Connect with us


L-R: Executive Director, Heritage Bank,  Mary Akpobome; The Heritage Bank-Lagos State Skoolimpics Ambassador, Mary Onyali; Managing Director/CEO, Ifie Sekibo and The Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Dewunmi Ogunsanya representing the Lagos State Sports Commissioner, during the opening ceremony of Skoolimpics at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, in Lagos …yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

L-R: Executive Director, Heritage Bank, Mary Akpobome; The Heritage Bank-Lagos State Skoolimpics Ambassador, Mary Onyali; Managing Director/CEO, Ifie Sekibo and The Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Dewunmi Ogunsanya representing the Lagos State Sports Commissioner, during the opening ceremony of Skoolimpics at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, in Lagos …yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

The Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Heritage Bank, Ifie Sekibo, has set aside a N10m trust fund for any athlete that can break the 200 metre record set by ex-international, and Skoolimpics Ambassador, Mary Onyali.

The MD while declaring the pilot edition of the Heritage Bank-Lagos State Skoolimpics 2016 open said he would be setting aside the sum of N10m that would be yielding interests and handed over to any athlete discovered at the competition who was able to break Onyali’s record.

Onyali’s 200-metre record of 22.07secs was set 20 years ago at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games and no athlete has been able to break the record.

The MD also applauded other sponsors like Lagos State Government, CWAY, Mr. Biggs, Etransact, Verve, Willson’s Lemonade, Lucozade Sport who partnered with the bank in their quest to develop the youths.

“Skoolimpics has come to stay and this is just the pilot edition,” he said.

“We have planned and met with people and today we all can see the results of the planning. I am happy that we have somebody as Mary Onyali as an ambassador because she was discovered from school competitions like this.

“The target is to build future champions from amidst all these students and I am looking forward to seeing an athlete that will break our Skoolimpics brand ambassador’s 200m record.

“I am going to start an endowment fund with N10million for anyone that can break her record in the next 10 to 20 years. The money will be increasing in an interest-yielding account and whosoever breaks that record will take the money…and with that I declare this year’s Skoolimpics open.”

Five events will be competed for across two venues, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere and Rowe Park, Yaba. The events are athletics, basketball, table tennis, swimming and handball.

BIG STORY

Anthony Joshua Names Tyson Fury His 2025 Target

Published

on

Anthony Joshua says his goal for 2025 is to finally face Tyson Fury in the ring for their long-awaited all-British heavyweight boxing match.

Joshua shared his thoughts on Wednesday during a conversation with journalists after meeting President Bola Tinubu in Lagos.

The 35-year-old Nigerian-British boxer and Fury have been long-time rivals. A fight between them has been scheduled twice, but both times the plans fell through.

Joshua expressed that his aim for the new year is to eventually face his arch-rival. He also added that he is eager to capture the world heavyweight boxing title for a third time.

“2024, when I look back, I believe I could have done more. 2025, I want to do more and will ensure I use every opportunity,” he said.

“I should have won [against Dubois] but did not. Ups and downs do happen. My life is up and down. So, I get used to the turbulent times and keep riding the wave. I cannot stop there.

“My target for 2025 is Tyson Fury.”

Joshua and Fury are currently without titles. Both lost their belts to Oleksandr Usyk over the past two years.

Usyk defeated Joshua in 2021 and 2022 to claim the WBA, IBF, and WBO titles, and the Ukrainian also triumphed over Fury twice in 2024 to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the world in 25 years.

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

CAF 2024 Awards: Nigeria’s ‘Super Falcons’ Wins National Team Of The Year (Female Category)

Published

on

The Nigerian women’s national football team, Super Falcons, were named “National Team of the Year” at the CAF Awards 2024.

This achievement, revealed on Monday by the Confederation of African Football during the presentation ceremony in Marrakech, Morocco, further solidifies their dominance and excellence in African football.

This esteemed recognition underscores the team’s exceptional performances and significant contributions over the past year, as they continued to represent Nigeria at the pinnacle of women’s football in Africa.

The CAF Awards annually honor the best in African football, celebrating teams, players, and coaches who have excelled in their respective fields.

The Nigerian women’s team has consistently demonstrated resilience, skill, and determination on the international stage, earning the admiration of fans and experts alike.

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

Four Years Ago I Failed In Front Of The World, Fast Forward, I’m The Best Player In Africa — Ademola Lookman

Published

on

Ademola Lookman, Super Eagles winger, says his success as the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year came after he “failed in front of the world” four years prior.

Lookman spoke after receiving the award as the best African male footballer of 2024 in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday.

The 27-year-old finished ahead of Achraf Hakimi, Simon Adingra, Ronwen Williams, and Serhou Guirassy to win the coveted individual prize for male African footballers.

He followed in the footsteps of Victor Osimhen, who won the award in 2023.

Speaking at the ceremony, Lookman referenced his failure to convert a penalty for Everton in November 2020.

Lookman had the opportunity to earn a point for Fulham in their English Premier League (EPL) match against West Ham United. Instead, he failed to execute a Panenka penalty kick that was easily saved by Lukasz Fabianski as West Ham won 1-0.

The penalty attempt earned him mockery on social media, and Scott Parker, Fulham’s manager, criticized the player publicly.

“Just over four years ago I failed in front of the world. Fast forward four years, I’m the best player in Africa,” Lookman said after receiving the award.

“I want to say to the young children and people watching this: don’t let your failures weigh you down that they break your wings. Matter of fact, turn your pain into your power and continue to fight.

“Firstly, I want to thank the Almighty God for everything he has been doing in my life, and everything he has been blessing me with.

“I want to thank the president, I want to thank all my teammates—club and country. I want to thank them for all their support and love that they gave me.”

“This award today is a blessing to me, to my family, to my nation, and to be recognized as the best player in Africa. It’s something incredible and I’m extremely proud of.”

Lookman left Fulham after that season for RB Salzburg in Germany, where he continued to flap his wings before taking flight following his move to Atalanta in the summer of 2022.

Continue Reading

Most Popular