Sports
Minister Wins Global Excellence’s Sports Personality of the Year Award
In recognition of his role in the social and economic development of Nigeria in the youth and sports sector, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare has been awarded the Sports Personality of the Year by popular lifestyle and showbiz magazine Global Excellence.
The award ceremony, tagged the Excellence Recognition Awards 2022, holds on Sunday, May 22, 2022 at the Balmoral Hall, Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos.
In being recognised for his immense work as Sports Minister, the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Global Excellence magazine Mayor Akinpelu said Sunday Dare deserved to be honoured for the excellence he has brought into his office and the innovations he has brought into the Youth and Sports Development Ministry.
Dare’s tenure as Sports Minister has witnessed a lot of initiatives that have positively impacted the sector leading to the nation’s best performance in 13 years at the Tokyo Olympics and her best ever outing at the 202O World U20 Athletics Championships in Nairobi, Kenya.
The welfare of athletes, both able bodied and special, has taken a prominent and central place in the activities of the Ministry and the rehabilitation of national sports edifices like the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos and the Obafemi Awolowo(formerly Liberty)Stadium in Ibadan have now taken centre stage.
Sports
NLO Integrity Under Fire After Match-Fixing Allegations in Bauchi Clash
..As Wikki Tourists Feeders vs Adamu Jumba FC Draws Concern Over League Credibility
A cloud of controversy now hangs over NLO One following disturbing reports from Bauchi that could undermine the progress and credibility of the Nigerian Nationwide League One under the leadership of Chief Operating Officer Shola Ogunowo.
The league body has consistently maintained a zero-tolerance stance on match manipulation, emphasizing that the integrity and fairness of the competition must be protected at all costs. However, Wednesday’s fixture between Wikki Tourists Feeders and Adamu Jumba FC in Bauchi has raised serious concerns after multiple eyewitnesses came forward with allegations of match-fixing.
According to eyewitness accounts, the match was allegedly fixed to favor Wikki Tourists Feeders, with the aim of helping them leapfrog current table-toppers Warinje FC in the standings. The claims, if proven true, strike at the heart of the league’s reputation as a credible pathway for emerging Nigerian talent.
The most troubling account involves the match officials. Eyewitnesses say the center referee and his assistant refused to return for the second half after noticing what they believed to be irregular conduct during the first half. It reportedly took 30 minutes of intervention and persuasion by the Bauchi State Football Association before the officials agreed to resume the game.
Further allegations point to on-field actions that appeared deliberate. Former Niger Tornadoes player Musa Wakili is said to have intentionally missed a penalty in a manner that raised suspicion among those present. In protest, Adamu Jumba’s head coach is reported to have walked out of the technical area, stating publicly that he would not be associated with anything that could tarnish his professional image.
While these remain allegations and have not been independently verified, the gravity of the claims demands immediate attention. The NLO must launch a thorough investigation to ascertain what transpired during the match and ensure that appropriate disciplinary measures are taken against anyone found culpable. Allowing such conduct to go unchecked would set a dangerous precedent and erode public trust in the league.
Shola Ogunowo has earned respect for his commitment to transparency and professionalism since assuming office as COO. Stakeholders and fans alike now look to the NLO leadership to demonstrate that same resolve by addressing the matter decisively and transparently.
The outcome of this investigation will be closely watched, as it could define how seriously the NLO is prepared to defend the integrity of Nigerian grassroots football.
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