Sports
Rivers Very Safe, Homely – American Basketballers
Visiting American Basketballers and coaches to Rivers State have expressed shock over uncomplimentary media reports on the security challenges in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital which does not reflect the true situation on ground.
Cecil Sievers, Nathaniel Achibald and Mitch Duren made their feelings known yesterday when they accompanied the President of Royal Hoopers Basketball Club, Port Harcourt on a courtesy call on the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Romiti Amaechi at Government House, Port Harcourt.
The Amercians, who were visiting Nigeria for the first time, said the impression given to them in the media and at the Embassy was scary, noting that it was difficult to believe that they would be safe.
“Our visit to the Consulate in Lagos gave us a negative perception of what is happening here but we have been here three days and nothing”, Mitch said.
The visitors contended that what is being fed to the world via the internet or from outside sources do not give the true value of people in the country and urged intending visitors to Port Harcourt to “come and see things for themselves”.
“I’m happy and elated to be here”, Nathaniel Achibald, ace Bolton Celtics Basketballer said, while describing Port Harcourt as a true home.
In his response, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi said he was surprised that people were yet to tell the world that the state has achieved about 70 per cent peace at the moment.
“You know, when things were bad they were writing that things were bad but now that things have improved, they are no longer there to write the story that things have changed”, Amaechi observed.
The governor, who admitted that things were not yet perfect, said that for the avoidance of doubt, the state government has been hosting Commonwealth Parliamentarians for the past three weeks, with some delegates as Caucasians, and there has not been any negative report so far.
He argued that it was unfair for the embassies to send wrong signals to their people, noting that if it was that bad, the multinational companies should have left and enjoined the foreign media to report the positive things happening in the state.
The governor, who said the state was tired of being at the receiving end of the propaganda, promised that a media campaign would soon be put in place to correct the negative reporting of the state.
Athletes competing for glory in a meet
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.