Sports
Kada Queens, Kada Stars Hockey Teams Return To Nigeria with Bronze Medal from Africa Cup for Club Championship
Joel Ajayi
The Kada Queens Hockey Team of Nigeria who etched their name in African Hockey history by clinching the bronze medal at the just-concluded 25th Women’s Africa Cup for Club Champions (ACCC) in far-away Egypt returns to the country on Monday.
It will be recalled that just a few days ago, the Kaduna-based women’s team and Nigeria’s representatives, Kada Queens, emerged as bronze medal winners at the 26th Africa Cup for Club Hockey Championship in Ismailia, Egypt.
The Queens beat the Kenyan side, Mombasa, 1-0 in a keenly contested match. The Nigerian club finished 2nd in Group B after winning 3 out of 4 games to qualify for the knockout phase.
Also, their male counterpart, Kada Stars, who participated in the same tournament, could not win, but one of their players, James Smalia, won the highest goal scorer of the tournament as a consolation prize for the male team as well, returning home.
The team arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Monday at 2:00 pm, where they were welcomed by Nigerian and hockey enthusiasts.
Speaking was an elated coach of the two teams, Abdullahi Babagana. “I wouldn’t say I’m not excited. I am, but it was not what we planned for. We planned to clinch the gold medal, but at the end of the day, all short, we got the bronze medal. We still thank and appreciate God for giving us the bronze medal. It’s not really easy.
“In fact, the weather, whatever you call it, the journey, the stress, it begins with a lot of good things, wonderful performances from them. So we thank God. But it’s a lesson. We’ve learned our lesson against next year’s African Club Championship. When we go back there, it will be a different ball game. I believe, with the experience they gained, we will do better.”
When asked whether the team had learned anything from the tournament, he replied, “Well, you know, when we left, we left on the 29th, getting there on the 30th. On the 30th was our first match. We got to the hotel around five to six in the morning, and the match was scheduled for 10 o’clock. So there was no rest, we rushed into it. Some of them did not even take breakfast, and it was not easy. That was how it started, and that was the match we lost.
Losing a match in a tournament of this nature, you know, it’s always a problem. Maybe by next year, the preparation will be early, we’ll go early, and all this will not affect us, and I believe we’ll do better. I commended my players for standing against strong opposition and coming back with the bronze medal. It was a great competition for us. We’ve added to our experience as a team.”
He, however, expressed gratitude to the Kaduna state government for ensuring that the teams participated in the championship despite the meager resources of the state.
On her part, the team’s captain of Kada Queens, John Alfa Cornelius, expressed that the late arrival to the venue really affected the team’s performance: “Really, the bronze medal is not our target, but that is the game. We still appreciate God for that. We arrived late, and we swung into action, but we couldn’t meet up.”
Two other Nigerian clubs in the women’s category, Delta Queens and Plateau Queens, finished respectively 3rd and 4th in Groups B and A.
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.
-
Featured6 years agoLampard Names New Chelsea Manager
-
Featured5 years agoFG To Extends Lockdown In FCT, Lagos Ogun states For 7days
-
Featured6 years agoChildren Custody: Court Adjourns Mike Ezuruonye, Wife’s Case To April 7
-
Featured6 years agoNYSC Dismisses Report Of DG’s Plan To Islamize Benue Orientation Camp
-
Featured4 years agoTransfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor
-
Sports3 years ago
TINUBU LAMBAST DELE MOMODU
-
News9 months agoZulu to Super Eagles B team, President Tinubu is happy with you
-
Featured6 years ago
Board urges FG to establish one-stop rehabilitation centres in 6 geopolitical zones
