Rivers StateTo Host NigerDelta Wrestling Championship
The Rivers State Government has proposed to host the Niger Delta Wrestling Championship, later in the year.
Commander Osita Offor made this known to the public while on a courtesy visit to the Rivers State Honourable Commissioner for Sports, Fred Igwe, last week, in his office.
Commander Osita Offor who won the world heavy weight championship inDallas,United States of America, is fromNigeria.
The new world Heavy Weight Champion reveals that the championship is expected to attract international wrestling stars from all over the world to compete for the heavy weight title, tagged “Garden City, The Pride Of Championship”.
Offor the ultimate commander, gave reason whyRiversStatewas chosen to host the championship. He said it was because of the sports loving Governor on board who has built international facilities to be reckoned with in any part of the world.
Responding, Hon. Fred Igwe, stressed that Rivers State Government will continue to take proactive steps in sports management to ensure that Rivers State’s image is sustained in the national and international competition hostings.
Hon. Igwe further said the international sports facilities put in place by the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi is naturally attracting international events to the state and urged that talented sports women and men in the state to be rest assured that the state government would not let them down in the pursuit of their sporting career. #####
Ocean Boys Support Heartland To Lift Federation Cup
History was made on Sunday, being 25th day of September, 2011 as Ocean Boys of Brass supported Heartland Football Club of Owerri to lift the federation cup after 23 years at the Taslim Balogun Stadium,Lagos.
Ocean Boys of Brass as if in a union throughout the 90 minutes at the final match gave all their support to the Owerri side against Enyimba of Aba. No one could have believed that ocean boys are not Igbo boys as they drum and dance giving encouraging words to the playing Heartland boys.
It was not simply Enyimba’s day as all supports went to the now champions of federation cup, Heartland. Coupled with the support of the state Governor Rochas Okorocha, the madness of the players took centre stage. Not that Enyimba did not play well but it was simply too much for the former champions of the federation cup as both non indigenes of Igboland gave all their solidarity to the team of the moment, thus saying ‘Enyimba your time has passed, this is the time of Heartland’.
Ocean boys openly demonstrated their love for the Owerri side by giving out their jerseys to both supporters of Heartland and fans, not forgetting to exchange their jerseys with players of Heartland.
It would be recalled that the Naze Millionaires last lifted the cup when they beat Flash Flamingoes 3-0 in 1988. Since then it has been a big joke for the Owerri side to rise up to clinching the number one position as they have just done.
The Naze Millionaires were beaten in the final of the 1999 edition of the federation cup by Plateau United.
With this victory the happy state governor, Rochas Okorcha will have something to plan for to make the team one of the most successful teams not only onAfricabut also in the world. The team will representNigeriain CAF competition as current champions of Nigerian federation.
Meanwhile NFF President was not present at the finals inLagos.###
NFF Board Faces Another Crisis
The never ending problems ofNigeria’s apex football decision -making body, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is under going another crisis. This time it is within the board.
All is not well with the Alhaji Aminu Maigari-ledNigeriafootball federation as the chairman of all chairmen who doubled as the Chairman, Security Committee, Chief Effiong Johnson, had threatened to quit the board. Reason being that Alhaji Aminu Maigari is seen as running the board along with some management staff, who had constituted themselves as cabals to dictate to the federation. And Chief Effiong Johnson did not find this funny.
Also some aggressive members are not happy with the turn of events in the Alhaji Aminu Maigari-led Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) executive board, as these aggrieved members also accused the President of running the board as a one man business along with few whom he has agreed to take instruction from.
These aggrieved members of the NFF board had put the blame on Alhaji Aminu Maigari for not carrying them along while taking major important decisions. They stressed that the president was under the whims and caprices of the cabal management staff.
A source said Chief Effiong had threatened to quit the board because of the inability of Alhaji Aminu Maigari to pay the FA Chairmen their subventions, positing that Chief Effiong’s resignation letter has not been officially submitted to the board because he felt he should have one on- one discussion with Maigari before quitting if no change is effected.
One of the reasons the aggrieved members of the board cited is that the president relaxed attitude of not compelling the Chairman of the Technical Committee, Barr. Christopher Green to present to the board the detailed document on the hiring of the German-born Super Falcons Assistance Coach, Thomas Oblierre.
As it is, no one knows what will come of the whole thing, if the President does not handle every thing with transparency. ####
Okocha Not Happy WithNigeriaDrop In FIFA Ranking
Former Super Eagles Skipper, Austen Jay Jay Okocha is not happy with the latest position of the Super Eagles in FIFA ranking. Okocha who is also a member of the board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) lambasted the Eagles for dropping points in the latest FIFA ranking.
Okocha who after watching few matches of the Super Eagles friendlies and qualifiers is not convinced that the Siasia-led Eagles are shaping for the best.
Concerned Okocha said, I am not only worried about the individual free-kicks but the general decline in the rating of the Super Eagles, he vehemently stated that the Samson Siasia Eagles have not lived up to Nigerians expectation, even if the team is on course.
“Our rating is giving me serious concern in addition to our style of play. I’m concerned because we would have been better than where we are now. However, I would add that we are in the right direction in trying to put our house in order to get the desired result”, he stated.
Meanwhile, Coach Siasia has released the Super Eagles squad that will face the Guinea National Football team. Wonder boy Osaze Odemwinge is also in the pack.###
Grassroots Sports Personality Of The Week
Are you a sport personality, either actively or a sponsor, promoter, administrator before or now? And you consider yourself good to grace the Newswriter grassroots sports personality space? Why not call the Sports Editor on this line 08037384663, for further modalities and strategies to have you published.
Only people of integrity should please concern themselves for this privilege. Thank you for your perfect cooperation and understanding.
This week, in our usual manner, we have another big fish in our net. A man you could describe as Mr golf in the whole ofNigeria. A true Rivers son proudly from Port Harcourt Local Government Area (Phalga), a man who has paid his dues in terms of representing Nigeria, not to talk of Rivers State, where he started his golf career.
This man we are talking about is a recognized professional golf player in the World Golfers Association (WGA). He has also trained many golfers out forRiversStateas well asNigeria. Please meet Coach Morgan Atako ofPort HarcourtGolf club 1928, as this week’s grassroots sports personality of The Newswriter.
Name: – Morgan Atako
Age: – 44
HomeTown: – Ogbum-Abali
LGA: – Phalga
State: – Rivers
Sports: – Golfer
Model: – King Eddy Peters
Aspiration: – I am aiming to be a world class golf coach
Turn On: – Sincerity, peaceful, loving and hardworking
Turn Off: – Dishonesty
Current Base: – Port HarcourtCity, Rivers state
Current Club: – Port HarcourtGolf Club 1928
Occupation: – Playing coach
Trophies won: – I have lost count of the trophies I have won. Meanwhile I was the garden city games golf gold medalist 2011.
GSM: – 07065599544
Coach Morgan Atako now coaches children and interested adults in golf on weekly basis atPort Harcourtgolf club. He has refused many offers from countries likeAmerica,South Africa, just because of the love he has for his country and state. According to him, if he goes who will train those who would want to become golfers?
