Athletics: Hurdler Pessu, says he is determined to emerge tops in hurdles

A rising star hurdler, Godfrey Pessu said on Wednesday that he was determined to emerge among the country’s greats in the 110 metre hurdle.

 

Pessu of Bayelsa extraction, who won a gold medal in men’s 110m hurdle in last Saturday’s Golden League athletics meet in Port Harcourt, said that he was optimistic of making it to the top.

 

Pessu’s current best, stands at 14.40 second but still a far cry from the National record of 13.42 seconds posted by Williams Erese, in Italy in 2003. The African record is held by a South African, Lehann Fourie (13.24) in 2012 in Brussels.

 

The country has yet to produce top hurdlers after the retirement of the likes of Erese.

 

The Golden League recently introduced by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) is fortnightly track and field competition to raise standards among budding athletes.

 

“I’m determined to make a mark. I want to be listed someday among the greatest 110m hurdlers to have participated for this country.

 

“At the moment I’ve been working hard to improve on my timing. I am determined to return a faster time.

 

“There’s basically nothing on my mind now than to keep winning and improving my chances to represent the country at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games,’’ he said.

 

Pessu, a staff of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), expressed optimism the country would perform remarkably well at the 2016 Olympics, if athletes were exposed early enough to modern facilities.

 

“This country is blessed with a lot of talents who have the potential to give the country a positive image, especially with the recent security challenges in the country.

 

“I believe we will perform well in the 2016 Games, if we (athletes) are exposed to modern-day facilities,’’ Pessu said

 

The athlete, however, commended the AFN for organising the Golden League, urging they should focus on developing sports at the grassroots.

Mba, Agbim out of Rangers CAF champions league clash

The Media Officer of Enugu Rangers, Foster Chime, said on Thursday that Sunday Mba and Chigozie Agbim will not be available for their CAF Champions League tie against Vital’O of Burundi.

Chime said in Lagos that the duo will miss the match because they were not released from the Super Eagles training camp by Coach Stephen Keshi.

Rangers will on Saturday play away in the second preliminary round of matches of the competition, the first of a two leg encounter.

Rangers qualified to play in the second round having walked over Sporting Do Principe of Sao Tome and Principe in Enugu, a fortnight ago.

“We will play our upcoming CAF champions league match in Burundi without the services of Sunday Mba and Chigozie Agbim.

“This is because they are presently in the Eagles camp for the World Cup qualifier against Kenya and coach Keshi has insisted on keeping them,” he said.

Chime, however, disclosed that Emeka Eze, another player of the team who was also in the Eagles camp, had been released by Keshi for the encounter.

He added that in spite of the absence of Mba and Agbim the team was prepared to take on their opponents from Burundi.

“We had three players who were invited to the Eagles camp but unfortunately Keshi has decided to release only Eze for the encounter.

“Regardless of the absence of Mba and Agbim, we are ready for the match. The players are in top shape and I’m hopeful we will come out victorious,” he said.

The club’s spokesman added that the players have been paid all their entitlements in a bid to ensure that they had a good outing in Burundi.

New Pope, is San Lorenzo fan

Via afootballreport

Yesterday, there was white smoke in the air. Whether you were interested or not, we found out the new Pope is Argentinean Jorge Bergoglio. We also found out that he loves the footy, thanks to the almighty power of the internet.

As Dirty Tackle explains, “The Buenos Aires club wasted no time in promoting that fact via their Twitter account, sharing an undated picture of Pope Francis holding up the San Lorenzo crest and a scan of his club membership card, which shows that he’s been a member since 2008. San Lorenzo also count actor Viggo Mortensen among their biggest supporters.”

It’s also worth noting that the Pope’s beloved club is totally predictable. I mean, San Lorenzo were named after a local priest (Father Lorenzo Massa). Lorenzo welcomed children to play football in his church’s yard, so they wouldn’t have to do so with the danger in the street. It all comes full circle, in a way.

Milan’s first leg advantage disappears under storms of Barcelona attacks

By Henry Adamu

A sorry tale to write if you are an AC Milan fan, they came with a plan shredded  to pieces way too early as Lion`el’ Messi exemplified brilliance and class to calmly execute a well worked build up to give Barcelona the lead within 4 minutes into the game.

The Rosanerri, typical of an Italian side, came to the Camp Nou hoping to defend their 2-0 advantage from the first leg and when Messi struck, the agonizing failure to the defend the two goals seemed inevitable.

The pressure was on; Milan’s defence looked a lot on the back foot as Barcelona kept exploiting a nervy Milan defence that appeared a shadow of its dogged first leg performance.

Coming to the Camp Nou with a 4-5-1 formation, Milan was led up the garden path with Barcelona’s dazzling passes and glittering display and it was only a matter of time they will yet again crack under pressure.

With 12 minutes into the game, Christian Abbiate was put to test by a ferocious strike from Andrea Iniesta as the goalkeeper responded brilliantly to deflect the ball onto the bar.

The chances were pouring out fast for the Catalan side; two strong penalty appeals were turned down by the referee and Milan with the rarity of moments to savour were letdown by poor finishes from Stephane El Sharaawy and Mbaye Niang.

With the flurry of chances coming Barcelona’s way, Messi, the ruthless “little magician” struck a second in the 40^th minute to make it 2-0 on the night and leveled at 2-2 on aggregate.

The goals were the Argentine’s 57^th and 58^th in the UEFA Champions League, only second to former Real Madrid marksman, Raul Gonzalez who has scored 75. With Messi, 24, Raul’s reign as the coveted goal king of the prestigious competition looks under threat.

Barcelona kept up the pressure in the second half, knowing any goal scored by Milan will mean they will need to double the figures to secure their passage into the quarter finals and wasted no time to add another in the 55^th minute.

A fine finish from David Villa drove the home supporters into ecstatic jubilation with the third goal. In added time, Jordi Alba handed the knockout blow with a precisely worked counterattacking play to seal Barcelona’s place in the quarter finals.

In the end, the match statistics laid the handwriting on the wall. Barcelona dominant with 66 against Milan’s 34 per cent ball possession, total attempts of 14/6, 569 to 237 passes comleted.

That will not be the first time Milan will let slip an advantage. In the 2000/2001 season of the champions’ league, they threw away a first leg advantage to Deportivo de La Coruna of Spain when they went down 4-0 in the second leg at the Reazzor.

The Spaniards, trailing 4-1 from the first leg of their quarter-final, stunned an erratic Milan with a whirlwind performance that saw them take a 3-0 lead by the interval. Walter pandiani, Juan Carlos Valeron and Alberto Luque, were then the architects of Milan’s down fall.

In the 2011/2012 season, Milan almost blew up a 4-0 advantage as they went down 3-0 to Arsenal in the second leg played at the Emirate stadium as the heroics of Abbiati saved their blushes.

 

Erico commends Maigari’s CAF executive membership attempt

Joe Erico, a former Super Eagles Goalkeeper Trainer, on Tuesday commended  Aminu Maigari’s efforts in contesting for a seat in the CAF Executive Committee, which he lost gallantly.

Erico said in Lagos that in spite of the defeat, the country will not relent in its drive for the coveted position.

The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), lost his bid for a  seat in CAF’s executive committee on Sunday.

Maigari lost to Anjorin Moucharafou of Benin Republic, in the run-off ballot, after both candidates failed to get the required majority in the first round of voting.

“Maigari has done well to have attempted the contest. Even when he did not win, I believe it’s a step in the right direction for sports in the country.

“We are making progress, and I am certain that we will make a more meaningful impact in the next CAF election,” he said.

Erico, who was a member of the Green Eagles squad that won the country’s first ever bronze medal at the 1976 AFCON in Ethiopia, added that Issa Hayatou’s re-election was expected.

“Hayatou’s win is not surprising because he has been in power since 1987, and with the situation surrounding the election, it was clear that he was unopposed,” Erico said.

It will be recalled that Dr Amos Adamu was the country’s representative in the CAF executive committee before he got caught up in the FIFA bribe scandal that earned him a ban.

Build Nigeria’s image through athletics, coach tasks sports administrators

The Head Coach of Godswill Athletics Club, Lagos, Dennis Joseph, on Sunday urged sports administrators to use athletics as a tool to enhance the country’s global image.

Joseph, in Lagos, urged the Federal government to give equal financial commitment to athletics as it does to football.

He said that if athletes were rewarded like the Super Eagles, they would feel obliged offer their best to the country.

“Athletics is a crucial sport which Nigeria can use to enhance its image worldwide; therefore, I’m urging sports administrators to focus on athletics.

“We have what it takes. The athletes who can bring glory to this country are out there but all they need is the right motivation to become world beaters.

“If government can reward our athletes in the same way they did to the Eagles, they will feel obliged to offer their best to the country,” he said.

He noted that Jamaica was using athletics as an imaging making tool through the sprint star, Usain Bolt, because the country had spent money on athletics.

“We can see what is happening to Jamaica today. You can see the glory Bolt is bringing to Jamaica. It is tremendous.

“The world is at a standstill when Bolt is about to run. Just nine seconds of greatness is all he needs not 90 minutes, as in the case of football,” he said.

Joseph urged sports administrator to learn to take athletics seriously and ensure that athletes were exposed to continental and global tournaments.

Nigeria finally receives 4x400m Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medal

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has sent the gold medal won by Nigeria’s 4×400 metres relay quartet at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games following the disqualification for doping violation of the U.S. squad, the original winners.

The IOC letter covering the dispatch of the medal and signed by Dr Jacques Rogge, the IOC President, was addressed to the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).

It reads: “I am pleased to send you this Olympic Gold for Mr Enefiok Udo-Obong, who was part of your men’s 4x400m now placed first in the athletics men’s 4×400 metres relay event  at the Games of the XXV11 Olympiad, Sydney 2000.

A copy of letter, which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, was silent on the medals for the other members of the team.

NAN gathered that the IOC might have acted in the manner it did because they had yet to receive the silver medals from the other members of the team.

Mr Emman Nweri, the Manager of NOC, told NAN that Nigeria forwarded only the silver medal that was returned to it by Udo-Obong in line with the the IOC’s directive.

The others — late Sunday Bada, Jude Monye and Clement Chukwu — had failed to return theirs, he said.

The U.S.-based Chukwu confirmed in a telephone interview with NAN that he and other U.S.-based members of the team had yet to return their medals because they did not receive any official correspondence to that effect from the IOC.

However, Udo-Obong expressed delight at the prospect of finally receiving the gold medal.

He told NAN that he had been informed by the NOC that his medal had arrived from the IOC.

“I feel very happy; I am elated by this development. It shows that destiny can only be delayed but cannot be denied.

“Ever since the information about the decision of the IOC came, I made efforts to confirm the authenticity of the news and I thank God it was true,” he said.

Udo-Obong said: “ although I am excited, it could have been appropriate if the entire team received the gold as one. The feat was a team effort’’.

“I submitted the silver since October 2012 but my teammates have yet to do so, because they didn’t believe it. They’ve lost confidence of ever receiving the medals,” he said.

Solomon Ogba, President of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) said he was happy that justice has been done to Nigeria.

He added that effort would be made by the federation to retrieve the silver medals from the other members of the squad so that the IOC could send the right medals.

NAN reports that the decision by the IOC’s Executive Board to reallocate the medals from 2000 came three years after they had decided to disqualify of the U.S.

They were disqualified because of the late Antonio Pettigrew confessing to having used banned performance-enhancing drugs at the time.

With Nigeria elevated to the top position, Jamaica were promoted to silver and Bahamas the bronze.

“Pettigrew was disqualified in August 2008 but the Executive Board delayed a decision on reallocation until it had received information stemming from investigations into the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO) sports-doping scandal,’’ said a statement from the IOC.

After, American, Michael Johnson returned his medal, which meant he ended his career with four Olympic gold rather than five, he claimed “I feel cheated, betrayed and let down’’ by Pettigrew.

Two years later, Pettigrew was found dead in the back seat of his locked car in Chatham County, North Carolina, and evidence of sleeping pills was found by police.

An autopsy report later stated that he had committed suicide by overdosing on a medication containing diphenhydramine.

Ironically too, Nigeria’s Bada, who ran the third leg of the race at which they set a national record of 2min 58.68secs died in 2011.

Nani’s red, Modric’s show stopper stuns United at Theatre of Dreams

By Henry Adamu

The Theatre of Dreams rolled in a nightmare of disbelieve after 90 minutes at Old Trafford on a night Manchester United faithful thought they had victory sealed in their hands after an early second half lead through an own goal from Sergio Ramos.

Madrid had enjoyed the better percentage of possession, but United looked menacing on the counter, creating most of the chances before a highly mounted pressure on Madrid’s defence forced a Ramos own goal.

United thought they had it all wrapped up but that was not to be. Goals from an inspired Luka Modric and former United’s begotten son, Cristiano Ronaldo, put the cherry on the cake for Real Madrid as the Los Blancos set their quarter finals fate beyond doubt.

Madrid showed their potency and predatory instinct, wasting no time to capitalize on a one man advantage after Nani controversially received a straight red card for his tackle on Alvaro Arbeloa shortly after United had taken the lead.

And when Nani received his matching order, on came Modric with a well tutored sideline order devised by none but the `Special one’. The diminutive midfielder did much more than turn the match around when he came in to replace Arbeloa.

After taking control of the midfield like a commander in a war front, Modric unleashed a sublime screamer in the 66^th minute that left David De Gea with no chance before Ronaldo eventually grabbed Madrid’s second of the night to seal their quarter finals place.

A disgruntled yet spirited United side created several attempts to get back on level terms but the `real’ man in goal, Diego Lopez, stood firm between United and goal; the Theatre of Dreams broke down in silence as Madrid’s 11-man superiority took the center stage.

In the end, Madrid ran out winners. United left the pitch hard done by with Nani’s sending off, a moment that proved to be decisive in the encounter.

 

 

Four years later, boy from Madeira returns to his Theatre of Dreams

Four years later, boy from Madeira returns to his Theatre of Dreams.

Nigerian wrestlers set up for Africa junior, cadet championship

The Secretary of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Olumide Bamiduro, has said that the federation had started preparation for the Africa Junior and Cadet Championship.

Sportsflicker reports that the championship is scheduled to hold from May 2 to 14 in the Republic of Chad.

Bamiduro said that the federation was finalising its preparation for the country’s wrestlers to have a good outing in the championship.

“Right now, we are preparing for the Africa junior and cadet championship coming up in May in Chad and we hope to make the best out of the tournament.

“We are making strategies at the moment on how the wrestlers can be fully motivated both mentally and physically for the event,” he said.

He said the federation had yet to conclude on a complete calendar of its programmes planned for the year, adding that they were still making some boardroom decisions.

He assured the sport’s fans that as soon as their plans for the year were concluded, they would be publicised to ensure that the events were monitored.

“We have yet to arrive at a conclusion on our plans for the year but we’re working towards it and we’ll come up with steps that will move the sport forward.

“I can guarantee that as soon as we are able to conclude on our plans for 2013, it will be made public so that our events can be monitored,’’ Bamiduro said.

He also said that the federation would use the annual championship to expose the talents discovered at the 18^th National Sports Festival in Lagos, tagged “Eko 2012’’.

Bamiduro said the competition would also prepare them for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland.