Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games gold medalist, Chioma Ajunwa Opara has rolled out plans to celebrate her golden feat recorded 25 years ago in the United States of America with the ambitious plan to build a N6bn sports development centre in Owerri. The plethora of activities lined up to commemorate the silver jubilee of the golden jump also include an Olympic talent hunt program for girls in eight states of the federation and a dinner at the Transcorp hotel Abuja on August 19, 2021. Addressing Sports writers in Lagos, Ajunwa, who is an Assistant Commissioner of Police(ACP), disclosed that she is sad that her record of 25 years is yet to be broken by any Nigerian athlete. The sporting activities targeted at girls within the age brackets of 10-17 years, will include athletics, football and taekwondo. The Chioma Ajunwa Foundation in conjunction with the Aka Ji Ikukuoma Foundation will transverse eight states of the federation namely; Lagos, Imo, Abia, Edo, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abuja for the talent hunt. “It is my fervent wish that Nigeria produces more Chioma Ajunwa’s and this can be done by initiating a deliberate and sustainable program such as this. “The Chioma Ajunwa Foundation and the Aka Ji Ikukuoma Foundation came together to the change the narrative about sports in Nigeria. “We are going to the streets, every nook and crannies of this country to help the less privileged sports children to achieve their maximum potentials in sports , as well as projecting the image of this country to the global world”, Ajunwa assured. In December 2017, the Chioma Ajunwa-Okpara Foundation was launched to discover new Nigerian stars in sports.
Novak Djokovic hopes players are not forced to get vaccinated against Covid-19 to compete on the ATP circuit
The ATP earlier in April stated that players who have been vaccinated would not have to self-isolate in the event of close contact with a positive test result. The governing body of men’s tennis also drew up an exemption list for players who have been vaccinated. Both the ATP and the women’s WTA recommended players accept vaccine shots when available. Novak Djokovic said there were “a lot of options in terms of vaccines” but still a lack of clarity on whether they would be compulsory. “I don’t think it’ll come to that. I hope not, because I’ve always believed in freedom of choice,” Djokovic told reporters when asked at the Serbia Open if he had been vaccinated. “And I will keep the decision as to whether I’m going to get vaccinated or not to myself, it’s an intimate decision and I don’t want to go into this game of pro and against vaccines, which the media is unfortunately creating these days “I don’t want to be labelled as someone who is against or who is for vaccines. I’m not going to answer the question… and hope that everyone will respect that.” Djokovic, who tested positive for coronavirus last year, had previously said he was personally opposed to vaccination and would not want to be forced by some- one to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel
NWFL boss, Falode thanks Nigerians for Super Six Championship success
Chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), Aisha Falode, has expressed her gratitude to stakeholders for their contributions to the success of the just concluded 2021 NWFL Premiership Super Six Championship held in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. The one-week football fiesta among the best six teams in the domestic scene, including Bayelsa Queens, Delta Queens, Rivers Angels, Edo Queens, FC Robo Queens and Sunshine Queens, was won by perennial champions and title holders, Rivers Angels. The victory earned Rivers Angels the ticket to represent Nigeria at the WAFU B qualifiers for the maiden CAF Women Champions League. The 2021 NWFL Premiership Super Six Championship attracted the cream of Nigerian football family, including administrators, stakeholders, government bigwigs, and fans, among others. In a statement yesterday, Falode admitted that the stakeholders contributed to the success of the competition, saying, “I want to say a big thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who in one way or another contributed greatly to the successes of the just concluded NWFL Premiership Super Six Championship. “Your kind words, encouragement and open support are simply electric and overwhelming, even your individual words to your citizens during the one week fiesta was simply infectious and reasons why we are celebrating right now. “We will remain eternally grateful to the host governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun, the executive governor of Ogun State for the hospitality and security throughout the one-week football exercise. “Of course, we are ever grateful to the number one sports citizen, Mr. Sunday Dare, for being there always for us. Our sincere gratitude goes to the Women Affairs Minister, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, for being a role model of womanhood.” Falode praised NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, and the federation’s board members for their support to the women league, just as she hailed Edo State Deputy Governor, Phillip Shuaibu, his Ondo State counterpart, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Lagos State sports Commission Chairman, Sola Aiyepeku, Lagos State Sports Commission Director General, Oluwatoyin Gafaar, as well as NRA President, Tade Azeez, Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Mr. Boma Iyaye, Rivers State FA chairman, Chris Green, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports, Daniel Igali, and his Delta State counterpart, Tonobok Okowa, for their encouragement and support to the women league board. Rivers Angels won the NWFL Premiership Super Six Championship with 11 points, with second placed Delta Queens on nine points. FC Robo Queens ended the competition on eight points, Sunshine Queens were fourth with seven points, while regular season table toppers, Bayelsa Queens and Edo Queens had five and zero points respectively
