X2
Friday, May 15, 2015
EXTRATIME
Court suspends Spanish football strike
Argentinian football suspended after death of Ortega
A High Court has suspended a proposed Spanish football strike, it was confirmed on Thursday. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced last week their plans to suspend all domestic competition from May 16 over an ongoing dispute with the government. The row centres on a new law relating to distribution of television money, and the strike drew the support of the Spanish players’ union (AFE). It threatened to bring a premature end to the domestic season, with Barcelona requiring a victory against reigning champions Atletico Madrid on Sunday to win the Liga title ahead of rivals Real Madrid, while Barca’s Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao was also in jeopardy.
All football in Argentina has been suspended after San Martin Burzaco’s Emanuel Ortega passed away due to a serious head injury. In a Primera C match against Juventud Unida on May 4, Ortega, 21, went shoulder-to-shoulder with an opposition player next to the touchline, and crashed into a concrete wall close to the pitch. He had emergency surgery on a double skull fracture, but on Thursday the sad news was confirmed that he had passed away.
Ortega
“A pity his farewell,” a statement from the Argentina Football Association (AFA) read. “The severity of his injury led to different teams of Argentine football to express their solidarity and support with the player. “Due to the death of the player, the President of the AFA, Luis Segura, decided to suspend the next date of all categories. “Argentine soccer wears black to dismiss Emanuel and accompany family and friends at this difficult time.”
Mu’azu assures on CBN’s commitment to tennis development ANDREW EKEJIUBA
T
he Director, Corporate Communications Department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Ibrahim Mu’azu, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Management of CBN towards the promotion and development of tennis in the country. Speaking in a well-attended press con-
ference in Lagos, heralding the 37th CBN Senior Open Tennis Championship holding from May 14 to May 23 at the Main Tennis Court of the National Stadium, Lagos, Mua’zu said the championship in 1979 had produced gifted players that have flown the national flag at several local and international tournaments. “The tournament since its inception in 1979, when Francis Kehinde Ajayi emerged as the first winner of the com-
petition, has produced gifted players that have flown the national flag at several local and international tournaments. Prominent among such players are Sadiq Abdullahi, David Imonite, Remi Osho, Sunday Maku, Veronica Oyibokia, Rolake Olagbegi, Clara Usofa and Margaret Olagundoye etc. “The 2015 edition will invariably serve as the platform for the selection of players that will represent Nigeria at the forthcoming Commonwealth Youth Games in Sa-
moa and the All Africa Games expected to take place in Congo in September,” he said. Mu’azu further revealed that the Wheel-Chair Tennis, introduced into the Championship in 2013 has come to stay, noting that the wheel-chair tennis players were in Kenya in March 2014 where they qualified for the World Cup which took place in Netherlands on the May 24, 2014. He appreciated the efforts of their
partners, Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), in mobilizing players and ensuring their effective and remarkable participation in the annual sporting event. The total prize money for the 2015 edition is N14, 436, 000. The prize money for the winners in the Men’s and Ladies is N700, 000 each, while runners up in each category receives N500, 000 each. There will be prizes for other stages of the competition.