Sports
Purity Praises NOC, Ministry, Igali On Oborududu’s Victory
Head Coach of Nigeria Women National Wrestling team, Purity Akuh, has hailed Commonwealth champion Blessing Oborududu for winning a historic silver medal at the just-concluded Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Last week, the 32-year-old Oborududu became the first Nigerian ever to win a wrestling medal at the Games, after she claimed silver in the 68kg class final against American World champion Tamyra Mensah Stock.
Oborududu is also the second African woman to win an Olympic medal in wrestling after Tunisian Marwa Amri.
“Congratulations to Blessing Oborududu for winning the first-ever wrestling medal for Nigeria at the highest level of sport – the Olympics,” he wrote on his Facebook page. “She worked hard for this glorious moment, and I’m so happy and proud of her.
“And to the rest of my champions, Odunayo Adekuoroye, Aminat Adeniyi and my wrestling baby Adijat Idris, I appreciate your efforts, consistency and cooperation at this Olympics. As the sports slogan goes, ‘we win some, we lose some’.
“The bottom line is we are coming back stronger! More so, you all worked hard to break this long jinx. Alongside Oborududu, we made this history together, that is what matters and you all remain my champions forever!”
He continued: “I want to also use this medium to appreciate the Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Sunday Dare, for the fatherly care and support he has been giving us. We appreciate you, sir,” he added.
“I also thank the Nigeria Olympic Committee for always being there whenever we need them.
“Special thanks must go to the back bone of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation Hon. Daniel Igali, our president. In reality, Nigeria wrestling is blessed to have him. His selfless service in kind, cash and prayer is unquantifiable.
His encouragement, push and support for the team fetched Nigeria it’s first-ever medal in wrestling at the Olympics.”
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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