The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Enyimba

  • Enyimba set to be champions again

    Enyimba set to be champions again

    Enyimba are poised to clinch their seventh Nigeria league title with champions Pillars likely to miss out on a continental ticket.

    It will be a remarkable turnaround for two-time African champions Enyimba, who have missed out on international football for the past two years.

    The Aba club’s title aspirations received a major boost after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) organising and disciplinary committee (O&D) awarded them three points, three goals for an abandoned Week 31 game against Kano Pillars at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

    Enyimba now have the edge to win the 2012/2013 league as all the serious title contenders have two home and two away games to play.

    Enyimba currently lead the table with 58 points and are now likely to end the season with 64 or 65 points, which will be enough to hand them their seventh league crown and so a league and cup double this season after they beat Warri Wolves to win the Federation Cup.

    On Sunday, ‘The People’s Elephant’ will face relegation-threatened 3SC in Ibadan and with the form of the Aba giants they could further compound the woes of the hosts by getting a point from the game, before they go ahead and win their remaining two home games against ABS FC and Sharks.

    It is assumed they will lose to Sunshine Stars in Akure.

    This means they will end with 65 points, but if they lose the two away games and win their two home games, they will finish on 64 points.

    Bayelsa United are currently second with 55 points and may get six points from the remaining four games, which are home ties with Warri Wolves and Kwara United which will give them 61 points at the end of the season and second spot as well as a ticket to the 2014 CAF Champions League.

    El Kanemi Warriors will be delighted to earn a place in next year’s CAF Confederation Cup on their return to the Nigeria top flight.

    Currently third on the league table, El Kanemi have been outstanding in front of their home fans and look set to clinch six more points from the remaining games.

    They welcome Dolphins and Lobi Stars to slaughter house Maiduguri and going by their invincibility there, they will earn the maximum six points to total 60 points.

    Their two away games are against Heartland and Rangers, with the poor form of Heartland recently having drew two last home games, El Kanemi could even get a point which will give them 61 points.

    Defending champions Kano Pillars seem to have lost the battle to retain the league title as they are on 54 points.

    They could also miss out on international football since 2009.

    They have two home games against Kwara United and Dolphins, which will now be played in Lokoja following their banishment there till the end of the season.

    Should they even win these games, they would finish with 60 points, their two away fixtures will be tough as Gombe United and Lobi Stars, their opponents need the points to ensure they stay afloat at the end of the season.

  • Enyimba supporters demand top finish

    Enyimba supporters demand top finish

    Enyimba FC supporters club have drummed up support for the Aba based club even as they demand for a top finish from the team in their remaining league fixtures.

    The People’s Elephants supporters club worldwide president, Steve Okueni has called on the fans of the club to turn in massive support for the team as they get set for the rumble ahead of the remaining fixtures in the league.

    Okueni, in an interview with futaa.com, disclosed that the Aba fans are ready to throw their weight behind Enyimba to ensure the club win the league title.

    “The pride of Nigerian football have returned because we are already in the continent for next football season. We were down when the season started, but we have always believed that we will be up there, and that’s what we have done. We are now calling on the club’s fans from all parts of the world to turn up at every venue in the remaining fixtures in the league,” Okueni stated.

    Enyimba, who are gunning for a double this season after beating Warri Wolves to the Confederations Cup trophy, play host to Akwa United on Wednesday in their week 34 NPFL in Aba and will be looking to gain all the points and prepare for their weekend replay against Kano Pillars in Lagos.

  • ‘Why Enyimba put celebration on hold’

    ‘Why Enyimba put celebration on hold’

    Head coach of the 2013 Federation Cup champions, Enyimba, Salisu Yusuf has stressed that he is in firm support of the order by the Chairman of the club, Felix Anyansi Agwu that the players and other club officials should put the celebration on hold.

    The Peoples Elephant beat Wikki Tourists 2-0 to jump to the top of the Glo Premier League at least till when the NFF’s O&D meets to decide the outcome of their botched tie with Pillars.

    The twice African Champions League winners relied on two first half goals converted by Ifeanyi Edeh and Josiah Maduabuchi in the second and 32nd minutes to leapfrog Bayelsa United and Kano Pilllars who have 52 and 51 points respectively.

    Yusuf noted that any celebration or merriment would distract the Aba Millionaires from their other major objective this season hence the need for them to shelve any of such idea for now.

    “We have put all celebration plans on hold. We want the players and officials to concentrate on the remaining league games before any of such is discussed,” Yusuf told SportingLife.

  • Enyimba write LMC on botched league tie

    Enyimba write LMC on botched league tie

    Enyimba International FC have declared as unacceptable the decision of the League Management Company to order a replay of their Matchday 31 Glo Premier League tie between Kano Pillars and Enyimba when there is overwhelming evidence that their opponent erred based on the sanctions imposed on them by the league body.

    In a letter sent to the Chief Operating Officer of the LMC, Salisu Abubakar and signed by the Chairman of the People’s Elephant, Felix Anyansi Agwu, the club is demanding for the league body to stick to the rules and regulations of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) regarding encroachment and disruption of matches as enshrined in its Article 4.3 (1) quoted thus: “Any club guilty of disturbances during and after a match shall be banned to a neutral ground to play their matches for the rest of the season. The club shall forfeit 3 points and 3 goals to the opponent. In addition, 3 points and goals shall be deducted from the already accrued points of the club.”

    Explaining why Kano Pillars should be docked those points Anyansi Agwu said: “Kano Pillars in that game disrupted the match not once but three times. Three times, and for a total duration of 30 minutes. A match that started at 4.00pm up till 6:30pm had not ended as a result of the encroachment and disruption.

    “Enyimba wish to declare the ruling of the LMC to have the Matchday 31. Game between Kano Pillars and Enyimba replayed completely unacceptable. We are concerned by the decision which is not stipulated in the rules governing the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) all the way to CAF and FIFA if need be.

    “We believe the decision undermines the extremely violent conduct of Kano Pillars and gives them an undeserved opportunity to earn points when they should in fact, as contained in the rules quoted above to forfeit 3 points and 3 goals to Enyimba.”

    Enyimba confirmed that Kano Pillars fans invaded the pitch and violently assaulted their players as well as match officials for the game. The club alleged that club cameraman was beaten during the first half and his camera seized and damaged. The tape, Enyimba explained, was also seized and destroyed.

    The Aba Millionaires reasoned that the punishment meted out to Pillars by the LMC which included their banishment to Kaduna for the rest of the season and payment of N5m showed that the club was guilty of the action. Enyimba said it is needless calling for a replay when the rules governing the NPL states that they should be handed three points and three goals and that Pillars should be docked 3 points and 3 goals from their total haul on the log.

    Anyansi Agwu called it miscarriage of justice: “This is clear miscarriage of justice. In the interest of fairness and equality and peace, the LMC must do what is right and hand Enyimba all 3 points and 3 goals. A replay can only occur in the case of force majeure but thousands of fans invading the pitch and assaulting players and match officials is not force majeure. It is against everything that we stand for in the NPL and the LMC must act accordingly. They must demonstrate a commitment to uphold justice regardless of the guilty party. They must send a strong message that they are ready to clamp down on crowd violence, a disturbing aspect of our club football.”

    Enyimba’s chairman admonished the LMC to make public the reports of both the match commissioner and the centre referee to show that the body is neutral. He said the Aba side would go to any length to ensure that justice is dispensed.

    “The LMC should release the reports of the Match Commissioner and the referee for the entire world to see. Nothing should be kept hidden.

    “Progress can only be made when there is justice and this decision to have a game where players and match officials were brutalised is not justice. We will not relent in our efforts to go at any length until justice prevails. History will remember your judgement,” Anyansi Agwu concluded.

    SportingLife recalls that the Matchday 31 tie decided at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano was declared inconclusive after alleged crowd violence.

  • LMC REPLAY ORDER: Eyimba fans cry over verdict

    LMC REPLAY ORDER: Eyimba fans cry over verdict

    Enyimba fans have described as unfortunate the decision by the League Management Company (LMC) to have the botched League game between the former CAF Champions League winners and Kano side replayed in Lagos.

    The fans who spoke with SportingLife moments before Wednesday’s Globacom Premier League tie against Wikki Tourists stressed they are not too happy with the replay orders coming out of the League managers.

    “This is a bias decision, what is the LMC even talking about? Why will it be against us that they will come up with this decision when the law of the LMC states that 3 points and 3 goals should be awarded to us after the fans Violence, this is injustice,” a disgruntled Enyimba fan who simply gave his name as Ekene fumed.

    Speaking in similar vein another Enyimba supporter, Madukanaya said: “You see why we keep saying that Nigerian Premier League is full of Abracadabra, the more you look, the less you see. How will Nduka Irabor (LMC chairman) come up with such decisions?, we were treated very badly in Kano, our players were beaten, our cameraman was beaten blue black, what else do they want us to say?,” he queried.

    Another People’s Elephant fan, Ekene said: “I’m tired of this LMC people, sometimes they make decision to only favour some teams, it’s highly political, is it because it has happened to a Northern team? Clubs in the South East have fallen victims of heavy fines and some even ordered to play behind closed doors, but you can see the decision they have taken, they know that we (Enyimba Fc) will win the league, and they are trying to deny us the opportunity, but we will not allow that happen, that’s why we are the People’s Elephant,” he added.

    The LMC have ordered Enyimba and Pillars to replay their Week 31 fixture at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere.

  • Pillars, Enyimba to replay in Lagos

    Pillars, Enyimba to replay in Lagos

    The Nigeria League Management Company (LMC) has ordered a replay of a Week 31 game between Kano Pillars and Enyimba in Lagos.

    The game, which was abandoned after crowd problem at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, will now be played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

    League Management Company (LMC) top official Salihu Ibrahim told MTNFootball.com that LMC has taken a decision on the game.

    “Decision has been taken over the abandoned Pillars, Enyimba match, it will be replayed in Lagos.”

    The LMC Twitter handle further disclosed that the replay will be for 90 minutes and that Pillars have been fined five million Naira.

    Because of the crowd trouble, Pillars will now play their remaining home games in Kaduna on order of LMC.

    By this ruling, Bayelsa are now top of the Nigeria league with 52 points, a point ahead of Pillars, who have a game in hand.

  • NPFL: Pillars, Enyimba to replay in Lagos

    NPFL: Pillars, Enyimba to replay in Lagos

    The Nigeria football authorities have ordered a replay of a Week 31 game between Kano Pillars and Enyimba in Lagos.

    The game, which was abandoned after crowd problem at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, will now be played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

    League Management Company (LMC) top official Salihu Ibrahim told MTNFootball.com that LMC has taken a decision on the game.

    “Decision has been taken over the abandoned Pillars, Enyimba match, it will be replayed in Lagos.”

    The LMC Twitter handle further disclosed that the replay will be for 90 minutes and that Pillars had been fined five million Naira.

    Because of the crowd trouble, Pillars will now play its remaining home games in Kaduna on order of LMC.

     

     

  • Our winning tradition saw us through — Anyansi

    Our winning tradition saw us through — Anyansi

    Enyimba’s chairman, Felix Anyansi Agwu has attributed the Peoples Elephant’s success in the final of the 2013 Federation Cup in Lagos to the club’s rich tradition of winning titles.

    The Aba Millionaires came from behind two times to force Warri Wolves to a draw before winning the game dramatically on penalties at the Teslim Balogun Stadium yesterday.

    In a chat with SportingLife, Anyansi Agwu stressed that he was never perturbed even when Wolves were in the lead because he knew his boys would never disappoint him.

    “I was never shaken when Wolves led twice. I knew that the pact I signed with God was for him to guide our path to the trophy. I thank God we ended up winning. It has been a while that we won a trophy and I am glad that we won to halt our cup drought,” Anyansi Agwu told SportingLife.

    Enyimba’s Bright Esieme and Ugwu Uwadiegwu in the 63rd and 82nd minutes drew the Peoples Elephant level after Musa Najere and Joseph Osadaiye’s strikes in the 22nd and 78th minutes have put the Seasiders very close to halting their winless record in the cup competition.

    Wolves’ skipper Azubuike Egwuekwe was the villain after his weak spot kick was saved by Enyimba’s goalkeeper, Femi Thomas.

  • Ogbeide predicts penalty shootout in Fed Cup decider

    Ogbeide predicts penalty shootout in Fed Cup decider

    Warri Wolves coach, Solomon Ogbeide, has said penalty shootout will decide the winners of the 2013 Federation Cup.

    The Seasiders will confront two-time Cup winners, Enyimba in the final billed for the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos on Sunday.

    Supersport.com reports that Wolves devoted quantity time perfecting penalty kicks in the side’s training session on Saturday’s evening at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

    Ogbeide said he is not leaving any stone unturned in the bid to ensure his side win this year’s Federation Cup at the expense of the two-time African champions.

    “I won’t say for sure that the match will end in penalty shootout. I remain an optimist but something inside me is telling me the encounter might end that way.

    “So what we did was to prepare for everything, as a coach I train my wards for the unseen, the unexpected so that when the unexpected happens you won’t be found wanting.

    “Nothing happens in football by magic, you must train for the known and unknown as well as anticipate everything.

    “Surely, Enyimba must be tired of trophies. This is our turn to shine though we’re not unmindful of the fact that every football game is a big competition, “supersport.com quoted Ogbeide as saying on Saturday.

     

  • Amapakabo vows: Enyimba fear no foe

    Amapakabo vows: Enyimba fear no foe

    Enyimba FC Assistant Coach Imama Amapakabo is confident that the People’s Elephant will triumph over Warri Wolves in today’s Federations Cup final at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

    The Ex-Sharks goalkeeper told SportingLife that there will be no room for error and that the team is fully prepared to win a trophy this season.

    “We are really prepared for the Lagos showdown. We were treated badly in Kano on Wednesday when we played against Kano Pillars, but we have put that behind us now and focused on winning the FA Cup.

    “The Aba fans have been waiting for a time like this and we will repay their confidence in us by lifting the trophy and retuning back with it to Aba, it’s going to be an interesting game because we’ve played Warri Wolves twice this season which ended in a goalless draw, so we hope to get the desired results in this fixture,” he sounded-off.