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Tag: Solomon Ogba

  • Ogba dismisses NSF postponement rumour, says Delta is ready

    Ogba dismisses NSF postponement rumour, says Delta is ready

    The advisor to the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the Delta 2022 National Sports Festival (NSF) Solomon Ogba on Thursday dismissed insinuation that the festival slated to begin November 28 and end December 10 will be postponed.

    Ogba, popularly called Igwe of Sports in Nigeria insisted the festival will go ahead as scheduled.

    In the last two weeks, there have been insinuations that the festival will be postponed because the facilities and equipment needed for the festival are not ready.

    Speaking with our correspondent Ogba appeals to sports journalists to come to Asaba, Delta State, and see the state-of-the-art facilities on the ground in various venues instead of reporting based on unverified information.

    “I wish our media partners will come to Asaba and do an on-the-spot assessment of the state of our readiness instead of relying on rumours and unreliable information.

    “ I can confirm to Nigerians that we are ready to host all the 36 states and FCT and we are not just hosting we will host a memorable festival that all participating athletes, coaches, other categories of officials, visitors, and sports supporters and fans will go home with a memorable experience.”

    Ogba, a two-time Commissioner of Sports in Delta State and former President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) said the LOC is waiting for the final inspection of facilities and equipment.

    The Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) who took Delta Sports to an enviable height as Commissioner of Sports and his era led to the dominance of the sports festival by Delta State said the state will not just organize a good festival but they will win it.

    Said Ogba, “We are going to be a good host, we shall host a very good festival in every area, but we won’t surrender to our visitors on the field of play. We are going to win fairly. Our athletes have been training and working hard to sustain our past achievements of winning in other states. We are the perennial National Sports Festival champion and it is unforeseeable that we will surrender our crown at home. We are going to host a great festival that we will win” said Ogba. 

  • Ogba pays tribute to father of football in Mid-West late Etemike

    Ogba pays tribute to father of football in Mid-West late Etemike

    By Mike Oboh

    The Vice-President of Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Solomon Ogba over the weekend paid glowing tribute to the father of football in Mid-Western state, and one of the fathers of football in Nigeria late Godwin Etemike who died recently.

    “The Mid-West, indeed Nigeria has lost a genuine lover of football who gave his all for the beautiful. He was selfless, patriotic and empathic. As a Super Eagles star, he was ready to die for the jersey on the field of play, as one of the coaches that ensure we won the Afcon in 1980 the late Etemike endured sleepless nights to ensure we succeeded, we have lost a great Nigerian” said Ogba.

    He recalled that it was Etemike assembled the team that gave Nigeria her first continental title in 1980.

    “It was Etemike that took Christian Chukwu and others to Brazil a few months to the 1980 Afcon before Otto Glory was appointed to take over of the team.”

    Ogba recalled Etemike playing career in the colours of Stationery Stores FC of Lagos and then WNDC which later changed to IICC Shooting Stars FC of Ibadan, now 3SC and Plateau X1, and his days in the Super Eagles alongside greats like Eto Amaechina, Amusa Shittu, and Thunder Balogun.

    “He was one of our best and he played alongside the best players in Nigeria in his days. If he had been playing today he would have played for the best clubs in the world.”

    His coaching career was no less illustrious according to Ogba.

    He was the first Chief Coach of Mid-West Director of Sports, he led Bendel Insurance FC as chief coach to win the 1972 FA Cup against Mighty Jets of Jos with great players like Sebastian Broderick, Tony Ottah, Sam Ikeji, Victor Oduah, Peter Egharevba.”

    Others clubs he coached are NNPC Warri, Sharks of Port Harcourt, Asaba Textiles Ethiope FC, Ika Rangers and NNB FC.

    “Nigeria has lost a great man, his death is a huge blow to the Mid-West and indeed the sports family in Nigeria,” said Ogba