Sports
New Era Girls Win Monday Gift Girls Cup
In a thrilling culmination of talent and dedication, New Era Girls Senior Secondary School emerged victorious in the maiden edition of the Monday Gift Girls Cup (MGGC) 2023.
The event, held at the Obele Community High School Ground in Surulere, Lagos, showcased the remarkable synergy between sports and education.
The championship, sponsored by the dynamic Gift Monday and expertly coordinated by Dr. Gbeleyi Olasunkanmi, aimed to engage girls aged 8 to 16 in grassroots football while imparting essential life skills. The participating juniors and seniors schools, including from New Era Girls, Obele Community, Araromi, and Coker Secondary Schools, displayed exceptional sportsmanship and talent.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Grassroots Sports Development, Mr. Adebanji Atewogboye SKIBANJ, graced the event, urging the young athletes to channel their efforts into both education and sports. SKIBANJ emphasized the holistic benefits of sports, not just as a lucrative profession but also for enhancing individual health.
The climax of the competition witnessed Master Edet Precious of Obele Community Senior Secondary School clinching the prestigious titles of Best Player, while the accolade for Highest Goal Scorer went to Master Taiwo Ayomide of New Era Girls Senior Secondary School. The stakes were high, with cash prizes totaling ¦ 150,000.00 awarded to the champion, runner-up, and third-place winner.
The Tutor General/Permanent Secretary of Education District IV, Mr. Segun Osinaike, along with other dignitaries, added to the grandeur of the event by their presence at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
New Era Girls Senior Secondary School, where Gift Monday completed her secondary education, emerged as the well-deserved champions. The 2nd position was secured by Community Senior Secondary School, Obele, while Araromi Senior Secondary School, Orile, claimed the third spot.
The success of the Monday Gift Girls Cup stands as a testament to the transformative power of sports and education in shaping the lives of young individuals. This initiative, fueled by the vision of Gift Monday and the organizational prowess of Dr. Gbeleyi Olasunkanmi, marks a significant stride in fostering excellence across diverse fields.
While congratulating the participating schools, especially the champions, Gift Monday said:”Together, let’s champion the dreams of our girls through the transformative synergy of sports and education. As we celebrate success in #MGGC2023, we invite partners and collaborators to join hands in empowering the girl child. Your support paves the way for brighter futures and limitless possibilities.”
As the cheers echoed through Surulere, the MGGC 2023 not only celebrated sporting achievements but also reinforced the crucial role of mentorship and community engagement in empowering the next generation.
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”.