Son of Former Eagles Striker, Iorfa Offered New Sheffield Wednesday Deal
In the days leading up to their undisputed heavyweight title fight, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk seemed relaxed and eager to soak up the occasion, even as their camps taunted each other and clashed.
The biggest drama came early in the week, when Fury’s father, John, headbutted a member of Usyk’s entourage. But both the fighters had stayed light-hearted throughout the build-up – goodnaturedly teasing each other, and grinning and showboating in their open workouts.
But on a baking hot Thursday evening in Riyadh, as the unbeaten fighters came together at the final news conference before the bout today, both
With a statement on their official website, Championship club, Sheffield Wednesday have announced their retained and released list following the conclusion of the 2023-2024 season.
2014 Nigeria Olympic National Team invitee Dominic Iorfa is among the seven players offered new contracts, along with Barry Bannan, Cameron Dawson, Di’Shon Bernard, Liam Palmer, Will Vaulks and Josh Windass. grew terse and tight-lipped as the weight of the occasion seemed to press in.
Sitting opposite them, in the front row of a crowd of sweating journalists, entourages and VIP guests, was a grey-bearded Lennox Lewis, 58, and Evander Holyfield, 61. Lewis beat Holyfield in 1999 to become boxing’s last undisputed heavyweight champion.
On stage, Usyk, 37, was wearing a black and white traditional Ukrainian sash.
“Let’s make history. Enough. Thanks very much,” he said.
Fury, who sported a flame-coloured suit and a black trilby hat, is normally a garrulous and flamboyant
Dominic is the son of former Super Eagles striker Dominic Iorfa Sr., who represented Nigeria at the 1995 King Fahd Cup.
The defender’s contract expires at the end of next month and he will leave the Owls as a free agent if he does not sign the new deal. Iorfa came through the ranks at Wolverhampton Wanderers before transferring to Sheffield Wednesday in January 2019.
He made 32 appearances in figure renowned for his trash talk. But the 35-year-old British boxer also had little to say on Thursday.
“I’m ready. I’ve got nothing else to say apart from I’m ready for a good fight,” he said.
“God bless him,” he added when asked if he had a message for Usyk. “I’ll say a prayer for him before the fight for us both to get out of the ring safely.”
Boxing has long frustrated fans with various belts and sanctioning bodies creating multiple champions at the same weights, and frequent disputes over money and clashing egos often prevent the best fighters from facing each other in their prime. all competitions in two different loan spells with Ipswich Town and Shrewsbury during his time at Wolves.
Overall, the 28-year-old has featured in 165 matches for Sheffield Wednesday, registering ten goal involvements.
Iorfa, who was previously on the radar of the Nigeria Football Federation, has represented his native England at U18, U20 and U21 levels.
The Toronto Raptors Vice Chairman and President, Masai Ujiri, believes that Africa can achieve a lot when Nigeria moves in the right direction in all things, especially in the field of sports development. Ujiri, the co-founder of the famous Giants of Africa believes Nigeria and Africa can achieve far above average in sports if those in charge of administration and leadership push more investments towards the development of more sporting infrastructure.
The former D’Tigers player who spoke in Lagos said, “Nigeria is the heart of Africa; yes that’s why you have it positioned there. When Nigeria moves, Africa moves. Africa is looking up to Nigeria for the right moves. This continent is about the youths and we are inspired by them especially when we gather like this. They will continue to be leaders and they will change Africa. And Africa is already changing. We can really use sports to make the change. God has given us the opportunity to use sports to effect some change and our leaders must endeavour to move in the right direction.”
Masai spoke when the Giants of Africa, the non-profit organisation he co-founded returned to Lagos, Nigeria to host a youth basketball clinic at the Ilupeju Grammar School where they unveiled a basketball court in 2021. This clinic welcomed Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who shared remarks with the youth and participated in on-court activities. In addition, through their nonprofit organisation, the Archewell Foundation, they made a commitment to donate to Giants of Africa, supporting the construction of a new basketball court in Abuja, Nigeria. This contribution bolters the organisation’s ambitious initiative, ‘Built Within,’ a multi-year, 100-court investment in sports infrastructure across Africa.
“We are grateful to be joined by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at this basketball clinic here in Lagos,” said Masai Ujiri. “Basketball has the power to unite communities and inspire young people to reach their full potential. Teaming up with the Archewell Foundation, we look forward to creating experiences for young people, empowering them to become leaders, while also fostering pathways to opportunity and hope.”
Prince Harry said “What you guys are doing here at Giants of Africa is truly amazing. The power of sport can change lives. It brings people together and creates community”.
Megan, The Duchess of Sussex added, “We are thrilled to be here. I lived in Toronto for seven years and that was the first time I’d heard of Giants of Africa – talk about full circle – never did I think we would be able to be here all those years later supporting the expansion of this incredible organisation, through our foundation the Archewell Foundation. We’re so grateful and proud of all the work that you’re doing.”
In another talk with the media on the sidelines of the same event the ex-Nigeria international added, “Africa is blessed and there is something we have that nobody in the world has as much as us and that is the talent base.”
“The talent base in Africa is big andtheseyouthsyouareseeingtoday, wouldsurelybecomesomethingbig inlifeandsowhycan’twegivethem the platform to succeed,” Ujiri asked.
TheGiantsofAfricaisalmostatthe half way mark of its ‘Build Within’ initiativewithsome38basketballcourts already built across Africa including inLagos,IvoryCoast,Kenya,Burkina Faso, Senegal, Tanzania, Rwanda, Morocco amongst others. The organisation has done effective basketball and leadership programmes in some other African countries including Somalia.