2017 NPFL Match Day 21, 22 results, scorers

 Match Day 21 results

*Plateau United 1 Remo Stars            0
*Gombe United 1 Katsina United      0
*Abia Warriors 4 Enugu Rangers     0
*Sunshine Stars 1 Enyimba                0
*Lobi Stars        3  Shooting Stars       0
*FC IfeanyiUbah 2 Kano Pillars        0
*Niger Tornadoes 3 MFM, Lagos      0
*Akwa United 3   ABS, Ilorin              0
*El-Kanemi Warriors 2 Rivers United 1
*Nasarawa United 2 Wikki Tourists 0

 ................................
Match Day 22 results, scorers

*Rivers United 1 Akwa United 1

Musa Newman -Akwa Utd (11th min)

Emeka Ogbugh -Rivers Utd (14th min)

 

*Kano Pillars   2 Lobi Stars 1

*Enyimba        1 Plateau United 0*MFM, Lagos 1 FC IfeanyiUbah 0
*ABS, Ilorin   2 Niger Tornadoes 1
*Wikki Tourists 2 El-Kanemi Warriors 1 *Enugu Rangers 1 Nasarawa United  1
*Katsina United 1 Abia Warriors   0
*Remo United 2  Gombe United  0
*Shooting Stars 1 Sunshine Stars 0

 

Kwese Premier B/ball league: Odaudu expresses confidence in Rivers Hoopers

Rivers Hoopers coach, Ogoh Odaudu believes his men have what it takes to sustain their devastating form in the ongoing 2016/2017 Kwese Premier Basketball league.

The Hoopers have won eight games in succession including one at away, and the trainer is confident that they would end the season well. 

“Even from last season when we had a weaker and depleted team, we played our best basketball away from home. I do not see any team who we convincingly beat here (in Port Harcourt) going ahead to beat us except otherwise,” Odaudu said.

The KingsMen turn their attention away from home starting with the game against Kwara Falcons on Thursday, May 25. 

“We have only one really tough game that I can say it’s going to be a little difficult and that’s against Kwara Falcons which is our next game. But apart from that all the other games are games we can win," he said ahead of the clash with the Falcons in Ilorin.

Last season’s six meetings between the two sides from the Atlantic division ended in four wins for the Port Harcourt side while losing two. Odaudu is thus positive on the outcome in Ilorin.

“We are not going to just show up in Kwara because anytime we go out, we play to compete. We will go all out against Kwara Falcons. They are a team we know very well, they are a team we respect and so we are going to go all out and play. We won’t take any game for granted as we are going to play very hard,” Odaudu said.
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Caption: Rivers Hoopers before a match.

GSL Open: Hemery captures first ITF Futures title in Nigeria

French-Nigerian Calvin Hemery last Saturday (May 21) eventually captured his first ITF Futures title in Nigeria.
 
Top seed Hemery after losing two finals in Nigeria, this time triumphed over Christopher Diaz-Figueroa of Guatemala 6-7 (2), 7-5, 6-1 to win the GSL Open Nigeria F3 Futures decided in Abuja.
 
Hemery, born of Nigerian dad (Eno Henshaw-Aigbekaen) and French mum, had lost to Serbian Pedja Krstin seven days earlier at the Dayak Championship Nigeria F2 Futures.
The 279th ranked Hemery had prior to his arrival in Nigeria, for the '21-day tennis festival' won the USA F15 Futures in Florida.
 
Saturday's final produced a lot of exciting moments for the lovers of the game, as both players failed to engineer a break in the first set with just one break point coming to the Central American in the eighth game when he was 40- 30 up.
The ensuing tie-break decider saw the unseeded world no 755 Guatemalan raced to a 5-0 lead putting pressure on Hemery to make a number of unforced errors before sealing the set 7-2.

The second set dragged till 4-4 with both players not blinking on their serves, but it was the 22-year-old, who got a breakthrough as he broke to love to lead 5-4. He then served out the set albeit his grounded shot which Diaz-Figueroa, who has five ITF Futures to his credit, returned with full force went inches off the baseline as the call by the line judge was greeted with cheers by the fans most of whom are already bracing up for another disappointment having seen their favourite player stumbled exactly a week on the same court.

The earlier meeting of the players had also gone to rubber with Hemery edging a close contest 7-6, 6-7, 6-2 at the second round of the Dayak Championship, but Hemery was third-time lucky, having lost the final of the 2016 Lagos Governor's Cup Nigeria F6 Futures, by surging to a 6-1 final set win.
 
The GSL Open is the last of the three ITF Pro Circuit tournaments in Abuja which began with the Tombim Abuja Open on May 1. The Lagos Governor's Cup (Nigeria Futures 4 and 5) is the other programme in Nigeria on the ITF calendar for the year and is scheduled for October.
.............
Caption: Hemery wins in Abuja after losing two singles finals in Nigeria.

Over N11m at stake as 39th CBN senior Tennis Open kicks off in Lagos

The 39th Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Open Tennis championship will kick off on Thursday ( May 25) at the National Stadium, Lagos, without defending champions, USA-based Moses Michael and Russia-based Melissa Ifidzhen.

 Michael, men's singles defending champion is based in the United States and unavailable for this year's tourney, while women's singles title holder, Ifidzhen is also absent as the
tournament coincides with her examinations in Russia.

Over 300 players are to feature in the Nigeria Tennis Federation, NTF-organised annual tournament which has total prize money of N11,248,000.

Men's and women's singles winners go home with N700,000 each, while the runners-up in both categories will collect N500,000 each as prize money.

There are also men's doubles, women's  doubles, wheel chair men’s singles and wheel chair women’s singles titles at stake in the tournament billed to end on June 3.

CBN Ag. Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mr Isaac Okorafor in his remarks said that the continued sponsorship of the championship is a testimony to CBN's resolve to promote and develop tennis in the country, as it has been sponsoring the junior circuits too.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of NTF, Mariam Akande said: "This is the biggest domestic event in the calendar of the Nigeria Tennis Federation and we are set for a hitch-free tournament".

Akande urged the players to play by the rules.
Michael, it will be recalled, last year defeated Sylvester Emmanuel 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in an epic final, while Ifidzhen successfully defended the women's title when she dumped Christy Agugbom 6-3, 6-2.
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Caption: Melissa Ifidzhen,  not available to defend her CBN Open women's singles title.



 

2017 NPFL Match Day 20 results, scorers

*Rivers United  1 Nasarawa United 0
Ayo Saka (38th minute) 

*Remo Stars     1 Enyimba 0
Ugochukwu Leonard (38th min)

*Katsina United 1 Plateau United 1
Chinedu Udechukwu-Katsina Utd (4th min)
Daniel Itodo               -Plateau Utd (59th min)

*Enugu Rangers  2 Gombe United 1
Abdulwaheed Afolabi  -Gombe Utd (11th min)
Godwin Aguda            -Rangers   (45st min)
Ebuka Okeke              -Rangers   (94th min)

*Wikki Tourists 3 Abia Warriors 0
Chukwudi Samuel

*ABS FC, Ilorin 2 El-Kanemi Warriors 1
Kehinde Ayinde -ABS (14th min)
.............. -El-Kanemi
Anaekwe Ebuka  -ABS (70th min)

*Shooting Stars 0 IfeanyiUbah 3
Godwin Obaje (2nd min)
Pascal Seka  (14th min)
King Osanga  (87th min)

*Kano Pillars   1 Niger Tornadoes 0
Junior Lokosa (25th min)

*Sunshine Stars 0  Lobi Stars 1
Kingsley Eduwo (15th min)

*MFM FC, Lagos  0 Akwa United 0

2017 NPFL Match Day 20 fixtures, Leading scorers

Saturday, May 20
Rivers United  vs Nasarawa United

Sunday, May 21
Remo Stars     vs Enyimba
Katsina United vs Plateau United
Enugu Rangers  vs Gombe United
Wikki Tourists vs Abia Warriors
ABS FC, Ilorin vs El-Kanemi Warriors
MFM FC, Lagos  vs Akwa United
Kano Pillars   vs Niger Tornadoes
Shooting Stars vs FC IfeanyiUbah
Sunshine Stars vs Lobi Stars
..................................................

2017 NPFL Leading scorers after 19 games

Stephen Odey     -MFM           (14 goals)
Matthias Samuel  -El-Kanemi     (10 goals
Alhassan Ibrahim -Akwa United   (9 goals)
Mfon Udoh        -Enyimba       (8 goals)
Sunday Adetunji  -Abia Warriors (8 goals)
Anthony Okpotu   -Lobi Stars    (8 goals)
Victor Mbaoma    -Remo Stars    (7 goals)
Adamu Hassan     -Nasarawa Utd  (7 goals)
Godwin Obajeh    -IfeanyiUbah   (6 goals)
Kingsley Eduwo   -Lobi Stars    (5 goals)
Prince Aggreh    -IfeanyiUbah   (5 goals)
Olatunbosun Sikiru -MFM         (5 goals)
Sunday Faleye      -Shooting Stars (5 goals)
Daniel Etor        -Rangers        (5 goals)
Austin Oladapo     -Gombe United   (5 goals)
Chidiebere Ajoku   -Tornadoes      (4 goals)
Mohammed Mohammed  -ABS, Ilorin    (4 goals)
Bello Kofarmata    -El-Kanemi      (4 goals)
Golbe Elisha       -Plateau Utd    (4 goals)
Reuben Bala        -Plateau Utd    (4 goals)
Ubong Friday       -Akwa United    (4 goals)
Kabiru Umar        -Plateau Utd    (4 goals)
Bobby Clement      -Rangers        (4 goals)
Godwin Zaki        -Abia Warriors  (3 goals)
Adamu Mohammed     -Kano Pillars   (3 goals)
Hussein Bata       -El-Kanemi      (3 goals)
Kabiru Balogun     -Kano Pillars   (3 goals)
Mustapha Ibrahim   -Enyimba        (3 goals)
Ifeanyi Okoye      -Tornadoes      (3 goals)

Caption: 
Last season's NPFL highest goalscorer with Wikki Tourists, Godwin Obaje now with FC IfeanyiUbah (left) tries to dribble past Taiwo Shittu of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) during their first round NPFL Match day 19 clash at the Ifeanyi Ubah Stadium, Onitsha.  Both teams are set to clash again on Sunday, May 21 at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, in a Match day 21 fixture as the second round of the Nigeria Professional Football League begins.

GSL Tennis Nigeria F3 Futures: Hemery, Krstin battle for final ticket

Top seed Calvin Hemery on Thursday qualified for the semi-final of the men's singles at the ongoing GSL Open Nigeria F3 Futures in Abuja.


The French-Nigerian-born 279th ranked player in the world, triumphed over Indian Haadin Bava 6-3, 6-2, to book a semi-final showdown with Serbian Pedja Krstin scheduled for Friday, May 19.



It will be recalled, that Kristin, ranked 159th defeated Hemery 6-2, 6-4, barely a week ago to clinch the Hemery to win  Dayak Championship Nigeria F2 Futures in Abuja, the latter will be hoping to pay back the former in his own coin on Friday.



Hemery is also aiming at winning his first title in Nigeria having lost in the final of the 2016 Lagos Gov's Tennnis Cup before last week's final defeat too at the hands of Kristin who is number four seed in the tournament.



Krstin conquered Zimbabwe’s Takanyi Garaganga 7-5, 6-2 in another quarter-final encounter.
Canadian and number two seed Brayden Schnur and Christopher Diaz-Figueroa of Guatermala will battle for the other final ticket.


Schnur, winner of the Tombim Open Nigeria F1 Futures also in Abuja, conquered Tunisia’s Moez Echargui 6-3, 6-4 while Diaz-Figueroa stopped third seed Italian Alessandro Bega 6-4, 6-4.


Meanwhile, Brazilian Fabiano De Souza and Fernando Romboli will have a chance to reclaim the doubles title they won at the Tombim Open as they face Moez Echargui and Zimbabwe’s Mark Fynn in the final on Friday.


Th duo of De Souza and Romboli had in the semi-final defeated the pair of Kunal Anand and Anvit Bendre of India 6-2, 6-3, while the duo of Echargui and Fynn defeated the pair of Schnur and Benjamin Lock 6-3, 3-6, 11-9.
.......................
Caption: Hemery seeks final ticket at the expense of Krstin.

GSL Nigeria F3 Futures Tennis: Emmanuel, Enosoregbe, Ubon crash out

No Nigerian player made it to the second round of the ongoing men's singles of the GSL Open Nigeria F3 Futures Tennis in Abuja.
 
No thanks to the defeats suffered on Tuesday by the trio of Sylvester Emmanuel, Clifford Enosoregbe and Joseph Ubon.

Thomas Otu, Henry Atseye and Christian Paul, it will be recalled, had on Monday crashed out of the ITF-sanctioned championship.

Spain-based Emmanuel lost to Norwegian Viktor Durasovic 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 as Enosoregbe after a 6-3 first set win bowed to Egyptian Karim Hossam in the second and third sets 6-3, 6-2.

Imeh looked set to upstage the formbook as he raced to a 3-0 lead against sixth-seed, Takanyi Garaganga but he failed to last the distance as he was beaten in the tie break 7-6 (4) before the
Zimbabwean close the match with a 6-2 win in the second set.

Also, Alaafia Ayeni, a wild card entrant, who plays for the United States but of the Nigerian roots, did not fare better as he gallantly lost to the European who won the Nigeria F2 Futures last week Serbian Pedja Krstin 6-4, 6-4.

However, top seed Calvin Hemery progressed to the second round of the competition.
The French-Nigerian born who lost in the final of Dayak Nigeria F2 Futures last weekend also in Abuja, defeated Brazilian Fabiano De Paula 6-1, 6-7 (6), 6-2. 

Hemery, who is scheduled to feature in the qualifiers for the French Open will today in the second round face American Aron Peirce who bundled out Hugo Largo of Spain 6-3, 6-4.
..............
Caption: Nigeria's Henry Atseye, fails to advance to the second round at GSL Open.

GSL Tennis Nigeria F3 Futures: Nigeria's Emmanuel, Enosoregbe seek 2nd round tickets

Three Nigerian players, Sylvester Emmanuel, Clifford Enosoregbe and Joseph Ubon will on Tuesday, May 16 bid for second round tickets at the maiden GSL Open Nigeria F3 Futures which served off on Monday in Abuja.

Spain-based Emmanuel, who partnered French-Nigerian-born Calvin Hemery to reach the men's doubles final of the Dayak Open which ended last week, confronts Viktor Durasovic of Norway, as Enosoregbe faces Egyptian Karim Hossam, while Ubon battles with Takanyi
Garaganga of Zimbabwe in the men's singles.

Garaganga, six seed is however, yet to fully recover from a leg injury he sustained last week, which could give Ubon some respite when both step on the court today.

The opening day was not pleasant for the home boys losing to their opponents.
Third seed, Alessandro Bega of Italy defeated Thomas Otu 6-1, 6-1 on Centre Court, as Henry Atseye and Christian Paul were beaten 6-0, 6-0 and 6-1, 6-1 by Christopher Diaz-Figueroa of Guatemala and Indian Kunan Anand respectively.

Also at the Centre Court on Monday, another home boy, Joseph Iyorovbe crashed out of the ITF-sanctioned tournament after losing 0-6, 2-6 to David Argazinski of Poland.

Meanwhile, in some of the other matches scheduled to hold today, top seed French-Nigerian born Calvin Hemery faces Brazilian Fabiano De Paula, while Serbian Pedja Krstin starts his bid for back-to-back titles against American Wildcard entrant, Alafia Ayeni, who has
Nigerian roots.

Four seed Krstin, it will be recalled, last week claimed the Dayak Open when he defeated Hemery in the final.
 ........

Caption: Nigeria's Sylvester Emmanuel set to face Norway's Viktor Durasovic for the second round ticket.

 

Krstin claims Dayak Tennis Nigeria F2 Futures, beats Hemery in final

The hope of French-Nigerian born Calvin Hemery to win his first title in Nigeria again suffered a setback last Saturday as he lost to Serbian Pedja Krstin in the men's singles final of the Dayak Championship Nigeria F2 Futures in Abuja. 

Hemery, it will be recalled, lost in the final of the 2016 Lagos Gov's Tennis championship at the centre court of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Court, Onikan to Enrique Lopez-Perez of Spain 7-5, 7-5.


Also prior to his last Saturday's final, Hemery had failed to claim the doubles title of Dayak Open when he alongside Nigerian Sylvester Emmanuel lost 4-6, 0-6 to Italian Alessandro Bega and Viktor Durasovic of Norway in the final.

Top seed and 279th ITF-ranked Hemery could not reignite his awe-inspiring form as he bowed 6-2, 6-4 to his opponent who is number four seed.

Kristen ranked 159 had become a favourite for the men's singles title after he conquered the winner of Tombim Open Nigeria F1 Futures, Canadian and second seed, Brayden Schnur in the semi-final.
The final match was watched by the Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Senator Udo Udoma and former Kogi state governor, Idris Wada, among others.

In his remarks, Mohammed said the three-chain tournament in Abuja {Tombim, Dayak and GSL} provided an avenue to promote tourism potential in Nigeria as well as the presence of peace in the country.

“With over 60 foreigners from about 25 countries representing six continents of the world staying in our country for over three weeks, this event has served as an avenue to tell more about our dear country that we are a peaceful and hospitable nation. 

"We are happy that a sport like tennis is giving us a very good image because all the players will tell good story of Nigeria when they get back to their countries,” Mohammed said.
...............
Caption: Pedja Krstin, beats Hemery to the Dayak Open title in Abuja.

LMC fines Gombe Utd N3.25m with two-home match stadium ban

THE League Management Company (LMC) has sanctioned Gombe United for various breaches of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Framework and Rules arising from disruptive conduct of their supporters and officials in a rescheduled Match Day 19 fixture against Enugu Rangers last Wednesday.
 
The LMC in a separate letter to goalkeeper Emmanuel Fabiyi of Gombe United sympathised with him for the assault by the club supporters but also warned him against making comments in the media that portray the league in bad light and reminded him of the rules guiding public utterances of players and officials.

In a summary jurisdiction notice issued the club late on Friday, Gombe United were cited for breach of Rules B.13.18, C9 and C1.

Supporters of the club were adjudged to have thrown objects towards the field of play including stones hurled at a player of Rangers during the match and which amounted to a breach of Rule B13.18 punishable under Rule B15.16.

Gombe United supporters were also cited for encroachment on the technical area and on the field of play at the end of the match which also was in breach of Rule B13.18 and punishable under Rule B15.16.

The third charge against the club was for failure to ensure the proper conduct of club officials, particularly those who occupied the technical bench in breach of Rule C9.

Lastly, Gombe United was found to have been in breach of Rule C1, punishable under Rule B15.16 in that some of the club’s supporters assaulted their goalkeeper thereby failing to show sportsmanship and or acting in a manner capable of bringing the League to disrepute.

For these breaches, the LMC exercised its summary jurisdiction and imposed a fine totaling N3.25million including a two-home match stadium closure to supporters, funding the medical expenses of the goalkeeper, Fabiyi and also ensuring that the supporters who assaulted the goalkeeper are apprehended and handed over to the Police for prosecution.
...........
Caption: Emmanuel Fabiyi in a world of his own.

Dayak Tennis Nigeria F2 Futures: Franco-Nigerian Hemery for final, loses doubles' gold

Top seed Calvin Hemery on Friday qualified for the final of the Dayak Championship Nigeria F2 Futures in Abuja, edging Fernando Romboli of Brazil 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.

The Franco-Nigerian, who last year lost in the final of Lagos Governor's Tennis Cup will face Pedja Krstin in Abuja on Saturday, May 13 for the Dayak star prize.

Four seed Serbian triumphed over second seed Canadian Brayden Schnur 5-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2 to book a showdown with Hemery.

The result ended Schnur's hope of landing his second straight title within one week following his triumph at the Tombim Open Nigeria F1 Futures last Saturday.

Hemery ranked 298th in the world, billed to play the qualifiers of the French Open later this month, won the first game of the second set, but Romboli levelled before losing the next three games as he was broken to trail 4-1; and he never recovered as the set ended 6-3 for Hemery.

The score was tied 4-4 after a break each for both players on the fifth and eighth games in the final set but another break by Hemery in the ninth game proved decisive as he held his serve on the tenth game to win 6-4.

The match between Schnur and Krstin was equally tight and it took a tie break to separate both men in the first set which the Canadian won, but Krstin dug deep to level and completed a great comeback with an impressive display in the final set breaking the North American twice.

Hours later, Hemery failed in his bid to win the doubles title of the tournament as his partnership with Nigeria’s Sylvester Emmanuel lost 4-6, 0-6 to Italian Alessandro Bega and

Viktor Durasovic of Norway.
...........
Caption: Can Hemery win first title in Nigeria on Saturday?

 

Over 3000 marathoners set for 5th Okpekpe race Saturday

8 countries on parade

Over 3,000 athletes from eight countries have been confirmed to run at the 5th Okpekpe IAAF Bronze Medal-categorised annual 10km road race scheduled to hold on Saturday, May 13 at Okpekpe near Auchi in Edo state.
 
The winner of the race goes home with $15,000 prize money as second and third placed finishers will cart home $10,000 and $7,000 prize money respectively.
 
A top technical official of the race, Yusuf Alli disclosed that no fewer than 23 foreign elite athletes and 32 from the elite class in Nigeria will be on parade among the over 3,000 participants.

"The elite athletes, both foreign and local are here in Auchi. They will go on a route tour today {Thursday}

 

 to familiarise themselves with the race course in line with International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) rules," the 1990 Commonwealth Games long jump champion said.

"I am delighted with the huge number of locals especially from North Ibie side which includes Okpekpe. It shows they have fully embraced the race. They will not only be running to be fit or just for the fun of it, they also have the opportunity to win money at the event. There is prize money for the North Ibie athletes courtesy Mr John Momoh, chairman and chief executive officer of Channels Television," revealed Ali who restated the organisers' preparedness for the race.

"Everything is set. The athletes are here. We have done the lining of the route, particularly the kilometre markings. There will be water, sponges and refreshment stations along the route and at the finish and if I must add the drinking/sponging and refreshment stations are adequately staffed by competent personnel and everything has been done in accordance with IAAF Rule 240.8," he said.
Ali also revealed that doping procedures will follow immediately after the race.
"We have a doping station built since last year and it will be manned by competent anti-doping officers led by Dr Akin Amao formerly of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports. The IAAF has listed the race as an international competition which means the doping will be done as if it is the IAAF World Championship that is taking place. The race is one of only two listed by the IAAF on their website as an international competition."

He also said the race will be timed using full automatic electronic timing system and that there will be split timing at every kilometre.

"A clock Car will precede the race leaders indicating the time elapsed since the start of the race. The timing for the race will be done by MYLAPS Sports Timing, the internationally recognised automatic sports timing company. Last year we raised the bar in terms of organising road races in Nigeria by joining such world acclaimed marathons as Boston, Rotterdam and Melbourne marathons who now rely on MYLAPS technology for the world-class timing of their events.

"We also have the tracking application to enable the media, athletes and their friends and families as well as spectators and even sponsors to follow the progress of the participants as well as the entire organisation of the event.

The App which is available on iPhone and Android App stores is powered by MYLAPS Experience Lab,a division of MYLAPS Sports Timing."

The Okpekpe international 10km road race is powered by Pamodzi Sports Marketing,leaders in sports marketing and hospitality business in Nigeria.

It is the first and only road race in Nigeria that has been granted full membership of Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) and recognised as one of the prestigious road races in the world and the only race with an IAAF label status in West Africa.

Last year Kenyan duo of Simon Cheprot and Polline Wanjiku Njeru came first in the male and female categories respectively and went home with $15,000 prize money each after finishing in a record time of 29min: 48sec and 33min: 53sec respectively.
.........
Caption:
Women's winner of the 2016 Okpepke international race, Kenyan Polline Wanjiku Njeru.


 

Dayak Tennis: Nigeria's Emmanuel, Hemery stun Brazilian opponents

Nigeria's Sylvester Emmanuel teamed up with Frenchman Calvin Hemery to upset Brazilian duo of Fernando Romboli and Fabiano De Paula in the men's doubles at the ongoing Dayak Tennis Championship Nigeria F2 Futures in Abuja.
 
The South Americans were champions in the Tombim Open Nigeria F1 Futures, but were shocked by the unseeded duo who prevailed 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2) to give the home fans something to cheer after the last set of Nigerians bowed out some hours earlier. The victory guaranteed the duo a place in the semi-final. 

The Rainoil-sponsored Emmanuel had his serves puzzling the opponent while Hemery, of Nigerian descent, did the damages by consistently hitting the winners.
 
In the men's singles, all the seeded players in second round action progressed to the next round as the tournament reaches its crucial stage.
 
Top seed, Calvin Hemery of France earned a place in the quarter-final after beating home boy Christian Paul 6-2, 6-1 to set up a clash with Indian fifth seed, Sasi Kumar Mukund, who on his part, dumped Mateusz Smolicki of Poland 6-1,
6-1.
 
Paul had dumped out countryman Thomas Otu on the same court in a marathon match a day earlier and he troubled the world no 294 in the early exchanges levelling up at 2-2 to cancel the early break by his opponent but faded out as the match hots up.
 
Canadian Brayden Schnur proved a task too much for spain-based Sylvester Emmanuel with a 6-3, 6-4 win. The world no 306 second seed - on a run of seven straight wins in the Nigerian capital after winning the Tombim Open Nigeria F1 Futures last weekend. He will next face Takanyi Garaganga, the seventh seed Zimbabwean, a 6-2, 6-4 conqueror of Spaniards Ivan Curbelo in a potentially explosive clash.
 
Also through to the last-eight are eight seed Fernando Romboli of Brazil, who came from a set down to dump Indian Kunan Anand 4-6, 6-4, 6-3; and third seed Alessandro Bega. The Italian needed to be on top of his game to defeat Frenchman Thomas Setodji 7-6) 4), 7-5 thus scheduling a last-eight encounter with Romboli.

The quarter-finals train is filled by Serbian fourth seed, PedjanKrstin and Norwegian Viktor Durasovic who will battle each other. Krstin triumphed 6-2, 6-2 over Hugo Largo of Spain while Durasovic survived a tough encounter against Tunisian Moez Echargui needing a rubber to advance 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.
...........
Caption: Nigeria's Sylvester Emmanuel relaxing during a game.

2017 NPFL table after 19 games

                                           P  W  D L GF GA GD PTS
1. Plateau United             19 10 5 4 27 12 15 35
2. MFM, Lagos                19 10 3 6 25 21 4  33
3. El-Kanemi Warriors   19 11 0 8 21 17 4  33
4. Niger Tornadoes          19 9  3 7 17 17 0  30
5. Akwa United               19 8  5 6 22 17 5  29
6. Abia Warriors             19 8  4 7 22 18 4  28
7. Enyimba                       19 8  4 7 18 17 1  28
8. FC IfeanyiUbah          19 8  4 7 21 21 0  28
9 Nasarawa United         19 7  6 6 19 14 5  27
10. Lobi Stars                  19 7  6 6 18 17 1  27
11. Katsina Utd               19 7  4 8 15 19 -4 25
12. ABS, Ilorin                19 7  4 8 16 23 -7 25
13. Rivers United           19 6  6 7 12 13 -1 24
14. Kano Pillars             19 7  3 9 17 19 -2 24
15. Sunshine Stars          19 7  3 9 19 24 -5 24
16. Rangers                    19  6  5 8 20 22 -2 23 
17. Gombe United         19 6  5 8 16 21 -5  23
18. Shooting Stars          19 5  7 7 17 20 -3 22
19. Wikki Tourists         19 6  3 10 16 21 -5 21
20. Remo Stars             19 5  4 10 16 21 -5  19
...............
NB: Outstanding: Gombe United vs Rangers

Dayak ITF Nigeria F2 Futures: Enosoregbe faces Poland's Smolicki

CLIFFORD Enosoregbe lead three other Nigerians out on Tuesday (May 9) in vying for honours at the second Dayak Championship Nigeria F2 Futures in Abuja.
 
Enosoregbe, who finished the Tombim Open last weekend also in Abuja in the second round of the men's singles, will in the next few hours face Mateusz Smolicki of Poland at the centre court of the National Stadium, Abuja.
 
The remaining Nigerian players who qualified for the main draw of the men's singles are Thomas Otu and Christian Paul who will face each other for a second round ticket, while Spain-based Sylvester Emmanuel who completes the quartet faces American Aron Pierce also on Tuesday.
 
Otu was the other Nigerian player who got to the second round at the just-ended Tombim Open.
 
Top seed French-Nigerian born Calvin Hemery begins his campaign against Christopher Diaz-
Figueroa of Guatemala.
 
Hemery is no doubt among the star performers to watch in the Nigeria F2 Futures tournament
following his triumph at the USA F15 barely a week ago in Florida.
 
Winner of Tombim Open, Canadian Brayden Schnur (second seed) battles with Indian Anvit Bendre, as fifth seed, Sasi Kumar Mukund of India confronts Jose Azorin of Spain.

Meanwhile, Tunisian Moez Echargui on Monday created the only upset of day with a 6-3, 7-6
(2) win over sixth seed, Benjamin Lock of Zimbabwe.

Third seed Italian Alessandro Bega eased past Karim Hossam of Egypt 6-3, 6-0 while Spaniard Hugo Lago came from a set down to edge Felix Hounkpevi of Benin. 

Serbian fourth seed, Pedja Krstin had to be at his best to beat Indian Haadin Bava 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 while Takanyi Garaganga of Zimbabwe, cruised to a 6-0, 6-2 win over Pablo Schelcher Muro of Spain.
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Canadian wins Tombim Abuja Open

Canadian Brayden Schnur last weekend won the third Tombim Abuja Open with a 7-6 (2), 6-4 win over Brazilian Fabiano De Paula.
 
Second-seed and world no 308, Schnur was put to a stern test in the semi-final by Zimbawean
Takanyi Garaganga as he fought back with a break on the tenth game in an encounter that
eventually went to tie break which he won 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (2).
 
But there was nothing of such against De Paula, the world no 699, as the North American rounded off the match with a 6-4 win getting the only break in the match in the first game of the second set after the 12 games in the opening set went with the serves.
 
Meanwhile, out of the seven home boys, only Clifford Enosoregbe and Thomas Otu made it to
the second round of the tournament rated as Nigeria F1 Futures.
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Caption: Nigeria's Clifford Enosoregbe set for Dayak ITF Open clash with Smolicki 

'4th Okpekpe race would produce new course records'

Organisers of the Okpekpe international 10km road race have predicted new men and women's course records when the fifth edition of the IAAF Bronze Label race holds in Okpekpe near Auchi, Edo state on Saturday, May 13.
 
In 2014 Kenya's Teshome Mekonnen and Ethiopia's Wude Ayalew ran 28:35 and 32:41 respectively to smash the course and the Nigerian all-comers record of 29:39 and 33:01 set a year earlier at the inaugural edition of the race.
 
"Last year at the fourth edition of the race the Kenyan duo of Simon Cheprot (29:48) and Polline Wanjiku Njeru (33:53) failed to race past Mekonnen and Ayalew's records, but all that will change this year," said Yusuf Alli, a technical official of the race.
 
"The quality of the elite athletes confirmed for this year's race is such that we cannot even rule out a new world lead come May 13. The world lead for the men's race is 27:18 set by Kenya's Bernard Kimeli last month in Padeborn, while the women's lead is held by another Kenyan, Joyciline Jepkosgei which she set also last month in Praha, the Czech Republic.

Many of the gold and silver level running athletes confirmed for the race have run faster than the course records set by Mekonnen and Ayalew in 2014," two-time Olympian Alli who believes with the new course authenticated by the International Association of Athletics Federations and the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), he is confident the athletes will race to new records in Okpekpe.
 
"With MYLAPS Sports Timing, a Netherland's based internationally recognised automatic sports timing company once again providing the race with an easy to use, accurate and reliable timing system, all particpants are ensured of flawless timing at the race.
 
"This will give the race more credibility and reconfirm its status as an IAAF label race,one of only two label races in Africa in 2017," said the 1990 Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
Meanwhile a counter terrorism expert, retired Major General Cecil Esekhaigbe has joined the celebrity cast for the race. Like the other celebrity runners, he will not also be running for any of the prize monies on offer.
 
"Major General Esekhaigbe is the latest in the long list very important personalities who have endorsed the IAAF Bronze Label Okpekpe international 10km road race. He will be running to create awareness about the health benefits of running," said Dare Esan spokesman for the race.
 
"Running like we all know is a great exercise for the heart, it improves one's heart condition, boosts weight loss, strengthens bone structure and stimulates the brain, among other benefits. This is what the retired Major General wants to raise awareness about."
 
The Okpekpe international 10km road race is powered by Pamodzi Sports Marketing,leaders in sports marketing and hospitality business in Nigeria.

Caption: Winner of the 2016 edition of Okpekpe race, Simon Cheprot of Kenya.