The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Dolphins

  • Eguma insists Dolphins not going down

    Eguma insists Dolphins not going down

    Dolphins coach Stanley Eguma has insisted his club will not be relegated at the end of the season.

    Eguma saw his side fall by the odd goal to Sharks in a Port Harcourt derby on Sunday and so remain in the drop zone in 17th place with 34 points from 31 matches, two points outside safety.

    “Things have not been rosy for us. We give our best in every game as you can see, but that luck is not always there for us,” lamented Eguma

    “We still have about seven matches to go. Dolphins are a big side and we know what to do.

  • Dolphins’ striker Asamoah wants Sharks’ scalp

    Dolphins’ striker Asamoah wants Sharks’ scalp

    SIX goals hero for Dolphins this season, Godbless Asamoah wants his 7th and maybe 8th on Sunday against Sharks in the Port Harcourt derby.

    Asamoah did not play for Dolphins until Match Day 10 against FC Taraba in Jalingo.

    He has also been out injured on two occasions totaling eight match days, yet has managed six goals for his side this season.

    Now he wants to score the goals that will give his side maximum points against neighbours, Sharks on Sunday.

    “Remember, my first ever goal for Dolphins was against Sharks at our home. Now I pray to God that I can do same at their home,” Asamoah said.

    “It’s a local derby. Remember the last time I scored against Sharks was my first goal in the Nigerian league so I believe I can do same again as we continue on our way to escaping relegation,” the Ghanaian striker said.

    After he made his debut for the club against FC Taraba, he told DolphinsFCMedia that he planned to either finish top scorer in the league or at least for the club.

    “The league is still going on and I know if I cannot be league top scorer, then I can be for Dolphins, just like Emem (Eduok) did last season.

    “Then after this season, I can continue my goals adventure next season,” he said.

    The last five encounters between both sides have ended in four draws and a 2-1 win to Sharks in 2013.

  • ‘No mistake against Dolphins’

    ‘No mistake against Dolphins’

    Lobi Stars captain and central defender, Anthony Agbaji has said his side will not repeat the mistake that robbed them of vital points at Giwa FC against Dolphins.

    The Pride of Benue will host the Garden City landlords, Dolphins in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match day 27 clash on Wednesday at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi.

    Lobi Stars were pegged 0-2 in the first fixture clash at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt.

    Agbaji said the 0-2 loss at Giwa FC was a painful mistake they must avoid in the remaining matches of the ongoing season.

    “We have no tangible reason to lose the  three points at Giwa FC but a momentary loss of concentration which we have sworn will never happen again in the remaining matches of the season.

    “We have resolved to put the decision into practice starting with tomorrow’s (Wednesday) game against Dolphins.

    “We want to use the game to prove a point that we are a side to be reckoned with and further prove to doubters that our survival fight to stay away from the drop zone is for real.

    “So we will not compromise or negotiate the three points at stake in the encounter with Dolphins.

    “Dolphins are not well off at the moment and may be nursing a hidden dream for double against us but that’s a wish already doomed to fail from inception.

    “We need the  three points to further improve our position on the league log,” said Agbaji to supersport.com.

    Lobi Stars are 14th on the league log on 31 points from possible 78 points in the 26-week old Nigerian top flight.

  • FC Inter duo join Dolphins

    FC INTERNAZIONALE’S enterprising youngsters, Adamu Haruna and Abia Israel, have joined NPFL campaigners, Dolphins, to continue their football development.

    Supersport.com learnt the duo impressed Dolphins gaffer, Stanley Eguma, during the Federation Cup round of 64 clash, in Calabar.

    Although Chiwendu Ali’s brace gave Dolphins a 2-0 victory, the duo grabbed the attention of spectators and wormed their way into Eguma’s heart.

    Israel made his debut in the 1-1 draw against Abia Warriors and looks good for another outing during the road trip at Warri Wolves, on match day 23.

    Enugu-based FC Inter, owned by Francis Yawe, have since established a conveyor belt which unearths youngsters for clubs in the big league.

  • Abia Warriors face Dolphins at Liberation Stadium

    Abia Warriors face Dolphins at Liberation Stadium

    The Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt will take the centre stage on August 9 as Dolphins FC host Abia Warriors of Umuahia in one of the week 22 games of the 2014/2015 Globacom Premier League matches.

    In previous encounters between the two clubs in three head to head matches, Abia Warriors won two home games against Dolphins and lost one away.

    Coach Willy Udube of Abia Warriors and his team would have to work extra hard in Port Harcourt to secure three points against stubborn hosts, Dolphins.

    Dolphins on the other hand picked three points from nine points against Abia Warriors. Warriors, however, picked six points from a possible nine points.

    Stanley Eguma, coach of Dolphins on the other hand would be seeking to turn around the club’s previous woeful performance in the first stanza of the season by ensuring a win on their home turf.

    Abia Warriors’ current performance in the last six matches could spur the team to secure an away victory in Port Harcourt. They have won three matches at home, drawn two away, but lost one away to city rivals, Sharks.

    The same cannot be said of Dolphins as the the team has had poor run with three away losses, two home wins and one home loss in their last six matches in the season.

    Eguma would be looking for a way to swim out of their current relegation zone, while Udube would be looking for a place among the top four.

    Dolphins are 18th with 20 points from 21 matches played so far. The team have won four at home in 10 matches and drawn five in 11 away matches.

    The Warriors are eighth  on the league table; they have played 21 matches so far with 33 points.

    The Warriors won nine times but lost twice in the 11 matches played at home.

  • Heartland to face Dolphins in Oba

    Heartland to face Dolphins in Oba

    •Port Harcourt side confident of good result

    Heartland FC will face Dolphins today at the Rojenny Stadium, Oba near Onitsha after the League Management Company (LMC) failed to give a favourable verdict to Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri where the Naze Millionaires had wish to face the Port Harcourt side.

    A source informed SportingLife that the LMC visited the Dan Anyiam Stadium to appraise the level of work done on the pitch but the inspection team has yet to officially notify Heartland to return to their base.

    Dolphins’ players and officials arrived Oba on Friday and started serious training ahead of today’s tie while Heartland left yesterday after endless wait for the LMC to ratify the usage of Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.

    Despite the hiccup noticed ahead of the tie, the Media Officer of the Owerri side, Cajetan Nkwopara told SportingLife that Heartland would be ready to gain all points against Dolphins irrespective of their build up to the encounter.

    Dolphins will be without some of their regular midfielders after Tijani Adamu, Emeka Atuloma left the camp without permission and Isiaka Olawale too has gone missing since their return from the league game with Kano Pillars.

    Victor Alegbe one of the players that went on AWOL has managed to return and plans are underway to impose some form of sanctions on him internally.

    Heartland are sixth on the log with 25 points from 16 games while Dolphins are 18th with 14 points from 16 ties.

  • Green fears for Sharks, Dolphins

    Green fears for Sharks, Dolphins

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) executive committee member Chris Green has raised concerns about the possible relegation of Sharks and Dolphins, two clubs close to his heart.

    Dolphins are in 18th position on the Nigerian Premier League table while Sharks are in last place, with both clubs facing the very real possibility of suffering the drop this term.

    Green, though, still hopes to see improvements in the form of both teams as the league nears its halfway mark.

    “I grew up in Port Harcourt as a fan of Sharks where I also served as club secretary for quite a while,” Green told SuperSport.

    “During my time as Rivers State sports commissioner, Dolphins achieved quite a lot, so I am naturally quite attached to both clubs. Seeing both clubs suffer this much this early in the season makes my heart bleed and it’s my opinion that urgent measures must be taken to stop the rot.”

  • Dolphins, Sharks commend Wike for paying salary arrears

    Dolphins, Sharks commend Wike for paying salary arrears

    The Managements of Dolphins FC and Sharks FC on Saturday commended Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers for paying the eight months salary arrears owed the clubs. Mr Daboere Dokubo, Interim Head of Sharks FC Management Team, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that the governor had kept to his promise by paying salary backlogs. Dokubo, who spoke through the clubs Media Officer, Mr Peter Abaje, said they were optimistic to win June 28 match against Heartland FC of Owerri. “The reason is, during the week, the players and officials smiled to the bank as the governor of the state paid eight months backlog of salaries owed the team. “So much has been given to the players by the governor and we commend him for fulfilling his electioneering campaign promise to take sports to the next level,” he said. Dokubo said the club was contented to win their match because there were no more excuses to give. “Players used to they had not been paid salaries, we are hungry and cannot think well in the field of play but all that is over,” he said. Dolphin’s manager, Mr Stanley Eguma, confirmed that his club had also been paid; and players optimistic to defeat Kano Pillars on July 28. Eguma thanked the governor for matching his words with action by clearing all salaries owed the officials and players. “We are optimistic as we are going to play in Kano, it is a big game but we will do our best to come out with a favourable result. “There are issues that have affected us, some of our players are absent without leave and others are affected by injuries in their match against Ifeanyi Uba FC,” he said. Eguma said most of the affected players were midfielders, adding that it was a big blow to the team. He said with the spirit in the boys going to Kano, the team would not come home empty handed but would have some points. “In our 1-1 draw against Giwa FC, my players did not pick into game right in time as they were dragging their feet in the first-half. “They could not find their rhythm in the first-half but took control of the game in the second-half after studying it,” he said. Eguma said the team would work on their mistakes and come out strong against Kano Pillars.

  • Wike renews promise to Dolphins, Sharks, Rivers Angels

    Wike renews promise to Dolphins, Sharks, Rivers Angels

    Rivers State governor, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has renewed his vow to pay the debts owed by the state to players of Dolphins, Sharks and Rivers Angels this week.

    Last Wednesday, the governor sent a message through the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Sports that all teams will be paid todayand on Saturday, he confirmed that monies had been released to make payment possible.

    Speaking live on a privately-owned radio station in Port Harcourt on Saturday morning, Wike said he was aware the players of the clubs had not been paid for eight months.

    “How do they perform well if they have not been paid for so long? We looked at it that these young men and women cannot continue suffering this way and it was based on this that we said we must pay them,” Wike said.

    The governor added that his predecessor refused to pay, saying the clubs must generate their own funds but he didn’t think the time was right for that.

    “The former governor said they should pay themselves, but how can they do that? We own the clubs for now, and we sponsor them so have to pay them their salaries.

    “When the Permanent Secretary told me they haven’t been paid for eight months, I did everything I could to see that we get funds to pay them,” the governor said.

  • Sharks, Dolphins no longer attractive, says Eguma

    Sharks, Dolphins no longer attractive, says Eguma

    Dolphins manager Stanley Eguma insists the allure of playing for Sharks and Dolphins is fast disappearing as a result of recent financial troubles.

    The two clubs currently languish in the relegation zone of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and Eguma reckons failure to strengthen both squads could prove costly in the long run.

    “When footballers hear that players of Sharks and Dolphins go as far as sleeping in front of the Government House (in Port Harcourt) before they get paid, it becomes almost impossible to convince them to join the clubs,” Eguma told supersport.com.

    The trainer however expressed belief that “things will change for the better” with a new administration in Rivers State; sponsors of Sharks and Dolphins.

    “Everybody knows that the new governor of Rivers State, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, is a fan of Sharks and Dolphins. I am sure that now that he’s in charge, things will change for the better and the two clubs will continue to climb out of the relegation zone,” he said.

    “I told my players in our last training session that if we are to escape relegation at the end of the season, drawing matches will not help us.”