The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Enyimba

  • ‘Enyimba will keep working hard’

    ‘Enyimba will keep working hard’

    Enyimba International Football Club of Aba on Wednesday have said that their resolve remains continuing to be one of the country’s most accomplished football sides.

    The team’s General Co-ordinator, Okey Nwabeke, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that this was why the club had consistently strived to remain at the top.

    Nwabeke said Enyimba FC’s recent nomination as Club of the Year 2013 at the maiden Nigeria Pitch Awards was an indication that the club’s consistent performance had not gone unnoticed.

    NAN reports that the Aba-based club was nominated alongside Kano Pillars FC which eventually emerged as the winners in their category on Nov. 16 in Calabar.

    “We hope to perform better than we did last season. Next season is going to be more interesting for our fans, as preparations are already in top gear. We cannot afford to disappoint our teeming fans, and all necessary logistics are being put together to ensure a better outing next season. We intend to keep making our fans happy and also give them a reason to keep supporting us,’’ Nwabeke said.

    He said the club’s management would do what was necessary while preparing the team for the 2013/2014 season.

    “The team will be fortified of course. But we are not ready to disclose what we are up to. However, we are going to build a better team. We are going for the continental competition next season, and we want to win the trophy for Nigeria again,’’ the club co-ordinator said.

    NAN reports that Enyimba won the 2013 edition of the Federation Cup, and also emerged runners-up in the Glo Premier League. It has thus qualified to represent the country in the 2014 CAF Champions League.

     

  • Dobrev eyes Heartland, Enyimba posts

    Dobrev eyes Heartland, Enyimba posts

    Bulgarian coach, Mitko Dobrev is keen on making a return to the Globacom Premier League (Glo League).

    Dobrev previously managed Glo League club, Heartland between 2008 and 2010 but left after negotiations over a new contract broke down.

    He has now exclusively told supersport.com that he is back in Nigeria and will not mind returning to the saddle at the Naze Millionaires.

    “I am at present in Nigeria and I am keen to return to work. The economic situation in my country (Bulgaria) is not very good right now. I will be happy to return to Heartland,” he said.

    The Bulgarian also revealed that he has been monitoring the progress of Enyimba and champions, Kano Pillars, the two clubs that will represent Nigeria in the CAF Champions League next season.

    “I like Enyimba and Kano Pillars. They play very good football and it will be an honour to manage one of such clubs,” he stressed.

    Meanwhile, the spokesman of Heartland, Cajetan Nkwopara has revealed that the club “never had any problem with Dobrev” during his earlier stint with the club.

    “I can tell you that Heartland never had any problem with Dobrev. The fact that he wants to return is a good development and tells you that he was treated well,” Nkwopara told supersport.com.

    Heartland finished 11th in the 2012/13 Glo League season.

  • Warri Wolves picked

    Warri Wolves picked

    Top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation have revealed that Warri Wolves will be the fourth team to fly Nigeria’s flag on the continent next season.

    There has been controversy over who would take the continental ticket after Enyimba finished second in the League thus picking a CAF Champions League ticket and relinquished their CAF Confederation Cup ticket after they won the Federation Cup.

    Three seasons ago, Warri Wolves benefitted from a dubious NFF decision that saw Sharks denied a CAF Confederation Cup ticket after emerging as Federation Cup beaten finalists with eventual winners Dolphins emerging double champions.

    However, the NFF instead of handing Sharks the ticket for the Federation Cup, awarded Warri Wolves the fourth continental ticket after they finished fourth on the Premier league table.

    “If there was a mistake in the past, we will not continue in the error. The rules are very clear on who represent countries on the continent,” a top NFF official said.

    “When the winner of the Federation Cup wins the league or finishes in the CAF champions League region, then the Federation Cup runners-up gets the ticket if so presented by the National association, so I don’t see any form of controversy here. It is simple and clear who picks the fourth ticket.”

  • Gbolahan claims Sunshine contact

    Relegated 3SC striker Gbolahan Salami has said he has been contacted by former club Sunshine Stars ahead of next season.

    The Akure club have now joined the likes of Bayelsa United, Warri Wolves and Enyimba who wish to sign the Shooting Stars forward.

    “Sunshine’s team manager has called asking me to play for them, but I told him I cannot decide on my own as I have to discuss this with my manager, who knows the best for me,” Salami informed MTNFootball.com.

    The former Nigeria U-20 star further said he will rejoin Shooting Stars training on Monday as ordered by new coach Franklin Howard.

    “I am still loyal to my club 3SC and so I will resume training with them for the new season because I am still their player and will rather wait till things work out,” he said.

  • Federation Cup triumph: Gov Orji splashes mega bucks on Enyimba

    Federation Cup triumph: Gov Orji splashes mega bucks on Enyimba

    Enyimba were on Sunday rewarded by Abia State governor Theodore Orji for winning the 2013 Federation Cup.

    Governor Orji, who hosted the players and officials at the Government House, splashed millions of Naira on the team for their effort.

    Each player who featured in the final got a million Naira, (about $6,000), while the rest of the squad were rewarded with 500,000 Naira each.

    Head coach Salisu Yusuf received a million two hundred thousand Naira, while Paul Aigbogun and Imama Amapakabor went home with a million Naira each.

    Enyimba goalkeeper Femi Thomas told MTNFootball.com this gesture will spur the team to aim for more glory.

    “I just want to thank the governor for this gesture, it will motivate us to go for more trophies,” Thomas said.

    Orji promised to reward the team again if they beat league champions Kano Pillars in the Super Cup.

  • Gov. Orji to host Enyimba on Sunday

    Gov. Orji to host Enyimba on Sunday

    Abia State governor, Dr Theodore Ahamefule Orji, will on Sunday, host Enyimba International Football Club of Aba at the Government House, Umuahia.

    The Abia State chief executive is hosting the two-time African champions in appreciation of the gallant efforts put up by the state-owned football club during the just-concluded league season, where the state-financed team placed second, having garnered 62 points, just a point shy of Kano Pillars’ 63, thereby securing one of the two slots to represent the country at the lucrative CAF Champions League next year.

    Enyimba had earlier on September 15, 2013 won the glamorous Federation Cup for the third time in the presence of Governor Orji, who was on hand to cheer the team to victory at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere Lagos during the Federation Cup Final between the Aba-based club and Warri Wolves Football Club of Warri.

    Enyimba achieved this feat despite losing the state’s FA Cup trophy to Abia Warriors of Umuahia for the first time in 13 years, which, as a matter of fact, was the tonic that the Aba Millionaires needed to wake up from their slumber both in the league and the Federation Cup. It was after losing the state FA Cup that the management of the team, after extensive soul searching, decided to wield the big stick that made both the players and the technical crew to sit up.

     

     

     

     

    It is recalled that Enyimba at the end of the first stanza of the league,

    was placed 14th on the log, but due to the decision of the management of

    team led by Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu to apply the necessary measures,

    Enyimba clawed back to position of reckoning which saw the team

     

    winning the

    Federation Cup and placing second at the end of the season. What

     

    Enyimba

    achieved last season was no mean feat when one considers where Aba

     

    based

    club was coming from.

    It is in recognition of all these that the state governor will be rolling

    the drums for Enyimba on Sunday. And who says Enyimba does not

     

    deserve such

    appreciation for what it has achieved at the just concluded league

     

    season?

  • Sharks have nothing to lose

    Sharks have nothing to lose

    Sharks coach Gbenga Ogunbote has told Enyimba that his team head into the final match of the season with “nothing to lose.” The Port Harcourt side travel to Aba with their safety in the NPFL already guaranteed mathematically after hitting 53 points on Wednesday, and Ogunbote reckons Sharks would play a “relaxed” game.

    He told supersport.com that it is Enyimba that need the points to qualify for the CAF Champions League and would be playing under pressure.

    “I don’t want to talk much about the game, but we have nothing to lose having secured our place in the premier league,” Ogunbote said.

    “I had always said we intended to finish in a comfortable position,and by that I meant any position between the first and ninth positions.

    “Enyimba are the ones that desperately need the points (for Champions League qualification) and would be under pressure to deliver.

    “We would be playing in a relaxed mood,while they would be playing under pressure.”

    Ogunbote could even afford some humour when he added: “I can assure you that if you’re there (at the Enyimba International Stadium), Enyimba would beg us.”

    The former Sunshine Stars gaffer admitted they were disappointing against Rangers in their last away game and that he was expecting a better game in Aba.

    “We were careless against Rangers, conceding a goal within the opening four minutes,” he said.

    “It takes a team of very strong character to recover from that.

    “However, I believe most of the mistakes we made have been corrected. It is a learning process and hopefully we have moved on from there. I’m looking forward to a good game against Enyimba.”

    Sharks are sixth on the NPFL table with 53 points, while Enyimba are fourth with 59 points after 37 rounds of matches.

  • Enyimba downplay league title loss

    Enyimba downplay league title loss

    • Optimistic over Champions League ticket

    Two-time CAF champions’ league winners Enyimba, are focused on grabbing one of the tickets to the continental show piece with just one match left in the Nigeria Premier league to draw the curtain on the season.

    The Aba landlords failed in their bid to consolidate with an away win after losing 2-0 to Sunshine Stars at the Akure Township stadium on Wednesday. The Peoples Elephants who had a man (Markson Ojobo) sent off, struggled to hold their own as the homers continued to fire from all corners with Ebenezer Odulami increasing the tally after Sunshine had converted a penalty.

    The 2013 FA Cup winners apparently aware that the league title chase had gone, did not hesitate acknowledging that the best thing is to look beyond the league as they posted on their handle immediately after the encounter,

    “Enyimba may have lost the League Title but are still in contention for a CAF Champions League return”

    Enyimba, who were occupying the second position behind Pillars with 59 points prior to the tie against Sunshine, will be hoping to win their last match against Sharks at home. If their home victory record continues, then they look good to earn the maximum three points this weekend.

    Some analysts, however, say the side must back the desire for champions league ticket with prayers, especially with improved run of other contenders; Bayelsa United who defeated Kwara United 2-1 on Wednesday inclusive.

     

  • Enyimba star happy with season’s performance

    Enyimba star happy with season’s performance

    Enyimba FC star, Andrew Abalogu, is happy with his performance in the current NPFL campaign and believes he has made a commendable contribution to Enyimba’s push for a double this season.

    The winger attributed his success this season with the People’s Elephants to hard work and determination.

    The Ex-Abia Warriors and ABS Fc winger in a chat with futaa.com from Aba after their 1-0 win over ABS Fc on Saturday, was also full of praise for the club’s coaching crew and his team-mates for their support and encouragement this season.

    “I thank God for my performance so far this season, it’s been a season that has seen us perform well, and the coaches here have been helpful”Abalogu stated.

    The pacey forward who scored the only goal against his former employers (ABS Fc) on Saturday also praised his former team and backed them in their quest for survival in the league next season.

    “It was an emotional moment for me to have scored against my former team, that’s why I refused to celebrate my goal.

    “ABS Fc gave me the opportunity to play football that brought me to this level, and am wishing them the best as they battle for survival in the league” The player added.

    Enyimba who are chasing the league title are now 2nd on the league table with 59 points after Saturday’s victory, one behind leaders Kano Pillars.

  • Enyimba can still win title —Amapakabo

    Enyimba can still win title —Amapakabo

    Enyimba International of Aba coach, Imama Amapakabo said the 1 – 0 defeat they suffered in the hands of Kano Pillars in a replay of match day 31 of the Globacom Premier League at the Lokoja Confluence stadium will not deter his team from clinching the league title.

    Amapakabo disclosed this in an interview with SportingLife that they have put the defeat behind them and have set their sight on the remaining matches left to play.

    “It sad we did not pick a point against Pillars in Lokoja due to some errors and lack of concentration from my wards in the last minutes.

    “We had chances to put the game to bed in the first half but we couldn’t take them and we got punished.”

    Further speaking,the former Sharks coach informed that it is a fight to finish in the league this season and there are still many points to play for.

    “No team is guaranteed the title until the end but I think Enyimba have the advantage considering the fact that we have two home games against ABS and Sharks and away trip to Sunshine Stars of Akure.”

    The Peoples Elephant’s will this weekend host Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba.

    “I am confident of the three maximum points against ABS but we must step up our game from what happened against Pillars. We will throw every arsenal at our disposal to ensure victory,” Amapakabo concluded.