Sports
Gadzama Golf Tournament To Become National Championship
The annual J.K. Gadzama and Partners Golf Tournament will soon become a national championship, its sponsor said at the weekend in Abuja.
Joe Gadzama, an Abuja-based lawyer and golf enthusiast, said at the tee-off of the tournament’s fifth edition that the expansion would help him in further achieving the tournament’s objectives.
Tidesports reports that the tournament is sponsored annually at the IBB Golf and Country Club in Abuja by Gadzama, a former captain of the club.
“Our starting point was five years ago, and like a joke we are now here where the tournament has metamorphosed into a full-blown tournament.
“We are hopeful that this will continue, and even go on in the not-too-distant future into a national championship which will be better organised and with more attraction.
“We hope to have more invited players from all over the country and not just Abuja and its environs. Then we will also have bigger prizes and other gifts and souvenirs to go with it.’’
He noted that the tournament had over the past few years grown tremendously to fulfil the objectives earlier set out for it.
“As a former club captain, somebody who has served in different capacities at this club (IBB Golf and Country Club), I had seen it as imperative of me to sponsor this competition.
“It is not only as a way of making people have an avenue to play a little after some work, or bring people closer to each other, but also as our own way of giving back to the golfing community.
“However, the more important aspect is in fulfilling the ambition and desire to breed young golfers who will take over after we have left the scene in the game.
“So, through this tournament, we are spreading the gospel of catching them young, and preparing those to take the baton from us in the game.’’
The former IBB Golf and Country Club captain expressed delight in the attraction the tournament had been over the years at the club.
“I am quite elated at what we have. It is like when you cook a meal and there are many people to join you in savouring it.
“This is evident in the number of participants in the tournament, in spite of its being a one-day affair.
“ For example, over 200 indicated interest in this year’s edition when we had prepared to have only 160. It is indeed something to make me happy.’’
Tidesports reports that participants in the tournament included Kogi Governor Idris Wada, former Senate President Iyorchia Ayu and the former President of the Lady Golfers Association, Mrs Ngozi Osuhor.
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.
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