Sports

Sports Minister Extols President Buhari, Adopt Initiatives Investors

Published

2 years ago

September 16, 2022

The Sports Minister Sunday Dare has extolled President Muhammadu Buhari as well as those who have keyed into his Ministry’s Adopt Initiatives.

Four State Governors, a Deputy Governor, some philanthropists and corporate bodies have supported these programmes since inception.

Speaking at Thursday’s Presidential Reception for the Team Nigeria contingents to the 2022 World Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games, the Minister said the recent successes recorded by Nigerian athletes would not have happened without their support.

His words: “Through the ‘Adopt Initiatives’ being implemented by my Ministry and the support of Mr President, we are witnessing a new trajectory in Nigerian sports and athletes’ performance. Equally significant is the support we have received through approved Presidential Intervention funds for sports even at short notice.

“In like manner, some well meaning Nigerians and philanthropists keyed into our Adopt Initiatives( Adopt an Athlete, Adopt a Pitch and Adopt a Sports Centre). This development provided the fulcrum for the motivation of our elite athletes and the rapid transformation of our sports facilities.”

The Dangote industries Group rehabilitated the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja while Sir Adebutu Kesington is rehabilitating the football pitch and athletics track of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Dare revealed that forty four(44) athletes have received financial support since the Adopt an Athlete initiative came on board.

He gave the names of those who have given support and played prominent roles in the recent successes recorded as; Governors Ifeanyi Okowa(Delta), Godwin Obaseki(Edo) and Dapo Abiodun(Ogun). Others are Deputy Governor(Edo) Philip Shuaibu, Engineer Noah Dallaji of African Children Talent Discovery Foundation, Tunde Folawiyo, Halogen Group, Emmanuel Akpakwu(Dakinda), Nigeria Tulip International School, Sifax Group, Premium Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, Fidelity Bank and Access Bank.

At Thursday’s event, the Federal Government announced a cash reward of N200m to Team Nigeria and national honours for thirteen of the athletes.

A detailed breakdown of the cash reward shows that gold medalists got N4.5m each, silver medalists N2.5m and bronze medal winners N1.5m each.

Coaches of medal winning athletes got N1.5m each. Non medal winning athletes and coaches got N600,000 while accredited team officials got N400,000 each.

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Sports

Mahanaim FC too good for Green Lock in first match of the year

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2025

The Gleamer

Mahanaim FC kicked-off year 2025 with a victory over Greenlock FC on Saturday, at the Bwari Township Stadium. Goals from Aliyu Imran and Nambou Roman were enough to secure victory for the boys in our first match of the year.

Both teams hadn’t met since 2023 when we cruised to a 2-nil win over them. That result set the tone for our match on Saturday, with our opponents hoping to get one over us this time.

Our Coaches, Saheed Jimoh and Jackson Mbuk had set up a line up which had a blend of young players and the experienced ones, including Haruna Abdullahi, who also got a goal the last time we played GreenLock.

After the opening exchange in first few minutes, Haruna bursted through the middle into the opponents 18-yards, Dribbling his way past three players before setting up Aliyu Imran who finished the move with a goal from close range. The game became very close from that point onwards with only the goal separating the teams.

After the break, the match became more open as we pushed forward searching for the second goal. GreenLock FC came close a couple of times before finding an equaliser through a low free- kick from Samuel Daniel, that went past our Goal-Keeper, David Adolphus.

Barely two minutes after the equaliser, Haruna Abdullahi once again conjured a magical pass that found Nambou Roman who had replaced Aliyu Imran in the attack. Roman’s well timed run was complemented by Haruna’s defence spliting pass. Roman lobbed the ball over the on-rushing goalkeeper into the net, to restore our lead.

GreenLock FC fought fiercely to find an equaliser but our defence line which had Nura Yahaya, Jesse Mokele, Salisu Hamisu and Marcus Haruna stood firm with the help of the midfielders, Daniel Egwuatu and Ikoh Danjuma, as we gained another victory over GreenLock FC in our first match of 2025.

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