International Football
WIKE BAGS AFRICAN JOURNALISTS’ HIGHEST AWARD
Another award has gone to the highly decorated governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike who on Wednesday in Brussels, Belgium was decorated as ‘Power of Sports Award’ recipient at the 81st Congress of the International Sports Press, the AIPS.
According to the international organization, the award was in recognition for Wike’s great contribution towards sports development in Nigeria.
The Governor, who is an accomplished lawyer, administrator, politician, philanthropist and a sports diehard, did not only receive the highly coveted AIPS AFRICA Power of Sports Award. He also presented a landmark paper on Peace and Progress through Sports in The Niger Delta Region of Nigeria.
“By the time I assumed office there was disarray in sports management,” Wike narrated. “But shockingly within a short period, a lot has been achieved and hope to get to greater heights in the field of sports,” the Governor noted.
Notably, The Governor has not only contributed toward sports infrastructure development but has created a salary for top athletes, the state owned football teams, former Sharks FC, Dolphins FC plus the females team Rivers Angels FC.
He has also gone ahead to strike a deal with Real Madrid, which will see them put up an international sports academy in the River State.
The AIPS President Gianni Merlo decorated the Governor with the Power of Sport award, AIPS gifts and the history book whiles emphasizing that credit deserve to be given when it is due. Honour for Wike is not of any surprise due to his contribution to sport and becomes the first of its kind by AIPS Africa.
The former ASJU in 1980 installed Bashorun Abiola as the First Pillar of Sports in Africa. No other personality has since been given such continental honours.
According to the president of the continental body, Mitchell Obi, the River State helmsman whose government recently sponsored the African Wrestling Championship, is being recognized for consistently raising the bar of sports matters.
“He effectively uses sports as a veritable vehicle to fast-track communal growth along the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as well as engaging a booming but restive youth populace in his state and country.
“It is indeed a badge of honour, freely and independently considered and granted and we think strongly that this would serve as an apt catalyst to His Excellency as he continuously strives to put sports on the front burner of his developmental strides,” Obi remarked.
At the global level, only four personalities have been honoured by AIPS, the last being the immediate past president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge of Belgium.
The Power of Sports Award derives its inspiration from the great Nelson Mandela whose school of thought holds that sports has the power to change the world.
International Football
Two Moroccan football players lost at sea, says club official
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Abdellatif-Akhrif.png)
Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.
They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.
“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.
The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.
While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.
Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.
-Reuters
International Football
FIFA launches ‘Football Manager’ World Cup with $100,000 in prize money
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/arsene-wenger.jpg)
FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.
FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.
Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.
“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”
FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.
Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.
-Reuters
International Football
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/baggio.jpg)
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.
Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.
“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.
After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.
Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.
-Reuters
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