Sports minister, Sunday Dare has charged the nation’s governing body, NFF to ensure the Super Eagles land in Qatar for next year’s FIFA World Cup. Dare in a speech delivered at the NFF extra ordinary congress in Benin last Sunday tasked the NFF to do everything possible to ensure the Eagles win the games against Cape Verde and Liberia next month (September). Dare who was represented by his media aide Kola Daniel stated that Nigeria must not find herself in a tight corner when the qualifiers start. In his words…”I would have loved to be in your extra ordinary Congress considering the vital role football play, in our dear country, but I just arrived the country from Tokyo, Japan barely 24 hours before the Congress. “I wish to use this medium to urge the football family, most especially the Nigerian Football Federation about the World Cup qualification, which is at the door step. We are starting our first World Cup qualifying match early next month and it is expected that we take the matches seriously and prepare very well so that we can as well qualify for the World Cup in Qatar 2022. “We have two matches to play in the month of September, the match against Liberia and Cape Verde. I want to state here that we should avoid permutations at the dying minute. We should get ready to pick maximum points when needed at the early stage of the qualifiers so that we will not find ourselves in a tight corner. “Consequently, I want to also use this medium to wish you a fruitful deliberation in your Congress and come out with plans that can as well bring about the growth of football in the country. The grassroot football should be one of your major focus so we can as well present a formidable team that would bring about podium performance in the U17 and U20. The NFF remains the lead organization in football development and it must retool for the work ahead. I am sure this NFF leadership can do it if they want to do it. The FG Committee on 10-year football master plan will soon be announced. If you can genuinely put the country at heart in your Congress, we will continue to get it right as far as football is concerned. I wish you great deliberations.
Aiteo Cup: Ikwunze hails Bayelsa teams for historic double
Former Abia state director of Sports and Nigeria’s leading football historian, Ejikeme Ikwunze (Mr Football) has tasked Bayelsa State government to turn Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens into solid sides that can compete at the continental level. Ikwunze while congratulating Bayelsa State for the historic double in a statement made available to Catholic Herald Sports stated…”Congratulations to Bayelsa. The Govt should just take it up from there and build great teams for continental competitions.Also Bayelsa United should leave no stone unturned to ensure the play in the elite cadre next season.” Ikwunze was quick to add…”With their victory in the Aiteo Cup it should be a task that must be accomplished. Once more, Goodluck to them and once again Congratulations to the Governor Duoye Diri and Bayelsans, the management and staff ,coaching crew, players, Supporters club and fans of Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens for this historic achievements.” Bayelsa United defeated Nasarawa United 4-3 (penalties) to lift the male Aiteo Cup, while Bayelsa Queens beat Robo Queens of Lagos to win the female trophy. Both finals were decided at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin.
NPFL: Mbata lifts Heartland with N1m
Heartland players got their spirit further lifted Tuesday night when Imo state born business mogul, Prince (Dr) Alex Mbata donated N1m to them as ‘thank you’ for finishing the season on a good note. Heartland had in their last home game defeated Kano Pillars 1-0 in an encounter the team proved from the very first blast of the referee’s whistle that they meant business. It would be noted that Gov Hope Uzodimma had before that game paid the players their salaries, a situation that fired up the boys. Mbata while commending the players said he decided to show them some love given the way they rose to the occasion with a top team like Pillars. The youthful chairman of ABM Group of companies said he would splash N10m on the team should they lift the league trophy next term. Mbata commended Gov Hope Uzodimma for funding the club very well in the face of the numerous challenges facing the state, even as he also gave a pat on the back to the Deputy Speaker of Imo House of Assembly, Hon Amara Iwuanyanwu he noted has done well with the club. Mbata it would be noted recently constructed a 2km road in Owerri which Gov Hope Uzodimma commissioned.
Cycling: FT Care gives succor to injured cyclist
A non-governmental organization, FT cycle care has come to the aid of Fabian John a Nigerian cyclist who was attacked by hoodlums last month at Isolo area of Lagos state. The organization as part of its contribution to his early recovery, presented a cheque of 100,000 naira to him to cover his medical expenses and take care of his other needs to help him get back on his feet. Fabian John a cyclist from Cross Rivers state was attacked by hoodlums on his way home on July, 10, 2021 at Isolo and suffered various degrees of injuries from the attack. John has since been taken to the hospital where he is receiving treatment and recovering. Presenting the cheque, chairman of FT cycle care, Femi Thomas said the gesture is to give their own little support to enable the cyclist recover and return back to normal life. “We cannot fold our hands and watch this young man go through this pain alone and that’s why we decided to do what we did to help him and I believe that this little token will go a long way in helping him recover,” he said. Thomas called on Lagos State Government to put in place more measures to curb the current state of insecurity in the state, as a lot of cyclists have been attacked in past few years while also advising the citizens of the state to be more security conscious. “Nigeria as of today is passing through a lot of security challenges and that’s why I’m calling on the Lagos State Government to put in place more security measures to check this menace because no day passes without one security problem or the other not being reported. “The citizens themselves must be security conscious and give useful information to the government and security agencies so that the issue of insecurity can be tackled and prevented before it gets out of hand,” he concluded.
