The Nation Newspaper

Tag: league

  • Nasarawa Amazons upset Rivers Angels to lift League trophy

    Nasarawa Amazons upset Rivers Angels to lift League trophy

    Nasarawa Amazons surprised bookmakers on Thursday by defeating River Angels to lift the 2012/2013 league title.

    The match tagged ‘Champion of Champions’ was played at the Confluence Stadium in Kogi as part of activities of the Nigeria Women League Congress which got underway yesterday. It was decided in penalties after full time ended goalless.

    The Champion of Champions replaces the Super Six competition that determines the league champions.

    Board member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dilichukwu Onyedimah hailed both sides for the entertaining football. “It was an interesting match which shows that anything can truly happen in football,” she said.

    Angels, Federation Cup winners, were the favourites to win the match given the quality of players at their disposal. But yesterday’s match was a sweet revenge for the Lafia-based side who were pounded 3-0 by Angels at the FA Cup final.

     

  • WOMEN LEAGUE CONGRESS: NFF drags stakeholders to Kogi

    WOMEN LEAGUE CONGRESS: NFF drags stakeholders to Kogi

    The 2013 Nigeria Women Football League Congress will hold today in Lokoja, Kogi State. The congress, which would herald the draws of the 2014 Nigeria Women Football Premier League, will be declared opened by Kogi State Governor, Captain Idris Wada. The Congress was supposed to be held on February 1, but was shifted due to the participation of the Super Eagles in the 2014 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa.

    According to the Chairman of the Nigeria Women Football League Mrs Dilichukwu Onyedinma, who spoke in Lokoja on Wednesday “all is now set for the Congress of the Nigeria Women Football League, which is the highest decision making body of the League, and the Congress is expected to ratify all our activities for the year new football season. We would also hold draws of the Nigeria Women Football Premier League which is the first in Africa. All the League clubs (24) of them are members of the Congress and they would expect us to give them comprehensive reports on how the League was run last football season, and the proposal for the new football season would also be approved. The Executive Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada is expected to declare the Congress open, and he would be accompanied by his wife. The chief host will be the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Aminu Maigari, who would lead members of the Executive Board of the Federation to the Congress. The day will be rounded up with Champion of Champions football match between Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia and Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt. The match would be played at the ultra modern Confluence Stadium in Lokoja”.

    Mrs. Onyedinma, who is an Executive Board member of the NFF said: “We would not stop to be appreciative to His Excellency, Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada for supporting us to hold the Congress in his state. This has really shown that his love for sports is all embracing. We thank him very much. I am optimistic that the New Year would be better for Women football in the country.

  • Otigba to miss last league game of the year

    Otigba to miss last league game of the year

    Heerenveen will be without Nigerian defender Kenneth Otigba for the last round of matches in the Eredivisie as a result of the booking he received on Friday against PEC Zwolle. Referee Jeroen Sanders booked Otigba in the 47th minute, his fifth caution of the season.

    Thus the Hungary youth – teamer has been automatically suspended by the Dutch Federation and he will automatically miss the league game away to AZ on December 21. But the 21 – year – old center-back is eligible to participate in the cup game against AZ on Wednesday.

    Though his job is to prevent the opponents from scoring, Otigba is the second highest goalscorer for Heerenveen in the Dutch championship with 4 goals in 17 matches.

  • Prime FC set Premier League target

    Prime FC set Premier League target

    Head coach of Prime of Oshogbo, Samuel Abimbola has revealed that a return to the Glo Premier League is the main target for the club ahead of next season’s campaign in the Nigeria National League (NNL).

    Prime were relegated some seasons ago and have found it difficult to return to the top flight. The club were almost demoted to the Nationwide League last season but stayed afloat after a 1-0 win over Fountain of Ekiti in the final match of the season.

    With the commencement date for the 2013/2014 NNL season not confirmed, Abimbola told SportingLife he is trying to put in place a formidable squad that will withstand the heat in the lower league when it kicks off.

    The former U17 and U20 coach confirmed that Prime would be in the Glo Premier League next season because he had never been associated with failure in his career.

    “Coaches always set targets for themselves. Mine won’t be different. I am trusting in God that Prime will be among the Premier League clubs next season.

    “I am in the process of assembling players that are worth their salt and I will ensure that we have a good squad that will be ready to help me achieve the set target,” Abimbola told SportingLife.

  • Nationwide League boss reads riot act

    Nationwide League boss reads riot act

    • Hints on screening of officials

    Officiating in the national league in the new season will be taken seriously and those charged with such responsibilities will undergo serious credibility screening.

    Chairman, Nigeria Nationwide League Muazu Ahmed Kawu gave the hint yesterday. The lower league, according to him, is very important as it serves as take-off point for most young players and as such must be seen to be playing by the rules. Recurring complaints over poor officiating, he said cannot be allowed to go on as it tends to put a dent on credibility.

    While thanking the Federal Government for giving the victorious Golden Eaglets a befitting reception, Kawu called for greater support for National league which he said has been at the forefront of producing young players to beef up the various league divisions in the country

    “This is the time that our league body needs the support of not only the government but cooperate organisations so that we can continue to groom good and talented players at the grassroots. Let me say for the sake of emphasis that Nigeria Nationwide League has over 200 clubs spread across the six geo-political zone and that figure is enough to turn around the fortune of football in Nigeria,” he said.

  • Ethiopia League is better organised – Ayoola ‘Kanu’ Moses

    Ethiopia League is better organised – Ayoola ‘Kanu’ Moses

    Ayoola Moses aka Kanu is a well known face in the Nigerian Premier League before moving to Ethiopia League. The former Niger Tornadoes, Crown and Plateau United attacking midfielder tasted action in both the Pro and the Premier League before moving out of the country.

    In this interview with SportingLife’s Akeem Lawal in Ethiopia during the FIFA World Cup qualifier first leg play-off at the Addis Ababa Stadium, Moses, who is one of the eight Nigerian players plying their trade in the Ethiopian league, believes they are also good for the national team. Excerpts:

     

    Ethiopian league is way behind Nigeria Premier League, why did you choose to come here?

    I’ve been playing here in the Ethiopian league for the past two seasons, since 2011. In fact, the league is of high quality and well organised.

    Here they deal with contracts and respect contracts. They respect players’ contract and follow the rules and agreement. When you sign a contract you will be given all your money before the commencement of the season and that does not happen in Nigeria. There is respect for players, they provide accommodation for players. In fact, when you are a good player and you are doing well, they will always respect and appreciate what you are doing for them. Those are things that make me comfortable here than playing in the Nigerian league.

     

    How would you compare Nigeria league with Ethiopia?

    The only thing that is different between the two leagues is that in Nigeria 99 percent of the players are talented, which is not like that here. Nigeria league is also physical, but when we are talking of ball possession, Ethiopians are very good in that. In Nigeria we have better pitches which can help players performance.

     

    How are you rated here in Ethiopia?

    In Ethiopia, they really appreciate my football and they appreciate that I’m a Nigerian because of the quality and name that we have in football. I’m adjudged to be the best player in the two clubs I’ve played for here. When you are a foreign player, you have to play better than the Ethiopians because they expect you to be like Lionel Messi and other big stars. It makes it difficult here for us. In Nigerian league, I can do one or two things to show my quality as a professional player, but here you have to do extra. As a midfielder, they don’t want to know, you have to give the finishing pass and even score goals. In my first club Dire Dawa FC, I was the highest goal scorer with seven goals as a midfielder. In my second and present club, Nyala FC, I’ve been scoring most of the important goals for them including the final goal that made us qualify for the play-offs. They always praise me, saying that I’m different from other players they have because I always give them the result. It’s not my making but the grace of God and the experience I had gathered in the Nigerian league. When you are a good player, it’s very easy to play in Ethiopia.

     

    How many Nigerians are currently playing in Ethiopia and what is the relationship you have with them?

    We are eight in number. Our relationship is very cordial. When I came, I met four Nigerians namely: Favour Emmanuel and former Sharks FC goalkeeper, Abbey Samuel though I don’t know if he played in Nigeria league. We also have Philip Daudu, who is one of the best players we have here. There is also Mike Awoniyi, former Union Bank and OUK central defender. I came with Akeem Akande, former Gabrous players. Two players joined last season making eight of us right now.

    We always go out as one Nigeria whenever we are free. With my experience in the Nigerian league, I always talk to them, letting them know ways of life. We share good times together and they respect me a lot.

    We call ourselves before matches to wish each other good luck. We have lots of foreigners here from Cameroun, Ghana, Uganda and so on that give Nigeria foreigners lots of challenges and we have to show that we are the giant of Africa. With these individuals we have in different clubs, they have to show that they are the best in their club which will further boost the image of the country.

    They do ask us if we play in the national team, but we tell them it’s not easy to play in the Super Eagles because we have lots of great players both home and abroad.

     

    With coach stephen Keshi giving home-based players into the national team, don’t you think your chances of making it into the team is slim?

    Actually, the mentality we have in Nigeria is that we always underrate some country’s football thinking that they are playing nothing while their league is very good.

    For example in the Ethiopia national team, they only have one player that plays outside, the rest are in Ethiopia Premier League. All these players play the Nations Cup qualifier and went to the competition proper and everybody saw the way they play. Even some of them are on the bench in their club sides. Their national goalkeeper is in bench in his club, a foreigner is the first choice. In Nigeria, there is nothing stopping us to play in the national team, it depends on the quality and the league.

    For example Godfrey Oboabona, a central defender who played in Nigeria league before he was called to the national team. There was no Super Eagles’ central defender that ever had such opportunity because we always believe that until a player play in Manchester United or Atletico Madrid that can make the national team. With my experience in the Nigeria league, I don’t think it will be difficult to play in the national team. I really appreciate coach Stephen Keshi for giving the home-based players chance and I believe we can also have the chance. If he can look our way and invite us into the national team, he too will see that we have some good and talented materials over here.

     

    How many clubs did you play for in Nigeria and what are the teams?

    I was with Crown FC in 2005 season and half season I move to Prime FC. I was there when they qualify for the Premier League. From Premier I came back to Crown when Chief Olajide Olagbenro came from Plateau United and he convinced me to play in Crown. I played there from 2007 to 2009.

    In 2009, I went to Niger Tornadoes when Coach Godwin Uwa and Ladan Bosso were handling the team. When Crown got promotion in 2010/2011 they told me ‘you have to come, you are our experience playe’ so I rejoined Crown in 2011 and after the end of the season I travelled to Ethiopia.

  • League stars fight against Nov. kick-off

    Nigerian League stars have expressed fears over the proposed November 22 kick-off date for the 2013/2014 Nigeria Premier League season.

    However, a cross section of League players said they would want the date to be shifted as they see it as too close for the just concluded campaign and this will not give them room to relax and refresh ahead of the new season.

    Kano Pillars striker Kabiru Umar said the players need a long time to rest after a hectic past season.

    “November 22 kick-off date is not good for us the players at all. We need to rest and take time off football. We have worked and are very tired, so we need adequate rest before we resume football work,” Umar said.

    Akwa United forward Emmanuel Enize said the authorities should be more mindful of the well being of the players.

    “That date is not good for us the players at all. It is not just to start the new season that matters, the league should also consider players welfare too. We need time to rest,” he said.

    Heartland skipper Chinedu Efugh said a short pre-season will work against the players, many of whom are still owed a lot of money by their clubs.

    “That date is really not good for us, but if the league asks us to start, we don’t have a choice as we are just workers, but they should see that clubs pay their players before the new season starts,” Efugh urged.

  • NFF may suspend Women Elite League

    The much awaited Women Elite League which was billed to kick off next season may be put on hold if the football governing body of Nigeria,Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is unable to get a sponsor for the maiden edition.

    The Congress of the National Women Football League (NWFL) had agreed in February 2013, prior to the kick off the 2012/2013 Women Pro League (WPL) season that the top six teams from the two League groups will qualify for the Elite League. This may not be feasible as the (NWFL) is still shopping for sponsors.

    Speaking on the condition of anonymity an NFF official told futaa.com that it would not be possible to start the Premier League if the Federation was unable to come up with a sponsor before the start of the new season.

    “There would be no point starting something that we may not be able to sustain. If it means suspending it for a couple more years,then it is better than starting and stopping”the source said.

    “It would be a burden on the participating clubs if we are not able to get the sponsors that would support us”the source continued.

    Chairman of the NWFL Dilichukwu Onyedinma has continuously appealed to corporate bodies and organisations to partner with the board to sponsor the league.

  • Pillars’ players want to win the league again

    Pillars’ players want to win the league again

    • Each player to get 40k for win over Gombe Utd

    Kano Pillars’ players will go in desperate search of the maximum points in Gombe as they have been promised N40,000 each as match bonus if they beat their northern opponents today.

    Sai Masu’s media officer Idris Malikawa revealed to SportingLife that the management of the club has vowed to give each player N40,000 if they conquer Maurice Cooreman tutored team at the Pantami Stadium.

    Pillars beat Enyimba 1-0 to return to the top of the league table with 60 points from 36 matches but Malikawa has assured that the reigning league champions would not rest on their oars in their search towards back to back league crown.

    He also stated that the same 20 players that travelled to Lokoja’s Confluence Stadium to face the Peoples Elephant would be available again to show the Savannah Scorpions their new found form.

    “We have arrived Gombe and are poised to beat Gombe United tomorrow(today). In terms of motivation, the players have said the urge to win the league title again is enough zeal to propel them to victory against Gombe United.

    “They are going to get N40,000 each if they can beat Gombe United. We are going to ensure we pin our opponents down before getting the needed victory,” Malikawa noted.

    Gombe United are yet to lose at home this season as they are placed 10th on the table with 49 points from 35 matches while Pillars are on top with 60 points from as many matches too.

  • LMC warns against disparaging comments on the league

    The League Management Company (LMC) have frowned at growing recourse to negative statements in the public domain on outcome of Glo Premier League matches by club officials and players. LMC has therefore warned that it will henceforth sanction individuals who engage in this practice that brings the League into disrepute.

    The LMC in a statement from the Office of the Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar said it will no longer condone such comments by club officials including coaches and managers as well as their players whose comments will lower the integrity of the League in the eyes of the public. It reminded the clubs that existing regulations have provided appropriate channels for conveying grievances and protests against perceived wrong doings by match officials or opponents.

    “The LMC wishes to admonish clubs who have issues with the outcome of matches or conduct of match officials to take advantage of existing procedures and channels of seeking redress and desist from statements to the press and on social media which not only prejudices public opinion but also questions the integrity of the league”, the statement noted.

    The LMC wishes to also assure clubs and their fans that all acts of proven poor officiating and misconducts on the part of match officials will attract adequate sanctions on the culprits.

    The statement said: “While the LMC will not accommodate acts of violent physical and verbal attacks on our appointed match officials and any persons within the jurisdiction of a match, proven acts of misconduct against any of them will be sanctioned in line with prescribed regulations.”

    Football is a beautiful game that is meant to be enjoyed in victory or in defeat. Fans and officials must therefore learn to accept results and allow the LMC to take care of disciplinary issues for the game to grow.