Sports 3r edition

Inter-house sport offers forum for interaction - Chukwuka
By Pat Muo

 

Inter-house sport competition has been identified as a veritable forum for interaction among students, teachers, parents and friend.
     This observation was made by the Director/Principal, Federal Government College, Nise, Anambra State, Dr. E. U Chukwuka during the 20^th annual inter-house athletics completion held in the school recently, adding that the event has grown to become an exciting highlight in the academic year of the college.
    He praised the achievements of the students in sports competition, adding that the school is united not only by its academic successes but also by its co-corricular activities. “Our students look forward to this day every year when they are freed from the fetters of tedious academic work and losse themselves in the excitement of winning prizes for their houses.
    He noted that sports has come to be valued not just for its entertainment and improvement of physical well-being but also for the exposure it gives and the enormous wealth it brings the participants.
     According to Dr. Chukwuka, in this day when young school leavers idle away with nothing to do, many have found satisfying careers in sports, stressing that so many great men and women of Nigeria with international recognition earned their fame in sports.
     “We still remember Power Mike the great wrestler, Kanu Nwankwo and JJ Okocha, the famous footballers, Chioma Ajunwa and Mary Onyali, renound printers,” he stated.
     He cautioned all participants to bow to the superior judgment of the officials notwithstanding their personal opinion, adding that in life as well as sports, discipline and determination is needed to succeed.
    He stated: “Life is tough and competitive and life’s race needs to be accepted and completed whether you arwe misjudged or not and whether you are feeling out of breath or not. I therefore charge the officials of this competition to ensure that the games are played according to the rules. We look forward to proper organization, fair and just decision.”
     Dr. Chukwuka noted that the college struggled so much to ensure the actualization of this year’s inter-house sports stating that the reason is simply because their sports arena was heavily eroded by flood during the last rainy season.
    “We therefor call on the Anambr State Government, Ndi-eze, parents, guardians, philanthropiss and friends of the college to identify with our sporting needs by leveling and grassin our sports field. If given the chance, I assure you this college will produce Olympic medalists,” he stated.
   He appreciated the contributions made by the Federal Ministry of Education, Anambra State Government, and all who in one way or the other, in the past and today have sponsored their inter-house sport competition.
      He also appreciated the school’s management team who have made great job in putting the event together. “I acknowledge all the good work done by the teaching and non-teaching staff to ensure the success of the competition.”

Amesi inaugurates sports council
…championship gulps N1.8M
By Pat Muo

In an effort to improve and encourage grassroots sports in the town and the local government, the Amesi Improvement Union (AIU) on January 2, 2016, inaugurated the Amesi Sports Council (ASC) to oversee grassroots sports in the town.
    The inauguration which coincided with the triennial Akalabor Football Championship (AFC), witnessed a large turnout of Amesi sons and daughters, both home and abroad. The championship which kicked-off on December 18, 2015, saw several teams from different branches of Amesi Town Union competing for honors.
    In a welcome speech, the Chairman of the Council, Prince Greg Ezechukwu, said that the sole objective of the council is to move Amesi to a lofty height in the area of sports development adding that the motto of ASC is simply, “love and harmony through sports.”
    “While it is only natural to look ahead, I cannot continue without due reference to the remarkable reminiscences of the positive actions of Amesi heroes whose dexterity and resourcefulness culminated in the gains of what we gather triennially to celebrate as Akalabor Football Championship,” he stated.
    He paid glowing tribute to some illustrious sons of Amesi who contributed immensely to the growth of the championship, “to your stern and indelible foot-prints in the successful organization of the championship at various points in time, thank you very much. As we appreciate you sumptuously, we also recall with nostalgia, the call to eternity of some of the sports icons and pray for the eternal repose of their gentle souls through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
     Ezechukwu recognized the efforts and commitment of the Student Union and some members of the AIU branches, adding that without them, there would be no AFC, “in a special way also, I wish to recognize the gallant efforts of some dignitaries and families who despite the enormous cost incurred in running a football club, are able to remain resilient and resolute in continuing the entrenched tradition of fostering formidable football teams for the effective running of the championship.”
    He noted that the championship was unprecedented with multiplicity of innovations garnished with individual and collective zeal in the sponsorship of complimentary trophies like never witnessed in the history of AFC.
    He said that the ASC has through the mammoth supports it has garnered, introduced the 3^rd and 4^th runners-up trophies and went further to extend the merit awards in all strata of the game in order to encourage keen competition and also enhance further participation in the championship.
     He stated: “Historically, a brief look into the recent past reveals that in 2009, the AFC trophies put together a handsome sum of N850, 000. In 2002, the championship trophies generated a sum of N950, 000. Quite unprecedentedly and absolutely amazing, this year’s championship has recorded a whooping sum of N1.8 million, realized from various complimentary trophies pledged by the sports lovers of Amesi community.”
      Ezechukwu noted that the amount did not include the huge sums invested in the Merit Award Medals consistently sponsored by Gregmore Foundation. “Remarkable also, is the fact that this year’s championship has produced a good number of sponsors of quality trophies from friends of Amesi community, especial in diaspora. This, you will agree with me is about the greatest feat ever recorded in a grassroots competition at both local and national levels.”
     He said that towards the realization of their enormous goals, the Association has recorded so many feats, which include amongst others, a signed constitution, an office allocation at the ASC hall, increased sponsorship of the game through massive donation of incentive trophies. Others are increased participation of sponsored football clubs in the championship, improved championship arenas and gadgets, and the winning of external football championships like, Ezeudo Cup, Diocesan Cup, Mike Okiro’s Cup and others.
     According to him, in their march towards meaningful and resourceful directions, the ASC is designed to further achieve the following objectives: to renovate and equip the newly allocated office, to expand its scope in embracing other games like, tennis, volley ball, badminton etc.
      Others are to compete in local, state, national and international championships, to build a spectators’ stand at the Central School arena, presently serving as Amesi Stadium and to build an ultra modern sports complex in Amesi that will help boost recreational activities for all, create a befitting place for reception of dignitaries to Amesi, and also, to serve as an archive for sports-related and other community matters.
     “The aforementioned goals can only be accomplished through our collective efforts. Therefore, as we congratulate all Amesi people for their firm commitment to the vision and mission of this sacrificial body, the ASC, we implore our people to cast their nets into the “deep” and “fish” out the “finest” for Amesi community by donating handsomely towards these tall projects.”
     It is to be noted that the event witnessed the final leg of the two-week long championship which saw Gregmore Foundation FC of Port Harcourt clinching the coveted trophy after beating the Sharp Shooters FC of Lagos 1-0 in a keenly-contested match. The lone goal was scored at the 37^th minute of the second half by Ozigbo Obiajulu, wearing jersey number eleven.

Super Eagles: Keshi at last explains why he quit his job

The former Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, has finally explained why he quit the much coveted Eagles job, blaming it on the undue interference with his job by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) board and the fact that NFF made two desperate attempts to sack him during the group phase of the AFCON tournament.  
    In a report by The Sun Newspaper, Keshi stated: “People were not doing their jobs and they wanted to do my job for me. I and my crew were cursed like babies, while people who did not know my pains were meddling with it.”
      He continued: “So, I decided to resign and let somebody else do the job. Too many people were talking; too many people wanted to coach, wanted to decide for me. And I said okay let them have the job.”
     He observed that the people who wanted him out by all means were not there with him, and that they did not know what he was going through with his assistant coaches. “So they did not have to talk or tell me what I was supposed to have done then. They were not there to know how we suffered there. We were neglected.”
      According to Keshi, the longest-serving Super Eagles captain, his employers accused and cursed his crew as if they were babies, and he decided to let go at that point, adding that it was appropriate for him to resign in South Africa rather than wait till the return to Nigeria, since it was there in South Africa that all the intrigues endured by his technical crew.
    “All the threats happened in South Africa. South Africa was where the AFCON took place, and it was in the same South Africa that they wanted to sack us after two games. Where also  they were insulting us, so I thought I might end it in South Africa. So, why do I have to take it to Nigeria – to do what?” He queried.
     He continued: “They should have allowed us to finish our tournament and announce the sack or no sack. They were not ready to do that but rather during the tournament. Why is it that it is when Keshi did his that everyone started talking? But when the NFF was doing theirs, nobody said anything.”
      Keshi noted that he did not try to get back at his employers, and that the then head of NFF, Bello Maigari was always there for him, because Maigari never knew him neither did he ever know him by the time  he asked him to come and coach Eagles. “Bello Maigari made me believe that he had confidence in me, that Keshi could do it.”
     “So, I never knew Maigari; he never knew me before giving me the job and I still have that respect for him. So, there is nothing to get back at. Maigari knows all the problems and I am sure most of the members of his board knew the problems,” he stated.
      “It was not to get back at anybody. I was just tired of people trying to help me do my job, cursing us as if we were babies. Just felt it was better to leave the job and give it to somebody else to coach at that time,” he further stated.