Sports
CONMEBOL calls for unity ahead of World Cup
As the controversy over the upcoming World Cup in Qatar continues, one of the leading soccer bodies in the world has called for unity among soccer nations.
Although millions of fans are looking forward to the tournament and sports betting sites such as betfromafrica.com have been doing plenty of business as bettors attempt to predict the winner of the competition, there have been vocal and persistent criticisms surrounding the tournament.
The complaints are not recent in origin. In fact, the tournament has been controversial ever since it was announced that Qatar would be hosting it. There is a long list of reasons why critics are opposed to the tournament, with the state’s treatment of its citizens, the many deaths of migrant workers who built the facilities staging the games of the World Cup, and Qatar’s terrible record on LGBT rights.
Amnesty International is just one of the organizations that has called on players and soccer associations to make a stand against the tournament, but there has also been considerable pushback from various soccer authorities, including the world governing body FIFA, which has advised all soccer nations to concentrate on soccer rather than what it describes as politics.
Managers have also spoken out against demands that players should be under pressure to make personal statements or protests during or in the build-up to the tournament. One of the most prominent was Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who said it was not fair to expect players to bear the burden for protest, although Klopp himself has also criticized the tournament.
CONMEBOL has issued a lengthy statement saying that the tournament, which gets underway on November 20th, should be supported by all soccer nations. In its statement, CONMEBOL, on behalf of its 10 member associations, asks nations to show unity ahead of the tournament, highlighting the hospitality offered by Qatar, the excellent sports venues and the fact that all 32 teams want to demonstrate their soccer ability. The statement also emphasized that it was a time for the message of soccer to be delivered to the wider world and that optimism, diversity and tolerance were at the heart of soccer.
Although CONMEBOL’s statement will be welcomed by FIFA and by the Qatar tournament authorities, the controversy has not gone away. Many players have revealed that they will in fact be making a protest. In the England squad, 10 players, including captain Harry Kane, will be wearing armbands to support the LGBT community. Denmark’s shirts, produced by Hummel, will be plain and muted in color and design as a message about the human cost of the tournament. Australian players have also released a film calling on Qatar to repeal anti-LGBT laws.
Adding to the controversy, there has been some response from figures associated with the Qatar tournament. Qatari Foreign Affairs Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani has accused what he describes as a small number of unrepresentative people of hypocrisy.
Qatar won the right to host the tournament back in 2010, becoming the first Arab nation to stage the World Cup, but from the start, there has been criticism of many aspects of the bid. Initially, it was claimed that the Qatari bid was secured through bribes to FIFA officials, although a subsequent investigation cleared Qatar of any wrongdoing in the way that they campaigned.
Initial complaints were based on the fact that Qatar is not a soccer nation, and that playing a football tournament in Qatar at the height of summer would be dangerous for players and spectators alike. The latter criticism eventually led to the adjustment of the tournament, which was originally slated for the summer of 2022, to November and December.
However, criticism soon turned to the issue of the deaths and ill-treatment of migrant workers in Qatar. A report by a UK newspaper in 2021 suggested that as many as 6,500 workers had died in constructing the stadiums, roads and facilities necessary for the competition. The International Labour Organization puts the true figure of deaths and injuries at over 38,000, although the Qatar authorities maintain that less than 40 workers had died at World Cup construction sites.
The treatment of LGBT people has also been high on the list of criticisms. Gay men in Qatar can face three years in prison or even the death penalty, although there is no record of this penalty being enforced, and the nation’s record in this area is worse even than that of Russia, which hosted the 2018 tournament. While soccer authorities such as CONMEBOL may hope for unity, it is likely that protests will continue throughout the competition, from players, fans, activists and others.
In a bid to make the Pillar of Associations Rivers state football tournament to become a permanent annual feature in Rivers state football calendar and a veritable platform for alternative career opportunity for Pillar members and members of Rivers football community, the Chairman of the tournament’s Organising Committee, Comrade Franklin Obute has stated that they were open to welcoming sponsorships from corporate entities and well meaning individuals.
Comrade Obute in an interview with news men on a match day at the ongoing competition at the Rivers State University’s ground said that the Pillar of Associations were ready to partner interested parties, who would be willing to invest in the competition through sponsorship towards elevating the quality and standard of the tournament.
According to him, “The Pillar of Associations tournament, due to the opportunities available, owing to the sheer number of businesses and members obtainable in the Pillar, would be a very attractive opportunity to exploit through sponsorship”.
He stated that there would be a conscious efforts toward sensitising the corporate and private environments to buy into the vision and objectives of the tournament. He explained that due to the open nature of the competition, whereby members of the association are allowed to engage any footballer from across the country, whether a business man or not, any sponsor would be able to enjoy unimaginable mileage.
“Every multinational company, private businesses should aspire to be part of the sponsorship of this tournament because there are so much benefits derivable therein, the coverage is very wide. You know that organising a football tournament of this nature is capital intensive, so, any sponsorship to add more value is welcomed”, he said.
The 2025 edition is currently ongoing and has reached the second round stage where matches are now being played on knockout basis, beginning from Friday.
By: Gabriel Nwanetanya
Some of the best golfers across Africa are expected to converge on the Ikoyi Club 1938 Golf Section for the three-day Ikoyi Ladies Golf Tournament holding from November 11 to 13.
The star-studded amateur open tournament is part of the activities lined up by the leadership of the club to celebrate the ladies’ tournament’s 50th anniversary.
Speaking at a world press conference at the Club’s headquarters in Ikoyi, the Ladies Club Captain, Mrs Peggy Onwu, explained that the tournament will offer opportunity for leading amateur golfers across 11 countries of the world to showcase their skills on the green lawn.
According to her, over 150 golfers have already registered for the open tournament, which will attract mouth-watering prizes, including a trophy, a premium ticket to the United States of America, among others.
The event will be preceded by ‘Twilight evening,’ which will see the participants play the golf game towards dawn, in a relaxed atmosphere with cocktails, networking and good music.
She thanked the various sponsors of tournament, including PWC, Delta Airline, Western Star, First EGP, among others, for identifying and keying into the Club’s goals and aspirations as part of their corporate social responsibilities.
Mrs. Onwu added that the event was not only a celebration of resilience, commitment, dedication and sacrifice, but a rare display of exemplary team spirit by all members of the Ladies Golf Section.
Thrilled by the presence of a Nigerian-born Italy- based golfer and fashion icon, Bali Lawal, as well as other professionals expected to grace the tournament, she promised that the tournament will be a memorable outing aimed at mentoring ladies keen on honing their golfing skills.
Speaking in the same vein, Vice Lady Captain, Annie Eimiakhena, explained that the tournament will entail three days of competitive outing showing skills, professional dexterity.
She added that participants and golfers will use the opportunity of the event to network among themselves, while a Masterclass will be held to educate would-be golfers on the dynamics of the game.
The Technical Manager of Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt, Finidi George has praised his boys (players) as they ran away with a point in the rescheduled match day nine of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) against Bendel Insurance.
According to him, before the game, he told his boys that they have to put up a good fighting spirit in the game, knowing that it will not be easy at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.
Finidi said this last Thursday in his post match interview with sports journalists and made available to Tidesports after they secured a goalless draw against Insurance.
He explained that in the first half, the game was 50-50 but in the second half after 15 to 20 minutes, my players pushed them back, looking for goal but they were able to hold them and got the draw.
“ From onset, I knew it was going to be a difficult game. Yes, we have to defend deep and get something. Kudos to my boys, they put up a good fighting spirit.
“ Despite the host creating good number of chances even hitting the crossbar but I must say that the draw is not a bad result.
“ Wasiu Falolu came closer in the second half but his long ranged shot just went over the bar.
“It was not a bad result but we have to move on and see how we can get good results from other matches” Finidi said.
By: Kiadum Edookor
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