The Nation Newspaper

Tag: my best

  • Buhari to Southeast leaders: I’ll give my best to all Nigerians

    Buhari to Southeast leaders: I’ll give my best to all Nigerians

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja pledged to give his best to all Nigerians.

    He said he would be guided by a clear conscience in making decisions for the progress of the country.

    He spoke while receiving leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Southeast at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Buhari thanked them for their patriotism, sacrifice and support for the peace and stability of the country.

    Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina, hailed the leaders for acknowledging the laudable and consistent efforts of his administration to restore Nigeria to the position of eminence.

    He said:‘‘I am very pleased for your patriotism and consistency in supporting our administration. You are always going around explaining things even at the risk of abuse.

    ‘‘I want you to know that I have not forgotten the efforts and sacrifices you have made in the successes I have achieved in my position and I appreciate what you are doing for the stability of our country and the future of our children and our grandchildren.

    ‘‘I assure you that whatever I try to do, I will do it with a clear conscience and I’ll do the best I can do for all Nigerians,’’ he said.

    In an address on behalf of South east leaders, National Vice Chairman (Southeast) Emma Eneukwu thanked the president for the several projects receiving attention of the Federal Government in the Southeast, including  2nd Niger Bridge, Enugu-Port Harcourt road as well as the Enugu-Onitsha –Owerri road, among others.

    Reaffirming the unanimous decision of the party in the zone on December 31, last year endorsing the President for a second term in office, Eneukwu  said: ‘‘It is our conviction that  four years is not enough for you to complete this worthy journey hence the need for another four years to enable you make Nigeria truly great.

    “We implore Mr President, as a just and fair-minded leader, to make history by supporting the zoning of the office of the President in our great party to the Southeast at the end of your second tenure in office as President in 2023.’’

  • Mfon: I am back to my best

    Mfon: I am back to my best

    • Enyimba star wants Super Eagles return

    Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) all-time leading scorer Mfon Udoh has declared himself ‘back to his best’ after a below par display last season and has expressed readiness to fight his way back into the national team.

    The Enyimba forward took the league by storm two seasons ago when he broke the all-time domestic league record with 23 goals for the Peoples’ Elephant but missed majority of the season last campaign due to illness, injuries, and loss of form.

    Speaking exclusively to SportingLife, he explained:   “Last season I was hampered by injury which took me out for a long time but am much better now.

    “Injury is one basic factor in football that players can’t run away from. I was sad it came but am happy it’s over.”

    The former Akwa United star is yet to play for the national team under new manager Sunday Oliseh who is currently with the Super Eagle B team in Rwanda for the CHAN tournament but he is determined to force his way into the Super Eagles after coming back to full fitness.

    “It’s true that I’ve not played under Coach Oliseh but I believe that I’ll definitely play under him. I wish the CHAN team a great tournament and am delighted they’ve done well so far and I know they’ll do more.

    “Personally, I’m working very hard, doubling my effort and praying hard for my return to the national team and I believe that God will shine his light upon me again.”

    Ahead of the new League season, MFON revealed his readiness to help Enyimba retain their league title.

    “I’m 110% focused and ready for this season. My target this year is to be in the best form of my career more than I’ve ever been in the NPFL,” he added.

    Enyimba begins their campaign this season with a trip to Port Harcourt to face Dolphin on February 21.

  • OBAFEMI MARTINS: I’ll do my best

    OBAFEMI MARTINS: I’ll do my best

    RETURNEE Super Eagles striker, Obafemi Martins has revealed  that his return to the senior national team, is to help the team  qualify for the World Cup and return to its former winning streak.

    According to the former FC Ebiede striker, who arrived the Eagles’ Bolton White Apartment camp in Abuja on Wednesday morning, said he was glad to return to the national team after a two-year absence, assuring that he would do his best for the team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

    The former AC Milan of Italy striker  stated that he met an entirely new team on the ground on his arrival, saying this notwithstanding he had no problem with any player.

    According to him, he would support the younger players, saying that his major concern now was to help the Eagles win.

    “When I arrived this (Wednesday) morning, almost everything I met is new,” Martins said, adding that, “I am going to support them and help the team win. I am going to do my best. We all know it is a World Cup qualifier. That is why I am here.”

    He disclosed that the fact that there were new players in the team now, he was used to meeting new players, declaring that, “you know I have been moving from one club to the other. I am used to meeting new players.”

    Martins stated that there was never any time he said he retired from the national team, saying that what he said when Stephen Keshi was in charge as the Eagles chief coach was that he wanted to concentrate on his club career.

    Meanwhile, Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa has described Martins as a father to him (Musa) as the former Newcastle FC of England goal merchant was one of those who welcomed him into the national team when he debuted for Nigeria in 2010.

    “Obafemi Martins encouraged me a lot when I first played for the Super Eagles in 2010,” the CSKA Moscow striker said, adding that, “I regard him as a father to me.”

  • Udoh: I’m back to my best

    Udoh: I’m back to my best

    • Enyimba striker resumes training on Thursday

    Enyimba FC striker and Glo Premier League all-time highest scorer, Mfon Udoh, has expressed joy at his return to full match fitness and can’t wait to resume training with his team mates when they return from Ilorin on Thursday.

    Udoh scored 23 goals last season to erase the 20-goal mark recorded by Jude Aneke, then of Kaduna United three seasons earlier, and scored four goals this term before falling ill.

    The former Akwa United striker told SportingLife that he is happy to be back and that he will rejoin the rest of his team mates when they return from Ilorin.

    “I am more than fit and raring to go. I thank everyone that has wished me well since I have been out. I am fine now.

    “I would have resumed training on Monday but because we are playing away to Kwara United I had to delay it till the team returns from Ilorin,” Udoh told SportingLife.

    The Enyimba scoring sensation has not played any league game since Week 7 of the current campaign.

  • Emenike: I’ll give my best

    Emenike: I’ll give my best

    SUPER Eagles’ and Fenerbahce of Turkey striker, Emmanuel Emenike has declared that he intends to secure his place in the national team ahead of the World Cup and beyond. He has charged Nigerians to keep supporting him.

    In a chat with brilafm.net, Emenike said he hopes to deliver since the responsibility of scoring goals rest on his shoulders ahead of the tournament which will commence on June 12.

    He posited that playing with the full knowledge of support from the coach, players and the fans go a long way in motivating a player even as he thanked his fans for their support.

    “For the national team, I’ve come to stay and not to come and go, by the grace of God I think everything will work out the way I want it this time. All I want to say to them is to keep on supporting me, I don’t think I will disappoint them, I really thank all my supporters,” Emenike said.

    “It’s good to give your best when all the supporters and the coaches and all the players believe in you, so it’s much easier to score the goal, All I want to say to them is to keep on supporting me, I don’t think I will disappoint them, I really thank all my supporters.”

  • Kenya goal, my best for Eagles — Musa

    Kenya goal, my best for Eagles — Musa

    After Ahmed Musa’s immaculately chipped goal helped Nigeria win the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Kenya on Wednesday, he is pushing for a starting place in the Super Eagles squad for the FIFA Confederations Cup.

    The Russian league side CSKA Moscow forward capped his imposing display as part of a three-pronged attack with the 81st minute strike that took Nigeria top of their Group F of their World Cup qualifiers on Wednesday in Nairobi.

    “I had a point to prove and the game was very important to us that is why we went all out to do our best to win the game and in the end, we had victory and we feel happy as a team,” the man who netted his fifth strike for the Super Eagles stated.

    In the absence of Chelsea forward Victor Moses and Spartak Moscow striker Emmanuel Emenike who were preferred by head coach Stephen Keshi in the 2013 Africa Nations Cup, Ahmed seized his rare start to impress his manager having come off the bench on a number of occasions.

    His darting runs on the left wing and good link up play with fellow attacker Brown Ideye caused Kenya problems throughout the game and it was a surprise it took 81 minutes before their superiority finally counted.

    After Kenya’s substitute winger, Stephen Waruru lost the ball deep in the Nigerian half, Efe Ambrose hoofed the ball forward and after it fell behind the central defence, Musa deftly lobbed the advancing keeper, Duncan Ochieng for the eventual winner.

    “I saw the goalkeeper coming out when I wanted to play the ball. If I did not play it up, the chance would have been gone. I looked the ball and watched go into the net and it was one of the best goals I have scored for the national team,” the diminutive attacker said.

    On whether his display against the stubborn hosts had convinced Keshi to offer him a starting berth in their next World Cup qualifier at home to Namibia and more importantly the Confederations Cup in Brazil, Musa left it to his manager to decide.

    “We are like brothers in Nigeria. Everybody can start, for me, I’m a player and any time when I come, I give my best so I don’t think starting from the bench or first 11 is a problem to me,” he said.

    “Every player I call since I became head coach of Nigeria can be used at the start or come in later depending on what we need in the game. Namibia will be different from Kenya for example,” Keshi clarified.

    For Musa, scoring the goal, starting regularly and featuring in the Confed Cup will mean nothing if they do not achieve the ultimate aim.

    “The World Cup is the important game. We don’t have to feel easy and we need to ensure we do well in the next game so that we can make ourselves comfortable,” he added.

    “We have done the Nations Cup and we have to focus on the World Cup now.”