THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2013
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SPORT EXTRA EGUAVOEN TO NIGERIAN PLAYERS
Prepare for retirement now
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ORMER Super Eagles’ Captain and Chief Coach, Austin Eguavoen has advised Nigerian players to prepare for the future now that they are hale and healthy and making huge sums of money in foreign currencies. The Technical Adviser of the City of David Football Club advocated a pension scheme to be introduced for retired players so that they can find something to fall on after retirement. He also urged the players to invest in properties and other viable businesses that could later sustain them when their legs become weak and tired to play the game again. He stressed that there is no way that the Government will be able to provide employment or funds for all retired players as most of them do not even have the qualification to work at most of the government establishments. Eguavoen then supported the Sport Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi who recently revealed out that it was not the duty of the National Sports Commission to also provide for the needs of the retired footballers and sportsmen and women in the country at the detriment of sports development in the country. Abdullahi had said that the major duty of the NSC is to promote sports from the grassroots and develop sports in the country and not to do more than that. “The minister is right in a
From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja way, it is not the ministers duty or the federal government’s duty to take care of retired players but having served and worked, we do not do anything apart from football and we do not do any other thing. So there are better way to put it, if I seek for a job today it depends on my qualification and say for example to work for the NFF and I am not a graduate I might not be given a job that is suitable to me. So, there should be positions for those who are not graduates and also positions for those who are graduates as well,” “Maybe you joined Sunshine
Malawi fires Nigeria warning
•Pips Rwanda 1-0 •Expels players for smoking marijuana, drinking
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ALAWI defeated Rwanda 1-0 in an international friendly played on Wednesday August 14, 2013. A 30th minute goal from Atusaye Nyondo separated the two sides. Malawi, who according to reports that reached futaa.com earlier, are not in unity as they get set for the second leg World Cup qualifier against Nigeria in Calabar on September 7, 2013, will now see Wednesday's victory as a boost. They trail Nigeria who top the qualifiers group F on nine points. Nigeria need at least a draw to advance to the final stage of the qualifiers.
LOBI STARS 1 SUNSHINE STARS 0
Injuries responsible for our loss—Amoo
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EAD coach of Sunshine Stars, Fatai Folorunsho Amoo has blamed their 0-1 loss to Lobi Stars to injuries to some of their established players that featured in their last home game and fatigue as reasons for the blip at the Emmanuel Akume Atongo Stadium, Katsina Ala yesterday. Terkaa Melai converted the only goal of the matchday 25 encounter in the added minute of the first half and Lobi held on stoutly to the lone goal to record a famous victory and thus added a vital push towards their race for survival. Speaking with NationSport shortly after the match coach Amoo stated that the inability of Ajani Ibrahim, Dele Olorundare, Alaba Adeniyi and Ikenna Paul who all featured prominently in their 3-0 defeat of Dolphins last Sunday contributed to their loss at Katsina Ala. Though, Amoo faulted the referee’s decision to award a penalty of that calibre, he nonetheless reckoned that the referee’s decision was final during a goal mouth scramble. He blamed his players for not stepping up their game in the second half to get the equaliser. “We lost 0-1 but our four key players that couldn’t make it to this game affected our game. Though I still questioned the spot kick awarded but the referee’s decision would be final during a goal mouth scramble. We paid for our inability to raise the game in
at the age of eighteen and you end up playing five clubs within the country and you hit thirty five, so all the money put together will be enough for you to do something. It’s just about planning and letting people know how things should be run”, Ikpeba disclosed. Several Nigeria players have been thrown into penury after a buoyant playing career which has prompted some Nigerians to advocate for the Federal government to have a program for them, a call that informed the minister saying that it is not the responsibility of the ministry to take care of retired players
From Tunde Liadi,Owerri the second half and we gave to many room to the home team from playing their normal game. “Dele Olorundare, Alaba Adeniyi, Ajani Ibrahim and Ikenna Paul all played at home against Dolphins but they couldn’t travel because they suffered knocks in the last game. Those that took their places tried their best but it was not enough to earn us a point,” Amoo lamented.
Meanwhile, reports reaching futaa.com indicate that there is no unity in Malawi national team as they get set for the second leg World Cup qualifier against Nigeria in Calabar on September 7, 2013. The Flames beat Rwanda 1-0 in an international friendly with several of the key players not part of the team due to disciplinary measures slammed on them by the Football Association of Malawi (FAM). Reports in Malawi say the dropped player were not invited due to gross misconduct while in Zambia for the 2013 COSAFA Cup last month. According to Nyasa Times, the players were involved in smoking of marijuana, drinking and womanizing. They were consequently fined two thousand dollars each but have since refused to pay the fine. Coach Tom Saintfiet on Tuesday confirmed the ugly incident and said the matter has been handed over to FAM and the Sports ministry. "Some players were involved in serious disciplinary issues, but we are treating it as father and son issue. Suffice to say discipline is of paramount importance and we are not going to compromise on issues of discipline," Saintfiet was quoted as saying on Nyasa Times.
Okagbare must remain focused — Coach Onumaegbu, a retired
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athletics coach, has urged Blessing Okagbare to put behind her the disappointment of her sixth position finish in the 100m event, and focus on her other events. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okagbare had ended up in the sixth position of the 100m event in the ongoing 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow. Onumaegbu told NAN on Tuesday in Lagos on telephone that if she had participated in the 100m event before the long jump, the result would have been different. He added that she would have to be professional in her approach in her buildup for her other events in the championships. ``The 100 metres should have come before the long jump, it is better to do the sprint before the long jump. She has to show how dedicated she is in her approach to the other events ahead of her; and possibly pick up more
medals,” he said. The retired coach also decried the undue burden of expectation that was placed on her shoulders by the leadership of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN), and blamed them for her inconsistencies. ``It is quite unfortunate and the blame falls squarely on the leadership of the AFN who have over relied on her to deliver the goods. Other athletes are being overlooked it should not be so, emphasis should not be on her alone,’’Onumaegbu said. Meanwhile, Sule Oladimeji, a long jump coach, noted that the long jump event might have weakened Okagbare, but refused to blame her 100m loss on that. ``The long jump might have taken a bit of steam from her, but that will not be the sole reason for her poor performance in the 100m race. Sometimes it is not just the form of an athlete but luck that can lead to an athlete’s success in a race,” he said.