Nigerian Football

SWAN Set Up Platform on World Press Freedom Day

Published

7 years ago

May 4, 2017

The sports journalism in Nigeria was not left out on Wednesday as the globe marked the World Press Freedom Day.

The umbrella body had its full council meeting slated for that day and Thursday at the Yankari Games Reserve in Bauchi where advancement of sports journalism and general sports development in Nigeria were the themes of action and pronouncements.

The national president of the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Honour Sirawoo used the occasion to inaugurate a platform for to engage sports stakeholders to speak on burning national issues.

Ahead of the Thursday’s full council meeting, the AIPS Africa president, Mitchell Obi sent goodwill message, but reportedly could not attend as he had to travel to Seoul, South Korea for the world sports journalists’ 80^th congress.

The SWAN Platform Committee is headed by Tunde Orebiyi. Those named as members are: Sina Abimbola, the vice chairman; Abdulrahman Ibn Mohammed, Jide Alabi, Toyin Ibitoye, Tony Ubani, Mike Mbonye, Nobert Okoli, while Malam Abdul Raheem Aodu will serve as secretary.

Inaugurating the SWAN Platform Committee, Honour Sirawoo tasked it to come up with issues and generate ideas that will deepen the relevance of the association in national sports development.

He has also tasked the committee to use the Platform to work in synergy with sports administrators, promoters and operators in the discharge of the association’s responsibility as watchdog of the sports industry.

“The terms of reference of the SWAN National Platform include generating interview and news for our members, the platform should bring us closer to stakeholders at the grassroots level, and the SWAN Platform should create ways to generate revenues for the association.

“There should be a marketing committee in the platform to market the association, we want to use what we have to generate revenue for the association,” Honour Sirawoo added.

He also charged them to bring the association closer to stakeholders at the grassroots, urging them to use the Platform to further build on the achievements of SWAN.

In his message to the SWAN Full Council meeting, AIPS Africa president, Mitchell Obi remarked the as Africa’s largest assembly of sports journalists “I am delighted to identify with your unique gathering which importantly coincides with the celebration of the week of press freedom across the globe and fittingly comes one week before the start of the AIPS 80th congress in Seoul South Korea.

With the changing phase of the sports media it is hoped that deliberations and resolutions of your meeting will focus and find solutions to the varied challenges of the sports journalists today in his workplace and even at home as it concerns the welfare and professional upgrade necessary to remain relevant”

Continuing, Obi said: “I want to assure the entire family of SWAN of my willingness and readiness to continue the projection and promotion of our collective concerns and interests.

“Be assured always of my good thoughts of a progressive and united SWAN, one which will uphold the standards of excellence we strive to forge beyond our borders.”

Nigerian Football

Ikenne’s Beyond Limit Football Academy top goal chart as NNL releases vital statistics

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2024

Kunle Solaja

The secretariat of the Nigeria National League has released the match statistics of the four conferences of the 2024 season.

With 198 matches so far played in Conferences A and B, 426 goals were scored, with 125 home wins and 26 away wins, representing 63.1%, & 26% respectively. There were 47 draw matches, representing 23.7% of matches. 299 home goals were scored, and 127 home goals.

Beyond Limit FC scored the highest goals of 33 goals, with Stormers FC and Ekiti United conceeding the least goals of 28 goals. Tradesafe and Solution FC scored the least numbers of goals of 11 goals and Osun conceded the least numbers of goals of 8.

In group C & D, 209 goals have been scored in the 106 so far played, with 70 home wins and 14 won away representing 66. 3% and 13.1% respectively.

Teams drew 31 matches representing 29.2% of the matches played. Wikki Tourists scored the highest numbers of goals, with 23 goals, while EFCC FC conceded the least numbers of goals. They conceded 18 goals. Nasarawa United’s 8 goals conceded made them the team that conceded the lowest numbers of goals, while ABS scored the least number of goals of 5 goals.

Nigerian Football

Heartland back to their homeland as they host Shooting Stars

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2024

Kunle Solaja

BY TOSIN OMOJOLA, OWERRI

The uncertainty surrounding our Matchday 31 encounter against Heartland FC of Owerri, has been cleared with the game eventually slated to hold at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, the home ground of the host team

The Nigeria Premier League has given the approval to the stadium after an inspection was carried out on Wednesday afternoon.

The Oluyole Warriors have since arrived the Imo State capital and have settled down ahead of Friday’s clash which will be be shown live on cable television.

Meanwhile, the Technical Adviser of the Ibadan soccer lords, Gbenga Ogunbote, while addressing the players on arrival at their hotel, urged them not to be distracted by the development.

“I want to apologise to you on the change of venue. We got to know about it some hours ago, but be that as it may, I want us to remain focused as and get the desired results we needed”.

In the same vein, the players of the Ibadan soccer lords, said they are not in any way moved by the change of venue, expressing their readiness to get the maximum points, not minding the venue.

Nigerian Football

Remo Stars add fuel to the fire as title chase turns East – West battle

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Added time-goal specialists, Remo Stars pulled off one of their now familiar traits, chalking up a valuable point as Skipper Nduka Junior scored in the 90+4 minute to scuttle an impending victory by Doma United on Wednesday evening.

When all-hope seemed over, Remo Stars had scored hope-reviving goals as they did against Lobi Stars, Insurance and a host of others in the Nigeria Premier League.

Getting a valuable point take them from fifth position to fourth their haul to 50, just a point below that of second and third placed Enyimba and Lobi Stars respectively.

The 1-1 scoreline also changed the complexion of the league table as their South West rivals were pushed down from their initial fourth position.

As it is, the struggle for the title is taking regional colouration as the top two- Enugu Rangers and Enyimba are from the South East while fourth and fifth – Remo Stars and Shooting Stars are from the South West.

Lobi Stars from the middle belt, stand in-between the South East and South West in the power struggle.

Remo Stars at the fourth position however still have an outstanding home game against Rivers United and that could still change the positions of the top six teams when the match is played.

Attention will now shift to match-day 31 as the league embarks on its home stretch.

On Friday, relegation-bound Heartland will be hosting rejuvenated Shooting Stars who have suddenly discovered they could return to continental competition next seasons after 25 years.

They have lately been having unbeaten runs. On Saturday, Kwara United will host desperate Akwa United who are struggling to avoid dropping into the lower league.

On the same day, Abia Warriors will be at home against Bayelsa United.

On Sunday seven matches are on the card. They are:

Kano Pillars v. Gombe United

Katsina United v. Sporting Lagos

Lobi Stars v. Bendel Insurance

Niger Tornadoes v Doma United

Plateau United v. Remo Stars

Rivers United v. Enugu Rangers

Sunshine Stars v. Enyimba