The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nasarawa United

  • ‘I’ll have failed if MFM FC doesn’t make top three’

    ‘I’ll have failed if MFM FC doesn’t make top three’

    Head coach of MFM FC, Fidelis Ilechukwu, said that it would be a failure on his part if the club failed to make one of the top three positions in the league this season.

    Ilechukwu disclosed this in a telephone interview with newsmen on Wednesday.

    Recall that MFM FC of Lagos is currently third on the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) log, with 30 points from 17 matches.

    “If MFM doesn’t make top three, for me is a failure. It’s a failure to me as a coach because I am not playing mind games this time around.

    “I have to be very straightforward and truthful concerning that.

    “I know that MFM is going to make top three. I am sure of that.’’

    Similarly, the Olukoya Boys were beaten 4-0 in a Match Day 17 fixture against Nasarawa United on Sunday.

    MFM went into the game confident, after defeating Abia Warriors 2-1 on March 29, but surprisingly went down by four goals in Nasarawa.

    “It was a very tough game. Our plan was to go there and get the three points, but unfortunately, we conceded too early and the game plan changed.

    “The players did their best and this is why I don’t want to shift the blame to the players because they did very well, but unfortunately, their performance was not rewarded,” he said.

    Ilechukwu, however, said he was looking to this weekend’s home fixture against second- placed, El Kanemi Warriors.

    He said: “I am expecting a tough game because El Kanemi Warriors are on a high after defeating Kano Pillars 1-0 at home.

    “They will want to come with that determination of building on their victory and continuing on a winning run.

    “But following our loss to Nasarawa United, we also will be determined to bounce back,’’ he said.

  • We did not bargain for loss — MFM Coach

    We did not bargain for loss — MFM Coach

    Lagos-based MFM Technical Adviser, Fidelis Ilechukwu, on Monday said that his team got what they did not bargain for in their scandalous 0-4 defeat to Nasarawa United in Lafia on Sunday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that MFM were whitewashed by Nasarawa United in the Match Day 17 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    It was, however, the turn of Nasarawa United to take their pound of flesh on MFM from whom they suffered two defeats during their last encounter in the 2015/2016 NPFL.

    Olayinka Onaolapo’s cross was nodded in by Adamu Hassan in the 45th minutes to give Nasarawa United the first goal which ended the half by a lone goal.

    MFM conceded another in the 61st minute when Olayinka Onaolapo slotted home, while Anthony Oussou made it three and Bashir Abdulrahman added to the goal feast in the 86th minutes to complete the routing.

    However, MFM had defeated Nasarawa United in the opening game of the 2015/2016 season by 2-1 in Lafia after which they defeated them in the return fixture in Agege by same margin in the Match Day 21fixture.

    On the poor performance by his youthful team, Ilechukwu said that the result was what he had no idea of how it came about.

    “I am sincerely short of words for the game; the game didn’t go as planned. What happened was not our intention.

    “I have watched some games before and I can say that we did not plan to lose with such margin. I don’t have any words for the loss.

    “Maybe the players are tired or we had a bad day, the players know better. We were outplayed by all standards.

    “Maybe next time we will try better and not lose focus,’’ he said.

    Nasarawa United coach, Kabiru Dogo said he was happy to have avenged MFM’s double header defeat last season.

    “They have the upper hand against us last season. We didn’t want to lose again this season. We put in everything to avoid what happened last season.

    “We know MFM plays very well in the first half and fade out in the second half, so we tried to stop them from playing in the first half.

    “As soon as the first half was over, I knew we had done it,’’ he said.

    “We started slowly this season. Now the team is jelling at the right time. I am happy with the boys’ performance. Every coach will be proud of these boys,’’ he said.

  • Ugbade wary of Nasarawa United threat

    Ugbade wary of Nasarawa United threat

    Remo Stars Football Club Technical Adviser, Nduka Ugbade has urged his wards to prepare for a tough game when they face Nasarawa United in Wednesday’s Match Day four Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash at the Lafia Township Stadium.

    Nasarawa United are yet to secure a win this season following their 0-0 draw at Wikki Tourists and 1-1 draw at home against Rangers International followed by a 1-0 loss to Katsina United over the weekend.

    Ugbade believes the game against Nasarawa United will be very difficult because the Solid Miners will play to get their first win of the season.

    “The game will be quite difficult because they haven’t won a game this season and we are still new in the league but we are not going to focus on that but we are ready for battle,” Ugbade said.

    He added: “Having won our first match after three matches played, we have no other thought in our hearts than to leave with a point or maximum of three.

    “Being in a league for the first time makes expectations high for us and they have been in the league for some years now. I feel it will be a big challenge for both sides.

    “All things being equal, the most important thing is to perform very well and see the possibility that we can achieve something as the match is billed good bye.”

  • Jafar joins Nasarawa United

    Jafar joins Nasarawa United

    SportingLife can report that former Sunshine Stars forward Jafar Buhari has completed his move to Nasarawa United ahead of the forthcoming Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.  

    Jafar, who can play outside right and left, signed a one year contract with Solid Miners till the end of the season.

    It’s understood that the former Rangers Bees forward has been training with the Lafia-based outfit.

    The former Bayelsa United star told SportingLife that he is happy over his new deal and he is confident that the team can win the league this season.

    “Everything has been concluded over the move and I am happy over that. I love the club and the supporters. The club showed interest in me and I am happy with their plans for the club and the players. It is a good team with good ambition for great things. I am here to contribute my quotas to the development of the club. Since I came here I have seen couple of good players and I am confident that we can challenge for title this season,” Jafar disclosed to SportingLife.

    Jafar started his professional career at the Rangers Bees of Kaduna before he moved to Kaduna United where he played for one season. He spent three seasons with Bayelsa United before he pitched his tent with Sunshine Stars last season.

  • Nasarawa United relocate to Jos tomorrow

    Nasarawa United relocate to Jos tomorrow

    .To play Mighty Jets, Plateau United
    Players and officials of Nasarawa United will leave Kaduna to Jos on Wednesday to play another round of pre-season friendly matches in preparation for the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.
    The club’s media officer, Musa Elayo told SportingLife that Nasarawa United will engage Mighty Jets in a friendly match on Thursday while they confront Plateau United on Friday.
    The Solid Miners are having a closed camping in Kaduna to blend new and old players together.
    SportingLife reports that Coach Kabiru Dogo has been using Kaduna camping for a screening exercise to pick new players.
    “Hopefully, the team should be in Jos on Wednesday to play more friendly matches against Mighty Jets and Plateau United. The preparation for the new season is going on as planned and we hope to come out with solid team for new season at the end of the camping. We have new players and old players in the camp in Kaduna and they are getting use to themselves. Our plan is to improve on what we had achieved last season,” Elayo revealed to SportingLife.

  • Nasarawa United drop 16 players, retain 26

    Nasarawa United drop 16 players, retain 26

    NationSport can report exclusively that Nasarawa United have released 16 players out of the 42 players registered for the club last season.

    The club’s media officer, Musa Elayo who disclosed this to NationSport, said the Solid Miners retained 26 players while five players left on their own after the expiration of their contracts.

    Elayo said that the decision was taken at the management meeting on Wednesday to review the club’s activities for the past season.

    He said the management commended the players and coaching crew for the achievement recorded in the year in review while urging them to put more efforts to better last season’s feat.

    “The activities for the last season and plans for next season were discussed at the management meeting and we recognized the efforts of the players and coaching crew. We observed that the team needs to do more than what we did last season and at the end of the meeting it was agreed that 26 players should be retained and 16 players were dropped,” Elayo disclosed to NationSport.

    “Five players left for free because their contracts have expired. Those five players had already gotten contract with other clubs. We are planning big for the new season because Nasarawa United are now a household name and we want do better than what we did last season,” he said.

     

  • Dogo: Nasarawa United’s players intact

    Dogo: Nasarawa United’s players intact

    Nasarawa United head coach, Kabiru Suleiman Dogo has disclosed that mass exodus has not hit the Solid Miners and that most of the Lafia side’s players resumed with them yesterday.

    Dogo confirmed that only four of his old players called him indicating their desire to move on while others have hit their Lafia camp and are awaiting further directives on how the season will look like.
    The former ABS FC head coach said that he had made provision for life without the four players that showed their willingness to move on and that he has duly invited four capable replacements to fill the void left by them.
    Dogo disclosed that the four players: Esosa Igbinoba, Ifeanyi Nweke, Samson Gbadebo and Philip Azongo called him privately expressing their desire to leave but that their impending clubs must reach Nasarawa United’s management and thrash out transfer talks before their movement could be rubber stamped.
    The coach of the 2016 NFF Federation Cup finalists further stated that the Solid Miners are weighing the options or either travelling to Ilorin or Ibadan for pre-season camping this weekend in preparation for the start of the new season.
    Nasarawa United placed 11th on the log with 50 points from 36 matches and lost on penalties to FC IfeanyiUbah in the final of the 2016 Federation Cup in Lagos after exiting the CAF Confederation Cup in the first round.

  • Agba keen to remain with Nasarawa United

    Agba keen to remain with Nasarawa United

    Samuel Agba has revealed plans to extend his loan deal with Nigeria Professional Football League side Nasarawa United.

    The 21-year-old forward who spent the latter part of the last campaign with the Solid Miners on loan from Enugu Rangers is convinced to continue with the Lafia based side.

    “As you know I spent the second stanza of last season with the team and did well that is why they have called me back,” Agba told Supersport.

    “We had an arrangement that I will continue with them if they are interested and they have taken up that option. I’m almost certainly going to play for Nasarawa United in the forthcoming season.

    “We are still discussing the rough edges with the management of the team and all bar any unforeseen circumstances I will sign with Nasarawa United.

    Asked about his impending move abroad, the former Kaduna United forward, however moved to affirm the rumor, reiterating his desire to keep his options open.

    “It is true, I have a few offers from clubs abroad but I’m taking my time and not rushing anywhere soon. Whatever deal that comes must suit me and my manager.

    “It is one of the things we are thrashing out with Nasarawa United and hopefully we will reach an agreement with them so that all is taken care of and things will go smoothly when the time to move on comes.

    “I like Nasarawa United and I want to help the team. After spending time there last season it will be good for my career if I extend my loan agreement with them. They were good to me last season so it’s only logical that I continue with them,” he concluded.

  • Dogo grateful to Nasarawa State govt for land, cash gift

    Dogo grateful to Nasarawa State govt for land, cash gift

    Nasarawa United head coach Kabiru Dogo has hailed Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Almakura for rewarding players and officials of the team with cash and land gifts despite their loss at the finals of the 2016 Federation Cup.

    The Solid Miners were beaten 5-4 on penalties in the final held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos last Sunday by FC Ifeanyi Ubah.

    But the governor rewarded the team for being the first club from the state to go this far in the country’s oldest cup competition.

    In a chat with SportingLife, Dogo said they were initially jittery about their performance only to return home and find themselves celebrated by the governor and their families.

    “I am short of words to describe how I feel with this kind of gesture by the state government. We never thought we would be celebrated in this way even though we could not win the Federation Cup.

    “I am using this opportunity to express my appreciation to the governor and his deputy and the people of Nasarawa State for showing us love and appreciating what we have been able to achieve this season.

    “We will continue to put in our best to make the government and the people of the state happy,” Dogo said.

  • Nigeria vs Algeria: IfeanyiUbah goes spiritual, prays for Ezenwa, Eagles

    Nigeria vs Algeria: IfeanyiUbah goes spiritual, prays for Ezenwa, Eagles

    Still basking in the euphoria of their Federation cup victory, premier league side IfeanyiUbah have intensified prayers for their goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa and entire Super Eagles team as they prepare to face Algeria on Saturday.

    Apparently eager to extend the party mood the Anambra Warriors are praying for the odds to favour Eagles come Saturday to act as garnishing to Confederation Cup ticket already in their kitty.

    Good luck to @NGSuperEagles & our GK, Ezenwa Ikechukwu as they prepare for the FIFA WCQ against Algeria on Saturday.#SoarSuperEagles,”” the club dished out Monday.

    Although IfeanyiUbah clinched the Federation Cup after defeating Nasarawa United 5-4 on penalty, many however hailed the Lafia based side for putting up a good fight. Sunday’s final some say looks more like a repeat of the 2013 edition between Enyimba and Warri Wolves which equally ended 5-4 on penalties in favour of Enyimba after both sides had settled for a 2-2 score line at regulation time.

    Desert Warriors of Algeria are expected to hit Nigeria on Thursday ahead of the weekend showdown billed for Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.