SPORTS
We are Going to Adopt New Measures to Fight Age Cheats — Dare
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, has said that the ministry will adopt more scientific and digital means of identifying age cheats at the National Youth Games in future and mete out appropriate stiff penalties to the offending athletes and states.
The Minister said this on Tuesday, in Ilorin, while declaring close the 6th National Youth Games (NYG).
“We will consider the NIMC registration as a requirement going forward.
There will be a need for all athletes to have NIMC registration before they can participate henceforth.“As this database will now require one to input their national identity number before the athlete can be registered successfully.
“This measure is needed to avoid losing out on a possible potential medalist being screened out as over aged while they are not”, the minister said.
Dare said this approach will in turn prevent the over aged athletes to be easily identified and screened out in order not to deny qualified athletes a future in their chosen sports.
He described the games as an awesome time of competition, bonding, making friends, building intimacy and developing healthy rivalries, Nigeria’s best young talents were brought together under a platform to do what they love the most.
Dare explained that medals may have been won and lost but the reality is that every young talent represented here was a winner, whether they had a medal around their necks or not.
“This edition of the National Youth Games has been an eye opener to all, as we saw the abundance of talents and potentials in our beloved country.
“Let me highlight the youngest athletes at these games, 9-year-old Gift Torhile from the FCT and 10-year old Wilson Bright from Delta.
“Some of the outstanding gymnasts like Obiefuna Munachi, the 13-year old from FCT and Mustapha Oriyomi, another 13-year old from Delta.
“Then the amazing talents in weightlifting, like Florence Olarinoye from Lagos, Victory Okundia from Edo and Marvelous Chidirim from FCT “, Dare said.
The Minister said he wont fail to recognise Akinwowon Oladeji from Lagos, a deaf boy who won the 100m, 200m and 400m, describing him as a special lad.
The stated that the talents and many more were yet to be identified will be properly groomed and prepared for the African Youth Games in Ethiopia in 2022, as well as the Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal.
“As a Ministry, what we have seen here in the last few days has reinforced our belief that every effort put into grassroots sports development is a worthy investment and not a waste.
“Since its first edition held in 2013, the National Youth Games has grown in leaps and bounds. This year 35 States participated in 34 sports.
“This is a crucial step in the initiatives adopted by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, to identify these talents early, give them the technical and financial support, provide them guidance and see them become world beaters in the not too distant future” the minister said.
Age cheats were prevalent in the 6th edition of the games.
Also speaking at the closing ceremony, the Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. Age Abdulkareem represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Mikhail Buhari, thanked the Federal Government for the opportunity to host the rest of Nigeria.
He said the institution was willing to continue hosting the Games as it had helped in improving the sporting facilities in the school.
Abdulkareem, however, appealed to the sports minister to fulfil his promise of building an Olympic sized swimming pool in the institution, among other facilities, saying that the institution had become the home of sports among its peers. (NAN)
The duo of Mariam Eniola Bolaji and Jeremiah Chigozie have qualified for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games coming up from 28th August to 8th September.
According to the Badminton World Federation, Multiple African Champion, Mariam Bolaji will represent Nigeria in the Women’s Singles Standing Lower 3 (SL3) while Jeremiah Chigozie represents Nigeria in the Men’s Singles Standing Lower 4 (SL4).
An elated Francis Orbih, President of Badminton Federation of Nigeria said the qualification of Mariam Bolaji and Jeremiah Chigozie is a testimony of hard work, consistency and perseverance.
Orbih who was full of joy revealed that Nigeria stands a good chance to make history by winning medals in para badminton in her debut appearance.
He said, “Today, history has been made as two players for the first time will be representing Nigeria in the para badminton event at the Paralympic Games. I am full of joy because the sacrifices of the players and the Federation were not in vain.
“Mariam Bolaji and Jeremiah Chigozie have consistently attended the African Championship winning gold medals in the singles and doubles events. Last month, Mariam Bolaji won two gold medals at the Spanish Internationals in Victoria and Toledo putting her in a better position to make it to the Paralympics; which has become a reality.
“With adequate camping, foreign tours and proper funding, I believe Nigeria will win a medal in the Para Badminton event when we make our debut this year”.
Orbih once again, called on well meaning individuals to support the Badminton Federation of Nigeria in ensuring the athletes get maximum support ahead of the Olympic/Paralympic Games in Paris next August.
He said, “I will not get tired of calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the private sector to key into our brand and give more support to the Badminton Federation of Nigeria. We have athletes who are marketable and will sell their brands to the world with their sterling performances”.
Mariam Eniola Bolaji shocked the world by winning her first gold medal at the Spanish Para badminton International 2021 beating Oksana Kozyna from Ukraine.
Bolaji won the women’s singles SL3 at the Uganda Para Badminton International 2023, All African Para Badminton Championship 2023 (Doubles and Mixed Doubles).
She won gold medals at the 5th Fazza Dubai Para Badminton International 2023, Egypt Para Badminton International 2024, World Para Badminton Championship 2024 in Thailand and Spanish Para Badminton International 2024.
Bolaji is also the first African player to be ranked among the top 10 in the BWF world rankings as she is currently ranked number 5 in the world.
Meanwhile, Jeremiah Chigozie won bronze medal at the Uganda Para Badminton International 2023 and three gold medals at African Para Badminton Championship 2023
He played a lesser number of championships compared to Eniola; playing in Egypt, Dubai, and World Championship in Thailand.
Chigozie got to the quarter finals in the men’s singles SL4 category in Thailand and currently ranked number 16 in the recent BWF para Badminton ranking.
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Nigeria’s table tennis pacesetter, Aruna Quadri, on winning the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Cup title.
Quadri achieved a resounding victory in the final match of the 2024 ITTF Africa Cup in Rwanda, reclaiming his title and sealing his place as Africa’s table tennis champion.
The President commended the table tennis star for his dogged pursuit of excellence even in the face of gnawing obstacles, declaring that the zeal for distinction, the hardiness to succeed, and the inventiveness to solve complex problems are the exceptional qualities that define Nigerians.
The President also noted the recent progress in the nation’s sports sector, with remarkable performances in the African Games, the Africa Cup of Nations, and the World Relay Championships, and emphasized that his administration will continue to foster the growth and development of sports in the country.
The Board of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Finidi George as Head Coach of the Senior Men National Football Team, the Super Eagles.
A statement by Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Communications, on Monday said the NFF approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to appoint George.
Reports says that the ace winger spent 20 months as assistant to José Peseiro before the Portuguese voluntarily left the post after guiding the team to silver medal at AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.
George took charge of the squad in acting capacity during two friendly matches in Morocco last month.
His squad edged Ghana 2-1 in the first match, ending an 18-year winless streak against the Black Stars, but then lost 0-2 to Mali in the second game.
He was a member of the so-styled ‘Golden Generation’ that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Tunisia.
The team also emerged the second most entertaining team in Nigeria’s debut at the FIFA World Cup finals in USA the same year.
George won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals. He also won gold, silver and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2002 AFCON tournaments.
The 52-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and Real Betis (Spain) forward made a scoring debut for fatherland in an AFCON qualifying match against Burkina Faso at the National Stadium, Lagos, on July 27, 1991.
He also featured for Calabar Rovers and Sharks FC in the domestic scene before heading to Europe.
He assisted Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory) to score Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Bulgaria in Dallas, USA, on 19th June 1994.
George had actually scored the goal that took Nigeria to that FIFA World Cup debut, when he put Nigeria ahead against hosts Algeria in a crucial qualifier in Algiers on 8th October, 1993.
The match eventually ended 1-1 and earned Nigeria a ticket to the finals in America.
George’s immediate task will be to guide the Super Eagles to victory in two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic in Uyo and Abidjan respectively, in a little over five weeks.
The matches are must-win encounters, with the Super Eagles lagging behind in third place in Group C of the African campaign behind Rwanda and South Africa.(NAN)
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