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GOLF: HISTORY BECKONS AS GEORGIA OBOH MAKES LET QUALIFYING SCHOOL FINALS

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Few weeks after competing at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Argentina, Nigeria’s teenage golf sensation – Georgia Oboh at the weekend Morocco moves closer to making history after qualifying for the finals of the Ladies European Tour (LET) Qualifying School.

 

Amidst the 65-field of players from 38 countries, the 17-year-old Nigerian finished third in the pre- qualifying school A to qualify for the final holding in Morocco on December 16 to 20.

 

The Ladies European Tour is the premier Ladies Golf Tour covering four continents namely Africa, Asia, Oceania, Europe with events in the Middle East as well.

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The Ladies European Tour Qualifying School is the gateway for female players to compete at an elite level globally.

 

The Ladies European Tour Qualifying is usually held at the end of each season to establish which players, not otherwise exempt, will gain their playing privileges on the Tour for the following season through a qualifying competition.

 

It’s a tough school for one of female golf’s most coveted prizes, namely Membership of The Ladies European Tour, the voice of female golf and a place among the female golfing elite. Along the way, dreams are made and hopes shattered in equal measure.

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With her performance at the weekend, Georgia Oboh has broken the ground for a whole generation of Nigerian and African lady golfers who are enthused and enthralled to herald in a new queen in their midst by qualifying through the first stage of the Qualifying School.

 

Georgia Oboh’s response to this amazing result has been one of excitement mixed with the feelings of part of a dream come true. “Since I was 8, it has been my dream to play on the Ladies European Tour and that dream is starting to unfold this week,” she said.

 

Having arrived Marrakech in Morocco with father, Godfrey Oboh on October 26, to begin preparations for the tournament just a week after competing at the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina.

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“On arriving in Marrakech, we had a couple of rainy days and that halted our practice a bit but it was okay because we also needed to rest just coming from Argentina. It was a hectic schedule but we had to do that so that we could hopefully take advantage of the break between stage 1 and 2 to play in the upcoming Côte d’Ivoire Open on November 15 to 18.

 

“I had always hoped that I would begin my professional career in Africa and God is allowing that to happen,” she said.

 

With this development, Georgia Oboh hopes to inspire junior girl golfers on the African Continent just as Seri Pak was to the Koreans.

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At 17, Georgia Oboh is the youngest African to qualify for the Ladies European Tour School and was also the youngest player in the Pre-Qualifying School A.

 

Being 17, she had to be given special permission to play as the policy is only to admit 18 years or older to the tour and this means that she must be accompanied by a parent to every event on the LET until she turns 18.

 

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Georgia Oboh is motivated by the encouraging sacrifices that her team makes for her daily including her full time caddy Dad; stylist and personal arranger mum along with computer whiz-kid brother, Nathan and aspiring pro golfer sister, Gabby.

The teenager believes this achievement hopes to help provide more corporate and individual sponsors to her dream as she needs stable, and consistent financial partners in her venture into the professional world of women’s golf.

 

 

 

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Ahead of Nigeria-Libya match: Some kidnapped journalists regain freedom

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An unspecified number of Nigerian journalists travelling to Uyo for Friday’s Nigeria versus Libya’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match have been rescued.

This is contained in a press release by the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) on Thursday. The association commended the Nigerian security forces for their efforts in the rescue operation.
From the press release, it was gathered that the media men were abducted within the  Anambra and Imo states axis.

”SWAN therefore commends the security operatives, particularly the Nigerian Army and Police for their prompt action which ensured that up to six of the held Sports Journalists regained their freedom with efforts to get the remaining person freed”, reads the SWAN statement.

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Klopp becomes Red Bull global soccer chief in first job after Liverpool

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Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - May 19, 2024 Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp reacts as he gives a speech after his last match as Liverpool manager REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo

German coach Juergen Klopp has been appointed head of global soccer for Red Bull, owners of several clubs including RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls, the company said on Wednesday, in his first job since leaving Liverpool earlier this year.

Klopp, who ended his successful nine-year stint with Liverpool at the end of last season, will be starting on January 1, 2025.

“After almost 25 years on the sideline, I could not be more excited to get involved in a project like this,” Klopp, who also coached Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund, said in a statement.

“The role may have changed but my passion for football and the people who make the game what it is has not.”

The 57-year-old joined Liverpool in October 2015 and won the Champions League, their first English League title since 1990, the Club World Cup, FA Cup, League Cup and Super Cup, as well as the Community Shield during his time in charge.

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Klopp, who also led Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles, a German Cup and a Champions League final in 2013, had announced in January he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.

Klopp will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of the Red Bull-owned clubs in Germany, United States, Brazil and Austria, the company said.

“He will provide strategic vision, supporting individual sporting directors in advancing the Red Bull philosophy,” Red Bull said.

Klopp will also support the organisation’s global scouting operation, and contribute to the training and development of coaches.

“I see my role primarily as a mentor for the coaches and management of the Red Bull clubs but ultimately I am one part of an organisation that is unique, innovative and forward looking. As I said, this could not excite me more,” Klopp said.

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Some German media reported his Red Bull contract included an exit clause for the post of Germany national team coach.

Klopp has long been linked to that job, especially after his successful stint at Liverpool and with Germany struggling to make an impact on the international stage in the past decade.

-Reuters

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Cape Verdean, Delgado Rocha, to take charge of Libya, Nigeria battle in Benina

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Referee Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine of Cape Verde

The Confederation of African Football has appointed Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine, from Cape Verde, as referee for Tuesday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles and the Mediterranean Knights of Libya at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, close to Benghazi.

He will be assisted by compatriots Djêry Gomes Lopes (assistant referee 1) and Jorge Santos Fonseca Aritson (assistant referee 2), with Hamidou Diero from Burkina Faso as fourth official.

Amir Abdi Hassan from Somalia will be in the role of commissioner, with Malian Dramane Dante as referee assessor and Rachid Medjiba from Algeria as security officer.

Tuesday’s encounter, which is at the back-end of a double header between both nations, will kick off at 9pm Libya time (8pm Nigeria time).  

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