UKEMVERANEWS

A Paralympic gold medalist, Paul Kehinde, says his target at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast is to set a record that will stay unbroken for about a decade. Kehinde, who is the current Paralympics and world record holder in the men’s Para-powerlifting -65kg category, said he would redouble his efforts to achieve his aim. “With the help of God and the encouragement and training by my coach, Are Feyisetan, I have been able to do the country proud in Para-powerlifting. “The newly-renovated gym and support from the Sports Ministry have also impacted positively on my preparations for the Games. “My target in this sport now is to set a record that will be unbreakable in the next 10 or 20 years to come and I believe that with determination and the help of God, I will achieve it,” he said in Lagos on Monday. Kehinde is among the six athletes who will represent the country in the Para-powerlifting event of the Games holding from April 4 to April 15 in Gold Coast. ...

Diego Costa believes Spain’s 6-1 win over Argentina on Tuesday indicates just how valuable Lionel Messi is to his country. Goals from Costa, Thiago Alcantara, Iago Aspas and a hat-trick from Isco led La Roja to a comfortable success over opponents who were bereft of their star man due to a slight injury issue. While Messi has been at times criticised for his performances with the national team, Atletico Madrid striker Costa believes that, in reality, he makes a terrific difference to his side. “You have to do an analysis in all aspects,” he said of the man whose hat-trick qualified Argentina for the summer’s World Cup. “The Argentines criticise Messi a lot, but you can tell that when Messi is not there, they are something else. “A player like Messi should not be criticised. You should thank God that he’s there. “Messi must always be treated well. Even if he plays a bad game with the national team, having him on the field makes a difference.” Meanwhile, the Atletico Madr...

Britain’s heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua says he aims to be more “calculating” when he takes on Joseph Parker for the New Zealander’s WBO title in Cardiff, Wales on Saturday. The proud owner of the WBA, IBF and IBO heavyweight title belts is unbeaten in 20 contests with a perfect knockout record, and he wants Parker to be the next man on his hit list to maintain his destructive streak. “Someone asked me if I get Parker hurt, will I go in and execute? I’m trying to be a sniper. That’s my mindset now,” said Joshua. “I’m dealing with a guy who has his country on his back, that obviously gives him a little bit of fuel as well. He’s a man of pride. “But, no matter about all these positive things I say about him, my job is to knock one off the list as each round goes on and just break him down. “When he goes back to his corner in round one, I just want him to realize his trainer lied to him. “He’ll soon realize he’s in with a real fighter and I know 100 percent I w...

The Super Eagles of Nigeria were on Tuesday beaten 2-0 by Serbia at Hive Stadium in London in a 2018 FIFA World Cup warm-up match. Goals from Aleksandar Mitrović, who plies his trade at Newcastle, in the 68th and 81st minutes ensured Mladen Krstajic’s men flew over the Super Eagles. Serbia booked their spot in Russia for the first time since 2010 after a remarkable run of form in the qualifying stages.

Royal Dutch Shell has filed a criminal complaint against a former employee over suspected bribes in the sale of a Nigerian onshore oilfield in 2011, shedding more light on the company’s activities in the country. The suspected wrongdoing is unrelated to a court case against the Anglo-Dutch company and Eni in Italy over the acquisition of a different Nigerian oilfield, known as OPL 245, a Shell spokesman said on Wednesday. “Based on what we know now from an internal investigation, we suspect a crime may have been committed by our former employee… against Shell in relation to the sale process for Oil Mining Lease (OML) 42 in Nigeria,” the spokesman said. “We have filed a criminal complaint with the Dutch authorities and are considering other steps we could take.” Shell sold its stake in OML 42, an aging onshore field in the Niger Delta, to Nigerian firm Neconde Energy Ltd in February 2011. Neconde Energy was not immediately available to comment. As part of the internal...

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has been nominated for the prestigious International Sports Press Association-Africa (AIPS) Africa Power of Power (POS) Award. In a nomination letter to the Rivers State Governor, dated 26th March 2018, President AIPS Africa, Mitchell Obi said that Governor Wike is being recognized for his remarkable fidelity in raising the bar of sports matters and using sports as a catalyst for development. The AIPS Africa also recognized the role of Governor Wike in Nigeria through the use of sports as a tool to effectively engage the youth population in the continent. The letter read: “The decoration of this badge of honor will take place at the continental meeting in Brussels on the 8th/9th of May 2018”. The AIPS Africa also stated that Governor Wike is expected to deliver a lecture on the topic: “Peace and Progress through Sports in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria ” to the full house of the 94-year-old International Sports Pres...

Fela Durotoye, a consulting guru, leadership coach and public speaker, says he will be running for president, come 2019. The 46-year-old declared his intentions on Thursday, adding that he has researched all the national parties for a few months and has settled for the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN). “In line with our Values one of which is to ‘be a role model worthy of emulation’, I had to decide to get involved in the political arena rather than staying on the sidelines and only challenging others to go in,” he said. “It is my hope that as I step unto the political scene, many more of our brightest and best will arise to heed our nation’s clarion call to contest for elective offices, win the elections, and most importantly collectively deliver good governance to our nation. He said the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot deliver a new Nigeria. “Therefore, to be clear, I am aspiring to contest as a Presidential Candidate in the ...