WordPress

Author: olawale.alabi

  • Team Nigeria’s Olympics-bound wrestlers to begin overseas camping Monday in Germany

    Wrestling
    By Oluwaseyi Oduneye-Ogunwomoju
    Ibadan, June 26, 2024 (NAN) The Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) on Wednesday said the overseas camping stage of its wrestlers’ preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympics will begin on Monday in Saarbrucken, Germany.
    Daniel Igali, the President of NWF, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan that this would follow the ongoing local camping in Yenagoa which will end on Sunday.
    “Preparations for the Olympics are in top gear. We’ve been in camp in Yenagoa for over two  weeks, and training so far is going on so well.
    “We have five Olympics-bound athletes and three training partners each in camp.
    “The lone male among the Olympics-bound wrestlers is not in camp yet, and that is Ashton Mutuwa who is based in the U.S.
    “Already, Adekuoroye who is also based in the U.S. has now joined us. Mutuwa will join in the overseas camp because of his peculiar situation.
    “He has very good training partners in the US, and we want that to continue because we’re quite happy with his training situation there, which we are monitoring very closely,” he said.
    Igali assured that Mutuwa was being monitored closely and so far the NWF was impressed with what he was doing.
    He also said Adekuoroye has done a lot of training in respect of pace and strengthening.
    “We believe that she has good training partners here in Nigeria that will really get her fortified for the Olympics, because we have a lot of hope on her at this Olympics,” the NWF President said.
    He disclosed that while the wrestlers were expected  to camp in Germany for three weeks, the federation was hopeful that they would be there till July ending.
    ”This is because we won’t start competing until Aug. 5, and we will like to go to the Games Village four days to our events,” Igali said.
    The NWF President added that the situation meant they have to do the right things from now till the end of the training period since the wrestling events would begin on Aug. 5.
    Speaking also, Purity Akuh, the head coach of the female wrestling team, said the athletes and their training partners were in their preparation phase and working so hard.
    He said his  expectations as the coach was for every one of the qualified athletes to win medals at  the Olympic Games.
    NAN reports that six wrestlers will represent the country at the Games, with the team having five female and one male.
    The team has Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Blessing Oborodudu in the 68kg category, Odunayo Adekuoroye in the 57kg and Hannah Reuben in the 76kg —- all being female.
    There are also Christiana Ogunsanya in the 62kg and Esther Kolawole in the 62kg, while  the lone male is Ashton Mutuwa who will compete in the 125kg category.(NAN)
    SEY/OLAL
    =========
    (Edited by Olawale Alabi)

  • It’s disappointing for us even after finishing fourth, 3SC’s Ogunbote laments

    Disappointment

    Ibadan, June 23, 2024 (NAN) Gbenga Ogunbote, the Chief Coach of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), on Sunday said it was disappointing for him and his players to have ended the 2023/2024 season empty-handed.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 3SC finished fourth in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season which ended on Sunday.

    Ogunbote told NAN in Ibadan his team were not happy to have been unable to clinch a ticket to play on the continent next season in spite of the efforts they put in.

    ”It was disappointing for us in spite of everything. Even though we are supposed to be celebrating today, having won today’s match and having finished fourth in the competition.

    ”But we set for ourselves a target of getting a ticket to play on the continent next season, and having failed to do that, we are clearly unhappy with that,” he said.

    Ogunbote, whose team had earlier lost in the quarter-finals of the 2024 President Federation Cup, said it could be heartbreaking not to achieve set-targets.

    ”We did all we could, and tried as much as possible, even through the Federation Cup, but our best was simply just not enough,” he said.

    NAN reports that third place in the NPFL could have earned the Oluyole Warriors a ticket to play in the 2024/2025 CAF Confederation Cup competition.

    It was the same thing a Federation Cup title win would have achieved.

    The coach attributed their failure to their first round performance, which saw them dropping to the lower half of the league table by the end of the first round.

    ”We lost it in the first round really, dropping to 11th or 12th then. If we had not lost so many valuable points then, we could have finished among the top three.

    ”We picked up in the second round, and rallied to be in contention in the last few weeks, but it was not to be,” he said.

    NAN reports that 3SC finished fourth in the league with 62 points from 38 matches, after 18 wins, eight draws and 12 losses.

    They finished behind Rangers International Football Club of Enugu, Remo Stars FC of Ikenne and Enyimba International FC of Aba in first, second and third positions respectively.

    To finish fourth on Sunday, 3SC beat visiting Sporting Lagos 1-0 at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex in their match day 38 fixture.

    Christian Pyagbara scored the lone goal in the 38th minute, stooping in the goal area to head in a low cross from the right flank, thus taking his total league goals’ haul to 10.

    The result also meant Sporting Lagos dropped to the Nigeria National League (NNL) to join Doma United FC of Gombe, Heartland FC of Owerri and Gombe United as the teams relegated.

    Rangers International who beat Gombe United 2-1 in Jos won the competition with 70 points from 38 matches, five clear points ahead of runners-up Remo Stars who had 65 points.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    OLAL
    ======

    (Edited by Olawale Alabi)

     

  • Pyagbara’s early strike earns 3SC slim win over NPFL leaders Rangers

    League

    Ibadan, June 12, 2024 (NAN) Christian Pyagbara’s 13th minute goal on Wednesday ensured hosts Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) beat visiting Rangers International Football Club 1-0 in a 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that victory in the Match Day 36 fixture strenghtened the Ibadan-based 3SC’s pursuit of a place among the competition’s final top three.

    Both sides came into the game looking very hungry for goals to gain advantage, but it was the hosts that soon took charge with flowing moves down the flanks.

    They ran rings round the visitors, with team captain Taofeek Malomo and midfielder Ayobami Junior holding sway.

    They sustained their attack to confine the league leaders to their half, and were soon rewarded when Ayobami Junior’s corner-kick from the left flank was headed in by Pyagbara.

    Rangers fought back gamely, but the 3SC defence was stoic, with Gbolagade Adelowo and Ayodeji Bamidele holding their own and Victor Ehibe and Gali Falke taking full charge on the flanks.

    Second half play saw Rangers International becoming more daring and were close on a number of occasions, only finishing poorly.

    They threatened 3SC so much as to keep them on the back foot midway into the second half.

    But good defending by the hosts and poor finishing by the visitors kept the scoreline the same way it was earlier.

    NAN reports that the result took 3SC to 59 points from 36 games, but still kept them in fourth place, one point behind third-placed Enyimba International FC of Aba.

    This was in  spite of Enyimba dropping two points after drawing 1-1 with visiting Bayelsa United of Yenagoa in Aba to stay with 60 points from 36 matches.

    Rangers on their part are still maintaining top spot with 64 points from 36 matches, two points ahead of second-placed Remo Stars of Ikenne who are with 62 points from 36 games.

    3SC will visit Bayelsa United in their next game, while Rangers host Bendel Insurance.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    OLAL
    ======

    (Edited by Olawale Alabi)

     

     

  • Secondary school endures 30-kick penalty shootout to reach Cup final

    Qualifiers

    Ibadan, June 8, 2024 (NAN) It took 30 penalty kicks on Saturday in Ibadan to separate Government College Apata and Bashorun High School in the semi-finals of the 2024 Oyo State Governor’s Cup football competition.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the second qualifiers for Tuesday’s final match could not emerge until each side had played 15 kicks.

    Both sides had played out the game’s full time with no goal scored, and the extra-time also ended on an even note, leading to the penalty shootout.

    However, three kicks were saved or missed in the process, with Bashorun High School prevailing 14-13 to advance to the final match.

    They will in Tuesday’s final match meet Bishop Phillips Academy, who earlier in the day at the same Urban Day Grammar School pitch beat Olanipekun Memorial School of Kisi 2-0.

    The match, the competition’s first semi-final fixture, saw Adeniyi Charles and Babatunde Lasisi scoring in the fifth and 69th minutes respectively.

    NAN reports that the competition, which is for male football teams of public schools in Oyo State, will end on Tuesday at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    OLAL
    =======

    (Edited by Olawale Alabi)

     

  • Governor’s Cup football competition in Oyo enters semi-finals

    Competition

    Ibadan, June 7, 2024 (NAN) The shape of the semi-final stage of the ongoing 2024 Oyo State Governor’s Cup male football competition for secondary schools in the state emerged on Friday in Ibadan.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition’s four quarter-final matches were played at two venues, where the semi-finalists emerged.

    At the Ikolaba High School Centre, Bishop Philips Academy of Ibadan emerged after a 5-3 win over Bioku Grammar School of Lanlate following extra-time play.

    Murtala Adigun’s brace, scored in the 6th and 14th minutes, gave the winners game dominance early in the first half, before Olusegun Gideon halved the deficit in the 24th minute.

    Oladitan Joshua restored their two-goal lead 12 minutes into the second half, with goalkeeper Jelil Gbadero making a couple of saves to keep the scoreline at 3-1.

    However, goals from Olagoke Mushin 11 minutes later and Babatunde Stephen with four minutes to go brought about a turnaround and pushed the game into extra-time.

    Goals from Animashaun Basit two minutes into extra time and Babawale Abeeb just a minute before extra-time ended however ensured there was no upset.

    In the other game played later at the same venue, Olanipekun Memorial College of Kishi advanced to the semi-finals after beating Awe High School 5-4 on penalty kicks.

    This was following a 3-3 draw after extra-time, with the winners coming back twice to stay in the game.

    Emuda Samson gave Awe High School the lead just after they returned from the break, with Muftau Tirimisiyu drawing the winners level about two minutes later from the penalty kick spot.

    Salahudeen Mubarak restored the losers’ lead about 10 minutes later, only for Abubakar Idris to draw them level and go on to give them the lead with 13 minutes of play left.

    But Oyetayo Ayomide rescued the game for the Awe High School side with about three minutes left through an equaliser, leading to extra-time which failed to produce any goal.

    At the Urban Day Secondary School Centre, Bashorun High School beat St. John Catholic School of Isalu in Iseyin 3-1.

    Babalola Francis had given St. John a seventh minute lead, but Segun Oyebode drew the winners level eight minutes into the second half.

    Goals from Raji David (five minutes into extra-time) and Ayomide James (15 minutes into extra-time) then gave Bashorun High School the win.

    In the centre’s other match, Government College of Ibadan beat Baptist Grammar School of Ogbomoso 1-0 through Babalola Abdulganiyu’s 33rd minute goal.

    NAN reports that the semi-finals on Saturday will see Bishop Phillips Academy taking on Olanipekun Memorial College at 10 a.m at Urban Day Secondary School, Olaogun in Ibadan.

    The other semi-final match will have Bashorun High School taking on Government College Ibadan at the same venue at noon.

    The competition’s third-place and final matches have been scheduled for Tuesday at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    OLAL
    ======

    (Edited by Olawale Alabi)

     

  • Govts need to reach more at grassroots, philanthropist says

    1. Grassroots

     

    By Olawale Alabi

     

    Ibadan, June 6, 2024 (NAN) A UK-based businessman, Olatunji Awodiran, on Thursday in Ibadan urged governments in the country to reach out more to those at the grassroots to enhance agriculture in particular.

     

    Awodiran, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Leovest Reassuring Hands Foundation, said governments needed to reach out to the right people to eradicate poverty and enhance positive development.

     

    “Governments at all levels in the country have to reach out to those at the grassroots in order to get things done appropriately.

     

    “We need to get to the right people, especially in the area of agriculture where we have so many indigents, the rural women and other poor people.

     

    “They are those who are really involved in agriculture, not the big-time mechanised farmers,” he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

     

    Awodiran said governments should do this through Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) because they are closer to the people than government officials or politicians.

     

    “In the UK, government at all the levels supports the local farmers in the communities more than the big farmers. This way, you get to uplift them and eradicate poverty,” he said.

     

    Awodiran, whose foundation had since August been providing support in the form of food items, cash and educational materials to indigents and the aged, said he was ready to do more.

     

    “It is something I am inspired to do, not as a result of political interest or affiliation or future gains, but to help cushion the effect of the hardship people are facing.

     

    “People are really facing a lot of hardship, and we should help to bring about a change in their situation,” he stated.

     

    Awodiran said his foundation planned to give out some food items ahead of the upcoming Eid-el Kabir festivities.

     

    “Our programme is usually on the last Tuesday of the month, but it will come up earlier this month as a result of the Ileya festivities, by June 14,” he said.

     

    NAN reports that the foundation, which started with 150 beneficiaries in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun, now has over 800 registered beneficiaries. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

     

    OLAL/MAS

     

    Edited by Moses Solanke

    ===========