The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • Flamingoes ready to banish T&T ghost — Dedevbo

    Coach of the national U-17 female team, Peter Dedevbo has said that his side is ready for the quarterfinal tie against France in the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Azerbaijan.

    He continued that his girls understand the technicalities of this stage and are ready to progress to the semifinals.

    “This is the knockout stage and my girls understand the technicalities when we take on France. I want my girls to convert all the chances they create as this will be crucial. From this stage onwards we will play each match as it comes, one game at a time” he said.

    Continuing, Peter said: “After the quarterfinal ouster in Trinidad and Tobago in 2010, this team has made tremendous progress and I’m particularly happy with my attackers’ performance who I believe will continue to give us the goals”

    Scorer of the brace against Colombia, Halimat Ayinde who was also in the 2010 squad assured that the hoodoo of that year has since been buried and the team is looking to get to the finals and win the cup.

    “I am happy I scored those two goals against Colombia for my team. It’s every attacker’s delight to score goals. I’m equally grateful to God for helping me score the goals.

    “I am not afraid of France – yes we got eliminated at the quarterfinal stage at the last World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago but I believe in my self and the girls that we will make it into the semifinals this time. We have come a long way and we are not going to look back,” said Ayinde.

    The team captain, Victoria Aidelomon, who was part of the squad two years ago said that she was excited to have made it to the quarterfinals again but she believes her team will qualify for the semis at the expense of France.

    “I’m excited we have once again qualified for the quarterfinals. What happened two years ago is now history because I believe France are beatable. By the grace of God and the prayers and support of Nigerians both here and back home, I believe we will beat France” Aidelomon assured.

    Meanhile, there seems to be some jitter in the France camp as they were all eager to catch a glimpse of Halimat Ayinde (No14) who scored a brace against Colombia when the team was leaving the hotel for training.

    The team resumed training on Sunday afternoon after resting in the morning.

  • MAIGARI TO MEDIA: Save Eagles from robbers

    MAIGARI TO MEDIA: Save Eagles from robbers

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Aminu Maigari has appealed to the media not to make the issue of what Super Eagles players and coaches earn from match bonuses news items since such disclosures endanger their lives and that of family members.

    Maigari revealed this to select members of the pressmen in Lagos on Friday stressing that such disclosures make the players and officials targets for armed robbers, kidnappers and other evil-minded people.

    “Some of the things that we publish about these players especially their earnings and what we give them as bonuses endanger their lives. They complain to me most times and I feel for them given some of the things that have happened to them arising from what these criminals read about them and hear of them in the media. In fact, the players have approached us severally to complain. Thye told us of how they live in fear anytime they are in the country. And it is not good. I want the media men to consider these players’ pleas even if you say that such stories make your platform to remain in business.

    “On my part, I have appealed to my members not to disclose what we pay these players. But I get angry when I read the figures in the media. I know that the General Secretary, of course he is a lawyer, won’t tell anyone or my members. I have warned the workers in the NFF not to divulge such information.

    “Look at what happened to me for instance with one media man. He walked up to me asking why we were owing the coaches for three months. I asked if the coaches laid the complaints to him and if he had their permission to ask me the question. I inquired from him if he had been paid salaries in the last three months because I also read in a gossip magazine that his medium was owing staff salaries. He laughed and we both walked away.

    “I was shocked when he ‘broke’ a story that Maigari confirms indebtedness to Eagles coaches to the tune of N60 million. I was livid with anger. You can imagine that situation. And that is the reason why I don’t get angry with my people when I read such news in the media.

    “We will not shirk our duties to ensure that our players get the best in terms of their welfare, but please save them from evil people by keeping such personal issues out of the media. You can celebrate their goals. You can write about their families and what they have achieved. But please, leave out their earnings,” Maigari said.

    Last year, the father of Chelsea and Super Eagles midfield pearl, John Obi Mikel was abducted in Jos. Out-of-favour Super Eagles ace Christian Obodo was kidnapped in Delta State a few months ago, while Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo’s younger brother also suffered the same fate. All were eventually freed by security agencies.

  • Yak hits seventh goal

    Super Eagles and Guangzhou striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni continued his goal-scoring ritual in the Chinese Super League with an 80th minute strike against Guizhou Renhe at the Yuexiushan Stadium Sunday.

    The M. Kosanovic-led Guizhou Renhe, currently placed 5th in the 16-team league, took the game to their hosts but failed to convert any of their chances.

    Aiyegbeni, who was tomentor-in-chief to the visitors, finally got his break in the 80th minute which turned out to be the only goal of the enounter .

    An elated Guangzhou coach Sérgio Farias was quick to give the former Portsmouth and Blackburn ace a pat on the back for, again, rising to the occassion.

    Aiyegbeni, who scored 17 goals in his last season in the English Premiers League before heading for China, is only ten goals from re-enacting the feat he achieved while with Blackburn Rovers in the 2011/2012 season. The former Macabi Haifa and Everton forward has so far netted seven goals for Guangzhou who currently occupy the 3rd position with 41 points in 26 matches.

  • Eko 2012 gets NBC’sN100m sponsorship

    Eko 2012 gets NBC’sN100m sponsorship

    Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), the authorised manufacturer of Coca-Cola products, has lent weight behind the 18th National Sports Festival which is to be hosted by Lagos in November.

    At a ceremony held at the Iddo House, Lagos head office of the company yesterday, Segun Ogunsanya, NBC Managing Director, presented a cheque of N10 million and a value-in-kind worth another N100 million to the Local Organising Committee, LOC of the Games, which is tagged Eko 2012.

    He explained that the value-in-kind would include various products of NBC which would be branded specifically for Eko 2012 and distributed at all the activation points of the Games. These include bottled water, fruit juices and other drinks from the stable of the company.

    According to Ogunsanya, NBC has over the years enjoyed a warm relationship with the government and people of Lagos State and also thrived in the environment. He said the sponsorship of the Games was therefore NBC’s way of giving back to the society which has provided an enabling operating environment for the company.

    He further said that NBC and Coca-Cola hold sports in high esteem which informs their partnership with major international sports fiestas, including the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup, among others.

    Receiving the sponsorship package, Molade Okoya-Thomas, Chairman of the Sponsorship and Marketing Sub-Committee of the Games, expressed deep gratitude to NBC for its support despite the harsh economic climate. He assured the company that it would derive great value from the partnership with the organisers.

    Also responding, Dr. Kweku Tandoh, Secretary-General of the LOC, commended NBC and urged other corporate organisations to take advantage of the Games to connect with their prospective and existing customers. “Eko 2012 is the place to have your products and services for maximum dividends on investment,” he said.

  • Kwara job: Unuanel leads the pack

    Kwara job: Unuanel leads the pack

    Except a last-minute change of mind occurs, former Ocean Boys technical adviser, Samson Unuanel is a sure bet to be named head coach of NPL side Kwara United on Tuesday.

    Unuanel tops the three short-listed coaches forwarded to the management board of the Afonja Warriors on Friday for the plum job by the Kunle Adefiyun-led nine-man technical committee.

    The two others on the list include former Bukola Babes (ABS) and 3SC coach, Festus Allen and suspended Niger Tornadoes coach, Justin Tenger.

    About 43 coaches showed interest in the Kwara United coaching job, namely the immediate past coach, Tunde Sanni, Solomon Ogbeide, Kabiru Dogo, Alphonsus Dike, Lawrence Akpokona, Mohammed Baba Ganaru, among several others.

    A Supersport.com source said Unuanel is certain to be named coach having excelled above his other contenders for the position.

    “The technical committee submitted the names of three coaches to the board on Friday for consideration as head coach of Kwara United.

    “The board is expected to pick one and it’s most likely that the chosen coach will be named and unveiled on Tuesday or Wednesday.

    “The successful coach will be given a year’s contract, that is, to guide the team for the 2012/2013 NPL season.

    “Coach Samson Unuanel is most certain to be named coach as he was the best, followed by Festus Allen and Justin Tenger.

    “I don’t know any other hurdle that’ll stop Unuanel from clinching the hot job,” the source said.

    Unuanel is an assistant coach with the national senior women’s team, Super Falcons.

  • Nigeria @ 52 Independence Golf Tourney: Nigeria vow to whitewash Ghana

    Captain of the Nigeria Team, who is also the Captain of IBB International Golf and Country Club, Barrister Tony Azogu, has vowed to lead his team to a thorough whitewash of the visiting, Achimota Golf Club (1934) of Ghana team in this year’s Nigeria Independence Cup that was staged to mark the 52nd Independence Anniversary of Nigeria.

    The competition which teed-off on Saturday would be rounded off today while various prizes would be given to winners of the categories played in the three-day Match Play.

    A tough-talking Azogu told SportingLife that, “In this year’s edition of the competition we have resolved to beat Ghana thoroughly. Aside that, I would say the main reason for staging this tournament is that we want to build bridges with Ghana and we also want to build bridges with our brothers across Africa.”

    He, however, downplayed the rivalry between the two nations and said what existed was a healthy rivalry, because, “Ghana and Nigeria are two sides of the same coin. We have always been in Ghana during their Independence Anniversary and they have always honoured ours. So I believe that we will all have fun during this event”, Azogu, who also clocked 52 on Thursday, disclosed.

    Ghana’s Captain, Rene Gameli Kwame, who led a strong team of golfers including former Black Stars of Ghana striker, Anthony Yeboah now a golfer, is also not treating the Match Play with kid gloves and he fired back that his team had not come to Nigeria to count bridges. He vowed to lead his team to victory against Nigeria represented by the IBB Club.

    “Last time we lost here at IBB Golf Club and they (Nigeria) came to Ghana on the 6th of March this year and also lost. So, it’s been a tradition that any time either of the two counties hosted they won. It’s like host and win but we are here to break that tradition. They (IBB Golf Club) will not host and win this year. That’s why we have increased our number (of golfers) from the 12 that participated last year to 20 this year.

    “We even brought a player like Tony Yeboah who was a giant in football and now good golfer. Like the Nigeria Captain said, it’s another way of creating a bond between the two countries such as sports and tourism. The friendship and brotherhood are more strengthened with a game like golf. As part of the ECOWAS, we all benefit not just from the economics but also from social and sports aspects.

    Kwame also praised Nigeria’s hospitality to the high heavens. “We are already overwhelmed by Nigeria’s hospitality which has always been the best since we have been coming to participate in this tournament.

    So we look forward to coming to Nigeria every year,” he told SportingLife.

    A member of the Ghana team and former Black Stars of Ghana star, Anthony Yeboa also confirmed his passion for his new sport, golf.”

  • BLACK SUNDAY FOR Venlo: Nwofor sees red

    BLACK SUNDAY FOR Venlo: Nwofor sees red

    It was a sad day for Nigeria’s Uche Nwofor Sunday as his side VVV Venlo went down 0-6 at home to visiting PSV.in the Dutch Eredivisie.

    Nwofor, who bagged a yellow card in the 7th minute, had his woes compounded in the 64th when he got a second yellow followed by a red card.

    A rampaging PSV striker D Mentes made sure that Nwofor and his teammates did not enjoy any breathing space and accounted for three of the visitors’ goals scored in the 23rd, 35th and 79th minutes with teammate J. Locadia grabbing his in the 75th, 82nd and 86th minutes

    All efforts by the coach Ton Lokhoff-led VVV to remedy the situation failed with the team getting two extra yellow cards aside from the red shown the Nigerian.

  • Uche brothers score in Spain, Turkey

    Nigerian international siblings Kalu Uche and Ikechukwu Uche both scored to propel their respective clubs to victory on Saturday.

    In the Turkish Super Lig, Kalu Uche continued his impressive form this season to help his club Kasimpasa get the better of Joseph Yobo’s Fenerbache as he opened scoring for the home side in the 73rd minute, before his teammate Huseyin Kala came off the bench to score the second four minutes later to seal the 2-0 win over the former Turkish champions.

    Kalu Uche is now the joint top scorer in the Turkish Super Lig with five goals from six games, but has strangely not been invited to the Super Eagles squad in recent times despite his great form for Espanyol last season, which he has carried to his new club.

    His younger brother Ikechukwu Uche has been luckier in the national team set-up, as he has been one of the most consistent performers in the Super Eagles attack.

    The 28-year-old has, however, suffered contrasting fortunes at club level as he had failed to score for Villarreal prior to this weekend. The Super Eagles fans favourite ended his goal drought by scoring in added time of the second half to help Villarreal overcome visiting Cordoba 2-0.

    The game had looked like it was going to end a goalless draw before Hernan Perez opened scoring in the 80th minute.

    Villarreal are now placed second in the Spanish Segunda Division and are primed for instant promotion, after their shock relegation from La Liga last season.

  • Injured Oduamadi admits he misses football

    Nigeria winger Nnamdi Oduamadi has admitted he misses the game just as he began rehabilitation for a hip injury.

    The Varese of Italy forward told MTNFootball.com he has begun his journey back to action after a long injury layoff as he now walks any without support and has been working out at the gym.

    “I have dropped the crutches, I am feeling better now. I have now commenced work at the gym and I will soon start training,” he disclosed.

    “I have missed the game a lot and I am very much eager to return to action soon.”

    He suffered the injury during training with the Super Eagles in June and needed surgery thereafter.

    The former AC Milan player was part of the Torino team who won promotion back to Serie A last term where he scored three goals in 11 appearances.

  • Obada seals 2-0 win for Swallows

    Obada seals 2-0 win for Swallows

    Nigeria international and Maroka Swallows safehands Greg Etafia stood was a rock Sunday against Mamelodi Sundowns in the competitive South Africa Professional Soccer League (PSL).

    The performance comes just when Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi hinted that he might extend an invitation to Etafia in the Eagles’ quest for tickets for South Africa 2013 and Brazil 2014.

    First-half goals from Lerato Chabangu and Nigerian Felix Obada handed Moroka Swallows all three points as they compounded Mamelodi Sundowns’ horror start with a 2-0 result.

    The PSL’s current star player Chabangu opened the scoring after just five minutes following some sensational one-two play in the build up, while Obada made it two on 30 minutes to take the Dube Birds to fifth in the standings.

    The Brazilians, meanwhile, have now lost four of their opening six Premiership ties, leaving Johan Neeskens’ men 14th in the standings and outside the relegation zone only on goal difference.

    The Birds had beaten the Brazilians 6-5 on aggregate in the teams’ MTN8 semifinal and took a deserved three points from this league encounter. ‘Downs have lost four of their last five matches in the Premiership and scored just three goals so far.

    Etafia has been in the PSL for nearly 10 seasons and has made over 250 appearances for The Birds