PGA Donates N5million to Golf Foundation

The professional Golfers Association of Nigeria has announced the donation of N5million naira to a foundation set up by the senate president, David Mark to develop golf at the grassroots.

Announcing the development in Lagos, Femi Olagbenro, the body’s director of operation the donation was necessitated because of the purpose that the foundation has been set up to serve.

“Theirs is a unique foundation and perhaps the first in the country to support golf development. And that perfectly is in tandem with our vision. The more youth we have that is shown the game the better the future of golf in the country especially for the PGA in the long run.”

Olagbenro noted that their support is like a seed sown into the future.

The David Mark Foundation operates from Oturkpo in Benue state where youth who are interested in the game of golf are tutored free of charge and some exceptional athletes among them enjoys scholarship including additional benefit to be entered for national and international events.

Liadi Jaiyeola, PGAs director of finance said that the donation came at almost at no cost to the body. “all we had to do was to source for funds some of our trustees who believe and has been canvassing for some measure of give back that we are now launching in. We had no need to dip hand into our account”

“Again, giving such amount of support to a foundation from Oturkpo will not be too much because that is arguably one golf course that has produced and average of two championships for the PGA annually. I believe we have sown the right seed for the future of the game” he added.

Sanya lead the pack in Hilton, Holf-19 Golf

The 2011 Hilton Hole-19 Charity Golf Tournament was concluded last
weekend with six-handicapper Dipo Sanya topping the chart at the 36 holes tournament concluded at the IBB International Golf and Country
Club in Abuja.

Colonel Edward Mark playing off handicap sixteen also shone with his 75, 67 carding on two days of the high profile golf tournament. Vice captain of the club, Tony Azogu also picked the gross prize at the event beating Okey Igwe to the runner up spot while Emeka Okata settled for the third spot at the event.

Andre Herrenschmidt General Manager of Hilton congratulated all winners at the event and added that participating at the event is a
show of love and care for the charity that the proceeds would
eventually be donated to.

Over 120 players signed up to play in the tournament that featured different categories of golfers including ladies, gentlemen and veteran players.

The event also featured players jostling for honours in the team event which was made of playing partners in the first round of the event.
Here Dipo Sanya also helped his team to triumph with 341 gross total score of the team. The team included Lucky Omolua, Paul Erekoro and
Ade Young.

Senate President, David Mark picked the veteran honour beating former Nigerian Golf Federation President, David Lot and Tim Menakaya to the
second and third place respectively.

The Best of Best by Femi Adesina

For the Adesina family, both at home and in the Diaspora, the recent death of former national goalkeeper, Best Ogedegbe, was like a personal loss. When the news broke that he had gone the way of all flesh after an eye surgery at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, we exchanged text messages, electronic mails, and phone calls, lamenting the development. It was as if we were directly affected. Yes, we were directly affected, as Best was one of us. How? I’ll tell you the story.
After a teaching career that saw him traversing Murumba College, Ile-Ife, Oriwu College, Ikorodu, Lagos, Saint Charles Grammar School, Osogbo, and Notre Dame College, Usi-Ekiti, my father retired as a school principal in 1971. He went back to his hometown, Ipetumodu, in the then Ife Division of the Western State. There, he established a farm, a hotel, and other kinds of businesses. He traded under the name Olugbon (God is the wise one).

The seven Adesina children therefore grew up, knowing their mother as the proprietress of Olugbon Hotel. And one night in October, 1975, blasts from the horns of a massive bus, not a common sight in that area in those days, broke the serenity of the entire neighbourhood. The hotel’s gates were flung open, and the vehicle lumbered in. That was the beginning of what has become a lifelong relationship between the Adesina family, and some determined young men, who were members of the then IICC Shooting Stars football team. They had qualified to compete in what was then called the African Cup Winners Cup, and their mentor, Chief Lekan Salami, had sought a quiet place, out of the hustle and bustle of town, out of all the distractions and temptations of city life, to hide them away in preparation.

I was a starry-eyed young boy, only in my first year in secondary school then. In fact, in a book I wrote later in 1992, Segun Odegbami wrote thus in the Foreword: “Sixteen years seems like a long time. It is not! Or wasn’t it only yesterday that I came into contact with that skinny young boy whose bright, ever inquisitive eyes followed us around in that serene atmosphere of Ipetumodu?”

Yes, before they all became international stars in soccer, I knew Segun Odegbami, Muda Lawal, Best Ogedegbe, Kunle Awesu, Sam Ojebode (the skipper) Otolorin Moses, Idowu Otubusin (Slow Poison), and, indeed, all the players of the then IICC Shooting Stars who won Nigeria’s first international club soccer trophy in 1976.
Best Ogedegbe died recently at 55. That means he was only 21 years old when I first knew him. And he was a typical young man. Happy-go-lucky, slightly boastful (even though pleasantly so), and of course, with the typical roving eyes of a young man. I knew some of the best-kept secrets of one of the best goalkeepers this nation has produced. Best Ogedegbe recruited me as an accomplice in some of his antics.

Best and Laide Alli had joined IICC from a club called Spitfire, so they were particularly close. Alli had taken me under his wings, so, if I was not in school, I was likely in his hotel room. And Best was equally always there.

I’m sure Mrs Folasade Ogedegbe would not mind my revealing this, even as she mourns her late husband. And of course, any young man who did not do similar things should cast the first stone. There was a young lady in our neighbourhood that Best had sighted, and he wanted to strike a relationship with. Discipline was tight under the watchful eyes of the coaches – Alan Hawkes, Ayo Adeniji, Jossy Lad, Amusa Adisa (Popo), and of course, Adegboye Onigbinde, who popped into camp once in a while. So, what was the best way for Best to accomplish his aim? He recruited the young, innocent boy. Me. That was how I became a messenger of love. I carried notes and messages between Best and his beau.

It was like a comedy of errors the first time I did it. Best and Joe Appiah, a Ghanaian defender with the team, looked very alike to me. They were only few days old in camp, and when the lady told me that Best could visit later in the night, I delivered the message to Joe Appiah. It was a mystified Appiah, who had seen Best talking with me earlier, that eventually piloted me to the goalkeeper’s room.

Camp life was generally peaceful, but I’ll never forget the day Best and Otolorin Moses had a bust-up. The team normally trained on the pitch of the then University of Ife, which was about 15 minutes drive away. On the way back one evening, the two players sat near each other. One wanted the window flung wide open, the other wanted it closed. A rift ensued, and by the time they alighted at the hotel, Best charged at Otolorin Moses. If you knew the latter, he was a real man-mountain, while Best was quite skinny in comparison. It was like David versus Goliath. As the other players tried to separate them, it was curiously Best that refused to be pacified. He kept screaming: ma na e flat, ma na e flat. (I’ll beat you flat). He spoke Yoruba well, but with an accent of the Bendel man that he was. All the officials intervened, but Best would not listen. He insisted he must beat up Otolorin that night, and at a point, he scooped gravel from the ground, and threw in Otolorin’s face. But the latter maintained his cool, which I found very impressive, being also a young boy who would never let a good fight pass in school.

Eventually, my father, a naturally private man, had to step out of the house to intervene. He invited Best and Otolorin into his sitting room, and asked them to maintain the peace. It took a while, but truce was eventually brokered. Otolorin drank the bottle of Coke he was offered, Best only sipped a little, and left the rest. He was still in a pugnacious mood, but he later let well be.

I can’t recall any other serious fight in the next three years that the team came in and out of camp at my mum’s hotel. But can I forget this hilarious one? Otolorin Moses, Best, Muda Lawal (they called him Shiru Jojo) and some others, were at the bar. Otolorin had bought fried snail, which he was munching. Muda asked for some, which naturally should have been passed through Best, who sat in the middle. But Muda told Otolorin, “don’t pass it through Best, he would eat it. Throw it to me.”

True, the snail went into the air. But it never got to its destination. Midway in its flight, Best jumped up, and with his open mouth, snapped up the snail. All the players around shouted, Bestsito, which was the way they fondly called him. He then beat his chest, and jocularly said; “I’m not Best for nothing.”

I have loads and loads of stories to tell about this goalkeeper who displaced Zion Ogunfehinmi from the number one position. Zion had been injured early in the competition, and Best came in as substitute. He never again gave up the number one position till he retired many years later. He was in goal throughout the campaign that saw the team beat Kenya Breweries, Bata Bullets of Malawi, Rokana United of Zambia, Zamalek of Egypt, and Tonnere Kalara of Cameroun, to lift the Cup Winners Cup. Best still went ahead to displace the legendary Emmanuel Okala as Green Eagles goalkeeper, helping the national team to win the Cup of Nations in 1980.

In my book, The Shooting Stars: Golden Era of a Soccer Team, I have chronicled some of the experiences of those days. Odegbami, in the Foreword, had remarked: “The memories of that period are special. They remain indelible, permanently etched in the minds of those of us who relate that period to some of the best in our lives.”

More than 30 years later, the Adesinas are still in touch with some of those football stars. A good number of them came when I presented the book I wrote in 1992. Each time I meet Odegbami now, he never forgets to ask after my mum, and each time he would promise to visit Ipetumodu one day to greet her. The last time I relayed this message to her, my mum laughed, and said she hoped Segun (as she calls him) would one day come, after all the promises.

Best was not the first person we’ve lost in that glorious team. Coach Ayo Adeniji is long gone. Folorunsho Gambari (Gambus) was perhaps the first player to die. Also in the list are Abbai Adeleye (I never forget the 30 kobo he gave me, which ended in the hands of the kulikuli seller across my school gate), Kunle Awesu, Muda Lawal, and Kafaru Alabi (Kalala). About Kalala, let me for the sake of his memory continue to keep some secrets we shared, which saw him beating the eagle-eyed officials almost every night to do some Nicodemus activities outside the camp. I was also a drafted as an accomplice.

Yet another secret. In the semi-final of that competition, IICC had been beaten 2-0 by Zamalek in Egypt. The second leg was scheduled for Liberty Stadium, Ibadan. It was on the very day of the match that they left the camp in Ipetumodu. But they went with something I had sourced for them, at the instigation of Idowu Otubusin (Slow Poison). I know when that thing was deployed during the match, because I saw the immediate result as I watched the game on television. What was the thing? Well, you are becoming too inquisitive. And it is not from my mouth that anyone will hear that the king’s mother is a witch.

I can only pray that Best and all the other shooting stars that have shot ahead will rest in peace. If they ever play soccer at that other side, their places in the first eleven have been guaranteed.

THINGS FALL APART IN RUGBY FEDERATION

The crisis in the Rugby Federation which was recently reconstituted by the Nigeria Olympic Committee & the National Sports Commission after a two years ban by the International Rugby Board is far from being offer if fillers emanating from the Federation is anything to go by.

According to the 1st Vice President Senator Isa Kachako, who has being abandoned and left in the cold alongside the other elected board members by the concession board members, "It is surprising to see the Rugby Federation with two factions even after the truce and inauguration of the unified board. I am not comfortable with this setting. I expected all parties to shied their swords and work together, but it seem like the Concession board members do not want to work with the rest of us, I as the 1st Vice President, is not carried along on any programs of the Federation. I only read of the events on the Rugby Federation on the pages of News Papers & Television. This is not right at all to say the least!

The two time 1st Vice President of the Federation wondered why people can not just put sentiments aside and work together for the good of the sports and the country.

“I am disappointed that after the inauguration ceremony of the new board of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation which suffered two postponements, the board have not met to discuss the way forward, and programs of activities for the Rugby community, but instead activities are going on in different quarters with two different groups bearing the same name, but operating in two different secretariat, logo, & letter head. This is not acceptable at any standard.

Friends of Rugby says they will like to call on the President, who had promised to carry everyone along on inaugural speech to bring all his board members together and chart the way forward for Nigeria Rugby for meaningful progress to be recorded in this beautiful game. He had promised a September date for the board meeting on Inauguration day, even though we all wanted an inaugural board meeting that day of inauguration, but we all had to give him his due respect as the president and the benefit of the doubt to wait till September. Now we are in November, two months from his promised date, and it looks like we are being taken for a ride!

We urgently need to address these misunderstandings in the administration of sports in the country. We hereby call on the Honourable Minister & Chairman of the National Sports Commission, and the Nigeria Olympic Committee President to call these people to order before it is too late again and the country image is dragged into the mud with international embarrassment!

Courtesy Ntiensi Williams

(Mr. Rugby)

London 2012: I will be Back, Chukwumerije

Beijing 2008 Olympics bronze medalist, Chika Chukwumerije has reaffirmed his stance to return to action after a possible surgery was ruled out for the injury he copped during the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF)-organised 2012 London Olympic Games Qualifiers held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

For Chukwumerije, this is indeed good news, following his inability to qualify from the Baku tourney to London.

“I have passed on the MRI report to our excellent physio team in the National Camp, and they will be reviewing it shortly. But in summary, my general practitioner (GP) in Manchester informed me I won't be needing a surgery, rather extensive physiotherapy. He also explained that it is my physio that will determine how long the treatment will last,” he said.

The 2007 All Africa Games gold medalist added: “I am very happy that I do not need a surgery as I had feared, and I remain confident that given the fantastic physiotherapists available in the National camp, I will be back to fighting fitness much sooner than I had initially anticipated.”

It would be recalled that after winning his first two fights convincingly at the Baku Olympics qualifiers, a knee injury during the second round forced Nigeria’s Chika Chukwumerije to withdraw from the quarterfinal tie against Greece’s Alexandros Nikoladis.

Chukwumerije, who has been described by taekwondo experts, as one of the best fighters in the world, was at his best in the first round when he overcame India’s seven times national champion, Kundu Sandeep 8-2.

In the second round, he confirmed his status, as he also overwhelmed Austria’s Christoph Decker 7-2 to berth in the quarterfinal stage.

But during the second round encounter, Chukwumerije dislocated his knee but he managed to hold on against the Austrian.

After examination by the medical experts, the 2007 All Africa Games gold medalist was advised to withdraw, as he could not stand with the knee. And this prevented Chukwumerije from avenging his semifinal loss at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in China against Greece’s Nikoladis in the quarterfinal stage. Hence the Greek progressed to the last four and berth in London 2012.

For now, Chukwumerije will have another opportunity to make it to 2012 London Olympics when the African qualifiers hold in January in Egypt.

Meanwhile, 24 spots were secured at the Baku World Qualification Tournament in Azerbaijan with 15 countries taking at least one ticket to the taekwondo competition of the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Korea grabbed four tickets while six countries – host Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, China, Croatia and Chinese Taipei – won two berths each for the 2012 Olympic Games, while eight countries – Thailand, the Dominican Republic, Sweden, Turkey, Brazil, France, Italy and Greece – took one spot to the London Olympic Games.

NIgerian Golf: Sports festival vs Sports development

The Technical Director of the Nigeria Golf Federation, Moses Anabui says that the just concluded National Sports Festival provided a good spectacle for the game that the federation would do all in its ability to preserve.

He said that, “The simple fact that twenty eight of the 37 participating states including FCT had a golf team was very encouraging and also reveals how much developmental effort was yielding at the states”

He added that that ordinarily with the immense display of talents no one would have expected some ‘young golfing states’ to pull the type of challenge they pulled.

In his words, “I want to say that golf was one of the few sports that had no outright dominance at the festival, the best state just ran away with one gold difference. I think it’s a remarkable achievement for the game that we can work on.”

Two hundred and ninety eight athletes competed in nineteen events that golf offered at the festival.

He also said that most members of the board that were present including the President, (Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola), are also working to see that the stars of the event are given maximum exposure.

Emir of Kano Open Golf Championship tees off on July 30

Ghanaian born Emos Korblah leads the professional round at the Emir of Kano Open Golf Championship into an explosive weekend with a slippery one stroke lead over old time Nigerian top contenders, Umoh Edet and Gboyega Oyebanji.

The event sponsored by Dangote group will be flagging off its amateurs’ round from Friday with practice session before 36 holes fireworks tees off on Saturday July 30 through 31.

Professional Golfers Association of Nigeria’s Tour Commissioner, Sola Lawson informs that the level of challenge that the event is unprecedented in the annals of golf championship hosting at the Kano Golf Club.

“To have these legion of the finest golfers in the country converge here for a full week of golf with the complement of the top amateur players from all over the country also highlights the fireworks that is being witnessed here” he said.

Korblah would be looking to consolidate on his lead and snap up his first win of the season on the Nigerian Tour while Edet and Oyebanji would respectively be looking to upset the one stroke lead and perhaps get back to reckoning as number one: they are both former leaders of the Tour.

Kaduna based Sam Bakoshi and Sunday Odegha from Minna Cantonment Golf Club in Niger state are also trailing Koblah with five shots and are capable of pulling a surprise when the final 18 holes gets underway.

Dangote’s head of corporate Communication, Chuks Chiejine adds that his company is proud to be associated with the PGA Nigerian Tour and its array of stars that is clearly the best of West Africa.

Emir of Kano, HRH Ado Bayero, the President of the Senate, David Mark and the state governor, Dr, Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso are billed to grace the closing ceremony of the weeklong championship.

Other sponsors at the event include Kabo Air, Aso Savings and Loan and Seven Up bottling Company among others.

Courtesy Emehelu Samuel

Golf World Cup 2011: Ubi and Odoh are Nigeria's flag bearers

The Professional Golfers Association of Nigeria has announced that Michael Ubi Eteng and Oche Andrew Odoh would fly the country’s flag at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup qualifier in Malaysia next week.

Both players are ranked first and second respectively on the PGA’s order of merit.

While Ubi would be representing Nigeria for the first time in the event, Odoh would be hoping to better the form he put up when he partnered Gboyega Oyebanji at the event in 2008, finishing fourth.

About twenty countries would be vying for three qualifying spots at Seri Selangor Golf Club, in Kualar Lumpur where Nigeria would lead other African countries in the Afro-Asia qualifier.

Nigeria’s team according to the Operation Director of the PGA of Nigeria, Femi Olagbenro, “is expected to depart on July 30”

Tournament Director of the Association Dominic Andrew also stressed that, the teams preparation has been commendable “we are happy our players are able to maximize the opportunity we have. Malaysia has similar weather to what we have here at this time of the year and with experience on their side one can only wish the team best of luck”

Odoh, the returning former Nigeria’s best player said that returning to a big stage like this was a great honour for him and he will strive to make the best of it.

“I have always believed in the home made stars. The Nigerian Tour is a very competitive environment and I believe scaling the World Cup qualifier should justify all the effort and talents we have back home.

There is never a better time to put Nigeria on World map of golf than now.”

Other African countries billed for the qualifying venue as Nigeria includes, Ghana, Senegal, Kenya, Uganda and Botswana.

Courtesy Emehelu Samuel

GHANA PUNISHES NIGERIA AGAIN!!!

After losing on away goals rule to the Black Meteors of Ghana inside the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi,Ghana which automatically ends Dream Team Five’s hope of taking part at the 2011 All Africa Games to be hosted by Mozambique in September.

Nigerian Cricket National team lost by 3 runs to Ghana at the On-going Pepsi ICC Africa Premier League T20 Division 1 competition taking place in Uganda.

The Coach Ewa Henshaw tutored team won the toss and elected to field first a tactics they were used to but Captain Peter Ananya and Isaac Aboagye who came in as tail-enders had different plans when they formed a solid partnership to jointly add 53 runs with the former posting 34 runs while the latter had 19 runs an identical score recorded by Julius Mensah.

Spinner Lekan Awolowo (3-24) and Captain Endurance Ofem’s (2-10) managed to reduce their opponents to 129 all out in 19.5 overs.

Second Innings began badly for Nigeria when Wicket Keeper and Opening Batsman Ademola Onikoyi suffered a run-out owing to a break in communication between himself and his partner Leke Oyede but middle-order batsman Bejide Jide steadied the ship with his superb 59 runs while the duo of Ramit Gill (17 runs) and Kunle Adegbola 13 runs was not enough to save Nigeria from suffering her first defeat at the senior level to Former Gold Coast who got them out for 126 runs for loss of 9 wickets.

One must spare a thought for the Nigerian team who played without reliable batsman Segun Olayinka who could not be replaced after picking up an elbow injury.

The win at the Lugogo Cricket Oval was Ghana’s first in their four matches while for Nigeria it was their second consecutive loss in the round-robin format.

At the Kyambogo Cricket Oval Host Uganda made it three wins out of four when they tortured Kenya with a 10 wickets victory.

At the Kyambogo Cricket Oval it will be Nigeria’s next match where they will be slugging it out with Namibia while the same venue will see Kenya squaring up with Ghana.

RUGBY BOARD INAUGURATION STOPS 2011 RUGBY SEASON

The much awaited kick-off of the 2011 “Friends of Rugby” organized Lagos Rugby Union League and indeed the 2011 Rugby Season program is awaiting the inauguration of the newly elected board of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation.

According to the spokesperson of the group, Mr. Ntiense O. Williams,

“Friends of Rugby” board have concluded plans for the take off of the Lagos Rugby Union League its flag-ship program for the 2011 Rugby season scheduled to take place at the National Institute for Sports of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos since May, but for the postponement of the inauguration of the board of the elected board of the Rugby Federation.

Williams popularly called “Mr. Rugby” added that;

“We have concluded plans for the take-off of our flag-ship rugby program for the 2011 rugby season being the much talked about Lagos Rugby Union League, which will kick-off next month with Six Clubs as of last year. It is imperative that all rugby stakeholders operate under the board of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation which has recently being reconstituted with an elected board members by the Nigeria Olympic Committee to give the board legitimacy” Said Ntiense Williams”

The League will witness 30 matches played over 10 weeks from July through to November with the finals in December. There will be 3 matches played at the same venue each fortnight.

When asked what plans the board is having for the season, he replied by saying;

“Other programs penciled down for the year on the boards sponsorship will include the traditional Rakia 10’s Rugby Tournament which will kick off the season this July. There will also be the Independence Rugby Tournament which has fast become a rugby celebration of some sort, and a must watch event in the rugby calendar. We will have a special consideration for the Women version of the game this season as we have packaged a women’s only rugby tournament sometime in September. The season will be rounded off with the Tri-Regional Tournament, the National League Finals, and the Dubai 7’s International Rugby Tournament”.

It will be recalled that the inauguration was earlier scheduled for Tuesday 24 May 2011, but had to be postponed due to the fact that the concession board members of the NRFF failed to turn up, giving an excuse of short notice, whereas all other rugby stakeholders from across the country were in attendance alongside the Nigeria Olympic Committee President Eng. Sanni Ndanusa and his executive.

It is also on record that they were given till the 3^rd of June 2011 to confirm another date, which was also ignored. This led to the NOC writing officially to the rugby’s world body- the International Rugby Board in reply to the initial ban letter, explaining the efforts being put into resolving the matter as directed in the International Rugby Board letter signed by Mr. Cliffie Booysen the International Rugby Board Regional General Manager-Africa in 2009.

With all these going on in the Board, we sincerely hope all parties will allow reasoning to prevail and bring all rugby stakeholders on board for an all inclusive meaningful progress, and development of the game in Nigeria .

NFF officials call for fresh legs for Dream Team

The Nigeria Football Federation expressed disappointment over the failure of the National U-23 team, to qualify for this year’s All-Africa Games Men’s Football Event.

Deputy General Secretary (Technical), Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme says it was sad the team fell on the way goal rule to Ghana’s Black Meteors, just as it happened in the race for the 9th All-Africa Games which took place in Algiers four years ago.

“It’s unfortunate the team had to lose out on the away-goal rule despite all the efforts of the Federation. But we have to look ahead and be focused on what to do next”, said Ikpeme.

In 2007, the Dream Team IV coached by Samson Siasia drew 0-0 with the Meteors in Sunyani and the Ghanians played 1-1 in Abuja to edge out Nigeria.

With the Dream Team set for an eight-nation tournament that will determine Africa’s representatives at next year’s Summer Olympics in London, The football house says they are set to revamp the playing squad.

NFF President Aminu Maigari, who arrived in Kumasi by road from Accra on the morning of the match, was depressed: “This is very sad because we made all the efforts to ensure the team’s qualification and gave the technical crew free hand. Yes, we have to look ahead, but we must identify the challenges the team faces now in order to be able to march ahead positively”.

Officials blamed the absence of a number of key players on the 2-0 defeat, which sent Ghana through on the away goal they scored in Benin City two weeks ago. Number one goalkeeper Dele Ajiboye, lion-hearted defender Ibok Edet, midfielders Lukman Haruna and Obiora Nwankwo and pacy winger Ahmed Musa missed the clash in Ghana’s second city.

Officials also insist fresh legs have to be considered, with names like Al Ittihad of Libya’s Izu Azuka, new Bundesliga boy Anthony Ujah and Samson Siasia’s recommendees Olumide Durojaiye and Chuks Aneke being touted.

The defeat was a hard pill to swallow particularly after efforts made by the NFF to change the team hotel from the sub-standard, backstreet Ceeta-Kel Hotel booked by the Ghana Football Association to the upscale Sports Hotel, expenditure on a chartered Air Nigeria aircraft that flew the team direct to Kumasi and back, and violent antics unleashed on the Nigerian team and media representatives by Ghanaian fans at training session on the eve of the match.

Nigeria will begin its campaign as one of the eight nations to contest a tournament in December that will determine Africa’s three flag-bearers in London, with the fourth-placed team to play off against an Asian country in London on April 12, 2012. The other seven countries are Algeria, Morocco, South Africa, Gabon, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Egypt.

Upholding Law and Order

The Nigeria Premier League have suspended a player of Ocean Boys and and the assistant coach of Crown of Ogbomosho.

Ocean Boys Debekeme will miss two matches for assault and for using abusive language on match officials during their week 31 game against Crown of Ogbomosho in Ilaro.

The assistant coach of Crown, Daniel Ogunbamiyi will also miss two games for encouraging and instigating crowd violence after the match against Ocean Boys of Yenagoa.

The ban takes effect from week 33 matches this weekend.

NOC POSTPONES INAUGURATION OF RUGBY BOARD

The Nigeria Olympic Committee have once again re-scheduled the inauguration of the newly elected board of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation.

The NOC Secretary General confirmed Tuesday 12^th July 2011 as being the new date for the re-scheduled inauguration of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation board. The ceremony will hold at the NOC Boardroom, at the national Stadium, Surulere, Lagos by 11:am prompt.

He further called on all the Rugby Stakeholders to take the new date as very important and endeavour to attend the inauguration.

The inauguration was earlier scheduled for Tuesday 24 May 2011 at the same venue, but Mr. Popoola says it had to be postponed due to the fact that the concession board members of the NRFF failed to turn up, giving an excuse of short notice, whereas all other rugby stakeholders from across the country were in attendance alongside the NOC President Eng. Sanni Ndanusa and his executive.

In a letter sent to the International Rugby Board, He enumerated the steps taken by the Nigeria Olympic Committee to resolve the "issues" as a matter of urgent importance in the wake of the perceived "ban on NRFF activities by the IRB".

He further stated that, "Subsequently, in the past four (4) months we have been holding re-conciliatory meetings with all the Rugby stakeholders in Nigeria, and we are pleased to inform you that the elections were conducted in the zones and we are now at the stage of inauguration of the new board.

The Nigeria Olympic Committee President who was to preside over the inauguration on the 24th May, 2011, was compelled to postpone the event due to the absence of the NRFF President, a position of leadership critical to the ongoing management of the re-conciliatory process. The NOC have asked the NRFF President in mail sent on 25th May, 2011, to put forward a date for the inauguration.

The NRFF as advised is to set a date for the inauguration to put behind the subject of legitimacy and recognition, which was the challenge hitherto within the NRFF family to be accepted by the international community and all its Stakeholders. A process which is almost concluded.

With all these playing out, it is hoped that they will allow reasoning to prevail and bring all rugby stakeholders on board for meaningful progress of the game in Nigeria.

2012 Olympics: FIFA disqualifies Equatorial Guinea

World football-governing body, FIFA ejected Equatorial Guinea from the race for the Women’s Football Tournament of next year’s Olympic Games in London, on grounds of infringement of the Regulations.

In a letter signed by Gordon Savic, Head of FIFA World Cup & Olympic Qualifiers Competitions, and addressed to the Nigeria Football Federation, FIFA stated, inter alia: “...As you will note, Cameroon has been confirmed to take part in this final stage of the qualifiers, after the FIFA Judicial Bodies have declared the 2 matches lost be forfeit by Equatorial Guinea in the 2nd round, due to player’s ineligibility in infringement of the Regulations”.

The import of the above is that Nigeria’s Super Falcons will now play Cameroon in the final qualifying fixture to determine Africa’s representatives at the Olympic Games’ Women’s Football Tournament, while South Africa play Ethiopia.

Cameroon lost over two legs to FIFA Women’s World Cup campaigners Equatorial Guinea in the last round, but now have a reprove and will visit Nigeria for the first leg of the final qualifying fixture on the weekend of 26-28 August this year.

Cameroon’s Lionesses will host the Super Falcons in the return leg on the weekend of 9-11 September.

FIFA has also advised the Nigeria Football Federation to inform it of the venue, stadium and kick-off time for the first leg in Nigeria.

CAPTAIN ENDURANCE OFEM LEADS 13 WARRIORS TO UGANDA

Ahead of the Africa Premier League T20 Division 1 Tournament scheduled to hold in Entebbe, Uganda from the 9^th-15^th July 2011, the National Selectors have chosen 14 players after three weeks of intensive training under the watchful eyes of Coach Ewa Henshaw.

Captain Endurance Ofem (BRFCC) tops the list of invited Players which also has Ademola Onikoyi, Saheed Akolade, Seye Olympio, Bejide Jide, Joshua Ogunlola, Lekan Awolowo and new entrant Leke Oyede who all play for League Champions BRFCC. Others include Vice-Captain Kunle Adegbola, Ramit Gill and Segun Olayinka (Government College Ibadan Old Boys Cricket Club) Emmanuel Okwudili (Federal Government College, Tope Olayinka (Foundation Cricket Club) and Ricky Sharma who is also making his debut National team call up but plays for relegated Lagos Asians Cricket Club. The duo of Femi Oduyebo (FGCWOBCC) and Chibuike Iteogu (GCIOBCC) are placed as standby with two officials in Kome Agodo (Team Manager) and Coach Ewa Henshaw deputising for Sean Phillips who is currently in South Africa.

The side which is expected to leave Nigeria on July 1st 2011 for a close camp in Uganda for 6 days will move to their hotel on the 8^th of July and a day after they begin their campaign with Namibia at the Kyambogo Cricket Oval, Kenya is next at the same venue, host Uganda will also welcome Nigeria to the same venue and African Neighbours Ghana at the Lugogo Cricket Oval in a round robin format twice while the top two teams books a place in the next phase except for Kenya who have automatically qualified.

Coach of Nigeria Cricket National Team Ewa Henshaw said “I hope the boys can just play to their full potential because I’m so convinced that this bunch of Players who are prepared to represent the Country are Bunch of talented side that needs to play optimally.”

He went further to add the importance of preparing very hard for this daunty task knowing fully well our opponents are not going to sleep for us to roll over them and I would enjoin 150 million Nigerians to continue supporting us with prayers.

African Rugby Confederation Plans for 2016 Olympics

The Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) recently approved a new strategic plan, operations plan and is restructuring the continent's regional competition model. Central to this restructuring of African rugby is the new four-year strategic plan that is hoped will provide stability to African rugby, especially for smaller or potentially more politically unstable nations, and to increase participation in elite-level competitions.

Currently there are 660,000 rugby players throughout Africa, and the goal of this new plan is to increase that number to 800,000 in the next four years.

Africa has long been led in the Rugby Universe by the multi World Cup champion South African Springboks, which given the sporting divide between rugby, favored by the white South Africans, and soccer, favored by the indigenous South Africans. This divide appeared to carry on throughout much of the continent, with soccer being the prevalent sport.

"This is a big step forward for the game in Africa, which is a strategically important growth Region for the IRB with nearly a third of the world’s playing population,” said International Rugby Board Chairman Bernard Lapasset.

“I am delighted that we have opened the way for a new vision for Africa. I would like to thank the CAR Member Unions for their commitment to growing the Game across Africa and the IRB for their support throughout this process, a process that will ensure that Rugby can welcome new members to the family from new communities across Africa,” added Abdelaziz Bougja, CAR President. (more)

For some African teams with a remaining connection with previous colonial countries, from time to time their players ended up moving from their home country to play for clubs (and at times nationally) for the colonial country. While this was a nice bonus for these former empires, it did hurt the growth of rugby in much of Africa.

Then Kenya exploded on the Olympic Rugby scene back in the early part of the 2000s and proved to nations around the world that they could compete with some of the giants of rugby in this abbreviated format, beating teams such as Tonga, Samoa,England, and an impressive run at the 2009 Adelaide Sevens, making it to the Cup finals by beating South Africa, New Zealand and Fiji.

With Olympic Rugby slated to take the field in 2016, many rugby minnows, such as the U.S. and Canada should be following suit and focusing their development more on the Olympic stage to showcase the sport to the their countrypeeps.

Tenger leads NPL team of the week

The Nigeria Premier League (NPL) announced the Team of the Week after games played in Week 29 last Saturday and Sunday. The team with a 4-4-2 formation have Justin Tenger of Niger Tornadoes as coach.

Veteran goalkeeper Uche Akubuike makes the cut from Gombe United and will get defensive cover from Abass Rotimi (Zamfara United), Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars), Umar Zango (Lobi Stars) and Solomon Yahaya (Kwara United). The quartet of Madu Chiamaka (Ocean Boys), Medrano Tamen (Sunshine Stars), Stephen Adah (Enugu Rangers) and Daniel Etor (Niger Tornadoes) has been named as midfielders. Upfront, Tony Okpotu (Lobi Stars) and Ukeyima Akombo (Sunshine Stars) get nod of the NPL as best striking partners for Week 29.

HOW THEY MADE THE TEAM Goalkeeper: Uche Akubuike (Gombe United) He edges Lobi Stars keeper, Danladi Isa for this position following his display at 3SC at the weekend. Akubuike pulled off two saves from spot kicks to help his team to a 1-1.

Right-back: Abass Rotimi (Zamfara United) It is not often that Zamfara United have players in the team of the week. But Rotimi did enough to justify his place with a superb performance on the right channel of defence against Warri Wolves.

Centre-back: Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars) The Sunshine Stars central defender has shown consistency in his performance in his side's last two games including against Kaduna United. Oboabona scored also scored at the weekend against Maurice Cooreman's side in his team's 4-1 win.

Centre-back: Umar Zango (Lobi Stars) Lobi captain, Zango, combined well with Hilary Chukwu in the heart of his team's defence to thwart Heartland's attempts at goal.

Left-back: Solomon Yahaya (Kwara United) A stunning strike from Yahaya against Ocean Boys capped with a delightful 90 minutes run out for Kwara United meant he claimed the left-back position the second time this season.

Right midfielder: Madu Chiamaka (Ocean Boys) Chiamaka was the spine of Ocean Boys when going forward. He caused Kwara United all sorts of trouble but unfortunately his teammates could not step the plate with him.

Central midfielder: Medrano Tamen (Sunshine Stars) This Cameroonian box-to-box midfielder has proven to be a good buy for Sunshine Stars. Tamen proved his worth with his singlehanded battle in the middle against Kaduna United on Sunday and finished it off with a fine goal.

Central midfielder: Stephen Adah (Enugu Rangers) Adah who can switch across the midfield made sure that Rangers got their win on the road at Plateau United. He makes the team for the first time.

Left midfielder: Daniel Etor (Niger Tornadoes) The playmaker returned to Ilorin to haunt his old employers, Bukola Babes. Etor played with so much zest and mobility, and ended up scoring the winner for Tornadoes.

Forward: Tony Okpotu (Lobi Stars) Okpotu makes the team for the second week after scoring one of Lobi's three goals against Heartland. The striker, who can play in a supporting role or on the wing, put in an all-round display in Sunday's game.

Forward: Ukeyima Akombo (Sunshine Stars) The big forward scored his seventh goal of the campaign in his side's 4-1 win over Kaduna United. His performance was enough to beat Enyimba's Victor Barnabas to this position.

Coach: Justin Tenger (Niger Tornadoes) It was a bit difficult picking the coach between Tenger and his Enugu Rangers counterpart, Alphonsus Dike. But the Tornadoes manager just edged it after considering the quality of oppositions and form guide of their teams.

TEAM OF THE WEEK GK: Uche Akubuike (Gombe United) RB: Abass Rotimi (Zamfara United) CB: Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars) CB: Umar Zango (Lobi Stars) LB: Solomon Yahaya (Kwara United) RMF: Madu Chiamaka (Ocean Boys) CMF: Medrano Tamen (Sunshine Stars) CMF: Stephen Adah (Enugu Rangers) LMF: Daniel Etor (Niger Tornadoes) FW: Tony Okpotu (Lobi Stars) FW: Ukeyima Akombo (Sunshine Stars) Coach: Justin Tenger (Niger Tornadoes)