Tag: clears

Nembe City has received provisional approval from the League Management Company (LMC) to participate in the 2013/14 Glo Premier League season but with an additional proviso that the Club must send a written acknowledgement stating it has read and understood all the conditions set forth in the letter of admittance. The acknowledgement is to reach the LMC before 12 noon on Friday, April 4 (today) or Nembe City may not play the Match Day 5 fixture in Uyo against Akwa United.

A letter from LMC Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar, informed the Chairman of Nembe City that the Club has partially fulfilled the conditions set by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) emergency committee meeting to enable the Club be admitted to participate in the league. It, however, pointed some serious discrepancies in the documents submitted by the club and directed that such be rectified on or before Match day 9.

The LMC particularly drew the attention of Nembe City to the irregular signature of the Chairman, Mrs. Ebiakpo Rumson on separate documents submitted in the course of the registration. It specifically noted that the signatures of Mrs. Rumson on the letter of allegiance and the letter of appeal of their non-registration are not the same. “Nembe City is required to duly fill and submit LMC Form 17 (list of authorized signatories to LMC,” the letter read.

On stadium approval for home games, the LMC said Nembe City has submitted a letter from Krisdera Hotel granting it the use of the Krisdera Hotel Stadium for its home games but demanded that “however, Nembe City is required to submit by Match Day 9 a proper lease agreement with Krisdera Hotel in line with the LMC recommended lease agreement and minimum conditions assuring priority of use on match days and granting unrestricted access”.

The LMC while acknowledging that Nembe City in a letter signed by Mrs. Rumson has declared that the club is not involved in any litigation against the NFF and LMC in any court of law and also provided a list of members of its Board of directors, however noted that “the letter failed to categorically dissociate Nembe City activities from Mr. Rumson Baribote who is serving a 15-year ban by the NFF and is in clear contravention of the rules, currently pursuing several court cases against the football authorities including the LMC”. It was, however, also acknowledged that the name of Mr. Baribote was not among the list of board members of the club and that his name has been removed from the official stationery of the Club.

“Accordingly, the LMC will henceforth deal and communicate with only those officials whose names Nembe City has submitted to it in all matters pertaining to the club’s participation in the league, subject to NFF directive on imposition of sanction of three points and three goals in event of a breach of the club’s obligation not to associate with persons banned from football activities by NFF, CAF or FIFA”, the LMC warned.

Nembe City are also to meet requirements on provision of performance guarantee on or before June 24 or it will face sanctions of points deduction while it may be directed to host games outside of the nominated Krisdera Hotel Stadium should it fail to upgrade facilities at the venue as may be directed by the LMC. Furthermore, the Club is also to submit contracts it signed with its management personnel including the General Manager, Financial Officer, Media Officer and Security Officer amongst others while it must also show proof of its head coach having a CAF License B.

Concluding, the LMC wrote, “in view of the foregoing, the LMC has granted your Club provisional registration to participate in the 2013/14 Glo Premier League season subject to the LMC receiving a letter of acknowledgment of the terms and conditions of this letter from your club by 12noon on Friday, April 4, 2014 (today). Your Club will thereafter commence participation from the upcoming Match Day 5 (Akwa United versus Nembe City) on Sunday, April 6 at Uyo”. It assured Nembe City that the outstanding four games not played will be rescheduled beginning from Wednesday, April 9.

Standard Liege defeated Mechelen 2 – 0 on Saturday to cement their hold on first position in the Jupiler League standings.

Nigeria international Imoh Ezekiel registered his 10th goal of the season in the 84th minute but was subsequently booked by the referee for pulling off his shirt, his fifth caution this term.

There are speculations that the attacker deliberately picked up the yellow card on purpose in order to get suspended for the final game of the regular season against Waasland-Beveren next weekend so he enters the play – off round with all his cards wiped off.

But the Belgian Football Union in its ruling on Tuesday decided not to suspend the Nigerian for a match, meaning the Federation is not recognising the yellow card he picked up last weekend.

Imoh Ezekiel has been cautioned eight times in all competitions this season compared to the three yellow cards he received in the 2012 – 2013 campaign.

The Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke (CON) on Thursday officially disclosed that the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar will host the country’s last 2014 World Cup qualifier between Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Flames of Malawi later in September.

Announcing that he has approved that the team have its final camping programme ahead of the World Cup in Calabar, as requested by the NFF, Governor Imoke said: “The Government and people of Cross River State identify with success, and we are known to be harbingers of success ourselves. We will give the NFF and the Eaglets all the support to do well at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.”

He expressed absolute confidence in the ability of the U-17 National Team, Golden Eaglets to conquer the world at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup finals taking place in the United Arab Emirates later in the year.

Speaking at the Government House, Calabar while receiving a delegation of the Nigeria Football Federation led by First Vice President, Chief Mike Umeh, Governor Imoke equated the silver medal won by the Golden Eaglets at the African U-17 Championship in Morocco to gold, and assured that his administration would give the team all necessary support to go to the United Arab Emirates to lift the World Cup.

“The Eaglets were only unlucky to lose the final match of the African championship on penalties. The boys are good and destined for greatness. I believe that from here, we will produce the next U-17 champions of the world.”

The Cross River State number one man, who celebrated his 52nd birthday on Wednesday, July 10, praised the Nigeria Football Federation for their policy thrust and thoroughness in producing one of the best U-17 teams to have been raised in this country, and also commended the coaches for their patience, diligence and direction.

“Everytime I see the boys, I feel so proud and excited. The Government and entire people of Cross River State are in love with the Eaglets. You see, football continues to be the biggest unifier of our peoples across the different states and regions, and across several other mental boundaries.

“The only time our peoples are less concerned about their sentiments and backgrounds is when our football teams are playing and winning. These Eaglets are doing well and I believe they will represent the country with dignity and honour, and acquit themselves effectively and efficiently at the World Cup.”

It can be recalled that the Super Eagles played their home matches in the qualifying series for the 2013 FIFA World Cup finals in Calabar, before going to South Africa to lift the trophy. The Eagles are on the verge of qualifying for the 10-team final elimination round for the 2014 FIFA World Cup having played all their home games in Calabar, and the Eaglets also prosecuted their home matches in Canaan City before finishing as runners-up at the African Championship in Morocco.

Speaking earlier, NFF 1st Vice President, Mike Umeh heaped plaudits on Governor Imoke, his administration and the good people of Cross River State for all the support they have given Nigeria football over the years. He then presented the governor with a silver medal from the African U-17 Championship, to which the governor responded: “I can’t remember when I last wore a medal.”

Also present at the courtesy visit were the Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Cross River State, Honourable Patrick Ugbe, the State’s Commissioners for Information and Works, NFF’s Director of Technical, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme, Vice Chairman of Cross River State FA, Mr. Oswald Atuake, NFF’s Assistant Director (Media), Mr. Ademola Olajire, Secretary of Cross River State FA, Mr. Greg Abang and special assistant to NFF General Secretary, Dr. Christian Emeruwa.

Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Dr. Patrick Ekeji has cleared the air on the Africa Cup of Nations’ N1.5 billion funds part of which a national newspaper alleged was shared between the NSC and the National Assembly.

“When we wrote to Mr. President (Goodluck Jonathan) requesting for an advance release (of funds) to the NFA (Nigeria Football Federation, NFF), sporting activities under NFA (NFF) budget to South Africa. You can only request for such an advance based on what is proposed to the National Assembly. What is proposed by the executive to the National Assembly under sporting activities budget was N1.5 billion and we wrote to Mr. President endorsed by the (Sports) Minister to please be gracious and approve 50 percent of 1.5 billion naira. So it is still within the budget.

“And Africa Cup of Nations is one item under sporting activities for the Nigeria Football Association for 2013 which budget is yet to be passed. And Mr. President graciously approved 794 million naira (within the budget approved for the NFA sporting activities’ budget for year 2013). There is no way it (the money approved by Mr. President) could have gone beyond that amount. This money has been fully released to the Nigeria Football Association.

“For our own part of AFCON what was also approved for us under sporting activities for the National Sports Commission (NSC) was N220 million. Funding of the Federations, funding of the zones and all sorts of things are under sporting activities. It is when we break it down, out of that money (NSC’s N220 Million) we gave N5 million to the Supporter’s Club, we took some journalists to AFCON, the reception for the Eagles too was funded largely by the National Sports Commission from same fund. The players were accommodated in Transcorp Hilton Hotel which was also funded by the NSC from the said funds and others. The FCT did a good job. They also supported. The Minister too went to the AFCON was from the funds. Those that went to support and all of that was from that N220 million.

“ So, what are we talking about? Can somebody just sit down and write that kind of rubbish? It is not acceptable now. So he (the writer of the story that said NSC and National Assembly shared the remaining balance of the NFA sporting activities funds) will come and tell us how we shared the money o!. For goodness’ sake that is unfair,” Ekeji lamented.

Sfter undergoing medical examination in Marbella, Spain Monday since he returned from AFCON 2013 duties for Nigeria with a tight injury, Super Eagles ace, Emmanuel Emenike has been cleared by Spartak Moscow doctor.

Emenike who injured his tight in the semi-final victory over Mali at the Moses Mabhida Stadium had his injury diagnosed by Dr. Michael Vartapetov.

The result showed that the AFCON 2013 top scorer’s injury is not worse as first feared but he did damage a muscle located in front of his left thigh and so he would be out of action in a few weeks, thus will miss the restart of the second phase of the Russian Premier League.

Recall that the injury kept him out of the final game against Burkina Faso which Nigeria won by a Sunday Mba lone strike.

Emenike is then expected to begin rehabilitation under the supervision of Spartak’s physical therapists.

Meanwhile, Emenike’s Russian side Spartak Moscow have struck a new $40m sponsorship deal with a private commercial bank Otkrytie as announced by the club.

Under the terms of the deal the club’s new stadium currently under construction in northwest Moscow will be named after the bank for the next six years ‘the Otkrytie Arena’.

“This deal will help the club to meet the demands of the financial fair-play rules which were recently announced by the European football ruling body UEFA,” Leonid Fedun-Spartak owner disclosed.

Fedun also disclosed that the construction work at the new arena would cost a total of $400M.

“We hope that Spartak will be able to start the 2014/15 Russian championship at the new stadium,” Fedun added.

The 45,000 capacity stadium will also host matches played by the Russian national side and games in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.