Sports

Why Boxing Sports Cannot Develop Without Corporate Support— Otunola

Published

6 months ago

July 17, 2019

UnBoxx Boxing Promotions Managing Director, Bernard Otunolahas told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday that the business world should come to change the fortunes of boxing in Nigeria. He said that much was needed from them in the areas of funding events for the progress of the boxing sports.He said that boxing in Nigeria was crawling compared to countries like Ghana, South Africa, and other African countries.

The UnBoxx promoter said that there were plans underway to organize a boxing event soon that would see the best of homegrown talents.He expressed discontent with the challenges facing boxing and would like to use every opportunity to appeal to boxing fans to key into the idea.

There are a high growing number of boxing fans in NetBet Nigeria, therefore, the corporate world need not worry about their investment as it would yield awesome interest for them. “In my own opinion, until we have boxing bouts every other weekend then we can say we are making progress. As a boxing promoter, one big challenge facing the sport is just accessing funds to promote boxing fights, lack of sponsors has crippled the sport. There is so much attention on football as if it is the only major sport that can bring glory and honor to our fatherland,” Otunola said.

“We have quality boxers here in Nigeria that can make the country proud, but withoutorganizing events for them to showcase their skills, how can they really be developed?“Recently a former world boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, was in Nigeria but those who handled his visit did not allow him to visit the heart of boxing in Nigeria.“AJ’s profile if well packaged can do well to attract the right people to the sport but unfortunately things did not go that way,” Otunola said.

Meanwhile, Rilwan “Real One,” Oladosu, the West African Boxing Union (WABU) Lightweight champion, on Monday said he was ready to defeat Hammed Ganiyu “Ese Hammed” at the GoTv Boxing Night 19.He said that the lightweight category had the best boxers and it remained the most competitive with tough and hard-punching boxers like Joe Boy (Oto Joseph), Berinja (Tope Agboola), Hamzat Mubarak and Hammed.

The boxer said they were his rivals and was ready to fight any of them anytime, adding that he still had respect for them.The Oladosu/Hammed clash which comes up July 21 among six other fights would hold at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.Oladosutold the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that he was aware of the expectations of his fans and assured them of victory.

“This is my target, but first my focus is on the fight coming up on July 21, where I will crush Hammed,’’ Oladosu said. The coming GOtv Boxing Night 19 is sponsored by Multichoice Nigeria Plc and will be headlined by the international Welterweight challenge between reigning West African Boxing Union welterweight fight.

“These guys and many more in the Lightweight division are very talented and they make the division a very interesting one because they work hard to achieve their results.“I have the desire to challenge for the African belt and dethrone the current holder Joe Boy who happens to be a Nigerian.

The current champion, Nigeria’s Rilwan “Babyface” Babatunde will face Eden Biki of Ghana.The event will also feature prominent professional boxers in the country competing in different weight categories; Tope “TP Rock” Musa will face Kazeem “The Light” Oliwo in a national champion duet.

Tope “Berinja” Agboola will face reigning African Boxing Union (ABU) lightweight champion, Oto “Joe Boy” Joseph.Former ABU Featherweight title champion, Waidi “Skoro” Usman, returning to action faces Taiwo “Esepo” Agbaje in a national challenge contest.In the Light Welterweight division, Akeem “Sugar Boy” Olaiwola will square it up with Waheed “Showmax” Shogbamu, while Adeyemi “Spirit” Adekanla will take on Isaac “I Star” Chukwudi

Sports

RSG Partner SWAN For School Sports Development

Published

11 hours ago

January 20, 2020

The Tide

Rivers State Government has expressed commitment to partner Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Rivers State chapter towards development of school sports in the state.
The Special Adviser (SA) to the State Governor, Barr. Nyesom Wike, on school Sports, Aribitonye Okiri stated that it is important to partner SWAN to achieve the desired results.
Okiri, said this at the weekend in a media parley with members of the association at the Ernest Ikoli Press Center, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.
He explained that government is poised to bring back school sports as it was in 1970s, saying that sports create wealth.
“ School sports is dead in our schools. I want to say that SWAN has important role to play in terms of sports development”, Okiri said.
According to him, the state government has the youth at heart as to redirect them to sporting activities, adding that the focus is not going to be football only.
“ With sports activities in our school, crime and poverty rate will be drastically reduced in our society. We can use the power of sports to create wealth”, he said.
The Special Assistant, noted that there are a lot of talents at the rural areas that are begging for help, but with SWAN partnership hidden talents would be exposed to limelight.
He disclosed that his office would draw up a time table for school sports, so that there would be competitions to discover hidden talents. He used the medium to appeal to well meaning individuals, cooperate bodies and multi-nationals to support the government to sponsor sporting activities in the state. .

Tonye Orabere/Kiadum Edookor

Sports

We Need To Work Hard For Success – Eguma

Published

11 hours ago

January 20, 2020

The Tide

The Technical Manager of Rivers United Football Club of Port Harcourt, Stanley Eguma has said the victory against Lobi Stars FC, at the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) is not the end of the road.
He stated that they have a task to achieve good results in every match they play.
Eguma said this last Wednesday, while briefing sports journalists shortly after they defeated Lobi Stars 2-1 in match day 15 of the NPFL at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, in Port Harcourt.
“We are need to work harder. We taking it match after match, God willing, we can sing praises at the end of the League”, Eguma said.
He commended his players for their efforts, saying that they deserved the victory.
“ It was a good game. We played well and deserved victory. It was a tough one. we need to celebrate it because we worked for it”, he stated.
He further explained that the League is still halfway, it would be too early to start thinking of winning the League.
According to him, my team is not built around one particular player saying that every player in the team is part of his programme.
Also speaking, the head coach of Lobi Stars, Gbenga Ogubote, expressed sadness over the loss, saying that it is painful, because he did not intend to lose in Port Harcourt.
According to him, every team in the NPFL have equal chance of winning the league.
“Rivers United FC is a house hold name in the league”, Ogunbote said.
The Lobi coach equally said they would go back and correct their mistakes.

Kiadum Edookor

Sports

MFM FC Declare Oriyomi Murtala Lawal AWOL

Published

11 hours ago

January 20, 2020

The Tide

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries FC, wishes to inform the general public, most especially the clubs in Nigerian Football Leagues about one of its players, Oriyomi Murtala Lawal who is presently AWOI
The player left the club on the 15t, January, 2020, a night before our home game against Jigawa Golden Stars without the knowledge nor approval of the club’s management.
MFM FC warned that any club or agent approaching the player for the purpose of transfer without the Club’s approval would face the risk of a lawsuit, as the player is contracted to MFM FC.
Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries FC has declared one of its players, Oriyomi Murtala Lawal, missing and has warned clubs in the Nigerian Professional Football League from signing the player.
Oriyomi Murtala Lawal was said to have left the club on the 15th, January 2020, a night before their home game against Jigawa Golden Stars without the knowledge nor approval of the club’s management.
The player is also said to be interested in a move to another club and willing to force the transfer through.
MFM FC, however, claimed Oriyomi still has a valid contract with the club and warned clubs or agents against approaching the player for the purpose of transfer without the club’s approval.
MFM FC is currently seventh on the log of Nigeria Professional Football League with 22 points from 14 matches, but have a game in hand.