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LAGOS HOSTS SANDIE BEACH RUGBY

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BY AKEEM BUSARI.

For some time now, Lagos has always witnessed beach soccer in December. But this year, it is another brand of football as sandie rugby tournament makes an entry at the Takway Bay Beach on Saturday and Sunday.

It is the beach version of football variant called rugby. The exercise is a continuation of making rugby to catch up with many Nigerians.

At the two-day event, schools like Toybat School, Ojoku School and previous champions Falomo will attempt to dethrone current champions, Takway Bay.

In addition league teams like the Nigerian Police RFC, current champions of the South West region of the NRFF league- Cowrie RFC, Racing RFC and others would jostle for the Sandie Beach Rugby Trophy 2018.

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CEO Turbocrest Sport, organizers of the event, Olatunbosun Ayo Johnson, said the tournament has been an uphill task since inception.

“With the increasing numbers of players from 2012 to 2017 at an average of +282% and also as the second African country after South Africa where rugby fans penetrated, we hope to increase these tallies by involving and engaging fans and players through beach rugby.

“The tournament since inception has been an uphill task, but we are making progress towards making it an international event and also becoming a well-known fascinating event at the Takwa Bay Beach,” he said.

According to him, “the event is meant to bring fun in the sun for everyone, there will be side attractions such as musical appearance by extreme music new signing Dapo, Mani Lapuush, Dylite and many more. Comedy by Callibird and guest appearance by Sitcom star Samuel Ajibola of The Johnsons aka Spiff and friends which is Mced by rock and rule rap sensation Six.

“I would also want to appreciate our sponsors ranging from Owusport, Shoprite, Nigerian Breweries, Aristo Mix multi media, and Visual Craft Studios for their support all through the years.

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“With the full support of the Nigerian Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), lovers and spectators should be expecting Rugby as it best with lots of excitement,” Johnson said.

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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Stolen Ferrari Recovered Almost 30 Years Later –

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Stolen Ferrari Recovered Almost 30 Years Later -

A Ferrari Testarossa sports car stolen from Austrian Formula One driver Gerhard Berger during the 1995 San Marino Grand Prix weekend has been recovered by London police almost 29 years later.

The Metropolitan Police said on Monday the red F512M, worth some 350,000 pounds ($444,325.00), was tracked down in four days after Ferrari reported it was the one being sold through a British broker to a U.S. buyer.

Police enquiries found it was shipped to Japan shortly after being stolen from the Italian city of Imola and then arrived in Britain in late 2023.

The Organised Vehicle Crime Unit said enquiries were ongoing and no arrests had been made.

A second silver Ferrari F355 that belonged to Berger’s French former team mate Jean Alesi, which was stolen on the same weekend in the Italian city, remains missing.

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Alesi finished second in the race won by Williams’ Damon Hill with Berger third, in the Ferrari drivers’ final season at the Italian team before the arrival of Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine.

Berger had caught the thief in the act of stealing his car but after jumping clear and then giving chase in a friend’s Volkswagen Golf, according to a news report at the time, was unable to prevent it from getting away.

-Reuters

 

 

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Bayelsa State are National Para Games champions

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The resounding success of the 2nd edition of the National Para Games culminated in an exhilarating and grand closing ceremony at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

 

The week-long celebration of talent, resilience, and sportsmanship concluded on December 14th, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of para sports in Nigeria.

 

The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, lauded the remarkable display of talent and dexterity exhibited by the para athletes throughout the Games. Expressing his delight, he commended the spirit of competition and the dedication of all participants.

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“The National Para Games have once again showcased the incredible abilities and unwavering spirit of our para athletes,” Senator Enoh said. “The level of talent and determination displayed by these athletes is truly inspiring. They embody the essence of sportsmanship and perseverance.”

 

“Through sports, we celebrate unity, resilience, and determination. The National Para Games have proven to be a platform that not only showcases exceptional talent but also fosters inclusivity and breaks barriers.”

 

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From December 8th to 14th, the stadium played host to representatives from all 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The atmosphere was charged with excitement as athletes showcased their skills, determination, and unwavering spirit, captivating audiences and leaving spectators in awe.

 

Bayelsa State emerged as the champions of the Games, winning 30 gold, 24 silver and 20 bronze medals. Abia, Kano Lagos, and Oyo states completed the top five in that order. Their athletes’ dedication and outstanding performances solidified their position at the pinnacle of para sports excellence.

 

The closing ceremony was a spectacle of pomp and pageantry, featuring captivating performances, cultural displays, and heartfelt tributes to the athletes who epitomized perseverance and triumph over adversity.

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As the curtains drew to a close on this momentous occasion, the legacy of the National Para Games continues to inspire a new era of inclusivity, empowerment, and recognition for para athletes across Nigeria.

 

 

 

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A football club gets record! Sixteen yellow cards in a game

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Czech football club TJ Sokol Upohlavy had 16 players booked in in their match last weekend. PHOTO: TJ SOKOL UPOHLAVY/FACEBOOK

A Czech football club playing in the lowest division has made the sports pages across the country after 16 of its players were booked at the same time last weekend.

TJ Sokol Upohlavy’s players decided to make a splash as they were trailing TJ Sokol Libochovany 6-0 in their game in the lowest district tier last Saturday.

When Martin Blizil scored to make it 6-1 in the 82nd minute, all 11 of the team’s players on the pitch took off their shirts in celebration – a deed punishable by a yellow card.

Five substitutes came off the bench to celebrate with them, also taking off their shirts and earning a booking.

“The last game didn’t really go our way, but our players maybe set a world record,” the team said on Facebook after losing the game 6-2 in the end.

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“When you underperform, what’s left is a sense of humour.”

The referee did not book each player individually – also because with the players’ shirts off, he could not see the numbers.

But he did enter the bookings in the match report. The transcript, with a yellow rectangle next to each Upohlavy player’s name, has since gone viral on local social media.

The village of Upohlavy, where the club is based, has a population of 276 people and lies about 50 kilometres northwest of the Czech capital Prague.

AFP

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