Sports
Ex-Rangers Honour Obi With Grand Patronship
Ex-Rangers International Footballers Association has honoured Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra as its Grand Patron for his outstanding contributions to sports development.
Pioneer member of Rangers and Chairman of the association, Luke Okpala, told newsmen on Thursday in Enugu that the members of ex-Rangers appreciated the numerous contributions made by Obi to the association in recent times.
“Well, I feel so happy and I feel so satisfied, that is exactly why we made him the patron because the way and manner he has handled these ex-Rangers activities for over two, three years now is unbelievable.
“He was meeting up with all our demands, even sometimes we will not demand anything and he will just call us and give us something to carry on.
“So he is a very big part and parcel of our concerns. We can never forget him; he is fantastic, he has been meeting all our demands.
“Anytime we drop a letter to him for anything, he will do and do it three or four times.
“He will first of all call me as the chairman and say, have you got any problem? If I said yes, he will ask us to come back and he will solve the problem and give us more,” Okpala said.
He said Obi had also provided an office and promised to provide a vehicle for the association.
According to him, Obi has commenced the payment of special salary for all ex-Rangers for steadfastness and outstanding performance.
The ex-Rangers chairman said the association would live to remember him for his contributions to sports development.
He appealed to other South East governors to emulate the gesture and to support the association.
Leeds yesterday beat Birmingham in a penalty shootout to squeeze into the FA Cup fifth round for the third time in four years.
Goalkeeper Lucas Perri denied Tommy Doyle before Patrick Roberts, who scored a stunning equaliser in the 89th minute, blazed over.
Up stepped Sean Longstaff to score Leeds’ fourth spot-kick from four and send Daniel Farke’s side into the last 16.
Defeat was tough on Chris Davies’ Birmingham side, who pushed their Premier League opponents all the way before falling to only their third home defeat of the season.
The hosts, whose fans applauded owner Tom Wagner as the American continues his recovery from a stroke, deserve huge credit for their display.
And with their cup dream over for another year the ambitious Blues, who are two points off the Championship play-offs, will turn their attention to ending their 15-year exile from the top flight.
In one of the games of the week, Ajegunle United SC edged Best of Best International FA 2–1, courtesy of Ajibola Malik’s 12th-minute strike and James Solomon’s decisive penalty in the 40th minute. Lukman Jaiyeola had earlier equalised from the spot for Best of Best in the 23rd minute. Solomon’s match-winning effort earned him the Man of the Match award.
Pure Talents FA produced one of the standout performances of the week, thumping Sharp Talent FA 4–1. Igbowu Adeleke stole the show with a brilliant hat-trick, scoring in the 26th, 36th, and 40+1 minutes, while Isah Ibrahim added another.
Suliamon Ibrahim had briefly given Sharp Talent the lead in the 4th minute, but Adeleke’s heroics sealed the win and the Man of the Match accolade.
Divinely Blessed FA cruised to a 3–0 victory over Coal City FA, with Mahmud Musa netting twice in quick succession (30th and 34th minutes) and Amadu Daniel adding another in the 32nd minute. Daniel’s commanding display earned him the Man of the Match award.
Young 11 FA and Moree Wins FA battled to a goalless draw, with Akachukwu Uzoma of Young 11 FA recognised as Man of the Match for his solid performance among others.
Paris 2024 Paralympic bronze medallist Eniola Bolaji has claimed a silver medal at the 2026 Para-Badminton World Championship in Bahrain following the conclusion of the women’s SL3 final on Saturday,.
Bolaji put up a spirited performance in the final but fell to Japan’s Shino Kawai, settling for second place in what marks her first-ever World Championship podium finish.
Despite the final result, Bolaji’s run in Bahrain was nothing short of outstanding. The reigning African champion powered into the final with a dominant semi-final victory over China’s Gaoying Yuan, winning 21-12, 21-16 at the New Capital Indoor Hall.
Throughout the tournament, the Nigerian star showcased remarkable consistency and class, recording impressive straight-set victories over Australia’s Caitlin Dransfield, Brazil’s Adriane Ávila, France’s Milena Surreau, and Turkey’s world number five Halime Yildiz.
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