Over 20 Imo Athletes Selected
For National Camping
…As Ag DS Aretola, Commends
Okorocha for Bank Rolling the Youths
As the National Youth Games came to its crescendo on Saturday December 14 at the National Stadium Abuja, over 20 Imo youths has been invited to join other selected youths for the national camping exercise in preparation for the African Youth Games next year.
In a special Telephone interview with the State Acting Director of Sports, Mrs Chizotam Aretola who spoke to Trumpeta from Abuja, she stated tha Imo athletes performed creditably well in their various sporting events as Imo picked up Gold medals in events like Handball, Taekwondo, Badminton and Para-Weightlifting as well as Silver and Bronze in other events.
Mrs Aretola further explained that the games was not organized for an eventual winner to emerge rather to identify talents that will not only represent Nigeria in the forthcoming African Youth Games next year but also to select and train future athletes that will represent the nation in the next Olympic games adding that over 20 Imo State athletes were among the selected youths that will return to camp after the yuletide period to prepare for the AYG next year.
She however used the medium to thank His Excellency the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha for allowing Imo athletes participate and be identified by providing the fund with which the contingent travelled with. Aretola also praised the “Free Education” General for all the developmental strides his administration has achieved so for and is still doing praying that God will continue to guide and protect Owelle for more especially in sports.
The team at the time of filling this report was due back in Owerri, while the AG DS, Aretola stayed back for a sports meeting of all the state DS and Commissioners with the NSC Officials apparently to brain storm on how to move sports forward in Nigeria.
Tottenham Sack AVB After Liverpool Bashing
Tottenham have confirmed that manager Andre Villas-Boas has been sacked following Sunday’s 5-0 thrashing by Liverpool at White Hart Lane.
The defeat leaves Spurs in seventh place in the Premier League table, eight points behind leaders Arsenal and comes less than a month after they were thrashed 6-by Manchester City.
Reports last week showed that the relationship between Villas-Boas and Daniel Levy had deteriorated to the point where he was no longer expected to remain at White Hart Lane beyond this season.
But following Sunday’s humiliation Levy, who looked less than impressed watching from the executive box, has decided to take immediate action.
“The club can announce that agreement has been reached with Head Coach, Andre Villas-Boas, for the termination of his services,” a statement read.
“The decision was by mutual consent and in the interests of all parties.”
In a poll conducted by the British media on Sunday, 54.8 per cent of readers said Villas-Boas should be sacked following the defeat.
JC Ikunna Unity Football Competition Kicks-off
I’m Motivated By Madiba’s Humanitarian Activities _ Ekwueme
As the rainbow Nation (South-Africa) and the world at large were marking the burial celebration of an icon of peace and unity (Nelson Madiba Mandela), another was being unveiled at the Mgbidi Central Stadium, Oru-West on Saturday December 15.
The event which was the opening ceremony of the Joseph Chukwuma Ikunna Football Competition for Orlu Senatorial zone powered by Joseph Ikunna Foundation, an NGO group set to help alleviate poverty in our communities as well as to empower the youths and indigent women.
In his address, the donor Chief Joseph Chukwuma Ikunna (Ekwueme) said the competition which first started among the communities in Oru-West but had to be up-graded to the senatorial level to help promote peace and unity among the 12 LGA’s that make up the zone as well as identify and expose the talents to stardom.
He further stated that the championship will at the same time aim at consolidating on the gains of the previous edition by trying to keep our youths away from social vices especially this yuletide period adding that the sporting activates that will soon diversify to other events like Boxing and Athletics will further present opportunities to the players to also pursue their footballing carrier abroad like the 4 identified stars who were discovered by Heartland fc and agents who working with our foundation to help our youths discover their God’s given talent.
Ekwueme, as he is fondly called by his people did promise to redeem the giant trophy with N250, 000 for the first prize while the first and second runners up will take home N125, 000 and N75, 000 respectively.
In the opening game, Ohaji/Egbema humbled their Oru-West counterpart 3 0 in front of their darling fans in very trilling encounter that kept the mammoth crowd on the edge of their seat throughout the 90 minutes.
IKEOHA CUP RESULTS (15/12/13)
Ihitte 0 0 Umunakanu
Okwuohia 1 0 Avutu
Amakohia 0 3 Ikperejere
EZE IROEGBU CUP (14/12/13)
Obokwu 1 0 Ofeama
(15/12/13)
Ngali 0 0 Umuwe
SWEET APLE CUP SEMI’S (14/12/13)
Ngugo-Ikembra 5 pen 4 Amatta
J C IKUNNA UNITY CUP (15/12/13)
Oru-West 0 3 Ohaji/Egbema
NGOR-OKPALA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Ntu 0 1 Eziama
Elelem 0 2 Umuekwune
JUNIC FIVE-A-SIDE FRIENDLY GAME (14/12/13)
Police Machine 0 3 NSCDC
FIFA U-20 FEMALE WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
Nigeria (Falconets) 4 0 Tunisia U-20
FIFA WORLD CLUB CUP (14/12/13)
Guangzhou 2 0 Al Ahly
Raja Casablanca 2 1 Monterrey
FIXTURE 18/12/13
Al Ahly — Monterrey
Raja Casablanca — Athletic MG
COPER LAGOS BEACH SOCCER FINAL
Nigeria 4 2 Senegal
ENGLISH CAPITAL ONE CUP (17/12/13)
Leicester — Man City
Sunderland — Chelsea
18/12/13
Stoke City — Man United
Tottenham — West Ham
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND OF 16
Arsenal — B/Munich
Zenit — B/Dortmund
Schalke — R/Madrid
Galatasaray — Chelsea
B/Leverkusen — PSG
AC Milan — A/Madrid
Olympiacos — Man United
Man City — Barcelona
