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Why I Shelved Plan For Seven NPFL Non-Roster Invitees -Eguaveon

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2 years ago

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Nigeria’s caretaker manager Augustine Eguavoen has explained why he shelved the plan for seven Nigeria Professional Football League non-roster invitees to train with the national team in Abuja ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Tidesports source reports that the Super Eagles legend was in touch with players from Enugu Rangers, Kwara United, Kano Pillars and Rivers United among others, only for him to jettison the idea on second thought.
Eguavoen stressed that it made no sense for the seven domestic-based players to train with the team as their clubs have key matches in the Nigeria Professional Football League.
None of the NPFL stars stood a chance of being included in the traveling squad to Cameroon this week simply because their names were not on the provisional roster submitted to the Confederation of African Football.
“I still have their names, about seven home based players I wanted to be in the midst, train and then see what happens but my hands were so tied that the league only started on the 19th of December,” Eguavoen said to NFF TV.
“I know players have to play in their teams, no time to play any friendly games.
“I had to reach out to Tope (Olusesi) from Rangers, (Musa) Afeez from Kwara United, Uche (Onwuansanya) from Rivers United, couple of players but we have to submit a list, so there is no time to actually give them that opportunity to play friendly games but hopefully they will also still have a chance.
“But it really doesn’t make sense to bring them now, deny them from playing for their clubsides midweek, weekend, and then we are on the plane to Cameroon, and to go back home. It doesn’t really make sense but their chance will come”.
Enyimba’s John Noble is the only home-based player included in Nigeria’s 28-man squad list for the Africa Cup of Nations and definitely starts the tournament as the fourth choice in the pecking order of goalkeepers.

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Rivers Referee Academy To Produce FIFA Graded Referees Soon 

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8 hours ago

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May 8, 2024

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The coordinator of the Rivers State Referee Academy in Port Harcourt Coach Ere Dokubo said he foresee a situation where the academy would produce International referees in eight years to come.
According to him their target was  to get the best in their early age that will officiate in FIFA organised football  competitions.
Coach Dokubo made the assertion at the weekend in a chat with Tidesports in Port Harcourt , saying that students admitted into the academy are between eight and 13 years bracket.
He explained that  Nigeria have not  produced referees to officiate  World cup games was because most of the referees did not start on time but believed that the academy would produce referees of that standard.
” We  admit them in their early age between  eight, nine and 13,  the first phase just ended because it was an holiday programme as  most of them are students.
” We are targeting to produce FIFA graded referees  in the future.
” I believe in eight years to come some of  these ones we are bringing up today will be FIFA graded  referees out of them, some will officiate in the highest league that is Nigeria Professional Football League ( NPFL), why some will officiate in the lower league( NLO).
” I am optimistic  that we must produce FIFA graded referees from the academy” Dokubo stated.
Kiadum Edookor
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RSG Set To Host School Sports Competition Soon

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8 hours ago

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May 8, 2024

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Rivers State Government has reiterates its  commitment to host schools sports competitions  in August this year, to boost grassroots sports development with the view to discover hidden talents.

The State Commissioner of sports  Barrister Christopher Green, disclosed this on Saturday,  in an interview with sports journalists, at the final of Strata base open national Karate Championship, held at Alfred Diete Spiff Sports Complex, Moscow road in Port Harcourt.
He said the intention of the State was to bring back sporting activities, as it used to be back in the days.
” Our intention was to catch them young and groom them to stardom. Three months from now we are going to organise school sports,  where we can identify talents.
“In those days the  likes of Oriji and Ken Saro Wiwa Cup were avenues to discover talents, we are now going back to organise such competitions.
” Apart from that we are also going to  host Public Service games, this is coming up  in November this year too”, Barrister Green said.
According to him, every corporate organisation that sponsored any sports competition would have something in returns.
” I want to say that  since the inception of this administration led by Sir Siminialayi Fubara the State have being doing well tremendously and sporting activities is almost at the peak” he stated.
Tonye Orabere
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Chess Championship: Dan-Jumbo Emerges Best Female Player

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1 week ago

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April 30, 2024

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The third edition of Naphtail Chess Open Championship which ended on Wednesday  in Port Harcourt saw Rivers State born Queen Dan-Jumbo emerged best female player in the tournament following her impressive performance.

 

It was clash of the Titans as  top Chess players in Nigeria gathered to chase honours.

 

The three days competition was held at Vee Hotel, Trans Amadi ,in Port Harcourt and over 80 players in Nigeria  registered for the tournament this championship was recognised by  International Chess Federation (FIDE).

 

Speaking with Tidesports in an exclusive interview on Saturday, Dan-Jumbo said her dream was to become Grand Master in  Chess worldwide.

 

According to her, she started playing Chess at the age of 15 but went into it professionally in 2009 as she represented Rivers State in National Sports Festival (NSF) in Kaduna, the same year.

 

“I started playing Chess in the early 2000s. I picked the interest through my my elder brother as him and his friends always play Chess in our compound so I began to learn it.

 

” In 2009 I went to  National Sports festival in Kaduna represented Rivers State and I  won a silver medal on my board.

 

“In 2011 and 2012  NSFs  I won two Gold medals each hosted by Rivers and Lagos States respectively. While in Edo NSF I won bronze medal” Dan-Jumbo said.

 

The Asari-Toru, in Rivers State  born Chess player use the forum to advice upcoming Chess players to be focus, saying losing a game is part of every competition but the  most important thing was that you don’t lose hope.

 

“My advice for upcoming chess players was that don’t lose focus. Even when you lose, find a way to adjust and get back out”, she added.

Tonye Orabere

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