The Nation Newspaper

Tag: John Obuh

  • Obuh: Kwara Utd set for 2016/17 NNL

    Obuh: Kwara Utd set for 2016/17 NNL

    Former Nigeria Under 20 national coach and Kwara United Technical Adviser, John obuh says his team will further intensify trainings ahead of the March 17 kick off date of the Nigeria National League (NNL).

    Obuh disclosed  this in ilorin on Friday while speaking to  journalist on Kwara United’s preparation for the forthcoming season.

    According to him the team had engaged in friendly matches and invitational tournament preparatory to the 2016/2017 NNL.

    “The friendly  matches and the invitational tournament has no doubt  provided the technical crew the opportunity to know the strength and the weaknesses of the team hence the need for us to redouble our efforts in order to surpass last season record by gaining promotion to the Nigeria elite division,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Chairman Kwara United FC and a board director of the NNL, Prince Oladimeji Ladi Thompson shortly after the announcement of the kick off date, said the management  will leave no stone unturned to make the government and good people of Kwara happy at the end of the season.

    The team he added, will proceed on close camp in  Minna, Niger state ahead of the March17 week one fixture against Taraba FC, to put the players in a proper shape of mind.

  • No more excuses for Kwara United, says Obuh

    No more excuses for Kwara United, says Obuh

    .As Oladimeji assures of better performance
    The Technical adviser of Kwara United FC and former Nigeria Under-20 national coach, John Obuh says it is time to pay back his employer in their own coin by making sure the club gains promotion to the country’s premier league.
    Obuh disclosed this at the ongoing invitational and screening exercise for would-be players of Kwara United in the 2016/2017 Nigeria National League (NNL).
    A statement signed by the club media officer, Abdul Waheed Bibire said the screening according to Obuh is to fill the vacuum created by the exodus of players that left the club last season hence the need to recruit quality players.
    “I will give fair treatment to all players and I need free hand to do my job without interference and if I don’t do well kick me away”, the technical adviser adduced.
    He therefore solicits the support of all and sundry to make Kwara United great again.
    Meanwhile, Chairman of Kwara United F.C, Ilorin Prince Oladimeji Ladi Thompson says the management of the team will live no stone unturned to meet up with the yearnings and aspirations of the good people of Kwara by gaining promotion to the country’s apex football league – NPFL.
    In a statement signed by the media officer Kwara United FC, Abdul Waheed Bibire, the club chairman has put in place various incentives to motivate the players to give in their best come next season.
    Part of the steps according to the chairman is adequate insurance package for the players.
    The outstanding balance of last season sign-on fees, Prince Oladimaji added would be paid soonest while also thanking the state government for prompt attentions giving to the club.

  • Photo: Anambra warriors unveil new coaching crew

    Photo: Anambra warriors unveil new coaching crew

  • WYC: Obuh warns Flying Eagles against complacency

    WYC: Obuh warns Flying Eagles against complacency

    Former Flying Eagles coach, John Obuh, has advised the team not to get carried away by its pre-tournament success, saying the players must stay focus to achieve success at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup which begins Saturday in New Zealand.

    Obuh, who led Nigeria to the 2011 and 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cups in Colombia and Turkey respectively, said the World Cup is always different from preparatory games and advised the team to be prepared.

    “The players have to be prepared because the tournament proper is always different from the friendly games they play, so they must not get carried away by the good results they got in those friendlies,” he told sl10.ng..

    “It is something that happens because most times you play well before a competition and you think you’ve actually played the competition but it’s always different.”

    His advice notwithstanding, Obuh restated his confidence in the team, and praised the duo of Manu Garba and Nduka Ugbade for doing a “wonderful job” on the team.

  • Super six: Obuh hails Flying Eagles

    Super six: Obuh hails Flying Eagles

    Former Flying Eagles coach, John Obuh, has hailed the Flying Eagles after the team emerged champions of the 2015 super six tournament.

    The Flying Eagles defeated Nigerian champions, Kano Pillars, former African champions, Enyimba, and CAF Confederations Cup contenders, Dolphins and Warri Wolves in the opening four games to secure an unassailable 12 points.

    Friday’s 4-1 victory over Federations Cup runners-up, Dolphins, and the Dream Team’s 1-1 draw against Enyimba meant the Flying Eagles lifted the tournament trophy with a game to spare.

    And Obuh, who was coach of the team in 2011 and 2013, believes the team has done well and deserves a huge commendation.

    “We have to congratulate the boys because they have done well and they deserve our commendation. The Flying Eagles outplayed all the teams in this tournament and defeated all of them in the process.

    “I’m very happy for the team and excited as well because I think we have a very good team that is looking likely to win the U-20 World Cup for the first time for Nigeria.

    “The coaches have done well in assembling these boys because the way they play shows purpose and direction and hopefully they will do well at the Africa Youth Championship in Senegal,” Obuh told sl10.ng.

  • Coaches scramble for Obuh’s job

    Coaches scramble for Obuh’s job

    AfricanFootball.com can reveal that at least half a dozen coaches have applied to replace John Obuh as coach of Enugu Rangers.

    An inside source at the ‘Antelopes House’ said that some top-notch coaches in the domestic league are among those who have indicated interest to take over from Obuh, who was recently informed by the management of Rangers that his contract has expired.

    “I think at the last count by the end of last week, over six coaches’ letters of interest have been received. Though I am not too sure about their names as they are being kept a closely guarded secret, I am sure that before the end of the year, it will be clearer who is the front runner to get the job.”

    Rangers placed eighth last season.

    It would be recalled that since the emergence of the Paul Chibuzor-led management, it has hired and fired over five head coaches – Christian Chukwu, Alphonsus Dike, Okey Emordi (twice) and John Obuh – with the ‘Flying Antelopes’ yet to win a major trophy in over three decades.

  • Obuh blames strikers’ wastefulness

    Obuh blames strikers’ wastefulness

    Enugu Rangers coach John Obuh has blamed his side’s wastefulness in front of goal as the reason for their loss to Warri Wolves at the weekend.

    Gbolahan Salami scored from the spot to give the Seasiders a 1-0 win over the Flying Antelopes. Obuh said his team could have easily buried the game, but they failed to utilise the chances created.

    “I’m really disappointed with the outcome of the game, we had three clear chances at goal to rake in a comfortable win but we ended up paying dearly for our wastefulness,” Obuh said.

  • Manu Garba divides technical committee

    Manu Garba divides technical committee

    By Uchenna Ajah

    SportingLife can authoritatively reveal that the issue of elevating Golden Eaglets Manu Garba and assistants to the vacant Flying Eagles job is one of the top issues to be discussed during Wednesday’s meeting of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) technical committee in Abuja.

    A member of the body told SportingLife that while some members are backing the World Cup winning coach to be moved up to the Under-20 National team so as to take up the post vacated by erstwhile handler, John Obuh, others prefer Garba to remains with the Golden Eaglets to gather more experience with the cadet Eaglets.

    “The issue of Manu Garba is on the agenda of the technical committee meeting billed for Wednesday I can confirm, but we will not be making any announcement until after our deliberations. Already, some members are of the opinion that we should move Garba to the Flying Eagles team. However, others share a different opinion as they will prefer him to remain with the Golden Eaglets and gather more experience. By and large, the technical committee will only make our final pronouncement after Wednesday’s discussions,” our source added.

    The Flying Eagles will begin their qualifying campaign in May 2014 during the second round of the qualifiers after missing the first round having been drawn bye.

    Senegal will stage the championship between March 8 and 22 with the four top placed teams qualifying for the 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup in New Zealand.

  • Rangers: Agbim no longer our goalkeeperRangers: Agbim no longer our goalkeeper

    Rangers: Agbim no longer our goalkeeperRangers: Agbim no longer our goalkeeper

    • CHAN Eagles’ skipper out of Obuh’s plans

    Enugu Rangers have released the names of their four goalkeepers for the next league season and Super Eagles’ captain to the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN), Chigozie Agbim is not one of them.

    The four are Emmanuel Daniel, Itodo Akor, Uche Okafor and Jonah Usman who joined the Flying Antelopes from ABS of Ilorin.

    Speaking with SportingLife on the development, the Enugu Rangers’ Director of Media and Publicity, Foster Chime said Agbim was no longer a player of the club having completed the contract he signed with the Coal City side at the end of last season.

    He confirmed that the new head coach, John Obuh prefers the four goalies for the current campaign and the former Flying Eagles’ boss’ wish would be respected since he would be answerable for the team’s performance at the end of the season.

    Chime pointed out that Agbim had become a free agent and could move to any club of his choice.

    “Agbim is no longer our player. His contract has ended with us and we don’t want to renew it because the head coach has approved of only four goalkeepers for the league season and Agbim’s name is not included.

    “He is aware of this development because it was duly communicated to him. He is a free agent and can decide where else he would like to go.

    “Our goalkeepers are Itodo Akor, Emmanuel Daniel, Uche Okafor and Jonah Usman, the U20 goalkeeper,” Chime told SportingLife.

    Agbim was with Rangers last season and didn’t stay with the club for up to six matches because of frequent call ups to the home-based Eagles’ camp for the African and World Cup qualifiers’ preparation.

    He was the subject of a drawn out tug of war between Warri Wolves and Rangers last season before it was finally settled that the lanky goalkeeper should move to Enugu on loan.

  • Rangers task Obuh

    Rangers task Obuh

    Enugu Rangers have appointed former Flying Eagles coach John Obuh as coach with the task of winning a trophy for them.

    Obuh replaces Okey Emordi, who quit his post on the final day of the past season. Obuh promised at his presentation to halt Rangers almost three decades barren run of trophies.

    “It is an honour for me to be saddled with the task of leading Rangers back to the trophy-winning side it used to be. It’s a big challenge, which I hope to carry out successfully,” he vowed.

    Obuh has long been linked with Rangers ever since he quit as coach of the country’s U-20 team, but several Rangers top officials have denied this connection.

    Obuh has coached several clubs including Sharks, Kwara United, Niger Tornadoes and Wikki Tourists.