Flowerbud News

Category: Sports

  • Sports is for reformation, happiness, checking of vices among inmates – NCoS Controller

    Sports is for reformation, happiness, checking of vices among inmates – NCoS Controller

     

     

    By Flowerbudnews

    Enugu: The Controller of Corrections in Enugu State, Mr Nicholas Obiako, says the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) focuses on sports for reformation, happiness and checking of vices among inmates.

     

    Obiako said this on Wednesday at the finals of the month-long Chief Emeka Okoye Football Competition held at Enugu Maximum Custodial Centre in Enugu State.

     

    He said that the sports reformation and rehabilitation marshaled out by the Controller-General of NCoS, Mr Haliru Nababa, was yielding great impact in keeping the inmates away from vices and trying to escape from the custodial centre.

    According to him, the football competition is one of the recreational activities put together by the NCoS Command to see that the inmates work together and vent their anger and energy towards the positive pursuit of becoming champions.

     

    “This yearly activity (football competition) makes them feel happy, make friends within a month or two months as well as make them think-less of planning evil.

     

    “We also have plans to up activities and stage competitions in other sports such as table tennis, badminton, volleyball, Ludo and Chess, which will help inmates that have passion and talents for them to develop further.

    “The constant engagement in these sporting activities and games will help their proficiency in them and prepare them to take up these sports as a career when they finish their service here,” he said.

     

    Obiako, who is the Commander of NCoS Enugu State Command, said that football scouts, administrators and international officials are already penciling down talented football players among them to engage them once they serve their terms and are freed.

     

    Speaking, Mr Sunday Oyakhire, Deputy Controller of Corrections in-charge of Enugu Maximum Custodial Centre, appreciated Controller-General of NCoS and the Controller of Corrections in the State for given sports reformation a strategic attention.

    Oyakhire said that the competition was meant to enliven the spirits of the inmates and make them to be part of the ongoing festive mood, adding: “Notwithstanding being in corrections, they are also humans that want to enjoy the season”.

     

    “The month-long competition is also a means to engage the inmates positively and keep everybody in the custodial centre relaxed as well as ensure that security is intact this season,” he said.

     

    He, however, appealed to public-spirited individuals and philanthropists to invest in the reformation of the inmates through various sports by sponsoring sporting activities and competitions within the centre.

    The competition, which kicked off on Dec. 11, 2023, had six teams which included; Controller of Corrections; Deputy Controller of Corrections; Emeka Okoye; CAPIO, NOWAS, and Freedom-at-Last Teams.

     

    In the third-place match, NOWAS Team defeated CAPIO by 5 – 3 on penalty kick after 90 minutes of goalless draw by both teams.

     

    In the final match, Emeka Okoye Team defeated Deputy Controller of Corrections Team 5 – 4 on penalty kick after 90 minutes of 1 – 1 draw by both teams.

    The winning team, Emeka Okoye Team, went home with a giant trophy and N100,000 cash; while the runners up, Deputy Controller of Corrections Team, get a trophy and N60,000 and third place winner, NOWAS Team, grabbed N40,000.

     

    There were monetary prizes for best player of the competition, best goalkeeper, highest goal scorer and best defensive player among others.( Flowerbudnews)

  • It’ll take miracle for Super Eagles to win AFCON – Akanni

    It’ll take miracle for Super Eagles to win AFCON – Akanni

    By Aderonke Ojediran

    Ex-international, Waidi Akanni, on Saturday said the Super Eagles would need a miracle to win the 2023 Côte d’Ivoire Africa Nation’s Cup (AFCON) due to inadequate preparation.

    Akanni said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos with barely two weeks to the kick off of the tournament, which holds from Jan.13 to Feb. 11, 2024.

    “⁠My expectations are same whenever Super Eagles play, they have become very unreliable. So, I won’t expect much from them because I don’t want to be disappointed.

    “Winning AFCON will be a miracle for Nigeria. It will be presumptuous of me to expect Super Eagles to come out tops at the championship.

    “One of the elements of a team is predictability, I can’t predict them because I don’t know their pedigree.

    “I believe I’m not the only one that feels this way about the team, a lot needs to be worked on in the midfield, defence and goalkeeping departments of the team,” he said.

    Akanni, a member of the bronze medal winning U-20 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship team, said the handlers of the team should have included some home-based players.

    “It has always been the same for AFCON with African countries because of the European season. It’s difficult to get a full house of players as a group till about a week to AFCON.

    “I think the coaches should have given some home-based players the opportunity to compete for some positions, not only goal keepers.

    “⁠The final list is predictable as we had all the former players both fit and unfit in the 41-Man list,” he said.

    NAN reports that the team is set to depart for a one-week training camp in Abu Dhabi.

    The team will later proceed to Abidjan where it will face Equatorial Guinea in the opening Group A match on Jan. 14, 2024, and later Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea-Bissau.

    Super Eagles, three-time champions of the tournament: 1980, 1994, and 2013, hope to win the trophy for the fourth time when the tournament kicks off in January 2004.

    NAN

  • JUST IN: Peseiro names Osimhen, Musa, 23 others in Super Eagles final AFCON squad

    JUST IN: Peseiro names Osimhen, Musa, 23 others in Super Eagles final AFCON squad

    Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, has announced his final 25-man squad for the forthcoming African Cup of Nations in Cote’d’Ivoire.

     

    The African football showpiece will run from January 13 to February 11, 2024.

     

    The Nigerian side, gunning for its fourth title, has been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea Bissau.

     

    The Portuguese manager whose future is up in the air had in earlier December unveiled a 40-man provisional squad, including three goal-keepers from the local league.

     

    However, in the final cut, Peseiro on Friday named African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen, captain, Ahmed Musa, and Chippa United goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabili.

     

    Nwabili, drafted in to solve the team’s goalkeeping crisis is joined by long-standing first-choice, Francis Uzoho and Enyimba FC goal-stopper, Leke Ojo who is the only home-based player in the squad.

     

    The return of captain, Musa is expected to raise some eyebrows from the fans who believe that his time in the team has lapsed.

     

    4former Kano Pillars forward is not the only returnee, Vice-Captain William Troost-Ekong, is back in contention after missing the Eagles’ recent games over a reported rift with Peseiro.

     

    FULL LIST.

     

    Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabili (Chippa United, South Africa); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC)

     

    Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); William Troost-Ekong (PAOK Salonika, Greece); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)

     

    Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)

     

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor K, Turkey); Victor Osimhen (Napoli SC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, German

  • Civil-Military relations: GOC plays football with youths in Anambra community

    Civil-Military relations: GOC plays football with youths in Anambra community

     

    By Flowerbudnews

    Enugu: Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, has played football with youths in Azia community within Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra to enhance Civil-Military relations.

     

    Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, acting Deputy Director, 82 Division Army Public Relations, on Friday in Enugu, said that the GOC played with the youths within Azia Community Football Field on Thursday evening.

     

    He said that the GOC gesture was in a bid to foster improved civil-military relations and create an enabling environment between the military and its host community.

    “The GOC while on operational visit to Forward Operating Base Orsumoghu in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State had a brief stopover at the Azia Community Football Field where he played a football match with the youths of the community.

     

    “The GOC played for about 15 minutes with the youths. The overjoyed youths, who could not hide their joy, could be seen and heard cheering the GOC during the football match.

     

    “General Dada wishes to express his appreciation to the youths and the host community for the privilege of being part of their memorable moments,” he said.

    He said that the GOC made a token donation to the teams and officials, while assuring them of adequate security during and after the yuletide season.

     

    “The GOC encouraged the youths to be part of the fight to end the mirage of insecurity bedeviling the South-East region by providing adequate, credible and reliable information to end the menace,” he said.

    He, therefore, wishes the entire South-East region a prosperous New Year in advance. (Flowerbudnews)

  • Lagos Street Soccer celebrates Mayoress at 50

    Lagos Street Soccer celebrates Mayoress at 50

     

    Lagos (Flowerbudnews): The Chairman of Lagos Street Soccer Bolaji Yusuf has heartily felicitated with the Executive Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA Princess Simiat Abolanle Bada on the occasion of her golden jubilee birthday celebrations.

    He described her as an excellent administrator and a bedrock supporter of grassroots democracy and sports development.

    In a statement released on Thursday Yusuf eulogised Mayoress as she is fondly called for her outstanding service to Ikosi -Isheri LCDA, Lagos State and the nation at large in various capacities, both in the public sector and individual capacities.

    He said: “On behalf of the Lagos Street Soccer Committee I join family and friends to celebrate an outstanding administrator, a philanthropist, football aficionado and co-Chairperson of Lagos Street Committee on the auspices of her birthday celebration.

    “Mayoress has proven in different capacities her quench and desire for human capacity building alongside her excellent governance acumen which has beam her into the epicenter of the political elite circle and in the committee of friends.

    “I wish Mayoress the very best on her 50th birthday as she joins the Golden Jubilee Group today. I pray that God will grant her long life and sound health to continue to render more selfless service to humanity.” (Flowerbudnews)

  • University of Ghana wins 2023 WAUG Championship

    University of Ghana wins 2023 WAUG Championship

    By Jide Idowu/ Dorcas Elusogbon

    The University of Ghana, Legon Boundary, Accra,  has won the 2023 edition of West African Universities Games (WAUG) Championship, hosted by the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Osun.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the university won 10 Gold, Eight Silver and three Bronze medals to emerge winner of  the championship.

    The University of Education, Winneba Ghana, came second with six Gold, four Silver and four Bronze medals ahead of Benson Idahosa University, Edo  which came third with six Gold, two Silver and two Bronze medals.

    Receiving the first place trophy on behalf of the institution, Dr Bella Bello Bitugu, the Director of Sports of the University, dedicated the trophy to one of their athletes, who lost his mother on Wednesday.

    Bitugu said the athlete, Oyeyemi Johnson, whose father is of Nigerian origin and  Ghanaian mother, received the sad news while participating in the games.

    In his closing address, the Vice Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Simeon Bamire, appreciated all the participants and wished them journey mercies to their various destinations.

    Bamire congratulates all the medalists, saying the most important lesson of the games is for the participants to strive for greater heights.

    Also speaking,  Shaibu Tanko, WAUG President, thanked all the universities that participated at the games, urging the athletes to inspire the world.

    Tanko said that  the games, for the first time, conducted its elections, which produced him as the president to pilot its affairs for the next four years.

    He, thereafter , appealed to stakeholders to give him and his executive the  needed support to move the university sports in West Africa to the next level.

    NAN reports that the Championship started on Dec. 15 with athletes from 20 universities in Nigeria and  Ghana participated at the games.

    Events being competed for at the games include table tennis, athletics, tennis and basketball

    WAUG, also known as the ECOWAS Students Games, is a multi-sport event between student-athletes from West African universities.

    The first edition of the competition was held in 1965 at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria’s premier university

    NAN

  • NCoS kicks-off Emeka Okoye Football Competition to discover talents among inmates

    NCoS kicks-off Emeka Okoye Football Competition to discover talents among inmates

     

    By Flowerbudnews

    Enugu: The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has kicked-off the Emeka Okoye Football Competition to discover budding football talents among inmates within Enugu Maximum Custodial Centre.

    The competition, which is known as the Emeka Okoye Cup being sponsored by Chief Emeka Okoye, an Enugu-based philanthropist, is featuring six club-sides that would engage in football spectacles from Dec. 11, 2023 to Jan. 3, 2024.

    The six club-sides are made-up of players (inmates) currently serving at the centre.

    Kicking-off the competition on Monday at the football pitch of the centre, Mr Sunday Oyakhire, Deputy Controller of Corrections in-charge of Enugu Maximum Custodial Centre, said that the competition was meant to tap into the great prospect of sports especially football.

    Oyakhire said that the competition would showcase great football talents even as the NCoS was also focused on sports as a means of reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of the inmates into the society.

    “The Controller-General of Corrections, C-G Haliru Nababa, has been so wonderful in developing innovative means and engagement to see to the reformation and reintegration of our inmates back to the society.

    “The C-G has continued to encourage sporting competition and engagement as a means of re-orienting our inmates. He also uses it to encourage the inmates to be the best they can be.

    “Very recently he (C-G) has said that if there is an outstanding footballer (or footballers), he (player) will be recommended for freedom. That is what he has just said recently,” he said.

     

    The deputy controller also lauded the Controller of Corrections in Enugu State, Mr Nicholas Obiako, for creating an enabling environment for well-rounded reformation to take place at the Enugu Custodial Centre.

    According to him, for this year, this is the second football competition or tournament we are having at this centre and it is more about promoting spirit of sportsmanship and positive competition among the inmates.

     

    “It will keep them busy within this period and there will be no tendency of people (inmates) trying to escape from custody.

     

    “It will arrest their minds, keep them in a place and they will not think of other evils as well,” he said.

    The deputy controller said that there was an already made arrangement to get football scouts, football managers and owners of football club-sides in Enugu State and beyond to come and watch the semi-finals, third place and final matches.

     

    “We normally invite coaches from outside, football teams, football managers and others for them to look at the good and quality players (inmates) they can incorporate into their teams once they are out of custody.

     

    “These coaches, managers and scouts can also facilitate the recommendation for the release of the spotted or discovered talents.

    “We are hoping that our students (who are under our reformation now) will turn out to be leading football stars in the country and internationally. This is our ultimate target and we are working hard to achieve it,” he added.

    The six club-sides participating in the competition included: Controller of Corrections team; Deputy Controller of Corrections team; Emeka Okoye team; CAPIO team; NOWAS team and Freedom-at-Last team.

     

    The winning club will get N100,000; while the runners up will go home with N60,000 and third place winner will grab N40,000.

    There would be monetary prizes for best player of the competition; best goalkeeper; highest goal scorer and best defensive player among others.

     

    The kick-off match between Emeka Okoye team and Deputy Controller of Corrections team was underway during the time of filling this report./ Flowerbudnews

  • Enyimba FC, United Nigeria Airline sign N100m sponsorship agreement

    Enyimba FC, United Nigeria Airline sign N100m sponsorship agreement

     

     

     

    By Flowerbudnews

    Enugu: The Enyimba Football Club, on Friday, signed an initial N100m agreement with the United Nigeria Airline for sponsorship of the club-side.

     

    The sponsorship agreement is within two years period of relationship and activities.

     

    Speaking at the agreement signing ceremony in Enugu, the Chairman of the Enyimba FC, Nwankwo Kanu, popularly known as Papilo, expressed his joy over the sponsorship of the United Nigeria Airline.

     

    Kanu applauded the Chairman of the Airline, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, for appreciating the sacrifice his team (Enyimba FC) had done for the country, and made the country proud internationally.

    “Today is a special day, Enyimba FC is 24 year before I came in as chairman, we have not had such. So from the people of Abia State, His Excellency, Gov. Alex Otti, the staff, the club and the league, we really appreciate the sponsorship.

     

    “Enyimba Football Club, the League itself needs people and organization of such.

    “The United Nigeria Airline is to unite everybody and football is one of the biggest tools to unite Nigeria,” he said.

     

    Kanu said that the United Nigeria Airline had come to help and they prayed and believed that other airlines could also help Nigeria football development.

    “Coming to Enyimba FC, which is one of the biggest football clubs in Africa, this is to show that things are getting much better.

     

    “It is not going to be easy for us but with what is happening today, Enyimba will still be Enyimba and be on top,” he assured.

     

    Earlier, Okonkwo said that the mantra of the United Nigeria Airline was flying to unite Nigerians.

     

    According to him, the airline is seeing football as an important factor that unites Nigeria people, regardless of their tribe, race and state, even where they are coming from.

    “Soccer is one thing that when playing, you only support with emotional sentiment that gives you joy, so in our corporate social responsibility, we see that as an important thing we can identify with and we do not find anyone than working with Papilo,” he said.

     

    He said that Kanu’s team had contributed so much in the lives and joy of Nigerians.

     

    The chairman congratulated Kanu for the appointment he had taken with Enyimba, adding that it was going to take a lot of sacrifice from him.

    “I hope the understanding agreement will make your engagement easier and make you succeed,” he said.

     

    He applauded Gov. Otti for appointing Kanu, commending him for putting a round peg into a round hole. (Flowerbudnews)

  • Sports minister hails Super Falcons WAFCON qualification

    Sports minister hails Super Falcons WAFCON qualification

    By Muhyideen Jimoh

    The Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Owan Enoh has hailed the Super Falcons on their successful qualification for the 2024 African Women’s Cup of Nations (WAFCON) slated for Morocco.
    The minister said the team displayed an impressive level of determination and teamwork, securing vital victories during the qualifiers to solidify their place in the prestigious WAFCON.
    He lauded the Super Falcons for their remarkable effort in showcasing the nation’s prowess on the continental stage.
    “The qualification of our Super Falcons for the African Women’s Cup of Nations is a testament to the dedication and talent of our exceptional players.
    “Their outstanding performance reflects Nigeria’s rich sporting heritage and unwavering commitment to excellence,” he said.
    Enoh emphasized the significance of women’s football in Nigeria, highlighting the pivotal role played by the Super Falcons in inspiring young athletes and fostering a culture of inclusivity and sporting prowess across the nation.
    “Through their hard work and commitment, the Super Falcons have not only secured a place in this prestigious tournament but have also inspired a new generation of aspiring female footballers.
    “Their success resonates beyond the field, serving as a beacon of hope and empowerment for young women in our country,” he added.
    The minister reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to supporting the team and other national teams.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Falcons of Nigeria, nine-time champions on Tuesday defeated their host 2-1 for a 7-1 aggregate win in the final round of the qualification series.
    NAN