Sports
Tennis Players Seek Sponsorship For International Tourney
Some Ondo State Table
Tennis players have in Akure appealed for the state government’s sponsorship toward their participation in international table tennis championships.
The players told newsmen that it would require the government’s sponsorship for them to take part in the forthcoming senior and junior world championships.
“We were selected to represent Nigeria in the championships due to our excellent performances at the Nigeria Table tennis federation (NTTF) Pilot League and Toyin Okenla National Secondary Schools Championship held in Lagos recently.
“Both the senior and junior players from the state were to take part in the world championship and world tour in China and Portugal,’’ Ojo Onaolapo said.
Onaolapo said that it was not common for a state to be invited to represent the country in international championships, saying “this shows that we have a good track record.
“We want to thank the government for the previous encouragement but we want them to do more, the World Tour will boost our rankings as players and as a state,” Onaolapo said.
The player commended Gov. Olusegun Mimiko for supporting the development of sports in the state.
He also called for the governor’s quick intervention in order for the players to participate in the championships to boost their career.
“We want to thank the government for the encouragement and huge investment on the youth through sports development.
“But we want the governor’s intervention toward our participation in the world tours because our participation will boost our rankings as players and as a state,’’ Onaolapo said.
Another player, Kehinde Akinyinka said that attending the championships would improve the standard of the players and grassroots programmes of the Mimiko-led government.
“We need to improve on our knowledge and skills,” Akinyinka said.
The NTTF in its invitation letter said the Sunshine senior team is expected to represent Nigeria in the GAC Group ITTF World Tour.
The other competitions where they are expected to feature are China Open, and Chengdu Super Series between June 4 and 8, in Chengdu, China.
The junior players are expected to take part in the Funchal Junior and Cadet Open ITTF Circuit in Portugal between September 3 and 6.
The state table tennis head coach, Adedotun Omoniyi, said the players needed the international exposure.
“I want to call on the state government to assist us by way of sponsorship; some of them are young players who need all the exposure they can get.
“More so, their participation will serve as part of our preparation for the forthcoming National Sports Festival slated for Calabar in November.
“Table Tennis remains the state’s number one area of advantage in any competition, so, there is need to expose players to modern techniques,” he said.
Omoniyi also said that there was penalty for non-attendance.
“The penalty for not honouring invitation is as a policy £150 (about N37,500) per player and coach.
“The cost cancellation will be added to the association’s invoice to be paid together with the hospitality costs to the organisers either by bank transfer or by cash on site.
“Also, the association will not be allowed to enter future World Tour events if any cancellation fees remain outstanding,’’ Omoniyi said.
Sports
We’ll use Sports to Promote Peace, create Wealth in Tai…Chairman.
Hon Dike who spoke with sports journalists shortly after the flag off the 2024 edition of Chairman’s Football Unity Tournament at Botem Tai in Tai LGA, said the tournament is an annual event to promote peace and unity in Tai as well identify budding talents in the area for global competition.
The opening ceremony of the tournament was more like a carnival was witnessed by huge crowd including prominent indigenes of Ogoni Kingdom, sports lovers and people from all works of life.
The LGA boss revealed that special sports committee will be setup in the area to work out modalities to strengthen sports development in Tai.
He advised the participants in the tournament from various wards in the LGA to play the game by the rules and conduct themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner and use the opportunity to showcase their talents.
Hon Dike further disclosed that his administration will also give priority attention to skills development among the youth to enhance their human capacity and promote enterprise development in the area.
Earlier in his address the Chairman of Tai LGA Football Council, Elder Wisdom Gorgor said the annual football competition has been a unifying factor in Tai LGA that need to be sustained to forge more unity and development in the area.
He urged the participants to see the competition as an opportunity to embrace football as a full career and earn sustainable livelihood.
Elder Gorgor who commended the Chairman of Tai LGA, Hon Dike for his visionary leadership and tremendous development achievements recorded in the LGA under his administration, appealled to the Chairman to build a Mini Sports Stadium in the area to promote sporting activities.
Sports
NBA train youths, coaches in Nigeria
The training was held at the Sani Abacha Stadium Indoor Basketball Court in Kano last Saturday.
According to the Vice President and Head of NBA Nigeria, Gbemisola Abudu, the event was part of the league’s commitment to growing broader basketball ecosystem in Nigeria and making the game more accessible across the country.
“Our first Jr. NBA clinic in Kano speaks to our commitment to growing the game in Nigeria and creating more opportunities for boys and girls to learn and play the game,” Abudu said.
“Nigeria has a rich basketball history and abundance of talent, which is evident every time you watch an NBA game. We look forward to continuing to engage with basketball stakeholders, business leaders and members of the community to further the game’s reach and impact on young people around the country,” she added.
The 2024 basketball initiative clinics of NBA Nigeria also included the league’s inaugural Jr. NBA elite camp for 150 boys and age-16 girls held at the American International School in Lagos in July.
Others include the NBA’s building of 1,000 courts in Africa over the next decade, Nigeria’s Festival Coins and Salubata named the top two winning businesses at NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator’s inaugural Demo Day in New York City held last September, and the third edition of “NBA Meets Art,” a curated installation celebrating basketball through the lens of Nigerian art and culture as part of West Africa’s premier art fair Art X Lagos, held in November.
Sports
BFN Hold Clinic to Empower Coaches
Central to this vision is the federation’s investment in capacity building, evident in the just-concluded one-week Level 1 Badminton World Federation (BWF) Coaching Course, which marked a significant milestone for Nigerian badminton.
Held in Abuja, the course brought together 13 young coaches from across Nigeria. The last time such a course was held in the country was in 2017, making this a historic and transformative step.
The training was facilitated by the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) in partnership with the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) and conducted by Dr. Ahmed Radah, the BCA Development Manager.
Radah, impressed by the talent he witnessed, praised Nigeria’s potential.
“Nigeria is blessed with immense talent and a strong badminton tradition. I believe this country has what it takes to dominate on the global stage,” he remarked.
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