The Niger State Badminton Association has concluded arrangements for the commencement of the first edition of the Farmer Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago Inter-Local Government Badminton Championship in Minna, the state capital.
Speaking to sports journalists at the Minna Sports Club complex, the venue of the championship, the chairman of the state badminton association, Alhaji Nma Kolo, disclosed that the championship was organised to discover some hidden talents that could be nurtured to represent the state and the country at large.
He revealed that currently the number two badminton player in the country, Aliyu Shehu, is a Nigerlite, and that they want more Nigerlite badminton players on the national and global stages, hence the organisation of the championship.
Alhaji Nma Kolo, who observed that the state has abundant talents in the game of badminton that are yet to be discovered, also expressed optimism that the participants in the championship will give a good account of themselves throughout the four-day event.
He noted that sports could be used as not only a tool for unity but also for youth engagement in order to take them away from youth restiveness and other social vices.
The state badminton association chairman, who holds the titles of Jawon Minna and Amanan Lapai, explained that the championship had been categorised into the youth and veterans categories, adding that while the youths category was the main event, the veterans category was to appreciate the veterans for their support for the younger places.
"What we want to achieve is to get the hidden talents that we have across the 25 local government areas of Niger State. That is why we are placing special emphasis on the active players.
"We also have the veterans, but the main target of this tournament is for us to catch them young," he explained.
He also disclosed that the National President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Barr. Frank Obi, will grace the event alongside other national officials, adding that aside from those who would be lucky to be selected for better placement, a lot of take-home prizes await those who distinguished themselves during the championship.
Badminton players across the 25 local government areas of the state were expected to participate in the championship, which officially kicks off today, June 26, 2024.
The championship was organised in honour of the state governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago.
Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna kept their hope of survival in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) with their first away win, a 1-0 over Bayelsa United in Yenagoa on match day 23.
The Minna landlords knew that they needed to pick points on the road after it suffered a shocking 0-2 home defeat to Enugu Rangers in their adopted home of Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, on Match Day 22.
A 57-minute strike from the Tornadoes' mid-season recruit was the solitary goal that separated both sides.
The victory confirms that the Ikon Allah Boys completed a double over Bayelsa United, having defeated the Yenagoa-based side 1-0 in the first stanza of the league.
Niger Tornadoes acting Technical Adviser, Maji Mohammed's side, started the match with the intent of not backing but taking the attack to the host. The second half kicked off with the home team looking more determined to score, but the Ikon Allah Boys curtailed all onslaughts.
The moment of the goal came after Derou Chimamaded made a beautiful one-two pass with Clinton Jephta in a splendid attacking move. Chima locates Ikechukwu Nwani with a defence-splitting cut-back pass, and the latter, who's well positioned in the box, perfectly slots home from a close range to put his team in front.
The Tornadoes made a tactical substitution and brought in the duo of Ifeanyi Okoye and Akintunde Azeez, withdrawing Ikenna Offor and Derou Chima, and the move paid off.
Efforts by the home side to search for an equaliser proved abortive as the defence was marshalled by Mohammed Hussaini and Silvester Bell's partnership, while Joshua Enaholo was equally at his best and delivered some incredible saves.
The visitors were close to increasing the tally, but chances were wasted by both Idris Saidu and Clinton Jephta.
The win is the Tornadoes’ first on the road this season; a double over their hosts had moved them to 27 points, a place out of the red zone.
