NSC Plans To Revive National Stadium, Surulere.

The National Sports Commission, NSC,has not abandoned the National Stadium, Surulere as plans are in top gear to revive the sports complex for sporting activities.

Its Director General, Ptarick Ekeji, while speaking with Sportsweight.blogspot.com,said the commission would not relent in its efforts to renovate the National Stadium, for the use of Nigerian athletes, adding tat the commission would ensure that the sports complex stands as a platform for Nigeria to discover athletes.

Ekeji, said the inability of Lagos Soccer fans to witness top graded national teams matches was not the fault of NSC as he claims that the NFA has the sole responsibility to determine where its matches would be played.

Bio Commends Ndanusa And Gumel

The Minister for Sports, Ibrahim Isa Bio, has commended the manner at which Habu Gumel and Sanni Ndanusa were able to resolve their differences prior to the election that brought Ndanusa as the new President of the N.OC.

Bio, in his speech, urged the delegates that Nigerian Sports have been engulfed by series of crises and there is urgent need to resolve all the problems confronting sports development so as to reposition Nigerian sports.

The sports Minister, said the attitude demonstrated by the tow gladiators, showed the maturity in them in resolving the problems amicably in such a manner where some of the contestants had to step down for peace to reign.

Bio, said the move would enable the new board members ofthe N.O.C to forge ahead in repositioning the committee as they have great task ahead of them.

Ndanusa Returns As N.OC President

The former Minister for Sports, Sanni Ndanusa, has been elected as the President of Nigeria Olympic Committee, N.O.C, in an electio which took place on Thursday at the Media Centre of the National Stadium, Surulere.

The President of Nigeria Tennis Federation, who was earlier elected as the N.O.C President before the election was cancelled became the Committee's new President afetr Habu Gumel, the former N.O.C President stepped down, in an election that was supervised by I.O.C representative, Mustapha Barraf.

Gumel, announcement which doused the tension among the delegates, was regarded as a positive measure to bring peace and also to redeem the image of Nigeria Olympic Movement.

Gumel, who is a member of the International Olympic Committee,I.OC, promised to give the new elected board members adequate support where necessary in a bid to remain as a force to reckon with in the OLympic movement.

Jonathan Nnaji, became the Committee's Firts Vice President after defeating Lanre Glover as Solomon Ogba of Athletic Federation of Nigeria settled for the second Vice President after Austin Edeze , stepped down while Tijani Umar of NBBF became the Third Vice President.

Tunde Popoola os the new Secretary General after he slapped Banji OLadapo by twenty votes to ten as Bappa Musa is the Treasurer while Brigadier General, Johnny Amakedi is the Deputy Secretary General.

The former Public Relations Officer of N.OC, Tony Nezianya, also stepped down for Tony Ubani of Vanguard Newspaper, Sports Unit.

NANF Withdraw Court Case, Akosa.

The former Chairman of Nigeria Football Coaches Association, Austin Akosa, has called on the National Association of Nigerian Footballers, NANF, to withdraw the court case on the recently conducted election intothe board of the Nigeria Football Association.

Akosa, who made this statement yesterday at the Federal High Court in Lagos where the case was again adjourned to the fourth of October, NANF should have taken the case to the court of Arbitration as being streamlined in FIFA statutes, adding that it would be dignified if the issue is being resolved amicably.

He said the President of NANF, Harrison Jalla, should have informed FIFA of his Association's plight over the election and FIFA as the Governing body would have intervene and correct the normalies observed by NANF.

He called on Nigerian football stakeholders to call for a meeting where the problem would be resolved as the court case could affect the development of football because the present voard of NFA is yet to settle down for administrative work.

While reacting,Jalla, the issue was a civil matter, hence the reason NANF has taken the case to court of Law to resolve the issue since NFA has trampened upon their rights.
Jalla, said NANF was not an affiliate of NFA , thus the body has the right to conduct its election where its elected members would be presented to the new board of NFA, stressing that Nigerian international who featured at the election contested on the ground of the congress which according to him was dominated by the States F.A Chairmen.

Ram Sports Promoter Stages Best of Season.

The usual Oshodi Sports ground which ordinarily accomodated various football tournaments of different magnitude wear a new look last Sunday as the Ram Sports Promoter of Nigeria, popularly known as Ram Owners, took the centre stage to organise a Ram tournament.

The tournament which attracted about two hundred Rams from the south West witnessed a show of class being displayed by the gladiators of different weight categories where teeming spectators were thrilled to skills,hits and endurance hits of the gladiators.

The Competition.

The competition, according to the President of the Association, Kayode Adunmaheyin, who is a professional Marketer, is the third edition of the tournament tagged "Best of the Season "which is prerequisite for the International competition billed for January at the Oshodi Sports Complex.

The tournament which started last week and would end this weekend at the Oshodi Sports Complex, would serve as opportunity to sell out some Rams after the Ramadan season and also enable potential Rams to get prepare for the forthcoming which according to him is the major competition on their calendar in 2011.

Medical.

The Association ensures that all Gladiators registered for a particular fight do undergo medical chech up through their medical team of which some Rams are being disqualified if they are not certified fit for a bout and they are in control of the bout once a gladiator seem to have balnace in the course of the bout.


Counts Or Hit.

According to Adumadeyin, the Association have trained field Marshals whose responsibility are to take absolute control of the field in the terms of number of hits, unruly attitude of gladiators among others.
The count of hits determine the winner of a particular bout and special measure are always available to ensure that the Rams are well protected in on the ring.

Economic Value.

The President said the sport has become a source of empowerment to the Ram Owners who for couple of years have been nurturing a gladiator as he explained that a Ram bought a the rate of forty Thousand Naira (N40,000) could be sold for a minimum of Two hundred and fifty Thousand Naira.

He said the price are usually on the high side when the Ram owner add up the value to medical bills, the quality of animal feeds being purchased.

On the need to source for sponsorship, Adumadeyin, said lack of sponsorship is the major problem confronting the Association nad they have resolved t tackle the problem by embarking on an aggressive marketing and sourcing for corporate bodies to partner them with a view of expanding their horizon.

He said the Association has also concluded plans to attract other West African countries to form a unified body which would breed cross fertilization of ideas to build a virile Ram Sports in Africa.

Security.

The need for security operative is very important and the Association has never put in doubt the neccessity of engaging the service of the Police to curb violence which is associated with sports.

Apart, from engaging security operatives, the Association has a way of preventing the emergence of violence as there are sterling rules and regulations which awaits a culprit.

The Secretary of the Association, Tayo Ogunmade, expressed satisfaction with the turn out of spectators and the gladiators, adding that the Association has added value to the sport as he claimed that they had never recorded any casuality or serious sport violence which have led to te death of gladiators.

Ogunmade, explained that the Association would not relent in its efforts to ensure that the Gladiators are well protected through their registered Veterinary doctors, adding that all their members are being encouraged to visit their designated and acreditted veterinary doctors.

He said the Association on regularly visit other affiliated Associations within the South West to organise competitions and help conduct seminars, workshops to promote the sport beyond its present reach.

According a lot of prizes awaits winners of gladiators in different weight categories as the measure is to encourage and motivate the Ram owners to keep the spirit of the sport.

Lagos - Kumasi Games Postponed

The Lagos Kumasi Games an initiative of the State Government has been postponed again.

The Games was earlier fixed for Twentieth of September through 26th, 2010.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Sports,Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele, the Honourable Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, who made this known, said it was at the instance of the Kumasi delegation through an e-mail sent to the Main Organising Committee of the Games.

The Commissioner, who assured that final preparations had been concluded by Lagos State, the host of the Games for the Year 2010,said the Kumasi officials communicated that they would get back to the Lagos State officials when they would be able to make the Games.

The Games would have featured seven sports comprising football, athletics, badminton, table tennis, tennis, taekwondo and basketball at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere and Rowe Park, Yaba, Lagos.

The Games is part of the grassroots development programme of the State Government meant to develop and empower the youth of Lagos State using the vehicle of sports in education. Participants are under the age of seventeen and were drawn from schools across Lagos State and Kumasi, Ghana.

The Main Organising Committee regrets any inconveniences to all and sundries especially the media who had been our progressive partners towards the Games. Meanwhile the closed camp of the Lagos Team will be disbanded to reconvene at a later date.

Lagos State Add Value To Traditional Sports.

Traditional sports, rekindled to give recreational ambiance to Lagosians,
made its debut in Lagos Island on Saturday 11, September, 2010.

Before a motley crowd at Campos Square, a socio cultural and sporting site
at the heart of Brazilian quarters in Lagos Island, the popular Ayo
Olopon, Cards and Draughts came calling as dignitaries braved the chilly
and wintry weather to watch an exciting competition, packaged by Life
Sports Limited, in conjunction with the Office of the Senior Special
Assistant to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) on Grassroots Sports
Development, under the auspices of the Lagos State Traditional Sports
Association.

Not deterred by the scanty crowd, the games went on smoothly as officials
from the Grassroots Sports Development office graced the occasion with
their presence.

In the Cards game finals, Olayiwola Akanji, from Adeniji-Adele Taxi Park,
defeated Mustapha Omotolani 2-0 and carted home the sum of N10,000.00 cash
prize, a gold medal, as his opponent, Mustapha also received a cash prize
of N7,500.00 and silver medal for his efforts. The two third-placed
winners, Yinka Olayiwola and Isah Oshodi from Epetedo Area, won N2,500.00
each and were also decorated with bronze medals.

In the Ayo Olopon, which dragged for long before a winner could emerge,
Yinka Olayiwola, eventually came tops, beating his fit-fighting foe,
Ikudaisi Mustapha, to second place on his way to garnering a gold medal
and cash prize of N10,000.00. The second place winner Mustapha went home
with a silver medal and the sum of N7,500.00, while third place winners
Adeneye Oshinfusan and Lanre Lasisi received N2,500.00 each with bronze
medals adorning their necks.

In the Draughts final, which took more time than others, the battle
between the G’s – Goriola Ishola and Gilbert Godfrey became an
energy-sapping encounter as both entertained with sublime Draughts savvy
that kept the fans on the edge of their seats for most of the time.

It was a titanic battle of brain and brawn but brain rather than brawn,
triumphed as the more methodical Goriola Ishola galloped to glory, winning
2-1 after an excruciating duel. He went home with N10,000.00 cash prize
and a gold medal, as his gutsy opponent, Gilbert received a silver medal
plus N7,500.00, leaving third place winners, Shehu Saliu and Abdul-Rasak
Tofa to contend with cash prize of N2,500.00 each and bronze medals as
other prizes.

At the end of the game, Alhaji Nurudeen Aladaba, sibling of Sports icon
“Adolf” Rasak Aladaba, a socialite in political and sports circles in
Lagos Island, was full of joy as he showered encomiums on Governor
Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) for deeming it fit to re-introduce
traditional games after many years of its sojourn in oblivion. “ I am
using this opportunity to thank our Governor for his innovative ideas in
bringing back old memories of traditional games and also to ensure more
people are attracted with this initiative of the Governor” Alhaji Aladaba
intoned.

Lagos State Add Value To Traditional Sports.

Traditional sports, rekindled to give recreational ambiance to Lagosians,
made its debut in Lagos Island on Saturday 11, September, 2010.

Before a motley crowd at Campos Square, a socio cultural and sporting site
at the heart of Brazilian quarters in Lagos Island, the popular Ayo
Olopon, Cards and Draughts came calling as dignitaries braved the chilly
and wintry weather to watch an exciting competition, packaged by Life
Sports Limited, in conjunction with the Office of the Senior Special
Assistant to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) on Grassroots Sports
Development, under the auspices of the Lagos State Traditional Sports
Association.

Not deterred by the scanty crowd, the games went on smoothly as officials
from the Grassroots Sports Development office graced the occasion with
their presence.

In the Cards game finals, Olayiwola Akanji, from Adeniji-Adele Taxi Park,
defeated Mustapha Omotolani 2-0 and carted home the sum of N10,000.00 cash
prize, a gold medal, as his opponent, Mustapha also received a cash prize
of N7,500.00 and silver medal for his efforts. The two third-placed
winners, Yinka Olayiwola and Isah Oshodi from Epetedo Area, won N2,500.00
each and were also decorated with bronze medals.

In the Ayo Olopon, which dragged for long before a winner could emerge,
Yinka Olayiwola, eventually came tops, beating his fit-fighting foe,
Ikudaisi Mustapha, to second place on his way to garnering a gold medal
and cash prize of N10,000.00. The second place winner Mustapha went home
with a silver medal and the sum of N7,500.00, while third place winners
Adeneye Oshinfusan and Lanre Lasisi received N2,500.00 each with bronze
medals adorning their necks.

In the Draughts final, which took more time than others, the battle
between the G’s – Goriola Ishola and Gilbert Godfrey became an
energy-sapping encounter as both entertained with sublime Draughts savvy
that kept the fans on the edge of their seats for most of the time.

It was a titanic battle of brain and brawn but brain rather than brawn,
triumphed as the more methodical Goriola Ishola galloped to glory, winning
2-1 after an excruciating duel. He went home with N10,000.00 cash prize
and a gold medal, as his gutsy opponent, Gilbert received a silver medal
plus N7,500.00, leaving third place winners, Shehu Saliu and Abdul-Rasak
Tofa to contend with cash prize of N2,500.00 each and bronze medals as
other prizes.

At the end of the game, Alhaji Nurudeen Aladaba, sibling of Sports icon
“Adolf” Rasak Aladaba, a socialite in political and sports circles in
Lagos Island, was full of joy as he showered encomiums on Governor
Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) for deeming it fit to re-introduce
traditional games after many years of its sojourn in oblivion. “ I am
using this opportunity to thank our Governor for his innovative ideas in
bringing back old memories of traditional games and also to ensure more
people are attracted with this initiative of the Governor” Alhaji Aladaba
intoned.

Laggos State Government Donates Table Tennis Kits To Deen Star Table Tennis Club.

It was a day of joy for the young table table tennis players in Lagos Island precisely, Akanimodo Community where the founder of Deen Star Table Tennis Club,Tajudeen Olaniyi Onitana, whose efforts to redeem and develop ping pong in Lagis Island in own his little way since 1961, received compliment from the Lagos State Government on Thursday,Sixteenth of September, 2010.

To Tajudeen Olaniyi Onitana, who aaccording to him had suffered immensely to upgrade and popularise the sport in the community as he was deprieved of using Akanimodo ground to train teeming youth who have interest in the sport.

Despite, the hositi;lities, Tajudeen Olaniyi Onitana never gave up as fought hard and persist in training youth among whom are, Nosiru Sule, who won a Silver medal at the Paralympic Games in Atlanta 96,Morufat Idris, Fatimah Bello, Aminat Fashola, Mukaila Ajagbe, Idris Gbamgbala, Tajudeen Onitana, Miuz Onitana, among others.

While appreciating the efforts of the Lagos State Government through the office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Grassroot Sports, Prince Wale Oladunjoye,Onitana, thanked Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola through the Adopt - A-Talent Programme which located him and afforded the teeming young table tennis with ample opportunity of four hundred table tennis ball, four set of table tennis boards and five playing bats which according to him, has never to him since started training 1961.

Idris Morufat, who was discoveered and nurtured to stardom by Tajudeem Onitana, commended the Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola for providing them with four set of table tennis boards as she appealed to the Senior Speacial Assistant to the Governor on Grassroot Sports, to assist them to build a knock up hall to aid professional training unlike where they are presently using as a training ground.

Morufat, former Cadet Champion of Asoju Oba Table Tennis Cup,Omo, Star, Elephant Cement Cadet Championship and the winner of the Local Government female table tennis Champion, also want the Lagos State Government to provide regular kits,allowances and being encouraged to feature in regular table tennis tournaments in the state.

In his response, the Senior Speacial Assistant to the Governor on Grassroot Sports, Prince Wale Oladunjoye, the gesture was part of the their programme to identify with talents within each communities in the state and also to recognise individuals who through their personal volition had done so much to grassroot sports without being supported.

He said Mr Tajudeen Olaniyi Onitana of Deen Star Table Tennis Club is worthy of the gesture because he had laboured for the growth of table tennis in Lagos Island.

Oladunjoye, assured that his office had made it mandatory that Mr Tajudeen Olaniyi Onitana would be receiving a monthly Sports - Aid from the State' Government for his upkeep, adding that the training kits provided would not be one - off event as there are plans to make it a regulat exercise to help discover more talents.

According to him, two of Deen Star Table Tennis players,Muizdeen Olaniyi and Halimat Ayila, were invited to the just concluded camp of Adopt - A - Talent Programme where they were nurtured and exposed to modern training.

Among the dignitaries in attendance were Prince Wale Oladunjoye, Mr Niran Adeniji, MNr Segun Adenuga, Coach Wole Orukotan, Mr Segun Bankole

Eguavoen Dedicates Victory To Calabar Fans

The interim Super Eagles coach, Austin Eguavoen has dedicated the two - nil win over Madagascar in the Africa Nations Cup Qualifiers to the soccer fans that thronged the Calabar Stadium to support the team to victory.

The coach was really impressed with the unalloyed support the team got since the team arrived the city last Thursday, said the goals from Obafemi Martins and Mike Eneramo were inspired by the unflinching support the team got before and during the match.

The former Super Eagles defender, who denied complaining over the choice of U.J Esuenne Stadium, in Calabar,described the venue as a good ground for the tie, adding that they were happy with the choice of Calabar as venue for the match.

Eguavoen, said he had contacted the invited Super Eagles football players two weeks to the match when he was informed that the Federal Government would make use of the National Abuja for the Ecowas Games, stressing that the footbasll players were well informed that the match could either be played at Calabar or Kaduna.

According to Eguavoen, the players unanimously agreed to move the match to Calabar because Kaduna weather is hot, while that of Calabar is akin to that of Europe, adding that the team's first choice, goalkeeper,Vincent Enyeama was thrilled with the choice of Calabar.

NFA image-maker Robinson Okosun, who denied that the match was moved to Calabar because of financial problems, said the NFA paid for everything except accommodation/feeding as the government of Cross Rivers decided to accommodate the team.

He said the reports about players and coach condemning the choice of Calabar was done in bad faith, adding that the Madagascar FA were aware of the changed venue since about two weeks ago.

Maigari Commends Imoke

The President of Nigeria Football Association, Aminu Maigari, has expressed appreciation to Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State for donating the sum of Ten million naira to members of Super Eagles for beating the Madagascar National Team.

The Super Eagles through Obafemi Martins and Mike Eneramo scored a goal each to defeat the Madagascarside by two unreplied goals in a match played at the U.J Esuenne Stadium, Calabar in the African Nations Cup qualifier.

The Governor made the donation through his deputy at a banguet dinner organised for players and officials of the super eagles at the state house shortly after the game.

The NFA President, who was full of praises to the Governor for hosting the team and the financial support, said the NFA was very pleased with the football loving Governor whom he described as a true patriot who has the love of sports at heart.

Meanwhile, Maigari, has extended his appreciation to the Government and good people of Cross River State, Security Agencies and most importantly, the passionate Football loving fans of Calabar over their excellent conduct and support given to the team during the 2012 African Cup of nation qualifiers.