Sports
Watch Your Back, Disu Warns Rohr, Lauds NFF
Former Technical Director, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Tunde Disu has warned Super Eagles Coach Genor Rohr to watch his back over variant issues as regards the preparation of the team for Russia 2018.
Disu, who gave the warning in an interview with newsmen, added that the team needed to be wary of the numbers of international friendly games for the Eagles.
Tidesport source gathered that Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has lined up about five friendly games for the Super Eagles in preparation for the mundial in Russia.
NFF said that the Rohr’s men would have two games lined up for March 23 against Poland and would also face Serbia four days later in London.
Nigeria is also expected to play a farewell game against Congo at the Abuja National Stadium, where President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to be in attendance on May 28.
After that, the Eagles are expected to have a high profile date against the Three Lions of England to be played at the Wembley Stadium on June 2.
The last match for the Eagles according to NFF will be a clash against Czech Republic on June 6.
Assessing the lined up friendly games, Disu said that it was good to have them but there must be a constraint on the number of matches to avoid injuries.
“It is good that we have all this friendly games to prepare well ahead, but it is also good to consider the technical aspect of it too.
“The point is that too much playing time could lead to injuries considering that these players might have just finished from a long season from their respective clubs.
“Players such as Mikel Obi needs to be protected from injuries and others too because they may have played many games before coming to the camp.
“Super Eagles need players that are fit to play well in the World Cup and not tired legs, maybe the coach will need to rotate the team in assessing them,’’ he said.
Disu, however, commended Rohr for injecting young footballers into the team, adding that Eagles would go far in the mundial.
“I must also commend the coach Rohr for his spectacular job in the team; he has been able to put the needed young players in the team.
“I think the coach knew what he wanted and I am grateful to the leadership of NFF for giving him free hands to manage the team.
“What I am saying is not criticism but a technical advice for the team to also be wary of injuries which might ruin the team’s chances during the World Cup.
“The team has done fantastically well and the coach is also on point but there are other issues to manage like injuries and injecting discipline in the team,’’ he said.
Disu said that the national team would not be seen as underdogs when they play in Russia, adding that Eagles would be a team to beat.
“Our national team will not be seen as underdogs during the World Cup considering the way we qualified and our friendly match against Argentina.
“For now, Super Eagles is in the eye of all the teams that will be in Russia 2018 because we may count beating Argentina as a plus to us, but technically, this has put more eyes on us. “I am particularly happy that NFF President Amaju Pinnick is now in the FIFA executive. This is a big plus for us because aside from the on field play, off the field politics is also important”, he added.
In a bid to make the Pillar of Associations Rivers state football tournament to become a permanent annual feature in Rivers state football calendar and a veritable platform for alternative career opportunity for Pillar members and members of Rivers football community, the Chairman of the tournament’s Organising Committee, Comrade Franklin Obute has stated that they were open to welcoming sponsorships from corporate entities and well meaning individuals.
Comrade Obute in an interview with news men on a match day at the ongoing competition at the Rivers State University’s ground said that the Pillar of Associations were ready to partner interested parties, who would be willing to invest in the competition through sponsorship towards elevating the quality and standard of the tournament.
According to him, “The Pillar of Associations tournament, due to the opportunities available, owing to the sheer number of businesses and members obtainable in the Pillar, would be a very attractive opportunity to exploit through sponsorship”.
He stated that there would be a conscious efforts toward sensitising the corporate and private environments to buy into the vision and objectives of the tournament. He explained that due to the open nature of the competition, whereby members of the association are allowed to engage any footballer from across the country, whether a business man or not, any sponsor would be able to enjoy unimaginable mileage.
“Every multinational company, private businesses should aspire to be part of the sponsorship of this tournament because there are so much benefits derivable therein, the coverage is very wide. You know that organising a football tournament of this nature is capital intensive, so, any sponsorship to add more value is welcomed”, he said.
The 2025 edition is currently ongoing and has reached the second round stage where matches are now being played on knockout basis, beginning from Friday.
By: Gabriel Nwanetanya
Some of the best golfers across Africa are expected to converge on the Ikoyi Club 1938 Golf Section for the three-day Ikoyi Ladies Golf Tournament holding from November 11 to 13.
The star-studded amateur open tournament is part of the activities lined up by the leadership of the club to celebrate the ladies’ tournament’s 50th anniversary.
Speaking at a world press conference at the Club’s headquarters in Ikoyi, the Ladies Club Captain, Mrs Peggy Onwu, explained that the tournament will offer opportunity for leading amateur golfers across 11 countries of the world to showcase their skills on the green lawn.
According to her, over 150 golfers have already registered for the open tournament, which will attract mouth-watering prizes, including a trophy, a premium ticket to the United States of America, among others.
The event will be preceded by ‘Twilight evening,’ which will see the participants play the golf game towards dawn, in a relaxed atmosphere with cocktails, networking and good music.
She thanked the various sponsors of tournament, including PWC, Delta Airline, Western Star, First EGP, among others, for identifying and keying into the Club’s goals and aspirations as part of their corporate social responsibilities.
Mrs. Onwu added that the event was not only a celebration of resilience, commitment, dedication and sacrifice, but a rare display of exemplary team spirit by all members of the Ladies Golf Section.
Thrilled by the presence of a Nigerian-born Italy- based golfer and fashion icon, Bali Lawal, as well as other professionals expected to grace the tournament, she promised that the tournament will be a memorable outing aimed at mentoring ladies keen on honing their golfing skills.
Speaking in the same vein, Vice Lady Captain, Annie Eimiakhena, explained that the tournament will entail three days of competitive outing showing skills, professional dexterity.
She added that participants and golfers will use the opportunity of the event to network among themselves, while a Masterclass will be held to educate would-be golfers on the dynamics of the game.
The Technical Manager of Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt, Finidi George has praised his boys (players) as they ran away with a point in the rescheduled match day nine of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) against Bendel Insurance.
According to him, before the game, he told his boys that they have to put up a good fighting spirit in the game, knowing that it will not be easy at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.
Finidi said this last Thursday in his post match interview with sports journalists and made available to Tidesports after they secured a goalless draw against Insurance.
He explained that in the first half, the game was 50-50 but in the second half after 15 to 20 minutes, my players pushed them back, looking for goal but they were able to hold them and got the draw.
“ From onset, I knew it was going to be a difficult game. Yes, we have to defend deep and get something. Kudos to my boys, they put up a good fighting spirit.
“ Despite the host creating good number of chances even hitting the crossbar but I must say that the draw is not a bad result.
“ Wasiu Falolu came closer in the second half but his long ranged shot just went over the bar.
“It was not a bad result but we have to move on and see how we can get good results from other matches” Finidi said.
By: Kiadum Edookor