THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2013
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SPORT EXTRA
EPL:EvertonholdsArsenal A
Arsenal and Everton played out a goalless draw in the only Premier League match on Tuesday evening. Visitors, Everton had the first chance of the match in the 6th minute when Seamus Coleman's through-ball made its way to Steven Pienaar but the South African could only balloon over the crossbar. As the first-half drew to a close both sides had chances to go ahead. First, Ross Barkley turned cleverly in the middle and fed Victor Anichebe. The striker was challenged when shooting but the ricochet almost squeezed under the sprawling Wojciech Szczesny. The Gunners could have led at the break had Olivier Giroud diverted Aaron Ramsey's low cross into an empty net instead of sliding it wide. After the break, Arsenal tested Tim Howard for the first time when Santi Cazorla volleyed from 25 yards and saw his effort beaten away by the American. Barkley was earning a rare start for Everton and he almost broke the deadlock after 64 minutes when he shifted the ball onto his right foot outside the area and fizzed a curling effort inches wide of the top corner. Arsenal's best chance of the match came with 13 minutes left when they broke quickly from an Everton attack. Lukas Podolski freed Cazorla and he waited for Alex OxladeChamberlain's run on the
overlap, with the Englishman's cross well defended by Coleman with Giroud ready to tap in. Giroud did manage to get a shot away two minutes later
when Oxlade-Chamberlain this time found his French teammate. Giroud sidestepped Phil Jagielka but rifled over from an acute
angle. A point leaves Arsenal two points clear of both Chelsea and Spurs in fourth and fifth while Everton are a further two back in sixth.
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•Eaglets striker Kelechi Iheanacho goes for goal
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HE duo of Ishmael Nwokocha and Julie Abar were the cynosure of all eyes at the Ikoyi club 1938 on Saturday, where they emerged winners of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Grand Slam. Nwabufor defeated Thomas Sunday in two straight sets of 6-3, 6-2 in the men's singles final, while Abar's long time rival on the tennis court, Maryam Chukwueke was unable to match her skills on the court. In a chat with the NationSport after his victory, Ishmael, admonished the concerned authorities to invest in the grassroots to ensure that the country can produce tennis stars who would take the world by storm just like the Williams' sisters are doing at the moment. Ishmael said: "For instance, the Ikoyi club organises tennis clinic for kids with the help of good coaches during holidays. Lack of sponsors has always been the bane of sports in the country. I implore sponsors to put in
By Stella Bamawo
more money into sports." Meanwhile, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Eugene Juwah in his speech stated that the Commission was pleased with the participants who made the tennis competition a success. "This tournament is one of the many recreational sporting activities put in place by the Ikoyi club, the première elite club in the country to bring men of like minds but of impeccable characters together. I was thrilled with the reports brought to me of the excellent programme that was held here. Immediately, I made a commitment that for as long as you permit us and resources allow us it, we will always sponsor this grand slam. This is a relationship we shall always be proud of," he said. Winners carted home trophies and prizes ranging from televisions, cooking gas cookers to plates and cutleries.
Special Olympics: Nigeria positive about future
I •Arsenal's Per Mertesacker, behind, vies for the ball with Everton's Victor Anichebe during the English Premier League soccer match at the Emirates Stadium in London, Tuesday
Eaglets face Baby Elephants with World Cup ticket in sight OLDEN Eaglets go into Wednesday’s second West African derby against the Junior Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire at the on-going Morocco 2013 CAN Under-17 knowing that a win will guarantee them a place at the FIFA World Cup in UAE later in the year. Nigeria leads Group B section of the tournament after beating Ghana 6-1 win on Sunday, while both Cote d’Ivoire and Congo cancelled themselves out in a 1-1 draw. Mathematically, Nigeria would be through to the World Cup with a win against Cote d’Ivoire irrespective of the outcome of their last game against Congo on April 20 since they can either come first or second in the final analysis-all the semifinalists automatically qualify for the World Cup. Speaking ahead of the game, Coach Manu Garba (MFR) reiterated that the objective of the team remains the same: “We are happy that we won
Ishmael, Abar emerge winners at tennis competition
our first game against Ghana but winning the second game against Cote d’Ivoire is very important because it would take us to the World Cup. “I saw a bit of their match against Congo and the Ivorians are not a bad side though they are physical but we know how to handle such team.” Garba said he has high hope about his wards delivering the goods having prepared well before the tournament, adding that they are set for a tough battle. “We have prepared well for this championship,” he said
matter-of-factly. “We have not lost a match since we assembled this team and we are certainly not ready to lose now. “My confidence is reinforced in their ability against any team following how they handled a big team such as Al Sadd of Doha, a team that had won the Asian Champions League in the past, complete with a great player like Raul Gonzalez,” he noted. Meanwhile, the CAN Under17 leading goal scorer, Success Isaac who grabbed a remarkable four goals against the Black Starlets, has equally
promised to score more goals to ensure the team’s passage to the World Cup. “I have not set any personal target at this tournament but what is important is for us to beat Cote d’Ivoire on Wednesday,”said Success who has been nicknamed Nasarah (which translates to success in an Arabic and Hausa language) by Coach Garba. “ He added: “Of course, I will score by the grace of God if I get the opportunity but I can’t predict the score line against Cote d’Ivoire. What is important to us as a team is the maximum three points.”
Fashola, others for Odegbami’s book presentation
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AGOS State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola is expected to lead other dignitaries to the presentation of a 16-chapter book titled ME, FOOTBALL AND MORE by the ex-international and sports entrepreneur, Segun ‘Mathematical’Odegbami. The ceremony is scheduled to hold at Anchor Events, Lateef Jakande Way, Agidingbi, Lagos on May 2nd. Speaking in Lagos yesterday, Odegbami, who guided Nigeria to its first Africa Cup of Nations title at the 1980 tournament, said Fashola, who is the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion, has read through the manuscript and has agreed to write the forward to the book. According to the former Shooting Stars player, the book and its audio version, will be formally presented in a series of launch events kicking off in Lagos and will
also be held in other states such as Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Abuja FCT, Rivers, Plateau, Borno etc. The event will be presided over by Gamaliel Onosode, a Deacon of the Good News Baptist Church one-time presidential aspirant, known for his impeccable integrity and flawless language will be joined by the book reviewer, Professor Adebayo Williams. While explaining reasons behind the book, Odegbami said he’s exploring the opportunities that abound in sports for the development and entertainment of the youths. “About a year ago the idea to put together a compendium of some of the articles that I’ve been writing since 1979 was mooted by few persons that have been following this part of my life. Thus was planted the seed of a book which I shall soon put to bed.
“Apart from the conventional hard copy, there shall also be an e-version of the book available for interested readers on the web worldwide. Secondly and, perhaps, most interesting of all, there will be an audioversion of a section of the book. “The book is divided into three sections- ME, a collection of articles that look at aspects of my life that may not be directly related to sports; FOOTBALL, a collection of my experiences and opinion on various aspects of my time (and out of it) in football; and MORE, about other aspects of my experiences through my decades in sports. Odegbami explained that the section, ME, will be in an audio version with the intension of venturing into new territory in promoting sports and sportsmanship.
NTELLECTUALLY challenged athletes under the umbrella of Special Olympics Nigeria (SON) have expressed their optimism to make the country proud in sports if given the right support and encouragement to excel. The Board of Management, Special Olympics Nigeria at a ‘Thank You’ forum to recap the achievements of the athletes in the last decade and their itinerary for the coming years, said the athletes are poised to make the country proud. The National coordinator SON, Mrs. Folashade Bolumole who addressed stakeholders at the occasion said in the last 10 years, without the various corporate and philanthropic support, the idea to bring out the sporting abilities out of the athletes’ disabilities would not have
By Paul Oluwakoya
seen the light of day adding that alot more bodies need to come on board to give hope to more athletes. She noted that with the support and volunteer work within the period they have been able to give about 91 intellectually challenged athletes the opportunity to see the world organised credible national training and competitions with job offers for about 8,000 sportsmen. "With the help of stakeholders who have been supporting with their finances we have been able to recruit over 12,000 athletes and over 800 volunteer coaches, give sports training and competition opportunities to more than 8,000 people with ID across 5 geo-politicl zones in Nigeria in 7 sports.
Maiden Inter-Primary Schools Sports Meet thrills pupils
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S part of contribution to the development of
a total Nigerian child, Olashore International School, has organised an Inter-primary School Sports Competition in Osun state. The athletes that participated in the 2-day event couldn’t hold back their delight on the highlit from the various sport performances. Addressing participants at the grand-finale of the two days-event, Chairman Board of Governors, Prince Abimbola Olashore said the idea behind organising the event stemmed from the School’s conviction to foster unity among young learners.
By Bolaji Aluko-Olokun
"This event is definitely the first of many more which will be organised annually. And I must tell you that many schools will be involved, even beyond the Western part of the country in future editions to make it truly a national competition," he said. At the end of the competition, Saint Clare’s Catholic Nursery and Primary School, Oshogbo clinched the first position with 26 medals, while Local Authority Primary School Iloko-Ijesa and Sonbeam Preparatory School, Ibadan came second and third position with 22 and 20 medals respectively.