Sports
Enyimba’s Win Against CARA, My Happiest Moment – Anyansi Agwu
The Chairman, Enyimba International FC of Aba, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, says the team’s victory over CARA Brazzaville of Congo on Wednesday marked the happiest moment for him as a football administrator.
Anyansi-Agwu made the assertion at a post-match news conference at the Enyimba FC Stadium in Aba shortly after the Peoples’Elephants defeated Cara Brazzaville 1-0 in their CAF Confederation’s Cup in Group C on Wednesday.
According to him, his team’s victory in the tension-soaked match was pleasant because they have qualified for the CAF Confederations Cup quarter-finals, adding that the win was a delightful way to dedicate their remodelled stadium.
He said he was optimistic that Enyimba would win because of his firm faith in God, noting that they got the last minute victory because God wanted to show His hands were upon the club.
Anyansi-Agwu, however, expressed displeasure with the attitude of the Enyimba fans immediately after the match ended, saying that football administrators globally frown at such a rush onto the field of play.
He said steps would be taken to check a repeat of the undesirable attitude by fans which could earn the club some sanctions.
Speaking, Cara Brazzaville Coach, Jacque Ontsira, said that his team knew Enyimba would fight hard to defeat them so they adopted a defensive game.
He, however, expressed delight at the effectiveness of the tactics as his team also qualified after the group’s second match between Williamsville and Djoliba ended in a goalless draw.
Enyimba FC Coach, Usman Abdullah, said that his team played their heart out because only a hard fight would ensure their victory and qualification.
“We did not come out to depend on the result of the other teams. The result came out positively for both teams that played in Aba today. Our game plan was to win.
“I am happy we got the three points not only because this is the first continental game in Aba but because it feels so good to dedicate the stadium with a win”, he said.
He described the return of the peoples’ elephant to Aba, their home ground as “a positive thing” that would pay dividends, adding that this was the first time they were playing in the stadium in three years.
The coach said that since the last three years, they had never played with their home support, but added that now such a support would enhance their performances.
Abdullah says his team begins preparation immediately against the semi-finals by working harder than ever before.
The Team’s Captain, Mfon Udoh, said the pitch was pleasantly different from those in Calabar and Port Harcourt where they played their matches in the last three years.
He said Enyimba walked on a tight rope playing against their opponents to qualify for the quarter-finals, expressing joy that they eventually won.
Tidesports source reports that the goal which came through Wasiu Alalade in the third minute of extra time was made possible through a free kick by Mfon Udoh which bounced off the cross bar.
Enyimba has booked a place in the quarter-finals stage of the competition, with 12 points, which is three points higher than Cara that now occupies the second position.
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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