The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ikpeba

  • Ikpeba, Nwosu, others for GTB Football Camp

    Ikpeba, Nwosu, others for GTB Football Camp

    Former Super Eagles star, Victor Ikpeba, Henry Nwosu, Mutiu Adepoju, Yisa Sofoluwe, and Waidi Akanni as well as Ex-Super Falcons goalie, Anne Chiejinne will handle proceedings for the annual football development programme sponsored by Guaranty Trust Bank plc tagged Camp GTB which begins today in Ibadan.

    The clinic is scheduled to hold between August 31 to September 7 and as a residential camp, it is designed to train and develop outstanding footballing talents discovered from GTBank sponsored youth football leagues; Principals’ and Masters Cups.

    This year’s camp will hold at The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, with 40 participants selected from the GTBank-Lagos State Principals Cup, GTBank-Ogun State Principals Cup and GTBank Masters Cup competitions.

    The ultimate goal of this programme is to sharpen and cultivate the football skills of identified outstanding talents drawing on the experience of top football coaches. The lead coaches for this year’s Camp GTBank are Victor Ikpeba and Henry Nwosu.

    These two outstanding coaches will be supported by four distinguished ex-internationals and football coaches, including Mutiu Adepoju, Yisa Sofoluwe, Anne Chiejinne, and Waidi Akanni.

    The 40 individuals selected will be taken through extensive training sessions on strategy, tactics and conditioning. They will also be given the opportunity to interact with coaches and mentors on and off the pitch. It is expected that their completion of the session will help fine-tune their skills and make them more attractive to clubs and academies as the camp will be open to scouts and coaches searching for young talents.

    According to Segun Agbaje, the Managing Director/CEO of GTBank, “the Bank remains a big supporter of sports, as a vehicle to mentor students and develop their talents. He also reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to the promotion of youth sports development and said that this year’s competition will again provide the students a platform to showcase their skills and further bolster the rekindled faith of Nigerians in home grown talents.”

  • Why Eagles lack quality players – Ikpeba

    Why Eagles lack quality players – Ikpeba

    Without any doubt the quality of players constituting the senior national team, Super Eagles, continue to drop and this may be attributed to the eagerness of the players to prefer money to building their career.

      These were the views of former Africa Footballer of the Year, Victor Ikpeba, who told SportingLife on Tuesday in Lagos that he is worried with the quality of players in Eagles, saying that most of them prefer to neglect their career to making money.

    “It is pathetic that Nigerian players are eager to play for just any club and some of these so called clubs are of poor quality. They now prefer to go to Bangladesh, Cyprus, and India among others just because of money. They are not willing to build their career which will aid them in life. You cannot compare the number of Nigerian players playing in top clubs to Ghana or Cote d’Ivoire. In those days, it was Nigerian players that used to play in top clubs in Europe but nowadays, we don’t have this,” he lamented.

    For him, strong and vibrant local league may help in churning out quality players for the national teams.

    “I think the only solution to this trend is to have a strong and robust league that will encourage our players to remain at home rather than looking for clubs in poor leagues across the world. We need to take a cue from South Africa where most of their players play in the league and this is surely paying off for them now. If the players are well paid at home, they will not want to go abroad and play in just any league,” the erstwhile AS Monaco striker said.

    For the performance of the home-based Eagles against Cote d’Ivoire, Ikpeba said Nigerians should not be deceived by the performance of the star-studded Ivoriens, saying,  “I think our boys played against an Ivorien side that just wanted to have match fitness as they didn’t give the game their 100 per cent. None of them wants to get injured before the kick off of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). So we need not to be carried away but the Eagles played their best and they must be encouraged.”

  • Ikpeba warns Eagles on set-pieces

    Ikpeba warns Eagles on set-pieces

    Former Nigeria international forward Victor Ikpeba has voiced his frustrations over Nigeria’s inability to score from set-pieces, as well as the inability to utilize chances.

    Ikpeba made this observation while speaking at a promotional event for the World Cup organized by SuperSport in Lagos on Thursday.

    After watching Wednesday’s friendly game against Scotland, Ikpeba noted that the Super Eagles’ lack of potency from set-pieces is an area coach Stephen Keshi will need to work on, as the World Cup draws near.

    The former African Footballer of the Year also lamented the inability of the strikers to utilize many of the chances created.

    “We created some decent chances but could not finish well. Even where there were chances outside the box, our players could not take them.

    “The coaches will have to work on the shooting ability of Eagles strikers. We have not been scoring from set pieces in recent times,” the former AS Monaco striker said.

    Ikpeba however cautioned against using the performance of the team against Scotland as a yardstick to measure the true strength of the team, as he believes the technical crew will work on any perceived weakness before the World Cup proper.

    “I believe that most of the mistakes noticed in that match in London last Wednesday will help the coaches to plan better in the two other games to be played before heading to Brazil for the World Cup,” he said.

  • Ikpeba hits Abuja for UEFA champions league

    Ikpeba hits Abuja for UEFA champions league

    The fun and excitement of UEFA Champions league awaits fans on Tuesday and Wednesday courtesy, International premium lager beer, Heineken, as former African Footballer of the Year and Super Eagles striker, Victor Ikpeba, is set to thrill football fans on digital platform during the match day three of the Champions League.
    On Tuesday, when the star match of the day between AC Milan against FC Barcelona gets underway at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Ikpeba with over 15, 000 followers on twitter will be engaged by football fans before, during and after the match on digital platforms. Other twitter users are encouraged to join the conversation by tweeting @IkpebaOfficial and @Heineken_NG with #MatchNightWith
    International premium lager beer, Heineken, since 2006, has been rewarding its consumers with exclusive premium viewing experiences of UEFA champions’ league football, in the Heineken Champions’ Planet in Victoria Island, Lagos. In the on- going season, the brand has been showcasing a unique experience at 100 premium bars with the sole aim of being closer to its consumers in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Abuja.
    Expectedly, like it was on match day two, when Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha was on point, the traffic on @Heineken_NG twitter handle is expected to be huge because with more awareness on the digital engagement, hundreds of passionate followers of the club competition will be active all through the thrilling match conversation.
    While the matches are going on in real time, Ikpeba, fondly referred to as ‘Prince of Monaco’ in his playing days, will be live at the Dreams Active Recreation at 792A Aminu Kano Crescent, Opposite UBA, Wuse 2 in Abuja, where he will be part of the viewing crowd.
    Consumers will have the privilege to engage the former Super Eagles legend for in depth analysis of the matches.
    The following day, former Dutch international and Manchester United FC great, Ruud van Nistelroy, will take over the official Heineken handle @heineken and engage fans during the Real Madrid versus Juventus of Italy at the Santiago Bernabue stadium through the #ShareTheSofa.
    Nigerian tweeps can ask questions and could be lucky enough to win a signed merchandise from Ruud Van Nistelroy.
    Senior Brand Manager, Heineken, Jacqueline van Faassen, yesterday restated that on match days, passionate fans of UEFA Champions League will continue to have the opportunity to interact with prominent football legends before, during and after the match on digital platforms especially on twitter. “All they need to do is follow Heineken Nigeria @Heineken_NG and have the unique opportunity to interact with some of the legends of UEFA Champions League both Nigerian based and foreign footballers,” she explained.
    With more Nigerians having the opportunity to see some of the games live in the best stadiums in Europe, the long lasting memories of last season’s final match at the Wembley Stadium in London, still lingers in the memories of five inventive Nigerians; Boyo Gbire, Mayowa Opeyemi George, Isaac Nonchie Ijeh, Franklin Chukwu Ijeh, and Diana Nwajiaku-Smart, courtesy of Heineken.

    In line with the global campaign theme of Heineken in the ongoing season called ‘Road to the Final’. Heineken has gone the extra mile with the decision to reward passionate UEFA Champions League fans at selected bars and lounges with an all expense paid trip to watch matches live at the stadiums in Europe from knockout stage up till the semi final round of the competition next year.

  • Ikpeba faults Oboabona Arsenal snub

    Ikpeba faults Oboabona Arsenal snub

    Former Africa Footballer of the Year, Victor Ikpeba, has said it was wrong for Godfrey Oboabona not to undergo trials with English Premier League side Arsenal.

    Oboabona has said it was disrespectful for Arsenal to ask him to undergo trials after what he has achieved with the Super Eagles.

    But Ikpeba, who played under Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger at French club Monaco, said the Sunshine Stars skipper got it wrong.

    Ikpeba told MTNFootball.com:”Oboabona was wrongly advised, he should have gone for the trials even if he does not make it into Arsenal, another English side would have seen him.

    “I know he would say he has won the AFCON and plays for Sunshine Stars but he should understand that it’s not the same way these European coaches view European and South America players they view African players.

    “Yes, we have talent but you need to understand how they play, adjust to their weather and a lot of things, so I think he should have gone for the trials because I know Arsene Wenger has a lot of respect for African players.”

     

  • Bonus show of shame: Ikpeba indicts Keshi

    Bonus show of shame: Ikpeba indicts Keshi

    •Backs Code of Conduct for Eagles
    •Says Nigeria is bigger than any player
    •Insists on discipline in the team

    Former Super Eagles striker, Victor Ikpeba, has blamed the Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi for the bonus row in Namibia even before the Segun Adeniyi Panel should round up their investigation on what caused the row and how such crisis can be prevented in future.

    Ikpeba also threw his weight behind the yet to be introduced code of conduct for the Super Eagles.

    The former African Footballer of the Year Award winner told reporters in Abuja at the weekend that the introduction of a code of conduct for the Super Eagles players could instill a measure of discipline and control in the team.

    The player popularly known as “the Prince of Monaco”, during his playing days in Monaco, France stated that in as much as his submissions are not intended to rundown anybody but the truth must be told.

    “I am not against the code of conduct at all if that is what it will take to instill some discipline into the team. The players must realize that the Nation is bigger than any of them and is not proper for them to hold the Nation to ransom as they did in Namibia,” he said.

    Ikpeba took also a swipe at the Super Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi for allowing the case of the players’ agitation to escalate. He blamed the Eagles gaffer for not handling the situation properly.

    “If I was the coach I would have handled the matter differently. I would never have allowed the situation to get to the level that the players would hold the nation to ransom in Namibia. I would have made the players to first travel to Brazil for the Confederation cup and after then we can now revisit the case.”

    Despite the overwhelming results being achieved of late by Keshi, the Eagles Chief Coach has severally been tongue lashed by some of his former Eagles’ teammates for one reason or the other. Recently during the Commissioning of the Nigeria Football Federation House, Keshi was told that he did not handled the crisis well. Now Ikpeba has followed suit by blaming Keshi for not convincing the players to shelve their protest and honour the Confederation Cup assignment and later resolve the matter.

    Keshi, however, defended himself that he shouldn’t be blamed for what happened because the players are not kids. They are grown ups that have kids too. He disclosed to Sportinglife that sometimes they hold meetings as regards their welfare which he can’t intervene or stop.

  • Housemaid stole my three turkeys — Ikpeba

    Housemaid stole my three turkeys — Ikpeba

    Former Super Eagles ace Victor Ikpeba made a bizzare but peharps funny update on his Twitter account on Monday when he disclosed that just hours to yesterday’s Christmas celebration, his housemaid made off with the three turkeys he had planned to celebrate the yuletide festivities with.

    The ‘Prince of Monaco’, who on Monday night responded to the verbal attack made against him by West Brom ace Peter Osaze Odemwingie, did not, however, explain the circumstances sorrounding the theft. But he did disclose that the said maid was recently employed.

    The tweet is reproduced verbatim as follows: Victor Ikpeba @IkpebaOfficial “My new house maid run away with my 3 turkeys yesterday.”

    SportingLife was unable to determine if he had made the post in jest, but a scan of the former African Footballer of the Year’s message board suggests that most of his updates are made in a lighter mood.

    “My christmas hat is singing song on my head. My coat is cuter than (Daniel, ed.) Amokachi’s coat. Hehehe i buy it in prada.

    “This guys in the studio says Victor Moses looks like me? But i am beautiful than him,” are some of the ex-international’s recent Twitter messages.

  • Governor’s Cup may change your lives, Ikpeba tells Delta students

    Governor’s Cup may change your lives, Ikpeba tells Delta students

    WEDNESDAY may mark the beginning of a positive change in your lives and I want you all to give it your all.”

    This was the message ex international and one time Africa’s Footballer of the Year Victor Ikpeba sent to secondary school students in Delta State as they kick off Governor’s Cup in the State Wednesday.

    Comprehensive Secondary School and Adaigbo Secondary School all in Ogwasi-Uku will lock horns today at the Jay Jay Austin Okocha Stadium for the competition Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan will kick off at 10 am.

    “I thank the State government for reviving soccer in schools. This can change the lives of many kids. We all started this way until sports died in our schools. Now Governor Uduaghan is reviving it. I want to thank him and urge the schools to take it seriously and know that people are keeping records of their performance. This can change their lives as outstanding ones stand to gain scholarships and may start professional career from this point,” Ikpeba said. Jay Jay Okocha will grace the occasion and may address the students in motivational talk.

    Delta is championing the campaign to return sports back to schools in Nigeria. After the kick-off of football in schools, track and field will follow and later Rowing will be on line.