The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Akwa United

  • Enugu Rangers secure first win of the season

     
    Reigning league champions, Enugu Rangers have secured their first win
    of the season at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium after they pipped
    visitors, El Kanemi Warriors 1-0 through a 68th minute strike of Bobby
    Clement in a match riddled with many missed chances.

    The Flying Antelopes have now amassed four points from three matches
    and they will make a short trip to Uyo to face wounded Akwa United on
    Wednesday in a Match Day Four tie.

    Enyimba also bagged their second win of the season after the 1-3
    collapse in Jos with a 2-0 home victory over stubborn Gombe United at
    the U J Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

    The People’s Elephant’s Ibrahim Mustapha started from where he stopped
    in the last home game when he put his side ahead in the 65th minute
    through the assist of Dare Ojo before Mfon Udoh put the icing on the
    cake in the 88th minute from the penalty spot for his first goal of
    the season.

    Enyimba have six points from two matches and they have a tough Abia
    derby to contend with this mid week when they tackle Abia Warriors at
    the Umuahia Township Stadium.

    Katsina United and Remo Stars also got home wins against Nasarawa
    United and Abia Warriors respectively in Katsina and Shagamu.

    The Bala Nikyu boys left it late at the Karkanda Stadium before
    Suleiman Musa got the winning goal about 10 minutes from time while
    the Sky Blue Boys were also victorious through a die minute penalty
    converted by Victor Mbaoma in the 90th minute for his third goal of
    the season.

  • Akwa United confirm 16 new signings

    Akwa United confirm 16 new signings

    Akwa United have released the names of their 16 newly signed players ahead of the NPFL 2016/17 season which starts today across the nation.

    The Promise Keepers have registered 36 new players including 16 new players that have just been acquired from top clubs in the NPFL.

    They are Emmanuel Iwu (Heartland), Ismaila Shagari (Kwara United), Ofem Inah (Rivers United), Lawal Shittu (Giwa FC), Semiu Liadi (Warri Wolves), Ekemini Ukoebe (Akwa Starlets), Alhassan Ibrahim (Wikki Tourists) and Aremu Afeez (Rivers United).

    Others include:  Ifeanyi Ifeanyi (MFM), Nura Usman (Wikki), Christian Pyagbara (Enyimba), Mboutidem Okon (Akwa Starlets), Nsikak Etim (Cofine), Musa Newman (MFM) and Moses Ebiye.

    The head coach of the club, Abdu Maikaba told SportingLife that the Promise Keepers won’t just make up the numbers in the NPFL this season and that the players brought into the team and those retained have been conscientiously picked.

  • Akwa United pick up two pre-season wins

    Akwa United pick up two pre-season wins

    • Promise Keepers  almost set for ABS tie

    Akwa United have picked up two valuable pre-season friendly matches victory as they prepare for their 2016/17 NPFL Match Day One tie against ABS this weekend in Ilorin.

    The Promise Keepers defeated Spartans of Lagos 3-1 before adding another 1-0 away win against Calabar selected side in Calabar on Saturday to maintain their impressive pre-season form where they have only been beaten once by Abia Warriors.

    The Media Officer of the club, Mfon Patrick told SportingLife that the Uyo side still hopes to play a test game before their trip to Ilorin where they are scheduled to tackle the newly promoted premier league side.

    He said it is uncertain if they will be able to face a topflight side before the start of the season as the 2015 Federation Cup champions strive to dust off the unimpressive result of last season where they managed to escape relegation.

  • Akwa Utd 60% ready for league – Coach

    Akwa Utd 60% ready for league – Coach

    Akwa United technical adviser, Abdul Maikaba, has revealed to SportingLife that his team would be fully ready for the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) kicks off by the middle of next month.

    Maikaba said the team’s preparation is going well and the players are responding to training session.

    The former Wikki Tourists coach said his team is now 60 percent ready but he still needs more time to put the team in shape.

    “Yes, we are 60% ready as of now but we’ll be fully ready in the middle of next month. The management is taking good care of us and the players are responding well to training,” Maikaba said to SportingLife.

    However, players and officials of Akwa United will go on Christmas break on December 21 and will resume on December 28.

  • Akwa United can compete for NPFL title, says Effiong

    Akwa United can compete for NPFL title, says Effiong

    Ottobong Effiong  has said that Akwa United can compete for the 2016/17 Nigerian Professional Football League title regardless of their current status.

    “Last season was not the best for us. We started well but somehow things just did not work out at the end as we hoped for, and at the same time, a number of our best players had to leave for clubs abroad. That is not to say the rest of us are not good enough but these things happen and it can affect any team,” Effiong told NPFL website.

    “In the coming season, I want to assure our fans that Akwa United can compete for the title and with the best club. When we won the Federation Cup last year, we were not the favourites but we still went on to win it and I am confident that we can do great things as a team.

    The Uyo based team have a new coach in Abdu Maikaba, who led Wikki Tourists to an unprecedented third place finish in the league and got them a ticket to compete on the continent. And the defender feels the gaffer alongside his new signings can help propel the competition for places, and improve the standard within the team.

    “Right now we have a very good coach (in Maikaba) and he has brought in some of the best players in the country to join us. Once again the competition (for starting places) in the team has gone up more than before. Everyone wants to impress the coach and play in the team which is good for us, and the coach is a very good man who is patient,” he said.

  • PRE-SEASON CAMPING: Akwa United hit Calabar on Sunday

    PRE-SEASON CAMPING: Akwa United hit Calabar on Sunday

    Players and officials of Akwa United are expected to move to Calabar on Sunday for their two weeks pre-season camping.

    The club’s technical adviser, Abdul Maikaba informed SportingLife that the team would travel to Calabar with 35 players which include old and new players.

    Maikaba said the team’s programme was going on as planned as he expected a good outing in the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

    The former Wikki Tourists gaffer said the Promise Keepers have been training hard and will soon starting playing quality friendly matches to shape the team ahead of the new season.

    “We are to move to Calabar on Sunday for two weeks with 35 players. I have finished screening and I have submitted the names of the final 35 players that will play for the club next season to the management.  We  are  training  very  hard,  but  we  will  start  playing  friendly  matches  in  the  following  order;  Grade  C , Grade  B  and  then  A matches,”  Maikaba disclosed to SportingLife.

  • Bosso warns: Hussaini is not for sale

    Bosso warns: Hussaini is not for sale

    El Kanemi Warriors technical adviser Ladan Bosso has warned the prospective suitors that one of his players, Mohammed Hussaini is not for sale at any amount.
    SportingLife had exclusively report last weekend that the former Frimpong Academy of Minna is currently training with Akwa United in a bid to sign for The Promise Keepers ahead of next season.
    In a chat with SportingLife, Bosso revealed that the lanky defender is not yet mature for Akwa United, stressing that the club is not ready to negotiate with any club for his signature.
    The former Kano Pillars manger insisted that Hussaini must complete his three years deal he signed with El Kanemi Warriors.
    “I am not ready to release him. I heard that he is now in Uyo. They (Akwa United) should stop waiting their time because Mohammed is not for sale. He should follow good process to grow. He needs a coach to manage him to mature well. He is not yet matured to play for Akwa United,” Bosso disclosed to SportingLife.
    He added: “I always paired him with Umar Zango so that he can learn more from him. Money is not everything. For his future, he should follow sequence of development. I am advising him to return to Maidiguri because is not going to be released to any club.”

  • Maikaba targets exciting season with Akwa United

    Maikaba targets exciting season with Akwa United

    Akwa United new head coach, Abdu Maikaba has disclosed that he is looking forward to an exciting season with the Promise Keepers after he put pen to paper for the Uyo side.

    Maikaba worked with Wikki Tourists the last two seasons before deciding to leave at the end of last season and he is set to be unveiled as Akwa United coach today.

    The coach told SportingLife that it was his desire to change his environment to where his work would be better seen and to work with some of the best facilities in the country.

    He stated to SportingLife: ” I am about to start a new project in my career and I am very certain that everything will work well just like it was in Wikki Tourists. The facilities at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo and the opportunity to work in a new environment were among the things I considered before agreeing to come here.”

    Maikaba will strive to turn Akwa United which placed 14th on the log at the end of the last season with 47 points from 36 matches to a household name again.

  • Akwa United interview Ogunbote, two others

    Akwa United interview Ogunbote, two others

    Coach Gbenga Ogunbote and two other coaches have reportedly been drilled by the officials of Akwa United with a view to replacing current boss, Maurice Cooreman before the start of the next league season.

    Akwa United finished 14th in the just concluded season with 47 points and the management of the Promise Keepers headed by Paul Bassey has reportedly put the blame on the technical crew, especially coach Cooreman who proved heady to work with last season.

    “I can tell you authoritatively that coach Gbenga Ogunbote and other two coaches were interviewed and they have since gone back to their base awaiting the response of the Akwa United management on it,” a reliable source told Goal.

    “There are so many things that are being considered in the choice of a coach and the club has promised not to compromise on any of the criteria set up for a new coach.”

    Ogunbote ensured that 3SC retained their Nigeria topflight status in the just ended season.

  • Akwa United fan dies in bus crash

    Akwa United fan dies in bus crash

    ONE supporter of Akwa United Football Club were yesterday feared dead while many sustained different degrees of injuries in Ekparakwa Junction, Oruk Anam Local Government, Akwa Ibom State, in an autocrash involving a Toyota Coaster Bus.
    The Akwa United supporters club, who were inside a Toyota Coaster bus with Akwa Ibom state registration number 02A-138AK, were said to be travelling to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, to cheer their players who were billed to play with Enyinba Fc of Aba at the liberation stadium when the coaster bus somersaulted along the way at Ekparakwa junction.
    “Our supporters were travelling on the Akwa starlet bus for the game in Port Harcourt when they suffered a brake failure,” club spokesman Uwem Ekoh told BBC Sport.
    “The bus flipped over, one of our fans died in the tragedy and several others sustained serious injuries.
    “It happened about 30 minutes after they left Uyo, so the supporters have all returned home for immediate medical attention.”
    The game between Akwa United and Enyimba did kick-off in Port Harcourt.
    This is the third auto crash to hit the country’s top division in three months. When contacted, the Akwa Ibom State Public Relations Officer, Federal Road Safety Commission, Godsgift Uwen, confirmed the death of one person.
    Uwen said: “A lone accident involving a white Toyota coaster bus with AKS registration number 02A-138AK. 24 persons were involved, 23 injured, one killed. Victims evacuated to Mercy hospital, Abak and St. Stanasius hospital, Uyo.”
    Saturday’s accident is coming exactly 10 days after a vehicle conveying Akwa Ibom Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters to the botched PDP convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, crashed along Ediene, Abak Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom.
    The party supporters were inside a Toyota Hiace bus which collided with another Coaster bus.
    The suspected supporters of PDP shortly after the accident had razed a vehicle belonging to officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) shortly after the accident.
    An eyewitness had told our reporter that said both drivers were on top speed when the FRSC flagged down their vehicles.