The Nation Newspaper

Tag: league

  • League defeat won’t count in Cup — Umar

    League defeat won’t count in Cup — Umar

    Kano Pillars forward Kabiru Umar has said his side’s Glo Premier League defeat at Bayelsa United will count for nothing against Gombe United in the 2013 Federation Cup round of 16 at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos today.

    Pillars defeated El-Kanemi Warriors 2-1 in the round of 32 in Lafia, Nasarawa State while the Desert Scorpions caged the Nigeria National League (NNL) side, FC Taraba 2-0 at same venue to prepare the ground for a fight for a spot in the last eight.

    Umar said his side have shown dominance over their fellow northern side in the league and will extend the superiority when both sides clash today in Jos.

    “The league defeat at Bayelsa United is history we’re focused on the Federation Cup clash against Gombe United on Wednesday in Jos.

    “We take each match as it comes, Pillars and Gombe United know each other inside out, we won 4-0 in the first league fixture this season and we’ll like to take the massive win to the Federation Cup.

    “Pillars are the side to beat both in the league and Federation Cup, we understand the sentiment to be common among any side at the top and that’s why we’ve resolved to be at our best in any challenge we’re involved.

    “Everybody’s eye is on us, it may not make headlines if on Wednesday we defeat Gombe United but the reverse will definitely be the case should they win. We’re not bothered not getting the headlines but to secure the result that will see us through to the next round of the competition.

    “We’re going into the game to win, the Federation Cup is a leveller and no respecter of names. Gombe United are a Premier League side, we’ll surely accord them due respect but will go ahead to win on the pitch,” said the former Heartland forward to supersport.com.

    Umar has scored five goals in the ongoing season but he wants to up his goals starting today against Gombe United.

    “I’ve scored five goals so far and I’m not yet done. I hope to start scoring more goals in the Federation Cup tie against Gombe United in Jos,” he said.

    The Pyramid City side were third place match losers to Prime FC in last year’s Federation Cup at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

  • As Glo premier League resumes, Clubs advised to shun violence

    As Glo premier League resumes, Clubs advised to shun violence

    Nigerian clubs participating in the Glo Premier League have been advised to shun violence and promote healthy competition as the league resumes officially for the second round on Wednesday.

    Official sponsor of Glo Premier League and major partner of the League Management Company, Globacom, made this call in a statement released in Lagos on Tuesday. The company urged all stakeholders to keep the league alive and make all matches violent free.

    The leading telecommunications operator noted in the statement that the interest of Nigerians in the local league had increased since the beginning of the 2012/2013 season.

    Globacom commended the League Management Company for outstanding organisation and proper monitoring of the league which has so far yielded positive result.

    Meanwhile, fixtures for week 20 matches have been released. ABS of Ilorin will entertain Kaduna United at the Ilorin Township Stadium while 3Sc will host Kwara United at Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan.

    Akwa United will host Gombe United in Uyo while Wikki Tourists will be home to Lobi Stars of Makurdi.

    In other fixtures, Nasarawa United will be guests of continental campaigners, Rangers in Enugu while Sunshine Stars will slug it out with Warri Wolves in Akure.

    In Owerri, Heartland will host Enyimba in what is expected to be a crowd-pulling Oriental Derby.

    Another match will take place in Port Harcourt between Sharks and its Niger Delta neighbours, Nembe City while Northern rivalry will be rekindled in Maiduguri, where El Kanemi hosts Kano Pillars.

    Bayelsa United of Yenagoa also hosts Dolphins of Port Harcourt in another Niger Delta duel.

  • LEAGUE SPONSOR ‘How we arrived at the sharing formula’

    LEAGUE SPONSOR ‘How we arrived at the sharing formula’

    A top source has revealed how the League Management Company(LMC) and the Club Owners agreed at the N210 million shared by the 20 elite division clubs campaigning in the Glo Premier League this season.

    The source told SportingLife that the money that has been released to the premier league clubs is to assist in augmenting the clubs’ costs of keeping the season going.

    SportingLife also learnt the released money does not include the indemnities of match officials and other logistics that would be incurred as the season progresses. Those ones have been catered for before the one ceded to clubs.

    Globacom released the sum of N550 Million being the part payment of the money for the title sponsor of the league and it brought an end to two seasons of sponsor drought. It also ended the direct payment of indemnities to match officials.

     

  • Club Owners to LMC: attract more sponsors to the league

    Club Owners to LMC: attract more sponsors to the league

    Club Owners Association has challenged League Management Company(LMC) to be on the look out to attract more sponsors to the Glo Premier League so that more funds would be available to run the elite division clubs in the country.

    The Club Owners through its Secretary, Alloy Chukwuemeka tasked the LMC to develop more proactive mechanisms that would fascinate other corporate bodies with a view to doing business with the league body other than the area of league title sponsorship.

    He reckoned that with the return of relative peace devoid of court litigation now in the league, it is the ideal time for LMC and other corporate bodies to meet and rub ideas on how to better improve the nation’s league.

    “We thank God that peace is returning again to Nigeria football. We really thank the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) and the Honourable Minister of Sports Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi for their fatherly role during the crises. They have ensured that all cases in court are amicably settled out of court.

    “Sponsorship drought is also becoming a thing of the past but we must consolidate more. We need to seek more partners to get clubs more empowered.

    “The LMC should endeavour to attract more corporate bodies to sponsor other aspects of the league. This will gradually make the clubs independent of the government and will wet the ground for private ownership of clubs in Nigeria in the next few years,” he said.

  • Rubin Kazan replies Mikel: We like Europa League

    Rubin Kazan replies Mikel: We like Europa League

    Rubin Kazan manager Kurban Berdyev understands Super Eagles John Obi Mikel’s negativity towards the Europa League but says his players will have no such problems getting fired up for today’s second leg tie in Moscow.

    The Russian side trail 3-1 from the first leg at Stamford Bridge, after which Chelsea midfielder Mikel admitted he was struggling for motivation for Europa League football.

    “I can understand the players of Chelsea,” Berdyev said.

    “They are the last winners of the Champions league and I can understand that the Europa League is not too significant for them.

    “For us, for our players, it’s a big interest, a big motivation and we have no problems for these games.”

    Rubin have a full squad to choose from, with the exception of midfielders Yann M’Vila and Alexei Eremenko.

    Asked about Chelsea’s team, Berdyev was uncertain due to the rotation utilised by Rafael Benitez in a congested fixture schedule, plus the absences of Ashley Cole and Ryan Bertrand which mean the visitors may field an unfamiliar left-back.

    Berdyev said: “We know perfectly the situation. We’re waiting for tomorrow.”

    The coach also dismissed the potential impact of the artificial pitch.

    “I don’t think they have a problem because they’re players of top level,” he said.

    “I don’t think we have some advantage with the artificial field.”

     

  • League holds convention

    A group of students under the banner of The Undergraduate League (TUL) has held a symposium for secondary school pupils in Benin City, Edo State.

    The event with the theme Be Inspired, be challenged young leaders summit took place at the parliamentary hall of the University of Benin (UNIBEN). Ninety students and administrative representatives from various schools were in attendance.

    In his address, President of the group, Daniel Opiti, said the forum was aimed at inspiring young people to recognise their latent potentials. He said: “As a nation, we are confronted with a leadership crisis. Young people are forced to follow the footsteps of depraved public figures and this poses great danger to their future aspirations.”

    While the event lasted, different facilitators were on hand to lecture the pupils on contemporary issues. President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), Osifo Osasere, Joshua Egbujuo, Commandant of the Nigeria Red Cross Society, UNIBEN chapter, and Kennedy Odia were among the facilitators.

    Pupils, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, expressed gratitude to the organisers of the event.

  • Rangers shift focus to CAF Champions League

    Rangers shift focus to CAF Champions League

    ENUGU RANGERS will today begin serious preparations for their second leg round of 16 CAF Champions League clash with Burundi’s Vital ‘O futaa.com has gathered.

    The second leg clash is billed for the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium on Sunday April 7th with first leg results standing at 0-0.

    Reports from Enugu indicates that Rangers took the day off after Sunday’s victory over Kwara United and will now get to serious training for Sunday’s game from Tuesday.

    “Serious training begins tomorrow morning (Tuesday) for the CAF Champions League game on Sunday April 7th at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.

    “Today (Monday) is a free day and tomorrow we start preparation for the Champions League game against Vital ‘O on Sunday April 7th.”

    Already there is great optimism in the camp of Rangers with players beaming with confidence already; one of the players, Haliru Umar said the victory over Kwara United will motivate Rangers to beat Vital ‘O in the Caf Champions League.

  • Nigeria Premier League now starts March 9

    Nigeria Premier League now starts March 9

    After timely intervention by the Honourable Godfrey Gaiya led House of Representatives Committee on Sports who summoned the Nigeria Football Federation Executive Board led by the President Alhaji Aminu Maigari and the League Management Committee to the National Assembly yesterday to explain why the Nigeria Premier League has not commenced, the League Management Committee gave assurances to the House Committee and was unanimously agreed that the March 9th, 2013 kick off date of the Nigeria Premier League proposed by the LMC (League Management committee) should be agreed on.

    Honourable Gaiya told SportingLife after their deliberations that , “the House Committee on Sports has concerned about the lack of take off of the Nigeria Premier League having seen that in other countries their elite leagues have commenced. After an exhaustive discussions with the League Management Committee and the assurances from the League Management Committee that the Nigeria Premier League would commence on the 9th of March, 2013 across all centers in Nigeria.

    “We also had the opportunity of interactions between the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, the General Secretary of the Football Federation and top members of the NFF and Chief Rumson Baribote (the deposed former Nigeria Premier League Chairman) with a view to resolving other issues bothering on the league,” Gaiya disclosed.

    But the deposed former Chairman of NPL, Baribote was not a satisfied man and told SportingLife that since the case was already in court he would be banking on the court to resolve the issue legally.

    “NFF President Aminu Maigari does not own the league, the Nigeria Premier League is owned by Nigeria and it is only myself and Senator Bukola Saraki that spend our money for (our clubs) Nigerian league today and you cannot push me out of the management of the league just like that because you are not more Nigerian than myself.

    “This is not a lawless place. There are rules guiding football. Let the President of Nigeria Football Federation come to tell me where there is in FIFA and CAF statutes where there is League Management of Interim Committee in league. What is provided for in the NPL, NFF statutes is the League Football Committee headed by the First Vice President. We should not bring ethnic sentiments to football.

    “What is provided in the NPL statutes is that there must be 20 clubs and seven (7) elected members. So at what point did you amend that statutes to contain 33 members, that is 20 clubs and 13 appointed people. I am a law abiding citizen. The matter is before a competent court of jurisdiction. If they feel they have the right to disobey court so be it. But if the court feels they don’t have the right to disobey them so be it,” Baribote submitted.

    But an important member of the League Management Committee, Alhaji Shehu Diko also submitted that the league should not be allowed to suffer because of the litigations. He believes that the matter could still be settled while the league is on.

    “We have concluded that the Premier League should kick off on March 9th, 2013 and we are ready for that day,” Diko disclosed.

  • Lagos Divisional FA plans female league — Chairman

    Lagos Divisional FA plans female league — Chairman

    Falade Oyekan, the Chairman, Lagos Divisional Football Association (LDFA), on Wednesday said that plans were underway to introduce female league in the division.

    Oyekan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the league, when fully operational, would ensure the promotion and development of female football in the division.

    “We are already planning to start a female league as a way of developing female football at the grassroots in the division this year. Female football is as important as male football; all of us can see the development in female football across the globe and we must not be left out in the race. Effort will be made to scout and nurture talents in female football,’’ he said.

    The chairman, however, added that the division would not relent in its efforts to improve on its existing male league. He appealed to private bodies and individuals to support the division in its determination to promote and improve grassroots football.

    NAN reports that the LDFA is one of the five divisional football bodies under the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA). The others are Ikorodu, Ikeja, Badagry and Epe.

  • Chibuike keen on league title

    Chibuike keen on league title

    John Chibuike says he has remained confident in helping his club beat Molde for the Norwegian league title as Rosenborg move to second place on the table with just two points differencein their positions.

    Chibuike who has been given the greenlight by Super Eagles Stephen Keshi, believes that the Rosenborg team are good for the title and ready to declare war against their leader to claim the league.

    “I respect Molde a lot, they have shown technicality this season but we won’t fold our hands for the title,” said Chibuike.

    “On paper, they are considered the favourites, but we are also a good side and good enough for the title. Our last game gave us more confident ahead of Molde’s clash for the title.”

    “I was not part of the Rosenborg team that won it two seasons ago and I want to win it with them now. I am back to my best, I am ready to give it all both in terms of assist and goal scoring.”

    “Of course, we are still on course in Europa Cup, we lost to Bayern Leverkusen, a painful one but I enjoyed myself and it gives me another exposure for the next game.”

    “As a matter of fact, I am looking forward to victorious season here in Norway and I believe the dream will come.” I am eager to prove than I am doing and I can tell the world excited I am to hit the top gong.”