It was a repeat of last year's final as Sylvester Emmanuel and Moses Michael clashed in the Men's Singles final of the 30th Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship last weekend in Kano.
Emmanuel won last year after three sets which produced 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-3 but this time, he retained the title with a 7-6, 6-4 victory over his arch rival.
Interestingly, it was also a sweet revenge for Emmanuel having lost to Moses, winner of the 2014 Lagos Governor's Tennis Cup during their meeting in this year's CBN Senior Tennis Championship held in June in Lagos.
Kaduna-based Emmanuel, who was one of the two Nigerian players who finished in the quarter-final of the 2016 Lagos Governor's Tennis Cup, received N800,000 as prize money for successfully defending his Dala Hard Court Tennis title.
Meanwhile, Christy Agugbom also successfully defended the Women’s Singles title beating
Blessing Samuel 6-2, 6-7, 7-6 in an excruciating final.
Agugbom, got N500,000 as prize money for her victory over Samuel, who sent the 2014 winner and last year's finalist, Sarah Adegoke packing in the semi-final of this year's tournament in a match which ended in 6-1, 5-7, 6-3.
Caption:
Sylvester Emmanuel cooling off with water during a game.
What turned out to be another upset at the ongoing 30th Dala Hard Court tennis Championship in Kano was recorded on Thursday, as former Nigeria's number one, Abdulmumin Babalola was bundled out of the tournament by Joseph Imeh.
Imeh in an explosive Men's Singles quarter-final clash stunned Ibadan-based Babalola as he came from behind to win the match 3-6, 7-6, 7-6.
The former Nigeria junior player, Imeh who is eyeing his first national senior title will on Friday face top seed, Moses Micheal in the semi-final after the latter had triumphed over Shehu Lawal 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 in another quarter-final pairing.
Moses had conquered Clifford Enosoregbe 6-3, 6-4 in the second round amid his devastating form to overwhelm Nigeria’s best performer at the 2016 Lagos Governor’s Cup Tennis Championship, Enosoregbe who made it to the quarter-final of the International Tennis Federation-ranked tournament last month.
“This is undoubtedly one of the toughest matches I have ever played in my career. Mumin’s experience reflected in his game but I was so determined not to lose the game and in the end I won. We were both tired because we played so many games. I thank God I won in the end and I now believe I can beat anybody and win the tournament,” an elated Imeh said.
Interestingly, it was also a sad day for another Ibadan-based player, Sarah Adegoke as she lost in the semi-final of the Women's Singles.
Adegoke, last year's finalist tried her best to contain the firepower of Blessing Samuel, but to no avail as the match ended in 6-1, 5-7, 6-3.
The 2014 Dala Hard Court champion, Adegoke, had in the quarter-final came from a set down to beat Ronke Akingbade 4-6, 6-2, 6-0.
Defending champion, Christy Agubgom is a game left to retain her title as she dumped Patience Onobamhoin also on Thursday to book a final showdown with Samuel.
Also in the Men's Singles, Thomas Otu, former Nigeria number one ranked player defeated Emmanuel Idoko 6-3, 6-2 and will face the winner between defending champion, Sylvester Emmanuel and Emmanuel Sunday whose game was suspended due to poor visibility at 1-1 major. The match will be completed on Friday (November 25) morning.
In his remarks, Yusuf Datti, the Chief Operating Officer of the tournament said he was
impressed with the quality of play.
“It has been a very tough championship as all the players are so much determined to go for the top prize. The match between Imeh and Babalola is a classic so also the match involving Moses and Lawal. It has been an impressive tournament by all standard,” Datti said.
The men’s singles champion will go home with N800,000 while the women’s champion will pocket N500,000 as prize money according to the organisers of the annual tournament.
..............
Caption:
Sarah Adegoke (left), crashed out of the Women's Singles and Moses Michael, still in the race to win the Men's Singles of the ongoing Dala Hart Court Tennis in Kano.
Hard fighting Christopher Edwards on Tuesday qualified for the second round of the Men's Singles of the ongoing 2016 Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship at the Kano Tennis Club.
Edward, who reached the second round of the just-ended Lagos Governor's Tennis Cup championship triumphed 6-0, 6-2 over Ikilil Sani-Waziri.
The Benue State-born player told www.harmonysport.blogspot.com that he is well-prepared
to make a statement at Dala 2016.
"I gained a lot from participating at the Lagos Governor's Cup and I believe I will put that experience to bear on the Dala Hard Court. I will take every game as it comes and I believe it is going to be a fight to the finish. Mental toughness helped me to stop Waziri and this victory is a morale booster," Edward said.
He added that he is battle-ready to face the 'giant killer' Emmanuel Idoko saying "I will remain focused and take every game seriously and hope for luck as well".
Idoko, it will be recalled, created what served as the first major
upset in the tournament as he dumped the 2014 CBN Open champion, Henry
Atseye 6-3, 6-3 on Tuesday to land in the next round.
Meanwhile, defending champion, Sylvester Emmanuel began his title defence with a 6-3,
6-3 victory over Tochukwu Ezeh as his elder brother, Sunday Emmanuel, who won the title in 2013 also secured a 6-0, 6-2 win over Dauda Ayuba to advance in the Men's Singles.
Thomas Otu, the 2015 CBN winner also advanced after defeating Idris Aiyu 6-4, 6-4, as Nonso Madueke stopped John Otu 6-1, 6-4, while Albert Bikom triumphed over Ibrahim Badamasi 6-4, 7-5. Joseph Imeh beat Monday Igbinovia 3-6, 5-3 rtd to move to the next round as well as Chritopher Bulus who dumped Shehu Adamu 7-6, 5-1 rtd.
In some of the Women’s Singles matches decided on Tuesday, Christy Nwankwo defeated
Pauline Ebijimi 6-3, 6-2 while Loveth Donatus dumped Colleen Orji 6-2, 6-2.
Christy Agugbom is the defending champion of the Women's Singles after beating Sarah
Adegoke during last year's final.
............
Caption:
Edwards Christopher in a spectacular move during a recent championship. He is through to the second round of the ongoing Dala Hard Court Tennis Cup in Kano.
Governor's Cup
1945 : Marine 1-0 Corinthians
1946 : Lagos Railways 3-1 Port Harcourt FC
1947 : Marine 3-1 Lagos Railways
1948 : Lagos Railways 1-0 Warri
1949 : Lagos Railways 3-0 Port Harcourt FC
1950 : Lagos UAC 3-2 Port Harcourt FC
1951 : Lagos Railways 3-2 Mighty Jets (Jos)
1952 : Lagos PAN Bank 6-0 Warri (Mid-West)
1953 : Kano Pillars F.C. 2-1 Lagos Dynamos
FA Cup
1954 : Calabar 3-0 Kano Pillars F.C.
1955 : Port Harcourt FC 4-1 Warri
1956 : Lagos Railways 3-1 Warri
1957 : Lagos Railways 5-1 Zaria
1958 : Port Harcourt FC 6-0 Federal United
1959 : Ibadan Lions 1-0 Police
Challenge Cup
1960 : Lagos ECN 5-2 Ibadan Lions
1961 : Ibadan Lions 2-1 Lagos UAC
1962 : Police 1-0 Mighty Jets (Jos)
1963 : Port Harcourt FC 1-0 Mighty Jets (Jos)
1964 : Lagos Railways 3-1 Mighty Jets (Jos)
1965 : Lagos ECN 3-1 Mighty Jets (Jos)
1966 : Ibadan Lions beat Mighty Jets (Jos)
1967 : Stationery Stores (Lagos) 3-1 Mighty Jets (Jos)
1968 : Stationery Stores (Lagos) 3-1 (r.) Warri
1969 : Ibadan Lions 5-1 Warri
1970 : Lagos ECN 3-1 Mighty Jets (Jos)
1971 : WNDC Ibadan 2-1 Enugu Rangers
1972 : Bendel Insurance (Benin City) 2-2 3-2 Mighty Jets (Jos)
1973 : No competition
1974 : Enugu Rangers 2-0 Mighty Jets (Jos)
1975 : Enugu Rangers 1-0 Shooting Stars FC (Ibadan)
1976 : Enugu Rangers 2-0 Alyufsalam Rocks (Ilorin)
1977 : Shooting Stars FC (Ibadan) 2-0 Racca Rovers
1978 : Bendel Insurance 3-0 Enugu Rangers
1979 : Shooting Stars FC (Ibadan) 2-0 Sharks FC (Port Harcourt)
1980 : Bendel Insurance (Benin City) 1-0 Stationery Stores (Lagos)
1981 : Enugu Rangers 2-0 Bendel Insurance (Benin City)
1982 : Stationery Stores (Lagos) 4-1 Niger Tornadoes (Minna)
1983 : Enugu Rangers 0-0 (5 t.a.b. à 4) DIC Bees (Kaduna)
1984 : Leventis United (Ibadan) 1-0 Abiola Babes (Abeokuta)
1985 : Abiola Babes (Abeokuta) (6 t.a.b. à 5) BCC Lions (Gboko)
1986 : Leventis United (Ibadan) 1-0 Abiola Babes (Abeokuta)
1987 : Abiola Babes (Abeokuta) 1-1 (7 t.a.b. à 6) Ranchers Bees
1988 : Iwuanyanwu Nationale (Owerri) 3-0 Flash Flamingoes
1989 : BCC Lions (Gboko) 1-0 Iwuanyanwu Nationale (Owerri)
1990 : Stationery Stores (Lagos) 0-0 (5 t.a.b. à 4) Enugu Rangers
1991 : El-Kanemi Warriors (Maiduguri) 3-2 Kano Pillars F.C.
1992 : El-Kanemi Warriors (Maiduguri) 1-0 Stationery Stores (Lagos)
1993 : BCC Lions (Gboko) 1-0 Plateau United (Jos)
1994 : BCC Lions (Gboko) 1-0 Julius Berger FC (Lagos)
1995 : Shooting Stars FC (Ibadan) 2-0 Katsina United
1996 : Julius Berger FC (Lagos) 1-0 (a.p.) Katsina United
1997 : BCC Lions (Gboko) 1-0 Katsina United
1998 : Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) 0-0 (3 t.a.b. à 2) Plateau United (Jos)
Coca Cola FA Cup
1999 : Plateau United (Jos) 1-0 Iwuanyanwu Nationale (Owerri)
2000 : Niger Tornadoes (Minna) 1-0 Enugu Rangers
2001 : Dolphin FC (Port Harcourt) 2-0 El-Kanemi Warriors (Maiduguri)
2002 : Julius Berger FC (Lagos) 3-0 Yobe Stars (Damaturu)
2003 : Lobi Stars (Makurdi) 2-0 Sharks FC (Port Harcourt)
2004 : Dolphin FC (Port Harcourt) 1-0 Enugu Rangers
2005 : Enyimba FC (Aba) 1-1 Lobi Stars (Makurdi) (aet, 6-5 pen)
2006 : Dolphin FC (Port Harcourt) 2-2 Bendel Insurance (aet, 5-3 pen)
2007 : Dolphin FC (Port Harcourt) 1-1 Enugu Rangers (aet, 3-2 pen)
2008 : Ocean Boys FC (Brass) 2-2 Gombe United FC (aet, 7-6 pen)
Federation Cup
2009 : Enyimba FC (Aba) 1-0 Sharks FC (Port Harcourt)
2010 : Kaduna United F.C. 3-3 Enyimba FC (Aba) (aet, 3-2 pen)
2011 : Heartland F.C. 1-0 Enyimba FC (Aba)
2012 : Heartland F.C. 2-1 Lobi Stars
2013 : Enyimba F.C. 2-2 Warri Wolves (aet, 5-4 pen)
2014 : Enyimba FC (Aba) 2-1 Dolphin FC (Port Harcourt)
2015 : Akwa United F.C 2-1 Lobi Stars
2016 : FC IfeanyiUbah 5 Nasarawa Utd 4 (pen)
1991 Rivers Angels (PH)
1992 Ufuoma Babes (Warri)
1993 Ufuoma Babes (Warri)
1994 Ufuoma Babes (Warri)
1995 Pelican Stars (Calabar)
1996 Ufuoma Babes (Warri)
1997 Pelican Stars (Calabar)
1998 Pelican Stars (Calabar)
1999 Pelican Stars (Calabar)
2000 FCT Queens (Abuja)
2001 Pelican Stars (Calabar)
2002 Pelican Stars (Calabar)
2003 Not played
2004 Delta Queens (Asaba)
2005 Nassarawa Amazons (Lafia)
2006 Delta Queens (Asaba)
2007/08 Delta Queens (Asaba)
2009 Delta Queens (Asaba)
2010 Rivers Angels (Port Harcourt)
2011 Rivers Angels (Port Harcourt)
2012 Rivers Angels (Port Harcourt)
2013 Rivers Angels (Port Harcourt)
2014 Rivers Angels (Port Harcourt)
2015 Sunshine Queens (Akure)
2016 Rivers Angels 3 Bayelsa Queens 2 (pen) 1-1 at regulation time
Caption: Rivers Angels... reclaim the Women's Federation Cup title.
Bright Future Cycling Club, Ibadan, stole the show in the junior category of the Second Monthly Criterium organised by CC 12 Cycling Club, Lagos.
In the race held at the Ikoyi GRA, Lagos on September 24 where the cyclists covered 45.5km, Odebiyi Azeez of Bright Future Cycling Club (BFCC) and SS III student of Government College, Apata, Ibadan, finished ahead of other competitors in the junior cadre to claim the gold.
He was followed by his team-mate, Zakariyau Faruq, an SS II student of Sacred Heart Secondary School, Inalende, Ibadan, while Bamidele Bello also of BFCC and SS I student of Atanda Comprehensive High School, Ibadan, clinched the bronze.
In the senior category, Effiok Eyo of CC 12 claimed the gold in a time of one hour and four seconds, as Ajibade Sodiq also of CC 12 settled for the silver with a time of one hour and five seconds, while Afeez Bakare won the bronze in a time of one hour and nine seconds.
Pedal Power, Ibadan and the cycling teams from Ogun and Lagos states also participated at the monthly event which featured 35 cyclists.
Meanwhile, Coach Kolapo Aminu of the Bright Future Cycling Club, has expressed satisfaction with the performance of his wards at the event.
"We are happy that our cyclists are improving with each competition. When we came for the first edition, we didn't perform up to this level. Apart from the trio who made the podium, We also paraded Ojo John and Asiribo Olamilekan who also did their best.
"I give kudos to the organisers for creating a platform for these young cyclists to develop because we must expose them to regular competitions to build them for major championships. It is through regular competitions that we can ascertain the performance of every cyclist and not training alone and that is why all stakeholders must rally round CC 12 to be able to sustain this Monthly Criterium.
"Our cyclists were so happy with their performance and they are looking forward to the October edition," Coach Aminu told harmonysport.blogspot.com.
Also, Team Coordinator of BFCC, Odebiyi Gafary said with proper motivation, Nigeria is blessed with a crop of young talented cyclists who would make the country proud in the near future.
"The best way is to catch these cyclists young and expose them and that is what we are trying to do in Oyo State and with what we have seen at several competitions we have attended, the future is bright for Nigeria.
"I believe Nigeria in the near future would begin to dominate cycling even in Africa as a whole because we have the potential," Gafary told harmonysport.blogspot.com.
The third CC 12 Monthly Criterium is scheduled to hold on Saturday, October 29, 2016 in
Lagos.
................
Caption:
Photo 1: Proud winners from the Bright Future Cycling Club pose after their heroics in Lagos. From left is Zakariyau Faruq, Odebiyi Azeez and Bamidele Bello.
Photo 2: The winners in the senior category after receiving their medals. From left is Ajibade Sodiq, Effiok Eyo and Afeez Bakare.
Ajeast Nigeria Limited, bottlers of Big Cola soft drinks has boosted this year’s Med-View/Lagos NUJ Media Games with a donation of N1million.
Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos State Council, ‘Deji Elumoye
disclosed on Wednesday that the company has promised to support the annual event of the
journalists.
“The donation when eventually released will go a long way in the organisation of the Games and we hope our relationship with the company will be a lasting one,” said Elumoye.
Reacting to the donation, Marketing Executive of the company, Perpetua Ohiri, said the company decided to support the Games because of the roles of journalists in the country.
“This is a new relationship and I want to say that it has come to stay. This is just the beginning and by God’s grace, we will improve on our donation during next year’s event.
“We all know what is going on in the country, hence we could have done more than this but definitely, next year’s edition will be bigger and better,” Ohiri said.
Over 200 journalists are participating in this year’s edition of the Games in seven events - football, athletics, scrabble, chess, draught, ayo and table tennis.
Meanwhile, The Sun and Vanguard soccer teams will on Friday, October 28 clash at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, in the first semi-final of the NUJ Games, while defending champions, Lagos Information Chapel will tackle the Voice of Nigeria (VON) Chapel in another battle for the final ticket.
