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Acheru And Sports Dev In Nigeria

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It is not in contention that to develop a country is not the sole responsibility of the government.Often times, government calls for Private Public Partnership (PPP) to execute a particular project or programme.
You will also agree with me that to develop a given sector does not only depend on the sophisticated facilities provided but equally  requires a thorough breed professionals that have the capacity to train competent manpower to complement  the developmental plan in that particular sector.
Thus, in the area of sports development, sports are key because sports writing is a highly professional and skilled job which conventional journalists cannot effectively do. The professional sports writers are almost as good as the coach in a given sport  because they have in-depth knowledge of the game.
This is so because constructive criticism and analysis during and after the game has grossly contributed towards the development of sports. The mistakes spotted out by  sports writers often assist the coaches and athletes to correct their errors.
In Nigeria , China Acheru popularly  known as “IKWERREMAN”, born  into  the family of Mr and Mrs Acheru in Ogbakiri  community in Emohua Local Government Area,  Rivers State, is one of the  best  professional sports  presenters Nigeria has ever produced who  has developed sports  in all ramifications.
Acheru attended University of Port Harcourt Demonstration Secondary School, Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. It is incredible that he read Geology, in University of Port Harcourt, but his desire to be a journalist was intense. Shortly after his graduation, he worked as a sports reporter for the then South South Express newspaper under the tutelage of late Mazi Njoku.
Apart from that, Acheru has been a strong voice of sports from Rivers State and   Nigeria for the past 25 years. Within these years of sports reporting and development, he worked for CTL Cable TV in 2002, in the same year November, he joined Silverbird Rhythm 93.7 FM as sports reporter and producer. In 2006, he left the State and joined Goal Newspaper in Lagos, one of the leading sports papers then in Nigeria, as sub editor, later he moved to kickoffnigeria.com as a senior journalist.
As he returned home, he joined Cool/Wazobia FM in 2010 as Head of Sports, later left for Today FM in 2013. It will interest you to know that Acheru runs one of the Nigeria’s biggest football blogs. Besides, he was the media manager of Dolphins Football Club of Port Harcourt for 12 years and currently the chairman of Nigeria Professional League Clubs Media Managers’ Association. Before then, he had been the financial secretary of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Rivers State chapter.
What makes him more unique is that he does not only present sports programmes but also writes sports effectively and efficiently. In addition, he has also trained many professional sports presenters and writers in Nigeria.
According to one of the celebrated sports journalists in Nigeria, Arafat Aliu, Acheru is a professional to the core, he never jokes with his job.
“When he was the media officer of the Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt, he was always handy to give you the correct report with regard to the team. He never shied away from interviews and was ready to clarify any issue”, Aliu said.
He equally described Acheru as one of the finest broadcast journalists that has been able to combine well in print and broadcasting.
“Having worked with him at Rythm 93.7, Port Harcourt, I can say that he is always ready to beat deadlines. Besides, he is a Liverpool fan that never wants to work alone.
I dare say that he counts as one of Nigeria’s finest broadcast journalists that have been able to combine well in print and broadcasting”, he stated.
One of Nigeria’s best broadcast journalists in Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) based in Abuja, Tamara Ebiowei, also described China Acheru as a good trainer that has groomed many sports journalists in the country.
She explains that Acheru is always willing to teach and by teaching, he is developing the human capacity which in turn develops the sports.
“China is a jovial person who can be described as one of the best in sports journalism. His willingness to correct one’s errors amazes me, a testimony of so many he has groomed in the sports journalism profession, Ebiowei said
According to her, outside the job he exhibits the best interpersonal relationships with his colleagues and others, besides, he is transparent, humble and cares for his colleagues wanting to know how they are faring.
In her account, the media officer of Rivers Hoopers basketball club, in Port Harcourt and one of the female sports journalists and broadcaster, Queen John, says why Acheru is unique in sports journalism is that he does not want to know the job alone.
Noting that as a good teacher he does not settle for laziness and failure, because as he is teaching you, he will make sure you understand the job effectively.
“China Acheru is a father, brother and a friend you can confide in. He hates laziness and hard work, dedication is his watch word”, John said.
According to her, he does not discriminate anybody that comes his way and is always ready to teach.
China Acheru states that professionalism on the job is the key, being number one in the business is what drives him to success, saying that his lifestyle is actually influenced by the broadcasting greats such as Mitchel Obi, late Mazi Njoku and Yinka Craig
The belief of Acheru is that if you do not develop manpower, it will be difficult for a sector to develop, because it is the human being that will initiate the developmental ideas.
According to him, what makes him happy most is to share his experience on the job with his colleagues, saying that as you teach you gain more experience.
“We need to teach and train the upcoming sports journalists so that they will also train others coming behind them”, he stated.
He advised the upcoming sports journalists to be committed and dedicated to their primary assignment by doing that, success will be easily achieved.

Tonye Orabere

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Tottenham’s Miserable Run Continues  

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Relegation-threatened Tottenham’s miserable 2026 continued as their winless run extended to 10 league games with Fulham gaining a deserved victory to boost their hopes of qualifying for European football.

Fulham, who scored twice in the opening six minutes in their 2-1 win over Spurs in November, again got an early goal with Harry Wilson netting in the seventh minute.

However, the goal was controversial as new Spurs boss Igor Tudor felt it should have been disallowed as home striker Raul Jimenez pushed Radu Dragusin as they challenged for a Kenny Tete cross, before Oscar Bobb picked out Wilson to volley home from six yards out.

Tottenham had a similar goal ruled out last week in their 4-1 loss to Arsenal for a foul by Randal Kolo Muani on Gunners defender Gabriel but, following a check from the video assistant referee (VAR) Craig Pawson, Fulham’s goal was allowed to stand, much to Tudor’s fury.

Spurs, though, had no excuses for the 34th-minute second goal with Alex Iwobi left with space to shoot home superbly from 18 yards out, with the ball going in off the inside of the post after a neat exchange with Wilson.

 

 

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City Survive Leeds’ Challenge At Elland Road 

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Antoine Semenyo scored just before half-time as title-chasing Manchester City escaped Elland Road with victory over an energetic Leeds United.

The hard-earned outcome narrowed Arsenal’s lead to two points at the top of the Premier League.

City travelled to West Yorkshire without their Leeds-born star striker Erling Haaland who was injured in training, and it looked for large periods in the first half that they would rue not having their top goalscorer available.

But Ghana international Semenyo stretched to convert Rayan Ait-Nouri’s fizzed low ball into the penalty area for his sixth City goal since joining from Bournemouth in January.

Leeds will be wondering how they did not score after making a sprightly start and giving City real cause for early concern.

Meanwhile , a clinical Liverpool performance helped them beat battling West Ham in the Premier League and move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.

The hosts were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister.

West Ham pulled one back early in the second half through Tomas Soucek before Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal lead in the 70th minute.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side scored again through Taty Castellanos, but an Axel Disasi own goal ensured Liverpool hit five goals in a league game for the first time this season.

Bayern Rebound To Overcome Dortmund In Bundesliga (5)

Harry Kane scored two second-half goals as Bayern Munich came from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund in a thrilling match and move 11 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.

The England striker took his tally to 45 goals in all competitions this season as Bayern became the first team to inflict a home league defeat on Dortmund.

Kane, who passed 500 A clinical Liverpool performance helped them beat battling West Ham in the Premier League and move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.

The hosts were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister.

West Ham pulled one back early in the second half through Tomas Soucek before Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal lead in the 70th minute.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side scored again through Taty Castellanos, but an Axel Disasi own goal ensured Liverpool hit five goals in a league game for the first time this season.

All three of the Reds’ first-half goals came from set-pieces – with Arne Slot’s side now leading the table in 2026 when it comes to goals from set-plays (excluding penalties).

In the fifth minute, Ryan Gravenberch teed up Ekitike, who finished smartly to beat Mads Hermansen at the near post for his 16th goal of the season.

West Ham threatened to equalise, but against the run of play Liverpool doubled their advantage when Van Dijk headed in Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner.

The visitors failed to take advantage of Liverpool’s complacency with Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jarrod Bowen and Soucek all wasting chances.

And just before half-time, Mac Allister’s superb volley took a deflection and ended in the back of the net. That was the cue for sections of the travelling support to head for the exits.

 Nico Schlotterbeck’s opener.

Dortmund thought they had snatched a point when Daniel Svensson’s thumping volley sent Signal Iduna Park into pandemonium.

But that was until Joshua Kimmich’s strike three minutes from time kept Bayern in pole position to win a 14th title in 15 seasons.

Schlotterbeck headed Dortmund ahead in the 26th minute when he rose highest in a crowded penalty area to connect with Svensson’s free-kick from the left.

Dortmund had the chance to double their lead later in the half when Fabio Silva squared the ball to Maximilian Beier, who was denied by the onrushing Jonas Urbig.

Despite dominating possession in the first half, Bayern – playing with a front three of Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz – were unable to test Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

But Kane equalised early in the second period with a poacher’s effort from inside the area at the end of a slick move involving Kimmich and Serge Gnabry.

Both teams missed chances before Kane scored a penalty – a record 10th in a Bundesliga season – after Josip Stanisic was floored by Schlotterbeck.

Dortmund levelled when Svensson volleyed past Urbig, but Kimmich all but ended their hopes of winning a first title since 2012.

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PSG Extend Lead In Ligue 1 

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Paris St-Germain stretched their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to four points by claiming a narrow win at Le Havre.

The defending champions hoped to take advantage after second-placed Lens drew at Strasbourg on Friday, and Bradley Barcola gave them a deserved lead shortly before half-time.

PSG had chances to extend their lead and substitute Desire Doue had a late penalty saved by Le Havre goalkeeper Mory Diaw.

Lee Kang-In had an effort saved by Diaw before his right-wing cross was headed home by Barcola for his ninth goal of the season.

Moments later Lee fired wide when through on goal, before PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia fired against a post just after half-time.

Keeper Matvey Safonov made a fine save from Issa Soumare to keep PSG in front, while Diaw denied substitutes Nuno Mendes, Ibrahim Mbaye and Doue.

Diaw parried Doue’s spot-kick low to his right after Doue was brought down by Lucas Gourna-Douath with 11 minutes left.

 

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