Squash: PSA ranked tournament helps elevate rankings, Falase says

Squash

By Aderonke Ojediran

Lagos, June 27, 2024 (NAN) Tomi Falase, Lagos State Squash Association (LSSA), said that the third edition of Prime Atlantic Squash Open would improve the world ranking of participating players.

Falase said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, on Friday.

PSA is the world governing body of squash saddled with the responsibility of ranking players based on their performance at PSA approved tournaments.

NAN reports that the third edition of the Prime Atlantic Senior and U-16 championships will serve-off at the Teslim Balogun Stadium from July 15 to July 20.

“Organising regular tournament is good for the players, but making it a PSA approved championship is the icing on the cake..

“What this will do is to improve the rankings of our players internationally; it will put them on the same pedestal to make their mark like their foreign counterparts.

“This third edition promises to be an exciting one. The players are in good form, I see some of them train. So, it’s going to be the battle of the fittest,” Falase said.

NAN reports that both male and female players will play in the senior and U-16 categories. Interested players are expected to register for the tournament online @nigeriasquashfed.com/event.

The Tournament Director, Wasiu Sanni, said equal prize money will be given to both men and women.

He further said that the essence of the tournament was to avail players the opportunity to be competitive.

” We believe that our female players put in as much work as their male counterparts, so the cash prize will be equal.

“Training without putting what you have learnt into practice is effort in futility, and we as the custodians of these players, need to observe them and know where they need improvement.

“I’m excited about what’s to come. Prime Atlantic has been a great partner in progress and I hope these players make the best of this opportunity,” he said.

NAN reports that Onaopemipo Adegoke had maintained dominance in the two previous editions while Rofiat Abdulazeez and Busayo Olatunji have taken turns to win.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

OAF/JPE

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Edited by Joseph Edeh

Female football: Her game  foundation tournament kicks-off in Abuja

Tournament

By Georgina Adegbie

Abuja, June 27, 2024 (NAN) Her Game Sporting Foundation football tournament for girls has kicked-off in Abuja, with 16 teams battling for honours.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the maiden edition of the grassroots tournament got underway on Thursday at the Area 3 FIFA Goal Project astro pitch.

Mrs Pat Ayegba, Chairman, Female Football Committee, FCT FA told NAN, shortly after the kick-off that the tournament is meant to showcase and empower young female footballers in the FCT.

Ayegba who is the sponsor of the tournament, said that  the foundation decided to partner with the FCT Football Association (FCT FA) so as to make much impact.

“The Her Game Foundation is not just a tournament, but a movement, a movement that empowers women and girls to embrace their strength, passion and potential.

“Football is not just a game, it’s a platform for growth, for learning and breaking barriers.

“It teaches us team work, discipline and resilience, it shows us that with hard work and determination, we can achieve greatness,” she said.

NAN reports that the kick-off was preceded with a march-past by participating teams, and presentation of branded jerseys and balls by the sponsor to each of the teams.

Football stakeholders and board members of the FCT FA were also present at the entertaining opening ceremony.

The tournament which has female secondary schools and football academies participating will end on July 7. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

BOG/MUYI/JPE

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Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh/Joseph Edeh

Beach

By Chimezie Anaso

Awka, June 27, 2024(NAN) The Anambra Beach Soccer Warriors have expressed confidence of winning the 2024 National Beach Soccer League.

Okwudili Awam, the Coordinator of the team said this ahead of the last round of the Beach Soccer League in Kaduna.

The coordinator said that the team would do well in spite of being debutants.

The Kaduna leg of the Nigeria Beach Soccer League known as Super 4 will hold between July 4 and July 6.

Awam said the Anambra Beach Soccer team had done well in the league so far that they could no longer falter.

According to him, our chairman, Prof. Victor Madubuko has been passionately supporting the team and our supporters are counting on us.

“The boys are ready to deliver, and I have no doubt we’ll return home with the trophy.

“We will intensify our preparations for the big showdown because the stage is now set for an electrifying competition,” he said.

Awam said that Anambra Warriors would fight for glory against Kebbi United BSC, Kebbi(Fishers) Beach Soccer Club and hosts, Kada City.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

APC/MNA

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

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Double sprint champion Thompson-Herah to miss Paris Games

Injury

Kingston, June 27, 2024 (Reuters/NAN) Double Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson-Herah has withdrawn from the Jamaican trials due to an Achilles injury.

With this injury, he will not defend her 100m and 200m titles at the Paris Games in August.

The Jamaican, who will celebrate her 32nd birthday on Friday, is one of the greatest sprinters of all time and was the first woman to win a back-to-back Olympic sprint double in Tokyo in 2022.

Thompson-Herah last competed in the 200m in April 2023 and sustained the injury during the 100m at the New York Grand Prix earlier this month as she finished in 11.48 seconds.

“It’s never fun sharing news like this but at the New York Grand Prix, I felt something in the race and still insist to push, couple steps to the line I realise something is really wrong,” the Jamaican wrote in an Instagram post.

“I sat on the ground because I couldn’t apply any pressure to the leg whatsoever as I was carried off the track. I went quickly to get a medical check-up, and to find out that I have a small tear on my Achilles tendon.

“I got back home with a strong mindset to keep pushing and prepare for my national trials … but the leg wouldn’t allow me to.”

Thompson-Herah was also dogged by an Achilles injury after her astonishing sprint double at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and she missed out on medals at the 2017 and 2019 world championships.

The three-times Diamond League winner stormed back with her second double at her second Games in Tokyo, also claiming a relay gold to take her tally to five.

Thompson-Herah said she would be cheering on her compatriots in Paris — hopefully on site — and was not giving up on her sprint career.

“It’s a long road but I am willing to start over and keep working and to make full recovery and resume my track career,” she wrote.

“I am hurt and devastated to be missing the Olympics this year but at the end of the day, it’s sports and my health comes first. I will be back.”

Thompson-Herah had already decided not to defend her 200m title having missed the deadline to compete at the Jamaican Athletics Championships from June 27 to June 30.

The athletics competition at the Paris Olympics takes place from Aug. 1 to Aug. 11 at the Stade de France.(Reuters/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

VO/JPE

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Edited by Joseph Edeh

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Euro

Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024 (Reuters/NAN) Turkey on Wednesday night overcame tough resistance from 10-man Czech Republic in a 2-1 victory at the ongoing Euro 2024 tournament.

Goals from Hakan Calhanoglu and Cenk Tosun were enough for them to set up a last-16 clash with Austria and send their opponents home.

The Czechs, quarter-finalists at the last European Championship, needed victory to stand any chance of advancing, but the 20th-minute dismissal of midfielder Antonin Barak for a harsh second yellow card was a blow to their attacking intent.

In a chaotic and heated end to the game, Czech Republic’s Tomas Chory was also given a red card in a melee seconds before the final whistle.

As well as the two reds, the referee also showed 16 yellow cards to set a new Euros disciplinary record.

Both teams pressed hard from the start in a raucous atmosphere on a hot night with Turkish fans marching to the game and outnumbering the Czechs thanks to their huge diaspora in Germany.

Thirty-year-old playmaker Calhanoglu’s 50th-minute goal was a first at his third Euros, triggering flares and delirium from fans.

He scored with a low shot across goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek who had appeared to hurt his shoulder with a save just before and went off injured after the goal.

Teenager Arda Guler inexplicably missed a close-range sitter to put Turkey two ahead and the Czechs immediately equalised, Tomas Soucek prodding home in the 66th minute after a long throw caused chaos to set up a thrilling finale.

Tosun struck Turkey’s winner in stoppage time, sparking wild scenes on his bench and among Turkish fans.

The result banished the Turks’ dark memories of Euro 2020 where they went home after conceding eight goals in three defeats.

“We all fought very well together,” said defender Mert Muldur. “We had a hard time against such teams in the past. I think we have improved ourselves.”

After two wins in three games, Turkey finished second behind Portugal in Group F on goal difference and will play Austria in the last 16 on July 2 in Leipzig.

“When we talked with our friends before the camp, our only target was to get out of the group.

We kept our promise and left the group. Now we will proceed step by step; we are very happy,” said Turkey winger Baris Alper Yilmaz.

The Czechs finished bottom of the group with one point.

“It is a disappointment because we all wanted to advance,” captain Soucek said, lamenting how the “disrespectful” soft red card had affected the game.

“We were happy to get the equaliser,” he added. “Everyone did the maximum. The morale was huge. Just a sad end. But that is football.”

Portugal, already guaranteed top place in the group but lost to Georgia who went through as one of the best third-placed finishers. (Reuters/NAN)

IHA/EMAF
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Win

By Olayinka Owolewa

Ilemona (Kwara), June 26, 2024 (NAN) La Planet Sport Academia have emerged the champions of the maiden edition of late Oba Yusuf Omokanye Oyekanmi Memorial Royal Cup.

Led by Coach Sheriff Jimoh, La Planet boys defeated Dickalo FC 8-7 on penalties.
after playing a scoreless draw in the finals played at Oyun Local Government secondary school, Ilemona on Wednesday.

The final was a repeat of their last game in their group where both teams also played a goalless draw.

The tournament was organised by the Kwara State chapter of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) in honour of the late traditional ruler.

Coach Jimoh of La Planet was also awarded the best coach of the tournament.

The team will also face the Young Talent FC of Ogbondoroko in the finals of the El Lado Football tournament.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

OOH/DOE
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Edited by Dianabasi Effiong

We’ve not abandoned construction of new Stadium -Aiyedatiwa

Construction

By Segun Giwa

Akure, June 26, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, on Wednesday, said that the government has no plan to abandon the construction of a new stadium in Akure.

The governor, however, did not elaborate on the construction of the new stadium, which was first mooted and approved by the government of the late Gov. Olusegun Agagu, two decades  ago.

Aiyedatiwa said this at the official handing over of the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure to the contractor awarded the renovation of the  facility – Reform Sports West Africa .

The governor, represented at the ceremony by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, said that the old stadium nevertheless need to to be renovated, likewise the ones in Ondo, Ore, Okitipupa and other part of the state.

According to him, this was in line with his vision to develop sports talents at the grassroots.

Aiyedatiwa urged the contractor handling the project to deliver within the specified time frame.

“I want you to resume work here next Monday, there is no room for wasting of time.

“Work must resume immediately, I will have to relocate my office to this place.

“Your company is a reputable organisations,we have been working with you since 2012, as you laid this same turf and we have no doubt in our minds that you will deliver as expected,” he said.

The governor said that the renovation work was expected to be completed before the beginning of the next football season.

Also, the Chairman Of Ondo State Football Association, Chief Dele Ajayi, commended the governor for approving the renovation of the stadium.

Ajayi said that when the stadium was completed, one of the national team’s top flight matches would be brought to Akure.

The Chief Executive Officer of Reform Sports West Africa, Mr Michael Adamu, said his company would strive to deliver a quality job and meet up with the agreed date of delivery.

“We are a lucky organisation, remember immediately we delivered in 2012 Sunshine Stars played in the continent.

With God on our side, such era will return after we have delivered again,” he said

Also, the Project Manager of the company, Mr Arnold Nosa, said areas to be renovated include; the main pitch, Basketball court, Volleyball and Handball courts.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

GSD/AOS

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Edited by Bayo Sekoni