The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kaduna Utd

  • El-Kanemi hold Kaduna Utd

    El-Kanemi hold Kaduna Utd

    El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri forced cash strapped Kaduna United to a goalless draw in the week 32 Glo Premier League at the Kaduna Township Stadium on Sunday.

    Super Eagles invitee, David Obiazor was the match hero yesterday when he saved a 90th minute penalty played by Musa Yau.

    Reports reaching SportingLife from Kaduna State, revealed that the match officials; match Commissioner, Ekele Sunday, center referee Awosakin 0.0 from Ondo State, AR1 Peter Edibi from Cross Rivers, AR11 Emanuel Udoh from Akwa Ibom State, reserve referee Barnabas Shamang from Kaduna State were held hostage by the home supporters for several hours.

    El Kanemi media officer, Obaseki Anthony claimed that he and club’s camera man were attacked by the home fans.

    “Kaduna fans attacked my video cameraman annd I,” Obaseki said through a text message.

    Meanwhile, on the eve of their encounter in Kaduna, the founding father of EL-Kanemi Warriors and one time Nigeria Football Association (NFA) Chairman, Col. Abdulmumini Aminu  (Rtd) motivated players and officials of the club with a moving speech and a gift of N100,000.

    Speaking to the team at his residence in Kaduna Abdulmumini said: “You must work hard as professionals to excel and sell your talents to the world. When you work hard, God will certainly reward you abundantly and the sky will be your limit.”

    He expressed happiness with the team’s performance in the league.

    “I am still part of the team, I monitored your performances and you have been doing well with some away draws and home wins to your records. You should be good Ambassadors of Borno State, while I assure you that I will personally intimate Governor Kashim Shettima with the problems on ground.”

    Responding to the speech on behalf of the team, the leader of delegation, Mallam Ba, aji Hassan thanked Aminu for the fatherly advice and the motivation accorded the players and officials of the team.

    He assured that they will heed to his advice and play to a glorious end.

  • Kaduna Utd not a threat to El-Kanemi, Adewale boasts

    Kaduna Utd not a threat to El-Kanemi, Adewale boasts

    El-Kanemi Warriors defender Kabiru Adewale believes his side will get a good result in Kaduna when they tackle Kaduna United on Sunday for the Week 32 Glo Premier League clash.

    Adewale, who has been a pivot in the team’s defense since joining the team in the second round, said Kaduna United will not be a threat to El-Kanemi.

    Adewale was the man -of-the-match when El-Kanemi defeated visiting Nasarawa United 3- 1 on Wednesday due to his outstanding performance.

    He said their defence line, which is being coordinated by the likes of Aloma Idris, Jelili Akinbode, Reuben Ogbonnaya, Babakura Ali and captain Bamai Bukar are capable of stopping Kaduna United’s strikers.

    “I am not underrating Kaduna United but they are not a threat to us. There is no injury in our team so we have a full house and we are going to Kaduna for a point if possible the full points,” Adewale told SportingLife.

    “I am ready for the match on Sunday. My target is to go there and get a point and no attacker can come near me in the defense. I want to say that we have good defenders that are very experienced. I have confidence in our defenders. So, it is a warning to attackers not to come near us because we will defend our territory,”he said.

  • 3SC’ Amaniyi, 9 others join Kaduna Utd

    3SC’ Amaniyi, 9 others join Kaduna Utd

    The management of Kaduna United have beefed up the squad with  an additional 10 players ahead of the kick off of the Glo Premier League on Sunday.

    The club’s media officer, Uba Ibrahim, who disclosed this to SportingLife, said the decision was taken to address the dwindling situation in the club.

    Kaduna United is currently occupying 18th position on the log, the situation, according to Uba, did not go down well with the club’s management.

    The new players are David Amaniyi (3SC), Sumaila Sulaiman (Gombe United), Arinze Nwaogwu (Bayelsa United), Solomon Bitrus (Plateau United) and Emeka Ekueme (Akwa United).

    Others are Musa Sulaiman (FC Taraba), AbdulRasaq Yahyah (former player), Nasiru Shehu (Spotlight), Nasiru Jarmai (feeder team) and Collins Amadi (South Africa club).

    Uba informed SportingLife that the new players are the last of the registered players for the first stanza.

    “We have 10 new players in the team now. We registered 32 for the first stanza instead of 42 players. So we have the remaining players to complete the number. We are doing everything within our capacity to ensure that we change the situation in the team.

    Uba also disclosed that the club are yet to release any players due to the fact that the club still owes them.

    “Ordinarily, when you bring in new players you are supposed to allow some players to go but in our own situation we are yet to do that. We still owe them and it will be unfair to now ask them to go,” Uba said.

  • Kaduna Utd appoints Abubakar as new Technical Adviser

    Kaduna Utd appoints Abubakar as new Technical Adviser

    FORMER Dolphins FC Chief Coach, Hassan Abubakar has been appointed as the new Technical Adviser of Kaduna United.

    Abubakar, an ex-Eaglets boss, was told to take over the club following a not too impressive showing by the Crocodiles this season after they dropped five home points in the 1-1 draw against Heartland and embarrasing 1-2 defeat to Sharks FC of Port-Harcourt on Match Day 8.

    Speaking exclusively to SportingLife at the wee hours of Friday, a delighted Abubakar said:”I have been contracted by Kaduna United management to change the fortunes of the club following a series of home and away draws and losses.

    “I got a call from them Thursday night and an agreement was reached on Friday. So, I had my first training session with the players. I also had to first and foremost build on the team’s confidence as the series of event in the club had killed their morale. And to be candid with their critics, these set of players that I saw in the light training I had with them are not bad, rather they just need the right tonic to get things going.

    ” However, my first task is now is to prepare my team for the Match Day 9 game against Gombe United at the Pantami Stadium, where I hope to begin turning the fortunes of the Crocodiles around.

    “Gombe United would be a tough nut to crack even though they have not been too impressive this season.

    “Recall I played against them last season while with Dolphins, though I can’t be exact if they have improved or not but with the set of players I have seen in Kaduna United, I have much confidence that we can change the fortunes of the club for the better.

    “With all things been equal, we should be in Gombe State today for the game on Sunday.”

  • Kaduna Utd might sack Duamlong

    Kaduna Utd might sack Duamlong

    • Line up Brazilian as replacement

    Kaduna United might part company with Technical Adviser Ben Duamlong before the start of the Glo Premier League, according to information gathered by SportingLife.

    The Crocodiles have been rocked with controversy over the redeployment of some members of their technical crew.

    Some supporters of the team staged a protest to the training pitch on Thursday morning, demanding the coach’s removal and preventing the team from training for more than an hour until the Kaduna State commissioner for sports, Usman Zubairu intervened.

    A source told SportingLife that the commissioner was overheard telling his personal assistant to confirm the extent of progress made in negotiations with three un-named coaches from Brazil.

    It is yet to be known if Duamlong will work with the yet-to-be-announced coach or if he will be relieved of his job, but the coach’s future with the club is certainly in doubt after the Kaduna United Supporters’ Club Chairman, Zakari Yau told a popular radio station in Kaduna that the coach lacked the capacity to move the team forward in the upcoming season, citing the his failure to pick a single point away from home last season.

    Yau accused the coach of indecision in the choice of players on screening which has delayed the conclusion of the team’s screening exercise despite it being on for three months. He also accused the coach of favouritism towards players’ agents and managers whom he benefits from financially.

  • Kaduna Utd sign Bala, Effiom, James

    Kaduna Utd sign Bala, Effiom, James

    • Onoja, 11 others
    • Sack 26, retain 24, four quit

    Enyimba FC trio of Yahuza Bala, Maxwell Effiom and Junior James have joined Kaduna United on loan deals ahead of the Glo Nigeria Premier League season.

    The club’s media officer, Mohammed Suleiman told SportingLife that the players were among the new faces expected to ply their trade with the club next season.

    Suleiman said the club’s head coach, Ben Duamlong released a 15-man list of players selected after a month of screening shortly after the team defeated amateur side, Sarduana FC 3-1 in a friendly match on Thursday.

    According to him, top on the list of new players were ex-Ahly winger, Sunday Ibeji and former Gombe United winger, Marshall Ani. Also listed is returning winger, Peter Onoja who spent the second half of last season on loan at Nasarawa United.

    Others are Nura Suleiman, Sunday Alasco, Andrew Ikefe, Emma Onu, Hosea Ayuba, Akporido Solomon, Gabriel Sunday, Lawal Giwa and Alex Onu.

    The club’s image maker also told SportingLife that 26 players have been sacked from last season’s team, with four leaving for greener pastures while 24 players were retained.

    The Crocodile Boys will continue their build up to the start of the Nigeria National League (NNL) with friendly games slated against NNL sides Ranchers Bees, DSS, Mighty Jets and Court of Appeal to be played from Friday to Sunday.

  • Kaduna Utd to clear outstanding salaries in three weeks

    Kaduna Utd to clear outstanding salaries in three weeks

    The Kaduna State Commissioner for Youth and Sports,  Usman Zubairu Birnin-Gwari has assured players and management of Kaduna United that all their outstanding salaries will be cleared in three weeks when the state government accounts re-opens.
    In a chat with the players shortly after watching them beat fellow Premier League side, Nassarawa United 1 nil, the commissioner said: “You are the children of Kaduna State, we have heard your cries, we have seen that you are being owed few months salaries, but I can assure you that all your backlog of salaries will be cleared in three weeks as soon as the state accounts re-opens for 2014,” Birnin-Gwari assured the players.
    He also promised the players that the government is committed to their course and ready to back them financially and morally to assist them win the Nigeria League or getting a continental ticket at the end of the season.
    Responding on behalf of the players, the team captain, Emma Ambrose thanked the commissioner for the visit. He assured the commissioner that the players are fully geared up to give their best in the upcoming season to make the state proud.

  • Kaduna Utd resume Tuesday

    Kaduna Utd resume Tuesday

    Players and officials of Kaduna United are expected to resume training on Tuesday after the New Year holiday.

    The club’s chairman, Sabo Babayaro told SportingLife that new players are also expected to arrive the team’s camp for trials.

    Babayaro, who also doubles as League Management Company (LMC) vice-chairman, extended invitation to experienced players for trials but refused to divulge the players invited.

    He added that the club has concluded plans to do everything possible to improve on their last season plan.

    “All things being equal we will return to training on Tuesday. All the players are expected to participate in the first training session. We are looking for a better season this time around. Some players have been contacted and they will be in camp when the team resumes,” Babayaro said.

    “It is premature to start mentioning the names of new players invited now. We have to watch them during trials and finalise their papers before talking about signing them. All in all, we are working according to the plans.”

  • Kaduna Utd in search of quality players

    Kaduna Utd in search of quality players

    • Players to return from yuletide break Wed.

    The head coach of Kaduna United, Ben Duamlong has told SportingLife that the club is in dire need of quality players to fill weaken areas ahead of the next season Globacom Premier League.

    Kaduna United finished mid table last season with 53 points from 38 matches and coach Duamlong has assured that he is doing everything possible to ensure that the club’s season in the top flight is memorable this term.

    He told SportingLife that his players and officials have been told to report to camp by Wednesday next week so that they could finalise on players they intend using for the coming season.

    “We want to do better than last season. We are still looking for good players in all departments and because of that I have told my players to report to camp, latest next Wednesday so that we can make adequate use of the remaining time,” Duamlong told SportingLife.

  • Kaduna Utd urged to pick continental ticket next season

    Kaduna Utd urged to pick continental ticket next season

    The management of Kaduna United Football Club have been charged to present a plan that will enable the team pick a continental ticket at the end of next season’s Globacom Premier League.

    Kaduna State commissioner for youth and sports, Bashir Zubairu stated this during a courtesy visit of the team’s supporters’ club executive officials to his office recently.

    “I want to inform you that I have already directed the Kaduna United Football Club management to forward to me their plan and requirements to win the league and play continental club championship next season.”

    The commissioner also assured the team’s supporters that things must change from the old system in order to move the club forward and that the era of favouritism is over; players must be picked only on merit.

    Zubairu said: “A player can only be part of the Kaduna United team if you prove yourself with your performance and you are technically certified.”

    He promised that henceforth players’ salaries will be promptly paid, and that as from January, the payment will be by e-payment through the players’ bank accounts.

    He thanked the supporters’ executive for the visit and promised to address some of their requests after consultations with the Kaduna State governor.

    Earlier, the Kaduna United Supporters Club chairman, Ya’u Inuwa congratulated the new commissioner on his designation and asked for his support to the team. He requested that the supporters be considered for financial assistance as well as to be represented in the management board of the team.