Sports

Police Intercept English Hooligans Heading To S’Africa

Published

15 years ago

June 7, 2010

British and South African police have foiled an attempt by English hooligans to sneak into the country for the World Cup via Dubai.

Police minister Nathi Mthethwa also said around 3,200 identified hooligans had until tomorrow to hand in their passports to British police to prevent them travelling.

“A month ago some of them were trying to go via Dubai to come to South Africa and both the South African and UK forces were able to nip them,” Mthethwa said.

He said around a dozen hooligans were intercepted but would not give details of where they were stopped. South African officials have said they are working closely with British police to prevent hooligans reaching Africa’s first World Cup. .

“We really will not take any nonsense this time around… This commitment by the UK authorities (to ban these hooligans) is not just a commitment it is something concrete.”

South African police have little experience of hooliganism which does not occur at soccer matches there, and are relying on spotters and intelligence information from European forces.

The minister said there was no substance to a report in a South African newspaper that chances of a terror attack during the tournament could be as high as 80 per cent and that Pakistani and Somali militants were running training camps in neighbouring Mozambique.

The paper said some militants may have already crossed into the country.

“There is no specific terrorism threat to South Africa as we speak. I don’t think our intelligence is weak, we are able to challenge anybody with our intelligence,” Mthethwa said.

But he added that this would not make security forces complacent.

“It would, however, be folly for any country to grandstand and proclaim that it is immune to terror attacks.”

Analysts say that although no threats have been identified, the World Cup, as the globe’s most watched sporting event, would be a tempting target for al Qaeda and other groups.

Officials have said they are paying particular attention to protecting eight matches but have only mentioned one of them, the game in Rustenburg between England and the United States on June 12, the second day of the tournament.

“The US has been targeted for some time, it will continue to be and it is not alone. There is this possibility wherever the U.S. is. We have not taken any chances,” Mthethwa said.

He also dismissed threats from white right wing groups in South Africa, saying they were being dealt with by police.

Police have recently broken up what they said were right wing bombing plots, including a plan by white supremacists to plant explosives in black townships.

City Crime

‘NFF Conducted Federation Cup Draw Fairly’

Published

1 week 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

1 week 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

1 week 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”.