Sports can reduce crime, poverty – Pastor Owumere

Sports has been identified as a good instrument for poverty reduction, unemployment alleviation and fight against fight crime in society. Sole Administrator of Okigwe LGA of Imo State, Pastor Frank Onwumere, said this  while receiving a cup donated by Chief  Osita Offormezie for a new football cup competition for communities in the area.
He said the LGA has adopted sports as an instrument to help make the youth useful to society  halt rising crime rate and invigorate poverty alleviation efforts “because it is people’s passion, efficient and popular,  we have put in place a sports policy geared towards giving our youths the sense of belonging.

“This football competition will no doubt boost government youth empowerment effort,” he said. He commended the cup donor for the gesture, stating that “with this competition, sport is going to take a big place in our area,’ noting that “if this is successful, it would compel other philanthropists, well- meaning indigenes and organisations to follow Offormezie’s foot-steps.On his part, the cup donor said it was intended to help renew sporting rivalry among the youths of all the communities noting that “it would also help people of Okigwe regain their pride of place in the sporting wor ld.’ Meanwhile youth teams in in the area who have taken up the challenge are bracing up for action ahead of the a new football competition.

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Sacking of Eagles coaches, a distraction – Emeteole

By Eddie Akalonu

Former coach of the Beach Eagles, Kelechi Emeteole has expressed displeasure on the recent downsizing of Super Eagles coaching crew by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, especially now the World Cup qualifying match against Kenya in Nairobi as well as the FIFA Confederation Cup in Brazil are fast approaching.
He described the move as complete distraction to the nation’s present goals and objectives.
“the action is not good faith because we have very important matches on our hands. It’s ill-timed and not done in the best interest of football,” said. The former coach of Heartland Football Club of Owerri reacted to an NFF staff audit of the technical crew and backroom staff was faulty as commentators and stake-holders quickly interpreted to mean leaving Keshi completely bare and ostensibly designed to see him fail on all fronts. The notable name affected was assistant coach, Sylvanus Okpala but Emeteole said “ Yes, the federation has power to take decisions it deems fit for football. However, this ought not to have been done because the federation and team must concentrate fully on the game. ‘We all know there are matches on our around the corner and it doesn’t help. Our goal is to pick a World Cup ticket in addition to having a good Confederations Cup outing.”

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Battle of Namibia: Maintain same form, momentum, Lawal advises Eagles

Former Super Eagles player, Garba Lawal has hailed the Super Eagles for picking the maximum points against Kenya’s Harambee Stars in the 2014 World Cup qualifier decided at the Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi. In a telephone chat, Lawal said that in football, “goals matter: web got the goal, victory, and three points. That is the important factor of note.

Though he expressed sadness that Nigerians could not watch the game live which could have given more room for analysis, the Eagles former defender commended the team’s coach, Stephen Keshi for executing the tie with a winning plan as he equally praised the players for prosecuting the game with “super attitude.” “To me it’s not over until the ticket is safely in our hands. Let me to tell the team not to take anything for granted so as to avoid surprises. So they should keep the same winning attitude and have it in mind that the job can be accomplished,  ”he advised.

Lawal reminded the team that it would take just one good show of might to secure victory in the next game against Namibia for the deal to be sealed. “It is important that we maintain the same attitude, form and with full concentration to secure victory,” he stressed

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