Sports
Grassroots sports: Gymnastics Super Championship Opens in Benin
…6 Yr Old Joanna Philip-Shaibu Targets Gold Medal
The maiden edition of Gymnastics Clubs/Associations Super Championship hosted by Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria, has been declared opened in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
The two-day championship is holding at the ultra-modern gymnastics hall of the remodelled Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. Six years old Joanna Philip-Shaibu, daughter of sports – loving Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon.Comrade Philip Shaibu attracted applause from the audience with her performance. She is representing NICOM Gymnastics Club of Benin in the first category of the event, hitting the spot light with her superlative aerial cartwheel, roundoff, back handspring, front handspring, somersault, front walkover, back walkover and split leap skills, required for the first stage.
Investigations revealed that she was discovered to have the basic talent by her parents who decided to help her achieve her goal, at the close of 2020 National Sports Festival, hosted by Edo State.
Joanna Philip-Shaibu dream is to represent Nigeria at the World Olympics Championship and other major gymnastics championship across the continent,in the near future.
The gymnastics clubs participating in the championship include Pgonesis Gymnastics Association of Ogun State; FCT Abuja and Egilizuli Gymnastics Club of FCT, Abuja.
Others are Ondo Gymnastics Club as well as Bayelsa Gymnastics Club.
In an interview with newsmen, the Permanent Secretary, Edo State Sports Commission, Mrs. Sabina Amiemenoghena Chikere stated that ” the Commission is in partnership with the State Ministry of Education to see how sports can be integrated into school curriculum as a subject and not as an extra-curricular”.
“As a State, we are bringing up the young talents who will become full time professionals in their respective chosen careers”.
“We are changing the narrative about sports and the girl-child participation. This, we hope to sustain by including it in the school curriculum”, Sabina added.
On his part, the Executive Director, Sports Development, Edo State Sports Commission, Dr. Emmanuel Igbinosa, said “the state-of-the-art sports facilities, particularly the ultra-modern gymnasium hall is one step to becoming the best sports destination in Africa”. He assured of the continuous development and improvement of sporting activities in Edo State.
The championship will be declared closed on Friday by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu with the presentation of medals to deserving winners in the different categories.
…picks first match pairing
Nasarawa state Commissioner for yourh and sports Development, Hon. Jafaru Ango praises the Nigeria Premier League’s transparent draw process and sets high expectations for the league’s elevated standards in the upcoming season.
Jafaru Ango, on Tuesday, attended the draw ceremony for the commencement of the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League Season held at the Sandralia Hotel, Jabi, Abuja.
Jafaru who was invited by the Board of the Nigeria Premier League headed by Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, performed the task of picking one of the pots containing Abia Warriors FC of Umuahia who would later be paired against Niger Tornadoes FC in their opening league match.
The 2023/24 Nigeria Premier League will kick-off on Saturday, 9th September, 2023.
Speaking to the Media shortly after the draw ceremony, the Commissioner commended the League Organizers for ensuring a transparent process, and hoped that the League standard would surpass previous seasons.
He thanked Chairman of the NPL Board, Gbenga Elegbeleye, for giving him the opportunity to participate in the draw ceremony.
Responding to questions surrounding the return of Nasarawa United Football Club to the elite domestic football league, Jafaru expressed optimism that the team would take its rightful place in the top-flight in no distant time.
“It’s unfortunate that the team was relegated. But we are doing everything possible to ensure that by this time next year, we should be back in the League.
“We will rejig the team, set the necessary modalities in place to achieve this task. It may be herculean, but not insurmountable.”
On the refurbishing of the Lafia City Stadium, the Commissioner assured that Government is leaving nothing to chance to ensure the facility wears a new look.
He also assured that the Nasarawa State Contingent for the forthcoming National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, would do the State proud as Government continues to deploy various mechanisms to inspire the athletes to podium appearance, revealing that his slogan for the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development is “Creativity and Excellence.”
Ahead of the 2023/24 football season, Edo State Govt has opened discussions with management of Sterling Bank PLC over the need to up their game in terms of corporate sponsorship of Bendel lnsurance FC.
The Edo State team led by the Deputy Governor Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu included chairman of Edo State Sports Commission, Alhaji Yusuf Ali, Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Mrs Sabina Chikere and the Chief of Staff, Office of the Deputy Governor, Kingsley Ehigiamusor Esq.
Sterling Bank management was led by the M,D/ CEO of the bank, Abubakar Suleiman.
The meeting which lasted for about an hour was hosted by the Deputy Governor in his office at the Government House, Benin while the Sterling Bank team joined virtually.
At the end of the meeting, a 9-man committee was set up with representatives of both parties to look at the need to up the sponsorship fee, given the fact that Bendel Insurance FC has booked a continental ticked to represent Nigeria in the CAF Championship which kicks off in August.
The club lifted the FA Cup played in Asaba, June 19, 2023 when it defeated Enugu Rangers 1-0.
Bendel Insurance FC of Benin has won the 2023 Football Association (FA) Challenge Cup.
The Benin Arsenals defeated old-time rivals, Enugu Rangers one nil to clinch the FA Cup at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, yesterday
The goal was scored almost at stoppage time of the added four minutes in the first half of the match.
