Nigeria Content Online

As many as fifty
professional golfers from across the country are expected to take part
in the fast approaching Nigeria Cup 2010 National Day Golf Tournament.

The tournament
which is now in its 14th year at the Ikoyi Club, Lagos, following its
inaugural edition back in 1997, is part of activities by the club to
commemorate Nigeria’s national day, and this year’s edition will see
some of the country’s top golfers competing alongside their amateur
counterparts for honours.

Frank Gboneme the
vice captain of the host club’s golf section disclosed this in Lagos on
Tuesday at a press briefing to herald this year’s tournament. Gboneme
also revealed the other programmes lined up by the event’s organisers
to mark Nigeria’s golden jubilee anniversary.

The qualifiers for
the Nigeria Cup took place last on Saturday at the Ikoyi Club but the
main draw doesn’t take place until September 28 when the professional
players will vie for the two million cash prize that is up for grabs
with their amateur counterparts in the Pro-Am tournament.

This event will
however be preceded by a golf tournament for children, as well as a
children’s creative class on September 25 and 26. The latter is in
conjunction with the African Art Resource Centre which will be
providing over 20 renowned artists to tutor the children.

A day later, on the September 27, the caddies will take to the course, while the ladies will have their turn on September 30.

Four-Club competition

On October 1, an
innovative event, tagged the Four-Club competition, will be held at the
venue. It will allow each competitor take to the golf course – not with
their complete range of golf clubs, but with their favourite four clubs.

“In a normal
tournament, a golfer can take to the course with as much as 14 clubs
but this competition will see the golfers limiting themselves to just
four clubs,” Gboneme said. “So it becomes tricky at some stage.”

The Four-Club
competition won’t be the only event planned for Nigeria’s national day
as there will also be a cultural night with fireworks to precede the
Gentleman’s Final which comes up the following day.

Gboneme also used Tuesday’s press briefing to thank the various
corporate bodies that have contributed to the success story of the
Nigeria Cup National Day Golf Tournament. They include UBA, Diamond
Bank, Oando Petroleum and Nigeria Breweries, makers of Heineken in
Nigeria.

There are over 250
athletes representing 19 countries at the 2010 Senior African Swimming
Championships holding in Morocco. But after the first day of
competitions, the South African team is head and shoulders above the
rest. Team South Africa snagged 11 medals and set four tournament
records at the end of day one.

Karin Prinsloo
began the medals haul for South Africa in the Monday morning heats when
she broke Lauren Roets’ six-year-old record in the 100m freestyle with
a time of 56:48s. She then took 800th of a second off that morning
record in the evening finals clocking 56:40s. Compatriot, Leone Vorster
took the silver medal in 57:50s.

In the men’s 100m
breaststroke event, William Diering, who posted the fastest time in the
morning heats, finished second in 1:03:13s in a hard fought race with
Algeria’s Nabil Kebbab. Nabil has a South African connection as he is
being coached by former South African coach Karoly Torros, who
currently heads Algeria’s swimming.

The South African
show continued when Kathryn Meaklim finished the 400m individual medley
and set a new Championships Record time of 4:45:76s, improving on her
previous morning heat record of 4:53:72s. Bianca Meyer claimed bronze
in 4:52.69.

There was another
gold and silver haul for South Africa in the women’s 50m backstroke.
Chanelle van Wyk set a new Championship Record clocking 29:31s while
Jessica Ashley-Cooper claimed silver in 29:90s.

In the men’s 50m
backstroke, youngster Darren Murray swam his way to the top of the
podium in a time of 26.56, with Garth Tune coming in a close second in
27.03.

The women’s 4 x
200m freestyle relay promised to be an exciting final, following
Tunisia and Algeria’s quick times earlier in the day. The race lived up
to the expectations as the crowd rose to their feet in a nail-biting
final sprint which saw Team South Africa break the 2006 Championship
Record in 8:27.61, with Tunisia and Algeria completing the remaining
medal placings.

Medal rankings
after day 1 Wednesday’s event Day 3 15 September 2010 15 400m Freestyle
Women 16 100m Freestyle Men 17 100m Backstroke Women 18 200m Backstroke
Men 19 50m Backstroke Women 20 50m Butterfly Men 21 4X100m Free Relay
Women 22 4X200m Free Relay Men

Plans of naming a
substantive coach for the Super Eagles on or before an earlier set
deadline of October 1, 2010 is no longer feasible, the acting head of
the Nigeria Football Federation Musa Ahmadu has said.

“In all honesty, I
do not see us having a coach that will be contracted on a long term
basis before the earlier set target of October 1st 2010 giving the
circumstances surrounding the elections; the decision taken by the
court to annul it and all that,” he said.

Ahmadu, who is
currently in charge of affairs at the NFF however revealed that the
football house will be relying on stand-in coach, Augustine Eguaveon to
lead the Eagles when they take on the Syli Stars of Guinea on October
10 – in their second game of the ongoing Africa Nations Cup qualifiers
in Conakry.

“The problems
notwithstanding, the preparation for the second game against Guinea in
Conakry will go on as we will be talking to the interim coach to see if
the previous arrangement that we have on ground can still go on and I
am sure as a matured person he would look at it and oblige us,” he said.

Orphaned Eagles

The Super Eagles
have been without a coach since the departure of Swede, Lars Lagerback
who did not return to his duty post after the disappointing outing at
the South Africa 2010 World Cup.

The previous board
of the NFF had earlier held negotiations with Heartland Coach Samson
Siasia and looked set to name the Beijing Olympics Silver winning coach
as manager of the Eagles before disagreements over wages put the deal
on hold.

While Siasia
requested for a $100,000 monthly salary and a signing-on fee, the NFF
offered him a monthly salary of $20,000. The situation however took
another dimension as the now suspended board announced that will
advertise the Super Eagles coaching post rather than stick with Siasia.

Lawal’s advice

Meanwhile, former
Super Eagles player Garba Lawal has advised that the NFF should be
proactive in resolving the appointment of a coach for the team .
According to Lawal, a prompt decision will go a long way in keeping the
team focused as they seek qualification for the 2012 Nations Cup to be
jointly hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

“Sincerely I am not
happy when we waste so much time in naming coaches for our teams, it
was the same attitude that affected our game at the World Cup where we
only named a coach just three four months to the World cup. I just hope
they can make up their mind to pick someone on time,” he said.

Nigeria is currently behind Guinea in the standings as it only
managed a 2-0 victory over Madagascar while Guinea secured a 4-1
victory over Ethiopia in Addis Ababa

With the U.S. Open
trophy tucked safely under his arms and the world of tennis at his
feet, Rafa Nadal answered the one question everybody was asking with a
shy grin.

“I think talking about if I am better or worse than Roger (Federer) is stupid,” he protested.

“Because the titles
say he’s much better than me, so that’s true at that moment. I think
that will be true all my life.” Federer, 29, has a record 16 grand slam
championships, but the 24-year-old Nadal made his ninth grand slam
triumph something extra special.

The 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-2
victory over Novak Djokovic of Serbia for his first Flushing Meadows
win made Nadal the seventh man to claim all four of the sport’s grand
slam titles, and the first since Rod Laver 41 years ago to close a
season with wins at the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S.
championship.

The question, however, still remained.

Almost from the
moment he stepped onto the court as a teenager raised on dusty red
Spanish clay courts, Nadal has been answering the same question: Was he
going to be the greatest player of all time?

Nadal’s New York performance made a huge statement.

Amazing feeling

After piling up
five French Opens, two Wimbledons and an Australian Open the
hard-hitting left-hander had set his sights firmly on the final jewel
in the grand slam crown.

He improved his
serve, honed his volley and nurtured his fitness to triumph at a
Federer stronghold where the Swiss had won five titles and reached six
successive finals.

“It was an amazing
feeling,” beamed Nadal. “I played my best match in the U.S. Open at the
most important moment, so I am very, very happy for that, for sure.

“To win in here in
the U.S. Open I think is the more difficult tournament for me to play,
more difficult conditions to adapt, to adjust my game on this court,
for the balls, for the court, for everything.”

With Nadal sweeping through the slams, it is easy to forget the turnaround the Spaniard has made.

A new man

Last year his
chronic knee problems were so bad it kept him from defending his
Wimbledon title. An abdominal problem weakened him at the U.S. Open,
and his physical woes were so bad he quit his quarter-final at the
Australian Open in January.

“Life changes
sometimes, no?” said a philosophical Nadal. “Ten months ago (it) seemed
like I was never gonna be the same. Now, seems I’m gonna be one of the
greatest…

“When you come back, you are ready to value how difficult it is win titles and how difficult is to be there all the time.”

Nadal understands
how quickly things can change in tennis and in life, but he served his
rivals a dire warning in addressing the state of his game.

“For me the most
important thing is try to keep serving like I did during this
tournament,” said Nadal, who lost only one set in the championship.

“If I can do it, it
is gonna be a big change for me and my tennis career, because if I have
those free points that I had during all this tournament, (it’s) gonna
be different for me.

“I can play more aggressive. I can play with more calm when I am returning.

“After that, I can
improve everything: volley, keep improving the volley, keep improving
the position on court, being more inside the court.

“I improved a lot
since last year, but never is enough. I am not a perfect player, so
everybody can improve.” Even with improvement, Nadal was loathe to
speculate on catching Federer.

“We will see what happens in the future. I am not a genius.”

Sani Ndanusa, the former
Sports Minister, has been elected the new
president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) in an election conducted in
the board room of the NOC secretariat at the National Stadium, Lagos.
Ndanusa got a landslide victory as all the 23
accredited delegates voted for him. His
opponent, Habu Gumel,
was absent at the venue.
Others elected into the new board were; Jonathan Nnaji as the 1^st Vice
President, while Solomon Ogba was returned
unopposed as the 2^nd Vice President,
and Tijani Umar as the 3^rd Vice President.
Tunde Popola emerged as the Secretary General; with 21 votes
to defeat the incumbent, Banji Oladapo, who got two
votes. John Hamakim defeated Uche Nebedum by
the same margin to clinch the Deputy Secretary
General post.
Bappa Aliyu and Tony Ubani completed the list of the
newly elected board as they were voted in as Treasurer
and Public Relations
Officer respectively.

Ahead of next
month’s Commonwealth Games in India, the Minister of Sports and
chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Ibrahim Bio has asked
athletes to desist from using performance-enhancing drugs in their bid
to win laurels in India.

He said they should
keep away from doping, which he pointed out could tarnish the country’s
image at the tourney. Three Nigerian athletes: Amaka Ogbuebulam, Gloria
Keamsoude and Vivian Chukuemeka were recently handed various bans for
taking banned substances.

Bio also asked athletes to intensify training in their bid to do the nation proud.

The minister, who
visited the training session of the badminton, wrestling and
weightlifting team yesterday at the Abuja National Stadium, expressed
optimism that the team will do well in India.

During the visit,
lamented that fact that out of the four countries listed for the tour,
only two agreed to issue visa for the team. He however told the
athletes that the commission is working hard to ensure that the teams
embark on international training tour and that it was impressed with
the team.

The coaches and
athletes expressed surprised at the minister’s visit, saying it is the
first time a serving minister would visit the team in camp.

Olukayode Thomas,
the minister’s Special Assistant on Media denied claims that the
minister has abandoned his duty, saying he only travelled for medical
treatment with permission from the presidency.

“It is not true that the minister was away for four months, as he
only travelled at the end of July and returned on August after an eye
surgery. He travelled after getting formal approval from the presidency
and his recent trip for the less Hajj, which was in fulfilment of his
religious obligation, was just for five days and while he was away he
was still in touch daily with the Director General, Patrick Ekeji on
the happening within the commission. So the minister is abreast of
event within the ministry,” Thomas said.

The signs looked good for Nigerian football ahead of the weekend
with Heartland FC hopeful of upsetting the applecart in Cairo against Al-Ahly
in the CAF Champions League. And the men’s U-17 national side confident of
turning around the 2-0 defeat they incurred against the Congolese ahead of
their return leg tie in Kaduna.

The ladies were not left out as the women’s U-17 national team,
the Flamingos, were expected to continue their impressive run of results at the
ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago.

But at the end of it all, it turned out to be somewhat of a
topsy-turvy weekend for the country’s football teams.

First it was the Golden Eaglets who only managed to play out a
disappointing 1-1 draw against the visitors from Congo at the Ahmadu Bello
Stadium, Kaduna thereby failing to qualify for next year’s African U-17 Youth
Championships taking place in Rwanda; a tournament that will serve as the
qualifying tournament for the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico. The Eaglets
had needed to win by a three-goal margin to upstage the Congolese and advance
to the next round of the qualifiers. But after a goalless first half, they
found themselves a goal behind when Epako Oniongo scored for Congo in the 55th
minute.

After that, there was always going to be one outcome even though
they thereafter leveled up before fluffing a penalty kick midway through the
second half.

A few hours afterwards, Heartland fell 2-1 to their hosts
Al-Ahly thus waving goodbye to a tournament they were expected to mount a
serious challenge for this time around having made it as far as last year’s
final before losing out to TP Mazembe of the Congo DR.

Wake up call

“The loss is so unfortunate,” said coach of Nigeria’s senior
women’s side, Eucharia Uche. “We usually boast that even if our senior teams
are not doing well that the youth will always make us proud. But that hasn’t
happened this time around and it is time to go back to the drawing board and
see where we went wrong.

“We should start preparing another crop of boys for 2013 and we
should start now by picking the appropriate age that would be able to compete
in that time. Maybe it would serve as a wake up call for the authorities,” Uche
said, adding that “The boys did their best but it was not good enough”.

Former Nigerian midfielder Garba Lawal said ‘it is one of those
things in football’ and expressed hope that the coach will ‘pick the right
people’ next time.

“He (Golden Eaglets’ coach Monday Odigie) said he picked the
best of the lot but since it ended like this I hope he learns from this,” he
added.

Heartland flops in Cairo

Another coach who also needs to learn how to teach his team the
art of goal scoring is Samson Siasia whose Heartland side appear to be goal-shy
even though they managed to score their first away goal of this year’s
Champions League tournament against Al-Ahly.

“Heartland were in the same dilemma as the U-17 boys. They could
not score goals,” said Lawal.

“Their coaches went to Egypt knowing that they needed goals.
They even said they were prepared, but what we saw on the field of play was
different. I hope they prepare better next time.”

Flamingoes are good to go

What should have passed as a disastrous weekend for Nigerian
football was however salvaged at the very last moment by the Flamingos, who
cruised to a 5-0 win over Chile to register their third successive win at the
U-17 Women’s World Cup and claim top spot in Group A.

The Flamingos, who had earlier recorded wins over the host
nation and North Korea before routing the Chileans, now have a quarter final date
to keep with South Korea on Thursday.

Uche, a former star of the Nigerian women’s team, is confident
of their chances in Trinidad and Tobago.

“I think they are going to go far in the competition,” she said.
“They beat the North Koreans and I am quite certain that with this form they
are in they would be brimming with confidence.

“Their game with the south Koreans should not be a problem and I can
actually see them in the finals,” added Uche who anticipates a Nigeria-Germany
final as was the case at the recently concluded FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in
Germany.

How does anyone explain the shame experienced by millions of
sports loving Nigerians between Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th 2010?

Samuel Peter was given a battering I am sure, he never expected.
Samson Siasia’s Heartland football team was kicked out of the CAF Champions
league by Ahly of Egypt and Congo DR made sure that our U-17 men – oh, so
sorry, boys – will not be in Rwanda in 2011.

The implications are varied and several. For instance, while
Wladimir Klitschko, his trainers and fans are basking in the euphoria of a well
deserved victory, what we are experiencing here in Nigeria is a horrible
nightmare.

While there is celebration in Egypt, the opposite is happening
here in Nigeria, especially amongst those, who are either mischievously or
ignorantly advocating for the installation of Siasia as the Super Eagles’
technical adviser or coach.

As regards the U-17 football match, I am absolutely unperturbed.
As long as we refuse to establish a culture of excellent football development –
with integrity, as the foundation, the systemic evolution of genuine age-grade
footballers, will never be actualised in this massively blessed nation, endowed
with the potentials to rule the world of football. It is as simple but as
serious as that.

Add the above to the disgraceful situation our football
administrators have put us in the global setting and then ask why this should
be happening.

Various perspectives

Remember the case of three blind men who were told that an
elephant has been killed? They requested to be given an opportunity to touch
the dead elephant, in order to ascertain the veracity of the story. Their
request was granted. The first man touched the ear of the elephant and said it felt
so smooth like the cocoa yam leaf. The second touched one of the legs and said
it was like the mahogany tree, while the third touch the elephant’s tusk and
exclaimed that it was an iron. Check our newspapers, listen to the radio, watch
the TV, and you will be amazed at the various perspectives from which current
football issues are being discussed.

One angle that is of paramount interest to me is the issue of
divine intervention and the call on Nigerians to pray. I agree absolutely. I am
however aware of the sensitive nature of my position and approach to the
quagmire in which our football has been enmeshed, but make bold to declare
unreservedly, that this is the “drawing board” we must return to, in order to
have God-fearing people manage and administer football in this nation.

Courage is often something which others recognise rather than
behaviour that anyone ever deliberately sets out to display. I am also aware of
the fact that an idea, such as this issue of restitution, has to go through
three clear stages: the stages of it being ridiculed, aggressively opposed and
of course being finally accepted as self-evident.

The power of prayers Restitution, we are made to believe is the
act of, returning something to its rightful owner, or compensation for a loss,
damage or injury, or the return of something to the condition it was in before
it was changed.

Let me remind fellow Nigerians of the price paid by some God-fearing South
Africans between the years 2000 and 2002. I was not told. I participated in it
and was officially mandated to organise such programmes here in Nigeria, in
order to stand in the gap for our South African brethren. What was the price?

Thousands of football administrators, stake holders, footballers,
supporters/friends of football, would gather at various stadiums all around
South Africa, to confess the atrocities going on in South African sports,
especially football. Not only that, they set some days aside during which all
they did was to fast and pray to God for forgiveness. Did it work? Yes. The
2010 FIFA World Cup finals is a testimony. Can we pay the price to bring about
the desired changes Nigerians are clamouring for? Yes, we can!

The good news however is that whether we are ready or not the One who
created sports for His own pleasure, is already at work. Nigeria is blessed
with people, who pursue their dreams, regardless of the threats, dangers and
what is said or thought; and people, who have made sacrifices and displayed
incredible persistence – in short, people who are M.A.D. (making a difference).

One of such is our own Olajide Fashiku. Happy birthday, Jide. As you
celebrate today, we pray that your ideas to ensure that sports returns to its
rightful place in Nigeria do not run dry. Your efforts and sacrifice will not
be in vain. FIFA, CAF and the NFA may not recognise you, but on behalf of
millions of sports loving Nigerians, we say thank you. It will be well with
you. We love you Baba JID.

Nigerian defender,
Danny Shittu, now has another chance to join Scottish club side,
Celtic, and end his current status as a clubless player.

The big Nigerian
centre-back is currently without a club after leaving English Premier
League side Bolton Wanderers on mutual consent, but a host of clubs are
keen on securing his services. Leicester City and Middle East outfit,
Al-Ahli, managed by ex-Leeds boss David O’Leary, are also keen on
landing the former Queens Park Rangers and Watford player. Celtic are
also interested in the 30-year-old, and last week offered to have him
on trial for a week as a prelude to any potential agreement that will
bring him to the Scottish Premier League (SPL) outfit. Shittu however
rejected the deal feeling his CV should speak for itself.

The manager of the
SPL outfit, Neil Lennon, is however still keen on Shittu and is still
hoping the Nigerian international will agree to a Celtic trial that
could make him his 12th signing since the end of last season even
though the transfer window is closed. As a free agent, Shittu is
allowed to join a club outside the transfer window and Lennon hopes an
agreement can now be reached.

Hopeful Lennon

“We are hoping to
bring him up and have a look,” said the Celtic boss. “I’m just a bit
worried about squad congestion as well, so we are talking about that at
the minute. I understand that he is worried about picking up an injury
while he is out of contract if he was to come up here and train.” With
fellow central defenders Glenn Loovens and Jos Hooiveld struggling to
convince at the moment, Shittu could form a towering defensive
partnership with Daniel Majstorovic if he decides to head to Scotland
and impress the Celtic boss. As a result, Lennon would like the
Nigerian to feature in a closed-doors game later this week. “If he
comes, then we will look at him and that’s great. If not, then we will
go with what we have. We would like to see him, to see his level of
fitness. But he has been playing for Nigeria, and was at the World Cup
as well, so I don’t think that will be a major issue.”

Shittu failed to make a single appearance last season for Bolton but
still went ahead to make the Super Eagles squad to the South Africa
2010 World Cup where he featured in all of Nigeria’s three matches.

Football fans in
Lagos will get more than enough of the UEFA Champions League at the
Heineken Champions Planet located on Victoria Island in Lagos as
Nigerian Breweries PLC screens actions of the world’s most glamorous
football club competition from the group stage.

In the past
editions, activation of the Planet House always began in February with
the matches in the knockout stages up to the final match in May of
every year. However, with growing acceptance of the project in the last
four years, fans will get a taste of the action from the beginning with
day one matches to be played in best stadiums across Europe on the 14th
and 15th of this month. On same day at the Planet House, Nigeria
Breweries Plc will launch its ‘New Curves Same Great Taste’ Heineken
can with all the visitors in the house.

Already, all the 32
teams, including defending champions, Inter Milan of Italy, and runner
ups, Bayern Munich of Germany, are primed for battle against Europe’s
other elite clubs like Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal
and the host of others to determine the two finalists for the May 28th
date at the historic Wembley Stadium, London. A top official of
Nigerian Breweries Plc, who said that this edition has been christened
‘Heineken Champions Planet House V,’ said the need for his organisation
to expand its horizon beyond where they started informed the decision
for the full stretch screening of matches.

Something for the fans

Already, a
promotion handled by a marketing company has begun nationwide involving
selection of consumers through raffle draw to join celebrities and
leading businessmen to come and watch all the matches on big screens at
the Planet House after, which the final selection would be made known
to the public.

Heineken International began global sponsorship of the
UEFA Champions League in 2005/06 season and the competition has enjoyed
huge following in Nigeria with several football fans passionately
supporting many of the top European clubs, sharing in their triumphs
and losses. The awareness of the competition in the country has risen
to great heights. Two years ago, Heineken brought the UEFA Champions
League trophy to Nigeria. The trophy toured various locations over
three-day activation with over 5, 000 fans on hand at the open day
activation before trophy left to Egypt. Aside the football matches,
guests are expected to be engaged in fun and exciting activities like
table soccer, swimming, Sony Play Station, chess and golf while all the
games are aired on all the screens available in the House.