Sports
Pillars Confident Of Defending B’ball Title
A player with Kano Pillars
Basketball Club, Adeolu Olaiya-Ojo, has on Tuesday expressed confidence in the team’s capacity to defend their title as the 2015 DStv Basketball Playoffs begins in Lagos.
Pillars, who are seeking a third consecutive championship title, defeated the Union Bank of Lagos, 67- 51 in their opening game to signal to other contenders that they would not relinquish the title easily.
Olaiya-Ojo told newsmen that the team was in shape and would take one game at a time, having worked hard to reach the final playoffs.
“We are happy to be at the final playoffs once again, it’s going to be tough but we are confident of emerging victorious at the end.
“We are here to defend our title, we have the experience, we know it’s a different ball game with different teams, so we are prepared for the task ahead,” he said.
Coach Ahmed Sanni said that winning their opening match against a very tough opponent was good for the team, but added that the players would not allow the victory to make them complacent.
“It’s a good result, we are happy to get our first win over a very competitive side, but we will not allow that to distract our focus.
“We are here to defend our title and we are confident of being victorious at the end, however this will be done with great cautious and firm concentration,” Sanni said.
Pillars took a slim lead in the first and second quarter recording, 15-13 and 29-27 but resumed the third quarter in a blistering form outscoring Union Bank, 50-35.
The team never looked back in the fourth quarter as they exploited the poor defensive play of the Union Bank team with aggressive play which gave them the victory.
Coach Rotimi Savage of the Union Bank told newsmen that the team lost concentration and made mistakes especially in the third and final quarters of the contest.
“We started well but lost concentration at the third quarter which Pillars capitalised on, it was a good contest, we will bounce back with a win in our second match,” Savage said.
In other matches played at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Mark Mentors of Abuja defeated Lagos Islanders, 78-68 to record their first victory in the championship.
First timers in the final Playoffs, Customs Basketball Club of Lagos was able to scale through the hard marking Gombe Bulls with a slim victory of 63-60 in a tension soaked match.
High flying Dodan Warriors Club of Lagos on their own part was merciless against Kada Stars of Kaduna, outscoring the Kaduna team, 78-53 in a match that was seemingly a one-sided encounter.
Port Harcourt the capital city of Rivers State will be at the centre stage in Nigeria as Port Harcourt Arsenal Community will hold her maiden edition of Football Fans Fiesta (FFF).
The Fiesta scheduled to hold on the 13th December, 2025, at Eddiz wine bar GRA, promises to be all football fans carnival in the State , as there will be a lot of fanfares.
The Coordinator of Port Harcourt Arsenal Community (PHAC), Ugochukwu Oputa has said that the forthcoming Football Fans Fiesta was basically to promote peace, unity and love among football fans in irrespective of the cub.
He stated that sports is a catalyst to bring peace, love and Unity in any given society, hence the occasion was initiated.
Oputa said this in an interview with sports journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, saying that arrangements are on top gear for a successful programme.
” This event is for all football fans irrespective of your club. It is basically to promote peace, love and Unity among fans.
“It is like stating the obvious that football is the catalyst of peace and unity in the world. So the Port Harcourt Arsenal Community want to use this avenue to bring people together and foster friendship.
“There is no gate fee, but it is expected to put on jersey of your club as to make the event look unique” Oputa said.
The Coordinator used the forum to advice football fans in the world to love one another, and equally urged fans that will attend the occasion to be of good conduct and behaviour.
Tonye Orabere
Consistent with its project execution routine, Dunamis-Icon Limited, Project Consultants of the Niger Delta Games, has concluded the first phase of physical inspection and evaluation of facilities for the event, 24 hours after the presentation of the hosting right to Edo State was performed.
The project management team was guided round select facilty locations in Benin City by Desmond Amadin Enabulele, Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, and the team leader, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo expressed satisfaction with the sports infrastructure assets of the host.
“Edo is a ready-made choice based on all the factors that are necessary to host this kind of big event. We are expecting over 3000 athletes coaches, alongside journalists and technical officials, with an approximate number of people outside spectators in the range of 5000. So, we need facilities that work for the games itself”, Ikpokpo explained.
He commended the Edo State Government for the good state of facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, and promised that the state will be assisted with the renovation of some of the facilities as may be necessary to ensure good competition experience for the athletes.
“I have been to the iconic Ogbe Stadium and must commend the Edo State Government for maintaining the facilities there. We are also considering taking some events to the University of Benin, so that people in that part of the city can also feel and enjoy the fun. Where need be, we will also see how to assist the state and the University of Benin to add value to some of the sporting facilities”.
Dunamis Icon Limited is the franchise rights owner to the games conceived and designed to provide a platform for unity and integration, and identifying and grooming talented youths from the region into national and international stars.
The NDDC as the flagship interventionist agency for the nine states that make up the region, is the prime sponsor of the games as part of their strategic focus on youth engagement and human capital development.
The inspection tour began at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, after a brief meeting with Enabulele and the Sports Commission team at his office.
Areas inspected include the stadium’s main bowl, the tartan track, the state box, the VIP lounges and other key areas like the ceremonial room, the media studio and other indoor facilities.
Other facility locations assessed are the Wire Road Sports Centre being listed to host basketball and volleyball games, the University of Benin Sports Complex, and the Etete Sports Centre.
In the entourage of Dunamis-Icon were the Project Director, Mr Fred Edoreh; Director of Facilities and Equipment, Dr Emmanuel Ochuko Igbigbisie; the head of Communications, Harry Iwuala; Head of Transport and Logistics, Israel Umueri Afoke. Others are Theresa Ineke, Head of Secretariat, Godwin Enakhena, the Head of Scouting, Mr. Edi Lawani, the Head of Culture Affairs and Entertainment and Elder Siegha Porbeni of the Technical Department.
The Edo Sports Commission Chairman was also supported by Hon. Frank Ilaboya and Mrs Sabina Chikere, Executive Directors, with Mr Baldwin Bazuaye (MON) also in the company.
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