Sports
Amaechi Promises Two Mini Stadia In D/Lines …As Amaechi Cup Gets Underway
Two ultra modern mini stadia are to be constructed in D/Line and Diobu axis of Port Harcourt, Rivers State to promote Street Soccer.
This declaration was made by Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon. Chibuike Amaechi at the weekend during the opening ceremony of the Old Port Harcourt Township/Borokiri Soccer Cup competition, tagged Amaechi Cup 2012 at the No1 field along Bende – Niger Street, Port Harcourt.
The Governor said that the two new mini stadia would assist in channelling the energies of youths in the state towards positive ventures and remove restive elements from the streets of Port Harcourt.
He used the forum to explain the N18 million prize money at stake in the Amaechi Cup.
According to him, government is giving out the lump sum as prize money to express this administration’s readiness to reward youths and Rivers people who win laurels and attract honour to the state.
He stated that the prize money does not in any way translate to financial recklessness or arrogance on the part of government.
The Governor, who attended the ceremony with two of his sons and watched the opening match urged the Commissioner for Sports, Fred Igwe to work out modalities of including women in the street soccer tournament subsequently.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Sports assured of a hitch-free tournament, adding that his ministry was commited to implementing the sports policy of the state government.
In the hightly entertaining and keenly contested opening match, Etche and Opobo Streets teams in Group B ended their encounter goalless.
Also in the three matches decided yesterday, Niger Street beat Rex Lawson Street 3 – 2 while Ndoki Street over came Harbour Road 1-0 in Group A.
The other teams in Group B, Cemetary Road and Reclamation also ended their tie goalless in yesterday’s third match.
The competition continues today with three matches, Victoria Street versus Hospital Road and Adaka Boro Street versus Ibeto Road in Group C, while Andoni Street tangos with Potts Johnson in Group D.
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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