2018 NPFL Match Day 23 fixtures

Sunday, June 10

Kwara United    vs FC IfeanyiUbah
Niger Tornadoes vs Wikki Tourists
Yobe Stars      vs Akwa United
Go Round        vs Lobi Stars
Enugu Rangers   vs Heartland
Enyimba         vs Katsina United
Sunshine Stars  vs Nasarawa United
Kano Pillars    vs Rivers United
Plateau United  vs Abia Warriors
MFM FC, Lagos   vs El-Kanemi Warriors

2018 NPFL Match Day 22 results, scorers

*Lobi Stars 1 Enugu Rangers 0
Anthony Okpotu (64th minute)

*Rivers United 1 Plateau United 0
Osita Chikere (16th minute)

*Kwara United 3 MFM Lagos 1
Segun Alebiosu     -Kwara (16th minute)
Sikiru Olatunbosun -MFM   (26th minute)
Stephen Alfred     -Kwara (48th minute)
Sunday Odudu       -Kwara (75th minute)

*FC IfeanyiUbah 1 Niger Tornadoes 2
Mubarak Ejiogu -Tornadoes (72nd minute)
Godwin Obaje   -If/Ubah   (90th minute)
Bashir Usman   -Tornadoes (90+4 minute)

*Katsina United 1 Sunshine Stars 0
Tasiu Lawal (61st minute)

*Wikki Tourists 3 Yobe Stars 1
Nasiru Jibrin -Wikki
Ocheme Edoh   -Wikki
Elijah Ani    -Wikki
Samuel Agba   -Yobe Stars

*Abia Warriors 1 El-Kanemi Warriors 0
Samson Obi (50th minute)

*Akwa United 1 Round FC 0
Paul Obata (29th minute)

*Nasarawa United 0 Kano Pillars 0

*Heartland 0 Enyimba 0

Oloyede wins 5th Funsho Abiri tennis tournament

FORMER national tennis star, Alhaji Rasheed Oloyede, on Thursday won the 5th Chief Funsho Abiri Tennis Championship (CFATC) decided at the Ibadan Tennis Club (ITC), Iyaganku, Ibadan.

It was Oloyede's second victory in the Ibadan Tennis Club-organised Abiri clay court tournament having won the maiden edition in 2014.

Oloyede, current Chairman, Oyo State Tennis Association defeated the defending champion, Mr Akin Orebiyi, 6-3, 6-0 in what served as a sweet revenge having lost to the latter last year.

With tension palpable in the air, Oloyede sent a warning signal as he won the first game without dropping a point, while Orebiyi made it 1-1.

Oloyede restored lead in the third game while Orebiyi also won the fourth game through his serves to tie at 2-2.

The turning point came in the sixth game as Oloyede who was leading 3-2 broke Orebiyi's serve to extend his lead to 4-2.

Undaunted, Orebiyi restored hope when he too broke the serve of Oloyede to make it 4-3.

Oloyede again broke Orebiyi's serve to extend his lead to 5-3. Interestingly, Oloyede who took over the serve came back from 15-40 to claim the first set at 6-3 within 30 minutes.

The second set practically turned out to be a one-sided game as Oloyede deployed his wealth of experience to control the game and conjured a 6-0 victory to the surprise of many spectators at the arena.

Oloyede, following this victory became the second player to have won the Funsho Abiri tournament twice, after Demola Olaniyan who won in 2015 and 2016.

It will be recalled that Oloyede defeated Yemi Asaleye 6-2, 6-4 while Orebiyi outplayed Adepeju Faboyinde 6-2, 7-5 also in the semi-final.

Speaking before the presentation, Coordinator of the tournament, Engineer Femi Adewumi commended the sponsor, Chief Abiri as he expressed appreciation at the turn out of participants.

"We have 43 participants which is the highest figure since we started this competition in 2014," he said.

Engineer Femi then reliquished his position as coordinator of CFATC adding that, "I have tried and I want somebody else to take over. This is my valedictory tournament as coordinator." 

In his remarks, ITC President, Chief Ajibade Adelana said the introduction of Chief Funsho Abiri tournament has added values to tennis at Ibadan Tennis Club which has also boosted his tenure.

Meanwhile, Chief Abiri in his remarks promised to continue to sponsor
the tournament.

"I'm not doing this for political reasons but I believe we are doing the right thing and I will continue to sponsor this competition," he said.

Caption: ECSTASY: Rasheed Oloyede (left), receiving the winner's trophy from the sponsor, Chief Funsho Abiri.

2018 NPFL Match Day 22 fixtures

Sunday, May 20

FC IfeanyiUbah vs Niger Tornadoes
Wikki Tourists vs Yobe Stars
Akwa United    vs Go Round FC
Lobi Stars     vs Enugu Rangers
Heartland      vs Enyimba
Katsina United vs Sunshine Stars
Nasarawa United vs Kano Pillars
Rivers United   vs Plateau United
Abia Warriors   vs El-Kanemi Warriors
Kwara United    vs MFM FC, Lagos

2018 NPFL Match Day 21 results, scorers

*Kano Pillars 3 Katsina United 1
Junior Lokosa -Pillars (8th minute)
Nyima Nwagua  -Pillars (37th minute)
Junior Lokosa -Pillars (48th minute)
Destiny Ashade -Katsina (57th minute)

*Plateau United 2 Nasarawa United 1
Bature Yaro     -Plateau  (11th minute)
Nojeem Olukokun -Nasarawa (50th minute)
Reuben Bala     -Plateau  (71st minute)

*Sunshine Stars 2 Heartland 1
Sikiru Alimi      -Sunshine  (12th minute)
Franlyn Sasere    -Sunshine (22nd minute)
Fortune Omoniwari -Heartland (48th minute)

*MFM FC, Lagos 0 Abia Warriors.
Ndifreke Effiong (52nd minute)

*Niger Tornadoes 1 Kwara United 1
Segun Alebiosu -Kwara (25th minute)
Eric Frimpong  -Tornadoes (63rd minute)

*El-Kanemi Warriors 1 Rivers United 1
Aghahowa Otakho-El-Kanemi (Own goal, 45th minute)
Micheal Ohanu  -El-Kanemi (90th minute)


*Yobe Stars 1 FC IfeanyiUbah 1
Seka Pascal -IfeanyiUbah (45th minute)
Philip Auta -Yobe Stars  (87th minute)

*Go Round 1 Wikki Tourists 0
Shedrack Oghali -54th minute

*Enugu Rangers 0 Akwa United 0

*Enyimba 1 Lobi Stars 0
Abdulrahman Bashir -51st minute

Trump offered me $1m to play Serena or Venus--John McEnroe

Tennis great John McEnroe has revealed that Donald Trump was willing to pay $1 million in 1998 to play one of the Williams sisters.
McEnroe speaking on “In Depth with Graham Bensinger,” revealed that 20 years ago, the not-yet-president then offered him a decent chunk of change to play either Serena Williams or Venus Williams.
According to McEnroe, he got an envelope while he was calling a match in 1998. It was from Donald Trump, who McEnroe was definitely aware of at the time — he called Trump a “promoter galore.” McEnroe remembers the general gist of the letter.
“‘Dear John, I want to offer you $1 million to play either Serena or Venus.'”
In 1998, the sisters were in their late teens. Serena was still establishing herself as a professional, while Venus was experiencing some early success. But being young didn’t stop them from being confident about their talent. At the Australian Open that year, the
sisters both said that they could beat any male tennis player ranked outside of the top 200.
It’s likely that Trump was responding to that very bold claim by the Williams sisters. Both Venus and Serena did participate in a Battle of the Sexes match at the Australian Open that year, facing German tennis player Karsten Braasch. Even though Braasch was famous for barely training (and doing more smoking and drinking instead), they both lost.
A match between 1998 John McEnroe and the teenage Williams sisters would have probably been a bloodbath.
McEnroe wasn’t sure why Trump picked him as the guy who could beat one of the Williams sisters, but he turned it down. He said that he never had a desire to play a woman and recreate a Battle of the Sexes match.
He was confident he could have done it at the time, but his kids have a slightly different opinion.
“Over the course of time, literally my kids, my daughters will say: ‘Dad I don’t know if you can beat Serena.’ I’m like, ‘God I can’t even get my kids on my side.'”
Twenty years ago, they were most likely wrong. But if they said that about their 59-year-old father last week? Well, they’re probably more right than wrong.
Source: YS H/N: USA Today.
.............
Caption:

Serena Williams early this at the 2018 Indian Wells tournament.
............

2018 Bet9ja/NNL Week Three fixtures

Friday, May 11
Real Stars vs EFCC FC

Saturday, May 12:
Gombe  Utd vs Bimo SP
Sokoto Utd vs Giodano FC
Adamawa    vs Malumfashi
FC Zamfara vs Jigawa Stars
ABS FC     vs FC Taraba
NAF FC     vs Kada City
Kogi Utd   vs R/Safety
Aklosendi  vs M/Jets
J'Atete    vs Gateway Utd
Akwa Starlets vs Abia Comets
Nnewi Utd  vs Stationery Stores
Rovers FC  vs Delta Stars  
Osun Utd   vs Dynamite

Sunday, May 13:
Warri Wolves   vs 3SC
Bayelsa Utd    vs Spartans
Crown FC   vs Ikorodu Utd
Remo Stars vs Delta Force

Nigeria Pitch Awards' progress excites Philips

President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Mr Shina Philips, has said that the initiative has been growing rapidly.
He made the remarks during the unveiling of nominees for the 2017/18 Awards held during the week in Lagos.
“The Nigeria Pitch Awards is a platform for recognising, rewarding and celebrating talented and industrious footballers and other stakeholders in Nigerian football.
“Since the introduction of the awards five years ago, it has continued to grow to become a significant and essential part of our football society," Philips said.
He acknowledged support from partners which he said has helped in realising the objectives of the annual event.
“We thank the Federal Ministry of Sports and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), for their immense support.
“We thank SIAO Partners, Nigeria’s foremost accounting firm for being our independent vote collation body for displaying professionalism in the collation of results and the entire voting process.
“We are also buoyed by the responses we have received from sports journalists, Nigerian footballers and administrators," he said.
Meanwhile, the highlight of the unveiling of nominees was the nomination of Nigerian international, Victor Moses in three categories.
Also nominated for various awards are the Super Eagles captain now with Tianjin Teda of China, John Mikel Obi; Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi; Changchun Yatai's goal merchant, Odion Ighalo; Lobi Stars' Anthony Okpotu; Shehu Abdullahi; Leon Balogun; William Troost-Ekong; recuperating goalkeeper Carl Ikeme; Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Dele Ajiboye
of Plateau United, among others.
The fifth Nigeria Pitch Awards is scheduled to hold later this month in Lagos.
..................
Caption:

One of the nominees for the 2017/18 Nigeria Pitch Awards, Anthony Okpotu. He is gunning for the Striker of the Year and the NPFL's Most Valuable Player (Men) Awards. 

Obafemi Awolowo Tennis Club inducts Segun Balogun as honorary member

FORMER Nigerian tennis star,  Mr Segun Balogun, was on Monday inducted as an honorary member of Obafemi Awolowo Tennis Club (OATC).

Speaking during the brief but colourful event held at the tennis arena of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, Captain of OATC, Kunle Yusuf, said the former international player remains a source of inspiration to the current and coming generations of tennis players in the country. 
"We are happy to have you in our Club. Today, we are here to celebrate you by making you an honorary member of Obafemi Awolowo Tennis Club.
This is in recognition of your past contributions to the growth of tennis in Nigeria as a player and now as an administrator.
"On behalf of OATC, I want to thank you for donating tennis balls to our Academy. Your presence alone at the training session will continue to inspire these youngsters to aspire to excellence in tennis," Yusuf said.
The former Davis Cup player, Balogun in his remarks said he was glad to be associated with OATC as he expressed appreciation for the honour accorded him.
He commended the Club for establishing the Academy section where kids will be tutored on how to become professional tennis players, just as he urged OATC to keep the flag flying.
"First I want to thank members of OATC for this honour which came  as a surprise to me. This Club has indeed become another home for me. Incidentally, this is where I started my career as a tennis player. 
"I must also commend this initiative of running a tennis academy, it will help talented kids a lot to make a career out of tennis. What OATC is doing in developing talents is unique," the United States-based tennis guru said.
Also speaking on the occasion, a member of OATC, Col. Adetokunbo Olufemi Ojomo (retd) lauded the kind-heartedness of Balogun.
"I commend you for having the giving spirit because even before you are named as an honorary member, you have through your act of benevolence donated tennis balls to the Academy section of this Club," he said.
Ojomo added that having the ex-tennis star at OATC would help improve the standard of play of members of the Club.
"When one trains with him, one is bound to gain from his wealth of experience. I have played against him [Balogun] and it has improved the standard of my game," Ojomo stated.
Meanwhile, a plaque was later presented to Balogun as an honorary member of OATC by IICC Shooting Stars legend and member of the victorious 1976 African Cup Winners Cup squad, Coach Idowu Otubusen.

Captions:

Photo 1: IICC Shooting Stars legend, Coach Idowu Otubusen (right), presenting the OATC honorary membership plaque to Mr Segun Balogun during the event.

Photo 2: Mr Segun Balogun (first left) while presenting a carton of balls to the Academy Section of OATC last weekend. Second left is OATC member, Folasade Famuyide; technical director, OATC Academy Coach Adepeju Faboyinde and the Captain of OATC, Mr Kunle Yusuf.

2018 NPFL Match Day 21 fixtures

Sunday, May 13

Niger Tornadoes    vs Kwara United
Sunshine Stars     vs Heartland
Go Round           vs Wikki Tourists
Yobe Stars         vs FC IfeanyiUbah
Kano Pillars       vs Katsina United
Plateau United     vs Nasarawa United
Enugu Rangers      vs Akwa United
El-Kanemi Warriors vs Rivers United
MFM, FC            vs Abia Warriors
Enyimba            vs Lobi Stars

2018 NPFL Match Day 20 results, scorers

*Lobi Stars 1 Sunshine Stars 0
Kehinde Adeyemi (73rd minute)

*Heartland 1 Kano Pillars 1
Ekechukwu Nwadike -Heartland (27th minute)
Nyima Nwagua      -Pillars   (61st minute)

*MFM FC, Lagos 3 Niger Tornadoes 0
Sikiru Olatunbosun (brace)
Chijoke Akuneto

*Katsina United 1 Plateau United 0
Destiny Ashadi

*Wikki Tourists 1 Enugu Rangers 1
Usman Many   -Wikki   (14th minute)
Tope Olusesi -Rangers (34th minute)

*FC IfeanyiUbah 2  Go Round 1
Ekene Awazie
Chidi Nwachukwu (Go Round)

*Kwara United 2 Yobe Stars 1
Segun Alebiosu    -Kwara Utd  (25th minute)
Chinedu Ohanachom -Yobe Stars (30th minute)
Sunday Chinedu    -Kwara Utd  (66th minute) 

*Rivers United 0 Abia Warriors 0

*Nasarawa United 2 El-Kanemi Warriors 0
Ikechukwu Nwani (brace)

2018 Bet9ja NNL Week Two fixtures

A1
EFCC FC      vs Adamawa Utd (May 4) 

Saturday, May 5, 2018

Giodano FC   vs Gombe Utd
Malunfashi   vs Sokoto Utd
Jigawa Stars vs Real Stars
Bimo SP      vs FC Zamfara

A2:
Kada City vs ABS, Ilorin  (May 4)

Saturday, May 5, 2018
Mighty Jets vs Kogi Utd
Road Safety vs NAF FC
FC Taraba   vs Kaduna Utd
Aklosendi bye

B1:
Saturday, May 5, 2018
Gateway Utd    vs Bayelsa Utd
Spartans FC    vs Warri Wolves
Abia Comets    vs J'Atete
SUNDAY: May 6
Shooting Stars vs Bendel Insurance
Akwa Starlets bye
B2:
Saturday, May 5, 2018
S/Stores    vs Remo Stars
Dynamite    vs Rovers FC
Delta Stars vs Crown FC
SUNDAY: May 6
Ikorodu Utd vs Nnewi Utd     
Delta Force vs Osun United   

Nigeria F3 Futures: Top-three seeds crash out of GSL Open

The top three seeds at the ongoing GSL Open Nigeria F3 Futures in Abuja, were on Thursday  bundled out of the $25, 000 prize-money event.

Egyptian prime seed, Youssef Hossam headed the list of high-profile 'casualties' as he stumbled to a 7-6 (8), 6-3 defeat to India's Suraj Prabodh while Hossam’s compatriot and second seed, Karim-Mohamed Maamoun, succumbed to  fifth-seeded Moez Echargui of Tunisia 6-3, 7-6 (2).

Brazil’s Joao Menezes also sent Austrian Maximilian Neuchrist packing to avenge his Dayak Championship final loss to the European last Saturday with a 7-6 (11), 6-4 win.

The most-anticipated clash of the day, which lasted exactly two hours on the Centre Court, saw the Brazilian display a remarkable form that culminated in his triumph at the Tombim Open, which kick-started the three-phase ITF Pro Circuit tournament.

Indian Arjun Hadhe was the only player who avoided an upset on the day as the fourth seed cruised to a 6-3, 6-3 win over Jelle Sels of the Netherlands.

The semi-finals, scheduled for Friday, May 4 will see Prabodh confronts Kadhe in an all-India affair, while Echargui battles with Menezes in what promises to be another thrilling contest.

In the doubles, French duo of Remi Boutuillier and Tom Jomby qualified for the final following their 7-6, 6-4 triumph over Indian pair of Aryan Goveas and Anurag Nenwani. They will face Kadhe and Ronnie Schneider of the United States following their 6-3, 3-6, 10- 7 victory over Echargui and Thomas Setodji of France.


Caption:
Egypt's Youssef Hossam, beaten in the quarter-final at the ongoing GSL Open in Nigeria.