Sports
Muhammed Ali in Lagos
Boxing legend Muhammed Ali was in Lagos last week to attend a musical festival tagged "Expo Africana '84". The three times world heavyweight later. boxing champion was accompanied by Mr Balozi Harvey, executive director of Harlem Third World Trade Institute, New York.Mr Godwin Tabansi, chief executive of Tabansi Records Limited organisers of the musical show- and his company officials were at the airport to receive the living boxing legend.
A Lagos entertainment group, 'The Sunshine Sisters', treated Ali and group to a befitting cultural display. Thousands of anxious fans trooped to the arrival hall to catch a glimpse of the man who once. described himself as "the greatest".
Ali told reporters: "I am happy to be here... to thank Nigerians for their support.'
Azumah - firm date fixed
The much postponed world featherweight championship fight between Azumah Nelson, the Ghanaian WBC leading contender and Wilfredo Gomez, the Puerto Rican champion has again been fixed for December 8, 1984 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.Azumah and his entourage are expected in San Juan on November 25, 1984 at least 12 days before the fight which is being promoted by Pavilion Promotions of Puerto Rico.
Ghana National Sports Festival
Ghana's annual National Sports Festival will be held on December 15-22 in Kumasi. Competitions shall be in six disciplines - athletics, hockey, table tennis and basketball for men and women, soccer will be for colts only and boxing.Contesting groups are the ten administrative regions and also the Ghana Armed Forces, Prisons Service and the Ghana Police Service. The three units may however not compete in the soccer series.
Teams are expected in the Games village on December 15 and depart on December 23. The opening and closing ceremonies will be held at the Kumasi Sports Stadium on December 18 and 22 respectively. Dates for the festival were selected this year according to the organizers to form part of the 31st December Revolution anniversary activities. It is also expected that the festival will serve as a final work-out for the country's contingent to the Supreme Council for sports in Africa Zone III Junior Athletic Competition scheduled for Accra a week
Handball team tours Yugoslavia
Nigeria's Junior male and female National Handball teams are in Yugoslavia on a playing tour in preparation for the 3rd All Africa Junior Handball championships next month in Bauchi.Before the team's departure they played a series of friendly matches in Lagos with clubs as part of their preparation. National Captain Umaru Aminu said "the task ahead is a big one and with the support of the whole country the team shall recapture the two trophies".
He said that it is a good venture the team is now embarking on a playing tour which he claimed would not only boost their morale but put them in shape for the Championships in December.
Nigeria gets new sports director
A new director of sports for the National Sports Commission has been appointed. He is 44-year-old Alhaji Babayo Shehu who until his new appointment, was Director of Sports, Bauchi State Sports Council, since 1976.Contracts for the fight were signed at the WBC Convention held recently in Monreal, Canada.
New Bank retains WAFU Cup
A full house saw New Nigerian Bank win the final of the West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup in Lagos last weekend. They beat their Malian opponents, Stade Malien 1-0 in a match dominated by the Malians.The unanimous verdict of a cross section of the spectators who were interviewed was that the match was tough, the Malians were good and they were unfortunate to lose.
Ivorian boxer stops Nigerian opponent
Ivorian heavyweight M. Konate stopped Nigeria's Ngozika Ekwelum in the sixth round of a 10-round fight in Abidjan. The victory sets Konate up for a probable match against African title holder Kilimanjaro of Zimbabwe.After a cautious first round, Ekwelum stunned Konate with fierce onslaught in the second round but Konate replied with some powerful punches in the third.
Konate suddenly exploded, sweeping the Nigerian away with a torrent of blows and Ekwelum failed to answer the bell at the start of the seventh round.
Vipers, Neoplan Stars relegated
The Ghana Football Authority has announced the demotion of Cape Coast Vipers and Neoplan Stars to the second division and the promotion of Zebi F.C. and Arnold Warriors to the first division for Ghana's next football season.A press statement explaining the relega- tion of Neoplan Stars said that in accordance with GFA regulations and practice "where if a club is suspended for whatever reason and its records expunged from a competition and the suspension is not lifted till the end of the season that club automatically moves down one step..."
On Union Uppers, the statement said in accordance with the provisions of its constitution and bye-laws which state that foot- ball matters should be settled out of court by the football controlling body, the GFA has decided not to pursue its appeal in the matter of Union Uppers v National Sports Council/GFA in the courts.
The statement, however, added that "as and when Union Uppers take steps to abide by our regulations they shall be admitted back into the Association just as Great Olympics were".
Olympic medalist flies to Bulgaria
Olympic silver medalist Peter Konyegwachie has left Lagos for further studies in Bulgaria.Konyegwachie is the first beneficiary of the Federal Military Government award to athletes who successfully represented Nigeria at the 23rd Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He will study Sports Psychology and Physical Education at the George Dimitrov University, Sofia.
