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Tag: Enyimba

  • Ikhana: Enyimba ready for Pillars

    Ikhana: Enyimba ready for Pillars

    •Says his players will surprise Sai Masu Gida

    Enyimba’s head coach, Kadiri Ikhana has told SportingLife that the People’s Elephant’s players are ready for the final match of the season against Kano Pillars who just won the Premier League title for a third straight season.

    The Aba Millionaires need a win against Sai Masu Gida to be guaranteed a spot in next season’s CAF Champions League after their capitulation against Dolphins in the last game ensured that they surrendered the league title to Pillars before the final game of the season.

    Ikhana in a recent interview told SportingLife that he has had discussions with his players based on the draw  in Port Harcourt against Dolphins which put paid to their league ambitions and that he has urged the players to be very competitive against Pillars so that they are able to get the maximum points.

    He said returning to the CAF Champions League next season should be the main priority of the players and that getting that objective is a must to ensure  Enyimba are able to match the feat recording last year.

    “I have been doing a lot of talking to the players and they have been responding  to my clarion call that they should forget about our failure to win the league but they should instead concentrate on ensuring that we are second at the end of the season and also win the Federation Cup,” Ikhana told SportingLife.

    Enyimba are second on the league table with 61 points from 37 matches and a win over the reigning league champions would ensure the club matches last season’s position in the league. They later went on to beat Warri Wolves on penalties to claim the 2013 Federation Cup title. They are through to the final of the same competition this year and will face Dolphins on November 23 in Lagos.

  • UDOH IS TOP CLASS – ENYIMBA CAPTAIN

    UDOH IS TOP CLASS – ENYIMBA CAPTAIN

    Captain of Enyimba, Chinedu Udoji, has described joint-leading scorer in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Mfon Udoh, as “a top-class player.”

    Udoji was full of praise for the former Akwa United man while speaking to the official website of the Aba club this week.

    The plaudits on Udoh comes just two days after his brace of goals helped the former CAF Champions League winners secure a 2-1 win at Nembe City to stay in the title race and in the hunt for a record seventh league title in Nigeria.

    The Enyimba centre-back and captain also commended Udoh’s contribution to the team’s campaign this term in which he has netted 20 league goals and two in the Cup.

    “We have very good players in the team and we all work hard on the pitch to get good results. But Mfon Udoh has given the team a major boost in attack. He has scored very important goals to help us win some big games and I admire him for that.

    “Against Nembe City, a game we needed to win, we went behind in the first half and it made things a bit tough but in the second half he scored twice after a penalty miss. Not many strikers can do that. He’s really a top-class player,” Udoji told Enyimbafc.net.

    Udoji is now looking forward to Sunday’s big clash at Dolphins, and expressed confidence that Enyimba “can rise to the occasion” in their bid to wrest the title from the champions, Kano Pillars.

    The ex-FC Abuja centre-back is aware of the threat of Dolphins’ Emem Eduok, who is joint-leading scorer on 20 goals with Udoh, but he believes that they have a match in Udoh.

    “We’re hoping to win the league. That’s our target this season and Mfon has played a major role in helping us remain competitive. We have two tough games left to play but I’m confident that we can rise to the occasion.

    “No doubt the Dolphins game is going to be really tough because we’ve seen their quality, but I’m sure we will match them strength for strength. We have Mfon Udoh in attack and they have Emem Eduok and things will get interesting, but what I know is that our defence can cope with Emem and hopefully we can claim the three points,” he said.

    Udoji has been Enyimba’s defensive leader and underscored that by helping the side to a clean sheet in all of their home matches last season. This term, Udoji has played in 35 of the 36 NPFL matches for Enyimba.

  • Ikhana: Enyimba will win in Omoku

    Ikhana: Enyimba will win in Omoku

    •Says six clubs in title race

    Enyimba’s head coach, Kadiri Ikhana has tipped six clubs with a chance of ending the Glo Premier League season as champions because of the tight race at the top table with only three matches to the end of the season.

    The People’s Elephant put themselves further in the hunt for their first league title since 2010 on Wednesday by pipping El Kanemi Warriors 1-0 at Aba and preserved their third place spot with 57 points from 35 matches.

    Ikhana, in an exclusive chat with SportingLife, noted that Kano Pillars, Warri Wolves, Enyimba, Nasarawa United and two other clubs have almost equal chances of winning the league.

    He praised this season’s competitiveness in the league while warning his players to take their three remaining games against Nembe City, Dolphins and Kano Pillars seriously if they want the league to remain at Aba at the end of the season.

    Ikhana told SportingLife that he believes in his boys and even though their next game at Omoku against Nembe City would be difficult, they are gunning for a win so they can continue to be in the reckoning till the end of the season.

    The former Super Falcons’ coach also expressed relief that some of his injured players like Raphal Buomsong and Ugwu Uwadiegwu have resumed training and may be available for selection for Sunday’s game against the basement club at the Krisdera Hotel Stadium, Omoku.

  • ENYIMBA VS DOLPHINS: NFF GIVES REASON FOR FA CUP FINAL DELAY

    ENYIMBA VS DOLPHINS: NFF GIVES REASON FOR FA CUP FINAL DELAY

    Head of competitions of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr. Mohammed Sanusi has explained after several delays and postponements why the 2014 Federations Cup for both the male and female categories may likely hold in the third week of November.

    Sanusi stressed that the competition cannot hold before the third week of November as Rivers Angels FC has been greatly depleted by the absence of their key players who are on national duty at the ongoing 2014 AWC holding in Namibia.

    “It cannot be earlier than the third week of next month because we have a team that has about 12 players that is made up of the Women’s national team”

    “Our rules are very clear, once you have a team that has more than four players in the national team away for an assignment, you will have to postpone their matches. Based on these, we want to be fair with all the FA Cup finalists.”

    Dolphins are scheduled to face defending champions Enyimba, while title holders Rivers Angels take on Sunshine Queens of Akure.

  • Enyimba, Dolphins stars in Wonder Goal running

    Enyimba, Dolphins stars in Wonder Goal running

    Enyimba’s  Rasheed Olabiyi, Ifeanyi Egwim of Dolphins and Emmanuel Ajia of El-Kanemi Warriors are in the running for the 4th Wonder Goal Award of the Glo Premier League.

    The nominees were announced on the League Management Company (LMC) website, www.lmc-ng.org with fans urged to vote for any of the players whose goal is considered the most spectacular.

    The LMC had at the inaugural edition of the scheme stated that it was instituted to reach out to fans and enhance engagement between the clubs,  fans and the communities.

    “The Wonder Goal also seeks to reward marksmanship of the highest quality in the Glo Premier League as it was instituted to celebrate eye-catching and brilliant goals as well as the collective effort that resulted in the superb finish,” the LMC said.

    Ajia of El-Kanemi was nominated for his goal on Match Day 6 against his former club, Lobi Stars on April 13. It was a clinical finish which saw him shake off a marker from outside the box and fired to the top left of the post for his side in the 2-0 victory.

    Ifeanyi Egwim’s goal in a 2-0 win on Match Day 23 earned him the nomination. Egwim raced through from the center to pick up a pass that set him clear to lob above the on-rushing Crown goalkeeper. The match was played on August 13.

    The third nominee, Enyimba’s Olabiyi  is up for voting courtesy of his goal in the Oriental Derby between Abia Warriors and his club on August 17.  It was a Match Day 24 fixture which saw the midfielder firing a blinder from 25 yards that got Enyimba back into the game a second time.

    Voting will end by 11.59pm today and the player whose goal attracts the highest number of goals will receive the prize money of N100,000 from which 50% will be donated to a Charity of his choice within the city where the club is based.

  • Enyimba, Heartland talk tough

    Enyimba, Heartland talk tough

    Enyimba and Heartland have started talking tough ahead of their Oriental Derby  at the Enymba International Stadium,Aba on Sunday in a Premier League Week 29 tie.

    The Naze Millionaires pipped the People’s Elephant 1-0 when the first leg was played at Owerri and both clubs have begun talking tough with barely 24 hours to the reverse leg at Aba.

    Speaking with SportingLife on telephone from Aba, Enyimba head coach,Kadiri Ikhana, said that the Aba Giants would be bouyed by their performance during the last home game despite knowing that games involving both sides are always tough.

    Ikhana disclosed that his players have assured him they would carry the day adding that they had put behind them their harrowing experience at Katsina Ala.

    “We know that any game between us and Heartland will always be tough.We won’t disrespect them at all. We are desirous of victory better than them and victory shall be ours,” Ikhana told SportingLife.

    The Media Officer of Heartland of Owerri, Cajetan Nkwopara has, however, noted that based on the players they have acquired at the start of the second stanza of the current season they would pick at least a point in Aba and they were satisfied with the performance of the players against Nembe City.

    He also prayed for an enabling environment when the game is played on Sunday since Enyimba had same when they first played at Owerri some months back.

  • Enyimba thrash poor Bayelsa in Aba

    Enyimba thrash poor Bayelsa in Aba

    Former African champions Enyimba trounced Bayelsa United 4-0 in a Nigeria league Week 27 game at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba Sunday, mtnfootball.com reports.

    This outing was in sharp contrast to the lame performance Enyimba produced in a Week 26 game at Akwa United, which the reigning Federation Cup champions deservedly lost.

    Chimezie Amanfor scored the opening goal for “The Peoples Elephant,” before Mfon Udoh doubled the lead to give Enyimba a 2-0 lead going into the interval.

    Udoh has now scored 12 goals.

    Nzube Anaezemba made it 3-0 with a superb effort from the edge of the box in the 55th minute.

    Veteran striker Emeka Nwana added the fourth goal in the closing minutes of the encounter.

  • Aiyenugba shines in Yehuda rout

    Aiyenugba shines in Yehuda rout

    Bamidele Aiyenugba started for Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv in their 4-0 victory against Hapoel Ramat Gan last Friday at the Winter Stadium in Ramat Gan.

    The Nigerian international was in his usual inspired form, as the away side kept a clean sheet, in a game the hosts had chances to score against them but for the bravery of the former Enyimba International star.

    Especially in the first half, Aiyenugba shone, as he helped keep his side in a game they deserved to win.

    Oz Ral opened the away side’s account on 30 minutes and Gal Zruya added the second 14 minutes later.

    Another clutch of Aiyenugba saves ensured that the game was 2-0 after 58 minutes, before Pedro Joaquin Galvan completed the rout with a brace in the 59th and 83rd minute respectively.

    Yehuda are second in the Israel Leumit League standings with 4 points from 2 games and are aiming for promotion back to the Elite Division, having been relegated last season.

  • Why I left Enyimba

    Why I left Enyimba

    After scoring five goals in only nine appearances in the 2014/2015 Nigeria professional football league, SL10.ng spoke to one of Nigeria’s most in-form players, Fidelis Saviour of FC Taraba in this exclusive interview. Enjoy.

    SL10: You have been one of the most in-form players in the premier league recently, even though you didn’t start the season with them. How would you describe it?

    Saviour: Very good I would say, considering the fact that I didn’t start the season because I was injured and to have come back this way means a lot to me. Scoring five goals in nine matches in the Nigerian league isn’t an easy feat, but I’m happy I’ve been able to respond well since returning from injury. It has been good and I’m happy.

    SL10: You are one of the most experienced players in the league today, having played for several clubs amongst them being some of the top clubs in the country. How would you describe playing for a lowly rated FC Taraba?

    Saviour: Well it has been a good experience for me, I must say. I know they’re one of the biggest clubs in the country and the expectations and finance is relatively lower than some other clubs I’ve played for. But there is a reason I came here, and I’m focused so I can achieve my goal of joining Taraba. They’re a new side in the top flight and people might wonder what a player like me  is doing at the club, but like I said, I’m happy to be here.

    SL10: You left Enyimba, arguably Nigeria’s biggest club for a newly promoted Taraba. What was the motivating factor?

    Saviour: I wanted a new challenge and a new environment and also a chance to play more regularly. It wasn’t like I wasn’t getting play time at Enyimba, but it just wasn’t enough for me so I had to leave. And remember also, that I actually played for Taraba before I joined Enyimba. So it’s more about game time for me.

    SL10: A lot of people believe that it has something to do with the cash FC Taraba offered you.

    Saviour: No. Never. It was never about the money, not at all. Let me say it here that I never joined FC Taraba because of money because the truth is, I am earning far less here than I was earning at Enyimba. Everybody knows that Enyimba is the biggest club in Nigeria and one of the richest so Taraba were never going to pay me more than Enyimba were. Like I said, I wanted to play more regularly, and also I wanted to play under Coach Salisu Yusuf again. He’s a fantastic coach and he’s got a great program for me. I should have for Turkey last season when I was at Enyimba but the transfer fee slapped on me chased the club away, that’s another reason why I left, not because of money.

    SL10: So what’s the target for you now, having scored five goals in nine games?

    Saviour: I have set a target of 22 goals this season and I hope to achieve that by the end of the season. I’m working hard on my game and I strongly believe I can get there (…cuts in)

    SL10: …So it means you want to break the record of 20 goals set by your former team-mate at Kaduna United, Jude Aneke who’s currently the highest goal scorer in Nigerian league football.

    Saviour: Yes, that’s the target and I believe I can get it even if we do not have too many games left. I believe miracles don’t only happen in Churches, we will see miracles happening on the football pitch this season provided I stay fit enough. I hope and pray for that.

    SL10: Savior, you have played for almost ten clubs at home and abroad and you have barely stayed for more than two seasons at a stretch at any of these clubs. Why do you find it hard to stay put?

    Saviour: Well, that is very difficult to explain because I don’t set out hoping not to stay long at a particular place. Most times things just happen that makes me leave. But I believe Taraba will be my last club in Nigeria because I don’t plan to change clubs until I secure a move abroad.

    SL10: So that means there are offers you are considering right?

    Saviour: Yes there are but forgive me because I cannot talk too much about them now. I will talk about it when it materializes and hopefully that will be soon and then the whole of Nigeria will know about it.

    SL10: Finally, tell us the difference between the league now and ten years ago.

    Saviour: I would say the league has improved tremendously and the level of refereeing as also improved, unlike the way it was in the past. Teams can now comfortably win games away from home, which was almost impossible when I came in. So it has improved a lot, but there are still grey areas and still a lot of work to be done if we want to have the league of our dreams.

    SL10: Thank you very much Savior

    Saviour: Thank you too.

  • Enugu Rangers to players: Beat Enyimba, get N500k

    Enugu Rangers to players: Beat Enyimba, get N500k

    Enugu Ranger’ players have been promised N500 000 by their General Manager, Paul Chibuzor Ozor, if they beat ‘Oriental brothers’,

    Enyimba in a Glo Premier League Week 22 tie slated for Sunday, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

    The Flying Antelopes have been lukewarm since the beginning of the season and even lost 1-2 to relegation-haunted Nembe City on Wednesday.

    But Ozor told SportingLife he has charged the players to reciprocate recent good gestures of the Enugu State Government with an impressive display against Enyimba of Aba.

    The club’s General Manager said the commencement of enhanced salary payment early this week – among other things measures to motivate the players – should encourage them to give their best for the club.

    “We desire to get the three points (against Enyimba) and we are tasking the players to do so as a way of compensating for the huge investment in the team.

    Also, as a way of encouraging them, I have promised to give them N500, 000 if they beat Enyimba on Sunday,” Ozor told SportingLife.