NSC Boss, Shehu Dikko leads sports community to University of Ibadan to brainstorm on sports infrastructure

By Olaoluwa Aro 

Newly appointed Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko will on Tuesday 29th October, lead the Sports Community into the Premises of University of Ibadan, Nigeria's Premier University, to listen to a Personality Guest Lecture on the Challenges of Sports Infrastructure in the country. 

The Lecture which is being organised by the Faculty of Education, will be delivered by former President of the Nigeria Football Federation and FIFA Council Member, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick. 

Mallam Shehu will lead a crew that includes President of the NFF Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary, Dr Muhammed Sanusi, NFF Director of Communications Dr Ademola Olajire and other notable personalities, in what will be his first outing since his appointment as Chairman of the National Sports Commission by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 23rd of October. 

While there, Mallam Shehu Dikko will use the opportunity to brainstorm with scholars and stakeholders from the academic community on the many ways in which sports can be revived and elevated in Nigeria.

As a product of the Ahmadu Bello University, Mallam Dikko appreciates the contribution of the University of Ibadan to improving the state of the Nigerian economy, by constantly producing distinctive individuals, researchers and platforms such as this.

Ex-footballers hold UNIBADAN to a still with 7th Reunion celebrations

 

... Rewards Edith Agoye, Patrick Ngwaogu, Abiodun Salami Others

The community of the Premier University in the country, University of Ibadan was agog at the weekend when the Ex-Footballers of the citadel of learning held their 7th World Reunion.

The event started with a visit to the Vice Chancellor of the institution Professor Kayode Adebowale in his office. 

However, the University's Director of Public Communications Oladejo Olatunji was on ground to receive the Ex-Footballers many of who represented the University and country in various competitions. The University appreciated the ex-students for their efforts in ensuring that they reunite after years of graduation, while appreciating the efforts in their steps towards their almamater. 

Earlier, the President of the Ex-University of Ibadan Footballers Association Edwin Ebvie had narrated the concept of the Association to the Vice-Chancellor's representative, and appreciated them for giving them an enabling environment to reunite, moreover  giving out the highly revered Trenchard Hall to the Association for their get together. 

The Ex-Footballers later took to the pitch of the Obafemi Awolowo Students pitch in the University to play a tournament between Team Mutiu Adepoju and Team Rotimi Alli, which ended in penalty shootouts. 

When a winner could not emerge, it was decided that the trophy be presented to Coach Abiodun Salami, the outgoing Director of Sports in the University who is retiring from the University after attaining the mandatory years in service. 

The occasion was climax with a reunion dinner held at the Trenchard Hall of the University, various awards were given to some members of the Association among whom are two former Internationals, 3SC Head Coach Edith Olumide Agoye and Dr Abiodun Salami outgoing University of Ibadan Director of Sports, Patrick Ngwaogu former Abia Warriors FC Sporting Director, Prof Oluwasegun Adekunle, Chairman  Ex-University of Ibadan Footballers Association Board of Trustees, the President of Association Edwin Evbie. Others are Tunde Ojo (Answer), Olawale Taoheed Raji.

Ex University of Ibadan Footballers Storm Ibadan For 7th World Reunion

The Premier University in country, the University of Ibadan will on Saturday,  18th day of December, 2021, play host to the Ex-Footballers of the citadel of learning at the 7th Annual Reunion of the Association. 

In a statement signed by the Association's Public Relations Officer, Henry Duru, he said that all is now set for the annual Reunion of the  Association, which will among other things include a Football tournament among the ex-players in the morning at the University of Ibadan New stadium. There will also be  a Get-together Dinner Party in the evening at the Trenchard Hall of the University. 

The image maker further stated that the Vice-Chancellor of the Premier University Professor Kayode Adebowale will perform the ceremonial kick off of the mini Football tournament. 

He said that the Reunion event will also be used to Honour the retiring Director of Sports of the University, Dr Abiodun Salami, who has been a father figure to most of the Footballers that passed through the institution. Other individuals will also be given awards at the dinner.

Meanwhile, both the Team Manager and Chief Coach of the Shooting Stars Sports Club, Dimeji Lawal and Edith Agoye have  regretted their inability to attend the Réunion program  which they are an integral part. 

The two former Ex-internationals said the Reunion coincides with the Match Day 1 of the 2021 /2022 Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) season. 3SC are already in Gombe to battle Gombe United.  

In a message to the Association, the duo said "In as much as we should have loved to be a part of the Reunion event, we also owe it a duty to pilot the affairs of 3SC in the Premiership in far away Gombe. We are totally with our mates in spirit and also seek for their prayers for 3SC in the new season" they concluded.

Uni Ibadan VC to declare Ex-UI Footballers Reunion Open

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale will declare open the 7th World University of Ibadan Ex-Footballers reunion holding on 18th December 2021 at the University of Ibadan Sports Complex.

Announcing this at the weekend, the President of the Association Edwin Evbie said the Vice Chancellor will be accompanied to the event by the Association's Board of Trustees Chairman Professor (Mogaji) Oluwasegun Adekunle.

Quoting his words, the President said "this 7th edition is going to be unique. We are starting at exactly 8am at the Obafemi Awolowo playing pitch in the University, where all the ex-footballers that represented the premier institution in the past are expected to display the skills that made them the cynosure of all in the past. We would also have a get together party later in the evening within the  University. The unique thing about this edition is that some individuals that have contributed immensely to the establishment of this Association will be recognized with awards. There will also be a special event for the Director of Sports of the University, Dr Abiodun Salami who will be retiring from the services of the University after serving as a student, footballer, coach, lecturer and administrator. It will be a fun packed event " the boss rounded up.

The University of Ibadan has produced a number of athletes and footballers of repute including but not limited to ex Super Eagles stars Mutiu Adepoju and Dimeji Lawal, current 3SC Coach Edith Agoye, ex junior international goal keeper Christian Obi, Adebayo Gbadebo (Thailand based coach), Victor Uzoho (Finland based coach), Dr. Robinson Okosun (Super Eagles Psychologist), Prof. Adekunle (BOT Chairman), Festus Adegoju (Chairman, Nigerian Coaches Association,  Oyo State chapter), Barr.Rotimi Alli and Ex Abia Warriors FC Technical Director - Patrick Ngwaogu, amongst others.

Ex University of Ibadan footballers set for 7th World Reunion

All is set for the 7th edition of the Ex University of Ibadan Footballers Association (EXUIFA) reunion.  The event is scheduled for 18th December, 2021 at University campus. 

According to the Association's Public Relations Officer, Henry Duru, the 2021 edition of the event promises to be the best Reunion so far, considering the programs that have been  in place. 

He said the Reunion will involve a football match in  at the University of Ibadan New Sports Center, to be followed by a Get-together party  later on the same day. 

Expected to grace the occasion are footballers that have passed through the Premier University among whom are on the day are  Dr Abiodun Salami, the outgoing Director of Sports, University of Ibadan, Professor Oluwasegun Adekunle, the Chairman of the Association's Board of Trustees, Mr Edwin Evbie, the Association's President, Dr Robinson Okosun, of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Barrister Rotimi Alli, the Chairman of the Ibadan Football Association (IFA), DCP Kunle Olusokan (Zagalo), Coaches Adebayo Gbadebo, Head Coach of Suphanburi FC in the Thailand Premier League,  Christian Obi, Heartland FC Owerri, Edith Agoye, 3SC FC, Ibadan, Patrick Ngwaogu, former Abia Warriors FC Sporting Director, Iyiola Ogundele. Ex Internationals like Mutiu Adepoju, Dimeji Lawal, Andrew Uwe, Folorunsho Okenla among others. 

Those in the diaspora will include Barrister Kolade Oladokun (Canada), Benjamin Gopaldresg, Tunde Ojo, Deji Tony Mobility(US), Musa Omokhabi (France), Kola Okolo, Vitanus Okwara,(UK) among others

Ex-Super Eagles goalkeeper reveals ordeal as a young footballer

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Christian Obi has revealed that his parents classified him as a "useless person" for taking to football as a profession. 

The former Julius Berger of Lagos safe hand revealed this at weekend while appearing as a SPECIAL GUEST to the University of Ibadan Ex - Footballers Association virtual interview program, said his parents refused him to take to football as a profession, believing that those who who took to football are useless "considering the fact that I am the first among 15 children". He said that the perception later changed when the dividend of the game started rolling in. 

Born into the family of late Chief Kenneth Obi in Imo State, Coach Christian Obi who is  the current Chief Coach of Heartland FC, Owerri in the Nigerian Professional Football League, said his parents never supported his playing Football.

As a Special Guest on The Monthly Guest Interview Program of The Ex-University of Ibadan Footballers Association, he said "While growing up, my parents never supported my playing football, being the first child of fifteen children and more so, football was never seen as a lucrative profession then. Anyone playing football was seen as a useless person". 

But as fate would have it,  while still a student of Nsukka High School in Enugu State, his Football prowress began to manifest while featuring for Blue Diamonds FC, Nsukka. He was a student of Nsukka High School between 1975 to 1980. On completion of his High School, he represented The Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) in a Youths Tournament in Cardiff in 1981. He played for Enugu Black Rocks FC and the team won gold medal in the tournament. 

On return from Cardiff, he was drafted into Vasco Da Gama FC, Enugu and from there to Julius Berger FC in Lagos. In 1987, he featured for Iwuanyanwu Nationale FC of Owerri but returned the following year to Julius Berger FC, where he remained till 1996. 

At the National Team level, he won bronze medal with the Nigerian U-20 team in Moscow, Russia in 1985, was at the Seoul Olympics with the Super Eagles in 1988,  featured for Nigeria at The African Nations Cup in Algiers in 1990 and also played many World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers for The Super Eagles of Nigeria, as well as being a member of the Nigerian 5-aside team to Hong Kong in the year 1992. 

He said further: "Football was a game played with very great passion then and this was a major factor in the success I achieved despite my parents disposition to my becoming a Footballer". 

He also recalled his best and worst moments with the National teams saying; "My best moment was at Moscow U-20 World Cup in 1985, when I saved 3 penalty kicks to help Nigeria win bronze medal at the Junior Mundial, while my worst moment was during the World Cup qualifiers versus Cameroon at the Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan, I was the sure favourite to be in goal, but a couple of days before the match, I suffered a severe ankle injury which put paid to my being in goal and Peter Rufai had to be shipped in to man the goal for Nigeria. That incident put paid to my being announced to the World as that was what that match stood for, for me".

Christian Obi, despite his busy schedule as a footballer managed to combine education with football. While he was at Julius Berger, he obtained his Diploma in Physical and Health Education at the prestigious University of Ibadan between 1985 and 1986.

'It will be difficult for a Nigerian to coach Super Eagles for now' - Christian Obi

 

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Christian Obi has stated that present procedures adopted in the recruitment of the Super Eagles Head Coach, has made it difficult for any Nigerian to be selected to handle the senior national team. 

The Moscow Olympics bronze medalist who spoke at the Ex-University of Ibadan Footballers Association Interactive Program at the weekend, said Nigerians have the qualities to handle the Super Eagles but, the recruitment procedures have made it extremely difficult for any Nigerian coach to be considered for the position. 

Quoting his words, the former Julius Berger and Iwuanyanwu Nationale safe hand said "it's always the aspirations of any coach to coach at the highest level like the Super Eagles. We have good coaches who have what it takes to coach the Senior national team. Nigeria is blessed with the Coaches, but the forces that have taken over the recruitment of the coaches can not allow a Nigerian to be there for now. The administrators, the agents and the scouts have taken over the job of the coaches, leaving their own jobs undone. If proper professionalism is applied in the game, where everyone concentrates on doing his job, Coaching the Super Eagles will be easy for a Nigerian coach " he said. 

On the downward trend in Nigeria Football, the Algiers 1990 silver medalist attributed  the inability of the  football ruling bodies in the country to provide a level playing ground for all the teams as the major factor affecting the game in the country. 

He said the issue has made it extremely difficult for the country to have the best representation at the continental levels " we have the potential to emerge tops at every football event in Africa and the world, but the inability  of  our football bodies to provide a level playing ground for all the teams has made it very difficult for us to be where we are supposed to be. It has led to the downward turn in our Nigerian football especially the league . It's so bad to the extent that the winners of league can not stand at par with those of other countries in Africa. Each Football season we decide winners before the commencement of the League season and this has affected our football tremendously. This no doubt, has had negative effects on our representations in continental championships. But, if a level playing ground is provided for all the teams, and the best is allowed to emerge, Nigeria will win all the trophies in the continent " he emphasized. 

 Obi who is the Chief Coach of Heartland FC further advocated  for the elimination of those vices for the country's football to  witness the jam-packed stadia whenever rival teams are playing in the domestic League.

Avoid sex before sporting activities, medical expert charges athletes

A medical practitioner and a former Footballer at the University of Ibadan, Dr Adedamola Mosuro has advised sportsmen and women to avoid sexual intercourse before their game. 

 Dr.Adedamola Mosuro who is a Family Physician and Owner of Feathers Medical Clinic, Ophthalmologist FWACS (Ophth), Saskatchewan, Canada, spoke as a Guest of the Ex- University of Ibadan Footballers Association virtual platform at the weekend, said sex

 carried within the period of an activity that requires physical exertion and concentration, might not be advised as it has the tendency to drains  energy, and could slow down ones performance. 

The medical expert who was popularly known as Sparrow  during his football playing days in the University, however said sexual activity, well timed, is not contraindicated, and in can be advised by some experts.

He insisted that proper lifestyle is advised for optimal performance of every sportsman and woman. 

On ensuring general well-being of athletes, Dr Mosuro said "It's tough advising authorities in general if there is no initiative to cater for the well-being of athletes. All sports administrators always want the best from athletes, no matter the consequence" .

Continuing, he said "In an ideal world, having a physiotherapist, a physician, a nurse, a massage therapist will be the starting point. It would also help if they know what to do in the setting of an emergency. A physician with training in sports medicine will be ideal". 

"Having a functioning AED on standby would also save lives if there is a cardiac arrest, as we saw at the Europe recently " he concluded.

Medical expert advocates CPR training for athletes

 As the Tokyo 2020 is about to begin, a medical expert Dr Adedamola Mosuro has advocated for an immediate chest compression training for all participants in the games. 

Dr Mosuro who was the Guest of the Ex-University of Ibadan Footballers Association virtual interactive program at the weekend said the training is very important for everyone, and every sportsman and woman should be able to carry it out. 

Quoting his words, the medical expert said "Everyone should register for a basic life support course and learn how to do CPR. It's nothing fancy. This basic support is what they did to Erikson on the field recently. Anyone can do it, anyone can have what Erikson had on any field. Considering, how fit Erikson was as a professional player, he still had heart attack. If nothing was done when they were done, and the way they were done, the guy would have died. So, knowing basic life support is very crucial, not just you, the children as well. It should be made compulsory for everyone participating in sports. 

"The children at home, should be able to administer it. They can be a life saver at any point in time . They should be well trained on it, so that they can do chest compression immediately and rescue the life of the affected person. If you have something choking your throat, they can do a manouvre to bring out those things. Don't think it's only a doctor that can do this. You are the first treatment. Let everyone know how to do CPR. It's not something fancy, it's what we need to know" the Canada based medical practitioner said.

He further advised that when there is an injury, especially a musculoskeletal one, that one should avoid trying to pull or push the joints (as we usually do on the pitch). "Reduce mobility of the joint and get an xray as soon as possible".

 He advised for regular exercises, about 3 days per week for 30- 45 minutes of moderate  depending on the person's ability.