Sports
Kick Boxing Association Plans Peace Clinic In PH
In a bid to sustain peace in
the Niger Delta region, the World Kick Boxing Association (WKBA), Nigeria chapter, has put in place preparations to organize a 4 day event tagged, “King of The Ring Niger Delta 2014.”
The representative of the association in Nigeria Sensei Victor Bassey, said the programme is aimed at ensuring that youths of the region shun anti-social vices such as gangsterism, kidnapping, street fighting as well as promoting youth empowerment projects.
Sensei Bassey, noted that the programme would also be used to prepare teams ahead of the 2015 WKBA, World championship.
He said that in order to achieve desired success, the former world kick boxing champions and international officials including class A referees such as Mr Nizar S. Taleb are expected to grace the occasion.
He, however, appealed to governors in the region to support the body to achieve the programme saying that organisers of the event have vowed to make judicious use of the resources made available for the programme.
“The Federal Government amnesty programme is not enough, Niger Delta still needs this peace initiative- youth empowerment to produce peace ambassadors”, he said. Sensei Bassey, also stated that the organizers are seeking for closer relationship with corporate bodies and well meaning individuals to make the event a success and hitch-free.
The event which is expected to be held between 28th and 31st August this year at Alfred Diete-Spiff Sports complex, would have prize money such as N100,000, N70,000, and N30,000 for gold, silver and bronze respectively.
Volleyball players struggling for honours during a national event in Port Harcourt, Rivers State recently.
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.”