Sport

NEW African queen of the track, Blessing Okagbare, says she is certain of making the cut in the Nigerian track and field team to the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England, even though the games are two years away.
Okagbare, who only last month dethroned compatriot Damola Osayomi as Africa's fastest woman in the 100m event of the continental athletics championships in Nairobi, Kenya, had in recent months taken the track world by storm, by winning the United States national championships in women's 100m and women’s long jump at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship in Eugene, Oregon.  Okagbare, who has completed her first degree programme at the University of Texas El Paso, has opted to continue her education at the school and she is preparing herself for her next journey in track and field,  hopefully to be at the 2012 Olympics.

NIGERIA'S Samuel Peter, who floored Wladimir Klitschko three times in a heavyweight title bout five years ago and still lost, says the bruising Ukrainian will not get up when they meet again in September.     
The "Nigerian Nightmare" has another title shot against Klitschko on September 11 in Frankfurt, Germany, and despite the bout being in the world heavyweight champion's former adopted country, Peter will be packing his own judge and referee.

THE Nigeria Boxing Federation says it will not make any move to organize a rematch for the controversial elimination bout that featured Olaide Fijabi and Ganiyu Muideen ahead of the forthcoming New Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games.
The outcome of the Light Welterweight elimination bout, which was recently held at the National Stadium in Lagos, was trailed by controversy of alleged cheating and favouritism. The fight officials, comprising referees and judges, declared Fijabi as winner, but the United State-based Muideen protested the result, claiming he was rubbed and called for a rematch.    As the allegation continues to make rounds, NBF President Rotimi George-Taylor has ruled out any possibility of a rematch as demanded by the foreign-based pugilist.

President Goodluck Jonathan had in the wake of the crisis precipitated by the disappointing outing of the Super Eagles at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa set up a Presidential Advisory Committee mandated to come up with recommendations to reposition the administration of football in Nigeria. Veteran sports journalist cum marketer, Mitchel Obi, who is a member of the 11-man commitee, explains the imperative of a new beginning in this interview with DIPO OKUBANJO.   

FROM what we have seen of the dimension the election of the Nigeria Football Federation has taken, how does it affect the workings of your committee?
Our brief is very simple, to desgin a blueprint for football development for Nigeria. It doesn't restrict itself to any particular dispensation. Of course we have a mandate given by Mr. President through the National Sports Commission, so its their responsibility to know where to apply the blueprint to be handed in by four months time.

• As Maigari seeks co-operation
After about five days postponment, the Nigeria Football Federatio (NFF)  last week Thursday, at the Nicon Luxury hotel Abuja, against all odds, staged its general elections under the watchful eyes of FIFA and CAF representatives, Primo Corvaro, Dr. Amos Adamu and El-Hadj Moucharaf Anjorin. Though the elections received criticism from Nigerian football analysts and followers alike, the newly constituted board of Alhaji Aminu Maigari has come to stay. To some of the contestants, the desired change needed in Nigerian Football management has not been achieved as many viewed the present board as a continuation of the Sani Lulu administration.
Two of the contestants, Dr. Tijjani Yusuf, a two term Secretary General of the Nigerian Football Association from North West zone (Katsina) and Bukola Olapade from South West (Ogun State), who pulled out of the elections few hours to commencement, observed that there was no truth in the whole thing.

Eagles dare to excel in Europe
ASIDES from being the biggest money spinning club soccer competition in the globe, the UEFA Champions League, an annual competition that features the domestic league champions and a motley crowd of runner-ups, has over the years generated great enthusiasm among the Nigerian audience, especially since 1995, when the duo of Finidi George and Nwankwo Kanu won the competition (then known as the Champions Cup) with Ajax Amsterdam of Holland.

A number of Nigerian internationals will also be featuring in the 2010-11 edition of the tournament with their clubs drawn to play some of the aristocrats of the European game.
Striker Obafemi Martins' new club Rubin Kazan of Russia are nestled in nestled in Group D along with former champions Barcelona, AS Roma, FC Basel and CFR Cluj. Midfielder John Mikel Obi and defender Taiwo would actually come face to face in Group F where  Mikel's Chelsea plays Taiwo's Olympic Marseille, Spartak Moscow and Zilina. Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who has received rave reviews in recent times for his heroic deeds for both club and country, would strive to save Hapoel Tel Aviv from an early exit in Group B where the Israeli side confronts Olympic Lyon, Benfica and Schalke.

Also, Sporting Braga of Portugal defender, Elderson Echiejile, would want to justify the confidence reposed in him by his new club as Braga dare to excel in Group H where Arsenal, Shaktar Donetsk and Partizan Belgrade complete the pool.     

Gerrard mulls Europa glory
LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard wants to win the Europa League even though he admits it is not the club's priority this season.
The Reds have been pitted against Steaua Bucharest, Napoli and Utrecht in the group stages and after four years without a trophy Gerrard is keen to bring some silverware back to Anfield and knows Europe represents as good a chance as any.
"It's a strong group and I'm certainly looking forward to the games," he said.
"I'm confident we can get out of the group but it will be tough. The draw has given us some difficult challenges.
"I don't think the Europa League is the priority. Everybody knows that our league position, where we finish at the end of this year, is the priority.
"We haven't won a trophy for four years now so it's important we put a good show on in all the cup competitions and try to reward the fans with a final.”

'Balotelli will defy racist taunts'
MANCHESTER City forward Mario Balotelli will come face to face again with the Juventus fans who used to racially abuse him after the two clubs were paired in the same Europa League group on Friday.
Juve were forced to play a game behind closed doors in May 2009 after fans sang "a black Italian does not exist" at Balotelli during a match with his previous club Inter Milan at Turin's Stadio Olimpico.
Brian Marwood, Manchester City's head of football administration, told reporters after the draw in Monaco: "Mario, like all of our players, I'm sure, will be relishing the opportunity.
"He's a young man with an incredibly bright future ahead of him and we will give him every support and help that he needs.
"We will leave it to the authorities to deal with anything that happens but we are not anticipating any issue."
Balotelli, a 20-year-old of Ghanaian descent, made his debut for Italy in this month's friendly defeat to Ivory Coast in London.