Sports
Association Decries Lack Of Volleyball Sponsorship
The Chairman, Nigeria
Volleyball Referees Association (NVRA), Mr Anthony Oresegun, said yesterday that the lack of sponsors for volleyball tournaments was responsible for the under-development of referees.
Oresegun said in an interview with Tidesports in Abuja that Nigeria lacked tournaments that could have helped the referees to enhance their knowledge.
“The challenges are we lack championships in Nigeria; now if we have sponsors, we will be bringing in referees and they will be updating themselves. Even if you train day in day out and there are no championships, you cannot progress.
“But, if we have championships, that is where you test your skill; when you are within yourself, reading, seeing it on the television or elsewhere, that does not make you to progress; but, when you practice what you have read, seen and thought, then the confidence will be there.”
He said though plans were on for the training of referees, the association still needed funds for the training.
“The plans are in the pipeline; we are looking for sponsors to train referees, because it is not easy to train referees, at least, you will need 1.5 million naira to train a set of indoor referees because the instructors that will come, you must accommodate them.
“Even the people that have trained, they need to retrain themselves. After the training, the certificate does not do the job; it is you as an individual; and once you let yourself to be obsolete, you will not be able to perform.”
According to Oresegun, the association is working towards improving female participation because the country has only one female international badge referee.
“Considering the fact that the Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB) is putting up programmes to encourage female participation internationally, we are thinking of how to get girls of good age.
“This is because we have only one female international badge referee, who got her badge about three weeks ago. Three other ones will soon have their international matches, and they will be assessed hoping to get their badges too.
“For now, we have the prospect of having eight international referees, can you compare that with Togo which have about six international referees, Egypt have about 100? It is not because they are good but because they have sponsors. But in Nigeria here, you have to do it yourself.’’
The referee, however, expressed optimism that with time, things would get better, saying: “I believe with time, we will get there because we are trying to get some states to sponsor some of our programmes for this year.
“It is not something we can just do on our own. We are trying to get Ondo, Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Kaduna states who are volleyball-playing states to support us. I assure you that before our tenure runs out, we will try and put some things in place.”
Sports
CAFCC: Enyimba International In Pot 3 For Draws
African soccer governing body has released the pots for the qualified teams for the group stage of the Confederation Cup, Tidesports sources reports.
Enyimba International is among the 16 qualified teams for the group stage of the competition.
The People’s Elephant was placed in pot 3 alongside ASJaaraf, CS Constantine; Bravos Do Maquils, Lunda Suliat, Orapa United, Black Bulls, and Stellenbosch. Pot 1 consists of Zamalek, RS Berkane, Simba SC, and USM Algers while Pot 2 has ASEC Mimosa, Stade Malien, Al Masry, and CS Sfaxien.
Sports
AFCON 2025 Qualifiers : Super Eagles Host Libya, Oct 11
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will host the Mediterranean Knights of Libya in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matchday three encounter at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Friday, October 11.
The two teams will clash in a matchday four encounter at the Tripoli International Stadium four days later.
The Super Eagles started their qualifying campaign with a 3-0 home win against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic.
The three-time African champions were held to 0-0 draw by the Amavubi of Rwanda in their second group game.The West Africans occupy top spot in Group D with four points from two games.
Libya are bottom of the group after amassing one point from two games.
Only the top teams in each group will advance to the tournament proper in Morocco beginning in December 2025.
Meanwhile, Libya has opted to host Group D leaders Nigeria at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium, in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying Matchday 4 encounter. The facility is located in the city of Benina, some 19 kilometres outside the country’s second city, Benghazi.
Known previously as Hugo Chávez Stadium, the stadium is a 10,000-capacity facility with an artificial turf.
Both countries will do a Matchday 3 battle at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Friday, 11th October, before the clash in the city at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday, 15th October.
While the match in Uyo will kick off at 5pm, the battle in Benina will commence at 8pm Nigeria time.
Libya remain bottom of Group D after two rounds of matches, following a 1-1 at home to Rwanda (a game that was played at the Tripoli International Stadium) and a 1-2 loss to the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Abidjan.
Nigeria tops the pool with four points, after a 3-0 spanking of Benin Republic in Uyo on Matchday 1 and a scoreless draw with Rwanda’s Amavubi in Kigali on Matchday 2.
Sports
NYG: Kano Athletes Protest Over Allowances In Asaba
Kano State athletes, who participated in the concluded 8th edition of the National Youth Games (NYG) in Asaba, Delta State, last Friday called on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to address the issue of their poor camp allowances.
The athletes, speaking anonymously, expressed dissatisfaction with the daily allowance they received, claiming it was significantly lower than that of their counterparts from neighbouring Northwestern states.
“We were given less than N20,000 for ten days, while athletes from Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara received N50,000. Jigawa athletes were paid the highest, receiving N80,000,” one of the athletes said.
Despite the disparity in allowances, the athletes secured five gold, three silver, and one bronze in the competition.
They urged the governor to intervene and resolve the issue.
Also, the athletes commended the Kano State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, for supporting other athletes representing the state in sports like football and basketball and hoped for similar support.
The objective of the National Youth Games, initiated by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013, is to promote unity, peace, and understanding among youths while addressing issues of restiveness and unemployment across the country.
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