Sports
Protests : Onitsha Sports club protests ejection, damage of structures by indigenes
By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha
Tension is mounting following alleged destruction of properties and plot to eject Onitsha Sports club from its location by Ekwerekwu family which resulted in the club members protesting at Government House, Awka, demanding immediate stoppage of further invasions and demolition of the club premises .
During the protest, the club members, led by their President, Chief Daniel Okafor, complained bitterly to both Governor Soludo’s, the state Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam and the state assembly Speaker, Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze that Harold Ekwerekwu sent some thugs to the club premises to demolish their perimeter fencing and other structures, with a bogus and unsubstantiated claim that the land where the sports club is currently situated belongs to the Ekwerekwu family.
They alleged that ironically, the invaders/trespassers even looted their age-long properties, including aluminium profiles and iron rods while the demolition exercise lasted.
During the exercise, the protesters carried placards with some inscriptions such as “Harold Ekwerekwu, face the lawsuit you filed at Onitsha High court and stop self-help. Anambra Police Commissioner, enforce High court order against trespassers. Onitsha Sports Club is not for sale. We suspect that Anambra Police Çommand has been compromised”, among others.
Laying their complaint to Ernest Ezeajughi, Chief of Staff to Governor Chukwuma Soludo who gave them an audience on arrival on behalf of the Governor, a member of the Board of Trustees, BoT of the club, Chief Pius Nweze, flanked by the club president, Chief Okafor, Secretary of BoT, Barr. Emeka Anyanetu who was a one-time Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly and Barrr. Chris Ajugwe, a prominent legal team of the club, lamented that as they were protesting, the demolition of club premises was still ongoing, in deviance to the subsisting interim injunction recently granted by Justice Jude Obiorah, a vacation judge sitting at Awka high court.
Chief Nweke who is the Chairman/CEO of Best Aluminium Manufacturing Company Limited and others further lamented that they were seriously suspecting that men of Onitsha Police Area Çommand had been compromised to the extent that they drove away the vigilante operatives the club members invited to stop the demolition as soon as the Police Area Commander for Onitsha, ACP Gregory Itobore was alerted to help quel the activities of the invaders/trespassers.
They further alleged that while the demolition exercise was still ongoing, the invaders were busy plotting the demolished spaces for sale to prospective buyers, claiming that the entire club premises is owned by the Ekwerekwu family.
They said that it was ironical for Harold Ekwerekwu to suddenly come out from the blues and started claiming that the premises of the sports club which was built since 1924 as the oldest sports club in the old Eastern Region belongs to Ekwerekwu family and he also followed it up with instant demolition without even approaching the members, claiming that he has a lease document signed by the colonial masters during the time of his forefathers that the land was leased to sports club for an upward of 75 years and that the lease period had since expired.
They therefore warned that in as much as they want to respect government in power, follow due process, maintain law and order, peace and tranquility, explore legal options to the matter, their silence should not be misconstrued as an act of weakness or cowardice particularly in the face of current security challenges in the country and be pushed to the wall or else they might resort to a violent revolution if the demolition exercise continued unabated as they would no longer fold their arms and watch acts of brigandage going on in the club premises with impunity and with such bogus and unsubstantiated claims by the the trespassers/invaders.
The protesters left Government House and headed to the state Police Headquarters, Amawbia to extend their grievances to the Police Commissioner, Obono Itam , shortly after Soludo’s Chief of Staff, Ezeajughi addressed them.
Addressing the protesters, Ezeajughi commended them for their peaceful manner of protest and collected their petitions for onward transmission to Governor Soludo himself who he said was at that moment heading a state executive council meeting inside the executive Chambers of the Government House.
He promised that the government would definitely study their grievances, invite the opposition party and find a way of resolving the matter amicably.
At the Police Headquarters, the protesters also narrated their grievances to the CP who after listening to them with rapt attention, assured them that he would visit the scene at Onitsha as soon as possible to get first hand information about the situation.
The Speaker of Anambra House of Assembly, Hon. Udeze who also listened to them with rapt attention, said he would assign the House Committee on Conflict Resolution to wade into the matter with a view to finding a peace resolution and to report their findings back to the House.
The Police Area Commander for Onitsha, ACP Itobore told newsmen in his office that he got wind of the incident when the demolition exercise had already been completed.
All efforts to get in touch with Harold Ekwerekwu to comment on the matter proved abortive as his phone continuously said the number was switched off.
By, Mark Akudu, Kogi
They defeated their opponent Idrisu Football Club on Saturday via a penalty shootout in Abejukolo, headquarter of Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The competition which attracted dignitaries from all works of life was sponsored by the lawmaker representing Omala State Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly Hon. Umar Yahaya.
Speaking at the event, the highly elated lawmaker thanked his constituents for their support, promising to do more for his people.
The lawmaker, who through his recent motion at the floor of the hallow chamber facilitated the rehabilitation Abejukolo township road noted that he remains committed to developing the grassroots through sports and youth empowerment.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank the good people of Omala Constituency for giving me the opportunity to serve them at the Kogi state House of Assembly. I promise never to let them down. We have discovered raw talents in this competition and we promise to sponsor them to achieve their dreams through football or any other sporting activities.
“The essence of all these football tournament that we are organizing for the youth is to foster unity among all the youths in Omala local government, and to also serve as a tool to bring everybody on board for talent discovery. As we speak here, we have full representative from Kogi State Ministry of Youth and Sport development who will discover players that will represent the State team in national competitions”.
“I want to specifically thank all members of the Kogi State House of Assembly that are here, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development Hon Monday Anyebe who from the start has been part of this laudable projects.
Addressing journalists in a separate interview, the Kogi State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development Hon. Monday Anyebe and the Majority Leader, Kogi State House of Assembly Hon Suleiman AbdulRazak both commended the sponsor of the tournament for investing in sports to reduce Youth restiveness in the State.
“This is a laudable project coming from our brother who is representing his people well at the current 8th Assembly in Kogi State. As you can see, there is a lot of talents in this youths. The Youths are being engaged as well as we are being entertained and we are discovering talents. I can assure you Journalists that alot of this talents will be harnessed and used judiciously.
“Competitions like this should be encouraged across the length and breath of the State so that we can keep our Youths in check as well keep them busy. We should ensure that we disabuse their minds from social vices that will cause mayhem to the State” Anyebe noted .
On his part, the Assembly Majority Leader said “From my observation, I have seen talents and young people who are inspired by the good work of the Lawmaker from Omala State Constituency. I see professionalism and future for our State.
“This initiative will go a long way of lifting the Youth from the street. My advice to the general public including my self is that this is the kind of thing that we need at this particular point in time for our society. We need things that will engage our Youths which will be helpful to us. Kogi State is talented, so we must tap from this talent to save the future of our State.
Agbenema Football Club it was learnt came third in the competition.
The winner of the competition went home with a cash sum of N250,000, first runners up N150,000 and second runners up N100,000.
It was gathered that Mohammed Abimaje won best coach of the tournament, Suleiman Wada, highest goal scorer, Celestine Akubo, Most Valuable Player and
Junior Maha won the best goal keeper award.
A total of 18 teams across Omala Local Government participated in this year tournament
By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha
As the land tussle between members of Onitsha Sports club and Okposieke family of Onitsha, Anambra State deepens, Palpable fear has allegedly gripped members of the club over alleged breaking and entering of the sports club buildings by thieves at night who stolen the plasma television, TV set and other items.
Making the disclosure to newsmen Sunday, the President of the club, Chief Daniel Okafor, attributed the stolen items to the porousness of the club premises following the demolition of the perimeter fence of the club by Okposieke family.
His words, “The Okposieke family led by Harold Ekwerekwu, stormed the sports club premises and started demolition of our structures. We invited the police and they could not do anything, they said it was a land issue and would not intervene except if it is a crime.
“What again do police want us to do when the people entered the premises with caterpillars and were demolishing the structures. The vigilante group we invited on three to four occasions were sacked by the police Area Commander. I don’t have a problem with the Area Commander but the police in the State because they refused to do their work by stopping the.invaders from further destruction of our structures.
” They even came up to the administrative blocks and demolished the walls which paved the way for thieves to come at night and stole the TV set and other items we are yet to compile. The members of this club are now scared because of the porousness of the premise.
“Most of the members are elders within the age bracket of 90, 80, to 70 years and this place which is a public place is insecure now because there is no more Security,” he lamented.
The president traced the history of the club to when the then Obi Okosi allocated the land in dispute to colonial masters who on their departure handed over the land to government, and government paid compensation to the land owners then.
“The documents the family is parading with are documents from the government and the same government issued Certificate of Occupancy to us as the owner of the land. In those days the entire area of GRA comprised of Akpaka, Trans Nkisi, Federal Housing,and others and were let out by the Obi Okosi to colonial masters who in turn named the areas GRA and on leaving, the colonial masters handed over the land to government,” he further explained..
In a swift reaction when contacted earlier, Harold Ekwerekwu told newsmen that the indigenes are merely reclaiming their land of 99 years of release to the members of the club that has expired insisting that they could come for renegotiation if they want.
He reiterated that the indigenes are law abiding and will not be hostile to the members of the club adding that a portion where the recreational facilities and administrative blocks are located were not touched.
By, Chinelo Kodilichukwu Enugu
In its effort to catch-them-young and take its talent haunt drive into the various secondary schools both within and outside of Enugu state, the much-advertised screening exercise for the Rangers U-15 Academicals kicked off, Tuesday, September 10, 2024, with over two hundred young boys hitting the Rangers Practice Pitch, Liberty Estate, Independence Layout, Enugu.
In his address to the young talents that showed up for the exercise, their parents/guardians, as well as the committee saddled with the task of selecting the best legs and hands for the Rangers U-15 Academicals, the G.M/CEO of Rangers, Barrister Amobi Ezeaku, charged the committee members to be at their best in the onerous task of giving a re-birth to school football while encouraging the young talents to exhibit their best to have the opportunity of being selected.
“What we want to do is what is happening all over the world. In Europe, Asia and other parts of the world. Rangers is a big name but we want to have our Rangers Academy team and you all here have that opportunity of representing this big brand with your God given talent. We have personnel’s that have seen it all in the game of football as members of the committee saddled to select the best from these lot for the proper mix of academics and football. We wish all that have come here to identify with this project the best of luck,” stated the young club boss.
Speaking earlier, the chairman of the committee, Joe Onyeabor, said, “We are glad to be here to be of service to you all and I believe that at the end of this exercise, we would have achieved the aim of setting up this committee for the Rangers U-15 Academicals. We have members who have played football to the highest level and have the eagle eyes to spot budding talent from all of those that picked the form be here. We must also give thanks to the management of the club for coming up with this idea and promise not to disappoint.”
Members of the committee includes; Ejike Uzoenyi, Okechukwu Uchebo, Ugwu Uwadiegwu, Nnamdi Anyasodo, Chibuzor Madu, Charles Ofordile, Frankie Omokhua, Ogechukwu Ileagu, Chinonso Eze, Basil Obeta, and Francis Ugwu who is the secretary of the committee.
The screening programme will run till September 14, 2024.
By, Chinelo Kodilichukwu Enugu
Rivers State has won the U-21 boys and the U-15 girls category of the just concluded 7th edition of Prince Victor Uwakwe Lawn Tennis Tournament while Anambra won the U-21 girls category and Imo won U-15 boys.
The tournament, which is the seventh edition with over seventy five participants from South East and South South regions, started on August 26 and ended on 31 at the Enugu Sports Club.
At the U-21 final played inside Sports Club Tennis Court, John Nubari of Rivers state won the male category after defeating his counterpart Precious Aliya of Bayelsa 6-3 6-2, while Chidinma Ezeh of Anambra emerge champion after beating Amieyeofori Timijaja of Rivers 6-3 6-3 at the final
Imo state Chimaobi Onyegbu defeated Abel Averkson of Rivers 6-0 6-1 in the final to emerge the winner of U-15 boys category while Fego Ayetuoma of Rivers State Beat Opuene Karina of Bayelsa 6-2 6-3 to clinch winner of U-15 girls category.
Speaking at the grand finale on weekend, the sports enthusiast, Prince Victor Uwakwe said he sponsored the tournament to help young enthusiasts in tennis to develop their skills.
Uwakwe said that many youths had passion for tennis but had no channel to actualise their dream of becoming professional players.
“This event is tailored towards catching them young to make them better in future,” he said.
While urging the participants to stick to their training, Uwakwe promised that the next edition would be better than the concluded edition.
In a remark, the Enugu State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Lloyd Ekweremadu, said that tennis as a sport required more attention as it had enormous opportunities to build stars.
Ekweremadu regretting that Nigerians were yet to tap from the abundant talents in tennis, encouraged the young tennis players to remain dedicated and reiterated the state government’s commitment to develop different sports activities.
“I am happy that tennis is one of the sports with potential we are interested in investing in. We will continue to work with the Sport Club and other stakeholders to see that tennis is developed in Enugu, for young people to benefit from it,” he said.
One of the winners, Isaac, described the match as a tough one but noted that he was able to triumph because of his zeal.
“I am 14 years old from Imo and I have been playing tennis for three years now. I want to see myself playing outside Nigeria,” he said.
By, Chinelo Kodilichukwu, Enugu
The Nigeria league champions, Rangers International F.C has qualified for the total Energies CAF Champions League 2024/2025 second preliminary round, with a 2-1 aggregate win over Comoros Islands champions, U.S de Zilimadjou in the first preliminary round of the premier continental club competition.
In the second leg, first preliminary round game played inside Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Friday, August 23, 2024, the ‘Flying Antelopes’ were forced to a 1-1 draw by the tiny Island nation.
After both sides ended the first half on a goalless note, with begging chances fretted away by the home side, coach Fidelis Ilechukwu had to make quick substitutions that saw Kazeem Ogunleye and Chiedozie Okorie make way for Ekeson Okorie and Bashir Usman just ten minutes into the second stanza.
The substitution turned out to be an inspired one as Ekeson Okorie, in one of his dashing runs into the box was fouled and the referee wasted no time in pointing to the spot, and Kenechukwu Agu expertly converted for the opening goal of the encounter on the 79th minute to send the fans that thronged the stadium into a frenzy.
Youssouf Mohamed, however, drew the Comoros side level with just four minutes left on the clock as he nodded home an inviting cross that the Rangers backline found hard to defend just a few seconds after they missed a promising attacking move at the other end of the pitch.
Despite the draw, the Nigerian side progressed to the next round of the competition where they are scheduled to engage either St. Louis F.C of Seychelles or Sagrada Esperanca F.C of Angola with the Angolan side enjoying a 1-0 lead from the first leg played in Seychelles last week.
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu in his post-match chat, said, “We are happy to have qualified for the next round of the competition even though I believe that we did not up our game today against the Comoros champions. This goes a long way to show the mystery of the game of football. Sure, I am worried about our rate of converting chances but I am optimistic of getting over this challenge before the next window for new registration. I believe that the start of the new league season will go a long way in helping us stabilize with regards to cohesive play from my players.”
Captain of Rangers, Chinemerem Ugwueze in the post-match chat, said, “It was a difficult match but we stood our ground to get the ticket to the next round. This is a young, new, team that is being put together and the blending will take some time to happen. Having overcome this challenge from the Comoros champion, we have more time to work on our weaknesses going forward. We thank our supporters who came out to stand behind us and we hope to make them happy in future matches.
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