THE GUARDIAN, Monday, July 22, 2013
74 SPORTS
Pepsi ICC WCL Division Six Championship
Egwuatu banks on Akolade, Olatunji for Nigeria’s success By Christian Okpara HE Pepsi International T Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket League (WCL) Division Six Championship started yesterday in Jersey with Nigeria hoping to be among the two countries to gain promotion to Division Five of the league. Hosts, Jersey, Nigeria, Bahrain, Vanuatu, Argentina and Kuwait are the teams battling for the two promotion slots in the championship. Looking forward to a successful competition, Nigeria’s Manager, Olisa Egwuatu, said in fast bowler, Akolade Saheed and batsman, Oladotun
Olatunji, the country has players that can lead it to success in Jersey. Speaking during the leaders’ conference yesterday, Egwuatu said the Nigerian team is going into the competition with three objectives in mind. “First, we want to stay in Division 6. This is the minimum we want to achieve,’ he said. “Second, we want to qualify for WCL Division 5. And third, we want to win the trophy.” Nigeria met Vanuatu, who last played in Jersey in 2008 in WCL Division 5, at Les Quennevais in their first
Athletes competing at the first Premier Lotto Lagos Schools Athletics Championship at the Teslim Balogun Stadium…recently. PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI.
I owe my success in life to participation in sports, Fashola admits By Olalekan Okusan HE importance of sports T came to fore when Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State admitted that he owed his success in life to participation in sports. The governor disclosed this at the maiden Town Hall Meeting organised by the Lagos State Sports Endowment Fund (LSSEF) in Lagos, saying that he was worried about the future of today’s youths, who are most times glued to television. “When I was young, I used to play seven-a-side football matches with my friends after school everyday. I was quite good at it and I have nothing but fond memories of those times. I played football virtually across the whole of Lagos State. There is nowhere we didn’t play. And where I didn’t play football I went to swim,” he said. He added, “football kept me out of trouble. Believe me when I say that without sports, I may have very well not ended up as governor today. Even while at the university, I played lawn tennis. Looking back, I realise that some of the discipline I leant from being a sportsman has stayed with me till this day.” For him, taking active part in sports reduces vices among youths. “Participation in sports reduces delinquent behaviour amongst the
youth. Sports activities give them something productive ad beneficial to do. Let’s face it, it also leaves them with no time and energy to engage in anti-social behaviour,” he explained. “Beyond occupying the time ad minds of the youth, sports, especially team sports, also teach them valuable life lessons. Being a part of a team teaches one responsibility, leadership and teamwork in a way very few other things do,” Fashola said. “We need good leaders for tomorrow, we need to raise a generation of people, who believe in working for the greater good of all, not just their own personal recognition or finances. “ Sports is one of the ways in which we can re-engineer our society. When young people participate in sports, it impacts on their physical, mental and psychological wellbeing. Greater participation equals healthier young people and it also equals psychological balanced youths,” the governor said. He, however, assured of the state’s efforts to build sports, as well as, give opportunity to youths by create enabling environment to engage in sports. His words, “I am very aware that Lagos of my youth is different from the Lagos of today. But that is the ideal we are working towards.”
game, in what was a replay of the WCL Division 7 final played in Botswana earlier this year. Vanuatu’s Captain, Andrew Mansale said before the game that his side was looking forward to the challenge of playing on turf wickets. “We’ve had three warm-up games, two against Bahrain and one against a Sussex academy side. We don’t usually play on grass wickets back home so this will be a good experience for our side.” Also speaking on his team’s expectations, Jersey’s Skipper, Peter Gough, said their ultimate goal is to move to Division Five. The hosts, who finished fourth in WCL Division 6 in Malaysia in 2011 and who bring a youthful side to this tournament, kick off their campaign against Kuwait at Grainville. Gough said that he was excited about the tournament and pleased with his team’s preparations. “We played in the ICC European Division 1 Championship in Sussex last week and we have had a programme of 17 games throughout the year,’ he said. “We have played MCC, Middlesex, Club Cricket Conference in the UK and a T20 tournament in Holland. Our cricket has mainly been T20 in the last month so we’ll be looking forward to going back to 50 overs. I think it suits our side better, particularly some of our batters.” To Kuwait’s Captain, off-spinning all-rounder Hisham Mirza, his side, which had also enjoyed a good warm-up tour in the UK, expected a high standard of cricket in the week ahead. “We aren’t targeting any specific opposition,’ he said. ‘We’re just going to take it match-bymatch. This is Division 6 so there are lots of strong teams here.” Argentina met Bahrain at FB Fields in their first fixture, with Argentinian Manager, Martin Sacchetti, confident in the young blood brought into the team. “We have two young players to watch out for,’ he said. ‘Lautaro Musiani, a legbreak bowler and number 3 batsman, and Hernan Fennell, a medium pacer, who are both coming through nicely and playing well.”
Nigeria’s Captain, Saheed Akolade (second right) with the other teams’ skippers during the press conference to announce the Pepsi ICC WCL Division Six Championship in Jersey…at the weekend.
NNL clubs’ Federation Cup exploits thrill Inyama TILL basking in the euphoSvictories ria of the heart-warming recorded by three Nigeria National League (NNL) clubs in the mid-week matches of the 2013 Federation Cup round 32, Chairman of the second tier league, Emeka Inyama has commended the victorious clubs for their achievements. Abia Warriors FC of Umuahia dumped out Premier League side, Kaduna United 2-1 in Lokoja, while Akwa Starlets FC of Uyo defeated Dolphins of Port Harcourt, just as Niger Tornadoes FC edged out Plateau United on penalties
for the three clubs to book their tickets to the next round. Inyama stated that the performances of the National League teams and the attendant victories recorded over their more illustrious clubs in the on-going Federation Cup is a clear indication that the National League can compare and compete with any other league. He argued that both leagues are working towards attaining high standards that can put the Nigeria League in the international spotlight like other leagues across the world. The NNL boss tipped Abia
Warriors to go all the way in this year’s Federation Cup, pointing out that the club has all it takes to compete for the gold trophy. “I have no doubt in my mind that Abia Warriors FC will beat their next opponents in the Rounds of 16 at the U. J. Esuene Stadium Calabar next week Wednesday. I believe Abia Warriors FC can handle Akwa Starlets FC when the clash next week. Both play in the National League and are familiar foes, but Abia Warriors will carry the day,” Inyama, who is also the Chairman of Abia Warriors, boasted.
South Africa thrilled by Ultimate Commander, Nigerians’ support for Mandela By Christian Okpara ATURDAY, June 20, was a SAfricans special day for South living in Nigeria. It was a day they invited their friends and business associates to the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos, to join them in celebrating the 95th day anniversary of their first post-apartheid President, Dr. Nelson Mandela, who recently turned 95. To mark the day reserved for the icon they call Madiba, the South Africans brought out some of the things that make the southernmost country ion Africa a unique nation. There were speeches, drinks, and photographs, but
the special day was made more exciting by the unique South African music, which drew both the old and the young to the dance floor to demonstrate a well-choreographed style of dance step made popular by the late Brenda Fassie. Among the dignitaries at the event were world heavyweight wrestling champion, Osita Offor, also known as De Ultimate Commander, Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism and Intergovernmental Relations, Disu Holloway, and officials from British and U.S embassies. Speaking at the event, an excited South African Consulate General in Lagos,
World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion, Osita Offor, also known as De Ultimate Commander (left); South African Consular General, Ambassador Mokgethi Sam Monaisa; Sports Promoter, Aghalieaku Arinze; and popular musician, Tee Mac; during the Mandela Day celebrations in Lagos…at the weekend.
Ambassador Mokgethi Sam Monaisa said he thrilled by the huge turn out of Nigerians to celebrate Mandela’s 95th birthday. According to Monaisa, “the presence of the world heavyweight wrestling champion here is a testimony that Mandela is loved by all. “I met him and he agreed top be part of the Mandela celebrations. This shows that Nigeria and South Africa are one people, who celebrate very good moments together. “We have seen so many events where Nigerian musicians and other artistes join hands with South Africans to promote the image of the continent. “In the area of soccer, we have seen the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Bafana Bafana of South Africa playing together and celebrating together. We are now going to see the world wrestling champion coming from Nigeria to celebrate with us in South Africa. “We are very happy with Nigeria and Nigerians. We will work towards sustaining this relationship between our countries.” Monaisa, who urged African leaders to learn from Mandela’s selfless service to humanity, said “everybody here paying tribute to Mandela are all here because of what he did for his fellow human beings and I wish all will draw lessons from the Madiba’s exemplary lifestyle. “I am happy that this icon has touched the lives of many people, but sincerely I did not know that such a huge crowd would turn out here today.”