The Nation Newspaper

Tag: clubs

  • Good for nothing Nigerian clubs

    Good for nothing Nigerian clubs

    History has an uncanny way of vindicating the just. It takes time for the sins of the past to catch up with those who employed untoward ways to gain success. What our local clubs’ management don’t realise is that a house built on quicksand will always crumble like a pack of cards. Nigeria’s representatives at the CAF inter-club competitions’ scorecards are awful.

    Rather than do holistic reforms of their problems they prefer quick fixes. It is in the character of our continental representatives to almost replace the players who won the continental ticket with either recycled old players who failed with previous representatives or recruit players who simply want to play at the continental level. They recruit strangers who don’t know what the club represents.

    What stands out clearly which our club managers don’t appreciate is that those who win laurels do so with structured settings not the cash-and-carry style in Nigeria. Some of the African clubs we played against have befitting stadia which they use as venues for their matches unlike ours who play on pitches alien to them. Where  lieth the home advantage in these games? Monies accruing to such a team from gate-takings become bonuses to their ‘alien’ hosts, leaving the real owner of the club with less than nothing to show in their books when the auditors visit.

    It is laughable that a team such as Enugu Rangers International FC doesn’t have its stadium distinct from the government’s so much that its matches are played on ‘away’ soil. Yet, the owners of the club expect the players and coaches to compete. It won’t happen. It is sad that 34 years after the so-called professional league was inaugurated, you can count teams that own their stadium. What a shame.

    When in 1990 some respected Nigerian soccer administrators conceptualised the Nigeria Professional League body, they were responding to the new trends in the beautiful game in other climes. These men couldn’t stomach the mediocrity associated with the Nigerian game. They wanted a departure from the tardy past to embrace the new dawn where very good players could earn a living outside the country. The ‘wise men’ foresaw the future where with a new mentality to matches, the country could one day play at the senior World Cup.

    The pioneers’ dreams came to pass in 1994 with Nigeria’s Super Eagles qualifying for the USA ’94 World Cup using players who had been exported to Europe to hone their skills which were still lethargic as a result of obsolete facilities across the country. The elite class was structured out of the old order. Indeed, there was something to fight for while those not listed fought gamely each season to qualify for the elite cadre.

    The quasi-professional league witnessed a lot of improvement except that the ownership structures didn’t quite change with most of the teams owned by the government. The few private clubs (Leventis United FC of Ibadan, Abiola Babes FC of Abeokuta, New Nigeria Bank FC of Benin City, Flash Flamingoes FC of Benin City, Julius Berger FC of Lagos, Iwuanyanwu Nationale FC of Owerri, etc) left their marks, although they were eventually emasculated by the government teams which had tremendous cash which their administrators used to corrupt the system. The thought of having four teams in Benin City didn’t excite the fans as much, having only their darling team in the elite class. The private clubs’ owners soon dropped their sponsorship when they couldn’t cope with the malfeasances of the league.

    The conspiracy against the privately-owned teams brought back the sharp practices of the competition leading to the dearth of new talents. These private clubs couldn’t enjoy the support of the fans in those cities where the states owned teams operated. Leventis had to manage its relationship with the Ibadan fans. Flash Flamingoes FC went through hell playing inside the Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin. The fans’ favourite was Bendel Insurance FC. The defunct New Nigeria Bank FC had a similar problem of acceptance. In fact, games involving these teams and their traditional local rivals threatened public peace as the security operatives had to be at their best before, during, and after matches. In one of such needless skirmishes, Bendel Insurance FC’s chairman, the late Major Ojo lost his life in a car crash very close to the stadium while trying to rescue the matches’ referees from being lynched by irate fans. Gallant soldier, if you ask me. May his soul continue to rest in peace.

    The rot in the league was such that we had predictable victories for home teams ably aided by the dubious calls of match referees who most times are cajoled into taking such decisions. Who would blame the referees when their entitlements were being paid by the home sides. Not forgetting the overdose of hospitality to the referees by anxious home clubs eager to win their matches at all cost to justify the huge resources splashed on them by their owners. The administrators further bastardised the league by introducing board room points in connivance with officials in the former NFA’s league department which then was just one scruffy room at the Glasshouse compared with the league’s current digitalised and functional offices. It was that bad.

    The league had difficulties in getting television sponsorships after the existing ones opted out because they were not getting commensurate returns on their investments. Urchins, beasts, hooligans, and hostile home supporters made life difficult for the fans, especially the visitors, to watch matches of their choice. Unlike in Europe where fathers come to the stadium to watch matches with their family members, it was risky doing so here and it affected pitching for sponsorships with the blue-chip companies.

    Read Also: NNPCL seeks operations, maintenance contractor for Warri/Kaduna refiner

    Such hazardous settings soon affected the players’ performance with many of them opting to seek greener pastures elsewhere. This star-trek of players out of the country soon affected the quality of the league. Television coverage which serves as the biggest money-spinner for teams in Europe among other marketing windows couldn’t gain ground in Nigeria. The few who dared to cover matches lost equipment anytime there was violence in the stadium. There were always chaotic settings during matches because the fans took the laws into their own hands rather than allow the referees to do their jobs according to the dictates of the rulebook.

    During the trying periods of the Nigeria league, IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan (3SC) won the Cup Winners Cup in 1976. They were dethroned as champions in 1977, with the games between 3SC and eventual winners Enugu Rangers International very problematic. The second leg game had to be played on neutral ground in Kaduna, no thanks to the lunacy of the irate fans. NNB and Bendel Insurance at different years won the WAFU Cup for keeps with Bendel Insurance winning the Confederations Cup in 1994 along with the WAFU for the third time in the same year. It must be said that 3SC won the Confederations Cup in 1992, the trophy was donated by the late Chief MKO Abiola.

    Many have called those victories pyrrhic because it didn’t represent how badly the league was organised. In these years, there wasn’t any deliberate plan to train the coaches, officials and even educate the players about new trends in the game which is dynamic. Even the simplest of tasks in getting the elite clubs to also run youth teams which could also play league games either a day before the main teams’ or at an earlier time on the same pitch their seniors uses. This is how it is done in Europe. It explains the ease with which these European clubs replace their aging stars or those burdened by injuries. These youth teams help the countries by having them pick players for their age-grade teams just as it provides the country’s Football Associations (FAs) data to plan for the future.

    Thirty four years after the self-acclaimed professional league, we aren’t sure of terrestrial television coverage across the country. Who will bell the cat on television coverage in Nigeria?

  • Four top NPFL clubs chase Agba

    Four top NPFL clubs chase Agba

    Former Enugu Rangers striker, Sam Agba may tie up a deal with a top club in the NPFL soon.

    Agba was part of Wikki Tourists’ pre-season activities but couldn’t tie up a deal, after failing to agree on personal terms with the Elephants.

    “I can confirm to you that four top clubs in the NPFL have shown interest to sign Sam Agba but at the moment we are studying the details of the offers and would make a final decision soon. We want the identity of these clubs to remain confidential but I’m optimistic that we shall tie up a deal as soon as possible,” Yunus told Goal.

    “Sam Agba is an orphan, he grew up with Godwin Obaje so they are like brothers. We couldn’t agree terms with Wikki Tourist that’s why he left before the season started.

    “I’m happy with the interest shown by these big clubs to secure my services. I can’t wait to get started but I’ll have to wait till a decision is taken which I think should be within 72 hours,”Agba  told Goal.

  • SIASIA TO LEAGUE CLUBS: Seek permission from NFF, not me

    SIASIA TO LEAGUE CLUBS: Seek permission from NFF, not me

    Coach Samson Siasia has directed all clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) requesting for the release of their players for league games to send their requests to the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mohammed Sanusi, as he (Siasia) has no power to release any player.

    Expressing displeasure at the requests being made by these clubs for the release of their players, Coach Siasia said: “While I understand with them that they need their players for club engagements, I also want to remind them that they need to co-operate with us to qualify for the football event of the Rio Olympic Games, and the only way we can achieve this objective is by having all the players in camp to train so we can pick only the best legs.”

    The U-23 supremo disclosed that for now, no player will be released from the camp, and that aside those in the Super Eagles B that were in Ouagadougou for Sunday’s CHAN qualifier against the Etalons of Burkina Faso, all other players must report to camp and be part of the team’s training session today, or forget about reporting to camp altogether.

  • A club’s rise to prominence

    A club’s rise to prominence

    Founded under a mango tree, the Debate Club of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has grown, scoring many firsts in local and international debate contests. EMMANUEL SHEBBS (Graduate School) writes about the club’s trajectory.

    Then the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof James Epoke, assumed office, he promised to partner students’ groups to improve the institution’s academic rating. He said students’intellectual development was part of his programmes during his five-year tenure.
    As the VC ends his tenure, his partnership with students may have come to fruition, given the academic exploits of some students’ associations. One of them is the Debate Club led by Franklin Ubi, a Policy and Administrative Studies student.
    The club was founded to change students’ orientation from cultism to academics. Members of the club moved round the campus to train students in debate. A few years after, the debate group has trained students, who now make the institution proud.
    The first outing of the club was at the Pan-African Universities Debate Championship (PAUD) in Gaborone, Botswana. The trip was partially sponsored by Open Society Initiative, a non-governmental organisation.
    In 2010, the school management sponsored members of the club to represent the country at the World Universities Debate Championship (WUDC).
    In 2013, UNICAL became the first school in West Africa to host PAUDC, making Nigeria proud. Given the achievements recorded by the club within a short time, Chairman of the school’s Debate Committee, Prof Eze Bassey, said private sector and philanthropists should support the club to promote academic excellence.
    Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, Franklin said: “When we started, we had a handful of enthusiastic students, who showed interests in joining the club. The club was hardly recognised by the management. We used to have our meetingS and training under a mango tree. With unity of purpose, we worked hard to earn recognition and acceptability.”
    Last year, the club won the Impact African Debating Tournament in the Republic of Benue, after which it also emerged overall winner at All African Universities Debate Championship (AAUDC) in Ghana. The feats earned members of the club a ticket to participate in PAUDC at the University of Limpopo in South Africa, where they emerged as Best Debate Team in West Africa and Best Speaker.
    Also, the group emerged the Best Team at the the World Universities Debating Championship held last January at University Technology Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
    Because of its international exploits, Franklin said the management felt the need to create a special secretariat for the club. The club now has a special office donated to it by the school management. Franklin said about 100 students were being trained at the secretariat in debate skills.
    He said: “We make emphasis on interest and readiness to learn. We don’t accept students who feel they are good in debating, but those who are ready to learn new skills. We discovered that debating skills has improved in other countries in Africa.
    “Students don’t go as individuals to debate contest, but as a team to represent their schools and countries. We approached the school management through the Dean of Students’ Affairs and the VC agreed to work with us to achieve a full institutionalisation of the debate club.”
    Franklin identified lecture timetable as a challenge facing the club. Since debate is not part of the school courses, he said students did not have time to practise because of lectures. “We try to create time from the school timetable,” he said.
    Secretary of the school Debate Committee, Dr. Ndubuisi Osuagwu, said the school would nurture the club to help students develop their intellectual ability.

  • Oliseh blasts league clubs for not releasing players

    Oliseh blasts league clubs for not releasing players

    Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has lashed out at Nigeria league clubs for keeping away their players from his training camp in Abuja.

    Oliseh has called up 23 players from the domestic league, but he had only 14 outfield players to train with in his first training session on Tuesday morning.

    “Those who are commenting or laying emphasis on the fact that we rely mainly on foreign players  should start asking questions because we are back home to train and we don’t have people to train,” said Oliseh.

    “Because every club is trying to hold on to them. So, how do we now want them to learn and catch up with the ones that are in front of them?

    “You can see that it affected our training, we have to change our training programme. We had invited 23 and we ended up with 14 field players. So, I will leave you to judge from this.”

    Title-chasing Enyimba have not released the four players called up for this training camp as they beat Kano Pillars yesterday in a crunch league game.

    The players are goalkeeper Femi Thomas, Idris Aloma, Kingsley Sokari and Ezekiel Bassey.

    Oliseh has said he will draft five players from this training camp to join the 18 foreign pros he called up for next month’s AFCON qualifier in Tanzania.

  • Siasia confesses: Clubs frustrating my plans

    Siasia confesses: Clubs frustrating my plans

    Head Coach of the U-23 National Team, Dream Team, Samson Siasia has cried out to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to come to his aid by talking to clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) to release their players for preparation for next month’s All -Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.

    Siasia expressed this frustration during Tuesday evening’s training session at the FIFA Goal Project when he had only eight of the invited players, as the others were not released by their clubs after he permitted them to play last weekend games.

    “How can I prepare well for a competition as important as the All Africa Games (AAG) when clubs in the local scene have refused to release their players for the camping exercise? We have barely two weeks to our first game and up till now I have only eight players to work with.

    “Most of the club managers called to appeal that we allow their players play last weekend games, a request I approved, with an appeal to them that they should release the players on Monday. This is Tuesday and I still have not seen the players as most of them have called to say their clubs are holding on to them for mid-week games. This is not fair.”

    To make matters worse, some of the invited players who arrived camp earlier, had to leave camp to report to the Super Eagles camp to which they have also been invited by coach Sunday Oliseh.

    According to  Siasia, he had to make this appeal to the NFF who are his employers to intervene on the issue because as things stand now, he cannot submit a list of players for the AAG, as some of his players have gone abroad to sign for clubs.

    Appealing to the clubs to help him out, the U-23 coach said they should give him all the assistance and cooperation they gave him in the early stages of his preparations for the qualifiers as that is the only way he can make the nation proud.

    As at Tuesday’s training only eight players – Segun Oduduwa, Sincere Seth, Ikechukwu Okorie,  Oliseh Ndah, Etebong Elisha, Oladapo Augustine, Mohammed Yusuf and Abiodun  Akande  -trained, while Tonbara Tiongoli, Semiu Laidi and Ndifreke Effiong sat out due to various injury concerns.

    Meanwhile, Siasia has invited three more players to beef up the team. The invited players are Stephen Eze (Sunshine Stars), Lawal Shittu (Giwa FC) and Christian Pyagbara (Sharks FC).

    Siasia said he expects all the invited players to report to camp by Thursday after their mid week games.

  • Kanu: Nigerian clubs don’t prepare for CAF Cup games

    Kanu: Nigerian clubs don’t prepare for CAF Cup games

    Former African Footballer of the Year, Kanu Nwankwo has tasked the organisers of the Nigeria Premier League, League Management Company(LMC) to create more enabling environment that will ensure that right clubs get to represent the country on the continent.

    Kano Pillars FC and Enyimba FC the two CAF Champions League representatives were bundled out of the competition in the first round after they lost out to North African clubs, Moghreb Tetouan of Morocco and Smouha SC of Egypt last weekend.

    Kanu who was the African best in 1996 and 1999 told Nationsport in Owerri that Nigerian clubs must do more if they want to go far on the

    He also stressed that clubs that are carrying Nigeria’s banner on the continent should be more prepared whenever they qualify for the

    continent and should not only rely on the Super 4 from the LMC if they do not want the country’s clubs to continue to struggle on the continent.

    Kanu said: “The league is growing and it is coming up. It is better than it used to be in the last two years. We have to give credit to LMC and also the clubs. But all the same we need more investors to pump money into the league. Without fund in it, nothing can happen we will only be complaining. Like what you said, I think whenever Nigerian clubs qualify for the continent they don’t tend to prepare very well. Their concentration level is not as when they are preparing for the league. They need to stop that attitude. They should know that they are not representing their states but the country.

    “LMC must also give more enabling environment to all clubs so that the right clubs get to qualify.”

  • Yenagoa’s night of music, women and clubs

    Yenagoa’s night of music, women and clubs

    Night in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital,  is made beautiful by the streetlights that adorn most major roads and streets. This gives fun seekers the confidence to go in search of  music and dance at bars, clubs and joints scattered across the city,  writes MIKE ODIEGWU 

    Streetlights powered by generators light up some major roads everyday at about 7pm. Petty traders, especially fruit and recharge card sellers, mount their stands under the illuminated poles to do brisk business. The atmosphere is saturated with music which wafts from different joints scattered around the metropolis. It is night in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State.

    Night is, however, different strokes for different folks. For Bolex Car Wash and Bar, located on the Isaac Boro Expressway, every night is a celebration. In fact, Bolex, as it is popularly called, is synonymous to nightlife in the capital city.

    Bolex provides all-round entertainment for fun seekers. It combines car wash with a spacious bar and a night club. At the close of work, people troop into the area to relax and unwind.

    In fact, all roads seem to lead to the pub at night. Friends, business and political associates sit round well-arranged chairs, drinking assorted beer and alcoholic beverages as they relieve their work experiences.

    Persons who have preference for clubbing climb a storey building owned by Bolex to join other “rockers” and “rollers” at the dance floor. The club is designed with a separate VIP section which attracts expatriates, top military personnel and company executives.

    On why he spends his night at Bolex, a middle-aged man says the spot offers the best and most spacious parking lots.

    “It has a parking space second to none in Yenagoa. Besides treating your vehicles with deserved dignity, Bolex has well-trained traffic personnel who ensure that vehicles are well-arranged and protected from dent.

    “Some other places l know don’t have such luxury of space. So, people are forced to park on the roads resulting in many ugly incidents,” the man, who identifies himself as Ifeanyi, says.

    Apart from the parking space, Olumide Peter comes to Bolex for women. Yes. Women are not in short supply at the pub. At night, girls od different sizes and shapes flock around Bolex in search of male fun seekers. They are attracted by the calibre of men who patronise the fun centre.

    Moreover, Kingsley Ogunde cherishes the security network at the pub. Apart from bouncers and private security personnel employed by Bolex to protect its customers, armed mobile policemen are located at strategic areas to safeguard the lives and properties of the customers.

    “I come here to drink and eat with my friends because I feel the place is well-protected. I relax here, feel free without looking backwards. Since I started coming here, there have not been incidents of robberies or shooting,” he says.

    The Director and Founder of Bolex, Amos Boligha, says the relaxation centre has existed for over six years.

    “Bolex was established with the concept that night is a celebration. After a hard-day job, people are expected to come here to relax,” he says.

    On why people prefer the pub, he observes: “We have the best set of equipment for quality music. We serve drinks, barbecue fish, snail and we offer serene environment. It is about hospitality. Also, security is fundamental. We partner with security agencies to secure the lives and property of our customers.”

    But while Boligha smiles to the bank because his Bolex bubbles with patronage, it is a different experience for owners of chains of beer parlours located on the red-light district at Hospital Road.

    Nowadays their bars are empty following unprecedented drop in patronage. Their multi-coloured plastic chairs and tables are empty. In fact, their bars are deserted. The area only comes alive these days because of the activities of commercial sex workers who swim like bees on the road each day.

    The skimpy skates and bum shots line up on the road every night parading their fleshly assets and beckoning on men of easy virtues. To them, a successful night depends on the number of paid sex.

    A round of sex according to one of them who identifies herself as Mercy goes for between N500 and N1000. Till day break is from N3000 to N5000.

    Some of them even settle for N2000 after much bargaining. Sex is, indeed, cheap at night on Hospital Road and everywhere one looks, there is a girl beckoning at him.

    Fun seekers are, however, seen in scanty bars savouring some delicacies especially along the Sand Road, a darker part of the Hospital Road. Dog meat fondly called 404 is the preferred delicacy to some night lovers. Others settled for fired and cooked noodles. But beer is the drink of choice.

    Andrew Otse runs the Uche Bar along the Sand Road. He laments drop in patronage and complains that major bars have been forced to close shops. He blames the development on hard times in the state.

    “Our night market was booming in this state before now. But things are no longer the same. People are no longer coming to drink and eat. The state is hard”, he says.

    It was learnt that the Respect Bar and Fast Foods and Papa Timaya were among the nocturnal business outfits  that closed down. Other business owners managing to stay afloat blame their decreasing sales on the austerity measures adopted by the present government.

    For instance, Mrs. Joy Alfred, the owner of Joy Bar, says: “I have been here for eight years. Night was a pleasant experience here some years back but for sometimes now it is tight. People are complaining that the state is dry and that money is no longer flowing.”

    The Macdon Bar, which combines fast foods and African delicacies, seems to be satisfied with the level of patronage. A supervisor at Macdon, Chimechaa Anyanwu, says the bar attracts responsible members of the public at night.

    “The bar has just existed for two months. We witness high patronage at the weekend and we serve Nkwobi, Isi ewu, Shawarma  and assorted drinks at night,”she says.

    In fact, night in Yenagoa is made beautiful by the streetlights that adorn most major roads and streets. It gives the city a memorable and secured spectacle and helps motorists to drive their vehicles safely even without switching on headlamps.

    Nightlife is further defined by music and dance. Apart form Bolex, other clubs and bars such as Stopover, Lakeview, Car Wash and V10 dot the city offering music and dance to fun seekers.

    To provide security at night, different vans occupied by armed policemen patrol the roads and streets. They are sometimes stationed at strategic junctions and roundabouts. The police also patrol major joints and pubs to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

    There have, however, been complaints of harassment and extortion against the police by fun seekers. While night lovers accuse the police of indiscriminate arrests, the operators of commercial tricyclists who convey people to their various destinations say the police extort them.

     

  • Clubs chase Iheanacho – Man City official

    Clubs chase Iheanacho – Man City official

    AfricanFootball.com can exclusively reveal that besides MLS side New York City FC, Nigeria youngster Kelechi Iheanacho is wanted by several other clubs after he shone at Manchester City.

    A source close to a top Manchester City official has informed only AfricanFootball.com that they are yet to decide on where the Nigeria U20 star should now go to on loan.

    “Kelechi’s profile has shot up since what he achieved in pre-season in the United States of America,” the source said.

    “As a result of this, many other clubs are keen to have him and Manchester City are expected to soon decide where he will go to on loan.

    “New York City FC in the MLS is a possibility, but there are several other clubs who have come on board since after what he showed in America.”

    The source mentioned an opening in Belgium for the young forward, among other possibilities.

    The MVP of the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates scored thrice, which included converting his kick in a penalty shootout, during City’s pre-season training tour of the USA.

    He has yet to sign a professional contract as he can only do so when he turns 18 in October.

    Chidiebere Nwakali is the other Nigeria youngster at City. He missed out on pre-season training with the EPL champions on account of a knee injury.

  • Qatari clubs chase Sodje

    Qatari clubs chase Sodje

    According to leaks gathered by allnigeriasoccer.com, the future of Anglo – Nigerian attacker Akpo Sodje could be in the Middle East, as he is attracting concrete interest from an unnamed club in Qatar.

    The 34 – year – old is now a free agent after failing to renew his vows with English basement club Tranmere Rovers.

    The former Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton Athletic and Hibernian man is not a stranger to Asia, having had a short stint with Chinese club Tianjin Teda two years ago.

    On the other hand, Akpo’s elder brother – the more famous Sam Sodje – hopes to resume his football career in the January transfer window.

    Ahead of a potential move, the Super Eagles center back , who has been clubless for up to a year now, paid for a personal trainer to help him maintain his fitness.

    Both brothers are now free to resume their careers after the National Crime Agency (NCA) dropped the case of football match fixing against the Sodjes.