Sports

14 Teams Set To Rumbles At 2022 Abuja Rugby 10’s Tournament

Published

2 weeks ago

May 11, 2022

Joel Ajayi

No fewer than 14 Rugby teams will be taking part in the 2022 Rugby 10’s tourney starting from Friday’s 13th to the 14th of May inside the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Package B Abuja.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, by Abuja Rugby Football Club ARFC captain, Michael Egirani aka Don Michelino said the tournament aims to promote rugby in Nigeria and celebrate the skills of Nigerian teams.

“(ARFC) is proudly hosting the Pepsi Abuja Rugby 10’s tournament bringing together teams from across Nigeria to compete for the title of Abuja 10s Championship in the different categories, and take home a trophy and prize money for the 1st and 2nd, and 3rd place.

“This is the first rugby tournament held in Abuja in over 20 years.

“To further growth and raise the profile of rugby in Nigeria, ARFC is taking the bold step of hosting the first nationwide 10s tournament in Abuja this month will showcase the grassroots talent and the passion of Nigeria’s youth for the game of rugby..

“We are expecting over 1,000 spectators over the weekend and ARFC have planned a spectacular two days with entertainment in the intervals, food and drink vendors, craft stalls, media screens showing the live matches, DJs & MCs, seating areas with tents for shade, and an afterparty at the venue on Saturday at 7 pm. The atmosphere will be electric and there will be supporters in Abuja, nationally in Nigeria, and abroad closely following the tournament.

“14 visiting teams will be coming to Abuja for the tournament. The revamped format with a special feature of Ladies 7’s full-contact game and an earlier

finish allowing an after-party at the event venue, shortly after the awards ceremony.

“Opening ceremony is on Friday 13th May at 11 am followed by the kick-off of the first game at 12:30 pm and games will be played until 5:30 pm. On Saturday 14

May, kick-off is at 9 am.

“The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and grand finals, will all take place from 12 noon onwards on Saturday.

“Saturday afternoon will also feature a special one-off, first of its kind. Ladies 7’s full-contact match to show how the momentum around women’s rugby is continuously building and we look forward to demonstrating this to Nigeria through the unstoppable energy of our Abuja Ladies 7’s team who will be playing the Zaria Rugby Ladies 7’s team.”

In his remarks, ARFC President, Richard Abrakson, revealed that he is thrilled to be hosting the event: “We have been training hard for this tournament and can’t wait to welcome some of Nigeria’s best rugby players to our city, Abuja, the city of unity.

This is apt because our club is a community of players from diverse backgrounds. I am sure everyone will see that after some fierce competitions, all the players from Abuja rugby club and from across Nigeria will be united and friends – as often are the case with rugby players around the world.”

While speaking, ARFC Coach, Daniel Nicolle, said “With the first tournament in Abuja in over 20yrs, in the first-ever 10’s tournament in Abuja.

ARFC is looking forward to uniting Nigerian teams at the Pepsi Abuja Rugby 10’s tournament 2022.”

However, the side attraction includes, Free Entry | Food Vendors | Beer & soft drinks Craft stalls | and Seated areas available.

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Sports

Ekiti FA Congratulates Flying Eagles’ Tolulope Ojo On WAFU Cup Heroics

Published

7 hours ago

May 22, 2022

The Gleamer

By Akeem Busari

Ekiti State Football Association has congratulated fast rising forward Tolulope Ojo for his historic feats during the just concluded WAFU U20 Championship held in Niger.

The fast paced attacker featured only in the semi final and the final matches of the competition.

The Flying Eagles defeated Benin 3-1 in the final to emerge winners and qualify for the AFCON U-20 Championship slated to hold later year in Egypt. And with Ekiti State born and Remo Stars’ attacker Tolulope Ojo scoring a brace in the final match.

Speaking with Nigeria Sports Centre, Ekiti FA Boss Bayo Olanlege, expressed his happiness on feat of the team, just as he was particularly thrilled by the performances of Ojo, who was discovered during one of the schools football tournaments in the state and then exposed to grassroots club football before he went ahead to don colours of Ekiti United, Bendel Insurance and Remo Stars.

” We congratulate the Flying Eagles for emerging winners of the WAFU U20 Cup. However, it is more gratifying to note that our own ‘son’ Tolulope Ojo was the hero of the final match. We are indeed, proud of him and happy with his achievements so far,” the youthful football administrator remarked.

“We also believe that the heroics of Ojo is a testament to the determination of the FA to develop grassroots football in the state and build a sustainable and longer lasting football ecosystem,” he stated confidently.

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