Sports

NYG: Sports Directors Hail Ministry, Urge Improvement In Screening Standard

Published

7 years ago

September 21, 2018

The state directors of sports have commended the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development for the successful organisation of the just-concluded 4th National Youth Games (NYG) at the University of Ilorin.
The directors gave the commendation while speaking with the Tidesports source at the end of the Games held from Sept. 7 to Sept. 17 in the ancient city of Ilorin.
Some of the directors, however, called for improvement in the areas of screening and accommodation of athletes in subsequent editions of the games.
Rivers Sports Commission, Director, Ezekiel Ordu, noted that a more scientific method should be employed in ascertaining the age of the athletes.
“There should be an improvement in screening because we should not be talking about ascertaining age through physical examination of the athletes in this age.
“The federal government should get a scientific method to screen the athletes because it will help us in case of protests by disqualified athletes.
“Such measure will help us to ascertain the real age of the athletes instead of having cases of age forgery,” Ordu said.
The Benue Sports Director, Philip Nondo said that the method of screening adopted at the event in Ilorin should be discouraged in subsequent games.
“I congratulate the sports ministry for the organisation of the games.
“No one is perfect; from what we have seen so far, the screening was okay initially by us except for some states that wanted to win medals by all means, and injected athletes that are ineligible to take part in the competition.
“They should stop discouraging the younger ones as the first screening was perfect, but the re-screening was what spoilt the whole exercise.
“So, if you give people some work to do, allow them to do so without interference,” Nondo said.
General Manager, Ekiti Sports Council, Deji Shawon, advised the organisers to fine-tune the accreditation and accommodation arrangements in subsequent games.
“We ought to have a system to be able to register childbirth so that we don’t always have cases of age cheats.
“There were so many fake birth certificates presented; so, the system should be upgraded so that when we have children right away from birth, they will be registered and won’t have to go through the nitty-gritty such as this.
“There is need to improve on accommodation because these are young children from good homes, sleeping on good beds and from good environment at home.
“For them to come here and sleep anyhow isn’t encouraging; it is something that can be improved upon.
“So, when we come for the next edition, most of these things will be put right.
“There is also the need to improve on feeding because putting little accompaniments on food isn’t the best,” Shawon said.
On his part, Director of Sports in Niger, Baba Sheshi, said that the hostels should be renovated before the next edition of the games.
“Even the children have derive maximum satisfaction from the games, and this will go a long way in uniting us.
“But, there is room for improvement in terms of logistics and accommodation though we were told that the university management was ready to start the renovation of the hostels to be used for the just-concluded event.”

City Crime

‘NFF Conducted Federation Cup Draw Fairly’

Published

4 days ago

April 21, 2025

The Tide

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”.

Sports

Act Sports Signs New Teqball Specialist Contract In Nigeria

Published

4 days ago

April 21, 2025

The Tide

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.

Sports

Nigeria Name Handball Squads For Zonal Champs

Published

4 days ago

April 21, 2025

The Tide

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”.