The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • Enyeama concedes three goals

    Enyeama concedes three goals

    • As Maccabi falls 1-3 to Hapoel in Israeli league

    • Says it’s part of football

    Barely 10 days to the Super Eagles’ AFCON clash against Lone Star of Liberia in Calabar, embattled number one goalie and Maccabi Tel Aviv’s safehand Vincent Enyeama Monday suffered a major away defeat in the Israeli league. The former Enyimba ace was caught on camera making an obscene gesture after Monday’s 1-3 painful loss to Hapoel Be’er Sheva.

    The defeat suffered by The Yellows was the first dropped points of the 2012 – 2013 season and leaves the club in second place, three points behind MS Ashdod, who parade Nigeria left back Juwon Oshaniwa.

    Sports Walla quoted Enyeama as saying after the game: ”According to the result it seems that nothing went well for us. You could say that nothing was good. We lost and also conceded three goals; it could even have been eight or nine, then we lost and everything went wrong. But that’s okay, it’s part of football.”

    Enyeama, who recently came under fire for what was dubbed his schoolboy errors in away games with Malawi and Liberia, conceeded the goals against Hapoel Be’er Sheva through set-pieces.

    ”It happens, really. (It’s) Part of the game. After you concede three goals like that, you’ve got to prepare, for it not to happen again in games to come. If we think now, thinking (about the loss) is not good, it will not help to us,” says Enyeama to the Israeli website.

    Asked for his comments on who to blame for defeat, Enyeama admitted: ”I do not blame any player for losing. I blame the team. We play 11 players with a yellow shirt, so we belong to the same team. We lose as a team. Maybe the defense was not good enough this time, so we suffered three goals, no problem, we will work on it. We still have lots of games to play and we have to check the video again and again where we went wrong and what we did wrong.”

    Maccabi Tel Aviv’s consolation goal was scored by home boy Munas Dabbur in the 49th minute while goals against the Nigerian were scored in the 40th, 67th and 83rd minutes respectively.

  • Jonathan to cheer Eagles

    Jonathan to cheer Eagles

    President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to lead members of his Federal Executive Council to the make-or-mar Africa Nations Cup qualifier between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Lone Star of Liberia holding at the U.J. Eusene Stadium, Calabar on Saturday 13th October.

    President Jonathan, it would be recalled, became the first-ever president of the country to watch the senior national team in training, when he visited the Super Eagles during a training session at the Abuja National Stadium before their deaparture to Liberia last month, for the first leg match which ended 2-2. The President had promised the team that he would be in South Africa in January to cheer them to victory, but for that to happen, they would first have to qualify.

    SportingLife’s source at The Presidency said: “The President is not taking his promise lightly, and in order to show the seriousness he attaches to it, he will be in Calabar personally to cheer the team on to victory on that day. He is expected to lead every member of his Federal Executive Council, and some National Assembly members led by Senator David Mark, the Senate President. Over 20 governors would also be in the stand to cheer the Super Eagles to victory.“

    “The boys need this morale booster at this time. Remember we were in the same position last year, but could not get it right, so, this time round, the Presidency has seen the need to ensure that the Super Eagles get that qualification. That is why President Goodluck Jonathan is leading the campaign,” the source concluded.

    Nigeria needed a slim victory in the last qualifying match against Guinea at the Abuja National Stadium, instead they managed a 2-2 draw which saw them not making it to the last edition held in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea early this year.

  • CAF Champions League Sunshine in closed camping for Ahly

    CAF Champions League Sunshine in closed camping for Ahly

    Sunshine Stars have moved into a closed camp in Ijebu-Ode ahead of a CAF Champions League semi final against Al Ahly of Egypt on Saturday.

    “We are in closed camp now; we arrived in Ijebu-ode on Sunday afternoon to start closed camp ahead of our game against Al Ahly. We are looking forward to a great game,” a player informed MTNFootball.com

    On whether the strike would have an adverse effect on the team, the player insisted it won’t as they are set to raise their game to beat six-time champions Al Ahly.

    “We are all looking forward and focused on having a victory. I don’t think the strike will affect us. The strike was a collective decision by us, now that it is over we are determined as a team to go all out and beat Al Ahly on Saturday,” he said.

    “Though we ought to have got our contract fees since the start of the season, the payment will be a morale booster for us ahead of the game. We know how important the game is to our careers. We are going for the kill in this game.”

  • 2012 AWC: Falcons are the team to beat- Mbachu

    2012 AWC: Falcons are the team to beat- Mbachu

    •Says Nigeria not afraid

    •Tips Flamingoes to win U- 17 World Cup

    SUPER FALCONS veteran winger, Stella Mbachu has boasted that her team would be the team to beat when hostilities begin for the Africa Women Championship (AWC) in Equatorial Guinea on October 28 to November 11th, 2012.

    The very experienced striker argued that Nigeria would still retain Cup. “We are taking our training in camp very seriously and we know what we are here (in Abuja) for. The Africa Women Championship is not like before.it is improving every day and other countries are working very hard to come and beat us and possibly dethrone us. But as Champions of Africa we are still working very hard to maintain our status.

    She, however declared that the Nigerian team are a threat to the other top teams like South Africa, Cameroon and host country Equatorial Guinea that would also participate in the competition.

    “We are not afraid of these teams, they are afraid of us and believe we are a threat to their ambition any time we play and the situation has not changed. We will do our best to retain the Trophy” She assured.

    Mbachu also threw her weight behind the Flamingoes to win the ongoing U- 17 FIFA World Cup in Azerbaijan.

    “The Flamingoes has what it takes to win the Cup because I know the quality of the players. They are young and very talented. The last time Nigeria campaigned in this competition we couldn’t go beyond the quarter-finals but I am confident that we can emerge Champion this time around.

    “Some of them have the experience having played in the same team before and Falconets too”, she told SportingLife.

  • BATTLE OF CALABAR 21 EAGLES TRAIN

    BATTLE OF CALABAR 21 EAGLES TRAIN

    •Reuben, Idris ruled out

    •Okoronkwo, Orji replace Pillars duo

    IT was good and the not too good news on Monday morning when the national team; Super Eagles resumed training for the October 13 duel against the Lone Stars of Liberia in Calabar.

    As expected all the players invited save for the Sunshine Stars duo of Izu Azuka and Solomon Kwambe, beat the Sunday evening deadline and were part of the training session at the training pitch of the Abuja National Stadium. “They have special permission to stay away for now”, declared Head Coach, StephenKeshi speaking on the Sunshine Stars duo, who are preparing to host Egyptian giants, Al Ahly Nationale this weekend in the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League.

    The not too good news however is that midfield ace, Gabriel Reuben and his Kano Pillars teammate, Papa Idris, have yet to recover well enough to be part of the team that will confront Liberia on October 13. Reuben suffered a groin injury during the finals of the Federation Cup in Lagos, while Idris has been battling a nagging knee injury, which has slowed down the usually pacy central defender.

    After Monday morning’s training, Keshi and his crew had a lengthy meeting after which it was decided that the two players should be excused, going by the crucial nature of the game at hand. They have since left camp and would be replaced by Heartland’s Kalu Orji and Stanley Okoronkwo of Sharks FC of Port Harcourt. “It was a painful decision to let the two players go, but we have to look at the future of the players and the fact that we will need the two of them at the South Africa 2013 Nations Cup, that is why we have said we should give them more time to go and get themselves healed. After the game against Liberia, they should be back in the team”, Head Coach Stephen Keshi explained.

  • Keshi: I won’t be partial

    Keshi: I won’t be partial

    SUPER EAGLES Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, has again insisted that there will be no partiality between home-based stars and those based abroad in the selection of the final team that will face Liberia, on October 13 in Calabar.

    “I know that 15 players are coming from Europe but we already have 21 of you here, what we expect is that you go out there and prove yourself during training and leave the rest to me. No matter how fantastic players are in Europe and in their clubsides, they have to come here to prove that they are good enough to start and if those of you that are here show that you are better you will start against Liberia”, Keshi told the players at the resumed training of the team in Abuja on Monday.

  • Oparanozie, Ordega relish Russia deal

    Oparanozie, Ordega relish Russia deal

    AFTER signing the dotted lines with Russian female club, Rossiyanka FC for an undisclosed fee, the duo of Desire Oparanozie and Francesca Ordega have said the desire to improve on their game made them switch to a new club.

    In a brief chat with SportingLife, an obviously excited Ordega expressed her delight with the deal which she said came at the right time.

    “Yes it is true I can confirm this very one. I am grateful to God for making this happen.

    “I have paid my dues and I believe it was the appropriate time for me to take my career abroad. I am happy,” Ordega said.

    The same view was shared by her team mate and compatriot, Oparanozie who is looking forward to kick staring her move with a bang to prove that her World Cup feat was no fluke.

    Both players had fantastic outings at the Japan 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, scoring 7 of the total 9 recorded by the team. Ordega got a hat trick against Italy and the lone goal against Brazil while Oparanozie’s 3 goals came in the matches against South Korea, Mexico and Japan.

    While Ordega plied her trade with Rivers Angels Opanozie was with Delta Queens before her departure.

  • Kaduna Utd board dissolution not about embezzlement — Babayaro

    Kaduna Utd board dissolution not about embezzlement — Babayaro

    Sabo Babayaro has opened up for the first time on the dissolution of the Kaduna United FC board – but says the board was dissolved because of the expiration of its tenure and not because of allegations of financial mismanagement by its members.

    SportingLife had exclusively reported last Thursday that the Babayaro-led board was dissolved by the state government.

    Babayaro assumed the mantle of leadership in 2004 when the northern club was still in the lower division and he helped the club gain promotion to the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) in the same year.

    In the eight years he was in charge of the team, the board was dissolved on four occasions, but he was re-appointed by the various governments.

    “I want to first of all thank the state government for the opportunity giving to me to serve as Kaduna United chairman. This is not the first time the board will be dissolved; at least the board has been dissolved four times since I took over the club and I had the privilege to be re-appointed again. This is the fifth time and every appointment always has its expiration date. In our own case, our board’s term of service has expired and the board was dissolved.

    “And, in my 35 years as a football administrator, I have never been found wanting in any financial matter and my achievements speak for me,” Babayaro, who guided the club to its first trophy (Federation Cup) in 2010 said.

    On the 150 million naira (N150m) alleged to have been given to the club to prosecute their CAF Confederation Cup in 2011, the seasoned administrator said any money released to the board was judiciously spent.

    “As I said, our board was not dissolved based on financial grounds. But, to set the records straight, assuming that 150 million naira was given to us, the team played 12 matches during continental games, six matches in the preliminary and six at the group stages. And if you divide 150 million naira by12 games that means we used N12.5 million to prosecute each match. And we, on average, travel with about 40 people any time we are going for an away match at the rate of 150 thousand naira per person to and fro for the flight ticket. And sixty thousand naira for flight tickets to and fro, from Kaduna to Lagos. And when we played in Tunisia and Algeria, it was during the lesser Hajj, and the flight ticket was very high. And even if we don’t include accommodation, add the players and technical crew’s allowances and other expenses and see whether the money was judiciously spent or not,” he countered.

    Under Babayaro, Kaduna United has maintained its NPL status since 2004, except in 2007 when the club was relegated to the lower division. It however bounced back to the top flight the following year.

  • Eagles, Black Stars ’ll be in S/Africa —Yeboah

    Eagles, Black Stars ’ll be in S/Africa —Yeboah

    Former Black Stars of Ghana star, Anthony Yeboa has tipped both the Super Eagles and the Black Stars of Ghana to pick the tickets for the 2013 Africa Nations Cup holding in South Africa from January next year.

    The Ghana football legend stormed Abuja on Saturday as a member of Ghana’s Team, Achimota Golf Club (1934) participating in this year’s edition of Nigeria’s Independence Cup, a three-day Match Play staged to mark the 52nd year Independence Anniversary of Nigeria holding at the IBB International Golf and Country Club

    Yeboah said that in as much as he is confident that Nigeria and Ghana would eventually qualify for the finals of the continent’s biggest football competition, he, however, wants the two countries to be serious with their football development programmes and preparations for major tournaments in other to maintain their dominance in the continent.

    “Definitely, I see Nigeria and Ghana playing in the finals of the 2013 Africa Nations Cup in South Africa. As for me, I don’t think there is going to be any problem booking the final tickets for both countries”, he said with full optimism.

    He, however, warned that, “Years ago when you talked about qualifications for (Africa) Nations Cup you couldn’t count Nigeria and Ghana out, but at the moment football has totally changed if you look at the performances of other countries in Africa. Other countries are also doing very well. So, we have to do our preparations very well. When everything is going well I don’t think Nigeria and Ghana will have any problem at all to deal with qualification situations”, Yeboa told SportingLife.

    The former Black Stars striker also pointed out that since football is a big business that brings big money to nations and has also enriched players, coaches and officials, the so-called minnows have buckled up and taken seriously the aspect of development and preparations for football competitions.

    “Zambia as a nation has attracted a lot of money as a result of winning the last Africa Nations Cup so other countries in Africa all mean business this time round, a reason why they are fast catching up with their big brothers in the continent”, he also explained.

  • Suswan to quit Setubal in Jan.

    Suswan to quit Setubal in Jan.

    Ex-Nigeria U20 star Terna Suswam has said he hopes to quit Vitoria Setubal in January as he has been frozen out by the Portuguese club.

    The defender, who broke his silence to MTNFootball.com, said he is hoping for a move away from the club during the January transfer window.

    “It’s very frustrating sitting on the bench and starting games,” the former Lobi Stars ace disclosed. It has not been easy for me. I have asked my agent to begin moves for the January window. But this is not to say I have problems with the club, I am not just happy that I am not play.”

    Suswan, who has been facing a trying time with the top division club where his compatriot late Rashidi Yekini made a huge impact, also stated that he would welcome a loan away from his club. “I don’t mind going on loan. I need to be playing because that is the only way I could improve and be called up by the national team,” reasoned the player who was capped by the Super Eagles two years ago.

    Suswan has not played a single match for his club this season and hardly even makes the squad list.