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Akwa Ibom Agog for Naija Super 8 Play-offs

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Naija Super 8 Play-offs

By Dipo Olowookere

Lovers of Nigerian football are getting a back-to-back dose of exciting local football games after the conclusion of the English Premier League season last month won by Manchester City.

The grasses in the Eket Township Stadium in Akwa Ibom are about to get busy with the commencement of the much-awaited Naija Super 8 Play-offs.

The competition is starting today, Friday, June 23, 2023, a few days after the conclusion of the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) won by Enyimba and the Federation Cup won by Insurance of Benin.

The play-offs will see two teams, which polled the highest number of fan votes from each of the six geo-political zones of the country during the fan voting phase of the competition, battle for the ticket to represent the zone at the main Naija Super 8 tournament slated for the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos from July 7 to 16.

Hostilities begin today with the North-Central zonal battle between City FC of Abuja and Lobi Stars of Makurdi at 1 pm. In the second match of the day, the duel for the South-West ticket will be between Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan (3SC) and Remo Stars of Ikenne at 4 pm.

All Naija Super 8 play-off matches will be live on SuperSport Football (DStv channel 205 & GOtv channel 61), SuperSport Variety 4 (DStv channel 209), and SuperSport Select 2 (GOtv ch 64).

On Saturday, Yobe Desert Stars will face Gombe United in a North-East zonal battle at 1 pm, while Enyimba FC of Aba will slug it out with Heartland FC of Owerri in what promises to be a fiery South-East derby at 4 pm.

The ever-fervent North-West derby between Kano Pillars and Katsina United will kick off at 1 pm on Sunday, while the play-offs will end with the South-South derby between Rivers United and Bendel Insurance of Benin starting at 4 pm. Each of the play-off matchdays will feature musical entertainment, with an artiste line-up of Ikpa Udo, Pasto Goody Goody and XTO.

Winners of the six matches will be joined by two wildcard teams to be unveiled by the organisers for the main Naija Super 8 tournament in July.

The finals will see clubs split into two groups to play in a tournament format. The top two teams in each group will go into the semi-finals, with the winners proceeding to the final.

Clubs will earn N3 million per match at the group stage, with semi-finalists also earning an additional N3 million for qualifying. The runners-up will earn N9 million, while the winners will go home with N25 million.

Naija Super 8 is organised by Flykite Productions in partnership with MultiChoice Nigeria, with MTN, Hero Lager, DStv, GOtv, SuperSport, Moniepoint, Pepsi and Custodian Assurance as sponsors.

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan. Mr Olowookere can be reached via [email protected]

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How Does Weather Affect Golf Strategy?

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Golf Strategy

Weather plays a crucial role in golf strategy, influencing everything from club selection to shot execution. Punters have a chance to win on 1xBet betting site when wagering on everything that happens during golf matches too.

Golfers must adapt their approach to optimize their performance on the course based on 4 factors:

  • wind;
  • rain;
  • temperature;
  • and even humidity.

In 1st place, wind is one of the most significant weather factors affecting golf. Everybody can win at the 1xBet betting site when wagering on golf competitions played under various different conditions.

A strong headwind can shorten a shot’s distance, requiring players to use a more powerful club or adjust their swing to keep the ball low. A tailwind, on the other hand, adds extra carry, so golfers may opt for a shorter club to maintain control. Crosswinds demand precision, as they can push the ball off course. Skilled golfers learn to shape shots making 2 things: a fade or draw. The idea is to counteract wind direction.

Playing in rainy conditions

Rain impacts 2 things: ball flight and course conditions. To download 1xBet apk for Android devices is very easy, and here you can also wager on what happens during golf competitions played under rain too.

Wet fairways and greens slow down ball roll, requiring golfers to adjust their approach shots to land closer to the target. Additionally, damp clubfaces reduce spin, affecting shot control. It is also possible to download the 1xBet apk for Android devices, so you can enjoy golf wagers from your tablet and smartphone.

In heavy rain, maintaining a firm grip becomes challenging, making rain gloves and towels essential. Golfers may also need to alter putting speed, as wet greens are slower than dry ones.

Temperature and humidity

Temperature is a 3rd essential factor to consider. Cold weather reduces ball compression, resulting in shorter distances. Golfers often use softer balls in lower temperatures to maximize performance. Conversely, warm weather increases ball compression, allowing for greater distance. Players also need to adjust clothing layers, as restricted movement from bulky attire can hinder swing mechanics. Everyone is invited to 1x Bet register today to wager on the most capable golfers from all over the world.

Finally, in 4th place, we have humidity. High humidity reduces air density, allowing the ball to travel slightly farther. Conversely, dry air increases resistance, leading to shorter shots. While the effect is subtle, professional golfers often consider humidity when fine-tuning their club selection. Golf fans can also try to register today at 1x Bet to wager on their favorite sport.

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Kirsty Coventry Emerges First African, Woman to Head International Olympic Committee

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Kirsty Coventry

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Zimbabwean Minister of Sports, Ms Kirsty Coventry, has been elected president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

She became the first woman and African to hold the position vacated by Mr Thomas Bach, who has been on the seat for the last 12 years.

The Zimbabwe sports minister and two-time Olympic swimming gold medalist got a stunning first-round win in the seven-candidate contest after voting by nearly 100 of her colleagues in the IOC membership on Thursday.

She gets an eight-year mandate into 2033.

According to reports, the election was the most open and hard-to-call IOC presidential election in decades with no clear front-runner before the vote.

She beat Mr Sebastian Coe, the UK’s two-time Olympic 1500m champion, who oversaw the London 2012 Games before taking charge of World Athletics as well as Spanish businessman Mr Juan Antonio Samaranch, who is currently the IOC’s vice-president; Sweden-born businessman and ski federation president Mr Johan Eliasch; Japan’s Mr Morinari Watanabe – head of the international gymnastics federation; French cycling chief Mr David Lappartient and Jordanian Prince Feisal al-Hussein.

Ms Coventry’s win also was a victory for outgoing IOC president Mr Bach, who has long been seen as promoting her as his successor.

He was also lauded for his role in sporting achievements including navigating the Olympics after the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent Paris 2024 Olympics.

“I will make all of you very, very proud and hopefully extremely confident in the decision you have taken,” Ms Coventry said in her acceptance speech.

Her first tournament in the role will be the Milano Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in February 2026, followed by the LA Summer Games in July 2028.

Ms Coventry’s IOC will also need to find a host for the 2036 Summer Games which is expected to be hosted in India or the Middle East.

She will be tasked towards navigating a lot of political and sporting issues necessitated by changing global trends.

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GOtv Boxing Night 33 Holds April 26

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GOtv Boxing Night 33

The 33rd edition of Africa’s premier boxing show, GOtv Boxing Night, will hold at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

This was announced in a statement on Wednesday by the organisers, Flykite Productions.

The event will feature household names on the boxing landscape like Sikiru “Omo Iya Eleja” Shogbesan, Nigeria’s first graduate boxer; Williams “Kaki” Amosu, Sodiq Adeleke, Sadiq Oyakojo, Lateef “Latest” Azeez and female boxing sensation, Ayisat Oriyomi.

The statement quoted Bamidele Johnson, Flykite Productions Chief Operating Officer, saying that arrangements are still being made to add more boxers to the bout line-up. He noted that the boxers selected are some of the best in their weight divisions and are ready to give a good account of themselves on the event day.

“Many of the boxers here are high on the local and continental rankings. They are young, hungry for glory, and have the talent to achieve their goals. We are going to have really cracking fights that will delight the fans,” Johnson stated.

The boxers signed their respective contracts on Wednesday at a brief but classy ceremony at Flykite Productions’ office in Lagos.

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