The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Baba Ganaru

  • Ikorodu Utd were tough-Baba Ganaru

    Ikorodu Utd were tough-Baba Ganaru

    Kano Pillars head coach, Mohammed Baba Ganaru has admitted that his side had it truly tough against newcomers, Ikorodu United.

    The Pyramid City side won 2-1 against the Oga Boys in yesterday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matchday 15 clash at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

    Diminutive forward, Emmanuel Edmund put the Kano outfit in front in the 15th minute but Yemi Olasupo equalised in the 27th minute only for captain and midfield maestro, Rabiu Ali to grab the winner in the 77th minute to hand his side the whole three points at stake.

    Ganaru said the performances of the visitors were shockingly exciting though he praised his wards for a good game.

    “Three points are quite crucial in the encounter as I never expected the clash to be as difficult and tough as it turned out to be.

    “After we went in front through Emmanuel Edmund I think the players went home or actually slept off.

    “I believe they actually underrated the newcomers and visitors, Ikorodu United as they put up wonderful performance.

    “Truly, I never expected the difficult performance from Ikorodu United but I praise the players for a quality performance, too.

    “I just want to appeal to our supporters for patience and understanding as football is all about you win, draw or lose.

    “We promise to always do our very best to come up with good result in our matches,” said the former Nasarawa United coach to supersport.com.

    The hard fought win against the Lagos outfit takes the Pyramid City side total earning to 27 points from possible 45 in the 15-week old Nigerian top flight.

  • Baba Ganaru admits tie with Enyimba would be tough

    Baba Ganaru admits tie with Enyimba would be tough

    • Nasarawa Utd’s Aliyu, Illoh to miss tie

    From Tunde Liadi,Owerri

     

    Nasarawa United’s head coach Mohammed Baba Ganaru has praised the feat recorded by Enyimba FC in the domestic and on the continent scenes ahead of their Glo Premier League Week 33 clash scheduled for the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba on Thursday.

    The Solid Miners defeated Enyimba 3-1 in the first leg played at Lafia during Week 13 but Baba Ganaru in a chat with SportingLife has disclosed that the tide would be different from the one they had at home during the first stanza and so has admonished his players to be ready to fight throughout the duration of the match.

    He said no match is considered small or too little against Enyimba who are among the best clubs in the country and hence his resolve to ensure that Nasarawa United pick at least a point off the People’s Elephant in their Thursday’s league tango.

    “We know that anytime any day, Enyimba are a big team and their achievements both in the league and on the continent are clear testimonies. We are not going to allow that to intimidate us. We are at Aba to get at least a point. We have resolved not to lose to them even though we know that it won’t be easy at all,” Baba Ganaru told SportingLife.

    The former Kano Pillars’ head coach, however, noted that his team was fortunate to get maximum points against Nembe City after his boys almost paid for underrating the basement club last Sunday.

    Baba Ganaru opined that his players thought the game would be a stroll in the pack because of the league position of the Yenagoa side but he expressed his satisfaction that they were able to get the job done even though their Sunday opponents came to Lafia with the mindset to park the bus and while going on occasional forays to attack- a ploy the coach noted almost worked for them.

    Meanwhile, Nasarawa United’s two quality strikers, Abubakar Aliyu and Malachy Iloh have been ruled out of the Glo Premier League Week 33 tie against Enyimba on account of injury and ailment.

    Aliyu, who copped a knee injury recently, couldn’t play against Nembe City in a league tie played last Sunday while Iloh has been down with malaria and was unable to make the cut to Aba because of his ailment.

    Nasarawa United are third on the log with 50 points from 32 matches and they are up against Enyimba who are presently fourth with 48 points from as many matches.

  • Nasarawa Utd players get salary increase

    Nasarawa Utd players get salary increase

    The management of Nasarawa United has inreased the salaries of its players in compliance with the League Management Company’s(LMC) directive, SportingLife can report.

    The club’s media officer, Musa Elayo told SportingLife that the increase began with their January salaries which was paid on Friday.

    He said the players’ salaries were ranging between N300,000 and N220,000.

    He also informed that the trio of technical crew Mohammed Baba Ganaru, assistant coach Kabir Suleiman Dogo and goalkeeper trainer, Alloy Agu have received 50% signing-on fees.

    He added that their signing-on fees have been negotiated, approved before the LMC abolition of signing-on fees.

    “I want to confirm to you that our management has complied with the LMC directive by paying our players enhanced salary packages, starting with January salaries. They received the January salaries on Friday. The least paid players collected N220, 000 while the highest paid players received N300, 000,” Elayo told SportingLife.

    “The technical crew led by Baba Ganaru received 50% of their signing-on fees. The negotiation of their money was done before the new order by the LMC. They received the money last month.

    Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura had already approved the payment to encourage them give their best to the club.

    “The management uses this medium to thank the state government for approving and implementing the enhanced salary package for the players. This will boost the morale of the players.”

    The Solid Miners will also play lots of friendly matches this weekend in preparation for the Glo League.

    The Ganaru-led side will battle Lobi Stars in a return leg encounter at the Emmanuel Akume Stadium, Katsina-Ala on Wednesday. Nasarawa defeated Lobi Stars 1-0 on Sunday at the Lafia Township Stadium.

    They will also lock horns with Giwa FC and Gombe United in other friendly matches on Friday and Saturday respectively.

     

     

     

  • Nigerian clubs must stop road trips – Eguma

    Nigerian clubs must stop road trips – Eguma

    Manager of the Nigeria Premier League side Dolphins, Stanley Eguma, believes the car crash suffered by Kano Pillars gaffer, Baba Ganaru, on Thursday highlighted the dangers players and officials of clubs campaigning in the domestic league face as a result of consistent road trips.

    Teams in the NPL honour games by road irrespective of the distances they have to cover and Eguma is shocked at the practice, supersport.com reports.

    “It is no secret that most roads in Nigeria are riddled with risks and difficulties. I don’t understand why all teams travel by road despite the dangers they face,” Eguma told supersport.com.

    The gaffer then took the time to discuss his plans on getting things up to speed in the NPL in that regard.

    “With effective marketing and branding, we can get corporate bodies and well-meaning individuals to partner with our cubs.

    “These sponsors would make the monies available and things will change.

    “The current situation does not allow teams to effectively express themselves, “he added.