The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Henry Makinwa

  • Abia Warriors’ job excites Makinwa

    Newly appointed head coach of Abia Warriors, Henry Makinwa is looking forward to the opportunity of working with the Nigeria Professional Football League side.

    Makinwa, who signed a year contract with the Umuahia-based side and then address the team for the first time on Monday, replaced Abdullahi Biffo, who left the team following the expiration of his contract at the end of last season.

    In a chat with NationSport, the former ABS Football Club of Ilorin handler said it is high time Abia Warriors start to compete for titles since their promotion to the elite division back in 2013.

    “It is exiting to be returning to NPFL. It is an exiting moment but with high rigor and high preparations. I’m looking forward to the big league as you want to call it now.

    “I met the players on Monday and the reception was fantastic and the feeling was very high because the boys were ready.”

    Abia Warriors moved to camp in Port Harcourt on Tuesday and Makinwa revealed that he will use the camping to assess the team as he targets silverware with the club this season..

    “There is always where to improved. We are going for camp now and that will be where things will be seen clear. We are going to Port Harcourt and from there we will finally see where we have to beef up or where we have to manage.

    “Of course this is a big team in Nigeria context. So every team should aspire for everything that is possible. So we are one of those aspiring for everything because Abia Warriors is not a new comer to the league, we have to aspire to everything. The team must believe in themselves. We have been on the look out in the NPFL for the past 5-6 years, so I think it’s about time we go forward to win something,” Makinwa told NationSport.

  • NPFL: Enyimba FC defeats ABS FC 3-0

    NPFL: Enyimba FC defeats ABS FC 3-0

    Enyimba Football Club of Aba on Sunday, defeated Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Football Club of Ilorin 3-0 in the Week 34, Nigeria Professional Football Leage match played at the U J Esuene Stadium Calabar.

    Stanley Dimgba put the home team ahead in the 15th minute of play while Joseph Osadiaye made it two at the dot of first half to end the half 2-0.

    On resumption, ABS tried to redeem their pride in the game but the Aba boys refused to bulge and in the 53rd minute, Ibrahim Mustafa sealed the fate of the visitors by increasing the tally with another goal.

    Speaking, Enyimba Coach, Gbenga Ogunbote, said his players played according to instructions, adding that the team would not lose hope of a continental ticket until the last game.

    “The boys did well; we are still in contention for the continental event and until the last match, we will not relent, ‘’ he said.

    Henry Makinwa, Coach of ABS said his boys did their best, adding that, winning and losing was part of football.

  • Adeoti returns to training after months on sideline

    Adeoti returns to training after months on sideline

    Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Ilorin FC midfielder, Muiz Adeoti, has returned to full training after seven months injury lay off.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adeoti took part in a training session on Thursday with jogging but was fully involved on Friday.

    NAN recalls that the midfielder underwent a successful surgery on a fractured toe in a private hospital in Lagos on  March 28.

    Adeoti told newsmen on Saturday in Ilorin that he was delighted to be back  and  working hard to justify a place in the Henry Makinwa’s young team.
    “It was a very difficult moment for me but I thank God I’m out of it now.

    “No pain since I started training on Thursday and I pray there won’t be any setback by God`s grace.“I want to thank everyone for the support during the period I was nursing my injury.

    “All I want now is to start playing again because I cannot wait to play and help the team to a good position on the log” Adeoti said.

    ABS Coach, Henry Makinwa, said the midfield maestro returned at a time the team needed him most.

    He said the technical crew would work on him to regain match fitness because he added  weight.

    “He should start playing in two weeks only if he works hard or else, it will be next season.“The fear of the injury still lingers on his face but I trust him, he should overcome that part of him” Makinwa said.

    NAN findings revealed that one of the Saraki Boys defenders, Ernest Governor, who had been sidelined by a toe injury for the past few days, could not train on Friday.

    The defender told NAN that his recuperation from the injury was good and that he obeyed the instruction of the medical team to rest.

    The Saraki Boys are billed to lock horns with Kano Pillars on Wednesday in Ilorin, after which they travel to Lagos to battle MFM FC on Sunday, July 2.

  • Ossy strikes late to give ABS FC 2-1 win over Tornadoes

    Ossy strikes late to give ABS FC 2-1 win over Tornadoes

    Martin Ossy came from the bench to help ABS Football Club of Ilorin FC beat hard-fighting Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna 2-1.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match day 22 2016/2017 NPFL encounter was played on Sunday in Ilorin at the Kwara Stadium.

    Abdullahi Wakili and Samuel Agba started the game brightly for the visitors as they were threatening Ernest Governor and Ibrahim Omolayo in the defence for the Saraki Boys.
    The Saraki Boys confidence grew gradually into the game as Adeshina Gata became the star of the match whilst his movement forward dangerous on most occasions.

    Mohammed fired into the roof of the net after a swift turn to put his team ahead 1-0, his 5th of the season and it ended his 17th match goal drought.

    After the goal, the visitors responded very well and were almost rewarded for it when Adewale Yinka in goal for ABS had to punch away Shittu Lawal’s free kick to corner kick.

    The hosts survived a scare in the 38th minute when they struggled to clear their box and Lawal almost capitalised on it.

    With just a few seconds to go for the break, Lukman Hameed tripped Samuel Agba in his own box and the centre referee wasted no time in pointing for the spot kick.

    Abdullahi Wakili stepped forward to take it and made no mistake to make it 1-1 in spite of Adewale’s attempt to watch over the ball.

    The Saraki Boys responded to half time team talk than their visitors did as they were always bombarding Niger Tornadoes defence, with Gata always giving them a tough time.

    The introduction of Martin Ossy and Abubakar Chindo at the restart of the game was the turning point for the Saraki Boys as Tornadoes players found it difficult to cope with the blistering pace of the duo.

    Mohammed was wasteful in front of goals in the second half as Gata’s supplies upfront was not wisely utilised by his forwards.

    Ossy then arrived at the right time to connect Gata’s pass, dribbling past Kazeem Yekeen before tucking home a beautiful finish.

    Speaking after the game, ABS FC coach, Henry Makinwa, said it was a hard earned victory against a very good team.

    “You did everything tactically but they are not working for you. I had to send Ossy in to join Mohammed and gave him some instructions which he executed very well.

    “I am happy that Mohammed has broken the jinx today, and I hope he can now continue to score” Makinwa said.

    His counterpart in Niger Tornadoes, Abubakar Bala, said they were in Ilorin for real business and they almost got a good result.

    “We almost got a point but we lost concentration in the late minutes.

    “However, we have noticed a few of our mistakes and we are going to work on them before we face Rivers United on Wednesday in Lokoja,” Bala said.

    ABS FC will now make a trip to Nnewi for Match Day 23 against FC IfeanyiUbah on Wednesday.

     

  • ABS won’t get carried away, Makinwa vows

    ABS won’t get carried away, Makinwa vows

    Technical Manager of Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC of Ilorin, Henry Makinwa has assured that the team will not get carried away despite making an impressive start to the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League season.
    The newly promoted side had so far recorded three wins, a draw and a loss to stay joint-second with MFM on the NPFL log with 10 points, just three points behind leaders, Plateau United.
    The Saraki Boys had defeated Akwa United FC of Uyo 3-1 in their first game of the season, drew 1-1 in the Match Day 2 away to Niger Tornadoes of Minna, before beating FC IfeanyiUbah 1-0 in Match Day 3. The team lost 0-3 to Lobi Stars of Makurdi on Match Day 4 at Aper Aku Stadium but bounced back to hammer 3SC 2-0 in the Match Day 5 fixture at Kwara Stadium Complex last Sunday in Ilorin.
    In a chat with SportingLife, Makinwa, who holds a UEFA Pro-license coaching badge, said the team will continue to work harder on his newly introduced modern European concept in order not to falter as the league progresses.
    “We’ve been having very good results and everybody is happy about that but we will keep working harder everyday to improve. We knew we are new in the league, so we are taking our time and studying every moves, every steps to see that we get better.
    “I was able to get these players into shape because we selected them when we were playing NNL, from Kogi and other places; we have very good talented players. So what I did was to introduce to them new concept, modern European concept and they took that. They understood and they are playing it very well. They are very happy to execute it and for now it’s giving us results, we hope it will continue like that,” Makinwa told SportingLife.