Sports
Aniche, Ezeh dazzle at MTN Schools’ Athletics Championships

National Youth Games champion Michael Aniche and Adaeze Ezeh showed their class at the MTN Schools’ Athletics Championships in Benin after leading their teams – Baptist Vocational of Rivers State and Vision High School of Anambra to dominate the cadet event at the three-day tournament held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
883 athletes across 157 schools in the three age categories (Cadet, Youth & Junior) competed in the Benin leg of the championships as Aniche ruled the cadet boys’ 400m, long jump and mixed 4X400m relay to become the cynosure of all eyes at the tournament which aided his team’s triumph in the cadet event with 49points.
Like Aniche, Ezeh coasted to victory in the girls’ cadet in 100m, 200m, long jump and 4×100 relay events to ensure that her team Vision High School also topped the girls’ cadet event with 59points.
Aniche and Ezeh won the MVP in the cadet division (U-14) while Anthony Lucky and Success Oruaro were named the MVP in the Youth event (U-17).
Lucky emerged champion in the boys’ long jump event while Oruaro claimed gold medals in girls’ 100m and 200m.
For the junior event (U-20), Isaac Chukwuwike who claimed gold medals in 400m, 800m, mixed 4X400m relay was named the MVP in the boys’ junior event, while Victoria Olaniyi who won gold medals in 100m and 200m was named the girls’ junior MVP.
For their feat in Benin, Aniche, Ezeh, Lucky, Oruaro, Chukwumike, and Olaniyi have secured their places in the grand finale in Abuja later in the year.
Other golden performers that will join the top six at the Abuja finale from the Benin leg include Showers Ushie, who claimed gold medal in the junior boys 100m; Faith Osamuyi, a gold medal in 100m hurdles and silver medal in 100m; Jane Chioma Onyeneho who finished top three in the junior girls’ 100m and 200m as well as Isaac Egberebo, a silver medallist in boys’ junior 100m and 200m will also join the train to Abuja.
The grassroots athletics championship is being organized by Making of Champion (MoC) in collaboration with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF) and sponsored by MTN Nigeria.
news
Tinubu Committed to Local Government Autonomy and Engaging Youths in Various Entrepreneurial Skills, Says Adeyinka

Minister for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Zaphaniah Jisalo has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is determined to ensure that the local government system is working well in the overall interest of the country.
Speaking at a sporting event organised by the office of the Mandate Secretary in charge of Youth Affairs in the FCT, the Minister appealed to stakeholders to support grassroot sports development in the Federal Capital Territory as a way of discovering young talents in the country.
He described the football competition as another way of turning youth away from crime and other social vices.
Special Adviser to the President on Youth and Sports, Anthony Adeyinka, said the event shows support for the present administration by the FCT youths.
He said Tinubu is committed to youth development and empowerment. He reiterated different empowerment programmes for youths that have been put in place to get them engage in different entrepreneurship skills.
The Mandate Secretary of the FCT Bitrus Garki said FCT youth are happy that the president is interested in the development of hitherto forgotten communities, adding that the people are happy with the policies of the government which are beginning to yield positive results in all the area councils across the FCT.
Garki said the competition is aimed at appreciating the deliberate policies of the present administration which is now integrating the rural people into governance by giving them a voice.
The Zakari of Karu Chiefdom, Danfulani Narayi said the traditional institution in the Federal Capital Territory is happy with the present administration for its efforts in building a strong communities across the FCT.
He said competition like this will also help to unite the youth and create a sense of ownership by the people in the development of their communities.
Sports
Update: Tinubu named Adeyinka, popularly known as Zulu, SSA on Grassroots Sports Dev’t

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Adeboye Adeyinka, popularly known as Zulu, as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development.
Zulu, a seasoned sports administrator, previously served as the Special Assistant to the immediate past Minister of Sports, Senator John Enoh. His extensive career also includes working with four different Lagos State Governors in various capacities, further cementing his reputation as a dedicated advocate for grassroots sports.
With a wealth of experience in sports administration and grassroots development, Adeyinka is poised to play a pivotal role in supporting the National Sports Commission’s mission to transform and revitalize Nigerian sports.
This appointment is widely seen as President Tinubu’s commitment to fostering sports development at the grassroots level, a crucial foundation for building a sustainable and thriving sports ecosystem in Nigeria.
Sports
Breaking : Usyk beats Fury to emerge undisputed heavyweight world champion

Oleksandr Usyk on Sunday beat Tyson Fury by split decision to become the undisputed heavyweight world champion.
The Mirror noted that Usyk toppled Fury with a stirring second-half comeback to be crowned the undisputed heavyweight world champion.
Fury dominated the first half of the fight, belying the magnitude of the night by clowning around at every opportunity.
But Usyk made a stirring comeback in the desert, forcing the referee to issue a count when only the ropes held his rival up in the ninth round.
Accordingly, Fury struggled to regain the momentum and would have been the happier of the two men to hear the final bell.
But his relief was short-lived as Usyk was announced the winner – and the division’s first undisputed ruler for 25 years – by split-decision.
The Brit, who was making the fourth defence of his world title, had weighed in 40lb heavier than bid rival and also enjoyed a six-inch height advantage.
He towered over Usyk as they touched gloves, telling the smaller man he was “going to school”.
Despite the occasion, Fury was in a playful mood from the first bell, taunting Usyk by lying back on the ropes. He then repeatedly punched himself in the head, beckoning his rival on.
Usyk landed a one-two at the start of the second round as Fury began to target the body – before punctuating the three minutes with an uppercut.
Fury was content to box on the back foot but began to use his size to lean on Usyk.
He switched to southpaw in the fourth round and prematurely raised his hands in victory after landing a back hand.
Such was Fury’s reach advantage that Usyk was at times struggling to close the distance.
Fury whipped in hooks to either side of the Ukrainian’s midriff as the former cruiserweight champion showed the first signs of struggle.
By the sixth round Fury looked to be in complete control as Usyk began to tire. Now the Brit was on the front foot as his rival backtracked and he reached the halfway mark with his hands behind his back.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Anthony Joshua had the best seats in the house alongside boxing’s new power broker Turki Alalshikh.
Steven Gerrard paid a visit to Fury’s dressing room before the first bell while Brazilian superstar Neymar also made an appearance.
And they would have enjoyed Fury’s performance in front of 28,000 fans, including a travelling contingent of Fury’s loyalists.
But Usyk was never going to lie down easily and returned fire in the seventh round with two left-hand reminders.
Usky lands a blow on Fury (Credit: The Mirror)
Usyk lands a blow on Fury (Credit: The Mirror)
Fury was alive to the threat however and immediately answered back.
Usyk increased his urgency in the eighth round as he chased down his fellow champion, appearing to demand he meet him for a fire-fight.
It was Usyk’s best round of the fight as he roared back into contention, landing a left-hand flush.
And he put his foot on the gas in the next round when a left hand against the ropes left Fury stunned.
Fury staggered around the ring as Usyk rushed after him and with only the ropes holding him up, the referee issued him a count.
The bell sounded to ensure Fury could fight on but Usyk smelled blood.
Fury had been down seven times before in his career and recovered each time but he looked vulnerable.
But that didn’t stop him showboating in the corner in an attempt to prove he wasn’t still stunned.
Fury had regained his composure by the penultimate round but the momentum was with Usyk as he flashed in a right hand.
A left hand against the ropes worried Fury again as Usyk looked to close the show.
The result was up in the air as the bell sounded for the final round but neither man was prepared to go for broke.
Fury landed the final telling blow but the result was left in the judges’ hands, The Mirror noted.
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