SPORTS
Robo Queens Win Flight Officers Trophy
By Jude Opara, Abuja
Robo Queens at the weekend won the median edition of the Flight Officers Championship after defeating Edo Queens by a lone goal.
The tournament was sponsored by Ratel Sports Development Foundation in honour of the Late Tolulope Arotile, who was killed in an accident in Kaduna last year.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Edo state, Hon.
Philip Shuaibu has warned that the newly promoted Remo Stars FC will corrupt the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) the way they allegedly corrupted the Nigeria National League (NNL) in their bid to gain promotion.Shuaibu argued that it is proper for an owner of a club to be the sponsor of the tournament that his club is also participating in.
The Deputy Governor, who spoke at the final of the Ratel Sports Development Foundation pre-season tournament in Abuja on Sunday, claimed that Remo Stars bought their way back to the Nigerian elite league.
“I said that Soname and his Remo Stars had a must qualify deal with the NNL. And you could see Remo Stars FC got 10points, nine goals from the boardroom of the NNL because they must qualify for the Super 8. For me Remo did not qualify for the NPFL, they bought their way through and you can see from the sponsorship deal with the NPFL.”
Shuaibu also charged sports journalists to be up and doing by truly defending the game saying if not a team like Remo will corrupt the NPFL just like it corrupted the NNL.
“You sports journalists must save our league. You must put your eyes and searchlights on NPFL, if not Remo will corrupt the NPFL the way they corrupted the NNL and it spell more room for our football.”
He also described the Ratel Sports Development Foundation pre-season tournament as a major breakthrough in the development of women’s football in the country.
“This is a beautiful tournament, coming from the Betsy Obaseki tournament to this one is actually helping to strengthen our teams and also helping our players to be fit preparatory to the opening of the 2021/22 season that will be starting on December 8.
“Tournaments like this also help clubs to know their areas of weaknesses and also strengthen the team, and also to look for one or two players they can scout for to beef up the team,” he said.
On the defeat of Edo Queens by Robo Queens at the Flight Officers Championship final match, Shuaibu said he did not brew any ill feelings and that it did not make any difference because both teams have their roots from Edo State.
“I was open minded. Edo Queens, FC Robo are all Edo teams, so either way Edo state has won. But nonetheless, Edo Queens defeated Robo Queens to take the third place at the Betsy Obaseki tournament in Edo, today Robo defeated Edo Queens by same goal margin which shows that both teams are at same level. It is good for our football. But the good news is that Nigerian football will be the great beneficiaries of this,” he added.
The Deputy Governor also made a personal donation of N1million naira to each of the winners, Robo Queens and runners-up Edo Queens.
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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