Sports

An Unplayed Australian Open Is a Turning Point for Novak Djokovic ( Opinion)

Published

4 years ago

January 17, 2022

An Unplayed Australian Open Is a Turning Point for Novak Djokovic ( Opinion)

Even after being ejected from Australia, Novak Djokovic will remain No. 1 in the men’s tennis rankings at the end of the Australian Open, which began on Monday without him.

He still holds the titles at the French Open and Wimbledon; still has supple limbs, formidable tennis skills and a deep history of resilience in the face of hostile crowds and long odds.

But in a what-have-you-won-for-me-lately sport that is often categorised by eras and the champions who define them, it would come as no surprise if Sunday marked a turning point, symbolised by his long, grim walk to the airport gate in Melbourne under the escort of immigration officials.

Djokovic is 34, and as he left Australia against his will after his Visa was cancelled, a new generation of taller, talented stars in men’s tennis was preparing to pursue the title at the Grand Slam tournament he has dominated like no other and may never play again, if his three-year ban from the country is not rescinded.

“This certainly could knock him back,” John Isner, a friend of Djokovic’s and one of the top-ranked American players, said on Sunday. “I honestly don’t know which way it will go. It could take him a long time to recover, or light a fire under him.”

Djokovic has rebounded from demoralising periods in the past and resumed winning. In 2017, after perhaps the most dominant phase of his career, he struggled with his motivation and lost his edge for more than a year amid personal problems and a persistent right elbow injury. He had a commitment to natural healing that foreshadowed his decision not to be vaccinated for the coronavirus. But after playing and struggling at the Australian Open in 2018 with his elbow supported by a compression sleeve, he decided, tearfully he has said, to undergo surgery.

Five months later, he was a Grand Slam champion again, winning the 2018 Wimbledon title and soon re-establishing himself as No. 1, at the expense of his career-long rivals, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

In early 2020, Djokovic was still on a roll, starting the year with 18 straight victories before the pandemic shut down the sport for five months in 2020. He organized an ill-advised exhibition tour in Serbia and Croatia in June during the enforced break that turned into a superspreader event and public-relations bonfire as he and other players and team members, including Djokovic’s coach Goran Ivanisevic, danced and partied unmasked in a Balkan nightclub, thoroughly out of sync with the global mood.

The tour was cancelled. Djokovic; his wife, Jelena; Ivanisevic; and others tested positive for the coronavirus, and when Djokovic did return to Grand Slam action, at the 2020 U.S. Open, he proceeded to eliminate himself from the tournament in the fourth round by hitting a ball in frustration after losing his serve and inadvertently hitting a lineswoman in the throat. He was defaulted by the tournament referee and returned to Europe to regroup. A young Austrian, Dominic Thiem, eventually won the title.

After all the dubious decisions and dents to his image, another Djokovic tailspin was hardly out of the question, but in a reflection of his tenacity and talent, he roared back in 2021 with one of his finest seasons: winning the first three Grand Slam tournaments and coming within one match of achieving the first men’s Grand Slam in singles in 52 years before losing to Daniil Medvedev in the U.S. Open final.

That display of resilience in 2021 should give pause to all those who might expect Djokovic to curl himself into a ball on the floor of his Monte Carlo apartment in the aftermath of the Australian affair.

We are talking about a player who became a champion despite growing up in Belgrade during the violent breakup of Yugoslavia, when NATO bombing forced him to interrupt tennis practices. He left home at 12 for a tennis academy in Germany as his parents and family borrowed and improvised to fund his training in the hope that the sport would be his route, and theirs, to better days. Djokovic told me that his father, Srdjan, once gathered the family and slammed a 10 Deutsche mark on the kitchen table and explained that this was all the money they had left.

“He said that more than ever we have to stick together and go through this together and figure out the way,” Djokovic said in that interview. “That was a very powerful and very impactful moment in my growth, my life, all of our lives.”

What is one deportation in comparison with all of that?

The answer seems self-evident, but the body blows can add up. Djokovic is accustomed to being the outsider, to hearing the roars of support for Federer and other opponents and winning anyway. He has even gone so far as to imagine that the crowds are chanting his name instead, but he has never been a global target to this degree.

Though he insists he does not want to be an anti-vaccine champion, the fallout from his iconoclastic stance in Australia — he is one of only three top-100 men’s players to be unvaccinated — means that he will be indelibly associated with the issue. And as long as he remains unvaccinated, he will face challenges entering some other countries and tournaments.

Energy is one of Djokovic’s hallmarks. Spend time with him one on one and his life force and restless curiosity come through, but he has expended a great deal of effort in recent years on causes beyond winning tennis matches: taking on the status quo on the men’s tour and creating a new player group to promote — so far unsuccessfully — change and more decision-making power for players at all levels of the rankings. He has helped start a new tournament in Belgrade, done charitable work in Serbia and the Balkan region and has cooperated with a behind-the-scenes documentary that is expected to be released in 2022.

It should have no dearth of content: no shortage of major triumphs and brutal setbacks. At what point does it all dull his edge? The answer could be right about now.

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Sports

University Farms Urged to Drive Innovation, Boost Revenue

Published

2 weeks ago

April 10, 2026

Sahara Weekly

University Farms Urged to Drive Innovation, Boost Revenue

A former Director in the Directorate of Environmental Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Dr. Akinpelu Basiru Ojo has called for the transformation of university farms into centres of innovation and sustainable revenue generation.

Dr. Ojo made this call at the 2026 Pre-Season Farming Seminar organised by the Directorate of University Farms (DUFARMS), held recently at FUNAAB.

While delivering his keynote address on the theme of the seminar, “The University Farm as an Incubation Ground for Innovation and Revenue Generation,” Dr. Ojo noted that university farms have evolved beyond their traditional roles into dynamic hubs for research, entrepreneurship, and industry collaboration.

He identified key areas where university farms could drive innovation, including research and development, student entrepreneurship, technology transfer, and interdisciplinary collaboration. He further urged DUFARMS to explore opportunities in commercial agricultural production, value addition and agro-processing, consultancy services, research partnerships, agritourism, and intellectual property commercialisation.

Highlighting potential challenges confronting university farms, the former Director listed inadequate funding, weak industry linkages, climate change, environmental risks, and limited commercial orientation. He, however, proposed strategies for optimisation, including the adoption of agribusiness models, integration of modern technologies, strengthened partnerships, promotion of student-led enterprises, and the development of sustainable value chains.

Reflecting on the evolution of DUFARMS, Dr. Ojo paid tribute to past Vice-Chancellors, beginning with the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nimbe Adedipe, whose vision led to the establishment of the University Farm. He also acknowledged milestones recorded under successive administrations, including the expansion of cashew and oil palm plantations, as well as the establishment of processing facilities for value addition.

He further commended the contributions of past and present staff, alongside former students who have attained notable academic positions, encouraging staff to uphold discipline, integrity, and continuous professional development.

As part of his recommendations for future growth, Dr. Ojo proposed the establishment of crop collection plots, revival of underutilised crops, exploration of cashew nutshell liquid production for revenue generation, and expansion of tree crop plantations such as cashew and oil palm.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, who declared the seminar open, emphasised the importance of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning in achieving institutional objectives. He described the seminar as timely and essential, noting that the University was established not only for teaching and research but also for meaningful community engagement, particularly in supporting farmers to enhance productivity.

Prof. Kehinde also commended DUFARMS for its efforts, especially its introduction of value addition initiatives, and urged staff, particularly in livestock production, to scale up activities in poultry, beef, pork, and egg production to improve the visibility and impact of the University Farms.

The seminar concluded with a renewed commitment by participants to reposition DUFARMS as a hub for innovation, practical training, and sustainable revenue generation, in line with global best practices.

Sports

FirstBank Sponsors Samuel Okwaraji U-16 Football Championship 2026, Promotes Education Through School Sports

Published

3 weeks ago

April 1, 2026

Sahara Weekly

FirstBank Sponsors Samuel Okwaraji U-16 Football Championship 2026, Promotes Education Through School Sports

Lagos, 31 March 2026 – FirstBank, the premier bank in West Africa and a leading financial inclusion service provider, is thrilled to announce its sponsorship of the maiden edition of the Samuel Okwaraji Under 16 Football Championship, a nationwide youth football tournament organised to honour the late Samuel Okwaraji, one of Nigeria’s most celebrated football legends renowned for his patriotism, discipline, and commitment to national service.

The tournament will engage secondary schools from all 36 states and the FCT, in a two-stage competition. The first stage will feature zonal eliminations across the six geopolitical zones, followed by a national final in Abuja featuring the top 12 qualifying teams. The event will also include cultural displays, memorial lectures, and talent scouting opportunities by national team coaches, ensuring a blend of sporting excellence and social impact.

Speaking on the sponsorship, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank, Olusegun Alebiosu, said: “Football is the strongest unifier of Nigerians. It brings communities together, inspires discipline, and nurtures talents across the country. FirstBank is making a deliberate incursion into grassroots football development with this sponsorship, creating an enabling environment for the next generation of Samuel Okwarajis to discover, refine, and maximise their potential, thereby shaping the future of Nigerian football.”

In his remarks, Senator Osita Izunaso, the Chairman of the Championship Organising Committee commended FirstBank for throwing its weight around the championship. He said “FirstBank’s legacy predates modern Nigerian football. The bank has once again shown that true corporate leadership lies in nation building. We thank FirstBank for their participation in this championship and we hope that other corporates will take a leaf and provide an enabling environment for young ones to thrive in education through sports.”

Through its First@Sports initiative, FirstBank has sustained an unbroken role in promoting the development of football and sports across Nigeria. The Bank is invested in nurturing talent through its ownership of the Elephant Boys Football Team currently competing in the Nigerian National League. The FirstBank Basketball Club popular known as the “Elephant Girls” is also owned by the Bank.

The Bank has supported youth-oriented and sporting initiatives including the National Sports Festival, South-West Youth Games, the Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship for 35 years, Lagos Amateur Golf Open Championship for 65 years, and the Georgian Polo Cup for 105 years.

The Bank’s sponsorship of the Samuel Okwaraji U-16 Tournament underscores its commitment to national unity, empowering communities, and fostering youth development.

Sports

Adeniyi Urges Customs Officers to Stay Fit, Commissions Sports Arena at Western Marine Command

Published

2 months ago

February 12, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Adeniyi Urges Customs Officers to Stay Fit, Commissions Sports Arena at Western Marine Command

By Ifeoma Ikem

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has reaffirmed the importance of physical and mental fitness among officers, stressing that the demanding nature of their duties requires them to remain in top condition at all times.

Adeniyi made the statement during the commissioning of the Wale Adeniyi Sports Arena at the Western Marine Command of the NCS in Apapa, Lagos.

He noted that Customs officers must prioritise their health to effectively discharge their responsibilities.

According to him, the daily operational demands placed on officers necessitate a culture of consistent exercise and wellness.

“Our job requires that we remain physically and mentally fit. I encourage all officers to embrace regular exercise. Every Saturday morning, I make out time to exercise to keep myself fit,” Adeniyi said.

He described the newly built sports facility as a strategic investment in the well-being of officers, urging the command to ensure that the arena is fully utilised.

“This facility was built to be used. I urge officers to embrace and make regular use of it so they can remain physically and mentally fit,” he added.

The Comptroller-General also commended traditional rulers and members of the host community for their support and impressive turnout at the commissioning ceremony, describing their presence as a reflection of strong community partnership.

In his remarks, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Western Marine Command, Comptroller Paul Ntadi, said the sports arena was dedicated in honour of Adeniyi in recognition of his diligence, professionalism and dedication to service, including his past role as National Public Relations Officer of the Service.

Ntadi explained that the Wale Adeniyi Sports Arena (WASA) represents more than just a recreational facility, noting that it aligns with the broader security and community engagement objectives of the Nigeria Customs Service.

“WASA is a practical expression of our belief that security is not only about enforcement, patrols and interceptions. It is also about prevention,” Ntadi said.

He added that providing safe spaces for recreation, mentorship and healthy competition would help steer youths away from crime, restiveness, drug abuse and other social vices.

“When we provide safe and positive spaces for recreation, mentorship and healthy competition, we are investing in peace, stability and the future of our communities,” he stated.

The CAC further noted that the presence of the Comptroller-General at the event underscores the importance the NCS places on community development, youth empowerment and sustainable peace.

He emphasised that the facility is designed to take young people off the streets and channel their energy into constructive activities.

“WASA is aimed at taking youths off the streets and into constructive engagement. It is built to become a centre of unity, growth and positive transformation — to nurture talents, inspire dreams and keep youths away from negative influences,” Ntadi said.