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GOLF: HISTORY BECKONS AS GEORGIA OBOH MAKES LET QUALIFYING SCHOOL FINALS
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
African teams will battle for the remaining qualification spots for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup this weekend as the final round of qualifiers reaches its climax across the continent.
In Kampala, Ghana will attempt to protect a slender 2-1 first-leg advantage when they face Uganda’s U20 girls away from home.
Cameroon are also in a strong position ahead of their return-leg clash against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam after securing a 3-1 victory in the first meeting.
Meanwhile, Benin will fancy their chances of advancing when they host Côte d’Ivoire following a 1-1 draw in Abidjan.
Nigeria’s Falconets are equally close to qualification after earning a 2-0 first-leg victory over Malawi ahead of Saturday’s decisive encounter in Lilongwe.
The successful teams will join the global field for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland next year.
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The London Marathon broke the record for the highest number of finishers in a marathon, with 59,830 participants completing the course to surpass the mark of 59,226 at last year’s New York City event.
Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe shattered the world record to become the first man to run the marathon in under two hours, followed by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who also breached the two-hour barrier on Sunday.
“To then break the record of the largest number of finishers in the history of marathons underlines the inspirational nature of the London Marathon. We are incredibly proud to have set a new Guinness World Record,” said Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events.
In the women’s race, three women ran under two hours and 16 minutes in a single race for the first time ever, as Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa defended her title by shattering her own women ‘s-only world record
-Reuters
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By George Akpayen
The finish line is now in sight in this season’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), and much of the talk has centred on the title race and those at the other end of the table, which surprisingly include last season’s champions Remo Stars.
However, there is another race shaping up among the leading top scorers this season, and this could see as many as six or more players going head-to-head in the final six matchdays.
Top contenders in the race for the battle for the golden boot are Enugu Rangers’ striker, Godwin Obaje and Ikorodu City winger Joseph Arumala, who have scored 11 goals apiece.
On the tails of the top-two scoring individuals are Victor Mbaoma (Remo Stars), El-Kanemi Warriors midfielder Daddy Abdulrahman, Katsina United’s Uche Collins and Emeka Obioma of Abia Warriors, all on 10 goals each.
THE PERFORMANCE BREAKDOWN
Out of the top-six leading scorers, Obaje, Arumala and Mbaoma have more direct goal involvement. Obaje and Arumala have 11 goals and two assists each, while Mbaoma has 10 goals and assists from 23 appearances, which is the least number of matches featured in among the leading scorers. Mbaoma missed most of the early parts of the season due to bruised ribs.
El-Kanemi Warriors midfielder Abdulrahman has made the most appearances among the top-six scorers and has a 12-goal direct involvement (10 goals + two assists).
Obioma is however, the only top-six scorer who is yet to register an assist this season after 26 appearances for Abia Warriors.
Interestingly, Collins is the only top-six scorer who has netted a hat-trick this season so far.
THE CHASING PACK
There is also the chasing pack in the race for the Golden Boot. One of them is Plateau United winger Temitope Vincent Adebayo, who has scored nine goals. Sodiq Ibrahim (3SC), Enyimba striker Chidera Michael, and Igbunu Evwierhurhoma of Warri Wolves.
The variety of players in the chasing pack also makes the race intriguing as they have been consistent goal scorers in recent matchweeks. They are definitely breathing down the necks of the frontrunners.
There are also the outsiders in the race. Jonathan Mairiga of Wikki Tourists, Chidozie Iwundu (Rangers) and Bendel Insurance duo of Kayode Oke, 3SC’s Qamar Adegoke and Alex Oweilayefa – all on eight goals. On seven goals is Kano Pillars legend Rabiu Ali.
WORTHY MENTION
However, Iwundu deserves a big mention among the top scorers as he is the top-scoring defender. He has made 29 appearances for Rangers and has been booked three times and sent off once.
Iwundu’s goalscoring form from his centre-back role has also been important for his club in their title aspirations this season, and his team will hope his form can continue into the final six matchdays.
No doubt, there will be twists and turns for individual glory in a race that is still wide open. Fixture difficulty, favourable run-in, struggling defences and hunger in front of goal are surely going to be among the factors that would decide who wins this race in an unpredictable league. At this point, nothing is guaranteed as all top marksmen are odds-on to claim the top individual prize.
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