Elite U-20 Football Tourney: Plug Sports target new Onyekuru, Oshoala

 

One of the leading Management companies for current musician and footballers in the country, Plug Sports, has explained the reasons behind organising a one day Elite U-20 Football Championships at the Agege Township Stadium on Tuesday, June 29.

Speaking with our correspondent, the Head of Plug Sports, Lanre Vigo, said they are looking forward to unearting new football stars who can make it in the game.

According to Vigo, the company currently managed Super Eagles striker, Henry Onyekuru and Super Falcons captain, Asisat Oshoala.

He revealed that organizing the one day event was to further create awareness for their brand after their launch late 2020.

“We realized that the players who are the real actors doesn’t get the needed support they should be getting compared to their counterpart all over the world,” he said.

“We are here to get the new Onyekuru, Oshoala and the like and that’s the reason why it was just U-20. We are trying to come up with a different angle from the type of competitions we are used to.

“We really want to make sure all the players are taken care of and when they eventually made it to Europe or other places, they are prepared as we are going to give them the necessary tools to prepare them for the future.

Vigo added that the two players under their watch at the moment have really propelled the name of the organization in good light with their performance in the just concluded season and for the national teams.

Also speaking, the Head of Marketing at Plug Sports, Sayo Osinbowale, said with sports returning across the world, people are now getting to know what they are all about.

Osinbowale said despite the fact that they came when during COVID-19 Pandemic, they have been able to stamp their authority in the country.

Shea added that Nigerians should expect more from them as they continue to turn around the management aspect of sports as they did in entertainment.

Oasis Ladies beat Royaltoms to emerge winners of EkoFootball Queens Championship

 

Oasis Ladies Football Club today emerged the champion of the first ever EkoFootball Queens Championship, when they defeated Royaltoms Queens 5-4 (PK) in the grand finale played at the Agege Stadium, Lagos.

It was 1-1 at the end of regulation to time, and the game went to penalty shoot-out, where the winner was decided. It ended 5-4 in favour of Oasis Ladies.

Earlier on today, Prince Kazeem Eletu FC won the third place following a 1-0 victory  over Papa Soccer Academy. Kazeem Eletu only goal of the match was scored by Peace Ikeduba.

The EkoFootball Queens Championship 2021 started three weeks ago with 24 amateur clubs in and around Lagos State. We had a team from Edo state, Fortress Queens, but they crashed out in the group stages.

The Lagos FA Chairman, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi in his remarks after the final match, praised players and coaches of all the 24 teams for helping to create a profile for women's Football in Lagos State.

"The EkoFootball Queens Championship has tremendously enabled  the technical department to identify budding talents across all the clubs that can go all the way to represent the state at any national competition and the country if properly nurtured especially at a time the standard of the women's football league is rising higher and higher by the day. "We promise to continue to improve the championship year in and out and make a stable and consistent platform to build and develop young talents who want to play serious football."

*EkoFootball Media.* 

61 Athletes to fly Team Nigeria Flag in Tokyo

Team Nigeria will depart for the Tokyo  2020 Olympics  in two batches with 61 athletes flying the country's flag, says Minister of Youth and sports Development Mr Sunday Dare.

The  Minister  made this  disclosure on Monday while  addressing the plenary meeting with National Sports Federations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic games at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

According to the Minister,
"The emergence of COVID-19 pandemic in the first quarter of 2020  affected the organisational structures of both the Olympic and Paralympic  Games. This consequently pushed International Federations (IFs) to review their international sporting calendar and qualification pathway for athletes in their quest to participate at the Games.

These challenges, no doubt were difficult to overcome, but could not stop us as a great nation in ensuring that our athletes are strongly supported and motivated to achieve this milestone.

"I must sincerely commend each and every one of you for your commitment and for standing together in this journey. Specifically, I thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his immense support in approving and ensuring that funds were released to enable our athletes attend series of
qualification tournaments.

As at today, Nigeria has qualified 61 athletes across 9 Sports for the
Olympics, and 22 athletes in 4 Sports for the Paralympic Games, which are: Athletics-22, Badminton-3,  Basketball-24, Canoe sprint-1, Gymnastic-1, Rowing-1, Taekwondo-1, TableTennis-1,  Wrestling-1 which sums up to 61 and for Paralympic Games we have;
Para Athletics-5, Para Powerlifting-10, power rowing-1, Para Table Tennis-6 summing up to 22."

The Minister further  said "The recent qualification of Nigeria for the Women’s 4x100m, Women’s 4x400m and 4x400m Mixed Relays was a significant achievement for the country, while still awaiting the World Athletics (WA) to ratify the slots in a  few days.

The Ministry in collaboration with the Nigerian Olympic Committee has
scheduled a 14-day Pre-Games Training Camp (PGTC) for the athletes in
Kisarazu , Japan. This move is to further expose the athletes to adequate
preparations ahead of their events as well as to give them ample time to adjust to the Japanese time zone. It is also strategic to meet with COVID-19
regulations. For the Olympic Games, the first batch of the athletes are scheduled to depart for Kisarazu on 6th July, 2021 while the second batch depart on 13th July, 2021. The paralympic Teams will depart in one batch on 8th August, 2021.

The Minister said  in order to ensure a hitch-free participation  in Tokyo, the Ministry had engaged four (4) Travel Agencies to handle flight tickets of Team Nigeria Contingents.

"As the Games are gradually approaching, I feel it would be necessary for us to finalize on our strategies towards ensuring podium success at both the Olympics and the  Paralympic Games",the Minister concluded.

Signed

*Media office of the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development*

Pinnick Amaju inaugurates Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament Committee

The Quest to host a successful Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament in Lagos  began with the Inauguration of the committee by NFF President/FIFA Council member; Amaju Pinnick. 

The virtual  meeting started at exactly 11am with all Local Organising Members were in attendance to show readiness to stage a tournament of repute. 

According to the the FIFA Council member, Amaju Pinnick "Everyone here is selected based on merit for this  national call and I'm confident that you will deliver with utmost efficiency. Aisha Buhari name stands for Integrity and the tournament must live up to that integrity."

Pinnick expects periodic reports before the tournament starts and to interface with Lagos state government as the host. 

The tournament will be yearly and the 

LOC  is expected to organise a befiting tournament that can stand the test of time sustainably. 

Bar. Seyi Akinwunmi who is the Chairman of the committee will Inaugurate different sub-committee that will ensure smooth execution of the tournament.

According to the Chairman of the committee, he appreciated the FIFA Council member for the confidence imposed on the Committee and assured him of leading the team right in unity and as A TEAM. 

"I understand your expectation as the FIFA Council member and we will deliver Accordingly" he concluded.

The Committee members include:

Seyi Akinwunmi - Chairman

LASG Nominee -  Vice chairman

Ibrahim Gusau - member

Aisha Falode - Director of Organisation

Amina Daura - Deputy Director of Organisation

Margaret Icheen - Member

Ayo Omidiran -  Member

Umar Baba - Member

Chisom Ezeoke - Member

Kemi Areola - Member

Ademola Olajire - Member

Ufuoma McDermott - Member

Ese Okpomo - Member

Yinka Olagbemiro - Member

Kola Daniel - Member

Ruth David Secretary

Kamal Mohammed - Member.