PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013
PAGE 42
Sports Okubule wants referees to be more professional
N
igerian referees will have international engagements if they are more professional and proficient in their application of the rules of the game, according to Festus Okubule, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA). Okubule, who believes that some Nigerian referees had dropped in standard of their officiating, urged them to show more commitment to the job in order to portray the body in good light. Fondly called ‘Show Boy’ in his hie days as referee, Okubule
said in Lagos yesterday that the inconsistencies of some Nigerian referees had been bane for their neglect at international level. ``During our time we were committed, match officiating to us then was not a means to an end; but rather it was more of a hobby. In the past we were particular about the reputation of our country; we would not do anything to soil that name. ``Our integrity was not negotiable; we preferred to make a name for the country and our family; I don’t know how it is nowadays but it appears referees are not committed,’’ the retired
FIFA referee said. The former FIFA instructor added that refereeing was more of a hobby in his active days. ``Refereeing was like a hobby then, because most of us were gainfully employed in our various fields of endeavour. At that time if you are not working then you could operate as a full time referee. ``We didn’t see it as a source of livelihood, I was a manger at Guinness at the time I started officiating,’’ he added. Okubule stressed that the continued absence of the country’s referees from major international
events had become worrisome. “It is sad that hardly would you find a Nigerian referee officiating in a FIFA or CAF organised competitions, because the selections are made purely on health and fitness grounds. “For the 18 years that I was a match official I never failed the fitness test for once; even when I was going to retire,’’ the former NRA chairman said. Okubule was the first Nigerian referee to officiate at a FIFA tournament, when he officiated at the 1983 U-20 World Cup in Mexico.
World’s smallest champ hits Dubai
H
e is only 1.52 metres tall – not even 5 ft – but Xiao Zhao Zhong is big news in Dubai this week. The little Chinese champion has to defend his WBC minimumweight title against a hard-hitting southpaw Filipino, Denver Cuello. The bout on Friday night is the first “world” title fight to be held in Dubai and the 3 000 seats at the Trade Centre venue are expected to be sold out. Competing in a division also known as strawweight and miniflyweight, the two are likely to weigh around 47.5 kg. But there will be no shortage of action and amazing punching power. Xiao faces a tough test against the mandatory challenger. Cuello boasts a professional record of 334-6, including 21 wins inside the distance. Xiao’s record stands at 20-4-1, with 11 shortcut wins. The now 30-year-old Xiao won
the vacant title in his hometown of Kumning on November 24 last year when he beat Javier Martinez Resendiz on points after Cuello had agreed to step aside for $25 000. The 26-year-old Cuello has been fighting as a professional for nine years and is the WBC silver champion in the division. He has
lost only once since June 2006 when he was disqualified in the second round. He has beaten good boxers such as Ganigan Lopez, Ivan Meneses and former IBF champion Muhammad Rachman. Xiao has also been around for a while. In May 2009 he challenged Daisuke Naito for the
WBC flyweight title but lost on points. Because of his lack of height, Xiao tends to keep coming forward to fight on the inside. It should therefore be an excellent fight between two boxers with brilliant hand speed and good defence. Cuello’s reach could be the deciding factor.
Jordan hires Egypt’s Hassan as coach
J
ordan has appointed Egypt great Hossam Hassan to coach the national team through the Asian qualifying playoffs for the World Cup. Hassan replaces Iraqi Adnan Hamad, who resigned this month after Jordan reached the playoffs with a 1-0 win over Oman. But by then, Hamad was under increasing fire from Jordan fans and media for the team’s stuttering campaign. Hassan will take charge from next month, tasked with beating Uzbekistan in a two-leg playoff in September. The winner then faces the fifth-placed side from South America in November for a berth in Brazil next year. Jordan has never played in a World Cup.
Xiao Zhao Zhong, the world’s smallest boxer
Ahmed Maude, President of NRA
Hockey league kicks off in July, says NHF President
T
he President, Nigeria Hockey Federation (NHF), Patrick Ukah, on Thursday said that the National Hockey League would kickoff in July. Ukah, who disclosed this in Abuja yesterday, expressed optimism that funds meant to facilitate the running of the league would be released on time, for the competition to begin on schedule. ``All things being equal, we will kick-off with the Atlantic Conference and go to the Savannah Conference in July. ``We will also be participating in the International Energy Insurance (IEI) Plc finals in August and select those who will represent us in the League Championship,’’ Ukah said. He revealed that the national hockey team would participate in the Nations Cup in Kenya. ``In September, the national team is supposed to go to Kenya for the Nations Cup and go to the African Club Championship in November. This, in a nutshell, is an outline of our programme for the year,’’ Ukah added.
Handball crisis: Court grants joint suit request By Emmanuel Eko
A
Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted the plea of 24 current and retired handballers seeking to be joined in the suit earlier filed by the Mega Veterans Handball against the National Sports Commission, the Sports Minister, the board of the Handball Federation of Nigeria and Dauda Yusuf, among others. Peoples Daily Sports recalls that the suit had been filed seeking the annulment of the
elections into the board of the HFN, a development that hindered the inauguration of the board led by Dauda Yusuf. Subsequently, others suited to be joined in the suit as they challenged the validity of the exercise and were granted on Tuesday, according to release made available to the press. Counsel to the 24 current and former players, Mr. Terence Vembe argument received boost when Mr. G.O. Egbule, counsel to Mega Veterans that had originated the summons, raised no objection which left the presiding
Judge Hon. Justice E.S. Chukwu in no doubt as to what option to take. Meanwhile, Vembe, a former player of the Benue Buffaloes Handball Club, Makurdi informed the court that the 4th defendant, Alhaji Dauda Yusuf was still parading himself as the President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria, despite the fact the case is pending court. He was said to have gone to embassies, especially Sweden, where he sought to secure visa to travel on official engagements for the federation.