Sports
Edo Inaugurates Committee For Edo Sport Festival
Edo State Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, on Friday inaugurated a 12-man planning committee for the fourth Edo State Sports Festival charging to work together as a team and a hitch-free event.
The 12-member committee has the Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, Amadin Enabulele, as Chairman, while Sabina Amiemoghena will serve as secretary.
While performing the inauguration of the committee in Government House, the deputy governor said the sports festival was part of the developmental strategy of the state government aimed at enhancing sports at the grassroots level.
“Research has shown that sports competition is a veritable platform to groom sportsmen and women, talents identification and enhancing the physical well-being of the people,” he said.
“The Edo State Government places a premium on grassroots sports, hence the state is participating in the National Sports Festival in May which will no doubt boost socio-economic development of communities of the state and enhance the physical and mental well-being of athletes during the festival.”He added, “I have confidence in the members of Edo Sports Commission with good track records and proven integrity to bring their vast experience to bear in organising a hitch-free sports festival.
“I will urge the committee members to work seamlessly together as a team, to ensure Edo State get the best for the National Sports Festival
“Responding on behalf of other members, Enabulele, said the inauguration of the committee was a testament of the unwavering commitment of Edo State Government to sports development.
He acknowledged the enormous task before the committee and assured that it would not leave any stone unturned to deliver on its mandate and make Edo State proud.
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.