Sports
2014 Commonwealth Games: NSC To Sponsor Athletes
The National Sports
Commission (NSC) has said it would sponsor two athletes from the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
A statement issued in Abuja by the commission’s Director of Press, Tony Ohaeri, quoted the Director-General, Gbenga Elegbeleye, as saying that the sponsorship was in recognition of the organisation’s role in sports development.
Elegbeleye disclosed the NSC’s plan when he paid a courtesy visit to the corps’ commandant-general, Ade Abolurin.
“The system, often times, does not give athletes the proportionate encouragement or due recognition they need to perform optimally.
“ There is no singular organisation that has contributed tremendously to the growth and development of sports in Nigeria in recent times like the NSCDC.
“The best thing that has happened to sports in Nigeria is the NSCDC and the organisation is one of the greatest employers of sportsmen in Nigeria,’’ Elegbeleye was quoted as saying.
The DG used the opportunity to solicit the support of corporate organisations to sports development, maintaining that government alone could not fund sports.
The statement also quoted Abolurin as saying that the problem of sports development in Nigeria was that of funding.
“I want to call on the critical stakeholders to ensure adequate funding of the commission.
“When the NSC is financially encouraged, it will definitely have a ripple effect on the athletes and coaches who are the immediate beneficiaries of such gesture,’’ Abolurin said.
Team Nigeria will participate in six sports namely athletics, wrestling, weightlifting, table tennis and boxing in both the male and female categories.
The 20th edition of the games will hold from July 23 to August 3, 2014.
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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