Sports
Sharks FC Secures Consecutive League Victory … As Dolphins Grab Away Draw
Sharks FC of Port Harcourt, last weekend at Liberation Stadium Port Harcourt grabbed their second consecutive the maximum three points at stake as they defeated Premier League returnees, 3Sc Fc of Ibadan 2-0 in the on going Globacom Premier League, the victory which brings sharks to nine points in ten matches. Bright Ejike’s 45 minute goal gave Sharks the lead after the attacker nod the ball into the net through a well tailored cross from the right wing fun Gomo Onduku, the visitor raised the game and fought like wounded lion in speech of equalizer but was not fruitful before the end of the first stanza. On resumption of play the opponent became more aggressive, but Sharks was able to contained them, suing their defence. ThankGod Amafuhe who came in as a substitute at the 48th minute converted a spot kick to give the host more confidence. However, both teams played a purposeful game and list many scoring chances. Speaking with Chief coach of Sharks FC, Imama Amapakabo shortly after the match, he said the team has come back to winning ways. “I was able to achieve this feat, because I gave the players orientation on how to win a match, because initially the boys have this losing mentality” he said. Amapakabo expressed joy over the two strength winnings and commended the players for their composure and determination, saying that the club is prepared to win Kano Pillars in spite the fact that they are continental finalist. “I know that the match against Kano Pillars would not be easy, but I am optimistic that we will win the match to re-gain confidence” he said. Also speaking the team manager of 3sc FC Mutin Adepoju popularly known as Head Master, and the match was a good one, but because his players gave their opponents enough chance to enter in their 18 yard box. “Sharks is a good team and the match was not too bad in spite the fact that we lost” he said. Meanwhile, Dolphines FC, of Port Harcourt played 1-1 with Gateway FC of Abekuta in Ogun State. Tonye Orabere
Hon Dike who spoke with sports journalists shortly after the flag off the 2024 edition of Chairman’s Football Unity Tournament at Botem Tai in Tai LGA, said the tournament is an annual event to promote peace and unity in Tai as well identify budding talents in the area for global competition.
The opening ceremony of the tournament was more like a carnival was witnessed by huge crowd including prominent indigenes of Ogoni Kingdom, sports lovers and people from all works of life.
The LGA boss revealed that special sports committee will be setup in the area to work out modalities to strengthen sports development in Tai.
He advised the participants in the tournament from various wards in the LGA to play the game by the rules and conduct themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner and use the opportunity to showcase their talents.
Hon Dike further disclosed that his administration will also give priority attention to skills development among the youth to enhance their human capacity and promote enterprise development in the area.
Earlier in his address the Chairman of Tai LGA Football Council, Elder Wisdom Gorgor said the annual football competition has been a unifying factor in Tai LGA that need to be sustained to forge more unity and development in the area.
He urged the participants to see the competition as an opportunity to embrace football as a full career and earn sustainable livelihood.
Elder Gorgor who commended the Chairman of Tai LGA, Hon Dike for his visionary leadership and tremendous development achievements recorded in the LGA under his administration, appealled to the Chairman to build a Mini Sports Stadium in the area to promote sporting activities.
The training was held at the Sani Abacha Stadium Indoor Basketball Court in Kano last Saturday.
According to the Vice President and Head of NBA Nigeria, Gbemisola Abudu, the event was part of the league’s commitment to growing broader basketball ecosystem in Nigeria and making the game more accessible across the country.
“Our first Jr. NBA clinic in Kano speaks to our commitment to growing the game in Nigeria and creating more opportunities for boys and girls to learn and play the game,” Abudu said.
“Nigeria has a rich basketball history and abundance of talent, which is evident every time you watch an NBA game. We look forward to continuing to engage with basketball stakeholders, business leaders and members of the community to further the game’s reach and impact on young people around the country,” she added.
The 2024 basketball initiative clinics of NBA Nigeria also included the league’s inaugural Jr. NBA elite camp for 150 boys and age-16 girls held at the American International School in Lagos in July.
Others include the NBA’s building of 1,000 courts in Africa over the next decade, Nigeria’s Festival Coins and Salubata named the top two winning businesses at NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator’s inaugural Demo Day in New York City held last September, and the third edition of “NBA Meets Art,” a curated installation celebrating basketball through the lens of Nigerian art and culture as part of West Africa’s premier art fair Art X Lagos, held in November.
Central to this vision is the federation’s investment in capacity building, evident in the just-concluded one-week Level 1 Badminton World Federation (BWF) Coaching Course, which marked a significant milestone for Nigerian badminton.
Held in Abuja, the course brought together 13 young coaches from across Nigeria. The last time such a course was held in the country was in 2017, making this a historic and transformative step.
The training was facilitated by the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) in partnership with the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) and conducted by Dr. Ahmed Radah, the BCA Development Manager.
Radah, impressed by the talent he witnessed, praised Nigeria’s potential.
“Nigeria is blessed with immense talent and a strong badminton tradition. I believe this country has what it takes to dominate on the global stage,” he remarked.
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