Sports
Eko Hotels To Accommodate Cycling Participants, Guests
Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, says it will host the last leg of the Cycling Lagos 2018 by providing accommodation for guests at the event’s Gala Night of the biggest sports, tourism and entertainment competition in Nigeria.
The tournament’s organisers said on Monday in Lagos that the hospitality company made the offer sequel to a partnership arrangement it reached with the organisers of the highly anticipated Cycling Lagos billed for August 25.
The Media Officer of the tournament Bamidele Adeleye, said in Lagos that by virtue of the agreement between the organisers of the event and the management of Eko Hotels, the Magnificent Hall would now host the Awards Gala Night.
“The hotel will host the event’s Award Gala Night and provide accommodation for guests at the programme.
“In addition, the Professional Race of the Cycling event will start from the magnificent surrounding of the Marquee Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.
“Following the signing of the deal, Eko Hotels and Suites will be the Official Hospitality Partners for the Cycling event,” he said in a statement.
Adeleye added that the General Manger of Eko Hotels and Suites, Danny Kioupouroglou, had said that the hotel was excited and grateful for the opportunity to support the event.
“The Chairman, Cycling Lagos, Soji Adeleye, had said the choice of the five star hotel became necessary to meet the expectations of both local and foreign dignitaries and cyclists for the event.
“The event promises to be one of the biggest sports, tourism and entertainment events in Nigeria and the entire African continent in recent times,’’ he said.
“Cycling Lagos will attract cyclists and guests from across the world and we are confident that Eko Hotels & Suites, with its international reputation will offer them the needed comforts.
“With the brand, we expect to have a memorable corporate dinner after the races.
“Leadway Assurance Company, a leading insurance firm in the country, recently signed a partnership deal with the organisers of the event to provide insurance cover for over 1,000 cyclists at the event.
“Also, MultiChoice, owners of DStv, a Sub-Saharan African direct broadcast satellite service, has also confirmed a partnership agreement with the organisers to broadcast the event to its over 11.9 million subscribers across Africa.
“The Cycling Lagos 2018 is also supported by the Lagos Government and the Lagos State Cycling Association,’’ he added.
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.
