Sports
Ede 2011: NIPOGA Warns Against Use Of Mercenaries
The Local Organising Committee of the Nigeria Polytechnic Games (NIPOGA) has warned against the use of mercenary at the 17th edition of the games scheduled for December at the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State.
The Rector of the polytechnic, Dr Joseph Oke, made the stand of the LOC known in an interview with newsmen in Ede shortly after unveiling the Mascot for the games last week.
“We will not tolerate the use of mercenaries for the games. We will seriously clamp down on any institution that use or attempt to use mercenaries,’’ Oke said.
The rector said the LOC had adequate data to detect any mercenary, adding that such mercenaries would not only be expelled from the games but also prosecuted.
He said that for the first time, an electronically powered mascot would be used for the games.
Oke said the mascot illustrated the traditional and cultural background of Osun.
The rector also disclosed that the games for the first time, had a website: www.nipoga.org.ng.
He said that the website was meant to inform sponsors, stakeholders athletes, journalists and other interested bodies about what NIPOGA stood for.
Oke said that 3,000 athletes and 500 officials 60 polytechnics and colleges of technology
across the nation were expected to participate in the games.
He said the games would feature 14 events — athletics, handball, squash racket, tennis, badminton, hockey, table tennis, volleyball, basketball, football, judo, chess, scrabble and taekwondo.
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.”