The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nduka

  • Nduka won’t give up on Taraba

    Nduka won’t give up on Taraba

    FC Taraba head coach, Ndubuisi Nduka has said his side will continue to pursue their top flight survival fight.

    The strugglers lost 0-1 to 3SC in Wednesday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match day 34 clash at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan.

    Ibrahim Salawu’s strike guaranteed the Oluyole Warriors the three points at stake.

    Nduka said his side still have a chance of survival with good performances in the remaining four matches on the calendar.

    “The struggle to stay alive continues until the last match on the calendar, it’s not over until it’s over. We have four more matches to play and those matches have the potential to turn things around for us, so we will give the matches our very best.

    “I feel bad losing the three points to 3SC as I would have loved to win in order boost our survival battle. we must plan well to make up for the loss somewhere else.

    “3SC are comfortable on the league log but they still fought as if their lives depended on the game. Like I said earlier the struggle continues until the last match is played,” said the former Heartland coach to supersport.com.

    FC Taraba remain in 19th position on the 20-team top flight log on 33 points, two points ahead of bottom-placed side Bayelsa United.

  • Nduka owes win to tactical discipline

    Nduka owes win to tactical discipline

    FC Taraba head coach, Ndubuisi Nduka has said tactical discipline helped his side defeat the Nigerian champions, Kano Pillars.

    The Jalingo outfit piped the Pyramid City side 1-0 in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match day 26 clash on Sunday at the Jolly Nyame Stadium in Jalingo.

    Striker, Stephen Adah scored the match winner to hand his side the crucial three points at stake in the clash.

    Nduka said the goal margin would have been more if his side had converted some glaring chances that came on their way.

    “We approached the match tactically knowing the pedigree of the opponents as title holders as well as coming from a stunning home defeat to Nasarawa United.

    “We are in a terrible condition and needed to up our game to chance picking a decent result.

    “We know that Pillars have the best midfielder in the domestic scene in the person of Rabiu Ali.

    “Our approach was to cut Pillars off from the middle by denying their midfielders access to the ball and it worked perfectly well.

    “We committed some unpardonable misses at goal if not the goal margin would have been as many as two or three unreplied goals.” said Nduka to supersport.com.

    The hard fought win against Kano Pillars has lifted the hitherto bottom placed side off the base on 23 points one point above Bayelsa United in the 26-week old Nigerian top flight.

  • Taraba Coach warns players: Shape up or get fired

    Taraba Coach warns players: Shape up or get fired

    • As training resumes today

    The Technical Adviser of FC Taraba, Ndubusi Nduka has fired a stern warning to players of the club to live up to expectation as his ambition is to lead the team to success this season in their Premier League debut.

    The former Heartland Football Club coach, who also disclosed to SportingLife that training would commence today in Jalingo in preparation for the league demanded total commitment to the team from the players in their quest of having a successful debut in the Globacom Premier League.

    Nduka, who took over the affairs of the club few weeks before the Christmas and New year festivities, said most of the players have arrived in Jalingo on Sunday but stressed that he expects that the other players would be on ground to join them in the first training session of the year today.

    Nduka, however, warned that there will be stiff penalty awaiting any player who turns up late to the camp. “The party is over for the playing personnel, technical crew and back room staff. We must adhere strictly to achieving our set goals for the season.

    The chief coach maintained that his mandate was to get the players fully ready for the new season, especially as the league has long been on brake. He noted that it will take seriousness on the part of the players and all the coaching crew to be able to get the players in the form that is needed to participate well in the league.

    “I know I have a big job on my hand to get the players ready for the task ahead. This is why we are not leaving any stone unturned in ensuring that all hands are on deck in achieving that. We demand 100 per cent seriousness from the players as there will not be any room for lazy and unserious players,” he said.

     

  • Heartland fire coach Ndubuisi Nduka

    Heartland fire coach Ndubuisi Nduka

    Heartland coach, Ndubuisi Nduka has been fired after a poor run of results, officials have announced. The players have also been placed on half pay.

    Heartland have now asked two assistant coaches, Bob Acholonu and Mbwas Mangut to take charge of the Owerri club.

    Team media officer, Cajetan Nwokpara told MTNFootball.com about the action taken by Fan Ndubuoke-led management.

    “The management has asked two assistant coaches, Bob Acholonu and Mangut Mbwas, to be in charge of the team temporarily following the suspension of coach Ndubuisi Nduka’s led crew due to poor performance,” Nwokpara disclosed.

    “Negotiations are ongoing in an effort to employ a new technical adviser for the team. The players have also been placed on half salary.The decision was taken due to failure of the coaches to meet the 12-point target from five matches set for the team.”

    On Sunday, Heartland lost 1-0 at home to Kwara United.