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THE NATION SPORT SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2012
SPORT EXTRA
Glo Golf: Korblah, Torgah, Odoh set for showdown
A
S excitement builds up towards the grand finale of the Glo Golf Tour, West Africa in Oturkpo Benue State, sole sponsor of the tournament and leading telecoms company, Globacom, has again, raised the stakes in the record-breaking golfing event. Globacom has announced a bonus of N1m cash for a lucky veteran golfer at the grand finale which holds from 6-9 December, 2012 at the Oturkpo Golf and Country Club. This is in addition to the brand new Toyota Corolla car which will also be given to the hole-in-one player, won by Mohammed Yahaya Liman of IBB Golf & Country Club. The statement explained that there will be a raffle draw at the Oturkpo event where the lucky veteran will emerge. Bookmakers predict that the competition in Oturkpo will be fiercely contested between the Ghanaian numero uno, Emos Korblah who won in Abuja, Vincent Torgah, also from Ghana, who won in Asaba, and Andrew Odoh, the Nigerian top professional who picked the top prize in Sagamu. The three of them placed first, second and third in Abuja respectively, and would want to prove their ratings at the final while competing for the lion share of the N20m at stake in Oturkpo. Korblah's advantage is further enhanced by his membership of the Oturkpo Golf Club. He will be playing at a familiar home turf.
BATTLE-OF-BAMAKO
Manu: Eaglets would shine against Mali
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ITH a two goal advantage and two weeks of intensive preparations in Calabar, Abuja and Bamako, coach Manu Garba (MFR) has said here that the Golden Eaglets will make hay and sun under the sunny Bamako weather against Mali on Sunday to qualify for the 2013 African Under17 Championship. Sunday's game between the Junior Eagles and Golden Eaglets at the Stade Mamadou Konate will kick off at 3:30pm local time(4:30pm Nigerian time) with Guinean officials led by 34-year-old Ahmed Toure to take charge as the centre referee. Coach Manu has said that his wards will take over the reins of the match from the blast of the whistle as no quarter will be given to the Malians. The Malians attributed their 2-0 loss a fortnight ago to fatigue occasioned by poor travel arrangement as well as peppered sauce in their food in Calabar but Garba has enthused that the Nigerian young guys are desirous of rubbing pepper to the Malian injury! Garba Will most likely field an identical starting line-up with the main stay of the team being goalkeeper Adeyinka Adewale, Friday Njengo, Mustapha Abdullahi, Izu Omego, Musa Mohammed, Wilfred Ndidi, Jide Idowu, Ifeanyi Matthew, Ibrahim Alhassan, Kelechi Iheanacho and Success Isaac. These lads have secured five victories in as many qualifying matches and Garba is hopeful that a six record victory is within the reach of the Golden Eaglets. A capacity crowd is expected to watch the match following clarion call by the Malian Football Federation to the locals to get behind the team during its 41st General Assembly which incidentally took place in the conference room of the Hotel Columbus on Saturday.
•Golden Eaglets players in light work out at the Stade Mamadou Konate, Bamako, Mali yesterday
Pepsi Academy U-14 excite Nelson
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OLLOWING the Pepsi Football Academy National U-14 competition among youngsters drawn from all the 14 training centres of the academy which took place in Abeokuta, Consultant to Pepsi Football Academy Mr. Iain Nelson has lauded the lads which he described as future of Nigerian football. Speaking, Nelson said he is excited by this development while informing that the collaboration is in tandem with Pepsi Football Academy's motto:
“committed to the development of today's youth and tomorrow's future stars,” noting that about 12 lads from the Academy have benefited from such international exchange from two UK schools. The Pepsi Academy lads from Kano and Kaduna who lost the final match to The Football College Orile-Imo, Ogun State showed that the security challenges in that part of the country has not affected their games. They lost 0 2 but won the hearts of many with their sleek passes and dribbling skills.