The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nembe City

  • Nembe City denies owing players

    Nembe City denies owing players

    The management of Nembe City have refuted claims that the club owes its players last season monthly salaries, signing-on fees and bonuses.

    One of the players alleged that the club still owed some of its player’s five month salaries, signing-on fees and several bonuses.

    The club’s Team Manager, David Ikputu in a telephone chat with SportingLife challenged the players to come out openly to prove their case, adding that the club has settled its players all their wages.

    “We are surprised to have read on the pages of newspapers that the club still owes monthly salaries, signing-on fees and match bonuses. In as much as we don’t like to engage people on these kind of issues but we have to set the record straight by saying that we don’t owe any player money for last season,” Ikputu told SportingLife.

    “We have settled them all their entitlements for last season and any player who has anything contrary to that should come out with proof. We know that we are capable of handling the club that is why we set it up and we will continue to do our part to make it great.”

  • Saraki tasks ABS, donates cow

    Saraki tasks ABS, donates cow

    Sen. Bukola Saraki, the Proprietor, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Football Club (ABS FC) of Ilorin, has urged the club to win its outstanding two matches in the 2012/2013 Globacom Premier League season.

    The General Manager of the club, Alloy Chukwuemeka, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, while speaking on the senator’s Sallah message to the club.

    Chukwuemeka told NAN that the Senator, who represents the Kwara Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, also donated a cow to the club’s players and officials, as their Sallah gift.

    He said the Senator promised the players a better package in the next league season.

    On the club’s week 37 game with Nembe City, Chukwuemeka said the team was finalising its strategies to win its outstanding two matches in the league, so as to avoid relegation.

    Chukwuemeka, however, expressed disappointment with the club’s 0-1 loss to Enyimba FC of Aba, last Saturday.

    “I think the boys are in the right frame of mind now; they know how important the remaining six points are to them, so they don’t want to be relegated too,” Chukwuemeka said.

    NAN reports that the ABS is currently sitting on the 18th position on the log, with 47 points from the 36 games played so far this season.

    Nembe City FC of Bayelsa occupies the 16th position on the table, with 49 points from 36 games.

    NAN also reports that ABS FC and Nembe City are among the few privately-owned clubs in the Globacom Premier League, while state governments own most clubs.

  • Nembe confident of survival

    Nembe confident of survival

    Nembe City midfielder, Dafe Omonigho believes they have done the hard part in their relegation battle and should be able to navigate their way out of the bottom four by the end of the season.

    He said the points garnered from the matches against Bayelsa United and Akwa United had always been seen as the key to their survival, and that all they have to do is to complete the relegation escape.

    “I think we paved the way for our survival in the premier league after beating Bayelsa United in the Yenagoa derby and pulling a draw in Uyo against Akwa United,” Omonigho told supersport.com.

    “They were very difficult games, but we were determined not to fall further down the log.

    “Bayelsa United needed the points for their title pursuit, and you can see what the draw has done to Akwa United.

    “We knew if we could get four points from those two games, then all we need to do next is to win our remaining home games against 3SC and Sunshine Stars to be safe.

    “It is so tight in the bottom half of the table, as there are a host of teams that will juggle positions even after this weekend’s matches. We are poised to move up after the log as we should beat 3SC, so I guess its all about which team that finds itself in the position we vacated.”

    Omonigho told supersport.com that their anticipated progress does not mean they would take their feet off the pedal.

    “We know there are no rooms for any slip-up, after all it was the draw against Dolphins that took us to the relegation zone,” he said.

    “We’ll prepare for these matches the best way we can even though the pressure is now less on us. Even ABS, who we’ll play in Ilorin, are also not safe so it is in our best interest to take points off them.

  • Baribote charges players against Gombe

    Baribote charges players against Gombe

    Nembe City president, Victor Rumson Baribote has urged his players to show more determination when they confront Gombe United in a week 29 Globacom Premier tie tomorrow.

    Nembe City defeated Kwara United in a week 28 match in Yenagoa on Wednesday to improve their position on the log.

    The former NPL boss told SportingLife that he was impressed with the five-star performance put up by the players on Wednesday.

    “The team is already in Gombe ahead of Sunday’s match. I have to praise their five-star performances against Kwara United. They were more determined and focused on Wednesday and the results came out. If they can show that kind of spirit in the game against Gombe, I am sure we will get something from the game,” Baribote told SportingLife.

    The club boss also rued the injuries that have affected some best players of the team.

    Ogene Elijah and Frank Egharavba returned against Kwara United while the likes of Ebitimi Agogu and others are still on the sideline.

    “We have lots of our players on the sideline but we thank God that it didn’t affect us much. Although we still feel their absence because they are our regular stars but we were able to manage it. Some of them made a dramatic return against Kwara United and I pray others return soon.”

  • Nembe City target top 10 finish

    Nembe City target top 10 finish

    Nembe City midfielder, Dafe Omonigho, is confident his side can secure a top-10 finish in the Glo Premier League.

    City beat Heartland 2-0 at the weekend to move to 10th place with 29 points, 10 adrift of the leaders Kano Pillars, and Omonigho feels there is enough time for them to move further up the table to finish comfortably in the top half.

    He told supersport.com that despite the sale of their top players recently, they were capable of winning their remaining home games to achieve this target.

    “We are happy we beat Heartland to regain our place in the top half of the table,” he said.

    “We did not only beat Heartland, we also outplayed them, and that is why I’m confident we would finish within the top 10 because they are a very strong side.

    “Even our coaches were surprised with the manner we took them out.

    “I’m not assuring anybody of winning the title, or qualifying for Africa, but we are capable of finishing anywhere between sixth and eight.

    “When you consider we just got promotion and then had to sell some influential players, then that is a reasonable target.

    “I feel the teams that beefed up their sides well during the last couple of transfer windows are the ones that should contest for the title and continental tickets.

    “Our new players have slotted in well, and though we have some top teams like Sunshine Stars, Kano Pillars and Kwara United coming to Yenagoa, we’re confident of winning our remaining home games.”

    The former Bayelsa United player said they should not be associated with relegation.

    “We’ve never thought about relegation, and had our team remained intact our ambitions would have been much higher,” he pointed out.

    “There’s still enough quality in the side to pick up points on the road, and a decent run of games cannot be ruled out.

    “Our fans should not lose any sleep because they will certainly be watching premiership football next season.”

  • Nembe City resume Monday

    Players and officials of Nembe City will resume on Monday after five days rest.

    The coach Meremu Okara led side went on break after Wednesday’s 1-0 Federation Cup victory over Igbo Ambassador FC of Ebonyi State.

    The club media director, Anthony Obaseki told SportingLife that the team will come out strong when the league resumes for the second stanza.

    “We gave the players some days to rest after rigorous first stanza matches and our Federation Cup so the team will resume on Monday. We want to thank the players and the coaches for the team performances in the first round of the league. We will be back in full force when the league resumes on the 3rd of July,” he said.

    “On behalf of the management we are grateful to the players and the technical crew led by Meremu Okara. We are okay for our position on the table and we hope to improve on it.

    “If not for our two home losses and one home draw we could have been on top of the league table now. We must also thank our fans both home and away for their support we thank everybody who in one way supported us.

    “We have come to stay in the top flight and also to do well in the federation Cup. Nembe City has proved a point to the nation with what we’ve done so far this season. I must thank our president chief victor Rumson Baribote, our chairman Mrs. Ebiakpo Rumson for their support to the team.”

  • Nembe City get N.2m boost

    Players and officials of Nembe City have been given the sum of two hundred thousand naira (N200, 000) as a boost ahead of Sunday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) tie against El Kanemi at the Samson Siasia Stadium.

    The club’s media director, Anthony Obaseki told SportingLfe that the money was given to the team by the Bayelsa State commissioner for energy, Barrister Francis lkio, who is from Nembe town, after their week four league game against Bayelsa United on Wednesday.

    Ikio said he was proud of the team’s success last season and the way the club have been promoting the town’s image in top flight football.

    “You guys have made us proud and we the people of Nembe town are ready to support the team because people all over the world are now hearing of the town everywhere. This is my little token to appreciate your efforts. As you play on Sunday against El Kanemi, I want you to go and do your best and we will do more for the team. So, on behalf of myself and people of Nembe town, I’m giving you this N200, 000 and come Sunday you will get more,” Ikio promised.

    President of the club, Victor Rumson Baribote thanked Ikio for the support while promising that the team will do all it can to get three points on Sunday. “We thank you very much for your kind gesture and I am assuring you that the team will reciprocate the gesture with a win on Sunday,” Baribote said.

    The team have been promised another two hundred thousand naira if they beat El Kanemi on Sunday apart from their normal bonus.

  • Nembe City shock Heartland in Owerri

    Nembe City shock Heartland in Owerri

    Newly promoted Nembe City football club became the first team to record an away victory in the Nigeria Professional Football League, when they shocked Federation Cup Champions 2-1 in Owerri on Sunday.

    The Yenagoa-based side, who are making their debut in the Nigeria Professional League, are coached by former Junior International defender, John Aranka.

    Aranka, who spent a good part of his career with Dolphins in Port Harcourt, lined out a 3-5-1 formation as he tried to keep the well oiled Heartland midfield at bay.

    The ploy seemed to work, as both sides played out an almost even contest at the early stages, but with Nembe slightly edging the contest because of their midfield mass.

    Brown Braye scored the opening goal for Nembe City, but Tope Olusesi pulled the goal back for Heartland. The celebrations for the equaliser had not does down, before Samuel Akinbinu lashed in a response, to put the visitors ahead again, and earn a famous win.

  • NPL changes name

    NPL changes name

    The interim management committee (IMC) of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has effected a change of nomenclature for the Nigerian top flight and the league will now be referred to as the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPLF).

    The draws for the 2012/13 NPFL were held on Friday in Abuja with Enugu Rangers playing host to Enyimba FC in the standout game, Supersport.com reports.

    The first round of matches would be played on March 9.

    Champions, Kano Pillars travel to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium Bauchi where the team will face Wikki Tourists while things are expected to get heated up at the Illorin Township stadium with the first derby of the season between Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC and Kwara United.

    Cup kings, Heartland welcome newly promoted Nembe City to the the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri in a fascinating fixture while Sharks take on Warri Wolves at the Sharks FC stadium in a game that is expected to be evenly contested.

    Two other newly-promoted clubs; Nasarawa United and El Kanemi Warriors go toe to toe at the Lafia township stadium, Lafia.

    Three-time champions, Dolphins embark on the short trip from Port Harcourt to Uyo to face Akwa United while last season’s CAF champions’ league semi finalists, Sunshine Stars will take on Kaduna United.