The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ABS

  • Mbaoma: I turned down offers from Akwa United, ABS

    Mbaoma: I turned down offers from Akwa United, ABS

     

    Remo Stars’ skipper, Victor Mbaoma has disclosed that he rebuffed overtures from Akwa United and ABS to remain with the Sky Blue Stars and help in the concerted effort to ensure that they do not go on relegation at the end of the season.

    Mbaoma has netted seven goals for Remo Stars in less than 19 matches in his debut season in the topflight and the Abia born forward revealed to SportingLife that he could have quit the Shagamu based side during the mid season transfer had he decided to go for cash.

    “There were serious offers from Akwa United which the club informed me of while ABS called me personally to inform me how happy they will be to have me but I decided against leaving at this critical time when we are still fighting for our survival in the league. The relationship with the club owner played a greater role in my decision to remain here,” Mbaoma told SportingLife.

    Remo Stars are currently last on the league table with 19 points from 18 games although they are still with a match at hand against Rivers United in Port Harcourt next week.

  • ABS releases 6 players as team embarks on break

    ABS releases 6 players as team embarks on break

    The management of Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Ilorin FC, has released six players and placed three on probation.

    The team’s Director of Football, Alloy Chukwuemeka, told newsmen in Ilorin on Sunday that the club arrived at the decision to drop the players after a meeting at the club’s secretariat on Saturday.

    He said the players were released because of lack of productivity, saying their contribution to the team is not encouraging hence the need to replace them with others.

    “We had told the players from the beginning that only the good ones among them wiil stay.

    “We are very ambitious and we want to achieve good results, so we will not tolerate anyone not adding to our value.

    “This is a young team that we are building for the future, the process starts now and the foundation must be solid,” Chukwuemeka said.

    The Secretary of the Club Owners, explained that the technical crew has requested for immediate replacement for the six released players.

    “We are going to recruit another six to replace the dropped players.

    “Screening for these new set of players will commence on Monday to Wednesday,” Chukwuemeka added.

    Meanwhile, the team has since gone on break to regroup by Friday, April 28 for preparations for the second stanza of the league and the final of the state Federation Cup against Kwara United.

  • Injured ABS midfielder out for 12 weeks

    Injured ABS midfielder out for 12 weeks

    The Coach of Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Ilorin FC, Henry Makinwa, has confirmed that one of his players Muiz Adeoti will be out for at least 12 weeks due to a fractured toe.

    Makinwa while speaking with journalists on Wednesday in Ilorin said the young midfielder had undergone a successful surgery on the toe in a private hospital in Lagos on Tuesday.

    “We are very sad about the injury but we thank God the operation was successful.

    “He should be out for no fewer than 12 weeks.

    “We had tried a lot of corrective measures to get him back on the field but it has not yielded any results.

    “This is why we opted for the operation, we will give him all necessary support to get him back quickly.

    “At a time, we asked him to run but he couldn’t run very well then, hence the reason we went for the operation,” Makinwa said.

    It would be recalled that Adeoti has not taking part the season due to the injury sustained at the end of last season.

  • Plateau 4-1 ABS: Bala nets hat-trick as United return to NPFL summit

    Plateau 4-1 ABS: Bala nets hat-trick as United return to NPFL summit

    •Coach Makinwa sent off

    Reuben Bala scored a hat-trick as Plataeu United returned to the summit of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) following a 4-1 home win against ABS FC at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos yesterday.

    The match was eventful, as both sides gave it a real go from the blast of the referee’s whistle but it was the Bukola Saraki Boys that suffered the first misfortune of the encounter as coach Henry Makinwa was sent-off in the 12th minute.

    Eight minutes later, Joshua Obaje put the home side in front with a delightful header from a Mafeng Pam’s cross.

    ABS FC responded with a goal of their own when a direct ball into the penalty area came off Plateau United defender Hamisu Saleh and sailed past Dele Ajiboye.

    However, just before the end of the first half, the referee signalled for a penalty after ABS defender, Ernest Governor was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box. Reuben Bala stepped up and finished past Sulaiman Dogo to make it 2-1.

    The second half saw a total collapse by the Illorin based side as the home side ran riot.

    Bala rose highest to head home Daniel Itodo’s long throw-in to restore Plateau United’s two-goal cushion.

    And with the game in its final minutes, Ibeh Johnson was fouled inside the box by Ibrahim Omolayo and the referee awarded a penalty which Bala stepped up and finished with aplomb to complete his hat-trick.

    The 4-1 win saw Plateau United return to the top of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) log after leaders MFM FC lost 1-0 against Gombe United.

  • ABS seek response at Plateau United, says Governor

    ABS seek response at Plateau United, says Governor

    Ernest Governor wants a response from ABS FC when they clash with Plateau United in their Matchday 15 topflight clash.

    The Ilorin outfit are placed fifth on the log but, recently, have posted less impressive results and the defender is looking forward to a ‘positive’ result when they travel to the Rwang Pam Stadium on Sunday.

    “We are going to Jos for a win and nothing else,” Governor told Goal.

    “Plateau United are always in control of the ball and with that, they control the game. But they do not always win. We need to work throughout, we can wrest control of the game.

    “[When we have the ball] we should head towards their goal. Defensively we must be similar to the other teams who have gotten positive results at the Rwang Pam Stadium in the past. We look forward to the game and have to play to our maximum.”

  • ABS still focused-Stone

    ABS still focused-Stone

    ABS FC’s Stone Evbuomwan insists his side is not lacking in capacity to challenge for glory in the current Nigeria Professional Football League season.

    Following a horrible 3-0 defeat against Remo Stars, the Saraki Boys suffered their first home slip of the season in a 1-1 home draw against Enyimba in Ilorin.

    The midfielder’s late second half strike canceled out the visitors’ first-half lead to ensure Henry Makinwa’s men escaped their first home defeat of the season.

    While explaining his side’s inability to see off the People’s Elephants, he expressed disappointment over their shattered home winning record but promised they will bounce back in Jos.

    “It was a very difficult one. I think Enyimba showed us that they were a better team and being experienced with a lot of experience players,” Stone told Goal.

    “We have a lot of rookies on our team trying to impress the coach and running around but they were letting the ball run. I think the experience made a difference for them.

    “Before the game, I told my roommate that the game was the one I will delight to play because they are a more experience side. I believe my experience will count.

    “Left for the coach, he knows what he is doing. I don’t need to ask him when to play me. Lucky, the coach brought me in and told me now is when I need your experience.

    “So for me what you’ve got. I came in and had to psyche up the players and we got the goal. Quite sad, we got it too late. I wish we had scored much earlier it would have been a victory for us.”

    “It was a disappointing one because I was once with ABS and now I’m back with them. They had a record of not drawing any of their home game in the last two years,” he continued.

    “Meaning we the new team came and broke the winning home record. It was a very disappointing one and personally, I yet to get over it.

    “If you look at the league, there is no better team. I think whoever plays well will get the result. Personally, I don’t see Enyimba as a big team though they are one of the biggest teams in Nigeria.

  • Katsina Utd, ABS secure win on NPFL return

    Katsina Utd, ABS secure win on NPFL return

    Katsina United and Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC both emerged winners in their NPFL 2016/17 Match Day One ties which marked their return to the elite division class after some seasons in the lower league.

    Katsina United led by Bala Nikyu prevailed over their foes, Gombe United at the Karkanda International Stadium 2-1 yesterday while ABS overpowered Akwa United 3-1 at the Kwara State Sports Complex, Ilorin.

    ABS’ Mohammed Mohammed fired the Ilorin side ahead in the 12th minute but Akwa United equalised through Godspower Igudia in the 19th minute.

    The Ilorin side led again in the 30th minute after Stone Evbuomwan converted a spot kick awarded his side while Abubakar Chindo made the day safe with the third goal in the 65th minute.

    In Katsina, Tasiu Lawal scored the club’s first league goal on their return to the NPFL early in the tie before Manir Ubale drew his side level but the hosts had the last laugh when Suleiman Ibrahim scored the second which turned out to be the winning goal in the 36th minute.

  • ABS win Kwara FA Cup

    ABS win Kwara FA Cup

    ABS FC on Sunday defeated Kwara United 6-5 on penalties to win the 2014 Kwara State Football Association Cup.

    Regulation time had ended 1-1, and ABS FC scored five out of six spot kicks to edge their city rivals. Agoh Christian put ABS FC ahead in the first half, after an inter-change of passes with Ossy Eugene, and he met the return pass inside the box to slot in beside goalkeeper Suraju Aiyeleso who was displaced.      Kwara United struggled to come back from the deficit, with Coach Samson Unuanel employing all the arsenals in his armoury, including the introduction of goal machine, Segun Alebiosu.

    His introduction in the early part of the second half paid off when Kwara United slotted home from the edge of the 18-yard box free-kick, to make it 1-1 for Kwara United.

    The highly interesting encounter, which brought out the best out of the two teams ended goaless.      The penalty session was won by ABS FC, even though they lost the first kick through Kunle Lawal, but Segun Alebiosu also lost what would have been the winning kick for Kwara United.

    Ossy Eugene scored for ABS FC , with goalkeeper Suraj Aiyeleso losing the last kick to hand ABS FC the victory.

    Highlight of the match was the introduction of goalkeeper Boje Abdullahi as a field player for ABS FC.

  • ‘ABS gave us our toughest challenge’

    ‘ABS gave us our toughest challenge’

    Head coach of Premier League new entrants, Giwa FC of Jos, Abdullahi Biffo has revealed that his side faced the toughest challenge so far, in their build up of the season in the encounter against Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC.

    ABS FC played out a two-all draw with Giwa FC at the Kwara State Stadium Wednesday.

    Coach Biffo, who spoke with sport writers shortly after the explosive encounter, praised the Saraki Boys for giving his side their toughest test of opposition so far in their preparations ahead of the Glo Premier League kick off later this month.

    He praised the efforts of the technical bench of the ABS side led by Coach Moshood Adebayo and Yomi Elijah for assembling a quality side within a short time frame having lost over 24 players.

    The Kwara State-born gaffer said that the ABS FC team he watched was a potential Premier League side, even as he tipped the club for promotion at the end of the Nigerian National League (NNL) season.

    On his team’s preparation so far, he said the privately-owned Giwa FC were in Ilorin for a 10-day pre-season camping, and that so far the level of readiness was encouraging, stressing further that his side were set to face defending champions, Kano Pillars in the league opener.

    Meanwhile, ABS FC will travel to Ijebu-Ode this weekend to face another Glo League side, Sunshine Stars of Akure in another friendly encounter as build up for the new season continues.

    General Manager of ABS FC Alloy Chukwuemeka said the exposure his side gets from playing bigger teams would give the Saraki-owned club a psychological advantage when they play against teams in the NNL.

     

  • ABS to keep faith with current coaches

    ABS to keep faith with current coaches

    • Club waiting for orders from team owner on new gaffer

    ABS General Manager, Alloy Chukwuemeka has told SportingLife that the club will still continue with the coaches of the National League outfit until there is a directive to the contrary from the owner of the club, Senator Bukola Saraki.

    The Ilorin side were demoted to the lower league last season despite a spirited attempt to stay in the elite division and their bid to gain an instant berth to the elite division suffered a setback when the club’s Technical Adviser, Kabiru Suleiman Dogo left for Nasarawa United in search of the golden fleece and more experience.

    The club’s GM, Chukwuemeka informed SportingLife that the club’s management has decided to mandate Moshood Adebayo to become the acting Technical Adviser while Yomi Elijah is to act as Chief Coach till further information from the club’s sole financier.

    He also listed Victor Gbenebicsi (Goalkeeper Trainer), Yusuf Salihu (Trainer) as those charged with running the coaching affairs of the club.

    Chukwuemeka noted that the initial idea was to hire a new coach to continue from where coach Dogo left off, but with the delay in the appointment of a substantive coach he had to tell the existing coaches with the club to continue.

    He said adjustments would be made once a new appointment is made by the club owner.

    He listed the seven friendly matches the club has arranged with both National and Premier League clubs from January 9 till 22 before they hosting Abia Comets at Ilorin on January 25 in the opener of the National League season.

    The matches are against Kogi United, Sunshine Stars, Kwara United, Crown FC, Enyimba, Niger Tornadoes and Football College in Abuja. He also said the club is considering another friendly match with Nasarawa United on January 22 but yet to be confirmed.