Sports
Fans Criticise FIFA On Goal-line Technology Stand
A cross section of sports fans in Rivers State have criticised the world football governing body, FIFA for not heeding the calls for the introduction of goal-line technology in its competitions.
Calls for FIFA to introduce the goal-line technology had intensified during the just-concluded 2010 FIFA world cup held in South Africa following poor decisions by referees.
The development prompted FIFA President, Sepp Blatter’s announcement during the tournament that the issue would be discussed at its technical sub-committee meeting.
But the matter has been shelved after a FIFA’s spokesman said the matter would not be on the committee’s agenda for now.
In an interviews with Tide sports, a keen soccer follower, Charles Miebaka said he was disappointed by the decision of FIFA to postpone what he called a “burning issue”.
He described the decision of most referees at the world cup, especially the clear goal scored by Frank Lampard during England’s round of 16 match against Germany that was not given, as a bad decision which would have been solved by goal-line technology.
“That goal was a clear goal which should have been allowed and it would have boosted England’s chances of competing in that match, but they eventually lost woefully. I think the world should move with the time we are in the era of technology in all facets of our life”, Misbaka stated.
Another fan, Chukwudi Igwe said that if FIFA was skeptical about the technology, they should introduce more referees to man the goal posts in the interest of the game.
He called on FIFA to experiment with more referees in future FIFA organised competitions, if it was not comfortable with the distraction posed by the technology.
“Every new thing comes by experiment, FIFA should be amenable to the wishes of the people, because it is the people that spend their money to go and watch football, and they should watch a game and go back home feeling that no one was cheated.
“The last world cup showed that the football community can adapt to changes like we saw in the Vuvuvelas and the Fabulani ball”, he added.
It would be recalled that the committee of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), comprising representatives from FIFA and the four home nations, had rejected the notion of goal-line technology in March on the grounds of cost and possible disruption it would bring to the game.
The body which meets in Wales this week said it would not discuss on the issue till October when it would have a more formal meeting.
Sports
Bundesliga: Kane Scores Hat-Trick As Bayern End Winless Streak
England captain Harry Kane netted a hat-trick to guide Bayern Munich to an impressive victory against Stuttgart.
Kane’s goals, plus one from Kingsley Coman, helped Bayern end a three-game winless run in all competitions.
They faced a tough task against a Stuttgart side who sat back and limited their chances, leading Vincent Kompany’s side to enter the break frustrated and with the deadlock unbroken.
Bayern eventually found a way past Stuttgart’s steely defence when Kane drilled a low effort into the bottom corner from around 30 yards out after Joshua Kimmich overturned possession.
Sports
Dosu Survives Ghastly Accident, Again
Former Nigeria goalkeeper, Dosu Joseph, is full of thanks to God after he miraculously survived another life-threatening automobile accident recent at Kara, along the Lagos-Ibadan Express Way, where a heavy-duty truck ran into his SUV.
Narrating his ordeal, the 51-year-old, who guided Nigeria to gold in the Men’s Football Tournament of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, broke the news in a statement on his social media handles on Friday.
“To God be the glory, another death escaped by Grace and Mercy of God. Me and my friend SM were at Enyo Filling Station after Ojodu Berger bus stop to get fuel on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, around 6 p.m. when this MACK truck fully loaded with iron, with registration number LND 470 XX, left the road and crushed my car beyond repairs. Thank God for life,” he stated.
This is the second time the soft-spoken club proprietor will cheat death by a whisker, having been involved in an accident in 1997 that ended his career at 23 and left his spinal cord in bad shape.
He helped Julius Berger win the Nigeria FA Cup in November 1997 shortly a memorable Olympic outing by keeping a clean sheet in the finals against Katsina United. The following year, he was involved in the auto along Ikorodu Road, Lagos, which not only cut his career short but also left him almost paralysed, ending his spell at Serie A club Reggiana.
The former Nigeria international, who also kept goal for Julius Berger FC, said the case has been reported to Isheri Police Station, Ogun State, where the driver is currently detained and the truck also seized.
According to him, the owner of the truck said he can’t fix the badly damaged SUV until after a year.
Sports
Sports Development Going Down In Nigeria – Ex-International
Ex – Super Eagles of Nigeria, Okwuchukwu Waobikeze has observed that sports development in Nigeria is going down.
According to him, grassroots sports is very important, without it, the administrators cannot get it right. So everybody should key into grassroots sports development, he said.
Waobikeze said this last Wednesday in an interview with sports journalists shortly after the Port Harcourt All Stars Independence football festival (OCTOBERFEST) at the Port Harcourt club, Rivers State.
He explained that for sports administrators to get it right, grassroots development is key. “They should be organising competition at the grassroots level to fish out the young ones for different sporting activities.
“Grassroots sports is very important so the administrators have to go back to the grassroots.
” Sports Development in Nigeria is going down we need to go back to the basics.
“Look at the just concluded Paris Olympics, Nigeria did not win any medal.
” Our football team did not even qualify for the Olympics. We are going down.
” If they should go back to the grassroots, they will get young ones in the games and talents will be developed.
” I started from school games, to youth games before playing for the national team. Now everybody wants to fly board to play professional football and a lot do not know the basics of the game.
” A lot of people did not know the little things about the game, they just want to play. It is not done so,” Waobikeze stated.
Kiadum Edookor