The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CHIKATARA

  • Chikatara tells Warriors to win for late mum

    Chikatara tells Warriors to win for late mum

    Bereaved Abia Warriors top striker, Chisom Chikatara has charged his teammates to win for  his late mother, Madam Ifeyinwa Beatrice Chikatara.

    The late mum of Super Eagles’ lethal finisher will be interred at the Chikatara’s home in Amuzukwu Ibeku, Umuahia today, same day teammates will engage strugglers, Bayelsa United in top flight match day 35 clash at the Oghara Township Stadium.

    Chikatara, who will not be available for the clash at Bayelsa United, however, promised to host his teammates upon return with the whole three points at stake.

    “Of course, I won’t be available for Wednesday’s clash at Bayelsa United as  my late mum will be buried same day. However, I have charged my teammates to win, at least, for the departed soul and come back for a sumptuous entertainment.

    “They have promised to come back with the three points though we understand that victory belongs to God so we are seeking His blessing and favour in the clash.

    “Abia Warriors do not have too much stake to play under pressure, the pressure will certainly be on Bayelsa United due to their uncomfortable position on the league table.

    “Once the players are able to relax and play their normal game Bayelsa United are most likely going to make a mistake. So the Warriors must look out for the mistakes to make a kill out of it for the maximum three points at stake,” said the Super Eagles marksman to supersport.com.

    Abia Warriors are eighth on the 20-team top flight on 50 points 12 points behind league leaders and city mates, Enyimba with four matches on the season’s calendar.

  • Yusuf leaps to Chikatara’s defence

    Yusuf leaps to Chikatara’s defence

    Assistant coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Salisu Yusuf said “ill luck” was responsible for the failure of striker, Chisom Chikatara to put away any of the chances that came his way in Saturday’s 2016 Africa Nations Championship qualifier against Burkina Faso.

    The Abia Warriors attacker was guilty of missing no less than three excellent opportunities against the Stallions in the second half at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.

    Salisu does not question the quality of the forward and believes he did not enjoy the rub of the green.

    “I think it was down to ill luck that made him miss those chances.

    “Our decision to bring in Chikatara and (Gbolahan) Salami late in the game was tactical because we wanted to attack with strength in the second half and we achieved that.

    “If we had had a little more luck, we could have scored four goals at least” he said.

    The trainer then took the time to review the game, which Nigeria won 2-0 courtesy of goals in each half by Bature Yaro and Salami.

    “It was a tough game but we could have won 4-0. The boys did very well.

    “The Burkinabes are good and could have scored here. Generally our boys have done very well but made some mistakes.

    “There is never a perfect game in football so we will go back to the drawing board and try to rectify some of the mistakes we have made in the first leg” he said.

  • CHAN qualifier: Chikatara eyes debut goal against Burkina Faso

    CHAN qualifier: Chikatara eyes debut goal against Burkina Faso

    Abia Warriors marksman Chisom Chikatara is in good form going into the African Nations Championship qualifier against Burkina Faso at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium this weekend.

    In two training matches against Shekarau Babes and Blessed Academy, the attacker notched up two braces in the second half.

    ”I hope to score against Burkina Faso. The first thing in your mind as a striker is to score goals and secondly you want to play well, so your team wins” Chisom Chikatara told news24.

    ”I will say my recent form is the handiwork of God and I am focused. I have been playing games and I have been consistent.”

    The 20-year-old’s call-up to the home based Super Eagles will be the first time he has been officially invited to the national team, though he admitted that he previously trained with Nigeria’s Olympic Team before he got this recognition.

    ”I have been with the Under 23 national team, I wasn’t invited, I just went there on my own.

    ”There’s no difference between the training sessions I have with my club and what is going on in the Super Eagles. Football is the same language, the difference is not much” Chikatara added.

    Asked to predict the outcome of the tie against Burkina Faso, he replied: ”I think we can win 3 – 0, 4- 0 or even more if we play well”.

  • Chikatara rues Abia Warriors’ home draw

    Chikatara rues Abia Warriors’ home draw

    Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia lethal striker, Chisom Chikatara, who scored a hat-trick last weekend in Umuahia against visiting Enugu Rangers International in a week 32 Glo Premier League encounter, said he would have preferred all the three points for his team rather than the individual glory of scoring a hat-trick in a 3-3 home draw.

    Chikatara, who looked forlorn after the game despite his heroics, said Abia Warriors needed all the three points at stake to improve their standing on the league table and boost their chances of picking a continental ticket at the end of the season.

    “I thank God for giving me three goals today but I would have loved it more if we had won the match. For me at this time, three points is better than scoring three goals and sharing the points,” the Ibeku-Umuahia-born striker told Abia Warriors website.

    The 20-year-old, who have now netted 13 league goals this season and is just two goals shy of the 15 so far scored by Nasarawa United’s Esosa Igbinoba who leads the pack, noted that his team worked hard enough to grab all the three points at stake, but lamented that fate played a fast one on them as Rangers equalised to make it 3-3 during the second minute of the added three minutes in the 92nd minute.

    Chikatara said Abia Warriors will not relent as they are looking forward for better outings in their future encounters, pointing out with six matches to end the season, they are still very optimistic that a continental ticket was still realizable.

  • Chikatara dedicates hat-trick to late mum

    Chikatara dedicates hat-trick to late mum

    Chisom Chikatara scored a hat – trick in Abia Warriors’ 3 – 3 draw with Enugu Rangers in the Nigeria Professional Football League on Saturday but was not happy that his side surrendered their lead right at the death.

    With 13 goals to his name after 32 rounds, the 20 – year – old is targeting the top scorer award at the end of the 2015 season.

    “I am not happy with the result, it was a derby game, sometimes it’s like that but we deserved the three points, ” Chisom Chikatara told allnigeriasoccer.com.

    “I took the match ball home, the reserve referee handed it to me after the game. I dedicate the goals to my mother, she died two weeks ago.

    “My target is to be the top scorer in the league, I think I can score seven more goals before the season ends.”

    In the race for the top scorer award, Chisom Chikatara is one goal behind Esosa Igbinoba and Tunde Adeniji, who both lead the way.

  • Chikatara wants win at Lobi

    Chikatara wants win at Lobi

    Nigerian top flight top scorer and Abia Warriors’ marksman, Chisom Chikatara has passionately pleaded with teammates to win for him at Lobi Stars. Chikatara is held down by ankle injury from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match day 14 clash on Sunday at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi. “I did not travel with my teammates for the clash at Lobi Stars on Sunday, I’m still nursing an ankle injury. “I actually managed myself in the last home match against Akwa United. I’m advised to stay back on the Lobi Stars clash to avoid aggravating the injury but I’m there with them in spirit. “However,before my teammates departed for the clash I pleaded with them to win for me the match at Lobi Stars. “I know it will be a difficult game but I received the assurance from my teammates that they will not lose the match. “So I’m positive we will get something decent from the encounter that will still put us on good stead for the title challenge,” said Chikatara to supersport.com. The seven-goal hero said he is assiduously working very hard to emerge top scorer at the end of the ongoing league season. “Of course, I’m interested in emerging top scorer of the ongoing season, I just hope and pray that the ankle injury will not hinder me from achieving the goal. “I’m quite certain to increase my goal tally if I had the opportunity to feature in Sunday’s clash at Lobi Stars. “I believe with good health and God’s grace I will be on the right path to achieve the lofty dream,” said Chikatara. Abia Warriors are ninth on the 20-team top flight log on 19 points from possible 39 in the 13-week old league.

  • Enyimba game not do or die-Chikatara

    Enyimba game not do or die-Chikatara

    Abia Warriors striker Chisom Chikatara has described as not do-or-die affair the Abia FA Cup final clash against sister side, Enyimba.

    Warriors edged Enyimba Feeders 3-1 in the semifinals while Enyimba humbled Abia Warriors Feeders 5-0 on Friday to pave the way for the final clash on Sunday at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

    Chikatara said the key for his side as far as the FA Cup competition is concerned is the qualification ticket to the national finals.

    “The FA Cup final against Enyimba will be a normal game nothing special not a do-or-die affair encounter.

    “First and foremost we’ve achieved our target qualifying for the national stage finals the encounter against Enyimba is to determine the state champions.

    “Though we’ll like to head to the centre stage as state champions but we won’t go extra-mile to achieve the goal.

    “Had it been a league game where three points is at stake we would’ve taken it a little more serious,” said Chikatara to supersport.com.

    Enyimba are both the state and national champions and will represent the state together with Abia Warriors.

    An official of Abia Warriors, Igwe Onuoha has however doubted the possibility of the Abia FA Cup final holding on Sunday as a result of the gubernatorial and state houses of assembly elections nationwide on Saturday.

    “It’ll be insensitive to hold the FA Cup final on Sunday when there is a directive from the electoral body that inconclusive election will continue on Sunday.

    “I don’t see the match taking place on Sunday, the important matches are the semifinals and it has been decided.

    “Right now the state representatives are known, Abia Warriors and Enyimba the other aspect of winners and runners-up can be decided at a later time,” said Onuoha to supersport.com.

  • INJURY RULES CHIKATARA OUT OF BAYELSEA UTD TIE

    INJURY RULES CHIKATARA OUT OF BAYELSEA UTD TIE

    Abia Warrior striker, Chisom Chikatara will not be available for his side Glo Premier League match day 33 encounter against Bayelsa United on today at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

    The free-scoring striker picked a yellow card each in his side’s clash against Kaduna United as well as in match day 32 encounter at Akwa United in Uyo on Sunday.

    Chikatara said ruefully that he had anxiously waited for the clash to unleash his full weight on Bayelsa United having missed the first fixture against the side at their adopted ground in Benin.

    “I’m suspended for the match against Bayelsa United on Thursday(today) due to cards I picked against Kaduna United and Akwa United.

    “Of course, I feel bad that I won’t play a part in the game I keenly waited to feature after missing the first leg in Benin against Bayelsa United.

    “However, I’m confident my absence won’t hurt us badly as we’ve quality replacement who will perform creditably well.

    “We’re taking maximum six points off Bayelsa United this season and that can’t be negotiated.

    “Though we don’t expect Bayelsa United to go down  without a fight,  we know how to  handle them perfectly well.

    “We’re boosted with the point at Akwa United going into the Thursday’s clash, we’re certain to grab the three points to further boost our push to the summit,” said Chikatara to supersport.com.

    The Glo Premier League newcomers are fifth on the 20-team elite league log on 48 points from possible 96 at the conclusion of week 32 matches.