Wednesday, December 3, 2014

1960BET is Headline Sponsor of 2014 League Bloggers Awards


The leading Sports betting company in Nigeria, 1960BET, is by this release officially unveiled as the Headline Sponsor of the 2014 League Bloggers Awards (LBA) for its end-of-season event billed to hold at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos, on December 15.

The 2014 LBA will honour outstanding players, coaches and clubs in the recently-concluded Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) 2013/14 season.

The CEO of LBA, Ojeikere Aikhoje, described the partnership with the industry-leading bookmaking firm as a win-win situation for the two organizations.

"We have entered into a game-changing partnership with 1960BET for the
2014 award. It is a start of an enduring relationship with 1960BET for
us at the LBA. The partnership with 1960Bet is a win-win situation for
both parties. It is a special kind of relationship that will surely
open new vistas in our goal to reward the best actors in the Nigeria
Professional Football League," Aikhoje said.

The third edition of the LBA end-of-the-season event will reward actors in the NPFL in 16 different categories including the Highest Goalscorer Award which will go to Enyimba striker, Mfon Udoh, who scored 23 goals.

Top among the categories up for grabs is the prestigious Player of the Season as well as Manager of the Season and Club of the Season.

Other awards include Fair Play Award, Best Use of Social Media (for clubs), Best Website, Best Designed Jersey, Best New Goalkeeper (NPFL), Best Draft from Development Team, Best Development Team, Best New Player, Best Goalkeeper, Best Foreigner, Best Promoted Team and
Best National Team Player.

1960BET is a street-credible sports betting company known for prompt payments and various audacious Corporate Social Responsibility Projects and sponsorship programmes which include Headline Sponsorship of Copa Lagos 2014, the resurgence of Boxing in Nigeria broadcast live
on satellite TV (GOtv Boxing Night), Headline sponsorship of Stationery Stores FC, Sponsorship of 11 sports fans to Brazil 2014 World Cup.

1960BET offers Nigerians a money-making platform from sporting events in the cosy ambience of their mega Retail Outlets located in multiple states of the federation. Online, their presence is visible for an array of products including Sports, Pools, Casino, Virtuals, Binary Options and many more exciting features that justify the very busy traffic and frequent visits to www.1960bet.com. Also available to Nigerians on the go via their mobile platform, the company has enriched so many sports loving youths who "Play their Game!" with Nigeria's Number 1 High Street Bookmaker, which boast of thousands of youths currently under her employ.

Through the easy-to-get 1960BET Franchise, many Nigerians are being empowered financially thus contributing to the reduction of the country's unemployment rate and taking youths off the street.

1960BET is in the good books of industry Regulators and all host State Governments to whose good causes she contributes immensely.

It is in recognition of the company's outstanding pedigree and contributions to the development of indigenous Sports in general that LBA has deemed it fit to offer 1960BET the headline sponsorship of this year's award which promises to be a totally rewarding experience for both Awardees and guests alike.

LBA announces 2014 nominees


The League Bloggers Awards (LBA), released the shortlists for its 2014 end-of-the-season award for the just-concluded Glo Premier League campaign.

The nominees are vying for awards in 16 categories including the highest goalscorer award, which will go to Enyimba striker, Mfon Udoh.

However, top among the categories is the Player of the Season. The quartet of Peter Ebimobowei of Bayelsa United, Mfon Udoh of Enyimba, Emem Eduok of Dolphins and Kingsley Bobby Sokari of Enyimba are the nominees in that category.

There is also the category for Manager of the Season. Four coaches, Paul Aigbogun of Warri Wolves, Ladan Bosso of Abia Warriors, Okey Emordi of Kano Pillars and last season's winner, Mohammed Baba Ganaru, now with Nasarawa United, will vie for the Manager award.

Other categories include Fair Play Award, Best Use of Social Media (for clubs), Best Website, Best Designed Jersey, Best New Goalkeeper (NPFL), Best Draft from Development Team, Best Development Team, Best New Player, Best Goalkeeper, Best Foreigner, Best Promoted Team and
Best National Team Player.

LBA Business Manager, China Acheru, explained that the organisation consulted independent persons, journalists, players and coaches as well as administrators in reaching the list of final nominees.

"It was a process where we had to talk to players and coaches
personally and sample who and who they believe deserved to be on the
shortlist. Of course, these are the major actors in the league and we
got divert views. We also had to talk to some of journalists with vast
knowledge and experience in covering the league and a handful of
administrators before on the nominees.

"After the process we also had to look at performances and
disciplinary records of players, coaches and clubs during the season
to arrive at our final shortlist," Acheru said.

The 2014 LBA will take place at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Lagos on December 15.


NOMINATIONS

1. FAIR PLAY AWARD

•Heartland
•Enugu Rangers
•Nasarawa United
•Enyimba


2. BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

•Dolphins
•Lobi Stars
•Sharks
•Enyimba


3. BEST CLUB WEBSITE

•enyimbafc.net
•abiawarriors.com
•kanopillars.com


4. BEST DESIGNED JERSEY

•Dolphins - Nomis
•Lobi Stars
•Enyimba: Joma
•Gombe United


5. BEST NEW GOALKEEPER (NPFL)

•Emmanuel Iwu – Heartland
•Ifeanyi Agu – Nembe City
•Joseph Onuoha – Abia Warriors
•Chinedu Anozie – Abia Warriors


6. BEST DRAFT FROM DEVELOPMENT TEAM

•Terpase Tsafe – Lobi Stars
•Dickson Eche Idakwo – Lobi Stars


7. BEST DEVELOPMENT TEAM

•Lobi Junior Stars (Division One)


8. BEST NEW PLAYER (NPFL)

•Dickson Eche Idakwo – Lobi Stars
•Kufre Ebong – Akwa United
•Bature Yero – Nasarawa United
•Chisom Chikitara -  Abia Warriors


9. BEST GOALKEEPER

•Leke Ojo – Giwa FC
•Femi Thomas - Enyimba
•Theophilus Afelokhai – Kano Pillars
•Dele Ajiboye – Nasarawa United


10. BEST FOREIGNER

•Zoumane Doumbia (Mali) – Heartland
•Ousmane Pape Sane (Senegal) – Enugu Rangers
•Saibou Badarou (Togo)  - Heartland
•Tamen Medrano (Cameroon) - Sunshine Stars


11. BEST PROMOTED TEAM

•Giwa FC
•Abia Warriors
•FC Taraba


12. CLUB OF THE SEASON

•Kano Pillars
•Enyimba
•Warri Wolves
•Giwa FC


13. MANAGER OF THE SEASON

•Paul Aigbogun – Warri Wolves
•Baba Ganaru -  Nasarawa United
•Ladan Bosso – Abia Warriors
•Okey Emordi – Kano Pillars


14. BEST NATIONAL TEAM PLAYER

•Gbolahan Salami – Warri Wolves
•Azubuike Egwuekwe – Warri Wolves
•Emem Eduok – Dolphins
•Osaguona Ighodaro – Enugu Rangers


15. Highest Goal Scorer

•Mfon Udoh – Enyimba  (23 Goals)


16. PLAYER OF THE SEASON

•Peter Ebimobowei – Bayelsa United
•Mfon Udoh – Enyimba
•Emem Eduok – Dolphins
•Kingsley Bobby Sokari – Enyimba

Monday, November 10, 2014

NRFF names squad for Africa Cup 7s Championship



After a careful assessment of players at the just concluded independence rugby sevens championship in Lagos, Eleven local based and one foreign based players have been   named for Black Stallions squad for the 2014 Africa Cup 7s.
 
“It’s a strong squad and all the players on this squad performed exceptionally well at the just concluded Independence 7s championship. The tournament was used to look at good enough players for Black Stallions 7s and it is quite unfortunate that our exiles players in UK could not come down for the tournament despite being offered an all expense paid trip to Nigeria,” said Fasimoye Olatunji. (VP/TD NRFF)
The team will be captained by Azeez Ladipo who is also the 15’s  National team captain, his versatility and experience geared  him to  lead his club (Cowrie RFC) to the Cup victory in the just concluded Independence 7s championship, he also led his club to plate victory in Dubai 7s last year.

“We will not lack pace at all as we now have the duo of Christian Ogar and Abdulmalik Salihu on the squad. Both players were simply outstanding last weekend. They both have those x factors; good feet, good acceleration. Christian is big and strong and gives us great cover out wide.”
The team also includes a number of Sevens stalwarts, including the in-form Peter Okere Ambrose who single handedly took Plateau Tigers of Jos to the semi final of the just concluded independence 7’s championship  and Hafis Ayinla will lead the forwards and get his first 7s cap for Black Stallions after putting up a good show at the same tournament.
 “In this Black Stallions squad, I think we have an extremely talented group of players with the right mix of experience and youth. I’m looking forward to seeing what the team can produce in Harare. We are also looking at including two youngsters: Kelechi Anozie (Hawkster Athletics RFC) and Monday Alex (Racing RFC) to train with squad to prepare them for the future” Said Fasimoye Olatunji TD/VP (NRFF).

The 12-man squad is expected to resume camp in Lagos on the 14th of November in preparation for the African 7’s Championship; the team will be coached by South Africa Rugby 7s legend Fabian Juries who is ex Springbok player and the 4th highest point scorer in world 7-a-side rugby. He will bring his wealth of experience into the team.

 Nigeria Squad: Lasisi Kazeem. (Nigeria Police), Olanrewaju Azeez ((Nigeria Police), Ayinla  Hafis (Cowrie RFC), Azeez Ladipo (Cowrie RFC), Peter Ambrose (Plateau Tigers), Salihu Abdulmalik (Nigeria Police), Oduntan Olatunji (Cowrie RFC), Christian Ogar (Cowrie RFC), John Oladele (Cowrie RFC), Abubakar Sadam (Zaria RFC), Samaila Agwam (Hamilton RFC, South Africa), Lawal Saulawa (Abuja RFC) 

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

EDO STATE INTRODUCE RUGBY INTO SCHOOLS


Edo State, a household name in the beautiful game of Rugby development in Nigeria will be breaking new grounds with the introduction of the game into schools through the launch of International Rugby Board grassroots program tagged “Get Into Rugby”
The program will be launched on Thursday 06 November 2014 through a Seminar & Clinic at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Media Center from 9am -4pm for School’s sports teacher/master/mistress of over 25 Schools drawn from both government and private schools respectively in Benin City.

According to the coordinator of the program Mr. Ntiense Williams, the Head Coach of Edo State Rugby Association, who also introduced the sport into Edo State some 8 years ago, “We will like to get Edo State fully integrated into the National & International Rugby scheme of things with the introduction of the Schools Rugby program tagged by the International Rugby Board as “Get Into Rugby” (GIR), and what we will popularly refer to as “Catch Them Young Sports Development Program. This program is a genuine way of inculcation the ethos & rudiment of Rugby Football to our children at a very early age which will greatly help them to grow in the system, and become National & International players of repute to Edo State in the nearest future.

Said Williams who is also popularly know as “Mr. Rugby” in Nigeria, “initially when I was brought to Edo state, it was solely for producing a team, and winning the National Sports Festival which we have done creditably well with a historic record of 4 gold medals out of the available 6 gold medal, a feat which has not be broken to date, but we believe that we need to bring the game to the international standard which is why the introduction of the schools game is very paramount”

Said Ntiense who is the only International Rugby Board Educator for Nigeria, “Get Into Rugby” (GIR) is an International Rugby Board program aimed at promoting and popularizing the beautiful game of Rugby around the world towards Rugby’s re-introduction into the Olympic Games Rio 2016 as a medal winning event. Early this year, the IRB in conjunction with the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation hosted an Educator & Coaching Seminar for the “Get Into Rugby” program in Lagos. At the end of the program, Edo State was one of the 8 State in the entire country selected for the Pilot Scheme of the program.
This program is very timely for us in Edo State, as we are now involved in genuine sports development to be able to identify talents to replace our aging ones who are fast wearing out. We will also be grooming up genuine athletes for the Junior National Sports Festival & the Schools Sports Festival respectively, which Rugby will soon feature in and also preparing the grounds for the reintroduction of Rugby in the Bi-annual National Sports Festival after Calabar 2014 games.

We will like to call on well meaning Companies, Organizations, and individuals to come on board to sponsor this program through the donation of simple things like Rugby balls which is the basic requirement to introduce the game into a community. We are looking at attaching each school in the program to an interested individual sponsor or donor, especially people that have affinity with the school.
I am really excited with this program and I am looking forward to it kicking of with the launch Seminar & Clinic on Thursday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. I am very grateful to the Nigeria Association of Physical Health Education, Recreation, Sports & Dance Oredo Chapter led by the Chairman Mr. Okunyawe A.V. & Secretary Mr. Peter Okodu who have given the program a good platform to spring off from. 
 
The Seminar & Clinic is expected to be declared open by the Edo State Honourable Commissioner for Youth, Sports & Social Mobilization Chris Okaeben.

Issued By
Ntiense Williams
Coordinator
Get Into Rugby”
Edo State

INDEPENDENCE RUGBY SEVENS TOURNAMENT; Police Machines RFC dethroned



In a thrilling cup final of the Independence Rugby Sevens, Cowrie RFC of Lagos beat Barewa RFC of Kano 27-14 to win the trophy.
Fuelled by the support of an appreciative and a large number of expatriate crowd at the Onikan Stadium, Hafis Ayinla, Sani Halilu, John Oladele, Samuel Ekpo, Tunji Oduntan, Captain Azeez Ladipo and player of the tournament Christian Ogar inspired Cowrie to victory.
The emphatic victory handed a fifth Independence Sevens trophy in six years to the club who defeated last year’s cup winners Police Machines 10-5 in a breath taking semi final that went down to the wire. Police Machines had won all four of their matches before the semi final, but came up against a strong Cowries Team with seven different try scorers in the tournament to maintain their 100% record.
In the second semi final Barewa had knocked out Plateau Tigers of Jos 17-12 in another tight encounter. The third place play-off saw Police Machines return stronger to beat Plateau Tigers 22-7.

In other categories, Racing RFC went home with the plate silverware, narrowly defeating South South Select 12 – 10 in the plate final. They had suffered a 7-15 narrow defeat to Police Machines in the cup quarter final which compelled them to the plate semi finals where they claimed an easy victory against Royal Stallions RFC 29-5. Gosar RFC also went home with the Bowl after defeating Abia Buffalos 17-12 in the Bowl finals. 

Lagos state Governor; Babatunde Raji Fashola also graced the electrifying event. The Governor gave a glamorous entrance landing in a helicopter on the pitch to present the trophy and awards.
Tournament Director and Technical Director of Nigeria Rugby Football Federation ‘Fasimoye Olatunji’ commended the sponsor CMB Building Maintenance and Investment Company Limited for their support towards the development of rugby in Nigeria; he also commended Friends Of Rugby (FOR) for initiating the tournament.
 "I am impressed by the turnout of spectators and their support, now we know that Rugby has huge followership. Having the expatriate community, families and beautiful ladies as audience in attendance filled the event with excitement and jamboree. the tournament also gave us a platform to access and select players that will be called to camp for the Africa Cup 7’s Championship which is scheduled to take place in Zimbabwe on the 29th -30th  of November 2014”.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

CMB will sponsor Independence Rugby 7’s despite international withdrawal

The Independence Rugby 7’s Championship organizers received late withdrawal notice from three international teams scheduled to participate in the Tournament,  the news from Alexander RFC, Nigeria Exiles RFC and Botswana National 7s Team came in on Monday 27th October. Although, the story behind their withdrawal was not clearly stated but it has an element of the Ebola controversy.

The CEO of CMB Building Maintenance & Inv. Co. Ltd and the sponsor of the tournament Mr Kelechukwu Mbagwu , affirms that organizers will go ahead with plans despite the withdrawal of the three foreign teams, his brand will focus on the overall picture which is to develop the sport in Nigeria, although the withdrawal of the international teams is not good for the expected brands mileage from the tournament, they are more keen on the development of Rugby in Nigeria. 

CMB Building Maintenance & Inv. Co. Ltd is the back bone of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation
NRFF Technical Director  and Tournament Director of the independence Rugby 7’s Fasimoye Olatunji in his reaction to the withdrawal of these teams said, “we will not let the withdrawal distract us from the overall goal, although we will miss the international flavor in the tournament but their absence will not in any way affect the standard of the competition, despite the participation of three international teams last year, we witnessed two local teams; Police Machines and Cowrie RFC in the cup final.
We will use the tournament to access our local players  and this is an opportunity for players in contention for the trip to the Africa Cup 7s scheduled for 8th-29th November in Harare to put their hands up for selection under the watchful eye of ex springbok 7s star; Fabian Juries”.

Juries is the third highest try scorer in the history of IRB International 7s series and he will be at the tournament to assist the NRFF technical team look at possible players for Black Stallions 7s.

Fasimoye further appeal to the public to come all out to support and enjoy the independence rugby 7’s which will be held at the Onikan  Stadium Lagos on the 31st October and 1st of November 2014.

SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY TALISMAN ‘FABIAN JURIES' CONFIRMED FOR INDEPENDENCE RUGBY 7’S

The Ex-Springbok 7’s talisman ‘’Fabian Juries’ will arrive Lagos on the 30st October 2014 for the Independence 7’s in Lagos in a bid to promote the game of rugby in Nigeria, the Ex-Springbok speed star is IRB Sevens highest try scorer in South Africa  and 13th in the world. He is expected to help with officiating in the tournament and prepare the national team ‘Black Stallion’ for the African Sevens Championship in Zimbabwe in November 2014.

According to CMB Building’ CEO, Mr Kelechukwu Mbagwu and also the chairman of Friends of rugby who has been a supporter and sponsor of independence rugby sevens from its inception in 2009, We are glad that one of the top rugby sevens player in the world  will be in Nigeria to support the development of the sport and the tournament, his presence will also help motivate the home based players, he further reported that preparations is ongoing to ensure we have a great tournament, and also to ensure we further harness the opportunities embedded therein.

Nigeria has a population of over 150 million; we are also naturally built for Rugby. If properly harnessed, Rugby can become our number one sport in the country”. The real estate veteran  who is an ex rugby player further stressed that the game of rugby is the greatest team sport ever, it teaches discipline, respect and he expects the game to spread fast into all schools in the country.

Monday, October 20, 2014

No Rugby in Kenya


Kenya has lost out on hosting the Confederation of Africa Rugby Sevens championships 2014 to Zimbabwe.
The Confederation of African Rugby has awarded Zimbabwe the right to host the 2014 CAR Men Sevens tournament which will take place on the 29th and 30th of November 2014 in Harare, Zimbabwe. The tournament will be held at the Harare Sports Club and is set to involve 12 countries, Kenya Uganda, Tunisia, Nigeria, Madagascar, Namibia, Botswana, Senegal, Zambia, Ivory Coast, South Africa and the hosts Zimbabwe.

CAR awarded Zimbabwe the rights as a unanimous decision after Africa’s governing body had expressed its approval of the union’s development and administration structures. CAR had its representative Jean Luc Barthes in the country a month ago and he said he was impressed with the progress that the country had made in its mandate of effectively run the game of rugby.

In view of this development, the Technical Director of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (Fasimoye Olatunji) declared that the country is going to do well in the championship this year, Nigeria is rated 6th best  in 7’s in Africa and we are determined to raise the bar this time. We will be selecting players in the oncoming Independence Rugby 7’s scheduled to hold at the Onikan stadium Lagos on the 31st October and 1st of November 2014,  The tournament will feature both home and foreign based players.

The tournament started in the year 2009 and has since grown to be the biggest Rugby 7s party in Nigeria. Its 2013 edition had a wider International participation with clubs from the UK, Egypt and Ghana adding the much needed International flavour. However, clubs from every zones in Nigeria competed extremely well and we witnessed two local teams in last year’s final (Cowrie RFC Lagos vs Nigeria Police RFC). The Police team beat Cowrie RFC 12-7 to emerge 2013 champions.
This year the tournament will feature Teams from Egypt, UK, Botswana, South Africa, Ghana and eleven local teams from all the regions in Nigeria. 

Teams gear-up for Independence Rugby 7s tournament



After an highly contested play off in the Northern Region this weekend, Plateau Tigers RFC, Barewa RFC and Zaria RFC have secured a slot in this year’s Independence Rugby 7’s championship, Also, Royal Stallions RFC of Ilorin secured a slot after Marlins RFC of UK withdraw from the championship.

Following this development, the tournament manager Fasimoye Olatunji who is also the Technical Director of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation confirmed that sixteen teams will be participating in this year’s edition: Alexander RFC of Egypt, Cosmos Buffalos of Ghana, Botswana Vultures, Nigerian Exile RFC of UK, Police Machine of Lagos (Defending Champions), Cowrie RFC of Lagos, Racing RFC of Lagos, Hawkster Athletics of Lagos, Gosar RFC of Lagos, Zaria RFC, Barewa RFC, Plateau Tigers RFC of Jos, Abuja RFC, Buffalos RFC of Abia, South South RFC and Royal Stallions of Ilorin. He further stated that the teams will be grouped into four groups consisting four teams each and will play for CUP, Plate, Bowl and Shield.
Exciting action, delicious meals, great crowds, that’s what best describes the Independence Rugby 7s tournament which is held annually by rugby community to commemorate Nigeria’s Independence anniversary.
This year’s edition will be held at the Onikan Stadium, Onika, Lagos on the 31st of October and 1st of November 2014.