Sports
Weightlifters Decry State Of Gymnasium
Some weightlifters at the weekend decried the poor state of the gymnasium at the National Stadium, Lagos, and implored the National Sports Commission (NSC) to rehabilitate the facility.
In separate interviews with newsmen in Lagos, the weightlifters said that the state of disrepair of the gymnasium was adversely affecting their training.
Gladys Ezenwa (48kg) said that the state of the facilities was discouraging and a disincentive to the athletes.
Ezenwa said that a component of the weights, called babble, had become outdated and risky.
“The babble is bad, it even pulls off the iron rod when we drop it after lifting.
“We are putting our lives at risk by using those babbles; there is no toilet, water, light and even no source of ventilation, yet we train under this deplorable condition,’’ she said.
According to her, training at the gym during the raining season is also a nightmare as the whole place leaks.
“The broken floor also creates puddles when it rains,’’ Ezenwa said.
She noted that the bulk of Nigeria weightlifters, including past champions, were based in Lagos and that the gym needed to be upgraded.
Another weightlifter, Taiwo Olabanji (69kg), who corroborated what Ezenwa said, also complained of irregular competitions due to lack of sponsors.
“Competitions are major criteria for upgrading a weightlifter’s record because it’s an avenue to gain exposure and experience. But the opportunities are not realisable.
“The foundation has to be solid if we must produce good results, so the sports ministry should please come to our aid so that the sport will not die,’’ he said.
Olabanji said that some young athletes had been discouraged because of these problems, adding “some of us are still there because of the love and interest we have in the game’’.
Coach Obeh Johnson, however, urged the Minister of Sports and Chairman NSC, Ibrahim Bio, to fulfill the promise of rehabilitating the gymnasium that he made to athletes during his facility tour after assuming office.
“I am using this opportunity to remind the minister that the gymnasium needs urgent attention, especially with the rainy season; its really affecting the training of athletes.’’
Johnson said that two major international championships, the Youth Olympic in August and Commonwealth Games in October were around the corner and training should have started in earnest.
Bio was at the National Stadium and Games village in Lagos in April on a facility visit.
The Nigeria Football Federation has defended the recent quarter-finals draw for the 2025 President Federation Cup, saying it was conducted in line with best global practices.
A member of the NFF Executive Committee Board, George Aluo, stated that criticism over venues for the quarterfinals was unfortunate.
Going by the fixtures released on Saturday by the football body, Abakaliki FC will take on Nasarawa United in Benin, Wikki Tourists will clash with Ikorodu City in Bwari, Abuja, Akwa United and Kwara United will fight it out in Enugu, just as Area 3, Abuja, will host the encounter between Rangers International and Plateau United. All matches are scheduled for May 3rd for the emergence of semifinalists in a leg affair.
However, there have been criticisms over the Ikorodu United vs Wikki Tourist tie billed for Abuja, with a section of the press saying the venue is skewed in favour of the Bauchi team.
Aluo, also the Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), said: “Some of our media men need better education, and newsmen should not be like the fans out there on the streets. In the English FA Cup, it is always a one-legged pairing that can see a club like Arsenal host Manchester United at home”.
A new contract that will see Act Sports Di Oyibo Limited managing the career of Nigerian teqball specialist, Victor Oyemade, has been signed in Lagos.
The deal gives exclusive rights to Act Sports to manage, and exercise power of attorney over issues relating to the player’s welfare as it concerns his transactions, engagement for professional, promotional, sponsorships, endorsements, and exhibition purposes.
In signing the document, both parties also agreed that proper safeguards would be put in place to protect and promote the player’s interest at all times.
Director of Act Sports, Di Oyibo Limited, Pastor Samuel Robinson Oyibo, excited about the deal, said it would benefit both parties in the area of spreading the message of the sport, as well as laying a firm foundation for his new client’s future.
“Teqball is one of the world’s fastest-growing ball sports, and Victor Oyemade is the face of the sport here in Nigeria and Africa. That is why we are excited about this partnership that gives Act Sports official authorisation to manage his career, just as it will lay the foundation for its rapid growth in our country,” Pastor Oyibo said.
Oyemade was no less excited about the deal, saying it would help his growth in the sport.
Coaches of Nigeria’s U-18 and U-20 women’s handball teams have released their final lists of 14 players ahead of the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase, which will be held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, that commenced yesterday to end 24th of this month.
The two teams have been training at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos, for close to two weeks and departed for the competition on Thursday.
Coach John Uzor of the national U-18 team has included Omole Joy of Defender Babes and her sister Omole Shola alongside Ojie Princess of Funad Academy alongside right back Faisat Balogun in the mix while Success Duru, Chetachi Ngaodurubie of COAS Babes and Sharon Okonkwo make the cut, amongst other players.
In the U-20 team, Coach Shittu Agboola has largely stuck with the players he has been grooming since their U-18 days. The team is led by Captain Chidera Ogbusimba alongside, her Rima Queens teammates the Samuel Sisters, Amina Mohammed and Joy Peters.
Israel-based Rahima Bello, Kehinde Babatunde of ASPAC HBC of Benin Republic and Esther Mathew, who is also based in Benin Republic, keep their places.
Coach Shittu believes his team will make Nigeria proud just as they did previously at the U-18 level.
“I am really upset that Taiwo Babatunde will not be part of the team for this competition as her school, Yaba College of Technology, insisted that they will not release her for national service because of examinations.
“We did everything humanly possible to secure her release and they didn’t care that it is a national service for the interest of Nigeria and the growth of sports. We have other players who are also students and they got a release from their schools but for no tangible reason, Yabatech refused to release Taiwo despite the fact that we did everything possible to secure her release. It’s sad and I hope the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission will work in tandem so that schools will support our goal in making Nigeria proud in sporting events”.