Imeh Out, Babalola, Adegoke Hit Semis of CBN Tennis
Young Russian footballers taking part in an exhibition match at Moscow’s Football Park on Red Square Thursday had the chance to show-off their skills in front of FIFA Legends as well as FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin.
Iker Casillas, Lothar Matthäus, Ronaldo and Carles Puyol starred for the FIFA Legends and they were joined by Russian legends Alexey Smertin and Dmitry Bulykin. The local youth were selected from FC Totem whose players are alumni of the Children’s Home No. 1 in the Russian city of Krasnoyarsk. The club was founded by LOC CEO, Aleksey Sorokin, who was also in attendance along with LOC Chairman, Arkady Dvorkovich.
The two Presidents kicked off the match, having earlier taken a tour of the Football Park, which features a number of highlights including the FIFA World Cup Winner’s Trophy on
NFF ELECTIONS RELOADED
I did promise during the week to speak about events off the field here in Russia. The delay in coming was partly because the topic was overtaken by Nigeria’s defeat in the hands of perennial conquerors-Argentina.
The inability of Super Eagles to survive ‘ordinary last five minutes’ in the clash with the Albiceleste in St Petersburg Stadium, expectedly, created so much fury and vibes here and elsewhere. And so, my promise of ‘blasting’ extra curricular activities around the Nigerian camp, had to be put on hold. But now that the coast is clear, here is the gist.
Over the years, Nigerians are known around the world to be big spenders in taking good care of themselves. Those with deep pockets don’t make pretence when it comes to pampering. display in the pavilion.
“This is the heart of Russia and for these months it is the heart of the world and the world of football,” said the FIFA President.
“The whole world is watching and seeing Russia and what a fantastic party and celebration we’re But the trip to Russia this summer, appears, a different ball game.
Some of the NPFL club administrators and FA chairmen who were part of the stakeholders in town for the Mundial, could not reenact the usual boisterous atmosphere associated with this group of Nigerians. Reason was that there was no free money to throw around. Was it because of the exchange rates back home or the inability of the NFF to do the usual ‘Father Christmas Summer Bazaar’ every four years? Now, daggers are out, with these stakeholders, waiting for the NFF elections to hold in Katsina in September. What happens between now and in the next three months when the congress will take place will decide whether Amaju Melvin Pinnick will end the jinx of no NFF president doing a second term in office. The World Cup year which is also having here. It has been an unbelievable celebration, with great matches and perfect organisation in a hospitable country. You walk around the cities and you can see men, women, boys and girls with shirts from different countries celebrating together. That’s football.”
The match was officiated by professional Russian referee Mikhail Vilkov. Russia 2018 Mascot Zabivaka was on hand to help entertain the 200 or so spectators.
The players had the chance to take photos with the high-profile guests while also trying to shoot past the fastest goalie in the world - Robokeeper! One of the top seeds at the ongoing 40th Central Bank of Nigeria Senior Tennis Championship,Joseph Imeh failed in his bid to win the competition following the failure to go past another touch player, Spain based Sylvester Emmanuel in one of the quarter final matches decided yesterday.
Imeh was beaten in two straight set of 6-2, 6-2. In some of the other matches decided last night, Clifford Enosoregbe outclassed Emmanuel Paul 6-1, 6-4 to book his semi-final ticket just as tournament number eight seed, Uche Oparaoji who was one game down in his quarter-final match against Albert Bikom before bouncing back to win the game 2-1 3-6, 7-6 7-5.
The defending champion and tournament and number two seed, Abdulmumuni Babalola an elective congress one, apart from being a distraction for the Super Eagles, has become the place where battle for the coveted office usually start in the host country of the Mundial. Russia has not proved otherwise in this sad commentary on the administration of football in Nigeria.
BODY NO BI WOOD AFFAIRS IN RUSSIA
Body no bi wood is a popular jingo in the country. It is a term used mostly on the street in reference to promiscuous activities of men (or women?) on short trips outside their homes. Lascivious men have been on raunchy escapades around town here despite initial warnings to Russian women not to get pregnant for foreigners.
A Nigerian who has been resident in St reach the crucial stage of the competition with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over hard fighting Michael Michael.
This afternoon, Sylvester Emmanuel will take on Clifford Enosoregbe in the first semifinals while Babalola battles Uche Oparaoji in the second semi-finals.
In the women section, the defending champion, Sarah Adegoke who had a 6-2, 6-2 quarter-final win over Rose Abu will be up against Patience Oneamhoin in the today’s first semi-final while Christy Agugbom and Blessing Samuel will play in the other semi final match.
The week-long championship which had over N11.3 million as prize money had over 300 players from all states of the federation in attendance and it will end tomorrow at the Abuja National Stadium. Petersburg for a couple of years has been smiling to the bank counting the cool cash he is making pimping for some of the randy visitors from Naija here for the Mundial.
One middle age Nigerian was heard haggling price with the guy in one of the hotels most stakeholders of the Nigerian football congress were quartered. The guy stuck to his $200 (about N72,000) asking price for the two hour service to be provided by these young ladies from parts of eastern Europe. Those who could not afford to satisfy their lustful quests at that price, make do with going to strip clubs for a fee of 500 Russian roubles (about N3,000). One Nigerian topflight club secretary was often seen enjoying his drinks in the midst of these girls in one of the strip clubs not far from Corinthians Hotel where Eagles stayed for the clash with Argentina in St Petersburg.