First Runner up at the 2019 edition of Africa’s television reality show, Big Brother Naija, Mike Edwards will represent team Rivers at the ongoing 20th National Sports Festival in Edo State.

Mike Edwards is a professional athlete who had represented Great Britain in the past as a long jumper.

The lagos born, United kingdom based athlete was meant to represent Nigeria at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, but was banned for representing Great Britain 10 years prior to the competition which made him ineligible to represent Nigeria as it 2018.

The 28 year old who is also married to an athlete, Perris Shakes-Drayton who is an olympian has now been presented with the opportunity to show Nigerians the stuff he’s made of.

Mike Edwards became an household name in Nigeria when he featured in the 2019 Big Brother Naija, he finished second just behind Mercy Eke, though many touted him to win and his fan base has remained strong and intact ever since.

Apart from sports and entertainment which brought him fame, Mike Edwards is also an entrepreneur, Mike owns the first Black-owned cigar line in the United Kingdom known as Aireyys.

He’s one of the athletes expected to win a gold medal for the well prepared team Rivers.

The General Manager of Kwara United FC Mr Bashir Badawiy, an Irah, Kwara State born football administrator has been rated high by football administrators in Nigeria following a successful Gov Wike Preseason Tournament held in Portharcourt, Rivers State.

Despite the challenges faced by sports including the shutdown occasioned by Covid19 and economic crises posed this year, Badawiy who is called the realist manager organized an exemplary Tournament in Port Harcourt Rivers State, Nigeria.

Preseason is a tournament meant for shaping up teams and make them battle ready when the league and other national and continental engagements commenced.

Rivers United emerged champions after beating Bayelsa United 4-3 on penalties in the final.

On this note, the former Team Coordinator at Rivers United was praised and commended as a result of his management skills and experience over the years for the successful tournament hosted by Rivers State Government.

Kadiri Ikanah:

The CAF Champions league winner and the former Super Falcons head coach said he’s very impressed with the organisation and happy with the level of professionalism put in the tournament.

Gbenga Ogunbote, Sunshine Stars FC head coach spoke high of the tournament.

“This tournament is a good way to get to know what exactly you have at your disposal. Seeing a non league side giving Rivers United a run for their money shows how the organisers has gone to making it worthy”

Davis Gabriel, the proprietor of the Ottasolo International took his team for the tournament and won the best team of the tournament with series of professionalism that shows in the team’s performance.

“The tournament gave our players the platform to participate with the best in the Nigeria League and of course helps to elevate the club and the players career.”

Tijani Babaginda:

The Olympic Gold medalist and the President of National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers was amazed with the level of organisations and also to show support for players playing in the local league.

“We are working hard to make sure the players get better welfare and also the good news is that we are now one but I must commend the organisers especially Bashir Badawiy and his team”

Boma Iyaye:

The Commissioner of Sports and Youths Development Hon. Boma Iyaye said he was very satisfied with the tournament and also gave kudos to the former Rivers United team coordinator Mr Bashir Badawiy and his team.

Hon Honour Sirawo:

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry of Youths and Sports Development who doubles as the President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN)

Hon. Sirawo gave his remarks that the game was very competitive and applauded of fair play being displayed throughout the tournament. He concluded by appreciating the Coordinator of the tournament and his team.

Alloy Chukwuemeka:

The Secretary of Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL Club Owners praised Bashir Badawiy and his team for a job well done as regards the organisation of the tournament.

Rivers State Government, owners of Rivers United Football Club has rejected the outcome of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Committee’s report that endorsed the decision of League Management Company (LMC) to place Enyimba ahead of the club in the final standing of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) table.

This is just as the government queried the recent trip of NFF’s president, Amaju Pinnick to Abia State last week Friday, only for the Football Committee to submit its position on Monday.

Rivers Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye stated while receiving the newly elected executive of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Rivers chapter on a courtesy visit at his office in Port Harcourt.

Iyaye listed eight grounds of objections to the report of the NFF’s Football Committee, pointing out that “in the circumstances, we are constrained to express our deep reservations about certain half-truths, deliberate distortion of facts and obvious misinformation.”

On the Committee’s claim that the clubs were duly carried along and voted twice in the final decision to end the league and use the PPG system, he stated that “The truth is that Rivers United Football Club never objected to the PPG, and continues to support the PPG system as agreed by the majority of the Clubs. Our position has always been that, rather than use an inconclusive head-to-head to separate two teams tied on points, the rules guiding the operations of the NPFL states that ‘goal difference’ shall be the first option to be used in separating teams that are tied on the same points, followed by ‘higher goals scored’ and lastly, head-to-head. We are only against the selective application of the Rules.”

The sports commissioner argued that Rivers United has a genuine case based on facts but were only being denied their rights owing to attempts by some people to deliberately shortchange the club.

“This is a clear case of injustice and undue victimization.

“In light of this development, the Rivers State Government; sponsors of Rivers United Football Club, is compelled to seek the proper interpretation of the applicable rules, and a pronouncement on the propriety or otherwise of the actions and decisions of the LMC on the matter, from the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).

“We are eager for justice and determined to protect Rivers people and its interest in line with the philosophy of our leader, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.”

He called on the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare to wade into the matter and ensure that justice is dispensed in a free and fair manner.

“The president of NFF, Amaju Pinnick and Shehu Dikko (LMC chairman) are taking football in Nigeria fifty (50) years behind. They should be called to order or Nigerian football will continue to dwindle,” he stressed.

The commissioner had earlier assured the newly elected SWAN executive led by Udede Jim-Opiki of support and cooperation in the discharge of their duties. 

Sirawoo who expressed delight in the N 11,580,000 (eleven million, five hundred and eighty thousand) Naira that was earmarked for SWAN said the NFF was meticulous in ensuring that all the stakeholders in Nigerian football were duly captured.

He further noted that the gestured will in no small way enhance the cordial working relationship between the NFF and other stakeholders especially SWAN, even as he urged all the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the grant.

“The leadership of the NFF has displayed a very high degree of transparency in the manner it handled the COVID-19 palliatives from its various sponsors by ensuring that all the stakeholders in the football development chain were captured.

“We in SWAN are particularly happy because this recognition will go a long way in ameliorating the impact of the pandemic which has slowed down the economic activities of the country.”

“We thank the President of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick and members of his Board for this well-thought and timely gesture; our members have gone through various degrees of pains following the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, we say thank you NFF” he declared.

The SWAN President also assured that he will ensure that all the members of the Association in its 37 state chapters were given their due from the amount.

He also urged the NFF to continue to work assiduously in its quest to enhance the development of football in the country “because football has remained one factor that has over the years held Nigerians together”.

Jude Opara – Secretary General