Sports

Senate Accuses Sport Minister Of Tribalism, Rejects D-G Nominee

Published

4 years ago

November 4, 2021

Editor

The Senate Committee on Sports and Youth Development, on Thursday accused the Minister for Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare of tribalism and nepotism.

The Senate made the remark while rejecting the decision of Dare to appoint his kinsman, Soji Eniade as the Director General of the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), a parastatal in the Presidency but under the supervision of the Ministry.

The Committee said it was unfair for Dare to appoint his kinsman as the Director General of the Training Centre when the Acting Director General, Oluremi Sola-Phillips who hails from Lagos State has been doing well as the head of the Centre.

The Committee also accused the Sports Minister of previously removing two heads of agencies under the Ministry, including that of the National Sports Institute, and replaced them with people from his State of Oyo State, who are also said to be related to him.

The committee made its stance known when the management of CLTC went to the senate to defend the 2022 budget proposal.

When it was the turn of the Centre to defend its budget, the committee had called for the Director-General to begin the budget defence. But, instead of Sola-Phillips taking the podium, Mr. Soji Eniade stood up and introduced himself as the Director General.

The Committee expressed surprise because he was a stranger in their midst. He then told the Committee that he was appointed to the position ‘two days ago,’ adding that though he was the Director-General, the Budget would be defended by the Acting Director-General.

This submission led to question and answer session. In the process, Mr Eniade said the Minister appointed him as the Centre’s DG and that the appointment came from the President.

Following further questions, Mr Eniade said that he was from Oyo State which raised the curiosity of the Senators.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee, Sen. Obinna Ogba from Ebonyi State recalled that the Minister had previously eased out two heads of parastatals under the Ministry and replaced them with people from his home state of Oyo, including that of the National Sports Institute.

According to DAILY POST, Obinna said it was wrong and abuse of office for the Minister to attempt bypassing the Acting Director General of CLTC who is from Lagos State and to replace him with his kinsman from Oyo State.

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Sports

AC Milan Scrap Victor Boniface Transfer Over Failed Medical Tests

Published

6 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

AC Milan has called off its proposed transfer of Nigerian striker Victor Boniface from Bayer Leverkusen, claiming the player failed to pass mandatory medical examinations.

The deal, which had been verbally agreed upon with a €5 million loan fee and a €24 million buy option, fell through despite Boniface’s arrival in Milan within the last 48 hours.

The decision was confirmed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, on Sunday.

“AC Milan call Victor Boniface deal off as Nigerian striker did not pass the medical tests,” Romano posted.

“Despite verbal agreement for €5m loan fee and €24m buy clause with player in Milano in the last 48h, deal called off due to medical. Boniface, returning in Germany today.”

According to reports, the 24-year-old Nigerian international had two anterior cruciate ligament operations and recurring groin problems that have affected his availability in recent seasons.

Milan are not the first Serie A club to have reservations about the striker’s fitness, with reports suggesting that Roma rejected a swap proposal involving Boniface and Ukrainian forward Artem Dovbyk several weeks ago due to similar concerns over the Nigerian’s condition.

Sports

Why I’ll Never Advise My Son To Visit Nigeria – Taribo West

Published

3 days ago

August 22, 2025

Editor

A former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, on Friday, berated the Nigeria Football Federation and Lagos State Government for allegedly abandoning the family of late goalkeeper, Peter Rufai.

Speaking at Rufai’s burial in a video posted by News Central on Friday, the ex-Inter Milan star expressed disappointment over what he described as the neglect of Nigerian football heroes after their death.

“It’s disheartening that you have Lagos State, you have the Nigerian Football Association. They drop the bulk on the family. I felt in my spirit that there is nothing to put your life for. That’s why I say I have to shift back so that I will not implode. It’s grieving.

“My mother passed on. I never shed tears. My father passed on in my hands. I never shed tears. When Rufai passed on, I had goose pimples on my body. And every individual I’m speaking to, there were tears rolling down my cheeks. What kind of nation is this?” he said

The former international recalled similar situations with late football icons such as Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, and Thompson Oliha, stressing that the treatment of ex-players discouraged him from encouraging his children to serve the country through football.

“With this kind of example, I will never advise even my son to put his feet for this country. Send me out! Do we have a Football Federation or do we have a Football Association in this Lagos State? That this hero, this soldier, this football evangelist, has to be treated this way in his family.

“Could you imagine that the family would be crying just to solicit in within our groups to ask for money? That is madness. Look, please let me go. I don’t want to pour my heart,” he stated.

Rufai, fondly called “Dodo Mayana,” was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper during the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations triumph and the country’s debut at the FIFA World Cup the same year.

He passed away in July 2025.

Sports

CHAN 2024: Top Scorers Ahead Of Quarter-final Fixtures

Published

4 days ago

August 20, 2025

Editor

Uganda’s Allan Okello and South Africa’s Thabiso Kutumela are currently joint top scorers at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), with three goals each as the tournament heads into the quarter-final stage.

The group stage concluded on Tuesday, with Sudan holding Senegal to a 0-0 draw to finish top of Group D, while Nigeria defeated Congo 2-0.

Here are the top scorers going into the CHAN quarter-finals:

Allan Okello (Uganda) – 3 goals
Thabiso Kutumela (South Africa) – 3 goals
Abdelrazig Omer (Sudan) – 2 goals
Kaporal (Angola) – 2 goals
Austin Odhiambo (Kenya) – 2 goals
Clement Mzize (Tanzania) – 2 goals
The quarter-final fixtures are scheduled for Friday and Saturday.