Other Sports
Abuja Hosts 2017 National Taekwondo Open
Rising from its inaugural board meeting in Lagos, the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation has picked Abuja as the hosts of the 2017 National Open Championships holding in December.
The meeting was held at the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) board was attended by President, Margaret Elizabeth Binga, the Secretary-General, Taiwo Oriss and seven board members who are Jonathan Nnaji, Patricia Anyanwu, Obumneme Arum, Anthony Anafulu, Sani Lawal, Adewale Adebisi and Chika Chukwumerije.
The eight-hour long meeting had at the top of its agenda, the federation’s constitution draft and the NTF calendar for 2017 & 2018.
The approved NTF calendar signalled the ambitious resolve of the new administration to keep its practitioners engaged.
The headliner event for 2017 will be the Nigeria Open, scheduled to hold from 6 to 9 December this year in Abuja.
It will be organized alongside with a National Referee Course. The tournament will be the first ever taekwondo tournament wholly owned by the federation, with the NTF planning to secure World Taekwondo ranking status for the event in 2018.
Next month, the federation will be taking basic coaching seminars to Maiduguri, Abakaliki and Makurdi. During the trip to Maiduguri, the federation will take the opportunity to visit IDP camps to donate some taekwondo kits and explore the possibility of introducing taekwondo into the IDP camps.
This last initiative is in line with the International Charter recently signed by the Federation with the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation [THF], a critical project of World Taekwondo.
In 2018, the Federation will start its year with a National Trials for the Seniors National Team, with follow-up National tournaments for Kiddies, Cadets and juniors.
In addition, there will be basic coaching and referee courses littered across the country.
For its constitution review, a five-man committee was set up to study the constitution of the International Federation, the constitution template given by the Nigeria Olympic Committee, the code of governance issued by the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, and various other constitutions. The mandate was to come up with a robust constitution draft that will govern the Federation and report back within 14 working days.
Chairman of the Committee is the legal practitioner on the Federation, Obumneme Arum; World Taekwondo and African Taekwondo Union Member, Jonathan Nnaji; three-time Olympian; Chika Chukwumerije and three-time university champion and World Taekwondo Certified Coach, Alhaji Sani Lawal; and the North Central Representative, Anthony Anafulu.
To ensure that the burden of governance is streamlined, the Federation approved fourteen committees, largely mirroring the committees of the International Federation.
The approved committees are: Technical Committee, which has the Games/ Event Management Sub-Committee and Referee Sub-Committee; Athlete’s Committee; Women’s Committee; TV & New Media Committee; Marketing & Sponsorship Committee; Juridical Committee; Taekwondo Tour Events Committee; Para-Taekwondo Committee; Ethics Committee; Youth & Collegiate Committee; Anti-doping & Medical Committee; and Scientific Research & Educational Development Committee.
In one of its most crucial decisions, the Federation board unanimously voted to appoint three-time Olympian, Chika Chukwumerije, as the Technical Director of the Federation thus laying on the Veteran’s should the difficult task of ensuring the failure of Rio 2016 Olympics does not happen.
Speaking at the end of the meeting, the President who is a two-time African Champion expressed satisfaction at the eight-hour deliberation exercise.
“We are eager to serve and this board meeting was an open book into the intent of this administration to confront and embrace the challenges head long. We will work hard to find and provide solutions that would develop and improve our sport”.
History will be made in Lagos as the city becomes the first on the African continent to host the world’s all-electric powerboat championship, the E1 Series, from October 3 to 5, 2025.
The announcement marks a major milestone for Nigeria and Africa, as the E1 Lagos Grand Prix brings cutting-edge water sport, innovation, and environmental sustainability to the continent’s shores for the first time.
Sharing the news on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described the event as “a demonstration of innovation and progress, showing how sport can inspire sustainable solutions for the future.”
He added: “It is also a celebration of the creativity and resilience that define our people. This occasion gives us the opportunity to showcase Lagos to the world as we know it: welcoming, dynamic, and determined to embrace the future with confidence.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu also extended an open invitation to Lagosians and the global community to witness the groundbreaking spectacle.
“The E1 Lagos Grand Prix is a chance for Lagos, and for Africa, to stand proudly on the global stage,” he said.
Traditionally renowned for its passion for land-based sports like football, Africa is now set to explore its aquatic potential as the UIM E1 Series, presented by PIF, transforms Lagos’ waterfront into a thrilling race track.
Scheduled for October 4–5, the E1 Lagos Grand Prix promises a unique blend of speed, culture, and sustainability, turning the city’s coastline into a symbol of Africa’s readiness to embrace innovation and green technology in sports.
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Pastor Enoch A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has unveiled a full-size stadium and an Olympic-size 50-metre swimming pool at the Peaceville International Academy, located within the Redemption City of God, Ogun State.
The esteemed cleric was accompanied by his wife, Pastor Folu Adeboye, along with top church leaders including Pastor Joseph Obayemi; RCCG National Overseer, Pastor Sunday Akande, and the management of Peaceville International Academy led by Head of School Dolapo Fatoki.
The event was graced by several board members of the school, including Leke Adeoye, Olugbenga Omojola, Ayoola Jolayemi, Noah Osato, and Mrs Busola Ogunsiji.
Reflecting on his past, Pastor Adeboye lamented the lack of such facilities during his university days and the general scarcity of quality sports amenities across the country.
“This kind of well-grassed stadium and serene environment were not available in universities during our time. Remarkably, God has made this possible in a secondary school, showing that He is on our side,” he remarked.
He offered prayers for those who contributed to the realization of these facilities and expressed his vision for the school to become a global brand.
In her welcome address, Pastor Mrs. Adeboye, the founder of the college, described the institution as a legacy made possible by God’s support.
She thanked her husband for his unwavering support in making the school a reality and emphasized the importance of the sports facilities in moulding Godly champions.
The unveiling ceremony also featured a novelty match to celebrate Pastor Adeboye’s 83rd birthday, with him performing the ceremonial kick-off for the match between Redemption City FC and Region 1 FC. The home team triumphed with a 4-0 victory.
Head of School Dolapo Fatoki highlighted that the facilities would be judiciously used to enhance the physical well-being of students and position the school as a hub for sports development in Ogun State and Nigeria.
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Championship promotion chasers Burnley clocked up 1,000 minutes without conceding a league goal as they drew 0-0 at Preston North End on Saturday to stay third in the table.
It was Burnley’s 24th Championship clean sheet of the season and their 11th in a row — a new English second-tier record.
In 33 Championship games their miserly defence has been breached only nine times and no opposition player has scored against them in the league since Dec. 21.
Burnley keeper James Trafford has faced only 21 shots on target in achieving his 11 successive clean sheets — including two penalties which he saved against Sunderland.
Scott Parker’s side need just one more clean sheet to match the Championship record of Queen’s Park Rangers in 2010-11.
“It’s something we pride ourselves on. We’re proud of being hard to beat and if you can’t win games, don’t lose them,” Burnley midfielder Josh Cullen told the club’s website.
“We come away with a point thanks to that defensive record and being solid again here at a tough place.”
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