Sports
20th National Sports Festival Now Holds In April
The 20th National Sports Festival (NSF), originally meant to take place in March 2020 in Benin City, has again been moved from February 14 to 28.
Tidesport source gathered that the event tagged “Edo 2020” has now been moved to April.
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, made the disclosure at a media briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Monday in Abuja.
The February14 to February 28 dates for the multi-sports competition were approved by Extraordinary National Council on Sports (NCS) late last year.
The minister said the reason for the new date was based on “the science of the virulent nature of the second wave of COVID-19”.
Meanwhile, as contingents from 35 States of the Federation, and the FCT, prepare to arrive in Benin, for the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) scheduled to begin on Sunday, a credible Edo Government official says the festival may be postponed yet again owing to paucity of funds.
The source, who confirmed the planned postponement, in an interview with newsmen on Monday, in Benin, said both the Edo and the Federal Governments were currently working on sorting out issues as regards the hosting.
“I can categorically tell you that the festival will no longer commence on February 14th, as earlier announced by the Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr Sunday Dare.
“The same reason given by Governor Godwin Obaseki is still the reason why the festival will not hold as rescheduled. You will recall that the Governor said that the state needs financial support from the federal government to be able to host the festival.
“The state is ready for the hosting; facilities and other logistics, aside fund, needed for a successful festival are ready and Edo will host the best festival ever if government yields to its request for support.
“The state has put in place some of the best sporting facilities this country has ever seen, in preparation for the hosting of the festival. The COVID-19 pandemic has not really helped at all and we hope that the government will accede to our sincere request,” the source, who craved anonymity, said.
The source, however, said that the federal government may soon announce a new date for the fiesta, as soon as it concludes talks with the Edo government on funding the festival.
“I can confirm to you that there is already a discussion by both parties, on how to resolve the funding matter and only then will a new date be fixed by the government, when things are sorted out,” the source said.
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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