Sports
Gym’s Renovation Delights Para-Lifters
Para-lifters, who will soon have a modern facility to train and for competition, have expressed delight with Friesland Campina WAMCO Nigeria Plc., makers of Peak Milk for refurbishing their gymnasium at the National Stadium, Lagos.
Tidesports source gathered that the renovation of the weightlifting gymnasium which began on June 13 is expected to be completed by August with state-of-the-art equipment installed.
The project, which cover working stations such as training equipment, changing rooms for the users before and after training, conveniences and an electricity generator is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility.
WAMCO also provides nutritional support which started in December 2016 with the monthly supply of Peak Milk to the national team of the Nigeria Para-Powerlifting Federation (NPPF).
Some of the athletes and other users who spoke to newsmen in Lagos expressed delight with the development, saying that the renovation of the dilapidated gymnasium would bring great improvement to the sport.
An 86kg 2012 Paralympic gold medallist, Oluwafemi Folashade, described the renovation as the best thing that has ever happened to the lifters who had been training under discomposure.
Folashade, who applauded the company for coming to their rescue, said the renovated gymnasium would go a long way to boost athletes’ zeal for training.
“I just thank God and appreciate Peak Milk for responding to our cry, I believe that our days of training for and out of competitions under adversity are over, ”she said.
Another Paralympian, Tolulope Taiwo, told newsmen that Peak Milk has brought light to the sport which by extension will affect the Para-lifters that make use of the gymnasium.
Taiwo said the renovation of the gymnasium would uplift the state of the sport also enhance training for the users.
“Now we are training outside because of the work going on in the gymnasium and we don’t mind because it is something that we have been praying for.
“The joy of the whole thing is that very soon our gymnasium will be comparable with those we make use of when we travel for international competitions,” he said.
A 2016 gold medallist in the women’s -79kg Powerlifting event, Bose Omolayo, while applauding Peak Milk for the initiative, urged other corporate organisations to emulate the gesture.
Omolayo said that, the project was a significant way of identifying with the para-lifters in their quest to sustain their passion in bringing honour to the nation in major Games.
“We have many needs of which Peak milk have set the ball rolling so we expect other companies to also come and do something like sponsoring competitions,” she said.
World record holder with a 220kg lift in the men’s -65 kg in powerlifting, Paul Kehinde, told newsmen that he was impressed by the tremendous support of Friesland Campina WAMCO Nigeria Plc.
Kehinde said that the organisation associated with the athletes in December 2016 and had consistently provided Peak Milk for the athletes monthly at the National Stadium, Lagos.
Only Denmark, ranked 21st globally, sits higher among nations that failed to qualify for the tournament, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
England and Chelsea legend John Terry was among those to voice his disappointment, describing Nigeria as a significant loss to a tournament that features 48 nations for the first time.
“Nigeria will be a big miss. This is a World Cup for participants who haven’t had the opportunity to play in the tournament. I would have loved to see a top team like Nigeria there because they’ve got some great individuals. They’re a great nation,” Terry said during a virtual roundtable session organised by SuperSport.
“I think they are a big miss because Nigeria probably would have gone further in the competition, but unfortunately, one side’s loss is another’s gain,” the former England captain added.
Eric Chelle’s side finished second in Group C of the CAF World Cup qualifiers behind South Africa, who secured automatic qualification. Nigeria kept their hopes alive with a playoff semi-final victory over Gabon before falling to the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties in the decisive playoff final — their second successive absence from the World Cup after also missing the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
The Nigeria Football Federation later challenged DR Congo’s qualification, alleging the use of ineligible players during the campaign, but the appeal was dismissed.
Despite missing the World Cup, the Super Eagles remain Africa’s 3rd highest-ranked team behind Morocco, who sit seventh in the world, and Senegal. Algeria and Egypt complete the continent’s top five.
Defending champions Argentina enter the tournament as the world’s top-ranked side, ahead of Spain, France, England and Portugal. Brazil are sixth, followed by Morocco, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
The next FIFA World Ranking will be released on July 20, a day after the World Cup final.
Chima Akachukwu and Miracle Akhigbe are among the 16 notable stars picked by the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) for the forthcoming Namibia Tour, where the YellowGreens will compete in a T20 and 50-Over Tri-Series, featuring hosts Namibia and Hong Kong China.
Both players make their way back into the YellowGreens fold after periods away from the side and will be eager to contribute their experience and quality as Nigeria pursues success in Namibia.
The NCF said yesterday that the squad, which departs Nigeria today, forms part of the national team’s continued preparations for future international assignments as the YellowGreens seek to build on recent performances and strengthen their standing on the global stage.
Leading the squad is Captain Sulaimon Runsewe, who will spearhead Nigeria’s campaign against two formidable opponents in what promises to be a highly competitive series.
The selected squad combines experienced internationals with emerging talents, providing the technical crew an opportunity to assess player development and team combinations in both the T20 and 50-over formats.
The team will be led on tour by Coaches Leke Oyede and Tamuno John, who will oversee preparations and match operations during the opening phase of the series.
Joining the squad later in Namibia will be the newly appointed Head Coach and High Performance Manager, Stephen Magongo, whose arrival marks another significant step in the Federation’s commitment to strengthening the national team structure and enhancing player development pathways.
Supporting the coaching staff are Team Analyst Jamal Okechukwu, Strength and Conditioning Coach Seye Olympio, and Team Physiotherapist Timothy Adesomowo, forming a well-rounded technical crew focused on maximising player performance and welfare throughout the tour.
The NCF views the Namibia Tri-Series as an important platform for the continued growth of the national team, offering valuable international exposure and competitive match experience against quality opposition. The series will provide the players and technical crew with another opportunity to evaluate progress, fine-tune strategies, and build momentum ahead of future international competitions.
The YellowGreens will face Namibia and Hong Kong China in both T20 and 50-over contests, with the matches expected to test the team’s adaptability, discipline, and resilience in challenging conditions.
Blessing Otu on Monday overcame hard-fighting Kelvin Bebe- Emmanuella in two sets of 6-1, 6-3 to qualify for the second round of the women’s singles of the ongoing 47th Central Bank of Nigeria Senior Tennis Championship, held at the Tennis Courts of the package “B” of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Speaking after the round of 32 game, Otu, who will be 19 years old in September, said she capitalised on her opponent’s weaknesses to gain victory, having studied her game very well.
“Bebe is a very good and tough player. But I studied her game and did the job well.
“Although she tried to come back in the second set, I punctured all her tricks to win the match and move on. I wish I could continue like this in the rest of my games,” she said.
Another member of the Otu family, John Out, was also victorious as he defeated Mohammed Abdusalam 2-1 (6-2, 6-7, 6-1) in the men’s singles category to advance into the round of 32.
But the third Otu in the game, Thomas, was not that lucky as he lost by 6-0, 7-5 in two straight sets to Danjuma Isaac.
In other matches, Michael Emmanuel defeated Ibrahim Aminu to advance, while Drimiya Mevi outclassed Seyi Ogunsakin by beating him 2-1 (6-7, 6-3, 6-1). Action continues tomorrow when other top players, including the men’s singles top seed, Abua Cannice, join the chase for honours.