The Nation Newspaper

Tag: goals

  • EMENIKE ROARS: Play me as striker

    EMENIKE ROARS: Play me as striker

    •And get goals

    Emmanuel Emenike has promised to score more goals in Turkey if he is played as his club’s main striker.

    The Nigeria striker has now scored three goals in his club’s last two games after going several games without a goal and he said he hopes to add to the tally. He had told MTNFootball.com that his barren run was caused by the fact that he was being played on the wings and not as the top striker.

    “Well, if I played as a striker, I can get goals as expected. Right now, I feel very good and fit. Nice weather we got. Bursaspor and Galatasaray are our next two games, we will maintain our leadership by defeating them,”he told fanatik.com.

    Fenerbahce lead the Turkey Super League table with 22 points from nine matches.

  • Okpotu sets 15 goals target in Libya

    Okpotu sets 15 goals target in Libya

    Ex-Lobi Stars striker Tony Okpotu has told MTNFootball.com he aims to score 15 goals in his first season with Libyan club Al Ittihad.

    Okpotu, who scored his first goal for Al Ittihad on Friday, said he wants to score more goals for his team.

    “My personal target here in Libya is to score nothing less than 15 goals in my first season with Al Ittihad,” Okpotu told MTNFootball.com.

    “I have scored one already in my first start and my second game. I know with hard work and God, I will achieve that.”

    Okpotu, who posted a man-of-the-match display on Friday, scored the opening goal with a header connecting a pull out and assisted for the winning goal in 2-1 win over Al Tahaddi.

    “I am very happy and excited getting my first goal and I am so happy we won.I am dedicating the goal to God and my mum. The goal will boost my confidence.”Okpotu said.

     

  • Moses: I want to score more goals

    Moses: I want to score more goals

    ictor Moses is determined to build on a promising start to his Anfield career by adding more assists and goals to his game as he continues to adapt to life on Merseyside.

    The Nigerian international arrived at Anfield on the final day of the summer transfer window, joining the Reds on a year-long loan switch from Chelsea.

    He’s hoping his debut goal at the Liberty Stadium against Swansea will be the first of many in a red shirt – and the forward has spoken of his desire to contribute more in the assists stakes.

    Moses told Liverpoolfc.com: “I’m very satisfied with my performances so far. It’s a great club to play for and I just want to keep playing football.

    “As long as I’m on the pitch, I just want to keep enjoying myself. The more games you play the more experience you get.

    “I’ve just got to keep on playing and keep on helping the team out. I want to try and score more goals.

    “I’ve played four games already and I want to create goals for my teammates and score myself.”

    The former Wigan man has had more than a month to settle into life at Melwood – and he insists it’s been something of a smooth transition owing to the friendly atmosphere within the squad.

    “I’m enjoying it. It’s a great club and I’m enjoying every single day,” said Moses. “Everyone has been great to me and I love it here. The history of the club is unbelievable and I’m just enjoying being here.

    “We’re doing really well. We’re second in the league and we need to keep that going and keep winning games.

    “Everyone has been friendly and we’ve been talking a lot. It was nice to see the lads and get on with them. Everyone has a great relationship and at the same time, out on the pitch, we’re enjoying it.

    “I talk to everyone and get on with all the players. I know Daniel Sturridge from my days at Chelsea and we’ve been talking a lot and doing things together.”

    Sturridge was in fine form as part of a Liverpool attacking triumvirate, including Luis Suarez and Moses, which pieced apart Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

    Moses felt that despite long periods of Black Cats pressure, the Reds turned in an accomplished performance to push themselves back to second place in the Barclays Premier League table.

    “We wanted to go to Sunderland and get the three points because we know the situation they are in at the moment,” said Moses. “They’d just lost the manager and they were keen to impress the manager who is coming in.

    “So we just wanted to try and get the three points. That’s what we did. I thought we did it the right way. We worked hard from the start to the end. They came at us and when time wore on in the game.”

  • Ujah: My second chance with Eagles will come

    Ujah: My second chance with Eagles will come

    Anthony Ujah has already fired four goals for FC Cologne and he tells MTNFootball.com he hopes to soon get a second chance with Nigeria.

    In this special interview, he says he is a young player who is still learning and who will get his chance again to shine with the Eagles after a difficult showing at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

    You must have been over the moon when you debuted for the Nigeria U-23 team in Tanzania about three years ago even though you lost that game

    I was very happy to be called up to the U-23s as that was my first time to put on the green-white- green shirt. Yes, it didn’t go well in that game, but I’m glad to have played a part and felt highly honoured to have represented Nigeria.

    How was it like being at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil in June?

    It was a great experience even though it didn’t go so well for us. Being in the same group and on the same pitch with world-class players from Spain and Uruguay gives one great confidence to work hard for more future achievements.

    Would you say you took your chance in the Eagles? You have since then not been called up by the Eagles. Does this worry you and could your international career be over before it has even got off the ground?

    As a striker scoring goals is always the target so I would say I haven’t but as a young player with more to learn and give I believe I still have a future in the team and with hard work and God’s grace it will come to pass.

    What is the difference between playing in the Bundesliga and playing in the German lower league?

    There is no big difference between the first and second leagues here in Germany as the second league has one of the highest attendance figures in Europe for a second league team.

    Nigeria have been drawn against Ethiopia for a place at next year’s World Cup. What should we expect?

    It will not be an easy game though we are the favourites we still have to do the right thing, which I believe the team is well equipped with quality players to take us to the World Cup.

    Cologne played 0-0 at home with Kaiserlautern on Friday. Were you disappointed as Cologne are now three points behind leaders Greuther Furth?

    I am not disappointed because it was a difficult game for both teams and before this game we were in the third position and now we have moved to second, so I see it as progress.

    Is this the season for Cologne to bounce back to the Bundesliga? If so, why?

    We are having a good run so far though it’s still early to know the favourites for promotion. We will keep trying to gather as many points as we could and hopefully by Christmas we will stay within the top three spots.

    What would you say has been responsible for your superb form at Cologne this season?

    Hard work and God’s favour is all I believe is responsible. Also, I wanted to prove myself here in Germany that’s why I refused to move abroad earlier.

    Which club were really serious about signing you in the summer?

    Dinamo Zagreb.

    What do you have to say about the Cologne fans?

    They were one of the reasons I chose to stay here. We have the largest number of fans in the league and our last game was a fully packed, 50,000, and the atmosphere was fantastic

    Sunday Oliseh once played for Cologne, what impressions did he leave at the club?

    The people have spoken well of Oliseh and that shows he has left a good impression not just here, but in Germany as a whole.

    A lot was expected of you at Mainz but that transfer did not seem to work to plan. What do you think was the problem?

    I didn’t get the trust and belief I expected from the coach of Mainz so I had to leave. He felt I needed time to adapt, but I felt differently that I can help the team and I left and began to make an instant impact at Cologne.

    How good is your German now?

    My German has improved a lot and I can now communicate very well with my colleagues.

    Have you kept in touch with those at your former base in Norway?

    I still have a few friends at LSK though most have left to other clubs and also I keep in touch with the staff as they were all very nice to me and the other Africans who played in the club.

  • SIASIA BOASTS: Mikel will score more goals if…

    SIASIA BOASTS: Mikel will score more goals if…

    Former Super Eagles Chief Coach, Samson Siasia has tipped Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi to score more goals for his club and the Eagles only if he continues to find himself in the right position to hit the ball into the net.

    Siasia, who gave Mikel the chance to break into limelight by featuring him in the Flying Eagles Class of 2005 that won silver at the U-20 World Cup in Holland and Mikel eventually emerged the second best player of the tournament behind the Most Valuable Player, Lionel Messi, argued that nobody should be blamed for Mikel’s lack of goal instinct while playing for club and country adding that the player must at all time try to find a space for himself in the attack in order to get the goals.

    The former International, however, commended Mikel for making efforts at goal while encouraging him to do more by practising this technique which according to him will make him a more accomplished midfielder.

    “Firstly, I am happy for Mikel to have broken the jinx of scoring for his club Chelsea and I hope this will propel him to get in more goals for his club and Nigeria too”, Siasia told SportingLife.

    The former Eagles boss also offered this advice for Mikel “There is no doubting the fact that Mikel is a talented footballer who has the quality to be a super star in football but he must continue to work hard and try as much as possible to join the attack. If he continue to find himself in good position to score and take his chances he could get in couple of goals for Chelsea and Nigeria”, Siasia told SportingLife from IITA (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture), Ibadan where he is handling a youth football project for a bank.

  • NIGERIA VS KENYA: Ideye dreams goals

    NIGERIA VS KENYA: Ideye dreams goals

    Super Eagles and Dynamo Kiev forward, Brown Aide Ideye is looking forward to be among the goal scorers in Saturday’s 2014 World Cup qualifying match against Kenya’s Harambee Stars.

    The former Ocean Boys and Sochaux ace told SportingLife at the team’s Transcorp Hotel base in Calabar Wednesday that he was battle ready to face the East Africans, after failing to add to his 13 goals haul in the Ukraine Premier league last weekend.

    “I will do my best against Kenya if called to action by the technical crew and by the grace of God, I will be back scoring for country again. The training here has been good. I played a game on Sunday and for my fitness level, I’m very much okay,” he said.

    Speaking further, ‘Eshin’ as he is fondly called by fans and admirers is hopeful that the Stephen Keshi tutored-side will give the fans a good brand of football come Saturday.

    “I believe if we play well as a team by giving over 110 percent during the match, it will show the fans the stuff we are made of. As a team we are playing at home and nothing less than outright victory will be good enough to say a better thank you to Nigerians for all their support during the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa,” Ideye added.

  • The goals were timely – 3SC coach

    The goals were timely – 3SC coach

    Coach Hakeem Busari of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan was relieved his team overcame their ‘nerves’ to beat Gombe United in their Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) opener at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.

    Gombe United had been lucky to secure a point in each of their two previous seasons in Ibadan but the the Oluyole Warriors ended a two-year wait to secure an outright win over the northern club on Sunday.

    Two first half goals from Tony Edjomariegwe in the 17th minute and Osagona Ighodalo 30th minute gave 3SC a deserved victory over a hard-fighting Gombe United with Gbolahan Salami providing assistance in both goals.

    “We had a nervous begining but the goals were timely to settle my boys. We wasted many chances in the second half and that is one of the areas we shall work on. It was a good game and Gombe United was a good side too,” Busari said.

  • My goals will come – Zenke

    My goals will come – Zenke

    Former Flying Eagles striker Simon Zenke has stated that his main priority now is to settle down to business after his switch to Turkish side Istanbul Buyuksehirspor Kulub otherwise known as Instanbul BB from Ligue 1 side, AS Nancy.

    Zenke, who has also had stints with Strasbourg and Samsunspor where he was the top scorer in the Turkish second division two seasons ago, told supersport.com from his base in Turkey that he has fully settled down and is enjoying his time in Turkey.

    ” I’m happy here. I am enjoying my football once again, and hopefully the goals will start coming soon,” Zenke said.

    “I want to thank AS Nancy for all they did to make the transfer go through, I’m indebted to them.”

    The power-playing forward, who was part of the Flying Eagles set-up in 2005 under Ladan Bosso, also has Super Eagles ambitions in his sight.

    “Coach Stephen Keshi has done a wonderful job with the team, he wasn’t afraid to give chances to unknown players, I hope I can do well to attract an invitation because I want to play in the World Cup in 2014,” he added.

    Zenke switched to Instanbul BB in Turkey after finding playing time hard to come by at AS Nancy.

  • Enyeama concedes three goals

    Enyeama concedes three goals

    • As Maccabi falls 1-3 to Hapoel in Israeli league

    • Says it’s part of football

    Barely 10 days to the Super Eagles’ AFCON clash against Lone Star of Liberia in Calabar, embattled number one goalie and Maccabi Tel Aviv’s safehand Vincent Enyeama Monday suffered a major away defeat in the Israeli league. The former Enyimba ace was caught on camera making an obscene gesture after Monday’s 1-3 painful loss to Hapoel Be’er Sheva.

    The defeat suffered by The Yellows was the first dropped points of the 2012 – 2013 season and leaves the club in second place, three points behind MS Ashdod, who parade Nigeria left back Juwon Oshaniwa.

    Sports Walla quoted Enyeama as saying after the game: ”According to the result it seems that nothing went well for us. You could say that nothing was good. We lost and also conceded three goals; it could even have been eight or nine, then we lost and everything went wrong. But that’s okay, it’s part of football.”

    Enyeama, who recently came under fire for what was dubbed his schoolboy errors in away games with Malawi and Liberia, conceeded the goals against Hapoel Be’er Sheva through set-pieces.

    ”It happens, really. (It’s) Part of the game. After you concede three goals like that, you’ve got to prepare, for it not to happen again in games to come. If we think now, thinking (about the loss) is not good, it will not help to us,” says Enyeama to the Israeli website.

    Asked for his comments on who to blame for defeat, Enyeama admitted: ”I do not blame any player for losing. I blame the team. We play 11 players with a yellow shirt, so we belong to the same team. We lose as a team. Maybe the defense was not good enough this time, so we suffered three goals, no problem, we will work on it. We still have lots of games to play and we have to check the video again and again where we went wrong and what we did wrong.”

    Maccabi Tel Aviv’s consolation goal was scored by home boy Munas Dabbur in the 49th minute while goals against the Nigerian were scored in the 40th, 67th and 83rd minutes respectively.