Sports
Administrator Calls For Establishment Of Sports Academies
The establishment of functional sports academies in the six geo-political zones of the country has been identified as the only option that can restore Nigeria to her past glory as the pride of Africa in sports.
Reacting in a chat with newsmen in Enugu, regarding the poor performance of African teams in the just- concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria, a renowned sports administrator, Barrister Ndidi Ejimofo explained that her envisaged academies would train students in all aspects of sports, including golf, athletics, hockey, tennis, swimming, wrestling, boxing and football. According to Mrs. Ejimofo, who is the Head of Sports at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC) ,the introduction of the academies in each of the six zones would also solve the problems arising from state of origin as each zone would be well represented.
In her words, ”Entry into the academies should be by competition, just like that of JAMB and products of the academies would be well grounded in education with more emphasis on sports and scholarship scheme could be introduced for indigent students”,.
She described the Golden Eaglets as magicians, having come from poor start to become a formidable force, adding that, African teams had failed to use the hot weather to their advantage to muscle out their European counterparts in the tournament.
She reasoned that with the academies in place, the nation could boast of good squads of well trained athletes and coaches, stressing that for optimum performance, the academy institutes must have facilities for training, including mini Olympic stadia. “I expect that the academies in River-rine areas should have good swimming pools while those in the North should have facilities to train long distance runners as those in Kenya, because of their proximity to the desert”, she further remarked.
Ejimofo, also noted that sports academies were already in operation in other developed nations, adding that it was high time Nigeria introduced same in order to catch them young , even as she frowned at the fire brigade approach by the nation’s sports administrators.
The Rivers State Football Coaches Association (RSFCA) has concluded arrangements to organise a coaching clinic tagged: “Continuous Professional Development Coaching (CPD),” aimed at developing football coaches in the state.
Chairman of the local organising committee (LOC), Coach Raphael Akunna revealed that the coaching clinic is being organised in conjunction with Bright Stars Sports Agency United Kingdom which will hold at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium starting from tomorrow, and last for two days.
Wuga Birabe, Co/Director MW Sporting World Limited London, England, United Kingdom and other invited instructors are expected to deliver key note lectures.
Dignitaries expected at the opening ceremony today include Sir Honour Sirawoo (Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Sports and President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria), Barr Chris Green (Special Adviser to Rivers State Governor on Real Madrid), Mr Benjamin Akubor (RSFA), Sarah Davids (Chairman Sports Writers Association of Nigeria Rivers State), Chairman Nigeria Referee Council Rivers State) and other invited guest.
It would be recalled that the Rivers State Football Coaches Association (RSFCA) has conducted a number of coaching courses over the past three years.
The latest was the NFF/NLO/Berackiah Football Grassroots Coaching Clinic course that took place March 7 – 11, 2022 and attracted about 40 participants
Chairperson, Nigeria Women’s Football League, Aisha Falode, says Naija Ratels were walked over at the ongoing NWFL Super Six tourney in Benin City, the Edo State capital, after they failed to respect the sponsorship deal for the event.
New girls Ratels were scheduled to clash against former champions Nasarawa Amazons at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Monday before they were walked over.
The NWFL had sealed a N16m sponsorship deal for the championship, with all six teams to wear shirts branded by the sponsors.
But Naija Ratels reportedly flouted the rule book, preferring to wear their own jersey branded by another sponsor.
“We walked them over for flaunting the rule of being the club that has not worn the official jersey. We will work on the fixtures and move on, this is what the rule is all about,” Falode said.
“We told them (clubs) each team would get N1m each, while there would be N5m for the winners, N3m for the runners-up and N2m for the second runners-up, meaning N16m was going back to the league.
“This man (Ratels owner), who just qualified for the league for the first time, who is playing in the Super Six for the first time, has come to disorganise what we have done. We have a responsibility; we have a duty to the organisation and those who appointed us to manage this league.”
Falode added, “If you have a shirt sponsorship, you are supposed to write to the league board and as a matter of fact, a percentage of the sponsorship is supposed to come to us but we are not aware they have any sponsorship deal.
When asked if there would be stiffer punishment aside the walkover, the ace sports journalist added, “one step at a time.”
Also, the NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi, noted that Paul Edeh, Ratels proprietor, contravened the NWFL Statutes on sponsorship.
“Article 7.8 states that all rights contracts to be entered into by any club shall first is subject to the writing and approval of NWFL, before execution,” she said.
The Chairman of Retired Basketball Players in Port Harcourt, Fubara Fibika has said that the ban of basketball in Nigeria from international competition by the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, would cripple the game at the grassroots.
According to him, the best thing to do was to formulate a programme on how to develop the game instead of the ban.
Fibika said this on Monday in an exclusive interview with Tidesports in Port Harcourt, saying that basketball is one of the fastest developing games in the country.
The veteran explained that he has respect for the Sports Minister for his initiative on sports development, but his recent action is not fair at all.
“Bringing politics in Sports will cripple the industry.
What we should think of now is how to promote and develop the game in our locality” Fibika said.
He advised the Sports Minister to rescind his decision, narrating that the ban is not good for the game.
By: Kiadum Edookor
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