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)

Super Falcons optimistic ahead Germany fireworks.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons say they are confident they can withstand the anticipated fireworks of the Germany women’s team and unleash some of their own in Thursday’s FIFA Women’s World Cup Group A clash between both countries in Frankfurt.

The host nation is hot favourite to take the three points in the encounter on current form and pedigree, but the Falcons insist Thursday’s meeting will be a different ball game compared to what happened in Leverkusen in November 2010.

In a friendly international inside the Leverkusen Stadium, the German ran riot, scoring eight goals with the Falcons unable to find the net.

“We won’t take anything away from the Germans and their competence but the truth is, there were factors that greatly assisted them in that match. Those factors will not be present on Thursday, and we are all determined to get a result out of this game following the loss to France”, said team captain and goalkeeper Precious Dede as the squad landed in Frankfurt on Monday afternoon.

Venue for Thursday’s match is the hugely impressive FIFA World Cup Stadium in Frankfurt, which can seat 48,817 spectators. The stadium hosted five matches during the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals and also hosted matches during the 1988 European Championship.

The Falcons must get a result out of Thursday’s game after losing 0-1 to France on Sunday. Germany top the pool on goals difference after edging Canada 2-1, with the Canadians also pointless.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has denied a report in a national newspaper that it did not present match jerseys of the National Women’s team, Super Falcons during the pre-match meeting before the game against France.

“That is a shameful report because nothing like that happened. We were asked to present our jerseys and we did that even before the French delegation. That is a blatant lie and it is not good for the nation’s image.

“We could not have failed to present the jerseys because we know it is a requirement for every match coordination meeting”, said NFF’s Assistant General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, who led the Nigerian delegation to the pre-match meeting.

Eagles set off for FIFA U-20 World Cup

The Flying Eagles will fly out to Faro, Portugal on June 30th for a 16-day training camp ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals starting in Colombia at the end of July.

The Sam John Obuh-led squad will depart for Panama, for a four-nation tournament, after their camping, before flying to Colombia for the finals.

NFF’s Acting General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu confirmed that the Flying Eagles will trade tackles with the Portugal U-20 team in Lisbon on July 13.

A number of friendly matches have also been lined up for the reigning African champions, who reached the Final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup competition in 1989 and 2005.

The team has been in Port Harcourt intensifying its training programme ahead of the competition. Officials have confirmed that the delegation will be made up of 24 players and 10 officials, with the remaining five players to join the team later.

The Nigeria Football Federation will submit a final list of 21 players to FIFA for the World Cup next week Friday.

PLAYERS: Danjuma Paul, Uche Nwofor, Chidi Osuchukwu, Olanrewaju Kayode, Edafe Egbedi, Ganiu Ogungbe, Ramon Azeez, Stanley Okoro, Philemon Daniel, Abdul Jeleel Ajagun, Terry Envoh, Mohammed Aliyu, Gideon Gambo, Terna Suswan, Ahmed Musa, Gbenga Arokoyo, Emmanuel Anyanwu, Kelly Godwin, Jamiu Alimi, Omoh Ojabu, Kazim Yekini, Felix Udoh, Sani Tahir, Bright Ejike, Kenneth Omeruo, Sani Emmanuel, Eddy Onazi, Seyi Adeleke, Chimezie Mbah

OFFICIALS: Sam John Obuh (Head Coach), Samuel Abimbola (Asst. Coach), Maidajin Yakubu (Asst. Coach), Suleiman Shuaibu (Goalkeepers’ Trainer), Abdulrahaman Ozi (Team Doctor), Nnaemeka Anozie (Physiotherapist), Sirajo Hassan (Team Secretary), Labaran Akawu (Equipment Manager), Sam Audu (Media Officer), Ahmed Abdul (Coordinator)

16 CRICKETERS FIGHT FOR PLACE AS 2ND PHASE CAMPING BEGINS

Nigeria Cricket National Team currently preparing for the Africa Premier League T20 Division 1 Competition in Entebbe,Uganda from the 9^th-15^th of July 2011 have a total 16 players sweating it out at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval.

The Selectors of the National Team initially invited 23 players which is broken down to 16 players that represented Nigeria both at the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 7 and Africa Premier League T20 Division 2 in Botswana and South Africa respectively with 7 new players inclusive.

George Wiltshire General Manager/Chief Operating Officer of Nigeria Cricket Federation says;

”We have just released a list of 16 players that will begin the 2^nd phase of camping after which the final 14 and 2 stand-by players will be picked by the selectors this weekend”.

The Former Lagos State Cricket Association Chairman further disclosed that Nigeria Cricket National Team will leave Nigeria for Uganda on the 1^st of July to begin acclimatization and close camping till the 7^th of July before moving to their hotel the day after while the competition proper will run from 9^th-15^th July 2011 and 16^th July the squad is expected back to Nigeria.

The Endurance Ofem led team will be missing the services of Coach/Player Sean Phillips who is currently holidaying with his wife in South Africa as they await the birth of their new child while Ewa Henshaw Former Coach to Pepsi ICC WCL Division 7 in Guernsey in 2009 will take charge of proceedings.

Team Manager of Nigeria Cricket National Team, Kome Agodo, says the three new players selected to join the rest of the squad are drawn from the various clubs taking part in the Iris Smart Technology Club Cricket Committee League, added that Nigeria will play her matches at the Lugogo Cricket Oval as well as Kyambogo Cricket Oval against countries like (Host) Uganda, Namibia, Kenya and Ghana in a round robin format with the Top 2 ‘’Non Automatic” qualifiers moving through to the Global Qualifiers which the Kenyan Cricket National Team has qualified for automatically.

Captain Endurance Ofem, tops the list of 7 players from Nigerian Cricket League Champions BRFCC which also has Saheed Akolade, Ademola Onikoyi, Seye Olympio, Bejide Jide, Leke Oyede and Joshua Ogunlola. Others are Vice- Captain Kunle Adegbola, Ramit Gill, Chibuike Iteogu and Segun Olayinka all from Government College Ibadan Old Boys Cricket Club. Federal Government College Warri Old Boys Cricket Club boast of Femi Oduyebo and Emmanuel Okwudili. The Final two are Yashpal Sharma (Relegated Lagos Asians Cricket Club) and Tope Olayinka (Foundation Cricket Club).

Olubayo Adefemi to be honoured at the Paris 2011 Homeless World Cup.

Less than sixty days to the commencement of the 9^th edition of the Homeless World Cup to be held in the city of Paris; Champ de Mars in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, is the tournament venue, in August 21 – 28 2011, plans have been finalized by the organizers of the Nigerian team, to give a befitting post humous recognition to Late Super Eagles right back and Ambassador of the Nigerian team, Olubayo Adefemi.

Officials of Search and Groom led by its Executive Director, Yomi Kuku had a private meeting with the Adefemi family led by Mr Adetunji Adefemi and Mr Biodun Adefemi. The outcome of the meeting includes the unveiling of the Nigerian National street soccer team jersey to the Homeless World Cup which will bear Olubayo’s portrait on the arm to be unveiled at a media event alongside a specially designed casual wear with his giant portrait before the team departs for Paris.

Mr Kuku confirmed that the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Olubayo’s Super Eagles and Xanthi Skoda team officials and mates will be communicated to in the coming days to seek their inputs and support.

In his reaction during the meeting, Mr Adetunji Adefemi, thanked the Search and Groom team for its relentless pursuance of the dream of the family’s late son; Olubayo, promising to abide by the agreement Olubayo had with the organization before his untimely death.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Homeless World Cup team will commence the second phase of their training programme at the AstroTurf2000, Osborne road, Ikoyi, Lagos under the supervision of head Coach Ndubisi Duruna, assistants Olumide Ajayi and Adeyinka Adejuwon.

The invited team comprised of players selected and shortlisted from the annual Street Soccer League Cup organized by Search and Groom Youth for development Centre; official selectors of Nigeria’s National street soccer team, a social project based in Lagos with a commitment to rehabilitating indigent people.

Thirteen players have been shortlisted for the final phase of preparation ahead the renowned World Street Soccer Championship. They include Kujenya Ibrahim, Afolabi Michael, Adebiyi Sunday, Okafor Uzoma, Abubakar Haruna, Adekunle Peter, Ogundimu Oluwaseun, Uzoka Amaechi, Chukwu Emmanuel, Olujide Opeoluwa and Aliu Sulaiman. Two guest players from Olubayo Adefemi's social project being implemented at Myoung Barracks, Yaba Lagos, will complete the list.

The players are to report to the Astroturf 2000 on July 11, 2011 for a comprehensive one month final lap of training from where a final eight-man playing staff will be handed flight tickets to Paris, France.

The Homeless World Cup is a platform for social integration through football and creates fresh, inventive solutions to end homelessness and poverty worldwide.

Nigeria has participated in four previous editions of the global tournament: Cape Town 2006 (South Africa), Copenhagen 2007 (Denmark), Melbourne 2008 (Australia) and Milan 2009(Italy).

Nigeria played in the semi final at the Milan 2009 tournament and also got a UEFA Fair play award to cap a glorious outing.

Courtesy Yomi Kuku

Executive Director,

Search & Groom Nigeria

NFF releases list for FIFA Women’s World Cup

Nigeria Football Federation has submitted to world governing body, FIFA, a list of 21 players who will fly the country’s flag at the 6th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals taking place in Germany this summer.

Goalkeeper Precious Dede, a 31-year veteran from the 2003 and 2007 FIFA World Cup final tournaments, tops the list that includes at least seven players who have seen FIFA World Cup action.

Coach Eucharia Uche picked three goalkeepers, six defenders, six midfielders and six strikers in a squad with mixture of experience and youth.

Dede, defenders Faith Ikidi, Onome Ebi and Ulunma Jerome, midfielders Ogonna Chukwudi and Perpetua Nkwocha and forward Stella Mbachu were at the last tournament in China in 2008.

The Falcons, who have been training in Saalfelden, Austria since May 26, on Tuesday had a training match with an U-17 boys in Austria. The team will play the National Women’s team of Slovakia at the Eugendorf Stadium on Thursday.

Since setting up camp in Saalfelden, the Falcons have walloped an Austrian first division team, Wacker Innsbruck 7-0, piped the Czech Republic national women’s team 1-0 and drew 1-1 with the national women’s team of Austria in friendlies.

THE FINAL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Precious Dede, Tochukwu Oluehi, Alaba Jonathan

Defenders: Helen Ukaonu, Faith Ikidi, Onome Ebi, Osinachi Ohale, Ulunma Jerome, Josephine Chukwunonye

Midfielders: Rebecca Kalu, Glory Iroka, Rita Chikwelu, Ebere Orji, Ogonna Chukwudi, Perpetua Nkwocha

Strikers: Stella Mbachu, Francisca Ordega, Desire Oparanozie, Sarah Michael, Uchechi Sunday, Amenze Aighewi

Chukwu to battle Keshi at Teslim Balogun

Christian Chukwuemeka Chukwu and Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, the only two men to have captained Nigeria senior team toAfrican Cup of Nations glory, will go up against each other on Saturday as opposing Head Coaches during the Nwankwo KanuTestimonial Football Match at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Chukwu, captain of the 1980 Nations Cup winning squad and a Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), will coach the Super Eagles’ All-Stars against Keshi’s ‘Friends of Kanu’, predominantly players invited from outside Nigeria.

Keshi was captain of the squad that lifted the only African Cup of Nations title that Nigeria have won outside her shores, in Tunisia in 1994 and qualified tiny Togo for the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals in Germany.

Organizers have indeed found fitting crews for a showpiece game in honour of the most decorated footballer to have come out of Nigeria, at a venue aptly named after one of the greatest Nigerian players of all time.

Chukwu is joined on the home team’s bench by fellow old horses Ganiyu Salami and Solomon Ogbeide, also ex-internationals. Keshi will be supported by Coaches Joe Erico and Monday Odigie.

Salami and Erico have been assistant Coaches of the national senior team at different times. Erico was Nigeria’s number one goalkeeper for many years, including being in goal at the 1976 African Cup of Nations in Ethiopia.

Among the big names coming from outside the country, who will play as ‘Friends of Kanu’, are Ghana’s Sammy Kuffour,Michael Essien, Stephen Appiah and Asamoah Gyan, Senegal’s El Hadj Diouf, Tony Silva and Khalilou Fadiga, South Africa’s Lucas Radebe and Aaron Mokoena, Cameroon’s Rigobert Song and DR Congo’s Lomana Tresor Lua Lua.

Kanu’s former team-mate at West Bromwich Albion, Hermann Hreidarsson, Algeria’s Madjid Bougherra and Togo Captain Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor are also expected, alongside Zambia’s Kalusha Bwalya, the 1988 African Footballer of the Year, nowPresident of Zambia FA and a current Member of the CAF Executive Committee.

Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Samson Siasia will be among the home boys, also expected to include Mutiu Adepoju,Augustine Eguavoen and Daniel Amokachi.

The Nigeria Football Federation has also appointed Dr. Ahmed Tijjani Yusuf, a two-time General Secretary of the Federation, as Match Commissioner for Saturday’s glamour event.

Yusuf, who retired as a Deputy Director at the National Sports Commission and is now a lecturer at the Bayero University, Kano was Secretary General when Nigeria qualified for the 1994 FIFA World Cup finals and the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals. He was also at one time Director of the National Institute for Sports, Lagos.

FIFA-graded referees will be in charge of the encounter. The centre referee is Ago Abubakar, with Peter Edibe as first Assistant Referee and Revd. Father Chukwudi Onumajuru as second Assistant Referee. Benjamin Ode is the Fourth Official.