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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY MARCH 7, 2017
TUESDAYSPORTS
Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com
Victor Moses Now a Complete Player, Says Conte Super Eagles forward, Victor Moses, has been described as a complete player now after adapting to his new role as a wing back at Chelsea. According to Chelsea’s Italian Manager, Antonio Conte, Moses has fitted perfectly into his new role which has made him an important part of the Stamford Bridge starting IX this season. “I knew of him, but to see him live is very important to judge a player,” said
Antonio Conte, as quoted by Allnigeriasoccer.com. “I always saw him as a winger, very good in one versus one, but a bit poor defensively. “Then, when I decided to change the system, I wanted to try him in this new role. Now we have a complete player,” observed the Italian who is excited his experimentation has paid off. Moses was converted into a wingback by the Italian
manager and has gone from a peripheral figure at the Blues to a key player. Just last week, Moses signed an extension to his Chelsea deal which ties him to Stamford Bridge until 2021. He also got an improved wage package believed to be about 75,000 Pounds sterling a week from the 45,000 pounds sterling he was earning prior to the new deal. Meanwhile, Moses and
his Super Eagles teammates are to stay at four-star hotel, Crowne Plaza Hotel Ealing in England for their international friendly games with Senegal and Burkina Faso. According to sources close to the organisers of the two matches, guests and visitors have praised the hotel on tripadvisor, labeling their staff polite and friendly, and the rooms very comfortable. The Nigeria Football
Federation (NFF) back office staff hinted that the 25 invited players are to arrive at Crowne Plaza Hotel Ealing as from 1300 hours on Monday, March 20. “The hotel, which is located at Western Avenue, Hanger Lane, London, W5 1HG, is 1.98 miles away from the famous Wembley Stadium, where the England national team usually play their matches.
“The facilities at the hotel include a gym, fitness center and golf course. Currently on a five–match winning streak, since losing 0-1 to African vice champions Egypt in a 2017 Cup of Nations qualifying match in Alexandria a year ago, the Super Eagles are ranked 41st in the world, 10 places below Senegal’s Teranga Lions and three places below the Etalons of Burkina Faso.
254 Schools for Ayade U-15 Football Tournament Bassey Inyang in Calabar Two hundred and fifty four secondary schools in Cross River State are participating in the inaugural Governor Ben Ayade Under-15 Football Tournament which kicked off yesterday in all the 18 local government areas of the state. Chairman of the state’s Sports Commission, Mr. Orok Duke, disclosed at the weekend that the grand finale of the tournament would involve six schools at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar between March 28 and March 31 this year. “The essence of the competition is to engage the youths and foster peace. Adequate arrangements have been made for participants. This are assuring parents of these young people participating in the football fiesta,” Duke said. A commissioner in the state sports commission, Ekanem Ekpenyong, confirmed that there would be prize money of N10,000 for Best Defender, Best Midfielder, and Highest Goal Scorer, respectively in the competition. He said the prizes would be in honour of Christopher Edem, John Okon Ene and the late sports journalist, Bassey `Koma’ Ekpo respectively. In a related development, the Sports Commission has also announced that a basketball championship for primary and secondary schools would come
on the trail of the Under-15 football championship. Duke said that fitting balls and training shoes had been procured for training by the young people wishing to participate in the male and female category of the tournament at the stadium’s basketball pitch. The chairman hinted that the commission has laid out plans for the immortalisation of legends who have contributed their quota to the development of sports in the state and the nation. Duke said such legends include late Hogan “Kid” Bassey, the first Nigerian to win a world title in boxing; late Oyo Orok Oyo, international sports administrator; and late renowned sportswriter Bassey `Koma’ Ekpo. The sports Commission’s chairman said his administration also aimed to re-enact those happy days when students who perform well in sports were offered scholarships to study abroad. Oyo, the first Nigerian member of the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), died on September 10, 2008 at the age of 86 years in Calabar. Oyo, popularly referred to as the father of modern Nigerian football, served for 12 years as Secretary General of the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA) and member of CAF between 1974 and 1998.
Mobil Team Tennis Championship Ends on High Team Mobil Erha captained by Bimbo Okubeno on Saturday at Tennis Section of the Ikoyi Club 78, Lagos, emerged winner at the Mobil Team Tennis Championship. The competition which was sponsored by Mobil Producing Unlimited, saw eight teams named after Mobil oil fields battle for honours. They are Erha, Edop, Usari, Uge, Yoho, Asabo, Ubit and Usan. 70 participants took part in the six-day competition in which Team Mobil Erha was top, Team Mobil Edop emerged runners up while Teams Mobil Usan and Ubit were semifinalists. Teams and individual winners went home with various prizes which include trophies, vouchers and certificates. Speaking at the end of the
competition, General Manager, Public and Government Affairs, Mr. Paul Arinze said he feels fulfilled to see old men looking like teenagers and hope the romance between Mobil Producing Unlimited will continue. “It is our joy to sponsor sporting events like this. We are happy to see 70-year olds looking like teenagers. We hope to continue to sponsor this competition. If the economy allows, we will gather here at the Tennis Section of the Ikoyi Club next year. In his reaction, the Chairman of the Tennis Section, Esan Oguneye, thanked the sponsor for the support in spite of the economic hardship, just as he hailed all the participants for putting up a good show.
Real Madrid players at training yesterday ahead of tonight clash with Napoli
U E FA C H A M P I O N S L E A G U E
Ozil out of Arsenal, Bayern Clash Ronaldo, Bale set for Napoli trip Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil will be missing in action tonight in the UEFA Champions League last-16 second leg clash between the Gunners and Bayern Munich due to ill health. Ozil was absent from Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat at Liverpool on Saturday and although the German star has returned to training, club gaffer Arsene Wenger doesn’t believe he is ready to face Bayern. Losing the World Cup
winner for the Emirates Stadium showdown is another blow for Arsenal, who faces the daunting task of having to overturn a 5-1 deficit from the first leg. “Ozil is not in the squad. He was sick and he was out the whole of last week,” Wenger said. “He had only one session yesterday (Sunday). I don’t think he is ready physically to be in the squad. “He should be ready for the weekend (for the FA Cup
quarterfinal against Lincoln).” Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale were named yesterday in Real Madrid’s squad for the last-16 second-leg tie against Napoli after missing the weekend win over Eibar. Four-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo was sidelined with an injury which Coach Zinedine Zidane described as “nothing serious”. Also back in the squad for tonight’s clash is Welshman Bale after completing a one-
match ban. Both were absent from Saturday’s 4-1 victory at Eibar in which Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez were outstanding. Reigning European champions Real leads Napoli 3-1 going into the second leg in Italy and tipped as favourites for a quarterfinal berth.
TODAY Arsenal v Bayern Napoli v R’ Madrid
Unilag Lifts AMK/NUGA 3X3 Basketball Trophy The University of Lagos (Unilag) male team have emerged champions of the maiden edition of the Ahmadu Musa Kida (AMK) Foundation/Nigeria University Games (NUGA) 3X3 Basketball Competition final decided last Sunday in Abuja. Unilag defeated University of Ibadan (UI) in the final game to claim the trophy as well as qualify to represent Nigeria at the World University Games. Basketball power-house, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), settled for the bronze medal. In the female category,
Bayero University Kano (BUK), subdued fellow northern team, University of Ilorin (Unilorin) to pick the gold, leaving the silver for the losing finalist. University of Ibadan again, put up a good fight to settle for the bronze medal. ABU defeated University of Nasarawa to pick bronze in men and UI defeated Unizik. Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, who was the Special Guest of Honour, lauded AMK Foundation as shining example of what NGO’s can do to promote youth empowerment through sports. He confirmed readiness of the Federal Government
to reform the sports sector, insisting that the only pathway to growth will be through the grassroots. Dalung also thanked NUGA for expanding its programmes beyond the biannual sporting festival. AMK Foundation President, Musa Ahmadu Kida, in his speech expressed the readiness of the Foundation to remain committed to its goals of empowering the youths through education and sports, saying that the investment in NUGA basketball is a continuation of that service. He confirmed the interest of the Foundation to solidify the partnership with NUGA going
further into other basketball enterprises. NUGA President, Professor Stephen Hamafyelto, expressed gratitude to AMK for the sponsorship urging other private stakeholders to follow suit. The NUGA chief also canvassed adequate funding for NUGA from government to ensure that the sporting sector within the university system remains vibrant. Other side events at the occasion were a slam dunk competition, free throws and a Three-point shootout. Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards were given to outstanding male and female players.