The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kwara United

  • 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.

  • KWARA UNITED BANISHMENT: Ex-NPL member wants ruling reversed

    • Says Wikki Tourist got same verdict
    • Kwara pull-out attempt to affect 13 teams

    Nigeria Premier League (NPL) former board member, Abdulrasaq Owolabi Wopa has pleaded with the egg-heads of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to have the banishment of Kwara United to Abuja reversed.

    The Afonja Warriors ex-boss in a telephone chat with SportingLife Tuesday said: “The 3points and 3goals awarded Warri Wolves was in order and in accordance with the NPL rules, and that Kwara United has taken in good fate. But I feel it’s too harsh a decision on the teams’ part to be banished to Abuja till the season ends.

    “I want to cite the case of the week 22 game involving Wikki Tourists and El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium, where a similar thing happened.

    “We recall that the match official, Okobi S. N. from Edo State and his assistants were beaten black and blue at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium by irate fans, and the trio spent close to a week in the hospital.

    “But in the O and D ruling, 3points 3 goals to El-Kanemi, Wikki Tourists fined the sum of two million Naira, the Buachi team were compelled to pay for all the medical expenses of the referees and to play its remaining home matches of the season in Abuja. Later the Appeals Committee stuck to the O & D decision but only lifted Wikki’s ban from Abuja back to Bauchi and to now play under lock and key.

    “So, if the Appeals Committee’s verdict does not have a political undertone then the banishment should be reversed. Is it when Kwara United is playing a relegated threatened Wikki Tourists should the Committee order they host the Bauchi team at a neutral ground?”

    “However, if truly Kwara United threaten to withdraw from the Globacom Premier League, this will bring back the bitter memories of last season where the Ocean Boys pulled out and some particular clubs who were supposed to win the title or play continental football were denied the chance as points were deducted from the affected that took points from the Brass side.

    “Now 13 teams will be involved and you know what that means, it will give a different picture of the league when we look at the cases of Heartland, Sharks, Gombe United, Dolphins and the other seven clubs whom Kwara United took six, four and three points from and respectively lost the same number of points too.”

     

  • Dolphins never stopped Kwara United’s pre-match training

    Dolphins never stopped Kwara United’s pre-match training

    The internet and social media has been awash with stories that hoodlums sent by Dolphins and the Rivers State Football Association stopped Kwara United from Training on Saturday at the Liberation Stadium.

    “This is not true and nothing has been farther from the truth than this. Kwara United trained at the main-bowl of the Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium from 4.30pm to about 6pm and then they returned their hotel so it is just mischief for them to say they were stopped from training. This kind of incident has never happened before a Dolphins home game even though we get it in a couple of our road trips.

    “When Kwara United got to the stadium it was locked because the security man with the key had gone to eat but before he got there after they called him an argument ensued when one of them suggested that they could train at the practice pitch and that was the cause of the whole incident

    “But as soon as our club secretary, Ahmed Abdulrahman heard about it he put a call through to the state FA Secretary, Benjamin Akubo who called the security to sort it out. The truth is that Ahmed Abdulrahman got there on time and ensued the gates were opened for them and only left after they finished training, so if Kwara United did not train, who did?

    “We believe they just tried to create headline news where there was none. Was their training delayed? Yes it was. It was delayed for 30 minutes because of the misunderstanding explained above. Were they stopped from training? Certainly not. Dolphins have never done that and do not intend to start now,” Acheru said.

  • Boumsong, Bukar fit for Kwara Utd tie

    Boumsong, Bukar fit for Kwara Utd tie

    El-Kanemi Warriors duo of Rafael Boumsong and Bomai Bukar will make their return to the team’s line-up when they face Kwara United in matchday 31 Globacom Premier league tie today after a week on the sidelines due to injuries.

    The club leading goal scorers sustained the injuries during the team’s 1-0 win against Kaduna United in a week 29 league game in Maiduguri. Bukar scored the only goal of the game before he picked-up the injury.

    The pair missed the trip to Ilorin last weekend when the team got a vital away draw against ABS in a matchday 30 game.

    The club’s Technical Adviser, Zachary Baraje told SportingLife that the players have started training and they are available for selection in today’s game.

    “I am happy that our two attackers are back from injury and they will be in action for our next home game against Kwara United,” Baraje said.

    “We missed their services in our last match against ABS but I have to thank my players for that away draw in Ilorin. We will keep on with our programmes till the end of the season.”

  • Ilorin has always been a good ground for us-Warri Wolves

    Ilorin has always been a good ground for us-Warri Wolves

    Warri Wolves has expressed they areconfident of picking the maximum points at the Kwara State Stadium,Ilorin today in their matchday 29 Glo Premier League clash with Kwara United.

    The Seasiders said the stadium has always proven to be a good hunting ground for them in recent times having remained unbeaten there this season.

    The club played two Federation Cup matches (against Spotlight of Katsina and Kano Pillars) and a league game against ABS which they won 2-0 earlier this season.

    Warri Wolves’ media officer, Moses Etu revealed to SportingLife that the club would ensure the unbeaten record is sustained when they face the Afonja Warriors today in the elite division tango.

    “Ilorin has always been a good ground for us. We are yet to lose there this season. We won a league match and two Federation Cup games there in the three matches we played there this season. We shall come out smoking against Kwara United on Saturday and ensure that we keep our unbeaten record intact,” Etu told SportingLife.

    Warri Wolves are sixth on the log with 42 points from 28 games while Kwara United are fifth with 44 points from same number of matches.

  • Kwara United players, officials get 70 per cent sign-on fees

    Kwara United players, officials get 70 per cent sign-on fees

    Players and officials of Kwara United are smiling to the bank following the release of fund for the payment of 70 percent of their sign-on fees of the current league season by the government of Kwara State.

    The club’s Media Officer, Olayioye Ajide, who informed SportingLife about the development said the management commended the Kwara State sports-loving governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed who has been attending to the demands of the club as manifested in the presentation of brand new coaster bus and a bus to cushion the effect of the team’s weekly journeys.

    Olayioye described the story untrue and an attempt to cause disaffection in the club, the publication in a sports paper that fingered the club’s accountant that he was responsible for the delay in payment of players’ salary.

    According to Olayioye, Kwara United place payment of salary in high premium and the club is the best in the aspect of prompt payment of salaries and the club’s accountant cannot play any hanky-panky.

    “Kwara State government takes workers’ salary very paramount and first among all payments even as all workers in the state get their salaries on 25th of every month; therefore no parastatal or department like Kwara United can be exceptional,” he said.

    Olayioye said that the accountant has not in any way shortchanged anyone on salary as he facilitates process of prompt release of fund from banks.

  • Kwara Utd shut door on bit-players

    Kwara Utd shut door on bit-players

    Kwara United technical adviser Samson Unuanel has said there is no room for players declared surplus to requirements in his side as it concerns the ongoing 2012/13 Glo Premier League.

    The Afonja Warriors finished the first stanza of the league in third spot on 32 points four points shy of leaders, Kano Pillars.

    Unuanel said every of his player knows the only condition that guarantees a place in the side is performance, and once a player is found wanting he is immediately shown the way out.

    “Every player signs an undertaking with me to keep bringing value in terms of quality performance to the side. If a player’s input drops he will be asked to look elsewhere for greener pastures. I don’t have room to harbour any redundant player, every player must be active at all times for us to achieve our set goal in the league.

    “That’s why we’ve dropped four players from the present squad to allow us bring in three additional players for the second stanza of the league. We invited three players at the end of the first stanza for trials, they’re with us at the moment but we’ve avoided mentioning their names until we’re done with their clearance.

    “They’ll fit into our areas of need mostly in the defence and goalkeeping.

    “We don’t have stars rather we make stars in Kwara United so we’re not likely to go after established stars, but be rest assured the chosen ones will live up to our expectations,” said the former Ocean Boys coach to supersport.com.

    The former Super Falcons assistant coach said his side hope to do better in the second stanza than they did in the first term of the season.

    “We thank God for where we are at the moment on the log but that’s not our destination, we’ll surely go higher in the second stanza of the season,” he said.

    Kwara United will be guests of 3SC in Ibadan when the second stanza of the season starts on Wednesday, July 3. The llorin-based side were 2-0 better than the Oluyole Warriors in the first fixture at the last day of the first round.

  • Depleted Dolphins set for Ilorin battle

    A much depleted Dolphins side arrived in Ilorin late on Friday night ahead of the game against Kwara United today.

    Five first team players are on various national team duties while two are out with injuries forcing the head coach, Stanley Eguma to look into the reserves for players to fill up spaces on the bus to Ilorin.

    Chizoba Amaefule, Jeleel Ajagun, Chidi Osuchukwu and Emem Eduok are with the Nigerian U20 side in Germany preparing for the World Youth Championship while Isiaka Olawale has joined the camp of the Beach football national team.

    On the injury list are Chimaobi Chukwu who has been out for a month and Emeka Atuloma who was taken out injured in Wednesday’s 2-0, while Ifeanyi Egwim who made the trip to Ilorin is just recovering from a bout of Typhoid fever.

    A player like Buduka Egwurugwu who was with the reserves (feeder team) was quickly thrown into the squad for the Ilorin game. Buduka has never before been in a Dolphins match day squad.

    On Wednesday against Kaduna United at home, debuts were handed to Ebiamowei Baker and Temitope Jaiyeola due to the thin nature of the first team squad. Head coach of the side, Stanley Eguma is not too pleased with the situation.

    “There is nothing we can do if the national team handlers decide to take our players but I must ask why do they take as much as four from te same team for the same national team?

    “The U-20 side have gone for pre-World Cup training and with the World Cup in August we have probably lost four of our best players for the rest of the season and it is not good for the club because we are in a long race,” Eguma said.

    “But we will have to make do with what we have even though I must say I am not happy about the situation.”

  • Kwara United denounce attack on Ref Udoh

    Against the insinuation that a referee, Anietie Udoh, was attacked by Kwara United Football Club fans, the club have denounced the allegation, describing it as frivolous and an attempt to paint Kwara United in bad light.

    A statement by Kwara United Media Officer, Olayioye Ajide, declared that the attack was neither carried out by supporters of the Afonja Warriors nor officials of the club.

    Olayioye noted that there was nothing to warrant an attack on Udoh who was not an official of the Federation Cup match involving Kwara United that day.

    “Ref Udoh was attacked by unidentified spectators, perhaps as a result of one argument and not Kwara United fans. This is a case of mistaken of identify. He was not part of the match; he was sitting among other spectators in the gallery. Kwara Untied had scored two goals, how then could Udoh become the subject of attack by Kwara United?” Olayioye queried.

    Olayioye added that Kwara Untied have a good rapport with referees and other stakeholders. “When we played draws and even lost crucial league matches, nobody attacked officials. This shows that some people are out there to nail Kwara United.

    “The management board has vowed to get to the root of the matter because, how could it be that such could be traced to Kwara United? The club is against any act of indiscipline because the government of the state preaches peace,” sounded Olayioye.

    Olayioye said since Udoh lives in Ilorin, Kwara, he should be able to identify those who attacked him and they must be brought to book because such act is inimical to the growth of the game.

  • Kwara United will bounce back — Unuanel

    Coach of Kwara United Samson Unuanel has assured fans of the club his side will start winning games in the Nigeria Professional Football League. United have played two games so far this season, earning two points and scoring one goal.

    They began their 2013 NPFL campaign with a goalless draw against ABS, and were forced to a one all draw with Sunshine Stars in a week two game last Wednesday.

    “I believe in these boys to turn the table around. They will improve and start scoring goals in subsequent matches,” Unuanel told futaa.com.

    The former Enyimba coach however denied a report he was set to sack bulk of the players in the club for their below-expectation-performance so far this season.

    “I want to deny the report. I did not threaten to sack any player; we had many chances that we failed to convert, but I did not say I will sack some players.”

    Kwara United will travel to Port Harcourt, where they will be hosted by Sharks FC in a week three game on Sunday.