Sports
Stakeholders Seek Take-Off Of PH Real Madrid Academy
Passionate appeal has gone to the Rivers State Government for the commencement of the prestigious Port Harcourt Real Madrid academy conceived and established by the Governor of the State Chief Nyesom Wike.
The academy was designed to promote, develop sports and create employment not only in Rivers State but Nigeria at large.
Consequently, Nigerians, mostly parents and students that have been admitted has sent passionate appeal to His Excellency Governor Nyesom Wike through the State Commissioner for Sports to start academy session to fulfill the aims and objectives.
The academy which had one of the best sporting and skills acquisition facilities in Africa was scheduled to commence full academy session precisely last year September.
Speaking to one of the best grassroots coach in Rivers State, John Adikisam, said the immediate take off will attract sports tourism to the State and economic advancement.
“ As a coach I am appealing to the State Government to start the academy because the children have almost forfeited one academic session after their admission and is not good for the children and other employees that are patiently waiting.
“It is not in doubt that the students and employees are fraustrated due to the delay. Even we coaches are also worried because the zeal of training young lads is gradually going down.
“ We will be very happy if the Governor Kick start the school before he leaves office, honestly it will be one of the best legacies of Governor Wike’s administration”, Adikisam said.
Grassroots footballer in Port Harcourt, Okon Andrew, has also appeal to the State Governor to kick start the school, saying that hoodlums have started to vandalise the facilities as it seemed to be abandoned.
“You know if a facilities is not in use there are tendencies of been vandalised by hoodlums and thieves they will see it as their source of revenue.
“I join other meaningful Nigerians to passionately appeal to Rivers State Government to commence the school”. he said.
It will recalled that the commissioner for sports in Rivers State, Barrister Christopher Green, precisely August last year reiterated that academy activities of the school will start September 2022, saying that 40 boys and 20 girls within the ages of 9-12 will start the school.
“Our academic session will start September, it will run normal Nigerian school calendar and those who passed the screening will start orientation at the end of this month (August 2022).
“I want to tell you that the facilities in the Real Madrid academy in Port Harcourt are of world class standard, especially, the security network system which can be rated as one of the best in the world.
“The Governor of the state, Chief Nyesom Wike, is a nationalist, that is why the screening was open for all Nigerian children,” Hon. Green said.
The commissioner further revealed that the academy would send 11 exceptional players to Europe every year and that admission process will also be done annually.
“Apart from football, there is also vocational department for students who may not cope to learn skills,” he stated.
By: Tonye Orabere
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
One of the greatest strikers of the past 15 years, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, is among the big names who will not be playing at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
The 37-year-old Barcelona striker, who has scored 89 goals for his country, was not able to inspire his side as they lost 3-2 in Stockholm against Sweden in Tuesday’s play-off final.
Lewandowski, who won the German Bundesliga title on 10 occasions, twice with Borussia Dortmund and then in eight successive seasons with Bayern Munich, before winning La Liga twice with Barca, may have played in his last major international tournament.
Lewandowski captained Poland at the World Cup in 2018, but did not score in Russia as his country came bottom of the group. He had a better tournament four years later in Qatar, scoring twice as Poland reached the last 16 before losing to France.
He netted four times in Group G in 2026 qualifying only for Poland to finish three points behind the Netherlands, before losing to Sweden on Tuesday.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
Another star that will be missing in action at the mundial is Gialuigui Donnarumma of Italy.
Italy lost in the World Cup play-offs for a third successive qualifying tournament
Gianluigi Donnarumma has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season since he moved from Paris St-Germain for £26m in September, after helping the French club win the Champions League last season.
Despite being player of the tournament as Italy won the 2020 European Championship, he misses out on a World Cup again after Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund and Guinea)
Serhou Guirassy is Fourth in the list of Bundesliga top scorers this season
Serhou Guirassy has established himself as one of most prolific strikers playing in Europe, with 62 goals in the German Bundesliga over the past three seasons, while no player scored more than his 13 goals in the Champions League in 2024-25.
But he will not be at the World Cup as his country Guinea went out in the first round of African qualifying, finishing fourth in their group, with only four wins and three draws from their 10 matches.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia and PSG)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped Paris St-Germain become European champions last season, scoring in the 5-0 final win over Inter Milan, and he came 12th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.
But Georgia had a miserable campaign in World Cup qualifying as they only picked up three points from a group that contained Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray and Nigeria)
Victor Osimhen has scored 26 goals for club and country this season
Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win Serie A in 2023 before moving to Galatasaray, where he grabbed 26 goals in 30 games to take them to the Turkish title last season.
Nigeria drew five of their 10 matches in the first group phase as they finished one point behind winners South Africa, but then had a second chance in the following play-off.
With Osimhen already substituted, Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo to miss out on the World Cup.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool and Hungary)
Dominik Szoboszlai has scored 12 goals for Liverpool this season
Liverpool and Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed this season and scored some stunning long-range goals.
But he will not be at the World Cup after his country let a 2-1 lead slip in their final group game with the Republic of Ireland scoring twice in injury time to clinch a spot in the play-offs and eliminate Hungary.
Female wrestlers in action at Governor Diri Wrestling Classics.
Ondo State wrestlers dominated the women’s events on Day six of the fourth Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa on Monday, claiming gold medals in two of the four women’s freestyle categories.
African champion Khadijat Idris of Ondo State led the charge in the 55kg division, defeating rising talent Mary Ayeloh of Bayelsa State by technical superiority to claim gold. Happiness Soso of Delta State and Augustine Rhoda of Lagos State took bronze medals in the category.
Damola Ojo also flew the Ondo flag proudly in the 76kg event, retaining her title after defeating all opponents in a round-robin format. Nigeria Army wrestler Laide Ojo settled for silver, while Juliet Ogo of Bayelsa State and Mercy Alison of Abia State each claimed bronze.
In the 62kg category, Patience Kakanda of Bayelsa State produced the upset of the day, defeating Nigeria Army’s Precious Tieberi 3-1 in the final to be crowned the new champion. Isioma Abojei of Delta State and Blessing Apah of Dynamite Club won bronze medals.
Rivers State’s Esther Asaolu also retained her title in the 59kg division, overcoming all her opponents in the round-robin format, with Patience Opuene of Bayelsa State finishing as runner-up.
In the men’s events, Solomon Ulabo of Bayelsa State claimed gold in the 79kg category, with Kpum Ayibasisei of Edo State taking silver and Rasheed Saliu of Ondo State and Ebisindei Okorie of Dynamite Club winning bronze. NewLife Ebikeme of Bayelsa State won the 92kg gold, ahead of Perezidei Obaze of Edo State in silver position, while Tobechukwu Udeh of the Nigeria Army and Timilehin Adekanmi of Ondo State claimed bronze medals.
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