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Tag: Enyimba

  • Enyimba, El Kanemi, Sunshine, others want NNL hotshot, Abdulmalik

    Enyimba, El Kanemi, Sunshine, others want NNL hotshot, Abdulmalik

    Nigeria National League hotshot, Mohammed Abdulmalik, has disclosed that he was not in any rush last season to sign a new contract with his current club, Taraba United but would rather study all the offers before deciding on where to go to.

    Abdulmalik’s goals were instrumental to Taraba United’s top flight status for the first time in their history and with the current delay by the Chairman of the club, Tijani Babangida, to offer him a new contract the Kaduna born player has said that he was yet to make up his mind on his next move.

    As at the last count, Enyimba, El-Kanemi Warriors and Sunshine Stars had all made solid enquiries about the goal-poacher ahead of the next premier league season from what the player told SportingLife.

    Abdulmalik said he is thrilled to be linked with those big clubs but that he won’t make any hasty decision that may draw his career back by at least a year.

    “I am happy to be linked with Enyimba, Sunshine Stars and El-Kanemi Warriors. They are all good clubs but I am still studying the package they have for me first before I can then make a decision on my future.

    “I have done my bit in the lower league and I believe it is the time to move up in my career,” Abdulmalik who fired over 12 goals to help Taraba United grab a premier league ticket last season, told SportingLife.

  • Why we chose Ota for camping – Enyimba

    Why we chose Ota for camping – Enyimba

    Enyimba head coach, Zachary Baraje has stated that the “Peoples Elephant” opted for the Temperance Guest House, Ota, for the final phase of the pre-season camping in order to avoid distractions.

    Enyimba had the first phase of the camping exercise at the Enyimba International Stadium and rounded that off few days before Christmas.

    The players have been recalled to Aba after they were allowed to go to their respective abodes to celebrate the holidays.

    Speaking with Goal, Baraje who replaced coach Salisu Yusuf at the beginning of the pre-season hinted that the club recorded success during the first phase of camping and that most of the players that will represent the team next season have been known.

    “We are almost set to hit Ota for our pre-season. We have finalised the arrangement and very soon we shall go so that players can be focused 100 percent,” Baraje told Goal.

     

  • Enyimba will outshine Pillars in Champions League – Uwadiegwu

    Enyimba will outshine Pillars in Champions League – Uwadiegwu

    Enyimba will represent Nigeria better than Kano Pillars in the 2014 CAF Champions league, according to Ugwu Uwadiegwu.

    In October, Pillars edged Enyimba in a tightly-fought title race to win a third Nigeria league championship.

    But Enyimba defender Uwadiegwu has insisted Enyimba are the true champions of Nigeria and they will prove this in next year’s Champions League.

    “Enyimba will give Nigeria a better representation in the Champions League next year than Pillars because we are the true champions,” Uwadiegwu told MTNFootball.com.

    “Pillars are not the best team in Nigeria.”

    Last season,Enyimba thrashed Pillars 4-0 at home, while the reverse fixture was replayed after the first game in Kano was abandoned.

    Pillars won the replay 2-1 in Lokoja, before Enyimba beat them 2-0 in the Charity Cup in Warri in November.

    The experienced left back further told MTNFootball.com he is staying back at Enyimba because they are primed to win a third Champions League title.

    “There were some offers for me to leave but I will stay back because I want to help Enyimba win a third Champions League,” he said.

    For the preliminary round of the CAF Champions in February, Enyimba are drawn against first-ever Togolese champions Ange de Notse, while Pillars face a more daunting test against AS Vita of DR Congo.

  • Mfon Udoh quits Akwa United for Enyimba

    Prolific Akwa United forward Mfon Udoh has ended his romance with Akwa United to sign for nearby neighbours Enyimba international of Aba.

    The 20-year old pacey forward, who played a vital role in Akwa United’s survival in the Glo Premier League last season, has put pen to paper on a one year deal with the People’s Elephant.

    He will hope to bring his impressive performance for Akwa last season into the Zacary Baraje-led side as they aim for honours both in the domestic front and on the continent.

    Udo, who is currently in the Super Eagles camp in preparation for the 2014 CHAN competition in South Africa next year, scored 16 league goals to finish second on the Glo League top scorers’ chart last season.

    The forward becomes the recent audition made by Baraje after the signing of Niger Republic defender Bashir Mohammed last week.

    Meanwhile, the Aba Landlords are reportedly hot on the heels of home-based Eagle and Lobi defender Ezekiel Bassey as the club continue to strengthen for the tough season ahead.

    Ezekiel, who has been one of the mainstays in the back four of Lobi Stars, can also fill in comfortably in the heart of defence if there is a vacuum.

  • CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW: Enyimba line up friendlies for Togolese opponent

    CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW: Enyimba line up friendlies for Togolese opponent

    Enyimba will play a lot of friendly matches to prepare for their CAF Champions League preliminary round opponents, Anges de Notse of Togo slated for February next year.

    The People’s Elephants came second in the Glo Premier League and qualified to represent Nigeria in the lucrative club cup competition alongside champions, Glo League Kano Pillars.

    The draws for the 2014 CAF Inter Club Cup Competition were held on Monday night in Morocco and Enyimba were pitted against the Togolese champions while Pillars will battle AS Vita Club of DR Congo.

    Enyimba will host the first leg in Aba on February 9 and travel to Lome for the return leg a week later.

    Enyimba’s head coach, Zachary Baraje has stated that the only way the People’s Elephant could make meaningful impact in their return to Africa is to raise a formidable squad that can withstand the pressure of combining Globacom Premier League matches and CAF Champions League ties.

    He confessed that his boys would have been match rusty by the start of the lucrative African competition but that he would ensure that quality friendly matches are organised before the February 9 first leg encounter at Aba.

    Baraje said his immediate target is to get a good team and then shop for friendly matches that would keep his players busy before the start of hostilities in the Champions League.

    The former Dolphins and El Kanemi tactician rued the delay in the commencement of the 2013/2014 Globacom Premier League which he reckoned would have kept his boys in competition mood before the first leg.

    “We are aware we have been drawn against a club from Togo in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League but our immediate challenge is to raise a good team that would be able to compete in the Premier League and on the continent.

    “It would have been nice if the league had commenced before our first match in February, but we shall organise quality friendly matches to keep the boys in shape ahead of the Champions League duel,” Baraje told SportingLife.

    Enyimba will proceed on a Christmas break on December 23 and reconvene on December 27 to continue preparations for the start of the league.

    The People’s Elephants came second in the Glo Premier League but defeated Warri Wolves to cart away the 2013 Federation Cup trophy. The Aba Millionaires have started the season brightly with victory in the Super Cup contest against Kano Pillars at the Warri Township Stadium recently.

  • Baraje: Enyimba will be better under me

    Baraje: Enyimba will be better under me

    New unveiled head coach of Enyimba of Aba, Zachary Baraje has promised to ensure that the Peoples Elephant get even better under his tutelage.

    The Aba Millionaires came second in the premier league and also won the 2013 Federation Cup last season when former coach, Salisu Yusuf was in charge.

    But after the former Super Eagles’ coach dumped the Aba Elephant for a more lucrative deal with El Kanemi Warriors, Baraje has been contacted to lead the affairs of the team and he would be assisted by coaches, Monday Odigie, Imama Amamakapor and Shuiabu Suleiman.

    Baraje was introduced to the Enyimba’s players, supporters and top officials on Thursday night at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba.

    Speaking with SportingLife on Friday afternoon, the coach informed that his desire to take Enyimba to the next level was the motivation behind his signing for the Aba giants.

    He noted that it won’t be a difficult task succeeding at the club since Enyimba is a club that is always associated with victories.

    “It is a dream come true for me to sign for Enyimba. Other coaches that came here have excelled and mine won’t be any different. I knew I would be leaving El Kanemi Warriors because of the lack of support from the management of the club. I will be eternally grateful to the club’s Chairman Alhaji Zannah Mala who was more than dedicated to my programme from the first day.

    “Enyimba is a new adventure for me and I am ready to lead the team to more greatness because I know that the club’s name is associated with victory,” Baraje told SportingLife

  • Enyimba star set for Pillars switch

    Enyimba star set for Pillars switch

    Enyimba FC midfielder Otekpa Eneji is reportedly close to making a switch to Premier League champions Kano Pillars.

    Reports say the former Lobi Stars man has hinted that all is set for him to ditch the “Aba Landlords” in search for regular playing time and the current champions are thought to be favourites to hand him an escape route.

    In a chat with futaa.com, the Benue State-born midfielder said he was disappointed with the way things turned out for him last season with the Federation Cup champions and confirmed he is set to quit the Aba side.

    He said: “It’s just one of those things in football. Last season was not favourable to me, I lost my spot in the team, even when I was ready to play. Maybe the coaches did not think me fit.

    “I started the season well, but don’t know why I was frozen out of the squad. Every footballer wants regular playing time, that’s why I’m on my way out, and I’m hoping that the move will make a way for me because I believe in what I’m made of.”

    Eneji also commended his colleagues for the feat achieved last season, also pointing out that he has lots of respect for the club.

    He declared: “Enyimba FC is one of the best clubs in the country; the records show why they are respected, that’s why I decided to join them from Lobi Stars.

    “But I guess it’s time I moved on to improve my career. Their fans are wonderful, even when I wasn’t playing, they kept on singing my name.”

    Eneji, who made his mark with Lobi Stars, also played for BCC Lions & Ranchers Bees and was selected for the Nigerian national team for the first time in a friendly match against South Korea in August 2010, where he started and bagged 81 minutes of action.

  • Odigie joins Baraje in Enyimba

    Odigie joins Baraje in Enyimba

    After weeks of speculations, two-time CAF Champions League winners, Enyimba have finally confirmed the names of coaches that would make up their technical crew for next season.

    Chairman of the Aba Elephants, Felix Anyansi Agwu told SportingLife from his base in Aba yesterday that after a marathon meeting which lasted for two days, the management eventually settled for the immediate past coach of El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, Zachary Baraje.

    “I’m happy to tell you that we have named Baraje as the new head coach of Enyimba for next season,” Anyansi began in the telephone interview. “We considered his pedigree in the Premier League and what he was able to achieve last season with a modest El Kanemi side to hand him the job.

    “Our aspirations for next season are huge because we intend to do well in both domestic and continental championships that we would participate in. We hope the new coach would do his best to sustain the tradition of Enyimba,” he said.

    Also appointed into the technical crew of Enyimba was former Bayelsa United and Rangers chief coach, Monday Odigie who officially would be at par with Imama Amapakabo as both of them hold the position of co-coaches.

  • Baraje to lead Enyimba

    Baraje to lead Enyimba

    Two-time African champions, Enyimba, are set to announce Zachary Baraje as their head coach for the 2013/14 season.

    Supersport.com has been informed that Baraje is now being considered and talks are nearing conclusion over personal terms with the coach. It is believed that the six-time Nigerian champions will unveil Baraje in a matter of days.

    Recently, Enyimba were said to be considering Dutchman Lodewijk De Kruif as one of their coaching options. But Baraje has now emerged as the man to take charge at the Aba club after the departure of Salisu Yusuf.

    “Zachary Baraje should be announced as head coach of Enyimba this week or next week barring any last minute hitch in agreement between him and the club,” hinted an official of the Aba club on Tuesday.

    Coincidentally, Yusuf has joined El-Kanemi Warriors, the club which Baraje managed last season and led to a fourth-place finish in the league.

    Enyimba have been forced into the market to hire a new manager after Yusuf and Paul Aigbogun left for El-Kanemi Warriors and Warri Wolves respectively.

    Currently, Imama Amapakabo is in charge of the first-team at Enyimba. The People’s Elephant will compete on three fronts in the CAF Champions League, the Glo Premier League and the Federation Cup next season.

  • Enyimba win Charity Cup

    Enyimba win Charity Cup

    • Beat Pillars 2-0

    Enyimba have lifted the 2013 edition of the Charity Cup after defeating Kano Pillars 2-0 in Warri on Thursday evening.

    Ifeanyi Ede’s 21st minute goal gave Enyimba a first half lead, and a further goal from Gwar Sibi in the second half gave the People’s Elephant their second trophy of the season, despite playing much of the second half a man down, after Ugwu Uwadiegu was sent off.

    Kano Pillars entered the competition as Glo Premier League champions, while Enyimba lifted the Federation Cup trophy.

    Pillars have lost the Charity Cup for the second successive year after losing to Heartland by the same scoreline in December last year.