Sport Archives - Page 21 of 26 - SocietyGazette.com

Tokyo Olympics: We Had No Contract Agreement With PUMA ― AFN

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), has said that it is not in possession of any contractual documents signed between it and German sportswear company, PUMA, Newspremises reports.

Recall that the kit manufacturers terminated the four-year sponsorship contract worth $1.67m with the federation on Wednesday.

PUMA cited the failure of Nigerian athletes’ to wear their brand at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics.

Also, the technical director of the factional Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) board, Sunday Adeleye, on Thursday, said that PUMA will sue for breach of contract.

However, reacting to the development, AFN, in a statement signed by Prince Adeniyi Adisa Beyioku, its Secretary-General, said it could not be liable for what it knows nothing about.

The statement read,

”The attention of the AFN has been drawn to a media statement signed by Shehu Ibrahim Gusau confirming the termination of the agreement he and Mr Sunday Adeleye signed with sportswear and equipment company, PUMA purportedly on behalf of the AFN in July 2019.

”The AFN wishes to state unequivocally that it is not aware of any contract as there was no document in the Secretariat of the federation pertaining to any contractual agreement with PUMA.”

Official: Manchester City Complete Signing Of Jack Grealish From Aston Villa

English Premier League (EPL) champions Manchester City on Thursday announced the signing of Jack Grealish on a six-year deal.
Society gazette reports that the 25-year-old midfielder joins from Aston Villa, having made 213 appearances over the course of eight seasons, scoring 32 goals and assisting 43.

Grealish played an important role in England’s run to the just concluded Euro 2020.

“I am incredibly happy to have joined Manchester City,” Grealish said. “City are the best team in the country with a manager considered to be the best in the world – it’s a dream come true to be part of this club.

“Over the past 10 seasons, they have won major trophies consistently. Pep coming here has taken them to the next level and the football this team plays is the most exciting in Europe. To play for Pep and learn from him is going to be special and it’s something any top footballer would want.

“The facilities are amazing, and I honestly can’t wait to get started, meet everyone and get playing.”

Director of Football Txiki Begiristain added: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to welcome Jack Grealish to Manchester City. He is an incredible talent.

“Jack’s development over the past few seasons both for club and country has been plain for everybody to see. His natural talent together with his commitment to improve as a player, has seen him become one of the most exciting attacking players in world football today.

“I am certain that the fans are going to love seeing him in our team. Pep loves the way he plays, and we all feel he is an ideal fit for Manchester City. Our style and his style are a perfect match. I’m excited to watch him over the coming years.”

Source: Naija News

Breaking! Barcelona To Let Messi Go For Lack Of Money

Lionel Messi will leave Barcelona after the La Liga club were unable to fulfil a new contract that had been agreed with the player due to “financial and structural obstacles”.

The six-time Ballon d’Or winner has officially been a free agent since July 1 after he failed to agree terms over a renewal before his previous Barcelona contract expired on June 30.

However, the 34-year-old had been expected to sign a new five-year contract with the Catalan club, which would have seen his salary reduced by 50 per cent.

Messi has spent his entire career at Barcelona, coming through the club’s academy before going on to score 672 goals in 778 appearances after making his senior debut in 2003.

A club statement said: “Despite FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi having reached an agreement and the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, this cannot happen because of financial and structural obstacles (Spanish Liga regulations).

“As a result of this situation, Messi shall not be staying on at FC Barcelona. Both parties deeply regret that the wishes of the player and the club will ultimately not be fulfilled.

“FC Barcelona wholeheartedly expresses its gratitude to the player for his contribution to the aggrandisement of the club and wishes him all the very best for the future in his personal and professional life.”

PUMA terminates four-Year contract with Athletics Federation of Nigeria

German sportswear manufacturing giants PUMA has terminated its four-year contract with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

According to PUMA, the termination of the deal was a result of Nigeria’s athletes’ inability to wear the brand at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

In a letter dated Wednesday, August 4, and signed by the company’s director Manuel Edlheimb, PUMA said it was officially notifying the Athletics Federation of Nigeria of its termination of sponsoring and Licensing Agreement.

“We are referring to the licensing and sponsoring agreement signed between our company and your federation.

“As a direct consequence of the recent developments, particularly at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 and pursuant to clauses 9.2 and 7.3 of the Agreement, we hereby terminate the Agreement with immediate effect.

“PUMA especially declares to be discharged from any or all obligations towards all stakeholders involved and reserves all rights against these entities and individuals”.

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria under the leadership of Engr Ibrahim Gusau signed a 4-year contract with PUMA in 2019 and was due to expire in 2022.

Part of the contract is that PUMA will supply kits to all age categories to Nigeria’s Athletics team for four years at no cost.

In addition, gold medalists at the Olympic Games will earn $15,000, silver medalists will get 5,000 while a bronze medal will fetch athletes wearing the PUMA apparel at the games $3000. This means, Ese Brume would have gotten an additional $3000 for winning bronze wearing PUMA kit if the deal was still on.

The termination of the deal comes amidst an alleged leadership tussle between the Ibrahim Gusau-led AFN board and that headed by the Minister for Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare.

The minister is said to have vowed that the Nigerian Athletes will not wear the PUMA kits, stating that the contract is “a subject of a criminal investigation”.

Last year, the Department of State Services cleared Gusau and his vice president Sunday Adeleye over corruption allegations levelled against him by the sports ministry.

Louis van Gaal confirmed as new Netherlands Head Coach

Louis van Gaal was relieved of his duties at Manchester United in 2016 but is back in the managerial hot seat, taking the reins at the Netherlands for the third time

Louis van Gaal has been named Netherlands boss – his first job in management since he was sacked at Manchester United in 2016.

The Dutchman has managed his nation on two separate occasions, first in 2000 to 2002 and later in 2012 to 2014.

He replaces Frank de Boer in the hot seat.

Van Gaal said of his appointment: “Dutch football has always been close to my heart and national coaching is in my view a key position for the further advancement of our football. Moreover, I consider it an honor to coach the Dutch national team.

“There is little time for the next qualifying matches, which are immediately crucial for participation in the World Cup. The focus is therefore immediately 100 percent on the players and the approach. After all, I was appointed for that.

“It is good to be back in Zeist. By now I have already spoken to a number of players and the technical staff has been put together with the KNVB. I am very much looking forward to getting the job done together.”

Tokyo Olympics: Ese Brume Wins First Medal For Nigeria

Longer jumper, Ese Brume has won the first medal for Nigeria at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Brume’s 6.97m jumped came just short of 0.3 of Germany’s Malaika Mihambo’s 7.00m and American Brittney Reese’s 6.97m.

The African record holder leapt to a distance of 6.76m, 1cm more than the required mark to seal her place in the final.

Brume became Nigeria’s only athlete in the jumps, following the disqualification of Ruth Usoro by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).

She was also Nigeria’s only medalist at the last World Championship in Doha. Ahead of the Olympics, Brume broke Chioma Ajunwa’s long-standing record of 7.12m.

She was the only Nigerian athlete who reached the final of her event at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, where she placed fifth with a leap of 6.81m.

Earlier, Mihambo had soared to gold in the women’s long jump, snatching victory from former champion Brittney Reese with her last leap of the competition.

The German was lying in the bronze medal position ahead of her final jump but powered down the runway to register a season-best jump of 7.00 metres.

That left 2012 Olympic champion Reese – who had led the competition with a best jump of 6.97m – with one final attempt to reclaim the lead.

But the American could only manage 6.84 with her last leap to settle for silver.

Westbrook Joins Lebron James and Anthony Davies in Lakers

The OKC Thunder and NBA world saw surprising news go down just hours before the NBA Draft. The Thunder saw their former franchise star, the next player in line to have his jersey retired in the Paycom Center, and soon to have a statue outside the arena, shipped to the L.A. Lakers.

For the third straight offseason, Westbrook has been traded to a new team, a new organization, but this time a familiar city. The Oklahoma City fan favorite is heading back to his state, California.

The nine-time All-Star, two-time scoring champ, three-time assist champ, who has made nine All-NBA teams, and the 2016-17 NBA MVP is teaming up with LeBron James and Anthony Davis in LaLa Land.

This will be the best chance of capturing a ring since Westbrook was teammates with Kevin Durant.

Sure, there are some concerns with this fit. Mainly spacing, but LeBron has consistently made teammates better and found ways to maximize the roster around him.

With AD and LBJ more comfortable playing the center and power forward spots, it makes room for Westbrook leading the charge as the point guard. Barring health, the Purple and Gold will be must-watch TV.

For Westbrook, this will be a legacy-defining move. If anyone is up for the challenge, it is Russ. However, the unfair slander will only grow louder if he butts-heads with King James, and things go south with the Lakers.

Though, if the LA trio wins a title, the toxic behavior of NBA stan culture silently fades away. Westbrook gets his respect and gets to rise the Larry O’Brien for his hometown team.

Are you rooting for the Lakers this season now that they have added Russell Westbrook?

Heritage Bank hailed for supporting Ibadan Golf Club

Heritage Bank Plc has been commended for its continued supports to Nigeria’s sports’ sector, especially backing the Ibadan Golf Club’s 30th anniversary event.

The event that attracted dignitaries and stakeholders from various parastatals also had the presence of the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde and over 150 golfers who participated in the tournament during the weeklong celebration.

In a speech during the grand finale of the 30th anniversary of the club, the Captain of the Ibadan Golf Club, Oladiran Ibironke commended one of Nigeria’s most vibrant financial institutions, Heritage Bank and others for providing financial support to ensure the success of the event.

“Special thanks to Heritage Bank Plc., the anniversary’s major sponsor for enlarging our coast financially in order to make the anniversary elaborate and eventful. You will forever be remembered in the history of Ibadan Golf Club,” he stated.

Ibironke also praised the efforts of the founding fathers of the club while tracing the history of how the sporting club has continued to blossom.

He stated that tremendous transformations had occurred within the club since inception 30 years ago.

“We are celebrating 30 years today because some great minds came together and established what we are celebrating today.

“From the history that we heard, they started from Ibadan Recreation Club before moving over to where we are today in 1990,” Ibironke said.

Speaking on the 30^th anniversary, the Ag. Group Head, Corporate Communications, Heritage Bank, Ozena Utulu noted that the Bank is delighted to be the lead sponsor and to be associated with Ibadan Golf Club, stating that the sponsorship is hinged on its brand’s passion to support sports, especially golf in promoting health, wellbeing, and nation building.

She stated that Heritage Bank, as the sponsor of Ibadan Golf Club’s 30th anniversary, is working assiduously towards achieving its vision of becoming a bank known for promoting healthy lifestyles and the general wellbeing of the society at large.

“Heritage Bank believes in development. We have the tenacity to develop and sport is a way of developing Nigerians both young and old. We want to encourage the golfers; I believe that this type of games is capable of helping them to keep healthy and fit,” Utulu stated.

BREAKING: 10 Nigerian athletes disqualified from Tokyo Olympics over Drug issues

10 Nigerian athletes have been disqualified from participating in the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

It was learned that the development was announced by the Athletics Integrity Unit via a statement on Tuesday.

This was contained in a statement in a statement from the Athletics Integrity Unit obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday. The Athletics Integrity Unit is an independent body created by World Athletics that manages all integrity issues (both doping and non-doping)

The statement showed that a total of 20 athletes were ineligible.Other countries affected are Belarus, Ethiopa, Kenya, Morocco, and Ukraine. Nigeria had the most ineligible athletes

The athletes were disqualified for not meeting the minimum testing requirements under Rule 15 governing National Anti-Doping Federation.

However, top Nigerian athletes; Blessing Okagbare, Tobi Amusan, Ese Brume, Divine Oduduru, and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi were not affected.

The AIU explains that under the framework of Rule 15 governing National Federation Anti-Doping Obligations, which came into force in January 2019, National Federations are accountable for ensuring appropriate anti-doping measures are in place in their respective jurisdictions.

Among other things, the rule sets out minimum requirements for testing for the national teams of ‘Category A’ federations deemed to have the highest doping risk and considered as a threat to the overall integrity of the sport.

The key requirement in Rule 15 is that an athlete from a ‘Category A’ country must undergo at least three no-notice out-of-competition tests (urine and blood) conducted no less than three weeks apart in the 10 months leading up to a major event.

Jonathan Unveils New Sports Club In Nigeria

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has established and inaugurated a sports club known as the “GEJ Sports Club” which he noted is intended to groom young talents into professionals.

Speaking yesterday at the inauguration of the facility located in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, Jonathan called on stakeholders to join hands with the club to nurture young talents in Nigeria and across Africa.

According to him, his plans are for the club to host different indoor games, expressing optimism that once the project is completed, the facility will be able to host some state, zonal and national competitions before the end of the year.

In his words, “Today, it was a delight and honour to host friends and sports enthusiasts at the official opening of GEJ sports club in Yenagoa, Bayelsa.

“The idea here is to groom young talents that can compete favourably with other international players from any part of the world.

“The Club will be pleased to partner with relevant stakeholders to grow and nurture young talents that will make Nigeria and Africa proud.”

Speaking at the event, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Education, Mr. Gentle Emelah, said the Bayelsa State government would be interested in partnering with the club for sports development.