Benue FA lauds Governor Alia on Aper Aku Stadium renovation The egg-heads of Benue

 

 Benue State Football Association (BSFA)  has commended the State Governor, His Excellency Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, for approving the immediate regrassing of the pitch at Aper Aku stadium, Makurdi.

Barr. Paul Edeh, the President of Benue FA and Ratels Sports Development Foundation said, "The governor who has spent few weeks in office is already demonstrating leadership.

"With the approval to fix the Aper Aku stadium pitch, teams located within Makurdi, especially Lobi Stars, will now have a comfortable place to train and play their home matches."

Edeh also spoke of the readiness of the board to build a state-of-the-art football secretariat within the stadium when authorities approve a land space for that purpose.

Meanwhile, eight (8) upcoming coaches were given scholarships to take part in the next phase of training programme at the National Institute of Sports (NIS).

While performing an official presentation of the beneficiaries at the General Congress organised by BSFA at the weekend, Edeh, said the football association under his watch will embark on consistent training and re-training of coaches in the state.

The BSFA boss also revealed plans to organise a mega training session, in collaboration with La Liga, for many coaches drawn from the state before the end of 2023.

He then reiterated the resolve of the board to expand the frontiers of grassroots football development within the next three years.

The FA boss said part of the steps taken so far within 40 days of the board's existence was the engagement of critical stakeholders and partners including strategic visits to the Paramount Ruler of Tiv nation Prof. Ortese Ayatse Tor Tiv and that of Idoma nation, Dr. John Elaigwu Och' Idoma who are now football Grand Patron and Patron in the state.

The board also paid a courtesy visit to the President of the Nigeria Football Federation Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau and tertiary institutions in the state within the period under review.

"I want to assure everyone that this is a listening board that want to run an investment-driven football development programmes because balls are critical to the our developmental drive, we have concluded arrangement to import at least 10, 000 balls. We have also invited and met with La Liga representative for their experts to come to Benue and train our coaches.

"We will make coaches' training in an annual programme. From next year, coaches whose teams emerge tops at our various grassroots football competitions from the 23 LGAs will automatically be part of those who will be sent for more capacity building engagements at NIS and others," he said.

Responding, the Chairman of Nigeria Football Coaches Association, Benue State chapter, Coach Eugene Agabe, thanked the board for its laudable and consistent approach to football development.

Glory Girls of Otukpo claim inaugural BBA U-18 Women's Tourney

 

The 2022 Benue State Basketball Association U-18 Female Tournament ended yesterday at the Aper Stadium Makurdi. In the last game of the Tournament, Gboko Volunteers defeated Glory Girls of Otukpo 38-37. However since the Tournament was played on a double round robin format, Glory Girls emerge overall Champions having beaten the Volunteers by 4 points, 32 - 28 in their first meeting. 

The  Final game was full of thrills and suspense all through. Having won in the first encounter, Glory Girls had their pride to protect while Gboko Volunteers looked for an opportunity to seek revenge. It was a jostling game for both teams with Glory Girls enjoying the dominant lead. 

The dogged Gboko girls fought hard and tied the game at the 4th Quarter with 1:37 minutes to go. Glory Girls again picked a two point lead with 27  seconds left, but Sewuese,  star player of the Volunteers intercepted a pass  to tie the game. Glory girls had an opportunity to take a two point lead  again from the freethrow line but Janet who was on the line missed one shot. 

It was Sewuese  who showed she was a clutch player once more. With 7 seconds left in the game she drew contact on a lay up which sent her to the free throw line where she made both shots that won the game for the Gboko Volunteers. Game ended Gboko Volunteers 38, Glory Girls, 37. 

There was high drama at the end when the Glory Girls all broke down crying because they thought by their loss  they had lost the Tournament Trophy. Their consolation and redemption only came when they were announced as Winners based on the Head to Head Classification having tied on points with their fierce rivals. 

The Vice Chairman of the BBA, Mr Kelvin Kpum, conveyed the Association's appreciation to all the participants and officials'  with a promise that the State will continue with such developmental programmes. The Director,  Benue Sports Council, Mr. Philip Nongu, accompanied by many dignitaries and Stakeholders in the State,  commended the State Association for their effort in revitalizing the Sports in the State. 

A trophy was presented to the Champions , Glory Girls and cash prize for the MVP,  Sewuese of Gboko Volunteers. 

Final Table of the Tournament:

*1st - Glory Girls -P6, W5, L1, Pts 11( 1st on Head to Head Rule) 

* 2nd -Volunteers - P6, W5, L1,Pts 11( 2nd on Head to Head Rule).

*3rd- Sparks.       - P6, W2, L4, Pts 8. 

* 4th - Titans -      - P6, W0, L6, Pts 6.

Honey Badgers appoint Ex-Confluence Queens Boss, Abdul Sule as Chairman

NWFL Championship side, Honey Badgers FC on tuesday appointed former Confluence Queens and Kogi United boss Abdul Sule as their new Chairman.

At a well attended press conference in the Federal Capital of Nigeria, Abuja, the former Super Eagles goal poacher was introduced to the press as Supremo of the Club by outgoing Chairman, Barrister Paul Edeh, who described Sule as a Sports administrator with  a wealth of experience. 

The former AC Horsens of Denmark forward played professional football in Nigeria, Qatar, Denmark and Malaysia before quiting the round leather game in 2008 for business and Sports administration. 

Sule spent four years working as Chairman at Kogi United and Confluence Queens, playing a key role in the development of the two teams and enjoyed a successful spell, leading both teams to the NWFL Premiership Super 4 in Lagos and the NNL Super 8 in Aba respectively.

An excited Abdul Sule, told newsmen on tuesday that he loves challenges, reason why he accepted to start a new role at Honey Badgers FC. 

"This is a wonderful opportunity for me, because Honey Badgers have shown great progress since it was formed in 2019, promoting from the Nationwide to the Championship and I am convinced that the future will be better.

"I admire the way Barrister Paul Edeh is going with the team and no wonder they club keep improving year by year. We will continue to be ambitious and keep the legacy and policy of the team. 

"We have big plans for the team and I think the players we have now are good enough to get us a promotion ticket to the Premiership, but above that, we want to build an environment where players from Benue and the northern part of the country can fulfill their dreams of playing abroad, and no doubt, we shall be giving them various opportunities to achieve that.

"We will try as much as possible to make the team better as we have started planning before now. We would be inviting some foreign coaches to come see the team at the Flying Officers Cup and that could be a step in a right direction. 

He went on to further say: "Barrister Paul Edeh's willingness to see me join Honey Badgers was decisive and for me, the choice was natural, because I see great potential in the team and together we shall achieve greatness." He Concluded.

Also speaking at the Press Conference, Barrister Paul Edeh noted that the choice of Abdul Sule as Chairman of Honey Badgers FC was borne out of the fact that they both share the same vision to develop the game of football from the grasroot. 

The Legal Luminary stated that he resigned as Chairman of the Makurdi based club and handed over to Sule, to put more concentration at Sports Development, through the Ratels Sports Development Foundation, an initiative which is getting bigger by the day. 

"We believe that Abdul Sule will bring in his wide range of experience to play at the Badgers, secondly we noticed how he took Confluence Queens from their lowest moment to the peak before leaving. 

"Working with him has shown that we share the same vision and passion for women's football. We don't believe in finished product, we build from the scratch and I think he is the right man for the job.

"Further more, his know-how in Football administration is topnotch, having played football to the highest level, both home and abroad are some of the main reasons leading us to present him our ambitious challenge. 

"This appointment, is another sign of our ambition and desire to be as competitive as possible in the league, because truly, we have a lot of talents in Benue and the northern part of the country and we believe we can harness and nurture them to greatness through his appointment as Chairman. We want to congratulate him and wish him well in this new quest.

Honey Badgers is an NWFL Championship side, based in Makurdi, Benue State and was founded in 2019 alongside Naija Ratels by Barrister Paul Edeh, last year, they finished second in the NWFL Nationwide to gain automatic promotion to the Championship.

Adeyemo calls for Tornadoes' focus

Niger Tornadoes' vice captain Bolaji Adeyemo has urged his side to put the recent 3-1 defeat to Lobi Stars behind them and focus on getting back to winning ways in their next fixture.

Lobi Stars, Enyimba settle for draw in Makurdi

A quite subdued atmosphere lent itself to a low-key opening game, as Lobi Stars and Enyimba shared the spoils on the opening matchday of the 2017/18 NPFL season.

Lobi Stars engage Nasarawa United in a charity match for Benue Flood victims

Two friends, Mike Idoko and Isaac Danladi have both summoned their armies to battle as Lobi stars host Nasarawa United at the Aper Aku stadium on Wednesday.

NNL: Kwara United Claims Referee Assistance in Dreams' Defeat

 Dream International FC of Makurdi have referees to thank for their Week 11 Nigeria National League match victory over Kwara United FC today at the Aper Aku stafium in Makurdi.