Sports

U-17 Women’s W/Cup: Action Kicks Off In Azerbaijan’ Morrow

Published

12 years ago

September 21, 2012

It’s going to be a three-week
party, a party on a scale possibly never seen before at a U-17 World Cup
Judging by the sheer enthusiasm of the host nation’s German coach, Sissy Raith,
the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Azerbaijan 2012 is shaping up to be an
unmissable event. It certainly has a lot to live up to after the success of the
two most recent editions, but the sparkling line-up for this year’s tournament
– due to unfold between tomorrow and 13 October – suggests that it could indeed
be set to reach new heights.

With Germany, USA, Japan, Korea
DPR, Brazil and Nigeria among the sides in contention, the most formidable
powers in women’s football will be taking part – and competing for the ultimate
prize. The tournament will hardly be short of burgeoning talents either, and
fans can look forward to witnessing the likes of exciting Japanese midfielder
Yui Narumiya, German forward Sara Dabritz and Brazilian schemer Andressa up
close. Fearsome goal machines such as Summer Green of the United States,
Uruguay’s Yamila Badell and Korea DPR’s Ri Un-Sim will likewise be aiming to
set the competition alight.

As it happens, the only major
absentee in Azerbaijan will be Korea Republic, the reigning champions having
only managed to finish fourth in their Asian qualifying campaign. The Taeguk
Ladies will therefore be unable to defend their title, increasing the chances
of a new name on the trophy. Their North Korean neighbours are the only
previous winners in the field, in fact, having claimed victory at the inaugural
edition in New Zealand four years ago.

As those previous tournaments
suggest, Asian sides have held a stranglehold on the FIFA U-17 Women’s World
Cup so far. That was amply demonstrated at Trinidad & Tobago 2010, when all
three contenders from the Far East won their way through to the semi-finals,
prompting FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter to hail the strength of women’s
football in the region. “It’s good news for Asia, but frankly it’s not a
surprise,” he said at the time. “When FIFA began taking an interest in women’s football
in the 1980s, the countries in Eastern Asia were already pioneers in the
discipline. Women’s football has deep roots in the region.”

This time around, it will be Japan,
Korea DPR and China PR looking to continue the tradition, and all three figure among
the favourites. As Asian champions, the Young Nadeshiko can be particularly
ambitious as they tackle their third finals campaign, but the team’s coach
Hiroshi Yoshida is urging caution all the same. “We’re just hoping for six
matches and to reach the final,” he said. “Our goal is to win, but in this type
of competition – especially the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup – you can’t predict
anything.”

The United States and Germany are
likely to mount serious challenges as well, with both nations having reached
the final of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Japan 2012 just over a week ago,
the Stars and Stripes ultimately emerging victorious. They will go into the
tournament desperate to make an impression after failing to qualify two years
ago, while Anouschka Bernhard’s Germany team have a disappointment of their own
to put behind them. The European heavyweights rattled in no fewer than 22 goals
during the group stage two years ago, only to suffer a 1-0 loss to Korea DPR in
the quarter-finals.

Among the other hopefuls on show,
Brazil will be serious contenders with their alluring Jogo Bonito, as will a
France side spurred on by gifted playmaker Sandie Toletti. Nigeria will also be
keen to have their say and boast a squad featuring five players (Sarah Nnodim,
Victoria Aidelomon, Oluchi Ofoegbu, Halimatu Ayinde and Ebere Okoye) who were
also involved two years ago. Meanwhile, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, New Zealand
and Ghana all have previous experience of the tournament and will be aiming to
reach the semi-finals for the first time. In particular, Ghana will be
bolstered by the presence of defender Ellen Coleman, a veritable veteran at
this level who will be making her third trip to a FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

For their part, newcomers Gambia,
Uruguay, China PR and hosts Azerbaijan will be focused on gaining experience in
Odlar Yurdu (the Land of Fire) and springing a few upsets. “We’ll need a small
miracle to come out on top, but in football there are always miracles,”
explained the home side’s coach, Raith. “We’ll see what happens.”

Sports

Expert Wants Parents To Enroll Children In Vector Programme

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

The Tide

In a bid to have more young talented Nigerians to play professional football abroad, Johnny Ogbah, a sports lawyer and football intermediary, has called on parents to enroll their children in Vector Programme.
He stated that the programme is in conjunction with Conventry Football Club in United Kingdom (UK), saying that the programme includes academics where a child can acquire a degree.
Ogbah, made the call while addressing sports journalists recently in Port Harcourt, as the programme will admit students into Brooke College between the age of 11 and 18 Football Academy.
The major objective of Vector Programme is to give the young ones a career through sports and good education. The programme does not train people on football only but also other things that is related to sporting environment, he said.
According to him, more than 20 Nigerians have benefited from the programme on scholarship and most of them are now playing football in top clubs in Europe.
“Vector programme was poised to create an avenue to give people to play football to the highest level.
Apart from football the child can also have quality education. It will interest you to know that those in Vector programme play friendly games that attracts scouts from different countries and football clubs.
The programme doesn’t train you on only football but also train people on everything that is associated to sports”, Ogbah said.
The former Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) player further disclosed Vector programme pathways provides the practice opportunities that players need if they are to successfully graduate as a professional player.

By: Tonye Orabere

Sports

NLO: Khana FC Coach Blames Players For Missing Chances

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

The Tide

The Head Coach of Khana FC in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Sam Ledor, has blamed his players as they were unable to convert scoring chances.
According to him, if those chances created in their opening match against Jet Bomber FC at the ongoing Nation wide League One (NLO), in Omoku centre were converted, it would have given them victory.
Ledor, said this on Saturday in a chat with Tidesports shortly after they played goalless draw against Jet Bomber FC in their opening match in 2024 NLO Division in Omoku, Rivers State.
“ We created a lot of scoring chances but could not find the net”, he said.
He explained that playing goalless draw is not a bad result in football but in a competition like this, they need to score goals and win matches.
“ My brother, we missed a lot of scoring chances which is not good. I trainned my players on how to create chances and to convert them.
“ What is important in a competition is winning but as we did not lose the game, we will look forward for our next game.
“We will go back to the drawing board and correct the grey areas in our game and ensure we get better results in our next outing.
“Today’s game is gone, what we need to do is to make sure we win our next game,” he stated.
He pointed out that no game comes easy but the effort you put in will give good result. They tried their best today and the result was good for both teams but we need to win our next game.
“My opponents were also a good side; they tried all what they could but didn’t score also. It was a good game but my team needs to win games,” he added.

By: Kiadum Edookor

Sports

Wilkins Backs Rivers Hoopers To Spring Surprises At 2024 BAL

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

The Tide

A French-American, John Walter Wilkins is confident Rivers Hoopers can make it to the playoff round of the 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Wilkins, who is the son of former NBA player Jeff Wilkins, linked up with his Hoopers teammates at the team’s training camp in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, ahead of the 2024 BAL Savannah Conference games, which tip off on Saturday, 4th May, 2024, in Dakar, Senegal.
Wilkins is no stranger to African basketball, having played for Moroccan sides AS Salé (2015-2016) and Ittihad Tanger (2017-2019), before leading Stade Malien to a third-place finish at BAL 2023.
Looking ahead to the 2024 BAL, Wilkins says the quality of basketball across Africa has improved, with the BAL requiring a high level of competitiveness, but backed Rivers Hoopers to spring a surprise at the tournament.
“It’s a really high level, a great competition; [it’s] one of the best I’ve played in since I’ve been in Africa. But we don’t need to be scared. We need to just attack the moment, be there, be present, and I think if we are confident in our abilities, we can surprise people,” he said.
Since its inaugural season in 2021, Nigerian teams have appeared twice at the BAL, with Rivers Hoopers playing in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2021 and Kwara Falcons featuring at BAL 2023.
Despite failing to reach the playoffs on both previous occasions, Wilkins is optimistic that with the quality of players in the Hoopers squad as well as the recruitment done ahead of the BAL, Rivers Hoopers will be more competitive in this season’s BAL.
“I’m really optimistic. I know that those past years the teams from Nigeria didn’t do well, but I think with me, Kelvin [Amayo], Will [Perry], and the other guys, I think we can show the way, have some wins, and be more competitive,” he stated.
The Nigerian Champions were drawn in the Savannah Conference alongside former BAL Champions US Monastir (Tunisia), last year’s runners-up AS Douanes (Senegal), and APR (Rwanda).