Sports

Deaf Athletes Stage Protest In Benin Over Exclusion From NSF

Published

4 years ago

October 17, 2022

Deaf athletes in Edo State on Monday staged a protest in Benin to challenge the exclusion of deaf sports from the forthcoming National Sports Festival (NSF) billed to hold in Asaba later this year.

The athletes stormed the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State council, in their numbers, carrying placards with different inscriptions.

Dr. Sunny Aimufua, Head Coach, Deaf Sports in Edo, who led the protest said the Ministry’s decision was discriminatory.

“The protest is on, because the deaf have been excluded from the forthcoming National Sports Festival and our athletics, made optional sport, which should not be so.

“We have Ministry of Youths and Sports Development. You cannot be talking of development when you have optional sports.

“Also, we have three major sports committee in the world, the IOC (International Olympic Committee), International Paralympic Committee and the Committee of Sports.

“Now the Ministry has favoured the two other while we are being neglected,” he said.

The head coach noted that a sport could only become optional when there are no facilities for that sports.

In this case, he said deaf athletes could use the tracks in stadia across the country.

“If you have a place for Athletics Federation of Nigeria – para athletics, why won’t you have a place for deaf athletics.

“Ministry of Youth and Sports Development should stop playing politics with the deaf sport athletes who are different kind of persons and need to be encouraged.

“They have been training and some of them are employed by the states,” he said.

Also speaking through an interpreter, Assurance Omoria, who said she is the current African champion in deaf long jump, queried how she would further her career if not allowed to participate at the sports festival.

Omoria said she was promoted from Grade Level five to 12 by Gov. Godwin Obaseki based on recommendation, arising from her exploit at the African Championship.

“I have proved my mettle in competitions.

“What we want the ministry to do is to restore deaf sport to its parmanent status and ensure that the athletes participate at the NSF in Delta.”

Sports

EPL: Chelsea Set To Sanction First Summer Transfer Under Alonso

Published

5 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

Chelsea are set to sanction their first summer transfer under their new manager, Xabi Alonso.

According to the BBC Sport, the Blues are ‘open’ to selling Filip Jorgensen this summer after the goalkeeper indicated his desire to leave Stamford Bridge.

Jorgensen joined the Premier League west London club two seasons ago from Villarreal.

The 24-year-old shot-stopper was expected to compete for the number one position with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, but he made just 11 Premier League appearances over the two seasons.

However, while the arrival of Alonso to Stamford Bridge could lead to a change in fortunes for Jorgensen, the report added that the Danish star has already expressed his desire to leave Chelsea this summer to get more regular playing game-time elsewhere.

Chelsea had blocked a potential exit for Jorgensen in the January transfer window, but the Premier League west London club are now open to a sale, with European and English clubs expected to explore a deal for the goalkeeper.

Sports

EPL: ‘Go For Alvarez’ – Paul Merson Hands Arsenal Two Signings To Make

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

Arsenal legend, Paul Merson, has handed his old club two signings to make in the summer.

Merson wants Arsenal to sign Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez and a new midfielder.

“I would get a centre forward this summer, I would go for Julian Alvarez,” Merson said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast.

“I am a big fan. If they could get him, I would. I still think they probably need another midfield player as well.”

Arsenal is expected to bolster its squad in the summer after winning the Premier League title ahead of Manchester City this season.

Sports

EPL: Wayne Rooney Picks Most Improved Player This Season

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

Manchester United legend, Wayne Rooney, has picked the Red Devils defender Luke Shaw as the most improved player in the Premier League following the conclusion of the 2025/26 season.

Speaking on his BBC podcast, Rooney said, “I think, for me, Luke Shaw. I think Luke Shaw has been the most improved player this season.

“I know he is an experienced player now, but I think his level this season has been much better than it has been in recent seasons.

“People might look at Kobbie Mainoo but I don’t think he’s improved. It was just the fact he wasn’t playing under the former manager so it wasn’t good or bad.”

Shaw enjoyed one of his most consistent seasons at Man United and started all of Man United’s Premier League games.