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2015 Nations Cup: Qualifers Hold In Three Months

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Qualifying for the 2015 African Cup of Nations will take place only three months next year, the Confederation of African Football has announced.

It means 144 fixtures, involving total of 48 teams in 12 groups of four, will have to be squeezed in between September and November.

The schedule has been designed to fit in with world governing body FIFA’s international match calendar.

There are no dates in 2014 before the World Cup finals take place in Brazil.

It is the first time that qualifying has had to be arranged around the World Cup since the Nations Cup was switched from even to odd years.

And with difficult transport links between some African nations, the tight fixture schedule could cause some problems – particularly on routes between the east and west of the continent.

A weekend match will be followed by a midweek game in three periods set aside by FIFA, with clubs obligated to release their players for international duty for the duration.

The dates are 1-9 September, 6-14 October and 10-18 November.

Namibia Football Association president John Muinjo believes the schedule is too demanding.

He told BBC Sport: “Playing six international games in three months is hard on the health of the players.

“Also, some federations do not have the financial resources to afford for their teams to travel in speed and comfort over long distances in such a short space of time.

“The smaller countries are going to be affected.”

At the end of the group phase, the winners of each group and the best three runners up will advance to the final phase of qualification for the tournament, which will be hosted by Morocco from 17 January to 7 February 2015.

CAF also announced that the Nations Cup qualification preliminary round, featuring up to 12 of the lowest ranked African sides in a two-legged play-offs, will take place in July and August.

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PH Club Amateur Open Golf Tourney Tees- Off, Oct 9

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Preparations are in top gear as this year’s edition of the Port Harcourt Club Amateur Open Golf Championship tees off on October 9, 2023.
The Chairman of the Tournament Organizing Committee, (COC),Dr. Patrick Ohia, who made this known while addressing sports journalists in Port Harcourt, said the championship will take place at the Golf Section of Port Harcourt Club 1928.
Dr. Ohia hinted that over 220 amateur golfers have registered for the tourney, adding that the theme of this year’s championship is “Golfing for Healthy Living”.
According to him, the tournament will feature mostly golfers within the South-South and South-East region of Nigeria, and hinted that registration had since been closed.
He maintained that every necessary logistics have been put in place for a hitch-free championship, adding that this year’s edition of the Port Harcourt Club Amateur Open Golf Championship will be unprecedented in the annals of the golf section.
The Organising Committee Chairman further disclosed that professional golfers will also participate in the championship as mouth-watering cash prizes have been earmarked for them as they play sorely for monetary gains.
He said that the Caddies will play on the first day, while the seniors and the elders will take their turn on the second day of the open, which will precede the Lady Golfers, Professionals and Amateurs tee-off respectively.
Meanwhile, he said the tournament is being bankrolled by Polaris Bank and a list of other sponsors.

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NYG : Coach Expresses Disappointment Over Over-Age Players

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The Head Coach of Team Rivers   Hockey  team, Comfort Nya has expressed disappointment over the fielding of over aged players at the ongoing National Youth Games (NYG)  in Asaba Delta State.
She praised her team for their performance, adding that she was disappointed with her opponents, especially, Kaduna state for fielding overaged players.
Nya said this yesterday in an interview with sports journalists shortly after they lost 5-0 against Kaduna state at the ongoing NYG in Asaba Delta state.
According to her, she has been with the team for only three months. She expressed optimism that in another 12 months, the team will turn things around.
“I believe in the team with what I have seen so far, they will do well in next edition.
“ The team started brightly at the game but were overpowered by their opponents.
“I think we still have one game to play against Niger.  I am assuring Rivers state that they are  not going to do bad in the game.

By: Kiadum Edookor

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Athlete Advises Parents To Encourage Wards In Sports 

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The first gold medalist of Team Rivers State at the ongoing National Youths Games (NYG) in Asaba, Beauty Jumbo, has advised parents to always encourage and not to give up on any child that chooses or gets involved in sports.
According to her, she fell in love with gymnastics through the advice of her sister and today she is able to do well in the game.
Jumbo made the assertion on Wednesday while speaking with sports journalists shortly after she won a gold medal in gymnastics at the ongoing NYG in Asaba, Delta State.
She expressed joy over winning the gold medal, adding that she wants to be the next generation gymnast.
“ I want to advise parents not to lose hope in any child that is participating in sporting activities because sports pay.
“ My aim is to be the next generation gymnast. I love the game because my sister developed my interest in the game.
“ I want to make my parents and my country, Nigeria proud”, Jumbo said.
The former  bronze medalist in the sixth edition of NYG and student of Dominion Noble Global Academy of Port Harcourt said that her coming to the seventh edition was to win gold which she has done adding that she wants to win more in the game.
“I am very excited because my plan has come to past.
“ I want to thank my coach, Tamunosaki West, for what he has been doing during our training,” she said.

By: Kiadum Edookor

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