Sports
‘I Enjoy Watching W/Cup Matches At Viewing Centres’
In recognition of football as a binding force between class and creed, Director-General, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Babatunde Bank-Anthony, says he enjoys watching the World Cup matches at viewing centres to mix with fans.
Bank-Anthony, who made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen, said that he had yet to watch any of the ongoing FIFA World Cup matches at home.
Tidesports source reports that the sports-loving Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode originally ordered for the provision of six public viewing centres across Lagos States, but he has since made provisions for others after some calls.
The centres are located at Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos Island; Abesan playground, Alimosho, Naval Yard playground, Ajegunle, Bishop Aggrey Youth Centre, Mushin and Epe Recreation Centre.
However, Ambode gave the directive for more in his response to the call for additional World Cup Viewing Centres in some parts of the state namely Ikorodu and Badagry.
This gesture now gives Lagosians living in those areas of the state to enjoy and watch live football action of the ongoing Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup finals.
Football lovers have been trooping in large numbers to the six viewing centres provided by the state government with the average attendance at the Teslim Balogun Stadium put at over 2,000.
Six similar viewing centres across the state have also been attracting large number of viewers since the kick-off of the World Cup on June 14.
Bank-Anthony, however, believes that more than having the viewing centres, watching the Russia 2018 matches at those centres would serve as encouragement to the people.
“The sports-loving people of Lagos State have been trooping in their numbers in appreciation of the state government’s gesture, for me, I can’t remember watching any of those matches in my house.
“I always watch the live telecast at viewing centres. I have been to Epe, Mushin, Ajegunle and it is very interesting watching with people of diverse opinions.
“Some Lagosians seeing me at the centres say that they did not expect to have someone like me there, but that is football, it is a unifying factor for all.
“The government has many ways of identifying with the people and because football is more than anything compared, I have been enjoying watching the matches with fans,’’ he said.
Bank-Anthony said that the World Cup public viewing centres were adequately insured which is one of the best practices for any public place.
“Everything at the viewing centres is legal, they are FIFA licensed and we have partnerships with others concerning this.
“The place was given adequate insurance cover to have the public confidence that not just watching there, they are safe; this we did besides the adequate security measures put in place.
“Gov. Ambode himself conceived the idea of the viewing centers; he only directed us to execute it. The way the government operates in Lagos State is quite different, we are pacesetters.
“We have other viewing centres across the state that we erected in partnerships with private sector such as Eko Atlantic and others,’’ he said.
Sports
CAA Wants Ghana To Host 2026 Athletics Champions
The Confederation of African Athletics has invited Ghana to bid for the hosting rights of the 2026 African Athletics Championships, following a successful athletics event at the just concluded 2023 African Games.
President of Ghana Athletics, Bawa Fuseini, stated this and expressed confidence in the transformative potential of the Legon Stadium for athletes and Ghana’s bid to host international competitions.
With a capacity of 11,000, the Legon Stadium played a pivotal role in the recent African Games, hosting both the opening and closing ceremonies as well as various sporting events including athletics, football, and rugby.
Fuseini highlighted the success of the athletics events held at the stadium, which contributed to Ghana winning six medals.
“We have already started getting requests from the Confederation of African Athletics to bid for the 2026 African Athletics Championships.
“When they came and saw what we have put in place and the level of organisation, they told me that for the last 20 years, they’ve never seen any organisation like this before. We did three official courses. And the last one, we had 110, all of them passed. We had a lot of officials and equipment.”
Since its establishment in 1979, Ghana has never hosted the African Athletics Championships, with Nigeria being the host country twice, in 1989 and 2018.
This year, Cameroon will take the reins as the host nation, with the event set to be held at the Olembe Stadium.
Sports
‘I’m Not Under Pressure To Coach Eagles’
Finidi George, head coach of the Nigeria Premier Football Leagues side, Enyimba, has stated that he is not losing any sleep over getting the Super Eagles job on a permanent basis.
Early this month, the Nigeria Football Federation declared the position of the Super Eagles’ head coach vacant, following the exit of Portuguese Jose Peseiro, who led the side to a second-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup Nations in Ivory Coast in February.
In an advertisement on its website calling for applications with a March 13 deadline, the football governing body stated that the prospective Eagles coach “must have proven experience at the elite level of football.”
The former Ajax man, who also applied for the job, was appointed Eagles interim coach for the international window with the former winger picking a win and suffering a defeat.
In an interview with Tidesports source, the 52-year-old tactician said he was not desperate for the job permanently.
“I felt really good when I was told to take charge of the team. I have been with the team for almost two years, I know all the players, their strengths, and their weaknesses but I am only here to serve Nigeria the way I know how to do stuff.
“I will just take these two games and go back to my club. Whatever the decision is taken after, so be it. I’m not under pressure to say I must get the role permanently.”
Sports
‘Reasons Why Eagles Lost To Mali’
The friendly games against Ghana and Mali were to serve as an audition for George Finidi, who was in charge of the team on an interim basis, but the Eagles’ lacklustre display in those friendlies has called for his further evaluation.
Finidi kept faith with ex-coach Jose Peseiro’s defensive formation against Mali on the back of his first win (against Ghana) in charge of the team four days earlier.
But this time, his defence was punished following a combination of defensive errors and poor passes.
The Eagles struggled to play out of defence due to the high pressing of the Malians and it was no surprise that the first goal by Les Aigles was a direct result of their aggression.
Chidozie Awaziem, who started on the right of the back three alongside Kenneth Omeruo and Semi Ajayi, lacked composure and was pressured into making a pass across his box straight at Bilal Toure, who made no mistake in getting the ball past Stanley Nwabali. They missed the calming presence of injured William Troost-Ekong.
Vice captain, Kenneth Omeruo, was also culpable of misplaced passes and was beaten for pace when Kamory Doumbia ran past him to seal Mali’s first win in over four decades, firing his shot past a helpless Nwabali, who stood no chance.
Eagles wing backs, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Jamilu Collins also did not do enough to support the team in attack when they had the chance to.
Lack of creativity
Finidi paired Raphael Onyedika and Wilfred Ndidi in a double pivot in midfield. Both players are naturally anchor men and neither is a box-to-box midfielder.
They both do not possess the offensive capability to drive the team’s attack forward, which left the Eagles once again craving for a natural creative midfielder.
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