Sports
7,000 Schools To Participate In Milo Basketball Tourney
Martin Woolnough, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Nestle Nigeria Plc has said that 7,000 schools across the country would feature in the 15th Nestle Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championships.
The state preliminaries of the competition will hold from March 4 to 18, while the four conference finals will hold between April 15 and May 15.
Woolnough who disclosed this at a news conference in Lagos that the number was an improvement over those of the previous editions because of the company’s commitment to developing sports. “In 2007 we engaged 2,500 schools, we doubled that number to 5,000 in 2012, and in 2013 we will engaged a total of 7,000 schools.
“These schools are across the six geo-political zones in the country and it proves our feat in stretching ourselves even in difficult times,” he explained.
The Managing Director said the theme for the 2013 competition, “Champions, It is Dunking Time’’, was designed to promote noble champions.
He said the making of champions required self-confidence, patience, determination, passion, preparation and listening to advice.
“Champions like to win; develop drive; learn to endure and accept challenge as well as work hard and love what they do,” he said.
He urged participants to demonstrate all the qualities of champions both at the state and at the conference levels.
In her address of welcome, the Category Business Manager, Nestle Milo Plc, Adedoja Ekeruche, said the conferences had been increased from two to four.
Ekeruche listed the additional conferences as Atlantic Conference in Enugu and Central Conference in Ibadan, while the existing ones are Western Conference in Akure and Confluence Conference in Lokoja.
“Every participating team will be given N160,000 each and the teams that qualified for the national finals will be given N200,000 each.
“Each winner of the four conferences will take home N30,000, while second and third place winners will receive N25,000 and N20,000 respectively,” she said.
Present at the occasion were the Vice President, Nigeria School Sports Federation, Martins Udomaiye and Remi Olowude, the Chairman, National Collegiate Sports Foundation.
The Secretary, Nigeria Basketball Federations (NBBF), Francis Gbiri, commended the company for its continuous efforts in grassroots basketball development.
St. Augustine Seminary Ezzamgbo, Ebonyi State and St. Jude’s Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Bayelsa State, are respectively the boys and girls defending champions.
The Nigeria Boxing Federation has set its sights on six gold medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as the body looks to recover from the administrative turmoil that undermined its preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
NBF Vice President Omonlei Imadu told our correspondent, “Our target is 10 medals, six gold, while others can come in silver and bronze colours. We are truly determined to make this a reality in Glasgow.
“We have moved focus now to the camping phase. Our aim is to ensure that the boxers are in perfect shape during and after the camping.”
Diaspora boxer Patricia Mbata, the African Games gold medallist based in the United Kingdom, was among the women’s finalists, while Kenneth Anigboro topped the men’s 90kg class. Other female finalists are Udoette Happiness and Gafar Fathia (51kg), Ajishola Kadijat and Gbadamosi Aishat (57kg), Sodipe Damilola and Ismail Abibat (65kg), Blessing Orakwe (70kg), and James Queen and Odoka Celestina (above 70kg). The male finalists are Ogunremi Michael and Habeeb Qazeem (55kg), Abdulwahab Abdulrahmon and Saliu Ridwan (65kg), Folly Hassan and Nwoha Precious (70kg), Daniel Joshua and Sharafadeen Fawas (80kg), and Anigboro Kenneth and Abiodun Adesoji (90kg).
National Sports Commission Director General Bukola Olopade, who attended Nigeria’s Commonwealth trials, also expressed optimism about Nigeria’s prospects.
“We are doing everything possible to ensure that Nigeria have a successful outing at the Games, and the prospects in boxing truly excite me,” he said.
Nigeria’s push for improvement comes after the backdrop of a difficult period for the sport at the last Olympics.
Boxers who competed at Paris 2024 also raised concerns about poor preparation, with Zainab Adeshina stating there was no adequate equipment for training and Ifeanyi Onyekwere describing the build-up as a one-week camp filled with stress.
Nigeria also suffered a 4-3 defeat to Ghana in a Commonwealth Games warm-up friendly in Accra recently, a result Imadu acknowledged as a reminder of the work still required, while noting that the federation was in advanced talks with two other nations over additional preparatory fixtures before the Games.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will run from July 24 to August 1 at the SEC Centre in Glasgow, where boxing will feature across 14 events — seven men’s and seven women’s categories.
The NBF vice president also commended the board members for their commitment and altruism towards the welfare of the athletes.
“As a federation, we would like to appreciate these board members for their patriotism. This is an attestation of their dedication to the advancement of boxing in the country. As a body, we would continue to encourage the selflessness of our colleagues so we can collectively deliver on our mandate to revamp the squared ropes sports across the board,” he said.
The Yucateco boss further states the NBF’s readiness to deliver medals at the Games in Glasgow.
“Like I said previously, our focus has not shifted. We strongly believe that every boxer on the plane to Scotland must return with a medal for Nigeria, hence we took the lead as the only federation to call its athletes to camp ahead of time. 30 of our boxers have been in camp since April, and the federation has been solely responsible for their welfare since they commenced training,” Imadu added.
At the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, nine Nigerian fighters returned with four medals — one silver through Elizabeth Oshoba and bronzes for Cynthia Ogunsemilore, Jacinta Umunnakwe and Ifeanyi Onyekwere.
Remo Stars were relegated on Sunday after a 1-1 draw against Bendel Insurance F.C. in Benin City.
The Sky Blue Stars initially looked on course for survival when experienced striker Victor Mbaoma gave them the lead on the stroke of half-time, but the situation changed dramatically deep into stoppage time when Chijioke Akuneto equalised for Bendel Insurance to secure a 1-1 draw.
The delayed fixture between Kun Khalifat F.C. and Wikki Tourists F.C. later confirmed Remo’s fate, with the newcomers winning 3-1 to preserve their top-flight status and condemn Remo Stars to life in the second division.
In the wake of a season that saw them garner just 47 points from 38 games, only one year after winning the league title, the Sky Blue Stars described the outcome as heartbreaking.
“We understand the disappointment and frustration this season has brought. We did not deliver the performances or consistency required to maintain our place in the division. We take full responsibility for that failure.’’
“To our fans who filled the stands, supported the team online and stood by us even during our darkest moments, thank you. Your loyalty means everything, and we recognise that we owe you much more than what this season produced.
“Our focus now turns towards rebuilding with purpose and determination. Important decisions will be made, and every effort will be directed towards returning this club to where it belongs.”
They became the first defending NPFL champions to suffer relegation since Bayelsa United in the 2009/10 season.
They also became only the fourth reigning league champions to drop into the second tier during a title defence campaign after Stationery Stores in 1993 and Shooting Stars in 1999.
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