Sports
Director Lauds Retirees Over Sports Dev
The Acting Director of Rivers State Sports Council, Mrs Mildred Hart has lauded the orgainsing secretaries of the council for honouring their retirees that have served meritoriously.
Mrs Hart who made the commendation during a sendforth ceremony organized to honour some retirees of the council held at their Conference Hall, Port Harcourt said the ceremony is what doing as the retirees had put in their best in sports development in the state.
She expressed delight that the retirees had laid solid platform that will take sports to greater heights in the country and congratulated them for their gallant services worthy of emulation.
The first female Acting Director of Sports in the council further thanked God that the senior citizens are still looking hale and healthy after 35 years of service and prayed God to also retire them in good health.
In his speech, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Christopher Chioma described the retirees as solid men of integrity and that although the sendforth is long over due of celebrating but they are blessing to them.
According to Chief Chioma, they have to be celebrated and glorify God because they scaled, through all the challenges while in service and that today they are in a position of trust.
In their separate speeches, retired former Directors of Sports, Hon. Daobu Harvest Harry, Hon. Christopher Fubara, Hon. Nathaniel Piaroana, Mr. Basil Wifa thanked all for their cooperation during their period of service and enjoined them to extend such to the present management for the growth of the council.
They charged the workers to be their brother’s keeper, stop petition writing, be punctual, plan for their future after retirement, be dedicated to work, plan to advance their career, stop parching, leave legacy on the sands of time, aimed at being on the top again during sports festivals and promised to offer their wealth of experience whenever they needed their services, thanking them for the honour while they prayed God to bless them.
In her address, the Head of Department Organising, Mrs Stella Kingoli opined that the retirees who are now senior citizens deserved the honour having sacrificed 35-years to serve the council meritoriously from the department and noted that their wealth of experience had in no small measure taken the council on its fast-track of improvement.
Mrs Kingoli assured them that their priceless efforts would always be referenced and pleaded for necessary assistance. Whenever their services are needed.
The retirees honoured were Hon. Daobu Harvest Harry, Hon. Nathaniel Piaro, Hon. Christopher Fubara, Mr. Benjamin Agina-obu, Mr. C.J. Ebeleogu, Mr. Kala-Alali Dede, Mr. Barisil Wifa, Mr. Ben Stowe and Brown Jauc.
Collins Barasimeye
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