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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 8 - SUNDAY 9 MARCH, 2014
Sports Nigeria sports remain in safe hands, says new minister Stories by Albert Akota
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arely 24 hours after being named Minister of Sports and Chairman of National Sports Commission, NSC, has Dr. Tamuno Danagogo assured Nigerians that sports in the country are in good hands. Danagogo became Nigeria’s 30th Minister of Sports succeeding Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi. Danagogo who was the former Chairman Traditional Sports Association of Rivers State assured that sports in Nigeria will experience a new lease of life under his control. Abdullahi was appointed as the Minister of Youth Development by Jonathan in July 2011. He was said to have performed above average since he assumed office and has been widely praised for his pro-active and youth-friendly approach before he was booted out of office by President Goodluck Jonathan. Speaking with newsmen at the Abuja national stadium, the former university lecturer stated that he would utilise all the resources within his power and his experience to ensure that sports in Nigeria advance to greater heights.
Danagogo, a former Commissioner of Urban Development in Rivers State declared that the task before him is not insurmountable as he is prepared to give his all to ensure that he builds on the success recorded by his predecessor. The lawyer trained player of All Stars of Rivers further stated: “I’ll be consulting with my predecessor because there is no way I can throw away what I met on ground. “He achieved a certain degree of success and it will be unfair of me to throw his legacy into the dust bin. The former local government chairman insisted that he is prepared to revitalise sports in the country as his appointment is an opportunity for him to serve the country. According to him: “Well, I thank God for the opportunity to serve the country, I know that sports is very dear to Nigerians, I look forward to bringing the sports forward and mobilise all Nigerians to galvanise and revitalise sports in the country.” He also said that he would be excited should the Super Eagles win the 2014 World Cup holding later this year.
Valladolid eyeing Barcelona upset
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eal Valladolid forward Jeffren Suarez says his side will try to exploit Barcelona’s weakness when the two sides meet in a La Liga encounter at the Jose Zorilla Stadium today. The Catalans are currently placed second on the log standings with 63 points following last weekend’s 4-1 win over Almeria. Gerardo Martino’s side will now look for a similar result against Valladolid in order to climb up to the top of the table, although Real Madrid will have an opportunity to regain their lead when they play a day later. Real Valladolid have failed to win any of their last five league matches and are currently placed 18th on the table with 23 points from 26 matches.
FC Barcelona
However, they have collected a point from each of their last two matches, playing to 1-1 draws against Levante and Malaga. Jeffren, who will miss the game against Barca due to a thigh injury, is confident that his side will put up a fight in their own backyard. With FIFA international friendlies having taken place all over the world this week, Barcelona will be hoping that their international players will be in good shape when they report for duty ahead of Saturday’s clash. When the two sides met earlier this season the match ended 4-1 in favour of Barcelona with Alexis Sanchez netting a brace.
•Tamuno Danagogo, new Minister of Sports
FCT clubs will soon consolidate on winning —FA chairman
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he Chairman, FCT Football Association, Musa Talle, in Abuja said the high performance of FCT-based clubs in the Nigeria National League (NNL) would soon translate into wining momentum. Talle said that football was not something to be equated with mathematics, as it involved a lot of hard work and patience. “As we keep on making the necessary effort and sacrifice, it is only a matter of time and we will begin to record a lot of victories, both home and away’’ he said. Talle however said officiating in the league was still a source of concern. He said the level of officiating in league matches played in Abuja was far better than what was obtainable in other parts of the country. “The FCT clubs’ away performances in the NNL have not been that bad, but poor officiating has robbed some of our clubs of picking up vital points. “If you take the week one
Musa Talle
game in Minna between Niger Tornadoes and Supreme Court FC of Abuja as an example, the referee made a lot of funny calls against Supreme Court FC. “In fact, two goals out of the three the home side scored were through dubious penalty kicks,’’ the FCT FA chairman claimed. He also claimed that the FRSC FC had been ``denied two clear goals’’ in their home and away matches against Adamawa and Plateau United respectively. “I don’t like condemning referees because they are human beings, but I will like to appeal to the Referees Appointment Committee to always try to call defaulting referees to order. “When a referee gets a decision wrong for a consecutive number of times, he should be punished or sanctioned as the case may be, and sometimes the FA has the power to rescind such decisions. “This is what is done in Europe,” Talle said. The FCT FA chairman said the Nigerian league would be better developed if the league organisers adopt the kind of disciplinary measures being adopted in Europe. Tella praised Supreme Court FC for recording two wins in the league so far and expressed the hope that the other clubs in the FCT would soon follow in their footsteps. “We hope that those victories will bring a lot more victories to our representatives, especially on home soil,’’ he said. The four clubs representing the FCT in the NNL are Prisons FC, FRSC FC, Supreme Court FC and TEAP FC.