AWARDS
Aspire Academy honours founding Advisor, Zohair Ammar
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Global football training institution, the Aspire Academy in Doha, Qatar which reshaped the global sporting landscape, celebrated its 20th anniversary by honouring one of those who shaped the institution, Zohair Ammar.
He is a well-known Egyptian sports management instructor and expert in sports marketing.
As an advisor, Ammar was instrumental in the founding of the institution which has been a beacon for sports academies globally.
Zohair Ammar – a honour well deserved.
Ammar was given special recognition at the 20th anniversary of the institution which also coincided with the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
He was an advisor to the founding committee and witnessed the Emiri decree in 2004 that brought this ambitious project to life.
Aspire, an independent government-funded agency, was born, reporting directly to the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani through the heir apparent, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.
In 2008 a significant milestone was reached with an Emiri decree that integrated Aspire Academy as a strategic business unit (SBU) within the newly formed Aspire Zone Foundation.
This transition, while altering the organizational structure, did not alter the core mission of Aspire: to nurture and develop exceptional athletes, both locally and globally.
Ammar’s personal connection to Aspire ran deep. He had been honoured to attend the grand opening ceremony in 2005, led by the Emir himself at the magnificent Aspire Dome.
The event marked Aspire’s official debut on the world stage, signalling its commitment to excellence and innovation.
As a sports journalist, I got to know Ammar while attending the FIFA/CIES diploma course in sports management at Cairo University in 2011/2012.
I had the privilege of learning from his expertise. As the program manager, Ammar’s dedication to fostering the next generation of sports leaders was evident.
My wife and I became the first couple that attend the course and were fortunate enough to complete the 4th edition of this prestigious program,
We are living testimonies to the valuable insights and inspiration imparted by Ammar.
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The White House has hit back at critics of Donald Trump being awarded the FIFA Peace Prize, saying there is none more deserving than the U.S. president.
Global soccer governing body FIFA gave Trump the inaugural award at the World Cup draw in December for “promoting peace and unity around the world”, triggering condemnation from human rights groups and activists in the lead-up to the World Cup.
Australian soccer player Jackson Irvine said this week that giving the award to Trump made a mockery of FIFA’s Human Rights Policy, while Norway’s soccer federation said FIFA should abolish the award.
The White House responded by saying Trump’s “Peace through Strength foreign policy” had ended eight wars in less than a year.
“There is no one else in the world more deserving of FIFA’s first ever Peace Prize than President Trump. Anyone who thinks otherwise clearly suffers from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in a statement.
The U.S., which is co-hosting the World Cup with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, launched a military strike on Venezuela a month after the draw for the tournament was made and began joint airstrikes with Israel on Iran on February 28.
Trump frequently invokes his success at resolving international conflicts and has said on numerous occasions that he should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
-Reuters
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It was an evening of glamour and celebration as leading figures in Nigerian sports gathered at the prestigious Lagos Country Club, Ikeja, for the 2026 Sportsville Special Recognition Awards held on Friday.
The highlight of the night was the honour bestowed on Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, who received the Sportsville Sports Transformative Impact Award in recognition of his sweeping reforms and contributions to the development of sports in Nigeria.
An elated Dikko, in his acceptance speech, described the award as a call to greater service, pledging renewed commitment to advancing Nigerian sports. He dedicated the honour to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and members of staff of the National Sports Commission.
“This is a call to do more; it’s a debt that must be paid with total dedication to further reforms and development in Nigerian sports. I am grateful to Sportsville for this very significant honour,” Dikko said.
Also recognised on the night were President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Enitan Oshodi, and initiator of the Niger Delta Games, Itiako Ikpokpo, who jointly received the Sports Personality of the Year Award.
Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Amadin Desmond Enabulele, was honoured with the Visionary Leadership Award, while seasoned sports administrators Kwame Arthur and Chuka Momah were recipients of the Sports Icon Award.
In the innovation category, Bambo Akani, founder of Making of Champions, and Dr Femi Bankole-Alibay were celebrated for their pioneering efforts in sports development, particularly in athletics and 5-aside football respectively.
The Achievers Category recognised contributions from Head of Safety and Security at CAF, Dr Christian Emeruwa, alongside Chief Felix Akiga.
Several individuals were also acknowledged in the Special Recognition Category, including Godwin Kienka, Toyosi Oyetunji, Toyin Aluko, Ama-ebi Ebikpolade, Akin Afolarin, Isaac Danladi, Fausat Dehinde-Yekini, and Fred Newton Erhunmwunse, Chairman of the Edo State Football Association.
In the corporate and institutional awards segment, the Akwa Ibom State Government and Eagle Wings FC, Benin City, emerged winners of the Best Sports Facility Award in the public and private categories respectively, while Brila Media Group clinched the Excellence in Sports Media Award.
Speaking at the event, Chairman/CEO of Sportsville Communication Services, Hon. Frank Ilaboya, reaffirmed the credibility of the awards, stressing that the selection process would remain transparent and merit-driven.
“The Sportsville Award has come to stay, and we have our eyes solely on those truly impacting Nigerian sports across the board,” Ilaboya stated.
A total of 20 distinguished individuals and organisations were honoured at the ceremony, underscoring the growing recognition of excellence and impactful contributions within Nigeria’s sports ecosystem.
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Renowned media entrepreneur and sports broadcaster, Larry Izamoje, will chair proceedings at the 6th edition of the Sportsville Special Recognition Awards scheduled to hold this evening at the Lagos Country Club.
The annual ceremony, which has grown into one of Nigeria’s notable sports recognition platforms, is expected to attract top stakeholders across the sports industry, with 20 individuals and institutions billed to be honoured across seven categories.
Organisers say the event will celebrate excellence and contributions to sports development in the country, with distinguished personalities cutting across administration, media, and grassroots development set to receive honours.
In the Icon Category, veteran sports figures Kwame Arthur and Chuka Momah will be recognised, while Hon. Itiako Ikpokpo and Hon. Wahid Oshodi are to be decorated as Sports Personalities of the Year. Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, will receive the prestigious Sports Transformative Impact Award.
Other recipients include Dr. Femi Bankole Alibay and Bambo Akani in the Creative and Innovative Category, as well as Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, who will be honoured for Visionary Leadership.
CAF Safety Officer and former basketball player, Dr. Christian Emeruwa, alongside Felix Akiga, are among those slated to receive the Achievers Award.
In the Special Recognition Category, Nasarawa State Attorney General, Barr. Isaac Danladi, will headline the list of awardees, alongside respected athletics announcer Akin Afolarin, Edo State FA Chairman Fred Newton Erhunwunse, Dr. Toyin Aluko, Fausat Dehinde Yekini, and sports advocate Toyosi Oyetunji.
Infrastructure will also be spotlighted, with the Godswill Akpabio Stadium set to receive the Best Facilities Award in the government category, while Eagles Wings FC Sports Complex will be honoured in the private sector category.
The ceremony is scheduled to commence at 6 p.m., with a red carpet session starting 30 minutes earlier.
Established six years ago, the Sportsville Awards aim to recognise and reward individuals and organisations driving the growth and development of sports in Nigeria.
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