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Enyimba Hold Remo Stars In Sagamu To Keep Playoff Hope Alive

Published

6 years ago

May 17, 2019

Enyimba Hold Remo Stars In Sagamu To Keep Playoff Hope Alive

Enyimba Football Club kept their Nigeria Professional Football League playoff hopes on solid track with a goalless draw against ten-man Remo Stars at the Gateway International Stadium on Thursday evening.

Both sides came into the fixture in dire need of points to drive their respective ambitions as Enyimba aimed at avoiding a slip from group A’s top three while Remo were already in a race against time to salvage their top-flight status.

Things started out in awry fashion for the relegation bedevilled hosts, however, as Kenney Boboye was forced into an early change when right back Abiodun Awoyemi was stretchered out after four minutes.

The remainder of the early exchanges barely went beyond being topsy-turvy, with the players struggling to come to terms with the bumpy playing surface.

The first real chance of the game eventually came in the eighteenth minute when a long throw into the Enyimba box left Victor Mbaoma with the easy task of tapping in, but the Remo captain failed to sort his feet and the visitors quickly cleared their lines.

At the other end, Chinedu Udechukwu, minutes after getting into the referee’s book for a challenge in midfield, got to the end of Stanley Okorom’s telling cross but managed to miss from eight yards.

Enyimba, from that point, asserted themselves heavily on the hosts, but were almost punished on the break with a swift passing move that ended at the feet of an offside-positioned Mustapha Gbolahan.

Udechukwu came close again for the visitors with a free kick from thirty yards that was fumbled over the top by Emmanuel Fabiyi.

With halftime beckoning, Reuben Bala who had proved to be a handful for Remo all the while, setup Udechukwu once more, and this time the striker’s effort from outside the box rattled off the base of the upright.

The hosts looked better organised at the restart and consistently pushed into Enyimba’s territory, but the half’s first real action came at the other end as Olisa Ndah cleared off the line after Thomas Zenke’s low drive from Okorom’s free kick had beaten the keeper.

Remo were made to play the last half hour with a man down when Victor Chidume was given the marching order for dissent. Boboye’s men were, however, irrepressible and continued to push forward with Gbolahan central to their forrays.

With time running against the search for a winner, Boboye sent on Oshobe Shuji but Enyimba held on to what was clearly a favourable scoreline.

In the end, the barren outcome confirmed Remo’s return to the Nigeria National League, while Enyimba remain in the group’s final playoff position, one point ahead of fourth placed MFM.

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

5 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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