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National Stadium:Firm Expresses Worry Over Inferior Contractors

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A stadium facilities construction and maintenance firm, United Logistics, has accused the Federal Ministry of Sports of re-awarding the contract for the installation of the electronics scoreboard and laying of the tartan tracks at the National Stadium, Lagos, to an ‘inferior’ company despite the enormous resources made available for the project by the financier, Premier Lotto.
Recall that the Ministry of Sports was able to convince Premier Lotto to finance the rehabilitation of the National Stadium, Lagos, as part of its adopt-a-facility programme, which also accounted for the renovation of the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja, by Dangote Group.
While the Abuja National Stadium job has since been delivered by Dangote Group, work on the Lagos arena is expected to be completed this year. However, United Logistics has warned Nigerians that the Lagos job may not live up to expectations due to an alleged abuse of the contractual procedures.
Stating its case in Lagos at the weekend, a United Logistics Director, Tox Osibanjo, affirmed that Kyle Next/Builders Consult is the main contractor, while it was contacted as consultants for technical support for supply and installation of the electronic scoreboard and the running tracks.
He said: “After an official presentation of Mondo tracks to Chief Adebutu Kensington (Baba Ijebu), who in his philanthropic gesture approved procurement of Mondo tracks and stadium electronic scoreboard, the contractors later procured what was different from the agreed tracks and scoreboard from Mondo.
“Mondo tracks and scoreboard were the original items presented at the Public Private Partnership (PPP) meeting in the beginning.
“We criticised the contractor for the unprofessional way it has been handling the entire project, especially, the planting of the natural grass and installation of the Casali track.”
Osibanjo accused the main contractors of trying to shortchange them, hence, the resort to inferior materials, adding: “Their refusal to prepare the sub-base and drainage according IAAF standard led to United Logistics’ refusal to install on a defective asphaltic track and blocked drainage.”
Osibanjo reaffirmed that United Logistics was contracted by the Federal Government to procure tracks for the renovation of the National Stadium, which it perfectly delivered in good condition.
He alleged, however, “we were contacted to prepare our technical team from Italy for pre-inspection of the stadium tracks to begin the final stage of installation of the track and all efforts made by our company for the payment of our balance proved abortive.
“To our surprise, we saw in the national newspapers, the usual government magic that an amateur company had been assigned the contract for the installation of the tracks- that United Logistics supplied.
“I want to reiterate that our company (United Logistics) was contracted to procure and lay the Casali track at the dilapidated National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos. We delivered the tracks as specified. So, we were still waiting to get our balance for the purchase done, and then move to the next stage; which is to lay the tracks.”
“The government, instead of paying our balance, bypassed us to give the job to another company. That’s double standard, we just want the sports loving Nigerians to know that such arrangement can’t stand the test of time.”
Also speaking on the issue, Director, Experience Sport Facilities Limited and Mondo representative in West Africa, Oluwole Osaile, questioned the ability of the new contractors to deliver the tartan tracks to specification.
“It’s unprofessional that United Logistics are not allowed to complete the good job that they started. We have a track record together, at least, the tracks of Kaduna Stadium that our company laid since 2009 has stood the test of time in comparison to other tracks across Nigeria that have failed.”
Reacting to the allegations against the Ministry of Sports, Acting Director, Facilities, Okedairo Olatunji, said the complaints were misdirected. According to Olatunji, the renovation of the National Stadium, Lagos, is a product of the ministry’s adopt-a-facility programme, with Premier Lotto as the financier.
“It is not the business of the ministry to query our benefactor on his choice of contractor.
“Premier Lotto, in its magnanimity, is helping Nigeria to restore the National Stadium to its normal state after years of neglect. So, it has the right to employ any company it deems fit for the job.
“We are grateful to Premier Lotto for its gesture,” he said.

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Tottenham Fight Back To Hold Brighton

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Tottenham fought back from two-goals down to secure a deserved point against Brighton.

The Seagulls were second best for much of the match but found themselves 2-0 up after 31 minutes thanks to Yankuba Minteh’s early strike and Yasin Ayari’s powerful drive.

However, Richarlison halved the deficit just before half-time when he stopped a shot by Mohammed Kudus before slotting in.

Spurs dominated the second half but their finishing let them down as Richarlison and substitute Xavi Simons were both unable to make the most of promising opportunities.

But the equaliser came eight minutes from time when Jan Paul van Hecke turned Kudus’ cross into his own net.

Spurs then pushed for a winner as they looked to continue their impressive start to the season, but Brighton held on for the point.

Bundesliga: Kane Continues Goal Harvest (5)

Harry Kane scored his second hat-trick of the season as Bayern Munich overcame a shaky start to win at Hoffenheim and continue their 100% start.

The England captain, 32, broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time with a clinical first-time finish from a cleverly worked low corner, and doubled Bayern’s lead from the spot after Albian Hajdari was harshly penalised for a handball.

That broke Hoffenheim’s resistance and Kane completed his ninth Bundesliga hat-trick with another penalty, given for a foul on substitute Michael Olise after a video assistant referee (VAR) check.

This time Kane sent home keeper Oliver Baumann the wrong way for his 13th Bayern goal in seven matches across all competitions this season, adding to his Champions League double against Chelsea last Wednesday.

“Hat-trick Harry is what they called me in school,” Kane told Tidesports source after the match. “That one kind of stuck when I was younger.”

“Any ball in the box, whether penalty or not, I back myself to hit the target.”

Hoffenheim had the better of the first 45 minutes, Fisnik Asllani only able to hit the post after goalkeeper Manuel Neuer passed straight to the Kosovan.

They eventually got some reward for their efforts, former West Ham full-back Vladimir Coufal’s deflected free-kick beating Neuer to earn the Czech his first goal for the club.

Ex-Liverpool winger Luis Diaz hit the top of the bar late on as he failed to continue his record of scoring in every Bundesliga game this season, but Serge Gnabry added a fourth for Bayern with the last kick, converting a rebound from a tight angle after Baumann saved from Joshua Kimmich.

Nicolas Jackson made his first start since joining Bayern on an initial loan deal from Chelsea, but the Senegal striker had a very quiet game before being replaced in the 62nd minute.

In Italy, Lorenzo Pellegrini fired Roma into the Serie A top four as Lazio had two players sent off in a fiery derby.

The midfielder found the bottom corner in the 38th minute as Roma extended their unbeaten run to four games against their city rivals.

Lazio have lost three of their opening games of the season and had Reda Belahyane and former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi dismissed in late drama.

Roma started well and Rome-born Pellegrini claimed the vital goal – his fourth in a Rome derby after being available for transfer in the summer – following good work down the right by Matias Soule.

But the hosts will rue missed opportunities as Boulaye Dia, Mattia Zaccagni and Alessio Romagnoli all had openings.

With four minutes left substitute Belahyane was shown a red card for a late studs-up challenge on Manu Kone.

Danilo Cataldi struck the outside of the post for Lazio in a last-gasp effort to snatch a point, while team-mate Guendouzi was sent off for dissent after the final whistle.

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Zidane’s Son Switches Allegiance To Algeria

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Luca Zidane, the son of France’s World Cup-winning playmaker Zinedine, has switched his international allegiance from France to Algeria.

Born just outside Marseille, the 27-year-old goalkeeper had appeared for France at various youth levels.

The move, which was approved by Fifa, may enable Zidane to follow in his father’s footsteps by appearing at a World Cup, with Algeria expected to secure a place at the 2026 finals in North America in their qualifier against Somalia next month.

Zidane, who is the second of four brothers, all of whom came through the Real Madrid academy, currently plays for Spanish second tier side Granada.

He played two matches for Madrid and has La Liga experience at Rayo Vallecano, but dropped a level in 2022 to play for Eibar before heading to Andalusia in 2024.

Zidane qualifies for the North African country through his father, whose parents hailed from the Kabylie region of Algeria.

Zinedine Zidane, who is regarded as one of the games greatest players scored twice for France in their 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil, but was famously sent-off in the 2006 final, which was won by Italy after a penalty shootout.

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Man Utd Beat Chelsea To Ease Pressure 

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Manchester United capitalised on Robert Sanchez’s fifth-minute red card to secure a crucial victory over Chelsea in torrential rain at Old Trafford.

The first match in Premier League history to see two or more goals, red cards and substitutions in the first half was settled by goals from United skipper Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, who was the other player sent off before the break.

It was Sanchez’s dismissal that set the course of the game though.

The Spain international raced from his goal to meet Bryan Mbeumo as the striker ran beyond the Chelsea defence.

Sanchez then upended the forward outside his area rather than allow him past to tap the ball into an empty net.

Enzo Maresca’s response to the red card was to take off both Pedro Neto and Estevao Willian and, as Cole Palmer had to be replaced after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury, Chelsea had lost three attacking players in the space of 20 minutes.

Trevor Chalobah pulled one back for Chelsea with a header 10 minutes from time but United kept their nerves at bay to make it to the final whistle with their lead intact.

The victory was United’s second of the season and came in front of minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who gave head coach Ruben Amorim assurances over his future 48 hours earlier.

It also means Chelsea have still not won at Old Trafford since 2013, when Sir Alex Ferguson was United manager.

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