Sports
Ilaji Sports Resort hosts Malaga CF Academy coaches as scouting, coaching programme kicks off
I laji Hotels and Sports Resort in Akanran, Ibadan, Oyo State has hosted Malaga CF Academy Head Coaches, Marcos Antonio and Diego Martins, as scouting and coaching programme kicked off today at its sports arena.
Malaga CF Academy Head Coaches and other notable dignitaries had arrived Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort , the organizer of the maiden event.
Speaking during the commissioning of the Programme, its Chief Operating Officer of Hotels and Sports Resort, Prince Adesina Araoye described the scouting and coaching programme that will last for consecutive seven days as one that will help promoting the talents in football and equally add to the knowledge, wisdom and skills of Nigerian football legends who had showcased interest in football coaching.
Araoye welcomed the coaches from Malaga, Spain to the venue of the historical event and also commended the readiness and eagerness of other notable dignitaries who would simultaneously be the participants for the fruition of the programme.
According to Araoye,”To be a leading hospitality and entertainment outfit in Nigeria and Africa as a whole through consistent and classy hospitality and entertainment services to our esteemed guests; and to be a viable platform through which sporting talents are nurtured to stardom.
“Two things which are paramount from the statement above are hospitality and sports.
“Sports and hospitality are like Siamese twins; they are interdependent and inter-related. Research has shown that sportsmen and women thrive better and maximise their potentials if groomed in a conducive environment.
“At Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort, we have been balancing this wisely by investing in sporting infrastructure as well as decent hospitality structure. Besides our hotel rooms which currently stands at 165, we have also built hostel structure that can conveniently and comfortably accommodate over 300 players.
“The resultant effect of this is there for everyone to verify; we have groomed youngsters who are dedicated, focused and talented; players who within a few years of being nurtured are well ahead of their peers simply because we have put them in an environment that is conducive for the cultivation of football culture.
“The second part of our vision statement (to be a viable platform through which sporting talents are nurtured to stardom) is one that needs strategic thinking and partnership. We have done the needful by investing in sporting infrastructure. With this arrangement, we have discovered and nurtured talented youngsters who can compete well with their peers anywhere in the world. To take our vision further upward from where it is to where it ought to be is the reason why we went into a strategic alliance with Malaga CF.
“Having studied Malaga CF as a club, we share certain similarities in terms of football culture and principles; we love to groom and nurture players to stardom, same thing goes with Malaga. We have no doubt that their visit to us will yield positive results which are in consonance with our ultimate goal.
“I want to implore the coaches that are participating in our coaching clinic to make the best use of this opportunity. Pay attention to your instructors and take time to explore our Resort during your leisure period. We could have limited this huge opportunity to our coaches and players alone but just as Robers South says in his famous quote ‘If there be any truer measure of a man than by what he does, it must be what he gives’, we want to be measured by being that organisation that allows other to grow while it is also growing.
“We are sure of the huge talents our society has and we are not going to close doors of opportunity on them just because they are not in our football academy.
Once again, I want to thank everyone who has come far and wide with a view to witnessing or participating in this programme, may God in His infinite mercy bless us all”, he concluded.
The event, as reliably gathered will showcase the likes of Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, Mutiu Adepoju, Nduka Ugbade, Busari Akeem, Festus Adegoju and other football legends in the country will actively participate.
Real Madrid produced a spectacular comeback against Bayern Munich to reach the Champions League final with Joselu striking twice late on, earning them a 2-1 win on Wednesday to progress 4-3 on aggregate.
Alphonso Davies smashed the visiting German giants ahead in the second half but record 14-time winners Madrid produced a sensational comeback with Joselu netting in the 88th and 91st minutes.
Bayern Munich’s Canadian midfielder #19 Alphonso Davies scores his team’s first goal in spite of Real Madrid’s Ukrainian goalkeeper #13 Andriy Lunin during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Spanish champions Real Madrid face another German side, Borussia Dortmund, in the Wembley final on June 1, after they stunned the team they call their “black beast”.
Squad player Joselu, on as a late substitute, wrote his name in Madrid’s history books with his last-gasp brace.
Bayern Munich’s English forward #09 Harry Kane reacts to their defeat after the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
“There have been a lot of times we have looked dead and buried, but we have that mentality of never say die,” said Real midfielder Jude Bellingham.
“Joselu deserves it all, he has been an amazing squad member this season.”
Madrid had enjoyed the better of the match but it seemed Davies’ superb strike had set up a repeat of the 2013 all-German final in London.
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel made three changes from the first leg, benching veteran Thomas Mueller and Leon Goretzka.
Dani Carvajal started for Madrid after missing the first leg suspended and was heavily involved as the hosts dominated the opening stages.
Real Madrid players celebrate their second goal scored by Real Madrid’s Spanish forward #14 Joselu during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
Rodrygo Goes was inches away from converting Carvajal’s low cross and the Spain defender then cleverly set up Vinicius Junior with a pass nutmegging a defender, and Manuel Neuer tipped the Brazilian’s shot against the post.
The rebound fell to Rodrygo but his effort was weak and with a desperate arm Neuer was able to claw it out to complete a fine double save.
Bayern’s Serge Gnabry limped off injured with Davies replacing him before Harry Kane’s first flash of danger.
Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was alert to push the England captain’s vicious long-range volley around the post.
Neuer palmed away a Vinicius free-kick as the teams ended a high-intensity, relentlessly frantic first half level.
The second period was just as fraught, with Davies’ cross deflecting onto the roof of Lunin’s goal.
Vinicius was unplayable down Madrid’s left and Rodrygo prodded his low cross agonisingly wide of the far post.
The 38-year-old Neuer made superb saves to deny both Brazilian forwards again before the hour mark as Madrid controlled the game and ratcheted up the pressure.
However just as in Munich, when Los Blancos were at their strongest, Bayern pounced.
Kane fed Davies and the Canada international cut inside from the left and smashed a shot beyond Lunin into the far top corner after 68 minutes.
Madrid thought they had levelled moments later through Nacho but after a VAR review the strike was ruled out as the defender had grabbed Joshua Kimmich’s face before shooting.
Tuchel took off Kane in the final stages to try and hold on to victory but it slipped through his fingers as Madrid produced more indelible European memories.
Neuer, who had been sublime to this point, fumbled what appeared a simple Vinicius strike and Joselu gratefully bundled home from close range.
With Bayern reeling Madrid struck again, decisively. It was Joselu once more, the striker on loan from second division side Espanyol, turning home after Antonio Rudiger cut the ball back to him.
The goal was ruled offside but officials overturned the decision after review, and after nearly 15 minutes of stoppage time, Madrid earned the chance to go for their 15th Champions League trophy.
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