The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Enyimba

  • Ladan Bosso downplays losing streak

    Ladan Bosso downplays losing streak

    Head Coach of CAF Confederations Cup campaigners Bayelsa United’s Ladan Bosso has defended the Yenagoa-based outfit after losing two games at the ongoing Super 4 tournament.

    Bosso stressed that the League management company-organized competition is not a do-or-die affair.

    “We are not here to say we must win and it’s not do-or-die affair for us; all we want to do is to showcase what we have on ground and let Nigeria see and scrutinize the team so that we can make amendments,” the former Flying Eagles gaffer told Lagos-based Brila FM.

    Bayelsa United lost its second game 1-2 to last season league champions Kano Pillars at the Abuja national stadium. The Yenagoa dwellers had earlier on the opening day lost 0-3 to Enyimba to cap a poor showing at the season’s curtain raiser.

  • Maikaba to Pillars fans: You ‘ll see a different team against Enyimba

    Maikaba to Pillars fans: You ‘ll see a different team against Enyimba

    By Uchenna Ajah

     

    Head Coah of Kano Pillars, Abdu Maikaba has appealed to fans and followers of the Glo Premier League winners that the CAF Champions League flagbearers will show champions stuff when they tackle Enyimba International FC today in the ongoing League management company–organized Super IV tournament holding in Abuja.

    Speaking ahead of today’s cracker, the football tactician warned that the People’s Elephant will be taken to the cleaners if they underate them.

    “It is always a tough match between Kano Pillars and Enyimba and you cannot predict such games more especially if we have that chance and we win we can put our hands on the Super IV. You will see a different Kano Pillars against Enyimba on Tuesday (today),” he enthused.

    The People’s Elephant have not conceded any goal in two previously matches but Maikaba is confident Pillars can break the jinx.

    “I believe my team can score against Enyimba and at the same time hold them not to score against us. It happened in Lokoja during the last season and we can do same here in Abuja,” he said.

    Bayelsea United will also square up with Warri Wolves in the other match of the final day of the Super IV tourney.

     

  • CAF names referees for Enyimba, Pillars’ matches

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has listed the referees who will handle matches involving Enyimba International FC and Kano Pillars FC in the 2014 CAF Champions League first round.

    The list of officials was made available on Tuesday in Abuja by the Nigeria Football Association (NFA).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that both clubs are Nigeria’s representatives in the annual continental championship which is in its 50th edition.

    Enyimba will host Anges de Notse from Togo in the first round first leg match in Kano on Feb. 9, with the second leg holding on Feb. 15.

    Kano Pillars, on the other hand, will be visiting RD Congo for their first leg tie against A.S. Vital Football Club, also on Feb. 9. They will host the return leg also on Feb. 15.

    Bienvenu Sinko from Cote d’Ivoire is the centre referee for the first leg tie of the Enyimba/Anges de Notse fixture, with compatriot Songuifolo Yeo the first assistant referee.

    The second assistant referee, also an Ivorian, is Pelako Toure while Kouame N’dri is the fourth official, with Mahat Abdoulaye from Chad as the Match Commissioner.

    For the return leg on Feb. 15, Senegalese officials will handle the match, with the Match Commissioner Augustin Ahouanvoebia from Benin Republic.

    Falou Galasse Kane will be at the centre, to be assisted by Malick Samba, Nouha Bangoura and Maguette Ndiaye.

    For the Kano Pillars/A.S. Vital encounter, officials from the Central African Republic will be in charge, with W.K. Agra from Ghana as the Match Commissioner. The centre referee will be Jean Koyakobo, to be assisted by Balezou Fabric, Oscar Serengapou and Jean Ganamandji.

    The second leg tie will be handled by officials from Niger Republic, with Alex Sante from Ghana as the Match Commissioner.

    Namouano Souleymane will be at the centre, while Moussa Abdoulaye will be the first assistant referee, while Malan Ousseni will be the second assistant referee and Abdoul-Aziz Asante the fourth official.

  • Sikiru re-joins Enyimba

    Sikiru re-joins Enyimba

    Giwa FC skipper Kamaldeen Sikiru has rejoined Enyimba after he helped Giwa secure promotion to the elite division.

    Sikiru, who played for Enyimba in the 2011/2012 season, said he is delighted to reunite with the two-time African champions.

    “I have returned to Enyimba and I am happy about it. It is a big team and I am looking forward to help them win the league and CAF Champions League. I will do my best with the team,” midfielder Sikiru promised.

    He has played for JUTH FC, Kwara United and Dolphins. He was the picked as the Most Valuable Player at the recent Nigeria National League (NNL) playoffs, which Giwa FC won.

  • Chibuzor Madu completes Enyimba move

    Chibuzor Madu completes Enyimba move

    Enugu Rangers’ captain, Chibuzor Madu has teamed up with the Aba Millionaires with the ambition of playing in the Caf Champions League.

    The former Flying Antelopes skipper signed a one-year contract with the People’s Elephant – a move that will see him feature in the 2014 Caf Champions League.

    Disclosing this to Goal, the midfielder who was dropped from Nigeria’s CHAN team said the reason behind this move is to actualize his dream of featuring in the Caf Champions League and also to win more trophies.

    “I join them (Enyimba) because of the need to play in the Caf Champions League which is the most important thing in my career right now,” Madu told Goal.

    “Though I considered my position as Rangers captain and the love of the management and fans while taking this decision, I felt I have to move ahead and face bigger challenges.”

    He however revealed that he hopes to win laurels for the Aba Elephants and get the chance to play for the Super Eagles.

    “My dream is to win the Caf Champions League and the Nigeria Premier League with them and get the chance to be called up by the national team coaches which is the ultimate for any player,” he concluded.

    Madu Chibuzor will wear his favorite jersey number 12 when the league season kicks off.

  • Joining Enyimba won’t affect my education -Udoh

    Joining Enyimba won’t affect my education -Udoh

    Akwa United top scorer last season, Mfon Udoh, has stated that his recent switch to two-time African champions, Enyimba, won’t affect his programme at the University of Uyo.

    Udoh is one of the few undergraduates in the Glo Premier League, who have since become role models for their colleagues.

    “It won’t be different from my two-year spell at Akwa United. Football takes a lot of time, but it also mean I’ll devote more time to my books,” Udoh, who was dropped from Nigeria’s CHAN 2014 bound squad, told supersport.com.

    Udoh earned a place in the history books at Akwa United when he scored 16 goals during the 2012/13 season to finish as club top scorer.

    Although he lost the golden boot to Nasarawa United’s Victor Namo, Udoh turned out as the only player to score five goals during road trips last term.

    It would be recalled that Super Eagles number one goalkeeper,Vincent Enyeama did the same successfully when he was at Enyimba by combining his education at the University of Uyo and playing for the Aba Elephants.

    Udoh is studying Guidance and Counselling at the University of Uyo.

  • Bosso targets Super Four tournament

    Bosso targets Super Four tournament

    Bayelsa United coach, Ladan Bosso has described as not a-must-win the annual Super Four tournament due to kick off on January 24 in Abuja.

    The football showpiece is meant to prepare the nation’s flag bearers on the continent namely Kano Pillars, Enyimba, Bayelsa United and Warri Wolves for their various competitions this year.

    Kano Pillars and Enyimba will campaign in the CAF Champions League while the duo of Bayelsa United and Warri Wolves will take part in the CAF Confederation Cup.

    Bosso said the tournament is not a must win but an opportunity for his team to demonstrate its preparedness to represent the country proudly at the African cadre.

    “The Super Four tournament is a demonstration of good intention by the League Management Company (LMC) to keep in perfect shape the continental teams.

    “Bayelsa United won’t see the tournament as a-must-win but as an occasion to showcase our ability to represent Nigeria well on the continent.

    “We’ll at the weekend head to Kaduna to participate in the pre-season football competition involving the likes of Kaduna United, Enyimba, Rangers, Gombe United, Nasarawa United, among others.

    “The pre-season event will be good for us and will put us in good shape and frame of mind for the Super Four as we intend to head straight to Abuja from Kaduna for the clash.

    “We sacrificed our New Year holidays in camp to continue our intense build-up for the new season,” said the former Kano Pillars coach to supersport.com.

     

  • Baraje delighted with AWOL players’ response

    Baraje delighted with AWOL players’ response

    From Tunde Liadi,Owerri

     

    Enyimba of Aba’s head coach, Zachary Baraje has expressed his happiness at the response to the ultimatum he gave to some of the Peoples Elephant’s players who were yet to report for the pre season activities.

    Baraje slammed a 72-hour deadline for the affected players to find their way to their Ota Camp or forfeit being players of the Aba giants next season.

    The former El Kanemi Warriors’ coach opined that report on the deadline given to his players which was published on the Thursday issue of SportingLife worked wonders as all the players yet to report players beat the Friday ultimatum and are now poised to resume training in earnest for the new season.

    “Thanks for the report. It made the desired impact because all the affected players have arrived the camp. We are now focused on raising a good team for Enyimba ahead of the next Globacom Premier League,” Baraje told SportingLife.

    The Peoples Elephant are seeking an improved season than last season when they only lost the league title by a solitary point to Kano Pillars. They have won the league title a record six times alongside Enugu Rangers.

  • Anyansi thanks Enyimba fans for support

    Anyansi thanks Enyimba fans for support

    Enyimba’s Chairman, Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu, has expressed gratitude to millions of Enyimba fans and friends across the globe for their unflinching support for the two time African champions last year.

    According to the most successful club chairman in the country, the club and its management are grateful to the fans for their support last year, which enabled them achieve the success they recorded in the past football season and emerged the most accomplished team in the country in the out gone football season.

    In his words: “In the spirit of this season of peace and goodwill, we cannot forget our millions of friends and fans for their support,” Anyansi said.

    “We want you all to continue your support for the club next season and join us in thanking the Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Chief T. A. Orji, who has made our achievements possible and also emerged as the most accomplished team in 2013.

    “We wish you all a successful and Happy New Year,” Anyansi concluded.

    It will be recalled that Enyimba placed 2nd in the league last season with 62 points, just a point shy of the winners and defending champions, Kano Pillars Football Club of Kano. The Aba millionaires had earlier won the Federation Cup before the end of the league season in the presence of the Abia State Governor, Chief T. A. Orji at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere –Lagos.

    Enyimba, it will also be noted, defeated Kano Pillars in the champion of champions clash otherwise known as Charity Cup, which is a clash staged for the winners of the Federation Cup and the league to determine which team are the true champions in the country. In that encounter played at the Abuja National Stadium, Enyimba International Football Club of Aba showed the stuff they were made of when despite being one man down, handed a 2-0 defeat to Kano Pillars to affirm their superiority over the Governor Rabiu Kwakwanzo’s financed side. So, with two domestic trophies out of three in their kitty, there is no gain saying that Enyimba were the most accomplished team in the country last season.

    With the success the Aba based side recorded last season, the team will be representing the country in most glamorous club competition on the continent, the CAF Champions League. Already, the Aba millionaires are preparing to face a Togolese side in the preliminary round of the competition at the Enyimba International Stadium in the commercial city of Aba, Abia State.

  • AWOL Enyimba players get 72 hours ultimatum

    AWOL Enyimba players get 72 hours ultimatum

    • Baraje threatens to sack players that flout the order
    • The Peoples Elephant shaping up in Ota

    Enyimba of Aba have given all their players that are yet to report for the pre season camping an ultimatum to do so on or before Friday this week, if they still wish to remain with the Peoples Elephant for another season.

    The Aba Millionaires began their pre season camping before the dawn of the new year with most of the invited players noticed last season.

    They have however stepped that up with another closed camping exercise at Otta, at the popular Temperance Guest House where they have spent four days already before today.

    The head coach of the team, Zachary Baraje in a chat with SportingLife sounded a note of warning to his players that are yet to report to camp to do so in their own interest within the next 72 hours if they still want to play with the current Federation Cup champions.

    Baraje, who assumed the reins of the Aba based side at the beginning of the pre season hinted that he would like to know all the players he would be registering for the league season and the CAF Champions League for team’s stability and fluidity.

    He said he would only make do with about 35 players for the league and a little over that because of the Champions League competition, hence, his decision to see all the players that are still with Enyimba so as to plan ahead.

    “Some players are yet to report to camp. It is a pity that they have stayed away for so long. They have 72 hours to save their jobs if they want to remain with Enyimba next season. Any player that fails to meet up with the Friday deadline should count himself out of my team.

    “I want to know the players we have in the team. It is only those that present themselves for my scrutiny that will be chosen. A word is enough for the wise,” Baraje sounded off.

    Enyimba ended the league season in second spot behind winners, Kano Pillars but they reclaimed the Federation Cup title for the first time since 2009 when they beat Warri Wolves in a close contest played on September 15th in Lagos last year.