Sports

Over Sixty Youths Storm Enugu For Lawn Tennis Tournament

Published

2 years ago

August 6, 2023

Editor

Not less than sixty youths from the South East and South South regions have stormed Enugu state for the 6th edition of the tournament.

The tournament tagged, Prince Victor Uwakwe Under 15 and 21 Regional Tennis Tournament kicked off inside the Enugu Sports Club Tennis court.

The tournament features both male and female in each category with 40 male and 20 female.

In his opening speech, the sponsor, Prince Victor Uwakwe said that the tournament was organised to harness the budding talents from the grassroots and greater exposure to the quality engagements of children on tennis skills.

Uwakwe who was represented by Mr Lawrence Molokwu said that the discipline and capability of the players will be tested adding that the tournament offers opportunity for the young players to build a rich regimen of experience which will serve as a pedestal for greater attainment in the future.

“It is my belief that focus and discipline achieved in sports rubs off in other parts of your life. It gives you a more robust trajectory in the ladder of success.

“Winning the prize is wonderful but it is more important to understanding the lessons learnt in the journey all the way.

“The tournament has been evolving over the years and this year, we are glad to have our sister states join us, we want to engage and build with them as we are brothers and sisters.

“We hope they have a memorable experience with us. We hope to always improve and enrich the quality of the tournament to a better and worthy experience,” he said

in his remark, the chairman of the Enugu Sports Club Sir Victor Atuonwu welcomed everybody and reiterated the club’s commitment to sports development in the state.

He noted that the club has sports facilities was built to ensure that sports strive in the state.

The captain of tennis department of Sports Club John Ekeocha said that the tournament is for the youths between the age of 15 and 21 and wished that there are people to take the programme to the next level.

He advised the participant to take the event serious and make life out of it as the programme has provided opportunity for them to take their talent to the next level.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths and Sports, Mr Chuka Ezike expressed happiness for identifying with such function and to know that some individuals are sponsoring such sports within the state.

He advised the organisers to continue the good work and called on the participants to take the game as their ambition in life to ensure that they play it at the highest level.

Ezike said that the Ministry of Youths and Sports are ready to partner with any philanthropist who wished to give back to the society through sport and to give the youths base for a good living.

Sports

Ballon d’Or: Why Neymar Didn’t Win Award – Gerard

Published

22 hours ago

October 16, 2025

Editor

Barcelona legend, Gerard Piqué has said that Brazil legend, Neymar could have won the Ballon d’Or had he remained at the Catalan side a little longer.

Neymar left Barça for PSG in 2017, becoming the costliest player in the world.

Pique said that the move stopped the Brazilian from winning the Ballon d’Or.

He said that the superstar footballer actually deserved to win the France Football award in his career.

Speaking on the PodPah podcast, Pique, who was Neymar’s teammate for many years at Barcelona, said he tried to convince the Brazilian not to make the move but the former PSG star did not listen to him.

“I’m convinced he deserved a Ballon d’Or. I think going to PSG hurt him. We tried to convince him not to go, we did everything possible.

“Everyone thought he was going to stay, even me, but it seemed that it was already decided. In the end, he had an incredible career,” he said.

The Brazilian was at Camp Nou until 2017 when he decided to move to PSG who were willing to activate his €222 million release clause.

He left for Al-Hilal in 2023 and returned to Brazil with Santos in 2025.

Sports

Lionel Messi Names 10 Best Young Players Currently

Published

22 hours ago

October 16, 2025

Editor

Argentina and Barcelona legend, Lionel Messi, has named the 10 players he sees as future stars.

The legendary attacker has players from Chelsea and Liverpool in his list.

As part of an Adidas campaign, the 8-time Ballon d’Or winner was asked to name the players he deems the next big stars in the game.

The Inter Miami goal king partnering with Adidas Football for the ‘Messi+10: Season 2’ campaign named his 10 best rising stars.

He named Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha, Chelsea’s Andrey Santos, Kendry Paez, also of Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder, Brajan Gruda.

Others are Nico Paz (Como), Rodrigo Mora (Porto), Mika Godts (Ajax Amsterdam), and Kader Meite (Stade Rennes).

He named two female players, Barcelona’s Clara Serrajordi and Olympique Lyon’s Lily Yohannes.

Messi made a similar selection in 2024 to include Lamine Yamal, Antonio Nusa and Kenan Yildiz.

Sports

2026 World Cup: Why ‘England Can’t Win Trophy’ – Paul Scholes

Published

22 hours ago

October 16, 2025

Editor

Former England international, Paul Scholes, has said that the country stands no chance of winning the 2026 World Cup to be hosted in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

England became the first European country to qualify for the World Cup on Tuesday after beating Latvia 5 goals to nothing.

Scholes said Thomas Tuchel’s team has ‘no chance’ of winning the tournament unless the German gaffer brings his ‘three best players’ back into the squad.

Tuchel will now be hoping to lead England to their first major trophy in men’s football since 1966.

The former Chelsea manager was appointed as Sir Gareth Southgate’s successor last year.

England made it to two European Championship finals and two World Cup semi-finals under Southgate but failed to lift those trophies.

But former Manchester United midfielder, Scholes believes that England has ‘no chance’ unless Tuchel brings his ‘three best players’ back into the fold.

Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish were left out of the team for their last matches.

“I was a little bit surprised. Those three players, they have to be in his squad and they will be in his squad for the World Cup,” Scholes said on The Overlap.

“If you look at the squad now, you would say they have virtually no chance of winning the World Cup. Even with those three players it’s still a big ask but it gives you more of a chance of winning the cup.

“Jude Bellingham has missed a little bit of football but he’s fit now so I would have brought him back in.

“Thomas Tuchel hasn’t got many games left now until the World Cup actually starts, it’s only the November break and then the March one and then we’re there so we need to get these players playing.”

While announcing his squad for the last international break, Tuchel insisted he had ‘no problem’ with the omitted players, especially Bellingham.