Sports

NFF Secretary Wants Equal Fans’ Attention On Other Sports

Published

16 years ago

October 30, 2009

Bolaji Ojo-Oba has challenged Nigerian sports fans to ask critical questions of other sports the same way they ask of football.
Speaking in Abuja early in the week, the FIFA/CAF Match Commissioner and Security Officer said he is of the view that should Nigerians ask of other sports even one tenth of the questions they usually ask of football, leaders of those other sports might also sit up and do something for general sports development.
“I am aware that football is King of sports, but let us not continue to pretend that football is the ONLY sport. That football is the ‘King of sports’ does not mean it is the only sport. Every minute, every hour, we ask questions of football, of the administrators, of the coaches, of the players, of the referees, and so on.
“But we keep quiet about the failings of the other sports and those other sports remain comatose.
“The present administration at the NFF has won five trophies, won Olympic silver, made good changes to administration in terms of personnel and physical edifice, got more partners from the private sector than ever, focused on areas of development and achieved harmony within its rank. Yet, the critics are unsparing, for God knows what.
“This country won her first Olympic medal in boxing (1964 Tokyo Games), and then won another bronze at the 1972 Munich Olympics, and then a silver at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, long before football won in Atlanta in 1996. What has happened to Nigeria boxing? ”Our country used to be heavyweight in weightlifting at the top level, and there was an era we were much–reckoned with in volleyball in Africa. Where is Nigeria volleyball now?
“There was a Governor’s Cup tennis tournament in Lagos recently where all Nigerian players were beaten black and blue, and several years past, we used to be in serious play in the Davis Cup. What has happened? Recently, there was a FIBA African Basketball Championship in Libya where our team performed woefully. That was allowed to ride without much noise.
“In August, our track and field athletes went to the world championship in Berlin and failed to win a single medal, a trend that had been on for eight years or so. At the Atlanta Olympics 13 years ago, we won gold in women’s long jump. What has happened to athletics? ”Our country used to be the leading light of table tennis and wrestling in the African continent. What has happened to those sports?
“I can go on and on, but nobody appears to care about those sports, most of which have more medals at the Olympics than football. The so–called critics have failed us because they only talk about football, out of more than 30 sports.
“Football is the only sport doing something to lift Nigeria’s name, and yet the detractors go on without end about their perceived ‘downward trend’ of Nigeria football. Those critics also have questions to answer about the genuineness of their intention,” Ojo-Oba said.

City Crime

‘NFF Conducted Federation Cup Draw Fairly’

Published

7 days ago

April 21, 2025

The Tide

The Nigeria Football Federation has defended the recent quarter-finals draw for the 2025 President Federation Cup, saying it was conducted in line with best global practices.
A member of the NFF Executive Committee Board, George Aluo, stated that criticism over venues for the quarterfinals was unfortunate.
Going by the fixtures released on Saturday by the football body, Abakaliki FC will take on Nasarawa United in Benin, Wikki Tourists will clash with Ikorodu City in Bwari, Abuja, Akwa United and Kwara United will fight it out in Enugu, just as Area 3, Abuja, will host the encounter between Rangers International and Plateau United. All matches are scheduled for May 3rd for the emergence of semifinalists in a leg affair.
However, there have been criticisms over the Ikorodu United vs Wikki Tourist tie billed for Abuja, with a section of the press saying the venue is skewed in favour of the Bauchi team.
Aluo, also the Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), said: “Some of our media men need better education, and newsmen should not be like the fans out there on the streets. In the English FA Cup, it is always a one-legged pairing that can see a club like Arsenal host Manchester United at home”.

Sports

Act Sports Signs New Teqball Specialist Contract In Nigeria

Published

7 days ago

April 21, 2025

The Tide

A new contract that will see Act Sports Di Oyibo Limited managing the career of Nigerian teqball specialist, Victor Oyemade, has been signed in Lagos.
The deal gives exclusive rights to Act Sports to manage, and exercise power of attorney over issues relating to the player’s welfare as it concerns his transactions, engagement for professional, promotional, sponsorships, endorsements, and exhibition purposes.
In signing the document, both parties also agreed that proper safeguards would be put in place to protect and promote the player’s interest at all times.
Director of Act Sports, Di Oyibo Limited, Pastor Samuel Robinson Oyibo, excited about the deal, said it would benefit both parties in the area of spreading the message of the sport, as well as laying a firm foundation for his new client’s future.
“Teqball is one of the world’s fastest-growing ball sports, and Victor Oyemade is the face of the sport here in Nigeria and Africa. That is why we are excited about this partnership that gives Act Sports official authorisation to manage his career, just as it will lay the foundation for its rapid growth in our country,” Pastor Oyibo said.
Oyemade was no less excited about the deal, saying it would help his growth in the sport.

Sports

Nigeria Name Handball Squads For Zonal Champs

Published

7 days ago

April 21, 2025

The Tide

Coaches of Nigeria’s U-18 and U-20 women’s handball teams have released their final lists of 14 players ahead of the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase, which will be held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, that commenced yesterday to end 24th of this month.
The two teams have been training at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos, for close to two weeks and departed for the competition on Thursday.
Coach John Uzor of the national U-18 team has included Omole Joy of Defender Babes and her sister Omole Shola alongside Ojie Princess of Funad Academy alongside right back Faisat Balogun in the mix while Success Duru, Chetachi Ngaodurubie of COAS Babes and Sharon Okonkwo make the cut, amongst other players.
In the U-20 team, Coach Shittu Agboola has largely stuck with the players he has been grooming since their U-18 days. The team is led by Captain Chidera Ogbusimba alongside, her Rima Queens teammates the Samuel Sisters, Amina Mohammed and Joy Peters.
Israel-based Rahima Bello, Kehinde Babatunde of ASPAC HBC of Benin Republic and Esther Mathew, who is also based in Benin Republic, keep their places.
Coach Shittu believes his team will make Nigeria proud just as they did previously at the U-18 level.
“I am really upset that Taiwo Babatunde will not be part of the team for this competition as her school, Yaba College of Technology, insisted that they will not release her for national service because of examinations.
“We did everything humanly possible to secure her release and they didn’t care that it is a national service for the interest of Nigeria and the growth of sports. We have other players who are also students and they got a release from their schools but for no tangible reason, Yabatech refused to release Taiwo despite the fact that we did everything possible to secure her release. It’s sad and I hope the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission will work in tandem so that schools will support our goal in making Nigeria proud in sporting events”.