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Odu’a Group Supports South West Games 2025

Odu’a Group Supports South West Games 2025

– As Chairman Otunba Bimbo Ashiru Hails BAT-SWAG as Major Boost for Regional Sports Development

– Commends Organizers for Transgenerational Initiative

In yet another resounding endorsement, the Odu’a Investment Company Limited has thrown its weight behind the South West Games 2025, further solidifying the event’s place as a developmental force in Nigerian sports.

The ebullient Chairman of the Group, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, commended the organizers for their foresight in launching what he described as a “great transgenerational initiative” aimed at nurturing talent and fostering regional unity.

Ashiru’s endorsement underscores the significance of the South West Games 2025, which includes the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Southwest Alliance Games (BAT-SWAG) as a key sub-tournament. He emphasized the role of sports in regional development, youth empowerment, and economic growth, highlighting how such initiatives align with Odu’a Group’s commitment to sustainable progress across the six Southwestern states—Ekiti, Lagos, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, and Oyo.

In his statement, Ashiru expressed deep admiration for the vision behind the games, noting its potential to redefine grassroots sports and create opportunities for young athletes. “This is a great transgenerational initiative that will leave a lasting impact on the region,” he stated.

“Sports have the power to unite, empower, and create economic opportunities, and the South West Games 2025 is a perfect vehicle for this transformation.”

The selection of Lagos as the host city also received commendation from Ashiru, who described the metropolis as the ideal venue due to its historical significance and vibrant sporting culture.

“Lagos, with its world-class infrastructure and rich history of sports excellence, provides the perfect setting for a tournament of this magnitude,” he remarked.

Ashiru highlighted the broader socio-economic impact of the games, noting that beyond the competition, it would create job opportunities, boost tourism, and promote community engagement. “The South West Games 2025 is not just about competition; it is a vehicle for economic growth, community development, and youth engagement,” he affirmed. “By investing in sports, we are investing in the future of our young talents and ensuring sustainable growth for generations to come.”

The Odu’a Group Chairman urged all stakeholders—including government agencies, corporate bodies, and sports enthusiasts—to rally behind the initiative and contribute to its success. “I commend the organizers for their dedication and vision in bringing this initiative to life,” Ashiru stated.

“This is a call to action for governments, private sector players, and individuals to support this noble cause and help shape the future of sports in the South West.”

With the backing of the Odu’a Group and key stakeholders like Chief Amaju Pinnick, the South West Games 2025 continues to gain momentum as one of the most anticipated sporting events in Nigeria. Ashiru’s endorsement reinforces the belief that the tournament will not only produce elite athletes but also serve as a blueprint for sustainable sports development in the region.

As the countdown to the games continues, the support of influential institutions like Odu’a Group signals a promising future for the event. With a shared vision of excellence, unity, and empowerment, the South West Games 2025 is poised to become a defining moment in Nigerian sports history.

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Nigerian Player Drags Super Eagles Coach Chelle To His Club

Nigerian player drags Super Eagles coach Chelle to his club

FK Rabotnichki star defender, Sodiq Anthony Rasheed is making the right headline in Southeastern Europe, distinguishing himself as the best productive player in the Macedonian top Football League.

The experienced 24-year-old has consistently maintained top form that ranked him as the best player in the league. His versatility on the pitch is what many Macedonian pundits have described as genius.

His club, Rabotnichki are currently in the 1st position with the same 37 points with the 2nd and 3rd positions. Thanks to the efficiency of Rasheed who has scored two vital goals so far and made himself a solid rock at the defence line of the team.

Speaking on his explosive form, he said: “I am enjoying every bit of my career in the league, my major focus is to remain consistent and help my team to win the title this season. I have been encouraged to do more and I am not going to let my current performance affect my main focus.”.

Rasheed exceptional and superlative performance is sending a message to the newly hired Super Eagles coach to take a stop at the Macedonia league as he is currently moving around to shop for new players.

“I am not going to be too desperate, I almost had a chance under the former foreign coach, and maybe this time around I can be invited to the national team to prove my experience can count at the defence line. My target for 2025 is to win the Macedonia league and take big advantage of Super Eagles camp and I hope this comes to pass.”

Rasheed has become the rave of the moment in the Macedonian top league following the superlative display that saw him nominated for several Macedonian 1. MFL Team of the Week player.

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Play For Super Eagles – Chelle In Contact With 29 Year Old Newcastle United Forward

Play For Super Eagles – Chelle In Contact With 29 Year Old Newcastle United Forward

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle is not leaving any stone unturned in his bid to ensure that the senior national team of Nigeria progress to the 2026 World Cup.Nigerian football apparel, as reported by OwnGoalNigeria.

The coach made a tour last week to see players of the team ahead of the world cup qualifiers games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively. He is expected to submit his provisional list of players for the world cup qualifiers to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) later this week.

He is also planning ahead of both games, and we can exclusively reveal that he has made contact with Newcastle United forward Jacob Murphy who is eligible for the senior national team of Nigeria.

Chelle had a chat with the 29 year old to gauge his interest in switching to Nigeria due to his Nigerian descent. Details of how the discussion went wasn’t made available to us as at the time of this report.

Murphy who has represented England at various level is of Irish descent through his mother and he is of Nigerian origin through his father. He is yet to be capped by any of the above nation at senior level.

 

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Six States, Stakeholders Declare Readiness for South West Games 2025

In a groundbreaking development for grassroots sports in Nigeria, all six Southwest states have officially declared their readiness to participate in the highly anticipated South West Games 2025 (SWG 2025). This unanimous commitment followed an intensive marathon meeting between state sports directors and event organizers, Practagali Partners, at The Colossus Lagos Conference Hall on February 7, 2025.

The meeting, hailed as high-calibre and strategic, underscored the states’ eagerness to ensure the maiden edition of SWG 2025 is a resounding success. The sports directors from Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti expressed satisfaction with the level of preparation by the organizers and pledged full participation in the tournament.

Adding to the excitement, the event will feature a premier sub-tournament, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Southwest Alliance Games (BATSWAG), designed to showcase the region’s most talented under-18 athletes. With competitions spanning seven sports—football, basketball, table tennis, boxing, athletics, volleyball, and archery—the games promise to be a landmark event for youth sports development. The declaration of readiness from all participating states has set the stage for what is expected to be one of the most thrilling and transformative sporting events in the region’s history. The sports directors commended Practagali Partners for their meticulous planning and commitment to delivering a world-class tournament.

“We are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the South West Games 2025 surpasses expectations,” stated Funmilola Adedipe, Managing Director of Practagali Partners. “The overwhelming support and readiness from the state sports directors have further energized our resolve to execute a truly historic competition.” Victor Ganzallo, Director of Media for the Games, reinforced the broader significance of the event beyond competition. “This tournament is about legacy. It is about giving young athletes a sense of purpose, a platform to excel, and an opportunity to dream beyond their immediate environment. BATSWAG and SWG 2025 will serve as a vehicle for talent discovery and national sports development.”

The meeting laid the foundation for crucial agreements regarding the event’s structure, logistics, and execution. Initially, five sports were scheduled for the Games—football, basketball, table tennis, boxing, and athletics. However, after deliberations, volleyball was unanimously included, and stakeholders proposed the addition of archery, which was accepted as a state-coordinated event. The allocation of athletes per sport was agreed upon, ensuring a well-structured and inclusive tournament.

Football will feature 18 male players with seven coaches, table tennis will include one male and one female player, boxing will have four male participants, while athletics will have four male and four female athletes. Basketball, volleyball, and archery will also see a mix of participants, reflecting the diversity of talent across the region.

To foster a strong regional identity, each state has chosen a distinctive color for their team jerseys: Ekiti will wear blue, Lagos red, Ogun yellow, Ondo green, Osun white, and Oyo burgundy. The designated venues for the games have also been finalized, with YABATECH Sports Complex hosting football and athletics, Teslim Balogun Stadium designated for table tennis, volleyball, boxing, and archery, while Rowe Park Sports Complex will be the venue for basketball. Participants will be accommodated at Faith Plaza and The Anglican House, both located in close proximity to competition venues.

The stakeholders also reached key resolutions regarding the event timeline and logistics. March 25 will mark the arrival of participants and a technical meeting, while the games will take place from March 26 to 28, culminating in the final match and closing ceremony. Departure is scheduled for March 29.

To ensure fair play, a modified screening model will be adopted to verify the age of participants, with each state overseeing its own selection process. Every participant will receive a certificate of participation, with gold, silver, and bronze medals awarded in various categories. An overall trophy will be presented to the top three performing states. A match-past ceremony featuring all participants will be held during the closing ceremony.

The enthusiastic feedback from all participating states and the strategic preparations by Practagali Partners signal a historic sporting event on the horizon. The Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, affirmed Lagos’ commitment to delivering an unforgettable experience. He said, “Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s unwavering support for sports development is evident in our infrastructure and logistics readiness. Lagos is prepared, and with the collective backing of all Southwest states, SWG 2025 will be nothing short of spectacular.”

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