CELEBRATING A FEMININE PROLIFIC ICON IN SPORT AND POLITICS @80.

Happy Birthday to a Politician of note,dynamic,worthy, articulate woman,astute democrat,selfless leader,educationist,noble icon,veteran, Amazon, Heroine, Quintessential mother and an exemplary, Table- Tennis Female Legend- MAMA EVANG.B. POPOOLA .

Her achievements is verse in Politics from Action Group, as pioneer ward  chairperson G3 Surulere[NRC 1991], Woman Leader Nat [MPPP]2010, Alliance For Democracy 1999.Having serves in other given capacity or assignments in active Politics APC till date.

Narrative of her, SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS IN TABLE-TENNIS , started during the all Nigeria  Table- Tennis Tournament in kaduna 1965,when she won National Woman Single Championship. 

Same year she paired with Late Morakinyo Akinmurele to win all Nigeria Mixed Double. 

She is the National woman Table Tennis champion for six consecutive years 1965-1970.

She paired with late Muyiwa Oni to win All Africa Mixed Double for Nigeria during the All African Games Championship held at University of Lagos, college of Education. 

Further paired with Modupe Beyioku to win women's Doubles Championship for Nigeria in 1968.

She was the first woman to represent Nigeria at the World Table Tennis Championship held inMunich, Western Germany in 1969 as she was rated number 34 in the world Table-Tennis.

She is the first woman to win all Nigeria COCA- COLA Championship in 1966 at BONNY CAMP.A title retained for 3 years consecutively from 1968-1970.

She was the West Africa Woman Single Champion in 1970 during the West Africa Championship held in Nigeria at Mobolaji Johnson Sport Centre,Row- Park,Harbert Macaulay, Lagos.

She is a tale tennis coach for both State and National 1970-1985.

Represented State and National in many international Championship with outstanding stellar performance articulately 🏓 🏓 🏓. 

On this auspicious occasion it's a splendid time to highlight and reflect on your commitment to community service, with or without recognition, had not deter,nor impeded your enthusiasm, tenacity to democratic implementation of ideology for the betterment and growth/ welfare of individual in the community.

Some are honoured but undeserving, others deserves honour, but not honoured,you deserve honour, if its serves as the only gift we offer,kindly accept it with esteemed honour.

Federation Cup: NFF Reviews Registration Fee Downwards

 

 

The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation has reviewed downwards the registration fees Clubs will have to pay to take part in this year’s Federation Cup competition.

 

While the male Clubs will part with the sum of N70,000 to be part of this year’s competition, the female Clubs will pay only the sum of N50,000.

 

NFF’s Ag. Director of Competitions, Ruth David confirmed to thenff.com that the NFF Board opted to review the fees downwards in order to encourage many more Clubs to participate in this year’s competition in both the men’s and women’s categories.

 

While the registration fees are down, the programme itself is unchanged from what was officially communicated to the Football Association in the 36 States and the FCT. Registration of Clubs will hold over a fortnight between 16^th – 30^th January, while submission of completed players' forms for production of licenses will be done 31^st January – 6^th February.

 

This year’s Federation Cup competition in the various States and the FCT will take place between 18^th February and 19^th March, with the States and the FCT expected to submit the names of their two representatives in the national competition to the NFF by 20^th March.

 

Dates for the playoff matches, the National Draws and the different stages of the national competition will be determined in due course.    

FIFA World Cup: Reaching Knockout Stage Is Our Priority - Waldrum

After the disappointment of failing to make the dream of La Decima (The Tenth) come true at the 12^th Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in staged by Morocco last year – the Super Falcons even failing to make the podium for the first time in many years – Head Coach Randy Waldrum is optimistic of an impressive performance at the forthcoming FIFA Women's World Cup finals coming up in Australia & New Zealand in the summer. 

 

The American tactician is full of optimism, and is confident that his team can go far in the global tournament, but insists they have to take it one step at a time to achieve greatness. 

 

"The first target for us at the World Cup is to advance out of the group stage,” Waldrum told the thenff.com.

 

"Everyone wants to get to the knockout stage but obviously in order to achieve that, you have to advance out of the group,

and now, our focus is principally on doing that."

 

The Super Falcons survived a huge scare at the 12^th Women Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Even though the team finished in fourth place, thereby picking the last automatic ticket from Africa to Australia & New Zealand, Nigerians saw it as a disappointing outing, and rightly so. For a team that had won nine of the previous 11 editions of the competition, losing three out of its six matches in Morocco was seen as a disaster.

 

The team lost to eventual champions South Africa narrowly in the opening match, and then lost to the host nation Morocco via the lottery of penalty shootout in the semi finals – with two key players red-carded. As it turned out, the Falcons failed to overcome the set-back as they eventually lost to Zambia in the third-place match by a lone goal.

 

Waldrum would want to quickly wipe out such an unflattering record with a better and improved performance by the most successful women's team in Africa at the forthcoming World Cup to be co-hosted Down Under.

 

Nigeria will tackle Olympic champions Canada, co-hosts Australia and Republic of Ireland in the group stage of the biggest FIFA Women’s World Cup finals ever, in group B of the tournament that begins on 20^th July. Australia & New Zealand 2023 is the first time that the FIFA Women’s World Cup will welcome 32 teams – the same number as the men’s tournament.

 

The Falcons will be domiciled in Brisbane where they will play two of their three matches, with the other game in another Australian city, Melbourne. 

 

Nigeria is in the elite group of only seven countries that have never failed to qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup since the competition was launched in China 32 years ago.

 

Federation Cup: NFF reviews registration fee downwards

 

The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation has reviewed downwards the registration fees Clubs will have to pay to take part in this year’s Federation Cup competition.

 

While the male Clubs will part with the sum of N70,000 to be part of this year’s competition, the female Clubs will pay only the sum of N50,000.

 

NFF’s Ag. Director of Competitions, Ruth David confirmed to thenff.com that the NFF Board opted to review the fees downwards in order to encourage many more Clubs to participate in this year’s competition in both the men’s and women’s categories.

 

While the registration fees are down, the programme itself is unchanged from what was officially communicated to the Football Association in the 36 States and the FCT. Registration of Clubs will hold over a fortnight between 16^th – 30^th January, while submission of completed players' forms for production of licenses will be done 31^st January – 6^th February.

 

This year’s Federation Cup competition in the various States and the FCT will take place between 18^th February and 19^th March, with the States and the FCT expected to submit the names of their two representatives in the national competition to the NFF by 20^th March.

 

Dates for the playoff matches, the National Draws and the different stages of the national competition will be determined in due course.    

NFF Mourns Former Falconets’ Head Coach, Dan Evumena

 

 

The Nigeria Football Federation on Wednesday expressed “deep sorrow” at the death on Tuesday evening of former Head Coach of the U20 Girls’ National Team, Dan Evumena.

 

“The news of Dan Evumena’s death is too hard to take. I am still in shock. This is a young trainer who has done creditably well at Club and National levels, and still had so much in his tank with which to fertilize and nurture the growth of many more women footballers.

 

“The death of every human being diminishes us, especially the death of every young person. He had his life in front of him. Our prayer is that Almighty God will grant him eternal life and also grant those he has left behind, particularly his young family, the fortitude to bear the big loss,” NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said in Abuja.

 

Thenff.com learnt that the former Falconets’ chief strategist was hospitalized for a few days but did not recover from the ailment.

 

Evumena served as Assistant Coach of the Super Falcons before his upliftment as Head Coach of the U20 Girls. As Head Coach of the Falconets, he steered the team to the quarter finals of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Chile in 2008, before the squad lost to France.  

Aruna, Meshref Get Tricky Draws At WTT Contender Durban

 

African champions Quadri Aruna of Nigeria and Dina Meshref of Egypt have been handed tricky ties in the first round of the WTT Contender Durban taking place at the Olive Convention Center Durban in South Africa.

The Nigerian and the Egyptian are number four seeds in the men’s and women’s singles and they are expected to start their campaigns from the main draw in the first WTT Series taking place in South Africa which serves as a dress rehearsal for the 2023 World Championships in Durban come May.

The $75,000 prize money tournament has Brazil’s Hugo Calderano and Germany’s Nina Mittelham as number seeds in men’s and women’s singles while for the first time Botswana’s Ndelu Mooketsi and South Africa’s Zodwa Maphanga will be competing in the main draw of WTT even after working their way to the main draws.

Aruna who is the highest ranked African player in the world rated 15^th will face a daunting task when he takes on Chinese sensation Sun Wen in the first round of the men’s singles.

The 26-year-old giant-killing Chinese star will be hoping to halt the dominance of Aruna over his compatriots which the Nigerian achieved at the 2022 WTT Star Contender in Qatar.

The Nigerian is a familiar foe for the Chinese having taken down some of their finest players in the party and Wen will be aiming to stop the reign of the African champion over his compatriots.

Like Aruna, Meshref who is the only top ranked African listed among the top seeds will confront German Chinese-born Yuan Wan.

The Egyptian will have to be at her best against the skillful German ranked 86^th in the world and capable of causing an upset against the 28^th rated African champion.

The tournament ends on January 15 with winners getting 400 ranking points.

Lagos Legends Basketball Club Targets Continental Domination

 

 

 

President of Lagos Legends Benjamin Peter has set his sight on dominating the African Basketball scene in the near future.

The United State of America based retired player revealed that with the right experience gained over the years in the field of sports and business management, the club management is ready to run the club as a profit oriented business.

 

 

With a near perfect record in the Atlantic Conference phase of the league with just a loss to Comets and a perfect start to the National finals, Benjamin says gaining promotion to the Premier League is non-negotiable.

“Our long term vision is to be the premier basketball club in Africa but in the short and medium term plan, the first thing we want to do is to win the Division One Championship, go to the Premier League and we extend that to the African championship.”

Although, the former Yelwa Hawks and Ebun Comets player would have wished for an early start, but due to factors necessary for a smooth take off, he had to wait until the 2021 league before joining the league.

“You know sometimes, we plan but a lot of other factors are involved and I think this is the right time. We have waited long enough, we have acquired the right experience, we have the resources and tools to create a good basketball programme.”

That is what we are here doing right now and we are very excited about what we are doing and working with the federation, the kids and the community to do something positive”, Benjamin said.

The two time NCAA winner (2007 and 2008) with Oral Robert University assured that they are bringing something new to the table with the experiences garnered home and abroad.

“We have the right set of coaches, and partnership with different organizations both home and abroad. We do believe that we can muster all these kinds of resources and relationships that will allow us to be that organisation that we wish to be.”

He assured that the club will be supporting its immediate community through development programmes for kids and their players.

“We are going to be supporting the players. We are going to be having developmental programs and international friendlies for our players. We do believe that with things like these, we will have a different kind of basketball club in Nigeria and Africa”.

Olympics Countdown: Shaibu to host Edo State Ambassador, Enoch Adegoke

 

 

 

The Sport-loving Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu will on Monday host the State’s Ambassador at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Enoch Olaoluwa Adegoke.

The Nigerian fastest man, Adegoke whose career has taken a turn for the better since he started representing Nigeria’s foremost sports destination, Edo State, is expected to arrive in Benin for the all-important meeting with Deputy Governor Shaibu on Monday.

Adegoke who won the 100m gold medal, the most prestigious medal in any games, at the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival in the colours of Edo State, will get both the financial and moral support he needs to succeed in Tokyo from the Edo State Deputy Governor Shaibu.

 Meanwhile, former captain of Team Nigeria to many Games and Championships, Yussuf Alli has commended the Deputy Governor for the initiative of the Edo State government to support Adegoke financially and otherwise.

“As a former athlete who has competed in many games and championships the moral support of your government and people is a crucial morale booster, if that moral support is now backed with cash support, that is massive. 

 

"I commend Deputy-Governor Shaibu for this brilliant initiative, this kind initiative will not only encourage Edo athletes to give their best but it also encourages all athletes representing Nigeria in major games and championships to give their best”

Alli also commend the Edo State government for its massive investment in sports infrastructures and equipment,

“Before the Obaseki/Shaibu administration in Edo State, athletes from the state had to travel elsewhere to train because the state lacked facilities and equipment but thanks to massive investment by this administration athletes now train in all the nooks and crannies of Edo State, we now host world-class championships, including the National Sports Festival and the Super Eagle matches,” said Alli.  

2021 Jordan Nwora Foundation Elite Camp Dunks- Off

 

Organisers of the 2021 Jordan Nwora Foundation Elite Camps have officially announced dates and venues for the inaugural edition of its camping exercise.

The camp is being put together by D’Tigers players, Jordan Nwora who was recently drafted into the NBA by Milwaukee Bucks.

Abuja, Nigeria will play host to youngsters across the country between the 5th and 7th of April as the JNFEC train commences its journey across Nigeria in collaboration with the Nigeria Basketball Federation.

Kids from the North East zone (Bauchi, Borni, Taraba, Adamawa and Gombe) will converge on Gombe state between the 9th and 11th of April while North Central region (Niger, Kogi, Benue, Plateau and Nassarawa) will hold between 15th and 17th in Makurdi.

For kids in the South East (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo), it will be their turn from the 19th to 21st of April in Onitsha to learn about the fundamentals of basketball under some of the best coaches within and outside Nigeria.

According to the organisers, participation is absolutely free with 60 boys and 40 girls between the age of 14 and 19 expected at each venue. Interested kids and parents have been advised to contact their Zonal representatives on the NBBF board for more information.

As part of plans for a successful camping exercise targeted at providing platforms for the next generation of basketball players to hone their skills, 100 selected campers in each of the cities will be fed and accommodated.

Infantino, Asia Confederation, Japan FA felicitate with Pinnick

 

 

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has personally congratulated the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick on the latter’s barnstorming entry into the FIFA Council, following elections held at the CAF Ordinary and Elective General Assembly in Rabat, Morocco on Friday.

 

“I have no doubt that your experience, your knowledge, not to mention your passion, your sense of consensus and your personal qualities, will help you to meet future challenges at the service of the world football community. I am convinced that as FIFA Council Member, you will make an important contribution to FIFA and, most importantly, to the development of our sport, which unites us all,” wrote Infantino, before adding that he looked forward to start working with Pinnick at the FIFA Council from the next meeting scheduled for Friday, 19^th March, by video conference.

 

Former FIFA Presidential candidate and FIFASenior Vice President, Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, who is President of the Asian Football Confederation, also congratulate the new FIFA Council Member, saying he is “confident that you will make valuable contributions for the further development of football in your continent and the world.”

 

On his part, President of the Japan Football Association and FIFA Council Member, Tashima Kohzo, wrote: “With your dedication and passion for football, I am confident that will contribute greatly to further prosperity of football in the world during these challenging times. It is my sincere hope that we can work closely together for our beautiful game with unity and solidarity of the football leaders.”

 

Pinnick, who is also Member of the Organizing Committee for FIFA Competitions, swept aside incumbent Walter Nyamilandu by 43 votes to 8 at the elections held in Rabat, and is now only the third Nigerian to take a seat on world football’s highest decision-making organ.   

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FG Okays Premier Basketball League Resumption

 

After many months of inactivity, the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Youth and Sports has informed the Nigeria Basketball Federation that the Men’s Premier League can resume.

This follows the decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja striking out the case brought against it by the Management Board of Kwese Basketball League headed by Olumide Oyedeji and others which tried to forcefully hijack the league from the federation.

In a letter signed by Dr. Simon Ebhojiaye on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Nebeolisa Anako, the FG said “With this positive judgment, the NBBF is permitted to commence any tournament (Premier League) in the country”.

The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports in the letter noted that, “On the 26th January, 2021, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja struck  out the above case (FHC/ABJ/CS/1317/2019) which was instituted against the NBBF and the Honorable Minister”.

In view of the latest judicial decision, the NBBF has intensified its hunt for prospective sponsors of the Men’s Premier League after Kwese withdrew from Nigeria business space due to financial reasons.

It would be recalled that the Kwese Management board led by Oyedeji, Chairman of Gombe Bulls, Ibrahim Sa’ad and that of Kwara Falcons, Dr Joseph Adeyemo brought a suit against the federation in 2018 stopping the NBBF from organizing the league.

Despite all the successes recorded by the NBBF in rejigging the domestic scene with the expansion of Zenith Women Basketball League, introduction of the Total Division 2 as well as the expansion of Division One, the injunction on the Premier League made it impossible for the board to replicate its initiatives with the apex league.

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Aruna Beat Morizono To Forge Ahead At WTT Star Contender

 

Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna continued his good run at the ongoing World Table Tennis (WTT) Star Contender after he advanced to the third round (round of 16) of the men’s singles in Doha, Qatar.

 

It was a convincing 3-1 win over Japan’s Masataka Morizono by the Nigerian who remains the only African still in the race at the $400,000 prize money tournament.

 

Being the third meeting between the two players, it was Aruna that dominated from the start of the encounter against Morizono, and this also reflected in the outcome of the tie played on Tuesday March 9, 2021.

 

Matching the Japanese shot-for-shot, Aruna was in charge in the first game which he won 11-6; he repeated the same form in the second game to win at 11-9. But in the third game, he lost concentration to concede defeat to the Japanese at 11-1.

 

A determined Aruna returned to the table in the fourth game and he raised his performance to dominate from 7-7 before eventually winning at 11-7 to complete the 3-1 rout of his opponent.

 

With the win, Aruna now had an edge over Morizono in their three meetings with the Nigerian winning twice while the Japanese won once.

 

The Nigerian will again battle another Japanese star Harimoto Tamakazu in the third round on Wednesday March 10 in his quest to exceed the quarterfinal finish he achieved at the WTT Contender Series last week.

 

Egypt’s Dina Meshref failed to advance to the third round after losing to Chinese Taipei’s Szu-Yu Chen 3-1 (19-17, 4-11, 9-11, 9-11) while her compatriot Ahmed Saleh also failed to progress after losing 3-0 (11-8, 11-5, 11-2) to  WTT Contender Series champion Dimitrij Ovtcharov of Germany.

Rohr lists Musa, Ekong, 22 others for Squirrels, Crocodiles

 

 

Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr has included Captain Ahmed Musa, deputy captain William Ekong, goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and forward Victor Osimhen in a 24-man list for this month’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying battles with Benin Republic and Lesotho.

 

Nigeria, top of the Group E log with eight points (one ahead of Benin Republic and five more than third-placed Sierra Leone), tackle the Squirrels away at the Stade Charles de Gaulle in Porto Novo on Saturday, 27^th March and will lock horns with the Crocodiles of Lesotho at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos three days later. Both are the concluding games of the qualifying series.

 

Also included are Enyimba FC goalkeeper John Noble, defenders Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo and Olaoluwa Aina, midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, and forwards Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze.

 

The versatile Abdullahi Shehu is listed as a midfielder this time and there is a first senior call for Spain –based forward Sadiq Umar.

 

Seven players, including long –time goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, are on standby.

 

Rohr, who has steered Nigeria to qualifying for two major tournaments (2018 FIFA World Cup and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations) with a game to spare, countenance even better accomplishment this time, as the Eagles could earn a ticket to the finals in Cameroon before kick-off in Porto Novo, should Lesotho and Sierra Leone end their encounter in Maseru in a stalemate. The result would be known before kick-off in Porto Novo.

 

THE FULL LIST

 

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

 

Defenders: Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Boavista, Portugal); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Tyronne Ebuehi (FC Twente, The Netherlands)

 

Midfielders: Oghenekaro Etebo (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Abdullahi Shehu (Omonia Nicosa, Cyprus); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England)

 

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Unattached); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Sadiq Umar (Almeria FC, Spain); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Kalu (FC Girondins Bordeaux, France); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France)

                       

Standby: Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Peter Olayinka (Slavia Praha, Czech Republic); Terem Moffi (FC Lorient, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Michael Olise (Reading FC, England); Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors)

 

IOC COMPLETES ADVANCED SPORTS MANAGEMENT COURSE

 

The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Public Relations Officer and others have completed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Advanced Sports Management course and graduated as the 5th set for the 2020/2021 session in Lagos, recently.




The programme which is to build and promote sport and olympism throughout the world is aimed at updating the knowledge of sports academicians, managers and administrators to enable them adapt to modern techniques of sports administration. 




Mr Olabanji Oladapo, Secretary General, Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) while declaring the session closed congratulated all the participants and charged them to put in use all they had learnt from the IOC Management Course.




"Bring your best into use as you have concluded this course and ensure that the dividends of the programme succeeds in your various states, organizations and institutions so that Nigeria will not be left out of emerging global trends in sports management and administration. The NOC will make it a point of duty within the limits of its ability and resources to uplift and support the ideals of the Olympic Movement", Oladapo said.




Prof. Clement Fasan of Lagos State University and Mr. Dyagas Jonathan of Association of National Olympic Committee of Africa were the programme directors while Dr. Adeyeye of University of Lagos was the external examiner of the course which had over 20 participants in attendance for the 2020/2021 session.
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Oshonaike, Others To Speak At ITTF Women’s Day Confab

 

Nigeria’s Olufunke Oshonaike has been listed among the speakers for the International Table Tennis Federation's (ITTF) online conference to mark International Women's Day on Monday March 8, 2021.

 

The six-time Olympian will represent the interest of the athletes alongside Peruvian player Mónica Liyau to complete the panel.

 

The former African champion is committed to promoting gender equality through table tennis and helps those in need in Nigeria through her charity, while Liyau established her own foundation to use table tennis as a tool to reduce inequality for children in extreme poverty.

 

Also, International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Women in Sport Committee chair Rita van Driel is among the speakers announced.

 

The online conference will focus on the current status of gender equality and how to use table tennis as a tool for female empowerment. 

 

It will be open to all and will feature an open question and answer session. 

 

Van Driel, who is also Agitos Foundation President, is set to be joined by ITTF gender commissioner Hajera Kajee and International Olympic Committee Women in Sports Commission member Ingmar De Vos.

 

Petra Sörling, the only female ITTF Executive Committee member and a vice-president of the organisation, will contribute with insights from table tennis's governing body.

 

A number of other online events have been organised by the ITTF for International Women's Day. 

This includes a global workshop called "Girls & Women in Sport for All" and a dedicated "Masters of Skill" training lesson.

 

The ITTF has aimed to make progress in gender equality in recent years, implementing equal prize money for men and women at ITTF and World Table Tennis events, and introducing a module on gender within an online administration course. 

The governing body will also dedicate World Table Tennis Day on April 6 to women and girls.

Supporters of the campaign to encourage female participation in table tennis are encouraged to follow the hashtags #FEMpowerment #InspirationalWomen and #FEMCampaign on Twitter. 

 

International Women's Day takes place on March 8 each year. 

WTT Star Contender: Aruna Gets A Wild Card

Following his quarterfinal finish at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Contender Series last week, Quadri Aruna has been given a bye to the second of the men’s of WTT Star Contender which began at the weekend.

 

Aruna who was beaten 3-1 by Chinese Taipei’s Yun-Ju Lin in the quarterfinal may likely square up against Japanese sensation Harimoto Tamakazu in the third round if he scales through from the second round. He is expected to begin his campaign on Tuesday March 9.

 

However, Olajide Omotayo failed to make it beyond the first stage of the preliminary round of the WTT. Star Contender taking place in Doha, Qatar.

 

Drawn against Portugal’s Joao Geraldo in the second stage of the preliminary round, Omotayo who made it to the second stage of the preliminary round of WTT Contender Series played his heart out against the Portuguese who was beaten by Quadri Aruna in the last 16 of the WTT Contender Series last week.

 

From the start of the encounter, it was as if Omotayo was going to take his Portuguese counterpart to the cleaner after winning the first game at 11-8, but his opponent did not come unprepared as he won the second game at 11-4.

 

Again Omotayo restored his lead with a close 14-12 win in the third game while the win did not last for long before Geraldo levelled up in the fourth game at 11-3.

 

To prevent what happened to him against Omotayo’s compatriot Aruna last week, the Portuguese star led the fifth game from the start and this he followed through to win at 11-8 and complete a 3-2 victory over the Nigerian.

 

The defeat has cut short the stay of Omotayo in Doha being the only route for him to remain in the competition.

 

Meanwhile, the performance of Aruna in the WTT Contender Series continued to be applauded across Africa as the President of African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy praised the Nigerian for putting Africa on the world map. “I am particularly impressed with what Aruna achieved in the WTT Contender Series being the first official WTT tournament and an African is getting to the quarterfinal amidst array of stars that featured in the competition. 

 

“He was also unlucky in the quarterfinal against the Asian star. This is another good outing from Aruna whose performance would continue to inspire African players and open doors for them to play professionally in Europe. I hope and believe he can do well again in the WTT Star Contender this week,” the ATT boss said.

FIFA Council Seat: Federal Government Suports Amaju Pinnick.

 

The Federal Government of Nigeria has handed the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick an unqualified backing in his quest to win a seat on the FIFA Council – the highest decision-making organ in world football – at next week’s Confederation of African Football elections in Rabat, Morocco.

 

At a press conference addressed by the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Engineer Nebolisa Anako on behalf of the Hon. Minister Mr Sunday Dare in Abuja on Thursday, the Government stated unequivocally that “Mr Amaju’s ambition would further reposition Nigeria in the global football map where we have made remarkable inroads” and indicated that his triumph would follow in the glorious steps of illustrious compatriots Dr Akinwunmi Adesina (re-elected as President of Africa Development Bank) and Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (first female/ first African Director-General of the World Trade Organization) in recent times.

 

“If the NFF President wins the position, it would not be a victory for the Federal Government and all Nigerians alone, but the African continent. He would be a great ambassador of our great country if elected into the FIFA Council. As a member of the CAF Executive, Pinnick is aware of the task ahead and the Federal Government’s support to the actualization of his dream,” Anako said.

 

He added: “On behalf of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, and all Nigerians, we hereby pledge our unflinching support to Mr Pinnick because his victory would be our collective victory.

 

“(Sports Minister) Mr Dare believes Amaju can use his position and connections in CAF and FIFA to help promote and develop Nigeria and African football in all ramifications. Let us be resolute and firm in our support…This is no time to stand on the fence, but to be partakers in the scheme of things.”

 

NFF’s 2^nd Vice President, Mallam Shehu Dikko, who stood in for Pinnick (who is already in Morocco), thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his usual strong support for the NFF and Nigerian Football generally since coming into office, and assured that once victorious, Pinnick would continue in his usual way of influencing the appointment of Nigerians into FIFA and CAF committees and administrations, as he did while he was 1^st Vice President of CAF and has been doing as Member, CAF Executive Committee and Member, Organizing Committee for FIFA Competitions.

 

“As a FIFA Council Member, Mr Pinnick will also be automatically a Member of the CAF Executive, which gives Nigeria a voice at both global and continental levels. This is not a Pinnick project, but a Nigeria project. If countries like Guinea and Madagascar can have people in the FIFA Council, there is no reason why a big football –playing nation like Nigeria should not.”

 

President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Enginner Habu Ahmed Gumel, gave a thumbs-up to Pinnick’s candidacy, saying “the FIFA Council seat is important to us, Nigeria and Africa, and we enjoin all Nigerian football stakeholders to be loud in their support for Mr Pinnick.”

 

NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi enjoined all football stakeholders to join hands with the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports and the NFF to give Mr Pinnick strong support in his bid for the FIFA Council seat.

 

Also at the event were NFF Executive Member Aisha Falode, Dr Simon Ebhojiaye (Director of Federations and Elite Athletes Department), Mr Ademola Olajire (Director of Communications, NFF), Ms Blessing Lere-Adams (Director of Press in the Ministry) and Mr John Joshua Akanji (SA Media to the Hon. Minister).

 

Aruna’s Quarterfinal Feat In Qatar Excites NOC

 

The Secretary General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Olabanji Oladapo could not hide his excitement after watching Quadri Aruna becoming the first African to qualify for the quarterfinal of the World Table Tennis (WTT) Contender Series taking place in Doha, Qatar.

 

On Wednesday, Quadri beat Indian national champion Sathiyan Gnanasekaran 3-0 to set up a round of 16 tie against Portugal’s Joao Geraldo.

 

And on Thursday March 4 at Lusail Sports Arena in Doha continued his good run with another superlative performance to record a 3-2 (10-12, 12-10, 12-10, 4-11, 11-6) win over his Portuguese counterpart.

 

An excited Oladapo described the performance of Aruna as confirmation of the ability of the Oyo State-born athlete. “Aruna has been a shining light in table tennis not only in Nigeria and Africa but globally. 

 

His efforts have continued to put Nigeria and Africa on the world map of table tennis. Having watched the way he played against the Portuguese, I am so proud of him and I believe Africa is also proud of what the Nigerian has achieved in the sport.

 

 His performance on table is another confirmation of what he can do and he has indeed inspired the future generation with his display in Qatar. What he will do in the next match will be another feat for Africa and we wish him well over there,” the NOC scribe added.

 

On Friday, March 5, Aruna will face one of the skillful players in the world Chinese Taipei’s Yun-Ju Lin.

, who has been described as Chinese nemesis.

 

The $200,000 prize money WTT Contender Series is one of the two tiers of the new WTT event structure, while the Middle East Hub marks the first official events of the WTT era. 

 

The Middle East Hub will feature two tiers of the new WTT event structure. The WTT Contender will end on March 6, while the first WTT Star Contender event the following week, providing the perfect preparation for some of the world’s leading stars to be challenged by the best up-and-coming athletes in table tennis.