Nigeria climbs 5 spot to become 73rd in World Rugby rankings, 11th in Africa

Nigeria has risen to 73rd place in the world and 11th in Africa according to the latest World Rugby rankings.
Nigeria ranked 81st in the world and 13th in Africa prior to the 2014 Africa Nations Cup 1C in which the Black Stallions placed third behind Botswana and Mauritius and quickly climbed three places to 78th after the tournament.

NRFF Vice president and Technical director; Tunji Fasimoye announced the good news to the press in Lagos "It's a great tribute to the team and players and all the credit should go to them," he said the home based players did well last year at the Africa cup 1C in Botswana where our players; Christian Ogar, Azeez Ladipo and Isaac Sani won ‘man of the match’ awards in all three matches played against Zambia, Swaziland and South African Cell C champions; Impala respectively.

The Black Stallions 7s were also commended by Rugby Africa officials for putting up a good show when they faced Zimbabwe 7s team at the Africa Cup 7s in Harare last year. He said the teams’ performance by predominantly home based players informed Rugby Africa that we have improved the standard of our grassroots rugby back home.

Fasimoye made it know that this year will be different as the NRFF will bring in a handful of foreign players to complement our home based players. He said the technical team will be tasked with ensuring that there is a perfect blend of home and foreign based players for optimal results. He further stressed the need for corporate sponsorship to enable the NRFF execute its developmental plans in 2015 and beyond. “Nigeria; with our population of over 160 million has the potential to become the next power house of the sport in Africa. We have to thank CMB Building Maintenance & Inv Co Ltd for their unflinching support towards rugby however; we need more financial backing from corporate Nigeria to achieve this goal”.

 Meanwhile, World Rugby's ranking  shows New Zealand retains their number one spot, South Africa remains second while Ireland, England and Wales occupy the third, fourth and fifth positions. In Africa, South Africa remains the power house of rugby in number one position followed by Namibia (2nd), Zimbabwe (3rd), Kenya (4th) and Tunisia (5th).

TANIMOWO, OKORONKWO SHINE AT DOAMF CHARITY GOLF

Lanre Tanimowo led the list of winners when the 5^th Daniel Ogechi Akujobi Memorial Foundation (DOAMF) Golf Tournament was concluded at the golf section of Ikoyi Club in Lagos.

Tanimowo, a six handicapper returned a brilliant 68 nett score at the one day meet to edge out Michael Anukwuem to the runner up spot. A feat which he confessed he has looked forward to since last year.

“I have been working hard for this event and looked forward to winning it. So I practiced hard for it” Tanimowo said during the presentation ceremony.

Ted Iwere, Captain of the golf section of Ikoyi Club in his remark also referred to the DOAMF Charity Golf event as one event has gained the interest of members and goodwill of sponsors. “I think it is because of the laudable cause the event pushes” he added.

The event was supported by public-spirited corporate bodies and individuals that included; Diamond Bank Plc, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Global EVC Ltd, PESLEY-PBTG Group, ARM Pension Managers, Caritas Communication, Arik Air, Apartment Royale, Cappa & D’Alberto PLC, Radial Circle Group, Channels TV, Nigeria Bottling Company, Seplat, Mobil Producing, Grand Oak, SIMS, CMCL Golf Tours, SPAR (Park ‘n’ Shop), Zenith Bank, Protea and Sheraton Hotels.

In the ladies category, Pat Okoronkwo, fended off challenges from Stefanie Erles and Cathy Fischer to pick the top ladies prize with five strokes advantage shooting 69 net at the event. The duo settled for runner-up and third place respectively.

Other winner at the charity golf event included, Peter Eben-Spiff who won men’s gross prize beating Uyi Akpata and Remi Olukoya to second and third place. Gloria Joel, Angela Adegboyega and Maureen Reece also made the winner’s list.

Coordinator of the DOAMF Charity Tournament, Par Bassey said that the turnout at the event was heartwarming and it goes a long way to justify the cause it was set to promote.

“We feel highly honoured to have busy people gather for this event. It goes a long way to accentuate what this foundation is here to promote.” He said.

About DOAMF

The Daniel Obgechi Akujobi Memorial (DOAM) Foundation is a charitable, humanitarian, and non-governmental organisation established in 2006, in memory of Master Daniel Ogechi Akujobi (1992-2005) who died from injuries he sustained in a fatal highway accident on his way back to school along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Ogun State Nigeria. He was the only son of his parents.

DOAM Foundation is dedicated to the enhancement of the education and health of less-privileged children and youths in the society. Since its establishment, the Foundation has offered scholarships to a number of vulnerable but intelligent children in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. It has also undertaken various life-improving programs including de-worming of children, mentorship, educational, nutritional and psycho-social support to children and youths in the society.

The Foundation provides a platform to inspire and positively affect the lives of the most vulnerable in our society. Since inception, over 48,000 lives have been impacted through our programs.

Pix Caption:  (L-R) Lanre Tanimowo, BH Sumanth, Akinsanya Akindele, Sonari Jack on hole one at Ikoyi Golf Club during the DOAMF Charity Golf

NRFF determined to consolidate on 2014 achievements

The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation has set all machinery in motion to consolidate the tremendous achievements recorded in 2014.

With the issue of funding being the primary challenge facing most federations in Nigeria, President of the federation, Sir Edward Pam Fom is hopeful that they can hit the ground running in 2015 with the exploration of new terrain through sponsorship from corporate sponsors which will reduce their over-dependence on the National Sports Commission.

Despite his displeasure in the low budget used in executing their programs last year, he hailed the National Sport Commission for their unflinching support in 2014 during preparations of the Black Stallions for international competitions held in Botswana and Zimbabwe. “The Federal Government on their part have tried, I appreciate the efforts of the Director General of the National Sports Commission Honorable Gbenga Elegbeleye, for approving training facilities and putting things in place for the Black Stallions, We had two international outings last year and they were both sponsored by CMB Building Maintenance & Investment Company Limited but the funds used for preparing the 15s and 7s National Teams for these tournaments is yet to be released by NSC.” Fom Pam said.

Speaking further, Fom Pam hinted that the federations have concluded all arrangements to consolidate its different sevens tournaments in 2015 one of which is the independence sevens which was held at the Onikan Stadium last year and was sponsored by CMB Building.

“We want to maximize our seven series in Nigeria, embark on periodic high performance training which will start in February, we want to do our utmost best to get the best quality out of the players we have onboard.”

Corroborating the President’s declaration, Vice President/Technical Director of the federation,Olatunji Fasimoye revealed that concrete plans are in top gear for a formidable Black Stallions 15s and 7s teams in a bid to give the National team an identity which intending corporate sponsors can easily identify with.

He said the National Teams will no longer be an all-comers affair based on the reports submitted by the Technical committee of the NRFF, which was extensively deliberated upon at the last Annual General Meeting held in Lagos in December 2014.

“We don’t want to attend international engagement with different squads. We are going to focus on a mix of the home and foreign players, we will keep a pool of around sixty players who will periodically practice together and the national team will be selected from this pool.

Will Table Soccer be revived in Nigeria soon?

I remember growing up to this sport and as years go by ask myself if there can be a revival of this sport in Nigeria.

There was not childhood in the slum that did not engage in this game.

PGA of Nigeria Admits 22 New Professionals

The Professional Golfers’ Association of Nigeria has absorbed 22 former amateur players into the elite class after five days of rigorous test for 93 applicants that ended at the Kaduna Golf Club on the weekend of January 18th, 2015.

Festus Makelemi, director of the PGA said that the just concluded ‘Qualifying School’ was the most transparent in the association’s history.

“We are aware of the growing interest in PGA activities, especially from corporate Nigeria and one of the ways we can showcase the values of the association is by displaying this measure of openness. None of the players that missed out can tell you the process was not clear enough” he said after the event.

Izang Ayuba a multiple medal winner in golf at the National Sports Festival for Plateau state finished atop of the players seeking professional membership at the Qualifying School. He is a protégé of Samson Lawa;l Lamingo Golf Club’s  resident professional,

“Turning pro is the peak of my career as a golfer and I am very glad to have achieved that here” he told journalists after the event

The PGA had set out to admit twenty best players at the event only to be faced with three players finishing in the joint 20^th position.

Okoromi James of Benin Golf Club finished as the second best qualifier, ahead of a clutch of golfers, including Emmanuel Agwom also from Lamingo Golf Club and Bako Kamalu from Kano Golf Club.

Anyebe Odoh also became the fourth member of the prominent Odoh clan to join the professional ranks-toeing the path of Paul (now deceased), Martin and Oche. Anyebe, who learned how to play golf at Minna Golf Club, finished in 11th position.

One of the main casualties at the Q-School was Bawa Umar, a highly regarded low handicapper, who suffered a meltdown in his third attempt to join the elite pack of professional golfers.

Aside from ability to play golf, the other parametres which the PGAN committee used to evaluate the participants were; knowledge of rules and ethics of golf, speech making, golf equipment mending and for the first time in the Qualifying School history the players had written test.

Femi Olagbenro, the Operations manager at Lakowe Lakes Golf Estates in Lagos headed the examination panel and said that the PGA had no choice but to raise the stakes.

“We had a lot of talented players, but we need more than talents now. Again I am proud that this was very transparent and the players themselves can attest to it.”

This is sure a good one for the growth of golf in Nigeria.

DOAMF Charity Golf Gets February 7, 2015 Date

The 5^th edition of Daniel Ogechi Akujobi Memorial Foundation (DOAMF) Golf Tournament has been slated for February 7, 2015 at the Golf Section of Ikoyi Club 1938 in Lagos.

Coordinator of the tournament, Mr. Pat Bassey confirmed in Lagos that preparations for the event had been on since the third quarter of 2014 and, quite a number of golfers and corporate partners of the event have already committed to it.

“This is our 5^th year of staging the tournament and the goodwill and enthusiasm towards it and the Foundation continues to be impressive”, he said, noting that the transparency in the operations of DOAM Foundation has continued to enhance the pedigree of the event. It has, in a relatively short period, become one of the most respected golfing events in the calendar – often referred to as a Golf Classic.

The Foundation was established in 2006 in honour of Master Daniel Ogechi Akujobi, who died in a ghastly car accident on his way to school in 2006. The Foundation has undertaken several projects from the proceeds of the charity golf event. These projects include the refurbishment of eight (8) public school libraries across the country, award of full scholarships to over sixty-five (65) less-privileged children and youths in tertiary institutions and the provision of free medical programmes to a number of communities across the country.

Bassey also, said that the Foundation had built and procured medical equipment including a fully-fitted ambulance to support the Accident and Trauma Centre at Mowe in Obafemi Owode LGA of Ogun State. The Centre was built in partnership with Diamond Bank Plc.

About 200 golfers are expected to tee-off at the one-day charity tournament, with players competing for Net and Gross prizes at the Par 71 Ikoyi Golf Course.

Sponsors at this year’s event include PricewaterhouseCoopers, Diamond Bank Plc, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited, Cappa and D’Alberto Plc, Standard Alliance Group, Global EVC Limited, Pesley-PBTG Group, Radial Circle Group, Zenith Bank Plc, Protea Hotel, Arik Air, amongst many others.

About DOAMF

The Daniel Ogechi Akujobi Memorial (DOAM) Foundation is a charitable, humanitarian, and non-governmental organisation established in 2006, in memory of Master Daniel Ogechi Akujobi (1992-2005) who died from injuries he sustained in a fatal highway accident on his way back to school along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Ogun State Nigeria. He was the only son of his parents.

DOAM Foundation is dedicated to the enhancement of the education and health of less-privileged children and youths in the society. Since its establishment, the Foundation has offered scholarships to a number of vulnerable but intelligent children in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. It has also undertaken various life-improving programs including de-worming of children, mentorship, educational, nutritional and psycho-social support to children and youths in the society.

The Foundation provides a platform to inspire and positively affect the lives of the most vulnerable in our society. Since inception, over 48,000 lives have been impacted through our programs.