Sports
SWAN President Consoles NFF Over Death Member
The President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Sir Honour Sirawoo has expressed sadness over the death of a member of the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Hon. Emmanuel Ibah on Tuesday.
Ibah who was until his painful death the Chairman of Akwa Ibom Football Association as well as Coordinator of the South-South zone of the NFF was reported to have died of Covid-19 complications.
In his tribute, Sirawoo described Ibah as a true friend of the Association who constantly identified with the activities of the Akwa Ibom State Chapter.
He effectively contri-buted his quota to the development of football by ensuring that the Super Eagles had the best of preparations and support each time they played at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
As a member of the Executive Committee of the NFF, Ibah was a stabilizer who at all times promoted peace.
He was an incubator of ideas which perhaps saw his enviable rise in football administration.
The NFF Presi-dent, Amaju Pinnick was apt when he described his late colleague as “brilliant, humble, eloquent and one man that was full of ideas.”
The late Ibah was also Chairman of the NFF Protocols and Ceremonial Committee as well as the Vice Chairman of the Referees and Establish-ment Committees of the NFF.
SWAN therefore, urges the NFF not to allow the effect of losing a committed colleague to affect its activities. The Association further encourages the football governing body to work harder to achieve the developmental goals which they have set together with the late Ibah.
SWAN equally to condoled with the immediate family and to reassure them that the Association will continue to identify with them despite the passing of their patriarch.
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.”
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