Sports
Philanthropist Preaches Christ Through Football
The Organiser of this year’s Open Match Competition at the Number Six-Field Mini Stadium, Mr Tamuno-Opubo Amina has expressed confidence that this year’s on-going football competition would be a huge success.
The competition started last month 24 registered teams. According to him, he loved bringing the youths together and keeping the idle minds working for their own benefits and for the good of the society.
“I can say I’m a sportsman, I love discovering talents, keeping the idle minds working and encouraging them to refrain from violence and other social vices in the society”, Tamuno stated.
He, however, believed that organizing a competition of the magnitude of the open match competition in the environment would certainly bring the youths to a better level of understanding among themselves.
He noted that football was always a game loved by many people because that was where they usually enjoy catching fun.
He also said that coming out to watch football matches keeps one away from trouble.
The Okrika born philanthropist also said that he would use the competition to bring the youths closer to Christ because, according to him, Jesus Christ is the ultimate.
“I am a Christian, brought up in a Christian home, so whatever I do I always put God first Right now. I want to use this medium to preach Christ to them, I believe that is the ultimate.
In the area of sponsorship, Opubo regretted that since he noted the idea of the competition, there has been no outside sponsorship except his personal and little contributions from the clubs that registered for the competition.
Gold Monday
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.