Sports
7,000 Schools To Participate In Milo Basketball Tourney
Martin Woolnough, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Nestle Nigeria Plc has said that 7,000 schools across the country would feature in the 15th Nestle Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championships.
The state preliminaries of the competition will hold from March 4 to 18, while the four conference finals will hold between April 15 and May 15.
Woolnough who disclosed this at a news conference in Lagos that the number was an improvement over those of the previous editions because of the company’s commitment to developing sports. “In 2007 we engaged 2,500 schools, we doubled that number to 5,000 in 2012, and in 2013 we will engaged a total of 7,000 schools.
“These schools are across the six geo-political zones in the country and it proves our feat in stretching ourselves even in difficult times,” he explained.
The Managing Director said the theme for the 2013 competition, “Champions, It is Dunking Time’’, was designed to promote noble champions.
He said the making of champions required self-confidence, patience, determination, passion, preparation and listening to advice.
“Champions like to win; develop drive; learn to endure and accept challenge as well as work hard and love what they do,” he said.
He urged participants to demonstrate all the qualities of champions both at the state and at the conference levels.
In her address of welcome, the Category Business Manager, Nestle Milo Plc, Adedoja Ekeruche, said the conferences had been increased from two to four.
Ekeruche listed the additional conferences as Atlantic Conference in Enugu and Central Conference in Ibadan, while the existing ones are Western Conference in Akure and Confluence Conference in Lokoja.
“Every participating team will be given N160,000 each and the teams that qualified for the national finals will be given N200,000 each.
“Each winner of the four conferences will take home N30,000, while second and third place winners will receive N25,000 and N20,000 respectively,” she said.
Present at the occasion were the Vice President, Nigeria School Sports Federation, Martins Udomaiye and Remi Olowude, the Chairman, National Collegiate Sports Foundation.
The Secretary, Nigeria Basketball Federations (NBBF), Francis Gbiri, commended the company for its continuous efforts in grassroots basketball development.
St. Augustine Seminary Ezzamgbo, Ebonyi State and St. Jude’s Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Bayelsa State, are respectively the boys and girls defending champions.
FIFA President, Gianni Infantino last Thursday, in Abuja, revealed how Nigeria can be made a destination for top Grade A football matches and FIFA competitions.
Infantino gave the insight when the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare took him on a tour of the renovated main bowl of the MoshoodAbiola National Stadium.
The FIFA boss, who was visibly happy with the re-grassed pitch at the stadium, said well-maintained stadia with good pitches were key to hosting grade A matches.
He said FIFA was ready to work more closely with Nigeria to develop the game and host more grade A matches in the country.
“We (FIFA) have to make sure when a country, when a government with the President, the minister and private persons are investing in football, in stadia, we work with them to give something back.
“It’s obvious that stadiums like this (MoshoodAbiola stadium) and others in Nigeria deserve the best quality games.
“They deserve top national team games, top club games and it’s not just about Nigerian football or African football, it’s about global football.
“We are working together to see what kind of new opportunities, competitions we can bring for men and women to fill this stadium and make the heart of the stadium beat for the fantastic spectacle that all of the Nigerian love, which is football,” he said.
Earlier, the minister said the Federal Government will continue to invest in sports development and facilities.
Tidesports source reports that the FIFA President, in the company of the minister, had earlier visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the Statehouse, as part of his engagement.
Former Nigerian goal keeper, Andrew Aikhomogbe has called on the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to resolve every outstanding salaries and bonuses owed to the Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr before the next World Cup qualifiers against Central Africa Republic (CAR).
Aikhomogbe made this known on the backdrop of the football body’s recent deal with Baba Ijebu.
Although the financial details of the deal was not disclosed, Aikhomogbe in an interview with Newsmen from his base in Cairo, Egypt, stated that the NFF should use this platform to offset Rohr’s salaries and bonuses.
“It’s a big delight to know that the Nigeria Football Federation have signed a deal with Baba Ijebu and this will serve as an opportunity for them to use part of the money to pay Rohr’s salaries and bonuses.
“There is no better time to motivate him than now before Nigeria’s next 2022 World Cup qualifiers against the Central Africa Republic (CAR) on October,” he said.
Enyimba FC Goalkeeper, John Noble has stated that the players of the People’s Elephants will be key to the success of the newly appointed coach of the team, Finidi George.
Finidi, signed a two-year deal with Enyimba and oversaw his first full training session with the team on Thursday after a cameo appearance on Wednesday.
Speaking in a chat with Tidesports source, Noble gave his assessment of the coach in his first session under the manager and believes the former Super Eagles winger has what it takes to lead the team to the next level.
He added that the Enyimba players will be the ones to hand Finidi George his success at the club.
News5 days agoShell Trains 40 Imo Youths For ANOS Gas Project
Business5 days agoFG To Shut Ikorodu Terminal Over Explosive Overtime Cargoes
Business5 days agoEstate Surveyors Reject Housing Deficit Report
News5 days agoPAP Probes 3,000 Accounts, Stops 400 Fake Contractors’ Payment
News5 days agoPower Sector Revenue Declines By 4.54% In Q2’21
News5 days agoNigeria’s Oil Production Falls To 1.23mbpd
Featured5 days ago2023: PDP Govs Task NASS On New Electoral Law
News5 days agoInsecurity: Address Nigeria’s Descent Into Chaos, Nigerians Tell UN Assembly
You must be logged in to post a comment Login