How Kogi was Robbed of 2010 Ramat Cup
FACTs are emerging as to why Kogi State contingents to the recently concluded 27th Edition of Ramat Cup held at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, could not advance beyond the quarter-final stage.
Speaking with The Graphicsports in Lokoja shortly after their returns weekend, the head Coach of the State Contingent , Mr. Musa Amule (a.k.a Coach AB) attributed the cause of below performance of the state team to what he described as “injustice meted on his boys in the name of screening.”
According to him, out of the 20 players that travelled to Kano for the competition, eleven were “screened out” on the ground that they were above the stipulated age.
This development, he stressed, left the state to contend with only nine players. He added that most of the affected players were the first line up.
Coach AB who said the state paraded the best team to competition further pointed out that the most painful part of the screening was that it was done by a mere facial examination of the players rather than any scientific examination or the MRI test.
He stated that the criteria used in determining their age is baffling. According to him,“it was a painful experience to see your best players and goal keepers screened out of a competition without having the knowledge of criteria used.”
The Graphicsports gathered that as a result, the state could not make it beyond the quarter final stage having played three matches loosing one, drew one and won only one that eventually relegated them to the bottomline in the tournament
It would be recalled that Kogi State alongside other states of the Federation and other four African countries had participated in the tournament at the ancient city of Kano


Old Age Denies Nigerian Referees of Invitation to FIFA, CAF Matches
A retired FIFA referee and the National Training officer, Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), Mr. Olufemi Olaniyan; has given insight into why Nigerians referees could not make head way at CAF and FIFA level.
According to him, lack of integrity, old age and arbitrary quest for money are some of the reasons why only few Nigerians are featured in CAF and FIFA match officiating.
Mr. Olaniyan disclosed this in a chat-with The Graphicsports Lokoja, shortly after delivering a lecture at a seminar organised by the state chapter of the NRA, held at the NUJ Secretariat in Lokoja, recently.
The retired FIFA was particularly referring to the recent concluded African Cup of Nation in Angola where only one referee was featured from Nigeria stressing that the country's referees have not got it right in a sense that some of them are above the required age.
However, he explained that the seminar is intended to address the lingering problems as it serves as an avenue where young recruited referees are given lectures and groomed for about three to four years before they could fit in both the CAF and FIFA officiating.
In his lecture titled "the Relevance of Physical Fitness Test and The Application of Law II and 12 to Effective Match officiating" the NRA training officer said the lecture would go along way to refresh their memories on the various modification of the games of football and the new techniques added to the officiating by FIFA and CAF.
Mr. Olaniyan while stressing the importance of fitness, urged them to be more relevant with fitness test and the law 11 and 12 saying that, " if they could properly equip themselves with these laws and avoid corruption , the sky would be their limit.


The ‘Bull Takes Over Home -Based Eagles
After about three weeks absence of embattled Coach Shaibu Amodu from his duty post, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed former Super Eagles Assistant Coach, Daniel Amokachi, the Bull to take over the home based Super Eagles pending the arrival of Shaibu.
Sources close to the Glasshouse in Abuja disclosed that Amokachi, who had earlier been briefed, had reported at the NFF headquarters and later moved to meet the team where he has taken over finally .
It was gathered that with the arrival of Amokachi, interim coach, Eramus Onu ceased to be in charge.
Our sources also disclosed Goalkeeper Alloy Agu, has also reported, It would be recalled that Amokachi and Agu were demoted along with Shaibu Amodu and there are all indications that if Shaibu Amodu does not report for duty before the Nations Qualifier date against Niger, Amokachi may be asked to lead the Super Eagles to Niamey for the encounters.


Lars Largerback, is new Technical Adviser
Lars Largerback, the new signed Technical Adviser to the Super Eagles of Nigeria is hopeful to meet the semi-final target given to him by the NFF. This was pre-condition before he was signed for.
Good luck!

No Prize for Women at Glo/CAF Awards
THE Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) will not name a winner for the 2009 Africa Women’s Player of the year Award when the event is held next month.
No player were shortlisted for the 2009 event since it was decided that there was little women’s football activity in Africa last year.
“We decided not to name the women players for 2009 because no matches were played continentally to fully assess the players to be considered,” said Suleiman Habuba, CAF Director of Communication
The decision comes as a major disappointment for several young women across Africa who were hoping to win the award.
South Africa’s Alice Mattlou won the 2008 Africa Women’s player of the year Award which was held in Lagos last year.

NAN correspondent, Elaigwu Passes on
THE former News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, Mr. Cosmas Elaigwu has passed on.
Mr. Elaigwu who died in Abuja on Wednesday, 17 February 2010 at the age of 51 was a renowned journalist who distinguished himself in sports and political reporting.
Late Elaigwu was a correspondent of NAN in Washington DC for a couple of years until he returned to the country about three years ago.
Late Elaigwu held a degree in International Studies from Ahmadu Bello University in 1982 and Masters Degree from Bayero University, Kano.
He died shortly after covering a political event in Jigawa after a brief illness.
Mr. Elaigwu who took after his brother in the business of journalism, worked with the defunct Reporters newspaper in the 1980 as Bauchi State editor.
He joined Champion Newspapers Limited and was its North West Correspondent with the headquarters in Kano.
He will be buried in his ancestral home Abo-Imane in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State on March 5, 2010 after a wake-keep on 4th.