Renowned Nigerian sports journalist and archivist, Kayode Tijani sadly passed away on Wednesday 7th of February 2024 at the age of 55, after battling a prolonged illness.
The victory over South Africa would have been one the ace journalist would have cherished and I do hope that he’s smiling down and will be cheering on the Super Eagles from the other side on Sunday when Nigeria take on the host country, Ivory Coast in a bid to win a 4th Afcon tournament.
Meeting the Veteran Journalist
I first met this soft spoken icon of journalism in London in 2016 when he visited Deluxe Studios, after being a great admirer of his work for many years. We also met at St Petersburg for the second time while he was covering the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
He had a remarkable collection of historic stats, videos and Nigerian sporting files that is unmatched. In fact he was an encyclopedia of not just Nigerian sports, but also African football. Tijani was also connected in elite sporting circles and was highly respected amongst his peers.
We were always in touch and his humility and simplicity was second to none. Tijani, who was the Chief Executive Officer of SportsXclusive and Sports Focus International, had a highly successful career, attending numerous sporting events around the globe and interviewing many high profile sporting icons.
Contributions to Sports Journalism
He started sports journalism at a young age becoming one of Nigeria’s most respected sports archivist and football analyst. His contributions included over 280 interviews with sports personalities and celebrities.
Tijani served as the Chief Press Secretary to the late former Minister of Sports, Chief Alex Akinyele. His extensive career saw him work for publications like The Guardian Newspaper and Complete Football Fame magazine, later heading the Sports Desk at Channels TV and becoming the Head of Sport for BEN TV in the United Kingdom.
Legacy they say, is not leaving something behind for other people. It’s leaving something behind in other people. Sir Kay as I fondly call him, left an indelible mark in the history of Sports Journalism in Nigeria.
Kayode Tijani is survived by a widow and children, leaving behind a strong legacy of great contributions to Nigerian and African sports journalism as a whole. He will be sorely missed and may his gentle soul rest in peace.
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Follow live coverage of today’s Champions League round of 16 draw as we discover which teams will face each other in the round of 16 on Monday, December 18 at 12pm Nigerian time when the draw takes place in Nyon, Switzerland.
NRTC Sports highlights below each team’s possible opponents bearing in mind that teams cannot be drawn against clubs from their same group or from the same national association.
Group Winners and Who They Can Play
Arsenal (ENG)
Can play: Copenhagen (DEN), Inter (ITA), Lazio (ITA), Leipzig (GER), Napoli (ITA), Paris (FRA), Porto (POR)
Atlético de Madrid (ESP)
Can play: Copenhagen (DEN), Inter (ITA), Leipzig (GER), Napoli (ITA), Paris (FRA), Porto (POR), PSV (NED)
Barcelona (ESP)
Can play: Copenhagen (DEN), Inter (ITA), Lazio (ITA), Leipzig (GER), Napoli (ITA), Paris (FRA), PSV (NED)
Bayern (GER)
Can play: Inter (ITA), Lazio (ITA), Napoli (ITA), Paris (FRA), Porto (POR), PSV (NED)
Dortmund (GER)
Can play: Copenhagen (DEN), Inter (ITA), Lazio (ITA), Napoli (ITA), Porto (POR), PSV (NED)
Manchester City (ENG)
Can play: Copenhagen (DEN), Inter (ITA), Lazio (ITA), Napoli (ITA), Paris (FRA), Porto (POR), PSV (NED)
Real Madrid (ESP)
Can play: Copenhagen (DEN), Inter (ITA), Lazio (ITA), Leipzig (GER), Paris (FRA), Porto (POR), PSV (NED)
Real Sociedad (ESP)
Can play: Copenhagen (DEN), Lazio (ITA), Leipzig (GER), Napoli (ITA), Paris (FRA), Porto (POR), PSV (NED)
NRTC is happy to announce a newsletter sign up giveaway of Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000) for our readership and followers when you join our mailing list using the subscription form below.
All You Need to Know
It’s FREE to participate in this Giveaway
You must be 18+ to take part
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Ten thousand Naira (N10,000) each is to be shared with 10 of the most active subscribers and social media engagers across our social channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube and LinkedIn) who will be entered into a ballot and then chosen at random
The competition is open until Tuesday December 19, 2023 (now extended until 30 December 2023)
Winners are to be announced on Wednesday December 20, 2023
Benefits of Subscribing to NRTC Mailing List
Stay Informed and up-to-date on the latest sports and entertainment news from Nigeria and around the world
Enjoy exclusive offers and giveaways offered to our readership community from time to time
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Learn something new always with regular educative and informative topics
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Former Spanish FA President, Luis Rubiales has been banned from football for three years after kissing Jenni Hermoso during the Women World Cup Final.
Rubiales kissed the Spanish player on the lips during the post-match celebrations after their win against England.
Recall that the former Spanish FA President refused to step down in a dramatic turn of events that required efforts from numerous activists and global criticism before he finally stepped down.
A statement from FIFA on Monday confirmed his punishment.
It read: “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has banned Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Association (RFEF), from all football-related activities at national and international levels for three years, having found that he acted in breach of article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
“This case relates to the events that occurred during the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ on 20 August 2023, for which Mr Rubiales had been provisionally suspended for an initial period of 90 days.
“Mr Rubiales has been notified of the terms of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision today. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, he has ten days in which to request a motivated decision, which, if requested, would subsequently be published on legal.fifa.com. The decision remains subject to a possible appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee. FIFA reiterates its absolute commitment to respecting and protecting the integrity of all people and ensuring that the basic rules of decent conduct are upheld.”
More to follow on this breaking news on our website and across our social channels.
Former Chelsea player and Premier League winner with Leicester City, Danny Drinkwater has confirmed his retirement from football at the early age of 33.
Drinkwater has been without a club since being released by Chelsea last year and, despite offers to stay in the game, has decided to retire from football.
The midfielder was a big part of the Leicester City team that won the Premier League in 2016 playing alongsode Ngolo Kante in miedfield and moved to Stamford Bridge the following year, but his career went downhill from there.
NRTC Contributors is a News Round The Clock (NRTC) initiative established to give students, scholars and other readers the opportunity to air their opinions on various issues, topics and give reviews of trending episodes in our society and other parts of the world.
Why Most Adults Resort To Sports Betting As A Means Of Survival
In the lively town of Akungba-Akoko, resided a young man named Edet who, much like his peers; harbored aspirations but lacked the financial means to chase them.
His determination to carve a path for himself faced repeated setbacks. One fateful day, at his lowest ebb, a close friend introduced him to the realm of sports betting.
Edet possessed nothing more than a five hundred naira note in his pocket, and the notion of testing his luck in the world of betting proved both alluring and daunting.
Without hesitation, he followed his friend into a dimly lit sports betting establishment; a place where aspirations and gambles hung in the balance, its walls adorned with screens displaying live matches and odds. With little to risk, he placed his bet and watched with bated breath as the game unfolded on the screen.
Moses Edet, a student at Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), shared his experience with sports betting, revealing how it proved favorable for him, even after losing some money.
He mentioned winning #250,000 with an initial bet of #250, which was quite surprising. Edet in his analysis of strategies, acknowledged that not all analyses yield positive outcomes. He also noted that had he not lost three matches out of his selections, he could have earned 4 million within 24 hours, all from the comfort of his home and with just #500 as an initial investment.
Sports betting is the activity of predicting sports results and placing a wager on the outcome.
The frequency of sports betting often varies by culture, with the vast majority of bets being placed on association football, American football, basketball, baseball, hockey, track cycling, auto racing, mixed martial arts, and boxing at both the amateur and professional levels.
Sports betting can also extend to non-athletic events, such as reality show contests and political elections, and non-human contests such as horse racing, greyhound racing, and illegal, underground cockfighting.
Well-known sports betting platforms in Nigeria are; Bet9ja, Sportybet, Betking, Melbet, Parimatch, 1xbet, zebet, and others.
To many, sports betting is regarded as a means of side hustle, some see it as means of survival and others regard it as means of employment.
According to NOI Polls analytics, Nigerians spend over N730 billion on sports betting each year, with at least N2 billion earned every day. The research also found that over 60 million Nigerian punters spend more than N3,000 each day on bet stakes and that there are at least 50 betting sites in Nigeria, with the number expanding annually as published by Betensured.
Approximately 66% of Nigerians, according to data, have placed bets on a sporting event at least once in their lives, with expectations that the Online Sports Betting market in Nigeria will grow by 9.30% (2023-2027) resulting in a market volume of US$366.70m in 2027.
Like Edet, Festus Opeyemi, in an interview with an NRTC Contributor, shared his experience of using sports betting to cope with the financial challenges caused by inflation in Nigeria.
He emphasized that sports betting goes beyond mere chance, as predictions don’t always favor the bettors. According to him, “In betting, you must adapt and adjust your strategies when things aren’t going your way.”
Opeyemi, a resident of Akure, is one of the millions of Nigerians who view betting as a potential source of additional income, rather than a reliable or sustainable means of livelihood.
Not Students Alone, Artisans Bet
In his [this reporter] quest to find sports betting enthusiasts under the scorching sun, he unexpectedly came across Akinkotu Adewale, a phone repairer engrossed in playing, highlighting the boundless nature of betting.
Adewale admitted he hasn’t won a significant amount from betting yet but hopes for a big win soon. He mentioned having an ongoing rollover and expressed a preference for Sportybet and bet9ja, two betting platforms known for their attractive odds.
Another interviewee, who chose to remain anonymous, revealed his involvement in sports betting since his N.Y.S.C days in 2011. He shared a recent streak of success, winning over 1 million for three consecutive weeks after being dismissed from his job due to health issues. Despite his substantial earnings, he still considered sports betting a side hustle.
Supporting the anonymous interviewee, Femzy, who works at a bet9ja shop, described the emotional rollercoaster experienced by customers at his shop, emphasizing that success in sports betting depends on one’s ability to predict game outcomes, which leads to both tears of despair and cheers of joy among customers who sometimes bet beyond their means.
Offering a contrasting perspective, Alex Daramola expressed his frustration with sports betting, citing frequent losses due to ticket cuts, particularly cut 1 and cut 2 when expecting significant payouts.
Another individual, known as Uncle P, admitted turning to sports betting out of economic desperation, as there are limited job opportunities in the country. He mentioned feeling ashamed because his wife has been the primary breadwinner for the family, and he turned to betting in hopes of changing their financial situation.
Ladies Are Defying The Odd
Good Mama, one among the countless women challenging stereotypes, explained that she entered the world of betting with the goal of providing financial support for her husband.
Much like Good Mama, Jennifer also turned to sports betting as a means of survival during trying times. She expressed her perspective, saying, ‘I can’t repeatedly ask my boyfriend for money, knowing he has his own responsibilities. I want to show that not all women are reliant on their partners; some of us are independent and don’t need a dime from our boyfriends.
Expert Weigh In
An Economist and Educationist expert, Ifedayo Bamidele highlighted the detrimental impact of betting on Nigeria’s economy, as well as its contribution to social and psychological consequences for those who engage in it.
Mr Bamidele underscored that betting companies are not immune to these psychological and social risks, and they often share in the negative effects experienced by their customers.
He, however, elucidated that individuals with limited income may become conditioned to view betting as a means of survival, a phenomenon he refers to as addiction.
N.B: NRTC Contributors is a News Round The Clock (NRTC) initiative established to give students, scholars and other readers the opportunity to air their opinions on various issues, topics and reviews of trending episodes in our society and other parts of the world.
Former England and Manchester United midfielder, Sir Bobby Charlton has died at the age of 86.
According to his family statement;
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Sir Bobby passed peacefully in the early hours of Saturday morning. He was surrounded by his family.”
The statement added: “His family would like to pass on their thanks to everyone who has contributed to his care and for the many people who have loved and supported him.
“We would request that the family’s privacy be respected at this time.”
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