The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Globacom

  • Football enthusiasts attribute Pillars’ ouster to Glo league postponement

    Football enthusiasts in Enugu have attributed the ouster of Kano Pillars from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League to the unending postponement of the Globacom Premier League.

    They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the Kano Pillars players were match-rusty due to the postponement of the league.

    In his reaction, John Okoye said Kano Pillars could not have fallen to lowly rated A.S.V. Club of Congo if the league was on.

    “Had it been that the league was on, the players would have been engaging in competitive matches before taking on the Congolese side. Enyimba of Aba nearly suffered the same fate if not that they hosted Anges de Notse of Togo in Aba before the return leg in Togo,” Okoye said.

    Otunwa Abam, on his part, said he was disappointed with the unnecessary postponement of the league.

    Abam said the league had been postponed many times since 2013.

    “The home-based Super Eagles were also match-rusty at the just concluded CHAN in South Africa but we were lucky they picked up,” Abam said.

    He urged the League Management Company (LMC) to ensure that action resumed on March 7 as rescheduled.

    Another enthusiast, Chijioke Njoku, appealed to the LMC to save Nigeria from further embarrassment in the remaining matches at the continental stage.

    In his contribution, Austin Ezenwata said Nigerian players were not 100 per cent fit for continental matches.

    Ezenwata said Nigerian clubs were known to compete deep in any continental championship, but that inactivity in the league was responsible.

    Kano Pillars lost 1-3 to A.S.V. Club of Congo but won 2-1 in the return leg in Kano.

  • WANDE COAL OPENS UP ON LOVE CHILD

    WANDE COAL OPENS UP ON LOVE CHILD

    HE is one of the leading artistes in the Nigerian music industry.

    With songs like Rotate and Kick, among many others, Wande Coal has earned a place in the nation’s entertainment industry.

    However, what many do not know about the dude is that he has a five-year-old child.

    Wande has revealed that indeed he has a son, though the public does not know about this.

    He said he was not keeping it a secret, as he is proud of the boy, but he only decided to keep that aspect of his life private.

    Wande, who was recently officially unveiled as a Globacom ambassador, will soon be travelling to South Africa to shoot a TV commercial for Glo.

    By this admission, he has joined the likes of MayD, Wizkid, Terry G, Timaya and many others as ‘baby daddies.’

  • Glo subscribers to enjoy free 800MB data

    Glo subscribers to enjoy free 800MB data

    Globacom has launched a new high-speed internet data promo that will instantly give double data bonus to subscribers on the network. Dubbed My Phone Double Promo, the offer will enable Glo subscribers on the My Phone Bolt plan to get more data volume to browse the Internet and download or upload data.

    According to Globacom’s Marketing Coordinator, Adeniyi Olukoya, with the promo, subscribers on the My Phone Bolt plan who would have received 800MB of data at the price of N2,000 will now get a double data volume of 1,600MB valid for 30 days at the same price of N2,000.

    “This is a great promo from Globacom designed to ensure that we deliver more value to our Glo Bolt subscribers in the New Year. With double data volumes to browse the web, they will be able to do more, thereby becoming unlimited as they work towards achieving their dreams and aspirations for the future,” he said.

     

  • Mike Adenuga awaits second grandchild

    Mike Adenuga awaits second grandchild

    In the African culture, ‘the fruit of the womb’ is regarded as the biggest gain from marriage. That explains the joy that permeates the lives of Mr. Jameel Disu and Bella, his wife and daughter of billionaire businessman, Dr. Mike Adenuga, whose marriage is about to produce the second baby.

    Bella, an Executive Director at her father’s telecoms company, Globacom, is said to be heavy with another pregnancy and could put to bed any time soon. Indeed, Bella, on account of her present condition, has been absent from the social radar for some time now, including the recent GLO/CAF Award sponsored by Globacom, which held recently at The Expo Hall, Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. Usually, it was Bella who would present the award for the African Footballer of the Year to the winner.

    Those who should know told Celeb Watch that the expectant mother would soon relocate to the United States where she had her first baby, ahead of her delivery date.

  • Beat Black Stars

    Beat Black Stars

    • Glo league club captains urge Eagles

    The Globacom Premier League Club Captains have urged the Super Eagles to ensure that they secure the final ticket of the ongoing Championship of African Nations (CHAN) in South Africa.

    The captains made the call on Tuesday in Abuja, in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), ahead of the Eagles’ semi-final clash against Ghana’s Black Stars, scheduled for Wednesday.

    They expressed confidence that the Eagles would win the encounter. Theophilus Afelokhai, the Captain of Kano Pillars, told NAN that the home-based Eagles had become unstoppable.

    “I don’t think the Black Stars can withstand the Eagles. Though they are good, you can’t compare Ghana’s football development to that of Nigeria. I believe the Eagles know what they are supposed to do and they will do it.

    “You can see that the team is improving with every game. We thought that we would crash out in the match against Morocco but we were witnesses to what happened at the end. Any team that underrates the Eagles, does that at its own peril,’’ Afelokhai said.

    Goalkeeper Ambrose Vanzekin, the Captain of Warri Wolves FC, said the Eagles would emerge victorious as they had overcome the initial anxiety that troubled the team at the beginning of the tournament.

    “Ghana will not be a problem for Nigeria, the Black Stars will fall the same way Mozambique, South Africa and Morocco fell. A team should be confident of winning when it is not afraid of anything and I believe the Eagles now have that confidence,’’ Vanzekin said.

    The former Nigerian Olympic and Under-17 team goalkeeper, said he doesn’t regret not being invited to the CHAN camp, in spite of his experience.

    “I am not regretting anything, I thank God for what he has done for me, having played in the Olympics, the U-17 World Cup and the U-20. There are a lot of goalkeepers in the country and everybody wants to play in the national team; it is Agbim’s time as a great goalkeeper and he is doing well. I am happy with him; my prayer for him is to win the CHAN,’’ Vanzekin added.

    Chinedu Udoji, the Captain of Enyimba FC of Aba, told NAN that he had always believed in the players and their coaching crew, led by Stephen Keshi.

    Udoji pointed out that the criticisms of the team after its loss to Mali was unhealthy, noting that Nigerian teams’ performed better at international tournaments whenever the fans gave up on them.

    “I never wrote the team off, even after it lost its first group match to Mali; I am a player too and I know that I will have the opportunity to be there. People are entitled to their opinions on the team, based on what they feel, but I believe in the players because most of them are my friends and two of them are my colleagues at Enyimba.

    “Challenges become tougher when competition progresses; I know that Ghana will want to prove tougher than the Moroccans,’’ he said.

    Udoji said, “I hope that the Eagles will not repeat the same mistakes they made against the Moroccans because one might not be lucky everyday to come from three goals down to win a match. The mistakes shouldn’t happen again because we might not be that lucky again; however, I have a strong belief that Keshi must have corrected the mistakes of that encounter.’’

    The Captain of Bayelsa United, Salmon Junior, described the home-based Eagles’ performance at the CHAN as exceptional.

    Junior, a national of the Republic of Benin, told NAN that he would rather support and pray for the Eagles to progress to the final, rather than the Ghanaians.

    “The Super Eagles’ performance in South Africa has been up to standard because so many people initially wrote them off, that they are not the best in the league. But they have put on a very good performance and getting to the semi-finals is something exceptional; my prayer is that they go into the final and win the trophy,’’ Junior said.

    The CHAN tournament which began on Jan. 11 would end on Feb. 1.

     

  • Odegbami calls for tougher punishment

    Odegbami calls for tougher punishment

    • For moral rules’ violators

    A former Green Eagles player, Segun Odegbami, on Monday in Abuja called for tougher punishment for violators of the moral rules guiding the Globacom Premier League.

    Odegbami spoke on the day two of the 2013/2014 pre-season workshop organised by the League Management Company (LMC) for captains, chairmen, media officers and chairmen of supporters clubs of the clubs.

    “I suggest that extreme measures be taken in any instance where there is a clear infraction of the basic moral rules of the game. I am talking about moral rules now, not the content of the match. Nobody should go and interfere with any the decision of the referee. Beyond that, there should be very strict and extreme conditions,’’ he said.

    Odegbami, one of the resource persons at the workshop, pointed out that the game of football was not all about winning. He said efforts should be geared towards making football an enjoyable game for the spectators and players in order for marketers and investors to have value for their money.

    “This will make everybody go back home with the satisfaction that they have seen a game that has integrity. If you win it, let it be seen that it was won with integrity, and if you lose, lose the same way. But be sure that you have given your best.

    “You cannot go and intimidate a referee and expect him to perform well. You only kill the game and it cannot progress. It is a fact of reciprocity, because as you have done to somebody, another person will also do to you.

    “That is why winning away from home is almost becoming impossible in our league, because teams will first of all count their home matches and give themselves points. That is also why clubs also keep the telephone numbers of all the referees, and their bank account numbers to negotiate on matches,’’ Odegbami said.

    He explained that every negative action in the league has its repercussion. The former Chairman of gateway FC of Abeokuta then proposed the introduction of secret monitors to identify violators of the league rules.

    Odegbami said the LMC should be responsible for match officials’ security to ward off the influence of state Football Association officials who would want match proceeding to go in their favour. He urged the LMC to liaise with the Commissioners of Police in the states to provide security for the match officials.

    This, he said would make them (match officials) have little or no interaction with the state FA officials.

    In his paper titled “Curbing violence at match venues”, Sani Mohammed, a Commissioner of Police from the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja urged football clubs to always co-operate with the police.

    Mohammed said the co-operation would help the police in the discharge of their duties without looking for scapegoats at match venues.

    Onyeali Ikpe, another resource person at the workshop, said league stakeholders, especially the LMC, must first add value to the league before it could be attractive to prospective sponsors. Ikpe noted that investors valued products the way they were presented.

    NAN reports that the workshop which ends on Tuesday is a continuation of the earlier one organised for match officials as well as medical personnel of Globacom Premier League clubs on Saturday.

    The workshop, taking place at the Abuja National Stadium, is part of LMC’s pre-season programme expected to usher in the 2013/2014 Globacom Premier League season on Feb. 21.

  • Odinga, ThankGod demand bumper pay

    Odinga, ThankGod demand bumper pay

    • Vanzenkin too

    Players of the Globacom Premier League have expressed reservations about the ban placed on players’ signing-on fees by the League Management Company (LMC).

    After its meeting in Abuja last week, the LMC cancelled signing-on fees for players and asked clubs to instead include such payments in their monthly salaries.

    In separate interviews with SportingLife, Sharks FC of Port-Harcourt captain, Odinga Odinga, Warri Wolves duo of Ike ThankGod and Ambrose Vanzenkin said the clubs must increase their monthly salaries and ensure prompt payment when due.

    Veteran captain Odinga said cancellation of signing-on fees will be of blessing if the players get fat salaries which are paid regularly.

    Odinga said: “The only thing I want to add is that the clubs should pay fat salaries because the challenges we are facing is that the clubs are not paying signing-on fees. If they can pay fat salaries and pay it as at when due I don’t think there will be a problem in the cancellation of signing-on fees.

    “But if the clubs don’t pay good salaries there will be problems for players because there is no insurance and we have families to take care of. If they are doing it they should pay as at when due so that the players can give their best.”

    Warri Wolves defender, Ike ThankGod wants clubs to pay monthly salaries of up to 500 thousand naira.

    “If you see what is operating in Europe there is nothing like signing-on fees, they only have contractual deals and they share it on their weekly and monthly wages. If they can do the same here in Nigeria it will be okay for the players,” ThankGod told SportingLife

    “The problem is that the clubs will not pay regularly. Assuming the clubs are paying 500 thousand naira and they owe players three months’ salaries, it will be difficult for players to cope with life. If they pay up to 500 thousand and it is regular, it will be okay. If they are not paying regularly I won’t support the cancelation of signing-on fees.”

    Wolves goalie Vanzekin shared similar sentiments. He said: “If there is no signing-on fee they must make the salary higher and more significant for players to take care of their families and themselves in the future. This is our career, this is what we choose as our job. We cannot play forever. If they owe, it will affect us. If we end our career this is what we are going to fall on.”

  • Uweru wont miss opener

    Recuperating Crown FC goalkeeper, Michael Uweru has said he will be fit in time for the start of the 2013/14 Globacom Premier League season on February 21

    The former Kwara United shot-stopper suffered a shin bone injury in the side’s pre-season match against Afijo United at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan on Wednesday, January 15.

    Initial report said the experienced goaltender will be out of action for upward of five weeks.

    However, Uweru said emphatically that he will resume full scale training next week with his colleagues.

    “No, it’s not a career threatening injury, it’s a minor shin bone injury. I’m already engaged in light training but hopefully next week I should resume full scale training. There is no cause for alarm, I’ll be fully fit way ahead of time prior to the commencement of the new season.

    “I’m keenly looking forward to the start of the new season on February 23, I and my teammates have vowed to make Crown’s comeback to the Premier League count positively this time round,” said Uweru to supersport.com.

    The Ogbomoso-based side are among the four teams that gained promotion to the Premier League at the end of the 2012/13 Nigeria National League (NNL) season. Others are Giwa FC, FC Taraba and Abia Warriors.

  • Our players are getting ready, says Crown FC

    The Technical Adviser, Crown FC of Ogbomosho, Lawrence Akpokona, on Tuesday in Lagos said the team was improving with every session of its training ahead of the 2013/2014 Globacom Premier League.

    Akpokona told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that the team’s performances in its pre-season matches were commendable.

    NAN reports that Crown FC is among the four teams that were promoted to the 2013/2014 Globacom league from the 2012/2013 Nigeria National League.

    “The players are improving by the day and are putting in their best to ensure that the team becomes a team to beat in the nation’s top flight,’’ he said.

    The technical adviser said the club would put up a credible performance in the elite league to justify their promotion.

    “We’ll do our very best in the league by putting up credible performances. However, it will not be an easy ride because every team is a hard nut to crack. And we’ll respect the other teams no matter their position in the league last season,’’ Akpokona said.

    NAN reports that the 2013/2014 season of the Globacom Premier League is scheduled to kick off on February 21.

  • Glo celebrates Eagles’ quarter-final ticket

    Glo celebrates Eagles’ quarter-final ticket

    Telecommunications giant, Globacom, has congratulated the home based national team; Super Eagles campaigning in the on-going African Nations Championship in South Africa on its qualification for the quarter finals, describing it is a good omen for Nigerian football.

    The Eagles defeated hard fighting Bafana Bafana of South Africa by three goals to one, to emerge runners up in Group A behind Mali who also defeated Mozambique.

    A statement by Globacom in Lagos on Monday described the Eagles as true conquerors, urging them to go for the trophy.

    The Eagles opened scoring in the 22 second minute through Ejike Uzoenyi before Ifeanyi Ede added the second goal through a penalty. Ejike scored the third goal in the 64th minute before the South Africans pulled one back through Bernard Parker’s penalty in the 74th minute.

    It was a remarkable comeback for the Nigerians who lost the first match to Mali by 1 goal to two and struggled against the Mambas of Mozambique in an encounter that ended 4-2 in Nigeria’s favour.

    “We reckon with the great fighting spirit the team has, so far demonstrated and we believe the spirit will help the team to achieve the ultimate goal of lifting the trophy,” the statement said.

    “A team that has scored 8 goals in three matches deserves commendation and we urge them not to rest on their oars until the trophy is lifted.” Glo stated, adding that the improving performance of the Nigerian side in the championship is a positive narrative for the Nigerian Premier League sponsored by Glo.

    Globacom also commended the Eagles’ coaching crew led by Stephen Keshi for their tenacity while asking Nigerians to sustain their support and prayers for the team.

    Globacom is the major partner of the Nigeria Football Federation and official sponsor of the Nigerian national teams.