Sports
We Are Silently Preparing For Tokyo Olympics – Dare
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, yesterday in Akure said Team Nigeria to the Tokyo Olympics had been “silently” preparing for the Games. Dare told newsmen at the two-day meet organised by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) that not all preparatory processes were being publicised.
“Preparations are ongoing at various levels, but some of these will not make it to the pages of the newspapers and the media and it’s deliberate too.
“We have several plans running almost concurrently too, for our foreign-based athletes and home-based athletes. But not all of these will be in the newspapers.
“And just this last week, eight other Olympic-bound athletes were adopted too and you know what that means.
“That’s a plus. We had five or six adopted before COVID-19 last year. It became a bit difficult after COVID-19, because it took so long because people lost a lot of money and revenue.
“But just last week we had about eight adopted, bringing the total to about 15. We hope that we can adopt about 40 of them to make a difference,” he said.
Tidesports source gathered that the 2020 Olympics have been rescheduled for July 23 to Aug. 8.
Dare, who hailed the performance of athletes at the AFN event, assured that the country ‘s sports authorities were working day and night ahead of the Olympics.
He noted that the two-day meet was impressive as momentum was being gained ahead of the Olympics.
The minister added that he was happy that young athletes were setting personal best records with excitement and a higher spirit of competitiveness.
“I think the two-day meet we have had in Akure is good. I followed what happened yesterday (Saturday), and I think we are gaining momentum as regards the Olympics.
“But what gladdens my heart is the young athletes setting personal records. One can see the excitement, the competitiveness, and I think the future of Nigeria in the track and field event is great.”
He added that it would be his greatest moment for the 2020 National Sports Festival (NSF) holds.
Dare said it would be in the interest of the country’s sports development and would be a great factor for the Olympics in July.
The President of AFN, Olamide George, said the body would continue to assess the readiness of home-based athletes ahead of the Olympics through competitions, while also discovering new talents.
Goerge said several athletes have continued with their blistering form by posting good times, especially Enoch Adegoke who recorded an impressive 10.38 seconds in the 100 metres.
Speaking to newsmen, Adegoke who is currently the fastest man in the country said he was not under any form of pressure of his record being broken by another sprinter.
“I am not under pressure to beat anybody. I am just under pressure to beat my own record. I trust my coaches on ground and I believe in God,” he said.
Sports
Naphtali Director Reiterates Commitment To Dev Chess
The Chief executive officer (CEO) of Naphtali Groups Dr Apollos Akomaka has reiterated his commitment to develop the game of Chess in Rivers State and beyond.
He stated his intention was to ensure that Chess is as popular as football and played by everybody in the State.
Dr. Akomaka said these shortly after he won the Naphtali Battle Of Two Generations Chess Competition, in Port Harcourt, sponsored by Naphtali physiotherapy and wellness Clinic, recently. at Twilight Lounge Total Gospel street, Odili road, Port Harcourt.
In the competition “The Battle of Two Generations came to a dramatic display with the Old Generation (Veterans) staging a comeback after Day 1 to thump the New Generation with a 7.5 vs 4.5 points on the final Day.
At the commencement of the day one tournament Martins Konju play the white pieces against tactical Dr Apollos Akomaka( veteran) who played the black pieces, Akomaka stretched the young Martins Konju’s resilience to hold on the game to a draw via continuous checks that eventually made Konju fell into a mating net and got mated.
Meanwhile, board two saw an Under 14 player John Nwachukwu with the white pieces,who delivered a strategic attacking onslaught on his opponents Stanley Egbujie, the highest Fide rated player of the event with 1940 rating. Stanley Egbujie could not hold on with Nwachukwu’s attack as he had to resign to avoid an embarrassing mate that was in the offing.
It a different ball game on board three where the highest rated new generation player Pamella Ezeh Souter with a 1904 rating against an unrated veteran Ipalibo George wasted no time in employing his tactical prowess to subdue the veteran who succumbed to pressure and resigned,giving the new generation the needed win after round one.
In the subsequent round Martin Konju secured a 3 fold repetition and earn a vital draw against Dr. Akomaka while Stanley Egbujie had it easy over John Nwachukwu as Pamela Ezeh took advantage of the rustiness of Ipalibo George to deliver another resounding victory to give the new generation an early advantage of 3.5: 2:5 after Day 1.
Tonye Orabere
Sports
Team Rivers Shine At South-East Chess Championship
The second edition of South East Zonal Chess Championship draw its curtain close at the weekend in Umuahia the capital city of Abia State.
The tournament saw Rivers Chess team which was represented by three players Stanley Egbujie, Eunice Ajawachukwu and veteran, Dr. Appollos Akomaka who captained the team excelled at championship.
Rivers players won all their games in the day one of the tournament, in the female category Ajawachukwu emerged champion and narrowly lost to highly rated player to win silver medal with a 4/7 points in the major championship
Stanley Egbujie of Rivers performed impressively which took him to the finals but also lost to the joint winner of the major championship as Egbujie dropped to fourth position by ranking with 5/7 points.
This year edition did not feature the veteran category; however the reigning veteran champion of the championship, Dr. Akomaka also garnered 3.5points out of 7 to still remain undisputed as the veteran champion of the zone.
Speaking shortly after the event, the acting chairman of the Rivers State Chess Association Dr Apollos Akomaka urged players to always put in their best, saying and that one day their efforts will be crowned with glory.
He stated that if they continue to perform impressively in competitions he believes government would support them.
Tonye Orabere
Sports
NDDC To Introduce Secondary Schools Football League
The Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Dr. Samuel Ogbuku has pledged to introduce Niger Delta Secondary Schools League (NDSSL) to promote and develop football in the region.
He stated that in the next edition of W.W White cup the best player would be sent to any football academy in Europe, instead of scouts to come.
Dr. Ogbuku said these shortly after the finals of the competition sponsored by NDDC, last Friday at the Stella Maris College, between Ennitonia High School and Nyemoni Anglican Grammar School in Port Harcourt,
According to him, the reason of sponsoring the tournament was to bring back Port Harcourt how it used to be, adding that the name was also maintained to immortalise the person who started the competition as a way of giving back to the society.
“We believe that we needed to go back how Port Harcourt used to be, the peaceful Port Harcourt as it used to be that glorified all of us. Besides, for a long time now we have not played inter secondary football competition in the State.
“Next year we will improve on it by sending the best player to any of the football academics in Europe. This competition would go round the nine States that NDDC covers but it will not bare W.W.White. We are going to look for other existing competition there and winners of each State will play Niger Delta Secondary School League”, he said.
The NDDC Managing Director , further revealed that the the commission would introduce football competition for female in the area hence it will not bare W.W. White. We all know that female football in Nigeria’ started from Rivers State.
“ The truth was that we are gender friendly, we will introduce another competition and not W.W. White Cup, if we do that then it will not bare W.W.White cup again”, he stated.
At the end of the game Enitonia High School beat 4-2 Nyemoni Anglican Grammar School on penalty after playing 1-1 at regulation time to emerge champions.
Consequently, Ennitonia High School go home with N1.5m while Nyemoni smile home with N1M.
Tonye Orabere
-
Rivers3 days ago
Forum Tasks Stakeholders On Women Empowerment
-
News3 days ago
Tinubu Vows To Stabilise ECOWAS
-
Niger Delta17 hours ago
A’Ibom Seeks End To Local Engineers, Craftsmen Discrimination
-
Opinion12 hours ago
Judicial Manipulation: Threat To Democracy
-
News3 days ago
Ginger Farmers Seek Fubara’s Support
-
News2 days ago
Rosicrucians Prioritise Societal Dev
-
News16 hours ago
Rivers State Has Witnessed Exceptional Improvement In Healthcare Delivery -Odu
-
News3 days ago
Seadogs Warn Of Debt Crisis As FG Seeks Fresh N2.2bn Loan