Sports
Principal Solicit For Support On Sports Dev
Hon (Mrs) Kpakol Sister Levula (Left) presenting trophy to senior prefect girls and Green House Leader, Holy Rossary College, Nwibari Kobani during 5th edition of Inter-House Sports competition of the college last Friday at the college premises. Pix: Nwiueh Donatus Ken
The principal of Holy Ro
sary College, Port Harcourt, Bar Vero Efika, has solicited for the support of parents, guardians and old Girls of the school, as towards acquiring well as philanthropists in securing the school’s sporting facilities to engage the students meaningfully.
Efika, who made the appeal at the school’s 5th Inter-House Sports competition held at the weekend said, “we need you to partner with us for the proper development of these children, intellectually, physically and morally”.
She stated that the highest function of education is to turn out the best integrated individual who is capable of dealing with life as a whole.
“It is the Holy Rosary College standard that emphasis be given towards meeting the demands of the three domains with emphasis on character formation and discipline. A child with good character and discipline is well equipped to face any intellectual challenges”, said the principal.
The principal urged parents to view sports beyond entertainment and improvement of the physical well being but to also consider the exposure it gives as well as the enormous wealth it helps the individual to generate.
Mrs Levula Kpakol, emphasized on the need for the involvement of private investors in the nation’s sports development noting that Nolly wood and Beauty Peagents have got to the height in Nigeria today because of the wonderful impact of private investors.
Kpakol who was mother of the Day at the evet said the best way to get the champions of tomorrow is embark on vigorous talent hunt in the schools and community, sports competitions where they abound.
She called on the Rivers State Government to consider the presence of Sports facilities in the private schools before they are given approved to operate since the absence of sports would not guarantee the total upbringing of a child.
The mother of the day, lauded parents for their growing interest in allowing their children and wards to participate in sporting and extra curriculum activities stressing that some people have become world heroes today because of their talents in sports.
“If a child is not good here, it does not mean that such a child is totally useless because she can as well be good in other areas,” she stated.
The Admins secretary, Catholic Education Board, Mrs Josephine Ogolo, said that the importance of sports development cannot be over emphasized in scheme of things in Catholic schools, and pointed out that sports is like a tradition which the Catholic schools participate with passion.
Ogolo maintained that apart from school inter-house competitions, the Board also organizes Catholic Children Day and Zonal Sport meets to allow the students express their sports prowess.
At the end of the competition, White House emerged the overall best with 75 points, while Blue House and Green House came second and third with 73 points and 62 points respectively.
Chris Oluoh
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
One of the greatest strikers of the past 15 years, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, is among the big names who will not be playing at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
The 37-year-old Barcelona striker, who has scored 89 goals for his country, was not able to inspire his side as they lost 3-2 in Stockholm against Sweden in Tuesday’s play-off final.
Lewandowski, who won the German Bundesliga title on 10 occasions, twice with Borussia Dortmund and then in eight successive seasons with Bayern Munich, before winning La Liga twice with Barca, may have played in his last major international tournament.
Lewandowski captained Poland at the World Cup in 2018, but did not score in Russia as his country came bottom of the group. He had a better tournament four years later in Qatar, scoring twice as Poland reached the last 16 before losing to France.
He netted four times in Group G in 2026 qualifying only for Poland to finish three points behind the Netherlands, before losing to Sweden on Tuesday.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
Another star that will be missing in action at the mundial is Gialuigui Donnarumma of Italy.
Italy lost in the World Cup play-offs for a third successive qualifying tournament
Gianluigi Donnarumma has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season since he moved from Paris St-Germain for £26m in September, after helping the French club win the Champions League last season.
Despite being player of the tournament as Italy won the 2020 European Championship, he misses out on a World Cup again after Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund and Guinea)
Serhou Guirassy is Fourth in the list of Bundesliga top scorers this season
Serhou Guirassy has established himself as one of most prolific strikers playing in Europe, with 62 goals in the German Bundesliga over the past three seasons, while no player scored more than his 13 goals in the Champions League in 2024-25.
But he will not be at the World Cup as his country Guinea went out in the first round of African qualifying, finishing fourth in their group, with only four wins and three draws from their 10 matches.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia and PSG)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped Paris St-Germain become European champions last season, scoring in the 5-0 final win over Inter Milan, and he came 12th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.
But Georgia had a miserable campaign in World Cup qualifying as they only picked up three points from a group that contained Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray and Nigeria)
Victor Osimhen has scored 26 goals for club and country this season
Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win Serie A in 2023 before moving to Galatasaray, where he grabbed 26 goals in 30 games to take them to the Turkish title last season.
Nigeria drew five of their 10 matches in the first group phase as they finished one point behind winners South Africa, but then had a second chance in the following play-off.
With Osimhen already substituted, Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo to miss out on the World Cup.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool and Hungary)
Dominik Szoboszlai has scored 12 goals for Liverpool this season
Liverpool and Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed this season and scored some stunning long-range goals.
But he will not be at the World Cup after his country let a 2-1 lead slip in their final group game with the Republic of Ireland scoring twice in injury time to clinch a spot in the play-offs and eliminate Hungary.
Female wrestlers in action at Governor Diri Wrestling Classics.
Ondo State wrestlers dominated the women’s events on Day six of the fourth Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa on Monday, claiming gold medals in two of the four women’s freestyle categories.
African champion Khadijat Idris of Ondo State led the charge in the 55kg division, defeating rising talent Mary Ayeloh of Bayelsa State by technical superiority to claim gold. Happiness Soso of Delta State and Augustine Rhoda of Lagos State took bronze medals in the category.
Damola Ojo also flew the Ondo flag proudly in the 76kg event, retaining her title after defeating all opponents in a round-robin format. Nigeria Army wrestler Laide Ojo settled for silver, while Juliet Ogo of Bayelsa State and Mercy Alison of Abia State each claimed bronze.
In the 62kg category, Patience Kakanda of Bayelsa State produced the upset of the day, defeating Nigeria Army’s Precious Tieberi 3-1 in the final to be crowned the new champion. Isioma Abojei of Delta State and Blessing Apah of Dynamite Club won bronze medals.
Rivers State’s Esther Asaolu also retained her title in the 59kg division, overcoming all her opponents in the round-robin format, with Patience Opuene of Bayelsa State finishing as runner-up.
In the men’s events, Solomon Ulabo of Bayelsa State claimed gold in the 79kg category, with Kpum Ayibasisei of Edo State taking silver and Rasheed Saliu of Ondo State and Ebisindei Okorie of Dynamite Club winning bronze. NewLife Ebikeme of Bayelsa State won the 92kg gold, ahead of Perezidei Obaze of Edo State in silver position, while Tobechukwu Udeh of the Nigeria Army and Timilehin Adekanmi of Ondo State claimed bronze medals.