The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Aigbogun

  • Aigbogun, Maikaba battle for Sunshine top post

    Aigbogun, Maikaba battle for Sunshine top post

    Warri Wolves coach Paul Aigbogun and his Wikki Tourists counterpart Audu Maikaba are battling to replace Kennedy Boboye at Sunshine Stars, it has been learnt.

    Boboye quit ‘The Akure Gunners’ this week.

    Ex-Enyimba assistant coach Aigbogun led Warri Wolves to finish runners-up in the Nigeria premier league and many experts believe the London-trained coach lined up the best team in the league this past season.

    A top source revealed Aigbogun is expected to be interviewed in Akure shortly.

    Aigbogun’s closest rivals for the Sunshine top post is Maikaba, who guided cash-strapped Wikki to finish fourth on the table.

    Maikaba, who is better known as ‘Audu Soccer’, has previously worked at Enyimba and Kano Pillars.

    “Sunshine are shopping for a very experienced coach who will lead them to major honours next season,” another source disclosed.

  • Aigbogun explains Etebo’s bizarre substitution

    Aigbogun explains Etebo’s bizarre substitution

    Head coach of Warri Wolves, Paul Aigbogun, has moved to clarify the reasons behind his rather puzzling second substitution in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Congolese club, AC Leopard, in the CAF Confederation Cup.

    Wolves were 2-1 up at the Warri City Stadium when Aigbogun elected to take off striker, Oghenekaro Etebo, and draft in Abu Azeez in the 65th minute.

    With Azeez already on the touch line and Etebo racing off the pitch, a section of the Wolves support reacted violently with several individuals almost rushing toward the pitch to stop the substitution.

    The fans ostensibly wanted Etebo to continue and the trainer seemingly bowed to their wishes when he instead asked for Freedom Omofoman to be substituted and Azeez eventually thrown into the fray.

    Aigbogun, however, claims the fans did not play any part in his decision to allow Etebo continue, saying one of his assistants made a mistake over the substitution.

    “No, the fans did not influence my decision. The thing is one of the coaches made a mistake with the substitution.

    “It was actually Freedom and not Etebo who was supposed to be taken off,” he told supersport.com.

    Etebo went on to score Wolves’ third goal in the 90th minute.

  • Aigbogun rues Wolves’ loss

    Aigbogun rues Wolves’ loss

    Coach of NPFL side Warri Wolves Paul Aigbogun is counting the loss of his side after the team had to settle for a Third place finish at the Delta State FA Cup which effectively meant failure to qualify for the Nigerian Federation Cup.

    Aigbogun told www.footballlive.ng that the team obviously were disappointed at the outcome of the game that saw them held in one of the semi finals before losing out on penalties.

    Wolves are Nigeria’s only surviving representative in this year’s continental club competition and the coach is concerned for the fitness of his players after the very physical semi-final defeat.

    ”The game was a draw and it went into penalty shootouts, we lost .We would take a look at our players because it was a really physical game and we want to make sure they are fit for the task ahead” Aigbogun said.

  • Okpodu steps in at Warri Wolves • To act for Aigbogun

    Okpodu steps in at Warri Wolves • To act for Aigbogun

    The responsibility to prepare Warri Wolves for the 2014/2015 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) opener against newly promoted Gabros Int’l and the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup match against Dedebit  FC of Ethiopia on March 15, will now be the sole responsibility of Wolves Chief Coach, Sam Okpodu.

    Okpodu will take charge of the Seasiders because of the departure of the team’s technical adviser, Paul Aigbogun to the United Kingdom, for the NFF organised capacity enhancing programme which will last two weeks.

    Okpodu, who once featured for the then Green Eagles and known for his knack for goals will work with the other assistants, coach Anosike and coach Atune Jolomi in what is regarded as an uphill task but surmountable.

    According to the Media Manager of Warri Wolves, Etu Moses, Aigbogun officially handed over to the assistant coaches led by Sam Okpodu with an advice to do their best by winning the two matches.

    Ex-international, Sam Okpodu said they are happy that the technical adviser is going to acquire more knowledge which will help the club move forward and they hope to gain from him when he comes back.

    Okpodu further assured all stakeholders that they will do a good job and will not disappoint  Aigbogun and wish him the best and a safe trip to the United Kingdom and back home.

    Meanwhile, Warri Wolves FC resumed preparation for their league opener against Gabros Int’l who just won the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 4 in Ilorin immediately after the victory over RC Bobo Dioulasso at the weekend in the CAF competition, knowing well that they have to start well so as to end well in the league.

  • Emeteole, Aigbogun close to fight at Owerri

    Emeteole, Aigbogun close to fight at Owerri

    • Embrace each other at the end of match

    Heartland FC’s head coach, Kelechi Emeteole and his counterpart from Warri Wolves, Paul Aigbogun almost fought at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri before they were separated by the Match Commissioner during their Premier League Week 34 tie played yesterday.

    The game was devoid of drama in the first half as both teams approached the game cautiously but it took a dramatic twist in the second half after the Naze Millionaires drew the first blood in the 68th minute through Emeka Ogbugh’s well connected free-kick about 20 yards away.

    Warri Wolves players poured out in large numbers to seek an equaliser but they were repelled by the Owerri side whose defence was marshalled by Kalu Orji and captain Chinedu Efugh.

    Tempers boiled further at some stages in the game when coach Aigbogun protested what he termed a legitimate penalty call but was turned down by the centre referee who said the game should continue.

    Aigbogun sauntered forward and his shout for justice did not go down well with Heartland’s coach, Emeteole who later told SportingLife that he went to tell him that they also had a penalty that was not given to them earlier in the second half.

    Both coaches were close to having fisticuffs before they were appeased by the match commissioner who was there right on time to serve as arbiter. However, at the end of the game both coaches showed the spirit of sportsmanship as they hugged each other and chatted freely to show that there was no war between them.

    It was a hard fought home win for Heartland and the victory improved their points haul to 50 from 34 matches ahead of their mid week tie with Abia Warriors in Umuahia.

  • Warri Wolves dedicate Akwa Utd win to Aigbogun

    Warri Wolves dedicate Akwa Utd win to Aigbogun

    Warri Wolves players and officials have dedicated their Glo Premier League Week 31 2-0 home win over Akwa United to their head coach, Paul Aigbogun who was a year older yesterday.

    The Seasiders thrashed their perennial rivals 2-0 with goals from Omofomma Freedom and Joseph Osadaiye and the result lifted Wolves to second on the log of the Glo Premier League with 49 points from 31 matches.

    Warri Wolves’ Media Officer, Moses Etu told SportingLife that the club deemed it necessary to dedicate the home victory to their gaffer because of his brilliant work for the cl­ub since he began his secondment at the beginning of the season.

  • Aigbogun wants a focused Enyimba

    Aigbogun wants a focused Enyimba

    Enyimba coach Paul Aigbogun has implored the Peoples Elephant’s players to be clinical and resolute when they face Police Machine of Nasarawa in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday if they are to advance to the next round of the 2013 Federation Cup competition.

    The Aba Millionaires exited the competition in the quarter final after a 2-0 loss to 2012 surprise package Prime of Oshogbo and Aigbogun in a chat with SportingLife after Enyimba’s narrow win over Heartland at Aba on Sunday acknowledged that Police Machine team must not be taken for granted.

    He said the technical crew would continue to do its part while also expecting the players to complement the work by interpreting the instructions giving to them well at match situations.

    “We have a game against Police Machine of Nasarawa in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday and that is what all our focus is on now. We expect the players to remain as professional as possible to get the vital victory because of the track record of Enyimba in Nigerian football.

    “The club lost out in the quarter final to less fancied Prime of Oshogbo last year after playing in three successive finals from 2009 to 2011 and winning it for the second time in 2009. We must come all out to demolish Police Machine to send a strong warning to our opponents that Enyimba is back and better.

    “The game against Heartland was very tough. We knew it would be tough. We had a young team against our opponent and I believe they played very well despite the prevailing circumstances(the wet pitch).

    “We have few players out with injuries but by the time we visit Heartland in two weeks time, we hope that all injured players would have returned and do well against them.”

    He bemoaned Enyimba’s disappointing outing in the first stanza particularly away from home but reckoned that the coaches of the club have planned to have a meeting as soon as they return from their Federation Cup Round of 64 tie against Police Machine team to do a thorough reappraisal of the first stanza and thereafter chart the way forward.

    “We are going to review our first round outing and from there look for the solution ahead of the second stanza. We know we don’t have much time to fix our shortcomings but we shall strive to look for the best options with what we have,” the former Warri Wolves and FC Cape Town of South Africa told SportingLife.

    Enyimba will be seeking a third title in the Federation Cup this year having won the competition in 2005 and 2009. They beat Lobi in 2005 on penalties 6-5 after the regulation time had ended 1-1 while the Aba Millionaires pipped Sharks of Port Harcourt 1-0 at the Dan Anyiam Stadium,Owerri in 2009 for their second triumph. They have however lost twice in the final also to Kaduna United and Heartland in 2010 and 2011 respectively.