Sports

Throwing Shot Put Excites Me – Gold Medalist

Published

6 years ago

December 28, 2018

A 2018 National Sports Festival (NSF) shot put gold medalist, Eucharia Ogbukwo, says the game excites her because of her passion for it.
Ogbukwo said this on Monday in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
According to her, I love throwing the iron because I have always considered myself strong for the sport.
“I choose shot put because I love it with passion and it excites me. I have always known that I am a very strong lady from childhood. I just love to throw the iron.
“Though, a lot of people have told me to consider Discus and Hammer but I don’t really have passion for it,” she said.
Ogbukwo who threw a distance of 15.42m at the NSF said her target for the 2019 season was to make the standard for the All African Games and also win a medal, if selected.
“My aspiration in 2019 is to make the All African Games standard and not only making the standard but to also be a medalist.
“ I am very sure that if I train very hard with good facilities, I will win a medal,” she said.
The Mathematics graduate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) said that she wished that shot putters would be given more recognition.
“My dream is for the Federation to remember us and believe in us. We blacks are so strong and if you watch the USA shot put throwers, it is dominated by blacks.
“If only more efforts are put in place to help us we would be more motivated to train harder,” she said.
The athlete who also won it in 2012 said Valerie Adams of New Zealand was her role model.
“My role model is Valerie Adams of New Zealand, she inspires me a lot. Even after she had given birth, she bounced back stronger and continued her dominance,” she said.
The athlete who placed fifth at the 2018 Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) championships in Asaba said that her major obstacle was finance.
She also said that her journey into shot put had not been easy, adding that throwers needed sponsorship.
“My journey has not really been easy; we need help and sponsors in throws.
“As throwers, we train more than five to six hours in a day because we have different training sessions and programmes unlike the runners.
“But my biggest challenge in sports is finance, no money to train properly’’,she said.
Ogbukwo, who began her sports career in 2009 said she couldn’t have achieved her feat without her coaches, Lumen Christi Family, who are always supporting her.
“I felt so great and amazed at my winning in Abuja. I dedicate the medal to my family and coaches for pushing me so hard.
“And above all I dedicate my medal to God Almighty and to Lumen Christi Family where I draw my strength from. Without God I wouldn’t have done it,” she said.

City Crime

‘NFF Conducted Federation Cup Draw Fairly’

Published

5 days ago

April 21, 2025

The Tide

The Nigeria Football Federation has defended the recent quarter-finals draw for the 2025 President Federation Cup, saying it was conducted in line with best global practices.
A member of the NFF Executive Committee Board, George Aluo, stated that criticism over venues for the quarterfinals was unfortunate.
Going by the fixtures released on Saturday by the football body, Abakaliki FC will take on Nasarawa United in Benin, Wikki Tourists will clash with Ikorodu City in Bwari, Abuja, Akwa United and Kwara United will fight it out in Enugu, just as Area 3, Abuja, will host the encounter between Rangers International and Plateau United. All matches are scheduled for May 3rd for the emergence of semifinalists in a leg affair.
However, there have been criticisms over the Ikorodu United vs Wikki Tourist tie billed for Abuja, with a section of the press saying the venue is skewed in favour of the Bauchi team.
Aluo, also the Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), said: “Some of our media men need better education, and newsmen should not be like the fans out there on the streets. In the English FA Cup, it is always a one-legged pairing that can see a club like Arsenal host Manchester United at home”.

Sports

Act Sports Signs New Teqball Specialist Contract In Nigeria

Published

5 days ago

April 21, 2025

The Tide

A new contract that will see Act Sports Di Oyibo Limited managing the career of Nigerian teqball specialist, Victor Oyemade, has been signed in Lagos.
The deal gives exclusive rights to Act Sports to manage, and exercise power of attorney over issues relating to the player’s welfare as it concerns his transactions, engagement for professional, promotional, sponsorships, endorsements, and exhibition purposes.
In signing the document, both parties also agreed that proper safeguards would be put in place to protect and promote the player’s interest at all times.
Director of Act Sports, Di Oyibo Limited, Pastor Samuel Robinson Oyibo, excited about the deal, said it would benefit both parties in the area of spreading the message of the sport, as well as laying a firm foundation for his new client’s future.
“Teqball is one of the world’s fastest-growing ball sports, and Victor Oyemade is the face of the sport here in Nigeria and Africa. That is why we are excited about this partnership that gives Act Sports official authorisation to manage his career, just as it will lay the foundation for its rapid growth in our country,” Pastor Oyibo said.
Oyemade was no less excited about the deal, saying it would help his growth in the sport.

Sports

Nigeria Name Handball Squads For Zonal Champs

Published

5 days ago

April 21, 2025

The Tide

Coaches of Nigeria’s U-18 and U-20 women’s handball teams have released their final lists of 14 players ahead of the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase, which will be held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, that commenced yesterday to end 24th of this month.
The two teams have been training at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos, for close to two weeks and departed for the competition on Thursday.
Coach John Uzor of the national U-18 team has included Omole Joy of Defender Babes and her sister Omole Shola alongside Ojie Princess of Funad Academy alongside right back Faisat Balogun in the mix while Success Duru, Chetachi Ngaodurubie of COAS Babes and Sharon Okonkwo make the cut, amongst other players.
In the U-20 team, Coach Shittu Agboola has largely stuck with the players he has been grooming since their U-18 days. The team is led by Captain Chidera Ogbusimba alongside, her Rima Queens teammates the Samuel Sisters, Amina Mohammed and Joy Peters.
Israel-based Rahima Bello, Kehinde Babatunde of ASPAC HBC of Benin Republic and Esther Mathew, who is also based in Benin Republic, keep their places.
Coach Shittu believes his team will make Nigeria proud just as they did previously at the U-18 level.
“I am really upset that Taiwo Babatunde will not be part of the team for this competition as her school, Yaba College of Technology, insisted that they will not release her for national service because of examinations.
“We did everything humanly possible to secure her release and they didn’t care that it is a national service for the interest of Nigeria and the growth of sports. We have other players who are also students and they got a release from their schools but for no tangible reason, Yabatech refused to release Taiwo despite the fact that we did everything possible to secure her release. It’s sad and I hope the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission will work in tandem so that schools will support our goal in making Nigeria proud in sporting events”.