Sports

NCF Unveils Steve Tikolo From Kenya As New Head Coach and Performance Manager

Published

3 years ago

October 23, 2022

Joel Ajayi
The Nigeria Cricket Federation is pleased to announce Steve Tikolo from Kenya as the new Head Coach and High Performance Manager. Tikolo who was unveiled at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval in Lagos was received by the President of the Federation Mr. Uyi Akpata.
In a Press statement issued by Public Relations Officer of NCF Musa Ehizoje Bodie on Sunday in Abuja.

Following the re-structuring of the coaching department in the Federation, Tikolo will head the Senior Men’s team to be assisted by our National Coach Mr. Uthe Clive Ogbimi, while other coaching structures will remain the same. Steve, who was also in a meeting with the General Manager of the Federation Mr. Emeka Igwilo, will meet with other indigenous coaches and the Technical Director as he continues to familiarize with his new environment. His initial contract will run for 2 years with his first opportunity to meet with the senior team players when they resume camp on the 31st of October 2022.

Invited Players to the camp include, Sylvester Okpe, Isaac Okpe, Sesan Adedeji, Peter Aho, Prosper Useni, Akhere Isesele, Joshua Asia, Onwuzilike Chimezie, Ademola Onikoyi.

Other are Ajekun Daniel, Ifeanyi Uboh, Ridwan Abdulkareem, Ashmit Sherestha, Vincent Adewoye, Chiemelie Udekwe, Eghosa Aghedo, Sulaimon Runsewe, Samuel Mba, Abdulmumuni Mohammedand Boniface Oche.

The camp has been called in preparation for ICC T20 World Cup Africa Sub Regional Qualifier slated for Rwanda in November 2022. Nigeria has been drawn in Group B’ alongside Eswatini, Ghana, Mozambique, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and The Gambia.

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Sports

Rivers Handball Players Target Gold at Niger Delta Games

Published

6 hours ago

February 4, 2026

The Gleamer

Cyril Ogar

Players of the Rivers state handball team have sent strong messages of warning to their opponents at the forthcoming Niger Delta Games that they will be in Benin City for the Gold medal this time.

Speaking after the conclusion of the Handball trials for Edo 2026 at the Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the players that spoke were unanimous in their resolve to hit gold later this month.

It could sound unrealistic, given that their performances at the inaugural edition in Uyo last year were not up to scratch, but the players remain adamant that the experience combined with their preparations for this edition will bring them good returns.

Fully prepared this time
Goalkeeper Richard Harrison led his male teammates in declaring their readiness to take Benin by storm, hinging his belief on his team’s good preparation.

“We are very very prepared. For me, I will say it’s a 100% for us. We have been training basically, morning and evening, so the preparation is there, just to put in the team work and I think we can go for Gold,” said Harrison.

His teammate ThankGod David also echoed Harrison’s thoughts, adding that they have put in enough work in preparations that should see them come out tops when they face their regional opponents as from February 20.

“We are very confident in our abilities as we have put in enough efforts in our trainings. So we believe that as we are heading for the competition, we, as a team are emerging victorious,” said David.
Anticipating a better, sweeter experience
The Rivers Handball team are aware of their poor past and ready to create a new experience.

For Godspower Idango, he says that their lacklustre performance last year has brought a renewed hunger in them ahead of this year’s competition and assures of a great outing this year.

“We are looking forward to this year’s Games. We didn’t do well last year so my teammates and I are hungry and angry so much that we are putting in much work both in the morning and evening.
“So, I want to assure you that we will come out victorious in Edo state.”

Lily Emmanuel is a young lady who spoke on behalf of the women’s team and she believes the team is ready and equipped to make the state proud this year.

“I wasn’t actually proud of the experience last year but this year, we are going prepared. We are going to win, we are not coming to dull or fail. We are Team Rivers and we are going to make Rivers state proud.

“We’ve been training from like the beginning of January intensively with consistency. We’ve been able to do endurance trainings that has given us greater strength so, the result will be different this time,” said Lily.

The Rivers state trials for Edo 2026 Niger Delta Games continued on Wednesday with Volleyball and Taekwondo taking centre stage.

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