The second edition of South East Zonal Chess Championship draw its curtain close at the weekend in Umuahia the capital city of Abia State.
The tournament saw Rivers Chess team which was represented by three players  Stanley Egbujie, Eunice Ajawachukwu  and veteran, Dr. Appollos Akomaka who captained the team  excelled at championship.
Rivers players won all their games in the day one of the tournament, in the female category Ajawachukwu emerged champion and narrowly lost to highly rated player to win silver medal with a 4/7 points in the major championship
Stanley Egbujie of Rivers performed impressively which took him to the finals but also lost to the joint winner of the major  championship as Egbujie  dropped to fourth position by ranking with  5/7 points.
This year edition did not feature the veteran category; however the reigning veteran champion of the championship, Dr. Akomaka also garnered 3.5points out of 7 to still remain undisputed as the veteran champion of the zone.
Speaking shortly after the event, the acting chairman of the Rivers State Chess Association Dr Apollos Akomaka urged players to always put in their best, saying and that one day their efforts will be crowned with glory.
He stated that if they continue to perform impressively in competitions he believes government would support them.

Tonye Orabere

The Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Dr. Samuel Ogbuku has pledged to introduce Niger Delta Secondary Schools League (NDSSL) to promote and develop football in the region.
He stated that in the next edition of W.W White cup the best player would be sent to any football academy in Europe, instead of scouts to come.
Dr. Ogbuku said these shortly after the finals of the competition sponsored by NDDC, last Friday at the Stella Maris College, between Ennitonia High School and Nyemoni Anglican Grammar School in Port Harcourt,
According to him, the reason of sponsoring the tournament was to bring back Port Harcourt how it used to be, adding that the name was also maintained to immortalise the person who started the competition as a way of giving back to the society.
“We believe that we needed to go back how Port Harcourt used to be, the peaceful Port Harcourt as it used to be that glorified all of us. Besides, for a long time now we have not played inter secondary football competition in the State.
“Next year we will improve on it  by sending the best player to any of the football academics in Europe. This competition would go round the nine States that NDDC covers but it will not bare W.W.White. We are going to look for other existing competition there and winners of each State will play Niger Delta Secondary School League”, he said.
The NDDC Managing Director , further revealed that the the commission would introduce football competition for female in the area hence it will not bare W.W. White. We all know that female football in Nigeria’ started from Rivers State.
“ The truth was that we are gender friendly, we will introduce another competition and not W.W. White Cup, if we do that then it will not bare W.W.White cup again”, he stated.
At the end of the game Enitonia High School beat 4-2 Nyemoni Anglican Grammar School  on penalty after playing 1-1 at regulation time  to emerge champions.
Consequently, Ennitonia High School go home with N1.5m while Nyemoni smile home with N1M.

Tonye Orabere

The 43rd edition of the Federal Public Service Games, FEPSGA, being hosted by Rivers State and christened Simplified Rivers 2024 will Officially come to a close today with the  Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara expected to formally draw the curtains.

According to a press statement signed by the Chairman of the Publicity Sub-committee of the LOC, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, the closing ceremony is scheduled for 9am today at the Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt and will have in attendance federal and state government officials, athletes, technical officials and members of the public.

In the last one week, Rivers State has played host to over 8,000 athletes from 80 Ministries/Departments/Agencies of federal government, in addition to Team Rivers.

The Games have been held in an atmosphere of intense competition by all the athletes, with new champions emerging in some of the events.

It is the 2nd time the state would be hosting the annual event that brings together federal civil servants to compete for honours, whilst also using the opportunity to keep fit and network.

The closing ceremony will witness the presentation of trophies and medals to winners in various sporting events.