The Nation Newspaper

Tag: fans

  • Baruwa warns Eagles against Egyptian fans

    Baruwa warns Eagles against Egyptian fans

    Former Nigeria international, Abiodun Baruwa has charged the Super Eagles to remain focused on the pitch and not take notice of the loud and intimidating Egyptian fans when they tackle the home team in Alexandria tomorrow  night.

    After they failed to get a much-needed victory in Kaduna on Friday, Nigeria will be seeking a win in Alexandria  so as to get their AFCON 2017 campaign back on course as they still trail the Pharaohs midway through the qualifiers.

    Baruwa, who is now a UEFA certified coach, was in goal for Shooting Stars in the final of the 1996 CAF Champions League against Egypt’s Zamalek, said Egyptian fans will be loud and intimidating but Eagles should not pay attention to them.

    Zamalek and Shooting Stars played out a 3-3 draw after two legs with the Egyptians edging past their Nigerian rivals 5-4on penalties.

    “Trust me, it’s football where anything can happen. They just played 45 minutes as far as I am concerned,” he said.

    “Egyptian fans will be so loud and intimidating supporting their team, they get behind their team like never seen before, but if Eagles hold their nerves and play according to their plans they should win.

    “They have to be more than 100% focused and neglect the fans, who will come out in large numbers, but the Eagles must not lose concentration.”

    It is expected that as many as 20,000 fans will be allowed into the Borg El-Arab Stadium in Alexandria to cheer Egypt  tomorrow.

  • Irate Akure fans beat up 3SC officials

    Ugly scenes of violence marred Sunday’s Nigeria Professional Football League Week 9 encounter between Sunshine Stars and Shooting Stars in Akure.

    Sunshine Stars triumphed 2-1 but the game itself was overshadowed by the vicious, unprovoked attack on 3SC General Manager, Rasheed Balogun, and the team General Coordinator, Abubakar Abubakar a.k.a Dan Fulani, by the irate Akure fans at the VIP stand of the Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure.

    Eye witness accounts revealed that the unruly fans descended heavily on Balogun and Dan Fulani after 3SC equalised through Tope Orelope, with both administrators sustaining injuries.

    Balogun and Dan Fulani were immediately rushed to the hospital.

    All the cameramen recording the match were forced to stop recording before Okiki Afolabi”s late goal.

    “It was God that saved me because at a point when they were beating me, I never knew if I was alive or not. I lost money, wrist-watch and other valuables at the process of the attack,” Balogun said while taking medical attention in the hospital.

    It would be recalled that both administrators were attacked last season at the stadium.

    However, it took the intervention of heavily armed security men before the match officials were rescued out of the stadium after the match.

  • Egypt FA wants 20,000 fans to boo Eagles

    Egypt FA wants 20,000 fans to boo Eagles

    • Egyptian FA writes prime minister for permission

     • Set to defy police’s approval of 10,000

     • No permission granted; fear of crowd violence may scuttle approval

    Egyptian Football Federation chiefs have commenced the process of getting 20,000 fans to unsettle Super Eagles players during the March 29 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, in spite of the fact that both the Egypt’s interior ministry and the police have approved 10,000 spectators.

    Sportinglife’s check on one of the Egyptians’ newspapers, Al-Ahram Daily revealed that the football  association have asked their prime Minister to reverse his original decision to allow 10,00 fans watch the game at Borg El-Arab Stadium in Alexandria to give the Pharaohs the required home advantage during the game.

    According to Egypt’s newspaper, Al-Ahram Daily: “EFA executive director Tharwat Sweilam held a meeting with interior ministry officials to discuss the issue but has not yet received approval.

    “Football matches in Egypt are usually played behind closed doors after an official ban was issued by the Egyptian government following the Port Said Stadium massacre in February 2012. The ban was partially lifted three years later, but was immediately re-imposed after 20 Zamalek fans died in a stampede at Cairo’s Air Defence Stadium in February 2015.”

    Egypt are leading the African Cup of Nations qualifiers’ Group G with six points, two ahead of second-placed Nigeria. Only group winners are guaranteed automatic qualification for the 2017 competition.

  • Rangers praise Enugu fans for massive home support

    Rangers praise Enugu fans for massive home support

    Enugu Rangers have appreciated their fans who turned out in their numbers to grace their 1-0 home win over Wikki Tourists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium on Saturday.

    The Flying Antelopes’ Media Officer, Foster Chime in a brief chat with SportingLife expressed gratitude to their fans and supporters for their massive support during their NPFL Week 5 tie against Wikki.

    Chime revealed that the management of the club assured the fans that the players won’t rest on their oars as they seek more victories in their subsequent matches.

    He noted the management has reiterated its continuous support to the team through placing emphasises on making their welfare a priority so that they will be motivated to do more.

    Rangers have 10 points from five games after Godwin Aguda sealed their three maximum points against Wikki.

  • Ogunbote: We need our fans’ support always

    Ogunbote: We need our fans’ support always

    Giwa FC head coach, Gbenga Ogunbote has appealed to the Jos Elephants supporters to continue to show their support to the team at all times in the league this season even when results are not favourable.

    Ogunbote whose wards returned to Jos on Friday from Ijebu Ode where they had intensive pre season training ahead of the start of the 2015/2016 season which begins today across Nigeria.

    Giwa FC will face FC IfeanyiUbah in their opening fixture at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos on Sunday and Ogunbote has beckoned on the team’s fans and supporters to continue getting behind the team throughout the season and not relent at any period.

    The Jos side missed the continental ticket by the whiskers last season but Ogunbote told SportingLife that Giwa FC are hoping to start the season well so that they would have achieved their set goals before the end of the season.

    He praised the owner of the club, Chris Giwa for his support on the team while also appealing to him to keep up the good work till the end of the season and beyond.

  • Korede Bello advert draws ire of Fans

    Korede Bello advert draws ire of Fans

    Korede Bello recently drew the ire of his fans for an advert he did. The Godwin crooner, on Monday January 19 shared a picture of himself wearing a police uniform and beret as part of the new police campaign titled Everyone is a Police, following his appointment as the first youth ambassador for the Nigeria Police last year.

    The campaign seeks to inform the populaces of the fact that security is a general concern of all Nigerians, hence the need for collective interest in the safety of the country.

    Unfortunately, this action drew the ire of his fans, many of whom have derogatory things to say about the force. They took to his page to criticize the campaign, and lambasted him for being ignorant, going on to say that the police will always be corrupt, and never any ones friend.

    In one of the tweets, Bonus_dgreat said: “I reported a case of child abuse and being cruel to a child as a concerned citizen, police still collect my Rabah.. tell me why I shouldn’t look the other way next time.. go sleep with your advert jor.”

    Another, Radiobae said: “Trust the police indeed, those are very cheap lies.”

  • Fans to have lunch with Audu Maikori

    Fans to have lunch with Audu Maikori

    How often does a successful young music entrepreneur invite his fans for lunch? Not often. But for those Interested in hanging out for lunch with AuduMaikori, that could happen very soon in the New Year.

    MaikorI, a lawyer, social activist and entrepreneur is the founder and Chairman of the Chocolate City Entertainment.

    Having promised he would have lunch with his fans earlier on, Maikori, who is also a former Nigerian Idol judge,went on Twitter and reminded fans on what they need to do to be part of the lunch.

    ‘I promised I would meet up with some of you this year,’ Maikori tweeted on Monday. ‘This is a reminder to send an email deadline is 7th Jan 2016.#LunchWithAudu.’

    In following tweets, he disclosed the email address,  edward@chocolatecitygroup.com, where fans can send their details and said the Invitation is available to fans residing in Lagos for now.

    ‘For clarity lunch is on me, the conversation is on you….#LunchWithAudu’

     

  • FANS BEG RMD TO KEEP BEARDS

    FANS BEG RMD TO KEEP BEARDS

    POPULAR actor, Richard Mofe Damijo, announced December 31, 2015, that he will be having a new look in the new year and the news seemed not to go down well with his fans. Some of them went as far as pleading with the actor not to ditch his signature white beards.

    The actor posted on his Instagram page; “So hard to say goodbye….# today#beardgang… thank you guys it’s been a jolly fun ride on this platform… Enjoy the CROSSOVER.”

    Reacting to the news, one of his followers, pinkycamilla posted; “The beard makes you more handsome. Much love for u Richard.”

    Another follower, shayide1 also posted; “Sorry Meant for @mofedamijo. Really can’t stand beards, but love @mofedamijo’s ‘white’ beards. My daughter, @kemirichards will attest to my dislike for beards.”

    dinidarii added: “@mofedamijo this beard ain’t going down on my watch. I have quarreled with my man over this your beard before. Ah… You just can’t. I am emotionally invested. You are our husband here. We cannot enter the New Year mourning the loss of this beard. Daddy biko keep it. E don reach to beg”.

    It is yet to be ascertained if the actor will listen to his fans’ pleas and leave the beards, which he groomed in the year 2015.

  • Ajayi thanks Nigerian fans for their support

    Ajayi thanks Nigerian fans for their support

    CS Sfaxien marksman Junior Ajayi has thanked Nigerians for their show of solidarity with the Dream Team during the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.

    Ahead of the final against the Algerians on Saturday, the 19 – year – old said he was confident that the Nigeria U-23s will defeat the North Africans after seeing off a determined Senegal in the semifinal.

    “We had so much confidence in ourselves after beating the host team ( Senegal ) and we knew we can go all the way to win the trophy, ” Junior Ajayi said to allnigeriasoccer.com.

    “And the support of our Nigerian fans made it more easy for us. ”

    Ajayi was arguably the star performer in the Dream Team setup prior to the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations, but managed only two goals throughout the duration of the tournament, with both goals scored against Mali in the group phase.

    The youngster departed Senegal on Sunday morning and should be in Sfax.

  • Relegation of teams: Fans blame poor mgt, inept technical crew

    Relegation of teams: Fans blame poor mgt, inept technical crew

    A lot has been said about what went wrong with the four teams that were relegated to the second tier of the domestic league at the end of 2014/2015 season.

    Some supporters of these teams hinged their relegation to poor management and ineptitude on the part of their technical crew.

    “But more importantly funding was the bane of some of these teams, like Sharks FC, Bayelsa united and FC Taraba, I would have included Kwara united but the players did not boycott training session or protest to the kwara state government house to demand for unpaid wages,” began soccer enthusiast, Ugonna Okechukwu

    According to Okechukwu, the relegation of the above teams did not get to him as a surprise because there was no amount of motivation that would have made players who boycotted training sessions and in some cases protested to government house, stay focused except a sincerity of purpose from management to fulfil its own part of the bargain.

    But should the Management alone be blamed for their teams relegation? “I beg to disagree with Okechukwu,”said another fan of one of the relegated sides.

    “What was the attitude of the players to their job since it is common knowledge that funding will not be regular,” he asked

    “I had complained about the commitment of the players of these teams when I watched them play sometime ago but what difference would my complain make since I’m not part of the management setup.

    “When Sharks lost to Abia Warriors, the players did not do enough to save their head as they blew away begging chances in the encounter so it is not just a management or funding problem, the playing personnel too should be blamed.

    “But come to think of it, what would the players have done when the tactical tips from their bench were not handy enough to save them from the drop to the lower league.”

    The incessant change in the technical crew of these teams did not help their fight against relegation for instance, Sharks former technical adviser, Gbenga Ogunbote was beaten to stupor and the development led to his resignation. His first assistant, Ere Dokubo took over from him and after a chain of home draws he was asked to step aside before Festus Allen took over.

    The case of the other clubs was not any different except that none of their coaches were beaten up by unidentified fans.

    FC Taraba and Kwara united had their head coach suspended and recalled back, Bayelsa united changed coaches like sanitary pad, so why won’t they go on relegation when the playing philosophy kept changing.