THREE ICC BOARD ASSOCIATE MEMBER DIRECTORS ELECTED

Imran Khwaja, Mahinda Vallipuram and Tony Brian have been elected as the Associate Member Directors on the International Cricket Council (ICC) Board at the ICC Annual Conference in Dublin today.

Imran Khwaja of Singapore and Mahinda Vallipuram of Malaysia have retained their position as Associate Member Directors and are joined by Tony Brian from Scotland who replaces Namibia’s Francois Erasmus.

The newly-elected Directors who will sit on the ICC Board for a two-year term, were voted in by the Voting Associate Members of the ICC and the Regional Representatives.

Imran Khwaja said, “I am delighted to be re-elected as one of the three Associate Member Directors on the Board. We have made great strides over the past two years with significant highlights including the governance reform. I look forward to the next two years, building on the success and moving the sport forward even further.”

Mahinda Vallipuram said, “I am thrilled to be re-elected and to be able continue to work, together with the Membership, to further evolve and achieve set targets for the next two years. There is obviously work to be done, but I am positive that working in partnership with the ICC we can further push the boundaries.”

Tony Brian said, “It is a great honour to be elected for the first time as one of the Associate Member Directors. I am really looking forward to having a positive impact and, working together with the Membership, to achieve new heights for the game of cricket across the world.”

ManBetX Renew Welsh Snooker Open Sponsorship

World Snooker is delighted to announce that ManBetX has renewed its title sponsorship of the Welsh Open world ranking event.

The ManBetX Welsh Open will run from 11 to 17 February in 2019, at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff. ManBetX sponsored the event for the first time in 2018, when John Higgins won the title for a record fifth time by beating Barry Hawkins in the final. Also among the field were top stars including Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Mark Selby and home favourite Mark Williams.

The Welsh Open is snooker’s longest running ranking event other than the UK Championship and World Championship, as it has been staged every year since 1992. Contested by a field of 128 players, it is the last of the season’s Home Nations series.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are thrilled to extend our partnership with ManBetX on this fantastic tournament. ManBetX have become tremendous supporters of snooker in recent months through sponsorship of some of our biggest events. They are clearly delighted with the coverage they receive for their brand as our sport is watched by so many millions of fans around the world.

“The Welsh Open is always one of the highlights of the snooker calendar and we look forward to another week of outstanding action on the green baize in Cardiff in February.”

John Higgins won the 2017 ManBetX Welsh Open

Scott Taylor, Partner at Project11, said: “The continuation is superb and endorses the impact of the title sponsorship and superior product delivered by World Snooker and Matchroom Sport in their marquee sports portfolio, with which Project11 work closely. We are excited to see the event unfold and the ManBetX brand along with their client base increase. Project11 are proud to work with both ManBetX and World Snooker on this, one of many collaborations, as we continue to strive forward in the world of sports marketing.”

ManBetX added: “We are very happy to be placing the ManBetX brand alongside another of the most prestigious events in world snooker, taking our brand to the next level.”

Tickets for the ManBetX Welsh Open are on sale, for details see http://www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

Diogu Leads D’Tigers To Gallant Win At FIBA World Cup Qualifiers

All the D’Tigers needed was back to back 3 pointers from their leader and captain Ike Diogu to settle their nerves in front of a boisterous home crowd at the National Stadium in Lagos and it was all Nigeria needed till the final buzzer to coast home with the win.

Diogu proved vital yet again to the D’Tigers and their quest to make the FIBA World Cup China next year, thanks to his game high 24 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists with Obi Emegano adding 15 points and 12 points each from debutants Tosin Mehinti and Jordan Nwora helped Nigeria to a comfortable 109-66 points victory over Uganda at the 2nd window of the FIBA 2019 African World Cup qualifiers in Lagos.

The Alex Nwora led side ran up with a comfortable 16 points lead at halftime thanks to a robust bench display which outscored Uganda 25 – 5 before finishing the night 45-11 in the end (Bench points) .

” I had 8 debutants on my team and was switching based on what Uganda had on the floor. I tried to give everyone a run and I am glad they all did well in the end despite a shaky start”. Head Coach Alex Nwora said after the game.

Ike Diogu

The Ugandans despite falling to a superior D’Tigers had 3 players in double digits Jordin Mayes, Deng John Geu and Robinson Odoch scoring 18,13 and 11 points respectively.

Apart from bench points Nigeria outscored Uganda 16-10 on fast break points, 15-9 on second chance points and 19-10 on points of turnovers.

All pointers to a dominant display.

Up next is Rwanda who beat Mali 82-72 in their opening game.

IOC President Welcomes The Swiss President to The Olympic Museum

The President of the Swiss Confederation, Alain Berset, was guest of honour at The Olympic Museum in Lausanne on Friday. IOC President Thomas Bach gave the Swiss Head of State a personal guided tour of the exhibitions at The Museum, including a special exhibit devoted to Swiss athletes who participated in the recent Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang. The pair also looked at an exhibition about the IOC in Lausanne and the construction of the new IOC headquarters, “Olympic House”, which will be inaugurated on Olympic Day in 2019.
The two leaders had the opportunity to discuss a number of topics of mutual interest, including the fundamental reforms undertaken by the IOC with Olympic Agenda 2020, particularly with regard to sustainability, good governance and respect for human rights. The sizeable economic impact of the IOC’s presence in Switzerland was also discussed.

The Olympic Museum
OLYMPIC LANGUAGE : Un voyage à travers le look des Jeux » du 10.05.18 au 17.03.19
Exposition “De l’union des cinq anneaux à l’emblème des Jeux”.
©CIO

With 45 international sports organisations based in Switzerland, employing 2,150 people, the majority working for the IOC, it is estimated that sports organisations boost the Swiss economy by more than 1 billion Swiss Francs (CHF 1.07 billion) each year, lifting the Swiss GDP by 0.2 percent annually. More than half of that boost comes to the Canton of Vaud, which benefits to the tune of just over half-a-billion Swiss Francs (CHF 0.55 billion) each year. Read more here

Speaking at The Museum, President Bach welcomed President Berset, saying: “The Olympic Museum is the place where we have celebrated our close relationship with Lausanne, the Canton of Vaud and the Confederation, on so many occasions. Our profound attachment of more than 100 years in the Olympic Capital and in Switzerland will be further reinforced next year with the inauguration of our new headquarters in Vidy – Olympic House. This investment is a demonstration of our commitment to Lausanne, the Canton of Vaud and Switzerland as our home.”

President Berset said: “My visit to the IOC today has enabled me to re-emphasise the strong links between Switzerland and the IOC, an organisation that has made its home here for over 100 years. Sport is a fantastic tool for promoting equal opportunities. I firmly believe that the IOC’s mission to place sport at the service of humanity and peace is essential.”

During the visit, President Bach was accompanied by IOC Member in Switzerland and Executive Board member, Denis Oswald.

Joining the Swiss President were Philippe Leuba, Councillor of State of the Canton of Vaud, and Gregoire Junod, the Mayor of Lausanne. After the visit to The Olympic Museum, the IOC President will this evening be at the inauguration of Lausanne’s new sports complex the Centre Sportif de La Tuilière, a sports centre that will provide nine new football pitches for the region.

NPFL 2017/18: Go Round FC To Resume July 2nd

Players and staff of Go Round FC will resume for the concluding part of the League season on Monday, July 2, 2018.

Club Secretary, Emeka Olisamuni in a statement adds that training commences on the same day at 4pm.

Players departed for the break occasioned by the World Cup shortly after their 1-0 win against Lobi Stars at the KrisDera Hotel Stadium on June 10, 2018.

Go Round FC

Go Round FC’s next game is at home, this time against Katsina United on Wednesday, July 18, 2018.

Go round FC is currently in 16th position on the log

Ladbrokes To Sponsor Trio Of Snooker’s Key Events

Ladbrokes has renewed its sponsorship of snooker’s World Grand Prix and Players Championship, and added the new Tour Championship to the series.

Those three events will make up the Ladbrokes Series of world ranking events in 2019.

The Ladbrokes World Grand Prix will run from February 4-10 in Cheltenham, followed by the Ladbrokes Players Championship from March 4-10 in Preston, then the new Ladbrokes Tour Championship in Llandudno from March 19-24. All three events will be televised live by ITV4.

The top 32 on the one-year ranking list will qualify for the first tournament at The Centaur venue in Cheltenham, then the top 16 will go on to the Guild Hall in Preston, and only the top eight will make it to the final event at Venue Cymru in Llandudno.

There will be a top prize of £100,000 available at the Ladbrokes World Grand Prix, with the winner to receive £125,000 at the Ladbrokes Players Championship, and £150,000 at the Ladbrokes Tour Championship. Any player winning all three tournaments will receive an extra bonus of £125,000, rounding up his total prize money to £500,000.

Ladbrokes has sponsored the World Grand Prix and Players Championship since 2016.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “The development of the Ladbrokes Series has been one of the most exciting innovations on our global tour in recent years. It means that from the very first ball of the season, players must earn enough money to qualify for these prestigious and lucrative events in the second half of the campaign.

“Adding the Tour Championship to the series makes it so competitive as we will go from 32 to 16 to eight players, with only the very best surviving until the end. And with a possible £500,000 to be won, it is a huge incentive for all of the top stars.

“We are delighted to have Ladbrokes on board for the full series, they have been fantastic supporters of snooker for many years and they are a superb team to work with. The viewing figures on ITV and the overall exposure that Ladbrokes receive for their brand from these three events is growing year on year.

Ronnie O’Sullivan won both the Ladbrokes World Grand Prix and Ladbrokes Players Championship last season

“We have three excellent venues for the Ladbrokes Series including a new location in Cheltenham. It’s going to be fascinating to find out which players can go all the way and lift the coveted trophies.”

Adrian Osman, Head Of Sponsorship and Events for the Ladbrokes Coral Group, said: “Having worked with Barry and the World Snooker team for many years we are delighted to be involved in yet another innovation in the sport, with the launch of the Ladbrokes Series.”

Tickets for all three Ladbrokes Series events will be on sale from Friday June 29th – for details see http://www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

WBSC YouTube channel to showcase all 54 games of Jr. Men’s Softball World Championship 2018 in Prince Albert, Canada

World Baseball Softball Confederation, (WBSC) today announced that all 54 games of the XII WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championship 2018 in Prince Albert, Canada, will be live-streamed and available to audiences worldwide for free through the Official WBSC YouTube Channel

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) today announced that all 54 games of the XII WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championship 2018 in Prince Albert, Canada, will be live-streamed and available to audiences worldwide for free through the Official WBSC YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/wbsc.

Thirteen National Teams from the five Olympic continents will be a part of the global battle in Prince Albert, with Guatemala and Hong Kong making their historic debuts.

“The WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championship 2018 is the world’s top men’s softball competition on this year’s international calendar, and we are excited to showcase this global event exclusively through the WBSC YouTube Channel,” said WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari. “With this strategy we raise awareness of our sport’s growing global footprint, while connecting with more fans and new followers around the world through this engaging live content.”

The WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championship 2018 opens Saturday, 7 July, at 10:00 a.m. local time, with Denmark versus Mexico (Group A) serving as the group-stage opener of the global tournament.

For the Opening Round of the Junior Men’s Softball World Championship, production across the two main venues will feature three cameras, with production expanded to four cameras for the final four playoff games. All games will feature running commentary in English.

The nations competing For the Title of World Champion have been drawn into two groups:

Group A: No. 3 Japan, No. 4 Argentina, No. 5 Australia, No. 9 Mexico, No. 11 Denmark, No. 14 South Africa and No. 16 India.

Group B: No. 1 New Zealand, No. 2 Canada, No. 6 United States, No. 7 Czech Republic, No. 15 Guatemala and No. 17 Hong Kong.

Pinnick: Preparations For AFCON 2019 To Start Now…Says NFF Still Disappointed With World Cup Ouster

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick was still somewhat downcast on Wednesday, but he assured thenff.com that heartfelt disappointment over elimination from the FIFA World Cup finals has given way to fresh determination of ensuring qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Super Eagles lost narrowly 1-2 to perennial bogey team Argentina in Saint Petersburg, even when it appeared they were cruising with five minutes left in the encounter. Pinnick said the depression was more about getting so close to a place in the knockout rounds and yet having to go home early from football’s biggest houseparty.

during the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup match between Nigeria v Iceland on the 22nd June 2018 at Volgograd Arena ,Russia

“It was sad losing out when it appeared easier to progress from the group stage. I believe the players did their utmost and wanted to get the better of Argentina for the first time at the World Cup. Losing that way, with few minutes to go, really dampened the spirit.

“We apologize to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari and all Nigerians from far and near, those who came to Russia to support the team and those who watched on television. Our expectation was for a place in the knockout rounds but that didn’t happen. We will go home and prepare harder for the next finals. In truth, ours is a young and vibrant team capable of learning and getting better, and these attributes hold that the future is bright.”

Pinnick insisted that elimination from the World Cup would do nothing to unhinge the vision of the present NFF administration to build a sustainable football culture for Nigeria.

Amaju Melvin Pinnick President NFF

“We have a population that is truly passionate about the game. It is that wonderful equity that we are happy to engage and build on for the good of the Nigeria game. Development of the game at the grassroots will proceed apace and our focus on the Future Eagles (U13/U15) competition will become even more painstaking.

“For the moment, we have to start preparations for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, which is only 12 months away, as well as intensify the preparation of the Falconets (U20 Women Team) and the Super Falcons (Senior Women Team) for major championships coming up soon.”

Falcons celebrate Women AFCON qualification

The U20 girls will participate in the 9th FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup taking place in France 7th – 26th August, while eight–time African champions Super Falcons have qualified for the 11th Women Africa Cup of Nations taking place later this year.

Pinnick said the Super Eagles deserve commendation despite defeat in the hands of Argentina, their fourth loss to the South American giants at the World Cup in as many confrontations.

“Different people would naturally hold different opinion. But I think the technical crew, just like the players, gave their all. They wanted to stay much longer at the FIFA World Cup but it just did not happen.”

Ejidike Rues Super Eagles Exit….Calls For Early Preparations For Qatar 2022

With tongues wagging on the circumstances and officiating that led to the exit of the Nigerian Super Eagles at the on-going FIFA World Cup tagged Russia 2018, the Nigeria Pillar of Sports, Chief Donatus Agu Ejidike, J. P has hailed the players for their dedication and patriotism but called for fortification of the national team.

The Nigeria Pillar of Sports, Ejidike in a statement sounded that football at international level is about managing intrigues and politics which the Nigeria football ruling authority and the technical managers, as well as the players, should be cautious about.

Nigeria lost many begging chances during the game which according to Ejidike ,caused the defeat to a ‘very beatable Argentina’

“The coach must build a stronger team, he must bring in players that will deliver at any slightest opportunity. We must also look beyond now and build a virile squad that will win the African Cup of Nation as well as make a remarkable impact in the next World Cup in the year 2022.”

The sports philanthropist sounded that we should analyze critically Super Eagles performance and come up with technical report that will help to rebuild the team.

Adding that inconsistency and the age long fire brigade approach also reflected in the performance of the team in the mundial.

Chief Donatus Agu-Ejidike Nigeria Pillar Of Sports

” We must not wait till few months to major tournaments before we start preparations. A detailed and unbiased technical report will put the NFF in a good stead to improve on the fortunes of the game in the country,” Ejidike enthused.

The World Cup, in the words of Ejidike, is not a jamboree where many who have nothing to contribute to the performance of the team will hang on government to be part of the contingent .

Ejidike said if Nigeria could win the U-17 World Cup and make remarkable impact in U-20 World Cup , then nothing should hinder the nation to produce a senior world cup winning squad.

Akeem Busari

Volleyball Gambia Sign Agreement With Senegal To organise Senegambia Cup

The National Volleyball Federations of The Gambia and Senegal in efforts to strengthen bilateral relationship between the two countries and in efforts to develop Volleyball amongst the two countries had reached to an agreement to organise an annual international volleyball tournament dubbed ‘’ Senegambia Cup”.

This is aimed at solidifying the brotherly relationship between the two countries through the organisation of youth and sports activities and increase the competitiveness of volleyball in the two countries.

According to the concept paper the champions and runners up of the National Championships of the two countries in both male and female categories will take part in the competition. Each category will have four clubs to competing, two male and two female clubs from both countrys.

Gambia and Senegal at the Zone II BVB qualifiers

The inaugural tournament will be held in The Gambia in September 2018 and Senegal will host it in 2019 and the first edition is dedicated to the two presidents of the respective nations.