Sports

Sports

May 23, 2013

544

AMACUFF Bankrolls
Imo Fa Juniour League

Imo State Football Association activities received a major boost on Wednesday May 23, when the chairman of Amacuff Company, Chief Amanze Uchegbulam, donated the sum of 100,000 naira for the FA junior league amongst Under 13 teams in the State, aimed at fishing out fishing out young talents.
In a chart with Trumpeta Sports Desk Amanze who is also the FA chairman stated that the board after their Organizing and Disciplinary Committee (O and D) meeting on Wednesday decided to float a junior league which will serve as an academy for the FA, he decided to support in his own little way adding that the FA still needs more support from private organizations and individuals to make the program a success.
He however recalled that in 2008 the FA had floated such program which went ahead to produce players like Kelechi Iheanacho who captained the U-13 team and now plays for Nigeria U-17 team.
Amanze who was also recently retained in the CAF committees alongside Sani Lulu informed that Nigeria received six slots into the CAF standing committees adding that he and Lulu were retained based on their good services to CAF.
In a related development, the FA also passed other resolutions bothering on the development of football in the state.
Amongst the resolutions are; the FA statute which had been approved was produced in a booklet for documentations and presented to the board. The FA has also set in motion a democratization process for Imo Football in line with the provision of the association board. Mr. Teddy Isiadinso was nominated as the election committee chairman along with Barr. Dike Ifeanyi and two persons to be nominated from the three zones.
The board also frowned at the sale of Heartland matches without the consent of the FA and warned that such must not continue.
It however directed that all football coaches operating in the state must take up membership of the Nigerian Football Coaches Association Imo State Chapter which will give the state a set pattern of play.
Finally, the Amacuff Company made a solemn promise to continue to catalyze the Amacuff league in the state.

NPFL Shame: Heartland Attacked In Akure

Officials and players of Heartland football club Owerri on Wednesday May 22 received the rudest shock of their lives when irate fans of Sunshine Stars of Akure put Nigerian football to shame with their barbaric acts.
The incident happened in Akure sports stadium right under the watchful eye of a League Management Committee member, Chief Mike Idoko (General Manager of Sunshine).
Heartland officials and players including the media officer, Cajethan Nkwopara were beaten blue black and their phones were taken from them apparently to stop them from recording the ugly incident,
Heartland striker Happy Okuoka received an undue red card at the 3rd minute of the first half, but the cup holders with ten men held their nerves and were hoping to repeat the feet they achieved at Ibadan last Wednesday before Sunshine and the match officials started writing their own scripts.
Captain Chinedu Efugh condemned the attitude of the referee, Paul Omuago from Delta State which was obvious for all to see that he was biased and at the same time afraid to make the right calls.
Also reacting to the incident, Heartlands media officer Nkwopara lamented that his team was attacked after the game stating that his team have suffered such fate severally and the authorities always treat it with kid gloves.
Heartland played with one man down from the 3rd minute, after Okuoka was red carded.
The Naze millionaires went ahead to score in the 45th minute through Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, but trouble started when the irate fans of Sunshine descended on the match officials and heartland team demanding for undue opportunities
The referee suddenly awarded two dubious penalties which goalkeeper Moses Ochei converted to give Sunshine a 2 1 victory and the three points.
The team arrived back in Owerri Thursday afternoon and will have to overcome the ugly incident in Akure before taking on Sharks fc of Port Harcourt in a week 14 NPFL game at Dan Anyiam, Owerri this Sunday.

TYSON, Holyfield Storm Nigeria Today

Two former world heavyweights and undisputed boxing champions Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson are expected to visit Nigeria this weekend to help promote boxing in Nigeria.
Reports reaching Trumpeta indicates that the boxing icons are due in Lagos today to visit FESTAC Boxing Gym and an Academy situated inside the Federal Housing Authority, FHA playground, 23 Road, FESTAC Town on Saturday.
According to Coach Oluwafemi Sholake who was once a professional boxer, both legends would use the opportunity to spot talented amateur boxers to see how they can helped to develop their talents.
Sholanke also informed that after visiting the gym, they are also expected to square up inside the ring that is situated at Golden Tulip Hotel, Amawon Odofin, Lagos where they would proceed to the Black Heritage, Badagry.
He further stated that plans are in top gear to play host to the two world boxing champions.
It would be recalled that some time last year, the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, two worlds top tennis stars also visited Lagos to help promote tennis in Nigeria.
Also, Arsenal star players, Bakery Sagna, Lucas Padolski and co did visit Nigeria in another sports promotion especially the product Arsenal is accepted in Nigeria and Africa.

WEEKENDS GAMES (NPFL WEEK 15)
Heartland    —   Sharks
Rangers   —   Sunshine
Nasarawa   —   ABS fc
Enyimba    —   3SC
Nembe City — Akwa Utd
Kaduna Utd   — Wikki Tourist
Kwara Utd —   Kano Pillars
Gombe Utd   —   Lobi Stars
Dolphins   —   El Kanemi
Warri Wolves   —   Bayelsa Utd
MID-WEEK RESULTS
ABS FC    2 1 Rangers
Sunshine   2 1   Heartland
3SC     2 0   Nasarawa Utd
El Kanemi   —   Sharks fc
Kano Pillars 3 –2   Kaduna Utd
Wikki   2–1   Wolves
Akwa 1 –0   Enyimba
Dolphins 1 –0   Gombe
Lobi Stars 0 –1   Kwara Utd
Bayelsa Utd 2 –0   Nembe City