualifiers in Rwanda in November,” he said.
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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