SWAN welcomes Omorodion’s appointment

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Lagos chapter, has described the appointment of Patrick Omorodion as special adviser to the Honourable Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Dr. Tamuno Danagogo, as ” well deserved and a welcome development not only for refreshing communications between the sports ministry and the sporting media but also for the quality of contributions that Omorodion can bring to bear in the ministerial processes of sports management and administration in Nigeria.”Lagos SWAN in a statement signed by its chairman, Fred Edoreh, shortly after the announcement of the appointment, pointed out that Omorodion is eminently qualified for the assignment being a seasoned and committed sports journalist who has remained passionately and consistently committed to the development and promotion of sports in Nigeria.”His qualities and track records in the service of Nigeria sports speak for him. As deputy editor with the Vanguard newspapers his contributions to the promotion of Nigeria sports is highly rated. He has worked closely with various sports federations and currently sits on the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, and even within the sports writing fraternity, he was overwhelming elected Deputy National President of SWAN last year after he had served as secretary of Lagos SWAN years back. The Hon. Minister certainly made a thoughtful choice and we are very confident Patrick will discharge this new office with profound success through his characteristic spirit of hard work, team play and resilience.” Wolves congratulate Egwekwe, AkpeyiThe Management of Warri Wolves has congratulated two of their players invited to camp for the 2014 World Cup and urged them to strive hard and make the real team to the mundial. According to a statement made available to sports writers by the Media Manager of the Club, Moses Etu, the duo of Azubuike Egwekwe and Daniel Akpeyi deserved the Super Eagles shirt and we have no choice than to congratulate them and urge them to work hard and make the team to Brazil. “We are excited and happy that two of our players made the provisional list. We congratulate them and want them to work hard to make the team to Brazil. We have the best two goalkeepers in the league in Okiemute Odah and Daniel Akpeyi and if Coach Keshi picks one, we should be happy. Our own is to pray for them and urge them to work more than before” Meanwhile, Etu has for the avoidance of doubt reminded those concerned and well wishers that Daniel Akpeyi is a player of Warri Wolves and not Heartland as reported having crossed over at the beginning of the season. “It is essential that we correct this at this time that Daniel Akpeyi is a player of Warri Wolves and not Heartland. He signed for us at the beginning of the season and this should be corrected now .” Etu also congratulated some of their former players namely Nosa Igiebor, Sunday Mba and Chigozie Agbim for their invitation and wish them well as they move on. NFF wants Brazilian Embassy to arrest impersonatorsThe Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has called on the Embassy of Federal Republic of Brazil in Nigeria to arrest persons who come to the embassy with forged NFF letter-headed papers, introducing themselves as officials of the Federation or persons or groups known to it. NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu disclosed that the Federation is in possession of a number of such forged letters sent to the Embassy of Brazil by some scamsters with intent of securing entry visas into that country for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals.“We have been alerted to this scam and we are taking it seriously. Some officials in the Embassy of Brazil informed us about what is going on, and we are in possession of some letters written by these scamsters, with intention of getting entry visas into Brazil, ostensibly for the FIFA World Cup finals. People go to the embassy with forged letter-headed papers of NFF introducing themselves either as NFF officials or as being known to the Federation. “The NFF has given the Embassy of Brazil the go-ahead to arrest those persons and hand them over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution,” Amadu said.One such letter, dated 28th April, 2014 and signed by one Akeem Oyeyode (no official of NFF bears such name), was forwarded to “The Consular Department, Brazilian Consulate, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.” In the letter, eight officials of a so-called Oluyole Football Club of Nigeria were introduced to the embassy as going to watch “Nigeria Matches playing against Iran and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the 16th of June, 2014 in Brazil for the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup,” and urged the Consular to use “your good office for the issuance of the Brazilian Entry Visa to the team to enable them watch and support the Green Eagles of Nigeria playing against other countries in Brazil at the Mundial Cup.” NFF commiserates with Itemuagbor over loss of fatherPresident of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari, on Wednesday expressed sadness over the death of Chief Pius Itemuagbor, the father of NFF Marketing Consultant, Mr. Mike Itemuagbor. Chief Itemuagbor, 94, was said to have breathed his last at Otuwo General Hospital, Irrua, near Auchi, Edo State on Monday. “The NFF and the entire Nigeria football family mourn with a key stakeholder, tireless initiator and lover of excellence, Mr. Mike Itemuagbor over the death of his father, Chief Pius Itemuagbor. It is always a thing of grief and sorrow to lose any parent, no matter how old they grew to become. “Mike has described his father as ‘loving and caring’ and we very much appreciate how much he is missing the man already. We pray that God will grant Mike and the entire family Chief has left behind the fortitude to bear the big loss, and also grant the departed eternal rest,” Maigari prayed.Mike Itemuagbor, the Chief Executive Officer of Pamodzi Sports Marketing, is a titan in the field of sports marketing worldwide and is also a member of the Marketing Committee of the Confederation of African Football.