Sports
Ex-Internationals Want Falconets Promoted
Former Nigeria internationals, Paul Hamilton and Joe Erico, have called for the promotion of Falconets to the senior female national team to ensure a good run for the country next year.
Germany, 2-0 winners over the Falconets in the U-20 championship final last Sunday, hosts the Women’s World Cup in 2011.
An early goal scored by tournament’s top scorer, 10-goal heroine, Alexandra Popp and an added time own goal earned the German hosts the trophy.
They also became the first host to clinch the trophy since the inaugural tournament in 2002 in Canada.
Hamilton, who led Nigeria’s Super Falcons to the maiden female World Cup in China in 1991, expressed satisfaction with the performance of the team throughout the championship.
“The Falconets’ feat in this tournament as the first African country to play in the final of any female World Cup gladdens my heart.
“The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should ensure that the team is intact for Nigeria to do well at the forthcoming senior female world championship in Germany in 2011.
“The emphasis for now should be on continuity. The players should be kept together to mature to the senior national team,” the former Green Eagles coach said.
Hamilton, fondly called the ‘Wonder Boy’ in his playing days, called for better organised and improved funding for the female league in Nigeria if the country must surpass the achievement of the Falconets.
“We have abundant female football talents in this country. But a lot still need to be done in the area of administration.
“More international friendly matches should be arranged for the female teams to provide them with the much needed exposure,” he added.
Erico, former Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer, said the Falconets gave a good account of themselves in Germany.
“I am impressed with their style of football. They should be allowed to graduate to the senior national team,” Erico said.
He, however, called on government, corporate organisations and wealthy individuals to sponsor the girls’ education.
“These are young girls who should be in school like their German counterparts.
The emphasis should be on the education of the players, not monetary donation alone,’’ said the former national goalkeeper.
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”.