Bakare set for Heineken Nigeria Cup 2012 title defense

The countdown to the activities marking the 52nd Independent anniversary celebration of Nigeria continues at the golf section of the Ikoyi club 1938 as the professional golf players take centre stage at the on-going Heineken Nigeria Golf cup tournament today.

The week-long programme, which is the most glamorous golf tournament in the country, will see all attention focused on Lateef Lasisi, Bashiru Bakare, Nojeem Sofela and Emos Korblah that are favourites in the 18-hole competition.

Last year, it took a playoff to determine the best among the trio of Bakare, Femi Olagbenro and Chidi Tobias. Bakare eventually emerged as the winner. Although Bakare had to dig deep down into his golf bag to overcome the visiting duo of Olagbenro and Tobias, the defending champion said he is optimistic of retaining his honour in spite of several oppositions awaiting him at the refurbished golf course.

“I am in good frame of mind and confident to retain the cup knowing fully well that all other contenders are poised to give me a stiff contest I still have the magic wand,” said Bakare who got his tour card in Holland, the home of Heineken Lager beer.

He is expected to be joined by over 50 professional golfers from across the country for the N2.5m staked in the professional category.

The list include, Lateef Lasisi, the only Nigerian to have won the Nigeria Open, MicCom Golf and Country Club-based Nojeem Sofela and Tunde Raheem of Ikeja Golf Club.

Meanwhile, Peter Friday has emerged winner of the Caddies Competition decided on Monday after a score of 79 while Olusegun Emmanuel won the Caddies Master competition. Other winners in the caddie competition are Favour Efenede, who won the ladies event after grossing a score of 106 while Alumona’s 110-gross placed her in the second position.

The Heineken Nigeria Cup is one of the tournaments put in place by the Nigerian Community at Ikoyi Club to celebrate the nation’s independence anniversary and over the years, it has been fully supported by the international premium lager beer brand, Heineken from the stables of Nigerian Breweries Plc.

“Being a premium international sport, Heineken has always identified with golf”, said Media and Public Affairs Manager of Nigerian Breweries Plc Mr. Edem Vindah.

“We are glad to identify with Ikoyi Club 1938 in the promotion of golf in Nigeria and knowing full well that Heineken is a premium international beer with presence in over 170 countries and the sport is also internationally recognised hence the synergy between the two is perfect," he explained at the official presentation recently at Ikoyi Club early this month.

MTN-backed Industrial Cup tees off at Ikeja Golf Club

Telecommunications giant, MTN has thrown its weight behind the second edition of Industrial Cup golf tournament that is biled to tee off at the Ikeja Golf Club on Saturday.

The event which parades teams representing different industries in Ikeja in a team of four players would be concluded at the ten-hole golf course on Saturday September 29, 2012.

According to the competition secretary of the club, Esimaje Yomi-Egbe, “The event is one that the club holds very dear because of the huge attention it pulls from different industries across Ikeja, and we do

all within the club to make it a success.”

Some of the corporations that have entered for the event with a team of four includes MTN Nigeria which has also thrown its corporate might behind the event, Nigeria Breweries, Blackberry and Guinness Nigeria.

Others are WABECO, Eleh and Ubosi, Sheraton Hotels, May and Baker, Berger Paints Nigeria PLC and Sparwasser.

Kolawole Oyeyemi, General Manager, Consumer Marketing, said the platform that the Industrial Cup tournament presents is a rare one. “Here, you have all the top industries in the city coming together for recreational purpose. It is both unique and one that fosters the kind of fellowship that supports business growth. This is one of MTN’s key campaigns.”

Some of the players expected to feature in the one-day contest include Saidu Mohammed, Joseph Odumodu, S.I. C Okoli,  Ayotunde Phillips, Tunji Adeyemo (captain of the club) and AWA Ibrahim among others.

The event tees off with a cocktail dinner on Friday, September 28 at the Ikeja Golf Club, where the draws for the 18-hole play would be unveiled.

Eaglets resumes training for Guinea

Golden Eaglets has resumed training at the Practice Pitch of the U.J Esuene Sports Stadium ahead of its second sound, first leg qualifier against Guinea next month in Calabar.

It would be recalled that the team observed three days of rest after disposing of Junior Menas from Niger via a comprehensive 6-0 victory that ended the two-legged tie on a 10-1 aggregate score.

“Everything is going on as planned,” assures Coach Garba. “We are continuing with our training routine and there would be slight alteration as circumstances demand.”

Meanwhile, players and officials of the team have given their support to a campaign geared towards eradication of violent behaviour in sports - particularly in football. 1 GAME, (an NGO), is now at the forefront of purging violence from football with the theme.

The NGO was founded in June 2010 through Philip Obaji, an Executive Committee member of the Cross River State Football Association. At a recent endorsement and autograph signing event at the Golden Eaglets’ Princeville Hotel camp in Calabar, Obaji reiterated that it was his desire to put an end to violence and fanaticism in football.

Golden Eaglets’ Head coach, Manu Garba (MFR), said the initiative is a welcome development since sports and football is all about sportsmanship and fair play.

“As an individual, I hate violence and I’m in support of any initiative that would ensure that we put an end to any violent behaviour particularly in sport,” he said.

“The football environment should be conducive so that the fans, players and officials can enjoy the game. I’m therefore, calling on Nigerians to support 1 GAME in this onerous task.”

Dedevbo eyes goals feast against Colombia

Flamingoes coach, Peter Dedevbo has set his sights on a goals feast when the team takes on Colombia in the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan.

Dedevbo confirmed on Thursday that the team was preparing hard for the match. He argued that the record-breaking goal-scoring feat of his wards on Tuesday against hosts Azerbaijan in Lankaran was not a lucky occurrence.

According to him, it showed his team’s strength and ability to get good goals.

“We are working hard for the match against Colombia. We returned from Lankaran yesterday (Wednesday) and have begun training for its last group game.

“My team can score goals, but I don’t want what happened against Canada. So, we went back and checked out our problems and solved them. And you can see what happened against Azerbaijan. We are going to score many goals against Colombia." 

2013 Nations Cup: Lone Star promises to beat Super Eagles

Liberia FA boss, Musa Bility

Liberia Football Association (LFA) boss, Musa Bility has expressed the confidence that Lone Star would defeat the Super Eagles come Saturday, October 13, 2012 when both teams meet in the second leg 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Calabar.

The winner of the second leg will qualify for the tournament proper in South Africa, since the first leg in Monrovia ended 2-2.

To achieve the objective of defeating Super Eagles in Calabar, the Liberia FA has changed their plans.

Speaking from Monrovia on a live sports programme on Thursday morning, Bility said the team was in the best shape to whip the Super Eagles.

“We are prepared for the game. We are not a junior team to Nigeria’s Eagles,” a confident Bility boasted, adding that the Lone Star would make it to South Africa.

He also revealed that the team would play a friendly match within the 11 days it is in camp in Accra, Ghana. But he did not disclose which team it would play.

There are speculations that the Lone Star will take on a rejuvenated Teranga Lion of Senegal side that could feature former Liverpool striker El Hadj Diouf that is making a return to the national team after years of absence.

“We will have one more friendly match before the game in Calabar. We have the strength to be in South Africa next year,” Bility said.

The LFA boss also revealed changes to the initial plans of the Liberian team. According to him, the team will now arrive in Nigeria on Thursday, October 11, train on Friday and play the Super Eagles on Saturday.

“We will arrive in Nigeria on Thursday. On Friday, we will feel the turf and on Saturday, we will play,” he said.

Bility also disclosed that contrary to expectations, the team will leave on Sunday and not immediately after the match as expected by Nigerians.

“Nigeria is a big country. There is no reason to run away. So, we will leave on Sunday,” he disclosed.

Newsblitzz also gathered that the Lone Star will now also begin camping in Accra on September 30 and not October 1 as earlier reported.

But the West Africans have a problem with assembling the team on time.

“We are doing everything to ensure that all our players are available to us…For Liberia, no player is bigger than the national team,” he said.

Lone Star to arrive Nigeria on October 12

Super Eagles’ opponents in the second leg of the 2013 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, Lone Star of Liberia will arrive in Nigeria on Friday, October 12, just a day before the crucial encounter on Saturday, we can authoritatively report.

Newsblitzz gathered that the Liberian contingent will arrive above a chartered flight provided for the team by a telecommunications giant in Monrovia. The squad that is made up of 23 players whose list has been released by Coach Kaetu Smith will camp for 11 days in Accra, Ghana as from October 1, before heading to Nigeria on October 12.

These plans were revealed by the Liberian FA on Monday after an uproar in the West African country over the LFA’s refusal to disclose team plans to the media.

Meanwhile, former World Player of the Year and one-time captain of the Lone Stars, George Opong Weah has reportedly stayed out of plans for the team in the clash with Eagles in spite of being invited by the LFA.

Our correspondent gathered that Weah was absent from a seminar held by the LFA over the weekend to fashion out plans for the Lone Stars’ battle for the AFCON 2013 ticket ahead of the Super Eagles.

Weah, who is still expected to be at the Soccerex Seminar in Lagos in spite of confusion over his whereabouts, has been staying out of the LFA’s plans for the Lone Stars in recent times.

Lone Stars are hoping to run away with a win or at least a 2-2 draw at U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar to boost its chances of making it to South Africa at the Eagles’ expense.    

Mikel returns to Eagles

.As Keshi releases list for Liberia

Mikel Obi in action for Chelsea

Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi will return to the Super Eagles against the Lone Stars of Liberia for the second leg of the 2013 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier slated for Saturday, October 13 in Calabar, Cross River State according to the squad list released by Coach Stephen Keshi on Tuesday.

Mikel was named as one of the 15 foreign professionals that will make up the squad that will tackle the Lone Stars for the ticket to the continental football championship in South Africa after being absent from the team for some time.

The return of the former Lyn Oslo of Norway player had been hinted at by Keshi, who said that both Mikel and Westbrom striker, Osaze Odemwingie were still relevant to the team.

Others on the list include Joel Obi, Austin Ejide, Vincent Enyeama, Joseph Yobo, Elderson Echiejile, Ambrose Efe, Nosa Igiebor, Nwankwo Obiora, Victor Moses, Ahmed Musa, Ikechukwu  Uche, Emmanuel Emenike, and Brown Ideye.

One unexpected inclusion in the list was Ogenyi Onazi of Lazio who earned a call up for the crucial AFCON tie.

Keshi also named 23 local players to join their foreign counterparts. These were Agbim Chigozie, Akpeyi Daniel, Egwuekwe Azubuike, Papa Idris, Oboabona Godfrey, Zango Umar, Kwambe Solomon, Ezekiel Bassey, Kingsley Udoh, Uzoenyi Ejike, Mba Sunday. Others were Gabriel Reuben, Henry Uche, Christian Ofili, Jabason Solomon, Sanusi Sani, Philip Asoquo, Izu Azuka, Brendon Ogbu, Anthony Okpotu, Ubale Manir, Ohanduku Gomo and Fidelis Favour.

Media officer of the team, Ben Alaiya also confirmed that the team’s camp will open at the Bolton White Hotel in Abuja on Sunday, September 30 as Daily Independent had earlier reported. Local players are expected to make it to the camp on this day while the 15 foreign pros named will join them a week after on October 8.

It would be recalled that the coach had revealed that he wanted the camp to open up early so that the team would be better prepared for Liberia than it was when it took on the Lone Stars in Monrovia on September 8.