SPORTS
Volleyball Federation Urges Private Sector to Sponsor Federation Activities
The Media and Publicity Chairman of Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Mr Famous Daunemigha, yesterday in Abuja urged the organized private Sector to sponsor the federation’s activities.
Daunemigha said the federation needed the support of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) to improve on the development of the sport in Nigeria.
According to him, the Federation have a lot of programmes to develop the sport in the country.
“We need to have a proper sponsorship for the players with prize money from sports investors, then, we will see the large number of the teams that will fight for those trophies.
“There is a great improvement in the ongoing Division One League, which is better than last year.
We have promised volleyball family and Nigeria that we will keep on improving on the sport.“We appeal to sponsors to be involved in sponsoring volleyball in the country so as to enhance development of the sport,” he said.
Daunemigha, also the South-South representative of NVBF board, said the major challenge affecting the Federation was lack of sponsorship.
“We have been struggling with sponsorship but now we have one or two sponsors coming in.
“Before the end of our tenure, we will be able to have a proper momentum that will take us to the next level; the board will fine-tune what we have done so far,” he said.
He said the Federal Government did not invest in other sports as they were only concentrating on football.
“Nigeria is so engrossed with only one set of sporting activity which is football; they do not know that there are other beautiful sports that exist.
“Now the government is playing a critical role; we also appeal to them to do more for the development of the sport from grassroots.
“To fund a team to come to Abuja, it required a lot of logistics in accommodation, medical bills, feeding and others; those are the challenges we are having now,” he said.
He said youths should explore in the sports to make a living for themselves.
“Youths should explore these opportunities outside and get involved in playing the game as professional players.
“There are a lot of Nigerians playing all over the world in Dubai, China, France etc, and they are playing well, they are bread winners of their families,” he said.
A total of 12 teams are participating in the first phase of the championship.
The male teams include Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), UCEM Spikers, Wikki Spikers of Bauchi, Spartan Spikers of Yola, ABM of Katsina and Caliphate Spikers of Sokoto.
The female teams are; Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Spikers, Bayonet Spikers of Kaduna, Life Camp VC of FCT, Wikki Spikers, Olalomi Royal Spikers of Kwara and Anambra Queens.
The 2022 National Division One Volleyball League, which started on May 13, is expected to end on May 22. (NAN)
SPORTS
2028 Olympic Games Qualifier: Super Falcons to Discover Opponents Today
Nigeria’s Super Falcons will find out their opponents for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games women’s football qualifiers this week.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Tuesday that the draw for the African qualifying series will take place on Wednesday at its headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.
The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 12 noon and will be streamed live on CAF TV.
A total of 35 national teams, including Super Falcons will participate in the qualifiers, which will be played over five rounds.
The other countries are; Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea.
Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe are the other countries that will take part in the qualifiers.
Two teams will earn Africa’s slots at the women’s football tournament of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The Super Falcons and Copper Queens of Zambia represented the continent at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
SPORTS
LBHF Tournament Honours Edun at 70 with Thrilling Bouts
The Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame (LBHF) monthly tournament returns on Saturday, celebrating founder Wale Edun’s 70th birthday marked on Monday, April 20.
“This special edition honours our founder’s enduring legacy,” said Mr David Mohamed, LBHF Director, in a statement issued on Thursday.
The tournament will be held at Agege Stadium in Lagos State.
Founded in 2010 by Edun, LBHF is widely regarded as Nigeria’s and Africa’s longest-running amateur boxing tournament.
Until Tuesday, Edun was the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, before resigning his post on health grounds.
“The initiative provides a platform for young boxers to train and gain exposure,” Mohamed said, noting its role in grassroots boxing development.
As a non-profit organisation, LBHF has nurtured talents who have achieved national and international success.
“This edition doubles as a tribute to Edun, whose vision has shaped many boxing careers,” Mohamed added.
Action begins with Fatade Juwon facing Abiodun Yusuf in the men’s 50kg category.
Tajudeen Yekini will then confront Adele Faruq in the 55kg division.
In the men’s 60kg category, Tajudeen Rasheed meets Ogunleye Aliazeem, while Mosuru Adedeji battles Innocent Prosper.
Exhibition bouts will feature Princess Adeola against Zainab Ibrahim in the women’s 28kg category, and Adeseye Kalid versus Saliu Razak in the men’s 34kg division.
The sole women’s main-card clash will see Oluwatoyin Amirat face Aminashaun Raheemo in the 48kg division.
Wahab Ramadan will meet Lawal Opeyemi in the men’s 70kg bout, before Makinde Mohamed faces Ibadiaro Idris in the 75kg category.
The event concludes with Lawal Mohammed against Oluwapo Oluwaseun in the men’s 80kg title bout.
Over the years, LBHF has developed talents like Taiwo “Esepo” Agbaje, producing fighters who have represented Nigeria with distinction.
“This celebration reinforces our mission to sustain boxing as a pathway for young Nigerians,” Mohamed said.
SPORTS
Man City, Inter, Chelsea, Juventus Face Off in Hong Kong for Preseason
English and Italian football giants Manchester City, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Juventus will square up for pre-season friendlies in Hong Kong in August, the clubs announced yesterday.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, currently arm-wrestling Arsenal for the Premier League title, will take on Inter Milan on Saturday, August 1, spearheaded by their Norwegian goal machine Erling Haaland.
The match will kick off the “Hong Kong Football Festival” at the city’s futuristic 50,000-seat Kai Tak stadium.
The gleaming arena opened a year ago, featuring a roof that can be closed and air-conditioning to combat the fierce summer heat and humidity in Hong Kong.
Chelsea will play Juventus on Wednesday August 5 to round off the mini-tournament.

