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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2012
FCT SWAN to raise N200m for Secretariat project
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Novak Djokovic, Abuja Club wants to clown his look-alikes
Nigeria can produce tennis world beaters, says Muoh By Patrick Andrew
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he President of Abuja Tennis Club, Paul Muoh, says Nigeria have the potentials to produce several tennis prodigies provided conscious efforts are made to fetch them out and nurture to expectation. Muoh says long and medium programmes if properly designed and religiously followed by technical personnel can breathe life into the near-moribund tennis activities in the country. Accordingly, he says that the Abuja Tennis club plans is to rejig the system geared towards producing world tennis stars in the class of the Williams sisters (Venus and Serena), Novak Djokovic, Raphael Nadal and Roger Federer, etc.
“We want to use the game of tennis to unite families, give skills, groom our children and introduce them into the game, so that before you know it, in the next 10 or 15 years we will start producing stars like Williams sisters, Roger Federer, Raphael Nadal and Djokovic of the world. “This is what we want to do, and thank God we have over 20 courts here wasting, so with my team I believe that Abuja will see something that is new which we will introduce, and the minister will be interested in what we will be doing, and by the time we start there will be no going back, the game of tennis will be transformed”, he said. The Abuja Tennis Club boss, who says that plans are in top gear to start Abuja Open soonest, is confident that the game will
improve tremendously in the next ten years if given the needed attention. However, he says the club has opted to test the waters with clinics and other local competitions, before embarking on the next stage of its programmes. He says that within the period earmarked it will be possible to hope and actually produce fledglings who can mount the big stage by competing among the best in the world. “We are also privilege to be close to the seat of power, so we will use this connection to bring in conglomerates like Globacom, MTN and some of these people to come and sponsor tournaments here; and I am sure by the time we say the NBL is sponsoring a tournament here, you will see a lot of brands here and many people will be here,” he said.
Uduaghan insists on open festival, rewards Okagbare, Opuakpo
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nless the National Sports Commission (NSC) reconsiders its position on the status of the National Sports Festival by throwing the door open for elite athletes to participate at the fiesta, the festival would remain unattractive and unproductive. This was the position of Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, who insisted that the best could only emerged from the sports festival if elite athletes across the states are allowed to compete alongside their less exposed counterparts. “The sports festival should be an event we look up to yearly and not the All Nigeria Track and Field Championship. If it is open, every athlete will prepare for it and ensure they make a statement during the event. “What we have now is almost a jamboree whereby the standard attained is not a true reflection of the potentials the country can boast of. Sports festival will be more competitive and interesting if it is open to all. It will also afford our children the opportunity to know our great athletes at a close
he FCT Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) yesterday said that it had commenced the process of building a befitting secretariat for the body. This development was contained in a statement signed by the association’s secretary, Martin Odiete, in Abuja and which named a five-man committee that was inaugurated a day earlier to oversee the project. The statement listed the members to include: Tunde Orebiyi, Richard Jideaka, Jide Fashiku, Shina Abimbola and Kayode Adeniyi, and Bumi Haruna that will serve as its secretary According to the statement, the committee has been charged with the responsibility of raising the much needed funds for the proposed secretariat. Speaking at the inauguration of the committee, FCT SWAN Chairman, Kayode Adeniyi, expressed confidence in the committee’s ability to execute the project and went further to list the terms of reference. “To organise an annual FCT colloquium lecture that would be addressed by either a Nigerian or a foreign sports personality of repute, “To initiate efforts to raise N200 million for the immediate and long-term erection of a befitting and well-equipped secretariat for the FCT SWAN. “To undertake advocacy, a public launch or any other feasible, reasonable and worthwhile efforts to deliver the above tasks. “To Initiate and deliver a worthy website for the FCT SWAN. “We believe in your ability to carry out this huge responsibility. We know it is not an easy assignment, but with your experiences and popularity, achieving this goal will not be a totally difficult challenge,” Kayode said.
Dala Hard Court Tennis tourney begins ‘morrow
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he 26th edition of the Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship has been scheduled to serve off in Kano tomorrow. A statement signed by the Secretary of the organizing committee, Yusuf Datti, yesterday indicated that the once favour tournament is being resurrected to boost the revival of the lawn tennis in the country. The event, the statement further said has been approved by the Nigerian Tennis Federation (NTF) and will thus enjoy the necessary attention other sponsored tournaments do enjoyed. “Consequently, we have advised the NTF to invite the first 20 men and 10 ladies ranked players into the main draw of the event. The preliminaries will hold between November 16 to 18 while the main draw will commence on Monday, the November 19, 2012”, part of the statement says. It added that though about N22 million was projected to be realized before the tournament starts, donors have so far donated only N4.2 million for the games. Kano Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is expected to be the guest of honour during the flag off of the tournament, it statement further announced.
NISports instructor wants NSC to use young coaches
A Blessing Okagbare range,” the governor was quoted to have said in a release signed by Ejiro Omonode. Meanwhile, the governor has presented a cheque of $20,000 (N3m) to Delta swimmer, Samson Opuakpo, for his gallant efforts at London 2012 Olympic Games. In a similar gesture, Uduaghan doled out an undisclosed sum of money to Nigeria’s women long jump and sprint champion, Blessing Okagbare, as take off grant to help her begin preparations for
the next year’s World Athletics Championships. Uduaghan said the gesture to the duo is unprecedented because it represent the government’s renewed approach to gingering notable sports persons to develop their talents at the highest level and excel. Peoples Daily Sports recalls that Okagbare participated in the 100m finals at the London 2012 Olympic Games but came last and also failed to get into the medal zone in long jump.
lhassan Adoko, a Basketball Instructor at the National Institute for Sports (NISports), has urged the National Sports Commission (NSC) to engage young coaches from the institute in the training of athletes. The coach explained that young coaches had the drive and potential to exert their influence on their wards, unlike the old ones who were almost stagnant. “We could have improved more than this, if only young coaches that have been technically trained are given the opportunity to operate. The country’s sports is currently at the developmental stages and would need the dynamism of younger coaches to sustain the process,’’ Adoko said. While acknowledging the invaluable experience of the older coaches, the instructor insisted that the younger coaches should also be given the opportunity to thrive. He advised the NSC to give a trial to the young coaches to put vibrancy into sports transformation in the country. “Talents are coming out day in day out from here. The NSC should recognise them and use them. These young coaches can travel any length to reposition our sports in the country. Many of them are eager to do their best if given a chance.’’