Sports
Pinnick Advises Zones To Emulate South West
Amid pomp and glitz, but with a full appreciation of the task at hand, leaders of the South West zone of Nigerian Football last Friday, in Ibadan, launched the Western Nigerian Football Forum, and in the process unveiled the logos for both the forum and the fulcrum, the Odua Football Leagues.
NFF President Amaju Pinnick, physically present at the occasion, lauded both the concept and the work so far done, saying the move was in the right direction and challenged the other zones to emulate and create a healthy competition for which Nigerian football will be the ultimate beneficiary.
“I am not surprised because the South West has always blazed the trail in several respects. When we were growing up, the name of this place, Cocoa House rang very loud and it was the dream of every Nigerian to visit here. You have shown a clear vision by choosing this place to be the headquarters.
“Football is about continuity; I pray that successive administrations in the South West will support and encourage this project. There is nothing wrong in this concept; it is only full of positives, including bringing football closer to the people and engendering a surplus of talents. It is the same reason why in Africa, we have the different zones and they have their own calendars and competitions,” said Pinnick, who is also Vice President of WAFU B.
NFF 1st Vice President Seyi Akinwunmi, who is Coordinator of the forum, explained that the Odua Football Leagues would have U15, U17 and U20 categories at the youth level, with the U23 sector being the Premier League to which the youth teams will aspire.
Akinwunmi revealed that the idea was conceptualised at a meeting of the South West forum in Abeokuta in 2015, while commending the support that the concept has received from the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (who has donated a trophy for the Premier League) and some other leaders in the zone. He called on the political, royal and corporate leaders of the zone to support the project.
Pinnick then unveiled the logos and identity of the forum and the leagues, saying the concept was capable of fast –tracking the development of Nigerian Football into a full–blown industry capable of employing and sustaining the youth, a position shared by the Chairman of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), Mr. Seye Oyeleye.
Both Oyeleye and Hon. Fatai Adesina Salau, Oyo State Commissioner for Liaison and Special Duties, foresee a situation whereby the Odua Football Leagues will curtain social vices by positively and productively engaging the youth and reducing unemployment in the entire South West, while at the same time building a large and useful pool of talented footballers that will take Nigerian football to even higher heights of glory.
Pinnick insisted that youth football is the future of Nigerian Football and after taking a look around the new offices of the WNFF on the 15th floor of the iconic building, promised to support the furnishing of the secretariat.
Isaako All Stars FC of Opuoko and Khana Khana AllStars Football all in Local Government Area of Rivers State will tomorrow engage in a friendly football match at Opuoko Mini Stadium.
Chatting with Tidesports in a telephone interview yesterday the Chairman of Khana All Stars Saro Tap-le said that the encounter is not going to be an easy game in spite it is an AllStars game.
He express his side readiness for the encounter stating that the opportunity as come for them to showcase their talents.
However, the chairman explained that AllStars game is not about winning but the excitement, love, unity and friendship it creates is more important.
” Tomorrow game is not going to be an easy one despite is a AllStars game. We are going there in a full force to do what we know how to do best and to showcase our talents.
“As Chairman of Khana All Stars I believes we have an edge over the Isaako All Stars be we are training so hard for the encounter” Tap-le said.
Also speaking the Chairman of Isaako All Stars Mina Zaasi Iloori sees the match as an opportunity to build relationships.
” My brother it is an AllStars friendly game I think winning is not important but the paramount thing is the relationship we are going to create among both teams and my community at large
” We are training hard because of the encounter because I will not be in my house and somebody will rob soap in my eyes.
” As I speak with you we are just coming from back training ground to ensure all my players are fit for the match.
” I am using this medium to call on football fans to come en mass to Opuoko Mini Stadium tomorrow and enjoy the best of round leather game.
I promise the game will be an exciting display of football talents and sportsmanship”, Iloori said.
Kiadum Edookor
Thierry Henry has called for the return of the away goals rule in the aftermath of the bombastic Champions League semi-final between Inter Milan and Barcelona.
The visitors at the Estadio Olimpic Lluis Companys came within milimeters of clinching the first leg of the final-four clash after former Arsenal star Henrikh Mkhitaryan netted late in the second-half.
But the linesman was quick to raise his flag, and semi-automated offside ruled out what would have been a thrilling conclusion to the high-octane 3-3 draw.
The hosts came from behind twice to share the spoils, chasing Inter Milan from the first minute of the game after Marcus Thuram stunned the Barcelona faithful into silence with his neatly flicked goal.
Denzel Dumfries doubled Inter’s lead 20 minutes later, but it took just three more for the Blaugrana to finally get on the scoresheet courtesy of a moment of magic from teenage starlet Lamine Yamal.
Ferran Torres drew Barcelona level ahead of the break, but Lamal was forced to play catch-up again in the second-half after Dumfries scored his second.
In light of the impressive effort from Inter, Henry wondered if the team should have got more from the fixture ahead of the second-leg at the San Siro.
‘I know it’s been like that for a very time, and we have to accept it,’ Henry said of the removal of the away goals rule, ‘But off air I was talking to Jamie (Carragher), and I was like, “how can you score three goals away from home and you don’t have an advantage?”
‘Away goals for me were massive, you score three goals away and you still don’t have an advantage 0-0 at home,’ Henry shrugged.
UEFA took the decision to scrap the rule which gave goals scored away from home the ability to act as a tiebreaker in the case of level scorelines ahead of the 2021-22 season.
Current FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger claimed during his time as Arsenal manager in 2015 that the away goals rule ‘encouraged the team at home not to attack’ and that ‘the weight of the away goal (was) too big today’.
Without the rules, the tie at San Siro will go to extra time and penalties to decide which teams books their spot in the Champions League final.
But based on Wednesday evening’s performance, Henry seemed to give Inter a fighting chance against the newly minted Copa del Rey champions.
The 2025 London Marathon set a new world record for the number of finishers despite hot conditions on Sunday for its 45th edition.
A total of 56,640 runners crossed the finish line at the end of the 26.2-mile route, Guinness World Records has confirmed.
The number surpassed the previous record of 55,646 set by the New York Marathon in November.
Hugh Brasher, chief executive of London Marathon Events, said he hoped the high number of finishers inspired people to apply for the 2026 race ballot.
“The London Marathon was already the most popular in terms of ballot entries, with 840,318 people applying for the 2025 race,” he said.
“It is also the world’s largest annual one-day fundraising event with more than £1.3bn raised for charity since 1981.”
The number of people applying for the ballot to enter this year’s race broke the world record of 578,304 for the 2024 edition.
Of UK applicants 49% were female, while there was a 105% increase in applications from people aged between 20-29.
Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa surged to victory in the elite women’s race in a world record for a women’s only field, while Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe triumphed in the men’s event.