The Nation Newspaper

Tag: goals

  • Udoh confident of hitting 20 goals target

    Udoh confident of hitting 20 goals target

    Nigeria Professional League record scoring stands at 20 and the record holder is Jude Aneke, who played for Kaduna United but Enyimba’s attacker Mfon Udoh is hoping to equal the 20 goals record before the end of the current season.

    The former Akwa United man, who scored a brace in his side’s 5-2 win over Sharks to bring his season’s tally to 14 goals, said he had set a personal target of 20 goals  at the start of the season.

    There are only seven games left to the end of this season, but Udoh is confident he can score the six goals required to meet his target.

    Udoh told www.lmc-ng.com that he is well on course to meet his target,”I set a personal target of 20 goals  and I have scored 14, I believe I can score six more goals in the remaining seven games. With God, nothing is impossible”, he declared.

    Despite his terrific form, Udoh has been overlooked by the national team selectors but the 22 -year- old forward is unfazed and said:”I will continue to do my best, I leave the decision to the coaches to either call me or not .”

    Enyimba has scored a total of 38 goals while conceding 21 and are third on the log with 38 points. The club enjoys the highest goal difference of +17, a factor that may come into play should the season end on points tie.

    Mfon will be looking to increasing his tally and getting closer to his target when Enyimba travel to Gombe United for Match Day 32 fixtures.

     

  • Osaguona sets 21 goals target

    Osaguona sets 21 goals target

    Rangers International of Enugu forward, Christian Osaguona Ighodaro has described his Wonder Goal award as a sign of good things to come in his football career. He  has set a 21 goal target.

    Ighodaro was presented with a cheque ofN100, 000 and a commemorative plaque in a ceremony that marked the first ever Wonder Goal Award which was announced by the League Management Company (LMC) last week.

    The Wonder Goal Award was instituted by the League organisers as another Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative aimed at rewarding players who score spectacular goals and also support local charity as a strategy to deepen the leagues engagement with its communities through the clubs.

    Osaguona was not available for the Rangers MatchDay 25 fixture away to Sunshine Stars as he served suspension for two yellow card offenses but he made the trip to Akure for the presentation ceremony which took place at half time.

    Receiving the cheque and  plaque from the Chairman of Ondo State Sports Council, Elder Adeyeye Michael, Osaguona, who has netted 13 goals this season, expressed appreciation to the LMC for the recognition and revealed he has made a personal commitment to score 21 goals this season to become the new goal scoring record holder in the Premier League.

    “I have been encouraged by this recognition and also must first appreciate my teammates because no striker starts and finishes a ball to score a goal. This is great and is the first time I will be so encouraged since becoming a professional player”, Osaguona said.

    “I want to thank the LMC for this award because it will be a motivation for me to meet my personal season’s target of 21 goals scored by Jude Aneke. By the grace of God, I will meet and surpass the target”, declared Osaguona who has been listed in the Super Eagles invited players for the September 5 and 10 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying games.

    Fifty per cent of the total purse will be donated to a local charity of his choice.

  • Hat-trick hero Kehinde Fatai dedicates goals to twin brother

    Nigeria striker Kehinde Fatai has  said his memorable treble for Romanian club Astra Giurgiu in a UEFA Europa League qualifying match are dedicated to his twin brother, Taye.

    Fatai fired hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Liberec in a third round qualifying clash on Thursday night.

    He told AfricanFootball.com: “I am so happy that I scored a hat-trick, and we won 3-0. It was a great moment for me.

    “I have scored six goals in three games now, I thank God.

    “I dedicate all the goals to my twin brother, Taye. He is always around me and encourages me.”

    The former JUTH FC striker opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a superb strike, when he picked the ball from the left wing, dribbled past several defenders before he fired the shot into the corner of the net.

    He hit a brace in the 74th minute after he won ball from defenders and he completed his hat-trick in the 81st minute when he tapped in from a rebound.

  • Sarki wants more goals for Wisla Krakow

    Sarki wants more goals for Wisla Krakow

    Wisla Krakow of Poland forward Emmanuel Sarki has promised to score plenty of goals this season for his club in the Polish Ekstraklasa.

    The 2014/2015 Polish league season is two games gone already, with Wisla not having the best of starts, with just 2 points in the 2 games played so far, but Sarki is looking forward to having a lot goals for the club this season.

    “I just want to score plenty of goals for my club this season and do a lot better. It’s a new season and everybody is optimistic and really looking forward to it because we believe it holds a lot of promise for us,” he told Brila fm.

    Sarki, 26, is currently playing in his second season for Wisla in the Ekstraklasa, says despite it not being the very best of starts to a season, it also hasn’t been a very bad start.

    “Well we have drawn the two games we have played so far this season, so yes you can’t say it is a very good start. But I wouldn’t say it has been very bad either.

    “We lost some good players at the end of last season but we hope to replace them with some better ones. Like I said, the season has just started and we’re looking at having a very good time in the league.”

    Wisla Krakow are presently 11th on the log, and will play 3rd placed Lech Poznan this weekend in what potentially could be a tough encounter, but Sarki is remaining bullish and positive his club will get the desired result.

    “I’m looking forward to the game against Lech, first because we need to get all three points, and secondly because Wisla and Lech Poznan are big rivals when it comes to Polish football, so you see why it’s a big deal for me.

    “I’ve been training hard, and I’ve looking after myself so I’ll say I’m quite ready for the game against Lech; not just me, but the whole club. We’re ready and looking forward to it,” he said.

    The former junior and youth international has struggled to fulfil the expectations that was had of him, after he broke unto the scene in 2003 with Nigeria’s U17 national team, the Golden Eaglets. He played alongside Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel and Shalke 04’s Chinedu Obasi on that team, but has struggled to replicate that initial potential into real success.

    He signed a four-year contract with Chelsea in 2006, but spent the whole time out on loan at Belgian side, KVC Westerlo and never played a single game for the former English champions.

  • Ujah targets 10 goals for Cologne

    SL10.nggot in contact with Anthony Ujah for his comments on Cologne’s 5-0 thrashing of Wacker Innsbruck on Monday in a pre – season friendly held in Austria.

    The 23-year-old, who has played non stop in Germany for the past three years, has stated that the win by the Billy Goats against the Austrian I Liga club was merited.

    ”Though we are a stronger team in terms of division and experience but football as we know has no small teams, so I would say we were the better side,” the attacker told SL10.ng.

    Ignoring his debut season at Mainz, Anthony Ujah has managed to score double – digits since he arrived Europe from Warri Wolves back in 2010.

    If the Nigeria international shows the same determination as he did in previous seasons, he is hopeful of continuing that goal-scoring purple patch when the last games are played in the Bundesliga next May.

    The former Lillestrom sensation said : ”By the grace of God I will get to that number. I always try to be better than I was so with hard work I will achieve it.”

    So far, Anthony Ujah has netted 53 goals in 110 league appearances for the teams he has represented – Lillestrom, Mainz and Cologne.

  • AfDB sets development goals

    AfDB sets development goals

    The African Development  Bank (AfDB) Board of Directors has approved the institution’s Results Measurement Framework (RMF) covering 2013 to 2016.

    The RMF is a corporate management tool which helps the institution to meet its development goals.

    It is framed around 100 performance indicators organised into four interconnected levels, namely: Development progress in Africa (Level one); AfDB’s contribution to development in Africa (Level two); the bank’s operational performance (Level three); and its organisational efficiency (Level four).

    According to the bank, the exercise will further enhance the bank’s ability to maintain high standards in delivering development results on the continent.

    Also, it will track performance at all four levels through the Annual Development Effectiveness Reviews.

    “The document is based on extensive research and draws on international best practice in managing for development results. It not only builds on lessons learnt from experience in implementing the previous RMF, but also benefits from consultations from other development institutions,” it said.

    The bank’s Director, Department for Quality and Results, Simon Mizrahi said: “The Results Measurement Framework is not an end in itself: It is a development tool for the bank to achieve its objectives.”

    He said the RMF brings together evidence from the bank’s work, including its strength and weaknesses, so appropriate action could be taken to implement its programmes and successfully meet its new ambitions outlined in the 10-year strategy from 2013 to 2022.

    He said in approving the RMF, the directors expressed satisfaction, saying that it strengthens the  measurement culture in the AfDB.

     

  • Uche Ikpeazu nets first pro goals

    Uche Ikpeazu nets first pro goals

    Anglo – Nigerian attacker Uche Ikpeazu was delighted to bag a brace, his first professional goals, for League One campaigners Crewe Alexandra as they battled to a 3 – 3 draw with Bradford City on Saturday.

    Home side Bradford found themselves two goals down after 54 minutes no thanks to a pair of goals from 18 -year – old Ikpeazu, who is on loan from Watford.

    “I am so happy scoring two goals on my full league debut in our 3-3 draw away from home to Bradford,hopefully more to come.

    “The best moment of my career by far. Glory be to God cause without him none of this would have been possible,” Uche Ikpeazu said.

    The former Reading youth – teamer has made four appearances in the league for Crewe.

  • Dike opens goals account for new club

    Dike opens goals account for new club

    Bright Dike finally opened his goals account at new club, Toronto fc, when he scored the second goal in a 4-1 rout of fellow strugglers, DC United in an MLS game on Saturday.

    Dike was named as one of the starters, despite DC United’s revelation that they have made special plans to stop him.

    But it started rather badly for Toronto, as Jared Jeffrey opened scoring with a goal for the visiting DC United after just 11minutes.

    That lead lasted all of 10 minutes before Darel Russell fired the home side level.

    It was all square at half time, and remained so till the 67th minute, when Dike scored to make it 2-1.

    It got much worse for the visitors, as one of their own, Conor Shanosky, scored an own goal with 71 minutes played, to make it 3-1 to the home side.

    Then, with the clock ticking down, Álvaro Rey made it 4-1 in the 87 minute, to seal a comfortable win for Toronto fc.

    The win is the first for Toronto in nine matches, as they last tasted victory on August 5 in an away tie against New England.

  • Utaka scores goal No. 2

    Utaka scores goal No. 2

    • As Sivasspor beat Elazigspor 4-2

    Former Super Eagles ace, John Utaka scored his second goal of the season as Sivasspor defeated Elazigspor 4-2 in a thrilling, helter skelter game.

    The away side had a two goal lead within the 20 minutes – Manuel De Costa and Utaka’s goals put Sivasspor in the driving seat going into the half-time break.

    However, Elazigspor got off to a great start in the second half, Ahmet Görkem and Sane scored within a 10 minute spell to draw the home side level by the 60th minute.

    Sivasspor then had Costa sent off on 64 mins but still managed to regained the lead when Aatif scored on 76 mins.

    Elazigspor were thrown a lifeline when a penalty was awarded on 84 mins however, Sane missed from the spot kick and Aatif put the game out of sight five minutes later with his second goal of the evening.

  • Emenike wants more goals and glory in 2014

    Emenike wants more goals and glory in 2014

    Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike has told only MTNFootball.com he will aim to do more for country and club in the coming year.

    Emenike was AFCON 2013 top scorer with four goals and led Nigeria to book a place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup with four goals in the qualifiers.

    Fenerbache are top of the Turkish league going into the new year and there is also the World Cup in Brazil in June.

    The striker was also listed among the best 100 players in the world for 2013 by English tabloid The Guardian.

    “It is a great feeling for me to be ranked among the best 100 players in the world where the likes on Lionel Messi, Ronaldo and others featured, I really feel excited to be on that list,” Emenike told MTNFootball.com.

    “I am not being carried away, I need to work harder. I know I really need to do more than what I am doing at the moment. It has been a great year in my life and career, it has been full of successes for me.

    “It is a year I can’t forget in a hurry, but I am looking forward to have a far better year in 2014.

    “I don’t want to be specific in terms of the honours or what I wish to achieve next year, but I wish to achieve more with Nigeria and my club. I still have a lot to give and only time will speak for me, I will not rush.”

    The powerfully-built 26-year-old is also on the list of players vying for African Footballer of the Year 2013 alongside compatriots Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa and Vincent Enyeama, and he told MTNFootball.com all the players listed by CAF deserve to win the award.

    “Individual honour is not the priority. My first priority when I am on the field for my country and club is collective victory. If my team-mates work for me to score goals, or I do same for my mates to score, it is all for the team’s success because football is a team game, like a family affair,” he insisted.