SPORTS
World Baseball Body Seeks Partnership with Bayelsa
From Tayese Mike, Yenagoa
The World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC) Africa, has extended an invitation of partnership to the Bayelsa State Government to promote the two games in the state.
The Vice President of the Confederation, Mrs. Victoria Sodipo, made the offer when she led a three-man WBSC team on a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, in Government House, Yenagoa.
A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, on Monday, disclosed that the Confederation proposed to enter an memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government covering a period of five years for the hosting of championships and special training camps.
Mrs. Sodipo, who doubles as Chairperson of the Bayelsa State Baseball and Softball Association, explained that the promotion of championships would attract softball organizations such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the International Softball Association to the state.
She noted that the contributions of these and other reputable organizations would help to create professional career opportunities and sustainable income for young, talented Bayelsans in softball from all over the world.
According to her, Bayelsa has the potential to become a safe haven for international baseball and softball clubs to scout for talents, noting that no fewer than eleven Bayelsan girls made it to the Nigerian Female Baseball team for the 2020 Olympic qualifiers.
The Bayelsa-born Mrs. Sodipo, who pointed out that WBSC Africa had sent coaches for special training to Major League Baseball camps in the United States, said one of their top strategies in developing the game was to move the sports to schools.
She prayed for the buy-in of the State Government through its Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, for the establishment of baseball and softball diamond parks across the state for the promotion of the sports at the grassroots.
Responding to the proposals, the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said the doors of government were always open to partnerships that would foster socio-economic development and add value to the lives of the people.
The Deputy Governor remarked that the dream of the present administration in Bayelsa was to make the state the Jerusalem of sports in the country, and expressed its preparedness to partner every well-meaning organization for sports development.
He lauded Mrs. Sodipo and her team for complementing the efforts at promoting the two sports, and directed the Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Dr. Daniel Igali, to further engage the team on the modalities of partnering the WBSC Africa.
Following are the results of Match Day 1 fixtures in the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), played on Sunday and dates of the remaining fixtures:
Akwa United FC 1-1 Abia Warriors FC
Bayelsa United FC 1-1 Kano Pillars FC
Katsina United FC 1-1 Bendel Insurance FC
Niger Tornadoes FC 0-0 Nasarawa United FC
Shooting Stars FC 1-1 Plateau United FC
El Kanemi Warriors Vs Kwara United FC (postponed )
The following Match Day two fixtures
Would be played on Sept.
25:Ikorodu City FC Vs Enugu Rangers international FC
Enyimba international FC Vs Lobi stars FC .
(NAN)
Following are the results of remaining Match Day one fixtures played on Sunday in the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL)Heartland FC 1-3 Enyimba international FCKwara United FC 1-2 Niger Tornadoes FCBendel Insurance FC 0-0 Rivers United FCPlateau United FC 1-0 Katsina United FCKano Pillars FC 3-0 Ikorodu City FCSunshine Stars FC 3-0 Bayelsa United FCAbia Warriors FC 0-2 Remo Stars FCNasarawa United FC 1-1 Shooting Stars FC.
(NAN)
The interim coach of the Super Eagles, Augustine Eguavoen, said his team can beat any team with the quality of players in the team.
Eguavoen stated this after his team spanked the Cheetahs of Benin Republic 4-0 in the 2025 African Cup Of Nations (AFCON) at the Godswill Akpabio stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom on Saturday.
“We have quality players to beat any team but we respect team anyway.
Any coach can come in and do the same job with the Super Eagles.“It is a mindset, we have the potential and how you perceived your opponent, given the information about them and then go out and do the job,“he said.
Equavoen attributed the victory to the formation adopted by the technical crew, adding that any formation could be used to ensure that the team was successful.
“We can decide to use any system. It is something we discussed and I slept over it. I know with the caliber of players that we have, we can decide to play any formation.
“Football is about you win, lose and draw, I don’t believe we have a poor result,” he said.
He, however, said that the former Super Eagles coach didn’t do a good job but it has to do with believe, what is at stake and what you want to achieve.
“Psychologically as a group, we are agreed, where we are and where we are going to be. We will definitely achieve it,” Equavoen said.
He commended the performance of the defence , describing it as superb, adding that the team had been training together for one week.
The coach said that asking six players to warm up for the second half was to buy time, adding that there was no need to rush to change.
He said the Cheetahs of Benin Republic were a good team, adding that they came with a good game plan.
Report says that Eguavoen was appointed interim coach after the deal between the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) and coach Bruno Labbadia failed.
NFF explained in a statement that it failed due to the stringent regulations of German tax authorities.(NAN)
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