The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abia Warriors

  • Abia Warriors players apologise to fans

    Abia Warriors players apologise to fans

    Players of Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia have apologised to their numerous fans across the country for their lack luster performance in recent times which saw them lose three consecutive matches in seven days.

    In a letter of apology signed by team captain, Chima Uluocha and addressed to the chairman of the club, Emeka Inyama, the players took responsibility for the losses and regretted the valuable points they lost in the process.

    While lamenting the agony the losses brought to their fans and management, the players promised to make up for the lost grounds in their subsequent matches.

    “We really regret losing those matches knowing that the points and match bonuses we would have gained, would have bettered our lives in one way or the other”, they said.

    The players commended the management for living up to expectations by ensuring the prompt settlement of their emoluments and promised to reciprocate the gesture henceforth by putting up better performance in their future matches.

  • El-Kanemi vow to devour Abia Warriors

    El-Kanemi vow to devour Abia Warriors

    El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri have vowed to defeat their opponents, Abia Warriors in their re-arranged Glo Premier League Week Two tie in Kano today.

    The Maiduguri based side were told to find an alternative home ground away from their volatile capital and they chose Kano for their home games this season.

    Abia Warriors are the first club to visit Kano to face El Kanemi and the club’s duo of Bamai Bukar and Abraham Audu have promised their fans of a winning start at their adoptive home.

    Bukar said: “We are not going to win alone but we also want to win well to show that Abia Warriors are no match for us. We know what to expect from them because we have watched their pre season and recent matches. We are going to work on their strength and weaknesses.”

    The visionary midfielder nonetheless called on Kano fans to come all out to cheer them to victory.

    The same feeling was also shared by Abraham Audu who disclosed that El Kanemi would be out to prove a point against Abia Warriors.

    Meanwhile, El Kanemi Warriors’ chairman, Zannah Mala Kakaje has disclosed that he would be expecting a good response from his boys as a way of telling the LMC that they accept the opportunity to play in Kano.

    But the chairman, however, noted that he is still pained at several of the team’s supporters that won’t be available for the match.

  • Abia Warriors unveil squad

    Abia Warriors unveil squad

    Glo Premier League newcomers, Abia Warriors have named 35 players for the upcoming 2013/14 season.

    The list consists of 20 new players and 15 of the 35 players that won the club ticket to the summit of Nigeria’s league.

    Among the old players retained after a rigourous screening exercise include captain, Chima Uluocha, Mohammed Garba, Sampson Chuks, Joseph Onuoha, Peter Onyekachi and top scorer, Chisom Chikatara while the duo of Marshall Okoro and Ndifreke Effiong crossed over from city rivals, Abia Comets.

    The new players include two strikers from outside the nation’s shores, Idriss Toure from Cote d’Ivoire and Benin Republic’s Kuassi Judiceael.

    Others include experienced legs such as Emmanuel Fabiyi who captained Bayelsa United to the third in the out gone 2012/13 Glo Premier League season and Abdulwasiu Sowemimo, who captained Kano Pillars to the semi-final of the African Champions League in 2008 as well as former Enyimba captain, Chidozie Johnson have also joined Abia Warriors.

    Other new signings are Ogbonnaya Okemiri, a two-time CAF Champions League winner with Enyimba and member of Nigeria’s Supersand Eagles.

    The 35-man list has Onyekachi Okoye, Abbas Rabiu and Stanley Okoronkwo who were recalled after spending last season on loan.

    Technical adviser, Emeka Ezeugo disclosed to supersport.com that it was a herculean task arriving at the final 35 names as every player in camp did very well as the screening lasted.

    The former Nigerian defender, however, announced that his gate is still open for any player of exceptional quality and expressed confidence that the players will compete favourably in their elite league debut.

    The full list

    Joseph Onuoha, Chinedu Anozie, Emmanuel Fabiyi, Okoro Obasi, Walbe David, Nwabalogu Obinna, Chima Uluocha, Ogbonnaya Okemiri, Nelson Onyekachi, Chuks Sampson, Abdul Sowemimo, Amadi Obinna, Onyekachi Okoye, Chidozie Johnson, Salami Kingsley, Marshall Okoro, Ebuka Opara, Olumide Lukman, Ugochukwu Obiegbu, Ifeanyi Onyeali, Ikechukwu Emmanuel, Peter Onyekachi, Chisom Chikatara, Idriss Toure, Arinze Okorie, Obarakpo Austine, Kuassi Judieael, Ndifreke Effiong, Philip Uche, Omosiwo Stanley, Stanley Okoronkwo, Amobi Ifeanyichukwu, Solomon Jock, Abbas Rabiu, Mohammed Garba.

  • Abia Warriors sign 5 foreign players

    Abia Warriors sign 5 foreign players

    Newly promoted Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia on Wednesday signed on five foreign players ahead of the 2013/2014 Globacom Premier League starting on Jan. 22.

    Igwe Onuoha, the club’s Media Officer, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that the players were two Ivoirians, Toure Idriss, a striker, and Ngouan Ibelson, a midfielder. He said the others were a striker from the Republic of Benin, Kuassi Judi, a central defender, Xavier Abar and another player from Senegal, Pierre Merch.

    Onuoha said that the Warriors had been training twice daily at the renovated Umuahia Township Stadium.

    “Some soccer-hungry fans, who have been part of the training sessions, swarm daily to the arena to catch the action, especially to see the foreign players.

    “The players put up some brilliant performances that won the admiration of the fans with a technical crew led by former Super Eagles player, Emeka Ezeugo,’’ he said.

    According to him, Ezeugo expressed happiness at the arrival of the players, saying their presence has engendered more positive competition in the squad.

    Onuoha, however, added that Ezeugo could not, for now, name the final squad for the season because the club was still playing some friendly matches to determine the final selection.

    The media officer added that Ezeugo, the club’s Technical Adviser, was finalising strategies and concentrating on physical training that would see the players through the whole season.

    Onuoha said that Ezeugo had also commended the management of the club for its assistance, and promised that they would not disappoint their numerous fans.

  • Abia Warriors to abolish signing-on fees

    Abia Warriors to abolish signing-on fees

    Premier League debutants Abia Warriors FC of Umuahia have said signing-on fees will not be paid to their players and officials this season to avoid the face-off usually associated with the non-settlement of such fees by clubs during and after the season.

    Chairman of the club, Emeka Inyama, who disclosed this in Umuahia during the investiture of the club’s new Patrons at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, said the club will instead pay enhanced salaries, a living wage to its staff, players and technical crew to give them a sense of belonging and avoid the bickering associated with non-payment of signing-on fees.

    “The problem of signing-on fees is the problem of Nigerian Football. For instance, if a player is paid a salary of N150, 000 and he is promised the sum of Six Million naira as signing-on fees, it is difficult for a governor that has other contending issues to bring out about N300 Million or N400 Million for the payment of signing-on fees.

    “And if it is not settled, the players will agitate and if they agitate, they don’t play well and they will go on strike. So, here, we will pay them enhanced salaries, living wages that will enable them handle their problems.”

    Inyama said he had to apply this innovation in order to help the government which is sponsoring the team. He also disclosed he had discussed with some financial Institutions to ensure that part of the money they are paid will be saved for them while there is an insurance package that will go with it.

    The Warriors’ chief, who is also the Chairman Nigeria National League Board and a member of the CAF Publicity Committee, said the club will not rely solely on government for its financial needs this season as arrangements are in top gear to bring in the private sector.

    According to him, the club has concluded plans to develop season-long ticketing whereby fans will purchase tickets in bulk with permanent seats allocated to them at the stadium, while raffle draws and other promotional activities will also be held on match days to encourage spectator’s troop to the stadium to watch the Warriors.

  • NNL Super Four: Ezeugo blames Abia Warriors’ performance on fatigue

    NNL Super Four: Ezeugo blames Abia Warriors’ performance on fatigue

    The Technical Adviser of Abia Warriors FC of Umuahia, Emeka Ezeugo, on Wednesday in Abuja blamed fatigue for his team’s unimpressive performance against FC Taraba of Jalingo.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abia Warriors had defeated FC Taraba 4-2 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw.

    NAN reports that Peter Onyekachi of Abia Warriors had opened scores for his team in the 7th minute, while Bobby Abel of Taraba FC drew his team level in the 24th minute.

    The victory at the FIFA Goal Project pitch of the Abuja National Stadium gave them a place in the final of the 2013 Nigeria National League (NNL) Super Four Championship. They will now meet Giwa FC of Jos on Thursday at the same venue in the final match, after the Jos side had beaten Crown FC of Ogbomoso to qualify also.

    Ezeugo however said he was unimpressed by the victory because he had expected his team to play better to win the game.

    “They did not play as much as I would have liked them to play. They did not play as well as they usually do. The poor showing was due to fatigue. We got to Abuja last (Tuesday) night after a 10-hour trip. So, you do not expect the guys to play well. They played like they had bricks tied to their legs,” the former Super Eagles player said.

    He however said he expected them to do better when they meet Giwa FC in the final match on Thursday.

    Speaking also, coach Peter Komi of FC Taraba however attributed his team’s unimpressive performance to poor preparation. He said he had only four players to train with when the team opened its camp.

    The coach expressed hopes that the team would perform better when they meet Crown FC in the third-place match on Thursday.

    “We did not start training on time. I had only four players on ground. Others reported late to camp. But I was not expecting them to perform a magic anyway. Nevertheless, we will ensure that we win the third-place match,” he said.

  • Abia Warriors’ premier league ticket commended

    Abia Warriors’ premier league ticket commended

    Encomiums have continued to pour in for Abia Warriors that gained promotion to the premier league recently.

    A grass-root scout and owner of SunnyBlack Football Academy, Aba, SunnyBlack Ogbeka has congratulated the head coach of the club, Chijioke Osuagwu and club’s Chairman, Chief Emeka Inyama over the feat.

    Abia Warriors joined the elite division cadre two weeks ago after the club whitewashed Akwa Starlets 4-0 at Umuahia.

    Ogbeka disclosed that Abia Warriors’ promotion to the premier league will make the people of Abia State to enjoy first class football action from the premier league every week.

    “I am happy about the feat recorded by Abia Warriors. It was got after many years of trying. We now have two clubs in the Premier League. It means premier league action will continue to be viewed weekly by our fans,” an elated Ogbeka told SportingLife.