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ROGERS, ENYADIKE, LEO LIGHT UP AFRICA DIGITAL SPORTS CONFERENCE
The Africa Digital Sports Conference (ADSCon2019) ended on Saturday, at the Four Points By Sheraton with a lot of highlights for delegates who came in from all over the country and beyond.
After Day One that was filled with speeches and panels, Day
Two was the icing on the cake as it featured leading sports digital strategists
like Paul Rogers, Head of Strategy of AS Roma Football Club, Emeka Enyadike of
Digital Sports Africa and Mario Leo, founder of Germany’s RESULT Sports who
took three impactful masterclasses and highlighted the opportunities for sports
clubs, federations and entrepreneurs in the digital world.
Working with the theme, Monetising Sports in the Digital Era, the Africa Digital Sports Conference was a gathering of sports leaders, media and content creators, telecom executives, sports management students and entrepreneurs.
Lolade Adewuyi, Chief Strategist at CampsBay Media and founder of the Africa Digital Sports Conference said that the aim of the first edition had been fulfilled.
“We successfully brought attention to the opportunities in the digital space that can make sports thrive in this part of the world.
“Our delegates were left inspired by the case studies and the practical experiences of our industry practitioners. It encouraged sports leaders and management hopefuls to create innovative solutions to our industry’s challenges,” Adewuyi said.
Some of the leading industry experts in attendance were Nduka Irabor, Director of the League Management Company, Francis Orbih, President of the Nigeria Badminton Federation and Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Prince Adewale Oladunjoye, President of the Nigeria Triathlon Federation and Tournament Director of the Lagos Open International Tennis Championships, Babs Ogunade, Vice President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Mrs Ayo Omidiran, a former Member of the House of Representatives, Phemmy Adetula, PRO of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications at the Nigeria Football Federation, among many others.
Case studies from the sports industry came to fore with Anthony Okeleke of Lost Child Media narrating how the startup turned the traditional Hausa boxing sport of dambe into a YouTube phenomenon having 100,000 subscribers and 20 million views in just two years via their channel Dambe Warriors. DK Aghaji, Africa Manager of Australian content production company, Inverleigh, spoke about their digital plans for content in Africa where they are actively promoting the EFC mixed martial arts sport.
The emerging sports OTT market was touched upon during a panel that was hosted by broadcaster Deji Omotoyinbo with panellists Seun Methowe, Head of African Partnerships at DAZN and Bolanle Afuye, Head of Digital at 9mobile. Koye Sowemimo of Temple Sports Management and Eyitayo Olayemi of Neuklos delved into the opportunities for corporate organisations to market to Generation Z in the digital era during a panel moderated by Deji Faremi of Tre Gong TV.
Three Nigerian sports startups making use of digital platforms were profiled in a session hosted by Andrew Randa. Gbenga Salu of Naijafootballers, Dare Lawanson of RefPredictor Interactive and Robson Omasheye of Fastlane Motorsports/Road X Championship spoke about the opportunities that they have made use via digital platforms. It was an eye-opener for the many young entrepreneurs who attended as they saw the potentials in the digital space for a variety of sports.
The Africa Digital Sports Conference was supported by GPC Media, RESULT Sports, Digital Sports Africa, The BusyBuddies, Adzinga Media, Soccernet, Udu Consult, STAR lager, Brila FM, Complete Sports, Goal.com and Athletics Africa.
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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