The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria National League (NNL)

  • Flash Flamingoes FC promotion chances slim – Chairman

    The quest by Flash Flamingoes FC of Gombe to gain  promotion to the Nigeria National League (NNL) in the 2016/ 2017 may not come true as the management says they are inexperienced.

    The club’s chairman, Abubakar Maina, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja that the club’s current position in the Nigeria Nationwide League (NNWL) One was not encouraging.

    “Our chance for promotion this season is slim and this is because we have not performed as expected so far.

    “I will not blame the players because they are doing their best and they are young players without experience,’’ he told NAN.

    “We have few matches to go and I do not see the possibility of our gaining promotion.

    “We are not happy about this because we have stayed in the amateur league for too long.’’

    He added that “we have not been able to utilise the experience advantage to our favour’’.

    Flash Flamingoes currently occupies the second position in the four-sided league table in Group F2 of the league with eight points from six matches.

    It is competitng alongside Gombe United Feeders, Gombe Warriors FC, Katsina United Juniors and Malumfashi United FC of Katsina.

    NAN reports that only the team with the highest points will gain promotion to NNL.

    The NNWL changed its name from Nigeria Amateur league in 2012.

  • Mighty Jets FC sacks 27 players, recruits ten

    The management of Mighty Jets Football Club of Jos on Wednesday said it had sacked 27 players for performing below the club’s expectations.

    Benedict Akwuegbu, the club’s Sporting Director, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos that the club management had in the wake of this gone on to recruit 10 others.

    He said the move became necessary in order “to create space’’ and strengthen the team to fight for promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    The former Super Eagles forward blamed the recent suspension of the club’s head coach, Adams Usman, before the end of the first stanza of the league for the club’s poor performance.

    “But we are now optimistic of the club’s chances of gaining promotion to the NPFL at the end of the season.

    “The new players will uplift the team spirit as well as hunger for success, two ingredients which were lacking in the team in the first stanza.’’

    Akwuegbu said all departments of the team were considered in the club’s recruitment of players in order to give the team a balance.

    “Two goalkeepers, one central defender, three midfielders and four attackers were recruited,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that Mighty Jets will on Thursday host Adamawa United FC of Yola in a 2016/2017 Nigeria National League (NNL) Week 16 fixture at the Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos.

  • NNL: FC Abuja beat FRSC FC 2-1

    FC Abuja extracted some measure of revenge on Wednesday as they took a pound of flesh in beating city Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Football Club 2-1.

    They beat FRSC FC in a week eight match of the 2016/2017 Nigeria National League (NNL), three days after losing 2-4 on penalty kicks to them.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the loss in Sunday’s FCT FA Cup final had followed a 2-2 draw in regulation time.

    This time in the match also played at the Area 3 football pitch, FC Abuja were out quick from the starting blocks.

    Muktar Saliu opened scoring in the 6th minute of the game with a shot from outside the penalty box.

    Gary Anyahmkeh however drew FRSC FC level in the 34th minute of the game.

    Samaila Ishak restored FC Abuja’s lead 10 minutes before the end of the game.

    At the end of the match, Coach David Emmanuel said his FRSC FC team performed gallantly but failed to play to instructions.

    “We have seven points from eight games, and we are below the average level of points we need. But in our next game, we will do better.

    “Unfortunately, the centre referee cancelled our second goal towards the end of the game. I would have preferred a draw than to lose the game.

    “However, we will now go back to the drawing board and work on our mistakes. We will fight harder to win our next game,’’ he said.

    On his part, Yunus El-Shama , the coach of FC Abuja, said he had expected a win because he has a strong team.

    “However, I am happy we won, and that was what I was expecting from my players. But the brain behind this success is God.

    “On Sunday, we lost to FRSC FC on penalty kicks in FA Cup , and I’m happy we have defeated them in the League.

    “My players are disciplined, and they performed in line with instructions and this is the reason we have this success today.

    “We will work hard to win our next match,’’ he said.

     

  • Fuludu: Warri Wolves to bounce back to NPFL soon

    Fuludu: Warri Wolves to bounce back to NPFL soon

    A former Head Coach of Warri Wolves FC of Delta, Edema Fuludu, on Monday has said that preparations are on to return the football club back to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    Fuludu, a former Central Midfielder of the Super Eagles made this known in Lagos that the team would bounce back.

    “I believe football fans of Wolves are seriously anticipating their return,’’ he said.

    Fuludu said that his former club (Warri Wolves) had no business playing in the Nigeria National League (NNL)

    According to him, efforts were being made to ensure that “Warri Wolves gain promotion back into the Nigeria Professional Football League ’’.

    “Relegation is one of those things that happen in football. It can happen to any club.

    “We will come back stronger. We are currently looking inwards to address so many issues.

    “Wolves is going through a phase. We are learning and making corrections.

    “We will bounce back with a bang,” Fuludu said.

    Warri Wolves were relegated after the end of the 2015/2016 season where they finished 17th on the league table.

    “But as we all know, football is capital intensive. If you want a good player, you need to be ready to splash out money to attract the players you need, to succeed.

    “Wolves belong to the NPFL, and not the NNL. It is just a temporary setback.

    “The player you get will now determine how far you will go to achieve the set goals. So is about funding the team, which I believe the state government is working toward, ‘’ Fuludu said.

    The Chairman of the football club, Steve Cole, said that with the current ongoing football developmental programmes, relegated Warri Wolves would bounce back stronger.

    According to Cole, the Delta Government’s focus was to ensure that there was a transition programme in place to promote quality players.

     

  • NNL plans flawless play-offs

    NNL plans flawless play-offs

    Nigeria National League (NNL)’s management has assured teams participating in next week’s Super Four competition of a flawless event which will attract public commendation.

    Four NNL clubs which gained promotion to the Globacom Premier League (Glo) will compete in the two-day event to determine the true champion of the 2012/2013 league season.

    The four clubs are Giwa FC of Kano and FC Taraba from Group A as well as Abia Warriors FC of Umuahia and Crown FC of Ogbomosho. The competition will hold at the synthetic pitch of the FIFA Goal Project, Package B, Abuja National Stadium from Tuesday, 12 to Thursday 14, November, 2013.

    NNL Secretary, Lawrence Katken told the media in Abuja that logistics have been put in place to ensure that the much expected Super Four will live up to its billing, adding that the NNL has the capacity to host a flawless event.

    He therefore restated his call for the affected clubs to arrive in Abuja on or before November 12, pointing out that the participating clubs are expected to conduct themselves in a professional way to show that they will fit in well in the elite division next season.