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Senate Backs Sam Okwaraji Under-16 Soccer Championship, As Izunaso Chairs Steering Committee

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Chairman steering C'ttee,Senator Osita Izunaso(left) Chairman Senate C'ttee on Sports, Sen.Abdul Ningi (Center) Leader of delegation Mr Achonwa Chidozie and Dr Dr Okechuwu Duru

 

The Senate Committee on Sports Development has assured of its support towards the realisation of the Annual Sam Okwaraji Under-16 Senate Backs Sam Okwaraji Under-16 Soccer Championship, As Izunaso Chairs Steering Committee as approved by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.

Senators and members of the Sam Okwaraji  soccer Competition

The Senate Committee on Sports Development gave the backing when it received the Steering Committee of Sam Okwaraji Under-16 All Nigeria Secondary Schools Soccer Championship at the National Assembly in the Abuja.

This is even as the Senator Osita Izunaso representing Imo West in the Senate, emerged the chairman of the Steering Committee of maiden edition of the annual soccer championship.

The leader of the delegation and secretary of the Steering Committee , Mr Achonwa Chidozie hinted newsmen that the visit of the Steering Committee to the Senate , was part of measures to seek the endorsement and support of relevant stakeholders for the funding of the soccer championship which he said, is being organised in honour of Nigeria ex-international, Late Sam Okwaraji who slumped and died while playing for the Super Eagles during Italia ’90 World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Angola at the National Stadium in Lagos in 1989.

Mr Achonwa further insisted that the promises made by the then military administration of Ibrahim Babangida to immortalise the late Okwaraji, were never fulfilled called on President Tinubu to throw his presidential weight behind in the interest of the proper grassroot football development and national unity.

He emphasised that the championship which would be an annual competition, would not only unite Nigerian youths through football, but also serve as a platform for discovering talents for youth competitions like the Under-17 junior World Cup, among others. He noted that notable ex-Nigeria football internationals like Henry Nwosu and Samson Siasia were products of youth competitions like the Sam Okwaraji Under-16 soccer championship.

Achonwa further hinted that the competition when realised, would equally inculcate and foster the spirit of service, sacrifice and patriotism in the present and future generations of Nigerian youths.

He maintained that the late Super Eagles player, Okwaraji, symbolised that patriotism given his sacrifices for the Nigeria national team.

Another member of the delegation Dr Okechuwu Duru called on,, State Governors, corporate organizations, wealthy Nigerians and all well meaning individuals to support the initiative which according to him, will help the growth and development of football in the country.

While welcoming the committee,the chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports Development, Senator Abdul Ningi representing Bauchi Central, commended the Ibrahim Gusau-led Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, for giving its approval for the competition.

Senator Ningi assured of the support of the Senate to the success of the competition, adding that his committee would work to galvanize support of other relevant stakeholders including the National Sports Commission towards the success of the competition.
He also expressed a strong belief that the President Bola Tinubu administration with its robust policy on youth development would not hesitate to support such a wonderful initiative

Speaking also, the chairman of the Steering Committee of the competition, Senator Osita Izunaso who is also a member of the Senate Committee on Sports Development, while expressing strong support for the championship,said he did not hesitate to accept the chairmanship of the steering committee of the football competition being the senator representing the Imo West where the late Sam Okwaraji came from will do everything within his official powers to ensure its success.

Another member of the Senate Committee on Sports Development, Senator Tony Nwoye representing Anambra North, also pledged his support for the competition in order to immortalise the late football star and grow football in the country.

The highlight of the visit was the decoration of the three senators as patrons of the Samuel Okwaraji Foundation.

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Victorious Bayelsa Athletics Team presents Trophy to Director of Sports

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Director of Sports, Sir. Braveman Wodi, receiving trophy fromVice Chairman of the Bayelsa State Athletics Association, Dr. Kolawole Oredipe, captain, David Michael, coaches

 

The victorious athletics team to the recently concluded National MTN CHAMPS/MOC/AFN championship in Benin City, Edo State has presented the overall best team trophy won by the team to the Bayelsa State Director of Sports,Sir Braveman Wodi.

The team, led by the Vice Chairman of the Bayelsa State Athletics Association, Dr. Kolawole Oredipe, captain, David Michael, coaches and officials of the Association made the presentation at his office in Yenagoa.

Presenting the victorious Team Bayelsa, Dr. Oredipe, said the feat was as a result of hard work and dedication on the part of the athletes and coaches.

He appreciated the Director of Sports, Sir. Wodi and Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr. Daniel Igali for their continued support and approvals in ensuring that the athletes participated at the event.

Dr. Oredipe who is also the founder of SAMKAY Athletics Club, said the event served as a good preparation for the athletes ahead of the Niger Delta Sports Festival holding next month in Uyo and the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State in May.

Responding, the Director of Sports, Sir. Braveman Wodi, who was elated, said the Sports Council and the ministry will continue to invest in athletics and the athletes to achieve set goals.

Sir. Wodi commended Dr. Oredipe who was leader of the delegation to Benin, for his vision, dedication, and investment in athletics, which he noted is yielding positive results.

He charged the athletes not to rest on their oars, calling on them to improve on their performance and replicate the dominance at the National Sports Festival.

The Director of Sports also appreciated the coaching crew for working tirelessly and putting the athletes in the right shape for the MTN Champs where they emerged overall best.

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Team Bayelsa emerges overall champion in MTN CHAMPS/MOC Athletics Season 3 …Wins 7 gold, 3 silver, 5 bronze medals.

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Gov Douye Diri of Bayelsa state

 

By David Owei, Bayelsa

Team Bayelsa impressed at the Season 3 of the national athletics MTN CHAMPS, held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, winning the overall best position with a total of 15 medals, 7 gold, 3 silver and 5 bronze medals.

Sophia Efetobore was the star of the three day event, winning three gold medals in the 100m and 200m women senior as well as 4×100 metres relay.

Also, 13 year old Ebimoboere Chistopher of SAMKAY Athletics Academy, Yenagoa won 2 gold medals in the cadet under 14 category, in 100metres with a personal best of 12:95 seconds and 200metres with a time of 27.05 seconds.

In the Under 20 junior category, Samson Tebowei of SAMKAY Athletics placed second in the 800m to win silver setting a personal best time of 1:59:97 seconds.

The quartet of Perezide, Sophia, Taye and Sarah won gold in the 4x100meters relay for senior girls, just as David Michael, Bright Benson, Shalom George and Akwanga also won gold in 4×100 meters senior men relay.

Bright Benson clinched silver in the 400m Senior men, while Lucky Daje was in blistering form, winning the 200m Gold Senior men with a time of 21:09 seconds and bronze in the 100meters, and Austin Ezeruike made away with the bronze medal in the 200 metres.

In the under 20 female junior category, Perezide Sigah of SAMKAY clinched silver in 200 metres, while team Bayelsa also won silver in the 4X 400m mixed relay.

Christian Dickson won bronze in both 110 and 400 metres hurdles, while Sarah Lori also settled for bronze in the 400 meter senior for girls.

A number of young athletes ran their Personal Best including Faye Perfect who made it to the 200 metres final with a new time of 21:95 secs and Tokoni Itu who ran a personal best of 11:58 seconds in the under 17 category in 100 meters.

Vice Chairman of Bayelsa Athletics Association and founder SAMKAY Athletics Club, Dr kolawale Oredipe, who commended the performance of team Bayelsa, said the event was a test run for the state contingent ahead of the Niger Delta Sports Festival holding next month in Uyo and National Sports Festival scheduled for May, 2025.

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Igali advocates for inclusion of Traditional Wrestling ‘Kuwa’ and Canoeing in National Sports Festival *Receives Bayelsa Athletes at 13th ECOWAS African Wrestling games

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By David Owei, Bayelsa

The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr Daniel Igali, has called on the National Sports Commission and the Main Organising Committee of the National Sports Festival in Ogun State to include traditional wrestling known as “Kuwa” and Canoeing as part of the events for the festival.

Igali made the call when he received Bayelsa athletes who represented Nigeria at the recently-concluded 13th ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja which was part of activities lined up to celebrate ECOWAS’ 50th anniversary.

He  commended the Bayelsa athletes for yet again, making the country proud after Ebi Biogos 76K and Ebipadei Mughabofa 66K won gold each for Team Nigeria while combining with their teammates to win two silver medals in team events.

The commissioner who heaped praises on Nigeria’s abundant talents in every sport called on the National Sports Commission being led by proven sports administrators, Shehu Dikko

and Bukola Olopade to consider including traditional wrestling and canoeing in the events to be competed for, at the Sports Festival coming up in Ogun State.

According to Igali, traditional wrestling is one of the local sports in the country and Africa that connects our cultural heritage. Thus, it deserves to be part of the events for the Nigerian version of the Olympic Games.

Also, the world and Olympic wrestling champion expressed shock at canoeing being excluded from the festival despite successively qualifying for the last two editions of the Olympics.

He described canoeing as one of the potential sports that can win Nigeria medals at the Olympics if properly encouraged and invested in.

While formally receiving the athletes Igali said “On behalf of the Bayelsa State Government, I receive you all with pride, celebrating what you have done. This shows clearly the focus of sports development in Bayelsa.”

“Arising from that, it is a bit of an irony that Nigeria has hosted the whole of West Africa in traditional wrestling, and we don’t have it at the next sports festival in Ogun State. My appeal to the National Sports Commission is that this is one cultural event that is relatable to virtually every culture and tribe in Nigeria,” Igali said.

“Let me also use this opportunity to mention another sport canoeing, this is one sport that Nigeria has a good opportunity to win a medal at the next Olympics if we plan very early. Over the pa8st Olympics, it has qualified athletes who have done very well and need to be encouraged by harnessing its potentials” Igali maintained.

He concluded by appreciating the Bayelsa State Government led by Senator Douye Diri for massively encouraging sports development through approval of funds to execute its programmes.

Meanwhile, the Director of Sports Bayelsa State Sports Council, Sir Braveman Wodi, who is the overseer and direct principal of the wrestlers, applauded them for representing the state and being good ambassadors of the Ijaw Nation.

Braveman noted that their triumph speaks volumes of the developmental policies of the Prosperity administration of Governor Douye Diri and his deputy Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

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