Sports
RSG Redeeems N50m Reward To Rivers Queens …As Plans To Host Schools Sports On Top Gear
The Rivers State Government under the leadership of Sir Siminialayi Fubara has strongly indicated that the State would organise School Sports tagged’ Rivers State Schools Sports Festival” before the end of this year.
It further revealed that plans are also on top gear to hold Rivers State Sports Festival next year to discover talents that will represent the State at the National Sports Festival ( NSF) scheduled to hold in Ogun State.
State Commissioner for Sports Barrister Christopher Green disclosed this shortly after he presented the N50 million cheque to the State Handball team called “Rivers Queens”.
It will be recalled that the State Governor Sir Siminialayi Fubara, rewarded the team with N50 million for making the State proud when he formally received them at Government House in Port Harcourt as they emerged Champions at the National Handball Tournament held in Edo State.
According to him, he is committed and determined to revamp sports in all ramifications in line with State Governor’s new vision and policy on Sports development.
“The Governor has charged me to revamp sports at all levels in the State this means not only football. Consequently, I have set three steps to develop sports immediate, middle and long term plans.
“His Excellency policy was to bring all sports at per that is no single sports should play second fiddle.
“This achievement was remarkable and commendable because this is the first time a female team in State has won trophy outside football and festivals” Barrister Green said.
The number one Sportsman in State further explained that he will invite elites athletes to groom upcoming Rivers State born athletes to stardom.
“I want to bring back the era when people hear names of Rivers State indigenes at both national and international levels” he stated.
By: Tonye Orabere
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.