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.