Sports
Optima Energy Gold Cup kicks off Sept 22
Organisers of the Optima Energy Gold Cup have revealed that Remo Stars will begin their title defence of the pre-season tournament for domestic leagues’ clubs on September 22, 2022.
Speaking on its 10th edition, General Coordinator of the tourney, Tunde Shamsudeen, said: “We want to use this medium to thank the over 30 different clubs, which cut across the three tiers of our league, that have taken part in the Ogunjobi Gold Cup (now Optima Energy Gold Cup).
“The tournament, began in 2012, has proven to be the best platform for teams to prepare extensively against tough teams, know their strengths, drawbacks and proffer solutions to them before going into the season.
“Also, the Optima Energy Gold Cup over the years has been part of some club’s success stories, including former NPFL champions, Kano Pillars, Lobi Stars, MFM FC, Niger Tornadoes, FC Ebedei and now Remo Stars.
“It’s on record that one or two teams that participate in the yearly tourney, either end up winning the NPFL title, qualify for CAF inter-club tournament or gain promotion.
“As we set the ball rolling for this year’s edition, it promises to be an exciting one for the 10 teams that will be looking forward to taking part and indeed fans.
“All necessary arrangement and logistics has been put in place to ensure a hitch-free tourney as there will be much fanfare and activation.”
He said the tournament would hold at the Remo Stars Stadium and FC Ebedei Stadium in Ikenne and Sagamu, adding that official invitation letters have been sent to intending clubs in the three tiers of the domestic leagues, including Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Nigeria National League (NNL) and Nationwide League One (NLO).
“Ten teams are to participate in the 10-day soccer fiesta that will begin on September 22 and climax on Independence Day, October 1, 2022.
“Teams will be grouped into two groups of A and B with five teams each and are expected to play four group matches with two teams with the highest number of points qualifying for the semifinals,” he said.
Sports
Dosu Survives Ghastly Accident, Again
Former Nigeria goalkeeper, Dosu Joseph, is full of thanks to God after he miraculously survived another life-threatening automobile accident recent at Kara, along the Lagos-Ibadan Express Way, where a heavy-duty truck ran into his SUV.
Narrating his ordeal, the 51-year-old, who guided Nigeria to gold in the Men’s Football Tournament of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, broke the news in a statement on his social media handles on Friday.
“To God be the glory, another death escaped by Grace and Mercy of God. Me and my friend SM were at Enyo Filling Station after Ojodu Berger bus stop to get fuel on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, around 6 p.m. when this MACK truck fully loaded with iron, with registration number LND 470 XX, left the road and crushed my car beyond repairs. Thank God for life,” he stated.
This is the second time the soft-spoken club proprietor will cheat death by a whisker, having been involved in an accident in 1997 that ended his career at 23 and left his spinal cord in bad shape.
He helped Julius Berger win the Nigeria FA Cup in November 1997 shortly a memorable Olympic outing by keeping a clean sheet in the finals against Katsina United. The following year, he was involved in the auto along Ikorodu Road, Lagos, which not only cut his career short but also left him almost paralysed, ending his spell at Serie A club Reggiana.
The former Nigeria international, who also kept goal for Julius Berger FC, said the case has been reported to Isheri Police Station, Ogun State, where the driver is currently detained and the truck also seized.
According to him, the owner of the truck said he can’t fix the badly damaged SUV until after a year.
Sports
Sports Development Going Down In Nigeria – Ex-International
Ex – Super Eagles of Nigeria, Okwuchukwu Waobikeze has observed that sports development in Nigeria is going down.
According to him, grassroots sports is very important, without it, the administrators cannot get it right. So everybody should key into grassroots sports development, he said.
Waobikeze said this last Wednesday in an interview with sports journalists shortly after the Port Harcourt All Stars Independence football festival (OCTOBERFEST) at the Port Harcourt club, Rivers State.
He explained that for sports administrators to get it right, grassroots development is key. “They should be organising competition at the grassroots level to fish out the young ones for different sporting activities.
“Grassroots sports is very important so the administrators have to go back to the grassroots.
” Sports Development in Nigeria is going down we need to go back to the basics.
“Look at the just concluded Paris Olympics, Nigeria did not win any medal.
” Our football team did not even qualify for the Olympics. We are going down.
” If they should go back to the grassroots, they will get young ones in the games and talents will be developed.
” I started from school games, to youth games before playing for the national team. Now everybody wants to fly board to play professional football and a lot do not know the basics of the game.
” A lot of people did not know the little things about the game, they just want to play. It is not done so,” Waobikeze stated.
Kiadum Edookor
Sports
NFF President Laments Dearth Of Quality Stadia In Nigeria
The President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Ibrahim Gusau, has decried the state of playing pitches in Nigeria yesterday saying only one stadium can host grade A matches in the country.
The NFF President, who spoke yesterday shortly after accompanying Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State to inspect ongoing total rehabilitation work at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi, expressed delight over the standard of work being done by the contractor.
He commended Governor Alia for undertaking the total rehabilitation of the stadium noting “I am very impressed with what am seeing on ground.
“You all know that for now, you can play grade A match, which is Super Eagles matches in Nigeria only in Uyo stadium. It is becoming a major source of worry for me and other Nigerians that in a country like Nigeria, we have only one stadium where we can play grade A matches.
“So when I heard that the Governor has awarded contract for the upgrade of facilities at the Aper Aku Stadium, I hurriedly came to talk to him to see the extent to which we can come in to assist and I must confirm that I am really happy with what I have seen on ground.
“We have our Technical Director here who will be working hand in hand with the contractors to ensure that everything is done correctly so that in the nearest future, we can have an alternative stadium for Super Eagles matches and that alternative should be Makurdi.
“With the commitment of the governor I know it is going to be possible and by the grace of God, we will do everything to support him to achieve the dream.
On his drive to resusitate grassroot football development, the NFF President said, “part of my campaign promises was to see how we can develop football at the grassroots and part of the process to develop grassroots football is to organise under 15 and the under 17 Governors Cup Competitions and it is not only in Benue State.