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Wike: Relaunching Rivers Potentials In Sports

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Barely 100 days in of
fice as governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, has made giant strides in sports sector which clearly set his administration out as one truly committed to the development and promotion of the sector.
Indeed the administration is relaunching the state to the frontline of comity of leading sports friendly states and destination of choice for sporting events and competitions.
Even before he was sworn in as the Executive Governor, Chief Wike demonstrated his interest in sports by making football one of the activities that marked his pre-inauguration ceremonies.
That day, Chief Wike led a number of football stars, both ex-and current internationals to entertain the people with a display of exhilarating football at the Sharks FC Stadium in Port Harcourt. That was an indication and a promise that sports would not take back seat in the nascent administration.
In fact, during his early speeches, the Governor underlined grassroots sports development, especially, going back to schools sports, reviving and promoting competitions at the grassroots level as a key policy towards engaging and empowering the youths.
About 100 days on, Rivers State, particularly Port Harcourt has become central and focus of sports discuss, especially football in Nigeria.
In demonstration of his conviction that athletes deserve motivation and remuneration, players of Rivers State clubs, Sharks, Dolphins and Rivers Angels FCs, who were hitherto owed eight months backlog of  salaries were the first to smile as the governor effected their payment.
At a time the Nigeria football Federation, NFF was in a quandary concerning a venue to host the Nigeria’s under 23 football teams qualifying match for the pre-Rio 2016 Olympic Games and states under the yoke of financial crisis were avoiding such burden, Governor Wike stepped into rescue the federation.
He, not only presented the state as a host, his motivation played pivotal roles in ensuring victory and paving way for the team’s qualification for the African Olympic qualifying tournament.
Since then, Port Harcourt has become a home for National teams as Super Eagles’ matchless and other national teams have been billed for the imposing Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium, at least Super Eagles next three matches beginning with their international friendly with Niger Republic tomorrow will be played at the stadium.
Only yesterday, the state, for the first time in history hosted a competitive grade A international match between two countries when Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast clashed in a 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifier in Port Harcourt. The state had offered to assist the NFF bail out Sierra Leone who could not host international matches at homes.
These plethora of international matches have gone a long way to re-establish and proof that peace and safety have returned to Rivers State which have further boosted tourism and investment opportunities in the state.
Governor Wike in further demonstration of his wholesome positive disposition towards the sports sector has extended hand of fellowship to the sports writing family in Nigeria who he assured of partnering for effective sports development in the state and Nigeria.
Rivers State a couple of weeks ago hosted the National Full Council Meeting, the highest decision making body of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, which has been adjudged to be the best of its kind in the association history.
Assessing the performance of the Governor in a little over three months now, chairman of Rivers State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Mr Honour Sirawoo scored him a nine on scale of 10. According to him, “The Governor has done well for the sports sector. He started well by offsetting the debt owed the state clubs for over eight months. His willingness to host international matches at a time other states are running away is an indication that sports is dear to him. We hope he continues to remain in the path of sports development and give the state the fillip to rediscover their elements and once again play leading role in sporting events and competitions in Nigeria.
For the Director of sports in Rivers State, Sir Daobu Harry, the Sports Council is hopeful that things can only get better as they pray that the Governor does not deviate from the commitment to sports which he has shown so early in his administration.
According to the Director, “The Governor has done well. It takes a big heart and courage to do what he has done so far in prevailing circumstances. The sports sector has gotten new lease of life since his coming into office. Apart from relaunching the state to international spotlight, sports association in the state have begun to attend national competitions, we hope that it continues to get better.”

Governor Nyesom Wike (middle), with Sole Administrator, RIWAMA, Bro Felix Obuah (right) and NFF officials, during the match between Nigeria and Congo in Port Harcourt  				                 Photo: Nwiueh Donatus Ken

Governor Nyesom Wike (middle), with Sole Administrator, RIWAMA, Bro Felix Obuah (right) and NFF officials, during the match between Nigeria and Congo in Port Harcourt Photo: Nwiueh Donatus Ken

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Tottenham Fight Back To Hold Brighton

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Tottenham fought back from two-goals down to secure a deserved point against Brighton.

The Seagulls were second best for much of the match but found themselves 2-0 up after 31 minutes thanks to Yankuba Minteh’s early strike and Yasin Ayari’s powerful drive.

However, Richarlison halved the deficit just before half-time when he stopped a shot by Mohammed Kudus before slotting in.

Spurs dominated the second half but their finishing let them down as Richarlison and substitute Xavi Simons were both unable to make the most of promising opportunities.

But the equaliser came eight minutes from time when Jan Paul van Hecke turned Kudus’ cross into his own net.

Spurs then pushed for a winner as they looked to continue their impressive start to the season, but Brighton held on for the point.

Bundesliga: Kane Continues Goal Harvest (5)

Harry Kane scored his second hat-trick of the season as Bayern Munich overcame a shaky start to win at Hoffenheim and continue their 100% start.

The England captain, 32, broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time with a clinical first-time finish from a cleverly worked low corner, and doubled Bayern’s lead from the spot after Albian Hajdari was harshly penalised for a handball.

That broke Hoffenheim’s resistance and Kane completed his ninth Bundesliga hat-trick with another penalty, given for a foul on substitute Michael Olise after a video assistant referee (VAR) check.

This time Kane sent home keeper Oliver Baumann the wrong way for his 13th Bayern goal in seven matches across all competitions this season, adding to his Champions League double against Chelsea last Wednesday.

“Hat-trick Harry is what they called me in school,” Kane told Tidesports source after the match. “That one kind of stuck when I was younger.”

“Any ball in the box, whether penalty or not, I back myself to hit the target.”

Hoffenheim had the better of the first 45 minutes, Fisnik Asllani only able to hit the post after goalkeeper Manuel Neuer passed straight to the Kosovan.

They eventually got some reward for their efforts, former West Ham full-back Vladimir Coufal’s deflected free-kick beating Neuer to earn the Czech his first goal for the club.

Ex-Liverpool winger Luis Diaz hit the top of the bar late on as he failed to continue his record of scoring in every Bundesliga game this season, but Serge Gnabry added a fourth for Bayern with the last kick, converting a rebound from a tight angle after Baumann saved from Joshua Kimmich.

Nicolas Jackson made his first start since joining Bayern on an initial loan deal from Chelsea, but the Senegal striker had a very quiet game before being replaced in the 62nd minute.

In Italy, Lorenzo Pellegrini fired Roma into the Serie A top four as Lazio had two players sent off in a fiery derby.

The midfielder found the bottom corner in the 38th minute as Roma extended their unbeaten run to four games against their city rivals.

Lazio have lost three of their opening games of the season and had Reda Belahyane and former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi dismissed in late drama.

Roma started well and Rome-born Pellegrini claimed the vital goal – his fourth in a Rome derby after being available for transfer in the summer – following good work down the right by Matias Soule.

But the hosts will rue missed opportunities as Boulaye Dia, Mattia Zaccagni and Alessio Romagnoli all had openings.

With four minutes left substitute Belahyane was shown a red card for a late studs-up challenge on Manu Kone.

Danilo Cataldi struck the outside of the post for Lazio in a last-gasp effort to snatch a point, while team-mate Guendouzi was sent off for dissent after the final whistle.

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Zidane’s Son Switches Allegiance To Algeria

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Luca Zidane, the son of France’s World Cup-winning playmaker Zinedine, has switched his international allegiance from France to Algeria.

Born just outside Marseille, the 27-year-old goalkeeper had appeared for France at various youth levels.

The move, which was approved by Fifa, may enable Zidane to follow in his father’s footsteps by appearing at a World Cup, with Algeria expected to secure a place at the 2026 finals in North America in their qualifier against Somalia next month.

Zidane, who is the second of four brothers, all of whom came through the Real Madrid academy, currently plays for Spanish second tier side Granada.

He played two matches for Madrid and has La Liga experience at Rayo Vallecano, but dropped a level in 2022 to play for Eibar before heading to Andalusia in 2024.

Zidane qualifies for the North African country through his father, whose parents hailed from the Kabylie region of Algeria.

Zinedine Zidane, who is regarded as one of the games greatest players scored twice for France in their 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil, but was famously sent-off in the 2006 final, which was won by Italy after a penalty shootout.

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Man Utd Beat Chelsea To Ease Pressure 

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Manchester United capitalised on Robert Sanchez’s fifth-minute red card to secure a crucial victory over Chelsea in torrential rain at Old Trafford.

The first match in Premier League history to see two or more goals, red cards and substitutions in the first half was settled by goals from United skipper Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, who was the other player sent off before the break.

It was Sanchez’s dismissal that set the course of the game though.

The Spain international raced from his goal to meet Bryan Mbeumo as the striker ran beyond the Chelsea defence.

Sanchez then upended the forward outside his area rather than allow him past to tap the ball into an empty net.

Enzo Maresca’s response to the red card was to take off both Pedro Neto and Estevao Willian and, as Cole Palmer had to be replaced after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury, Chelsea had lost three attacking players in the space of 20 minutes.

Trevor Chalobah pulled one back for Chelsea with a header 10 minutes from time but United kept their nerves at bay to make it to the final whistle with their lead intact.

The victory was United’s second of the season and came in front of minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who gave head coach Ruben Amorim assurances over his future 48 hours earlier.

It also means Chelsea have still not won at Old Trafford since 2013, when Sir Alex Ferguson was United manager.

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