The hosting of African Athletics Championships tagged “Asaba 2018, Champions of the Niger” still lingers on in our memory. It was one hosting which the people of the state would not forget in a hurry. With over 50 Countries comprising about 1000 athletes and thousands of visitors, Asaba witnessed a performance that had never been seen in Nigeria. It was electrifying with the economic benefit unprecedented. It showcased Asaba to the world. Mrs Carol, a Pastor from the United Kingdom who had the opportunity of watching the events could not believe it was happening here and had a lot of positives for the state.
Today, Asaba 2018 reincarnate in Abeokuta, Ogun State who is taking after Delta State when it comes to hosting of sporting events. However, unlike Delta, Ogun has not been able to win the National sports festival and the youth games.
The Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) had introduced the U18/20 competitions as a bridge to help identify talents within that range in Africa and from there, nurture them to become stars . That idea has helped in discovering hundreds of talented athletes which have become a household name in the world of athletics.
With 43 Nations confirmed for the biennial event slated for the 16th to 20th, July, at the iconic MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta will witness a performance reminiscent of Asaba 2018.
From reports available, all is now set for these countries to showcase their talents in U18/20 category with over 900 athletes expected at the show. They will battle for glory in a thrilling showcase of speed, strength and skill.
The biennial Championship was initially slated for Oran in Algeria before it was moved to Nigeria few months ago. Apparently, Ogun State would not have any problem hosting it having just hosted the National Sport’s festival which was won by Delta State.
African Athletics powerhouse including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Ethiopia have sent their advance teams and are ready to slug it out in Abeokuta. They would be joined by the likes of Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Morocco, Uganda and Algeria. Apart from the athletics event, the Confederation of African Athletics will have their Council meeting and congress in Abeokuta on tomorrow and on Monday.
The Return Of Warri Wolves To NPFL
Let me use this opportunity to congratulate the Technical crew and the players of Warri Wolves for making it back to the Nigerian Professional Football League. Also, I want to commend those who believed in the vision and threw their weight behind them right from the beginning of the season.
However, let me single one man out who made it possible and that is the Governor of the State, Rt Hon Elder Sheriif Oborevwori. As a sports administrator, if you have a leader who believed in your vision, the work is half done. On the other hand if you have the type that ask you where you expect him to get the money from or the one with the notion that why will you spend so much on players when civil servants are collecting so-so amount then, you are in trouble.
The dream to bring the club back from the lower league started with the Governor who not only backed them in the season but agreed to hosting the Super 8. For those of you who took time out to watch the games, if we had not hosted it, what do you think would have happened? Some of us had to take our BP drugs before the last match and to God be the glory and thanks to the rain which made things difficult for our opponent.
From my experience, it is one thing to be promoted to the elite league, it is another thing to sustain it. They are two different ball games if not ask the management of some clubs in English Premier League like Leeds United, Sheffield United, Burnley and Birmingham City among others. You may wish to ask Heartland, Doma United, Sporting FC, Lagos-among others that have found it difficult to sustain their clubs after promotion. The right things must be done sbg it starts from the budget for the club. You cannot run a club in the elite league with the same NNL budget. The remuneration of the players must change including their welfare. As for Warri Wolves, the present camp inherited from the Sports Council then is an eye sore which must be well renovated or have the players relocated to a better place.
The Technical crew deserve a commuter bus of their own while the kits must show that this is a club from Delta State. With these things in place, the Management must beef up the playing team with at least 10 players who should be well screened to avoid match gamblers joining them.
The companies operating in Delta must key into this agenda by supporting the club and the governor who has won the heart of the people can use his office to prevail on some of these big contractors, banks to help transform the club.
The construction of Warri City Stadium must go on as planned so that the club can go back home come June 2026 as promised. Once again, welcome back to the Nigerian Professional Football League.
Moraks FC Chases Promotion Ticket To Shagamu
Effurun based Moraks Football Club will today begin a journey which will place them in the shoe just vacated by Warri Wolves Football Club in the Nigerian National League.
The team which departed the shores of the state yesterday for Shagamu in Ogun State will slug it out with Ekiti United, Kareem Adeyemi FC, and Harmony FC for the sole ticket to the most important league in Nigeria as NNL is called. Incidentally, Kareem Adeyemi FC is owned by Borussia Dortmund attacker, Kareem Adeyemi and according to the fixtures released from Abuja will lock horns with Morak this afternoon,
Tomorrow, Morak FC will clash with Harmony while on Tuesday will be the turn of Ekiti United who were relegated from the National z league last season.
In Ijebu Ode Center, Magic Football Club will know if their magic can fetch them the ticket when they battle Franceex FC, Ikotodu City and Lekki United.
Port-Harcourt will witness a fierce contest with E- World FC, Ozzalla FC, One Block FC and Abudiyenssa FC clash in an explosive and interesting encounter judging from the zones they qualified from.
