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Okorocha Indicted Over Heartland Relegration

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The former Governor of Imo State, Dr Ikedi Ohakim has overtly accused the incumbent Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, of fully contributing to the recent relegation of Heartland Football Club, Owerri, to the Second Division.
He made the disclosure in Ikeduru recently when he delivered a lecture/keynote address in a synod held at Saint John’s Anglican Church, Owu-Amakohia, Ikeduru.
The former governor through the Synod theme: Cultivating Contentment As A Flower Of Heaven”, reiterated that Heartland players got relegated to the Division Two due to their disobedience to the referee during their last match with Plateau United of Jos.
He stated that the players of Heartland walked out of the football pitch during their last match, noting that they emulated such disobedience from the state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, who has penchant for not obeying the rule of law.
He blamed the governor for not taking adequate financial treatment of the club seriously, compared to his administration that gave Heartland Football Club all the required facilities to operate, which enabled them to win some laurels.
According to the Ohakim, “In my regime, I contracted Ben Iroha, Sampson Siasia, Kalu Nwankwo and Ikeh Shoromu, who brought in a wonderful football development to the club.
He frowned at a situation where Heartland Football Club has been the only Division One club in the South-East that has been on relegation against the expectations of the people.
The ex-governor asserted that the way the Heartland Club was underfunded by the governor affected other segments of the state, making Imolities lose interest in government activities.
He said that good governance, as drawn from the tenure of the synod, are qualities expected that should move the country forward, pointing out that good leaders should always exhibit certain notable features associated with eagles which must include vision, courage and fearlessness.
Meanwhile, in a keynote address by the Ikeduru Anglican Diocesan Bishop, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chigozie Maduwike, urged leaders to be contented as one of the flowers of Heaven, which calls for effective cultivation by all Christians.
The revered Bishop noted that contentment would not grow naturally in humans without learning it.
He made reference to the book of Philippians 4:11. The synod attracted a good number of personalities from both religious and political bodies.

 

Valentine Nduka, Owerri

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Rivers-born Chess Player Clinches Third Position At World Amateur Rapid Chess Championship 

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A veteran Rivers State chess player, Apollos Akomaka, has finished in joint 3rd place at the just-concluded World Amateur Rapid Chess Championship held in Abuja.
Akomaka, who is the director of physiotherapy at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, overcame a shaky start to secure a podium finish in the 11-round rapid event that began on August 2.
The tournament featured top chess players from several countries.
After losing his opening game, the defining moment for Akomaka came between Rounds 7 and 11.
He raised his game and began defeating some of the top-ranked players in the event.
The Rivers-born player ended the championship tied for 3rd place in the U2000 category with 6.5 points out of 11, alongside Cameroon’s national champion, Noumbo Vidal.
His final game was against Vidal, with the Nigerian playing the black pieces.
Vidal opened with a queen’s gambit but quickly transposed into an English opening with a double fianchetto attack.
Akomaka responded sharply with a king’s Indian defense and soon launched a kingside attack from a defensive position.
The pressure paid off, resulting in an immediate material gain, a knight for a rook, and leaving Akomaka with a strong attacking advantage.
Vidal fought hard to avoid mate and managed to steer the game into an endgame, where he found some respect. At that point, the Cameroon champion offered a draw, which Akomaka accepted.
Speaking after the event, Akomaka said that he is resilient and determined after the poor start but happy that he finished on the podium.
He expressed optimism that in subsequent competitions he will make Rivers State proud and Nigeria at large.
Akomaka has won both local and national chess championships in recent times.
He is passionate about chess; besides, he has equally sponsored several national chess tournaments in Nigeria.
The World Amateur Rapid Chess Championship concluded with Akomaka of Rivers State,
Nigeria, battling back from an early loss to end among the top three in his category
Tonye Orabere/Kiadum Edookor
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Team Nigeria Secures Women’s 4x100m, 4x400m Finals at World U20 Championships

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Team Nigeria continued its impressive showing at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, securing places in both the women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relay finals after strong performances in the heats.
The Nigerian quartet of Becky Ebiyadi, Jecinta Lawrence, Tejiri Praise Ugoh and Faith Ezechukwu booked their place in the women’s 4x400m final after clocking a season’s best of 3:35.28.
Nigeria finished third in the heat behind Italy and Great Britain, doing enough to advance to the final and remain firmly in contention for a medal.
In the women’s 4x100m, Ugoh joined Lucy Nwankwo, Chigozie Nwankwo and Oluebube Ezechukwu as Nigeria produced another season’s best, clocking 43.65 seconds to secure an automatic ticket to the women’s 4x100m final.
The qualification was sealed by a sensational anchor leg from Ezechukwu. Receiving the baton nearly 20 metres behind the United States, the Nigerian launched a determined charge down the home straight, rapidly closing the gap before edging the Americans at the line to claim the third automatic qualifying position.
Nigeria stopped the clock at 43.65 seconds, just 0.02 seconds ahead of the United States, who finished in 43.67 seconds.
The performances mean Nigeria will now contest both women’s relay finals, further strengthening the country’s medal prospects at the championships.
In Saturday’s evening phase of the event, Success Uyibo will compete in the 200m women’s final while the 4x100m compete in the women’s final.
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Poor welfare forced me to dump Delta for Enugu, says world – Nwachukwu

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World Record holder and Commonwealth Games champion, Goodness Nwachukwu, has revealed why she dumped Delta State for Enugu State.

The sudden departure of Nwachukwu, a multiple gold medallist, from Team Delta to the Coal City, Enugu , sparked controversy within the sports family, with officials of Delta State Sports Commission accusing the president of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria, Sunday Odebode, of manipulating the system for the athlete to dump the state.

But Nwachukwu, who broke the World Record to win a gold medal for Team Nigeria in the Women’s Discus F42 event at the just-concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, has cleared the air on the circumstances that led to her movement to Enugu State.

Speaking with The Tidesports source report, shortly after winning the gold medal, Nwachukwu said: “It is not true that anybody aided my movement from Delta State to Enugu. Rather, it was Delta State that forced me to leave because of poor remuneration.

 

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