The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Efugh

  • Efugh slams ref for loss against El-Kanemi

    Efugh slams ref for loss against El-Kanemi

    Heartland captain and centre back, Chinedu Efugh has said his side deserved a point at El Kanemi Warriors, but blamed the referee for the result.

    The Naze Millionaires lost 1-0 to El Kanemi Warriors in Saturday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matchday 35 clash at the Maiduguri Township Stadium.

    Striker Ibrahim Mustapha’s ninth minute match-winner proved adequate to hand the Maiduguri Warriors three points.

    Efugh said the loss to El Kanemi Warriors is a huge setback in his side’s fight to escape relegation in the on-going top-flight.

    “The referee in today’s (Saturday) NPFL matchday 35 tie at El Kanemi Warriors is the worst I have ever seen in the whole world.

    “El Kanemi Warriors’ goal is incontestable, very good goal, but the clean penalty we got could only be denied in theworld by the referee that officiated today’s game.

    “We abandoned the matc,h but were persuaded by the coach and other team officials to continue with the match.

    “I tell you nobody would have questioned the penalty if it was given by the referee but he decided and deliberately too, to kill our joy.

    “Of course we out-played the hosts, El Kanemi Warriors, to ably deserve a point in the encounter.

    “The loss has turned out to be a bad result in our fight to avoid relegation in the ongoing top-flight.

    “However, we are refusing to be discouraged by the referee-assisted defeat at El Kanemi Warriors but to push harder till the end of the season.

    “There is still hope for us to survive the drop with three remaining matches on the season’s calendar,” the former Enugu Rangers strongman told supersport.com.

    The loss at Warriors leaves Heartland in 18th position on the top-flight log on 37 points, 19 adrift of league leaders, Rivers United.

  • Efugh backs Adeniji, Chikatara to shine

    Efugh backs Adeniji, Chikatara to shine

    Nigeria head coach, Sunday Oliseh, has named the roster for the 2016 African Nations Championship (Chan) and as expected last season’s NPFL leading scorer, Gbolahan Salami, is not listed.

    The Wolves forward failed to turn up in the team’s training camp in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, thereby fuelling speculation of a possible move abroad in the January transfer window. However, one man who has played in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) for more than a decade believes that the Super Eagles can cope in the absence of Salami.

    Efugh told supersport.com that Salami is a fantastic player but believes the Nigerian squad for the CHAN can soldier on without him.

    The Heartland FC captain also named two players who are capable of standing up and getting counted in the absence of Salami. He believes Chisom Chikatara and Tunde Adeniji will come good.

    “Well I don’t think (Salami’s absence) will affect the team,” began the Heartland FC captain. “No doubt he is a fantastic player but the team are experienced enough.

    “In football, the absence of a player or players can always lead provide the opportunity for others to thrive. Like I said, Salami is a fantastic player but his absence will give others the chance and I think Chisom and Tunde are capable of doing very well too.”

    Apart from backing the duo of Adeniji and Chikatara, who scored a combined 29 league goals for their clubs, Abia Warriors and Sunshine Stars respectively, in the NPFL last term, Efugh is confident the Nigerian squad are good enough to win the 2016 Chan.

    “Yes I see them winning the trophy,” the former Enugu Rangers man said to supersport.com. “They (the Nigerian team) have experienced players.”

    However, before thinking of the African title, Nigeria will have to navigate through a group with Tunisia, Niger Republic and Guinea as opponents.

    The Nigerians began their bid to reach the quarterfinal stage of the Chan against Niger Republic at the Stade Regional Nyamirambo in Kigali, Rwanda on January 18.

  • Efugh: Era of poor league results over

    Efugh: Era of poor league results over

    Heartland captain and right back, Chinedu Efugh has said his side have resolved to avoid defeat in the remaining matches of the ongoing season.

    The Naze Millionaires, who have managed one point in the last four matches, will entertain Kwara United in midweek’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.

    Efugh said the time for his side to return to winning ways is clearly the encounter against the llorin outfit.

    “Heartland will certainly bounce back to winning ways against Kwara United on Wednesday.

    “I think the bad time is completely over for us as we have resolved to reap abundantly in the remaining matches on the season’s calendar.

    “Kwara United are meeting us at the wrong time they could not voice revenge of the first fixture clash defeat right there in llorin.

    “I strongly believe that the new era is here, the era of winning matches and it will start tomorrow (Wednesday) against Kwara United.

    “One point out of possible 12 is a huge dent on our image and aspiration in the ongoing season so it’s three points or nothing against Kwara United,” said the former Enugu Rangers captain and strongman to supersport.com.

    Heartland are stuck on 33 points 10 whole points behind league leaders, Sunshine Stars.

  • EFUGH TARGETS DOUBLE ON RANGERS

    EFUGH TARGETS DOUBLE ON RANGERS

    HEARTLAND captain and centre-back, Chinedu Efugh has said doing the double over their oriental neighbours, Enugu Rangers is quite possible.

    The Naze Millionaires will be the guests of the Coal City side in the Glo Premier League match day 33 encounter today at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu. The Owerri-based outfit won 2-0 against Rangers in the first fixture in Owerri.

    Efugh said the oriental derby is certain to be difficult but insisted that his side has the key to unsettle Rangers.

    “Of course, (doing the) double is quite possible at Enugu Rangers, we won 2-0 the first fixture in Owerri and are heading to Enugu for a repeat performance.

    “The encounter is  not going to be easy as expected of any local derby. In fact, no encounter between both sides has ever been easy irrespective of where the game is played.

    “We’ve prepared adequately to confront Rangers head long for the maximum points at stake.

    “There is nothing quite special for me about the game but same as any other game which we always aspire to win. We performed very well in our last game against Sunshine Stars with a 3-0 score line, we hope to confront Rangers with same winning mentality.

    “We need all the points we can get at the moment to help improve our position on the league log,” said Efugh to supersport.com.

    Heartland are ninth on the league log on 47 points from a possible 96 in the 32-week-old Nigerian top flight.

  • Injured Efugh says “no cause for alarm”

    Injured Efugh says “no cause for alarm”

    Heartland captain Chinedu Efugh has confirmed he would be out of action as Dolphins come visiting for the Glo Premier League opener in Owerri. He revealed he is not fully fit to resume action after cupping an injury at training three weeks back. He, however, trusts his teammates to do the job insisting that his absence from their opening game will not give Dolphins any edge.

    Heartland returned to Owerri Friday morning ahead of the Sunday encounter which many see as the star match of the season opener.

    “I have not fully recovered but I have started jogging. I hope to return to full fitness very soon. I do not think that my absence will affect my team in any way against dolphins. We have very capable players and our preparations have been tight.

    “No doubt, it is going to be a cracker against Dolphins but we will defeat them because we have always defeated them and that is not going to change this season. We usually beat them home and away. It was only last season that they managed to defeat us when we went away to Port Harcourt, but that is not going to count again,” enthused Efugh.

  • 2012/13 SEASON Efugh targets double with Heartland

    2012/13 SEASON Efugh targets double with Heartland

    SKIPPER Chinedu Efugh has set a target of winning a league and CAF Confederation Cup double with Heartland in the coming year.

    Efugh told MTNFootball.com he wishes to lift the Nigeria Premier League championship and the CAF Confederation Cup after he led ‘The Naze Millionaires’ to back-to-back success in the Nigeria Federation Cup in the last two years.

    “We will compete for three trophies, the league, the Confederation Cup and the Federation Cup. My target is to win the double, the league and the Confederation Cup. That would be our priorities after we won Federation Cup back to back,” he declared. Heartland crashed out in the qualifying rounds of this year’s Confederation Cup to AC Leopard of Congo, who are in the final of the club competition.

    In the coming season, Efugh will reunite with childhood friend and goalkeeper Ebele Obi, who he played alongside at Rangers. “It is good to be together again and we hope to do our best to lift the club,” said the experienced central defender.