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Tag: Ibenegbu

  • Ibenegbu joins Warri Wolves

    Ibenegbu joins Warri Wolves

    Heartland attacking midfielder, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu has successfully completed his switch to Glo Premier League side, Warri Wolves for the upcoming football season.

    The former El Kanemi Warriors playmaker spent six seasons at the Owerri-based side and contributed immensely to the side’s successes in the Federation Cup in 2011 and 2012.

    The Beach Eagles star is considered the most valuable player of the side in his six-year stint, a value that made him an irresistible snatch by the Seasiders for their continental and domestic campaigns.

    The deal sealed on Wednesday has ended weeks of speculation after he handed in a transfer request to leave the Naze Millionaires management last Thursday.

    Ibenegbu said he is happy to achieve the successful switch to the Warri-based side, insisting that winning trophies will be his main target both on the continent and the home front.

    “I’ve formally joined Warri Wolves today (Wednesday) for the coming football season. I’m happy with the package. I’m happy also that I’ve achieved my heart’s desire for a change of environment after six solid years at Heartland.

    “Warri Wolves have been in dire need of silverware. I believe my coming will end the years in search of trophies. I’ll give the side my very best and work hand in hand with my teammates to ensure the team realise their season’s dream,” Ibenegbu said to supersport.com.

    Ibenegbu’s first task will be to ensure the side have a memorable campaign at the forthcoming Super Four contest in Abuja from January 24 to 28 among the continental teams, Kano Pillars, Enyimba, Bayelsa United and Warri Wolves.

    Warri Wolves will represent the country in the second tier African club championship, CAFConfederation Cup alongside Bayelsa United.

  • Ibenegbu set for Heartland exit

    Ibenegbu set for Heartland exit

    Heartland attacking midfielder, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu nicknamed ‘Mosquito’ is a major doubt for the side in the 2013/14 Glo Premier League season.

    The playmaker has spent six seasons at the Naze Millionaires and contributed immensely to the side’s back-to-back Federation Cup victories in 2011 and 2012.

    Ibenegbu said though he is yet to achieve a switch to another side, the Owerri-based side are the last place he will like to spend the next football season.

    “I don’t think I’ll be lacing my boots for Heartland in the coming season. I’ve spent six eventful years with the side and will like to try my luck elsewhere. I’ve not sealed any deal with any side though many clubs have been making inquiries about me. I’ve not even decided where else to head to but I’m sure I’ve seen the last of Heartland.

    “I hope to hold discussions with Heartland management on Thursday to let them know what I intend to do. They’ve been wonderful to me in those six years. The management has tried for me greatly. I, too have equally tried for the side. After the Thursday’s discussions I will have a clear direction on where next am heading next ,” said the former El-Kanemi Warriors star to supersport.com.

    The Beach Eagles player has been linked with several clubs in recent time including Nigeria’s CAF Confederation Cup campaigners, Warri Wolves.

    Ibenegbu worked very hard to ensure Heartland finished as 11th best on 52 points in the 2012/13 Glo Premier League season.

  • Rejuvenated Heartland lament Ibenegbu’s injury

    Rejuvenated Heartland lament Ibenegbu’s injury

    Heartland, still basking in the euphoria of their home victory against Kano Pillars, are looking forward to consolidating when they face Wikki Tourists in the next game in Bauchi.

    The Nazi millionaires returned smiles to the faces of their fans on Wednesday at the Dan Anyiam stadium after running away with a 2-0 victory that earned them a lot of ovation plus cash rewards. The victory is seen as a big relief for the Owerri landlord whose confidence has hit the roof top ahead of the tie against Wikki.

    The only headache, however, is the absence of impressive midfielder Bartholomew Ibenegbu who has been sidelined by a groin injury.

    The club had informed that “Mosquito as Ibenegbu is fondly called will be out of the Week 29 fixture and sometime after that due to groin injury”

    The remaining players have, however, vowed to give the match the seriousness it deserves with a view to getting good result and further using the match to wish Ibenegbu a quick return.

    The victory against Kano Pillars shot Heartland’s total points to 37 from a possible 84 and a chance improvement from their hitherto 17th position prior to Week 28 games.

  • HEARTLAND’S IBENEGBU SHOCKED AT SAND EAGLES OUSTER

    HEARTLAND’S IBENEGBU SHOCKED AT SAND EAGLES OUSTER

    HEARTLAND attacking midfielder, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu has described as shocking the failure of Supersand Eagles’ to grab a World Cup ticket at the just concluded Africa Beach Soccer Championship in El Jadida, Morocco.

    The Nigerians fell to the eventual champions, Senegal in the semifinals and followed up the abysmal performance with another 2-7 shock defeat to hosts, Morocco in the losers’ game thereby crashing out from the race for the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup in Tahiti from September 18 to 28.

    Ibenegbu, who failed to make the team due to a recurring knee injury said mother luck may have ran out on his teammates for not qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in the history of the championship.

  • Why we missed African Beach Soccer Tourney -Akor, Ibenegbu

    Why we missed African Beach Soccer Tourney -Akor, Ibenegbu

    The duo of Heartland’s Akor Isah Umoru and Ikechukwu Ibenegbu who were both conspicuously missing in the list of 12 players invited by Beach Soccer head coach, Audu Adamu for the African Beach Soccer Championship in Morocco have given reasons for their non-inclusion.

    Akor in a chat with SportingLife after the Naze Millionaires’ nail-biting 1-0 home win over ABS of Ilorin in a NPFL Week 13 encounter stated that he didn’t honour the invitation due to personal reasons which he does not want to make public. Ibenegbu who has been an integral member of the Beach Eagles attributed his omission to a knee injury that could be aggravated at the competition. Both players featured for their Owerri based club for the duration of their Week 13 contest.

    According to Akor:” I didn’t go because of personal reasons.”

    While Ibenegbu explained:” I am nursing a knee complaint and if feature at the Beach Soccer competition which demands more intensity than the normal football, the injury will get serious than it is presently.”

    Nigeria representatives popularly dubbed the Supersand Eagles are the current second best team on the continent having lost in the final to Senegal two years ago but the team got to the quarter final of the World Cup before losing narrowly to Brazil after a brilliant outing.