Bauchi based youth soccer outfit, United Boys are set to be at the Africa Youth Cup October this year in Cape Verde. This much has been confirmed by President of the club, Justice Habib Shall. Shall while briefing the media yesterday said his outfit over the years has enjoyed excellent relationship with organisers of the Africa Youth Cup, Serahanasports. “Yes, as we speak, we have registered for the Africa Youth Cup. I can confirm to you that United Boys of Bauchi will be in Cape Verde. We missed the maiden edition but we are definitely going to be in this year’s edition. We have enjoyed an excellent relationship with organisers of the event and we are sure it would be the same thing when we storm Cape Verde,” Shall stated.
Shall was also full of praise for the Bauchi State government which he noted has also been very supportive. “Bauchi state government has been very supportive and the government has also pledged to identify with us as we prepare for the tournament in Cape Verde. For us, the whole idea is to empower the youths in Bauchi using football as the instrument. We all know the role sports can play in getting the youths out of crime and making them to become better citizens,” Shall stated.
Fencing World Championships: Nigerian girl, Somto Eribenne set for Milan courtesy FIE
A Nigerian fencer, Somto Eribenne has been confirmed to compete at the Fencing World Championships billed for next month in Milan, Italy. President of Nigerian Fencing Federation Samuel Adeyinka who confirmed this much further disclosed that Eribenne would be in the training camp of the world fencing governing body, FIE for one week before the event which is a Paris 2024 Olympic qualifier.
According to Adeyinka…”Somto Eribenne has been selected to train with several world class Fencer’s at the International Fencing Federation (FIE) training camp in Milano ahead of the Senior World Championships. she will be at the camp for 1 week before competing in the Women’s Individual Epee Event.” Adeyinka stressed that another Nigerian fencer, Tosan Egbesemirone (Men’s Epee) will also be competing at the Senior African Championships, in the Men’s Foil event, in Cairo Egypt. Tosan recently competed in Acapulco, Mexico from May 5th – 6th, 2023.
Lack of transparency, poor organisation bane of Nigerian women football -Kraemer
After a critical examination of why Nigerian women football is still in comatose position, President of Association of Nigeria Women Football Club Coaches, Hans Kraemer has heaped the blame on lack of transparency and poor organisation which he believes must be tackled head on for the game to grow. In an exclusive interview with Catholic Herald Sports the Swiss who has been involved in the development of women football in the country since 2001, lamented that not minding that the country boosts of talented women footballers but lack of transparency in chosing national team players and proper organisation of the league is affecting the progress of the game. “I’ve been involved in the development of women football in this country for many years and my experience shows that there are a lot of talented players in this country but lack of transparency and poor organisation is affecting the development of the game. “It’s unfortunate that most times you see players who are more than 17 years old playing for the U-17 thereby denying good players in that age bracket the opportunity to play for their country and garner more experience; which enables them progress to the next stage and under such a situation, the game cannot grow because after every major tournament, players who are supposed to graduate to the next level will fizzle out which to me is an anomaly.
“Our football administrators are also not helping matters because the women league is not properly organised and there is no modalities put in place to monitor the progress of these players as is done in other climes rather they’re only interested in what to gain which is an absurdity. Kraemer whose association has discovered many players for the various national teams through their annually organised women football tournament lamented that the NFF has not shown enough interest in what his body is doing. ” My association has been organising women football tournaments annually for more than 20 years now but hardly do you see any member of the NFF or national team coaches coming around to monitor what we’re doing as well as scout for players and there’s no way our football will grow with that type of attitude. He was also not happy with the fire brigade approach being adopted in preparing players for international competitions; noting that the system does no body any good. On the chances of Super Falcons in this year’s World Cup to be hosted by Australia and New Zealand later next month, he advised the team to remain focused and put in their best in order to do the country proud at the competition.
” I’ve no doubt that the Super Falcons will improve on their previous performances at the World Cup in Australia/ New Zealand but there is the need for the team to be focused and avoid distractions which might affect their performance especially in the Group stage where they’ll face the host country, Australia, Canada and Republic of Ireland. “The coaching crew led by Randy Woldrum whom I believe from their own calculations have invited players they think can give them good result must work towards improving on the quarter- final finish of the team at the 1999 edition hosted by the United States and in doing this must ensure that only players who are not match rusty are used in all the matches”, he stressed. Kraemer who blamed lack of trust for the near absence of sponsors for female football in the country, promised to always do his best for the game to enable talented young Nigerian girls achieve their full potentials in the round leather game.
