The Nation Newspaper

Tag: dedicate

  • Pillars dedicate win to teammate Abawula

    Pillars dedicate win to teammate Abawula

    Kano Pillars players have dedicated their 1-0 victory over Abia Warriors in the Week 25 encounter on Saturday to their playing mate Anthony Abawula who clocked 24 years  same day.

    The club ‘s media officer  Rilwanu Idris Malikawa, who disclosed this to SportingLife, said the players celebrated with the birthday boy shortly after the match at the club house in Sabon Gari Quarters, Kano.

    Malikawa said the players described Abuwala’s birthday as a day of history and memorable for getting three points in the game against Abia Warriors.

    Adamu Hassan scored the only goal in the ninth minute against Abia Warriors.

    The skipper of the side, Afelokhai Theophilus on behalf of the players congratulated Abawula and prayed for more fruitful years . He advised him to take his birthday as a stepping stone in putting more efforts for the team.

    Afelokhai reminded the players to take Saturday’s victory as another challenge ahead of them and prayed for early recovery to those that are injured in the team.

    Technical Adviser Okey Emordi told SportingLife that he is confidence that the team’s aspiration to retain league trophy is going to be achieved by God grace at the end of the season.

    “With what my boys are doing so far I don’t think we would be disappointed at the end of the season, from the way things are going we are having everything going on as planned,” Emordi said.

     

     

  • Prime dedicate win to Aregbesola

    • Zoom into quarter-final
    • Await winner of Bayelsa/Gateway

    The Management of Prime FC of Ogbomoso has dedicated its Federation Cup round of 16 win over First Bank FC of Lagos to the State of Osun governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

    Prime advanced to the quarter-finals after beating First Bank 3-2 on penalties at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin on Thursday after 1-1 draw at the regulation time.

    There was a Wild celebration from the team’s fans inside the stadium as Prime booked their ticket to the next round.

    The Omoluabi Giants keeper Adejare Adeniyi was a hero after stopping three of First Bank kicks to send his side to the last 8, while First Bank safehand, Shakiru Lawal saved two kicks.

    Lasisi Yusuff shot Prime to lead in the 20th minute from a rebound off Abdullah Fatai’s free-kick.

    First Bank came into the game stronger after conceding the lone goal and their fireworks in front of goal was curtailed by the impressive Prime defence line and goalkeeper, Adejare Adeniyi to end the first half a goal in favour of Prime.

    First Bank took full advantage of some Prime sloppiness at the back to equalise in the 54th minute.

    In a chat with SportingLife, the club’s media officer, Tunde Samsudeen heaped praises on the players for their resilience while he admitted that the State government has contributed immensely to the team’s success so far.

    “We thank God for the win. The boys fought well for the victory. We dedicated the victory to our sports-loving Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. The government is really behind the team. The players have been well motivated through our season administrator Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi,” Samsudeen told SportingLife.

    Prime will lock horn against the winner of Bayelsa United/Gateway FC in the quarter-final next week.

  • Pupils dedicate sports victory to Buni Yadi victims

    Pupils dedicate sports victory to Buni Yadi victims

    Members of Herbert Macaulay (Blue) House, winners of the 3rd Inter House Sports competition of First Foundation Private Schools, Kubwa Abuja have dedicated their victory to the victims of Buni Yadi attack.

    House Captain, Master James Odum (not real name) described the attack by the violent Boko Haram sect that claimed the lives of 59 pupils of the Federal Government College in Buni Yadi, Yobe State on February 25, 2014 as unfortunate.

    The children called for better security for students in the country.

    He said: “Our teacher is always informing us of what is happening around the world everyday. He came in one day and told us that 59 students were killed while sleeping in their hostels. None of us was happy throughout that day. Some of my mates also told us other things about the attack which everybody has condemned.

    “Since then we have been training hard to make sure that we get a medal in this completion so that we can dedicate it to the dead souls.

    “We are happy that we eventually won the competition and we are dedicating it to those students that lost their lives untimely. We want government to arrest the evil people that did it and also to provide adequate protection for students everywhere in Nigeria.

    “We were also told that a plane with over 200 passengers has been missing, it’s our prayers that they find it”.

    Earlier in her welcome address, the Proprietess of the school, Mrs Zainab Adeleke, said the third edition of the event was meant to mentally and physically prepare the children for the challenges of the future.

    “We are aware that these impressionable children have to be exposed to sporting activities early enough to aid their growth. Apart from being prepared mentally, the physical fitness of the children is also of great importance to their development in life.

    “That is why we are always encouraged to ensure that we don’t miss this opportunity because we discovered that the children are not only excited about the competition, their academic performance has also been on the rise since the inception of the games,” she said.

    The competition featured various athletics events including 100m, 200m, 400m×4 relay, and others like – Dress your partner, Catch the bus and invitational relay.

    Obafemi Awolowo (Green) House took the rear position while Ahmadu Bello (Yellow) House and Nnamdi Azikwe (Red) took second and third positions respectively.

  • Pillars dedicate victory to Baba Ganaru

    Pillars dedicate victory to Baba Ganaru

    KANO Pillars FC assistant coach, Kabiru Baleria has dedicated his team’s 3-0thrashing of ABS to recuperating Mohammed Baba Ganaru.

    Baleria, in a post-match chat with SportingLife said: “We are dedicating this victory to our technical adviser, we wish him quick recovery. We pray for his sound health.

    “We want him back as quickly as possible as the team has really missed him.”

    Recall two weeks ago, the Pyramid side technical crew were involved in an auto crash as they were returning to Kano from Ilorin after losing 3-0 to Warri Wolves in the Federations Cup round of 8 clash.

    Manir Ubale got the game going for the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) leaders when he found the back of ABS net in the 17th minute.

    The lead was doubled in the 58th minute as Busari Musa added his name on the goals scorers sheet while Rabiu Ali put the game beyound the reach of the Ilorin team with a 83rd minute winner to hand Pillars their 13th victory of the 2013/14 season.

  • Heartland dedicate win to Oliha, Go’ar

    Heartland dedicate win to Oliha, Go’ar

    Federation Cup defending champions Heartland of Owerri have dedicated their victory over Sharks of Port Harcourt in the Round of 16 in the competition to ex-internationals, Thompson Oliha and Superintendent of Police, Kefas Go’ar who both died recently.

    The Naze Millionaires had a major scare before eliminating the Blue Angels at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City on Wednesday on penalties.

    Oliha, who died early this month and will be buried today in Benin, played and won laurels with Iwuanyanwu Nationale which metamorphosed to Heartland, and was also a recognised member of the Super Eagles which excelled at the Nations Cup in 1994 and reached the second round of the USA’ 94 World Cup.

    Superintendent of Police, Go’ar was a sports philanthropist and an avid fan of the Naze Millionaires in his lifetime. He met his death in the early hours of Wednesday after a brief illness. He was the Police Sports Officer for Zone 9 which comprises of Abia, Imo, Enugu and Anambra States.

    Explaining why Heartland decided to honour them, Team Manager of the Owerri club, Promise Nwachukwu, said both individuals did a lot for the advancement of the club and so deserved more.

    “We are dedicating our win at Benin to Thompson Oilha and Superintendent of Police Kefas Go’ar.

    “Their deaths were so sudden and quite unbelievable, but we are glad that they lived a fulfilled life and were highly valued even in death,” Nwachukwu told SportingLife.

    Heartland visited the country home of Thompson Oliha before their Round of 16 Federation Cup tie with Sharks of Port Harcourt.