Sports
Rivers Lived Up To Expectation – Igwe
Despite trailing Delta State on the medals table of the ongoing 2012 National Sports Festival in Lagos, Rivers state Commissioner for Sports, Hon Fred Igwe has declared that Team Rivers has done well at the sports fiesta.
Hon Igwe made this declaration while addressing members of the sporting press at the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN,Lagos, secretariat.
According to the Commissioner, the team had declared that they were coming to the festival to win and defend the title it won as hosts during Garden City Games 2011, with every confidence their preparations inspired.
The confidence, he said, was based on trust to perform and win on a level playing ground backed by fair play and transparency.
However, he believed that Team Rivers has not been getting fair treatment at the festival, especially, in officiating and handling of issues concerning the team.
“A lot of people don’t want Rivers to win at this festival, there is obvious bias against the team. How can one explain allowing officials that came with athletes to officiate at the games?”, he queried.
He cited the case of Team Rivers swimmer, Duotimi Gagbe, who was as good as at least nine gold medals, but was wrongly suspended and missed some of her events before the state could get a respite from the main organisers of the Festival, as a case of bad treatment to the aspirations of the team.
He was disappointed that competitions at this festival have been 60 per cent politics and 40 per cent performance based.
The Commissioner, however, expressed pride over the fact that Rivers state was able to produce the king and star of Eko 2012 by winning the 100m gold.
On Wednesday, Nicholas Imhoaperamhe of Team Rivers clocked a time of 10.57 seconds to win the 100metres men’s race and emerge the fastest man of the festival. Former champion,Chukwuma Onyeakwu of Cross River returned 10.56 sconds to beat Edo state’s Victor Ikhazobor to the silver medal.
Peace Ukah of Ondo, Margaret Benson of Delta and Mariam Edet Bassey Cross River states won gold, silver and bronze medals, respectively in the women’s 100 metres event.
“We are the king of the competition, we won the most prestigious medal(100m) of the meet”, stated Igwe.
EKO 2012: We have new revelations—Technical Director
The Technical Director, Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Tony Oghuma has said that new talents have been discovered at the on-going 18th national sports festival.
He said in Lagos on Tuesday that from the matches played , new revelations have emerged from some states.
He said federation was closely monitoring the performance of the new talents and others yet to emerge.
“So far, so good. What is important to me is the fact that we have had a lot of revelations here.
“Young players have emerged and we have been able to identify them ,which is good for the federation.
“To a large extent, I think the standard is high ,the standard is very high. But, I think, we can do better than this if a few things are put in place. One, we will see better volleyball at play, if the national sports festival is open to all volleyball players in Nigeria.
“You will find that, what you are seeing are just the beginners in the game. Our elite players, most of them do not have festival again, and as such, you can’t find them here,’’ he said.
Oghuma suggested that future national sports festivals be thrown open to enable the elite players compete with others.
He said the inability of elite players to compete because of the law restricting athletes who had taken part in three festivals, had affected the game.
The Technical Director said after the festival, emphasis would be placed on grassroots talent hunt and the need to sponsor more national volleyball championships.
“Talents are bound in Nigeria. Our only problem is to have the opportunity to show case them, by way of organizing competitions.
“That is why we have been pleading with Nigerians that are blessed with good finances, to come to the Nigeria Volleyball Federation to partner with us to sponsor championships ,so that these young stars can have an opportunity , to show case their talents,’’ he said.
Sports
Tottenham’s Miserable Run Continues
Relegation-threatened Tottenham’s miserable 2026 continued as their winless run extended to 10 league games with Fulham gaining a deserved victory to boost their hopes of qualifying for European football.
Fulham, who scored twice in the opening six minutes in their 2-1 win over Spurs in November, again got an early goal with Harry Wilson netting in the seventh minute.
However, the goal was controversial as new Spurs boss Igor Tudor felt it should have been disallowed as home striker Raul Jimenez pushed Radu Dragusin as they challenged for a Kenny Tete cross, before Oscar Bobb picked out Wilson to volley home from six yards out.
Tottenham had a similar goal ruled out last week in their 4-1 loss to Arsenal for a foul by Randal Kolo Muani on Gunners defender Gabriel but, following a check from the video assistant referee (VAR) Craig Pawson, Fulham’s goal was allowed to stand, much to Tudor’s fury.
Spurs, though, had no excuses for the 34th-minute second goal with Alex Iwobi left with space to shoot home superbly from 18 yards out, with the ball going in off the inside of the post after a neat exchange with Wilson.
Sports
City Survive Leeds’ Challenge At Elland Road
Antoine Semenyo scored just before half-time as title-chasing Manchester City escaped Elland Road with victory over an energetic Leeds United.
The hard-earned outcome narrowed Arsenal’s lead to two points at the top of the Premier League.
City travelled to West Yorkshire without their Leeds-born star striker Erling Haaland who was injured in training, and it looked for large periods in the first half that they would rue not having their top goalscorer available.
But Ghana international Semenyo stretched to convert Rayan Ait-Nouri’s fizzed low ball into the penalty area for his sixth City goal since joining from Bournemouth in January.
Leeds will be wondering how they did not score after making a sprightly start and giving City real cause for early concern.
Meanwhile , a clinical Liverpool performance helped them beat battling West Ham in the Premier League and move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.
The hosts were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister.
West Ham pulled one back early in the second half through Tomas Soucek before Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal lead in the 70th minute.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side scored again through Taty Castellanos, but an Axel Disasi own goal ensured Liverpool hit five goals in a league game for the first time this season.
Bayern Rebound To Overcome Dortmund In Bundesliga (5)
Harry Kane scored two second-half goals as Bayern Munich came from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund in a thrilling match and move 11 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.
The England striker took his tally to 45 goals in all competitions this season as Bayern became the first team to inflict a home league defeat on Dortmund.
Kane, who passed 500 A clinical Liverpool performance helped them beat battling West Ham in the Premier League and move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.
The hosts were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister.
West Ham pulled one back early in the second half through Tomas Soucek before Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal lead in the 70th minute.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side scored again through Taty Castellanos, but an Axel Disasi own goal ensured Liverpool hit five goals in a league game for the first time this season.
All three of the Reds’ first-half goals came from set-pieces – with Arne Slot’s side now leading the table in 2026 when it comes to goals from set-plays (excluding penalties).
In the fifth minute, Ryan Gravenberch teed up Ekitike, who finished smartly to beat Mads Hermansen at the near post for his 16th goal of the season.
West Ham threatened to equalise, but against the run of play Liverpool doubled their advantage when Van Dijk headed in Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner.
The visitors failed to take advantage of Liverpool’s complacency with Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jarrod Bowen and Soucek all wasting chances.
And just before half-time, Mac Allister’s superb volley took a deflection and ended in the back of the net. That was the cue for sections of the travelling support to head for the exits.
Nico Schlotterbeck’s opener.
Dortmund thought they had snatched a point when Daniel Svensson’s thumping volley sent Signal Iduna Park into pandemonium.
But that was until Joshua Kimmich’s strike three minutes from time kept Bayern in pole position to win a 14th title in 15 seasons.
Schlotterbeck headed Dortmund ahead in the 26th minute when he rose highest in a crowded penalty area to connect with Svensson’s free-kick from the left.
Dortmund had the chance to double their lead later in the half when Fabio Silva squared the ball to Maximilian Beier, who was denied by the onrushing Jonas Urbig.
Despite dominating possession in the first half, Bayern – playing with a front three of Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz – were unable to test Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
But Kane equalised early in the second period with a poacher’s effort from inside the area at the end of a slick move involving Kimmich and Serge Gnabry.
Both teams missed chances before Kane scored a penalty – a record 10th in a Bundesliga season – after Josip Stanisic was floored by Schlotterbeck.
Dortmund levelled when Svensson volleyed past Urbig, but Kimmich all but ended their hopes of winning a first title since 2012.
Sports
PSG Extend Lead In Ligue 1
Paris St-Germain stretched their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to four points by claiming a narrow win at Le Havre.
The defending champions hoped to take advantage after second-placed Lens drew at Strasbourg on Friday, and Bradley Barcola gave them a deserved lead shortly before half-time.
PSG had chances to extend their lead and substitute Desire Doue had a late penalty saved by Le Havre goalkeeper Mory Diaw.
Lee Kang-In had an effort saved by Diaw before his right-wing cross was headed home by Barcola for his ninth goal of the season.
Moments later Lee fired wide when through on goal, before PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia fired against a post just after half-time.
Keeper Matvey Safonov made a fine save from Issa Soumare to keep PSG in front, while Diaw denied substitutes Nuno Mendes, Ibrahim Mbaye and Doue.
Diaw parried Doue’s spot-kick low to his right after Doue was brought down by Lucas Gourna-Douath with 11 minutes left.
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