The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Glo Premier League

  • Kano Pillars sack 10 players

    Kano Pillars sack 10 players

    The management of Kano Pillars Football Club has fired 10 of its players ahead of the 2015/2016 Glo Premier League season.

    Idris Malikawa, Media Officer of the club made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kano.

    Malikawa said the 10 players were sacked based on medical ground and poor performance.

    “The management of the club felt the only way to make headway in the plan to have a good season in the NPFL is to weed out 10 aged and unproductive players.

    “This is to make way for new boys that will strengthen the team,’’ Malikawa said.

    The media officer disclosed that the club would recruit new players “to beef up the team in some critical areas.’’

    He said the team had already resumed training ahead of this year’s campaign, assuring that the transfer formalities would be completed on time.

  • Obiazor hopes to shine at Heartland

    Heartland new  goalkeeper, David  Obiazor has said it is his time to shine at the Naze Millionaires in the upcoming 2014/15 Glo Premier League season.

    The Super Eagles shot stopper recently switched allegiance from El Kanemi Warriors to the camp of the 2009 CAF Champions League finalists.

    Obiazor said with the quality of coaches as well as players in the fold of the Owerri-based outfit he and his colleagues are certain to hit a landmark achievement in the coming league season.

    “I’m confident that my mission to win laurels at Heartland will be achieved with the quality of coaches and players on ground.

    “I’m happy with what I’ve seen so far upon arrival at the Naze Millionaires’ camp few days ago and I believe with hard work and cooperation of everybody the mission to win titles as well as return the side to the continent will be achieved at the end of the coming season.

    “I believe I’ll enjoy a stand out performance at Heartland in the upcoming league season,” said the former El Kanemi Warriors goaltender to supersport.com.

    Obiazor said despite the presence of talented goalkeepers on ground at Heartland he is sure to command a regular shirt.

    “The goalkeepers I met at Heartland are good, talented and young. I strongly believe with hard work and dedication to duty I won’t have any problem earning a regular shirt.

    “The competition for shirt among the equally good goalkeepers as well as the other players will be healthy and stiff but I believe the team will be the biggest gainers. I know it’s my time to shine at Heartland and I won’t allow the golden opportunity to slip out of my hands,” said Obiazor.

  • Iorfa charges Lobi players: Beat Sharks

    Lobi Stars’ Vice Chairman, Dominic Iorfa has told his players not to dwell too much on their last away game in Ibadan as they shift attention to today’s Glo Premier League Week 22 tie against Sharks of Port Harcourt at the Chief Emmanuel Akume Atongo Stadium in Katsina Ala.

    The Makurdi Bombers defeated Crown FC 1-0 to halt their inability to win away from home since 2012 and the players and coaches of the club were relieved to have achieved such feat at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan.

    But Iorfa in an interview with SportingLife noted that a win over the Blue Angels would be ideal to show the victory in Ibadan was no fluke.

    The former Super Eagles’ striker also encouraged his players to see the game against Sharks as a must win in order to further cement their bid to end the season among continental chasing teams.

    “We should let the win over Crown to be behind us and focus our attention on our next league game against Sharks. We need to win the game to show that our victory over Crown was no fluke but first players must forget about the celebration of our last league triumph.

    “We should not be distracted,” Iorfa told SportingLife.

    The win takes Lobi to 10th position on the log with 31 points from 21 matches and a maximum point against Sharks may take them to the top five.

  • LMC wants ex-internationals in Premier League

    LMC wants ex-internationals in Premier League

    The League Management Company has introduced an innovative scheme called the “Elite Players Project,” which aims to lure experienced ex-internationals back to the Glo Premier League.

    KickoffNigeria reports that details of the scheme have already been listed in the 2013/14 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Framework and Rules, and were explained to all the 20 clubs in a circular signed by the LMC’s chief operating officer, Salihu Abubakar, on April 20.

    The circular listed the major objective to include the improvement of professionalism in the NPFL by permitting clubs to register a maximum of two ex-international players in addition to the maximum 35 allowed in a season.

    “The LMC hereby brings to the notice of all participating Clubs of the NPFL the commencement of its ‘Elite Players Project’. This project is pursuant to Rules 9.65, 9.67. 13.60.1, 13.60(viii) and 15.21 of the NPFL Framework and Rules 2013/14 season,” the circular read.

    Further explaining its benefits, Abubakar said the scheme is expected to increase the level of experience in the Glo Premier League.

    “It has been designed to increase and deepen players-experience pool of the league, bolster the morale and confidence of younger players in the NPFL, project the image of the league as a welcoming and conducive playing environment for the return of Nigeria’s finest crop of international professional footballers and boost the mass appeal of the league for commercialization.”

    Similar initiatives already exist in South American leagues, as well as in South Africa and the MLS in the United States.

     

  • LMC lures ex-Eagles stars to Glo Premier League

    LMC lures ex-Eagles stars to Glo Premier League

    An innovative scheme that is aimed at attracting Nigerian players with international exposure to the Glo Premier League has been launched by the League Management Company (LMC). It is already accommodated in the 2013/14 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Framework and Rules.

    The scheme, christened the ‘Elite Players Project’ was explained in detail to the 20 Premier League Clubs in a circular signed by Salihu Abubakar, the LMC Chief Operating Officer and listed the major objective to include the improvement of professionalism in the NPFL by permitting clubs to register a maximum of two ex-international players in addition to the maximum 35 allowed in a season.

    Introducing the project to the clubs in the circular of April 20, the LMC said: “The LMC hereby brings to the notice of all participating clubs of the NPFL the commencement of its ‘Elite Players Project’. This project is pursuant to Rules 9.65, 9.67. 13.60.1, 13.60(viii) and 15.21 of the NPFL Framework and Rules 2013/14 season.”

    The LMC further explained that the benefits of the scheme to clubs, players, fans, sponsors and the league. “It has been designed to increase and deepen players-experience pool of the league, bolster the morale and confidence of younger players in the NPFL, project the image of the league as a welcoming and conducive playing environment for the return of Nigeria’s finest crop of international professional footballers and boost the mass appeal of the league for commercialisation”.

    The LMC, however, also listed criteria which will qualify any player to benefit from the scheme and stated “the ex-international player must have played for Nigeria at the Olympic Games, Nations Cup, World Cup or alternatively have earned at least 20 international caps and must have played in a world class league of undisputable pedigree for a minimum of five seasons”. In special circumstances that will be determined by the LMC, waivers may be granted in some cases and the clubs can register such elite players at any point in the season so far they have not exceeded the maximum quota of two in the season.

    Already, Enyimba International of Aba may have been the first to take advantage of the project as they are on the verge of presenting former Super Eagles defensive midfielder, Sani Kaita for registration on a short loan stint. South American leagues and South Africa are known to have benefitted hugely from the return of their national stars who made headlines in Europe and it is indeed believed that every South American player, especially Brazil and Argentina always plan to retire from football playing for their domestic league clubs.

    The LMC said it will also support the project by paying undisclosed stipends to the players in addition to whatever financial arrangements individual players will reach with interested clubs.

    “To encourage the players settle down, the LMC will pay additional stipends that will make life more comfortable to the elite players and help them adjust faster “, Abubakar disclosed.

  • CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Namo, Orkuma, Ahly Benghazi team-mates land in Tunisia

    CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Namo, Orkuma, Ahly Benghazi team-mates land in Tunisia

    • Seek big win against Foullah Edifice on Friday
    • Match starts 2pm

    Glo Premier League top scorer for last season, Victor Namo and ex- Lobi Stars’ defender, Moses Orkuma were part of the Al Ahly Benghazi of Libya squad that arrived Tunisia ahead of their Friday’s CAF Champions League preliminary round first round fixture against Chadian Foullah Edifice.

    The Tunisian Football Federation has cleared Stade Olympique de Radès, Radès, the home ground of Club Africain for their CAF Champions League tie slated for 2pm on Friday.

    Speaking with SportingLife from Tunisia, Orkuma revealed that he and his Nigerian counterpart, Namo are in high spirits ahead of the clash and are already dreaming of a big win to render the second leg a mere formality in Chad.

    “We are in Tunisia and are preparing well ahead of our game on Friday. We are going to play at the home ground of Club Africain and we are raring to go. We got here on Sunday and are praying for a good result before the second leg is decided,” Orkuma said.

  • Taraba Utd’s boss targets Glo Premier League stay

    Taraba Utd’s boss targets Glo Premier League stay

    FC Taraba United Chairman, Tijani Babangida has stated that the clubs target is to remain in the premier league at the end of their debut season in the elite division.

    In a chat with SportingLife Babangida who played for the Super Eagles before his retirement, said the club’s roadmap for the next soccer season is for Taraba United to remain relevant in the top flight next season before they would be going after another target at the end of the 2013/2014 season.

    “Our projection is modest, as we know where we are coming from. We want to establish our status at the elite division of the Globacom Premier League in the coming season before launching our campaign for a continental slot.

    “We are not over ambitious, but realistic with our aspirations ahead of the new season, so that the club does not embark on a race it won’t be able to finish well,” Babangida told SportingLife.

    FC Taraba United recently appointed seasoned coach, Ndubuisi Nduka to pilot the affairs of the club in place of coach Tunde Abdulrahman who was with the club until the promotion ticket was sealed after a 1-0 victory over Giwa FC on the final day of the season.

    Taraba United, Giwa FC, Crown FC and Abia Warriors are the four newly promoted clubs from the National League to the Globacom Premier League, while 3SC, Wikki Tourists, ABS and Kwara United are those that have taken their places in the lower league.

  • Sunshine must work harder — Amoo

    Sunshine must work harder — Amoo

    Despite guiding Sunshine Stars to the top half of the table of the Glo Premier League, the Akure Gunners’ head coach, Fatai Folorunsho Amoo has told his players that the club is still work in progress.

    The Akure side defeated Sharks 1-0 yesterday through Philip Auta’s first half strike which lifted them to 7th on the log with 47 points from 33 matches.

    But Amoo, former Super Eagles’ coach refused to be carried away and has reminded his players they must step up their game so as to show loyalty to their club.

    He praised one-time Sunshine’s boss, Gbenga Ogunbote who led the Blue Angels to Akure for giving his boys a good fight.

    “We thank God for another win. We are not yet there because we still have tough matches ahead. We won but I am still furious at the decision of the referee to cancel a good goal scored by Auta. The player later proved him wrong by scoring another goal.

    “I also have to praise coach Ogunbote for ensuring that he brought out the best out of my players. He was a former coach of the club and he knows Sunshine Stars inside out. But we are happy we got the goal that sealed our victory.

    “My players must continue to remember their responsibility to Sunshine and should not be carried away by this win. We must continue to work hard to get to our revered promised land,” Amoo told SportingLife.