Sports
Sports Enthusiasts Applaud Birth Of Offsight Race
A new type of sport, “Offsight Race’’ which enhances the mind’s power of focus and imbues positive thinking was yesterday presented to the world of sports in Nimo, Njikoka Council Area of Anambra.
The game is conceptualised, designed and developed by Anambra-born Chukwudi Ikedimma from Nimo town.
Offsight Race is a game of three stages where the athlete is blindfolded and made to walk within some given regions in which points are recorded in terms of accuracy and speed.
According to the inventor, Ikedimma, the game strengthens the mind’s power of focus and inspires positive thinking in the athletes as well as instill useful values.
He said that Offsight Race is a game for all irrespective of gender, age or physical impairment which promotes positive and healthy competition as well as the eagerness of an individual to thrive.
Ikedimma said that the game was conceived during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) service year and had undergone years of research and development.
According to him, the main concept of Offsight Race is to positively identify neighbouring regions in relation to the place of play.
“Offsight Race is a game of friendship, solidarity, peace and fair play which are some of the fundamental principles of the Olympic movement.
“Our desire is that in a very near future, Offsight Race will be a major event at the world stage of the Olympic Games.
“We are calling on Nigerians sports authorities to adopt the game and promote it because of its immense benefit,” he said.
Frank Igboka, a veteran Wrestler and Judoka, described the game as hilarious and inspiring, adding that it demanded focus and tact from the athlete.
Igboka, an Olympian who is also from Nimo, said that the community wholly endorsed Offsight Race and was presenting it to the world.
He urged lovers of sports and corporate firms to sponsor the idea and make it part of the country’s contributions to sports.
Contributing, Jane Owo, Head Enugu Zonal Office of The Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, applauded the concept and ingenuity of the game.
Owo described Offsight Race as non-segregational and promised that the ministry would like to bring the game to limelight.
On his part, Geoffrey Ogu, President, Para-Athletics Federation of Nigeria (PFN), said Nimo had made another history with the gift of Offsight Race to the world of sports.
Ogu, who noted that the recent signing of disability bill into law by President Muhammadu Buhari would increase activity in para-games volunteered to supervise the game.
“The core value of this game is that it is for all; men, women, able, disabled, young and the aged.
“I now supervise blind football, I will like to make this game a national and international event,” he said.
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”.
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.
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”.
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