The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Maurice Cooreman

  • WE DESERVED VICTORY AGAINST HEARTLAND – COOREMAN

    WE DESERVED VICTORY AGAINST HEARTLAND – COOREMAN

    THE technical adviser of Gombe United, Maurice Cooreman, said his team was the better side in Friday’s Premier league clash against visiting Heartland and therefore deserved the 2-1 victory they secured.

    Gombe United came back from a goal down to win the highly contested encounter to claim their first win of this season.

    The hosts were without their big centre-back, Peter Jang, who suffered a muscle tear last weekend at Lobi Stars.

    Cameroon defender, Saidou Moussa, filled in centre-back in Jang’s absence in his first game in front of the home fans after his debut against Lobi Stars.

    Five-time league champions, Heartland still without their influential captain, Chinedu Efugh since the start of the season soldiered on to a fine start.

    Cooreman expressed delight at guiding his men to their first full points of the season and praised his team for the result.

    “It is a good result for us because the boys did well to come back and win the match. Now we will work to build on this result as we have been playing well in our past games but we’ve not been lucky to win,” Cooreman told supersport.com after the game on Friday.

    The win lifts Gombe United from bottom spot to eighth position while Heartland drop from 14th to 15th position in the NPFL standings.

  • Gombe’s Obodo injured on trials in Egypt

    • Undisclosed Arab side ready to foot player’s medical expenses

    Gombe United’s Cyril Obodo is presently recuperating from the injury he sustained while undergoing trials with a yet-to-be-named Egyptian club, SportingLife has been told.

    Obodo was a delight to watch for the Desert Scorpions last season before he got injured and ended his season prematurely.

    Gombe United’s head coach, Maurice Cooreman told SportingLife that he advised Obodo to allow his injury to be properly healed before embarking on the trip, but Obodo said the injury was not as bad as the Belgian feared and that he could play with it.

    Cooreman said when reports filtered in from Egypt that he copped an injury from the same area that sidelined him for some months last year, he remembered his warning to Obodo.

    However, he informed that the undisclosed Egyptian club has promised to take care of Obodo’s injury and subsequently sign him when he is fit to play again after identifying his assets before he got injured.

    Obodo became a household name when he netted four goals in a single Federation Cup match against Bussdor of Imo State last year. Gombe United won that match 9-1.

  • Gombe’s away form worries Cooreman

    Gombe’s away form worries Cooreman

    Maurice Cooreman has admitted Gombe United’s poor away form last season is giving him cause for concern as he prepares for the 2013/14 season.

    Despite boasting a near perfect home record in the Glo Premier League, the Savannah Scorpions did not win a single point on the road.

    Cooreman said he had fortified his team and is looking forward to better form on the road next season. However, he insisted the referees still have a role to play in deciding the faith of away teams.

    “Though we are entering a new season, we are looking at improving on our form in away matches because we aim to do better than we did last season,” Cooreman told supersport.com.

    “We have fortified the squad with eight new players and I’m confident we can go a step further to clinch a continental ticket. It is important to have the materials to match your ambitions, but we also know it takes more than a team’s ability to do well in away games in Nigeria.

    “It is very difficult because most of the time you are also playing against the referee. A book can be written about how referees favour the home teams in Nigeria.

    “There were a couple of matches we deserved to take points from that we lost.

    “I asked a friend in FIFA if there was a solution to it, but he said it was CAF that could take steps to check the menace.

    “I have put heads together with the other coaches at the club to ensure there is an improvement from last season.

    “The best we can do as coaches is to prepare the team well, and take it from there when the season starts.

    “We hope for better officiating and more favourable results on the road this time.”

    Gombe United finished in seventh position in the 20-team Glo League last season with 55 points.

  • Cooreman remains with Gombe Utd

    Cooreman remains with Gombe Utd

    Gombe United head coach, Maurice Cooreman has said he will dish out instructions for the side in the 2013/14 Glo Premier League season.

    The Belgian, who left the nation’s shores on Monday for his home town to stay with his family for the break, guided the Desert Scorpions to a seventh finish in the out gone season on 55 points.

    Cooreman said all hitches have been cleared to allow his stay back with the side to fight for laurels in the coming season.

    “Yes, I’ll stay with Gombe United for the upcoming season. Advanced discussions have commenced with the management aimed at keeping me at the side for next season. I’m travelling today (Monday) to Belgium to see my family which is very important upon return by November 11 we’ll tidy up the unresolved areas but I’m certain to stay with the side,” said the former Kaduna United coach to supersport.com.

    Cooreman disclosed that six players will be asked to look elsewhere for greener pastures while same number will be brought in to tighten the loose ends.

    “Six players will be asked to go while six new ones will come in to beef up the side for the coming season campaign. The players will be required in the defence, midfield and mostly in the attack. We need sharp attackers who can score goals.

    “Those issues will be decided when I come back, I’ve received several calls from players who want to play for Gombe United. We’ll take our time to ensure we get the best that will assist us win titles in the next season,” said the former Enyimba coach.

    Cooreman said he is satisfied with his side’s performance in the out gone season.

    “Gombe United lost many quality players to their opponents during the transfer period and we were compelled to use rookies to see off the season. I must say I’m satisfied with our performances given the situation we campaigned in the season. We can only look forward to a better season next time,” Cooreman summed up.