SPORTS
WACOT Sponsors Kebbi Beach Soccer Club to Turkey
The WACOT Rice Limited (WACOT) has sponsored the Kebbi Beach Soccer Club for a tournament in Turkey.The Chairman of the company, Alhaji Faruk Gumel, revealed this at the presentation of the Nigerian Beach Soccer League’s trophy won by the Kebbi team to Gov. Atiku Bagudu in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.
He said that the team had been making the state and the company proud in the Nigerian and African Championships. “As part of our community support, youth empowerment and social development initiatives, we have been working and supporting this group of individuals to ply their trade. “Thankfully, they have made us proud by doing it very well; and we recently agreed to support the team to Turkey in order to play in a championship, and we have already made the funds available and they should be travelling in the next two weeks, by the grace of God,” Gumel said.In his remarks, Gov. Bagudu, congratulated the team who, he said, had demonstrated what was possible in a few years.“It was amazing to see a state’s team without an apparent beach pond, but representing us in far away Turkey.“But, all these wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the enthusiastic population and the state Ministry of Youth and Sports.“Her Excellency, Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu has made it a personal project, by ensuring that the team gets the necessary support and assistance.“WACOT has engaged in corporate social responsibility in different ways in the state; they are now supporting African competitiveness in supporting a team that, by the grace of God, will do Nigeria and Africa proud,” he said.The governor thanked the company and commended the team for their sacrifice and dedication, while urging them to do more to ensure they emerged victorious in the tournament.Earlier, the Secretary of the soccer team, Alhaji Abdullahi Yahaya, explained that the team won the league trophy in in August, after defeating Kaduna, Lagos, Edo and Kwara beach soccer teams.“Our project is just six years old now but we have achieved success being the number one club in Africa and 49th in the world just within six years,” he said.Yahaya thanked the company, the governor and Dr Shinkafi-Bagudu for their support to the team while assuring that the team would do as was expected of them. (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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