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Gov Wike Wrestling Championship Promotes National Unity

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Governor Nyesom Wiike National Wrestling Championship has come and gone, but Rivers people and those living in the State and its environs are still counting and recalling the benefits, most especially sportsmen and women in Nigeria.
The competition was hosted at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Sports complex, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt. It commenced on the 23rd November through 30th, but had the closing ceremony on the 1st of December.
Apart from hosting the National Wrestling Championship, the Rivers State Government led by Chief Nyesom Wike is also ready to host the forthcoming African Wrestling Championship billed to hold in February next year.
In a bid to promote other sports and national unity, Governor Nyesom Wike at the closing ceremony granted the request of the President of the National Wrestling Federation (NWF), Daniel Igali to make the “Governor Wike Wrestling Championship” an annual event.
The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Kenneth Kobani, said the aim of the Championship is to exhibit the peaceful and secure nature of Rivers State against the negative speculations of some persons.
The Wike Wrestling /Championship was attended by 25 States and 12 wrestling clubs in the country that saw Bayelsa State emerging the overall winners of the event.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Minister of Sports and Youth Development , Solomon Dalung called on other state governors to emulate Wike’s style of sports development, saying that sports is one thing that brings unity and friendliness.
“Many people do not know that sports create wealth, boost economy of a country and increase integration. You are aware that sports do not have any language. Sports do not belong to either APC or PDP, what sports bring is peace and unity”, Dalung said.
The minister equally advised Nigerians to stop negative narratives against the country, adding that they should change their attitude to become good people.
He used the forum to appeal to Governor Wike to forgive all those that have wronged him one way or the other, saying that great leaders forgive.
According to him, this is the first time a West African country will host African Wrestling Championship, adding that Wike has invested in peace and security.
“For Governor Wike to host the National Wrestling Championship here in Rivers State, he has invested in peace and security,” he said.
The minister further commended the governor for providing infrastruc-tural facilities that met world class standard.
“I really appreciate and commend Governor Nyesom Wike for developing sports and making Nigeria proud. Honestly, the facilities I saw for this championship met international standard”, he stated.
Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Boma Iyaye agreed with the Minister of Sports that sports is one of the unifying factors that promote global peace and co-existence.
According to him, Governor Nyesom Wike’s national championship was the biggest championship ever hosted by any state and the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF).
“I want to say that this Championship was beamed live on social media and has over 10million viewers worldwide,” Iyaye said.
President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali, while speaking with sports journalists shortly after the event commended the governor for accepting to host the two wrestling Championships, not minding the present economic situation in the country.
He explained that the state would benefit in various ways during and after the tournaments, because the facilities would be for training of athletes in the state, apart from increasing revenue drive and boosting tourism potentials for the state.
World number two wrestler in women category and gold medalist in Wike’s wrestling tournament, Odunayo Adekuoroye said the facilities she saw were second to none in Africa.
Adekuoroye, who is also the sports woman in Nigeria, commended Governor Wike for his interest to develop sports in the country, most importantly in the area of wrestling.
“I think this is the first time I have seen world class facilities being used for national wrestling competition in Nigeria, honestly, the facilities are wonderful”, she said.
Another gold medalist, Blessing Ogebuchi, a member of Nigerian Army equally lauded the governor for providing a conducive atmosphere for athletes to compete.
According to her, Wike is an exceptional governor because he has bias for sports development.
“No doubt, I have not seen any governor in the country that has the passion to develop other sports apart from football as Wike. I am practically excited about the facilities I saw, besides, the atmosphere is very conducive”, Ogebuchi said.
Veteran sportsman, Solomon Odikibo said the wrestling championship actually reduced the high rate of youth restiveness in the state within the period, because the attention of many youths was diverted to the tournament.
Odikibo, who was a silver medalist in1992 Police Games, further said that the competition gave hope to coaches and athletes of other sports.
“It has been long Rivers State experienced such national tournament apart from football. If the governor continues like this, the state will always perform creditably in sports meets. Frankly speaking, other sports are dying. That is why many people are happy about this wrestling championship”, Odikibo said.
Mrs Mary Okonkwo, a petty trader in the state, thanked the governor, saying that the hosting of the wrestling tournament increased her profit, because she had quick turnover.
“I wish the governor can attract more competitions to the state, so that I can make more profit from my small business”, Mrs Okonkwo said.

By: Tonye Orabere.

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Tottenham Fight Back To Hold Brighton

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Tottenham fought back from two-goals down to secure a deserved point against Brighton.

The Seagulls were second best for much of the match but found themselves 2-0 up after 31 minutes thanks to Yankuba Minteh’s early strike and Yasin Ayari’s powerful drive.

However, Richarlison halved the deficit just before half-time when he stopped a shot by Mohammed Kudus before slotting in.

Spurs dominated the second half but their finishing let them down as Richarlison and substitute Xavi Simons were both unable to make the most of promising opportunities.

But the equaliser came eight minutes from time when Jan Paul van Hecke turned Kudus’ cross into his own net.

Spurs then pushed for a winner as they looked to continue their impressive start to the season, but Brighton held on for the point.

Bundesliga: Kane Continues Goal Harvest (5)

Harry Kane scored his second hat-trick of the season as Bayern Munich overcame a shaky start to win at Hoffenheim and continue their 100% start.

The England captain, 32, broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time with a clinical first-time finish from a cleverly worked low corner, and doubled Bayern’s lead from the spot after Albian Hajdari was harshly penalised for a handball.

That broke Hoffenheim’s resistance and Kane completed his ninth Bundesliga hat-trick with another penalty, given for a foul on substitute Michael Olise after a video assistant referee (VAR) check.

This time Kane sent home keeper Oliver Baumann the wrong way for his 13th Bayern goal in seven matches across all competitions this season, adding to his Champions League double against Chelsea last Wednesday.

“Hat-trick Harry is what they called me in school,” Kane told Tidesports source after the match. “That one kind of stuck when I was younger.”

“Any ball in the box, whether penalty or not, I back myself to hit the target.”

Hoffenheim had the better of the first 45 minutes, Fisnik Asllani only able to hit the post after goalkeeper Manuel Neuer passed straight to the Kosovan.

They eventually got some reward for their efforts, former West Ham full-back Vladimir Coufal’s deflected free-kick beating Neuer to earn the Czech his first goal for the club.

Ex-Liverpool winger Luis Diaz hit the top of the bar late on as he failed to continue his record of scoring in every Bundesliga game this season, but Serge Gnabry added a fourth for Bayern with the last kick, converting a rebound from a tight angle after Baumann saved from Joshua Kimmich.

Nicolas Jackson made his first start since joining Bayern on an initial loan deal from Chelsea, but the Senegal striker had a very quiet game before being replaced in the 62nd minute.

In Italy, Lorenzo Pellegrini fired Roma into the Serie A top four as Lazio had two players sent off in a fiery derby.

The midfielder found the bottom corner in the 38th minute as Roma extended their unbeaten run to four games against their city rivals.

Lazio have lost three of their opening games of the season and had Reda Belahyane and former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi dismissed in late drama.

Roma started well and Rome-born Pellegrini claimed the vital goal – his fourth in a Rome derby after being available for transfer in the summer – following good work down the right by Matias Soule.

But the hosts will rue missed opportunities as Boulaye Dia, Mattia Zaccagni and Alessio Romagnoli all had openings.

With four minutes left substitute Belahyane was shown a red card for a late studs-up challenge on Manu Kone.

Danilo Cataldi struck the outside of the post for Lazio in a last-gasp effort to snatch a point, while team-mate Guendouzi was sent off for dissent after the final whistle.

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Zidane’s Son Switches Allegiance To Algeria

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Luca Zidane, the son of France’s World Cup-winning playmaker Zinedine, has switched his international allegiance from France to Algeria.

Born just outside Marseille, the 27-year-old goalkeeper had appeared for France at various youth levels.

The move, which was approved by Fifa, may enable Zidane to follow in his father’s footsteps by appearing at a World Cup, with Algeria expected to secure a place at the 2026 finals in North America in their qualifier against Somalia next month.

Zidane, who is the second of four brothers, all of whom came through the Real Madrid academy, currently plays for Spanish second tier side Granada.

He played two matches for Madrid and has La Liga experience at Rayo Vallecano, but dropped a level in 2022 to play for Eibar before heading to Andalusia in 2024.

Zidane qualifies for the North African country through his father, whose parents hailed from the Kabylie region of Algeria.

Zinedine Zidane, who is regarded as one of the games greatest players scored twice for France in their 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil, but was famously sent-off in the 2006 final, which was won by Italy after a penalty shootout.

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Man Utd Beat Chelsea To Ease Pressure 

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Manchester United capitalised on Robert Sanchez’s fifth-minute red card to secure a crucial victory over Chelsea in torrential rain at Old Trafford.

The first match in Premier League history to see two or more goals, red cards and substitutions in the first half was settled by goals from United skipper Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, who was the other player sent off before the break.

It was Sanchez’s dismissal that set the course of the game though.

The Spain international raced from his goal to meet Bryan Mbeumo as the striker ran beyond the Chelsea defence.

Sanchez then upended the forward outside his area rather than allow him past to tap the ball into an empty net.

Enzo Maresca’s response to the red card was to take off both Pedro Neto and Estevao Willian and, as Cole Palmer had to be replaced after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury, Chelsea had lost three attacking players in the space of 20 minutes.

Trevor Chalobah pulled one back for Chelsea with a header 10 minutes from time but United kept their nerves at bay to make it to the final whistle with their lead intact.

The victory was United’s second of the season and came in front of minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who gave head coach Ruben Amorim assurances over his future 48 hours earlier.

It also means Chelsea have still not won at Old Trafford since 2013, when Sir Alex Ferguson was United manager.

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