Abia State took its turn to play host to the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) torch tour in brief ceremonies at the Umuahia Township Stadium and at the Government House.

The state Commissioner for Youth and Sport, Hon Nwaobilor Ananaba Nwadinma received the torch at the Umuahia Township Stadium before leading Team Abia to the Government House where it was presented to the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti.

On arrival at the Government House, Team Abia was treated to a sumptuous dinner with the governor.

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The team then proceeded to the governor’s yard, where the torch was lit and presented to the governor by the commissioner to the admiration of everyone who witnessed the lighting of the torch.

In his speech the governor charged Team Abia to go and conquer in Uyo and come back to receive a state reception.

Gov Otti expressed appreciation to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for initiating the sports festival, which he noted will go a long way to create unity, spot and harness untapped talents in the Niger Delta states.

The Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) has been described as an intervention project of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) designed to include all youths in the region irrespective of gender and physical abilities.

According to the Executive Director Finance and Administration, NDDC, Alabo Boma Iyaye the intent behind the design speaks to global practises of inclusivity in sports and other aspects of life.

He made the assertion while appearing on the ARISE television Morning Show.

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He maintained that the rationale for including Para-Athletics and Para-lifting in the 17 games festival event, Iyaye said, “there are youths in the region with physical disabilities and they must enjoy the benefits of the NDDC intervention”.

“At the international level, we have the Paralympic Games organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to cater for persons with physical disabilities and the Niger Delta Sports Festival cannot deviate from the international best practices” remarked Iyaye who also serves as the Chairman of the NDSF Main Organising Committee (MOC).

He also spoke of the reason behind the NDDC decision to extend its intervention program to Sports, noting that “sports is a powerful too for national unity. We want to provide a platform for youths in the nine mandate states of NDDC to bond, to know each other and find expression for their talents”.

“There is a need to regenerate the line of supply of athletes to represent Nigeria as a country in international sports competitions and the festival will afford us the opportunity to discover new talents that will be nurtured to replace the likes of Blessing Okagbere, Enefiok Udo-Obong, Blessing Oborodudu, Victor Ikpeba, Emmanuel Amuneke, Seun Ogunkoya and many others”.

The NDDC since founded by an act of parliament in July 2000 has championed the provision of infrastructure in roads, health care, education and skills acquisition.

Iyaye said that delving into sports would enable those who may not be successful in education and artisan skills to build a career in sports.

The NDSF which started with trials in the local government and federal constituencies will be held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State from April 1-8. About 3000 athletes will compete in 17 sports.

Carlo Ancelotti, the legendary coach of Real Madrid, is set to face trial next week over allegations of tax fraud, a Madrid court announced on Friday.

Spanish prosecutors are pushing for a prison sentence of four years and nine months, accusing the 65-year-old of failing to report over €1 million ($1.1 million) in earnings from image rights between 2014 and 2015.

The trial is scheduled to begin on Wednesday and will last two days. According to a court spokesperson, Ancelotti is required to be present for the hearings.

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Authorities claim that while Ancelotti declared his salary from Real Madrid, he allegedly used a “confusing” and “complex” structure of shell companies to conceal additional earnings from image rights and other sources, despite being registered as a tax resident in Spain at the time.

A Spanish court initially ordered him to stand trial in 2023, but no date was set until now. Last year, Ancelotti dismissed the case as “an old story that I hope will be resolved soon.”

Ancelotti, who has won a record five Champions League titles as a coach, first took charge of Real Madrid in 2013 before leaving in 2015.

He later managed Bayern Munich, Napoli, and Everton before returning to Madrid in 2021.

With a career spanning top clubs across Europe, he has also secured league titles in Spain, Italy, England, Germany, and France.