34
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Î Ëœ ͺ͸͚Î
GLOBAL SOCCER
Liefering Turn Down Barca’s £15m Bid for Adeyemi
arcelona’s desperation to sign a long time replacement for ageing Luis Suarez have seen the Catalans offered £15m for German player of Nigerian descent, Karim Adeyemi, but the offer had been turned down by FC Liefering. It is reported that the Catalan club are
willing to bring the highly-rated forward to Camp Nou and are understood to be in very advanced talks to sign Adeyemi in January. Barca have officially contacted sporting director Christoph Freund in order to lure the 17-year-old, whose contract runs until 2021. The centre-forward in August was
awarded the Golden Fritz Walter medal, the highest honour for the best youth player in Germany. According to Transfermarkt, the Catalan’s interest in Adeyemi is very concrete but faces competition from Premier League duo Arsenal and Liverpool, who are also monitoring the progress of the youngster. The Catalans are understood to be in the
pole position in the race for the German youth international. Currently plying his trade in the second tier Austrian league, the player boasts seven goals and five assists in 13 games across all competitions this season. Adeyemi could make the top three of the most expensive U-17 players in the world should the deal go through.
Over 200 Participants Expected at First Bank Amateur Open Championship Over 200 golfers from around the globe are expected to participate in the 58theditionofFirstBankAmateurOpen Championship organisers have said. Speaking at a press briefing held at the golf section of Ikoyi Club to herald the championship on Friday, the oganisers said the First Bank Amateur Open Championship, which made its debut over 57 years ago has sailed a smooth ride so far. This year’s tournament is expected to attract the best amateur golfers, not only in Nigeria, but across the world as the championship has been listed on the World Amarteur Golf Ranking administered by R&A and USGA. The organisers said the listing has given the championship a heightened level of recognition on the world stage
as far as amateur golf championships are concerned, noting that the First Bank Lagos Amateur Open is now one of the international golf events where amateur golfers worldwide can participate and amass points to aid their WAGR rankings. In his reaction, the CEO of First Bank, Dr.AdesolaAdeduntan represented by Osahon Ogieva, said the championship has grown to the level where amateur golfers the world over are scrambling to participate in and bank is therefore looking forward to a very successful tourney. On his part, Captain of the Ikoyi Club golf section, Babatunde Johnson opined that the First Bank Lagos Open Golf Champion is the longest running golf competition in Nigeria.
India Cup: High Commissioner Hails Organisers, Winners India’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shri Abhay Thakur has congratulated the organisers and winners of this year’s edition of the India Cup which holed out at the golf section of Ikoyi Club 1938 last Saturday. Alex Nimyel stole the show in the competition emerging the overall winner. Tocometopinthekeenlycontestedevent, Nimyel netted a score of 72 to defeat over 150-other golfers who took part in the main event of the competition. The weeklong competition which also hadLadiesonthecoursesawAbahOputa with 36-Stabeford points winning the Ladies category. Pauline Onafowokan, came second after shooting 35-Stableford points, while Chantal Buday was second runner-up. In the gross category, Peter Eben-Spiff outclassed the field for the top position. The high point of the competition was
the presence of the Indian High Commissioner,whospoketothecontestantsonthe rapidly growing sporting and economic ties between Nigeria and India. Also speaking at the event, the golf Captain, Babatunde Johnson congratulated the winners saying he is happy on the return of India cup during his tenure. Expressing his appreciation to all those whoturned-outfortheevent,amemberof theeventsOrganisingCommittee,Ashish Gajjar said, he will forever remain grateful for their participation. “I must express my appreciation for your presence today and for taking part in this tournament. It’s been a fulfilling week for all and I must thank you for all you support,� he said. The Chairman of the event organizing committee Sunil Thadani thanked its event partners and others sponsors for their tremendous support.
Battle for Top Spot Heightened at 2019 Nigeria Bankers Games Action continues this weekend at the ongoing Nigeria Bankers Games as football event group games come to an end, just as attention switches to indoor games – table tennis and chess at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex on Sunday. The first match of the day will see 2018 football champions - UBA and FCMB battle for groupA’s top position. The two teams have begun the season with two wins from two games and will be looking
for a win to close out the group stage. The second match will also witness two teams in similar positions as First Bank and Fidelity Bank having both won their opening two fixtures and now gunning for top position in Group B. With Ecobank and Union Bank yet to amass any points this year, both teams will look to this weekend as an opportunity for their teams to end their winless streak before entering the knock out stages of the competition.
Juve, Milan Clash to Air on GOtv A series of top-flight games involving elite European teams across various football competitions will be aired live on GOtv during this weekend. The games will be broadcast live on SuperSport Select 2 to GOtv Plus and GOtv Max subscribers and on SuperSport Select 4 and 5 exclusive to GOtv Max subscribers. Leading the pack is the game between rivals Juventus and AC Milan in the Italian Serie A. The game kicks
Group Head, Telecommunications and Other Conglomerates of FirstBank, Osahon Ogieva, Golf Captain, Babatunde Johnson, FirstBank Brand Ambassador, Georgia Oboh, Head, Sponsorship, Event and Content Management, Oze. K. Oze and Head CRS, Media, and External Relations, Ismail Omamegbe at the pre-tournament brieďŹ ng on Friday.
off at 8:35pm on Sunday and will be aired live on SuperSport Select 5. In the Premier League, 15th placed Newcastle United welcome Bournemouth to the St. James’ Park today. It will be aired live at 3:50pm on SuperSport Select 2. Fourth-placed Atletico Madrid will clash against 19th-placed Espanyol at the Wanda Metropolitano in LaLiga on Sunday at 3:55pm on SuperSport Select 4.
L-R: Global Development Manager, Southampton Football Club, Mathew Sanger, Director, Schools Sports Lagos State, Dr (Mrs.) Oluyomi Oluwasanmi, Project Coordinator , Saints Lagos Football Academy, Anthony Ashiwe and Director, Goal Centre, Tosin Osunkoya, during the unveiling of the Academy in Lagos, recently.
Southampton Opens ‘Saints Academy’ in Nigeria In response to the yearnings of the abundant talents and to direct the energies of the teeming youth population positively in Nigeria, the Southampton football club of England, established in 1885, have come together in mutual partnership with crimson sports international to establish its first football academy in Lagos. The Saints Lagos football academy, as it would be known, was recently presented to the media, at the newly built Goal Centre, Lekki in Lagos. The academy said to be an extension of the English Premier League club’s flagship project modeled on the Southampton football club academy in England, which has produced great football stars in the likes of Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott and Oxlade Chamberlain, among others, has come to make a difference. The academy which is taking off at the Goal Centre, facility, Lekki, Lagos, is opened to both boys and girls ranging from age six to 14. According to the promoters of the project, the essence is to help in the
development of youth leadership and taking the game nearer to those who have the ability, skill, passion and talent to bring to the fore the giant in them for their good and for the upliftment of the human society. Speaking on the academy during the media event, Anthony Ashiwe, project coordinator, Saints Lagos FootballAcademy, said as an affiliate of the Premier League football giant, the academy was with a vision to add worthy value to the sports industry in Nigeria and beyond. ‘ It is our great joy to ensure that we the drivers of Saints Lagos football academy would do all humanly acceptable and possible to help develop the human society starting from where we are Lekki, Lagos. It is a great dream we must live as long as god helping us, “ he said. In his reaction, Mathew Sanger, Global Development Manager, Southampton Football Club, England, stated that there was a huge prospect for talent discovery and development in Nigeria, which informed the global football club to partner with crimson sports international to create opportunities for the young who
were passionate about the development of their gifts which the academy has come to help such achieve their desires. “We are here to help discover, grow and develop football stars who in the long run will make all the stakeholders proud to be a part of this novel cause borne out of being socially a global responsible citizen as we all should, “he emphasised. Tosin Osunkoya, Director Goal Centre, said the centre was of world class standard and they were very excited and proud to be a facilitator of the crimson sports and Southampton partnership in Nigeria. The Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr. Gaffar Bolowatan, who spoke through the director, school sports directorate, Dr. Oluyomi Oluwasanmi, congratulated the parties involved in the laudable project and stated that the Lagos State government was happy to be the launching pad for the project in Nigeria and her support in all possible ways to make sure people who were in the state with good intent prosper endurably.