The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Garden City

  • Rangers depart for Cairo as Al Merreikh storm Garden City

    Rangers depart for Cairo as Al Merreikh storm Garden City

    Nigerian champions Enugu Rangers will fly out of the country today for their CAF Champions League second round, first leg encounter with Zamalek FC of Egypt on Sunday.

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed respected South African official, Daniel Frazer Bennett to be in charge of the clash at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo. Kick off is 9pm (Egypt time).

    Bennett will be assisted by fellow South Africans Zakhele Thusi Siwela (assistant referee 1), Sandile Dilikane (assistant referee 2) and Tinyiko Victor Hlungwani (reserve referee). The match commissioner is former FIFA referee Mourad Daami from Tunisia.

    Enugu Rangers’ chairman, ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu said on Wednesday that the ‘Flying Antelopes’ have the go-go spirit and the tenacity to dig their feet into the ground against the ‘Mediterranean Knights’.

    “We will go to Egypt with a game plan to get a favourable result ahead of the return leg in Enugu next weekend,” said the former Nigeria captain and coach.

    Enugu Rangers eliminated Algerian debutants JS Saoura on the away goal rule in the earlier round, and must be at their best to overcome the experienced Egyptian campaigners to reach the lucrative mini-league stage of Africa’s prime club competition.

    Rivers United, the second team flying Nigeria’s flag in the CAF Champions League, will host top Sudanese side, Al Merreikh at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt also on Sunday.

    The ‘Pride of Rivers’ were in great form in the earlier round, pounding AS Real Bamako 3-0 at the same venue after both teams played a 0-0 draw in Bamako in the first leg.

    Egyptian official Ghead Grisha, who was in charge when the Super Eagles defeated Zambia 2-1 in Ndola at the beginning of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying series five months ago, will superintend proceedings in Port Harcourt. He will be assisted by fellow Egyptians Tahssen Abo El Sadat Bedyer (assistant referee 1), Ayman Degaish (assistant referee 2) and Mahmoud Zakaria Mohamed (reserve referee). The match commissioner is Mukaila Nassam Adam from Ghana.

  • GARDEN CITY READY FOR AMAA

    THE Garden City of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, will come alive tonight as Governor Nyesom Wike hosts celebrities, high society personalities, business leaders, film makers and allied professionals from Africa and around the world attending the 12th edition of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).

    The Awards which holds at Obi Wali International Conference Centre will be hosted by Ghanaian musician, Jon Germain, Nollywood actor, Mike Ezeuronye and popular South African radio personality, Kgopedi Lioane.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed will lead the federal government delegation to the respected Pan-African awards designed to celebrate practitioners in the motion picture industry.

    Aside it’s 2015 edition which held in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, the annual awards have held in the country.

    “It is a great development in the evolution of AMAA that we are back home this year having made the first voyage outside Nigeria last year to South Africa,” said Mr. Tony Anih, AMAA’s Director of Administration, in a statement.

    “We are indeed grateful to His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike, the government and good people of Rivers State for accepting to host us this year. We are set to forge a good relationship with the state, going forward. Rivers State is a very strong brand and partnering with AMAA, an equally strong continental awards brand will provide a win-win for the state and the work we do to promote Africa to the rest of the world through our films.”

    The nominees in the 28 Categories of the AMAA Awards were announced on May 15 in Lagos. In the Best Director’s Category are such films as Fifty, Dry, The Cursed One, Eye of the Storm, Ayanda, La Pagne, Tell me Sweet Something and Behind Closed Doors.

    The Board of Jurors of AMAA which has members which include academics, film makers, critics and Film Festival curators from Nigeria, Germany, United States, Zimbabwe, Jamaica and Burkina Faso will decide on which film and individual talents that will emerge eventual winners at a glamorous Awards Night.

  • Oliseh counts on ‘Garden City’ fans

    Oliseh counts on ‘Garden City’ fans

    Head coach of the Nigeria national team, Sunday Oliseh has insisted his charges went all out for a win in Friday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Swaziland.

    The fixture ended 0-0 with Nigeria  failing to hit the underbelly of the Swazi side despite having the upperhand in possession.

    Oliseh, however, stated that he instructed his boys to go all out for the win.

    “It was a game that we went all out to win. Unfortunately, we didn’t get that but we thank God that at least we have made everything open for ourselves to just win on Tuesday and qualify. We want to qualify and we will be going all out to win (on Tuesday),” Oliseh told supersport.com.

    The Super Eagles will be looking to record a win, which should guarantee progress to the next round of qualifying for the World Cup when they face Swaziland in the second leg at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium ,Port Harcourt.

    Oliseh concluded by appealing to the fans to turn out en masse to support the side to victory.

    “We want to thank Port Harcourt fans for their support to the team  like they have done in the past. They have always been here for us and gave us massive support, even during our CHAN qualifier against Burkina Faso. It was a similar story when the full Super Eagles team faced Niger Republic in an international friendly against Niger Republic.

    The trainer also took the time to speak about the situation with his health which saw him fly to Belgium recently to receive medical attention.

    “The doctors have me on a regime and right now all I do is work (with the team) and sit in my room but I am steadily getting better,” he said.

  • Dolphins, Lobi Stars rustle Garden City

    Dolphins, Lobi Stars rustle Garden City

    The clash between Port Harcourt side, Dolphins and Lobi Stars of Makurdi at Garden City is one of the headline matches of Week 7 of this year’s Glo Premier League, coming up on Sunday.

    Leaders Heartland FC, who regained their top position after beating Kano Pillars 1-0 in a rescheduled game in Owerri on Thursday, are again at home, this time to Sunshine Stars of Akure.

    Giwa FC, second with Enyimba on 11 points, are also at home, to Bayelsa United of Yenagoa, while two –time African champions Enyimba visit Gabros International in Nnewi.

    FC Taraba will be away to Sharks FC in Port Harcourt, and El-Kanemi Warriors are at home to Akwa United from Uyo.

    Enugu Rangers are also on the road, as guests to Wikki Tourists in Bauchi, while Nasarawa United host ambitious Abia Warriors in Lafia and Kwara United and Kano Pillars will go to battle at the Ilorin Sports Complex.

    Shooting Stars and Kano Pillars will  play their resceduled match on May 6 in Ibadan.