|
Braithwaite
supports FIFA against Nigeria
NIGERIA Advanced
Party (NAP)
Presidential candidate, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, has said that FIFA
should not be blamed for its lack of support for the Nigerian-led
five-nation joint bid for the 2010 World Cup.
Speaking with the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, Braithwaite said the world
football body “knows how badly we treat our footballers’’.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter
on Tuesday criticised Nigeria’s
plan to co-host the 2010 World Cup which FIFA has allotted to
Africa. The plan seeks to include Ghana, Togo, Cameroun and Benin
Republic.
“This idea of Nigeria is
not feasible,” Blatter told the BBC. “Even if there is to be a
co-hosting, which would be
in exceptional circumstances, there will only be one organising
committee.
“But we will not consider
this idea, as the other countries are not candidates.’’
Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt,
Libya and South Africa have also submitted bids to stage the
tournament.
Braithwaite said Nigeria’s
sports policy and administration were “afflicted by poor,
unenlightened and corrupt leadership’’ which a NAP government
will reverse.
He said a NAP-controlled
federal government would make overtures to FIFA to reconsider its
views on the hosting of
the World Cup which it zoned to the African continent.
Braithwaite said a
NAP-government would encourage sports, describing sports as a
“wonderful ambassador. The mileage from sports is far longer,
and richer than what all your ambassadors can do for your
country’’.
Looking back on the
country’s poor performance at the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup,
Braithwaite faulted the “cool approach’’ of the Super Eagles
coach Adegboye Onigbinde on the bench.
“I fault his too cool
approach on the pitch. The way he sat on the bench. He could have
stood up, dished out instructions and marshalled the boys. He
could have made some impact,’’ he said.
The NAP presidential
candidate whose son, Olumide, organised a series of warm up
matches for the Super Eagles ahead of the Korea/Japan World Cup,
expressed disappointment that the team could not go beyond the
first round.
5th Cadbury golf tourney ‘ll be unique
—
Adebija
Sponsors
of the 5th Cadbury Cup golf tournament have said that the current
edition of the tournament would be unique as they intend to honour
legends of the Nigerian golf circuit.
Mr Gbenga Adebija, Corporate
Affairs Manager of Cadbury Nig. Plc., told newsmen on Tuesday in
Lagos, that in commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the
competition which began as a quardrangular in 1999, legends would
be honoured for their pioneering role.
According to him, the idea
was to thank them on behalf of the entire nation.
He announced the tee-off
this weekend of the first of the three preliminaries billed for
Kano between March 22 and March 23, featuring golf clubs from some
northern states which would vie for a place in the finals.
Adebija said that by the
weekend of March 29 and March 30, it would be the turn of Aba Golf
Club to host the second preliminaries for clubs in the eastern
states.
The last of the
preliminaries would be hosted by the Ikoyi Club 1938 (Golf
Section) featuring clubs in the western states including Kwara and
Kogi states, he said.
Nigerian Army declares support for Abuja 2003
THE Nigerian Army has pledged an all-round support for the
8th All-Africa Games holding in Abuja, October this year.
Chief of Army Staff, General
Alexander Ogomudia stated in Abuja
that no sacrifice was too much on the part of the Army in
its desire to contribute to the success of the 8th All -Africa
Games.
The Director of Army Physical
Training Corps, Col. Mahmud Maharja, gave this tacit tone of total
support on behalf of the Army Chief, during a visit to COJA
Executive Director, Dr. Amos Adamu in Abuja.
Col. Maharja outlined various
possible areas of support the Army can be of assistance to the
organisers of the biggest Games in Africa, explaining that, “the
Army is well equipped professionally to render adequate service if
called upon at the shortest notice.”
Areas of assistance the Army has
comparative advantage according to Col. Maharja are, security,
physical training, medical, nutrition, communication, Games
programming, displays during the opening and closing ceremonies
and musicals as the occasion demands.
The visit from the Army High
Command was complementary to an earlier one paid by COJA
management under the headship of Dr. Amos Adamu to the Army
Headquarters to seek for support for Abuja 2003.
Thanking the Army delegation for
their interest in the affairs of COJA, Dr. Amos Adamu reiterated
the long held opinion of his team to involve the military in areas
their bearing are professionally ahead of the civil society.
Dr. Adamu thanked the Chief of
Army Staff, General Ogomudia for this understanding and concern
for the success of the 8th All-Africa Games, stating, “a
blueprint will soon be presented to the Army on possible areas of
co-operation. We need their support and no kidding about it”.
...Soyinka,
others brain storm on opening ceremony
ARRANGEMENTS for a unique and symbolic opening ceremony for the
8th All-Africa Games go into full throttle this weekend in
Abeokuta.
The co-ordinator of the event,
world-acclaimed Professor Wole Soyinka and other stakeholders in
the planning process, are expected to come out with a blueprint at
the end of proceedings in the Ogun State capital.
Joining Professor Soyinka in the
rocky city of Abeokuta to harmonise for Abuja 2003 opening and
closing ceremonies, are the 26 South Korean consultants already in
Nigeria, local and international artists of diverse creative
bearing, technocrats fromuniversities and COJA.
Inputs from the different groups
gathered in Abeokuta towards a compact package for the opening
ceremony tops the agenda of the one-day retreat, as COJA insists
on the prominence of the nation’s diverse cultural background in
the programming of the opening ceremony.
The choice of Abeokuta for the
brain storming session, according to Professor Soyinka, is
informed by its natural quietness that allows for full mental
comprehension of issues, which the assignment demands.
Clubs’
registration
for IFA league begins Friday
THE Ibadan (zonal) Football Association has announced that
registration of clubsides for the rejuvenated IFA league will
start on Friday,
March 21, 2003.
Mr. Banji Akintayo, the chairman
of the association disclosed this while fielding questions from
sportswriters shortly after the finals of the governor’s cup at
the Olubadan Stadium, Ibadan.
A press release made available to Tribunesports and
signed by Mr. Folorunso Oyelakin, Publicity Secretary of the
association, quoted Mr. Akintayo as saying that the registration
of team is the first step towards the commencement of the IFA
league which has been on hold for about three years.
He noted that the Olubadan Stadium
which had come under severe hardship due to neglect
would wear a new look soon as some local councils and
corporate bodies were looking into ways of uplifting the pride of
Ibadan from its present sorry state.
Mr. Akintayo added that this time
around, clubs vying for the IFA League shield would now receive
handsome cash prizes which would help in raising the
standard of the game in Ibadanland.
Meanwhile, the Ibadan (zonal)
Football Association has disclosed that it would start the
visitation to local governments, corporate bodies and individuals
in order to raise fund for the Olubadan Stadium rehabilitation
project.
The release added that it had
become imperative for the body to scout for fund to enable it
prosecute its programme and objectives.
The release listed the 11 local
governments in Ibadanland as among those to be approached. He
added that Blue-chip companies like the Nigerian Breweries, British
American Tobacco, Fan Milk, Askar Paints, etc and several notable
Ibadan indigenes and residents would be approached to help save
Olubadan Stadium and soccer in Ibadanland.
Oyelakin noted that the vision for
the new Olubadan Stadium was realisable as several encouraging
signals have been received on the renovation one of the few
existing heritage of Ibadanland.
The IFA spokesman stressed that
renovation work which would start soon would not affect the new
IFA League scheduled to commence soon.
|
|
|
|
2010
WORLD CUP
Nigeria goes for sole bidding
FOLLOWING FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s criticism of Nigeria’s
plan to co-host the 2010
World Cup with Ghana, Togo,
Benin Republic and Cameroun, Nigeria Football Association (NFA)
secretary-general, Taiwo Ogunjobi said on Wednesday that the
country would go for the bid all alone.
Ogunjobi
told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the 2010 World
Cup Bid Committee, headed by Chief Segun Odegbami, would abandon
the old idea and concentrate on doing it alone.
“This
idea of Nigeria is not feasible,” Blatter had told the BBC
on Tuesday. “Even if there is to be a co-hosting, which would be
in exceptional circumstances, there will only be one organising
committee.
“But
we will not consider this idea, as the other countries are not
candidates.’’
Ogunjobi
said Nigeria’s letter of intent to FIFA did not contain the
co-hosting plan.
“All
along we did not tell them (FIFA) that we want to co-host the
World Cup. The co-hosting aspect is our internal arrangement which
we believe will help our neighbouring countries’’ Ogunjobi,
who is a member of the bid committee, said.
He
insisted that Blatter’s comments did not mean that Nigeria had
lost out, adding that he only rejected the idea of co-hosting.
Ogunjobi
said the committee would soon meet to deliberate on the next line
of action.
Odegbami
has made similar comments, saying that Blatter’s statement was
premature since Nigeria had not put in a formal bid.
Nigerian
players lack discipline in Turkey—
Turkey’s FA head
SAMI Golgecen, Head of Turkey FA
International Committee, has said Nigerian players in the Turkish
league are good but lack discipline.
“Nigerian
players that have featured in the Turkish league are good but
don’t have discipline except a few like Uche Okechukwu and Ike
Shorunmu,’’ Golgecen said on Tuesday after a friendly match
between the Pepsi Fooball Academy and the Turkey Under-18 side at
the National Stadium, Lagos.
The
match, won 2-0 by the Pepsi Academy, was organised as part of the
fund-raising activities of the Kanu Heart Foundation.
“Uche
Okechukwu is a good player, he is dedicated, disciplined and has
sportsmanship and Ike Shorummu is a very good goalkeeper and a
gentleman as well,’’ he said.
Golgecen
also commented on Daniel Amokachi and Austin Okocha, both of whom
featured for Besiktas and Fernebahce respectively.
“Daniel
Amokachi is a very talented and very strong player, but lacks
discipline on and off the pitch.
“Part
of Amokachi’s problem at Besiktas is indiscipline.
“That
was why the club was not keen to come to his assistance when he
had an injury.’’
“Okocha
plays for himself. In my own opinion, he is not a player for
modern football because he only plays for himself. He is not a
team player.’’
Golgecen
also commented on Nigeria’s bid to host the 2010 World Cup and
advised the country to forget it.
“South
Africa is most likely to win the bid because they have the means.
Although their football is not as good as Nigeria’s, they have
the facilities to host the World Cup,’’ he said.
He
said although Nigeria had the football culture, it did not have
what it takes to host the Mundial.
“With
what I have seen of your country, you don’t have the
transportation, you don’t have the stadiums and hotels for it.
Nigeria cannot host the World Cup yet.
“But
Nigeria has a good chance of going far in the World Cup, so I
advise that you concentrate on doing well in the World Cup because
you have good football culture.’’
Westerhof
re-employed in Zimbabwe
DUTCHMAN Clemens Westerhof
returned to coaching on Wednesday when he was appointed by
Zimbabwe club Sporting Lions as its new technical director.
The 62-year-old Westerhof will take charge of all
the club’s teams and also initiate a youth development programme
for the Harare-based premier league club.
Westerhof last coached more than a year ago
during a brief spell at Zimbabwe’s glamour club Dynamos. He is
also a former national coach of Zimbabwe and was at the helm when
Nigeria made its first World Cup finals appearance in the U.S. in
1994.
He has also coached in the Netherlands, South
Africa, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
September
date for De la Hoya, Mosley
THE rematch between WBC and WBA
super-welterweight champion Oscar de la Hoya and Shane Mosley has
been agreed for September 13, Mosley’s agent Judd Burstein said
on Tuesday.
Mosley
beat de la Hoya in June 2000 - one of only two defeats the
American has suffered in his career.
He
has been hunting a rematch since and Burstein said the financial
terms of the fight were now agreed.
“Shane
is on board, and he’s planning on doing to Oscar what he did to
him the first time,” said Burstein.
But
de la Hoya’s promoter Bob Arum remained cautious. “It
was a done deal before and I’m not going to make an idiot of
myself and say it’s a done deal until it’s signed, but a
contract is being prepared,” said Arum.
De
la Hoya who has 35 wins against his two defeats, has not fought
since September, when he recorded an 11th-round technical KO of
fellow Mexican-American Fernando Vargas to capture the WBA
belt. In the meantime he will defend his WBC and WBA belts
on May 3 against former champion Yory Boy Campas of Mexico.
Laloko
hails Pepsi Academy’s victory over Turkey
KASHIMAWO Laloko has said the
Pepsi Football Academy’s 2-0 victory over the Under-18 team of
Turkey on Tuesday is a huge achievement for the academy.
“Most
of these boys have been with us since when they were nine years
and are gradually maturing. So to have beaten a national team is a
big achievement. I don’t think there is any team in this country
in this age group that can beat us,’’ Laloko, the Director of
the academy, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
The
match, played at the National Stadium, Lagos, was organised as
part of the fund-raising activities of the Kanu Heart Foundation.
The
leader of Turkish delegation, Sami Golgecen, said the better team
won.
“I
am happy that both teams played within the framework of FIFA fair
play. The players had good orientation and in my opinion the
better team won. The Pepsi Cola team was a better side.’’
He,
however, said the bad pitch affected both teams from displaying
their true potentials.
“The
pitch was not so good. I’m sorry to say that the pitch is not up
to the standard of football that had been played today,’’
Golgecen said.
NIS
director makes case for local coaches
Niyi Alebiosu, Lagos
DIRECTOR National Institute for Sports (NIS), Professor Lasun
Emiola, has clamoured for the appointment of local coaches for the
national team as against the employment of a foreigner being
considered by the Nigeria Football Association (NFA).
Addressing
the 82 matriculating students of the institute on Wednesday,
Professor Emiola said that he had always been an apostle of good
coaches for the national team, he believed that the NIS products
were always better.
The
NIS director said, “we train and produce better coaches here at
NIS, and I believe that if NIS can produce good coaches, why then
can’t they handle national team and produce good results.”
Emiola,
who advised the new students to be of good character while in
school or at their various teams in future, added, “if our coach
local can win junior World Cup at any point in time without the
so-called foreign coach that is to tell you that our coaches are
good.”
He,
however, advised the students to
see their academic pursuit in the institute as a way of
putting them in a position to fashion out modern scientific
coaching and sports management strategies that will lift Nigerian
sports to enviable heights and also urged the students to
cultivate the culture of patience in their approach to solving
problems.
RESULTS
NIGERIAN PREMIER LEAGUE
Kwara United
2
Gombe United
0
Wikki Tourists
1
Bendel Insurance 0
|
