Talking Drums

The West African News Magazine

Sports

Who goes to Olympic Games from Africa?

The Olympic games which start on 28th July will see a massive participa- tion by African countries. By the 2nd June deadline for registration, the following had confirmed their participation. Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Benin, Central African Republic, Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Mozambique, Mauritius, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Tunisia, Zaire, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Upper Volta, Madagascar and Chad are the other African countries that gave verbal notification of their intention to take part.

Ethiopia opts out

Ethiopia is the first African nation to assign political reasons for its decision to boycott the Los Angeles Olympic games. A statement by Ethiopia's national Olympic committee said that Ethiopia would not take part in the Los Angeles Games out of the belief "that in that dangerous contact situation, the well-being of our sportsmen could be gravely threatened".

The statement referred to the USA's use of the Games as a tool for narrow political aims, the 'British' rugby team's visit to South Africa, and the USA's opposition to Ethiopia's social system.

Three referees selected

Three African referees have been named by the International Football Federation (FIFA) among 22 referees, for the Los Angeles Olympic Soccer tournament.

The three are Mr Mohammed Hassan El Din, Egypt; Mr Tesfaye Gerreyesus, Ethiopia and Mr Bester Kalombo, Malawi.

Akeem promises coaching clinics

Nigeria basketball star, Akeem Olajuwon has promised to come home every summer to teach and organise coaching clinics in basketball.

The basketball star said this at a welcome home ceremony organised for him by the National Sports Commission (NSC) in Lagos.

He said that Nigeria has a lot of talents that could be developed adding "with all these talents available in the country, I will do my best to see that they don't waste away".

Clean sweep by Nigeria

Nigeria gained a landslide of nine victories in the finals of the inter national pre-Olympic boxing trials at the University of Lagos Sports Hall.

Bantamweight Joe Orewa was given the verdict at the end of his encounter with Zaire's Mukuta Tchonza, which immediately sparked off a protest from the Zairean camp. The featherweight and lightweight matches went to the hosts against Zairean opponents.

Cameroon's Tsidjo Jean Roger interrupted Nigeria's clean sweep in the second half of the tournament when he won on points against Cole Israel of Sierra Leone for the light middleweight laurels.

Other Nigerian wins came through Peter Konyegwachi, Christopher Ossai (both on walk-over), Hakeem Anifowose, Roland Omoruyi, Jeremiah Okorodudu, Kevin Onwuka and Godwin Ovwigho.

Increase

The chairman of Nigeria's Olympic Appeal Committee, Chief Moshood Abiola, has appealed to university authorities in the country to lower their admission standard for sportsmen and women in order to get the best for international sports competition.

Launching a state chapter of the national Olympic Appeal Fund in Port Harcourt, Chief Abiola urged the nation to emulate the United States of America, whose 75 percent of last Olympic team came from the universities.

He further urged the nation to encourage the youths to participate in games by providing adequate sports equipment in schools, colleges and universities which have a large concentration of youths.

Cuba's withdrawal, Nigeria's blessing

Retired Colonel Whyte Ukpor, chairman of Nigeria Amateur Boxing Association is happy over the decision of Cuba to boycott the Los Angeles Olympics.

"My boys now have more chances of winning a medal. After all they are not going to list the countries that boycotted the Games behind the medal," he said.

Kotoko Chairman resigns

Mr Yaw Bawuah, executive chairman of Asante Kotoko has resigned from his post.

Mr Bawuah who took over from Mr Simms Kofi Mensah in 1982 gave his reason for resigning as personal. Meanwhile Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, life patron of the club has accepted Mr Bawuah's resignation.


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