Connect with us

Governing Bodies

Lagos SWAN’s highest honour for Sanwo-Olu and Soname

Published

on

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu

Plans have been concluded to honour the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu by the Lagos State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria at its 2021 Award Night ceremony.

The Award of Excellence for Accelerated Sports Development will be conferred on Sanwo-Olu for his immense contribution to sports development in the state since he took over as the Executive Governor of Lagos state in 2019.

Making this announcement as part of activities marking the 2021 Bet9ja Lagos SWAN Week holding between Friday, 3rd of December and Friday, 10th of December, the Lagos State SWAN Chairman, Debo Oshundun said, “Without doubt, since Mr Governor took over the reins of governance in Lagos State, the state has witnessed an unprecedented and accelerated growth with special focus on sports development”.

Kunle Soname

“His effort to reposition sports as a major tool for entertainment and tourism in line with his campaign agenda tagged THEME has not gone unnoticed.”

“Under his watch, the Mobolaji Olufunso Johnson Sports Centre which recently played host to the Super Falcons’ World Cup qualifiers as well as the Aisha Buhari Cup was completed and commissioned”.

It will be noted that the Lagos State Government also facilitated the return of the Super Eagles to its natural habitat following the regressing and renovation of the Teslim Balogun stadium which has brought a new lease of life to all stakeholders in the sports and hospitality business.

Others to be honoured include the Lagos State Sports Commission as well as Chairman of Bet9ja (leading Sports Betting Company in Nigeria), Otunba Kunle Soname who also doubles as Remo Stars Football Club owner.

Advertisement

“Otunba Kunle Soname is a huge investor in Nigerian sports who has continued to hugely invest in the industry”.

“His company- Bet9ja has continued to sponsor many sports activities across Nigeria with the latest being the partnership with the League Management Company ahead of the 2021 Nigeria Professional Football League season”.

“His investment in sports is second to none after completing and commissioning the ultramodern football village with world class facilities in Remo, Ogun State and we felt he deserved an award”.

The award ceremony comes up at the Lagos SWAN Secretariat situated inside the National Stadium Complex on Friday, 10th of December, 2021.

Advertisement

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.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Governing Bodies

Morocco gets headquarters for CAF’s African Clubs Association

Published

on

The African Clubs Association formed in 2023 will have its headquarters in Morocco.

The kingdom beat other bids from Algeria and other African nations. Facilities in Morocco and the country’s organisational standards may have given Morocco the edge.

An official memorandum of understanding will be signed next week on Monday during the draw ceremony for the African Cup of Nations, which Morocco will host.

The establishment of the association’s headquarters in Morocco represents a pivotal moment for African football, aimed at fostering cooperation among clubs across the continent and advancing the sport’s infrastructure and governance.

Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Governing Bodies

Crisis brews at Ondo State Football Association

Published

on

Intervention of the NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau is needed at the Ondo State Football Association.

A member of the Ondo State Football Association, Dr. Babatunde Akinbinu has petitioned the Nigeria Football Association over the handling of the finances of the state association.

In a petition addressed to the President of the NFF, Ibrahim, Gusau, Dr Akinbinu asked that the chairman of Ondo State FA, Sunday Dele-Ajayi be compelled to present yearly financial statement and balance sheet covering the tenure of the current administration which is expected to wind up in March.

It was alleged that no financial statement had been presented in the past four years by the state FA board.

“On several occasions, when the matter was raised during AOB at meetings, the Chairman deferred the discussion. In fact, on the rare occasion when it was included in the Executive Board meeting agenda, it was again set aside”, the petition stated.

It was alleged that a lack of engagement within the board has hindered the development of football in Ondo State.  

Advertisement

It was averred that the “lack of an annual financial statement or external audit raises significant concerns about potential misuse of funds.

“…This could ultimately undermine trust and investment in Nigerian football, as well as erode the integrity of our football administration.

“The symbolic reference to this at this time is the State Government white paper in Benue State where three former leaders of the Benue State Premier League team, Lobi Stars of Makurdi have been implicated in massive corruption and told to return over 2 billion naira.”

 Ahead of the next state FA election slated for March, the petitioner wants the NFF to step in to ensure that the Ondo State FA adheres to the highest standards of financial accountability and transparency.

Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Governing Bodies

Former Man City player Mwaruwari bids to rule Zimbabwe Football Association

Published

on

Former Manchester City forward Benjani Mwaruwari

Former Manchester City forward Benjani Mwaruwari on Tuesday challenged a ruling to block him from potentially becoming the new head of Zimbabwe’s soccer federation.


Benjani, who also played for Portsmouth, Sunderland and Blackburn in the Premier League, last week filed his nomination to become the next president of the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA). But an ethics committee of the association on Monday didn’t include the 46-year-old among those eligible to contest the January elections, without immediately giving a reason.

“Our client is aggrieved by your committee’s decision and he intends to appeal … without any further delay,” the player’s lawyers wrote to ZIFA’s interim boss Lincoln Mutasa.

“We are instructed by our client to humbly request that you urgently provide us with full written reasons why your committee concluded that Mr. Benjani Mwaruwari fails to meet eligibility criteria stipulated in the ZIFA statutes.”

Zimbabwe has been under a FIFA-appointed normalization committee since July 2023 when soccer’s governing body lifted the southern African country’s 17-month international ban caused by government interference.

Advertisement

A new executive will be elected in late January.

Former Zimbabwe international Benjani still has a chance, however, through an appeals committee of the federation.

Another prospective ZIFA president barred by the ethics committee is a controversial but popular local cleric, Walter Magaya. The church founder owns Yadah FC, a club in Zimbabwe’s top tier.

-AP

 Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Most Viewed