SPORTS
Mark ‘D’ Ball Championship: Civil Defenders Edge Plateau Peaks 67-65
Civil Defenders Basketball Club on Sunday edged perennial rivals Plateau Peaks 67-65 in a Phase 1 Group C match at the ongoing Mark ‘D’ Ball Men’s Basketball Championship in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the game played at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium the Civil Defenders raced to an early 15-8 lead after the first quarter.
Just as the NSCDC side looked to sustain their momentum in the second quarter, Plateau Peaks also looked to bounce back. The latter did cut the seven-point deficit for a 29-25 scoreline heading into the third quarter. It then became a ding-dong affair as the Jos-based team staged a comeback, taking control and totally dominating the third quarter. They went on to take a massive 10-point lead for the first time in the game, taking it to 50-40 at the end of the third quarter.However, it was the Civil Defenders who had the last laugh in the final minutes of the game. They clawed back from the brink of defeat to pip Plateau Peaks by just two points at 67-65 by the end of a nervy encounter. Efe Adotta was the standout player for the Civil Defenders with 21 points, including seven rebounds, two assists and four turnovers.Joel Ijiuba scored 10 points, while Ocheibi Okpe and Samson Bolarin added seven points each to ensure the Civil Defenders began their campaign on a winning note.
David Ogedegbe, Coach of Civil Defenders, later told newsmen that patience and unity of purpose were key to the team’s victory.“The game was tough. We got it right in the first quarter, but lost steam in the second and third quarters.“But we were indeed lucky to push through with all the strength left in our tank in the last quarter to score five crucial points towards the end of the game which gave us the victory.“We were able to get this result through patience and the unity of purpose among the players.“We look forward to our next game against Suleja Bulldogs with the same spirit and determination to win,” he said.
Garba Iriafen, Captain of Plateau Peaks, said his team lost concentration in the crucial part of the match and it caused them the game.”The game was quite intense. We didn’t start off well, but we came back stronger in the second and third quarters, only to lose our heads in the last two minutes of the game.”We let our coach and fans down as we lost the game by a narrow margin.”What is left for us now is to go back to the drawing board and regroup ahead of our next game against Kwara Falcons,” he said.
In other results of matches also played on Sunday, Suleja Bulldogs beat FCT Hardrockers 72-69, Kwara Falcons defeated Niger Potters 77-67, while Nigerian Customs outdunked Warri-based CAMAC 87-66. NAN reports that the three-month long championship which resumed on Sunday with the Phase 1 Group 2 round of games will end on Saturday. Five teams will qualify from this for the Round of 16.(NAN)
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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