Following the statement made by the former Green Eagles winger Adokie Amiesimaka urging the Presidency and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to persuade former Super Eagles midfielder Austin Okocha to return to active football, ex-International and former Rangers coach Sylvanus Okpala says only the Super Eagles handler Shaibu Amodu can determine the return of the former Bolton Wanderers player to the team.

For some years, three factors drew top amateur golfers to Asaba, the Delta State capital. Then, Barrister Moses Odibo, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, spent so much to promote golf and the club.

Former Flying Eagles coach Tunde Disu believes former Super Eagles captain Austin Okocha is better off in the Presidential Task Force than in the Super Eagles. His comments is as a result of the call made by former Green Eagles winger Adokie Amiesimaka, calling on the NFF and Presidency to prevail on Okocha to quit retirement.

Former member of the Delta State House of Assemblies, Honourable Gabriel Okpunor, is recently playing some great golf. The handicap 22 golfer was on fire at the Shell Ogunu Golf Club, Warri, when Ogunu golfers honoured Mayuku and his wife, two weeks ago. In Warri, Okpunor played like a professional golfer. His front nine score was out of this world but on hearing that his score would not count, he was discouraged and that spoilt his fun.

When Frenchman, Pierre de Coubertin, founded the modern Olympics in 1896, the slogan then was ‘joy in participation’ as countries were happy being part of it, even if they don’t win any medal. But over the years, most countries began to shy away from that, believing that sports, more than politics, is a better national image launderer.

The Nigeria Paralympic Committee (NPC), in addition to re-positioning Para-Sports in Nigeria, has set a 5-gold medals target for itself at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and has therefore began early preparations towards achieving the feat.

Shooting Stars Sports Club Chief coach Franklin Howard believes the Ibadan team now has what it takes to compete with the big teams in the Glo Premier league when the season kicks off. Shooting Stars suffered a Federation Cup quarterfinal defeat to Enyimba, but the coach says the team has come to stay, stressing that Tuesday’s result confirms the fact that 3SC can hold its own against the big boys of Nigerian football.

Chairman of Warri Wolves FC Godwin Abighor, on Wednesday named former Enugu Rangers coach Lawrence Akpokona as the new technical adviser of the Warri side, stating that the engagement of Akpokona was as a result of the bigger challenges ahead of the team.

Warri Wolves Technical Adviser Solomon Ogbeide will certainly not be sitting with the coaching crew when the Glo Premier league kicks off later in the year. Wolves management say they did not sack Ogbeide who tutored the Delta State Premier League side at the just concluded season. The management rather said, they could on agreed terms with Ogbeide.

Having finished third on the league table and a continental ticket well secured, Enyimba of Aba says they intend to beef up the Peoples Elephant to ensure that they achieve their set target come next season.

It has been three weeks since Bayelsa United emerged the new champions of the Glo Premier League ,and Chief coach of the Bayelsa State side says, the feeling is still fresh. Coach Monday Odiga was happy when his team lifted the trophy in Oleh after a 2-2 scoreline with Warri Wolves.

Underperforming Super Eagles striker, Obafemi Martins, who arrived late for the first day of training at Newcastle yesterday, has been offered an amazing pay rise as the club intend to use the cash bait to hold the player back in their fold as they prepare for the Championship next season.

HERE technology shows Kaka’s goal against USA in the Confederation cup final actually passed the line and should have been allowed. But the referee and his assistant were undecided and game continued. Replay technology will help referees on this if it is eventually introduced to help officiating.

BENIN High Chief Oyiki Obaseki (he warns that Jackson is off his names) must have been startled by the moral questions his statement on that the last minute precocity of Zamfara United’s scorers brought to the last day of the Nigerian Premiership.

THE Globacom Premier League is swimming in very dangerous waters that might bring the game to disrepute and ridicule. World soccer-governing body, FIFA, is listening with rapt attention to the offensive odour oozing out from the country. Chairman of the Nigerian Professional League, Chief Jackson Oyuiki-Obaseki has placed curses on those trying to smear the league even though he confessed that it was difficult to prove whether the match was compromised by the clubs.