SPORTS
Sports in Nigeria – Going Round in Circles for Launch Today
By Orkula Shaagee, Abuja
A book, “Sports in Nigeria – Going Round in Circles” is to be launched in Abuja today, May 13 at the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja.
The 404-page book, the third written by Godwin Kienka, director of the International Tennis Academy (ITA), captures the major works of Commissions, Committees and White Papers that have been ignored by the sports bureaucrats and administrators but more importantly exposes the reasons why Nigeria has not translated potential to results.
“Anyone and everyone who has wondered why Nigeria with its enormous potential in sports has been unable to go from potential to results will find the answer after diligently reading this book,” Kienka said.
Godwin Kienka was a former sports correspondent and features writer with the News Agency of Nigeria and later a sports columnist with the Guardian. He was also publisher and editor of the global award winning Tennis Africa Magazine and had garnered a whole lot of experience and exposure covering sports events all over the world.
He set up the ITA in 1987 and produced many champions for Nigeria with many of them going to America to study on college scholarships. During this time, he became the first black African to qualify as an international tennis official and worked for the ITF and ATP officiating in tennis events all over the world. It is this body of knowledge that drives his passion for sports development in Nigeria.
A graduate of English Grammar and Literature from the University of Ibadan and a Masters in Administration from the University of Lagos, his knowledge of the goings-on in Nigerian sports is pretty deep. The author is also a fellow of the International Institute of Management Consultants.
The book launch has Dr Onye Achilihu, a cardiovascular surgeon and Managing Director of Heartland Cardiovascular Consultants in Abuja as the chief launcher while Sunday Dare, the Hon. Minister of Youth and Sports, is the special guest of honour.
Alongside the book launch will be the kick-off of a billion Naira endowment for the Sports Performance Reward Fund (SPRF) which will go directly to rewarding sports men and women for podium success at the Olympics, Commonwealth, All Africa Games and the major World Championships.
The fund, Kienka said, will be administered by very reputable and high ranking private sector individuals representing the six geo-political zones, donor reps, official bankers, sports media and a couple of sports technocrats.
“Every kobo raised can only be applied for the purpose of rewarding the athletes and the fund will be run very transparently with updates in the public domain.
“We plan for instance, a N10 million reward for Olympic gold, N7.5 million for silver and N5 million for bronze. This, we are sure, will turn the attention of our youth to sports and attract massive private sector investment. It will also put the destiny of our sports men and women in their own hands.” Kienka 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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