Sports
9 Nigerian Weightlifters Qualify For 2022 Commonwealth Games
Joel Ajayi
Nine Nigeria weightlifters have qualified for the 2022 Commonwealth Games weightlifting event holding in Birmingham, England in July
The nine lifters are made up of 7 women and 2 men.
Their qualifications were confirmed in the March 1st, 2022 International Weightlifting Federation, IWF Ranking.
In the ranking released, Adịjat Adenike Olarinoye was ranked first in the 55kg women category while Stellar Peter Kingsley was ranked second in the 49kg women category
Rafiatu Folashade Lawal was ranked first in the 59kg women category while Islamiyat Adebukdu Yusuf was ranked 4th in
64kg women category
In other women categories, Joy Ogbonne Eze came second in 82kg, Taiwo Liadi 5th, in
76kg while Osijo Mary Taiwo was ranked 5th in
87kg women
In the men category, Joseph Umofia Edidiong was ranked 3rd in the 67kg while his compatriot, Emmanuel Appah was ranked 5th in 61kg.
Stellar Kingsley got a total of 168kg in (72 snatch and 96 jerk) to be placed second in 49kg womem category and won gold at the Commonwealth Championship in Uzbekistan last year.
Adịjat Adenike Olarinoye, who won a gold in 2021 Commonwealth Championship as well as silver and bronze in 2021 International Weightlifting Federation, NWF Championship in Uzbekistan in December was ranked first in the 55kg women category.
She lifted 90kg snatch and 113 jerk making a total of 203kg to be placed top.
Lifting a combined sum of 207kg with 92kg snatch, 115 jerk, Rafiatu Folashade Lawal, was ranked first in the 59kg women category. She achieved the feat in the 2021 Commonwealth Championship in Uzbekistan.
Islamiyat Adebukdu Yusuf won gold on February 2 at the 2022 Mauritius Open Championship with a 93kg snatch and 118 jerk lift totalling 211k was ranked 4th in the 64kg women category
In 82kg women category, Joy Ogbonne Eze who who gold at the 2021 Commonwealth Championship in Uzbekistan, and a bronze in the 2021 IWF Championship was ranked 3rd with 230kg lift. She had lifted 100kg snatch and 130 jerk for her second-place finish in the latest IWF ranking
With a total of 210kg lift comprising 95kg snatch and 115 jerk, Taiwo Liadi was ranked 5th in the 76kg women category. She achieved the record at the IWF Championship in Uzbekistan December last year
With a gold medal on her neck at the 2022 Mauritius Open Championship, Osijo Mary Taiwo qualified for the 2022 Commonwealth Games with a total lift of 213kg to be placed 5th in the 87kg women category.
She had 95kg in snatch and 118kg in jerk
Joseph Umofia Edidiong, silver medal winner at the 2021 Commonwealth Championship in Uzbekistan was ranked 3rd in the 67kg men category. He had a lift of 135kg snatch and 160kg jerk totalling 295kg to qualify for the Commonwealth Games in Bermignham England.
Emmanuel Appah had a combined 255kg lift in 61kg men category to be ranked 5th and also qualified for the Games in July.
He had 115kg in snatch and 140kg in jerk during the 2021 Commonwealth Championship in Uzbekistan
The 2022 Commonwealth Games Weightlifting Event will hold at the National Exhibition Centre, Bermignham, from 30 July to 3 August 2022.
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums
Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.
Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.
In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”
He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.
“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”
Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT
Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.
“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.
Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”
The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.
He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development
As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.
“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”
Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.
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