Sports
Foundation Upgrades Taekwondo Athletes
Nine taekwondo athletes
from the Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation (CCSF), were recently upgraded from white to yellow belt after they made distinctions in their grade test.
Two female and seven male athletes participated in the practical and theoretical test which saw the least person score 75 points, while the highest was 93 points.
The male athletes are Dickson Adoga, Peter Itiku, Precious Benson, Ebuka Diala, Ebuka Obodo, Daniel Ibrahim and Joseph Awolope, while the female athletes are Joy Ikpeamaeze and Bukola Ogunnusi.
Founder of the foundation Chika Chukwumerije, told newsmen that the athletes were gradually becoming world beaters.
“In my years of taekwondo experience, I have realised that the most challenging period in taekwondo lies in the white, yellow and blue belt stages.
“These stages are very key in the lives of any taekwondo athletes.
“Once you can get these first three belts right, you will definitely be a champion in the making.
“We did not use the curriculum that was in use in the past 40 years in the way we have trained them.
“This is because things are so fast now and so many things are put into one.
“What they learnt now is what those in brown or a red belt will learn, so we have simplified it to their level and we have exposed them to a wild range of techniques.
“In addition to this, we have added things that are not conventional like event management and language courses’’, Chukwumerije said.
Chukwumerije said the athletes were combining taekwondo with their education which he said was the foundation of the sport.
One of the graduates, Dickson Adoga, said that they were being trained to take over from the likes of Chukwumerije.
“We are champions in the making and Nigeria will not regret having athletes like us’’, he said.
Adoga emerged as the best graduating athlete after he amassed 93 points in test.
Certificates were presented to the nine athletes.
The Chairman of the FCT Taekwondo Association Tony Anafulu, and John Victor, were among the instructors and technical persons that assessed the athletes.
Victor Osimhen will be the centre of attention as several of Europe’s biggest clubs send scouts to yesrerday’s Intercontinental Derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, with the Nigerian forward set to play a decisive role in the Super Lig title race
Representatives from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Juventus were expected to be present at Rams Park, underlining the scale of interest in both the fixture and its standout performers.
Reports in Turkish media indicate that the derby will serve not only as a key moment in the domestic title race but also as a platform for transfer discussions and strategic collaborations between clubs.
According to those reports, top European sides have secured places at the stadium with a dual purpose.
“Europe’s leading representatives will be present at the stadium within the framework of both player transfer and cooperation,” ,” Milliyet reported.
“Real Madrid, Barcelona, among many clubs, including Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Napoli and Juventus, have made reservations for today’s match.”
Osimhen was expected to be among the primary players under observation, alongside teammates Baris Yilmaz and Gabriel Sara, with scouts closely monitoring their performances in one of the most high-profile fixtures in Turkish football.
The report further noted, “Victor Osimhen, Yilmaz and Sara were at the top of the watch list and that the interest would mainly be in these players.”
It also highlighted broader discussions beyond player recruitment, stating, “Apart from this, ideas will be exchanged for strengthening relations between the clubs and new joint agreements.”
The Nigerian striker’s presence came at a crucial point in the season, with Galatasaray holding a four-point lead over second-placed Fenerbahce and knowing that victory would all but secure the league title with three matches remaining.
Osimhen recently returned from injury, making a brief appearance in the cup defeat to Genclerbirligi after missing four games, a period during which Galatasaray’s form showed signs of inconsistency.
His absence coincided with a mixed run of results in April, where the league leaders recorded two wins, one draw and one defeat, including a loss to Trabzonspor and a draw at home to Kocaelispor.
Defensively, Galatasaray have also shown vulnerability, conceding in each of their last six matches across all competitions, a concern ahead of a fixture that could define their campaign.
The derby follows disappointment in the Turkish Cup, where Galatasaray suffered a shock 2-0 home defeat to Genclerbirligi, while Fenerbahce were also knocked out after a 1-0 loss to Konyaspor
A tennis tournament held in honour of Olusola Odumosu, Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps FCT Command, has been described as a major step towards grassroots sports development and youth engagement.
The three-day competition, staged at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, began midweek , last week and ended on Friday, attracting young players across different categories.
On the court, top-ranked player Canice Abua won the men’s singles title after a hard-fought 7-5, 6-4 victory over Lucky Danjuma, who is ranked fourth nationally.
In the boys’ category, Unity Alex defeated Khaleed Dalha in straight sets to win the title, while Salvation Alex triumphed over Opeyemi Olademeji to win the girls’ singles event.
Odumosu, who marked his birthday with the event, said the initiative was designed to uncover young talent and strengthen the foundation of tennis development in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, opened their preparations for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers with a dominant 6-0 victory over Generation Next in Abuja as head coach Akeem Ishola Busari continues to shape his squad.
The emphatic win came during a 60-minute friendly at the Goal Project at the weekend, where the Flamingos took control early and led 4-0 at half-time before the match was halted in the 54th minute due to heavy rain.
Goals were spread across the squad, with Shavih Istifanus opening the scoring inside the first minute, followed by a brace from Tobiloba Sarafa in the 10th and 23rd minutes.
Harmony Chidi added the fourth in the 28th minute, while Aminat Adebisi struck just before half-time and Precious Paul completed the scoring early in the second half.
The match forms part of a busy training camp in Abuja, where Busari has invited 36 players as Nigeria step up preparations for their second-round qualifier against Guinea.