Sports

Squash Players Seek Overhaul Of Board

Published

12 years ago

February 8, 2013

Some squash fans yesterday called for a change in leadership of the Nigeria Squash Federation (NSF), alleging that the outgoing administration led by its President, Femi Ajagbe, performed poorly.

They spoke in Lagos against the backdrop of the National Sports Commission (NSC’s) directive that elections into the National Sports Federation would commence in April, with zonal elections.

A former national player, Friday Omeben, told Tidesports that the outgoing administration had not performed well.

“His tenure was not quite successful because he did not initiate any competition since those are part of the indices used in assessing performance.

“We need somebody who knows squash and has a passion for it; it’s only in this country that those who are not sportsmen take over the helms of affairs in sports associations.

“If you ask some aspirants for the office where squash was first played, they may not know that it was first played in England in 1967. It’s a shame,” Omeben said.

Tunji Agbeleye, the proprietor, Agbeleye Squash Academy, said the outgoing president lacked administrative skills which rendered his tenure ineffective.

“He failed to run the federation effectively, which translated into his inability to demonstrate good leadership.

“To be a federation’s president, one has to have the impetus. You have to know people and associate with them. Ajagbe didn’t know enough individuals and corporate organisations to support him,’’ he said.

The country’s number one female player, Longdie Dashback, told Tidesports that the fact that squash was not growing shows that the federation had derailed from its primary objective.

“The fact that squash is not growing shows that something is wrong. Take for instance in 2010, I went for the Africa Senior Championships in South Africa and was not given any recognition.

“Players are not encouraged and there are no competitions, only the Lagos State Government organises some annual tournaments.

“What has the federation done for the growth of the sport? Nothing! We just hope to get a leader that has the interest of the sport at heart,” Dashback said.

Sodiq Taiwo, another one-time ranked player, said that the outgoing president did not deserve a second chance because of his inability to secure sponsors.

“They are just there doing nothing, now it is the players that look for sponsors and organise tournaments which should not be in a sane federation.

“Even if they can’t organise tournaments for us, what about grassroots development programmes? We want fresh people with new ideas that can be beneficial to us,” Taiwo said.

President, Professional Squash Players of Nigeria Association (PSPNA), Seun Peters, said that irrespective of the result of the proposed elections, the association would be supported.

“We are going to work with anybody that becomes the president and his board,’’ he said.

When contacted, Ajagbe said that the allegations against him were unfounded as squash under him was one of the most vibrant federations.

He said that it was only natural for some individuals to rate other people’s performance poorly.

Ajagbe said that he became the Vice-President of Africa Squash Association based on his achievements as president of the federation and urged his critics to be objective.

“Our federation has taken part in international competitions for the past three years, a feat that most federations could not achieve.

“You can’t do it all, so, it is natural for people to complain. I am not perturbed, being the vice president in Africa shows that outsiders appreciate and recognise my efforts.

“I love criticism, it makes one better as long as it is constructive,” Ajagbe added.

Sports

Gyokeres Situation, Transfer Under Cloud At Sporting

Published

3 days ago

June 12, 2025

The Tide

Sporting have not received an offer for striker Viktor Gyokeres and there is no gentleman’s agreement for him to leave for £59million, says club president Frederico Varandas.
Sweden international Gyokeres, 27, has been heavily linked with Manchester United and Arsenal after scoring 97 goals in 102 matches during two seasons in Portugal.
He has a 100m euro (£85m) release clause in his contract.
It has been widely reported that, after staying at Sporting last summer, Gyokeres and Sporting agreed he could leave for 70m euros (£59m) this summer.
However, Varandas said the club’s only promise to Gyokeres was that they would not demand his full release clause.
“I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for 60m euros plus 10m euros because I never promised that,” Varandas said.
“To this day Sporting has not had an offer for Gyokeres, neither today nor last season.”
Gyokeres spent three seasons with Coventry City in the Championship before joining Sporting under Ruben Amorim.
Manchester City director of football Hugo Viana was sporting director at Sporting last summer, when Gyokeres’ agent sought assurances about his leaving if a suitable offer arrived.
“One of the agent’s biggest concerns was whether we would demand the termination clause,” said Varandas.
“He wanted to guarantee certain things. And what was agreed? That Sporting would not demand a release clause now.
“For one reason: he was going to be 27 years old and no player leaves Portugal at 27 for 100m eurors or 90m euros.
“In that same meeting the agent wanted to anchor the exit to a value. I said this sentence: ‘It’s not worth us setting a value because I don’t know what will happen in a year’s time. I don’t know if it will be 40m euros, 60m euros or 80m euros. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand 100 million euros.’”

Sports

Concacaf Opposes 64-Team W’Cup Plans

Published

3 days ago

June 12, 2025

The Tide

Concacaf President Victor Montagliani has criticised a proposal to expand the 2030 men’s World Cup to 64 teams.
The plans, put forward by South American governing body Conmebol, have also drawn opposition from Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
The tournament will be hosted by Spain, Morocco and Portugal, after the opening matches are held in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
The 2026 World Cup, which will take place across the United States, Mexico and Canada, has already been expanded from 32 to 48 teams.
But Conmebol said it wanted to add more participants to mark the competition’s 100-year anniversary.
“I don’t believe expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams is the right move for the tournament itself and the broader football ecosystem, from national teams to club competitions, leagues, and players,” Montagliani told Tidesports source
“We haven’t even kicked off the new 48-team World Cup yet, so personally, I don’t think that expanding to 64 teams should even be on the table.”
Concacaf is the governing body of football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
The decision to expand the 2026 World Cup to 48 teams was taken in 2017 following a unanimous vote at a Fifa congress.
Fifa’s 75th congress will be held in Paraguay on 15 May, when Conmebol’s proposal could be discussed.
If the proposal is accepted, the 2030 edition would consist of 128 matches, double the number played under the 64-game format used from 1998 and 2022.
In March, Ceferin described the proposal as a “bad idea” while AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa said it would cause “chaos”.
“If the issue remains open to change, then the door will not only be open to expanding the tournament to 64 teams,” said Salman.
“But someone might come along and demand raising the number to 132 teams. Where would we end up then? It would become chaos.”

Sports

Brazil Edge Paraguay, Book W’Cup Spot

Published

3 days ago

June 12, 2025

The Tide

Brazil qualified for the 2026 World Cup this week with a 1-0 win against Paraguay in South American qualifying to give Carlo Ancelotti his first win as manager.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jnr scored from close range in the second half, finishing after fine work from Manchester United-bound playmaker Matheus Cunha.
The victory, Ancelotti’s first after a 0-0 draw against Ecuador on his debut last week, means Brazil has now qualified for every edition of the World Cup.
“We needed to win and qualify for the World Cup,” said Vinicius Jr.
“Now the coach will have more time to work. Of course today wasn’t one of our best performances, but the important thing is always to win.
“Now it’s time to celebrate qualifying.”
Elsewhere, World Cup holders Argentina played out an entertaining 1-1 draw with Colombia in Buenos Aires.
Liverpool winger Luis Diaz opened the scoring with a fine individual goal, dancing through three defenders before finishing past Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Argentina was reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes remaining when Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a high-boot challenge on Colombia’s Kevin Castano.
But Lionel Messi’s side found an equaliser nine minutes from the end through Lyon’s Thiago Almada, leaving Colombia four points clear of seventh-placed Venezuela.
Ecuador, Argentina’s nearest challengers, booked their spot at next summer’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States after a 0-0 draw away at Peru.