The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ABS

  • ABS relegation is a temporary set-back — GM

    ABS relegation is a temporary set-back — GM

    The unfortunate relegation of Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC from the Apex league in Nigeria, Glo premier league has been described as a temporary setback as the club is poised to stage a come back in earnest.

    General Manager of the club, Alloy Chukwuemeka told reporters at the Sam Mbakwe Airport Owerri Tuesday reroute Abuja that the relegation of the Ilorin side is unfortunate and sad, describing it as a slap to the system. Chukwuemeka, who also doubles as the secretary of the Club owners of Nigeria, said that for a real professional side like ABS that plays the best brand of football to be relegated cast a doubt on the system we operate, stressing that a lot need to be done in the system to accommodate private ownership and investment into the league.

    The former Yobe Desert Stars media chief urged the numerous fans and supporters of the club to remain faithful to the club in its determination to stage a big comeback to the premiership soonest.

    On the next line of action for the team he said the management and players have met and resolved to remain with the team in order to actualise a quick return, just as they await the owners of the club to give direction as to the future of the young team.

    According to him, “Sincerely speaking, the relegation of the club is very unfortunate and sad considering the personal efforts of our boss Senator Saraki at sustaining the team for three seasons at the top flight.

    “Yes, we were victims of a bad system as well as other environmental factors that don’t support private sector participation. But I am sure we will bounce back soonest.

    Presently the team is on break as we await further directives from the owner of the club on the next line of action,” he said.

  • ABS FC goes on two weeks break

    ABS FC goes on two weeks break

    Players and officials of ABS FC have been given two weeks break, ahead of the preparation for their campaign in the Nigeria National League competition.

    While addressing the players and officials at the club’s secretariat on Monday, the General Manager, Alloy Chukwuemeka commended the chairman and proprietor of the club, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki for the opportunity given the players and officials to participate in the league, even as he thanked him for his support always.

    Chukwuemeka also praised the players and officials for their sacrifice, patience and understanding, describing the relegation of the club as a development beyond their control.

    He charged those that will be leaving the club to continue to be disciplined wherever they go, and be good ambassadors of the club.

    The Administrator cum journalist also told those that will still remain with the club to prepare for battle in the NNL.

    Chukwuemeka commended the supporters club of the team, stakeholders, especially those who have contributed to the team positively.

  • ABS’ Suleiman gingers mates to go for victory

    ABS’ Suleiman gingers mates to go for victory

    From Tunde Liadi,Owerri

    ABS’ defensive midfielder, Ismaila Suleiman has charged his colleagues to go all out for a win against Warri Wolves and guide the Ilorin side to premier league safety in the final game of the Glo Premier League season slated for today.

    The Ilorin side must beat Warri Wolves at the Warri Township Stadium if they want to remain in the elite division but Suleiman has enthused that the task won’t be difficult if the players are ready to proverbially laid down their lives for the cause of ABS.

    “We all know the reason why we have come to Warri and we don’t need to be told at all. We must stick together and fight as one to ensure that we beat Warri Wolves. The odds we may say something differently but if we are confident of what we can do, Warri Wolves can be surmounted at their backyard,” Suleiman said.

    ABS are 13th on the log with 50 points from 37 matches but they could still be relegated if they lose at Warri today and their nearest rivals get positive results.

  • Saraki tasks ABS, donates cow

    Saraki tasks ABS, donates cow

    Sen. Bukola Saraki, the Proprietor, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Football Club (ABS FC) of Ilorin, has urged the club to win its outstanding two matches in the 2012/2013 Globacom Premier League season.

    The General Manager of the club, Alloy Chukwuemeka, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, while speaking on the senator’s Sallah message to the club.

    Chukwuemeka told NAN that the Senator, who represents the Kwara Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, also donated a cow to the club’s players and officials, as their Sallah gift.

    He said the Senator promised the players a better package in the next league season.

    On the club’s week 37 game with Nembe City, Chukwuemeka said the team was finalising its strategies to win its outstanding two matches in the league, so as to avoid relegation.

    Chukwuemeka, however, expressed disappointment with the club’s 0-1 loss to Enyimba FC of Aba, last Saturday.

    “I think the boys are in the right frame of mind now; they know how important the remaining six points are to them, so they don’t want to be relegated too,” Chukwuemeka said.

    NAN reports that the ABS is currently sitting on the 18th position on the log, with 47 points from the 36 games played so far this season.

    Nembe City FC of Bayelsa occupies the 16th position on the table, with 49 points from 36 games.

    NAN also reports that ABS FC and Nembe City are among the few privately-owned clubs in the Globacom Premier League, while state governments own most clubs.

  • Injuries decimate ABS

    Injuries decimate ABS

    ABS head coach, Kabir Dogo has blamed their 0-4 loss to Sharks on the absence of seven key players who did not make the trip to Port Harcourt.

    The players, who include Lordson Ichull, Stone Evbuomwan and Fade Adebayo, were either ruled out due to injury or ill-health, and Dogo feels their absence was deeply felt at the Sharks Stadium.

    “We congratulate Sharks for their victory, but I also have to point out that this wasn’t our main team,” he told supersport.com.

    “We were without seven of our regulars who had been ruled out either because they were injured or down with malaria. To add to that, we also lost Seun Sogbeso to injury very early in this match and he was one of those we were relying on to organise the team. The players did their best, but we were seriously depleted and it showed as the match wore on.”

    ABS did give Sharks a good fight in the early stages of a boring first half that was brought to life in the 41st minute by a brilliant individual goal by Christian Pyagbara.

    Pyagbara received a pass just inside the opposing half and took on two players before cracking a shot past Jonah Usman from distance. The goal seemed to galvanise the hosts into action as they doubled the lead through Tayo Fabiyi in the 52nd minute.

    Fortune Omoniwari increased the tally two minutes later with a brilliant volley off Odinga Odinga’s cross from the right wing.

    Thompson Stowe rounded off a satisfactory day in the office for the Port Harcourt side in the 78th minute with a header from close range.

  • ABS, Heartland record impressive results

    ABS, Heartland record impressive results

    ABS and Heartland had impressive results in their respective matches yesterday.

    ABS beat Sunshine Stars of Akure 2-1 with Seun Sogbeso early penalty and Zenke Thomas’ other goal in the first half. Ajani Ibrahim pulled a goal back for the Akure Gunners in the dying minutes of the match.

    Heartland got another draw in Uyo to stretch their unbeaten run to four matches.

    ABS have 41 points from 31 matches to move to 14th on the log while Heartland have amassed 44 points to leap to 8th from as many matches.

    The Ilorin’s head coach, Kabiru Suleiman Dogo said they were relieved to get all points and that they would build on that in the remaining matches of the season.

    “We are thrilled to have beaten Sunshine Stars. We are happy that our form is back and that we can look into the remaining games of the season with optimism,” Dogo said.

    Heartland’s Chief Assistant coach, Ramson Madu also said he was more than grateful to get a point on the road despite all means to ensure that the home team win.

  • ABS praise players, officials

    ABS praise players, officials

    Players and officials of ABS FC have been commended for raising their game, especially after picking a draw against 3SC in Ibadan.

    The Team Manager, Alloy Chukwuemeka said after the match in Ibadan that the players and officials showed enough committment, having picked four points from the last three matches against Bayelsa United, Akwa United and 3SC.

    “The team showed improvement and enough committment especially following the management’s decision to sanction the team.

    “With that, we have reversed our decisipon to slash players’ salaries by half.

    “The coaches too have been left off the hook of the three-match ultimatum given them,” Chukwuemeka said. He, however, added that they must sustain the performance, as the team steps up their survival battle.

  • 10-man Akwa fall to ABS in Ilorin

    10-man Akwa fall to ABS in Ilorin

    Team men Akwa United suffered a 1-0 away defeat to ABS FC in Wednesday’s Glo Premier League week 28 fixture at the Ilorin Township Stadium.

    The Uyo based outfit started the game on the front foot, searching for an early opener but the home side soon settled found their rhythm to resist the the visitors early pressure.

    After a barren first half, Kelvin Njoku’s lone strike in the 55 minute was enough to secure a hard fought victory for the home side against a resilient Akwa side.

    The only real chance of the first half fell the visitors in the opening stages of the game, but ABS keeper Boje’s superb save was enough to deny Akwa from taking the lead in what proved to be the half’s only clear cut chance at goal.

    Both teams returned for the second 45 minutes in search of an early break with Akwa looking the more dangerous side in front of goal.

    Ten minutes into the second half Njoku broke the deadlock to send the visitors in front.

    Moments Akwa were reduced to ten men as Captain Son Hingiir was sent off for a Second yellow card following a careless tackle.

    Akwa despite going a goal and one man down pressed on for an equalizer but the home side showed strong resistance to see out the game at 1-0 to bag maximum points.

    In other results, Eyimba defeated Gombe United by 3-0, Sharks won 2-1 at home to Wikki Tourists, Rangers saw off Lobi stars 2-1 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium while the Oluyole Warriors marshaled out a 2-0 victory over visiting El-Kanemi Warriors.

  • Match Commissioners’ reports indict Heartland, ABS, 3SC

    Match Commissioners’ preliminary reports sent to the League Management Company (LMC) before the end of the Week 20 Glo League matches have indicted three clubs for complicity in the crowd violence or elements of it that marred three league games last Wednesday, SportingLife has gathered.

    Crowd violence allegedly occurred at the games played at Owerri (Heartland versus Enyimba, Ilorin (ABS versus Kaduna United) and Ibadan (3SC versus Kwara United) and if the preliminary reports submitted are anything to go by, Heartland, ABS and 3SC would soon be summoned by the LMC for questioning, a top official of the league body has disclosed.

    At Owerri, the Naze Millionaires were down 0-1 at home to next door neighbours, Enyimba of Aba when the police were invited to maintain order. The officers dispersed the crowd with tear-gas in order to avert looming crowd violence. This was about five minutes to full time.

    Although the match continued, the smoke from the tear-gas discomfitted the spectators who had to keep changing seats to avoid.

    The report of the match commissioner in charge of the affair at Owerri allegedly also indicted Heartland’s Team Manager, Promise Nwachukwu, who was alleged to have hidden the centre referee. He however denied the allegation when SportingLife contacted him on telephone.

    Nwachukwu said he never touched the centre referee at all but that he only went to him during half time in the presence of all to tell him to make the game 50:50 when it was obvious he was acting a script.

    “Whoever said that is telling a lie. I never touched the referee at all. I only went to him during the half time break in public glare that he should make the game balanced and shouldn’t take sides. He should make it 50:50.

    “I didn’t touch him at all. We all know that the referee didn’t give us fair officiating and all our penalty appeals were turned down for no just cause,” Nwachukwu said in defence.

    An LMC source also noted that the match officials were manhandled in the games at Ilorin and Ibadan and that it was contained in the report submitted.

    “LMC will soon sit on these cases and there won’t be sacred cows in the dispensation of justice. We want to rid the league of violence and more punitive steps will be taken to ensure that it becomes a reality.

    “There were cases of crowd violence at three match venues and we are not going to take it lightly at all.

    “The match commissioners’ reports already have what transpired and soon we shall give our preliminary verdict subject to the ratification of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    “These games are Heartland versus Enyimba in Owerri; ABS versus Kaduna United in Ilorin and 3SC versus Kwara United in Ibadan last Wednesday.

    “We cannot leave out the home teams because the incidence happened in their domain so they are liable,” the source informed SportingLife.Ten matches were played last Wednesday with six home wins,three draws and an away win.

  • ABS recruit 8 players

    ABS recruit 8 players

     •Thank Saraki for support

    Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC (ABS) have completed the signing of 8 players ahead of the second stanza of the Glo Premier League which starts across the country July 3rd.

    Revealing the names of the players to SportingLife, the General Manager of the Ilorin side, Alloy Chukwuemeka stated that new players were acquired to beef up the present squad as they gear their effort towards staying beyond this season in the elite division.

    The club recruited a goalkeeper, 2 defenders, 3 mid-fielders and 2 strikers.

    He gave the names of the 8 as Boje Abdullahi a Goalkeeper from Ila FC; Onuado David a midfielder who was at a time with the defunct Ocean Boys; Ayo Abdullahi(midfielder from Bridge FC); Amos Adamu(defender); Mukhtar Saliu(Wikki Tourists(striker) and Stephen Abandy a striker.

    Others are Seun Sogbeso and Effiom Otu Bassey who are on a second stint with the club from Sharks and abroad respectively.

    “We have recruited these players who are still young and vibrant to showcase their talent. ABS is not a club for pensioners we want players that can add value,” Alloy said.

    “These 8 players have proved themselves worthy of playing for ABS and with them and those that we have since the beginning of the season we hope to have a fusion of those that would help us to a respectable position on the league table.

    “We can only register 25 players at a time which means that we have to replace the newly bought ones from those that are in the team that have been deemed surplus to requirements.

    “Although we do not want to send them away at least till the end of the Federation Cup. We have given them options to either remain with us for the rest of our campaign in the cup games or to get another club if they so desire. They won’t however be playing for us in the league unless we noticed significant improvement in their performance.”

    Chukwuemeka who also doubles as the Secretary of the Club Owners Association however thanked the financier of the club, Senator Bukola Saraki for his patience and perseverance in the club even in the face of difficulties and unimpressive performance by the club during the first stanza.

    He stated that ABS would begin to have a massive improvement from the commencement of the second stanza.