SPORTS
Nigeria Ready for Tokyo Olympics- Minister
From Alfred Babs, Ilorin
The Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Sunday Dare has said that going by the rating of Nigeria’s athletes in the world, the country was fully ready for the 2020 Olympics which will hold in Tokyo, Japan later this year.
Speaking with sports journalists in Ilorin, the Minister said that Nigeria had one of the best relay teams in the world and it athletes have recently improved in the world ceeding.
Dare said, “Tobi Amusan’ s ceeding globally who is now No 2 in World Athletics rating signpost the future of Nigerian athletics. This country has one of the best relay teams, about the 3rd or 4th in the world. We were 2nd before, we are trying to reenact to where we were before. So, athletics wise, we are good and ready for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.”
The Minister said that the forthcoming National Sports Festival (Edo 2020) will be used to hunt for talents who would be trained for future competitions.
“The NSF is about unity as it came about after the civil war. We are ready for one of the best NSF to hold in Benin. In four days, I will be going to Benin to inspect all the facilities and we hope to see every single state compete.
“Furthermore my joy will be to see that from that NSF, we have new burning talent that we can harvest as a ministry and as a government and feed them into our federations and nurture them for global competition”, he said.
In his speech later at the closing of the 7th Kwara state Sports festival, the Minister appealed to state governors to encourage the development of Sports at the grassroots adding that the future of sports development in Nigeria depended on the efforts the government put at sports development at the grassroots.
The Minister noted, “Wwhat is happening today signposts the future of sports development in Nigeria which is the return to grassroot sports development.
“This is where we want to be when it comes to sports development, that is the promotion of grassroots programmes. We want to see the commitment of state governors to grassroots sports development
“15 years after the last Sports festival held, we are having this. So, there is a Renaissance taking place and I am always very glad when I see the youths involved in sporting activities. We are looking for young talents that we can nurture in different sporting events and I am happy with what I have seen”, the minister further said
Dare commended Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for having the courage and commitment to bring back Kwara State Sports Festival after 15 years that it had been in the doldrum.
“You have not only brought about peace in sports development but you have become the face of sports development in Kwara State.
“Federal Government recognises your efforts in sports development. Through the ministry of sports, we will partner the state in sports development”, Dare said.
In his remarks at the closing ceremony of the festival, governor Abdulrazaq who said that he was happy that his administration brought back the competition stated that the festival had not only brought the state back to spotlight but had promoted unity among the people.
He said, “Not only has the Festival put Kwara back in the spotlight in the sports industry nationwide, it has again solidified our unity as a people and reassured the Kwara people that we are here to rewrite the story of the state for good.
“This festival has offered our youths the opportunity to channel their energy to productive activities that have earned them more respect in their communities and beyond. They have seen, once again, that they can be celebrated and rewarded if they get it right.
“Our government is making the necessary investments to make sports more attractive and rewarding for our youths. The 2020 budget is a big testimonial statement in this regard. For instance, we are giving a facelift to the Indoor Sports Hall. We are a building a twin squash court. Gradually, we will restore the glory of Kwara using sports and investments in critical infrastructure that would jump-start the economy.”
The governor urged young people to imagine a world of boundless opportunities ahead of them adding, the path to success is often laced with hard work, humility, sacrifice, and determination.
He said, “With the national sports festival (Edo 2020) just a few weeks away, I believe this festival is a tonic for us to go and overwhelm the rest of Nigeria. Let us go out and tell the world that it is indeed a new beginning for Kwara.”
Ilorin West local government topped the medal table with 23 gold, 24 silver and 21 bronze while ASA local government won 20 gold, 21 silver and 31 bronze with Offa local government settling for 20 gold, 13 silver and 30 bronze to clinch the third position.
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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