Great Chess Players Embrace Chess Heights Monthly Tournamnet.

All preparations have been completed to host August dition of the Chess Heights Monthly tournamnet.

The tourney will hold this Saturday at the University of Lagos, Sports Centre.

The event is open to all members of the general public as last month's edition had a surprise winner in the person of Daniel Korede.

Korede had a relative low rating from the tournamnet serie sbut defeated many big chess players with bigger reputations.

Top players expected to be there include Toyin Jegede, Olaoniekun Agusto, OLuwole Oladele and Chike Aniunoh.

The tournament is sponsored by the Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government, Honourable Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun.

Okagbare Posts Season Best to Win in Budapest

Beijing Olympic bronze medalist, Blessing Okagbare at the weekend won the Hungary Athletics Grand Prix long jump event in Budapest to re-enforce Nigeria’s quests to sweep track and field medals at the All Africa Games scheduled for next month in Maputo, Mozambique.

The Delta girl jumped 6.84m to claim the gold ahead of Renate Medgysova of Slovakia6.64 metre and American Janay Deloach,6.43 metre.

Although Okagbare’s win was partly added by a wind of +2.9, it however did not stop the University of Texas in El Paso (UTEP) general studies major from celebrating her victory.

She returned later same Saturday evening to claim the bronze medal of the women 200m with a season’s best time of 22.94. Jamaican Veronica Campbell Brown won the gold in 22.26 while the silver went to Sanya Richards Ross of the USA in 22.85.

All the top three winners ran their seasons best at the grand prix named after Istvan Gyulai, a former secretary general of the IAAF who died in 2006.

Okagbare’s field feat is coming on the heels of the sterling performances put up by both Doreen Amata in the high jump and Tosin Oke in the triple jump.

Apart from the fact that Amata has remained consistent this season, she is a top contender at the world stage with the record equaling 1.95m she posted three weeks ago in Germany.

With a win over world leader Blanka Vlasic at the Monaco leg of the Diamond League, the All Africa Games defending champion may shock the world to get to the podium at the World Championships holding in Daegu, South Korea later this month.

Oke on the other hand remains the favourite for the gold in Maputo with the season best of 17.20m he jumped in Barcelona penultimate weekend.

However, the weekend belonged to Jamaican sprinters who dominated the Budapest events as fast and dominating victories by Asafa Powell and Veronica Campbell-Brown and a world-leading effort in the Discus Throw by Zoltan Kovago highlighted the inaugural Istvan Gyulai Memorial.

Powell, the current 100m world leader at 9.78, produced what was arguably his finest day of the season. After a smooth 9.90 (wind +1.8) in the preliminary round, the former World record holder clocked 9.86 (+2.0) in the final, to win by a hefty margin over Zimbabwean national record holder Ngonidzashe Makusham who stopped the clock in 10.16.

It was Powell’s fifth victory in seven competitions this season – in late May he was second to Usain Bolt in Rome and was forced to pull up with a minor injury in Rabat, Morocco – which puts the 28-year-old firmly among the favourites at the upcoming IAAF World Championships.

Zoltan Kovago, the 2004 Olympic silver medallist, added more than four metres to his season’s best with a 69.50m effort to win the Discus Throw, the farthest throw in the world this year.

Lithuania’s 39-year-old Virgilijus Alekna, who arrived in the Hungarian capital with four straight victories, finished second with a 66.02m best.

Okagbare Posts Season Best to Win in Budapest

Beijing Olympic bronze medalist, Blessing Okagbare at the weekend won the Hungary Athletics Grand Prix long jump event in Budapest to re-enforce Nigeria’s quests to sweep track and field medals at the All Africa Games scheduled for next month in Maputo, Mozambique.

The Delta girl jumped 6.84m to claim the gold ahead of Renate Medgysova of Slovakia6.64 metre and American Janay Deloach,6.43 metre.

Although Okagbare’s win was partly added by a wind of +2.9, it however did not stop the University of Texas in El Paso (UTEP) general studies major from celebrating her victory.

She returned later same Saturday evening to claim the bronze medal of the women 200m with a season’s best time of 22.94. Jamaican Veronica Campbell Brown won the gold in 22.26 while the silver went to Sanya Richards Ross of the USA in 22.85.

All the top three winners ran their seasons best at the grand prix named after Istvan Gyulai, a former secretary general of the IAAF who died in 2006.

Okagbare’s field feat is coming on the heels of the sterling performances put up by both Doreen Amata in the high jump and Tosin Oke in the triple jump.

Apart from the fact that Amata has remained consistent this season, she is a top contender at the world stage with the record equaling 1.95m she posted three weeks ago in Germany.

With a win over world leader Blanka Vlasic at the Monaco leg of the Diamond League, the All Africa Games defending champion may shock the world to get to the podium at the World Championships holding in Daegu, South Korea later this month.

Oke on the other hand remains the favourite for the gold in Maputo with the season best of 17.20m he jumped in Barcelona penultimate weekend.

However, the weekend belonged to Jamaican sprinters who dominated the Budapest events as fast and dominating victories by Asafa Powell and Veronica Campbell-Brown and a world-leading effort in the Discus Throw by Zoltan Kovago highlighted the inaugural Istvan Gyulai Memorial.

Powell, the current 100m world leader at 9.78, produced what was arguably his finest day of the season. After a smooth 9.90 (wind +1.8) in the preliminary round, the former World record holder clocked 9.86 (+2.0) in the final, to win by a hefty margin over Zimbabwean national record holder Ngonidzashe Makusham who stopped the clock in 10.16.

It was Powell’s fifth victory in seven competitions this season – in late May he was second to Usain Bolt in Rome and was forced to pull up with a minor injury in Rabat, Morocco – which puts the 28-year-old firmly among the favourites at the upcoming IAAF World Championships.

Zoltan Kovago, the 2004 Olympic silver medallist, added more than four metres to his season’s best with a 69.50m effort to win the Discus Throw, the farthest throw in the world this year.

Lithuania’s 39-year-old Virgilijus Alekna, who arrived in the Hungarian capital with four straight victories, finished second with a 66.02m best.

Yakowa Support Kaduna United CampaigN With 62 Million Naira

One of Nigeria's representaive in the CAF Confederation Cup will depart Nigeria today ahead of the continetal soccer fiesta against the Club Africain scheduled for the Stade Olympique d'El Menzah in Tunis.

The club contingent of 22 players will leave Kaduna State today to make a three-hour trip by road to Nigeria's capital, Abuja where they are expected to board a flight to Lagos State enroute Tunisia.

The club's Media Officer, Abdulrahman Tonga, said the state government had released the sum of sixty two million five hundred Naira for the team, stressing that the gesture would boost the morale of the football players to excel in Tunisia.

He said the money wolud be used to pay the players three months salaries.

Heartland Should Show Gratitude – NFF

The Nigeria Football Federation said on Thursday it was shocked that Premier League club, Heartland FC of Owerri could express dissatisfaction with the compensation of N500,000 for an ill-advised trip to Abuja.

Chairman of the NFF Disciplinary Committee and NFF Executive Committee member, Barrister Olaleye Adepoju explained: “Instead of appreciating the gesture from Ocean Boys FC, Heartland FC has surprisingly gone to town to say it has been shortchanged. Who shortchanged the club?

“The issues involved here are unambiguous. The Nigeria Premier League took a decision to banish Ocean Boys FC from Yenagoa to Abuja after a troubled match. Ocean Boys protested against this decision, and the Nigeria Premier League knew about the protest, and also knew the protest was to be heard before Ocean Boys’ next match.

“The NPL should have informed Heartland FC, which happened to be the next opponents of Ocean Boys FC, about the protest, and the fact that the protest was to be heard by the NFF Disciplinary Committee before the match involving the two teams.

“Heartland FC claimed to have arrived Abuja for the match on Monday morning. The match was scheduled for Wednesday, and by Monday evening, the Disciplinary Committee of the NFF had taken the decision that Ocean Boys return to Yenagoa immediately. From the bill sent to NPL and copied to the NFF, Heartland FC said its players and officials stayed in Abuja until Wednesday. What were they doing in Abuja until Wednesday after learning of the decision on Monday?

“It was never the business of NFF to communicate to Heartland FC that the protest by Ocean Boys against its banishment by NPL was to be heard two days before the match”.

Ajose Confronts Ali Chebah In Elimination Bout

Nigeria's ace pugilist, Segun Ajose, will depart the country this weekend in readiness for the World Boxing Council,WBC, elimination bout against Ali Chebah of Morroco in a fight scheduled for 12th of August, in Califonia, United States.

Ajose coach, Joe Mensah, who made the statement in an interview with our sports correspondent, Yinka Adebayo, said the bout which had witnessed series of postponement is a qualificatio for the World title as Ajose is in the right frame of mind to outpulmmel the Moroccan boxers.

The former Head coach of Nigeria Boxing Federation, said Ajose had to go through series of therapy to put in back in shape since the bout which should had come up a couple of months was a subject of postponement due to hitches from the initial promoter.

He said the technical crew of Ajose camp had to make use of the facility at the military camp in Shomolu to prepare for the bout as they had to search for an exceptional boxers in Nigerian and Ghana as Ajose's sparing partners to ascertain his strenght for the fight.

In a bid to train with quality boxing tools to prepare for an international boxing championship, the boxing coach, said they had to purchase some boxing materials in addition to the equipment to the facility at the military camp,adding that the bout is being stage by Dibella Entertainment

Mensah, who is optimistic that Ajose would outwit Chebah, said arrangements have been concluded to secure visa entry into United States as the boxers is expected to acclamatise for two weeks, adding that the boxers would intensify his training programmes while in United States.

He eplained that winner of the bout would be an official mandatory challenger to face Bradley Timothy of United States who is current World's Lightwelter weight champion

Awogu Urges NFF,NPL To Embrace Peace.

The General Manager of Supersport Nigeria, Felix Awogu, has said that the conflict between the Nigeria Football Federation and te Nigeria Premier League is potent enough to jeopardise the development of Nigerian football league.

Awogu, who made this statement in an interview with Sportsweight.blogspot.com during the outfit presentation of New Football Season Plans at GET Arena,Lekki,said lack of organisation structur in the administration of running of Nigerian foootball was worrisome as the power play on who has the authourity of running the Nigeria League coupled with series of court cases on the leardership of NPL has paved the way for Nigerian league players to deem it necessay to feature in the Kenyan League.

He said the Nigerian League which was rated the second best in Africa after South African leagu, is gradually losing its position to the Kenyan league that has a sponsorship deal that is far better the Nigeria Premier League, adding that the sign on fee of football players in the Kenyan league is higher than what is obtainable in the NPL.

According to him, Supersport has recently acquired a brand new Outside Broadcast Van,O.B.Van, to add value to the Kenya league due to its organised structure in the area of timing, adding tat it is very hard to ascertain whether a particular match in the NPL could be beam to the world as being scheduled on their menu list to their esteemed customers.

To him,Supersport is investing heavily in ptomoting te NPL but the admnistrators saddld with the responsibility of running the league are frustrating the league with series of crises bedevilling the league.

Ghanaian Players Are Committed, Says Amokachi.

Former striker of the Nigeria's Super Eagles, Daniel Amokachi, has explained the reason why Ghanaian national teams have been a threat to the Nigeria's national sides in an organised football competitions.

Sportsweight.blogspot.com, reports that the Ghanaian under 23 team stopped Nigeria's Olympic team from qualifying for the All African Games while the Black Queens of Ghana shattered the aspirations of Super Falcons from featuring in the All African Games.

The former Everton F.C striker, said the Ghanaian were committed to their national teams and the gesture has paved the way for their teams to have an edge over the counterparts from Nigeria, adding that Nigeria could break the spell if there are right approaches to football competitions.

While noting that the appointment of Samson Siasia as the Super eagles coach has been able to redeem the image of the nation's football among the comity of African playing football nations, Amokachi, said siasia should parade the best football payers instead of fielding untested football player since the Ghanaian would feature its legs having record a scintillating performance at the 2010 South Africa FIFA World Cup.

LSFA Warns NFF Over Federation Cup.

The Nigeria Football Federation should by now beam its earch light on another state that would host the Federation Cup final as the Lagos State Football Association is not ready to honour the NFF proposal.

The Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, Seyi Akinwunmi, who has vowed to repackage the level football development in Lagos State, said the era of beckoning on the Lagos State Government to host top NFF graded matches without making available funds to run the match was over.

The NFF in its usual had witten to the LSFA to host the final as well as the loser's match of the Federation Cup biled for the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

Akinwunmi, said the LSFA would only accept to run this year's Federation Cup final and Loser's match at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, if the NFF gives them sufficient funds rom the Feeration's Cup sponsorship deal to run the event, stressing that the LSFA needs money to accomplish its numerous footall competitions that wasting its resources on the NFF sponsored competition.

He said the International friendly between Nigeria's Super Eagles and Sierra Leone sponsored by the state's governmnet waas an unprofitable venture as the NFF is yet to give the LSFA of the money reliased through the sales of match tickets.

He believed that the NFF should accord its affiliated body,LSFA, with cordial respect, adding that the Federation's Cup is being sponsored by corporate bodies, so it would be unwise to solely take up the NFF responsibility withoutbeing backed up with finacial commitment.

SuperSport Tracks Super Eagles's Stars In Champions League

SuperSport has promised to offer Nigerians the chance to track the progress of their stars in Europe’s premier club football competition starting from next month.

Sportsweight.blogspot.com, reports that SuperSport recently extended broadcasting rights to the UEFA Champions League, Super Cup and Europa League through to the 2014/15 season for the entire Sub-Saharan Africa region

The Managing Director of Multichoice Nigeria, Joe Hundah said that the company was glad that the Champions’League was back with SuperSport on DStv, which is the traditional home of the best sports content in the world.

With Vincent Enyeama, Taye Taiwo and Emmanuel Emenike all having recently made big money moves to the French, Italian and Turkish champions, Hundah, said the move had increased Nigerian participation in the Champions League, as he explained that SuperSport would be significantly upping its Champions League High Definition offering with two live matches broadcast in HD per match day compared to one in past seasons.

Having broadcast over 1000 live matches last season ranging from the Barclays Premier League, the Nigerian Premier League, La Liga, the Bundesliga and Kenya Premier League (KPL), the World of Champions has set its sights on the magical figure of 1,200.

Speaking on the challenge of delivering on the promise of 1200 live matches, the General Manager of SuperSport Nigeria, Felix Awogu said it was a challenge that the company are happy to take up.

He said the recent influx of young and exciting Nigerian talent into the Bundesliga, like Chinedu Obasi at Hoffenhiem, Macauley Chrisantus at FSV Frankfurt and Anthony Uja at FSV Mainz, has greatly enhanced the league’s continental appeal.

Oshodi Plans To Partner Private Bodies

Lagos State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development,has declared its readiness to partner with the private in a view ti drive sports development in the state to loftier height.

The State's Commissioner for Sports, Wahid Enitan Oshodi,said the state's Government was ready to collaborate with Super Sports Television on its “Let’s Play” Program which is targeted towards getting the kids off the streets into productive ventures in the area of sports.

Oshodi, who stated this when the Super Sports Team paid him a courtesy call in his office, said the state sports development policy and implementation was similar to what “Let’s Play” Programme is expected to achieve.

Supersport CSI and Enterprises, Vaughn Bishop, Manager, said the goal of “Let’s Play Nigeria” which is expected to domicile in Lagos is to discover, nurture and promote young stars in schools and on the streets.

Bishop, added that the programme aims at keeping the kids in schools and off the streets while being involved in sporting activities, adding that the move is similar to the Lagos State Policy of promoting sports using the vehicle of education.

In similar vein, the state Commissioner for Sports,Wahid Enitan Oshodi, has appreciated the continued sponsorship of the Principals’ Cup by GT Bank over the years.

The commissioner made this statement when a team from Guaranty Trust Bank comprising Lola Odedina, General Manager Communications and External Affairs; Daodu; Fela Bank-Olemoh, CEO Media Vision and Jimmy Sogbesan of Media Vision paid a courtesy call on the Commissioner.

He hopes the Principals’ Cup Competition which was a yearly event would be bigger and better in the next edition.

While speaking, GTB General Manager Communications and External Affairs,Odedina, promised continued sponsorship of the competition,stressing that there would be an increased cooperation between the Bank and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development.

She complimented the Honourable Commissioner in the area of sports development in the past especially in Table Tennis while wishing him a successful tenure in office.

She promised that GT Bank would continue to collaborate with and support sporting activities in the State.

Eucharia Uche invites 32 for Cameroon

Head Coach of Super Falcons, Eucharia Uche has invited 32 players to camp for next month’s London 2012 Olympic Games qualifying fixture against Cameroon.

The list consist of six foreign-based players and 26 home-based that are expected to make camp at the Millennium Hotel, Abuja from the first day of August.

Five of the six foreign-based players were part of the squad that finished in ninth place at the recently-concluded 6th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Germany.

They are Veteran forward Perpetua Nkwocha scored Nigeria’s only goal of the tournament in the 1-0 win over Canada in Dresden while defenders Faith Ikidi, Onome Ebi and Helen Ukaonu posted creditable performances. Midfielder Rita Chikwelu and forward Emueje Ogbiagbevba are the others.

Ogbiagbevba scored a brace against Namibia in the earlier round of the Olympic Games qualifying race but was dropped for the global finals in Germany.

The home-based contingent is led by goalkeeper and skipper Precious Dede, and also includes goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi, defenders Osinachi Ohale, Rebecca Kalu, Joy Jegede, Josephine Chukwunonye and Gloria Ofuegbu, midfielders Glory Iroka, Francesca Ordega and Amarachi Okoronkwo, and forwards Ebere Orji, Desire Oparanozie, Stella Mbachu, Esther Sunday, Amenze Aighewi and Vera Okolo.

The Falcons will take on the Lionesses of Cameroon in the first leg of the fixture in Nigeria on Sunday, August 28, with the return leg in Cameroon two weeks later.

Akinwunmi Vows To Regenerate Football In Lagos State

The Lagos State Football Association,LSFA, has announced its determination to regenerate the standard of football to meet international level as the Association is on the verge of establishing a relationship with the English Football Association.

Its Chairma, Seyi Akinwunmi, who made this statement on Tuesday during its Association Ordinary General Assembly at the SS Lounge,Victooria Island, said the era of lackadaisical attitude to football development had gone as he explained the new board of the LSFA would not leave any stone unturned to change the face of football in Nigeria through the Association.

The meeting kick started with a motion moved by the chairman of Lagos State Football Association,Isaac Adeagbo, and supported by David Shofoluwe after Kunle Bakare of Ikeja Divisional Football Association raised a vital issue that a motion should be movd to back Akinwunmi's plight that the meet is not Annual General Meeting, thus it should be Ordinary General Assembly.

Akinwunmi, said the Association had contacted the English Football Association with the view of creating an exchange programmes especially in the area of conducting regualr courses on football coaches, referees and football administrators, stressing that the gesture would help certified coaches under the platform of Lagos State Footballl Coaches Association to acquire UEFA License B certificate.

Akinwunmi, said the association had enjoined the Lagos State Football Coaches Association to repackage it programme where uncertified should be discarded from being on the bench during any organised football league matches, adding that the association should be seen as a platform to select coaches for Nigerian senior team.

He said the plans of the LSFA was to give the state's football coaches a leverage where they would be ranked the best in the country base on the current position in the latest happening in the world of football coaching, stressing that the Association would create a platform where the coaches would attend a world class coaching course.

He said the Association would partner corporate bodies to help LSFA to actualise its diverse football programmes among which is the Lagos State Super League which would accomodate about 20 football clubs, stressing that the move would further bring football to the foot step of the soccer fans who were yearning for football actions.

He charged the Divisional Football Associations to move along with the LSFA vision of regenerating football as the proposed election into the DFA's is a must, stressing that the Association has concluded arrangements to reform clubs and DFA's affiliation unlike the past regime where the affiliation and transfer of football players were illegal.

He explained that the move would pave the way for the LSFA to have absolute control on football competitions unlike in the past where uncertified football competitions by the LSFA were in vogue, adding that the Association had stopped numerous uncertified football competitons as many more would still be halted because there is need to sanitise football competitions.

He believed that the LSFA had reached a level where all the football competitions would be computerised for future reference as it would serve as a data base to eliminate age cheat among others in Nigerian football.

The meeting was attended by representatives of all the Divisional Football Associations as well a the club owners, Football Coaches Association, Referee Council amomg others

Fashanu Wants NSC To Regenerate Table Tennis.

A table tennis enthusiast, Babatunde Fashanu, has urged the National Sports Commission to pave the way towards regenerating the poor standard of table tennis through the provision of International Table Tennis Federation approved equipment couple with availability of funds to stage and attend international competitions.

The move according to Fashanu, whose interest in table tennis was borne out genuine purpose to improve the dwindling standard of the sport, said it was sad that the country that is well blessed with great ping pingers did not have a reputable konck up hall to train her table tennis players to stardom,stressing that the knock hall at the National Stadium is an eye sore to a country that produced the likes of Atanda Musa, Sunday Eboh, Bose Kaffo,Segun Toriola among others.

Fashanu, whose father, Reginard Fashanu, represented Nigeria in the track and field event, said table tennis was famous in Lagos Island during his youthful days as many people form different walks of life converged at Alakoro, Elegbata, among others to play table tennis, stressing that such gesture had faded away because of lack of developmental programmes to take the sport to the nooks and crannies of the streets in lagos State as well as the Primary and Secondary Schools.

The Chairman of Printlink Table Tennis Club, said the National Sports Commission should endeavor to review its budget and find a lasting soluton to improve the standard of the sport by providing modern materials that would march up with ITTF specifications, adding that the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation should also ensure that it establish a cordial relationship with corporate bodies since government alone cannot fund sports.

"Look at what Nestle Milo is doing in Basketball.In the past Cadbury used to associate with the NTTF and such marrige lifted the standard of table tennis in Nigeria unlike what is obtainable today in the sport"

According to him, Egpyt seems to have abetter table tennis structure that the NTTF that have credible ping pongers but deficient in sourcing for corporate sponsors not only to stage tournaments but to partner the Federation in assisting its wards to feature in ATTF/ITTF approved championships couple with a exchange programme with the best table tennis playing nation in the world.

"Egypt have overshadowed Nigeria due to their developmental programmes.Egpyt are organised and their focus in the sport is to be a leader".NIgeria Table Tennis Federation should endeavor to emulate them by organising more games and also delve into exchange programme to enable Nigerian players acquint themselves with the latest happenings in the sport."

To him, the annual Asoju Oba Table Tennis Championship should have gained government intervention in the area of expand its coast to international level since the sole sponsor, Chief Molade Okoya Thomas, has consistently sponsor the tourney for over forty years without any hitch.

"I want to thank Chief Molade Okoya Thomas for sustaining the Asoju Oba Table Tennis Closed Table Tennis Championship for over forty years.He has no support from the government. Asoju Oba Table Tennis Championship should by now be an international event by now having lasted for forty years and people are not taking it beyond its present position."

Fashanu's quest to further build the career of Nigerian ping pongers encouraged him to pick interest in Kazeem Adeniyi, one of the outstanding Nigerian table tennis players to achieve his dream of becoming world champion, adding that Adeniyi has the potential but he lacks financial support, hence the reason he decided to help him to live beyond his present position.

According to him, his support coupled with the potentials in the table tennis players had been able yield fruits as Adeniyi won the last edition of Asoju Oba Table tennis Championship and also qualify to feature in the just concluded African Singles Championship in Morocco.

"I pick Kazeem Adeniyi from my present environment where i stayed.I used to see them playing table tennis and i picked on him four years ago.I sponsored him to the Asoju Oba Table tennis Championship and he won.He lost in the final of 2009.In 2010, i sponsored him again and he won"

"From there i felt i should encourage him further and it was in 2010.I feel so inspired with his progress, his achievement and i told him to bring forward talented ping ponger who possess similar skills.That's how Printlink Table Tennis Club wa s formed."

"I want to support the club to become the feeder team of the national team.Am glad that Kazeem is progressing and i want to imlore the government to take on as someone who can really project the image of Nigeria.Government have everything it takes to bring up good performances in sports and used that to correct the wrong in the society."

Edem, Otu, Friday Write Nigeria Name In Gold In Morroco.

Nigeria's representative in the African Club Championship in the female category has made the country proud after emerging the champion in the Women's team event which came to an end on Monday in Rabat, Morroco.

The team which comprises of Nigeria's number female ping ponger, Effiong Edem, Cecilia Otu and Janet Friday, sponsored by the Cross River State Government defeated Congo Brazaville in the Semi final and their arch rival, Egpyt in the final.

While speaking with Sportsweight.blogspot.com, Offiong Edem, who was elated over the feat, said they were determined to win the tourney after she was unable to achieve her desire in the African Singles event which climaxed last week in Morroco.

She thanked the Cross River State Government for its unflinching support to feature in the tourney,stressing that the team's chief coaach, Richard Edem and the Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, Honourable Orok Otuk Duke motivated them to victory.

Meanwhile, representative of the country in Men's event, Union Bank Table Tennis Club came third after losing to Congo Brazaville.

The team's Head Coach, Samson Kolawole Ajayi, commended the team's spirit for picking the third position as he praised the bank's management for paving the way for the ping pongers to feature in the event.

Edem Sure Of Picking African Club Championship Final Ticket

Nigeria's ace female table tennis player, Offiong Edem, is optimistic that Nigerian team to this year's African Club Championship in Morocco would lift the trophy following the team's outstanding performace in the tiurney.

According to her, the team which is made up of Offiong Edem, Cecilia Otu and Janet Friday beat the Moroccocan squad by three straight as they repeat similar feat against while they defeated in their third group outing by three set to one to scale through to the semi final,stressing that Cecilia Otu lost her first game while she outshine Moroccocan toughest ping ponger by three set to one.

Edem, who is ranked number three hundred and seven in the world in the ITTF latest rankings, told sportsweight.blogspot.com that they are in good spirit and ready to outplay their opponets because they are being motivated by the Vice Chairman of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, Honourable Orok Otuk Duke and their coach, Richard Edem, who ensure that they are well focussed to lift the trophy.

She said the Nigerian team had a better chance to win the Semi final clash since the toughest Chinese born Congo Brazaville player, Han Xing, is not competing in the event.

She commended the Cross River State Government for making it possible for them to feature in the competition because lack of sponsors to feature in international events has been the bane of table tennis development as the Egpytians are better ranked by ITTF and ATTF because they play regular international ping pong events which according to her, exposed their payers to top flight tournaments and ability to acquire more points.

She said Nigerian table tennis players were better but lack of regular tournaments and sponsors had deprieved the ping pongers of gaining international recognition.

Pix Courtesy:ITTF

Union Bank Table Tennis Team Beat Morocco, Tunisia.

Nigeria's representative in the ongoing African Club Championship in Morocco,Union Bank Table Tennis Club, has secured six points after beating Morocco and Tunisia in their group games to book a date with Congo Brazaville in today's fixtures.

The Club's Coach, Samson Kolawole Ajayi, who confirmed the report while speaking with Sportsweight.blogspot.com, said his team beat Morocco by three set one as similar feat was recorded against Tunisia as the team would today book a date with Congo Brazaville and Egpyt.

According to him, the team which comprises of Ganiyu Ashimiyu, Shola Oyetayo, Jide Ogidiolu among others are in good frame of mind to make Nigeria proud at the championship, stressing that a win against Congo Brazaville would earn them a semi final ticket.

Ajayi, said his ping pongers had acquinted themselves with the quality of table tennis materials being provided for the tourney, adding that the club had motivated the players with good incentives to excel, stressing the Moroccocans and Tunisian players are very hard to beat but his players were in control of the games

Maigari: NFF officials not paid for missing Germany

President of the Nigeria Football Federation,Aminu Maigari, has debunked a report in a national newspaper that officials of the Federation who did not travel to Germany for the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals were paid estacodes.

“No official of the NFF was paid for not traveling. That is a fact that we have stated before, but as a responsible public establishment, we feel duty-bound to reiterate this in the face of this fresh offensive by detractors.

“There is no division or disagreement among Members of the NFF Executive Committee as imagined by the reporter, because no such payment was made in the first place.

“The story was a concoction of lies and it is such a shame. Only ONE Member of the Executive Committee, not FOUR Board Members as claimed by the reporter, was to travel to Germany for the finals, but the trip had been called off the day our girls lost to the host nation and were eliminated, and NOT as a result of any newspaper report.

“The reporter was so desperate to get his lies published that he failed to achieve consistency in his allegation of what was paid to each person, whether it was $5,334 or $5,313. And those who should know are aware that Members of Executive Committee are NOT paid $381 per night as estacode.

“We appreciate the efforts of the media in the development of Nigerian football and the constructive criticism that even help those at the helm of affairs. But the sections of the media that are committed to hawking falsehood should stop under-rating the intelligence of Nigerians”, urged Maigari.

Rashidat Sadiq Basketball Camp Dunk Off THis Week.

Nigeria's female ace basketball player, Rasheedat Sadiq, has concluded arrangement to start a three - day basketball camp which commence this week inside the indoor sportshall of the National Stadium, Surulere.

Sadiq, who was part of the Senior Tigress training in Orlando, United States of America,in a couple of weeks ago, said the essence of the camp was to give back to the society and also to help build a career in the Nigerian female basketball players.

She explained that her desire to stage the clinic was because their male counterparts were exposed to series of basketball camps,stressing that the camp would spur the participants to play for the senior female national team in the future.

Sadiq, who is optimistic that the camp would keep the participants off the street and out of crime, said teh player would be exposed to time management, llecture on off the court attitude apart from teaching them the basic of the sport,adding that Nigerian basketball coaches had agreed to supprt her since the foreign based coaches could to honour the camp.

She explained that outstanding basketball palayers stand a chance to grab a scholarship to school in the United States.

I’ll be fit soon to return, says Chukwumerije

Beijing 2008 Olympics bronze medalist, Chika Chukwumerije has reaffirmed his stance to return to action after a possible surgery was ruled out for the injury he copped during the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF)-organised 2012 London Olympic Games Qualifiers held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

For Chukwumerije, this is indeed good news, following his inability to qualify from the Baku tourney to London.

“I have passed on the MRI report to our excellent physio team in the National Camp, and they will be reviewing it shortly. But in summary, my general practitioner (GP) in Manchester informed me I won't be needing a surgery, rather extensive physiotherapy. He also explained that it is my physio that will determine how long the treatment will last,” he said.

The 2007 All Africa Games gold medalist added: “I am very happy that I do not need a surgery as I had feared, and I remain confident that given the fantastic physiotherapists available in the National camp, I will be back to fighting fitness much sooner than I had initially anticipated.”


Chukwumerije after winning his first two fights convincingly at the Baku Olympics qualifiers, sustained a knee injury during the second round which forced Nigeria’s Chika Chukwumerije to withdraw from the quarterfinal tie against Greece’s Alexandros Nikoladis.

The Taekwondoist, who has been described by taekwondo experts, as one of the best fighters in the world, was at his best in the first round when he overcame India’s seven times national champion, Kundu Sandeep 8-2.

In the second round, he confirmed his status, as he also overwhelmed Austria’s Christoph Decker 7-2 to berth in the quarterfinal stage but during the second round encounter, Chukwumerije dislocated his knee but he managed to hold on against the Austrian.

After examination by the medical experts, the 2007 All Africa Games gold medalist was advised to withdraw, as he could not stand with the knee as this prevented him from avenging his semifinal loss at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in China against Greece’s Nikoladis in the quarterfinal stage.

Thus the Greek progressed to the last four and berth in London 2012.

For now, Chukwumerije will have another opportunity to make it to 2012 London Olympics when the African qualifiers hold in January in Egypt.

Meanwhile, 24 spots were secured at the Baku World Qualification Tournament in Azerbaijan with 15 countries taking at least one ticket to the taekwondo competition of the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Korea grabbed four tickets while six countries – host Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, China, Croatia and Chinese Taipei – won two berths each for the 2012 Olympic Games, while eight countries – Thailand, the Dominican Republic, Sweden, Turkey, Brazil, France, Italy and Greece – took one spot to the London Olympic Games.

Winner Of MTN Lagos Street Soccer,Sikiru Ishola, Commends MTN

Chief Coach of the Lawal Akapo team, winners of the just concluded MTN Lagos Street Soccer Season Four, Sikiru Ishola, has expressed gratitude to telecommunication company, MTN Nigeria for creating the opportunity to exhibit their talents, and for supporting a platform for achieving their dreams of being a professional football club.

The coach, who is still basking in the euphoria of his side’s victory, was full of gratitude to MTN Nigeria for putting its weight behind the interest and passion of Nigerian youths, through the sponsorship of the grassroots soccer championship since its inception in 2007.

According to Coach Ishola who could not hide his excitement during their travel tour of Dubai, “What MTN Nigeria has done for Nigerian youths through the sponsorship of the Street Soccer competition is a laudable gesture which other corporate organisations must learn from if they really have the interest of the people in mind.”

He further said: “On behalf of my team, we want to thank MTN Nigeria for the wonderful opportunity given to us to exhibit our talents as a team. Having a big company like MTN to sponsor the Street Soccer Championship is enough for us to be thankful because it is an opportunity to develop Nigerian football from the grassroots. The reward, including our travel tour to Dubai, is another wonderful feat we will not forget in a hurry.”

On his part, Captain of the team, Ayinde Rasheed, who scored a hat trick during their 11-3 victory over Ah Daaf Sports Club during a friendly match in Dubai, expressed delight at the experience of playing an international friendly against a team from the oil city.

According to Rasheed, who spoke on behalf of his team-mates, being in Dubai was like a dream come true. “I never thought this would happen to me so soon. We are so grateful to MTN for making this happen to us. Everybody is happy because of this international exposure, and by the grace of God; this is the beginning of great things in our lives,” he said.

Segment Manager, Mass Market, MTN Nigeria, Mrs Saidat Lawal Mohammed, who was also in the contingent to Dubai, charged the players to keep their heads high and be at their best in every opportunity they have to exhibit their talents.

“MTN Nigeria has given you a very good platform to ride upon and achieve your dreams of being professional footballers through the Lagos Street Soccer Championship. You are therefore encouraged to be focused and put up your best performance, knowing that MTN Nigeria is with you,” she advised.

Lawal Akapo team emerged winners of the Season Four edition of the MTN Lagos Street Soccer Championship, winning the ultimate cash price of N5 million and an all-expense paid travel tour to Dubai. The first and second runner-up teams also enjoyed an all-expense paid trip to South Africa and The Gambia, with additional cash prizes of N3 million and N2 million respectively.

Obuh picks Azeez, Musa, 19 others for World Cup

Nigeria’s Head Coach, Sam John Obuh has picked a list of 21 players to represent the nation at this year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in Colombia.

Dimunitive midfielder Ramon Azeez and Kenneth Omeruo, stars of Nigeria’s l of the FIFA Under 17 World Cup on home soil two years ago, top the list that also includes Senior National Team winger Ahmed Musa and full backs Terna Suswan and Emmanuel Anyanwu, who have also represented the Olympic Team.

Goalkeeper Danjuma Paul, midfielder Abdul Jeleel Ajagun and forwards Omoh Ojabu, Olanrewaju Kayode, Terry Envoh, Edafe Egbedi and Sani Emmanuel, who was voted the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, complete the nine members of the squad who have been with Obuh from the FIFA Under 17 World Cup days.

Goalkeeper Gideon Gambo, centre-back Ganiu Ogungbe, midfielder Philemon Daniel and striker Uche Nwofor were part of the squad that won the African Youth Championship in South Africa.

The new players are Kazim Yekini, defenders Felix Udoh and Chimezie Mbah, midfielder Sani Tahir and striker Bright Ejike are new legs in the team.

Nigeria’s first game of the FIFA U-20 World Cup is against Guatemala in Armenia City on Sunday, with two other matches to come against Croatia on August 3 and against Saudi Arabia on August 6.

Ladipo Wants NFF To Honour Okwaraji

Following the Nigeria Football Federation move to honour former Green Eagles star, Muda Lawal with the upcoming friendly international between the Super Eagles and Black stars of Ghana come August 9 in London, an appeal has been made to the body to equally used the occasion to honour another Nigeria midfielder Samuel Okwaraji who died on August 12 1989 while playing for the country.

President General of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Dr Rafiu Ladipo while commending the NFF for their move to honour Muda who died 20 years ago said, it will be a great move if the gesture could be extended to Okwaraji’s family who slumped and died while in active service for the country.

Okwaraji slumped and died during the second-half of Nigeria ’s World Cup qualifier against Angola in Lagos .

“While I’m not in any way trying to create any controversy by this call, I’m just trying to let the NFF know that they should extend the gesture to the immediate family of Sam (Okwaraji) who like Muda was a committed to national service during their time in the senior national team,” Ladipo stated, adding “Both are some of the best midfielders that has ever played for the Nigeria national team.”

Ladipo is of the view that since the August 9 date was closer to the 22nd anniversary of Okwaraji’s unfortunate death, and the match itself is generating lots of interests across football fans in both Ghana , the gesture will go a long way in restating NFF’s avowed commitment in celebrating the nation’s past football heroes.

Erico Urges NFF To Add Value To Nigerian Women Football League

Former Super Eagles golakeeper trainer, Joe Erico, has urged the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to uplift the standard of Nigerian Women's Fotball League in order to help the Super Falcons excel in international competitions.

Erico, who commended the Falcons for qualifying for the just concluded FIFA Women's World Cup and also beating Canada in one of its group matches, said theFalcons were not strong enough in the area of tactics and set pieces to contend with their counterparts from europe are well fortified for the tourney.

According to him, the NFF is yet to design a well formidable football structure for the Nigerian Women football where young football players would be engaged on developmental programmes,stressing that the Nigerian women football league is not potent to give the Falcons rewuired incentives o become world champion.

He advised the NFF to seek corporate sponsors to boost the image of Nigerian Women Football League.

NBBF Action Is Uncalled For, Says Peter Ahmedu

Assistant Coach of the Nigeria Junior Tigress, Peter Favour Ahmedu, has said that unruly attitude of the Nigeria Basketball Federation,NBBF,towards the team's coaching crew and the players ahead of the FIBA World Under 19 Championhip in Chile was an act of humilation.

Ahmedu, who was absolutely disappointed over the manner at which the NBBF officials disgraced the team's coaches, said the NBBF delibrately put them in the dark as regrads to the team's travelling for the tourney.

According to him, he got wind of the team's travelling to Chile through his players who infromed him that the Federation's Secretary,Francis Gbiri, had urged the three home based players,Emmanuela Chukwuedo, Charion Ogharanduku and Osas Juliet Igborie, to meet him at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, adding that Gbiri abandoned the players for hours before he arrived to inform them that they would not be able to honour the tourney.

The coach of Aspac Basketball Club of Cotonou, Benin Republic, confirmed that a total of 20 foreign based players went to France for a training tour in June in readiness for the tourney but it was disheartening that they were not carried along to ascertain if the team would still feature in the tournament,adding that no concrete has be given on the failure of the team to compete in the FIBA Under 19 World Championship.

He said the lackaidasical attitude of the NBBF was uncalled for especially at a time when the Nigerian basketball coaches are working hard to record remarkable feat in the sport.

Offiong Edem, Aruna Quadri Succumb To Congo Brazaville, Egypt.

Nigeria's ace female table tennis player, Offiong Edem, has expressed dissatisfaction over her inability to outwit Chinese born Congo Brazaville ping ponger, Han Xing, in the just concluded ITTF/African Senior's championship in Morocco.

Edem, who tops her group courtesy of wining her matches sclaed through to semi final where she contended with the best female ping pongers in the tourney, Dina Meshref of Egypt,Han Xing of Congo Brazaville,Sara Hassan of Egypt and Sarah Hanffou of Cameroon.

The Cross River State born ping ponger, who started the classification serie on a bright note picked the first two set against Han Xing,12 - 10, 11 - 6, as she lost the third set 8 - 11.

The Nigerian ace table tennis pick the first five points, 5 - luv before Xing gained her composer to win the game by three set to two as her efforts to win the second game against Sarah Hassan was in futility due to injury she sustained prior to the game.

Edem, who settled for third position was devastated for losing again to the Chinese born Congo Brazaville ping ponger whom she believed does not have the skill to stop her from wining the tourney, said she was prepared for the championship.

Seeded number 7, Dina Meshref opened her account with victory over colleague Sarah Hassan, theseed 4, 11-13, 11-4, 11-7, 15-13, before winning the crucial contest again Han Xing, the number three seed, 11-5, 9-11, 15-13, 16-14.

Han Xing eventually secured second place by beating Sara Hassan, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9, in the final contest of the day to secure second place.

To this end, Sara Hassan finished third with Offiong Edem fourth and second seeded Sarah Hanffou of Cameroon in fifth place.

In Men's Singles event, Aruna Quadri, who clinched the third, said Ahmed Ali Saleh of Egypt who won the tourney to qualify for the World's Singles Championship in France was fortunate and lucky to outplay him in the classification series,adding that he defeated him and his compatriot, El-Sayed Lashin, in 2009 edition of the African Singles, Morocco.

Quadri, said he was demoralised to fight back after Ahmed Ali Saleh handled him three straight set down,adding that he was unable to utilise is opportunity against the Egytia player.

Pix courtesy,ITTF

NFF To Honour Late Muda Lawal

Former Nigeria captain, Mudashiru Babatunde Lawal, who died 20 years ago, will be honoured next month in London.

Born in 1954, late Lawal won his first senior cap in an international friendly match against Cameroon in which Nigeria won 1- nil on January 22, 1975.

Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Musa Amadu, said the federation would invite Muda Lawal’s wife and two of his five children as special guests to next month’s international friendly between the Super Eagles and Ghana’s Black Stars at Vicarage Road in London.

“We will invite the wife and two children based in London as special guests to the match against Ghana on Tuesday, 9th August, and also invite the three children based in Nigeria to the Super Eagles’ next home match, which is a crucial African Cup of Nations qualifier against Guinea in Abuja on 9th October.

“The late Muda Lawal contributed immensely to the development of Nigerian football, being a member of the senior team for more than 10 years, and was also Captain of the senior team. It is important that we recognize our heroes of yesteryears in order to encourage the stars of today”, said Amadu.

Amadu also disclosed that the NFF would extend invitation to the other three children of late Lawal residing in Nigeria for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying against Guinea in October.

According to him, late Muda Lawal contributed immensely to the development of Nigerian football, being a member of the senior team for more than 10 years, and was also captain of the senior team,adding that It is important that to recognise the nation's heroes of yesteryears in order to encourage the stars of today

The late Lawal was the first footballer to play in five successive Africa Cup of Nations finals, between 1976 and 1984, and won 86 caps for the Nigerian senior team between 1975 and 1985.

A raw auto engineer from Abeokuta in Ogun State, Lawal rose to the pinnacle of his football career through hard work, self-application, discipline and diligence, and remains a revered name in the history of Nigerian.

His 86 caps remained a Nigerian record until it was equalled by Nwankwo Kanu, when the latter featured for the Super Eagles in a FIFA World Cup finals match against South Korea in Durban, South Africa on June 22, 2010.

After winning the 1980 African Cup of Nations title, Muda Lawal and team-mates were awarded the national title of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) alongside other goodies. He was also awarded the national title of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and was Nigeria’s first-ever Soccer Ambassador.

He died on July 6, 1991 at the age of 37.

Dolphins must Win Every Game

Dolphins’ manager, Stanley Eguma says the club must win every game from now until the end of the season to win the Nigeria Premier League trophy.

After back to back loses to Lobi Stars and Kano Pillars, Eguma said the only way for the team to record remakable feat was to win all its remaining matches in a bid to lift the league trophy.

Dolphins despite their two losses remain second on the table behind Sunshine Stars, both on sixty points but Dolphins have inferior goal difference.

Nigeria’s Ogunmuyiwa To Officiate At FIFA World Cup

FIFA has appointed Nigerian Jelili Ogunmuyiwa as one of three African referees to take charge of proceedings at this year’s FIFA Beack Soccer World Cup in Ravenna, Italy.

Ogunmuyiwa, will join Said Hachim from Madagascar and Louis David Adolphe from Mauritius as the only African arbiters at the tournament billed for 1st – 11th September, 2011.

There are a total of 24 referees selected to handle proceedings at this year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, with four coming from Asia, three from Central America, five from South America, one from Oceania and eight from Europe.

Athletes Welfare Will Be Our Priority In Lagos, Says Oshodi.

As part of Lagos State’s efforts at inspiring its athletes to do well in major competitions, the State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Wahid Enitan Oshodi has reaffirmed that the welfare of the athletes will not be compromised.

Oshodi said the Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola-led administration would continue to focus on development of athletes for life, which he said, was in line with the sports development policy of the government.

“Our focus on the development of athletes is for life. We had done it in the past and we will continue to give priority to the welfare of the athletes. No athletes will suffer for representing Lagos State. We need to continue the good work of the Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola by ensuring that we retain our athletes and that is why we want them to get engaged in education while some will be involved in vocational training so that they can be useful to themselves after quitting sports. Some of them that are fit to be employed will be engaged in the public and private sectors,” he said.

He said none of the state's athletes would suffer for representing the State as the Ministry would continue the good work of the Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola by ensuring that the state's athletes are retained, hence the reason the Ministry want to engaged them in education while some will be involved in vocational training.

To actualise this vision,Oshodi said the government would work with schools within the State to ensure that some of the athletes that are willing to go to school are supported, while this would be in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

He added that Coaches would also be re-trained to be able to impart on the athletes,stressing that the Ministry would give priority to school sports,stressing taht the Ministry would rebuild its school sports and also re-integrate the use of Physical Education teachers in schools. stated.

On the hosting of the 2012 National Sports Festival, Oshodi said: “In the past, Lagos State had hosted major competitions successfully.

I think Rivers State must be commended for the staging of the last Festival and for us, we are going to make use of the National Stadium including some of our Stadium like Teslim Balogun. Agege and Onikan Stadia would also be utilised while other sporting facilities will also be upgraded for the Festival.

Infrastructure will not be problem because we have the facilities to host the championship. For us the festival is not for sports alone but we will also use it to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the State. Every State taking part in the festival will surely be at home because Lagos is home to all States of the Federation.”

Osaze Returns To Eagles As Siasia Invites 3 NPL Players.

Chief Coach of Nigeria's Super Eagles, Samson Siasia, has named three Nigeria Premier League football players in the list of invited players for the Nigeria/Ghana International friendly tie scheduled for London on the Nineth of August, 2011.

The football players are,Chigozie Agbim of Warri Wolves,Chibuzor Okonkwo of Heartland F.C and Ekhigho Ehiosun of Warri Wolves.

Vincent Enyeama of Lille of France op the list of Nigeria's foreign based football players invited for the match followed by Dele Aiyenugba of Bnei Yehuda.

Taye Taiwo, Gege Soriola, Elderson Echiejile, Joseph Yobo, Yusuf Ayila, Efe Ambrose, Mike Obi, Fegor Ogude, Joel Obi, Kalu Uche, Emmanuel Ekpo and Solomon Okoronkwo.

Others are, Obinna Nsofor, Victor Anichebe, Ikechukwu Uche, Osaze Odewingie and Emmanuel Emenike.

Adele Joins Sports Marketing

The immediate past Lagos State commissioner for youth, sports and social development, Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele has said that despite voluntarily bowing out of public service, he is still passionately interested in the development of the sports industry.

The former Commissioner for Sports,said he would continue to partner and support various initiatives for the benefit of sports

This, according to him, informed his joining up with a group of young persons to promote a sports marketing concern known as Spur Sports in which he has been confirmed chairman of the board.

Adele pointed out that the business of sports marketing is very wide and deep and it appears presently in the country to have only been barely scratched.

"We want to develop and bring on new ideas and strategies in sports marketing that will impart greatly on our communities and the industry.

The impact will be from concept designs to sponsorships, partnership building, information and relations as well as management.

These are to be delivered not only in relation to events but also in the provision of facilities and capacity building for various aspects of expertise required in sports administration and management," Adele explained.

Lagos Junior League To Kick Start In September.

The board of Lagos Junior League has approved the commencement of the league in September with 20 football clubs to feature in the Premier League.

Its technical Director, Tajudeen Disu, who revealed this in an interview with Sportsweight.blogspot.com, said a total of 58 clubs featured in the qualifying series to classify te teams into the Premier, League One and League 2 as its being done in the English Premier League.

According to him, the management of the Lagos Junior League has agreed to organise series of seminars for football coaches, sports officers, medical personnels and match commissioners as well as the officiating officials prior to the kick off of J league in a bid to record a hitch free league season, stressing that 20 teams would play in the League One as 18 clubsides would trade tackle in the League 2.

The former Flying Eagles coach, said teams in the Premier League would play one round robin as the League One of 20 teams which is divided into four groups would play a play off as three teams would be relegated from the Premier league to League One while three team from League one would gain promotion to Premier League.

He said the Junior Laegue management had also agreed to stage a Junior League Cup which is designed in line with the Fedration's Cup status as all the clubs in the League would be feature in the competition on knock out basis.

He stressed that the League management had pencilled down nine stadia to be used as the facility manager in the state, Godson Uti, had paved the way for the usage of the stadia as he mentioned Agege , Campos, FIFA Legacy Pitch, strong tower academy,Ikorodu,Alade Playground, LASU playground,Oshodi Sports Centre,Epe Recreation Centre among others.

On age cheat, the J League Technical Adviser, said the league managemnt had established a cordial relationship wth the State's Miistry of Education since the Ministry have a data base that would help them to curb the influx of merceneries.

According to him, some of the J League products who particpated in the qualifying series have opportunity to take part in the screening of players for 2012 Lagos State National Sports Festival, adding that three quarter of the J League players would be part of th exercise.

While describing the Lagos Junior League has a regulation Under 20 football league with the aim of scouting, nurturing and exposing grass root talents to the world while promoting formal education in-line with the universally embraced FIFA 1-goal project, Disu, explained that the league would motivate Nigerian league clubs to pick J League players as the League amangement had made recommendations to the Nigeria's Under 17 and 20 for screening.

He assured that products of the J League would form the bulk of players to be invited for the Lagos International Youth Cup, stressing that he expected football scouts and tertiary institutions to pick interest in the players whom he believed are the future of Nigerian football.

On sponsorship deal, Disu, said the league management had concuded plans to acquire the service of a reputable marketing consultant to drive the league with the attraction of corporate sponsors

Bose Kaffo Add Value To Tanzanian Table Tennis.

Nigeria's ace female teble tennis player, Bose Kaffo,is expected back in Nigeria this week after a week International Table Tennis level One table tennis coaching course for the Tanzania Table Tennis coaches.

Kaffo, who is the coach to the African female ping pongers and a board member of the Lagos State Sports Council, is being endorsed by the International Table Tennis Federation to conduct coaching courses in any part of world having excelled in the ITTF level two.

While speaking with Sportsweight.blogspot, Kaffo, explained that she would be training Tanzania Table Tenni coaches as well as the country's ping pongers going to the All frican Games in Maputo, Mozambique, stressing that the course would be the first time Tanzania would be taking part in such a course under ITTF scheme.

The former Captain of Nigeria to the last Beijing Olympic Games, said her wealth of experiences in sports sciences paved the way for her selection to training Tanzania table tennis coahes who would re-train other table tennis coaches after the event, thus expanding the coast of the sport.

According to her, the course would definitely helped to improve the player's tactics and techniques based on the fact they would be exposed to the latest techniques to earn them points at the Games.

She said with the programme which is a developmental towards regenerating table tennis in Tanzania would spur many Tanzanian to take to the sports and also increase the number of table tennis coaches,adding that the Tanzanian team might not win Gold medals in Table Tennis but they would appreciable impact at the Games.

Lagos State To Organise U-15 Five - A - Side

Lagos State Government have commenced preparations for the inaugural edition of the Lagos Education District Under 15, Five –Aside Football Tournament billed to commence this month.

The gesture is part of the strategy and plan to prepare adequately for the football event of the 2012 National Sports Festival


The Consultant to Lagos State Government on Football Mr. Rogers Appleby who explained that the tournament would be organised in the six Educational District in the state with Educational District four comprising of Apapa, Surulere,and Mainland kick starting on July 25th-28th at the Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos Island.

The competition which he said has the backing of the Sports Ministry, Education Ministry, Lagos State Sports Council and the Lagos State Football Association is aimed at nurturing new talents, building a new broad based data base as well as developing true genuine young footballers for the state and by extension the country.

He said there would be coaching clinics where the 50 best players of each district would be selected to make a pool of 300 which will be later pruned down to 50 players before being handed over to the Lagos State Football Association for monitoring .

Sportsweight.blogspot.com,reports that Lagos failed to qualify for the football event of the National Sports Festival in the last two editions of the games.

Lagos State Sports Council Partners Tertiary Institutions.

The Lagos State Sports Council, LSSC, has introduced a programme that would not only benefit its athletes academically and professionallly but also keep them from being poached by rival states ahead of 2012 Lagos National Sports Festival.

Its Chairman, Agboola Dabiri, said the gesture was part of the council's plans to enhance both the education nad athletes performance, stressing that the programme which would take effect in the next academic session would see the council entering into an agreement with the tertiary institutions in the state.

While assuring that the state's Sports Council would send recognised athletes for training and academic, Dabiri, said the scheme was in line with Governor's Babatunde Raji Fashola's dream of enhancing the future of the state's athletes.

According to him, there will also be various"gown and council activities that would ultimately be beneficial to both the Tertiary Institutions and Athletes of the council, stressing taht the athletes and coaches would be encouraged to enroll at the National Institute of Sports,NIS, Lagos State UNiversity,LASU, University of Lagos,UNILAG and Lagos State Polytechnic,LASPOTECH.

Dabiri, said the board of LSSSC was poised to put in place an effective implementation of government plan to raise Grassroot Athletes and develop them to their full potentials while keeping in the Lagos State.

The Council boss, who thanked the Governnor for his support to Team Lagos to the last National Sports Festival in Rivers State, said the council would embark on aggressive drive to improve sports in the state especially in the area of Coaching, keeping its athletes and also providing quality sports equipment as well as introducing a developmental sports programme.

He recalled that the Lagos State Government has fashiond out a programme that will take remuneration of athletes beyond monetary award.

Maigari: Flying Eagles will have Goodluck in Colombia

President of the Nigeria Football Federation,Aminu Maigari,is confident the aura and name of President Goodluck Jonathan will work wonders for the National U-20 team, Flying Eagles at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia.

“We have taken every measure neccessary and have not spared any resources to get the team prepared for the competition. We also have confidence in the ability of the technical crew and the players. But above all, we believe in the aura and special name of President Goodluck Jonathan to go with the team, after all the hard work, and
bring Nigeria glory”, Maigari said in Abuja.

The reigning African champions will on Friday begin the journey to the South American nation with an 11-hour flight from Amsterdam’s world famous Schipol Airport to Panama City, for a Four-Nation Tournament that will constitute their final preparation for the big showpiece.

Runners-up at the FIFA U-20 World Cup on two occasions in the past 22 years, the Flying Eagles have also been champions of Africa a record six times. But the ultimate marble is what Sam John Obuh and his boys aim for in Colombia on August 20.

In 1989, a group coached by Olatunde Disu and captained by Bawa Abdullahi made a splash in Saudi Arabia, but lost 0-2 to Portugal in the final. Six years ago, in Holland, Samson Siasia’s smart and skilful bunch also crumbled at the last fence, against Lionel Messi and Argentina.

Obuh did his international reputation a world of good by leading the National U-17 team, Golden Eaglets to a runners-up position at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup hosted by Nigeria, despite a good number of the group being axed at the last hour as a result of the new-fangled MRI test ordered by world football-governing body, FIFA.

Respected for his quiet but firm nature and uncompromising stance on matters of discipline, Obuh’s highly dedicated boys played some scintillating football along the way, and accounted for heavyweights like Argentina and Spain.

His promotion, along his successful squad, was inevitable, and with support by the Nigeria Football Federation, took the team on an intensive preparatory programme ahead of the African Youth Championship.

The contingent arrived in Libya, the designated host nation, for a two-match test, which it managed to play before the civil conflagration that eventually saw the tournament moved to South Africa and has refused to abate till now.

A four-week training tour of Turkey was spiced with a number of quality friendly matches, and then a two-match stint in Dubai, before CAF announced the competition would have to be shifted.

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi came to the rescue, hosting the Flying Eagles in Port Harcourt for one month, before they flew out to South Africa and conquered the continent.

Few weeks’ residential camping in Port Harcourt preceded the trip to the Browns Sports and Leisure Club in Faro, Portugal – a well-appointed facility now approved by the NFF for Nigerian teams to train in Europe.

On Wednesday, Obuh’s Flying Eagles were forced to a 0-0 draw in Lisbon, right inside the spiritual home of Portuguese football. And true to his nature, the dimunitive Coach has ruled out long-time regulars Ramon Azeez, Stanley Okoro and Mohammed Goyi Aliyu who failed to arrive for residential training in Faro before Friday’s announcement of the final list of 21.

On Monday, the Flying Eagles take on Panama’s U-20 side, before further matches against Portugal and Mexico on Wednesday and Friday respectively. The team will fly out of Panama City straight to Armenia (venue of their first two Group D games) on Sunday, July 24, where it will stay at the Hotel Campestre Las Camelias.

Nigerians will have to stay awake till the early hours to watch the Flying Eagles matches, but a nation of passionate football fans is used to this and they will hope the sacrifice will be rewarded by a glorious outing, as happened during the Atlanta Olympic Games 15 years ago.

Adegoke: We Have League, Cup Double In Sight.

Dolphins full back, Mutui Adegoke says he is not bothered by the threat of Sunshine and Kano Pillars to the title winning run of Dolphins.

Adegoke, says he is sure that the club will win the Premier League and Federation Cup titles to add to the Rivers State FA Cup they have already won against Sharks.

“We have already started the season on a winning note and we are confident we will continue that way,” Adegoke said.

“After winning the Rivers State FA Cup from sharks we determined in our hearts that we will go the extra mile to get the League and Cup double just like it happened in 2004 and we see ourselves close to achieving that.”

Adegoke, who is not perturbed by the team's second position on the league table, said the first position being in possession of Sunshine Stars and the resurgent form of Kano Pillars, was not a threats to the ambitions of Dolphins.

Meanwhile, the club is praying for a peaceful outcome of the match as they get set to take on Kano Pillars at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano on Satruday, .

When both sides met in the League last season, Dolphins scored first and after added time that lasted more than 20 minutes Pillars finally equalised through a penalty that was unjustly awarded.

Despite that the fans of Kano Pillars went on rampage injuring the match officials as well as players and officials of Dolphins.

We want Kano Pillars to know that they must embrace 1 Game and play football without violence since it is not a matter of life and death.There will only be three possible outcomes in Saturday’s game- A Pillars win, A Dolphins win or the game ends in a draw.

The ugly scenes witnessed after last season’s encounter was bad for the image of the Nigerian League and we urge Pillars to keep their fans in check so they do not do anything that wil bring the game to disrepute.

In the process, the Dolphins nurse was hit by a missile while midfielder, Sunday Mbah also passed out and had to be revived by the medical crew on ground.

Babafemi Challenges Nigeria Boxing Federation On Coaches List.

Head coach of the Lagos State Amateur Boxing Association,Femi Babafemi, has challenged the Secretary General of the Nigeria Boxing Federation Patrick Uwagbele, over the list of coaches invited to camp ahead of the All African Games in Maputo, Mozambique.

Babafemi, whose seven pugilists out of eight boxers that qualified for the final of Garden City Games won Gold medals, said it was disheartening that Uwagbele excluded his name from the coaches that are expected to be in camp because he deserve to be invited because he had surpassed the criteria NBF used to invite boxing coaches to
camp.

According to him, a coach with highest number of champions at a National Sports Festival stand a chance to be invited to the national camp to assist the NBF Chief coach ahead of any international tourney.

He wondered why the NBF Secretary General invited Julius Kodia of Edo State and Roland Omoruyi of Bayelsa State despite their inability to produce a champion at the Garden City Games, adding that the Uwagbele's action is potent enough to demoralise boxing coaches from giving their best in the area of developmental programmes.

He believed that there must be continuation in the scheme of NBF coaches because the performance of the coaches at any National Sports Festival still stand as a criteria for selecting coaches as well as the pugilists who excel at the Games.

He said similar scheme paved the way for former Head coach of the Lagos State Amateur Boxing Association, Joe Mensah, Isaac Ikhouria who were invited to the national camp to assist the NBF Head coach, adding that there is need to call Uwagbele's to order in order to produce better boxers ahead of international competitions.

Maigari: Flying Eagles will have Goodluck in Colombia

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Aminu Maigari, is confident the aura and name of President Goodluck Jonathan will work wonders for the Flying Eagles at the FIFA Under 20 World Cup in Colombia.

Maigari, said the NFF had taken every measure neccessary and have not spared any resources to get the team prepared for the competition.,adding the Federation has confidence in the ability of the technical crew and the players.

The reigning African champions will today begin the journey to the South American nation with an 11-hour flight from Amsterdam’s world famous Schipol Airport to Panama City, for a Four-Nation Tournament that will constitute their final preparation for the big showpiece.

Runners-up at the FIFA Under 20 World Cup on two occasions in the past 22 years, the Flying Eagles have also been champions of Africa a record six times.

In 1989, a group coached by Olatunde Disu and captained by Bawa Abdullahi made a splash in Saudi Arabia, but lost 0-2 to Portugal in the final.

Six years ago, in Holland, Samson Siasia’s smart and skilful bunch also crumbled at the last fence, against Lionel Messi
and Argentina.

Obuh did his international reputation a world of good by leading the National Under 17 team, Golden Eaglets to a runners-up position at the 2009 FIFA Under 17 World Cup hosted by Nigeria, despite a good number of the group being axed at the last hour as a result of the new-fangled MRI test ordered by world football-governing body, FIFA.

Rivers State kick-boxer cheats death.

Rivers state kick-boxer, Menia Jack will be counting himself lucky after he escaped death during minus 81 kilogramme fight against Rotimi Adekunle of Ondo state.

Menia, who was well backed by the home fans as he stepped into the ring to battle Adekunle was well beaten to submission by Adekunle as he slumped to the ground but was quickly revived to life by medics at the venue.

Adekunle was declared the winner on knockout.

National coach, Cletus Okegbe said it was not strange thing for a kick-boxer to slump during a fight, especially if the fighter lacks stamina.


The incident, however made some kick-fighters to develop cold feet as they get set to fight.

Delta State Is Undisputed Leader of Nigerian Sports, Pinnick

Executive Chairman of the Delta State Sports Council, Amaju Pinnick, has expressed satisfaction with the position of the state on the Medals table released by the Mian Organising Committee of the 17th National Sports Festival, tagged Garden City Games.

Pinnick, while addressing journalist at the Hotel Presidential, said Delta state was the undisputed leaders of sports in Nigeria as he believed that the state have a solid structure to pave the way for athletes to excel at any competition, stressing taht Delta State gives life and future to its athletes and sports officials.

According to him, the state government sponsored its athletes to different countries across of the world to get prepared for the Garden City Games as mentioned that the state's Swimmers went to France, Athletics to Qatar while others went to United States of America for training.

Pinnick, who explianed that a total of sixty athletes and officials went to South Africa for training ahead of te Games, said Delta State won decent ,stressing that the state have a well structured welfare packages for its athltes, hence the reason athletes across the nation want to adorn the state's colours in any competition.

He said the establishment of Sports Commission in the state was the power behind the success recorded in sporting activities as the system pave the way for continuity, consistency and it is result oriented.

He called for Oep National Sports Festival where elite athletes would have opportunity to compete in the championship.

On the 2012 Lagos National Sports Festival, Pinnick, said Delta State athletes would also embarked on a tour of Europe to prepare for the Games because it would very hard for his athletes to contend with the calibre of athletes Lagos State would parade at the Games, having failed to win the Games in the last four editions.

Ajiboye Rule Out Of Ghana/Nigeria Clash

Dream Team number one goalkeeper, Dele Ajiboye, is ruled out of the Ghana Nigeria second round second leg All Africa Games qualifier this weekend at the Baba Yara Sports Complex Kumasi due to injury sustained.

Dele suffered a right shoulder injury in the first leg game a fortnight ago in Benin would be out of active soccer for three weeks.

After thorough examination of the injury by a consortium of orthopaedics surgeons, radiologists the team doctor, Ogbondeminu Samuel at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH , Idi-Araba, the Pontavendra of Spain safe hands was advised to rest the shoulder as further aggravation could result to a career threatening situation.

The Pontavendra of Spain safe hand, who have faith in the team's other goalkeepers, said it was painful because the match against Ghana was crucial game as he explained that he would keep to the doctor's advise.

Following this development, Kano Pillars number goalkeeper, and 2009 Nigeria Premier league best goal keeper who is Theophilus Afelokhia who was earlier placed on standby has been included in the 20 man list earlier made public.

Nigeria takes a 3-1 first leg advantage to Kumasi in a winner takes all encounter for the 10th All Africa games in Maputo next September.

The Ghana Nigeria All Africa games qualifier kicks off by 4pm Nigeria Time at the Baba Yara Sports Complex, Kumasi.

Fashola Appoints Waheed Enitan Oshodi As Sports Commissioner.

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, has sworn- in, Barrister Waheed Enitan Oshodi, has the new Commissioner for Sports in Lagos State.

The new Sports Commissioner was among the 21 Commissioners that were sworn - in yesterday at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium,Alausa, Lagos State.

Oshodi who took over from his predecessor, Prince Ademola Adeniji - Adele was a former board member of the Lagos State Sports Council during the reign of Deji Tinubu as the Executive Chairman of the State's Sports Council.

Oshodi , who was a graduate of Engineering from University of Lagos, Akoka, after which he went to England to studied Law picked interest in Table tennis as a board member because the sport was under his supervision were exposed to international competitions.

Oshodi was endorsed as the Chairman of the Lagos State Table Tennis Association during the reign of he former Commissioner for Sports, Barrister Opeyemi Bamidele.

As the Chairman, Oshodi, lifted the standard of the sport beyond the expectations of lovers of the sport in Nigeria as the former President of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, Cosmas Maduka, reckoned with his unclinching support and his unique drive to regenerate table tennis of which players like Ganiyat Ogundele, Jide Omotayo,Ganiyu Ashimiyu, Rashidat Ogundele, Adeyinka Hammed, Gbenga Anthony among others

As the former Association Chairman, Waheed Enitan Oshodi, organised the first of its kind international competition, tagged First Procold Lagos International Table Tennis Championship endorsed by Didik Novandi, the Country Manager of Procold as Africa's and Nigeria's number one ping ponger,Segun Toriola, Funke Oshinake, Cecilia Otu, Monday Merotohun, Seun Ajetunmobi as well as great home based ping pongers participated in the event which took place at the University of Lagos, Indoor Sportshall.

He also introduced a table tennis league which was envy of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation as the tourney kept the table tennis players in competitions since the event was played on weekly with enticing cash awards as he turned himself into as a Marketing Manager with the support of Uthman Ola Okunnu who was the sports council aand the Association's outstanding Secretary attracted many corporate bodies as well as private individuals.

His outstanding records, aroused the interest of the current President of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, Kayode Waheed Omotose, to join on the board of the NTTF.

Oshodi, who left LSTTA with outstanding records to beat, have received encomiums from table tennis players at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Rivers State as they believed that his reign in office would bring developmental programmes to them especially in the area of competitions, equipment, among others.

His announcement as the new Commissioner for Sports, was welcomed by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation who believed that Oshodi would add value to sports in Lagos while some sports journalist who had beeb following his track records agreed that Oshodi deserve to become the Commissioner.

Eguavoen Charged Wards...As Ehiosun Hits Camp.

Chief Coach of Nigeria's Olympic team,Austin Eguavoen has charged his wards to stay focus ahead of the second leg second round All Africa game qualifier against the Black Meteors of Ghana in Kumasi this weekend.

Eguavoen, made this statement on Monday during the team's training session in Benin,Edo State.

Eguavoen who has refused to be ruffled by the seeming unavailability of some key players maintained that any Nigerian team could hold its own against any African side if it is determined and focused regardless of the players paraded”.

The former Super Eagles defender, warned that there was no room for complacency as victory remains the ultimate target in Kumasi,adding that it does not matter were they are taking the match to as his major concern is to win the crucila match in Kumasi, Ghana.


He added that the team needed to show the winning spirit because the match would be played ythis weekend, stressing that the team's efforts since tghe camp was declared oopened would be put to the test.

Nigeria takes a 3-1 first leg advantage to Kumasi in a winner takes all encounter for the 10th All Africa games in Maputo next September.

Ghana denied Nigeria’s male team an appearance in the last All Africa games.

Meanwhile, Warri Wolves and Super Eagles Striker Ekhigo Ehiosun tormed the Dream Team V camp on Monday after helping his club to a one nil win over Bukola Babes in a Nigeria Premier League game at the weekend.

Players in camp are, Dele Ajiboye, Theophilus Afelokhai, Terna Suswam, Emmanuel Anyanwu, Otekpa Eneji, Kabiru Sanusi, Dimaku Tochukwu, Olaitan Otubanjo, Ikande Harmony, Usman Amoda, Kingsley Udoh, Edet Ibok, Adewole Lawal, Jonathan Okafor, Olumide Durojaiye, Solomon Okpako, Ekhigo Ehiosun, Ochuko Victor.

The Ghana Nigeria game holds on Sunday, July 10, 2011 at the Baba Yara sports Stadium, Kumasi.