Use Sports As Panacea For Global Disputes – Fashola

Published

15 years ago

March 21, 2010

Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, has urged nations to use sports to resolve all forms of dispute.

Fashola said this while receiving Dr. Carlton Brown, President, Clark Atlanta University, USA, who led a delegation from the institution to visit him..

Fashola particularly frowned at situations where children were used as kid soldiers to fight territorial wars.

“Major conflicts in the world can be solved through sporting activities such as football matches and athletic competitions.

“Nowadays, we have sports men in government and business circles, who have learnt the merits of losing to opponents with the readiness to try again”, he said.

The governor described sports as a positive area where youths would naturally want to dissipate their energies with little persuasion from the elderly ones.

He suggested that world leaders should exploit the interest of the youth to develop sports.

“Through this, youths will learn perseverance and the spirit of sportsmanship, thus promoting healthy competition instead of dissipating their energies on social vices”, he said.

Fashola explained that his administration had continued to give attention to the development of sports infrastructure to afford youths the opportunity of developing their talents.

He implored the visiting team to assist the state in the training of its athletes and coaches.

“In the alternative, we can send some of our personnel to your university for training other trainers”, he said.

Earlier, Brown said that his team was in Nigeria to explore the possibility of signing an MoU in sports development with the country.

He said such would further facilitate a long term relationship between his institution and Nigeria.

He recalled that his university had trained some African youths, especially during the preparation for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Brown commended Fashola for the “good works” he had been doing in Lagos State since assuming office.

Other members of the delegation are Dr. Joseph Silver, the vice president and provost of the university, Dr. Paul Brown, Director of International Education and Dr Tamica Jones, Director of Athletes.

CAFCC: Enyimba International In Pot 3 For Draws

Published

1 week ago

September 26, 2024

The Tide

African soccer governing body has released the pots for the qualified teams for the group stage of the Confederation Cup, Tidesports sources reports.
Enyimba International is among the 16 qualified teams for the group stage of the competition.
The People’s Elephant was placed in pot 3 alongside ASJaaraf, CS Constantine; Bravos Do Maquils, Lunda Suliat, Orapa United, Black Bulls, and Stellenbosch. Pot 1 consists of Zamalek, RS Berkane, Simba SC, and USM Algers while Pot 2 has ASEC Mimosa, Stade Malien, Al Masry, and CS Sfaxien.

Sports

AFCON 2025 Qualifiers : Super Eagles Host Libya, Oct 11

Published

1 week ago

September 26, 2024

The Tide

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will host the Mediterranean Knights of Libya in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matchday three encounter at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Friday, October 11.
The two teams will clash in a matchday four encounter at the Tripoli International Stadium four days later.
The Super Eagles started their qualifying campaign with a 3-0 home win against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic.
The three-time African champions were held to 0-0 draw by the Amavubi of Rwanda in their second group game.The West Africans occupy top spot in Group D with four points from two games.
Libya are bottom of the group after amassing one point from two games.
Only the top teams in each group will advance to the tournament proper in Morocco beginning in December 2025.
Meanwhile, Libya has opted to host Group D leaders Nigeria at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium, in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying Matchday 4 encounter. The facility is located in the city of Benina, some 19 kilometres outside the country’s second city, Benghazi.
Known previously as Hugo Chávez Stadium, the stadium is a 10,000-capacity facility with an artificial turf.
Both countries will do a Matchday 3 battle at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Friday, 11th October, before the clash in the city at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday, 15th October.
While the match in Uyo will kick off at 5pm, the battle in Benina will commence at 8pm Nigeria time.
Libya remain bottom of Group D after two rounds of matches, following a 1-1 at home to Rwanda (a game that was played at the Tripoli International Stadium) and a 1-2 loss to the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Abidjan.
Nigeria tops the pool with four points, after a 3-0 spanking of Benin Republic in Uyo on Matchday 1 and a scoreless draw with Rwanda’s Amavubi in Kigali on Matchday 2.

Sports

NYG: Kano Athletes Protest Over Allowances In Asaba

Published

1 week ago

September 26, 2024

The Tide

Kano State athletes, who participated in the concluded 8th edition of the National Youth Games (NYG) in Asaba, Delta State, last Friday called on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to address the issue of their poor camp allowances.
The athletes, speaking anonymously, expressed dissatisfaction with the daily allowance they received, claiming it was significantly lower than that of their counterparts from neighbouring Northwestern states.
“We were given less than N20,000 for ten days, while athletes from Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara received N50,000. Jigawa athletes were paid the highest, receiving N80,000,” one of the athletes said.
Despite the disparity in allowances, the athletes secured five gold, three silver, and one bronze in the competition.
They urged the governor to intervene and resolve the issue.
Also, the athletes commended the Kano State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, for supporting other athletes representing the state in sports like football and basketball and hoped for similar support.
The objective of the National Youth Games, initiated by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013, is to promote unity, peace, and understanding among youths while addressing issues of restiveness and unemployment across the country.