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Firm Promises To Empower Youth Through Football

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The Executive General Manager, Field Operations of Total E&P Nigeria Limited, Vincent Kiehl says it is committed to encourage and empower youths through active engagement in football and skill training that will promote sustainable socio-economic development.
He explained that, this year’s competition is a special edition in recognition of the security challenges currently beleaguering his host communities.
Kiehl stated this at the weekend in his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 2018 edition of NNPC/TEPNG football competition tagged “OML58,” held at Obite Civil Centre Football Field, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, (ONELGA), Rivers State.
Kiehl, who was represented by the Community Relations Manager, Offshore/Port Harcourt communities, Obara Okechukwu noted that his determination is to encourage peace and reconciliation amongst the youths.
Okechukwu explained that the theme for this year’s competition is “Playing in Search of Enduring Peace and Reconstruction of the Social Value System” of the youth of his host communities.
According to him, sixteen (16) teams will participate in the competition and noted that all the teams would campaign towards one goal of winning the championship.
He used the medium to welcome two new teams to the competition, Ihuowo and Odhio-Ugbokor communities, adding that both communities are drawn from Ekpeye Kingdom to participate in the tournament for the first time.
The manager further explained that the management of Total E&P Nigeria Limited and their joint venture partners remain committed to support the annual competition.
Okechukwu recalled that for the pass three years, the competition was not holding in communities in Egi, Amah or Idu because of the security challenges adding that they were glad to bring back hope that peace would continue to improve for the benefit of every member of their host communities.
He, therefore, enjoined all the participating teams, managers and their supporters to maintain and consolidate the current peace by playing for friendship and unity among the teeming youths of the area.
“I charge you to remember that we play best when we play according to the rules of the game.
“We must know that the best part of the competition is participation. Participate to make new friends; this should be the main trust. When we play for friendship we become better sportsmen and that way, we better kick out violence,” Okechukwu stated.
He thanked the partners, NNPC for their continuous support of the youthful project.
The manager noted that the collaboration with the Rivers State football Association (RSFA) and the referee council would produce competent umpires that would apply the rules of the game effectively in order to entrench fair play and sustainable friendship throughout and beyond the duration of the competition.
He commended the central and local organising committee as well as the medical team and other health resources for a job well done. He wish all the participating team goodluck in the competition, adding that the best team would always win.
Also speaking, the chairman of Rivers State Football Association (RSFA), Bar, Chris green expressed joy over the tournament, saying that now that the economy of the country is bad, the companies are still giving the youth platform to excel in their talents.
Green who was represented by the Secretary of RSFA Ibigoni Akobo commended Total E&P Nigeria Ltd and its joint venture partner NNPC for giving the youth the opportunity to showcase their skills, be peaceful and become good sportsmen.
Earlier, the president of Egi Youth Forum Odioku Umejuru had thanked the organizers of the tournament, saying that the youth of the host communities will maintain peace during and beyond the competition.
The opening match was between Erema United FC an Ihuowo FC which ended in a goalless draw.

By: Kiadum Edokor

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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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