Sports
17th NSF: Ebonyi Not Worried By Athletes’ Defection
Sports authorities in Ebonyi State have said that they were not worried by the defection of their athletes to other states for next month’s National Sports Festival scheduled for Port Harcourt.
More than 10 athletes representing the state in key sports have been poached by other states in the past few months.
Emmanuel Utobo, the Acting Director of Sports in the state, told newsmen in Abakaliki that the development was not a threat to Ebonyi’s medal hopes at the sports fiesta.
“Those athletes have the right to do so. They feel that other states can provide them with better opportunities; therefore we allowed them to leave as we could not meet their demands.
“There is no way Ebonyi can compete with the likes of Lagos, Edo, Rivers and Delta in terms of athletes’ welfare because we do not have the type of resources they have,” he said.
Utobo said athletes who opted to remain with the state had shown signs that they would excel at the sports festival.
“Our Kung Fu athletes won one gold and two bronze medals at the Lagos Open Championship last November.
“Also in the same month, our wrestlers won the overall position in the Greco-Roman category of the Open Wrestling Championship in Bayelsa.
“The state’s athletes won the male and female football and handball events of the National Sports Festival zonal elimination series held in November in Enugu,’’ he noted.
Utobo said that to ensure the state performed better at the competition than it did at “Kaduna 2009’’, the sports council had toured the grass roots where it discovered new talents.
“These athletes are being groomed with the older ones to ensure that the state is ready for the festival when it commences next month,’’ he said.
The acting director said that no date had been fixed for the kick-off of the final phase of camping for the athletes but noted that they were training on their own.
“We call on individuals and organisations to complement the government’s efforts by sponsoring the athletes to the competition because adequate preparation and participation are capital intensive,’’ he said.
The Ardova Handball Premier League 2025, which began with the first phase in Benin City months ago, before the second phase in Lagos which ends with a finale that the Executive Chairman of Ardova PLC, Dr. Abdulwasiu Sowami, ably represented by the Deputy Managing Director, Ardova PLC, Mrs Abiola Babatunde-Ojo, described as delightful to watch in her speech.
For Safety Shooters, it was a historic moment as they clinched the men’s title for the first time since 2020, completing a dominant campaign that saw them finish top of the table with 57 points from 20 matches while Safety Babes also etched their name deeper into Nigerian handball history, winning an unprecedented fifth consecutive women’s championship, reaffirming their status as the league’s most dominant team, not just in the women’s category but in the history of handball premier league in Nigeria.
In the Men’s Safety Shooters finished the season in style, beating COAS Shooters 43–32 (20–10) to cap off a dominant outing in Phase 2.
Their final-day victory ensured they remained clear at the summit with an impressive 18 wins, one draw, and one loss, totaling a superb goal difference of +214 after scoring 638 goals and conceding 424.
The organisers of the Ikoyi Club Tennis Masters Tournament have earmarked N4 million as the prize money for this year’s edition.
?The Chairman of the tennis section of Ikoyi Club, Diran Famakinwa, stated this at a briefing, highlighting the activities for the second edition of the tournament.
?The tournament, which is in collaboration with MegaMound Investment Limited, is endorsed by the Nigerian Tennis Federation.
?According to Famakinwa, the male and female champions will receive N500,000 each, while the runners-up in both categories will go home with the sum of N350,000 each, with the remaining money to be shared among the semi-finalists and other participants.
?Sixteen players, which includes the eight top ?male and eight top female players, will feature in the one-week event, which started on December 5, and run till Saturday, December 13.
?The female final will be held on Friday, December 12, while the male final will take up on Saturday, December 13.
In a statement released on Saturday, the NSC described the defender as “Captain Fantastic” and praised his decade of distinguished service to Nigeria, highlighting a legacy defined by professionalism, consistency, patriotism and an unwavering commitment to national duty.
“After a decade of distinguished service to Nigeria, Troost-Ekong leaves behind a legacy defined by professionalism, consistency, patriotism and an unwavering commitment to national duty,” the NSC stated.
The commission noted that, as one of the most capped defenders in Super Eagles history with 83 international appearances since his debut in 2015, Troost-Ekong served as a pillar of leadership across multiple tournaments and qualification campaigns.
“His exceptional outing at the last Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored three goals and was named Player of the Tournament, remains one of the most remarkable achievements by a defender in AFCON history,” the NSC added.
The statement further emphasised that Troost-Ekong’s “Nigeria first” mindset, discipline and exemplary conduct set a standard for the next generation of athletes, with his influence within the national team extending beyond the pitch to inspire unity, resilience and professionalism among his teammates.
Meanwhile, Troost-Ekong has dismissed rumours that he was forced to retire by the country’s football administrators as punishment for leading a revolt against the NFF.
The 32-year-old’s announcement came less than a month before the AFCON, and he was named in the 54-man preliminary list. His decision sparked speculation, particularly as he had led a strike in protest against unpaid bonuses during the World Cup qualifying play-offs.
One fan speculated on social media, suggesting that Troost-Ekong was pressured to quit after exposing the NFF. The Al Khoolood defender offered a sharp retort, establishing that he unilaterally made the decision to retire.
“Not true! My own choice/decision and on my own terms. No one ever asked/tried to force me out. If anything, the opposite when I shared my decision. I wish the team all the best and support them together with all Nigerians for the upcoming AFCON to go all the way,” he wrote on X.
The NSC concluded by wishing Troost-Ekong the very best in the next chapter of his career and commending him for representing Nigeria with honour.
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