The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Apam

  • Sounders terminate Apam’s contract

    Sounders terminate Apam’s contract

    Onyekachi Apam’s hope of resurrecting his career has suffered a set back after Major League Soccer (MLS) side, Seattle Sounders, released him and two other Nigerians from the current squad.

    The club, in a statement, revealed they are declining contract options of eight players including defender Apam and forward Sean Okoli, while defender Jalil Anibaba is out of contract.

    “In our league it’s a consistent challenge to keep successful teams together, and these types of decisions are always difficult,” said Sounders FC Owner and General Manager Adrian Hanauer.

    “Having said that, conversations are ongoing with several players about their respective futures with our club, and as we continue to shape the roster for 2015 we’ll have additional announcements to share.”

    The former Nigeria youth international failed to make an appearance for Sounders since joining on a free transfer in September 2014.

    Meanwhile, Sean Okoli played three games before joining second-tier Orange County on loan, while Anibaba played 17 games for Sounders, who have opted not to renew his contract.

    Sounders, winners of the 2014 MLS Supporters’ Shield and the U.S. Open Cup, currently maintain a squad of 23 players including Nigerian Obafemi Martins, who scored 17 goals and made 13 assists in the 2014 season.

  • Apam to join Martins at Seattle Sounders

    Apam to join Martins at Seattle Sounders

    FORMER Rennes and Nice  defender Onyekachi Apam has  reportedly signed for MLS side, Seattle Sounders  prior to the roster deadline date.

    The team has not announced the signing yet, but is expected to do so in due course. The Nigerian defender parted ways with French side Rennes early this year after he was confined to the bench. Lenghty injury spells made matters worse for the former Nice strongman at Rennes.

    He had to leave the French side without playing a single game throughout last season. Since last summer,Rennes was trying to get rid of him.

  • Bukola Olubona, Aity Dennis dazzle at Reason for Living

    Bukola Olubona, Aity Dennis dazzle at Reason for Living

    LAST Sunday, the Quadosh Place in Ikeja, Lagos witnessed an unprecedented crowd as Pastor Bukola Olubona staged her yearly worship programme tagged: Generation of True Worshippers: Reason for Leaving.

    The event, which kicked off with a red carpet, had the trappings of a shindig, which suggested that the church is not a less glamorous place to be.

    The host, Olubona, spared no expense setting the tone for the day. Adorned in a gold shimmery dinner gown, accolades poured in for her as she moved to exchange pleasantries with the other gospel acts lined up for the event.

    The Anointed Praise Ambassadors Ministry (APAM) took the gathering on an incredibly high spirit, singing powerful medleys from a list of renowned gospel singers.

    After about 30minutes, Pastor Tunde Olubona had to halt the band to formerly open the event with a prayer.

    In her welcome address, Olubona said the essence of creation is to praise God. “The only purpose of God creating us is to worship Him and we must worship Him in truth and in spirit because if He comes to your bouquets, He doesn’t just leave like that without blessing you”, she said.

    The event continued with a performance by Dennis Inyang, who literally set the hall on fire with her electrifying movement, as she sang from a list of her hits, including I Will Get There.

    Well known as Apala sensation, Sade Osoba gave awesome praise, as she rehashed some of the popular Apala tunes into gospel. In the same vein, Faith Ajiboye rendered an unsurpassed worship to God.

    There was, however, a brief interlude before the next performance, as the event coincided with the launch of Olubona’s sophomore album, Iji Okun (The Storm), which she released 15 years after she dropped the popular song, Oyigiyigi.

    Immediately after, Kenny K’ore mounted the stage and the crowd couldn’t get enough of him.

    It was praise like never before as the cotton was drawn on the sixth edition of Reason for Living, which was anchored by the duo of ObusZalee and Lolo 1 of Wazobia.

  • Apam, Uzoenyi get new coach in France

    Apam, Uzoenyi get new coach in France

    French Ligue 1 side Rennes has named Philippe Montanier as new manager for the team following the resignation of Frederic Antonetti, Futaa.com reports.

    Antonetti, who replaced Guy Lacombe in 2009 and guided the club to a 9th placed finish in his first full season in charge announced his intention to leave the club at the end of the season after four years of service.

    Rennes in a statement on its official website confirmed that Montanier will join up with the squad for pre-season training on July 1.

    Super Eagles duo of Onyekachi Apam and Ejike Uzoenyi play for the Brittany side.

     

  • Injured Apam in for Joel Obi

    Injured Apam in for Joel Obi

    EAGLES coach Stephen Keshi will take a chance on injury-hit Onyekachi Apam for the AFCON but not Inter Milan midfielder Joel Obi. MTNFootball.com has specially gathered that Rennes defender Apam is being considered to plug the leaky central defence and even though he was not involved in the qualifying series for the Nations Cup and his fitness has been in doubt lately, Keshi is ready to take a chance on him.

    Apam has bounced back from a long-term knee injury which sidelined him for over 18 months.

    However, Italy-based defensive midfielder Obi is not so lucky and so will miss out on his first AFCON.

    Obi first suffered a muscle problem in March and recently staged a comeback, but the injury relapsed forcing to him out again.

    He has now returned to training with the hope of playing again before the year runs out.

  • Apam fancies Eagles return soon

    Apam fancies Eagles return soon

    RENNES defender Onyekachi Apam has restated his wish to return to the Super Eagles soon after a two-year absence.

    Apam, who was out of action for more than a year and a half due to injury, has since become a regular fixture for his French Ligue 1 side and he believes he will soon be handed another chance with Nigeria national team.

    “I wish to play for the Eagles again, I can’t decide on when that would be, but I am ready,” he said in an interview monitored on Monday.

    “Coach Amokachi has always been in touch with me to know how I am doing here.

    “And I am happy that we have now booked our place at the next Nations Cup, even though I didn’t expect such a big win against Liberia but the team did well.” Apam was in full-game action against Motpellier at the weekend. Rennes beat the French champions 2-1.

    He featured for Nigeria at both the 2008 and 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, but a nagging knee injury knocked him out of the country’s final squad to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

    The former Enugu Rangers central defender has also been capped at U-20 and Olympic levels.