Sports

Pitch Awards: Henry Nwosu pitches for Elegbeleye

Published

2 months ago

May 27, 2024

Joel Ajayi
A former Super Eagles player, Henry Nwosu has endorsed the nomination of the Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye for the annual Pitch Awards Sportsmanship category for the year 2023.

In a touching testimony, Nwosu who has coached a number of professional league sides including Union Bank of Lagos and Gateway of Abeokuta, described the former National Assembly member as embodying the traits that are needed for leadership in the country.

“When I was the Coach of the U-17 team back in 2008, Elegbeleye saw me in Abuja and showed interest in how I was getting on with the job. I didn’t have any official car and was moving around in taxis.

“Three days afterwards, he called me to take delivery of a car. I didn’t ask for it and it was not as if we had a relationship beyond saying hello”, Nwosu recalled of his encounter with the then House of Representatives member.

On the Pitch Award, Nwosu who remains one of the best Super Eagles midfielders insisted that Elegbeleye merits the nomination and in his words, “he deserves to win this award and any award meant to recognise selfless contribution to sports by an individual”.

He said the selfless contributions of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) second vice president is such that “unlike some other people who would assist a Coach the way he did for me, Elegbeleye never for once called to send any player or players to me.

He didn’t even make a public show of the gift but was always ensuring that I had a free hand and was comfortable to carry out the task assigned to me by the NFF”
Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen, Remo Stars Chairman, Hon. Kunle Soname are the other two nominees for the Sportsmanship Award category.

Elegbeleye was in April crowned the Sports Administrator Of the Year, 2023 at the Sportsville Awards.

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Sports

King defeats 21 others to win RSFL ultimate skills challenge

Published

14 hours ago

July 26, 2024

The Gleamer

New Dawn FC star, Emmanuel King Wednesday defeated 21 other players to emerge champion in the maiden edition of the Ultimate Skills Challenge.

The challenge was organised by the Rising Star Football League (RSFL) and held at the Bwari Township Stadium, Abuja.

King had tied on 71 points with his closest challenger, Philip Onyedika but clinched the honour with a tie-breaker.

He went home with N250,000 while Onyedika who came second got N100,000. John Godwin came third and smiled home with N50,000. All the twenty-two players received N10,000 as appearance fees.

“It was a beautiful program and I am grateful to the management for this opportunity to help the young and grassroots footballer to grow. I am glad I emerged champion after a close tie with my opponent,” he said.

Speaking with the league’s project supervisor, Ifeanyi Kama, the challenge was instituted to keep the players busy after the league had ended a few weeks back.

“It is done for the best players in the league. It is an event to keep them going, not to be idle, and encourage them after the league has ended. We are trying to keep the energy up there. We are trying to showcase these talents to the world,” he said.

He further sought more partnerships from brands as it is working with the FCT football association to develop the players.

“Basically, we are currently working with the FCT FA and affiliated with them for this program. We can’t do this alone as we need their support to promote these players,” he noted.

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