Sports
AFCON Qualifier: Rohr Prays For Osimhen,Wants Iheanacho, Chukwueze
Super Eagles manager, Gernot Rohr, says he hopes to see Victor Osimhen back in form before March’s AFCON qualifying games, while he also insists only the fittest attackers will be invited for the two matches.
Osimhen just returned from a three-month injury layoff and Coronavirus, which has affected his form. The 22-year-old picked up a shoulder injury in the first leg of Nigeria’s clash against Sierra Leone last November.
The injury kept him out of action for two months, but after recovering, the Nigerian international contracted Coronavirus following a trip from Nigeria.
While he has since recovered from the virus, Osimhen has struggled for form in the games he has played for Napoli.
However, Rohr hopes the striker can rediscover his form before Nigeria’s game against the Benin Republic and Lesotho.
“I hope he (osimhen) will be very fit again, it is my first wish. But he is on the right way now, playing again in Napoli,” Rohr said.
Although Osimhen is currently struggling, Rohr is still spoilt for choice in attack with the likes of Paul Onuachu, Terem Moffi, Sadiq Umar and Josh Maja all impressing at their clubs.
Kelechi Iheanacho has also impressed for Leicester City in recent games, even though he has had just a few starts in the Premier League this season.
And speaking on who among the lot will get an invitation in March, Rohr insists only the fittest will be invited.
“The second striker is also Kelechi, playing in the cup, but not in the league. So we have many strikers. The fittest one will be invited,” Rohr said.
The German tactician also said he hopes to have Samuel Chukwueze available, while he also stressed the importance of having quick attackers for the games.
”I think we will miss Chukwueze, which is a little problem because the time is very short after his injury.”
“I hope to have him, but it’s still not sure. But we have other wingers. It’s important to have our quick wingers because our system is based on the fast players on the side.”
And with Chukwueze returning to Villarreal’s squad Friday night, Rohr has been handed a boost ahead of the two games.
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