Sports

Thrills Records on Day 3 of 12th CNS National Swimming Championship in Asaba

Published

3 months ago

July 17, 2025

Joel Ajayi

The atmosphere was electric on Day 3 of the 12th Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) National Swimming Championship, as the Stephen Keshi Stadium Swimming Arena in Asaba hosted another thrilling day of fast-paced action and standout performances from Nigeria’s rising swimming talents.

Once again, Delta State swimmers underlined their dominance, with several gold-winning performances. Akiyefa Timipamiere shone in the senior women’s 50m backstroke, capturing gold with a time of 34.28 seconds, while Clinton Opute impressed in the men’s 400m freestyle, powering home in 4:37.90 to the delight of the home crowd.

The excitement continued with Chioma Kanu of Lagos State clinching gold in the senior women’s 50m freestyle, finishing in 28.06 seconds, a result that drew loud applause from the energetic crowd.

One of the day’s most gripping races came in the boys’ 100m breaststroke (13–15 years), where Tissa Precious of Edo State narrowly edged out his rival with a winning time of 1:20.06. He later doubled his gold tally by triumphing in the 50m butterfly in the same category, solidifying his status as one of the competition’s standout young stars.

Team spirit was on full display during the relay events, particularly the 4x100m mixed medley relay (15 & under), where Delta’s quartet—Olise Endurance, Ebigide Success, Aniasaba Jennifer, and Opute Joshua—secured gold with a time of 5:20.77. Delta also emerged victorious in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay, further reinforcing their credentials as strong title contenders.

Young sensation Oluwatofunmi Ibidapo continued her winning streak, taking gold in both the 100m freestyle and 50m butterfly girls’ (13–15 years) events with times of 1:11.68 and 34.75 seconds, respectively.

Off the pool deck, the championship also marked a milestone for swimming development in Nigeria, as coaching certificates were presented to participants of the Southeast Coaching Course held recently in Awka, Anambra State.

Honored were Japhet Nwosu, Alozie Ikechukwu Emmanuel, Ejikeme Best, Adolphus Okere Ihechi, Obugo Cyprain, Jecinta Williams, and Onyebuchi Chukwuma.

The certification reflects ongoing efforts by the Nigeria Aquatics Federation to strengthen grassroots coaching capacity and technical standards across the country.

As anticipation builds for Day 4, the championship continues to deliver a celebration of skill, teamwork, and national pride—fostering both elite performances and inspiring the next generation of Nigerian swimmers and coaches

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Sports

FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification

Published

12 hours ago

October 5, 2025

The Gleamer

Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums

Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.

Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.

In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”

He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.

“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”

Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT

Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.

“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.

Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.

“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”

The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.

He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.

Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development

As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.

“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”

Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.

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