The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Crown FC

  • Crown to play Kogi Utd in Ijebu Ode today

    Crown to play Kogi Utd in Ijebu Ode today

    Crown FC will play a friendly match with Kogi United today at the practice pitch of the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu Ode.

    The Ajilete Boys recently arrived Ijebu Ode for a camping exercise ahead of the Globacom Premier League season for 2013/2014.

    They stormed Ijebu Ode with 45 players which they hope to trim down to 35 before the commencement of the league.

    The club’s spokesman, Kunle Oyeleye told SportingLife that the initial idea of the team was to concentrate solely on training but that they had to listen to the constant pressure from local clubs to engage them in friendly games.

    Crown made a sensational return to the premier league last season after some years in the lower division. They were second behind Abia Warriors.

  • 2013/14 season: No home comfort for Crown FC

    2013/14 season: No home comfort for Crown FC

    Ahead of the 2013/14 season, Glo Premier League returnee, Crown FC of Oshogbo might not play their home matches at their Soun Stadium Ogbomosho home ground according to Head Coach Lawrence Akpokona.

    Speaking on preparations heralding the upcoming season, the former Insurance and Enugu Rangers tactician, who joined the Oshogbo-based outfit recently, admitted that it was too close for any realistic work to be carried out on the stadium.

    “I cannot say that we will be playing our matches when the new season starts judging by the state of our home ground at Oshogbo presently. That apart, we’ve prepared the team to play on any ground, whether home or away. Presently, we are in Ijebu-Ode for our pre-season preparations for the new campaign,” added Akpokona who is hopeful of keeping Crown FC in the topflight at the end of the 2013/14 season.

    “Our focus is to maintain our Glo Premier League status at the end of the campaign. The club management has also given us all the support need to succeed and we have no reason to complain so far,” he sounded off.

  • Uweru expresses confidence in Crown FC

    Uweru expresses confidence in Crown FC

    Crown FC goalkeeper, Michael Uweru has said his side will strive to cement their top flight status but will never end their campaign as the elite league’s whipping boys.

    The Ogbomosho-based side are one of the quartet promoted to the elite league at the conclusion of the 2012/13 Nigeria National League (NNL) season and the player is confident his side are not just there to add up to the numbers in their comeback to the Glo Premier League

    “We’ve tasted life in the Premier League previously as well as the Nigeria National League and we’ve garnered lots of experiences that will be handy as we head back to the Premier League.

    “I think we’ve learnt a lot and won’t just make up the numbers but compete favourably.

    “Our main target will be to secure our position first in the Premier League thereafter challenge for the title probably in our second stint.

    “Though we’ve been there previously I’m sure the terrain we left off would have changed so we see ourselves as newcomers and must learn the ropes once again.

    “However, that doesn’t mean we won’t take our chances or end our comeback campaign as the weeping child.

    “We have an experienced coach at the saddle in the person of Lawrence Akpokona and with everybody’s hands on deck we’ll achieve a lot in the coming season,” said the former Kwara United goaltender to supersport.com.

    Uweru assured of a better performance from him in the coming season.

    “I’ll remain focused, strive at all times to put in my very best and ensure the side’s target in the Premier League is realised,” Uweru said.

    Crown FC resumed camp on Monday from their Yuletide holidays and will be heading to closed camping to commence preparations for the 2013/14 Glo Premier League season.

  • Crown unveil Akpokona as Technical Adviser today

    Crown unveil Akpokona as Technical Adviser today

    Crown FC of Ogbomosho have taken veteran tactician, Lawrence Akpokona out of coaching retirement and will unveil him as their new technical adviser today at the Soun Stadium, a top official of the club has revealed.

    Crown stayed in the lower league for over two seasons before gaining promotion to the elite division last season when they placed second to Abia Warriors in the Nigeria National League Group B.

    The club failed to make meaningful impact at the just-concluded Super Four for the NNL clubs that got promotion to the Premier League. They finished fourth behind Giwa FC, Abia Warriors and Taraba United in the competition held in Abuja.

    Crown FC’s media officer Kunle Oyeleye told SportingLife that all arrangements have been concluded to unveil Coach Akpokona as their new technical adviser today to the fans, supporters and people of Ogbomosho.

    Oyeleye said that Crown FC chairman, Noah Bello would be on hand to perform the ceremony rituals while fans, football enthusiasts and supporters of the club would be in attendance. Some top officials of the club and some key officials of the Oyo State government are also expected to grace the occasion.

    Oyeleye, however, noted that Akpokona was only hired to complement the work of the current technical crew because of his experience and track record and that was not hired to take anybody’s job. Oladunni Oyekale still remains the head coach while Daniel Ogunmodede and Babalola Oseni are to continue serving as Assistant Coach and Trainer respectively. Mohammed Bello still remains the goalkeeper’s coach.

    “We shall unveil our new Technical Adviser by name Lawrence Akpokona tomorrow (today) at Ogbomosho. We are pulling him out of retirement to come and bring his wealth of experience to bear with Crown.”

    Akpokona is to take up the position that had been vacant since the sack of former Technical Adviser, Ganiyu Salami in 2011.

  • Ayo Ojo relishes Crown FC’s promotion

    Ayo Ojo relishes Crown FC’s promotion

    • Backs 3SC to beat drop zone

    CROWN FC goalkeeper, Ayo Ojo says he’s over the moon following the Ogbomoso side’s promotion to the Globacom Premier League.

    The Oyekale Oladunni side piped Fountain FC by a lone goal scoring late in the game to gain Pool B’s second ticket to play in the topflight ahead of Ogun State based Gateway FC and Remo Stars.

    According to him, “Despite not scoring early in the game as most had predicted, we were hopeful that the ticket will be ourselves as we kept our cool and not to allow results of Gateway and Remo FC to put pressure on us.

    “So when the goal came, it was home and dry for us as our rivals would have taken advantage of our scoreline to do the odds.

    “Now that our hard work has paid off, the next I think should be continuity in the team because I wouldn’t want a repeat of what happened some seasons ago where we didn’t stay in the premier league a year after we got promoted.

    “Our mentality has changed for the better as we wouldn’t want to be seen as a team that came to make up the number, as we are ready to do the ‘giant-killing’, once the 2013/14 season kicks-off.”

    Ojo, who expressed shock at turn of event in Shooting Stars following the Week 29 poor result against visiting ABS of Ilorin, says he’s optimistic that the Oluyole Warriors will beat the drop zone.

    “In as much as I look forward to the Oyo derby between 3SC and Crown FC come next season, it’s so sad that things are not going well for them right now but I want to stress that they will be out of the relegation zone before the season ends.

    “What the team needs is full management support as they have players that can do the odds for them.”

     

  • Crown get Ajimobi’s N10m today

    Crown get Ajimobi’s N10m today

    • Commisioner congratulates team
    • Promises Soun Stadium upgrade

    The Oyo State government under Senator Abiola Ajimobi has promised Crown FC of Ogbomoso ten million naira (N10, 000, 000) for gaining promotion to the Globacom Premier League.

    The Special Adviser to the governor on Water Resources, Fatai Buhari who disclosed this, said the governor had approved the money and it should be paid today.

    Crown FC returned to the elite league on Saturday following their 1-0 victory over Fountain FC in the last match of the Nigeria National League at the Soun Stadium, Ogbomoso. The coach Oladunni Oyekale-tutored side ended Group B table on 44 points behind Abia Warriors on 45 points.

    Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Adedapo-Lam Adesina also congratulated Ogbomoso fans following the promotion of Crown to the Premier League. He gave his commendation shortly after the team’s victory over Fountain FC of Ado-Ekiti.

    A joyful Adesina, who was short of words, said: “What can I say? I give God the glory, He deserves the honour, adoration and I dedicate this achievement to the highest God.

    “The state government’s plan when we came on board was to put things in order, empower the youth, re-awaken sports in the state, bring back Crown FC to the elite league, to ensure that 3SC are in good condition. These and much more we’ve done through the help of the most high God.

    “Also, I want to appreciate and thank the state governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi for supporting this great dream.”

    Adesina also assured that the refurbished Soun Stadium under the present administration will be upgraded to meet NPL approval.

    He said Crown fans and supporters also played a vital role in realising the promotion dream.

    Crown maintained a historical hundred percent home record, with a vital away win over Prime FC and a draw against Fountain in Ekiti.

    Bode Daniel was the team’s top scorer with 10 goals while Giwa Hammed was the first scorer of the season.

  • Crown FC won’t tarnish record

    Crown FC striker, Bode Daniel has said his side will not negotiate on their 100% home record in the ongoing 2012/13 Nigeria National League (NNL).

    The Ogbomosho-based side, who are second on the NNL log on 21 points, one point adrift of leaders, Remo Stars, have kept a 100% home record in the 12-week old second tier league.

    They will play hosts to Uyo-based side, Akwa Starlets in Sunday’s NNL Matchday 13 at the Soun Stadium in Ogbomoso.

    Daniel said his side will allow Akwa Starlets have the full weight of the painful defeat they suffered at the hands of Remo Stars on Matchday 12 at Ijebu-Ode.

    “We have so far maintained a 100% home record, we want to wrap up the first stanza of the season on that excellent note and keep it that way till the end of the season. The encounter against Akwa Starlets is our last home game in the first stanza; we don’t want to lose more as a win will take us back to the top of the ladder.

    “We’re still aggrieved at the loss to Remo Stars last weekend, we see Akwa Starlets as the appropriate opponents to vent our anger on. So they’re going to pay for the defeat at Remo Stars,” he said to supersport.com.

    The five-goal hero said he wants to end the season as top scorer as well as secure promotion to the elite league for his side.

    “I’ve scored five goals in the season so far, I intend to up it with two goals against Akwa Starlets. My target is to emerge as the highest goal scorer of the Nigeria National League as well as guide my team to gain promotion to the premier league,” he said.