Sports

Kumaga, The Hero As Lobi Stars Pip Tornadoes In Lafia

Published

2 years ago

December 29, 2023

Lobi Stars dig deep to maintain the unbeaten home record in the north-central derby clash as Suur Kumaga’s long-range strike was all the Pride of Benue needed to pick a maximum of three points against a hard-fighting Niger Tornadoes.

Coach Eugene Agagbe welcomed Samuel Tiza back into the team, and drafted Francis Odinaka to pair with Moses Tsehuan at the heart of the defense while Sunday Chinedu started on the bench as the gaffer retained Suur Kumaga to the right back as the match gets underway.

Tornadoes had less possession in the game as the home team dominated proceedings from the beginning of the game to the 90th minute.

Stanley Oganbor almost broke the deadlock in the 3rd minute of play when he released a long-range strike that failed to hit the desired target.

Lobi Stars goalkeeper Lucky Adullahi was in the right spot to save Clinton Japthet’s close-range header when the Tornadoes winger noded on target.

Goalkeeper Enaholo had to go the extra mile to deny Tiza from his well-taken freekick as the first half ended 0-0.

Both teams returned for the final minutes of the game as Coach Agagbe replaced Samuel Tiza, and Stephen Eneji, with Suleiman Mojereola and Sunday Chinedu for more tactical play.

As the minutes ticked down, the Ikon Allah boys defended resolutely while the Yes Father boys kept faith in their philosophy of pressing forward knocking on the visitors to exploit.

However, The Shoe Get Size Boys finally made the breakthrough in the 75th minute when Suur Kumaga surged forward from the right back and converted a half-chance into a full chance when he released a long-range bullet with his left foot to beat Enaholo in goal to change the scoreline to 1-0 in favour of Lobi Stars.

The Minna-based side came all out in search of an equalizer, but Japhet’s effort was denied by the crossbar as the Shoe Gets Size boys emerged victorious in the North Central Derby upon full time to end the year on a brighter note.

With the 1-0 victory, the Food Basket Team has gathered 29 points to go joint top on the league table with Remo Stars.

Speaking after the match, Coach Eugene Agagbe thanked his side for the wonderful performance

“I thanked my boys for playing under instruction in the second half of the game, the boys played with character and it showed that they are equal to the task and are ready to get what they are looking for in the 23/24 season and our most target is to be among the first three” Agagbe maintained.

Up next, Lobi Stars will be traveling to Ilorin, to face Kwara United for another North Central derby on Matchday 17.

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Sports

Badminton Federation of Nigeria Targets Grassroots Growth, Coaches’ Capacity Building

Published

16 hours ago

May 14, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, says the federation has launched an ambitious reform programme anchored on structured planning, grassroots development, and long-term athlete progression across all levels of the sport.

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja, after two-day retreat at ANOCA building where board members, technical experts, and stakeholders gathered under the theme: Repositioning Badminton for Sustainable Growth’ gathered to chart a way forward for the Game.

Orbih said the sessions were designed to align stakeholders on a unified four-year strategic roadmap focused on improving governance, strengthening performance systems, and expanding participation nationwide.

He noted that key priorities discussed include technical development, coaching education, athlete welfare, and a more coordinated grassroots structure through school-based programmes.

According to him, the federation has approved the creation of 11 committees to drive implementation of its reforms, with emphasis on accountability, coordination, and measurable performance outcomes.

“We wanted a collective approach where decisions are jointly owned and implemented, with clear and measurable results.

‘’A major pillar of the plan is grassroots badminton development, particularly in schools.’’

He explained that while outreach programmes have existed, the federation is now shifting toward a more structured and data-driven approach with wider national coverage.

Orbih disclosed that the federation currently reaches an average of 25 to 30 schools per zonal outreach programme, but plans are underway to expand coverage across more states and increase consistency of engagement.

He also highlighted gaps in coaching capacity, noting that the number of certified coaches in Nigeria remains relatively low compared to other countries. The federation, he said, will intensify coaching education and certification programmes to close the gap and improve technical standards.

“We have over 100 coaches in Nigeria, but many are not actively engaged in continuous training. We want to strengthen that system and raise the standard,” he added.

The BFN president further confirmed the introduction of structured age-grade development pathways, covering under-12, under-15, under-19, and other youth categories to ensure seamless progression from grassroots to elite level.

President added that, federation plans to organise more age-group tournaments to sustain player development and improve competitive exposure.

Speaking also, the Technical Director of the federation, Tunde Kashim, also emphasised that the technical department remains central to the reform agenda, describing it as the “engine room” of badminton development in the country.

He said the department is reviewing player databases, coaching structures, and competition pathways to ensure a stronger performance system.

Kashim added that efforts will be made to upgrade coaching levels across the country, including progression through certification tiers, while also addressing the declining number of active coaches in the system.

He further revealed plans to expand youth competitions across multiple age categories, including under-12, under-15, under-16, and under-19 levels, aimed at strengthening the talent pipeline from schools to elite competition.

According to him, the federation is also working with state stakeholders to improve facilities and increase participation, while preparing for upcoming national and continental engagements.

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