The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Dolphins

  • Zenith Women Basketball: First Bank, Dolphins, 6 others qualify for Final Eight

    Zenith Women Basketball: First Bank, Dolphins, 6 others qualify for Final Eight

    FirstBank Basketball Club of Lagos, the defending champions of the 11th Zenith Female Basketball League, the runners-up, Dolphin have qualified for Final Eight play-off of the league. Six other clubs also qualified for the stage.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the eight teams emerged after the second phase of the league, held from June 9 to June 17 in Ilorin, the Kwara capital.

    The other six qualifiers are First Deepwater, AHIP Queens, Sunshine Angels, Customs, IGP Queens and Delta Force.

    First Bank topped its Group A table with 16 points, having won all their eight matches. They are followed by First Deepwater with 15 points having won seven matches, and losing only one.

    Surprisingly, the final eight debutant, AHIP Queens, edged past final eight regular, Sunshine Angels, with goal difference after being tied at 13 points apiece.

    Dolphins topped the Group B table with 16 points from eight matches, Nigeria Customs was placed second with 15 points, IGP Queens’ third with 14 points and Delta Force, fourth with 13 points.

    NAN reports that the Final Eight play-off will be played in Lagos later in the year.

  • Dolphins’, Wolves’ clash ends in stalemate

    Dolphins’, Wolves’ clash ends in stalemate

    Warri Wolves held Dolphins to a pulsating 0-0 stalemate in the Nigeria Professional Football League on Thursday at the Liberation Stadium.

    It was a game that sold out entertainment to fans who trooped to the Garden City but both sides missed good chances.

     Ali Chinwendu was presented with the best chance of the game in the final minutes but he was foiled by Daniel Akpeyi.

     Okoyoh Michael and Oghenekaro Etebo dazzled for Wolves while Chinwedu caused problems for the Wolves defence.

    For Dolphins, experienced goalkeeper Rotimi Sunday manned the post, while Ayobami Asekunowo was also named in the defence.

    Midfielder Emeka Atuloma was deployed in a free role.

    Paul Aigbogun responded by maintaining a strong defensive side.

    Etebo, Okoyoh and Sikir Alimi formed the attacking trident with support from Dimgba Stanley, while Ibenegbu Ikechukwu played the holding midfield role.

    Fans turned up at the Liberation Stadium to back the two teams with Dolphins fans overshadowing the visitors.

     The Seasiders made an early statement of intent impressive exchanges and Etebo should have put the team ahead.

     While the first-half wore on Dolphins came into the picture with their attackers all coming close.

    The two teams wasted several chances to score in the second half as the game ended in a stalemate.

  • Dolphins, Lobi Stars rustle Garden City

    Dolphins, Lobi Stars rustle Garden City

    The clash between Port Harcourt side, Dolphins and Lobi Stars of Makurdi at Garden City is one of the headline matches of Week 7 of this year’s Glo Premier League, coming up on Sunday.

    Leaders Heartland FC, who regained their top position after beating Kano Pillars 1-0 in a rescheduled game in Owerri on Thursday, are again at home, this time to Sunshine Stars of Akure.

    Giwa FC, second with Enyimba on 11 points, are also at home, to Bayelsa United of Yenagoa, while two –time African champions Enyimba visit Gabros International in Nnewi.

    FC Taraba will be away to Sharks FC in Port Harcourt, and El-Kanemi Warriors are at home to Akwa United from Uyo.

    Enugu Rangers are also on the road, as guests to Wikki Tourists in Bauchi, while Nasarawa United host ambitious Abia Warriors in Lafia and Kwara United and Kano Pillars will go to battle at the Ilorin Sports Complex.

    Shooting Stars and Kano Pillars will  play their resceduled match on May 6 in Ibadan.

  • Dolphins players tender apology

    Dolphins players tender apology

    Players of Dolphins  FC, led by their  captain, Sunday Rotimi have tendered an apology to the club management, Nigerians and the people of Rivers State.

    Dolphins failed to travel on time for a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederation game last weekend in Tunisia as players refused to get on the bus to the airport because they wanted more than they were offered as out of station allowance, or ‘estacode’ as it is more popularly called in Nigeria.

    The team subsequently missed its flight to Lagos, then Tunis and were walked over by the time they got to the stadium.

    Captain of the side, Sunday Rotimi has in turn apologised for the role of the players in the saga.

    “On behalf of my players, I want to apologise to the club management and also Nigerians concerning the game in Tunis. It’s unfortunate that we left Nigeria to Tunis and couldn’t play the game. I deeply apologise to all Nigerians and especially people of Rivers State,” Rotimi said.

    Dolphins returned from the Tunisia encounter on Saturday and will play against Abia Warriors in a rescheduled league game today in Umuahia.

     

  • CAF tells Dolphins to remain in Tunis

    CAF tells Dolphins to remain in Tunis

    CAF has directed  Nigeria Professional Football League [NPFL] club, Dolphins, to remain in Tunis “until a decision is reached and communicated to you.”

    The apex football body in Africa, in a letter on Monday, from its deputy director in the competitions department, Khaled Naddar, gave the former Nigerians hope of being restored into the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederation Cup after they were walked over by Club Africain on Saturday in a first leg, round of 32 match.

    “Reference to the above mentioned match which was initially scheduled on 14th March 2015; we would like to request your team Dolphins to stay in Tunis until a decision is reached and communicated to you,” CAF responded to an earlier petition Dolphins sent through the Nigeria Football Federation [NFF] to it.

    The Nigerian club now believe that following the communication from CAF, “there is a ray of hope” for them after they protested their being walked over by 12-time Tunisian champions, Club Africain.

    “There is a ray of hope for Dolphins Football Club as regards their protest to the Confederation of Africa Football, CAF, because of the purported walk over by Club Africain in their game over the weekend.

    “After a long drawn out protest saga by Dolphins, through the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) international department, it seems CAF will make a decision that favours Dolphins.

    “There have been series of emails, and telephone conversations between officials of the team, the NFF and CAF as regards this issue and this letter from CAF gives a ray of hope,” Dolphins said in a statement on Tuesday.

    Dolphins, earlier scheduled to return to Nigeria today before CAF’s directive, had protested that they arrived in Tunis in time for the game but had to undergo a two-hour routine over visa issuance.

    Last Thursday, the Port Harcourt club said they had also requested for a shift in date for the match after encountering a hitch in their travel plans owing to protest by their players over wages.

    CAF is now expected to take a decision concerning the matter involving Dolphins and Club Africain barring any hitch.

  • NFF petitions CAF on Dolphins, Africain tie

    NFF petitions CAF on Dolphins, Africain tie

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has lodged a formal complaint to CAF concerning the manner of treatment meted out to Dolphins by their Confederation Cup opponents, Club Africain.

    Supersport.com has been informed by administrative sources in the football federation that the Nigerian body’s petition toes exact line of Dolphins’ statement on how the Tunisians refused to assist them even when they made it clear that they would honour the match.

    “An official complaint has been made by the NFF to CAF concerning the way and manner that the Tunisian club [Club Africain] and its federation went about to ensure that Dolphins were not offered any hand of help despite showing that they wanted to honour the game,” supersport.com was informed on Monday.

    The former Nigerian champions, on Sunday, released a statement blaming the Tunisian club and their football federation for scuttling their resolve to honour the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup round of 32 match.

    In a 17-paragraph statement, Dolphins claimed that they arrived Tunisia around 1pm on match day [Saturday] but had to endure a two-hour routine “before our visas were processed and passports issued to the delegation (note that Tunisian visa to Nigerians from Nigeria are issued at point of entry).”

    The Port Harcourt club also say they had communicated with the NFF and even “wanted the game moved by one day from Saturday to Sunday.”

    “Dolphins FC arrived in Tunisia at 1pm on Saturday, March 14, 2015 and were scheduled to play a CAF Confederation Cup game against Club Africain at 3pm, same day.

    “Before we departed from Lagos on Thursday, we had informed the Nigeria Football Federation through Bola Oyeyode, the head of international department and Musa Amadu, the General Secretary, in writing of our challenges and wanted the game moved by one day from Saturday to Sunday.

    “We arrived in Tunis, via Emirates Airline on Saturday, 14 March 2015 at exactly 1pm. And even though our request to have the game postponed was not granted, we were ready to play as we arrived in good time, though fatigued and travel weary,” Dolphins said in a section of their statement.

    The 2014 Federation Cup finalists, Dolphins, were walked over by Club Africain, and they are now expected back in Nigeria despite making the trip to Tunis.

  • Dolphins, Abia Warriors moved

    Dolphins, Abia Warriors moved

    Bayelsa United head coach, Solomon Ogbeide has said the introduction of new players Musa Najere, Adama Coulibaly and Bassey Akpan whose clearance will be conducted in few days would make his squad stronger ahead of the remaining matches of the league.

    The Restoration Boys ought to tackle Kano Pillars in a league match this weekend but the encounter won’t hold because of the armed robbery attack on Pillars team on their way to honour a league encounter.

    But Ogbeide told SportingLife that Bayelsa United would continue working hard and strive to make up for the loss time with continuous training for proper bonding before their next league game.

    “We’re going to have Musa Najere available for us from this weekend game. We also have Adama Coulibaly that played for Warri Wolves last season.  We are very close to concluding negotiation over the completion of Bassey Akpan transfer,” Ogbeide, who is the Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association told SportingLife.

  • Kwara United start camp in Ijebu Ode for Dolphins tie

    Kwara United start camp in Ijebu Ode for Dolphins tie

    Kwara United have  arrived in Ijebu Ode ahead of their pre-season programme in Ogun State after the Afonja Warriors rounded off the selection of players ahead of the 2014/2015 Nigeria Premier League season.

    The Media Officer of the Afonja Warriors, Olayinka Owolewa told SportingLife that the Ilorin side hope to travel to Port Harcourt from Ijebu Ode for their date with Dolphins on Sunday, if the uneasy calm over league resumption is settled.

    He said Kwara United do not intend to sit on the fence or to only be among the numbers but that they have signed experienced players from every corner of the country and are ready for the season.

    Owolewa revealed that Kazeem Yekeen, who left the club for Bayelsa United two seasons ago, has returned to the team and they have Anthony Okemiri, Dele Ajiboye, Philip Asuquo, Evans Yoro among other top stars they have assembled to set the season alight starting with the game in Port Harcourt.

  • Dolphins land ex-Rangers goalkeeper, Anyalogu

    Dolphins land ex-Rangers goalkeeper, Anyalogu

    Last season’s Federation Cup finalists, Dolphins FC, have completed the signing of goalkeeper Godwin Anyalogu for the NPFL season, supersport.com has been informed.

    The Port Harcourt club moved to acquire the goalkeeper as back up for first-choice and captain, Sunday Rotimi and also bolster their goalkeeping ranks.

    Dolphins also have two other goalkeepers in Adejare Adeniyi and Joseph Onwuga, who joined from Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, Kano Pillars, in the off-season.

    “We have tidied up papers to add goalkeeper Godwin Anyalogu to our team. The coach (Stanley Eguma) believes this is one area that needs to be fortified and that is why we have brought in Anyalogu, who is very experienced having played in the top division for a number of season with Rangers and most recently Sunshine Stars.

    “He will be part of the squad for the league and the Federation Cup, and hopefully if we make it to the group stage of the (CAF) Confederation Cup, may be he could be registered for that competition too,” said an official of Dolphins to supersport.com.

    Anyalogu featured for Sunshine Stars last term and had to face limited playing time as Ikechukwu Ezenwa was preferred ahead of him.

    The former Enugu Rangers man now faces competition from three other Dolphins goalkeeper – Rotimi, Adeniyi and Onwuga- for first-team as the club prepare to start their NPFL campaign at home to Kwara United next month.

  • Dolphins still optimistic despite financial woes

    Dolphins still optimistic despite financial woes

    Dolphins’ captain, Sunday Rotimi has played down the cash crunch that has hit the club, by assuring that they will beat Leones Vegetarianos of Equatorial Guinea when both sides clash todayin the opening round of the 2015 CAF Confederations Cup.

    The veteran goalkeeper has also pledged to put up a good show in Malabo while admitting that it has not been a perfect preparation for them, owing to paucity of funds.

    “We have worked hard as much as we can and despite the financial challenges, the lads are ready to face the task squarely on the pitch. It has not been easy but we know we have a job to do so as not to disappoint our fans and we will do our best in it.

    “When you call yourselves professionals, you have to be diligent in the job. So far, so good, the players have made up their minds to go out and give their best on and off the pitch. As a player, when you get to the pitch, you put aside all differences and work hard to achieve success,” he told npfl.ng.

    In their last appearance on the continent, Dolphins defeated Sony Ela Nguema 6-0 on aggregate and that was in the 2012 CAF Champions League but Rotimi who was a member of that squad said they will not be judging Vegetarianos based on that.

    “That is in the past now. We are not looking at them from Nguema’s perspective, our stand right now is that no team is a pushover. We believe that it’s not going to be easy but we also believe on the other hand that our efforts on match day will make it easy for us.”

    Dolphins will face 2014 Equatorial Guinea Cup winners Vegetarianos in the first leg of their preliminary round fixture today at the 15,000 capacity Estadio de Malabo while the return leg will come up in Port Harcourt two weeks later.