The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Dolphins

  • Dolphins settle players’ debt

    Dolphins settle players’ debt

    The General Manager of Dolphins Football Club, Joe Johnson has said  the club is now free of debts owed  its players.

    Johnson, while addressing the press in Port Harcourt, said it was not something to shout about but since it was a big media issue when the League Management Company (LMC) listed Dolphins amongst clubs that owed players, it became important to use the same source to say the club is now clean.

    According to Johnson, the club is now up to date with payments.

    “We have paid everything we owe the players, at least up till the last match we played in the League on the road to Sunshine Stars.

    “All outstanding match bonuses have been paid to date and of course, we do not owe salaries,” Johnson said.

    On the issue of signing on fees being owed for last season, Johnson said the club has done all within its powers which are the salaries and match bonuses but anything regarding signing on fees belongs to the Rivers State government.

    “We hope to get a listening ear from the governor as promised by the sports commissioner and we believe that it will be sorted out before the end of the season,” Johnson said.

    Dolphins’ defender, Victor Ezuruike, confirmed that the club is no longer indebted to the players but added that they await the Rivers State government to fulfil their part of the bargain.

    “Yes, the monies were paid just before the game against Sharks last weekend. We also talked about the enhanced salaries and last season’s signing on fees and an agreement was reached.

    “We just hope that we can get it as the money is very important to us,” Ezuruike said.

  • Dolphins disappointed, Sharks delighted

    Dolphins disappointed, Sharks delighted

    Dolphins coach Stanley Eguma has said he was disappointed with Sunday’s  0-0 draw with Sharks, whose coach Gbenga Ogunbote said he was happy with the point.

    The Port Harcourt derby saw Sharks peg back hosts Dolphins to a goalless draw in a Nigeria League Week 25 clash.

    Dolphins coach Eguma said they wanted the full marks at the expense of the city rivals.

    “It was a disappointment because we had planned to win,” he said.

    “It was a derby and it could be difficult at times as our opponents know us as well as we know them.”

    However, Eguma maintained the draw will not derail their title ambitions.

    “We will still work harder and try to get the points lost today from somewhere else. We are still in the race,” he said.

    Sharks coach Ogunbote, on the other hand, was delighted his team got a point from the game, saying every point won away from home was good.

    “A draw on the road is always something to be happy with,” Ogunbote said.

    Dolphins are fourth on the table with 39 points from 25 matches, while local rivals Sharks are eight spots below on 35 points.

  • Sunshine get incentives to beat Dolphins

    Sunshine get incentives to beat Dolphins

    Sunshine Stars players have been promised special incentives by the Chairman of the Ondo State Football Agency(ODSFA), Akin Akinbobola if they could pick the available six points from their double header home games against Dolphins and Enugu Rangers in their next two matches.

    The Akure Gunners defeated Kano Pillars 3-0 in their last home game played at the Akure Township Stadium and they were rewarded with improved win bonus.

    Each player got N50,000 as against the normal N40,000 for home win and they have been assured of a special package from the head of ODSFA  if they could overcome the duo of Dolphins and Enugu Rangers.

    The Media Officer of the  team, Wahab Bankole told SportingLife that Akinbobola in a chat with the players ahead of their today’s game with Dolphins has charged them to forget about the loss to Giwa FC and concentrate on their next two games which they would be hosting at Akure.

    “The Chairman of the Ondo State Football Agency, Akin Akinbobola has told the players of Sunshine Stars to redouble their effort and ensure that they beat both Dolphins and Enugu Rangers. He assured them that they would get special package if they earn all six points in the next two games they will be playing at home,” Bankole said.

  • Dolphins stop Prime 1-0, to meet Elephants in final

    Dolphins stop Prime 1-0, to meet Elephants in final

    Dolphins will face cup holders Enyimba in the final of this year’s Federation Cup final after they pipped hard-fighting Prime FC in Thursday’s semi-final in Abuja.

    Both Nigeria Premier League (NPL) clubs will clash in the cup final at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos on August 16.

    Dolphins are aiming for a fifth cup triumph, while Enyimba are on track for a fourth victory in the cup competition after they won last year’s final against Warri Wolves.

    Ebube Okpokwu was Dolphins’ match winner in the 48th minute against lower league Prime FC in Abuja.

    The Port Harcourt club are reaching the final for the first time in seven years.

    Enyimba won the other semi-final when they beat Giwa FC 1-0 courtesy of Raphael Buomsong’s goal in Abeokuta.

  • Olapade not scared of Dolphins

    Olapade not scared of Dolphins

    Prime FC captain and right full-back, Waheed Olopade has said his side is not losing sleep over the Federation Cup semifinal clash against four-time champions, Dolphins.

    The 2012 Cup bronze winners will get a final spot ticket when they engage the Glo Premier League side in today’s semifinal showdown at the FIFA Goal Project ground, Abuja.

    The Omoluabi Giants saw off the opposition of their Nigeria National League (NNL) rivals, Gateway United, in the quarterfinals in Kaduna while the Garden City side out-muscled Lobi Stars in Enugu to pave way for the epic clash on Thursday.

    Olopade said his side are perfectly comfortable with Premier League opposition than lower division challengers as they always navigate themselves through the contest.

    “We’re not losing sleep over the Cup semifinal showdown against Dolphins. We understand it will be a tough duel and that’s why we’re undergoing rigorous training to strenghten ourselves.

    “We’re at our very best when the stakes and opposition are high. In fact, we prefer playing elite league sides than lower division teams.

    “Two Cup seasons back we took out the opposition of virtually all the top teams in the Premier League namely Wikki Tourists, Enugu Rangers, Enyimba, Sharks, Pillars, among others en route to finishing as the third best team.

    “This season we’ve seen off the opposition of high profile side, Warri Wolves and we’ll add Dolphins to the growing list of casualties.

    “We’re not scared of Dolphins. It’s going to be 11/11 on either side and I’m confident we’ll carry the day.

    “We’re not limiting our dream for glory to the semifinal stage. We want to go to the end to contest for the podium dance. Something tells me this is our year to lift the Cup trophy,” said the Osogbo-based side strongman to supersport.com.

    Prime FC departed their base on Wednesday to Abuja for the crunch encounter against Dolphins today.

  • Will Dolphins prepare for penalties against Prime?

    Prime FC have proved to be the giant killers of the Federation Cup and have won every game they have played so far via penalties.

    But Dolphins, who made a giant run in 2001 to win the Cup as a second division side will not underrate the underdogs or focus on penalty shootouts ahead of the game.

    Prime have won every game they have played in the competition via penalties, but coach, Stanley Eguma has said that will not be his focus

    “I will prepare for the game. I will prepare for all aspects and hope to win in regulation time, but if the game goes into penalties I will also be prepared for that too,” Eguma said.

    The last time Dolphins won the Federation Cup in 2007, four games were won via penalty shootouts.

    Against FC Katsina, Dolphins won via penalties in the Round of 32; against Enyimba in the quarter final in Ilorin, Dolphins won via shootouts; against Sharks in the semifinal in Owerri, Dolphins progressed after full time ended 2-2 and in the final in Lagos against Rangers, Dolphins won via penalties after full time ended 1-1.

    However, the last time a Dolphins game went to shootout in the Federation Cup was in 2013 against Akwa Starlets in the Round of 64 and Dolphins lost that one.

  • Dolphins pay outstanding match bonuses

    Dolphins pay outstanding match bonuses

    Dolphins of Port Harcourt have paid their players outstanding match bonuses for last season, but have failed to credit individual bank accounts being accrued signing bonus which was supposed to be settled before the start of this campaign.

    But the higher-ups have told the players to exercise patience while they source for fund to pay the outstanding emoluments.

    The players of the club had threatened to embark on strike sometime this month if they were not paid the sign on bonuses, however, this has been shelved after they received assurances from management.

    For this season,most of the bonuses – win and draw – have been settled except two matches against Gombe and Warri Wolves.

    The management had promised to remit the money after the home game against Abia Warriors on Wednesday.

    According to a source, each player will get Twenty Thousand Naira (equivalent of 200 euros) for the home win against Warri Wolves and an additional Twenty Thousand Naira for the drawn game.

    A day before every home game, Dolphins accommodate the squad at Tokyu Grand Hotel at Stadium Road, Port Harcourt which is necessary to fine-tune their game plan as well as secure the players.

  • Dolphins get Ajagun transfer cash

    Dolphins get Ajagun transfer cash

    Greek club Panathinaikos will finally pay Dolphins the 200,000 Euros transfer fee for Abduljaleel Ajagun, MTNFootball.com has specially gathered.

    According to MTNfootball.com, Ajagun signed for Panathinaikos in the summer but the payment of his transfer fee has since been outstanding.

    But now Ajagun’s Nigerian club Dolphins will receive the payment in four instalments beginning from this month, a top source who is familiar with this transaction has disclosed.

    “Panathinaikos will pay Dolphins 50,000 Euros for the next four months beginning  this month to offset Ajagun’s transfer fee,” the source told MTNFootball.com

    “The Greek club have been facing financial problems and so the delay.

    “Otherwise, they have been very happy with the player’s performance.”

    Incidentally, Ajagun was the match winner for his Greek club on Sunday night.

    The ex-Nigeria U20 skipper was the hero for Panathinaikos at PAS Giannina when he scored the only goal of the game.

    The midfielder hit target in the 36th minute and that was enough to give Panathinaikos a 1-0 victory.
    Panathinaikos are now fourth on the league table with 56 points from 29 matches.

    Ajagun has scored four goals in 18 games for the top Greek club.

  • Eguma wants Glo League title

    Eguma wants Glo League title

    AFTER breaking his Owerri hoodoo on Sunday, Dolphins head coach, Stanley Eguma says the club wants nothing but the Globacom Premier League title this season.

    Eguma who is currently the longest serving coach in the Globacom Premier League says it is a gift he must give to fans of the club considering how bad their last two seasons have been.

    Dolphins won the League in 2011 but ever since have struggled to escape relegation on the last day of the season for two straight years, a situation Eguma wants to change.

    “We can go for the title and we can win the title. We have struggled for two seasons and we are ready to get back to the top where we belong,” Eguma said. “We have gone for youth and pace this time to work with some of the older and more experienced players in the team and we believe that this will work for us. The players know what is up against them and they have assured me that they will give their best to ensure that we have a memorable season so I am assuring the fans that this season will be better than the rest,” Eguma said.

    Dolphins have won the Nigerian League three times in 1997, 2004 and 2011 and have won the FA Cup four times in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2007.

  • Dolphins, Sharks players appeal to Rivers Govt

    Dolphins, Sharks players appeal to Rivers Govt

    PLAYERs of Dolphins and Sharks Football Clubs have appealed to the Rivers State Government to pay up their last season’s signing-on fees so as to reduce their sufferings and put them in the best shape for the start of the Glo Premier League season.

    The two Port Harcourt-based teams also had similar problems two seasons ago and they only got paid when last season was already in full swing.

    But the players that volunteered to speak to SportingLife under cover for fear of victimisation opined that it would be best for the Rivers government to release funds for the offset of their signing on fees.

    Both clubs did not perform to their full potential last season as they were placed in the middle of the table unlike previous seasons when they finished among the best five clubs in the land because of the payment of their signing-on fees on time.

    Neither Dolphins nor Sharks would be representing Nigeria on the continent as they also crashed out in the early stages of the Federation Cup last season.