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ROGERS, ENYADIKE, LEO LIGHT UP AFRICA DIGITAL SPORTS CONFERENCE
The Africa Digital Sports Conference (ADSCon2019) ended on Saturday, at the Four Points By Sheraton with a lot of highlights for delegates who came in from all over the country and beyond.
After Day One that was filled with speeches and panels, Day
Two was the icing on the cake as it featured leading sports digital strategists
like Paul Rogers, Head of Strategy of AS Roma Football Club, Emeka Enyadike of
Digital Sports Africa and Mario Leo, founder of Germany’s RESULT Sports who
took three impactful masterclasses and highlighted the opportunities for sports
clubs, federations and entrepreneurs in the digital world.
Working with the theme, Monetising Sports in the Digital Era, the Africa Digital Sports Conference was a gathering of sports leaders, media and content creators, telecom executives, sports management students and entrepreneurs.
Lolade Adewuyi, Chief Strategist at CampsBay Media and founder of the Africa Digital Sports Conference said that the aim of the first edition had been fulfilled.
“We successfully brought attention to the opportunities in the digital space that can make sports thrive in this part of the world.
“Our delegates were left inspired by the case studies and the practical experiences of our industry practitioners. It encouraged sports leaders and management hopefuls to create innovative solutions to our industry’s challenges,” Adewuyi said.
Some of the leading industry experts in attendance were Nduka Irabor, Director of the League Management Company, Francis Orbih, President of the Nigeria Badminton Federation and Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Prince Adewale Oladunjoye, President of the Nigeria Triathlon Federation and Tournament Director of the Lagos Open International Tennis Championships, Babs Ogunade, Vice President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Mrs Ayo Omidiran, a former Member of the House of Representatives, Phemmy Adetula, PRO of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications at the Nigeria Football Federation, among many others.
Case studies from the sports industry came to fore with Anthony Okeleke of Lost Child Media narrating how the startup turned the traditional Hausa boxing sport of dambe into a YouTube phenomenon having 100,000 subscribers and 20 million views in just two years via their channel Dambe Warriors. DK Aghaji, Africa Manager of Australian content production company, Inverleigh, spoke about their digital plans for content in Africa where they are actively promoting the EFC mixed martial arts sport.
The emerging sports OTT market was touched upon during a panel that was hosted by broadcaster Deji Omotoyinbo with panellists Seun Methowe, Head of African Partnerships at DAZN and Bolanle Afuye, Head of Digital at 9mobile. Koye Sowemimo of Temple Sports Management and Eyitayo Olayemi of Neuklos delved into the opportunities for corporate organisations to market to Generation Z in the digital era during a panel moderated by Deji Faremi of Tre Gong TV.
Three Nigerian sports startups making use of digital platforms were profiled in a session hosted by Andrew Randa. Gbenga Salu of Naijafootballers, Dare Lawanson of RefPredictor Interactive and Robson Omasheye of Fastlane Motorsports/Road X Championship spoke about the opportunities that they have made use via digital platforms. It was an eye-opener for the many young entrepreneurs who attended as they saw the potentials in the digital space for a variety of sports.
The Africa Digital Sports Conference was supported by GPC Media, RESULT Sports, Digital Sports Africa, The BusyBuddies, Adzinga Media, Soccernet, Udu Consult, STAR lager, Brila FM, Complete Sports, Goal.com and Athletics Africa.
Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan HD had targeted their Group F opener as their best chance to get a win on the board at the Club World Cup, with Brazil’s Fluminense and German side Borussia Dortmund expected to advance from Group F.
South Africa’s Sundowns took all three points with a 1-0 win over the South Koreans and went top of the group after Fluminense drew 0-0 with Dortmund.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
African and Asian teams are not expected to make much of an impact at the new-look 32-team Club World Cup so points are like gold dust for the likes of the Sundowns and Ulsan.
KEY QUOTES
Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi Sundowns coach: “We prepared tactically and strategically very well, and then we found a commitment between everybody. I think it was clear we made a very wonderful first half. It was important that we could keep the pace and not stray from the game plan in the second half, so that we could score a second goal that for little details or little centimetres, we could not do.”
Kim Pan-gon, Ulsan HD head coach: “We had targeted this game to win because we understand the other two teams in the group, Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund, are favourites. Our players gave their best efforts in this game and we’re very proud of their efforts. Now we need to recover quickly for the next game.”
-Reuters
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With a year until Mexico makes history as the first three-time World Cup host, the dream of a spectacular showcase is colliding with the practical challenges of modernising the iconic Azteca Stadium for global soccer’s premier event.
Beneath the imposing silhouette of Mexico’s football cathedral – where Pele dazzled with Brazil in 1970 and Maradona’s ‘hand of God’ propelled Argentina to glory in 1986 – construction crews tackle the formidable task of bringing one of the sport’s most storied venues into the 21st century.
The stakes are magnified as the ‘Santa Ursula colossus’ will host the tournament’s opening match, a global spectacle that will focus the world’s attention on Mexico from day one.
Renovations will expand the stadium’s capacity from 87,000 to 90,000, with upgrades centred on meeting FIFA standards through new changing rooms, enhanced hospitality zones, revamped VIP areas and additional seating in spaces previously occupied by boxes and lounges.
While government officials and football administrators envisioned the project as a symbol of national pride, the renovation process has eroded trust between developers, local residents and other stakeholders.
Stadium administrators announced in February that they had secured a 2.1 billion peso ($110.19 million) credit line from local financial group Banorte – along with a controversial new name: Estadio Banorte.
FIFA regulations mean the stadium will be referred to as “Estadio Ciudad de Mexico” during the World Cup, yet the rebranding has sparked a fierce backlash from some fans, who view it as sacrificing football heritage for commercial interests.
HARSH REALITY
The backlash over the stadium’s new name represents only one facet of the mounting tensions. Box and suite holders – some with relationships spanning decades – have threatened legal action after FIFA announced it would commandeer their seats during the tournament, overriding established contracts.
One member of the Mexican Association of Box Holders has already filed a legal challenge to defend access rights.
Beyond the stadium walls, frustration runs equally deep. Residents of Santa Ursula and surrounding neighbourhoods fear that promised infrastructure improvements like pedestrian bridges and transit lines will fail to address fundamental issues including inadequate lighting, water shortages and persistent traffic congestion.
“We’re not the stadium’s backyard,” one local resident told Expansion Politica. “But we’re always treated that way.”
By contrast, Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico’s other two host cities, face fewer obstacles.
Guadalajara’s 48,000-seat stadium, opened in 2010, has already hosted major events including the 2011 Pan American Games, while Monterrey’s 53,500-capacity venue, inaugurated in 2015, needs only minor upgrades – primarily new turf and a pitch ventilation system.
“We’ll install a system to ventilate and oxygenate the pitch before replacing the grass,” said Alejandro Hutt, Monterrey’s Host City Manager. “That will be an important legacy from the World Cup and beyond.”
As construction continues, Javier Aguirre’s Mexico squad are building towards a crucial summer, with a Gold Cup title defence ahead and friendly matches against Turkey this week, followed by Japan and South Korea in September.
After failing to advance beyond the group stage at Qatar 2022 – their worst World Cup performance since 1978 – Mexican fans crave more than just a well organised tournament. They want to see Mexico break the ‘fifth-game‘ curse and reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1986, the last time they were World Cup hosts.
-Reuters
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All contenders are now known for this year’s President Federation Cup grand finale, following Saturday’s elimination of Edo Queens and Ibom Angels in the women’s semi-finals.
Multiple-winners Rivers Angels saw off the stiff challenge of Ibom Angels of Uyo 1-0 in Aba, while Nasarawa Amazons bumped Edo Queens 2-0 in Ayingba.
Cup holders Rivers Angels, who have won the competition nine times, will have their hands full against 2005 and 2019 champions Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia.
In the men’s competition, Abakaliki FC of Ebonyi are getting set to tackle Kwara United FC in the final.
Results of Semi Finals (Women)
- Rivers Angels (Rivers) 1-0 Ibom Angels (Akwa Ibom)
- Edo Queens (Edo) 0-2 Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa)
Results of Semi-Finals (Men)
- Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi) 0-0 Ikorodu City (Lagos) – Abakaliki FC win 5-4 on penalties
- Kwara United (Kwara) 1-0 Rangers Int’l (Enugu)
WOMEN’S FINAL
- Rivers Angels vs Nasarawa Amazons
MEN’S FINAL
- Abakaliki FC VS Kwara United
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