With the fiscal year coming to an end, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) is pleased to inform that following the full review of its financial control systems, AIBA has managed to restore a healthy and sustainable financial situation.
Following AIBA Congress that took place earlier this month in Moscow, AIBA members expressed their strong appreciation and relief concerning AIBA’s financial situation, which has seen significant improvements in recent months. AIBA implemented a significant number of changes in regards to its policies and procedures to improve accountability, fiscal responsibility and financial mechanisms of control at large. This includes in particular the establishment of new partnerships and host city agreements.
Gafur Rahimov President of International Boxing Association, AIBA
Gafur Rahimov, AIBA President, said: “AIBA has come a long way in getting over this financial crisis and it has been extremely encouraging to receive all these calls and mails from our member federations – both large federations with strong tradition and results in Boxing as well as from some of our smallest member federations. The fear of going bankrupt due to past financial mismanagement is now far behind us. It is time to turn the page and look further to the development of Boxing worldwide. After having spent a lot of time and energy in closing deals and bringing the AIBA finances under control, these many positive statements from our members are also a very strong motivation personally”.
The stringent financial controls recently implemented allowed the organisation to operate under budget for the first time in history, while improving the transparency and services to AIBA members, athletes and stakeholders.
The National Chairman of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Rev. Samuel Ikpea has urged the female national team of Nigeria, the Super Falcons to go all out for victory against their South African counterparts in the final of the AWCON ongoing in Accra, Ghana on Saturday.
Rev. Samuel Ikpea President Nigeria Football Supporters Club
Speaking with the press from Ghana, the admirable businessman cum football enthusiast was upbeat about the abilities and the chances of the Nigerian ladies to beat the Bayana of South Africa to retain the African title.
” I believe in the abilities of our ladies to avenge their earlier loss in the group stage to the South Africans,” Ikpea said.
“Our girls are now better motivated and encouraged by the massive support they getting from members of the Nigeria football supporters club, the football authorities and well meaning Nigerians,” he added.
Super Falcons
“Nigerians are obviously not happy when our ladies lost to South Africa in the first game. Therefore, I urge them to go out there and beat them convincingly to assuage the feelings of soccer loving Nigerians all over the world,” Ikpea insisted.
He went on to declare that the Accra stadium would on Saturday witness a massive turn out of Nigerian football fans to cheer the Falcons to ultimate victory.
The ISSF General Assembly elected the 7th President of the Federation, following the 38-year long presidency of Vázquez Raña. Alexander Ratner (RUS) join him at the lead of the federation as the newly elected Secretary General.
Munich (GER), 30 November 2018 – Vladimir Lisin (RUS) is the new ISSF President. He beat Italy’s Luciano Rossi in the succession to the 38-year long presidency of Olegario Vázquez Raña (MEX).
At the ISSF General Assembly held today at the Munich Park Hotel, in Germany, 136 member federations were present, in addition to 23 proxies, for a total of 159 represented federations and 292 votes, out of the maximum possible representation of 160 member, 147 countries, and 294 votes.
Delegates awarded 148 votes to Mr. Vladimir Lisin, and 144 votes to Mr. Luciano Rossi. A third candidate, Jalkh Boutros of Lebanon, withdrew yesterday, 29 November.
Mr. Vladimir Lisin (62) is a Russian entrepreneur holding Ph.Ds in Engineering and Economics, and the Chairman of one of the world’s leading steelmaking companies, NLMK Group. He practices shooting sport since the age of 14, and has been involved in the management of the sport since years. In 2002, Mr. Lisin became President of the Russian Shooting Union, and since 2009 he has been leading the European Shooting Confederation (ESC). From 2009 to 2013 he served as a member of the ISSF Administrative Council, and since 2011 he is the President of the Summer Olympic Sports Association of Russia. In 2013 he became a member of the ISSF Executive Committee, winning then the votes of the delegates at the 2014 ISSF General Assembly to become ISSF Vice-President. At the same time, he has been serving the IOC as a member of the IOC Commission for Culture and Olympic Education (2006-2014) and in the IOC Marketing Commission (2015- onward).
Today, Mr. Lisin becomes the 7th President of the International Shooting Sport Federation since its foundation in 1907. He succeeds Olegario Vázquez Raña, who led the ISSF for 38 years. Vazquez Raña stepped back this morning, following a decision he had made public in 2014. He was elected ISSF Honorary President by acclamation by the General Assembly, right after his farewell speech, today.
In his speech, before the vote, Mr. Lisin talked about the introduction of new committees to widen the representation within the decisional bodies of the ISSF, to make the role of continental confederations more significant and to increase the level of the shooting competitions.
“I don’t want to make empty electoral promises. There’s a lot of work to do for all of us. We should respect the interests of all federations and all continents.”
“We will support all member federations who really intend to develop the shooting sport in their countries. My recent trips to America and Africa showed that we have a lot to do.”
Right after the result of the election was announced, he added: “Thank you for your trust!”
With 161 votes out of 290, Mr. Alexander Ratner was elected as the new ISSF Secretary General, beating two other candidates: Ms. Melis Giraud of Turkey (85 votes) and Mr. Javaid S. Lhodi of Pakistan (36 votes). Two other candidates, Mr. György Nagy of Hungary and Mr. Hamed Safeeldin of Sudan, withdrew. Ratner takes the seat held by Germany’s Franz Schreiber since 2010. Schreiber did not seek re-election, as he retired today after his report to the General Assembly.
Mr. Ratner (63) is a Russian sports manager with a German citizenship. His career started as a member of the Organizing Committee for the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, and worked with the IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch for 25 years. He served as a member of the IOC Press Commission (1997-2013), of the “Sport for All” Commission (2014-2015) and of the “Sport and Active Society” Commission (2016- onward), and received the Olympic Order in 2001.
The new Secretary General has already worked together with President Vladimir Lisin at the European Shooting Confederation, in the same roles, throughout the last five years.
left to right: the former ISSF President Olegario Vazquez Raña; the new ISSF President Vladimir Lisin (RUS); the former ISSF Secretary General Franz Schreiber (GER); the new ISSF Secretary General Alexander Ratner (RUS)
In his speech before the vote, Mr. Ratner said:
“Our experience in the European Shooting Confederation proves that we are a team and we work well together, in the interest of our members.”
“The mission of the Secretary General is to serve the ISSF, the member federations and the President. The mission is to fulfill your decisions,” he added, addressing the General Assembly.
Later this afternoon, delegates also elected the four ISSF Vice-Presidents: Mr. Kevin Kilty of Ireland (162 votes), Raninder Sigh of India (161 ), Robert Mitchell of USA (153), and Wang Yifu of the People’s Republic of China, who was re-elected with 146 votes.
The ISSF General Assembly will continue tomorrow, 1 December, as delegates are called to elect the new ISSF Administrative Committee, the Chairmen of the Sections Committees (Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun, Running Target, Judges, Statutes and Eligibility, Medical), the Auditors, and the ISSF Honorary Members. On the agenda of the delegates there’s also the decision on the host of the 2019 ISSF Shotgun World Championship, and several other regulatory and administrative decisions.
In the photo, left to right: the former ISSF President Olegario Vazquez Raña; the new ISSF President Vladimir Lisin (RUS); the former ISSF Secretary General Franz Schreiber (GER); the new ISSF Secretary General Alexander Ratner (RUS)
The Gambia Volleyball Federation had announced that it will hold it’s Elective Congress next month.
The country’s volleyball governing body will hold its elective congress on December 29th 2018. Delegates will elect a new executive during the congress that will steer the affairs of volleyball in the country for the next four years.
Yunusa Barry
The mandate for the current executive under the leadership of Yunusa Barry had expired in July this year. Nomination is open for interested candidates who want to contest for the presidency.
Champions Nigeria will throw in their aces from the referee’s first blast of the whistle in Saturday’s Women Africa Cup of Nations Final against South Africa at the Accra Sports Stadium
Coach Thomas Dennerby and Captain Onome Ebi have spoken of high level of motivation and determination in the team to retain the Women AFCON trophy and continue Nigeria’s near-absolute domination of the continental championship.
In 20 years of its existence, reigning champions Nigeria have dominated the Women AFCON to an embarrassing degree, with only Equatorial Guinea breaking their clean sweep on only two occasions, with Mercy Akide, Perpetua Nkwocha (on four occasions), Desire Oparanozie and Asisat Oshoala emerging top scorers at different championships.
Super Falcons
The latter two – Desire and Asisat – are still in the mix, and in fact constitute the Dreaded Duo that the Banyana Banyana will do well to keep sharp eyes on throughout the 90 minutes on Saturday.
Nigeria and South Africa have been in the final together once – in 2000, when the South Africans hosted but the Nigerians successfully retained the trophy after a 2-0 defeat of the hosts in Johannesburg.
While the whole team worked together for the hard –fought win over Cameroon in the semi finals, special credit must go to goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi for her calmness and confidence throughout, including stopping Gaelle Enganamouit’s kick in the penalty shoot –out, which lifted the Nigerians’ confidence.
On Saturday, Oluehi would as usual, be protected by the quartet of Josephine Chukwunonye, Onome Ebi, Osinachi Ohale and Ngozi Ebere, with Rita Chikwelu, Halimatu Ayinde and Ngozi Okobi likely to star in the middle, behind Ordega, Oparanozie and Oshoala.
NFF President Amaju Pinnick With The Players and Officials of the Super Falcons
Experience is an advantage standing ramrod on the Nigerian side, but it would not be an easy afternoon against a skilful, creative, energetic and technically –savvy Banyana Banyana side boosted by their 1-0 defeat of the Cup holders in the opening match of Group B in Cape Town on 18th November.
Some other positives have put the South African camp in buoyant mood. Victory over Mali in Cape Coast on Tuesday meant the Banyana will make a first –ever appearance at the FIFA World Cup come summer of 2019, and players like Thembi Kgatlana (whose goal put Nigeria to the sword) and Lebohang Ramalepe (sumptuous effort against Mali) are fired up for Saturday’s final.
Kgatlana has already been installed as the revelation of the tournament as she leads the goals’ chart with five, and in Captain Janine Van Wyk, who will be making her 159th international appearance, the Banyana have a leader who knows where all the crumbled cookies in African women football have been deposited.
An excellent atmosphere is guaranteed, with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo of Ghana to head a cast of dignitaries for the evening. CAF President Ahmad, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Ambassador Olufemi Abikoye, NFF President and CAF 1st Vice President Amaju Pinnick and SAFA President and CAF Executive Committee member, Danny Jordaan are also on the list.
Billiard sports launched its bid to become part of the Paris 2024 Olympic Sports programme today at a special ceremony at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Hosted by the Billiards 2024 Committee and supported by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) and World Snooker, the event represents a significant milestone billiard sports’ bid for inclusion at the Paris 2024 Games.
Among those present were WPBSA Vice Chairman Nigel Mawer QPM and former world professional snooker champion Shaun Murphy, who joined senior representatives from the Fédération Française de Billard (FFB) and other international organisations to support the bid.
Billiard sports previously applied to join the Olympic programme for the Tokyo 2020 Games and three years on is in a significantly stronger position to be successful as cuesports continue to grow globally.
The first step to securing Olympic status for 2024 was taken earlier this year by the World Confederation of Billiard Sports (WCBS), the umbrella organisation representing snooker, billiards and carom, when the formal submission for billiard sports to be included as an additional sport at the Paris Games was made with the full cooperation of the FFB.
A sport for all
Snooker in particular has a proven track record of staging high-quality international events with the World Snooker Tour now comprising 27 major tournaments around the world, with a television reach of 1.6 billion homes. The sport is played in approximately 100 countries with players from across the globe regularly participating.
The sport is strongly represented at both professional and amateur levels and under the guidance of former WCBS President Jason Ferguson and former General Secretary Maxime Cassis, was successfully included at the 2017 World Games in Wroclaw at which leading professional Kyren Wilson of England won the prestigious gold medal.
Snooker’s International Federation the World Snooker Federation (WSF) has since brought together professional and amateur bodies, including women’s and disability organisations, providing opportunities for all to compete on the same field of play.
WSF President Jason Ferguson said: “Today represents an important landmark in what is a serious bid for the inclusion of billiard sports at the Paris 2024 Games. With the levels of participation in our great sport consistently increasing and new opportunities being created by the WSF and its partners for people across the globe to be able to pick up a cue, the sport has never been in a stronger position to take its rightful place on the Olympic programme.”
Following today’s announcement of the bid, next year will see a further demonstration event staged in Paris which will showcase the Olympic values of billiard sports.
Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Olufemi Abikoye has congratulated the Super Falcons for their endeavour so far at the 11th Women Africa Cup of Nations, while charging them to go all out for victory against the Banyana Banyana of South Africa in Saturday’s final.
Delivering a message from the President of Nigeria, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) when he visited the team at Presco Secondary School during their training session, Ambassador Abikoye praised the eight–time champions for seeing off the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in the semi finals.
Ambassador Abikoye (left) meets NFF Executive Committee member and leader of delegation, Aisha Falode
“You defeated Cameroon at home the last time to win the title so everyone knew the semi final match between both teams was going to be very tough. But we thank God you put in all your strength and you listened to the instructions of the coaches and were able to come out on top. The analysts gave the match to Cameroon, but you proved them wrong.
“So, on behalf of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, I want to say big congratulations.”
He added: “On Saturday again, it is not going to be easy. Cameroon came out strong because you defeated them in Yaounde in the 2016 Final. You cannot allow South Africa to beat us twice here in Ghana. It is now your turn to seek your revenge against the South Africans and win the trophy on Saturday”.
Ambassador Abikoye addresses the Falcons
The Ambassador further pledged that the Nigerian Community in Ghana will come out in their numbers on Saturday to support the team.
“We have large numbers of our people who have been here for long. They will all come out on Saturday to support you. So, put all your energy and technical know-how into the encounter and win the trophy. A champion will always be a champion”.
President of the NFF, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, made the pledge when he met with the players and officials at the AH Hotel, Accra on Thursday, as he delivered the good wishes of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari
The Nigeria Football Federation has opted to double the winning bonus of the Super Falcons as a big incentive ahead Saturday’s 11th Women Africa Cup of Nations Final against the Banyana Banyana of South Africa in Accra.
President of the NFF, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, made the pledge when he met with the players and officials at the AH Hotel, Accra on Thursday, as he delivered the good wishes of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) and the football –loving populace of Nigeria to the Cup holders.
NFF President Amaju Pinnick Addressing the team
The Falcons had earned $3,000 for a win in the group phase but were earmarked for $5,000 each for victory in the Final.
“I want to let you know that the Government and the good and great people of Nigeria are happy with your performance in the championship so far. They are looking forward to you retaining the trophy by beating South Africa on Saturday.
“Let me commend the lofty commitment, dedication and resilience that you have displayed so far in the championship, alongside that unique Nigerian spirit that was most in evidence against the Cameroonians in the semi final. You are indeed true champions, and we believe you will retain the Cup on Saturday. Go out there and win on Saturday and earn yourselves $10,000 each, as against the $5,000 that the NFF earlier promised.”
The two captains, Onome Ebi and Rita Chikwelu on behalf of the team expressed gratitude to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), the NFF, the Nigeria media and football –loving Nigerians at home and in the diaspora for their support to the team, and pledged that they will overcome the Banyana Banyana in Saturday’s final in order to return to Nigeria with the trophy.
NFF President Amaju Pinnick With The Players and Officials of the Super Falcons
Ebi said: “We have the World Cup ticket now, which was always our first target here. The second is winning the Cup for a third successive time and ninth time overall. It is a mission we are determined to accomplish on Saturday.”
Nigeria defeated South Africa 2-0 in the final of the second edition of the competition in Johannesburg in 2000, to retain the Cup they had won at the inaugural edition in Nigeria two years earlier.
Ukraine based ex-Nigeria international and UEFA A licensed coach Eddy Dombraye, has declared his intentions to return to Nigerian football, albeit as a coach.
Speaking from his base in Kiev, the former Volyn Lutsk forward expressed his delight with the growth of Nigerian league, particularly, the standard and the playing facilities.
Dombraye who once plied his trade in the Nigerian league with Bendel Insurance of Benin, winning the WAFU cup with the “Benin Arsenal” and Iwuanyanwu Nationale where he emerged as top scorer, was upbeat about his desires to make a huge impact on the Nigerian league.
Eddy Dombraye Photo credit: Eddy Dombraye
” I have been following the Nigerian league and understands its challenges and the intricacies,” he said.
” I have had a few contacts with some clubs in Nigeria, but I want a team with ambitions to be champions” he added.
Dombraye who is currently attached to FC Arsenal Kiev U17 side, is optimistic of winning a title within two years of handling a team in Nigeria.
Softball South Africa (SSA) has been named South Africa’s 2018 National Federation of the Year — the highest distinction a National Sports Federation can achieve in the country under Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC).
Softball, roller sports and gymnastics were the three finalists in the category of National Federation of the Year at the 13th Annual South African Sports Awards in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
The top federation award is based “on growing and developing sport in schools in the Republic of South Africa,” recognising softball’s universal popularity and appeal to young people, which has been given a recent boost in South Africa — and around the world — due to baseball and softball’s upcoming Olympic return at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
“This is a historic milestone for softball in South Africa,” said SSA President Mashilo Matsetela. “Even as the world becomes more digital, the sport of softball continues to appeal to both young people and school officials in South Africa and worldwide because it’s a stimulating activity that promotes leadership skills and teamwork within the same environment.”
World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) President Riccardo Fraccari said:
“Congratulations to Softball South Africa and President Matsetela. This tremendous honour reflects SSA’s successful strategy to target youth and grow the sport of softball in South Africa.
“Having held the WBSC Congress in Botswana last year, where softball is hugely popular, we are delighted to see that enthusiasm for the sport is spreading to neighbouring South Africa.”
finixsportsblog 
You must be logged in to post a comment.