Sports
Ex-AFN Boss Bemoans Foreign Athletics Coaches
A former President of the
Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Dan Ngerem, has criticised the employment of two Americans as national high performance coaches, by the National Sports Commission (NSC).
Ngerem told newsmen in Dakar on the sidelines of the ongoing congress of the International Sports Press (AIPS) that the decision to engage the Americans was premature.
“Why hire two Americans and then pay them in dollars when in a World Indoor Championship you’ve not given one kobo to the athletes that represented the country.
“The coaching crew, you have not supported them. The athletes you have not been giving scholarships to. Those in America you’ve not supported them.
“So, I went ahead, and wrote a strategic document pointing out to Nigerians that we have a bilateral relationship with Cuba; we have a bilateral relationship with Germany.
“We could have utilised those vehicles, where Cuba, who we are richer than give us technical assistance.
“They were the ones that raised the Chioma Ajunwas, Mary Onyalis, Falilat Ogunkoya. Why don’t we use that vehicle which will cost us practically nothing to bring up our younger athletes?
“Why start at the top by hiring two Americans. I have nothing against the Americans, Angela Tailor and the other one.
“But, they should come when we have done the needful;, when we have done our homework and discovered those athletes.’’
Ngerem said that those at the helm of sports were only after the development of football, adding that they had not done enough to help other sports to grow.
“We have only had ‘ministers of football’, there is no support for any other sport that I can see. There is also no policy framework. There is also no marketing interface with those that love sports.
“I would like to give money to athletes if I know what the problems are; but what I see is a situation where everybody is waiting for government money.
“We have Commonwealth Games this year. I don’t think there has been one kobo of support.
“But the Federal Ministry of Sports, paid 900,000 dollars to people that went to CHAN, a pseudo competition that CAF is using to raise money that is meant for local players.
“900,000d dollars would have gone a very long way in supporting our athletes that will win us laurels at the Commonwealth Games.
“So, what you find now is an atmosphere of total lack of support. No funding, we are waiting for government money.
“As far as I am concerned, we should postpone this Commonwealth Games and use the money to plan for the next one; use the money to plan for 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
“This is because what we are going to do now is to go and again rely on our athletes with the so-called Nigerian spirit.’’
Ngerem said the NCS should change its attitude towards other sports if the country would maximize its potential in sports.
Former Nigeria international goalkeeper, Peterside Idah says next month’s Rivers International Marathon will be used to celebrate the one year anniversary of His Excellency, Siminalayi Fubara as the Executive Governor of Rivers State. Idah, who is the race’s head of media and communications said the event could not have been better timed and organizers have keyed it into the one year celebration of Governor Fubara’s tenure. “We want to use this race to celebrate the one year anniversary of our Governor, Fubara who is the main reason Rivers State has been officially termed as the sports hub of the nation by John Enoh, the Minister of Sports Development,” Ida said. Continuing, Idah revealed that the Rivers International Marathon has received massive backing from Governor Fubara as well as corporate Nigeria. “Governor Fubara is the biggest supporter of the race and we are determined to organise a race befitting the status of Rivers state as the new destination of sort for sports in Nigeria,” Idah stated, adding two financial institutions have thrown their weight behind the race. “Globus and Zenith bank are backing us as partners and this shows that corporate Nigeria is appreciating the giant strides we have taken in terms of sports development and the many benefits that come with organizing a road race.
Nigeria’s representatives at the 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL), Rivers Hoopers on Sunday landed in Kigali, Rwanda ahead of the competition which dunks off on May 24th .
The Tidesports source hinted: “The KingsMen have arrived in Kigali, Rwanda for the Playoffs. Dakar was good, Kigali be great.”
The KingsMen will face AS Douanes of Senegal in one of the four seeding games in the playoffs in Kigali on May 24th.
The two teams played against each other twice in the Sahara Conference that ended last week in Dakar, Senegal with each winning one game apiece.
The winner between Hoopers and AS Douanes (Game 40) will play against the winner between Petro de Luanda (Angola) and US Monastir of Tunisia (Game 39) in the semi-final, while the loser of the tie will square up against the loser of Game 39 in the quarter final.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s hip-hop star, Adekunle Kosoko aka Adekunle Gold and AG Baby, are among the list of top celebrities who will perform at the 2024 African Basketball League playoffs in Kigali.
The finals usually attract top celebrities from both the sports and music community And this time around, BAL 4 playoffs will feature performances by local and international acts, including the likes of Nigeria’s Adekunle Gold and Rwanda’s very own The Ben, Chris Eazy, Ish Kevin, Kevin Kade, Ariel Wayz, Kivumbi King, Bwiza, Ishami Talent, Inganzi Ngari cultural troupe and Kenny Sol.
The selected artists will perform during the halftime shows of the finals. Globally with special performances to spice up the halftime show atmosphere.
Golden Eaglets head coach, Manu Garba, is leaving no margin for errors in ensuring the team beat Togo today in their second Group B match of the WAFU Zone B U-17 Cup of Nations in Ghana.The record five-time world champions made a stuttering start to their campaign with a barren draw against Burkina Faso at the University of Ghana on Thursday, but boosted their title defence with a 1-0 win over Niger Republic on Sunday at same venue, with Raphael Adams’ 31st-minute strike separating both sides.
Nigeria are second in the group with four points, the same as Burkina Faso, who have their nose in front on a superior goal difference. Garba looks to finish at the top of the pile and has declared their last group game against the young Hawks another must-win.
“The Golden Eaglets will have to beat Togo on today. The Togo U-17 team is good, and Nigeria will not underrate them,” Garba saider Alleged N8bn Air Fraud, Food PricOthers
“We have trained the players on goal-scoring drills. Nigeria should have scored three goals against Niger. So, we hope that the players will convert more of their chances against Togo,” he added.
Niger are in the third position with three points from their 3-2 win over Togo, who, though rock bottom, are not pushovers but largely undone by errors.
The tournament, running from May 15 to 29, will see the top two teams from the group facing the best teams from Group A, which includes Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, and Benin Republic, in the semi-final.
The two countries that qualify for the final will represent the region at next year’s U-17 African Cup of Nations.
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