Sports
‘NSSF, Vehicle For Discovery Of Talents’
The National President of the Nigerian School Sports Federation (NSSF), Mallam Ibrahim Muhammed, has said that the age cheat scandal that characterized sports development in the country would be addressed through competitive events organized by National School Sports Festival. Mallam Muhammed stated this at the opening ceremony of the 4th National Sports Festival tag Calabar 2011 taking place at the U.J.Esuene stadium the Cross River State capital with more than 21 States participating in 22 events.
According to the NSSF boss the golden era of Nigerian Sports was made possible with organised school sports which he said remains the vehicle for the discovery and nurturing of budding talents”.
He commended Nestle Nigeria PLC for the development of sports, especially for keeping faith with Secondary Schools championship and Adidas for identifying with Calabar 2011 and appeal to other corporate bodies to emulate their good gesture by promoting school sports.
Declaring the championship open, the Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, said the event would change the face of sports development in the country stressing that the objective of the National School Sports Festival is to nurture the young into adulthood for the betterment of the society.
Imoke urged the three tiers of government to encourage the National Schools Sport Festival as part of their agenda for the development of young talent for the future generation of Nigerian athletes.
He said it is part of the state agenda to promote sports and identify talent, noting that the Cross River State Government has selected some schools into six competitive schools to groom them into world class athletes
In his goodwill message, the Cross River State Commissioner for Education Prof. Offiong Offiong described sports as a way of life, adding that, the sports Festival is expected to bring the youths together, identify their talents and harness them to be groom future stars.
He said the comprehensive renewal programme of his ministry will ensure that necessary facilities for the development of talents are provided as well as promoting Inter-House Sporting activities.
Among the sporting events being competed for include Athletics, Handball, Swimming, Volley ball, Traditional Wrestling, Football, Badminton, Boxing Weightlifting, Chess Scrabble, Gymnastics, Judo, Wrestling, and Karate Tennis among others.
Riday Nwagbara, Calabar
Vice president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), Chief Solomon Ogba, foremost Sports Marketer and founder of Okpekpe Road Race, Mike Itemuagbor and top Sports Journalist and Media Strategist, Mitchel Obi have lent their voices in support of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF).
The personalities with backgrounds in sports administration, marketing and media spoke separately in commendation of the festival, an initiative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with Dunamis Icon as consultants.
“This is a positive addition to the evolving sports business ecosystem because it is not just a springboard for identifying talents, it also offers a platform to truly hone the skills of those already discovered”, remarked Obi, who served as Special Advisor to a former Sports Minister, late Anthony Ikhazabor.
He said the festival will be a flagship event in the region that would trigger interest in sports among the youths and people of the region.
Edo State-born Itemuagbor commended the NDDC for the decision to add sports in the list of their intervention projects in the region, adding that: “This speaks directly to the problem of youth restiveness which is of great concern to our people.”
Raphael Onyedika has now emerged as a major doubt for the Super Eagles’ must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
The midfielder was forced out early from last week’s league game against Standard Liege.
He has not recovered from the injury and so will miss today’s league match against Gent and may also miss a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against Aston Villa yesterday.
The Super Eagles take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21, before they face Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later in crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Al-Khalood defender, William Troost-Ekong, has shared his experience on the difficulties of winning the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) while describing it a must win trophy.
The former Watford FC defender has competed in the tournament three times but has yet to lift the trophy.
“I’ve been there three times now, bronze medal, silver medal, but I haven’t had the chance to win it. That remains my ultimate goal,” he told Tidesports source.
“It means so much to me and all the kids growing up in Africa and Nigeria.”