Governor Dapo Abiodun calls for grassroots sports development

Abiodun calls for grassroots sports development 

The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun has called for the development of sports at the grassroots level in the country.

 The governor said that the current challenges the country is facing sustaining its competitive sports reputation as a regional, continental, and global champion can only be addressed in the long term when the country returns to grassroots sports.

Abiodun made this call during the 3rd Edition of the Ogun State Public Primary Schools Governor's Cup Competition held at the M.K.O International Stadium, Abeokuta.

He opined that sports provide a veritable platform for the development of everyone and a wholesome education plan.

"Sports provide a veritable platform for the development of all of us and a wholesome education plan, the hosting of this Governor's Cup has allowed all participants to widen the horizon for knowledge and Sports activities.

"Apart from the development of skills in our youths, grassroots sports are essential to provide an array of sports men and women for competitive events at all levels.

"The current challenge we have in sustaining our national competitive sports reputation at regional, continental and global levels will be addressed in the long term when we return to grassroots sports.

"It is instructive to note that most of the former and current thriving sportsmen and women such as Segun Odegbami, Felix Owolabi, Akeem 'The Dream' Olajuwon, Falilat Ogunkoya and so many others, were those that were made at this level, including our latest current world record holder, Tobi Amusan, they were all discovered through local competitive sporting events such as this," he said.

Abiodun while calling on well-meaning investors and individuals to come and partner with the state government in the development of sports, said that it is important for the country to begin to nurture the younger and agile generation to be able to compete internationally.

"I, therefore, call on well-meaning investors and individuals to come and partner with us, you will find us willing and ready partners, 

"We cannot afford to continue to rely on aging sportsmen and women, we must begin to nurture our young agile ones to compete internationally.

"Let me assure our stakeholders in the sporting industry that our administration will continue to support sports, not just football as an avenue to harness the raw energy of our youths," he stated.

Governor Dapo Abiodun while acknowledging the efforts of Team Ogun who recently won 70 medals comprising 15 gold, 18 silver, and 37 Bronze medals at the just concluded National Sports Festival held in Delta State, promised that the state apart from aiming to host the best sports festival ever would also ensure that it comes first.

The governor also urged the pupils to eschew all forms of violence during and after competitions.

In his address, the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education, Chief Femi Majekodunmi, while appreciating the governor for his support which ensured the success of the competition, said that the board would continue to play its role of nurturing talents from the primary school level.

Majekodunmi who also noted that the competition was introduced by the Board to build the pupils, said that the conception and implementation of school sports help to instill patience, and teamwork into the lives of future leaders.

The state chairman of the National Association of Primary Schools Games and Sports Teachers (NAPSGAST), Opedimeji Ola, while noting that sports in general and football in particular a unifying factor and the panacea to the socio-security challenges that have bedeviled the country in recent times, said that the just concluded Ogun State Sports Festival for all public primary schools and the 3rd Edition of the Ogun State Governor's Cup for primary schools have shown that talents abound in the country.

Opedimeji expressed his happiness at the display of quality football by the pupils on the field of play and appealed to corporate bodies and wealthy individuals to see sport as a golden investment and service to humanity.

The Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Dr. Oluwadare Kehinde, while noting that the technical team of the ministry was on the ground to pick as well as nurture talents discovered at the competition, commended Governor Abiodun for his support to the ministry at the just concluded National Sports Festival just concluded in Delta State.

Also speaking, Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, who was represented by the Director of School Sports, Olarotimi Okeleye commended the governor for supporting the hosting of the competition. 

Nigeria's Skating super talent wins big at Africa Skate Games in Cairo

Omotosho wins big for Nigeria as curtain drops on Africa Skate Games 

 

Omotosho Samson representing Nigeria in Inline Freestyle Skating, on Friday, won a silver medal, in the ongoing 2nd Africa Skate Games in Cairo, Egypt.  

The skater who was featured on BBC World special talents is the sole representative of the country at the championship which comes to an end on Sunday.  

Skaters participated in Skateboarding Championship, African Inline Speed ​​Championships, African Inline Freestyle Championships, African Rink Hockey Championship, African Inline Downhill Championships, and African Freestyle Roller Championship.

The event which started on Wednesday saw Samson in the senior category of the Inline Freestyle Championship, alongside 15 other competitors.

This is his first outing at the multi-level competition and he ended with a podium finish at the games.

The Athlete will be back in Lagos Nigeria on Sunday, December 11, 2022.

2024 Winter Olympics Qualifiers: Nigeria’s Junior curlers get accolades despite a tough run in Finland

The young set of curlers representing Nigeria at the ongoing World Junior-B Curling Championships in Lohja, Finland have what it takes to become world beaters in a few years. 

This was the assertion made by Daniel Damola, President of the Nigeria Curling Federation, NCF as he reviewed the country’s performance so far in Finland.

According to the NCF President, the outing in Finland is more of an eye-opener for the Nigeria contingent, who are only being exposed to competing on ice for the very first time.

Even with the losses recorded in the games against Latvia, Austria, Spain, and then Italy, Mr. Damola noted that the players have shown the great potential that can be developed with the right resources and support system,

“When the team played against Latvia, they lost,0-24, being their first experience because they only had two days to train.  

“You can imagine kids that are coming from sub-Saharan Africa that have not been on the ice before getting on the ice, having less than 48 hours of training on how to slide, how to move from the arc, how to deliver a stone, how to play stones and then how to sweep at the same time within the 24-48 hours window to train.

“I think it speaks volumes that these kids have something in them.”

Having shown great improvement as they progressed in their group games; especially in Friday’s tie against Italy, the NCF President is confident that the lads are on the right path to stardom.

“They are the future of curling, watch out for them. You will see that these kids will be world-beaters because I think they played so well. The only thing that worked against them is the placement of stone because of their lack of experience and this is their first time stepping on the ice.  

“I think we can do better in our subsequent games. I believe we will do better because the first time they played, they won five against us in the first innings and second innings. It was six and then they now dropped to 3,4,2 and so on. 

“They are picking up and we believe they will do better because they were lacking some technicalities being their first time on ice. And then to play an international championship of that magnitude, they also played against older kids that have gotten the experience of maybe 5,6,10 years ahead of them. They did well.” the excited NCF President added.

Kamsiyochukwu Emmanuel Dike (Skip), Ebube Daniel Chukwuemeka (Vice-Skip), Fatiu Adedamola Danmola, Goodnews Idongesit Charles, and Great Aniedi Umoren are the history-making curlers for Nigeria in the male category.

The ongoing World Junior-B Curling Championships is open to junior teams from all World Curling Federation Member Associations that have not already qualified for the World Junior Curling Championships. 

The top three women’s and men’s teams will qualify for this event for the World Junior Curling Championships.

8 teams to fight for honour in first edition of SheFootball Tournament

Eight women teams will fight for honour in the first edition of She Football Initiative Tournament a brain child of Aiysa Yusuf Aromire Foundation which kick off 7th January 2023 at Legacy Pitch, National Stadium Surulere, Lagos state, Nigeria. 

The football tournament is aim in promoting women and promoting 

the power of women in Football and also using various means to highlight the positive social impacts the game of Football have on Women and girls across Nigeria, Africa and the World. 

The participating teams are  DreamStar Ladies, Royaltoms Queens, Phoenix Queens, Lakeside Queens, Ijamido Queens, English Queens, Future Stars Queens, Nakamura Queens. 

Meet the Teams

CLUB PROFILE

Dream Star Ladies

DreamStars Ladies was founded in 2017, they played in the Nigeria Women Premier League.

Based in Ibadan, Lagos state. Nigeria.

Lakeside Queens

Lakeside Queens is a Bariga based women football club founded in 2007.

They presently played in the second division of the Nigeria Women football league.

Future Stars 99 Football Academy  

Founded in 2016 in Igando, Lagos state. They currently played in WAFA league.

Royaltoms International Football Academy.

A football Academy established in 2002,  based in Sango-Ora, Ogun state. They have produced bear known female footballers in recent years.

Ijamido Football Academy

Established in 2002 in Sango Ota, Ogun State. The team has produced some promising female footballers who plying their In Nigeria and abroad.

Nakamura Babes (The Black Arrows) 

Is a female football club based in the heart of Lagos state (Mushin) the aim of the is to harness the potentials of girls through sports in one of the density populated area in Lagos state and arguably in the South West of Nigeria.

The club was founded in 2017.

Phoenix Queens, Orile

Established in 2007 to provide enabling environment to youth in Or ile-Iganmu and its environs.

They currently play in the WAFA League in Lagos state, Nigeria.

English Queens ( Best Wale FC)

Founded in 2005 in Owode Egbe in Ogun state.

A football academy combining  education with football to the youths of owode-Egba. 

The SheFootball is an initiative of Aiysha Yusuf Armoire and is powered by Nigeria's private airline ValueJet Airline.

Bosso invites " New Iwobi" as screening of players continues in Flying Eagles camp

Flying Eagles Coach, Ladan Bosso has invited Joshua John of Ikon Allah Academy.

The attacking midfielder who was part of the 15 players invited to the Flying Eagles camp, left no stone unturned immediately he joined the camp.

Joshua John reminds me of attacking midfielders like Alexander Iwobi, Sunday Mba and others whose style of play always catch the attention of the fans.

No doubt, Joshua John will really make a big statement if given the opportunity to prove himself.

Recall that Ikon Allah Academy produced players like Chidera Ejuke who is a Super Eagles player, newly signed Nasarawa United player, Francis Ayuba who is currently in the camp of the Flying Eagles, and he scored two goals today in favour of his team.

Lion Heart FC: A good ground for discovering talents

Lagos based Lion Heart FC duo of Akanbi Ayobami Akinwale and Ademola Oladejo Damilare are the newest entrants to the camp of Flying Eagles, following Coach Ladan Bosso's invitation of fresh legs to beef up his team in preparation for next year's U-20 Afcon championship in Egypt.

The club known for its capacity in establishment and grooming of players both locally and internationally have served the national team with two of it's reliable and committed players.

Ademola Oladejo Damilare, an impressive safe hands with Lion Heart,  is expected to ruffle shoulders with Nathaniel Nwosu and the host of other goalkeepers for a place in the squad, while Akanbi Ayobami Akinwale an enterprising midfielder, will be proving his might against Daniel Daga and others to stake a claim to a role in the midfield position.

It is also worthy to note, this will not be the first time Lion Heart FC will be attracting the attention of Nigerias national teams, as the club had previously supplied five of it's underage players to the national U-17 men's team, the Golden Eaglets.

Club chairman, Samuel Olonade who started Lion Heart FC in Ipaja Ayobo local government area of Lagos state had earlier said, grooming of players is one of the core values of the club and it's interesting to know that both national teams and clubs within and outside the shores of the country are identifying with them, which is a clear indication that the club in on the right track with it's set goals and objectives.

Ladan Bosso, thinks the addition of fresh talent will strengthen his team, haven sent home 15 players earlier this week for some logistical challenges.

Egypt will play host to the U-20 AFCON in February, 2022.

Opeyemi influential to Kauno Zalgaris' qualification to the Europa League

Abdulgafar Opeyemi have been a fantastic talent to watch as he made his mark for A Lyga side, Kauno Zalgaris in the Lithuania league. 

Abdulgafar Opeyemi who can play as an attacking midfielder and at the right side of the midfield was instrumental and influential to Kauno Zalgaris qualification to the Europa League.

The midfield maestro, who have the ability of long range passing accuracy, defense splitting passes and also a good eye for goal.

The 20 years old right footed midfielder is the cynosure of all eyes in the Lithuania League making a mark for himself as one of the bright prospect in the A Lyga.

Abdulgafar Opeyemi is destined to make waves in the Europa League and so many top flight clubs will be chasing for his signature because of his prospect and qualities.

Kauno Zalgaris finished as the second best team in the Lithuania A Lyga with 63 points from 36 matches and scored a total of 55 goals and conceded 37 goals.