Sports

Marathon: ‘LASG On Track To Reposition Sports’

Published

7 years ago

February 13, 2017

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.

Sports

Expert Wants Parents To Enroll Children In Vector Programme

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

The Tide

In a bid to have more young talented Nigerians to play professional football abroad, Johnny Ogbah, a sports lawyer and football intermediary, has called on parents to enroll their children in Vector Programme.
He stated that the programme is in conjunction with Conventry Football Club in United Kingdom (UK), saying that the programme includes academics where a child can acquire a degree.
Ogbah, made the call while addressing sports journalists recently in Port Harcourt, as the programme will admit students into Brooke College between the age of 11 and 18 Football Academy.
The major objective of Vector Programme is to give the young ones a career through sports and good education. The programme does not train people on football only but also other things that is related to sporting environment, he said.
According to him, more than 20 Nigerians have benefited from the programme on scholarship and most of them are now playing football in top clubs in Europe.
“Vector programme was poised to create an avenue to give people to play football to the highest level.
Apart from football the child can also have quality education. It will interest you to know that those in Vector programme play friendly games that attracts scouts from different countries and football clubs.
The programme doesn’t train you on only football but also train people on everything that is associated to sports”, Ogbah said.
The former Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) player further disclosed Vector programme pathways provides the practice opportunities that players need if they are to successfully graduate as a professional player.

By: Tonye Orabere

Sports

NLO: Khana FC Coach Blames Players For Missing Chances

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

The Tide

The Head Coach of Khana FC in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Sam Ledor, has blamed his players as they were unable to convert scoring chances.
According to him, if those chances created in their opening match against Jet Bomber FC at the ongoing Nation wide League One (NLO), in Omoku centre were converted, it would have given them victory.
Ledor, said this on Saturday in a chat with Tidesports shortly after they played goalless draw against Jet Bomber FC in their opening match in 2024 NLO Division in Omoku, Rivers State.
“ We created a lot of scoring chances but could not find the net”, he said.
He explained that playing goalless draw is not a bad result in football but in a competition like this, they need to score goals and win matches.
“ My brother, we missed a lot of scoring chances which is not good. I trainned my players on how to create chances and to convert them.
“ What is important in a competition is winning but as we did not lose the game, we will look forward for our next game.
“We will go back to the drawing board and correct the grey areas in our game and ensure we get better results in our next outing.
“Today’s game is gone, what we need to do is to make sure we win our next game,” he stated.
He pointed out that no game comes easy but the effort you put in will give good result. They tried their best today and the result was good for both teams but we need to win our next game.
“My opponents were also a good side; they tried all what they could but didn’t score also. It was a good game but my team needs to win games,” he added.

By: Kiadum Edookor

Sports

Wilkins Backs Rivers Hoopers To Spring Surprises At 2024 BAL

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

The Tide

A French-American, John Walter Wilkins is confident Rivers Hoopers can make it to the playoff round of the 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Wilkins, who is the son of former NBA player Jeff Wilkins, linked up with his Hoopers teammates at the team’s training camp in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, ahead of the 2024 BAL Savannah Conference games, which tip off on Saturday, 4th May, 2024, in Dakar, Senegal.
Wilkins is no stranger to African basketball, having played for Moroccan sides AS Salé (2015-2016) and Ittihad Tanger (2017-2019), before leading Stade Malien to a third-place finish at BAL 2023.
Looking ahead to the 2024 BAL, Wilkins says the quality of basketball across Africa has improved, with the BAL requiring a high level of competitiveness, but backed Rivers Hoopers to spring a surprise at the tournament.
“It’s a really high level, a great competition; [it’s] one of the best I’ve played in since I’ve been in Africa. But we don’t need to be scared. We need to just attack the moment, be there, be present, and I think if we are confident in our abilities, we can surprise people,” he said.
Since its inaugural season in 2021, Nigerian teams have appeared twice at the BAL, with Rivers Hoopers playing in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2021 and Kwara Falcons featuring at BAL 2023.
Despite failing to reach the playoffs on both previous occasions, Wilkins is optimistic that with the quality of players in the Hoopers squad as well as the recruitment done ahead of the BAL, Rivers Hoopers will be more competitive in this season’s BAL.
“I’m really optimistic. I know that those past years the teams from Nigeria didn’t do well, but I think with me, Kelvin [Amayo], Will [Perry], and the other guys, I think we can show the way, have some wins, and be more competitive,” he stated.
The Nigerian Champions were drawn in the Savannah Conference alongside former BAL Champions US Monastir (Tunisia), last year’s runners-up AS Douanes (Senegal), and APR (Rwanda).