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Tag: Akwa United

  • 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.

  • Jamiu Alimi pleased with Akwa United welcome

    Jamiu Alimi pleased with Akwa United welcome

    Akwa United new signing, Jamiu Alimi has revealed he enjoyed his welcome in Uyo but claims he is not expecting to start against MFM in a Week 19 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) tie.
    “It is a pleasant one for me, I am glad that I’ve made this move because it’s what I’ve been waiting for, to help myself and my career it’s the right time to move,” Alimi told Goal.
    “I received a warm welcome on arrival at Akwa United. I know a couple of players there but everyone did welcome me well.
    “I expect a good game against MFM, the target in this match is the three points.
    “I had my first training on Monday but the coach will decide if I will be on the match day squad but regardless of what happens I will wish the team well and cheer on for the three points.”

  • LMC says Referees welfare always paramount

    LMC says Referees welfare always paramount

    Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), Shehu Dikko has clarified the misconception contained in a letter to him by the President of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), Tade Azeez which suggested that the LMC neglected to order compensation for the Match Officials assaulted at the Sani Abacha Stadium by some misguided
    fans after the Match Day 18 fixture between Kano Pillars and Akwa United.

    The LMC Chairman said it would be wrong to create an impression that assault on match officials
    has been a regular feature of the NPFL and pointed out that the incident in Kano was just the
    second on-field incident that affected match officials with the first being on Match Day 1 in
    Enugu in the match between Rangers International and Abia Warriors. In this case the LMC fined
    Rangers N250,000 as compensation to the Match Commissioner who was the victim in addition to
    any certified medical expenses that may arise.

    In the Match Day 12 incidence in Nnewi, the LMC investigated the report and found that the
    attack on the match officials could have been a robbery as it happened on their way to the
    motor park a day after the match and wrote to warn FC IfeanyiUbah that Referees must be
    protected until they depart the city. The Match officials’ reports also supported this finding.

    Dikko further corrected the erroneous impression that the compensation for the Match Officials
    assaulted in Kano on Sunday were not covered by the sanctions announced on Tuesday.

    “This was indeed the second charge in the Summary Jurisdiction notice issued Kano Pillars and
    which read, “You are in breach of Rule C1 of the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria
    Professional League Football League, in that on Sunday, 9th April, 2017, immediately after your
    Match Day 18 Fixture: Kano Pillars FC vs. Akwa United FC, some of your stewards and supporters
    assaulted match officials (including the Referee, the First Assistant Referee, the Second
    Assistant Referee and the Fourth Official), thereby failing to comply with the principles of
    fair play and sportsmanship.

    “We went ahead to fine Kano Pillars N1m for this breach and impose the payment of compensation
    of N250, 000 for each of the four match officials in addition to any verified medical cost that
    the injured officials may bring. This was contained in paragraph B of the Summary Jurisdiction
    notice issued to Kano Pillars”, Dikko further stated.

    The LMC said it considers match officials and the NRA as partners in the organisation of the
    league and advised that all channels of communication existing between the two bodies should
    always be used, harping on the need to avoid public statements that tend to portray the league
    negatively.

    “Our public statement on the recent sanctions started with assurances to Fans, Referees,
    Players, Coaches and Journalists that safety at match venues would continue to be attended to
    at all times and this explains why we have taken deliberate steps to attend to the general and
    individual professional pursuits of our Referees through financial and material support”
    This season, the LMC has included match officials in a comprehensive combined welfare e
    Insurance package for Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) which before now covered only
    Club Officials, Coaches, Players and backroom staff. Indeed, the compensation package
    negotiated for the Referees is higher than all parties as they are at more risk given their
    very critical role in matches. It is noteworthy that the LMC is at present processing claims
    for a Referee who sustained injuries from an accident on his way home from an NPFL match.

    Buttressing further how the LMC has been supportive of the individual and general good of the
    Referees, Dikko said “it is pursuant to enhancing the professional performance of the Referees
    that the LMC has been providing support funding for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)
    Referees Committee which collaborates with the NRA in organizing fitness tests and training
    programs to ensure our referees are well trained and attained optimal level.

    “In this ongoing 2016/17 season, it is also on record that the LMC has provided over 100 elite
    Referees with cooler set of three match uniforms free of charge as further motivation to do
    well and reduce the financial burden on Referees in respect of procurement of uniforms”, Dikko
    noted.

    He insisted that contrary to the claims by the NRA President, “all claims arising from previous
    assaults on match officials were remitted directly to the concerned persons directly by the LMC
    which in turn deducts the amount from clubs’ earnings from sponsorship funds. The only
    outstanding claim is that of Referee Ago who in respect of his damaged FIFA wrist watch and for
    which he made an initial claim in dollars but has now agreed to be compensated in Naira”.

    Finally, Dikko assured the NRA President that the LMC will not relent in providing the right
    environment and atmosphere at match venues on match days to ensure that Referees discharged
    their responsibility without hindrance. To this end, additional security measures would be
    instituted at all match venues to ensure the right atmosphere at all matches.

  • Expectations for the week

    Finally, the Big Brother Naija show came to an exciting end yesterday after reaching its peak; Efe Ejeba, a graduate of Economics who hails from Delta state emerged victorious after securing 57% of the total number of votes casted by fans.

    To give you a quick recap, earlier in the program yesterday, Marvis, DebbieRise and Tboss were evicted making Bisola and Efe as the last two standing housemates; eventually, Efe was announced winner. The implication of his meteoric rise to fame means that he gets a cash prize of 25,000,000 naira and an SUV.

    The breakdown of the votes are: Efe (2,502,494), Bisola (704,072), DebbieRise (109,659), while Marvis and Tboss got 57,341 and 683,802 respectively.

    With these numbers of votes, the housemates won’t be the only ones smiling to the bank, the organizers too must be making so much ‘mazuma’ and wishing they can put this up twice in a year.

    After performing many tasks and taking part in this entertaining show, people are hopeful that these individuals will go ahead to blossom in their chosen careers like former Big Brother housemates, Karen Igho, Ebuka Uchendu and Tayo Faniran after now.

    The health crisis ravaging the country seems to be on the increase, over 420 Nigerians have been reported dead as a result of Meningitis. However, the glimmer of light for us all is that a solution is underway.

    In a hilarious slant, the Zamfara State governor added comic spice to the already tense situation when he declared that God was “punishing” his people with the disease.

    Many Nigerians including the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi urged the state governor not to bring God into the picture but rather look for pragmatic solutions to assuage the health crisis that has overtaken his state. In a reprisal response, Yari reiterated his earlier comment, stating that his people have stopped living the life pleasing to God and He was using this medium to punish the people.

    Hopefully, natural solutions and “spiritual” ones too will be gotten quickly so that this very deadly disease will become a thing of the past.  Already, the federal government has commenced vaccination in Zamfara which happens to be the most affected state after recording over 200 deaths to this scourge.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has discovered monies whose owners haven’t showed up to claim them in recent times. They have also been able to get suspects arrested but they have not been able to properly prosecute their cases in court. Judging from very recent examples, the anti-graft agency needs to beef-up its prosecution process to ensure that they are not labeled ‘toothless dog’ by the public.

    President Buhari has equally called upon them to properly dig deeper into issues before dragging suspects to court.

    Mfm fc of Agege has moved back to the top of the Nigeria Professional Football League after trouncing El-Kanemi warriors of Maduguri 3-0 in Lagos at the weekend. With goals from wonderboy Sikiru Olatunbosun, goal king Stephen Odey and Austine Ogunye, the “Olukoya boys” now go top of the log with 33 points followed closely by Plateau United who have a game in hand.

    In an ugly incident over the weekend in the league, fans of Kano Pillars attacked the Akwa United team after losing the home game. Hopefully, proper punishment will be meted out to the club to serve as deterrent to others by the organizers of the league. Also, the organizing body has to ensure they bring the league back on television after two weeks of non-availability of league football live for all to see.

    Segun Odunayo tweets from @Segun_Odunayo

     

  • Akwa United end Plateau’s unbeaten run

    Akwa United end Plateau’s unbeaten run

    • Beat Jos side 2-1 in Uyo
    • Bashir nets fastest goal of the season

    Plateau United have lost their unbeaten start to the season in the NPFL after the Jos side were beaten 2-1 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo yesterday by hosts, Akwa United in a Match Day 8 tie.

    Christian Pyagbara put the Promise Keepers in the driver’s seat in the sixth minute after he capitalised on a defensive mix up to round goalkeeper, John Gaadi and they doubled their lead in the 50th minute through Ibrahim Alhassan but Plateau United’s late revival was halted after Chima Ndukwu reduced the goals arrears in the 60th.

    Plateau United are still first on the log with 17 points from eight matches while ABS have moved to second after their away draw in Akure as they now have 14 points from eight games too.

    In another NPFL tie decided in Lafia, Nasarawa United stopped Abia Warriors by 3-1 with Abdulrahman Bashir getting the rear privilege of scoring the opener inside the first minute for the quickest goal of the season till date.

    Although Sunday Adetunji equalised two minutes later for Abia Warriors, Douglas Achiv and Jide Williams restored the Solid Miners’ lead with their goals in the 16th and 55th minutes of the match.

    Nasarawa United are now on nine points from eight games while Abia Warriors are still on 11 points from same number of matches.

  • NPFL: Enyimba vs Akwa United match postponed

    The NPFL  has postponed the   Enyimba vs Akwa United match scheduled to hold on Wed 8th January .
    The match was postponed to Thurs. 9th Jan after Enyimba arrived late yesterday from Maiduguri.
  • Maikaba relishes first league win

    Maikaba relishes first league win

    Akwa United technical adviser, Abdu Maikaba heaved a sigh of relief after his side finally secured its first Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) win on Sunday.

    The Promise Keepers defeated newly promoted side, Remo Stars by 1-0 in a match day 6 encounter at the Godswin Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.

    The former Mountain of Fire and Miracles ministries (MFM) striker, Musa Newman’s 83 minute goal separated the two sides in a highly contested match.

    The former Sunshine Stars forward came on as a 61 minutes substitute for Amaechi Orji and he justified his inclusion into the team.

    Maikaba, who guided Wikki Tourists FC to continental ticket last season, believed that ill-luck had been affecting his team to get deserving results in their previous matches.

    In a chat with SportingLife, Maikaba said the win is a morale booster to the team as he promised to continue to work harder for the team’s success.

    “Goal scoring has always been our problems. We always create so many chances but failed to concert them. Nobody has ever complained about our style of play because we played good football. I never doubted my boys because I believe so much in them. I knew that this time will come and we finally got out first win which is a boost to the team. We will build on this and continue to strive hard in our next matches,” Maikaba said to SportingLife.

  • EXCLUSIVE: I want to win the Ballon D’Or – Mfon Udoh

    EXCLUSIVE: I want to win the Ballon D’Or – Mfon Udoh

    Mfon Udoh is perhaps the most eligible bachelor on the continent of Africa – an intelligent forward with a great knack for goals. He currently holds the all-time record for the most goals scored in a single season in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) with 23 strikes.

    The 24-year-old newly appointed Captain of Enyimba Football Club spoke exclusively to our correspondent Chijioke Ezeali about his dreams of winning the league and FA Cup titles for the two-time African club Champions and crowning his career with the prestigious Ballon D’Or.

    Happy 2017 Mfon Udoh. Great to see you are alive and well

    Mfon UDOH: Thank you so much sir, am so glad that you and I made it to 2017

    Can you tell our readers about you and your family background?

    Mfon UDOH: My name is Mfon Udoh. I was born and bred in Calabar, Cross River State. I hail from Ikono LGA in Akwa Ibom. I have a large family. We’re seven [7] children. Four [4] boys and three girls [3]. And I’m the last.

    How did football start for you?

    Mfon UDOH: Football started like a joke for me. I Started to play just for the love and the fun of the game then at a point I realised I could be paid for what I love doing. Now, I have gone from Diamond stars academy to Unicem Rovers, to Akwa United, to Enyimba and it’s been an amazing experience.

    Although, I don’t know my next destination but one thing I know and I believe for sure is that my next destination will be a good one by God’s special grace.

    Take us through your professional career both for club and country?

    Mfon UDOH: I start started my professional football with Unicem Rovers of Calabar.  It was an awesome experience for me. Since then I’ve been playing football professionally.

    On the national team, I made my debut for the Super Eagles against Ghana in front of home fans in Uyo and it was a dream come true for me. I couldn’t imagine that it was my small self that was putting on the Nigerian Jersey.  I don’t think I’ll forget that in a hurry.

    What were the high and low points in 2016 for you?

    Mfon UDOH: The low points of last season started when my team [Enyimba] lost out of the CAF Champions League and also to make it worse we didn’t win a single trophy that same year and also couldn’t make the first four [4] on the NPFL log. But the high side was when I emerged as the highest goal scorer of the CAF Champions League in 2016.

    Since becoming the all-time highest goalscorer in a single season in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). You’ve endured some poor campaigns, what do you think is the reason for that?

    Mfon UDOH: The poor campaign was just as a result of injury. When you’re just recovering from a severe injury that took you out for a long while, your best will only come gradually. But am glad that’s over now.

    The departure of Chinedu Udoji paved the way for you to be named Captain of Enyimba. Will it be an added pressure for you in your debut season as captain of one of Nigeria’s most successful clubs?

    Mfon UDOH: There’s no pressure at all. It’s just a new season of challenge, hard work, sacrifice, commitment and a whole lot.

    What is your target for the new NPFL season?

    Mfon UDOH: My target is to help Enyimba regain the league and federation cup titles once again. Lifting those trophies in my first season will mean a lot to me and my career.

    Who is your favourite teammate for both club and country?

    Mfon UDOH: I don’t have a favorite teammate here because everybody is my friend. Hmm… National team I’ll say its ehhhh!!! Onazi

    Who is your most difficult opponent?

    Mfon UDOH: All my opponents have been very tough and impressive I must confess.

    Which player in world football inspires you the most?

    Mfon UDOH: Ronaldo inspires me

    Which player do you secretly wish to play alongside?

    Mfon UDOH: Neymar is that player I’ll want to play with

    How do you relax when you are not playing football?

    Mfon UDOH: At my leisure I play a lot of music, I go to the movies and I sing at the karaoke’s.  Then hangout with colleagues

    When do you plan to quit Bachelorhood?

    Mfon UDOH: I will quit being a bachelor as soon as I find her

    Which other career would you have picked apart from football?

    Mfon UDOH: Tennis

    Do you have ambition of plying your trade in a foreign league?

    Mfon UDOH: Of course it’s my dream as a local player to one day play in the big leagues abroad

    What will give you the biggest satisfaction as a footballer?

    Mfon UDOH: To play in the one of greatest leagues in the world with the greatest players too and also win the prestigious Ballon D’Or. I know it sounds funny but impossibility is nothing.

    Great speaking with you. Thank you for your time.

    You are welcome. Thanks for having me.

    Club Honours:

    Enyimba: Nigeria Profession Football League: Runners-up 2014

    Enyimba: Nigeria Profession Football League: Winner 2015

    Individual Honours

    Nigerian Premier League Top Scorer: 2013-2014

    Enyimba top scorer: 2013-2014 (23 goals)

    League Bloggers Award Winner: August 2013

    CAF Champions League 2016 Top Scorer (9 goals)

  • No fan slapped me, says Maikaba

    No fan slapped me, says Maikaba

    Akwa United technical adviser, Abdu Maikaba has denied a report claiming that he was smacked by a team’s fan after their Match day 4 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash against Rangers International on Wednesday in Uyo.

    The Promise Keepers are yet to secure a win in their previous four matches, amassing two points out of a possible 12.

    The Uyo-based side played a barren draw against the league champions, Rangers on Wednesday, which did not go down well with the home fans who were clamouring for their first win of the season.

    Maikaba in a chat with SportingLife admitted that fans were shouting for win but never attacked him as claimed. He insisted that the issues was exaggerated.

    “I saw it (report) on the internet that I was slapped on Wednesday. Nothing of such happened to me. The fans were shouting that they want win but nobody slapped me. One fan came closer to me but the security intervened and he was stopped. The issue was exaggerated,” Maikaba told SportingLife.

    The former Wikki Tourists gaffer insisted that his boys have been playing well in all their matches as he pleaded with their fans to be patient with the team.

    “In our last two home matches we played against big teams. Rangers International won the league last season, while Rivers United came second. These two teams still keep most of their players which is an advantage for them. They have cohesion and they have been playing together for a long time. Anybody that had watched our games so far will believe with me that we are playing well. We had good match against Rangers and my players were excellent only that we didn’t crown it with goal. We have noticed our problem and we will work on it to make necessary corrections. Our fans should be patient with the team and very soon we will give them what they want which wining our matches,” he said.

  • Rangers are mentally fit for Akwa United

    Rangers are mentally fit for Akwa United

    Players of Rangers International FC of Enugu have said that the home win against El-Kanemi of Maiduguri have put them in a psychological victory ahead of the match day four of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash against Akwa United in Uyo on Wednesday.

    The Flying Antelopes defeated Borno Army 1-0 courtesy of Bobby Clement’s 67 minute goal in the match day three game on Sunday.

    The club’s media officer, Foster Chime revealed that the players have shifted their focus to Akwa United encounter and resolved to pick the maximum points to maintain their winning formula.

    According to the players, the away draw with Nasarawa United followed by the victory over El-Kanemi have brought back their winning mentality and geared them towards reclaiming the number one spot in the league as the reigning League Champions.

    The players believe that the return of the likes of Chisom Egbuchulam, Odah Onoriode and Ugwu Nwadiegwu will propel them to another league title this season.

    The club’s technical adviser, Imama Amapakabo described Rangers’ 1-0 victory over El-Kanemi on Sunday as a morale booster for his players to confront Akwa United.

    An optimistic Amapakabo said that “the issues of goal  scoring will soon be a thing of the past  as the technical crew is leaving nothing to chance in correcting the problem of missing scoring chances even when a lot of chances were created.”

    Imama believes that the lapses observed in the team’s first two games will be corrected in the subsequent matches as he assured Rangers fans that the club will continue its winning feat.