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TOKYO 2020: NIGERIA CALLS FOR REVIEW OF OFFICIATING STANDARDS
Nigeria has called for an urgent review of officiating standards in Olympic sports ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to sustain the credibility of the global sports fiesta.
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung who made the call at a Country Meeting with Tokyo 2020 organisers on Monday in Tokyo, Japan as he lodged a strong protest against officiating standards particularly in boxing, which he said is yet to conform to the standard in other Olympic Combat sports.
Dalung who led a high powered delegation including the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, Habu Gumel and other NOC Technical Officials warned of the risk to the credibility of the whole Olympics if member countries perceive that there’s no level playing field in certain sports because of subjective officiating standards.
“While other combat sports like taekwondo, karate, wrestling and judo have digitized their scoring system with scoreboards showing real time scores, boxing is still maintaining a standard where individuals would whisper among themselves at the end of a bout and unilaterally declare a winner without any transparent system of scoring. How can there be fairness in such a situation when results are determined by the whims and caprices of individuals?” Dalung queried.
He cited the example of the Rio 2016 Olympics where a Nigerian boxer secured several knock downs of his opponent in a bout only for the officials to whisper among themselves and declare the opponent winner thereby attracting loud protests even from spectators adding that if the sport does not digitize its scoring system at Tokyo 2020 then countries like Nigeria would be left with no option than to participate at nominal level knowing they have no medal prospects under such officiating standards, a scenario he said will not augur well for the credibility of the games.
Responding the Executive Director International Relations of Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee Aki Murasato noted Nigeria’s concerns and promised that the organisers will convey these observations to the International Boxing Federation, which sets such officiating standards in boxing, while advising that the Nigeria Boxing Federation should similarly lodge a complaint with the world boxing body.
During the two hour interactive session the Nigerian delegation watched multi-media presentations from different sub committees including Events and Venues, Accommodation and Feeding, International Relations as well as Hospitality House Committees.
The briefings are aimed at updating member countries with the level of preparations for the Olympiad while providing them with first hand information on available facilities for the games to enable them make informed choices and decisions to ensure the smooth participating of their Olympic Teams.
Nigeria is the first African country to take advantage of the one on one meeting with Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee arranged on the fringe of the XXIII ANOC General Assembly holding from 27th – 29th November, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan.
Earlier the Nigerian Sports Minister Solomon Dalung had inspected Olympic and Paralympics Training Camps being offered by Kisarazu City, a serene community about 1 hour drive outside Tokyo.
Accompanied by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Japan, Prof. Mohammed Gana Yisa, NOC President Habu Gumel, he inspected Track and Field, Multi-purpose Indoor Sports Complex and Accommodation facilities being proposed for Team Nigeria.
The City renowned for its famous Aqua -Line, a 10 Kilometre tunnel 57 metres under the sea, which cuts travel time between Tokyo and Kisarazu to 40 minutes, is one of two cities offering to host Team Nigeria camping for the Tokyo Olympics. The other, Oyama City, is offering camping facilities for Two Sports namely, Basketball and Weightlifting.
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New dawn expected as Nigeria sports ministry partners with Yanga Games
Towards creating a new dawn for Nigerian Sports, the Federal Ministry of Sports has signed a landmark agreement with top lottery company Yanga Games to raise the revenue profile of the Ministry and ensure a new deal for the welfare of athletes.
Speaking during the unveiling of the partnership between the Ministry and Yanga Games in Lagos on Friday, Chairman/CEO of Yanga Games Derrick David Kentebe said: “we are so super excited by this opportunity to work with the Ministry of Sports Development to change the narrative about Sports in the country.
Continuing, he remarked: “We see opportunity for marketing our athletes and sports generally . We shall avail ourselves the best use of this unique and special partnership. We shall pursue this mandate with vigour, passion and unrivaled commitment to bring benefits to all the critical stakeholders.”
The agreement according to Kentebe will provide support for retired athletes, enhance grassroot sports Development and advance the potentials of special athletes.
He assured that ” Yanga Games has the capacity to raise funds on behalf of the Ministry of Sports for athletes Development, endorsement and sponsorship deals for athletes”.
Minister of Sports Senator John Owan Enoh assured that the Ministry has total and absolute confidence in Yanga Games to deliver on the given mandate.
“Gone are the era when we depended solely on government to fund sports development. We are partnering with Yanga Games to bring maximum benefits to the athletes and all critical stakeholders.
“We shall give institutional encouragement and support to the Management of Yanga Games to succeed in this onerous task of rebuilding our sports sub sector.”
Speaking further, Kentebe said ” We shall raise about 34 Billion in the next four years to assist athletes and improve sports in the country.
“We shall help to develop grassroot sports and sustain youth involvement through raffle draws, fund raiser and other avenues.
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Iheanacho and Ndidi on course for return to Premiership as Leicester will not lose points for rule breaches
Leicester City cannot be deducted any points in the second-tier Championship if they are convicted of any violations of the Premier League’s spending rules, the English Football League (EFL) said on Friday.
Nigeria duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi are Leicester players yearning for the club’s return to the English Premiership.
Leicester, who were relegated from the top flight last season, were referred to an independent commission by the Premier League last month for alleged violations of the league’s spending rules.
The Championship’s governing body EFL wrote to the Premier League saying they would apply any sanction handed down on Leicester while they are still in the second tier, a move Leicester opposed.
However, the EFL said they later changed their position in a letter to the English FA’s League Arbitration Panel (LAP).
“EFL has confirmed to all parties that… it does not have the power under the Regulations as currently drafted,” the EFL said in a statement.
Leicester said they will continue to co-operate with Premier League and the EFL with regards to the charges against them.
“Any charges against the Club should be properly and proportionately determined, in accordance with the applicable rules, by the right bodies, and at the right time,” Leicester said.
The LAP said that the Premier League Disciplinary Commission’s proceedings against Leicester will not be expedited to conclude by May 4 due to any possible points deductions not being applicable this season.
Leicester are top of the standings in the Championship with 88 points from 41 matches as they seek a promotion back to the Premier League.
-Reuters
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Super Eagles’ kids fly to Spain for UEFA Tourney
Nigeria’s U15 boys, nicknamed Future Eagles, will fly into Spain on Tuesday afternoon for a UEFA U16 Development Tournament to which the African giants have been invited.
The special invitation has come as a result of Nigeria’s pedigree in youth football, in which she has won five world titles at U17 boys’ level and reached the FIFA World Cup final on two occasions at U20 level.
As part of its preparation for the tournament, the Future Eagles trained for a week at the Remo Stars’ Sports Institute in Ikenne, during which it played two matches against the Remo Stars’ U16 boys (Beyond Limits FC), winning one and losing the other.
Only last month, the Future Eagles, coached by Patrick Bassey, also won one and lost one against their Moroccan counterparts on a two-match tour of that North African country. Their first game ended in a 2-3 defeat, but they buckled up to win the second game 5-3 in the city of Kenitra.
The UEFA U16 Tournament, which brings warm memories of the UEFA-CAF U17 Meridian Tournament that started in 1997 but was discontinued a decade after, will take place at the Pinatar Arena Football Centre in San Pedro del Pinatar.
It can be recalled that the UEFA-CAF Meridian Tournament was part of a cooperation agreement between UEFA and CAF, and Nigeria won the inaugural tournament in 1997. The Eaglets defeated the Spain U17 team 3-2 in the final in Lisbon, Portugal.
Spain won the next three tournaments hosted by South Africa (1999), Italy (2001) and Egypt (2003) before France broke their run by winning the 2005 edition hosted by Turkey. The tournament was abolished in 2007.
At this new tournament, the Future Eagles will play against Belgium on Friday, 12th April (8pm), face Italy on Sunday, 14th April (8pm) and square up to England on Wednesday, 17th April (1pm). Other games will see England against Italy on Friday, 12th April 5pm), England against Belgium on Sunday, 14th April (5pm) and Italy against Belgium on Wednesday, 17th April (11am).
The Future Eagles’ delegation to Spain, inclusive of 20 players, will be led by Zannah Mohammed Malah, a member of the NFF Technical and Development Committee.
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