Sports
Kids Football Challenge: RSG Backs Radio Nigeria’s Initiative
The third edition of Radio Nigeria Kids Football Challenge that held at the Radio Nigeria Port Harcourt premises witnessed the the finals between Great Calvary School, Mgbuoba Port Harcourt and Cedar Mount International School, Location Ada George Road Port Harcourt.
The Great Calvary School which emerged Champion of the tournament came from a goal down to defeat Cedar Mount international School, while the UPE Model Primary School Abuloma won the third place match.
Speaking at the event, the Special Guest of Honour, who is also the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Sports, Sir Honour Sirawoo, said his ministry will encourage talent hunts such as the Radio Nigeria Kids football competition where young football stars will unearthed and blend for National Sports Festival team.
“The Ministry of Sports needs them for the National sports festival, if these stars are discovered in Rivers state they belong to us. That is why I even came here as the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Sports to see how strong the whole exercise is. And for what I have seen, it mean we will encourage them and also encourage others, so that we can discover more talents.’’
Sir Sirawoo, poured encomium on the management of Federal Radio Corporation South South zone for moving above sports broadcasting they are known for, to put food on families table and discover talents for Nigeria National teams.
“The Radio Nigeria Kids football competition is actually a great venture. Radio Nigeria is known for sports broadcasting, from what we are seeing here, they have grown beyond that. Even if it’s to be seen as their social corporate responsible, they are now trying to put food on families table, they are trying to discover talents for our national teams, they trying to increase our tourism potentials as they engage these children at their young ages. We saw at the field here a lot of talents, if starts to polish from now they will be great stars. Someone like Messi was picked at a very young age like this.’’
Sir, Honour Sirawoo who is also the President Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) admonished Parents and schools administrators to expose their wards to exhibit their God given potentials stressing that sport has gone beyond recreation.
“Sport has gone beyond recreation, its now a money spinning venture that doesn’t need so much education. If a family cannot afford to train their children in the school, and discovers the talent they have particular in sports, you have the opportunity to make money more than a Professor in University. You know Cristiano Ronado, tell me any President in this country that is wealthier than him. We need to let our Parents to know this fact. School administrators and families should allow their wards to exhibit their God given talents’’
Speaking at the event, the zonal Director Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria South South, Lucky Obarein expressed delight that Radio Nigeria is using the Kids football competition to demonstrate their slogan; (uplifting the people and uniting the nation) seeing the gesture as their corporate social responsibility to the society they operates from.
“Radio Nigeria uplifting the people and uniting the nation, we are using this competition to demonstrate that slogan.
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