Sports

National Draught Federation Is Underway -Sports Ministry

Published

7 years ago

July 9, 2018

The Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports says a National Draught Federation is underway.
The ministry’s Zonal Coordinator for the South South Zone, Mr Sylvester Essiet, said this last Friday at the opening of the second edition of the International Draught Tournament holding in Benin, Edo.
Tidesports source reports that draught is played by two people each with 12 round pieces on a board of 64 squares.
Essiet said that draught, being a game of intelligence, would be encouraged to become a sport in the national festival.
“We were here at the maiden edition where we commended the organisers and promised to help grow the sports.
“We have received their application and this is receiving attention. We have asked them to go round states by way of sensitisation and acceptability of the game.
“On our part, we are working round the clock to see how we can make it a non scoring game at the next festival so as to give it the needed exposure and acceptability.
“We are looking forward to creating a draught federation from there,’’ he said.
Declaring the tournament open, the Commissioner for Youths and Special Duties in Edo, Mr Mika Amanokha , said the state government would partner the organisers to ensure that the sport became a counting event in subsequent national sporting events.
“For now, the state government is carrying out remodeling of infrastructure across the state;
“ But when the time comes, we will engage the organisers in looking at the possibility of adding draught to the Edo Sports Festival,’’ he said.
Earlier, Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the Chairman of the Organising Committee, said the organisers decided to use the tournament to erase the erroneous belief that draught was “for lazy and jobless people in the society.’’
He described draught as a physically engaging sport which requires intelligence and deployment of strategies.
“Already, because of the competitiveness and impressive performance of Baylesa athletes at the maiden edition, the Bayelsa state government has promised to introduce the game in school sports in all local government areas.
“We had a two-nation tournament at the maiden edition featuring Nigeria and Ghana and this year, players from Cameroon have registered their participation.
“Next year, we also hope to increase the prize money to N2 million in the premier category and N500,000 in the first division,’’ he said.
Tidesports source reports that Bayelsa-born Doubra Otuku, who emerged champion at the maiden edition in 2017 and wining the star N500,000 prize, had expressed optimism of retaining the title.
“I will do everything possible to retain my title and win the N1 million prize money,’’ he had said while speaking with newsmen.

City Crime

‘NFF Conducted Federation Cup Draw Fairly’

Published

5 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

5 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

5 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”.