Sports

The Rise And Fall Of Sports Institute, Isaka

Published

9 years ago

January 4, 2017

The quest to
develop sports at the grassroots level in Nigeria necessitated the conversion of Government Sea School, Isaka, in Okrika Local Government, Rivers State to Rivers State Sports Institute.
This institute was officially commissioned on May 31, 1988 by the then Military Governor, Col Anthony Ukpo (rtd).
No doubt, the introduction of the sports institute in the South-South region was embraced by many, most especially upcoming athletes, coaches and sports administrators, because its vision and objectives were to improve and develop sports in all ramifications.
Athletes, coaches and sports administrators from South-South and South East regions actually took advantage of the institute, which was second to the best in the country after the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Lagos in terms of human capacity development and provision of other infrastructure.
The sports institute Isaka has produced prominent sportsmen and sports administrators, including certified coaches, in line with the primary and fundamental purpose of the conversion. The prestigious Government Sea School, Isaka was established by the first Military Governor of Rivers State, Alfred Diete-Spiff (rtd).
The institute was able to achieve its primary objectives because adequate attention was given to its immediate needs. But today, the school is being described as an “institute of orphans” where nobody cares about what happens there.
It is disheartening to note that students of this great institute now learn on bare floor, dilapidated roofs and reptiles-infested environment.
The poor state of the facilities led to the formation of Coaches and Management Students Association (CAMSA) with the mission to rescue the school from extinction.
According to the President of CAMSA, Yahcob K. O Davied, the primary reason to call for CAMSA Week is to draw the attention of old students to see the deplorable state of the school.
“You are aware that the sports institute was rated as one of the best sports institutes in the country after NIS, Lagos, being the first located in the South South and South East regions.
But today, the school is like an orphan because no attention is given to it. Consequently, students are now learning on bare floor and, poor infrastructure is our lot. It is a shameful sight”, Davied said.
He explained that the institute has suffered from total neglect by successive governments of Rivers State.
In that circumstance, the institute has dropped to zero level, in rating, adding that before now, all the departments were functional, including the Marine section.
The CAMSA President therefore passionately appealled to the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike to consider the school for renovation.
He further appealled to multi-national companies and well-meaning individuals to come to their aid, saying, government alone cannot do everything when it comes to sports development.
“It is our desire that the institute be moved to a more deserved place and upgraded to award professional certificates,” he stated.

Tonye Orabere

Sports

IAUE VC Football Cup Final Holds In PH, Wed

Published

3 days ago

September 13, 2025

The Tide

Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, in Rivers State, will be at the centre stage on Wednesday as the VC Cup final, both male and female categories will be played at the prestigious Stadium in the school.

The both final matches promises to be exciting, as arrangements have been concluded to watch one of the best VC football Cup finals in the history.

VC Cup tournament is an annual sporting event that involves all students in various facilities.

According to the Chief coach of the University football team, David Egbiri, the female will final will kick off 2pm between faculty of Human Kinetics and Management Sciences, while the male will kick off by 4pm between Social Science and Natural Applied Science

Egbiri, who was former coach of Abiola Babe FC and Concord FC, lauded the Vice Chancellor. Prof. Okechukwu Onuchukwu for releasing funds on sports development, saying that he has never also failed the School in terms of infrastructural development.

“The VC who is also a sports personality has not failed to release funds for this tournament, apart from that he has not also disappointed in terms of developing the school in all ramifications.

“I want to say that my major reason for accepting to coach the school football team is to develop the youth through sports”, Coach Egbiri said.

The former Eagle Cement Coach, explained that he was not encouraged the way and manner the young ones are going about sports because there is no discipline and so much quest for quick money.

” Honestly, the way young players are looking money was just too much. Looking for short cuts always to make money that is more reason some of them don’t go far and end up badly

” In our days we first of all think about how to make name and we are passionate about it. I went to school and saw myself in sports, while my initial intention was to read electrical engineering” he stated.

Tonye Orabere

Sports

Gov. Decries Delta’s Poor Performance At 2025 NYG

Published

4 days ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

Pix: Team Delta State

The Delta State Sports Commission has come under scrutiny following the state’s disappointing performance at the just-concluded National Youth Games (NYG) in Asaba, where Lagos dethroned Delta to clinch top spot.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, visibly displeased with both the poor outing of Team Delta and the organizational lapses witnessed during the Games, summoned an emergency meeting with the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) immediately after the closing ceremony.

Delta, which had dominated the NYG by finishing first in the last eight editions, only managed second place this time — a result the governor described as “totally unacceptable,” especially given the state’s significant investment in the event.

According to a reliable source privy to the meeting, Governor Oborevwori expressed deep disappointment, stressing that his administration had provided all necessary support to the Sports Commission and the LOC to ensure Delta retained its traditional top position.

In a decisive move, the governor demoted his Executive Assistant on Sports and former Director-General of the Sports Commission, Festus Owhojero, under whose leadership the Games were organized. Owhojero was reassigned from Executive Assistant (EA) to Senior Special Assistant (SSA) with immediate effect.

The governor’s action, our source revealed, reflects his zero-tolerance stance on incompetence and underperformance within his administration. Mr. Owhojero thus becomes the first high-profile casualty of the governor’s resolve to reposition sports in Delta State.

Furthermore, Oborevwori directed the Sports Commission and LOC officials to submit a detailed report on the Games, outlining what went wrong and providing recommendations for improvement. The governor emphasized the need for urgent reforms to restore Delta’s dominance, especially as the state is set to host the next edition of the Games under an existing memorandum of understanding (MoU).

Sports

WCQ: NFF Denies Post Match Statement

Published

4 days ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

Pix: Super Eagles players in celebration mood.

The Nigeria Football Federation has distanced itself from a post-match statement that criticised some Super Eagles players following the team’s 1-1 draw with South Africa in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

The statement, issued by the NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, singled out forward Cyriel Dessers and captain William Troost-Ekong for criticism.

It accused Dessers of being sluggish and faulted Ekong for the own goal that gave Bafana Bafana the lead.

However, NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, said on Wednesday that the statement did not represent the official position of the Federation.

“I saw the release just like everyone else did. Nobody in the Federation is happy with it,” Sanusi said.

“The NFF did not authorise that statement. We have great respect for all the players. Blaming an individual for a team result is unfair.”

He added that the Federation regards the South Africa match as a collective effort and will not support attempts to scapegoat any player.

“When we win, it’s a team victory. When we lose, it’s also collective. No player should be singled out,” Sanusi said.

He described the targeted criticism of Troost-Ekong as unjustified, noting that the defender had previously been celebrated as the Most Valuable Player at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire.

“It was an unfortunate own goal. His intention was to clear the ball. Anyone who knows football understands that such things happen,” he said..

Sanusi also expressed confidence in the team’s unity, revealing that efforts were ongoing to regroup and refocus ahead of the remaining qualifiers and AFCON.

“Our house is in order. We’re preparing for the rest of the qualifiers and the AFCON in Morocco,” he said.

“There’s no problem with our players or coaching crew. Our relationship remains cordial. The government and the NFF are proud of the players’ efforts.”

The Federation had initially praised Calvin Bassey for his equalising goal and lamented the team’s failure to convert second-half chances.

But Sanusi made it clear that internal disciplinary action would be taken over the unauthorised release.

“I can assure you the NFF will take action on the matter,” he said.

Nigeria currently sit third in Group C of the CAF World Cup qualifiers with 11 points from eight matches. South Africa lead the group with 17 points.

The Super Eagles must now win their remaining games against Lesotho and Benin Republic and hope other results go their way to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.