The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kwara United

  • Kwara United eyes Super Eagles’ goalkeepers’  trainer

    Kwara United eyes Super Eagles’ goalkeepers’  trainer

    Kwara United are reportedly courting Super Eagles Goalkeeper Trainer, Olatunji Baruwa (MON) with the possibility of joining the club ahead of the 2024-25 season.

    The 2023 AFCON Silver medal winner who was sighted in Ilorin a few days ago last worked with Nasarawa United and secured an NPFL promotion ticket with the Solid miners in the just concluded NNL season.

    Read Also: President Federation Cup: Njoku tips  Abia Warriors against  Kwara United 

    The Harmony Boys finished in the 13th  position in the just concluded NPFL season under Head Coach, Kabiru Dogo.

  • Kwara United fined N6m for live broadcast breach

    Kwara United fined N6m for live broadcast breach

    Kwara United has been charged for providing false information which led to a fixture adjustment that disrupted the live television broadcast schedule of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 31.

    In a two count summary jurisdiction,  the Ilorin-based club was charged for breach of Rule C1.1 and B6.23, attracting a total fine of N6m.

    Kwara United caused their scheduled Matchday 31 fixture against Akwa United to be moved from Saturday, April 20 to Sunday,  April 21, citing a letter claiming that the state government had planned an event at the stadium.

    It turned out that there was no such activity by the state government at the stadium which rather hosted a lower league fixture.

    The first charge contained in Form 16 of the Summary Jurisdiction notice dated April 22, read, “You are in breach of Rule C1.1 of the Frameworks and Rules of the Nigeria Premier football League, in that on Thursday 18 April 2024, prior to your Match Day 31 Fixture: Kwara United FC vs. Akwa United FC, you brought a late application for the rearrangement of the fixture outside of the prescribed time for making such applications, basing your application on a lie and relying on falsified documents, an act capable of bringing the game to disrepute”.

    Read Also: Rangers eye Kwara United scalp to be in title mix

    The second charge read: “You are in breach of Rule B6.23 of the Frameworks and Rules of the Nigeria Premier football League, in that on Thursday 18 April 2024, prior to your Match Day 31 Fixture: Kwara United FC vs. Akwa United FC, you disrupted the live broadcast of a game by making false claims about the unavailability of your home ground.”

    A fine of N1million was imposed on Kwara United for misconduct while N5million was the fine

    for disruption of a live broadcast.

    The club has 48 hours from the date of the notice to either submit to the decision or elect to appear before a disciplinary panel in line with Rule C26.

    Any such decision is to be communicated in writing to the NPFL while the club must pay the fine within seven working days should the decision not be contested.

  • Rangers shock Kwara United, claim three points in Ilorin

     

    Seven-time   Premier league winners Rangers international posted an impressive run in a tie against Kwara united on Wednesday.

    The Flying Antelopes ran away with a 2-1 victory over Afonja warriors thus recording their first win on the road and now occupy the first position on group A log.

    The Enugu based side had garnered two goals before the end of the first half to the surprise of their opponents and their vociferous fans at the Ilorin Township Stadium.

    feanyi George Shot the visitors into the lead in the  23rd minute following a corner kick. Aguda Godwin extended the lead four minutes later profiting from a defensive mix up in the backline of Kwara United.

    The Gbenga Ogunbote tutored side held tenaciously to their 2-0 lead to the end of the first half.  On resumption of hostilities in the second half Afonja warriors came out like warriors indeed but found Rangers defence too hard for comfort. But their persistent pressure paid off in the 66th minute when they grabbed what turned out to the consolation goal.

    Returning fire brand striker Ifeanyi Egwim was introduced in the 88 minutes Uchebo as the Coal City Boys tried to push forward while maintaining the defence at the back.

    Both teams from them on fired from all angles the homers in search of equaliser and Rangers in wanting to further consolidate.  That was the scenario the prevailed until the referee sounded his whistle to signal end of proceeding. Rangers who unfortunately crashed out the CAF Champions league campaign recently now have all their attention focused on the league with intent to perhaps reclaim the premier league they won in 2016.

    Rangers will next take on Sunshine Stars on Sunday then followed by a clash against MFM

  • Accident: God is faithful to us, says Kwara United President

    Accident: God is faithful to us, says Kwara United President

    Kwara United President, Prince Oladimeji Ladi Thompson, has expressed gratitude to God for sparing the lives of the club’s players and officials involved in a motor accident on Wednesday in Ibadan.

    He said that the degree of the accident was high but God saved all the lives involved.

    He expressed satisfaction that three members of the team who sustained injuries were responding to treatment.

    A player and two officials of the club were injured when a bus conveying the team got involved in an accident at 7.00a.m at Moniya, Ibadan.

    The team were returning from Lagos where they participated in the just-concluded Bet9ja Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 4.

    They were returning to their base in Kwara when the accident occurred.

    The team had lost their first match to the eventual winners of the competition, Go Round FC.

    The Afonja warlords lost the match 4-2 on penalties after the regular time ended in a barren draw.

    The team management was displeased with the knockout format adopted by the organisers of the competition.

    Kwara United management contested the format in a statement issued by the club’s Media Officer, Abdul Waheed Bibire.

    In the statement, the club signified intention to discontinue.

    On the accident, Bibire said that no life was lost although three people sustained various degrees of injuries.

    “Kwara United players and officials in the early hours of today were involved in a motor accident in Ibadan.

    “The coaster bus conveying the harmony boys who were on their way from Lagos from the NNL Super 4 tournament ran into a parked trailer.

    “The bus rammed into the stationary trailer in an attempt to avoid a speeding vehicle from the other end of the road.

    “Three out of the people on board sustained various degrees of injuries and have since been taken to hospital for medical attention,’’ he said.

    The Team Manager, Jimoh Oke, said that no life was lost to the accident.

    Oke said that the injured player and officials were receiving treatment in a hospital in Ibadan.

    “A player and two officials were injured; they are responding to treatment.

    “We thank God that no life was lost to the incident; we will proceed to Ilorin today,” Oke said.

    Kwara United will lock horns with Niger Tornadoes of Minna in the opening day of the 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), on Sunday in Ilorin.

    NAN

  • Harmony Boys survive ghastly motor accident

    Harmony Boys survive ghastly motor accident

     

    It was miracle for Kwara United players as they survived a ghastly motor accident on Lagos Ibadan Expressway Wednesday morning. The team bus was badly damaged but no life was lost. Kwara United were heading home after participating in the super four in Lagos.  The Ilorin based side are scheduled to face Niger Tornadoes in their first match of the new Premier league season on Sunday.

    The club has taken to its verified twitter account @KwaraUnitedFC to confirm that three people were injured in the accident.  those injured include Alfred Stephen (player) Ijaya Lukman (welfare official) and a freelance cameraman.

    The club has also expressed gratitude to God and those who have shown concern since the news broke.

    “We will love to thank everyone who has sent in messages of well wishes concerning this,” they added

    Kwara United coach John Ogbu in a telephone chat with staging.thenationonlineng.net thanked God that no life was lost in the mishap even as he confirmed that the team has finally arrived Ilorin the Kwara state capital. While the injured are taking treatment the entire team he according to him will be assessed ahead of the season opener against visiting Niger Tornadoes of Minna.

    On the Ilorin based side’s  successful return to the elite division, the former Rangers and U-17 Coach said it feels good because that is the zenith of competition in the country. “The Premier league is where the main competition is taking place and that is the right place to play,” he submitted

    Meanwhile Niger Tornadoes have wished injured Kwara United players quick recovery. The Minna side who moved to Abuja on Wednesday, plan to train at the Federal Capital before heading to Ilorin for Sunday’s match against the Afonja Warriors.

    Taking to the social media the club which only recently got a new management after dissolution of the last management said “Our deep thought is with the players, the coaching and the management team of @KwaraUnitedFC we wish all the injured quick recovery”

     

     

     

     

  • Kwara United’s Saka Azeez buried amidst sorrow, tears

    Kwara United’s Saka Azeez buried amidst sorrow, tears

    The remains of Kwara united FC left full back late Abdul Azeez Saka has been buried according to Islamic rites in Ilorin the state capital.

    An Islamic cleric who doubles as the special assistant to governor Abdul Fatah Ahmed on Islamic matters, Ustaz Saheed Mohamed led the symphatizers to observe the janaza prayer for the repose soul of the deceased at the Muslim cemetery Ilorin.

    Late Saka Azeez team mates at Kwara United FC wept uncontrollably as their friend and colleague was laid to rest.

    Top government officials, led by commissioner for sports and youth development Pharmacist Bolakale Ayo, led the delegation of government officials, while the president of the Club Sir prince Oladimeji Ladi Thompson Led the Kwara united FC Family to attend the janaza prayer.

    Late Saka Azeez died in the early hours of Friday when he slumped during training at the main bowl of the Kwara state Stadium complex Ilorin and was later confirmed dead at the General Hospital, Ilorin. He died at the age of 24.

  • ABS shop to replace sacked six players

    The management of Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Ilorin FC has relieved six players of their positions in the team and placed 3 on probation.

    The team’s Director of Football, Alloy Chukwuemeka, made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen in Ilorin on Sunday.

    He told newsmen that the club arrived at the decision to drop the players after a meeting at the club’s secretariat on Saturday.

    He said the players were released because of lack of productivity, saying their contributions to the team were not encouraging, hence the need to replace them with others.

    “We had told the players from the beginning that only the good ones among them will be with us.

    “We are very ambitious and we want to achieve good results, so, we will not tolerate anyone not adding to our value.

    “This is a young team that we are building for the future, the process starts now and the foundation must be solid,’’ Chukwuemeka said.

    The Secretary of the Club Owners Association, explained that the technical crew has requested for immediate replacement for the six released players.

    “We are going to recruit another six to replace the dropped players.

    “Screening for these new set of players will commence from Monday to Wednesday,’’ Chukwuemeka added.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Saraki Boys finished the first stanza of the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League 10th on the log after 19 rounds of games.

    Meanwhile, the team has since gone on break to regroup by April 28 for preparations for the second stanza and the final of the state’s Federation Cup against Kwara United.

  • 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.

  • Pre-season tourney: Kwara Utd boss showers praises on players

    Pre-season tourney: Kwara Utd boss showers praises on players

    The Chairman, Kwara United Football Club, Prince Oladimeji Ladi Thompson says emergence of the Club and champion of a pre-season tournament among six Clubs is a good way to start the new year.

    Prince Thompson while speaking at the end of the tournament said coming out victorious is a reflection of the determination of the club[review] in the coming Nigeria National League season.

    The Chairman harped on the need for Kwara United players and technical crew to redouble their efforts in the forthcoming John Tatta Invitational Tournament billed for Warri, Delta State.

    “On the part of the club, we will give you the necessary support to excel and carve a niche for yourselves by doing the state proud,” the chairman said.

    Reacting to the victory, the Technical Adviser of the Club, John Obuh praised the zeal and commitment of the players and urged them to sustain tempo in the coming season.

    Obuh recalled that he was reluctant in participating in the tournament as the players just arrived from Christmas and New Year break.

    Kwara United FC on Monday won the maiden edition of six teams pre-season tournament after defeating Crown FC of Ogbomoso 7-6 on penalties at the main bowl of the Kwara  State Stadium Complex Ilorin.

    Other teams that featured  in the  three  days tournament  include  ABS FC of Ilorin, Musty FC of Ilorin, BFA FC of Ilorin and Lubcon FC of Ilorin.

     

  • Rangers to miss Eze, Daniel for Kwara United tie

    Rangers to miss Eze, Daniel for Kwara United tie

    Enugu Rangers will face Kwara United tomorrow in a Glo Premier League Week 31 tie without two of their players, Emeka Eze and Emmanuel Daniel who are not available for different reasons.

    The Flying Antelopes will be missing Eze who has sustained an injury since Glo Premier League Week 22 tie against Sharks in Port Harcourt and he is yet to recover.

    Daniel, who was the U-23 goalkeeper at the just concluded African Games held in Congo is yet to return to Enugu after he marshalled Nigeria to a bronze medal finish in Brazzaville at the expense of the hosts, Congo whom they beat 5-3 on penalties after a goalless 90 minutes.

    Meanwhile, Rangers will welcome back skipper, Okey Odita for the game with the Harmony Warriors after the defender served a game suspension in their last away tie against Nasarawa United in Lafia.

    Rangers are 12th on the log with 40 points from 30 matches and are up against Kwara United who are also desperate for points to escape the relegation zone.