MEDIA
At 50th anniversary of Thunder Balogun’s exit, a book and foundation to be launched on Tuesday
How time flies! It will be 50 years on Saturday since Nigeria’s iconic footballer and coach, Tesilimi Balogun passed on into eternity.
The enduring legacy to this legend is the imposing Teslim Balogun Stadium that the Lagos State Government named after him.
But owing to passage of time, most current football followers may not have known the impact that the pioneer member of the Nigerian national team 73 years ago may have had on Nigerian and international football.
Not many may know how the legend looked like. But all these posers would be answered on Tuesday at the relaunch of a foundation on him and a also a book, the first of its type on a pioneer member of the Nigerian national team.
According to a media release by Comrade Lanre Arogundade, the chairman of the International Press Centre and chairman of the technical committee on the golden jubilee anniversary of the legend, “the launch of a book on the late soccer icon and the re-launch of the Teslim Thunder Balogun Foundation, are among the highlights of the 50th anniversary taking place at Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Lagos on Tuesday July 26, 2022. “
Furthermore, in a statement by the Organising and Technical Committee led by Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu, is the Chief Host and Special Guest of Honour while the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare will declare open the event to be chaired by the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arch. Lekan Adegbite.
The statement said there would be a lecture by Chief Adegboye Onigbinde and remarks by the President of NFF, Mr. Amaju Pinnick and Chairman of the Organising Committee, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, a renowned promoter of football and president of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control.
Mr.. Kunle Soname, the CEO of Bet9ija is expected to be the Chief launcher of the book written Kunle Solaja.
Part of the programme would also be dedicated to the memory of Mr.Tunde Tajudeen Balogun, first son of the soccer legend who died at the peak of preparations for the 50th anniversary. A Foundation will equally be launched in his honour.
Renowned for his skills and goals, Thunder Balogun, was the first Nigerian to play professional football in thr United Kingdom. He died in July 1972 at the age of 42.
Dr Patrice Motsepe, who was returned unopposed as CAF president on Wednesday in Cairo, has had his first term in office documented.
According to the CAF publication, Motsepe will build on the extensive progress he made during his first term to make African Football globally competitive.
Dr Motsepe’s objective when he first took office in March 2021 was to make African Football self-sustaining and drive growth in several different spheres. The last four years have seen CAF move its development agenda forward at pace with many historic firsts.
These achievements are contained in a publication to mark Dr Motsepe’s first four years as President, titled, ‘The Growth and Success of African Football Continues’, which media can download here
The magazine walks us through Dr Motsepe’s 10-point plan when he took office, and the wide-ranging advances that have been made towards reaching and surpassing his objectives.
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The Organisers of the annual Sportsville Special Recognition Awards have announced a new date for the ceremony.
The award ceremony will now come up on Thursday, April 3rd, 2025, at the same Eko Club venue
Frank Ilaboya, the Chief Executive Officer of Sportsville, announced the change in a release issued this morning.
“Yes, the ceremony will now hold on the 3rd of April. The earlier date of March 21st, coincides with the Super Eagles World Cup qualifying match against Rwanda in Kigali.
“We all know how important that fixture is to Nigeria and Nigerians and it’s only fair for us, as stakeholders in Nigerian sports, to join others to support our Eagles.
“Besides the huge support for the Eagles, many of our Awardees and top dignitaries have also called to inform us of their trip to Kigali to be part of the historic match.
“Based on the above, the Organising Committee decided to shift the ceremony to April 3rd, 2025.
“We have also communicated this to the awardees and our invited guests to kindly bear with us on this unavoidable change while regretting any inconvenience this might have caused them,” Ilaboya added.
This year’s ceremony, the 5th in the series, will be held under the Chairmanship of Arise TV Anchor, Oseni Rufai with the rave making Cricket Federation President, Dr Uyi Akpata, as the Sports Personality of the Year.
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The initiator and financier of the first-ever boxing league in Africa, Omolei Imadu, is happy that his noble efforts at reviving Nigerian boxing are getting the required attention.
Imadu, who was reacting to his nomination as the Sportsville Innovative Personality of The Year, said he cherishes recognition from reputable organisations like Sportsville.
“I want to thank Sportsville for this recognition. I never saw it coming. For a reputable organisation like Sportsville to recognise our efforts in less than two years of operations means a lot”.
“You can understand why I cherish this award. It’s a big motivation for me and my team”.
“I want to assure you that the best of the Yucateco Boxing League is yet to come.
“We are determined to bring the glory days to Nigerian boxing and appreciation like this will continue to motivate people like us,” says the President of the Boxing Promoters Association Of Nigeria (BPAN)”.
Yucateco Boxing Promotions under Imadu’s leadership started the first ever boxing league in Nigeria two years ago and today the country’s boxing ecosystem is agog.
Boxers and officials continue to heap praises on the outfits CEO Imadu for his innovation saying that Nigerian boxing will witness a new lease of life.
In the words of Babatunde Ajose, Commonwealth Boxing Champion.
“Yucateco has brought the vibes back to boxing and the boxing community is grateful to him.
“From what we have seen of the boxing league, very soon, it will compete with the football league in Nigeria.
“The followership has been massive, big kudos to the financier and initiator Imadu for doing this for our beloved nation”.
“If we have people like him at the helms of affairs of boxing, the sky will be our beginning,’” he added.
Imadu is the second Nigerian to win the Prestigious Sportsville Innovative Award, created to reward and appreciate excellence and creativity.
Jenkins Alumona, the Managing Director of Flykite Promotion won the award last year for coming up with the highly successful Super 8 League held in Lagos.
Meanwhile, the organisers have listed award-winning referee, Linus Mba, Marketing guru, Rotimi Pedro, Sunny Osa Adun, the Founder of Nigeria’s first ever Sports TV Station and Nigeria’s only individual Olympic gold medallist, Chioma Ajunwa-Oparah to receive awards in the Icon Category.
This year’s ceremony comes up on Friday, the 21st of March, 2025 at the Eko Club, Surulere Lagos
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