Sports

Ekpo, Others Laud Ugwu’s Choice As Caretaker Coach

Published

6 years ago

July 12, 2019

Ex-Nigeria international, Friday Ekpo, has lauded the management of Rangers International FC, Enugu for appointing Benedict Ugwu as the team’s Caretaker Head Coach.
Tidesports source reports that the management announced Ugwu’s appointment last Wednesday, following the expiration of Olugbenga Ogunbote’s contract as technical adviser in June.
Ugwu is expected to hold the position, pending the employment of a substantive technical adviser.
Reacting to the appointment in an interview with newsmen in Enugu yesterday, Ekpo described Ugwu’s appointment as “the best thing to happen to the club’’.
He said: “Ugwu, who we call `surugede’, is a player with the blood of Rangers flowing inside of him and he has the passion to make positive impact in the players.
“Rangers management has really done well to have a look in his direction.
“He has what it takes to deliver the goods with adequate support from his colleagues and management.’’
Also, Sunday Onuoha, a staunch Rangers fan told newsmen that the club’s management had done well to entrust the team to Ugwu and his colleagues.
“With the much I know about him, he will do well with adequate support from all.
“Sincerely, we need this kind of tasks thrown to our people to prove the stuff they are made of.
“Ugwu can do it as he has shown with the state football team during the 2012 National Sports Federation in Lagos.”
Onuoha also said that Ugwu distinguished himself, when he handled the Rangers’ feeder team before his elevation to the senior team.
Another ardent supporter of the Enugu-based club, Ifeanyi Okonkwo, also commended the club for recognising hard work and commitment in appointing Ugwu.
“We are happy with the management’s decision to put a square peg in a square hole.
“I know that Ugwu will not disappoint. He will deliver as he did with the club’s feeder team,’’ Okonkwo said.
It would be recalled that Ugwu plied his trade with Rangers and the defunct BCC Lions of Gboko FC during his active days as a footballer.
He spent 10 years playing for the “Flying Antelopes’’ and was a strong member of the team that won the National Challenge Cup in 1983 and 1984.
He helped the Gboko side to a national Challenge Cup in 1989 and the CAF Cup Winners trophy in 1990.
During the period, the then fullback maestro won the Best Player Award in Nigeria and third best player on the continent.
He also played for El-Kanemi Warriors and 3SC where he also excelled before travelling abroad.
Ugwu is a graduate of the National Institute of Sports, Lagos and holds the Confederation of African Football coaching licence.

Sports

AllStars Club Renovates Tennis Court… Appeal to Stop Misuse

Published

2 days ago

December 12, 2025

The Tide

Port Harcourt AllStars Tennis Club, old Port Harcourt township, has renovated and commissioned its training court at Niger/Bende Street, No.5 field popularly known as Information centre, in Port Harcourt.

The court was officially declared opened by Commander Abdul Qadir Yumusa (rtd), President of Police Tennis Club, after it undergone total renovation.

Speaking at the occasion, the President of Port Harcourt AllStars Tennis Club, Engr. Ifiesimama Omineokuma, decried the intentional misused of the sports facilities which Rivers State Government built for the purpose of grassroots sports development.

According to him, the centre which accommodates two tennis courts and one volleyball court has become burial and wedding centres on weekly basis thereby obstructing sports activities.

“The Exco of the club normally renovate and maintain these facilities because most times we organise grassroots tennis programme for primary and secondary school children in the State.

“No doubt we have discovered some talents through our programmes but it is disheartened to note that most times when we come, we can’t access the tennis courts following wedding, burial programmes etc.

“Consequently, we are appealing to the appropriate authorities to regulate these activities on sporting facilities, as the club has taken the responsibility to maintain the facilities, hence we are equally using it to train”, Engr. Omineokuma said.

He advised members of the tennis club to conduct themselves very well anytime they come for training.

Tonye Orabere

Sports

New W.White Cup: GSS Elekahia Emerged Champions

Published

2 days ago

December 12, 2025

The Tide

Government Secondary School ( GSS) Elekahia has won the second edition of the New W.W. White all Secondary schools football competition in Rivers State, sponsored by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The Elekahia boys (players) thrashed one of the highly rated teams in the competition Government Secondary School Rebisi 4-1 to emerged champions.

The final encounter which took place at Sharks Football Club Stadium, in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, was well attended by some important dignitaries in the State, including the Managing Director of NDDC Dr. Samuel Ogbuku.

Speaking at the event Dr. Ogbuku, assured that NDDC will continue to engage youths in region meaningfully and support school activities, arts and culture, including music, saying that talents discovery is not limited to only sports alone.

According to him NDDC provided this platform to showcase their talents and become valuable to themselves and society.

“I want to assure you that NDDC will always support such events, school activities, not only W.W.White cup, we are also supporting secondary schools in the region, in the area of arts culture, including music because talent is not limited to only sports”, Dr. Ugbuku said.

He advised teams that lost to go back to the drawing board, know the reasons why they lost and improve, and those that won should equally work hard to defend their trophy in next edition, saying that sports is a healthy competition, it is not for bitterness.

” For me all the teams that participated are all winners, sports is healthy competition, it is not for bitterness. We will keep on engaging youths so that we discover new talents”, he stated.

At the end of the event winners, GSS Elekahia goes home with the sum of N2.5M, while second place GSS Risbisi pocketed the sum of N1.75 , as third place Pabod model Secondary School also goes home with the sum of N1.25M as they beat Government Secondary School Azuabie 1-0.

Tonye Orabere

Sports

Players Battle For Honours At PH International Polo Tourney

Published

2 days ago

December 12, 2025

The Tide

Players from within and outside Nigeria will from January 11-17, 2026 gather in Rivers State for the 2026 NPA Port Harcourt International Polo Tournament with the theme: “United By The Game.”

Among the trophies to be contested for are Rowland Cookey-Gam, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, King T.J.T Princewill, T.Y Danjuma, Armed Forces Remembrance, President and Governor cups, in addition to a special memorial cup in honour of late former president of the club, Rowland Cookey-Gam.

The President of Port Harcourt Polo Club, Prince Henry Agbodjan, at a media briefing, stated that this year’s edition seeks to deepen unity and inclusiveness.

According to him, “Like the theme of this year’s tournament said, it’s united by the game. So for us as polo club, it’s a diverse group of people. Polo in itself is played in very diverse manners, and we believe in diversity, equity, and inclusiveness as well. So for us both, male and female, no matter where you come from, we are in a united front to ensure that next year’s tournament will be a major success.

“And if you see again clearly, as part of preparations for this tournament, we have one of our own who we lost 20 years ago in a plane crash. Rowland Cookey-Gam and you can see him clearly in the part of the emblem for this year’s tournament. So, we’re going to use this tournament to eulogize him, remember him, and of course, appreciate his work for polo within the Harcourt Polo Club and polo in general around the world.”

Agbodjan noted that the club was able to achieve its goals during the last tournament, especially in the area of catching them young and taking polo to the grassroots, adding “So we commenced our Catch Get Young program and it was very well received by the public and are going to intensify the program.”

“And we hope that this whole thing will yield the right dividends in the next four to five years where we see great polo players all from Port Harcourt and the Niger Delta at large, contesting and competing against the best in the country and of course around the world as well,” he stressed.

He commended the Rivers State Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), alongside other private and corporate sponsors for their continued support to the club over the years, whilst assuring that the flagship polo tournament in the country would continue to draw people from all walks of life.

The club president assured of adequate security before, during and after the tournament, as well as entertainment that will feature varieties of local and national artistes, among others.

Also speaking, the captain of Port Harcourt Polo Club, Dr. Ikenna Nebolisa disclosed that players from Iran, Mexico, England, Argentina, among others would be participating at the tourney, in addition to entries from Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Jos.