Sports
NTF optimistic of good outing at 2024 BJK cup Africa in Kenya
Jemi Ojo
Shammah Makpa, the Secretary General of NTF, made the call in an interview in Abuja.
Makpa confidence is charged by the spirit of displayed by the national team players at the just concluded Africa games in Ghana.
“ Our athletes had a strong showing at the recently finished African Games in Ghana. It was excellent, and we are happy with the players who gave it their all.
“ You can see the players’ professionalism, patriotism, and dedication. We were able to reach the performer podium.
“ During the African Games, over 23 countries competed in the tennis competition, with Nigeria setting a record among those who won medals during the game. That was a decent one, then, ” he said.
He said NTF went with four male and four female players. We end up having one sliver and one bronze medal.
“ We are happy with the players’ performance, they gave a strong showing,” he said.
He said the next agenda of the NTF is to ensure that we increase the number of competition across the country.
“ We have the 2024 BJK cup Africa coming up in less than two month from June 10 to June 15.
“ This competition is like the World Cup ,a tournament between national teams in women’s tennis and Nigeria is featuring this year in the Group lll.
“ Our target is to be able to get promotion to the Group ll .With this player, I believe that we will be able to do that.
“ We should be able to do much better even the last BJK Cup Africa that we went in 2023 ,We finished third in the group.
“ With their performance displayed in Ghana, this would help them to do well , I strongly believe we’ll have a good outing at the upcoming 2024 BJK Cup Africa,” he said.
While the male category, the players will not lack home support in the 2024 Davis Cup Africa Group II qualifying rounds after the country ( Nigeria) secured rights to host the event to be staged in Abuja from July 15 to July 20 .
“ Our players qualified from Group IV to Group lll of the Davis Cup alongside Ghana, following a superb run in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2023.
“ In this Group ll is one of the biggest , where players going to compete with the European countries, that is our target ,” he said.
The reports that six nations will grace the tournament Namibia, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin and Nigeria (host)
and will be competing for two slots in Group II during the qualifying round.
Also reports that Kenya will host the 2024 BJK Cup Africa Group III for the second consecutive year after pipping Burundi during the bidding process.
Kenya and Burundi were the only countries to bid for the tournament to be staged from June 10 to June 15.
The winner will be promoted to the BJK Cup Europe /Africa Group II tournament in 2025.
12 nations will grace the tournament; Botswana, Burundi, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
The teams will be split into three pools of four with the top four sides meeting in the semifinals
Sports
From Streets to Stardom: Unique Futbol Academy Scouting Program Inspires Ibadan’s Young Footballers
Ibadan is buzzing with excitement as the Unique Football Academy Scouting Program kicks off, bringing together top European football clubs and talented young Nigerian players.
The four-day program, which commenced on Monday, features a delegation of four directors from prominent European teams, including two from Kosovo and one from India, led by renowned football agent Diego Martins from Portugal.
The scouting program aims to identify and select outstanding players who will be given opportunities to showcase their skills in Europe.
Successful players will be offered the chance to take their careers to the next level, with the organizers assuring them of opportunities abroad.
According to the Director of the program and founder of Unique Football Academy, Mr. Jelil Oladimeji, this is not the first time the academy has organized such an event.
“This is the 4th edition, and we are proud of the progress and impact we have made so far in terms of exposing our raw talent to the European market,” he said.
The program has already proven successful, with several players from previous editions going on to excel in European leagues. Some notable examples include Haruna Saleh with PAOK in Greece and Praisegod Emersons in Slovakia.
As the program continues, clubs are gearing up to exhibit their talents, and the future looks bright for Nigeria’s young football stars.
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