Sports
Marathon: ‘LASG On Track To Reposition Sports’
Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode says his administration has begun steps to reposition sports in the state, assuring that no stone will be left unturned to achieve the aspiration.
Ambode made the assertion as he presented prizes to the winners of the 2nd Access Bank Lagos City Marathon at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island.
Tidesports gathered that Kenyans have again shown their dominance of the long distance races by winning the first four positions in the male and female international elite categories.
The 42km race held on February 11, with 55,000 registered athletes.
Abraham Kiptom of Kenya, who won the first edition showed his prowess by defending his title with a time of 2:15:23, while his compatriots, Ronny Kipkoech Kiboss returned a time of 2:15:25 to be second.
Kiptrotich Kiroi came third with 2:15:30, Tuwei Dickson, also a Kenyan came fourth with 2:16:50, while Dabi Tadesse Yae of Ethiopia came fifth with 2:16:57.
Raimond Bet of Kenya came sixth with 2:17:01 and his compatriot Jonathan Kiptoo was seventh with a time of 2:17:36, while Frani Kiokom Nzyokkeny won the eighth position with 2:18:47 02.
The ninth position was claimed by Regasa Mndaye Bejiga of Ethiopia with 02:19:24, and the tenth position was won by Limo Kenneth Kiplagat of Kenya by 2:20:07.
In the female category, Tanui Rodah of Kenya won the race by 2:37:52, followed by compatriots Fridah Lodepa, in the second position with 2:38:22 and Alice Timbilili with a time of 2:39:02 in the third.
Emily Chekemoi Samoei also of Kenya came fourth with a time of 02:39:22, Birke Debele Beyene of Ethiopia was fifth with 2:40:48 and Sifan Melaku Damisie of Ethiopia came sixth with 2:40:49.
The seventh position was won by Naomi Jepkogei Maiyo of Kenya with 2:42:20; Doreen Nduku Kitaka of Kenya returned eight position with 2:43:50.
Chemweno Elizabeth Jeruiyot of Kenya placed ninth with 02:44:51, while Nancy Joan Rotich of Kenya won with 2:49:22.
Ambode said the success of the tournament marked another leg of the government’s dreams to make Lagos State the destination for sports in Africa.
The governor said the state would continue to explore and attract regional, continental and global sports events to drive home its mission, adding that the all round development of youths through sports remained paramount.
“Our commitment to continue to support our youth in sports development is resolute, a path that we cannot depart from.
“The Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is a testimony to this avowed commitment,’’ he said.
Ambode said it was gratifying that the Marathon attracted the presence of the Athletics Federations Presidents from other countries and participation of elite athletes from four continents, 15 countries and about 55,000 athletes overall.
Expressing delight on the interest and participation of thousands of Nigerians in the Marathon, Ambode said the event had set a foundational infrastructure to put the state on the world map.
“This mind blowing attendance underscores our determination to occupy a prime place in the Marathon Calendar worldwide and ultimately to be among the top 10 Marathon races in the world.
“My administration will remain committed to supporting outstanding athletes on the local front and ensure proactive measures that will encourage and challenge them to excel.
“We are hugely encouraged by the local participation which coincides with our mission on the Marathon,’’ he said.
He noted that the state’s collaboration with Access Bank Plc, Seven Up Bottling Company, Bet Naija and Eko Atlantic City is a template the government intended to replicate in various sports across board.
Ambode said beyond the Marathon, the government would continue to use sports to drive inclusion and engagement of the citizenry, especially the youths.
He added that Tourism, Arts and Entertainment would remain the cornerstone and pillars of support of his social contract with Lagosians and the international community.
“In support of this, we have put in place a structured process of providing additional sports infrastructure in the various zones of the state.
“The target is to ensure that no child is denied the opportunity of interaction with sports as early as possible in life, while potential for career in sports can be identified for proper development,’’ he said.
The governor announced that the next edition of the Marathon would hold on Feb. 10, 2018.
Mr Herbert Wigwe, the Managing Director of Access Bank, major sponsors of the event, said that apart from showcasing the fact that Lagos is truly a safe place, it had all the traits of world class tourney.
He said the marathon was also a pointer to the fact that Lagos was ready to receive the international world for business.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) says it will no longer pay athletes training grants in foreign currency.
The development came after sprinter, Kayinsola Ajayi, alleged foul play regarding the disbursement of training grants by the Commission.
Head of NSC’s Elite Athletes Development and Podium Board, Yusuf Alli, told Tidesports source on Friday that it was wrong of Ajayi to rubbish the good intention of the NSC, saying: “I have been in athletics for over 40 years now, and this current NSC Board, led by Mallam Shehu Dikko and Bukola Olopade, has done what others could not do. So far, the NSC has spent over N200 million in payment of training grants for athletes ahead the 2026 Commonwealth Games and preparation for Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.”
The NSC sourced the money from the private sector. It has never happened before. “I expected the athletes to encourage the NSC so that it can do more instead of raising unnecessary alarm and making allegations that is capable of discouraging them (NSC) and even the sponsors. It takes good initiative and trust for sports administrators in Nigeria to convince sponsors to donate money for welfare of athletes,” he said.
Speaking further, Alli, whose long jump record of 8.27m set in 1989 (35 years ago) is still unbroken, said: “We have decided that henceforth, all payment of training grants will be in Naira. No more payment of grants in U.S. dollars. We are Nigerians, and everyone knows that the exchange rate is not stable. As at the time Ajayi got his money, the rate of dollars to Naira may have changed
“I expected him to make a call either to myself or anybody in the Elite Board, or even the NSC to find out what happened instead of resorting to such allegation.
“If we make payment in Naira, any athlete who wants to convert his or her money to any foreign currency can tell their people back home to do so. I am sure this will solve the problem. If anybody wants to know how much he is entitled to, he must first of all find out the category that he or she belongs to.”
Alli disclosed that coaches, who train the athletes would soon get their grant. “They train the athletes, and the NSC feel is it not proper to leave them out in payment of grants. We have compiled their names, and very soon, the coaches would get their money,” Alli stated.
The chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League, Gbenga Elegbeleye, has directed that a minute’s silence be observed before kick-off at all Matchday 30 fixtures this weekend in honour of former Green Eagles captain Henry Nwosu, following the death of the former midfielder at the age of 62.
In a statement made available to Tidesports source on Saturday, the league body confirmed that the tribute would be held across all matches to recognise the contribution of the former international to Nigerian football.
Elegbeleye described Nwosu’s passing as both a personal loss and a painful moment for the country’s club football community.
Nwosu, who was the youngest member of Nigeria’s squad that won the 1980 African Cup of Nations, died in the early hours of Saturday at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in Ikeja after a brief illness.
The former midfielder had reportedly spent several days in hospital receiving intensive care before his death.
Elegbeleye said the late footballer was more than a colleague within the sport, describing him as someone with whom he had maintained a long-standing personal relationship dating back to his time at the National Sports Commission.
He said the former national team star had remained supportive of him in various moments of his career, including when he was nominated for the Pitch Football Awards.
Reflecting on Nwosu’s legacy, the NPFL chairman said the news represented the loss of a major figure in Nigerian football, noting that the former midfielder distinguished himself not only at club level but also later contributed to the development of the domestic game as a coach.
Elegbeleye said the death of the former international was “the death of a true ambassador of the domestic and national team football because he not only made his mark as a player in league clubs, but he also coached some of the league clubs.”
He added that death remained a submission to the will of God and prayed for the repose of Nwosu’s soul while urging strength for his family as they mourn the loss of their loved one.
Earlier confirmation of the former midfielder’s death came from former Nigeria international Segun Odegbami, who revealed that Nwosu died after spending five days in hospital. Odegbami said the former player passed away at about four o’clock in the morning at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment in intensive care.
“It is with deep pain in my heart that I have to be the conveyor of the news of the death of Henry Nwosu MON,” Odegbami said.
“After five days in hospital battling for his life, the one I call ‘Youngest Millionaire’ passed on at four o’clock this morning at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, where he had been in intensive care since Wednesday. May he rest peacefully with our Creator in heaven”.
At the club level, the former international spent most of his career in Nigeria, starring for New Nigeria Bank FC of Benin City and African Continental Bank FC of Lagos during a period when both sides were among the dominant forces in domestic football. His performances later earned him moves abroad, where he also played for ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast and Racing FC Bafoussam of Cameroon.
Nigeria’s Women Basketball team, D’Tigress, is targeting victory against Philippines this Saturday in their third game at the ongoing FIBA Women’s World Cup qualification tournament holding in Lyon, France.
The Coach Rena Wakama-led D’Tigress, on Thursday, lost their second game 60-77 to South Korea, making it the first time the Nigeria senior women basketball team is losing to their Asian opponent.
After this Saturday’s game against Philippines, D’Tigress will face two European giants, France and Germany.
Both Nigeria and Germany had already qualified for the FIBA Women’s World Cup slated for September in Berlin, Germany. They are only taking part in the qualification competition in Lyon as preparatory test ahead of the World Cup.
In Thursday’s game against South Korea, the Nigerians had a closed game in the first and second quarter losing narrowly by 36-32 points but couldn’t build their usual momentum in the third and final quarter as the game slipped away from them.
Coach Rena Wakama said they learnt quickly from the loss to South Korea, and charged her girls to quickly put the defeat behind them and focus on an improved performance in their game against the Philippines.
“South Korea is a great team. We struggled today (Thursday) shooting the balls and we turned over the ball 22 times, which is not typical of our game.
“Mentality we are fine, and we are not going to over react to the loss. There are lessons in losses so we are going to take the lessons from this game and try to get better and be ready for our next game.
“The Koreans were very physical, denying our passing lanes and double up on our players. They did a great job and credit to them,” Wakama stated.
Victoria Macaulay was Nigeria’s best performer after her MVP display in the first game against Colombia, scoring 22 points and 6 rebounds.
South Korea is hoping to pick one of the two World Cup tickets in the round robin qualification tournament to join Nigeria and Germany for the FIBA Women’s World Cup in September in Berlin, Germany.
The FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament is currently taking part in four counties – France, Turkey, Puerto Rico and China as countries fight to make the World Cup.
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