Sports Briefs
–
ANDY Murray, a Scottish, who recently supported the independence of his country from the United Kingdom is in the mid of controversy for his campaign. He seemed to have angered a lot of people who directed online abuse at Murray after he declared his backing for the “yes” campaign was described as “vile”.
ON Tuesday, the Lawn Tennis Association defended his “unquestionably loyal” to Great Britain. Michael Downey, chief executive of governing body LTA, said he welcomed the 27-year-old Scot actively engaging in the democratic process. “He’s entitled to a view on the future of his country,” Downey told BBC Sport.
The LTA took the unusual step of coming out in support of the world number 11 because it felt unable to remain silent while Britain’s best player was enduring what was “no doubt a tough week”.
Just hours before the polls opened for the Scottish referendum last on Thursday, September 25, Murray tweeted: “Huge day for Scotland today! No campaign negativity last few days totally swayed my view on it. Excited to see the outcome. Let’s do this!”
The British number one has since said he was disappointed with the way he tweeted his support for independence, although he did not regret giving an opinion.
–
Nigel wins Akpabio Scrabble Classics
AFTER disappointing first appearance last year, Nigel Richards, a world champion, on Sunday, September 28, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, added the Godswill Akpabio Scrabble Classics to the list of his conquests. He got a prize of $20,000 dollars for his troubles.
Topping the list of contenders in the Masters category, Nigel won 21 games out of the 28 played to rake up 1767 cumulative points.
Just as it happened last year, it was not an easy start for the world champion who got stiff opposition from Jighere Wellington and Olatunde Oduwole.
Wellington’s 807 points (19 wins and eight losses) could only earn him a second position, while Oduwole chalked up 739 points to place third after winning 19 matches and losing eight.
In the intermediate category, Nigerians held sway brushing aside stiff opposition from Kenyan and Ghanaian challengers. The champion for this year is Ezinore George with 990 points after winning 20 matches and losing eight.
Evurodge George placed second while Etua Larry was third.
The keenly contested Open category was won by John Aiyedun while Adekunle Ayo placed second.
Excitement was the key word in the Veterans category crowned by Rotimi Odulele who piped “home boy” Edet Aquaisua to the second position. Whereas Odulele won 22 games and lost only four for 1695 points, Aquaisua won 20 games lost six and garnered 1318 points. The third place went to Prince Majemite with 19 wins and seven losses for 1067 points.
–
Pistorius Loses Diamond League Support
OSCAR Pistorius, amputee athlete who was recently convicted of manslaughter, is unlikely to be welcome at future Diamond League events, a promoter of the series said.
Pistorius was found guilty of culpable homicide after a judge ruled he killed Reeva Steenkamp, girlfriend, by mistake. The 27-year-old faces up to 15 years in jail, although the judge could suspend the sentence or only impose a fine, allowing him to compete again.
Wilfried Meert, Brussels Diamond League chief, in an interview was asked recently if he would invite Pistorius, replied: “I don’t think so, no.”
Meert said he believed that his stance on the six-time Paralympic gold medallist, who would be sentenced on October 13, would be shared by other Diamond League promoters.
He said: “Having met quite a lot of them recently, once in a while the conversation turned to the Pistorius case and I don’t think there are many around that will accept him again in their meet.”
The International Paralympic Committee has already stated that the South African would be allowed to compete at the 2016 Paralympic Games if not in jail.
But Meert, speaking to BBC Radio 5 live’s Sportsweek programme, said: “There will always be so much doubt around him. He is not the kind of person you want to make a promotion for our sport.”
Pistorius made history by becoming the first amputee sprinter to compete at the Olympics when he took part in the 400m at London 2012.
–
Udaughan Congratulates Pinnick, Giwa kicks
GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has congratulated Amaju Pinnick, the newly-elected president of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.
Uduaghan described the election of Pinnic as a continuation of Delta State’s supremacy in sports.
According to him, the victory of Pinnic at the NFF polls held in Warri, Delta State on Tuesday, September 30, further reinforced the belief that the administration’s investment in sports was not in vain.
In a statement by Sunny Ogefere, his chief press secretary, Uduaghan said that the new NFF president had maintained the sports excellence tradition for which the state was known. He noted that under Amaju’s leadership of sports, the state had retained as well as improved on its dominance of sports in the country.
“Amaju has shown traits of commitment, resourcefulness, dedication and leadership right from when he joined the DFA (Delta Football Association) as a member and later as chairman of the Association up to when he emerged as the chairman of the State Sports Commission.
“Besides, Amaju has performed creditably well to date and I have no doubt in my mind that he will excel in this new assignment and take football in Nigeria to an enviable height.”
Uduaghan urged Amaju to remain focused in the new assignment and ensure as a matter of priority that he reconciled everyone to forge one united front for better success.
But Chris Giwa, factional president of the NFF, has denounced the election which produced Pinnick as president of the football association.
Giwa, who was purportedly elected president by a faction of the NFF in Abuja on August 26, said he remained the president of the football association. He added that the election in Warri was illegal and vowed to seek redress in court.
In the statement which he signed, Giwa said: “It came to our notice that some people gathered in Warri to conduct an illegal elections. We are also aware that a court of competent jurisdiction outlawed the processes embarked upon in Warri.
“We shall pursue the cause of justice, fair play as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution on us as Nigerians. FIFA as a law-abiding institution stayed away from the illegal Warri Congress. They are aware that there are court processes in place against the so-called Congress”.
Giwa said his board was going to meet on October 2, in Abuja to decide on the next line of action. “However in line with the orders of the Federal High Court, the board shall meet on Thursday October 2, 2014 in Abuja, where decisions shall be taken and Nigerians shall be properly briefed at the end of the meeting”.
— Oct. 13, 2014 @ 01:00 GMT
|
Tags:
