President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation ,NBBF, Musa Kida has confirmed that Rena Wakama will be retained as the Head Coach of D’Tigress following their historic run at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Kida praised Wakama for her leadership, noting her achievements, including leading D’Tigress to victory at the 2023 AfroBasket and securing Olympic qualification.
Recall that Wakama was recognized by FIBA as the best coach at the Olympics.
Kida highlighted the team’s strong preparation and strategic planning, noting the blend of new and experienced players that contributed to their success
Olympic flag arrived on Monday in Los Angeles, where it will be flown in 2028 when the city hosts the next Summer Games.
The flag arrived aboard a Delta Airlines jet carrying American athletes and officials, and painted with “LA28” and palm trees on its side. Hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur’s “California Love” blasted on loudspeakers on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport as the plane came to a stop.
The Olympic flag arrived on Monday in Los Angeles, where it will be flown in 2028 when the city hosts the next Summer Games.
The flag arrived aboard a Delta Airlines jet carrying American athletes and officials, and painted with “LA28” and palm trees on its side. Hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur’s “California Love” blasted on loudspeakers on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport as the plane came to a stop.
The International Olympic Committee awarded Los Angeles the right in 2017 to host the 2028 Games. It will be the third time LA has hosted the Games in the modern era, after being the host city in 1932 and 1984.
Bass acknowledged Paris had set a high bar as an Olympic host, and that LA’s homelessness problem would be a challenge to overcome. But the City of Angels has one world-class asset that nobody else can claim: “We do have Hollywood, so I expect a lot of magical opportunities”.
Valentina Petrillo is set to become the first openly transgender athlete to participate in the Paralympic Games after the visually impaired sprinter was selected to represent Italy in the women’s 200 and 400 metres races in Paris.
The 50-year-old, who transitioned in 2019, won bronze medals in both events at the World Para Athletics Championships last year in Paris. Prior to transitioning, Petrillo won 11 national titles in the men’s category.
“I still find it hard to believe it and I’m keeping my feet on the ground because my chance to participate in Tokyo was missed by a whisker”, Petrillo said in a statement on Monday.
“I will only start thinking about the Paris Games once I arrive in France”.
Diagnosed with Stargardt’s syndrome at the age of 14, Petrillo’s visual abilities are limited to 1/50th of the normal range.
International Paralympic Committee ,IPC, President Andrew Parsons told BBC Sport that while Petrillo is welcome in Paris under World Para Athletics policies, he wants to see the sporting world “unite” on its transgender policies.
Manchester City striker, Erling Haaland is in the hunt to win a second successive PFA Player of the Year Award after being nominated alongside team-mates Phil Foden and Rodri.
Haaland enjoyed another prolific campaign with 38 goals in all competitions as City lifted an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title.
The Norwegian star won the PFA award after City’s treble-winning campaign in 2022-23.
Rodri was a key figure in City’s midfield during their latest Premier League triumph and also helped Spain win Euro 2024.
England playmaker Foden scored 27 goals last season for Pep Guardiola’s men.
Chelsea forward Cole Palmer, Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard and Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins have also been shortlisted for the prize.
The women’s award will go to either a Chelsea player or a City player.
Chelsea’s Niamh Charles, Erin Cuthbert, and Lauren James are shortlisted along with Yui Hasegawa, Lauren Hemp, and Khadija Shaw.
Nasarawa State House of Assembly has expressed worry over the increasing rate of kidnapping in communities.
Deputy Speaker, Muhammad Oyanki, raised the alarm on the high rate of kidnapping under matters of public interest and was deliberated upon by members during plenary on Monday in Lafia.
Speaker Danladi Jatau, while reading the Assembly’s resolution on the matter, directed local government chairmen to organise security summits within two weeks in collaboration with traditional rulers and security agencies in order to tackle the menace.
Jatau appreciated Oyanki and other members of the Assembly for their positive contributions on the issue.
“The resolution of the House is to the effect that we commend Governor Abdullahi Sule and security agencies for their efforts in tackling insecurity in the state.
“We urge security agencies to be more committed and restrategise to tackle kidnapping.
“The anti-kidnapping law passed by the Nasarawa State House of Assembly should be strictly obeyed and anyone found wanting should be dealt with accordingly”, he said.
The speaker also called on the people to cooperate and support security agencies with useful information that would help in tackling kidnapping and other criminal acts.
In their contributions, Luka Zhekaba, Dennis Francis, Azara, Jacob Ajegana, Hajarat Danyaro, Esson Mairiga, Musa Abubakar, Solomon Akwashiki, Onarigu Kana, Muhammad Omadefu, Peter Akwe and others urged security agencies to be more committed to their duties in order to protect lives and property.
They noted that the people in their various constituencies no longer sleep peacefully at night for fear of being kidnapped.
They also urged security agencies to adopt technology to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes.
Earlier, Oyanki, while moving the motion, said the issue of forceful abduction and kidnapping had becoming alarming in his constituency.
“Kidnapping has become a serious problem in my constituency, every day and night, people are being kidnapped.
“We must find solution to the incessant kidnapping in the state in order to save the lives of our people.
“Recently, a councillor and other people were kidnapped in my constituency. Let us try and find solution to this issue”, he said. NAN
Great Britain’s Amber Rutter says “Some accountability needs to be taken” and “an apology” given following the controversial end to the women’s skeet final at the Paris Games.
The 26-year-old was tied with Chile’s Francisca Crovetto Chadid after three rounds of the four-round shoot-off, but she was called to have missed a shot which slow-motion replays appeared to show she hit the shot.
At the Olympics, shooting’s version of a video assistant referee ,VAR, or Hawkeye is not in use, and the judges did not overturn their decision when Rutter contested the call.
The silver medallist said ” A poor and incorrect decision by all three referees” had denied her the chance of competing for the gold medal.
BBC Sport has contacted the International Shooting Sport Federation ,ISSF, and International Olympic Committee ,IOC, for comment.
Writing on Instagram, external, Rutter said: “There has been thousands of comments and images shared of me clearly hitting my final shot in the gold-medal match shoot-off.
“I feel like I owe it not just myself but the entire shooting community to highlight and address the matter.
“Every athlete, especially at the Games deserves to compete on a fair playing field”.
West Ham United has signed a defender, Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Manchester United for £15m.
The 26-year-old has penned a seven-year deal with the Hammers.
Wan-Bissaka left Crystal Palace for Manchester United in a £50m move in 2019 and scored two goals in 190 appearances for the Red Devils.
The defender is West Ham’s eighth signing of the summer, joining Jean-Clair Todibo, Crysencio Summerville, Luis Guilherme, Niclas Fullkrug, Wes Foderingham, Max Kilman and Guido Rodriguez in moving to London Stadium.
“It was a no brainer for me to join West Ham – I’m excited and happy to be here”, said Wan-Bissaka.
“I can’t wait to get on the pitch, get to know the players, and push on from there.
“I see a team that is in it together, that will push each other to win, and a group that has got each others’ backs through thick and thin, so being part of that and having that insurance helps a lot when you are surrounded by a good squad”
Wan-Bissaka, who was born in London, added it was an “amazing feeling” to return to the capital.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer signed Wan-Bissaka when he was Manchester United manager in 2019 and the defender was first choice until the Norwegian’s departure in 2021.
Wan-Bissaka lost his regular starting position after Erik ten Hag’s appointment in 2022, although he still managed 64 appearances under the Dutchman in the past two seasons.
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Ogun State Command, yesterday paraded two suspects for alleged vandalism and impersonation.
The Corps Commandant, Mr David Ojelabi, while addressing newsmen at the parade in Abeokuta, said one of the suspects, Oluwatobi Salami, specialised in impersonating different officials of government.
Ojelabi said the second suspect, Idris Zakari, of Bagudu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, was arrested on August 9 at railway in Ifo Local Government Area for vandalising railway clips.
He said the suspects would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
“Salami specialises in impersonating an official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and an officer of the Nigeria Army.
“EFCC jackets and other attires worn by soldiers were found with him.
“He will be handed over to the appropriate authority for further investigation.
“Zakari was arrested by the men of So-Safe Corps, and in the spirit of inter-agency collaboration, he was handed over to NSCDC for further investigation and prosecution,” Ojelabi said .
He warned all criminal elements in the state to have a rethink as the defence arm will not hesitate to bring them to justice. (NAN)
…As NFF signs Premium Trust Bank as official bank of national teams
Joel Ajayi
Nigeria Football Federation’s President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has revealed that the desire and aspiration of the present NFF board is to improve the level of the Nigerian Football.
He stated this yesterday, at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding with Premium Trust Bank as the Official Bank of the NFF and the National Teams in the Federal Capital, Abuja.
President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, MON, who revealed that the agreement will be four years during which the leading financial institution will pay the football ruling body the sum of N300 Million annually (with a built-in clause for 10% increase every year), thanked the organization for its significant support and encouragement of Nigeria sports in less than three years of its existence.
“I want to assure all Nigeria that we are not going to relent on our effort to make sure we improve the level of football, and the only way we can do it is to get more support from individual and corporate bodies.
“We are excited to be associated with Premium Trust Bank because of its credible, close relationship with sports over its less-than-three-years life in the financial sector.
“During our interactions leading to the signing of this agreement, I was moved by the palpable enthusiasm and commitment of the organization to supporting and encouraging Nigerian youth all the way from the grassroots to stardom”.
Managing Director/CEO of Premium Trust Bank, Mr. Emmanuel Emefienim CON, enumerated the corporate entity’s support for sports since its birth, including partnership with the Athletic Federation of Nigeria; support for Nigeria’s world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles Tobi Amusan; sponsorship of the 2022 National Sports Festival in Delta State; support for Bayelsa Queens in its CAF Women Champions League campaign in Morocco and; sponsorship of the 2024 Abuja Half Marathon, among others.
“The bank, which prides itself as “a leading 21st century financial institution providing innovative solutions, which impacts its customers and communities to make a positive difference in their world” is also billed as official sponsor of this year’s National Sports Festival in Ogun State.
“We have been very deliberate in our support for sports, because we are deliberate when it comes to impacting lives. Our belief is that the private sector has a role to play in providing the platform for the youth to showcase their positive talents and be useful to themselves and the nation, thereby supporting the efforts of the government.
“We recognize football as a strong unifying factor in a highly diversified nation like ours. Supporting the NFF and football to identify talents from the grassroots and nurturing them to stardom, and thus contributing to national development, is a clarion call that we have heeded and are stoutly committed to. I believe our coming into this space will definitely take Nigeria Football to new heights of excellence”.
Gusau used the opportunity to assure Nigerians that his administration is wholly committed to improving Nigeria Football in all facets, and stated that “While celebrating the coming of Premium Trust Bank which is the first huge partnership that we are signing, we call on credible corporate entities like the bank to come forward and support the Nigeria game”
Two Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan, said it will commence the training and testing of the weapon handling skills of its officers and soldiers from August 26.
Its Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant-Colonel Polycarp Okoye disclosed this in a statement issued in Ibadan, yesterday.
According to Okoye, the 2024 Second Schedule of Range Classification Exercise, scheduled to run till September 20, is a major training requirement for troops.
He said the exercise is aimed at refreshing the skills of professional soldiers, thereby enhancing their proficiency in weapon handling to achieve good results during military operations.
The spokesperson said the exercise would also assist in ascertaining the level of troops training and preparedness for battle and other assigned military duties.
According to him, it would be held at Major General OF Azinta Shooting Range, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Ibadan.
He noted that the training is a biannual routine observed at all levels of different units and formations of the army nationwide.
“In view of the above, all communities situated around Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment are, please, informed not to panic on hearing sounds of gunshots during this period.
“Accordingly, all those farming and hunting within the barrack are, please, advised to avoid the range area throughout the period,” Okoye said.
