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Tornadoes striker, Agba, may just have scored decisive goal

24/9/2017

Samuel and Faith

Niger Tornadoes striker Samuel Agba will quit bachelorhood when he takes his heartthrob Faith Anastasia to the alter on 30th September 2017 in Kaduna.

Agba, who was born and bred in Kaduna believes the time is right for him to settle down and get married so as to fully concentrate on his football career.

“I think the time is right for me to settle down and I thank God that he has blessed me with my life partner. She has been a blessing to me,” he revealed.

“There comes a time for everything and I believe the time is right for us to tie the knot and make everything official.

When asked how he met his fiancee’, Agba said it was providence that brought them together but she has proven to him that he is lucky to have her beside him.

“We met a long time ago, well, not that long but we met just when I first started out as a professional footballer

“It started out when I joined Jigawa Golden Stars, it wasn’t that serious then but I’m happy we have decided to get married. Even when times were hard, my good friend Joshua Obaje will always encourage me.

“Joshua (Obaje) is more like a mentor to me, he always encourages me to keep going even in my career. When I and my fiancée have minor issues he is always there to help settle the differences.

“We’ve been together for this while because she is loving, caring, respectful and above all God fearing. She’s not just a wife-to-be but my sister, my friend, my everything.

“Despite all my short-comings, I’m glad we are engaged today and getting set to get married. I also want to thank my spiritual father and mother, Prophet and Prophetess Daniel Zakka for their prayers and advice.

“Hopefully, she will continue to be a blessing to me and she will bring joy to my life which will make me a better player by God’s grace,” Agba added.

The 23-year-old has played for Jigawa Golden Stars, Rangers, Wikki Tourists and Niger Tornadoes in a career that has seen him become one of the most sought-after strikers in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

The wedding comes up on 30th September 2017 at the Power Embassy Church, Mando, Kaduna.

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Rivers State Gymnastics Boss Seeks Government Support

23/9/2017

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Charles Orlu

By Peter Abaje

The chairman of the Rivers State Gymnastics Association, Charles Orlu wants government support to actualise their plans for the sport.

Orlu who is also the caretaker chairman of the Port Harcourt City Local Government Area told ChinaAcheru.com that he has already mapped out strategies to get gymnastics back on track it it has, like every other sport been relegated to the back ground by football.

“I have written to the Ministry of sports for a partnership with the Port Harcourt City Local Government Council to work out the modalities for the development of the sport in the state,” Orlu said

“With more orientation and support from the state and federal ministry of sports, gymnastics will thrive once again in the country.”

Orlu revealed to ChinaAcheru.com that Gymnastics will no longer be relegated to the back ground by football when he is through with the sport.

He also appealed to the sporting press to also give prime attention to the sport in their reportage.

“You guys (Sporting press) have a whole lot to do for us to be reckoned with in the country. If you do for us what you do for football, I bet you, gymnastics will enjoy a geometric growth.”

The onetime gymnast who represented the state at the junior level said is also optimistic that with adequate orientation by officials of the sports ministry at the state and national on the multi medal winning prospect in gymnastics, the sport will overtake others in no distant time.

Recalling that the old Rivers and Bendel states, used to be power houses in gymnastics, the local government administrator, opined that with regular competition at the grassroots and elite level that status can be achieved.

“I am sure you remember that so many years ago we (old Rivers and Bendal state) used to dominate the sport. So for us to produce top class gymnasts, all we have to do now is organise regular competition at the secondary school and also expose our athletes to national and international competition,” Orlu said.

“There are talents in our schools but when they come out for training and no completion for them to show what they have learned it can be frustrating and demoralising, but with the support of all the stakeholders, we will take gymnastics to new heights,” Orlu stressed.

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Liverpool, Klopp, bad defending, and the way forward

21/9/2017

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By Oluwafemi Balogun

Before the start of the European football league season, Liverpool had set sights on strengthening their team and throughout the transfer window they had constantly been linked with Southampton’s Virgil Van Dijk as well as other options in attack and midfield.

The signing of Mohammed Salah from Roma has proved good with him combining well with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino to provide what a lot of fans have tagged “Ferrari attack” (fast paced attack).

But unfortunately for Liverpool, they were not able to get the man they courted throughout the window Virgil Van Dijk, who was supposed to help the team shore up the defense.

Now the season has kicked off, Five EPL games, one in the Champions League and one in the League Cup, they have two wins, four draws and two losses in all competitions.

But the defense is crumbling on all fronts conceding 16 goals in all matches, scoring 17.

But how long until Klopp realises he made a mistake during the transfer window and try to fix his defense?

How can Liverpool and Klopp get it right?

Figure out best partnership

Jurgen Klopp needs to figure out the best defensive partnership for his team as well as pick who his first choice goalkeeper is and build the right confidence in them.

Last season Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip provided a decent partnership despite the injuries they suffered but this term Lovren has been a shadow of his former self.

Ragner Klavan has seen game time this season but has not looked brighter than the other central defenders as moments of mania and a lack of concentration has led them
to concede goals.

Leadership needed

One of the defenders have to step up and be a leader in that half. It may be, due to a lot of rotation and not yet finding his main defensive partnership as no Liverpool defender this season has shown traits of being a leader, one who can call his defenders back to shape and alert his team mates to those crosses and dangerous set pieces.

Mamadou Sakho while at Liverpool showed he could be a leader in defense. You could see him barking instructions at his team mates, his passing accuracy, his drive to the midfield and making those last ditch tackles that saved his team. It’s time Joel Matip or Dejan Lovren stood up and be that leader klopp needs.

The midfielders must help

As much as the Midfielders enjoy going forward they also need to track back often to protect the defenders so they aren’t easily exploited by their opponents.

Captain Henderson hasn’t really hit the heights this season and has been picked by some fans and pundits for failing to track back to protect the defenders who keep making the same errors week in week out and you wonder what they (Liverpool) do during training sessions.

Fans must be patient

Patience from the fans, supporters and club owners is what Klopp needs as he tries to create that Liverpool team that can challenge on all fronts.

Like Sir Alex Ferguson wrote in his autobiography, there is a difference between building a football club and a football team. For a Football Club you need time and Klopp needs that time to imprint an identity on his side.

Liverpool must spend in January

January is coming fast and Liverpool need to add to their players especially their defenders.

They have failed to replace some quality players they have lost with same quality or even better.

Klopp and chairman, Tom Werner need to cough out that money and get the right players to cover the cracks within the team.

As much as Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool has been criticised this season they can still beat any team and are a joy to watch while going forward, and can score a lot of goals.

It’s tough being a Liverpool fan these days, but with patience, the right attitude and the right arrivals, who knows where they can be in May.

Besides, no one wins a title or gets relegated in September.

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Ekundayo Seeks Medical Support To Salvage Career

15/9/2017

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The highly ranked Nigerian and former African Champion, Larry “The Natural” Ekundayo’s career is on the line after breaking his hand in WBO International title contest.

Ekundayo spoke with reporters in London this week to update them after his recent brave title attempt.

He told them that his career was on the line unless he gets similar medical support that his British or American counterparts receive.

The Nigerian boxer sustained a broken hand during his brave effort for the WBO Intercontinental title in London in July this year.

If the funds can be found he could be back in the ring, challenging for titles, before the end of the year.

Ekundayo narrowly lost the bout in London, due to a contentious points decision, against home town favourite, Gary Corcoran.

Ringsiders at the prestige’s affair in London felt that the Nigerian was very unlucky not to win the bout, especially given the Briton’s continued use of the head.

Despite this disadvantage, and suffering incredible pain from a broken hand, Ekundayo battled on, doing Nigeria proud and almost knocking his man out in the 10 rounds.

The assembled dignitaries ringside, President of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control, Dr Ladipo, the Prince and Princess of Oyo, as well as other assembled guest, all thought the son of the soil had done enough to claim the victory.

The shame of this for Nigeria is that Corcoran is now well placed for a World title shot, which had the decision gone his way “The Natural” would have been in line for.

However, the fighter, who along with Olusegun Ajose, represent the best chance of international sporting success in the green and white of Nigeria, now faces an uncertain future because of the cost of repairing the damaged hand.

Ekundayo told reporters in London “I proudly wear our country’s colours into the ring, and I'm happy to take the bumps and bruises boxing requires, so as to bring sporting glory to Nigeria. I hope the Government, or a prominent company or individual, can help me fix my hand so I can win a world title for Nigeria.”

Ben Gray, the Commercial Agent for Ekundayo and Ajose said “I know many Nigerians are now really interested in boxing, because of the recent success of Anthony Joshua. I believe a lot of the country’s leaders are coming to support Anthony Joshua defending his title in Cardiff on the 28th of October. Given this interest, I hope that we can find someone to support the likes of Larry and Olusegun too.”

He added “Nigeria has a wonderful opportunity to build on this interest in AJ and deliver a long-term sporting legacy, for itself and all its boxers. We are keen to speak with any individual, or corporation, who wants to be help Nigerian boxers win Word Titles.”

Gray also stated that he was planning to meet with the President of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control, when the President come to the UK at the end of the month, to discuss major new plans to help develop Nigerian boxing on the world stage.

“We are very grateful for the leadership Dr Ladipo and the NBB of C have shown. He’s a man of real vision and I believe, under his stewardship, Nigeria will shortly start producing World Champions of their own.”

He added “Nigeria has the natural human capital to rule the world at the sport, their athletes just need the correct support, in the same way Anthony Joshua has received the support from Britain.”

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Is Musa Kidda enemy of the state? Rivers State?

7/9/2017

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By Samuel Omaenikun

We are called homo sapiens because we are the most evolved of all the species, the word itself stands for thinking man. So it's only right we look at issues from lots of angles before we judge.

The crises in the Nigeria BasketBall Federation rages on and this time took the players of Rivers Hoopers as the victims, as all their hard work through out the season is gone with the wind.

This may all be because of a power tussle and there's only one man to blame, Musa Kida! Yes I said it, Musa Kidda.... But wait is he really to blame???

A wise man once said that there are three sides to a story my side (River's Hoopers), your side (Kidda) and the TRUTH.

In order to get this proverbial truth let's look at things from a different perspective.

Rivers Hoopers

Hard working side, recruited some of the best players in the league, played some fantastic basketball along the way and gave their all.

At the end they qualified for the Super 8 only to be told “you can't participate in the competition” ruining their chances of playing on the continent next year ...

If na you, bros you no vex?

And so all their anger was channeled towards Musa Kidda, the recently inaugurated president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation who also happens to be Rivers State Basketball Association chairman and the man said to be pulling all the strings.

He is said to be the man who stopped the team from traveling for just one reason....

His rival organised it, what sign of disrespect was this, for the state where he is chairman to honour his rival.

So he began to pull strings like the puppet master underground and these strings led to a series of unfortunate events.

To cut a long story short, the Rivers Hoopers team didn't travel, therefore throwing away a successful season.

Musa Kidda

It is no news that two elections where held in the Nigeria Basketball Federation NBBF, Musa Kida winning on one end and Tijani Umar winning on the other end.

However, there was only one inauguration and that was for Musa Kidda’s board.

Yes, the world Basketball body, FIBA stepped in and though they said in a letter that they have not recognised any one of the factions, they would however, until November 30, communicate with the Musa Kidda led board.

It is alleged that there was a gentleman's agreement between both parties that Tijani Umar should run the basketball league till the end of the season before handing over to Musa Kida.

Then the season ended and Umar would not do that and went on to even organise the Super 8 and to make matters worse he sent out press releases calling himself the NBBF President and I guess Kidda couldn't take it anymore so he reacted.

The NBBF board led by Kidda sent out letters to all 8 participating clubs barring them from attending this “illegal” competition called the Super 8 because it was organised by an “Illegal” body.

My thoughts

It is sad and painful that Rivers Hoopers did not participate in the Super 8 after all their hardwork.

And it was a huge disappointment to the players, their fans and coaches to see all their hard work go down the drain.

Many stories make it sound as if Kidda was just hell bent on Rivers Hoopers missing the tournament, that he took it on himself to stop them.

But that is far from the truth.

Eight letters were sent to the 8 teams that were to take part in the Super 8 and of these 8, just Rivers Hoopers decided to obey and follow the instructions of the letter.

The Big question

Why couldn't the Rivers State sports commissioner act in similar fashion as the other state commissioners in the states of the other teams and still let his team travel and be a part of the competition?

What loyalty does he hold to the man that supersedes that of Basketball in the state?

Instead of us branding Musa Kidda an enemy of the state, first we should ask Sports Commissioner, Boma Iyaye questions.

He needs to tell the state why he saw it as mandatory to follow Kidda's instructions to the detriment of the team.

But for now all I can say is sorry to Rivers Hoopers as all their hard work, their dreams and aspirations have gone down the drain all thanks to politics.

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Author

Tornadoes striker, Agba, may just have scored decisive goal

Rivers State Gymnastics Boss Seeks Government Support

Liverpool, Klopp, bad defending, and the way forward

Ekundayo Seeks Medical Support To Salvage Career

Is Musa Kidda enemy of the state? Rivers State?

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