The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Enyimba

  • Enyimba hold on in NPL race

    Enyimba hold on in NPL race

    Two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba, played themselves back into contention in the Nigeria Premier League with a 2-0 win over Sunshine Stars yesterday.

    The Aba Elephants went into the match without a win in their previous two league games and on the verge of losing ground on the pacesetters.

    A vocal crowd, paved their way to the Stadium to cheer their darling team to victory.

    As early as the third minute, Enyimba had the chance to shoot ahead.

    From a quickly taken corner kick, Raphael Boumsong found Etor Daniel who turned and shot straight at goalkeeper Henry Ayodele.

    The pressure paid off ten minutes later when former Enugu Rangers left-back, Ugwu Uwadiegwu, ran to the byline and sent in a teasing cross. The goalkeeper failed to deal with it and Etor struck a left-footed volley.

    Etor, a former youth international gave the Akure Gunners problems with his direct runs. He released a long range shot on goal and Ayodele was at his best to deny him.

    Sunshine Stars boss Henry Abiodun showed ambition with the introduction of Kingsley Eduwo and Cletus Itodo made way for the former Gateway United forward at the beginning of the second half.

    Kadiri Ikhana also replied his opposite counterpart with Kingsley Sokari taking the place of Nzube Anaezemba after 49 minutes.

    The busy Ayodele was forced to make a fantastic save by Enyimba’s Okonkwo effort.

    But in the 90th minute, centre-back Jude Ebitogwa performed a Luis Suarez show, as he stopped Okonkwo’s header with his right hand and the centre referee pointed to the penalty spot.

    Markson Ojobo stepped up to score, thus Enyimba clinced a 2-0 victory and all three points.

    They moved up to thirty-two points, five behind Pillars, who are still on top after a well deserved 3-1 win at home to Giwa FC.

  • High profile working against Enyimba -Udi

    High profile working against Enyimba -Udi

    Giwa FC head coach, Duke Udi has reckoned that Enyimba’s high profile has turned out to be the side’s greatest undoing.

    The Tin City side pipped Enyimba 1-0 in the Glo Premier League match day 20 tie on Sunday at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos.

    The newcomers’ central attacker, Edoh Ocheme scored the match winner to hand his side the vital three points in a duel largely seen by many as a dress rehearsal for the crunch Federation Cup semifinal clash involving both sides on Thursday in Abeokuta.

    Udi said his side’s lone victory is quite relished and sure to attract banner headlines as it would have been no news if the two-time African champions had won the duel.

    “Enyimba command the same respect in Nigeria as Manchester United in England and the unequalled high profile has become an nemesis and their greatest undoing as whoever plays them go the extra-mile to prepare.

    “We respect Enyimba but there is what you call determination and it worked wonders for my rookies who were out to make name and enjoy themselves.

    “Of course, it won’t make mentions if Enyimba had expectedly gone ahead to win but today (Sunday) we’re being celebrated for defeating Enyimba.

    “However, the project that resulted in the hard earned victory is God’s project not man’s.

    “Though I believe in hard work but I and Kadiri Ikhana whom I justifiably refer to as father can’t stand on same pedestal.

    “I thank Giwa for believing in a young coach like me as well as using me as testimony of what other undiscovered young coaches will do given the opportunity,” said the former Nigerian international to supersport. com.

    The win against Enyimba has increased the Jos-based side’s points haul to 31 from a possible 60.

  • LMC clears Rangers, Enyimba, five others

    LMC clears Rangers, Enyimba, five others

    The League Management Company (LMC) has announced that Enugu Rangers, Enyimba and five other clubs have been cleared after fulfilling all financial obligations to their players.

    According to information gathered, the latest clubs to be cleared are – Heartland, Sunshine Stars, Enyimba International, Warri Wolves, El-Kanemi Warriors, Rangers International and Lobi Stars.

    They joined Kano Pillars, Abia Warriors and Bayelsa United who were the first to be cleared by the league’s governing body earlier in the week, kickOffNigeria.com reports.

    All 20 clubs in the Glo Premier League had at the start of the season received N10 million each from the LMC as the first installment of the “Basic Award,” and the LMC had said they could receive more in the course of the season if they are found to have complied with requirements.

    To this effect, only debt-free clubs as well as those who have complied with the N150, 000 monthly minimum wage will benefit from the Basic Award. Indebted clubs will also be prevented from operating in the mid-season transfer market.

    “We have created these procedures to protect players from the previous tales of unpaid salary arrears and will be working with the clubs to ensure overall improvement of players’ welfare,” chief operating officer of the LMC, Salihu Abubakar, disclosed.

    He, however, revealed that Gombe United, Sharks and Giwa FC were refused clearances after documents they submitted indicated that they pay players below the minimum wage.

  • Enyimba, Giwa now to clash in Abeokuta

    Enyimba, Giwa now to clash in Abeokuta

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has moved  Thursday’s Men’s Federation Cup semi final clash between holders Enyimba FC and fellow Professional Football League side, Giwa FC to the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.

    Although there was a desire to ensure both semi final matches are played at the same venue for reason of close monitoring and the probability of Supersport Television broadcasting both games live, officials have now decided to move one of the matches to ensure equidistance for both competing sides.

    Ruth David, Head of Federation Cup unit, stated: “We have now moved the match between Enyimba FC and Giwa FC to Abeokuta. Abuja, the venue picked earlier, is much closer to Jos, home of Giwa FC than it is to Aba, the base of Enyimba FC.”

    However, four –time champions Dolphins FC and Prime FC will still square off at the FIFA Goal Project, Abuja, also on Thursday. Both matches kick off at 4pm.

    There was also a change in the women’s event, with the match between Sunshine Queens and Nasarawa Amazons now to take place in Lokoja, on Friday. Rivers Angels and Delta Queens retain their FIFA Goal Project, Abuja venue for the same day.

  • Sharks to scale past Enyimba—Adedeji

    Sharks defender Yinka Adedeji has told AfricanFootball.com that the Port Harcourt club hope to go past cup holders Enyimba on Wednesday to reach the last four of the Nigeria Federation Cup.

    Sharks defeated giant killers Dynamite FC 2-0 in the round of 16, while Enyimba saw off Nembe City 2-1 to set up an explosive quarterfinal clash between the two Premier League sides.

    “Our aim is to win the cup. We are now in the quarterfinal. We are going to approach the game against Enyimba same way we did our other games,” the former Flying Eagles star said.

    “Our target is to win the game and that was our aim for previous games.”

     

  • Poor officiating cost us Enyimba game -Adeleye

    Media officer of Nembe City FC Gbenga Adeleye has attributed his team’s ouster in the Round of 16 of the Federation Cup in the hands of Enyimba to poor officiating at the Akure Sports Complex.
    Adeleye in a chat with SportingLife after the game stated that he was surprised with the level of officiating from the Ondo-based centre referee.
    “We came here with a purpose but the centre referee made things difficult for us. We dont like complaining about officiating as a professional side. I am disappointed but credit must go to my side for putting up a good performance. We have to put this behind us and focus on the league considering our position on the log,” Adeleye said.

     

  • Abutu set for double with Enyimba

    Abutu set for double with Enyimba

    Enyimba midfielder Jonah Abutu is itching for the second round of the 2014 Glo Premier League season to kick off so that he can help his team wrestle the top position from current leaders, Kano Pillars.

    The combative midfielder feels Pillars will not be a stumbling block to his title dreams with the People’s Elephant because that dream was what precipitated his move to the two-time Caf Champions League winners.

    There is the little issue of Nembe City in the round of 16 of the Federation Cup to contend with, but Abutu feels Nembe cannot stop their quest to retain the crown they won in the 2013 edition of the competition.

    “Nembe City cannot stop our double dreams. We respect them but we are going to be at our best to make sure our objectives for this season remain intact,” he told supersport.com from Akure, where Enyimba will tackle Nembe City in the Federation Cup.

    “This is why I came to Enyimba. I came to win titles and I believe we can achieve that with this team.

    “Enyimba are the current champions of the Federation Cup and we hope to defend the title. The game against Nembe who also play in the Glo Premier League will be tough, but we have enough within our ranks to win the match,” he said.

    The former Sharks player also revealed that Kadiri Ikhana’s return to Aba is a good omen for the team as they aim to win on both domestic fronts.

    The former Falcons and Kano Pillars coach made a mid-season move to Enyimba from Giwa FC and Abutu reckons this will only motivate the players more because they have one of the most experienced coach in the land.

  • Enyimba cruise past Nembe City

    Enyimba cruise past Nembe City

    Abdulharam Bashir of Enyimba International scored the fastest goal of the 2013/2014 Globacom Nigeria Premier League season in a 3-0 bashing of Nembe City in Aba.

    An early goal was scored and it was Bashir who profited from Mfon Udoh’s excellent dummy. The goal came  at one minute 44 seconds at the Enyimba International Stadium.

    Pere Anderson and Musa Newman combined well but the cutting edge was missing. The move orchestrated by Newman made Enyimba show a little bit of respect to the relegation battlers.

    Mfon scored with a powerful headed ball in the 26th minute through a tailored cross from Thomas Zenke. The People’s Elephants were in control of matters with their faithful urging them on.

    The midfield controlled by Sani Kaita was a delight to watch,as the Super Eagles star showed great maturity alongside Zenke Thomas,Rafael Boumsong and Kingsley Sokari.

    They continued from where they left off in the second half.Man of the match, Mfon received a lovely pass from Bashir and lobbed Edet Eteka in Nembe’s goal. It was a super finish by the former Akwa United striker.

    The victory also made it 22 points from a possible 45 points for Enyimba, while Nembe’s struggles continued with 13 points from 14 matches.

  • Enyimba target impressive win over Kaduna United

    Enyimba target impressive win over Kaduna United

    From Tunde Liadi,Owerri

    Enyimba’s Media Officer, Farriel Allaputa has hinted that the People’s Elephant are sure bet to rebound from their 3-1 thrashing at Lafia last Wednesday with a convincing home win over Kaduna United today.

    Once fearsome the Aba Millionaires were eliminated before the group stage of the CAF Champions League and have also lost five matches

    already from 12 games in the Glo Premier League this season.

    But Allaputa appeal to the fans of the club to be patience with Enyimba and that very soon the club will rise and assume their proper

    place on the league table.

    “We lost against Nasarawa United against all expectation but the focus is already on our next match against Kaduna United. The players have been told that an impressive result in the game against the Crocodile Boys could spring a turnaround ahead of other matches,” Allaputa urged.

    Enyimba are 13th on the log with 15 points from 12 matches are poised to tackle Kaduna United who are 18th on the log with 14 points from as many matches.

  • Ubido dreams OF vital pointS in Kano

    Ubido dreams OF vital pointS in Kano

    By Julius Okorie

    Still basking in the euphoria of their 1-0 defeat of Enyimba at the Dan Anyiam Stadium on Saturday, Heartland midfielder, Julius Ubido has expressed optimism that the side can earn vital points in their mid week clash against Pillars on Wednesday.
    Ubido who spoke with Sportinglife on Monday regarding their trip to Kano, described the victory against Enyimba as timely and heartwarming.  The victory according to him could not have come at a better time than now when fans of the Nazi millionaires are looking for something to cheer about following the sides winless run for some time now. “We really thank God for the victory, it came at the right time and we hope to build on it,” he noted.
    On Heartland’s chances against hard Pillars on Wednesday, Ubido admitted that the Kano based side are not cheap, adding however that the Owerri landlords are still hopeful that something good will come out of Kano.
    “We are on our way to Kano for the tie against Pillars and we are looking forward to it.  Every player is ready to put in his best and we are hoping that we can get something from the match, especially after the victory at the weekend,” he added.
    Heartland’s victory in the Oriental clash is the first the side will be getting since the new season began. Prior to Saturday’s party, previous matches had ended in draws or outright defeats.  As at the last count, Heartland recorded draws against Sharks, Dolphins, Nasarawa, Kaduna, El-Kanemi and Nembe City while losing to Crown and Gombe United respectively. Fans of the side who reacted shortly after the final whistle on Saturday, expressed hope that the victory would mark a turning point and get the veteran club back to winning ways.