Sports

National Principals’ Cup :Sports Ministry Promises To Nurture Athletes To Stardom

Published

2 years ago

March 17, 2021

The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development will monitor and nurture exceptional athletes from the revived National Principals’ Cup Competition to stardom, an official has said. Dr Ademola Are, the ministry’s Director of Grassroots Sports Development, told newsmen last Monday in Abuja that government would work with all relevant stakeholders to achieve this.
He said the ministry in working closely with relevant stakeholders would ensure outstanding athletes at the competition were further developed and exposed.
“We are making sure that talents identified at this level will be handed over to the various sports federations who are expected to take over and groom them for possible podium success for Nigeria in the nearest future,”. Are who is also the Chairman, Main Organising Committee (MOC) of the competition said.
He added that the ministry was desirous of having great footballers again who came through the ranks of the Principals Cup.
Are noted that the revived competition, which now has other sports such as table tennis and athletics aside football, is now at the zonal stage.
“Thirty-seven schools will now be playing at the zonal finals from Thursday to March 22 in six centres across the country.
“The grand finale of the competition will hold from March 26 to March 31 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja,” he said.
Are said the state finals were supervised by stakeholders such as the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) and Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) because of their closeness to the grassroots.
He however disclosed that any school found to have used or intending to use non-students would be heavily sanctioned and disqualified.
Tidesports source gathered that the revived National Principals Cup is an initiative of the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare.
It is geared towards the discovery of talents in secondary schools.

Sports

Super Eagles Beat Guinea Bissau Tops Group A

Published

2 days ago

March 29, 2023

The Tide

The Super Eagles on Monday in Bissau beat hosts Guinea Bissau 1-0 to reclaim leadership of Group A in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Moses Simon’s penalty kick after 29 minutes gave the Nigerian senior men’s football team the needed win to move to nine points after four matches.
They have now upstaged from the apex position Guinea Bissau who toppled them on Friday in Abuja with a 1-0 win.
Guinea Bissau are with seven points from four matches and in second place, ahead of Sierra Leone who have five points from four matches.
The Tidesports source reports that Nigeria will next face the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in a Match Day 5 fixture.

Sports

2022 NPFL: Nasarawa United Unveils New Players

Published

4 days ago

March 27, 2023

The Tide

Nasarawa United Football Club, Lafia, has unveiled eight new players for the remainder of the 2022/23 league calendar
The newly acquired players comprise one goalkeeper, four defenders and three attackers.
A release signed by the Media Officer of the Club, Eche Amos and made available to Tidesports yesterday, said Goalkeeper, Mohammed Galadima and central defender, Victor Collins both returned to the club after spells at Wikki Tourists FC of Bauchi and Amanat Baghdad FC of Iraq, respectively.
Right full-backs, Samson Vandi Drambi and Nelson Abiam joined from 2nd division side, EFCC FC of Abuja, while Nelson Abiam joined from premier league side Wikki Tourists FC, Bauchi. Full-back, Aminu Yusuf joined from neighbouring Lobi Stars FC, Makurdi.
The trio of centre forwards, Kazeem Abdulrafiu, Isaac James Ogiri and Kolawole Daniel inked the contract papers from Ruqayya Football Academy of Kaduna, ABS FC of Ilorin, and Gombe United FC, Gombe, in that order.
The unveiling ceremony took place last Wednesday in Lafia.
Each of the players is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear as the Solid Miners prepare to overturn their current position on the league standings.
In another development, Nasarawa United yesterday defeated border neighbours, Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi, in an explosive friendly game decided at the Sports Complex of Federal University, Lafia, to fine-tune both teams ahead of the resumption of the second phase of the 2022/23 Nigeria Premier Football League.

Sports

Corruption, Bane of Nigeria Football Dev – Peterside

Published

4 days ago

March 27, 2023

The Tide

If not for the high level of corruption in Nigeria football administration, the country would have produced lots of football stars, former Super Eagles goalkeeper Idah Peterside said.
According to him, the country has a bunch of good and talented players like Victor Osimhem, but because of corrupt administration, many young players were deprived to get national call up.
Idah made the assertion last Wednesday in an interview with sports journalists shortly after Rivers United FC defeated Rangers FC 1-0 in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.
He revealed that he will come back to Nigeria with the view to promote and develop football, following the experiences gained outside the country.
“If I was elected as the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) a lot of things would have changed in the football administration.
“ I have come back to Nigeria, Port Harcourt, my base with all the experiences I had gained around the world to see how one can be involved in the development of the game.
“ Football is my game, I have sacrificed a lot for the development of the game” Idah said.
He congratulates Osimhen for his impressive performances in the Italian League, adding that what he expected Osimhen to do was to win World best or Africa footballer of the year.

By: Kiadum Edookor