Sports
Remove Politics From Sports-Wike
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said that Nigeria may never fully actualise the sporting potentials in the country if political considerations were allowed to always interfere with what happens within the sports industry.
The governor made the observation while speaking with journalists, last Sunday evening at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Omagwa, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Wike watched the match between Rivers United Football Club and Gombe United Football Club at the stadium used to mark the final match in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), and it ended in favour of Rivers Untied F.C 1-0.
The event was also used for the coronation of Rivers United F.C. of Rivers State as the Champions of Nigeria Football League 2021/2022 Season.
Wike stated that those who should superintend over sports affairs in Nigeria should be seasoned sports administrators and allowed to man the sector professionally.
The governor also pointed out that the random selection of persons to satisfy quota consideration has not truly been of any help in identifying the best talents and this has frustrated the growth of sports on an enduring scale in the country.
“Let us remove politics from sports. Let’s go for the best. NFF, the Super Eagles, Falcons, we must do things based on merit, getting those who are qualified.
“Let us not say take this from East, take from South, take from West, and take from North in order to make up the list, no. That won’t be the best for us.
“I want to tell Nigerians to know that sports should go beyond politics. Sports should not be confined to the political arena. We should allow people who have the talents; we should allow people who have the capacity to develop sports in Nigeria on board.”
Wike expressed delight over the victory clinched by the Rivers United F.C. as the champions of the Nigerian League.
He stated that to put a team together to play as one and to win a trophy required firm leadership, which he encouraged.
“When I came on board in 2015, we had Sharks Football Club of Port Harcourt and we had Eagle Cement Football Club. I said, this is one state and for now (then), it is important to put our talents together so we will have a formidable team.
“It was not easy to achieve that and we didn’t expect it to be easy that way. But we thank God today that all our efforts have been fruitful in seeing that we have won the Nigerian League.
“So, leadership is key in everything you’re doing and if you don’t have that leadership, it would not have been possible for us.”
Wike said he was delighted that Rivers State has won the Nigeria League and would represent the country in the Champions League.
He gave the assurance that his administration would give the best support to Rivers United F.C as it prepares for the Champions League in order for them to return with the trophy from that competition.
Speaking further, Wike said that since government was a continuum, his administration has done the best it can for sports development in the state, and believes that his successor would take over from where he has stopped.
“The question is about what is good for Rivers people. So, I don’t think that any governor or government that will be in charge of this state after my tenure will relent with what we are talking about in terms of sports development. It concerns youth development.”
In his remarks, Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, said it was exciting for him to witness the emergence of Rivers United F.C. as champions of Nigerian League.
“I think that what is happening today is exciting for me. 20 games, and 10 clubs playing their final game and we are here to watch Rivers United being crowned the leader of the premier league. I think, it is exciting”.
Expressing his expectations what the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should brace up to do, especially with their election in view in September, 2022, Dare said NFF must do what was needful and give Nigerians fresh breath of air.
“You know, there is always room for improvement and we know that NFF must be able to take care of their business. I have said it, they have a status, they have a Congress, they should just do what’s needful and give Nigerians the fresh breathe and support they need.”
Isaako All Stars FC of Opuoko and Khana Khana AllStars Football all in Local Government Area of Rivers State will tomorrow engage in a friendly football match at Opuoko Mini Stadium.
Chatting with Tidesports in a telephone interview yesterday the Chairman of Khana All Stars Saro Tap-le said that the encounter is not going to be an easy game in spite it is an AllStars game.
He express his side readiness for the encounter stating that the opportunity as come for them to showcase their talents.
However, the chairman explained that AllStars game is not about winning but the excitement, love, unity and friendship it creates is more important.
” Tomorrow game is not going to be an easy one despite is a AllStars game. We are going there in a full force to do what we know how to do best and to showcase our talents.
“As Chairman of Khana All Stars I believes we have an edge over the Isaako All Stars be we are training so hard for the encounter” Tap-le said.
Also speaking the Chairman of Isaako All Stars Mina Zaasi Iloori sees the match as an opportunity to build relationships.
” My brother it is an AllStars friendly game I think winning is not important but the paramount thing is the relationship we are going to create among both teams and my community at large
” We are training hard because of the encounter because I will not be in my house and somebody will rob soap in my eyes.
” As I speak with you we are just coming from back training ground to ensure all my players are fit for the match.
” I am using this medium to call on football fans to come en mass to Opuoko Mini Stadium tomorrow and enjoy the best of round leather game.
I promise the game will be an exciting display of football talents and sportsmanship”, Iloori said.
Kiadum Edookor
Thierry Henry has called for the return of the away goals rule in the aftermath of the bombastic Champions League semi-final between Inter Milan and Barcelona.
The visitors at the Estadio Olimpic Lluis Companys came within milimeters of clinching the first leg of the final-four clash after former Arsenal star Henrikh Mkhitaryan netted late in the second-half.
But the linesman was quick to raise his flag, and semi-automated offside ruled out what would have been a thrilling conclusion to the high-octane 3-3 draw.
The hosts came from behind twice to share the spoils, chasing Inter Milan from the first minute of the game after Marcus Thuram stunned the Barcelona faithful into silence with his neatly flicked goal.
Denzel Dumfries doubled Inter’s lead 20 minutes later, but it took just three more for the Blaugrana to finally get on the scoresheet courtesy of a moment of magic from teenage starlet Lamine Yamal.
Ferran Torres drew Barcelona level ahead of the break, but Lamal was forced to play catch-up again in the second-half after Dumfries scored his second.
In light of the impressive effort from Inter, Henry wondered if the team should have got more from the fixture ahead of the second-leg at the San Siro.
‘I know it’s been like that for a very time, and we have to accept it,’ Henry said of the removal of the away goals rule, ‘But off air I was talking to Jamie (Carragher), and I was like, “how can you score three goals away from home and you don’t have an advantage?”
‘Away goals for me were massive, you score three goals away and you still don’t have an advantage 0-0 at home,’ Henry shrugged.
UEFA took the decision to scrap the rule which gave goals scored away from home the ability to act as a tiebreaker in the case of level scorelines ahead of the 2021-22 season.
Current FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger claimed during his time as Arsenal manager in 2015 that the away goals rule ‘encouraged the team at home not to attack’ and that ‘the weight of the away goal (was) too big today’.
Without the rules, the tie at San Siro will go to extra time and penalties to decide which teams books their spot in the Champions League final.
But based on Wednesday evening’s performance, Henry seemed to give Inter a fighting chance against the newly minted Copa del Rey champions.
The 2025 London Marathon set a new world record for the number of finishers despite hot conditions on Sunday for its 45th edition.
A total of 56,640 runners crossed the finish line at the end of the 26.2-mile route, Guinness World Records has confirmed.
The number surpassed the previous record of 55,646 set by the New York Marathon in November.
Hugh Brasher, chief executive of London Marathon Events, said he hoped the high number of finishers inspired people to apply for the 2026 race ballot.
“The London Marathon was already the most popular in terms of ballot entries, with 840,318 people applying for the 2025 race,” he said.
“It is also the world’s largest annual one-day fundraising event with more than £1.3bn raised for charity since 1981.”
The number of people applying for the ballot to enter this year’s race broke the world record of 578,304 for the 2024 edition.
Of UK applicants 49% were female, while there was a 105% increase in applications from people aged between 20-29.
Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa surged to victory in the elite women’s race in a world record for a women’s only field, while Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe triumphed in the men’s event.