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Tag: Kwara Utd

  • Kwara Utd targets continental ticket

    Kwara Utd targets continental ticket

    The need to provide adequate security, control crowd and educate the fans on the rules of football was the highlight of the stormy stakeholders’ session summoned by Kwara United’s management at the Conference Room of the Kwara State Stadium, as the club set a target for season.

    Reviewing the circumstances that led to the team’s relegation after the 2012/2013 season, and the situation which brought the team back to the elite league after the 2013/2014 season, the stakeholders believed that there was the need to guard the hard-earned elevation jealously, and also make the set objective achievable.

    The Special Assistant on Sports Matters, Bashorun Kayode Bankole, who represented the state governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, charged the supporters and fans of Kwara United to rally round the management, adding that government will continue to support the team to achieve set goals.

    He said the commitment of government greatly assisted the team in getting promotion last season, and that government was ready to do more.

    Describing the session as a strategic initiative, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Mrs. Rhoda Ajiboye appreciated the stakeholders for their contributions to the promotion course, adding that the meeting was to discuss ways on how Kwara United will make a huge impact in the 2014/2015 Premier League.

    The General Manager of the club, Mohammed Haruna Maigidansama commended the state government for supporting the club, and also for providing the enabling environment for the team to flower.

    He said that the target of the club was to win a continental ticket at the end of the season, adding that the good start to the league in Port Harcourt against Dolphins, where the team secured a draw,  needed to be sustained.

    He sought the support of the stakeholders in achieving the set objective, pointing out that their support made the difference last season.

    Extensively discussed were issues relating to having violent-free games at home, all of which centered on the provision of adequate security, a systematic crowd control system, discipline on the part of the players and coaches, with the supporters and fans of the club advised to join hands to control the crowd during home matches.

    Among the stakeholders who participated in the session are former Chairmen of Kwara United FC, former Kwara FA Chairmen, representative of the referees, representative of the coaches, security operatives, Kwara FA Chairman, Busari Ishola and his members, the Director of Sports in the state, Tunde Kazeem, General Manager of ABS FC, Alloy Chukwuemeka and Chairman and members of Kwara Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).

    The stakeholders agreed to work together for the success of the team and other teams in the state.

  • Ibrahim bullish ahead of Kwara Utd tie

    Wikki Tourists defender Mustapha Ibrahim has said his side are happy to face former coach Tunde Abdulrahman at the ongoing Nigeria National League (NNL) Super Four tournament in llorin.

    Abdulrahman won promotion to the Nigerian top flight for the Bauchi-based side in the out gone 2013/14 NNL season but is now in charge of promoted side, Kwara United.

    Both sides were losers on match day 1 clash but will square up for the three points in today’s final day tie at the Kwara State Stadium.

    Ibrahim said his side will use the encounter to prove to their former coach that Wikki Tourists has changed completely from the one he left behind.

    “We’re happy with the opportunity to play against our former technical adviser, Tunde Abdulrahman, who is in charge of Kwara United. The clash offers us a rare chance to prove to him that we’ve moved on and now quite different from the side he once coached.

    “We’re determined to do it in grand style with a convincing victory right there at their backyard. My teammates and I met and decided that if there is a match we won’t lose it is the tie against Kwara United on Wednesday.

    “I watched their match against 3SC and they showed themselves to be a good side with quality players, too. We’re already aware the encounter will be difficult, especially as both sides lost their first match.

    “We played quite well against Gabros FC even though we lost on penalties but people acknowledged the good game we played. We’ll come out with a better improved performance believing it will be good enough to give us victory against Kwara United,” said Wikki Tourists captain to supersport.com.

    Wikki Tourists lost 3-4 on penalties in Gabros FC in Monday’s match day 1 clash while Kwara United lost 1-2 to 3SC.

  • Kwara Utd eye Super Four title

    Kwara Utd eye Super Four title

    Kwara United coach, Tunde Sanni has said his side will be crowned champions of the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super Four tournament.

    The annual tournament is among the winners and runners-up of the divisions in the out gone 2013/14 NNL season.

    The challenge, which commences today through Wednesday at the Kwara State Stadium, llorin  will involve hosts, Kwara United, Wikki Tourists, 3SC and Gabros FC.

    Sanni said his side will use the tournament to ascertain their preparedness for the Nigerian top flight campaign in the upcoming season.

    “We’re hosting to win fairly on the field of play as we’re trying to rebuild and repackage Kwara United to our taste. We discovered that the state government has tried for the side but what we produced in the past was not quite good compared with government input.

    “We’re starting the campaign to right the wrong with the Super Four tournament. Though we started preparations a bit late we’ll work very fast to see how to manage the time available before the league starts.

    “We’ll use the Super Four tournament platform to test our preparedness for the Premier League campaign. I’ve the confidence that we’ll win the Super Four and that resolve will be put to acid test when we confront 3SC in match day 1 on Monday.

    “We don’t know the present strengths of 3SC or other teams but we’re determined to start the Super Four contest on a winning note and take it up from there to other challengers.

    “After the Super Four contest we will shift attention to the Glo Premier League match day 1 clash at Dolphins. We’ll do everything in our capacity to ensure that the presence of Kwara United is felt in the land in the coming season,” said the former Apa United coach to supersport.com.

    The Super Four challenge will determine the winners of the 2013/14 Nigeria National League season as the quartet are promoted to campaign in the Nigerian elite league.

  • Sanni eyes Africa with Kwara Utd

    Sanni eyes Africa with Kwara Utd

    Newly appointed Kwara United coach, Tunde Sanni has revealed to supersport.com that his target next term in the Glo Premier League is to get the Afonja Warriors a continental ticket.

    Sanni, who was in charge of the Afonja Warriors three seasons ago, returned on Monday to the team which he steered to sixth best in his first stint.

    He was officially announced as Kwara United coach by the club’s general manager, Haruna Ilerika, and Sanni would work with Tunde Abdulrahman who guided Wikki Tourists back to the top flight last term.

    Supersport.com spoke with the experienced gaffer in Ilorin, and he revealed that his main target is to campaign next year in the CAF Champions League.

    “Let me first praise Allah (God) for sparing my life up to this moment, and to all the people and fans who have supported me to return to this great team.

    “This is a team I have played for, and I know and understand everything about this club, and I think it is time for me to take Kwara United to the continent.

    “My target is to win a continental ticket for Kwara United, because this is what Kwara people want, and I’m here to deliver what they want for them,” Sanni, who was officially introduced to the players on Wednesday evening, said to supersport.com.

    The last term Kwara United appeared on the continent was in 2007, but the Afonja Warriors were unable to go past through the group stage as they finished bottom of Group B which had Al Merreikh of Sudan, Ismaily of Egypt and Dolphins of Port Harcourt.

  • Kwara Utd employ Isiaka Gambari as interim coach

    Kwara Utd employ Isiaka Gambari as interim coach

    Coach Isiaka Gambari has been given the mandate to take over as the Acting Head Coach of Kwara United FC, pending the appointment of substantive coaches for the recently promoted club.

    Gambari was second to the team from the Sports Council, and will be in charge in an interim capacity with Coach I. O. Bako.

    The Head Coach of the team, Samson David Unuanel and his assistants, Ali Zubair (Chief Coach), Jimoh Balogun (Assistant Coach), Rasheed Badmus (Trainer) and Tunji Abubakar (Goalkeeper Trainer)were asked to go last week, following the expiration of their one year contract.

    The General Manager of the club, Mohammed Haruna Maigidansama had said that the technical crew  will be restructured to ensure vibrancy and discipline.

    He added that the sacked coaches have the opportunity to re-apply if they are still interested in the job.

    “They have been asked to go, and to re-apply if they are still interested. You know they signed a contract for one season, which has ended. We thank them for their service, sacrifice and support when in charge,” he said.

    “We really need to restructure the technical department to avoid the kind of ugly incidences witnessed last season. We had many shortcomings, and we need to correct that. We need a more vibrant and disciplined technical department,” he said.

    The players of the team resumed yesterday .

     

  • Lobi, Dolphins, Kwara Utd chase Otegbeye

    Lobi, Dolphins, Kwara Utd chase Otegbeye

    Ajibola Otegbeye is being closely followed by Nigeria Professional Football League top sides, a close family friend of the player, has revealed to sl10.ng.

    The fast attacker, who last turned out on loan for Shooting Stars Sports Club is a hot property in the transfer market, with top flight clubs willing to invest in his talent.

    “There are three clubs interested in him. I can tell you that Lobi Stars, Dolphins and Kwara United are the three teams most serious in grabbing him,” the player’s family friend disclosed to sl10.ng.

    All three sides are eager to boost their offensive options and SL10 sources predict bigger things to come from Otegbeye, who turned heads during his spell at ABS FC.

  • Gov. Ahmed approves 130% sign-on fee for Kwara Utd

    Gov. Ahmed approves 130% sign-on fee for Kwara Utd

    The Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed has approved  payment of  the 2013/2014 sign-on fee and clearance fee for Kwara United FC of Ilorin.

    The  Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Prince Saheed Popoola disclosed this yesterday.

    He said the governor has also approved the payment of the remaining 30% of the 2012/2013 sign-on fees for the team.

    Prince Popoola said Governor Ahmed is fully committed to the welfare of the team and sports generally in the state and charged the players and management of the team to reciprocate by promoting to the Premier League next season.

    The General Manager of the club,  Haruna Maigidasanma, while commenting on the development, said the governor is a sport loving governor, who is the first governor to pay 100 per cent sign-on fee.

    He said the payment had come at a right time for the team which is currently on the second position on the log of group A of the Nigeria National League (NNL).

  • Kwara Utd fans attack ref, pummel team officials in Abuja

    Kwara Utd fans attack ref, pummel team officials in Abuja

    Caution was  thrown in the wind at the Old Parade Ground in Abuja, venue of the crucial encounter between Supreme Court FC and Kwara United, when fans and some team officials jointly battered Supreme Court FC officials and confronted the centre referee.

    But for the timely intervention of policemen who were alert  the referee who was subsequently whisked away would have been attacked.

    Trouble began when some fans of the away team left the official spectators’ stand and attempted to force their way into the entrance of the pitch pointing accusing fingers at the referee.

    An attempt by the policemen to calm the situation was met by stiff resistance from the Kwara United fans who threatened to cause more havoc while the match was on with the away team holding the home side to 1-1 goal tally.

    At this point, the Kwara fans who were caught on tape shouted “if we don’t win this match, there won’t be peace. Whenever your team come for return leg in Ilorin, we will make sure you people will not return home alive.”

    Their continuous disruption, which almost halted the match continued till when the home team went ahead to score in stoppage time before Kwara United pounced on some journalists trying to cover the game and subsequently beat up Supreme’s Court’s driver when they were on their way.

    Their unruly behaviour  on Sunday triggered up similar occurrence in Jos when same Kwara United fans took to violence when their team lost to Plateau United a few weeks ago.

    Speaking after the Sunday game, Supreme Court FC’s coach  said that: “This kind of violence will not help our football to grow. The match officials even took some decisions which was against my players but I didn’t retaliate. All the same, my players were matured in the whole process. If not for the effort of the security men here, who knows the worst would have happened. Fans who follow their team should be educated on the need to avoid violence anywhere they are whether home or away.”

    While the game lasted, Issac Itodo put the Abuja-based Supreme Court FC ahead of the visitors in the 38th minute after converting Michael Peter’s well calculated cross before the opponents capitalised on the defensive error to equalise in the 85th minute.

    It, however, took an intense resilience of the Apex Boys to fight back to win the game 2-1 after striker Eric Eric hit the bar before stoppage time.

  • Kwara Utd begin training for 2013/14 NNL season

    Kwara Utd begin training for 2013/14 NNL season

    • TM recalls players

    Samson Unuanel, Coach of Kwara United FC of Ilorin has ordered players of the team back to work, ahead of the commencement of a new soccer season.

    The club will be resuming in the Nigeria National League (NNL) where they have been relegated.

    Coach Unuanel told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Ilorin that he expected the players back in camp today. The coach also sent an appeal to fans of the club to continue to support the team.

    “Kwarans must see this team as their baby that must not die before them. We want that type of support that will ensure that the rules and regulations of the game will take its cause at all times,” Unuanel said.

    The coach, however, said he was disappointed at the relegation of the team at the end of the just-ended season, while reminding the fans of the need to learn from past mistakes. Team Manager of the club, Agboola Basambo confirmed that the club had given the players until today to resume full training.

    Basambo noted that there was no time to waste as the technical crew and the players had been directed to focus on their job because the management would not tolerate any form of indiscipline. He said that any player who failed to resume on the set date would no longer be seen as a member of the team.

    Basambo also expressed dismay at the relegation of the team, noting that lessons had been learnt. He thanked all those who stood by the team last season, saying the `Afonja Warriors’, as the club are widely known, would not disappoint their fans this time.

    “What we are doing now is to ensure that we return the team to the Premier League next season. We need the support of Kwarans to achieve this,” Basambo said.

    The two Ilorin-based club — Kwara Utd and Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) — were relegated at the end of last season.

  • Kwara Utd axe Unuanel

    Kwara Utd axe Unuanel

    Kwara United have sacked their head coach, Samson Unuanel seven days after the Afonja Warriors lost their top flight status, supersport.com can report.

    United were relegated on the last day of the 2012/13 NPFL season in Lokoja after they were forced to a 1-1 draw by visiting Akwa United.

    Unuanel, who last season replaced former gaffer, Tunde Sanni was given the mandate of getting United a continental ticket, but sadly the Warriors ended the season disastrously.

    Interestingly, Kwara United were the only side that won three away games at the just-concluded season.

    Even champions, Kano Pillars, who won the league diadem, were only able to win an away game throughout the season.

    But Kwara United’s calamity began in their match against Warri Wolves in which some aggrieved fans beat up one of the assistant referees, CID Durunna.

    United lost the three points and three goals for that match and it contributed to their downfall.

    Kwara United chairman, Bamidele Aluko confirmed to supersport.com on Sunday night that Unuanel has been relieved of his duty with immediate effect.

    “We had a year contract with all the technical crew and all our staff and it has been terminated after the season, but there is still a chance for them to re-apply.

    “It is unfortunate that we have been relegated, but we will get back to where we belong which is the premier League,” Aluko said sadly.

    Supersport.com, however, gathered that coach Sanni who steered the club to sixth on the final standings two seasons ago could return to the Afonja Warriors.