SPORTS
NOC Inducts Soname as Patron
The Chairman of Valuejet Airline, Kunle Soname, has been inducted as patron of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).
A statement by the Public Relations Officer, NOC, Tony Nezianya, on Sunday in Lagos, said NOC’s president, Habu Gumel, bestowed the honour on Soname on Sept. 7, at Remo, Ikenne, Ogun.
The statement said Gumel was accompanied by NOC’s Sec.
-Gen. Tunde Popoola, 3rd Vice-president, Olamide Oyedeji, 4th Vice- president, Olabisi Joseph and Marketing Committee Chairman, Ademola Are.Gumel described Soname as a household name in Nigeria who had made massive investments in sports, recreation, promotion of tourism and youth empowerment initiatives.
“The NOC’s expectations of a patron should be beyond unfettered integrity, but to advise and support the Olympic Movement in the delivery of its key objectives.
“Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind.
“It blends sports with culture and education; Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on values of good example and respect for universal principles,” he said.
According to Gumel, the movement is a global action to impact humanity positively, using the instrumentality of sports under the authority of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
“It is the universal convergence of entities and individuals that subscribed to the Olympic Charter and the Commonwealth Sports Movement. Both bodies promote global friendship and harmonious development using sports as a tool.
“The quadrennial Olympic Games celebrated every four years remains the biggest sporting event on earth today, bringing together no fewer than 15,000 strong elite athletes,” he said.
Gumel said the role of patrons to the NOC were advisory and ambassadorial. “Your office carries a high level of responsibility, honour and integrity.”
The president highlighted some key games the NOC would be interested in, including the IV Winter Youth Games from Jan. 19 to Feb. 2, 2024, in Gangwom, South Korea.
Others are: the 13th African Games, March 8 to March 23, 2024, in Accra, Ghana and the Paris Olympic Games, July 26 to Aug. 11, 2024.
“You are expected to support the movement, morally and financially as well as assist in opening doors.
“By this investiture, you are an ambassador of the olympic family, both locally and internationally. We are confident that you will be guided by this understanding at all times,” the NOC president stressed.
Soname, in his acceptance speech, expressed his appreciation to the committee for finding him worthy of such a weighty appointment.
“You can count on me to support the Olympic Committee. I know the importance of assisting to use sports as an avenue to empower the youth.
“I want you to note that whatever you fail to spend on sports, you will eventually spend on security.
“I have been supporting sports locally but certainly, this is a bigger stage and I will endeavour to do my utmost best to continue the growth and development of sports,” Soname said. (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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