Governing Bodies
British soccer criticised for cancelling play after queen’s death
British soccer has come under fire for its decision to postpone this weekend’s round of fixtures following the death of Queen Elizabeth, with some fans questioning the move in contrast to other sports bodies who opted to let play resume.
The queen, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, died at her home in Scotland on Thursday aged 96, prompting English soccer’s top-flight Premier League as well as the English Football League to postpone their next round of fixtures as a mark of respect.
Soccer games in Northern Ireland this weekend were also postponed, while the Football Association of Wales postponed fixtures from Sept. 9-12. Professional matches in Scottish football were also cancelled. read more
There was widespread annoyance that the FA had cancelled grassroots soccer in England.
But England’s deciding third cricket test match against South Africa at The Oval resumed on Saturday, while the rugby Premiership will also get under way after Friday’s two season-opening matches were rescheduled.
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), which is the representative body for soccer fans in England and Wales, said the cancellation of games was a missed opportunity for fans to pay their respect.
“We believe football is at its finest when bringing people together at times of huge national significance — be those moments of joy or moments of mourning,” the FSA said.
Former England internationals Peter Crouch and Gary Neville echoed the group’s sentiments.
“Black armbands, silences observed, national anthem, Royal band playing etc to the millions around the world watching? Isn’t that a better send-off,” Crouch said.
Neville added: “Sport can demonstrate better than most the respect the Queen deserves.”
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) had said there was “no obligation to cancel or postpone events and sporting fixtures”, effectively leaving the decision to each sport’s governing body.
‘DIFFICULT DECISION’
The Rugby Football League said they had taken the “difficult decision” of ensuring matches at all levels went ahead while the BMW PGA golf Championship opted to restart as a 54-hole event on Saturday after Friday’s play was cancelled.
Sunday’s Great North Run, the world’s biggest half marathon with 60,000 entrants, will also go ahead as planned, a decision that was welcomed by many competitors.
The British Horseracing Authority had suspended all events for two days but said they would resume on Sunday.
There were moving scenes at The Oval in London as supporters applauded at length after singing “God Save the King” before the day’s action got under way, the vast majority of the crowd no doubt singing the anthem for the first time in their life.
But Neil Stevens, 58, a recent retiree and cricket fan, told Reuters he had mixed feelings.
“I was concerned about today, whether they were going to scrub the whole thing,” he said.
“I’m mixed about it. The problem is it’s completely ruined this as a match. Are we going to get a three-day result? We’ve had a couple (of three-day results), but in a sense it has taken away that aspect of this game.
“But it was appropriate to do something to mark the passing of our monarch. I’m not particularly a royalist. You don’t get to retire in that job — you work until you drop dead. For that, it was appropriate to do something.”
Another fan, Alex Turner, 32, said he felt the Premier League had made a mistake and that the England & Wales Cricket Board had made the smarter decision.
“It’s a good sign,” he added. “The ECB have done well to keep things going. It was a better strategy.”
-Reuters
Wahid Oshodi, the newly elected President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) has made an immediate call to the private sector to boost table tennis on the continent.
His approach focuses on not relying solely on public funds but on seeking corporate investment to elevate the sport.
He has launched an ambitious strategy to strengthen the development of table tennis in Africa.
His first step has been to solicit the backing of the private sector, which he sees as crucial to taking the sport to the next level.
In his inaugural address, Oshodi emphasised that relying exclusively on government funding and the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) “will not be enough to boost the sport across the continent.”
“It’s time to involve private and corporate organisations to help table tennis flourish in Africa.
“We cannot continue depending solely on government funding. We aim to raise the standards and produce more African superstars who can shine globally,” stated the new ATTF president, seeking a significant financial injection to tackle the challenges and ambitions set out for his tenure.
His election, held on 15 October in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was unanimous. Indeed, a clear acknowledgement of his international reputation and dedication to table tennis.
Oshodi, who was previously elected Vice President of the ATTF in 2019 and Executive Vice President of the ITTF in 2021, has more than proven his ability to lead the sport’s development both in his home country and across the continent.
The Lagos-born leader is not only focused on funding but also on fostering unity among ATTF member associations. He believes that a united continent will be stronger and better positioned to succeed on the global stage. “Unity is key. Together, we can achieve more for table tennis in Africa,” he added.
Governing Bodies
Sanusi set for record-extending tenure as Nigeria’s football politicians assemble in Asaba
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Speculations gathered ahead of the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Football Federation holding in Asaba on Friday have it that tenure elongation for the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, is a major item on the agenda.
Neither formal confirmation nor denial has been issued since one of the leading newspapers in Nigeria, ThisDay dropped the hint.
The agenda of the meeting is also not made public. Dr, Sanusi is the longest-serving General Secretary in history having been in office from 30 March 2015 making 3,476 days or nine years six months and four days.
It easily drowned that of his closest rival in tenure – Sani Toro whose tenure from 21 December 1993 to 3 May 1999 is merely 2020 days or five years, six months and 12 days.
Thus, no one had enjoyed a longer period in office than the incumbent, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi. It is speculated that the tenure will be extended as NFF has reported that all delegates have arrived in the Delta State capital by Thursday evening.
The NFF Annual General Assembly, the first of which took place 90 years ago in Lagos on 19 February 1934, is the biggest assemblage of football administrators and stakeholders in the country.
In one such meeting on 24 July 2008 in Makurdi, the football body changed its name from NFA to NFF.
This year, according to a press release by the NFF, the plenary will have in attendance, the chairmen and secretaries of football associations in the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, chairmen and secretaries of the Nigeria Premier Football League, Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football League and the Nationwide League One, as well as chairmen and secretaries of the referees’ association, players’ union and coaches’ association. This group of 88 makes up the Congress.
They are joined by the members of the NFF Executive Committee and the management team as well as former NFF Presidents and General Secretaries.
The Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh, is announced as the special guest. Nigeria’s Member of the FIFA Council, Amaju Melvin Pinnick is also expected as well as a representative of the West African Football Union (WAFU B).
The Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Francis Oborevwori will declare the General Assembly open.
Venue is the Unity Hall of the Delta State Government House.
Governing Bodies
Like in Egypt, former Nigerian Olympian, Sadiq Abdulahi wants Tinubu to declare ‘State of Emergency’ in Sports
Former Nigerian tennis player and Olympian, Prof. Sadiq Abdulahi has called for drastic action to arrest the decline of Nigeria in global sporting events.
The former tennis player who is now a professor in the United States declared that the “failure to win a medal at the regular 2024 Paris Olympics, the few medals at the Paris Paralympic and the fallout at the National Youth Sports Festival has exposed the deep problems facing the sport’s sector.”
He wants Nigeria to have the same approach that the Egyptian president has taken while reacting to the country’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olypics.
Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi ordered a comprehensive evaluation of sports federations that participated at the Paris Olympic Games, following a mission report submitted by the country’s sports minister.
According to Prof. Abdulahi, the National Sports Federations charged with the preparation of elite athletes have failed to do their job despite the cry for funding from the government.
“Federal Government cannot adequately fund all the Olympics sports. It is impossible.
“By declaring a state of emergency, new people, new approaches and new funding models will be identified. More importantly, the Federal Government will redefine grassroots sports development.
“We will lay sustainable foundation for sports development.”
Continuing, he called for the return of the National Sports Commission (NSC) which enabling decree was abolished through Decree No. 7 of 1991, but came back through presidential proclamation under Sani Abacha before it was abolished again.
The original NSC was established in 1964 as National Sports Council before the promulgation of Decree 34 of 1971 which legalised it as the apex Federal Government agency to control, regulate and organize sports.
“The FG may now bring back the National Sports Commission or the National Sports Authority. Our emerging national economy with the full participation of the private sector can support this new beginning. I hope this helps.”
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