Tag: confident

Niger Tornadoes boss Godwin Koko Uwua said his side are confident ahead of the Fed Cup third round clash with Enyimba International.

The Northern side reached the third round of the competition when they clinched a 3-0 victory over Amateur team Zara Studio.

The former Lobi Stars gaffer believes this vital experience of beating higher-placed opponents will stand the Minna side in good stead for the trip to Benin City.

He told sl10.ng: “The games in recent times have given us confidence.”

“Against higher quality opposition in the Fed Cup, we’ve shown that if you play to the best of your ability and they have an off day, then anything can happen and it will happen against Enyimba at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.”

“In the last six games in the Nigeria National League, we’ve had good games – and the players responded each time.”

“We’ve won some of them but we’re getting used to these kind of games and came through the last one [against Zara Studio] really positively.”

“There’s excitement. It’s unknown territory (Benin-City) for us and an opportunity to stay in the spotlight,” the ex-U23 head coach said.

Sharks captain Odinga Odinga has insisted that they are confident of beating Crown FC at the Sharks Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday.

Odinga is satisfied with the way the team have played since the start of the season despite losing their opening match at Bayelsa United. He said they have improved with each game and were ready for the Ogbomosho side.

“I expect nothing short of victory on Saturday against Crown. We have started the season well even though we lost the opening game in Sapele to Bayelsa United. We were satisfied that we played well, and there have been improvement in subsequent games. So, we’re confident we will beat Crown. They have also done well so far. I expect an entertaining game,” Odinga told supersport.com.

Sharks have not been found wanting technically, but have lacked a killer instinct in front of goal. Odinga said they are gradually overcoming their goal-scoring difficulties and that they would get it right against Crown.

“These are early days and we know there have been some mistakes, the most glaring of which has been missed chances. We have a coach that works hard and likes to win, so we have been working hard on a solution.

“We have been concentrating more on our sharpness in front of goal and I believe we’ll not waste chances against Crown. Most importantly, we need the points and know goal difference could be a deciding factor later on,” he told supersport.com.

Sharks are seventh on the Glo Premier League log with four points, while Crown FC are third with six points after three rounds of matches.

Warri Wolves attacking midfielder, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu has said his side’s CAF Confederation Cup dream is still alive despite the goalless draw against the Tunisian side, Club Athletique Bizertin (CAB) in the first leg, second round fixture on Sunday at the Warri City Stadium.

The return fixture is expected to hold this weekend at the 15,000 seat Stade 15 Octobre Bizerte, Tunisia. Ibenegbu said his teammates are unperturbed by the scoreless first fixture result as they hope for a repeat performance of the Union Douala feat in Cameroon against CAB in Tunisia.

“Of course, it’s not the end of the road for us in the CAF Confederation Cup, we’re certain to repeat the performance in Cameroon against Union Douala when we clash with CA Bizertin in Tunisia this weekend. We outplayed them here just that we’re unlucky not to have scored, there is nothing spectacular about the side.

“If we could reproduce 50% of our performance right here in Nigeria over there in Bizerte, Tunisia we’ll beat them hands down. Nigerians shouldn’t lose sleep over the situation as we’re determined to make amends and qualify for the next stage of the competition.

“We need prayers and support of Nigerians, we’ve complete confidence in ourselves to go to Tunisia and beat the side for the next stage ticket. The barren draw is history and unfortunate but we’ve resolved to correct the mistakes,” said the former Heartland playmaker to supersport.com.

The Seasiders are expected to head off to Tunisia on Wednesday for this weekend’s make-or-mar encounter at CA Bizertin.

The early departure will further affect the side’s rescheduled Glo Premier League match day 3 clash against Enyimba on Wednesday in Warri.

El Kanemi Warriors’ centre-back, Stanley Onuegbu has said there is no cause for alarm over his side’s barren draws in their first two games in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The Maiduguri-based side were held to 0-0 draw by Wikki Tourists on Matchday 2 at the Maiduguri Township Stadium.

On the opening day of the 2012/13 season at Lafia, El-Kanemi split points with Nasarawa United.

Onuegbu said his side’s seeming shyness in front of goal so far in the season will soon give room to a far improved performance.

“We had several chances at goal, same as the encounter at Nasarawa United but we didn’t maximise or turn them into goals. We’ve taken both results in good faith and decided to march forward for better performances in subsequent matches. It’s natural for our supporters and well-wishers to entertain fear, we’re alive to our duties and will soon live up to their expectation. There is no cause to worry yet, as the season just started. Perhaps we’re still learning the ropes and will soon perfect it.

“Two points in two matches for a side that just returned to the premier league doesn’t look like a bad result. We’re not justiying the average results, of course. We could have done better than we did. We’re on course towards achieving our season’s target of picking a continental ticket; like I said, there is no cause for alarm,” said the former Heartland captain to supersport.com.

El-Kanemi Warriors will be the guests of former African champions, Enyimba in Aba for the NPFL Matchday 3 this weekend.

Samaila Usman, Head Coach, Kaduna State Cycling Association, said on Wednesday that Kaduna State would soon gain national supremacy in the sport.

Usman made the remark during a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

The coach stressed that the performance of the state’s cyclists at the recently-concluded Garden City Cycling Championship in Port Harcourt was an indication of what lies ahead.

NAN reports that Ibrahim Usman of Kaduna State carted away the most valuable and the most improved cyclists trophies in the junior category of the competition which took place on Feb. 3.

Usman added that the state’s cycling team had been making steady progress since 2009, when it hosted the 16th edition of the National Sports Festival.

“My team is making a tremendous impact in cycling and I am certain that Kaduna will, in the nearest future emerge as the best.

“The boys we used in the “Kada City Games’’ which the state hosted have improved over time because their performances have showed that they have,”he said.

The coach pointed out that in spite of lacking the requisite equipment to boost their performance, the athletes have continued to excel at competitions.

“My teams was not having the best equipment at the championship, yet we came back home happy knowing that we had achieved something.

“Some states came with bicycles that were more sophisticated than ours both in quality and performance; but we managed to conquer them,” he said.

Usman appealed to the state government and private organisations to offer more support, adding that cycling would soon enhance the state’s sporting profile.

“I hereby appeal to the state government and private organisations to fully support and provide modern bicycles for our cyclists.

“They have proven that they are a reliable bunch of talents, and they have also proven that they can take cycling to its pinnacle if given the support,” he said.

NAN recalls that Team Kaduna won one gold and one bronze medal in the cycling event of the “EKO 2012’’ sports fiesta.

Defending African champions Nigeria have expressed confidence they will scale past their first round group to qualify for the 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup.

The Flying Eagles have been drawn against Mali and debutants Gabon and DR Congo in Group B at the 2013 African Youth Championship (AYC) to be hosted by Algeria from March 16 to 30.

The Nigeria U20s eliminated Mali in the semi-finals of the 2011 AYC in South Africa on their way to emerging as champions at the expense of Cameroon.

While both Gabon and DR Congo will only be making their debuts at the tournament proper in Algeria.

Flying Eagles assistant coach Yakubu Maidajin described Sunday’s draw in Cairo as a favourable one, while maintaining this only means the team have to work a lot harder.

“It’s a favourable draw and we ought to qualify from this group,” he offered.

“A team like Ghana would have proved a difficult opponent but good enough we are not drawn against them in the group stage.

“All the same, if we work hard this tournament would be a lot easier than when we won it last year because the teams in our group are most likely to have too much respect for us.”

Flying Eagles goalkeeper coach Alloy Agu said the country’s chances of going past the first round are very bright.

“It’s an interesting draw and our chances are very bright, but we cannot afford to underrate any of the teams especially Gabon and DR Congo who have been doing very well lately,” said Agu, who featured at the 1985 U20 World Cup in the former Soviet Union.

“We will rise to the occasion so as to meet our targets, which is first to qualify for the World Cup and then successfully retain our championship.”

The team’s joint leading scorer in the qualifying tournament with three goals Alhaji Gero equally expressed confidence Nigeria will advance to the World Cup to be hosted by Turkey in June.

“We are in a good group but we still have to go out there, fight and prove we are the champions,” the big Enugu Rangers striker said.

“We will qualify for the World Cup to begin with.”

The Flying Eagles eliminated Tanzania and South Africa to qualify for the 2013 AYC.

John Obuh, the Head Coach of the Flying Eagles, says the team is poised to prevail against the Amajita of South Africa on Sunday in Ilorin.

Obuh, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin, said the team would use its observations in the first leg to prepare for the second leg tie in Ilorin. The Under-20 team had on Sept. 21 in Nelspruit forced the Amajita to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the final qualifier series in the ongoing African Youth Championship (AYC) qualifiers.

“So far, we have been preparing, having played in the first leg. Whatever we must have observed in the first leg is what we will use as our preparation for the second leg,’’ Obuh said.

He told NAN that he was satisfied with the calibre of players now in the team and would make the best use of the players at his disposal during the match on Sunday. The coach, however, said that there was still room for any player that satisfies the coaching crew that he could prove his mettle.

“Anybody that is a Nigerian, once he satisfies us, has a room to play for the Flying Eagles,’’ he said.

The Flying Eagles’ coach urged Ilorin fans to turn out in their numbers and throw their weight behind the team.

“ I believe the crowd will be much this time round because in football, you know the more you qualify to play the next game, the more people become interested in you. I’m sure that the crowd will be more than what we had during the Tanzania game,’’ he said.