Sports

Marathon Organisers Lament Failed N400m Deal

Published

11 months ago

November 17, 2022

The Director-General, Onitsha Business School, Prof Olusegun Sogbesan, has regretted their inability to seal a five-year N400m sponsorship deal for the Onitsha City Marathon.
Sogbesan told journalists in Onitsha, Anambra State on Wednesday that the deal broke down due to the state government’s attitude towards endorsing the Marathon.
He said the state government’s approval was a precondition for willing sponsors to enter into agreement with the organisers and put down their money.
He said, “Lack of cooperation from the previous administration affected the sponsorship of the programme.
“We lost huge amount of money, Anambra State lost that money, and just one bank alone had agreed to sponsor the marathon to the tune of N400m for a five-year period.
“That would have helped to build three sports centres in the state; it would have improved the rating of the marathon itself with additional certification, added great value to the city and impacted greatly on the media community here.”
Sogbesan said the maiden edition of the marathon held in 2019 was a huge success in spite of the challenges, noting that it could not hold in 2020 due to COVID-19.
“We have not had the second edition of the Onitsha City Marathon because of the dysfunctional society and the people who are in positions that would have played the right roles that could have added value to the society.
“Not that the state will sponsor it, but some of the corporate organisations that indicated interest to sponsor it wanted to have confirmation from the state but, that, we lost,” he said.
The renowned professor said that the Onitsha City Marathon organisers had started a conversation with the new chairman of the Anambra Sports Development Commission, Patrick Onyedum.
He said the commission’s chairman had shown tremendous interest in the marathon and that negotiations were ongoing on how to return the marathon so that local and international long distance runners could compete for glory on the streets of Onitsha.
“We still have our certification; a visiting assessor from IAAF said Onitsha had the best marathon route in Africa. We are willing to work with the Anambra government to develop the sector,” Sogbesan added.

Sports

Race For Zenith Bank B’Ball League Top Four Resumes

Published

7 hours ago

October 4, 2023

The Tide

The battle for the final two slots for the 2023 Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League will begin at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta State, with MFM Women Basketball Club and Bayelsa Blue Whales looking to secure one of the two slots.
Two teams; Nigerian Customs and Air Warriors secured two slots from the Savannah Conference and now, the Atlantic Conference teams will battle to win the two other slots to complete the Top Four for Final Phase.
The Second Phase of the Atlantic Conference was postponed due to the recently concluded National Youth Games and with the arrival of all teams, hostilities began yesterday with Bayelsa Whales and MFM taking on Dolphins and Sunshine Angels, respectively.
MFM, who finished second in the last edition will have to be at their best as they are currently third on the table coming from the First Phase where they won three games while losing two while Bayelsa Whales on the other hand are second with four wins and a loss against undefeated First Bank who is poised to finish top of the table.
First Bank will hope to continue their impressive form when they meet IGP Queens who are also hoping to create an upset and get a slot to be in Lagos for the finals scheduled later in October.

Sports

NRFF President Hails ValueJet’s Contribution to Rugby Development

Published

7 hours ago

October 4, 2023

The Tide

President of Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, NRFF, Dr Ademola Are has hailed the impact of ValueJet’s to rugby development and sports generally in the country.
Dr Are who was speaking on the sideline of the just concluded National Youth Games in Asaba, where Delta State emerged winners in both the male and female events of rugby, said ValueJet’s contributions to sports development could not be overlooked..
“We can’t over emphasize the impact of ValueJet in Nigeria rugby because they came at a time we needed them the most and all thanks to the president of the company, Kunle Soname who went the extra mile to ensure that Nigeria senior men national team, the Black Stallions participated at Africa Sevens Olympic qualifier in Harare, Zimbabwe.
“Despite not being the most popular sport in the country, he saw the potentials in rugby when others were hesitating, just like he has for other businesses of his with his canny business acumen.

Sports

Peseiro Congratulates Rivers Utd

Published

7 hours ago

October 4, 2023

The Tide

Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro has congratulated Rivers United following their victory over Etoile Filante of Burkina Faso which ensured their qualification to the group stages of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Rivers United defeated their visitors 2-0 in the second leg of the second preliminary round of CAF Confederation Cup at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Sunday night.
Rivers United missed two penalties in the game before Alex Oyowah scored the opener in the 89th minute. Oyowah completed his brace in the 10th minute of added time after converting a penalty to end the score 2-0.
The first leg of the encounter ended 0-0 two weeks ago at the Stade Muncipal Yamoussoukro, Cote D’Ivoire, giving the Pride of Rivers a 2-0 aggregate win and a group stage ticket.
Peseiro hailed the former Nigeria league champions on his personal X handle following their achievement.
“Congratulations to Rivers United on making it to the CAF Confederation Cup group stage. Best of luck in the competition!,” he wrote.
Rivers United reached the quarter-final stage of the CAF Confederation Cup last season before being eliminated by Young Africans of Tanzania.
Up next for Stanley Eguma led side is their first Nigeria Premier Football League NPFL game of the season against Niger Tornadoes slated for the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on Sunday.