The Nation Newspaper

Tag: mind

  • Baba Ganaru: AC Leopards game not on my mind

    Baba Ganaru: AC Leopards game not on my mind

    Kano Pillars coach Mohammed Baba Ganaru has said that his team is now focused on Sunday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) opener against Wikki Tourists of Bauchi.

    Pillars progressed to the second round of the CAF Champions League on a 5-1 aggregate after holding Olympique Real de Bangui to a goalless draw in the Central African Republic on Sunday. They are now pitched against tough opponents, AC Leopards in the second round encounter.

    The former El Kanemi coach said the Pyramid side do not have the AC Leopards game on their minds at the moment. Ganaru explained that until the time of the clash Pillars will not have sleepiness nights about the Congolese side. He emphasised that the league opener against Wikki Tourists is what is on the team’s menu at the moment.

    “The pitch was bad and it didn’t allow us to play our normal game. The rain too did not help the situation because we played under downpour in Bangui. Although we created many chances, we missed lots of chances too. The game against Olympique Real de Bangui is history now. We are now focusing on the league opener against Wikki Tourists. All matches in the CAF champions League are tough and there is no easy game anywhere, so, for now we are not thinking about our next Champions League opponents, AC Leopards. We will think about them when the time comes,” Baba Ganaru said.

    Pillars resumed training session on Tuesday after a day’s break ahead of this weekend’s league kick-off.

     

  • Anichebe: Eagles not on my mind

    Anichebe: Eagles not on my mind

    •Wishes Nigeria well•Wants to retain his Everton shirt

    Forward Victor Anichebe is keen to repay Everton’s faith and support by concentrating on his club form rather than thinking about regaining his place with Nigeria.

    Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi said last week that the 24-year-old remains in his plans after the national side qualified for this winter’s African Nations Cup. However, Anichebe is focused on building on his – and the Toffees’ – good start to the season having been frustrated by two serious knee injuries and a groin problem in the last few years.

    The forward said: “I am thinking about Everton. They have stuck by me and helped me get back fit so I’m thinking more about cementing [my place in] the side. The national team aspect hasn’t come into my head. I just want them to do well.”

    Everton head to bottom side QPR at the weekend and while David Moyes’ team are flying high in fourth, having lost just once, Anichebe stressed they cannot take the winless west Londoners for granted.

    “I think we’ve done okay, it’s been a good start to the season and everyone is on a high and is confident,” he told evertontv.

    “We need to carry it on though, not get ahead of ourselves and keep playing well.

    “They (QPR) are struggling so it is going to be even harder because they need results – they’ve bought a lot of players and have a lot of expectation on them.

    “They haven’t really done so well so I am sure they will look to change that against us and we need to be wary of that.”