Archives 2009

ALL AFRICA CHAMPIONSHIPS 2009 (Nairobi- Kenya) (Z5) 17 - 24 Avril 2009

MS	WS	MD	WD	DMX
NGR Ola.FAGBEMI	SEY Juliette AH WAN	NGR Ola FAGBEMI Jinkam IFRAIMU	NGR Grace DANIEL MARY GIDEON	NGR Ola FAGBEMI Grace DANIEL

 

Fagbemi is Africa's badminton champion April 23, 2009 234Next.com

New African men's singles, Ola Fagbemi and doubles, Grace Daniel. Photo: GRACE DANIEL

Nigeria's Ola Fagbemi is Africa's new badminton king after winning the men's singles title at the African Badminton Championships in Kenya.
The final came up on Thursday at the Moi International Sports Centre, in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
The Abuja-based Fagbemi defeated Jimka Ifrainu, also from Nigeria, in two straight sets to cart home the championship's top honours.
Thursday's victory was Fagbemi's first major continental title in the men's singles event. He has, however, been a part of Nigeria's past successes on the continent, in particular at the 2007 All Africa Games in Algeria where the country's badminton team emerged overall winners.

Nigeria arrives late for Badminton tourney  April 21, 2009 03:25PMT By Ifeanyi Ibeh

Nigeria is not competing in the team event of the ongoing African Badminton Championships due to her contingent's late arrival to Kenya; no thanks to the late release of funds.
The championships got underway at the Moi International Sports Centre situated in the Kenyan capital city of Nairobi on Saturday morning but the Nigerian contingent only arrived at the venue on the evening of the same day, by which time a handful of matches had already been decided in the team event.
Only eight players out of the 12 in camp and an accompanying official, as well as an umpire were able to make the trip to the East African nation. The players include Grace Daniel and Mary Gideon, as well as Maria Braimah, Jimkam Ifrainu, Ola Fagbemi, Femi Elera and Ibrahim Adamu.
Bayo Ilori was the accompanying umpire and he will be taking charge of some games during the course of the championships, which end on April 23rd.
The team's head coach Mohammed Bako did not however travel with the team on Saturday.
He will leave Nigeria for Kenya on Tuesday along with five other players - Dorcas Abbey, Ketu Ilofuan, Kenneth Omoruyi, Stephen Andrew and Isaac Mainatu - ahead of the commencement of the men's and women's singles and doubles events, which take off on Wednesday.
Money palaver
Bako had earlier set his sights on claiming the team event title but with that now becoming an impossibility, the Abuja-based coach has no choice but to refocus on a clean sweep of the singles and doubles events.
"It is unfortunate money prevented us from travelling on time to Kenya but we are grateful to those who made it possible for us to travel," said Bako, with reference to the Taraba and FCT administrations that paid the team's way to Nairobi.
"We pleaded with the organiSers to put our games on hold for a while pending our arrival but that didn't happen and we now have to focus on the other events."

Lack of funds scuttles Nigeria's trip to Kenya By Ifeanyi Ibeh April 15, 2009
Nigeria's chances of upstaging South Africa at the upcoming African Badminton Championship coming up in Kenya may not see the light of day as the national team's departure for the biennial tournament hangs in the balance.
This follows the non-availability of funds, which may eventually result in the badminton team arriving for the championship after the commencement of the team event.
The team event of the African Badminton Championship gets underway on April 18 in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, but unless the Nigerian team gets to depart for East Africa by Thursday, at the latest, then the country may end up competing in only the men's and women's individual and doubles events.
This much was disclosed to NEXTSports by the head coach of the Nigerian badminton team, Mohammed Bako, who however remain optimistic about his team's chances of departing for Kenya before the weekend following plans by a couple of Nigerian state governments to foot the bills for the championship.
Bako, who also decried the team's late commencement of preparations for the championship, said: "We are supposed to leave on Thursday but the funds are still not available and that is our biggest problem because if we can't get to Kenya before Saturday then we won't take part in the team event.
"If we leave on Thursday night, we will take part in the team event but if not, we will only take part in the individual events. But we have been told that it may still be possible for us to leave on that day or on Friday as some state governments and the FCT are ready to sponsor us to Kenya."
One of the state governments who, alongside that of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, are ready to pay the badminton team's way to Kenya is Taraba, which has two players among the twelve presently training ahead of the championship in Abuja.
If Nigeria eventually fails to take part in the team event of the African Badminton Championship, it will be the second time in succession that the country will be missing out following its failure to do likewise at the 2006 championship in Algeria.

Twelve in camp for African Badminton Championships By Ifeanyi Ibeh April 13, 2009
Grace Daniel, Africa's women's singles champion. Photo: REUTERS

NEXTSports can report that twelve players are presently sweating it out in Abuja, ahead of the fast approaching African Badminton Championships coming up in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
Disclosing this on Monday in a telephone interview from the national team's Mambila Barracks training base, was the chief coach of the Nigerian badminton team, Mohammed Bako, who is optimistic of the team's chances of returning home at the end of the African Championships with the continental title.
"We have a very good chance of emerging winners in the men's and women's singles events; I am very confident about our chances in these events judging from the quality of players in camp," said Bako.
"But what will give all of us greater joy is, if we can finish the championship as winners of the team event. That, to me, is the ultimate prize and I feel we have the players that can do it this time round."
The players in camp are led by Africa's number one women's player, Grace Daniel and her doubles partner Mary Gideon. Others are Maria Braimah, Dorcas Abbey, Ketu Ilofuan, Ola Fagbemi, Dimkam Ifrainu, Ibrahim Adamu, Femi Elera and Kenneth Omoruyi, as well as the duo of Stephen Andrew and Isaac Mainatu.
The 2009 African Badminton Championships which comes up between April 17 and 24 will bring together under one roof the best players in the continent in the racket and shuttle sport with Nigeria expected to compete in the individual events, as well as in the team event.
Nigeria failed to take part in the team event at the 2006 championships in Algeria but finished in second place behind South Africa two years earlier in Mauritius.
The country's male and female players also carted home the men's and women's singles titles during the 2004 tournament in the Indian Ocean island nation.

Grace Daniel targets African title in Kenya By Ifeanyi Ibeh April 2, 2009
The 2009 African Badminton Championships scheduled to take place in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi between April 17 and 24 will bring together under one roof, the best players on the continent in the sport.
And the biggest attraction, as far as the women's game in Africa is concerned, Grace Daniel is keen on adding the championship's winners medal to her collection.
This is irrespective of the fact that the week-long championship will be her first Badminton World Federation (BWF) sanctioned event since taking part at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where she lost out in the first round.
"I haven't been busy this year, but I have been training on a regular basis since the start of the year. I only took a break during the last sports festival in Kaduna, because most of my training partners took part in the festival," explained Daniel in an interview with NEXTSports.
The only BWF-rated tournament to have taken place in Africa this year was the Uganda International Open back in February but there was no Nigerian participation. And Daniel, who remains the continent's highest ranked player, although now ranked 205th in the latest world rankings, a far cry from her December 2008 ranking of 93, is hopeful of making an appearance in Nairobi.
"It's been difficult getting sponsors but I will be in Kenya. I haven't been involved in any international tournament and it's affecting my position in the world rankings. But I will be in Kenya and I hope to win there," continued Daniel, before adding: "That is my target."
Other top women players expected to grace the championship in Nairobi are world's number 212, Hadia Hosny of Egypt, Kerry-Lee Harrington of South Africa, who's ranked 224, and her compatriot Stacey Doubell, who is ranked 261 in the world.

Archives 2008

 

Volant d'Or Africa 2008

SIMPLE DAME 2008

Event Date	Event Name	LEVEL	PTS	Round
8/17/2008	Olympic Games 2008	BWF Events	1200	1\64
4/19/2008	Nigeria International 2008	Int.Ser.	2130	Runner-Up
3/30/2008	Kenya International 2008	Fut.Ser.	1170	Semi-Finalist
2/24/2008	Mauritius International 2008	Fut.Ser.	1700	Winner
2/22/2008	Thomas & Uber Cup African Preliminaries 2008	See regs	1232
1/27/2008	Uganda International 2008	Int.Ser.	1370	Quarter-Finalist

1°	DANIEL Grace (NGR)	8802
2°	HOSNY Hadia (EGY)	6357
3°	HARRINGTON Kerry-Lee (RSA)	5283
4°	FOO-KUNE Karen (MRI)	4633
5°	DOUBELL Stacey (RSA)	4063

 

ALL AFRICA   U-15   2008
Le Caire (Egypte) Du 23 au 30 Novembre 2008

1° NIGERIA - 2° R.S.A. - 3° EGYPTE & OUGANDA

 

Grace DANIEL 24/02/1984 - (24 ans)  - Africa-badminton 28/08/2008

Première participation Olympique ratée ....

Grace Daniel (24 ans) classée N°1 Afrique et 93° mondiale a été sélectionnée le 5 mai 2008 pour sa première participation olympique au titre de la meilleure africain en simple dame.
Opposée au 1er tour (64°) à la tchèque Kristina Ludikova, elle a très vite été menée  01/07 et cette différence acquise par la tchèque s'est maintenue tout au long du set perdu par la nigériane 13/21.
Dans le second set, Daniel a pu tenir la rencontre jusqu'à 05/08 puis, abandonnant 6 points consécutifs elle s'est de nouveau retrouvée largement distancée par Ludikova 06/14, ne marquant plus que deux petits points pour perdre le second set sur le score de 08/21.
"Surpoids" comme l'indiquait l'entraîneur, "nervosité" invoquée par la joueuse .... Quoi qu'il en soit, la nigériane a raté son match.  La tchèque, rappelons-le était également avec Grace Daniel au centre de préparation olympique WBF "Road to Beijing" à Sarrebrucken. La nigériane connaissait donc parfaitement le jeu de son adversaire et pouvait donc réaliser la performance de la battre et d'accéder au second tour.
Tout comme les autres joueurs et joueuses de la représentation Afrique, la nigériane n'a pas su gérer l'approche de la compétition à un très haut niveau. La nervosité du reste mise en avant par Grace Daniel est certainement plus correspondance au stress créé par une participation dans le gratin du badminton mondial, et ce à l'instar de la mauricienne Karen Foo-Kune, que par un hypothétique problème de surpoids ....

 

 

PALMARES DU BADMINTON AFRICAIN EN SIMPLE DAME AUX  J.O. PEKIN 2008

africa-badminton.com 11/08/2008
 

L'egyptienne Hadia HOSNY, qualifiée à la dernière minute par la Commission tripartite,
a fait honneur à sa sélection. En gagnant son premier match conte la mexicaine ANGULO,
elle est devenue la première joueuse de badminton a remporter pour l'Afrique une victoire
aux Jeux Olympiques depuis ceux de Barcelone en 1992.

 

La nigériane Grace DANIEL n'a pas su saisir sa chance d'égaler la prestation d'Hadia Hosny,

alors qu'elle avait une adversaire à sa portée et qu'elle connaissait très bien pour avoir été

avec elle dans le long stage de préparation à ces Jeux Olympiques.

 

La sud africaine Kerry-lee HARRINGTON, également sélectionnée à la dernière minute n'avait pas le niveau

pour lutter conte la malaysienne Wong Mew Choo.

 

Quant à la mauricienne Karen FOO-KUNE, sélectionnée par repêchage de la commission tripartite début juin,

et malgré un tableau difficile, elle a très vite pris la mesure du badminton de haut niveau perdant le 1er set

sur le score de 03/21 et en abandonnant la rencontre à la 10ème minute de jeu sur blessure.

 

SIMPLE DAME J.O. PEKIN 2008		RENCONTRES				SETS			POINTS			DUREE SUR COURTS
Clt	Joueuses	jouées	Victoires	Défaites	#	Gagnés	Perdus	#	Marqués	Encaissés	#	Présence
1°	HOSNY Hadia	2	1	1	0	2	3	-1	60	95	-35	46'
2°	DANIEL Grace	1	0	1	-1	0	2	-2	21	42	-21	23'
3°	HARRINGTON K.-L.	1	0	1	-1	0	2	-2	08	42	-34	16'
4°	FOO-KUNE Karen	1	0	1	-1	0	2	-2	04	42	-24	10' (Abandon)
	TOTAUX Dames Afrique	5	1	4	-3	2	9	-7	93	28	-114	01h35'

 

 

 

Grace DANIEL ( NIG) OUT ...

Elle perd son match sur le score de :
13/21 - 08/21
conte la tchèque Kristina Ludikova

Défaite de la nigériane Grace Daniel ... africa-badminton.com 09/08/2008
Cette après-midi, sur le court N°2 à 18h40, Grace Daniel (NIG) a perdu son match qui l'opposait à la tchèque Kristina Ludikova sur le score de 13/21 - 08/21.

---

Hadia HOSNY ( EGY) et Grace DANIEL ( NGR) ouvrent le bal  africa-badminton.com 08/08/2008

Samedi 9 août à 14h35 sur le court N°1, la benjamine africaine l'égyptienne Hadia Hosny (20 ans) rencontrera la benjamine de la compétition en simple dame, la mexicaine Deyanira Angulo âgée de 17 ans.
Quelques heures plus tard, à 18h40 et sur le court N°2, la nigériane et N°1 Afrique rencontrera quant à elle la tchèque Kristina Ludikova.Hadia et Grace sont à ce jour les deux joueuses de la représentation du badminton africain susceptibles et capables de gagner leur rencontre et ainsi de franchir le 1er tour.  En réalisant une telle performance, elles deviendraient les premières du badminton africain à gagner un match lors des Jeux Olympiques car depuis 1992 (Barcelone) les représentants africains hommes et femmes confondus, n'ont jamais pu remporter le moindre match.Dès dimanche 10 août à 18h40 sur le court N° 2, et à 18h50 sur le court N°3, la mauricienne Karen-Foo-Kune et la sud africaine Kerry-Lee Harrington tenteront l'impossible pour se qualifier contre la chinoise Lu Lan et la malaysienne Wong Mew Chu.A 21h00, sur le court N°2, la paire féminine Michelle Claire Edwards et Chantal Botts sera confrontée aux chinoises de Tapei  Yu Chin Chien &  Wen-Hsing Cheng.
Lundi 11 août, les hommes débuteront la compétition dans les simples et ce n'est que mardi 12 août que commenceront  le double hommes et double mixte.

2008 Yonex OCBC US Open Grand Prix
Period: 7/8/2008 to 7/12/2008

OGUNSEYE, Akeem (Walk Over) OKUONGHAE, Greg Orobosa (Walk Over)

Nigeria-badminton-standards
Nigeria to assist West Africa in developing badminton   GI/pm/APA 30-06-2008  APA-Lagos (Nigeria)

Badminton Federation of Nigeria president Alhaji Kabiru Badamasuiy on Sunday said Nigeria would assist other West African countries to improve the standard of badminton in the region.
“Nigeria is highly developed relatively in badminton and we are involving other countries that are less developed to improve badminton in the continent,\’\’ he told journalists in Abuja after the a meeting of the “zone two” region of the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA).
He said Nigeria would cooperate with other countries to organize more tournaments so that players would be exposed to good competition.
“We will involve the government and corporate organizations to support the development of this game in Africa,\’\’ he said.
Badamasuiy noted that this would in turn improve the game in Nigeria through regular interactions between coaches and the players.
Nigeria hosted the BCA training programme and regional meeting for the first time.
The eight countries that attended the programme included Congo, Togo, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Benin, Cameroun, Ghana and the host country Nigeria.

Coach tips sole entrant for badminton medal Beijing 2008 Olympics  Tide Onlines• Monday, Jun 30, 2008

Grace Daniels, Nigeria’s sole entrant in badminton at the Olympics is capable of winning a medal in Beijing, Samson Egbeyemi. her coach said.
Egebeyemi told Tidesports source in Abuja that Daniels was in top form and that her chances of winning a medal in Beijing were bright.
Egbeyemi, Chief Coach of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), said Daniels was expected in Nigeria from her training base in Germany.
She is expected in Nigeria Thursday from Germany to continue with her training in Nigeria ahead of the Olympics.
She had been training hard and when she arrives Nigeria, she will continue in the same pace to sustain her form for the Olympic Games,” he said.
She is in excellent form and she did well in the last two tournaments she attended.
“We expect her to do the African continent proud in Beijing,” the coach said.
The source reports that Daniels emerged female champion in the Mauritius International tournament, which featured all African players who qualified for the Beijing Games.
She was runner-up in the Nigeria International, which also featured the same players.

THOMAS CUP ( Nigeria)

NIGERIA	MS Pt +	MS Pt -	MD Pt +	MD Pt -	Set  +	Set -
China	+42	-126	+26	-84	0	-8
Canada	+93	-126	+44	-84	0	-8
England	+52	-123			+1	-4
Total	+187	-375	+70	-168	+1	-20

2008 TUC Day 3: England Wins, But It Was Nigeria’s Night  BadZine International 13/05/2008

England prevented Denmark from being the lone European flag-bearer in the 2008 Thomas and Uber Cup quarter-finals this evening after beating African nation Nigeria 3-0 in the only tie of the night that dished out a tiebreaking game. The young English team will take on hosts Indonesia in the quarter-finals.

By Jan Lin, reporting live from Senayan Stadium. Photos: Badmintonphoto (live)

It was the lone flag-bearer of the African continent - Nigeria - that sprung a pleasant surprise on the faithful crowd that had shown up on an unusually quiet evening, where quick 3-0 whitewashes were anticipated across all 4 playing courts on the third night of the 2008 Thomas and Uber Cup finals.
England has brought a relatively young team to the 2008 Thomas Cup with the aim of giving their youngsters some decent exposure to a tournament at as high a level as the Thomas Cup is. Despite resting their singles ace Andrew Smith, England still fielded a relatively commendable team with England’s #2 singles Rajiv Ouseph leading the English pack.
While the lanky Ouseph might have taken just 18 minutes to finish off Ibrahim Adamu (pictured top) in straight games 21-9, 21-8, his fellow Englishmen were troubled by the resistant Nigerians, who have given the crowd a display worth cheering for.
England’s #3 singles of their 2008 Thomas Cup contingent, Nathan Rice (pictured right), had a far from comfortable win against Nigeria’s #2 Jinkam Ifraimu, whose commendable resilience must have scared the 25-year-old Englishman. Clearly, experience and composure came through for Rice, who did manage to bag the second point for England with scores of 21-17 and 21-16.
As England’s performance spiraled downwards, the Nigerians’ just kept getting better! Nigeria’s 3^rd singles player, Olauluwa Faghemi, was a wall of resistance against England’s reserve singles player Ben Beckman. It was a see-saw match that could have gone either way, just as the crowd would like it to be.
Coming from behind to take the 1^st game 21-19, the upbeat Nigerian was a constant threat to the Englishman right through to the tiebreaker, where a combination of inexperience and lethargy saw him eventually succumb 21-19, 15-21, 16-21 in the longest match of the night (44 minutes).
Nigeria’s head coach, Saujuma Falauchi, was pleased with his team’s performance in Jakarta. “The main difference between us and the Asia powerhouses is the lack of exposure and opportunities. We don’t get to travel to the various international tournaments like they do.
“But I think having traveled to Jakarta for the Thomas Cup, the other nations have now seen our standard and now know what we are capable of if we have as much resources as they do.”
Faluachi was a former Nigerian international representative, who represented the African nation in both singles and doubles at the Thomas Cup too. With his passionate for the sport, he revealed that in Nigeria, they do follow the international badminton scene closely on television.
The Nigerians clearly have the perfect physique and attitude for the sport and with their commendable showing at the 2008 Thomas Cup, it is understandable why coach Faluachi knows there is a lot more they can offer to the sport.
Faluachi said with absolute assurance, “We hope to bring in foreign coaches. We are in the process of planning for this, actually. I believe it will definitely help raise our current standard to arrive at where the rest of the world is currently at, soon.”

 

 

 

THOMAS CUP

13/05 (1/16°F): ENGLAND - NIGERIA : 3 - 0

11/05 : CHINA - NIGERIA : 5 - 0
11/05 : CANADA - NIGERIA : 5 - 0

Le Badminton Africain présent en Indonésie

Le Badminton Africain sera représenté par le Nigeria dans la Thomas Cup (Hommes) et par l'Afrique du Sud dans la Uber Cup (Femmes).

Nigeria : Adamu, Ibrahim - Bulus, Jimkan - Fagbemi, Paul - Fagbemi Olauluwa - Ogunseye, Akeem - Okuonghea Greg.

Afrique du Sud : Botts, Chantal - Doubell, Stacey - Edwards Michelle - Harrington, Kerry-Lee -  Morgan Leigh, Jade -  Viljoen, Annari

W.B.F. - INDONESIA THOMAS & UBER CUP Jakarta (Indonesia) Du 11 au 18 Mai 2008

 

NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL (17-20 Juillet 2008)

Le Nigeria International annoncé sur les dates du 17 au 20 juillet 2008 pendant de nombreux mois vient d'être retiré du calendrier officiel de la W.B.F.

DOSSIER OPEN NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL 2008

NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL 2008 Abuja (Nigeria) 17 - 20 Avril 2008
S.H. Paixao, Alexandre ( Portugal)	S.D. Bing Xin, Xu  ( China)

Paixao, Alexandre ( Portugal)	Bing Xin, Xu ( China)
Iframu, Jinkam ( Nigeria) - Fagbemi, Paul  ( Nigeria)	Bing Xin, Xu  ( China) - Filipa Lamy ( Portugal)
Daniel, Grace( Nigeria) - Okuonghae, Greg  ( Nigeria)

INTERVIEW ACCORDE AU WEBMAGAZINE AFRICA-BADMINTON.COM  PAR L’ENTRAINEUR NATIONAL NIGERIAN  MR. MUHAMMAD A. BAKO

Africabad : Bonjour Mr Muhammad Bako, bienvenue sur le 1er site africain consacré entièrement au badminton.  

Africabad1 : D’entrée de jeu, comment jugez vous le niveau de ce tournoi ?
MUHAMMAD BAKO : I saw the level of the competition as high, because we have good team of different countries and the quality of the matches are fantastic. The tournament being until series, makes it good and attractive. 

Africabad2 : Pas de All Africa Badminton Championship 2008, que pensez vous de cela?
MUHAMMAD BAKO : Actually we Nigerian, we have waiting pick the title atteast for the first time instead of coming second all the time. That is the disappointing aspect for the cancelling of the championship, but again the African players needed the ranking points, so it is still in line with the decision taken by the BWF.  But, the junior championship will be taken place every year, while the senior African bi-annual. 

Africabad3 : Votre équipe représentera l’Afrique dans 1 mois à Jakarta ; Avez vous foi en vos athlètes et quelles promesses pour l’Afrique?
MUHAMMAD BAKO : Our team is preparing hard to make positive impact in the Thomas Cup, as you know this is the first time that any black African nation that took in the Thomas Cup. As such I believe that Nigeria will not let Africa down, will try as possible to get a better ranking even if we did not win any medal. 

Africabad4 : L’Afrique sera représentée au Jeux Olympique à Pékin, à votre avis y a t’il des possibilités de médailles ?
MUHAMMAD BAKO : I think is not wet time for any African country to win a medal at the Olympics , but I strongly believe very soon , we will start winning in the Olympics with the introduction of our grades tournament , that will expose our players very well.

 

 

SOUVENIRS DU NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL 2008 les photos sont réduites (taille normales 2800 x 2100) Crédit photos ©africa-badminton.com
Le Juge Arbitre A. Reynolds (RSA)	Le Team Arbitral	Ana Moura avec Jacques Owono	G. Daniel (Nigeria)
Le Team Portugal	Le Team Ghana	Le Team Nigeria	K. Mehrabi(Iran)
N.CHINGA/B.MPIWA (Botswana)	E. Mambwe (Zambia)	R. Rai (U.S.A.)	S.A. Gomez (Australia)
E. Ekiring (Uganda)	Le Team Cameroun	Le Team Cameroun (2)	Un Bel Open !

     

Alex Paixao of Portugal defeated United States’ Raji Rai 21-17, 9-21 and 21-16 to win the men’s single final.

Grace Daniel,  lost the women’s singles’ final to Bring Xin Xu of China

Quelques mots sur le Nigeria International 2008 ...  Jacques Salvet OWONO Envoyé Spécial à Lagos (Nigeria) Pour Africa-badminton.com  29/04/2008

Le NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 est désormais ancré dans les mémoires de tous.
Au seul regard de la dextérité avec laquelle le comité d’organisation a tenu cet évènement, qui a vu la forte implication de WBF par son représentant MR CEPHAS LAR 2ème vice-président de la WBF, on peut simplement tirer un coup de chapeau à tous ceux qui de près où de loin se sont montrés disponibles surtout en connaissance de son enjeu l’enjeu puisqu'il était qualificatif pour les J.O. de Pékin.
On ne pouvait fermer cet Open sans saluer la "NIGERIA TEAM" qui à presque tout gagné lors de ces Internationaux. Tenez ces chiffres (1^er en double mixte, en double hommes ; 2^ème en simple dame, en double dames, en double mixte, en double messieurs) … n’est-ce pas là des performances qui font rêver ! Oui vous allez me dire que tous les autres ténors n’étaient pas présents :Afrique du Sud, Iles Maurice, Seychelles, Algérie … Peut être était-ce à cause de l’annulation du "All Africa Champoinships" qui devait se tenir juste après ce Nigeria International, ou bien parce que certains avaient déjà leur ticket pour les J.O.
Quoi qu'il en soit, on a pu voir une équipe du Nigéria dominer son sujet ce qui est de bon augure pour sa très prochaine participation en mai à la Thomas Cup à Jakarta (Indonésie).
Cependant, nos félicitations vont à l’endroit des badistes Camerounais, Botswanais, Mozambicains, Ghanéens qui, avec bravoure, et pour l’amour du badminton ont répondu présent à l’appel. Je vous fais grâce des coûts et des moyens de déplacement … Ils marqueront sans doute des points dans le classement WBF.
Maintenant reste donc à suivre ce rythme qui, pour nous joueurs Africains, sans appui de la part des autorités sportives sera difficile, pire encore si c’est juste pour un Open, et pas un Championnat d’Afrique.  A bon entendeur … 

 

QUESTION D’ANNULATION ET DE REPORT DU ALL AFRICA 2008 :  QUELQUES AVIS DES JOUEURS AFRICAINS
Jacques Salvet OWONO Envoyé Spécial à Lagos (Nigeria) Pour Africa-badminton.com 29/04/2008

Ce n'est plus un secret pour personne et surtout pas pour les joueurs Africains de Badminton qui se sont vu annuler leur seul leitmotiv. Comme cela se confirme et semble être officiel depuis quelques semaines déjà, la BCA et la WBF se mettent d’accord pour que les Championnats d’Afrique version Seniors se tiennent désormais tous les deux ans. Raison évoquée dans les coulisses, les joueurs africains marquent énormément de points pour leur classement BCA et WBF après chaque année de Championnat d’Afrique ce qui défavorise les autres continents qui, d’après eux, le font chaque deux ans aussi. Donc, on maintiendra juste les championnats d’Afrique version Junior chaque année et les seniors devront donc se préparer pour l’édition de 2009, ensuite 2011 et ainsi de suite.

Mais alors, si telle est la décision, entre temps que feront les badistes Africains ? Des camps d’entraînements ! Des Opens Africains, qui eux mêmes sont déjà convoités par les Européens et Asiatiques  qui en font leur priorité voir leur propriété.
On doit se demander si la BCA a su défendre les intérêts des badistes Africains, qui sans moyens financiers, sans véritable politique de formation et parfois abandonnés par leurs fédérations respectives, sont obligés de se plier en quatre pour faire une compétition Internationale ; exception faite de quelques uns des joueurs Africains qui bénéficient des bourses Olympiques entre autres.
La compétition sur le continent afrique n'est pas suffisante actuellement et bien des contraintes interdisent aux joueurs de participer à des tournois au delà du continent. La conséquence immédiate est une énorme difficulté à faire des points dans le classement mondial.

LES BADISTES AFRICAINS S’EXPRIMENT SUR  LA QUESTION D’ANNULATION DES CHAMPIONNATS D’AFRIQUE DE BADMINTON 2008

All Africa Badminton Championship 2008 was cancelled , what your impression?

Solomon Mensah Nyarko from GHANA:

Is not good because each year new players come into the system and it help us to know our level in Africa ; each year which makes you know weather you are improving or not.

 

 

Mpiwa Bosenogile from BOTSWANA:

I was very sad and disappointed by the cancellation of the All Africa Championship. I have trained for a long time for this event, but to be cancelled at the last hour is a sad thing.

 

 

 

Noumsi Fotso Armand du CAMEROUN:

C’est une nouvelle qui ne m’a mise mal à l’aise ,  car ça allait être mon premier Championnat d’Afrique de badminton, mais je garde le moral, je vais me contenter de l’Open International du Nigeria, c’est triste, j’imagine l’ambiance qui allait être.

 

 

PAROLE AUX  JOUEURS ETRANGERS PRESENTS AU NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL BADMINTON CHAMPIOSHIP  2008

INTERVIEW ACCORDE A LA JOUEUSE PORTUGAISE ANA LUISA FLÖR MOURA

Africabad : Bonjour Moura et merci de répondre aux 3 questions du 1^er site africain du badminton.
Africabad1 : Premièrement on vous voit très régulièrement ton équipe et toi dans les Opens Africains ces derniers temps, que peut nous valoir ces visites répétées ?
ANA MOURA: Make points for the world ranking, so that I can go to the Olympic Games.
Africabad2: Et cet Open, comment le trouvez-vous, le niveau de la compétition ?
ANA MOURA: Very good level, high ranked players.
Africabad3: Les jeux Olympiques c’est dans 3 mois, pensez vous que les Africains qui seront présents ont une chance de médaille?
ANA MOURA: It’s very hard for players outside Asia to get a medal in the Olympics, not only the Africans but also players from America and Europe.
Africabad4: Ana, merci et Bonne Chance pour les J.O.

 

MR. ANDREW RENOLDS, LE JUGE ARBITRE  QUI A OFFICIE CET OPEN INTERNATIONAL DU NIGERIA 2008, DONNE SON IMPRESSION

Africabad : Bonjour Mr ANDREW, vous êtes en Direct sur le site www.africa-badminton.com , merci de donner votre sentiment après cet Open International du Nigeria où vous avez officié comme Juge Arbitre accrédité par la WBF. 

Africabad 1 : Nous avons observé une passivité de la part des arbitres et juges de lignes qui à chaque fois ne s’accordaient pas sur des décisions, il a toujours fallu que vous veniez rétablir l’ordre en sapeur pompier. Avez-vous le sentiment d’avoir atteint votre objectif durant cette compétition ? 

MR ANDREW RENOLDS:  The Nigeria International was a prestigious event held in Lagos. The spirit of the tournament was high with many local and International participants. It was well organized and run. The only draw back came in the form of some poor umpiring decisions which had competitive tempers flaring on court.
All in all the final results were a true reflection of the athletes and all participants went away winners.

 

Beijing 2008: Nigeria’s Chances Improve with Badminton Success By Femi Atoyebi, 04.21.2008 This Day Onlines Nigeria

Nigeria International Badminton Championship ended over the weekend at the Badminton section of Ikoyi Club 1938, with Germany based Grace Daniels, picking the sole ticket to represent Africa at the forthcoming Olympic Games in Beijing.
The championship, which doubled as Africa Olympic qualifier for badminton event in Beijing was well attended, with players coming from The United States, Portugal, Spain Australia, Botswana, Zambia, Uganda, Ghana, Cameroon, Canada, China, Mozambique, Iran and host Nigeria.
Speaking after picking the ticket, Grace, who lost the women’s singles’ final to Bring Xin Xu of China expressed gratitude to Nigeria Olympic Committee, who gave her a scholarship to attend all qualifying games and train in Germany.
“Losing in this tournament’s final means that I still have to work hard in order to win an Olympics medal in Badminton. I can’t understand why I lost because I gave it my all but I will watch the video again and see where corrections are required. Am happy to pick the qualifying ticket however and promise to do my best for Nigeria,” said the 24 year old from Kaduna
State, who started playing in 1994.
Alex Paix of Portugal defeated United States’ Raji Rai 21-17, 9-21 and 21-16 to win the men’s single final.
While eulogising Grace’s effort and patriotism, President of Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Mohammed Kabir Badamasuiy said the championship, sanctioned by Badminton World Federation helped Nigeria’s youngsters showcased their talents among world best players, stressing the BFN’s readiness to always help the growth of the game in Nigeria.
“The championship will be used to rank all participants and it is one of Africa’s circuits, the rest being South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Mauritius and Algeria internationals. Grace is the only African that will compete in Badminton in Beijing, making her the continent’s best. I am delighted to announce that Nigeria’s male team has also qualified to represent Africa in Thomas Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia in May.
It is an equivalent of Soccer World Cup and we need N9.5million to be there, but we are yet to secure sponsors. We thank Ikoyi Club and our sponsors for the championship we hosted, but we still need help to be in the world Badminton circle.”

Nigeria: Haruna Lauds Daniel's Olympics Qualification  Daily Trust (Abuja) 23 April 2008 Abdulraheem Aodu Kaduna

Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) Chair- man, Technical Commit-tee Dr Farouk Haruna has lauded the qualification of Grace Daniel for the Beijing Olympics, which kicks off in August.
Farouk, who has been instrumental to the training and development of the badminton players at Ahmadu Bello Univer-sity Zaria where he is the director of sports, called for support from the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the organised private sector to ensure that Nigeria takes its rightful place at the apex of the game in Africa.
"We are happy that Nigeria will be represented at the Beijing Olympic Games. Grace Daniel qualification is a testimony of what Nigeria badminton players can achieve if given the necessary support. Another player Dotun Akinsanya would have qualified too but his scholarship was terminated due to political motivation.
"The National Sports Commission (NSC) and private organisations should assist us to sponsor badminton players. We have good players who are the best in Africa but they lacked the necessary logistic supports to catapult them to the world stage where their talents can be adequately appreciated.
"Badminton players must attend at least three major international competitions to earn points and ranks that would qualify them for major interna-tional tournaments like the Oly-mpics and world championships. That is where South Africa has been able to upstage us. Despite the fact that they are not as good as Nigerian players, they have the logistics to attend these international tournaments that matters. They even organise and host some competitions themsel-ves to ensure that their players qualify for these major tourna-ments.
"Most of our players are elites in the university where they are training and studying as well. We have about 10 of them at ABU who are into bachelor degree courses in various endeavours," the member of LOC Kaduna 2008 national Sports Festival added.

2008 KLRC Atwater Canadian International

Ottawa (Canada)  22 au 26 Avril 2008

Olanrewaju, Ogunseye A. :  Walk Over     Orobosa, Okhuonghae : Walk Over

 

Badminton prospect, Daniel, qualify for Olympics Monday, 21 April 2008 Daily Trust Nigeria

In spite of her 1-2 loss to China, Grace Daniel, Nigeria's Badminton prospect for the August Beijing Olympics on Saturday in Lagos qualified for the event.
She lost to Bing Xin Xu of China at the final of Nigeria International Badminton Championship held at Ikoyi Club 1938.
Daniel, who lost the first set by 17-21, came second with a good display of combination of forearm and backhand to outplay her opponent at the second set by 21-9.
She lost the third set to a more experienced Chinese who has also won the Olympic qualifier by 6-21.
In a post-match interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Daniel attributed her defeat to loss of concentration.
``The championship was very challenging with lot of good players participating. It was an Olympic qualifier every player want to be. So, we all gave our best.
"I think the championship has confirmed to me that I need to work harder. I lost concentration after winning the second set having lost the first.
"There is, no doubt, my opponent is experienced, exposed and has better training than me,"' said Daniel.
She, however, promised that with more training and exposure she would attain better standard.Daniel said she would embark on training tour to prepare for the Olympics. "I am embarking on training tour immediately towards preparation for the Olympics.'' She added: ``Although, I am not promising gold at the Olympics but I am sure I am going to do well because my game has greatly improved with my Germany experience."
Andrew Renold, South African referee, said Daniel was Africa's best female player but stressed that she needed to improve on her techniques to make an impact in the world.
``Daniel has a lot of power in her hit but lacks techniques. That was what her opponent used. She is a talented player and I believe she can improve by participating in competitions,'' he said.
In the other results, Alex Paixao of Portugal beat Raji Rai of America 2-0 (21-13, 21-14) in the men's singles while in the women's double, the pair of Chinas Bing Xin Xu and Filipa Lawu beat Nigeria's Daniel and Mary Gideon by 2-0.
The mixed and men's doubles were dominated by Nigeria as the pair of Greg Okunghae and Daniel beat Akeem Ogunleye and Mary Gideon 2-0 while the duo of Jinkam Ifrem and Ola Fagbemi defeated Okunoghae and Ogunleye 2-1.
NAN reports that winners in the five categories shared the 5, 000 dollar prize money at stake at the competition.

Nigeria: International Badminton Tourney Begins Today           Leadership (Abuja) 17 April 2008

All is now set for today's opening of the Nigeria International Badminton Championships, with the arrival of players from more than 23 countries.
According to NAN, Mobee Kayode, a member of the tournament's accommodation sub-committee said players from the U.S., South Africa, Cameroon and Mozambique were among the early arrivals. Ikoyi Club 1938 is hosting the championships, which will also serve as qualifiers for the Beijing Olympics.
"Our committee members were at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport on Monday night to receive some of the participants," Kayode said.
He said all welfare related issues for the players were being handled by the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) with the support of the Ikoyi Club 1938.
"Accommodation arrangements have been concluded. This is an international competition and their welfare is of international standard," said Kayode, who is also the Lagos Badminton Association Secretary.
The sport's world governing body, the International Badminton Federation (IBF) approved the Championship which is expected to end Saturday.
A cash prize of $1,000 each, will go to the winners of the men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles and mixed doubles. Nigeria is expected to feature two teams in the tournament, comprising 12 males and 12 females. Olumide Bamiduro, secretary of the association said the championship apart from being an Olympic qualifier would afford players the opportunity to garner more points that would shore up their rankings at the international stage.

En direct d'Abuja : Le N°1 africain Nabil Lasmari  déclare forfait à l'Open du Nigéria.
(Africa badminton Envoyé spécial J. Owono 16/04/2008 20h30)

Nigeria: Badminton - Nigeria Hosts Olympic Qualifiers    This Day (Lagos) 16 April 2008 Femi Atoyebi Lagos

About 40 international players drawn from around the world will converge at the Ikoyi Club 1938 for the Nigeria International Badminton Championship from today, with the grand finale coming up on Saturday.
According to the President, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Mohammed Kabir Badamasuiy, the championship will produce African finalists for the Olympic Games in Beijing, with Nigeria hopeful, Grace Daniels expected to seal her participation for the global tournament. He said apart from picking tickets for the Olympic party, $ 5,000 prize money is at stake for first three winners among other prizes.
"The purpose of hosting this tournament is to announce Nigeria's glorious return to the game, but more importantly to see Grace Daniels pick her ticket to represent Nigeria and Africa in Beijing. A gap was created between Nigeria and the rest of the world in badminton because in the past six years, the country's name was not heard due to lack of sponsors and organisation, thankfully, we have a couple of sponsors ready to help Nigeria take her place in global badminton. Grace is able to go this far because she trained in Germany."
The Nigerian is top in Africa at the moment with about 13,000 points, followed by another player from Mauritius. 15 players will represent Nigeria at the tournament in the male and female categories, with an eye on giving future players the needed international exposure.
Among the participant is American Raju Rai, who has already booked an Olympic ticket. He said despite realising a long-nurtured dream of playing in an Olympics, he is in Nigeria to prove his readiness. "I want to win here and build on it in Beijing," he said. Players from other countries are already in the country for the event.

NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL OPEN 2008
            Abuja (Nigeria) Du 17 au 20 Avril 2008

W.B.F. - NIGERIA NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL 2008 Abuja (Nigeria) Du 17 au 20 Avril 2008 US$ 5,000

S. Pohl USA	R. Rai USA	Y. Martinez ESP	C.Longo ESP	K. Mehrabi IRA	A. Paixao POR	T. Santos POR	F. Lamy POR	A. Moura POR	S.A. Gomez AUS
F. Mackee CAN	S.Wojcikiewicz CAN	C. Reid CAN	A. Dabeka CAN	E. Ekiring UGA	J. Owono CAM	P. Abena CAM	A. Noumsi CAM	G. Samba CAM	M. Gideon NIG
G. Daniel NIG	E. Mambwe ZAM	O. Siamupangila ZAM	T. Wilson UGA	B. Xin Xu CHN	S. Brian UGA			And all other ...

The road to Beijing 2008 - matches played since 2007 (W.B.F.)

BWF ID : 50380 GIVEN NAME : Grace FAMILY NAME : DANIEL NAC : NIGERIA GENDER : F DATE OF BIRTH :

Event Date	Event Name	Round
17 Avr 2008	NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL 2008	Runner-Up
28 Mar 2008	KENYA INTERNATIONAL 2008	Semi-Finalist
23 Mar 2008	BANUINVEST INTERNATIONAL 2008	1/32
17 Mar 2008	PORTUGUESE INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS	1/32
24 Feb 2008	MAURITIUS INTERNATIONAL2008	Winner
22 Feb 2008	THOMAS & UBER CUP African Preliminaries 2008	-
27 Jan 2008	UGANDA INTERNATIONAL 2008	Quarter-Finalist
22 Dec 2007	HELLAS INTERNATIONAL 2007	Quarter-Finalist
14 Dec 2007	VII ITALIAN INTERNATIONAL	Qualifier
18 Nov 2007	NORWEGIAN INTERNATIONAL 2007	1/32
04 Nov 2007	YONEX HUNGARIAN INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007	1/16
21 Oct 2007	DUTCH OPEN GRAND PRIX	Qualifier
07 Oct 2007	BULGARIAN INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS	1/32
23 Sep 2007	YONEX CZECH INTERNATIONAL 2007	1/32
09 Sep 2007	YONEX BELGIAN INTERNATIONAL 2007	1/32
02 Sep 2007	TURKIYE INTERNATIONAL 2007	1/32
03 Jun 2007	LE VOLANT DOR DE TOULOUSE - BLAGNAC	1/32
26 May 2007	ALL AFRICA CHAMPIONSHIPS	Winner
20 May 2007	MAURITIUS INTERNATIONAL 2007	Quarter-Finalist
29 Apr 2007	POLISH INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007	Qualifier
22 Apr 2007	PORTUGUESE INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007	1/32
15 Apr 2007	VAN ZUNDERT VELO HOLLAND OPEN 2007	1/32

OLYMPICS/ Preliminaries Nigeria set to pick Olympic ticket in badminton (Xinhua) 2008-04-02

LAGOS -- The Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) says it is hopeful of qualifying for the August Beijing Olympic Games.
BFN secretary Bamidele Olumide said Tuesday in Abuja that the country's chances of qualifying were bright.
He said the victory of the duo of Ocholi Edicha and Germany-based Grace Daniel at the just-concluded International Badminton tournament in Nairobi, Kenya, had raised the country's prospect.
Nigeria won a gold and a bronze in the mixed double and women's singles events in the tournament.
Olumide noted that Daniel had so far consolidated the country's leading position among African athletes seeking the Olympic ticket by her performance.
"I think she has just about two tournaments to participate in to get the Olympic ticket," he said.
Team Nigeria's Trust Fund's acting managing director, Mr Gbenga Giwa also told NAN that the Fund was assisting Daniel compete at different badminton tournaments to enable her pick points to qualify for the Beijing Games.

Nigeria: NSC to Assist Athletes    Leadership (Abuja) 20 March 2008 Ishaku Kigbu
For qualifying to represent Africa at the forthcoming finals of the Thomas Badminton World Cup to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 10-17 May 2008, Chairman National Sports Commission and Minister of Sports, Barr. Abdulrahman Hassan Gimba has promised that the commission will give the athletes the necessary assistance and encouragement ahead the championship and Olympics in Beijing, China, including all other qualified Nigerian athletes for the Games.
Receiving the athletes after the formal presentation of the trophy won by the Nigerian male team in the African preliminaries held in Mauritius between 20 and 24 February, at the commission headquarters in Abuja, by the Federation President Kabiru Badamasi, the minister said for doing Nigeria proud at the competition, they have not only etched their names in sports history books but more importantly, registered the name of Nigeria in the world map of sports. "You have done Nigeria proud, and have not only etched your names in sports history books but have also written the name of Nigeria.
As champions, your achievements have only further presented you with further challenges to do better in higher competitions like the Olympics in Beijing. You should know that success in sports does not require any other thing than hard work and training. You also have the opportunity to achieve world recognition and fame like other Nigerians if you give yourself to more training and hard work: "The NSC will give you and all Nigerian athletes the necessary assistance and encouragement to perform well at the Olympics in Beijing, China and working hard to achieve President Umaru Yar'Adua's medal expectation," he said.
President of the Badminton Federation, Alhaji Kabiru Badamasi told the minister that the male team beat all other teams including those of Egypt, Mauritius, South Africa and Zambia to qualify for the first time to represent Africa in the finals.
According to him, the feat is the first time a black nation will be represented at the finals which was before now dominated by Asia and Europe. Soliciting for assistance, Alhaji Badamasi pleaded with the commission to assist it raise the sum of $60,000 which the federation requires for preparation and participation at the finals.

Nigeria: Beijing Olympics - BFN Praises NSC Over Preparation  Daily Trust (Abuja) 16 March 2008 Mhii Samuel Abuja

Unlike other federations which have lamented lack of adequate preparations for the Beijing Olympics in a few months time, the Badminton Federation of Nigeria has expressed gratitude to the National Sports Commission for ensuring early preparations ahead of the Olympics. The federation has equally expressed readiness to hit the Beijing Olympics in grand style.
In a chat with the BFN scribe, Bamiduro Olumide, at their Mambilla Barracks training venue, he said badminton players have been in camp since January 16th this year working on strategies capable of giving the edge at the Olympics in August. He said, "We are indeed very grateful to the National Sports Commission that has made it possible for us to be early in camp since January 16th and this has availed us the opportunity to have been to three international tournaments as part of Olympic qualifier." Speaking on some of the tournaments he said," We were in Uganda, in January, where we picked a Gold medal and the ladies performed well by picking the maximum points at stake, we later went to Mauritius for a two-in-one tournament which are the Thomas Aniba Cup and the Mauritius international. There, the male category also won the Thomas Cup which is part of the Olympic qualification" The male do not have to be categorised in the Olympic qualifier but a lot of tournaments have to be played between now and April before one could say they will qualify.
At the Thomas Cup which, according to him, is equivalent to a World Cup, Nigeria will now represent Africa in May in Jarkarta, Indonesia. It was the first time Nigeria won the tournament. Bamiduro said the federation would not relent in its efforts to gear up the players ahead of the Olympics noting that they are billed to travel to Kenya next month where they will take part in week tournament ending on April 30th. "In Badminton, you keep picking the points until the end of April and we don't want to leave any stone unturned by not going out to the international tournaments sanctioned by the International Badminton Federation to get enough points for the Olympic qualifier. This is why we are ever grateful to the NSC."
The Federation pins its medal hope on Grace Daniel and Susan Edeh that have been impressive in all the tournaments they have attended. Grace is presently in Portugal to participate in the Portugal international, a tournament sanctioned by IBF for Olympic qualifier and has been consistent since the qualifier started last year in May. The former junior champion is expected back next week to proceed along with Edeh and others to Kenya. Others are Mary Gideon and Orobosa Okongai.
"Grace Daniel, who started from 326 and now 91, is ranked as the first in Africa and if she maintains this position uptil April ending, she will automatically represent Nigeria in the ladies event, which is the ladies single at the Olympic in Beijing."
The badminton players train twice daily, while they train at the National Stadium ,Abuja, in the morning, they train in the evening at the Brigade of Guards, Mambilla Barracks, Abuja.

Nigeria: Badminton - Country to Represent Africa in Indonesia Classics Daily Trust (Abuja) 10 March 2008 Abbas Jimoh

Nigeria is to represent Africa in the forthcoming Thomas and Uber Badminton Cups in Jakarta, Indonesia in May, Trustsports reports.
Secretary of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Olumide Bamiduro, disclosed in Abuja that Africa reigning singles champion, Nigerian Grace Daniels, will be flying the continent's flag since 1981 when Nigeria last qualify for such classics.
We last participated in the championship in 1981, thank God that Daniels will be representing Nigeria and flying Africa's flag in May. Asia has been dominating, but we are set to upstage them and become a formidable power house in World badminton," Bamiduro said.
He said that Daniel's feat of defeating Martinez Souze of Spain 2-0 in the female category of Uber Cup held in Mauritius, which also serves as an Olympic qualifier, earned Nigeria the ticket to the Indonesian's meet.
Trustsport recalls that Daniels and compatriot, Mary Gideon, last January 25 won the doubles of the International Badminton Female Championship in Uganda.
Bamiduro said that Africa will be competing in five events in the Beijing 2008 Olympics and Nigeria may be representing the continent if she (Daniels) by April maintains her number 0ne position in Africa.
National chief coach of the federation, Samson Egbeyemi, said that Daniels currently ranked number one in Africa and 91 in the world was formerly ranked 326.
"Even Kareen Foo of Mauritius who is number two female in Africa is currently trailing Daniels with more than 10, 000 points and that is why we are upbeat about participating and winning in competitions we attended," Egbeyemi said.
He said that Greg Orobosa and Akeem Ogunseye ranked six and eight in Africa male respectively are also participating in Kenya and All England Open.

JO Pékin 2008 : La Fédération nigériane de badminton garantit une médaille d'or pour son pays Xinhua & Casafree.com 01/03/2008

La Fédération nigériane de badminton (BFN) a déclaré qu'elle remportera une médaille d'or pour son pays aux Jeux Olympiques 2008 à Beijing, ont rapporté mercredi des médias locaux.
"Le Nigeria s'apprête à laisser l'empreinte des Africains sur les Jeux Olympiques d'août à Beijing", a assuré mardi le président de la BFN, Mohammed Badamasuiy, à Abuja.
Il a expliqué que la bonne performance du pays au récent tournoi international en Mauritanie signifie que les athlètes nigérians pourraient bien jouer aux JO 2008 et récolter une médaille d'or pour leur pays.
La semaine dernière, l'actuelle championne africaine, la Nigériane Grace Daniel, a remporté le titre féminin singulier lors du tournoi mauritanien, après avoir battu Kari Fookon.
"Cette superbe performance est l'indication que le Nigeria entre dans l'ère du badmindon", a estimé M. Badamasuiy. Il a attribué l'actuel exploit aux divers programmes de développement, initiés par l'ancien-président de la BFN, Shuaibu Sabon-Birni.
Il a affirmé que : "M. Sabon-Birni est un grand partisan du badmindon au Nigeria. Il a amené cette activité sportive au sommet ".
Il a également révélé qu'un tournoi national annuel, baptisé du nom de M. Sabon-Brini, sera organisé, faisant partie des efforts pour le commémorer.

 

MAURITIUS INTERNATIONAL 2008 Rose-Hill (Maurice) 21 - 24 Février 2008
S.D. Grace Daniels  ( Nigeria)

 

Nigeria    Thomas CupZone Afrique 2008

Photo : Faceboook Group Africa-Badminton.com

Bulus retains Sabon-Birni Badminton Classics  Written by Abbas Jimoh   Monday, 18 February 2008  Daily Trust.com

Defending champion, Jinkam Ifraimu Bulus of the FCT, over the weekend retained his title in the men’s singles event at the 2nd Sabon-Birni Badminton Clas-sics in Abuja.
Bulus defeated hard fighting Ola Fagbemi of Kwara State 2-1 in the finals to retain the title he won at the maiden edition last year.
He won the first game easily 21-15, but lost the second game 18-21 to the London based Fagbemi.
Bulus however won the decider 21-17 to take home the giant trophy in the keenly contested encounter held at the gymnasium of the Abuja National Stadium.
Twenty two years old Jinkam created upset in 2007 by smashing Ibrahim Adamu of the FCT in two straight sets of 21-17 and 21-14 to win the N60, 000 first prize money and a trophy.
"I am very happy that I won eventually, I thanked God for the victory," he said after the match.
In the ladies singles current African champion, Grace Daniel of the FCT maintained her top billing, dethroning the defending champion, Susan Ideh of Kwara State, in two straight sets of 21-13, 21-13 to win the event.
The University of Ilorin Physical and Health Education (PHE) undergraduate Ideh defeated Mary Gideon of Plateau in straight sets of 21 -11 and 21-16 to win the N40, 000 prize money and a trophy in 2007.
Over 30 players from all parts of the country took part in the classics aimed at immortalising the late president of the Bad-minton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Alhaji Shuaibu Sabon-Birni, who died on Feb. 14 2006.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, widow of the late president, Olabisi Sabon-Birni thanked the federation for initiating the classics in memory of her late husband.
"It is a common knowledge that my husband dreamed really big for badminton. It is equally a statement of fact that he started to work towards achieving that dream," Olabisi said.
She said the family owed late Sabon-Birni the duty of continual support for the development of badminton in Nigeria.
"On our part as family mem-bers we owe him the obligation to continue to support the game for which he had so much pas-sion," Olabisi said.

 

Nigeria: Country On the Verge of Qualifying for Olympics Leadership (Abuja) 16 February 2008 Nwakpa O. Nwakpa Abuja

President of Badminton Federation of Nigeria, NBF, Muhammed Kabir Bademaguij, has revealed that Nigeria is on the verge of qualifying for Olympics due for Beijing China. He made this revelation during the closing ceremony of the second Shuiabu Idris Sabon-Birin Badminton championship held on 14 February 2008 at the Indoor Sports hall, package'B' of the National Stadium Abuja.
In the championship, which was first held last year in honour and remembrance of the former psresident of BFN, Alhaji Shuaibu Idris Sabon-Birin, the current president described him as humble and extremely generous , stating that he loved the game and gave his time and resources to its development. Badamasuij also revealed that it was through Shuaibu's effort that Nigeria is in the verge of qualifying for Olympics which is the height any federation can attend.
The closing ceremony of the second edition, which the president described as "a slight improvement on the first," featured the finals of the mens' and ladies' single. In the mens' category, Jinka Bulus of the FCT defeated Ola Fagbemi 21/12, 18/21, 21/17 (2-0) of Kwara to emerge the national champion, while the current Africa ladies champion, Grace Daniel of FCT defeated national champion, Susan Ideh of Kwara. A total of 32 players participated in the tournament.The wife of Alhaji Shuaibu, who is also the matron of BFN, Hajiya Olabisi Shuaibu Sabon Birin, told pressmen that the federation is working seriously towards making the championship international.
Hajiya Shuaibu said that eight Nigerian Badminton players were due to travel out of the country for international tournament on board South African Airline with three officials to accompany them.
Dr. Faruk Haruna, technical director of BFN who doubles as ABU director of sports, says he sees a bright future for Badminton in Nigeria. Though he accepted that in the past, there were problems within the federation but that all that is a thing of the past as the federation now has one board and works together as a united family. Dr. Faruk said that the championship was co-sponsored by the wife of Alhaji Shuaibu.
He however, decried the concentration on the game of football by govermnet, individuals and co-operate organisations to the detriment of other sporting events such as Badminton. He wondered why such concerntration is lavished on football which can only fetch one gold, and little or no attention is paid to those that could fetch Nigeria multiple gold. Dr. Faruk opined that if a little amount of what is spent on football was expended on Badminton, they would go to places and do Nigeria proud.

Nigeria: Ladies Clinch Badminton Doubles Title  Leadership (Abuja)  4 February 2008 Abuja

Nigeria's pair of Grace Daniel and Mary Gideon won the ladies doubles title at the just concluded Uganda International Badminton Championships.Daniel and Gideon beat their opponents from Egypt and Zambia in the finals of the championships attended by 56 countries.
Olumide Bamiduro, Secretary of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), told the News Agency of Nigeria that the one-week competition had only five African countries.
Describing it as highly competitive, Bamiduro said Daniel lost in the singles at the quarter-finals.
He said Daniel created an upset when she beat the 56th world ranked player from Portugal.
"Fifty-six countries attended the highly competitive championships with just five from Africa. Players came from Asia, Europe and America. Daniel even created an upset by beating the World's number 56 player from Portugal. She had an impressive tournament.
The competition in Uganda is one of those we are billed to take part in as part of our Olympic qualifiers. There are five events in badminton at the Olympics. The best in each event will represent Africa at the Olympics," he said.
Bamiduro said the points accumulated by players would depend on the performance and number of championships a player is able to attend.
He said Daniel currently tops the ladies' chart, adding that if she maintains the tempo till the end of April, she was likely to pick the Africa's Olympic slot.
The secretary said other Olympic qualifiers included the Kenya International, All England International, Mauritius International and All Nigeria International.
"We want to ensure that we take part in all of these championships to increase our chances of having many players at the Olympics," he added.

Archives 2007

DANIEL Grace Kubi (Nigeria) N°1 classement SD - ABF
 

Ces Joueurs et Joueuses d'Afrique qui sont licencié(e)s à la F.F.BA. ( France) Info Africa-Badminton.com (21/12/2007)

La joueuse Internationale Nigérienne Grace DANIEL KUBI (24/02/1984)  23 ans
actuellement N° 100 WBF et N°1 Confédération Afrique
est licenciée à la Fédération Française de Badminton (F.F.BA.) sous le N° 06512883
Elle joue au sein du club ABC Reims (51). Classement FFBA :  SD T5  -  DD T20  -  DM  T20

Nigeria: Badminton Instructor Commends BFN   Daily Champion (Lagos)  30 November 2007 Lagos

Event Manager of the Badminton World Federation (BWF), Venugopal Mahalingam has commended efforts of the board of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) towards the development of the sport in the country.
Mahalingam, who handled the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coaching Course for badminton officials in Abuja from November 11-17, praised the leadership of Mohammed Kabir Badamasuiy for the new initiatives.
He however, urged the board members to be focused and not relent on their efforts, adding that the future is bright for game and players in the country.
"The enthusiasm and the zeal to learn that I saw in the coaches and players during the coaching course gave me the impression that the future of the sport in the country is very bright.
"I must sincerely thank the board members for the efforts put in place towards the growth and development of the sport in the country.
"I can only urge them to continue the good work, hoping that one day, Nigeria will rule the world in the sport", said Mahalingam, who is from Malaysia.
Responding, President of the BFN, Badamasuiy expressed the country's appreciation to Mahalingam for taking time out of his busy schedule to personally handle the coaching clinic. He assured that the board will not look back on its efforts in moving the sport forward.
"We've just started. We will not relent on our efforts. We have a mission and vision for the sport and will strive to achieve our goal with the support of all and sundry.
"We also had good deliberations during the stockholder's forum and we've all agreed to work together for the interest of the sport. A lot of ideas have been generated all of which will be taken into consideration in our master plan or blueprint".
"The Under-15 championship was held on schedule and the winners would now proceed to South Africa to represent the country during the U 15 African Badminton Championship scheduled for December 2-9, 2007", he said.
It will be recalled that Clement Krobakpo from Kwara State won the boys' singles during the championship while Ufuoma Omene from Delta State picked the girls' singles.
The pair of Clement Krobakpo and Kayode Oyeniran from Kwara State won the boys' doubles, while the pair of Augustina Sunday and Zainab Mohammed from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) picked the girls' double.

Nigeria: Badminton Federation Set to Hold Stakeholder Forum  Leadership (Abuja) 11 November 2007  Adimabua Peter

Secretary-General of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) Bamiduro Olumide, has said that the body is now set to hold a national stakeholders forum, where sports administrators and technocrats will brainstorm on repositioning and re-structuring the game of badminton for greater height.
Bamiduro Olumide who spoke with Leadership Sunday Sports in Abuja, said the forum will hold between November 13-14, 2007, at the Abuja national stadium indoor sports hall.
The scribe also revealed that the Badminton Federation in conjunction with the International Olympics Committee (IOC) has packaged a coaching clinic for the Badminton coaches in Nigeria, which will hold at the national stadium Abuja from November 12 - 16 Friday, 2007. The refresher course according to Bamiduro, is the intiative of the IOC to assist coaches of the game to be up-to-date in modern trends of the sport. He disclosed that the IOC will be sending coach Venocupal Valipan, who is the event manager of the International Olympics Committee as Instructor for the one week coaches clinic. According to the secretary, the IOC instructor from Malaysia has arrived Nigeria yesterday saturday for the workshop starting tomorrow Monday.
On the Badminton activities, Bamiduro noted that the federation through out the year has participated in some competitions at the international scene.
On the catalogue of participation is the All England Badminton International tournament. The Kenyan International Championship, where Nigeria came 3rd on the medals table, the 9th All Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria.
Presently, he said that Badminton activities is currently going on in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.
Bamidele revealed that from November 12-14, 2007 at the indoor sports hall of the national stadium Abuja, the Badminton federation will be holding a national open U-15 badminton championship which will be used in selecting players to represent Nigeria in South Africa International U-15 Championship in Pretoria, which will hold from December 2-9, 2007.

Jeux du Commonwealth: Le Nigeria très remonté   source : afrique Sport.com
Le vice-président nigérian, Goodluck Jonathan, très déçu, a violemment critiqué la famille des Jeux du Commonwealth, en déclarant que l'échec cuisant du Nigeria dans la course à l'organisation des Jeux de 2014 était un traitement injuste infligé à l'Afrique.
D'autres membres nigérians du Comité de candidature des Jeux ainsi que d'autres Africains ont abondé dans le même sens, après que les 71 membres de la Fédération des Jeux du Commonwealth (CGF) ont attribué ce droit d'organisation à la ville de Glasgow, en Ecosse, par 47 voix contre 24 pour le Nigeria.

Jeux du Commonwealth: Le Nigeria très remonté    Colombo - 09/11/2007 Panapress
Colombo, Sri Lanka - Le vice-président nigérian, Goodluck Jonathan, très déçu, a violemment critiqué la famille des Jeux du Commonwealth, en déclarant que l'échec cuisant du Nigeria dans la course à l'organisation des Jeux de 2014 était un traitement injuste infligé à l'Afrique.
D'autres membres nigérians du Comité de candidature des Jeux ainsi que d'autres Africains ont abondé dans le même sens, après que les 71 membres de la Fédération des Jeux du Commonwealth (CGF) ont attribué ce droit d'organisation à la ville de Glasgow, en Ecosse, par 47 voix contre 24 pour le Nigeria.
En réagissant à cette défaite, le vice-président Jonathan, qui conduisait la forte délégation nigériane comprenant l'ancien chef d'Etat militaire, le général Yakubu Gowon, à l'Assemblée générale du CGF, a déclaré qu'il estimait que la famille des Jeux avait été cruelle en n'accordant pas à Abuja le droit de les abriter.
"Ils ont été injustes envers la candidature nigériane et africaine", a déclaré M. Jonathan à la presse peu après la défaite d'Abuja.
Il a indiqué qu'étant donné tout ce que le Comité de candidature nigérian avait fait pour mériter le droit d'organiser les Jeux, ils avaient refusé à Abuja et par extension à toute l'Afrique, l'opportunité de montrer leur hospitalité.
Abdulrahman Gimba, le président de la Commission nationale des sports (NSC) et ministre des Sports et de l'Action Sociale, a déclaré que cette défaite semblait un résultat prévu d'avance.
"Je suis satisfait que nous nous soyons bien battus", a ajouté M. Gimba.
Habu Gumel, le président du Comité olympique nigérian (NOC), a pour sa part déclaré "nous avons mis le meilleur de nous-mêmes dans cette candidature".
Le sénateur nigérian, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, a estimé que le résultat de ce scrutin était une indication du fait que les Africains n'avaient pas d'avenir au sein du Commonwealth, tandis qu'un autre Nigérian, le Dr. Tijani Yusuf du ministère des Sports, a indiqué que ce résultat montrait qu'il faudrait du temps à l'Afrique pour avoir l'occasion d'organiser les Jeux.
Même le général Gowon a été choqué quand le président du CGF, Mike Fennel a proclamé le résultat. M. Gowon, président du Comité de candidature du Nigeria, complètement déçu, a levé les bras au ciel en signe de désespoir et fait un sourire grimaçant.
M. Fennel a par la suite déclaré à M. Gowon : "j'espère que cela ne s'arrêtera pas là", une réflexion considérée comme de mauvais goût par la délégation nigériane.
D'autres Africains déçus ont également commenté cette défaite. La présidente du NOC zambien, Mirian Moyo, a déclaré ne pas pouvoir croire à la large marge par laquelle Glasgow avait gagné.
"Je m'attendais à ce que ce soit plus serré", a-t-elle déploré.
Le Kenyan Moses Tanui, champion d'Afrique et du monde du semi- marathon, qui était un des ambassadeurs de la Candidature d'Abuja, a déclaré "qu'il était évident que les membres blancs du Commonwealth n'aimaient pas les Africains".

Nigeria: Badamasuiy Reiterates Commitment to Badminton Growth  Leadership (Abuja) 2 November 2007 Ishola Bashir
President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Alhaji Mohammed Kabir Badamasuiy, has reiterated his commitment to take the game of badminton to the next level.
Unfolding plans to develop the game in Lagos recently, Badamasuiy said that series of events have been lined up this month to move the game forward.
"There is going to be an International Olympics Committee (IOC) coaching course in Abuja between November 11 and 17.
"During the coaching course, there will be a stakeholders forum involving players, coaches, umpires, sponsors, friends of the game, all the states chairmen among others.
"The purpose is to fashion out ways of moving the game forward.
"Thereafter, there will be an Abuja Open Championship, the first in a long time, between 19 and 23 of this month, where well over 300 players would be participating.
"We intend to use the championship to select our players that would represent Nigeria at the forthcoming South African International Championship in Johannesburg between November 29 and December 3.
"The South African International tournament is an event for professionals all over the world.
"Immediately after this, there will be an Under-15 championship later in the year also in Abuja", he said.
Badamasuiy stated that the federation is working seriously towards its sponsorship drive and would soon come out with the list of its sponsors.
"All hands would be on deck to achieve these and others. And to round off the year, there will be an Ikoyi Classic a week before Christmas, while we will hold the Nigeria International championship next year April in Abuja", he concluded.

74 universities to take part in Nigeria's 2008 University Games Updated：2007-09-25 From：Xinhuanet  LAGOS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua)

Lien du tournoi KLRC World Junior 2007 :   http://www.worldjuniors2007.co.nz/

Twenty-six countries enter the “Waitakere World Junior Badminton Championships 2007” New Zealand Badminton 1 August 2007 

The entries have closed for the Team’s section of the Waitakere World Junior Badminton Championships 2007 being held at The Trusts Stadium in Waitakere City, from October 25 to November 4.
Twenty-six countries registered at the time of closure and this includes entries from all five of the Badminton World Federation’s member Confederations. Included amongst the entries are the Asian powerhouses of China, Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia.
The Team’s competition is to be held from Thursday, 25 October to Sunday, 28 October 2007.
Team entries : Nigeria (Africa)

Abah Enejo Joseph	Adamu Ibrahim	Akiusanya Dotun	Bulus Jimkam	Edicha Ocholi	Fagbemi Ola Ebenezar	Fagbemi Paul	Odejoke Bimbo	Ogunseye Akeem	Okuonghae Greg
Olatounji Kayode Nathaniel	Omoruyi Kenneth	Alexandra Funmilola Funmilayo	Braimah Maria Hajara	Daniel Grace Kubi	Grabriel Ofodil Grace	Gideon Mary Mabwat	Ideh Susan Funaya	Oribaboh Imad	Sude Myriam

Jeux africains - badminton : le Nigeria dompte l'Afrique du Sud NIGERIA - 16 juillet 2007 - XINHUA  Jeune Afrique.com

Le Nigeria a dompté l'Afrique du Sud en finale du tournoi de badminton par équipe aux 9e Jeux africains d'Alger, remportant une victoire écrasante (3-0) et prenant sa revanche sur les Sud-Africains, qui avaient remporté la médaille d'or de cette discipline aux Jeux d'Abuja de 2003.
Dans l'épreuve de simple dames, la Nigériane Kubi Grace Daniel, championne africaine, a battu la Sud-Africaine Stacey Doubell sur le score de 2-0.
Dans la compétition de simple hommes, le Nigérian Jimkam Bulus a vaincu son adversaire Abraham Willem Viljoen sur le score de 2-1.
Quant à celle de double dames, Kubi Grace Daniel et son coéquipière Susan Ideh sont venues à bout de leurs adversaires sud- africaines, Chantelle Botts et Michelle Edwards.
Le Nigeria et l'Afrique du Sud sont parvenus en finale après avoir battu respectivement en démi-finales l'Algérie et les Seychelles, qui partagent la médaille de bronze.
Le badminton a été inclu aux Jeux africains depuis l'édition d'Abuja en 2003.
Les matches individuels du badminton des Jeux d'Alger commenceront mardi prochain.

Nigeria: BFN Invites Foreign Pro for Algiers 2007 Daily Champion (Lagos) 22 June 2007 Posted to the web 22 June 2007

The Badminton Federation Nigeria (BFN) has concluded plans to invite Nigerian born Germany-based player, Grace Daniel to camp for the next stage of preparations ahead of the 9th All Africa Games holding this July in Algiers, Algeria.
Secretary-general of the federation Olumide Bamiduro who disclosed this in Lagos, said that the invitation of Grace who presently is the African female champion is aimed at ensuring that the best represents the country at the games.
He said that BFN has decided to re-strategize for the All Africa Games following the decision of the National Sports Commission (NSC) to cancel the earlier proposed training tours of Europe and America.
"We should not continue to worry about the failure to go for a foreign tour. Our focus has already shifted towards how to get our top female player, Grace Daniels from Germany to represent the country in Algeria," Bamiduro said He argued that an overseas training tour was not the ultimate for the team's pre-All Africa Games preparations, noting that they have won international competitions in the past, without embarking on any training tour.

Message from Africa-Badminton.com : "Ours deepest condolences to the people and the national badminton players of Nigeria. RIP to the President".

Badminton in Coma As Robbers Kill President  Vanguard (Lagos) NEWS  February 25, 2006  By Sam John

The soul of the sport of badminton in the country is dead. The president of the national federation, Alhaji Shuaibu Sabon-Birni was murdered last Tuesday (February 14) by the men of the underworld in his home state of Sokoto while on national assignment.
The first vice-president of the federation, Dr. Soji Adegbomire, heralded the sad news. "Can I be on to Sam John," his voice came anxiously over the phone. "There is sad news. Our president was killed this morning. He was shot dead by armed robbers in Sokoto."
Confusion took over as he hung the phone. Later in the day, the confirmation came from Alhaji Kabir Badamasuiy, a close confidant of the slain president. "Why is it that good people don't last?" Kabir asked with a pain in his voice. "People who are known for bad things live up to 60, 80 years, yet the good ones are just cut down like that."
Born 54 years ago in Sabon-Birni, Sokoto State, Alhaji Shuaibu proved himself during the national sports federation elections in March 2005. The man who would be the president of the badminton federation is Alhaji Shuaibu Sabon-Birni, predicted Ebewele, the Director of Sports in Edo State, as the national board of the sport was being planned. "He has worked hard enough for it. And besides, he loves the game with a passion. He is the man you will support in the election."
Sabon-Birni's passion for the game was palpable. His lifestyle was simple. Born on the 22nd of June, 1952, the man's daily chore was, "work at his DNCR office, pray five times a day as a devout Moslem and play badminton at the Sani Abacha Military Cantonment, Abuja in the evening. He enjoyed the game and the game gave him health and youth. At 54, he looked 43. He was so fit that he took on national team players like Orobosa at competitive levels.
"On the court, you won't know that he is the president of the federation. You would think that he is one of the players," remarked Emmanuel Zira, the team manager of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria.
In the short time that he piloted the affairs of the badminton federation, Alhaji Shuaibu distinguished himself as an affectionate, loving and peaceful gentleman. Such was the love that Shuaibu radiated that he was easily attracted to everybody. And now he is dead to be mourned by everybody who knew him. "Is it true that Sabon-Birni is dead?" the voice of Brown Ebewele was next on the line. "Then Nigeria is in trouble. That is very sad for the country."
Sabon-Birni's death is indeed sad, not just for the National ID Card project for which he travelled to Sokoto, but for the badminton family which he laboured so hard to bring together in the country and in the African continent. His love for the sport was very strong. He single- handedly relocated the federation's secretariat to Abuja. He provided the office space and furnished it before members could complain of the empty purse inherited from the previous board.
During the election that brought the present board into place, Alhaji Shuaibu put aside personal differences to reach out to the various interests angling for power. He succeeded. Dr. Adegbomire was the first to drop his guard, and then followed by Alhaji Sadiq Aminu and lastly, Cephas Lar.
At the federation's inaugural meeting, Alhaji Sabon-Birni had outlined the direction of the new board he wanted to lead. He outlined the tasks before the board as grassroots development, national tournaments, international politics and development of infrastructure and equipment.
Arguably, the badminton federation ended the year as the most active association in the country. Barely a week after the inauguration, the federation, backed by the financial support of Alhaji Shuaibu, secured sponsorship for five players, one coach and two officials, to represent Nigeria at the South Africa International Tournament. On the heel of that tournament was the All-Africa Junior Championship, which Nigeria easily won for the first time. These feats were besides the local events that took place in Ilorin, Kwara State and Abuja.
On continental politics, Sabon-Birni was a shinning star. His aura was so overwhelming that once he made known his intention to contest the position of the president of the African Badminton Federation, ABF, he was easily given the mantle of leadership. That was at the junior championship in Ethiopia which was barely three months before assuming the presidency of the national body.
In his acceptance speech, Shuaibu easily offered a whiff of his qualities. "Let me assure you all that the confidence reposed in me shall be duly justified through a purposeful leadership and a passionate desire to make significant impact on the development of badminton during my tenure as president," he pledged before an appreciative crowd that included the deputy president of the International Badminton Federation, IBF, Mr. Datuk Punch Gunalan.
The ABF was confident that with the new board's "resolve to work" and the fact that the international federation had become willing to assist the African continent, "the sport in years to come, will be a success story."
In spite of such excellent display of political clout, Sabon-Birni was not even a politician in the local (Nigerian) sense of it. "I can't play politics. Politicians are liars," he once told me. "I am a man of integrity."
That turned out to be true. The closest the man came to playing "local" politics was during the Nigeria Olympic Committee elections held last November in Abuja. An over-trusting Sabon-Birni had taken my quest for the public relations position as a personal battle he wanted to win.
"The president of the NOC was my classmate in school and he has given me his word that he would work with you. Don't entertain any fears, you will be the next PRO of the NOC," he had assured.
But the president of the NOC is a (Nigerian) politician, a double-speak man. On many occasions, Engineer Habu Gumel was met on the issue. On each occasion, he ended the meeting with, "Insha Allau, you shall be." Alhaji Shuaibu believed him even though Gumel's body language was good enough to leave some butterflies in any stomach.
The NOC president was the bride every contestant was looking for. He had three votes in his pocket. He was the president of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, (NVF), the treasurer of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa, (SCSA) and a member of the International Volleyball Federation, (FIVB).
These three votes were his to cast the way he wanted. These votes apart, Gumel, as an unopposed president, had an overriding influence over his NOC members.
Barely 24 hours to the elections, Alhaji Shuaibu moved into the Chida International Hotel, Abuja, venue of the NOC congress, from where he canvassed every delegate accredited for the election. From time to time, he assured me of the progress so far. At the pools, he sat by me, prayed and hoped for good outing with me as the events unfolded.
At the end of voting, the presiding officer read out a very shocking result. My only opponent, Mr. Tony Nezianya, the incumbent PRO, was declared the winner by three votes. A devastated Sabon-Birni was to conclude later, "I still feel betrayed by Gumel. The three votes with which you were beaten were actually his."
Too true, Gumel's votes were my albatross. The failure at the NOC election was obviously one of the disappointments that came the way of the badminton family last year. But perhaps, the bigger disappointment now is the death of Alhaji Shuaibu Sabon-Birni whose promise to make the sport of badminton a "success story" is completely dashed.