Simplegist

  The Secondary Schools boys of Kwara Football Academy are set to represent Kwara State at the National Qualifiers of  the CAF Schools Football Championship billed for Abuja from 2nd November to 8th November 2023. The championship which  is coordinated by the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) will determine Nigeria's representative at the WAFU-B Zonal tournament which will be held in Lomé -Togo between November 23-26 2023. Six teams from West Africa Zone B (WAFU-B) will battle it out in Lomé to determine the sole winner and the zone representative at the main tournament in April 2024. The National Qualifiers is expected to be graced by representatives from all the States of the federation and the FCT. The CAF African School Football Championship is the initiative of  CAF President, Patrice Motsepe in a  bid to strengthen collegiate football in Africa. The first edition of the championship was concluded  earlier this year in Durban, South Africa where...

  ... Vows to Stage World Class Championship The Director Sports, Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Ibrahim Bako has been named chairman of the Local organizing Committee of School Sports Athletics Championship. Inaugurating the committee on Thursday in Ilorin, the executive chairman of the sports commission, Mallam Bolakale Adisa Magaji charged the committee to demonstrate and display high sense of responsibility by organizing a hitch free championship.  Magaji revealed that the state government under the present administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is committed to re-awakening sports in the grassroots, adding that the school sports talent hunt competition is designed to revive sports as a part of curricular of all schools, culminating in zonal and state sports festival. Earlier, chairman of the LOC, Mallam Ibrahim Bako said the championship will feature track and field events, noting that the committee under his watch will reach out to critical stakeholders ...

  ....Charges MOC & LOC on Befitting Championship  Long abandoned Schools Sports which has served as springboard for legendary athletes from Kwara is all set to start in November 10 after decades of its abandonment, according to Kwara Sports Commission, KSC. The commission made sure of this after setting the ball rolling on Thursday with the inauguration of the Main Organising Committee, MOC, and the Local Organizing Committee, LOC of sporting event. Tagged School Sports 2023 under Organising body, School Sports Athletics Championship, the event will feature Athletics events like track and fields events. According to the commission, the move is to further consolidate on the gains of the impressive outing of the Kwara Athletes at the the just concluded  National Youth Games in Asaba Delta State. Inaugurating the committees on Thursday in Ilorin, the Executive Chairman of the Sports Commission, Mallam Bola Magaji, revealed that the state government under Mallam AbdulRah...

  Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has assured to support the National President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Isaiah Kemje Benjamin for him to succeed in the running of the affairs of Sports Writers in Nigeria. The Governor who congratulated the President over his victory which he described as a win for Kogi State urged him to be a good Ambassador of the State by discharging his responsibilities to the envy of all. In a statement issued by the President's SA media, Okpani Jacob Dickson Onjewu, the governor said, it was a thing of joy for a Kogi born to emerge as President of SWAN in a keenly contested election which held in Omoku, Rivers State in July, 2023, stressing that it is evident that Kogi people has capacity to lead in any opportunity afforded them. "I am happy with your emergence as SWAN President which I see as a win for Kogi State and Nigeria. As a government, we will support you to succeed in the discharge of your duties. Once again, ...

  The Dean, Post Graduate Studies, Kwara State University, Malete, Prof Hamza AbdulRaheem has cautioned against negative use of social media, saying that the many people are misusing it to cause acrimony. Prof Hamza AbdulRaheem stated this while responding to questions from journalists at a press conference organized by the old students of Darul Uloom Arabic School to herald the 60th anniversary of the Arabic Institution. The University don who is also an alumni of the School condemned the act of indiscipline and mid-interpretation of the teachings and sayings of the glorious Quran and Hadith by some Islamic clerics who are abusing the use of social media   While calling for attitudinal change to ensure sanity in the society, the lecturer maintained that lack of gate-keepers is causing abuse of social media platforms. According to him " those involved in exchanging words and banter on social media are suffering from half education, they are only seeking for popularity and...

  The Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has commended the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the newly launched Non Governmental Organization, Foundation for Advocacy and Sensitisation on Tuberculosis, (FAST), Dr (Mrs) Misitura Lawal-Arowona, for solely bankrolling the surgical bill of a 13 year-old boy, Nwafor Emmanuel. The teenager, Nwafor Emmanuel is the son of a member of the Union from the Information chapel, Mrs Ndidi Nwafor,  who was clinically diagnosed at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital for  Nasopharyngeal Tumour, a likely cancer illness. A statement issued by the Chairman of the Council, Abdullateef 'Lanre Ahmed, and the Assistant Secretary of the Council, Mallam Mahmood Olayinka Alaya, appreciated the founder of the foundation and her husband, Mallam AbdulAzeez Arowona, who is a member of the Council for their timely intervention to safe the life of the young boy. "As a council, we have taken note of the series of inte...

  The Dean, Post Graduate Studies, Kwara State University, Malete, Prof Hamza AbdulRaheem has cautioned against negative use of social media, saying that the many people are misusing it to cause acrimony. Prof Hamza AbdulRaheem stated this while responding to questions from journalists at a press conference organized by the old students of Darul Uloom Arabic School to herald the 60th anniversary of the Arabic Institution. The University don who is also an alumni of the School condemned the act of indiscipline and mid-interpretation of the teachings and sayings of the glorious Quran and Hadith by some Islamic clerics who are abusing the use of social media   While calling for attitudinal change to ensure sanity in the society, the lecturer maintained that lack of gate-keepers is causing abuse of social media platforms. According to him " those involved in exchanging words and banter on social media are suffering from half education, they are only seeking for popularity and...

  Chairman of the Tenth Kwara State House of Assembly Committee on Sports, Hon Rukayat Shittu has expressed the readiness of the state Assembly to improve on policy formulation and implemention geared towards the development of football from the grassroots. Hon Shittu disclosed this while chatting with sports writers at the official opening ceremony of Emir of Ilorin Cup  , organized by Ilorin Emirate Football Council at Queen Elizabeth School, Ilorin.  The lawmaker who heaped praises on the organizers for celebrating Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Sulu Gambari who clocks 28 years on the throne with football competition among five local governments in the Emirate, said the assembly will continue to enact laws for the growth and development of sports in the state. She explained that the tournament is not only organized to honour the first class monarch but to also engage youth to develop and nurture career in footballing through the platform created by Ilorin Emirate Fo...

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has hailed the organizers of the Emir of Ilorin Cup Competition for positively engaging youth through the championship, stating that it's resucitation is an unprecedented development. Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq who was a special guest of honour at the opening ceremony of Emir of Ilorin Cup, noted the MOC have demonstrated true sons and daughters of the Emirate with the special way the coronation anniversary of the Emir is being celebrated.   The Chairman of the Governors forum also reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to sustain conducive environment for sports development. While praying Allah to grant the Emir long life on the throne of his forebears, He Commended Ilorin Emirate Football Council for Identifying with him through grassroots football championship to recognize his immeasurable contributions to the maintenance of peace and order not only in Ilorin but Kwara as a whole.  Earlier, the Chairman of the main Organizing Comm...

  The Opening Ceremony of the much talked about Emir of Ilorin Cup Competition holds this Saturday at Queen Elizabeth School, Ilorin, beginning from 3:pm. The Championship is put together by Ilorin Emirate Football Council to celebrate the 11th Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Sulu Gambari CFR who clocks 28 years on the throne of his forebears . Draws for the Competition held last Saturday at the Conference Room of the Kwara State Sports Commission where teams and other major stakeholders affirmed their determination to stage a hitch free Championship. Unilorin Warriors will battle Kwara Poly in the opening fixture of the anticipated action cracker. Chairman of the MOC, Alhaji AbdulRazaq Owolabi Wopa while speaking with the media team of the tourney said all the necessary logistics have been put in place to stage an acceptable and ensure hitch free competition which gets underway on Saturday. He Urged all sons and daughters of the Emirate to come out en mass to support the champio...

  Leadership has been described as guiding and impacting outcomes and enabling groups of people to work together to accomplish what they couldn't do individually. It’s also described as “something you do and not something you are”. While lecturing Kwara United Football Club players on setting goals in life at a seminar ahead of their trip to Rivers state, for their Matchday Three encounter in the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) today, Thursday October 11th, 2023, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Phreestyle Sports, Shogo Shodunnke also said that it is the action of a leader that inspires trust and energy and not their words, and that the main factor influencing team performance is the leadership style of the management and the coaches. According to him, “talents wins games and teamwork wins championships. Among the topics discussed at the seminar are: setting goals and achieving it, leadership roles in modern football manager, building a functional and productiv...

  The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has assured the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of support in the task of developing the nation’s football. The Minister spoke when he met board members of NFF led by the President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau in his office at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Wednesday. He said the interaction was basically to enable him gain deeper insight into the present state of Nigeria Football. While dubbing the meeting a ‘family affair’, Enoh said he is prepared to show the leadership needed to take Nigeria Football, and indeed other sports, to greater heights. The minister harped on the need to make the nation’s domestic leagues better while also pursuing with passion and intention the development of the game at grassroots level. He stressed that he is very much aware that his scorecard as Minister of Sports Development will weigh heavily on the performance of football, which he described as the “big cow in the hous...

  Chairman, Kwara State House of Assembly Committee on Sports, Information, Culture and tourism, Hon Rukayat Shittu has Challenged Parent and Guidance to Empower their girl Child through effective and Qualitative Education. Hon Rukayat Shittu Stated this in a statement to Commemorate the International Day of the girl Child on Wednesday in Ilorin. According to the lawmaker, "there is more to a girl Child than marriage and motherhood"  "No one ever became a success without taking chances or risks and luck mostly meets preparation" she added. She noted that the present administration of Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq will sustain policies and programs aimed at developing a girl child to achieve their dreams . "Conducive environment for the development of women and girl child, provided by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq will be sustained and improved upon to enhance their self sufficiency"

  One of Africa's youngest lawmaker and Chairman, Kwara State House of Assembly Committee on Sports, Hon Rukayat Shittu, has expressed satisfaction with the performance of Kwara United FC in their first home game of the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League NPFL, revealing that there is room for improvement as the league progresses. Hon Shittu who was at the Kwara State Stadium on Sunday to cheer the team alongside Speaker, Hon Salihu Yakubu Danlandi in the match day two between Kwara United and Abia Warriors,  expressed optimism that the team will excel  with renewed determination. The law maker stated that the league is a marathon and the players still have ample time to blend and adjust where necessary to stand a great chance of clinching continental ticket . "I implored players and officials of the club to redouble their efforts and justify government's investment to sustain in the NPFL" She affirmed the readiness of the present administration, particularly, the...

  Former President of the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Appeal Committee, Abdulhakeem Uthman Mustapha has pledged his support to Emir Of Ilorin Cup 2023. The 2023 Emir of Ilorin cup is organized to celebrate the eleventh (11)  Emir of Ilorin Mai-Martaba Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, who clocks 28years on the throne. The opening match of the tourney will be a crunch encounter between Unilorin Warriors FC and Kwara Poly FC on Saturday October 14th 2023  at the Queens School in ILORIN. AU Mustapha who met with the Main Organizing  Committee (MOC)  of the Emir of Ilorin cup during the pitch inspection of the Kwara State Stadium Complex. Recall that the Legal Icon solely funded the re-grassing of the main bow of the Kwara State Stadium Complex Ilorin. "The Chairman of the Emir Of Ilorin Cup is my brother so you can be sure of my support it's not it's when? and it will be sooner than expected it will be a privilege to support the course". He stated. The Em...

on KWSG Will Not Renege in it’s Unwavering Support For K’Un Kwara state Government has again expressed it’s readiness to continue supporting kwara United football club to achieve great feat in the current Nigeria football league. Chief press secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye stated this while speaking to sports writers after kwara United first home game in the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League. Mallam Ajakaye commended players and officials of the club for their relentless efforts and determination which led them to secure maximum points against Abia Warriors. According to him, “the players came out very hot to the game, they played a very entertaining football and were very smart with the game”. He stressed that it is too early to judge the performance of the players but expressed optimistic that the team would go far in the league. The Governor’s Spokeperson therefore urged kwara football fans to always troop out en mass to the stadium and suppo...

  Ike Okechukwu, 16, wonder kid of the Kwara Football Academy, KFA, emerged the best player of the Giant Brillers/Kwara FA scouting tournament that ended on Saturday. He and six of others were picked as raw talents to be exposed to foreign clubs in Lagos, according to detail made available to journalists on Sunday morning. Speaking on the exercise, Mustapha Salisu, scouting agent and manager with Giant Brillers, said that his firm will now expose these talents to foreign technical directors and scouts. "It was regorous exercise. "But I can say with fair certainty that we accomplished what we set out to do here, which is to discover talents, encourage grassroots football and I can assure you that Kwara would be hearing from these boys soon," he said. Speaking on the quality of players discovered, Coach Asafa Sulyman, overall head of the talent haunt and Nigerian Premier Football League, NPFL, legend, stated that the quality of talents at the tourney was impressive. "...

  Ahead of the 2023 Emir Of Ilorin cup, a total of thirty three (33) teams have been drawn into eight groups with four teams each with Group  C having five teams. In the draws which was conducted on Saturday 7th October 2023 inside the conference room of the Kwara State Sports Commission in Ilorin Kwara State. Nigeria Premier League side Kwara United will play in Group G alongside KWASU Invader, Ashap Football Academy and Estee Guys Football Club. While Nigeria National League NNL  side ABS ILORIN FC will play in Group H alongside  COED ILORIN FC, Musty Football Club and Royal Football Academy. Unilorin Warriors and  Kwara Poly FC have  both been paired in Group C alongside Foresight Academy, Injectors Football Club and Oladuni Football Club. The Emir of Ilorin tourney is organized to celebrate the eleventh (11)  Emir of Ilorin Mai-Martaba Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, who clocks 28years on the throne come 11th November 2023. The  final of the ...

  Mercurial winger and dreaded attacker of Kwara United, Barnard Ovoke, has stated emphatically that he as well as his team mates are in no mood to take prisoners on Sunday when his team takes on Abia Warriors. Kwara United will be playing it's second match of the vastly improved Nigerian Premier Football League, NPFL,  on Sunday on their home turf in Ilorin after a year absence while needed grassing was ongoing on the kwara State Stadium. "For us in Kwara United, victory over Abia Warriors is non-negotiable," he said on Friday evening after a light training at the soccer turf where the match will be played tomorrow. He added that under the supervision of Coach Kabir Dogo, adequate motivation through prompt payment of salary and other allowances by Kumbi Titiloye led board of the team is enough to ginger them victory.  "We are sure of three points on Sunday considering the fact that our hard work and renewed determination is overwhelming" "Our welfare are w...

  …….urges spectators to adhere strictly to the NPFL protocols ahead of Kwara United and Abia Warriors tie on Sunday    Chairman of Kwara State Football Association, Mallam Musa Idris Abdullahi says the state has set a good precedent in the adherence to the NFF electoral guidelines in electing its officials as football administrators in the state. Abdullahi, popularly known as Thuraya stated this during the second edition of Kwara SWAN Sports HardTalk at the Football House in Ilorin on Friday. He noted that football administration from the grassroots in the state is fully democratised with the election of officials for the first time in history to run football activities in the local council. FA supremo explained that FIFA will continue to prioritise football development from the grassroots, hence the need to take the advantage of FIFA's new program and policy which aimed at upgrading and improving on football facilities. He said, "It is on record that the state has set a...

  Soccer promotion giant, Giant Brillers, and Kwara Football Association, FA, have collaborated on a far reaching scouting program to have young football talents exposed to foreign scouts and onward transfer to big clubs in Europe. The program is organized in form of a football tournament among seven football clubs and academies, to begin Thursday. According to the features seven clubs will be participating in the tournament. These are Foresight FA, Abraysports FC, La Planet SA Sunrise FA, Laycon FC,  Oladunni FC and Kwara Football Academy, KFA. Speaking on this, Mall. Idris Abdullahi Musa, aka Thuraya, the state FA chairman, said that the deal with Giant Brillers is in keeping with the state football House deliberate policy to transit grassroots sports development to elite sports. "Every body stands to gain here; the players, their development clubs and the state at large," explained Thuraya. According to him, the tournament is not a mere fishing expedition without any envis...

  Chief Executive Officer of Cyteck and a passionate football follower, Engr Ahmed Olaide Abdullateef have been conferred with the fellowship member award by the Nigerian Institutes of Civil Engineers NICE. Engr Olaide who was conferred fellowship member of NICE alongside other certified members in Abuja on Wednesday night, said the feat is not only for him but for his family. He thanked Allah for his unlimited mercies over him and also appreciated friends, colleagues and associates for their unalloyed support towards achieving another milestone. "Glory be to Allah for this feat, it is a thing of joy for me and my family " Since the news of his award broke out, friends especially from the sports fraternity have been sending best wishes and congratulatory messages to him on the new personal achievement.

  As Kwara state is still basking in the euphoria of the impressive outing of its athletes at the just concluded 7th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, a call has gone to parents and guidance to allow their children and wards to engage in sporting activities to develop professional careers in the sector. Chairman of Kwara Para Athletics association, Barrister AbdulKadir Aiyelabegan made the call while speaking with Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) on the sideline of the incredible performance of team Kwara at the 2023 National Youth Games. Barrister Aiyelabegan who emphasized the need to involve critical stakeholders in the campaign to parents to willingly permit their wards to engage in sports, noted athletes are global Icons. He said there is a need to encourage and persuade parents across the 16 Local Government areas of the state to see sports as a professional calling. He advocated for the comprehensive inclusion of para athletes in the nation's youth game...

  As Nigeria Marks 63rd   Independence Anniversary, a non governmental organization, future diplomats has donated gift items to the Kwara state children reception centre, popularly known as motherless baby's home.   Speaking at the presentation of the items on Sunday in Ilorin, state coordinator of the organization, Ambassador Comfort Bamidele Popoola said the donation is part of the social responsibility of the organization and to also celebrate Nigeria at 63 with vulnerable children in the state. Ambassador Comfort Popoola pointed out that the organization is cut across all states of the federation including federal capital territory Abuja, with the mandate to complement government's efforts in the areas of need. She applauded staffers of the agency for to taking good care of the children and urged them to sustain the spirit as well as seen their work as service to humanity.  Also speaking, the public relation officer of the group, Ambassador Segilola Ala...

  Alhaji Usman Danjuma, Kwara state Gubernatorial Candidate under the platform of the Zenith Labour Party in this year's general elections has saluted Nigerians, particularly Kwarans on the occasion of the Country's 63rd Independence anniversary. Alhaji Danjuma in a statement issued and made available to Journalists in Ilorin on Sunday said citizens of Kwarans and Nigerians in general should not relent in their spirit of resilience and togetherness to further guarantee unity of purpose. "Our heterogeneous society offers us strength to overcome any challenges, we should continue to leave as one indivisible entity, there is hardship in the country, but with prayer and unity of purpose, we will surmount the untold hardship".   He urged government from all levels to redouble their efforts towards ameliorating the suffering of Nigerians owning to the subsidy removal to enhance sane society.