Sports
Mikel, 15 Others Hit Eagles Camp
Golden Eaglets captain, Musa Yahaya (left) in action against Iran, recently.
John Mikel Obi is among the Super Eagles players that have arrived Calabar for the November 16 World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia’s Walya Antelopes at the U. J. Esuene Stadium.
The Super Eagles Media Officer, Mr Ben Alaiya, said this yesterday in an interview with newsmen in Calabar.
According to him, flight hitches have delayed some of the invited players who are already in Nigeria from arriving in the Calabar camp of the Super Eagles.
He, however, said alternative arrangements were being made to enable the players connect flights to Calabar from Lagos and Abuja.
“The players who are already in the camp include Mikel Obi, Bright Dike, John Ogu, and James Okwuosa. All the home-based players are in camp.
“It is a normal process that players would not all arrive the camp at the same time, but arrangements are in place to welcome the super eagles today (Tuesday).
“There is no cause for alarm as all the players will arrive camp for the first training session at 4 p.m today, at the U. J Esuene Stadium.
“There is no closing time yet for camping, as some of the players are still being expected for the team to be in full preparation for the match on Saturday,” he said.
Alaiya urged soccer fans to support the Super Eagles, adding that by God’s grace the team would get the ticket for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The Super Eagles had defeated the Ethiopians 2-1 in the first leg of the play-offs in Addis Ababa a fortnight ago.
Meanwhile, coach Stephen Keshi has expressed shock that only 15 out of the 25 invited players turned up for the opening day of training yesterday.
The Super Eagles began preparations for the second leg of their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar, and Keshi was not pleased at the turnout.
“I am not happy at all,” he told newsmen. “We talked about this and everyone was expected to be here today.
“But maybe because of flight issues, some people are not here and it will destabilise our programme.”
With Nosa Igiebor ruled out with injury, Keshi expected to see 24 players in Calabar yesterday afternoon.
And the former captain warned that Wednesday was cut-off date.
“Anybody who is not here by today training, is out,” he said.
Skipper Vincent Enyeama and midfielder John Mikel Obi led a posse of early birds in.
The rest included the likes of Victor Moses, Bright Dike, Austin Ejide and Elderson Echiejile, who joined the team at the stadium, where he had a heart to heart talk with Keshi.
Port Harcourt the capital city of Rivers State will be at the centre stage in Nigeria as Port Harcourt Arsenal Community will hold her maiden edition of Football Fans Fiesta (FFF).
The Fiesta scheduled to hold on the 13th December, 2025, at Eddiz wine bar GRA, promises to be all football fans carnival in the State , as there will be a lot of fanfares.
The Coordinator of Port Harcourt Arsenal Community (PHAC), Ugochukwu Oputa has said that the forthcoming Football Fans Fiesta was basically to promote peace, unity and love among football fans in irrespective of the cub.
He stated that sports is a catalyst to bring peace, love and Unity in any given society, hence the occasion was initiated.
Oputa said this in an interview with sports journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, saying that arrangements are on top gear for a successful programme.
” This event is for all football fans irrespective of your club. It is basically to promote peace, love and Unity among fans.
“It is like stating the obvious that football is the catalyst of peace and unity in the world. So the Port Harcourt Arsenal Community want to use this avenue to bring people together and foster friendship.
“There is no gate fee, but it is expected to put on jersey of your club as to make the event look unique” Oputa said.
The Coordinator used the forum to advice football fans in the world to love one another, and equally urged fans that will attend the occasion to be of good conduct and behaviour.
Tonye Orabere
Consistent with its project execution routine, Dunamis-Icon Limited, Project Consultants of the Niger Delta Games, has concluded the first phase of physical inspection and evaluation of facilities for the event, 24 hours after the presentation of the hosting right to Edo State was performed.
The project management team was guided round select facilty locations in Benin City by Desmond Amadin Enabulele, Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, and the team leader, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo expressed satisfaction with the sports infrastructure assets of the host.
“Edo is a ready-made choice based on all the factors that are necessary to host this kind of big event. We are expecting over 3000 athletes coaches, alongside journalists and technical officials, with an approximate number of people outside spectators in the range of 5000. So, we need facilities that work for the games itself”, Ikpokpo explained.
He commended the Edo State Government for the good state of facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, and promised that the state will be assisted with the renovation of some of the facilities as may be necessary to ensure good competition experience for the athletes.
“I have been to the iconic Ogbe Stadium and must commend the Edo State Government for maintaining the facilities there. We are also considering taking some events to the University of Benin, so that people in that part of the city can also feel and enjoy the fun. Where need be, we will also see how to assist the state and the University of Benin to add value to some of the sporting facilities”.
Dunamis Icon Limited is the franchise rights owner to the games conceived and designed to provide a platform for unity and integration, and identifying and grooming talented youths from the region into national and international stars.
The NDDC as the flagship interventionist agency for the nine states that make up the region, is the prime sponsor of the games as part of their strategic focus on youth engagement and human capital development.
The inspection tour began at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, after a brief meeting with Enabulele and the Sports Commission team at his office.
Areas inspected include the stadium’s main bowl, the tartan track, the state box, the VIP lounges and other key areas like the ceremonial room, the media studio and other indoor facilities.
Other facility locations assessed are the Wire Road Sports Centre being listed to host basketball and volleyball games, the University of Benin Sports Complex, and the Etete Sports Centre.
In the entourage of Dunamis-Icon were the Project Director, Mr Fred Edoreh; Director of Facilities and Equipment, Dr Emmanuel Ochuko Igbigbisie; the head of Communications, Harry Iwuala; Head of Transport and Logistics, Israel Umueri Afoke. Others are Theresa Ineke, Head of Secretariat, Godwin Enakhena, the Head of Scouting, Mr. Edi Lawani, the Head of Culture Affairs and Entertainment and Elder Siegha Porbeni of the Technical Department.
The Edo Sports Commission Chairman was also supported by Hon. Frank Ilaboya and Mrs Sabina Chikere, Executive Directors, with Mr Baldwin Bazuaye (MON) also in the company.
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