Sports

Barc Focuses On Retaining Euro Crown

Published

14 years ago

March 7, 2012

With Real Madrid crushing virtually all before them and holding a ten-point lead over Barcelona in Spain, the UEFA Champions League has assumed greater importance for the Catalan side, who are on course to reach the quarter-finals.

Barcelona entertain Bayer Leverkusen at the Nou Camp today holding a 3-1 lead from the first leg.

Jose Mourinho has converted Real into a formidable force in his second season in Madrid and they have now won 20 out of 21 games domestically with the only defeat coming against Barcelona at the Bernabeu.

The reigning Champions League and La Liga winners have failed to show the same consistency, dropping too many points away from home but they know that in a one-off match, they are still capable of beating anybody.

“It is going to be very tough for us to win the league but now we must concentrate on Bayer Leverkusen. It has been a difficult season for us with so many injuries which has meant that we have not been able to play at 100 per cent but little by little we have been improving”, said Adriano.

The Brazilian utility player has been involved more than expected recently due to the number of absentees in Pep Guardiola’s squad which has been criticised for being under strength.

In the 3-1 weekend win over Sporting Gijon, he played at left-back with Eric Abidal lying in the treatment room but he has also featured in midfield and in a more attacking role.

“It was an important game for us against Sporting like all of them at the moment as we were able to put the pressure on Madrid, who played afterwards, and we will keep battling in every match until the end of the season trying to pick up as many points as possible.

“In the Champions League now, we play Bayer Leverkusen at home after a good win in Germany but they are a strong side as they showed at the weekend with a victory over a team like Bayern Munich which shows what they are capable of.”

Seydou Keita made a notable return to the team after his participation in the CAF African Cup of Nations, playing a key role in the victory by helping to set up the first goal for Andres Iniesta and then scoring the second himself.

Barcelona played the majority of the second half without Gerard Pique, who was red-carded and there was bad news for Alexis Sanchez, who limped off and is expected to be out of action for over two weeks.

Guardiola heaped praise on Keita, an under-stated member of the squad who can be relied upon when given his chance in the team. “One of the best things that I have experienced since being coach of Barcelona is the possibility to have got to know him and I congratulate him for all that he has done for us,” he said.

“In recent seasons, we have won because we have deserved it. You always have to play well to win and we did so after we were down to ten men and drawing the Madrid.

Sports

AllStars Club Renovates Tennis Court… Appeal to Stop Misuse

Published

6 days ago

December 12, 2025

The Tide

Port Harcourt AllStars Tennis Club, old Port Harcourt township, has renovated and commissioned its training court at Niger/Bende Street, No.5 field popularly known as Information centre, in Port Harcourt.

The court was officially declared opened by Commander Abdul Qadir Yumusa (rtd), President of Police Tennis Club, after it undergone total renovation.

Speaking at the occasion, the President of Port Harcourt AllStars Tennis Club, Engr. Ifiesimama Omineokuma, decried the intentional misused of the sports facilities which Rivers State Government built for the purpose of grassroots sports development.

According to him, the centre which accommodates two tennis courts and one volleyball court has become burial and wedding centres on weekly basis thereby obstructing sports activities.

“The Exco of the club normally renovate and maintain these facilities because most times we organise grassroots tennis programme for primary and secondary school children in the State.

“No doubt we have discovered some talents through our programmes but it is disheartened to note that most times when we come, we can’t access the tennis courts following wedding, burial programmes etc.

“Consequently, we are appealing to the appropriate authorities to regulate these activities on sporting facilities, as the club has taken the responsibility to maintain the facilities, hence we are equally using it to train”, Engr. Omineokuma said.

He advised members of the tennis club to conduct themselves very well anytime they come for training.

Tonye Orabere

Sports

New W.White Cup: GSS Elekahia Emerged Champions

Published

6 days ago

December 12, 2025

The Tide

Government Secondary School ( GSS) Elekahia has won the second edition of the New W.W. White all Secondary schools football competition in Rivers State, sponsored by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The Elekahia boys (players) thrashed one of the highly rated teams in the competition Government Secondary School Rebisi 4-1 to emerged champions.

The final encounter which took place at Sharks Football Club Stadium, in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, was well attended by some important dignitaries in the State, including the Managing Director of NDDC Dr. Samuel Ogbuku.

Speaking at the event Dr. Ogbuku, assured that NDDC will continue to engage youths in region meaningfully and support school activities, arts and culture, including music, saying that talents discovery is not limited to only sports alone.

According to him NDDC provided this platform to showcase their talents and become valuable to themselves and society.

“I want to assure you that NDDC will always support such events, school activities, not only W.W.White cup, we are also supporting secondary schools in the region, in the area of arts culture, including music because talent is not limited to only sports”, Dr. Ugbuku said.

He advised teams that lost to go back to the drawing board, know the reasons why they lost and improve, and those that won should equally work hard to defend their trophy in next edition, saying that sports is a healthy competition, it is not for bitterness.

” For me all the teams that participated are all winners, sports is healthy competition, it is not for bitterness. We will keep on engaging youths so that we discover new talents”, he stated.

At the end of the event winners, GSS Elekahia goes home with the sum of N2.5M, while second place GSS Risbisi pocketed the sum of N1.75 , as third place Pabod model Secondary School also goes home with the sum of N1.25M as they beat Government Secondary School Azuabie 1-0.

Tonye Orabere

Sports

Players Battle For Honours At PH International Polo Tourney

Published

6 days ago

December 12, 2025

The Tide

Players from within and outside Nigeria will from January 11-17, 2026 gather in Rivers State for the 2026 NPA Port Harcourt International Polo Tournament with the theme: “United By The Game.”

Among the trophies to be contested for are Rowland Cookey-Gam, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, King T.J.T Princewill, T.Y Danjuma, Armed Forces Remembrance, President and Governor cups, in addition to a special memorial cup in honour of late former president of the club, Rowland Cookey-Gam.

The President of Port Harcourt Polo Club, Prince Henry Agbodjan, at a media briefing, stated that this year’s edition seeks to deepen unity and inclusiveness.

According to him, “Like the theme of this year’s tournament said, it’s united by the game. So for us as polo club, it’s a diverse group of people. Polo in itself is played in very diverse manners, and we believe in diversity, equity, and inclusiveness as well. So for us both, male and female, no matter where you come from, we are in a united front to ensure that next year’s tournament will be a major success.

“And if you see again clearly, as part of preparations for this tournament, we have one of our own who we lost 20 years ago in a plane crash. Rowland Cookey-Gam and you can see him clearly in the part of the emblem for this year’s tournament. So, we’re going to use this tournament to eulogize him, remember him, and of course, appreciate his work for polo within the Harcourt Polo Club and polo in general around the world.”

Agbodjan noted that the club was able to achieve its goals during the last tournament, especially in the area of catching them young and taking polo to the grassroots, adding “So we commenced our Catch Get Young program and it was very well received by the public and are going to intensify the program.”

“And we hope that this whole thing will yield the right dividends in the next four to five years where we see great polo players all from Port Harcourt and the Niger Delta at large, contesting and competing against the best in the country and of course around the world as well,” he stressed.

He commended the Rivers State Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), alongside other private and corporate sponsors for their continued support to the club over the years, whilst assuring that the flagship polo tournament in the country would continue to draw people from all walks of life.

The club president assured of adequate security before, during and after the tournament, as well as entertainment that will feature varieties of local and national artistes, among others.

Also speaking, the captain of Port Harcourt Polo Club, Dr. Ikenna Nebolisa disclosed that players from Iran, Mexico, England, Argentina, among others would be participating at the tourney, in addition to entries from Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Jos.