Pakoto, Gateway Win GTBank Ogun State Principals Cup
Pakoto High School and Iko Gateway Grammar School have emerged as 2017 champions of the GTBank- Ogun State Principals Cup Season 5 in the boys and girls categories respectively after a pulsating final at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta on Thursday.
Playing before top dignitaries which included Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his wife, GTBank Managing Director, Segun Agbaje and the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adetotun Aremu Gbadebo, both finals ended in stalemate and were determined by penalty kicks.
In the boys’ final, Pakoto High School who won the competition in 2015 defeated Ipara Community Secondary School, Ipara, 4-1 on penalties after the game ended 1-1 during regulation time.
In the female’ category, two time winners, Muslim High School, Isolu, were denied a third trophy as Iko Gateway Grammar School, Idiroko, came from behind to win 3-2 on penalties.
Muslim High shot into the lead in the first half but Iko Gateway scored a late equaliser to end the game 1-1.
Winners in both categories were rewarded with the sum of N1,000,000 each, while the 1st ,2nd, 3rd runners-up got N750,000, N500,000, and N350,000 respectively.
Commenting on the finals, the MD/ CEO of GTBank , Segun Agbaje, said, “We are proud to lead this initiative that provides an avenue for students to showcase their talents and passion for the game of football even as they remain committed to their academics.”
The United World Wrestling has awarded the hosting rights for the 2018 Senior, Junior and Cadet African Wrestling Championships to Port Harcourt between February 7 and 11, 2018.
Announcing the approval of the hosting rights at the Government House Port Harcourt yesterday during a visit to Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali, said the hosting rights is an affirmation that the hotels and security in the state meet international standards.
He said normally the different styles were hosted in different cities, but the three styles would be hosted in Port Harcourt next year.
He said: "This event will bring the world to Rivers State. This kind of major sporting event tells the world the type of capacity that is available in the state.
"We are expecting about 40 countries, over 1,000 athletes, coaches and referees. Since we are hosting all three styles, we are going to have 90 gold medals.
"We will be hosting the Olympic qualifiers for the Junior Olympic which is taking place in Budapest. This is a double header for Rivers State ".
He said Rivers State would be established as a sports tourism state and a world business centre.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, thanked the leadership of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation for the honour done to the state.
He said that the State Government would host the tournament in line with the approved standards of the United World Wrestling.
The governor announced the process for setting up of the Local Organising Committee in consultation with the Nigeria Wrestling Federation.
He said: "The preparation will start now. This is a big honour, not only for Rivers State but for the entire Niger Delta. This will make the entire world know that Rivers State is safe.
“Rivers State is safe, that is why people are visiting the state. This wrestling tournament will add an international dimension.”
The governor said that approved hotels would be informed to upgrade their facilities.
Tennis greats Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will put their epic rivalry to one side when they team up together for the Laver Cup.
The competition will see world No 1 Nadal and 19-time Grand Slam champion Federer play for Team Europe against a Rest of the World side in Prague.
It's been an incredible tennis year with the duo able to turn back the clock and share the four Grand Slams between them.Tennis LiveLiveStefano Travaglia 0 v 1 *Adrian Ungur
Their rivalry has stretched 13 years and 37 matches with Nadal, back on top of the world rankings for the first time in three years, with a 10th title at the French Open and third at the US Open forming part of his 16-Slam portfolio.
Federer captured the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles and with a 2017 record of five titles, 39 match wins and just four losses, the evergreen Swiss remains at the very top of his game at the age of 36 with 19 major titles.
The dominant Spaniard leads their head-to-head record 23-14, but they will put their on-court rivalry aside when they team-up for the first time.
"After all these years I actually get a chance to support his forehand, his aggressive play, his fighting spirit, his everything," said Federer after the announcement of the Laver Cup teams. "He's been a wonderful champion for our sport.
"I think Rafa brought something to the game that we really haven't seen that much before, or not at all. The amount of spin he was able to bring to the game or the physicality and his movement on clay."
Nadal said of Federer: "I've never seen anybody with all the ingredients that Roger has. Big serve, big forehand, movement, the slice, but at the same time he plays with unbelievable elegance."
The pair had not met since 2015 before this year's epic Australian Open final where Federer prevailed, winning 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3 after three hours and 38 minutes.
In their 37th and last meeting to date, it was Swiss maestro Federer who claimed the Miami Open crown and made reference to their first-ever meeting, at the same venue, away back in 2004 when a 17-year-old Nadal beat a 22-year-old Federer.