Sports
Azumah's uncertain future
Clouds of uncertainty still hang over the promotion of the oft-postponed World Boxing Association Featherweight title fight between the current champion, Puerto Rican Wilfredo Gomez and Azuma Nelson of Ghana. The fight, which was scheduled for September 28, could not come on again.Sources disclosed that the promoter could not meet the demands of the WBA's regulations and requirements for the fight. The promoter originally offered to stake 610,000 dollars for the fight but the organizers rejected it for 850,000 dollars.
The promoters, when asked by the WBA governing body to deposit the amount in bonds at a bank, as required to guarantee his preparedness to stage the fight, could not meet this request.
This therefore, made the organizers to put the promotion of the fight an open one for a higher bidder to promote.
The result of these on and off attitudes of the organizers and promoters is that it has caused a great set-back to the two boxers who are battle ready for each other with their itchy fists.
Nigeria's second worst defeat
Nigeria's national team, the Green Eagles, have returned home from Tunisia where they were trounced 5-0 in an international friendly. The defeat is Nigeria's second worst in history to be conceded by the national team. The first was a 7-0 massacre by the Black Stars of Ghana in 1958.Sanda challenges Assandoh
The Eddy Blay International Promotions Enterprise (EBIPE), managers of African and National Middleweight champion, Abdul Umaru Sanda, have requested the Ghana Boxing Promotion Commission (GPC), which manages Peter Assandoh to stage the ABU Middleweight title fight between holder, Abdul Sanda and challenger Peter Assandoh.A letter signed by the chairman of the EBIPE, Mr Eddy Blay to the BPC, said the fight should be staged as early as first week category. in November this year.
Late comers rejected
Two players who were invited to the camp of the Green Eagles but reported late, have been told to return home.According to a spokesman of the Nigeria. Football Association the services of the two players, Fatai Yekini and Bright Benson were no longer required and were each given money for their transport back to their clubs.
30 women judokas to vie for world tourney places
Nigeria will take part in the World Women Judo Championships scheduled for Vienna, Austria from November 9 to 12.Meanwhile, 30 women judokas have been invited for a screening exercise. The majority of those picked were on the basis of their performance at the second Vitalo Women Open Judo Championship held in Lagos last May. For the open category are D. Tomweh (Bendel), N. Tsetim (Benue), H. Abinatu (Bauchi) and Laraba Abudulai (Plateau). For 72kg and above, Ebele Ifeduba (Lagos), Regina Akosu (BBC, Benue), and Tina Alohan (Bendel). While Funmilayo Johnson (Oyo), Jumai Baku (Bauchi), Itembudo Annas (Benue) and N. Ugbeide (UNIJOS) will vie for places in the 66 to 72kg category.
Others are Harriet Aneke (Anambra), Grace Dike (Lagos), Rosemary Bobovi (U.I.) and lami Audu (Bauchi) for 61kg- 66kg while for 56kg-61kg are Dooter Jekele (Benue), Bola Idowu (Ogun), Ladi Garba (Bauchi), M. Nnabugu (ABU), Ese Otite (U.I.), Justina John (Gongola) and Justine Idotu (Plateau).
For 48kg-52kg are Blessing Uche (Kano), Isiwa Ogundimu (Ogun), Joy Esezobor (lagos) and Lanre Ayuba (Gongola) while N. Achika (Bauchi), G. Osaigie (Bendel), Titilayo Soleye (Ogun) and Lami Usman (Gongola) would contest in the 48kg
GFA re-admits Olympics
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) have granted pardon to Accra Great Olympics, whom they expelled from membership of the Association on September 6.Olympics therefore have been reinstated into the GFA and their "expulsion has been commuted into an appropriate fine deduct- ible at source" a GFA statement signed by the executive secretary, Mr K. Ampim-Darko has said.
According to the statement, the decision to reinstate Olympics followed their withdrawal from the Accra High Court of a writ they filed against the GFA on Thursday, September 6, the interventions by the president of the GFA Congress, Minster of Youth and Sports and other sporting personalities.
It said, the action against Great Olympics was not motivated by any ill-feeling or a desire to ruin any club and that the same treatment would have been meted out to any other offending club.
It added that, "in future, no amount of intervention will be allowed to weigh on our judgement in similar instances since the Constitution states categorically that, who- ever reports to court action automatically opts out of the Association", and repeated an earlier appeal to all connected with foot- ball, especially club officials, to acquaint themselves with the rules and regulations governing the game.
