The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL)

  • Samuel Mathais sets 14 goals target

    Samuel Mathais sets 14 goals target

    El Kanemi Warriors midfielder Samuel Mathais has expressed his aspiration to score 14 goals in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) this season.

    Mathais netted a brace in his side’s 3-0 bashing of Gombe United in a matchday 8 encounter at the El-Kanemi Stadium in Maiduguri on Sunday evening, which made it his third league goals this season.

    The former Gombe United star emerged man-of-the-match following his outstanding performances in the game.

    In a chat with SportingLife, Mathais expressed joy over the award as he promised to score more goals for his club.

    “First of all, I must give the glory to God for his grace upon my life. And secondly, I feel happy to be man-of-the-match and scored two goals against my former club, but then I am not comfortable with that  because as a midfielder I have target of scoring 14 goals this season,” Mathais said to SportingLife.

    The former Kano Pillars midfielder said that his team deserved victory over Gombe United on Sunday.

    “I am proud to say we were the better side. I said it before the game that our home ground is a fortress and we are willing to make it a trade mark as long as possible,” he said.

  • AWAY WIN: Governor Masari tasks Katsina Utd

    AWAY WIN: Governor Masari tasks Katsina Utd

     

    Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari has challenged Katsina United to double their efforts and pick away win in the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    The Governor, who spoke to the team through the Katsina United chairman Aminu Balele Kurfi, said there is no difference between home and away matches.

    Kurfi admitted that the club has received financial and moral support from the governor which he described as a motivating factor to his team.

    “His Excellency Governor Aminu Masari has talked tough to the team and told us to go and get away win. The governor said if a team can come to Katsina and get a point, there is no reason why we should not get points away from our home ground,” Kurfi told SportingLife.

    “The Governor prefers away point to home point and believes that winning away game give a club a national outlook. As soon as I received this directive, I tasked the technical crew and players about the challenges. The club has received financial, moral and psychological support from the governor. Even though we are new in the league but the governor has told us to learn more.”

    Kurfi also disclosed that Governor’s directives has started yielding positive result with the 0-0 draw against Lobi Stars in a matchday 8 clash in Makurdi on Sunday.

    “I can tell you that governor’s directive is now yielding good result for us as we picked a draw in the game against Lobi Stars. Based on the governor’s directive I promised the team that whenever they win away match they will receive their match bonuses that day. I am telling you that the players will get their match bonus today for the draw against Lobi Stars.”

  • Amoo: 3SC were motivated to beat Rivers United

    Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan technical adviser, Fatai Amoo says his wards were at their best when they played against Rivers United in a match day six of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on Sunday.

    The Ibadan-warlords halted Rivers United’s five game unbeaten run with a 2-1 win at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.

    Sunday Faleye and Jide Apena’s goals either side of half time earned Oluyole Warriors maximum three points at stake in the match while Lukman Mohammed’s first half goal was not enough to get anything for United.

    In a chat after the game, Amoo said that Rivers United’s big status in the league encouraged his boys to play with high intensity during the game, stressing that his boys are improving after each game.

    “We were motivated knowing we were facing one of the best clubs (Rivers United) in the country.  We knew United could easily reduce us to dust if we did not come to the party and that is what really motivated us.  I thank God that my young boys proved that with time, they will grow,” Amoo said in an interview.

  • Eguma admits: We committed blunders against 3SC

    Eguma admits: We committed blunders against 3SC

    Rivers United’s technical manager, Stanley Eguma has admitted that his boys were complacent against Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) during Sunday’s matchday six of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) .

    The Oluyole Warriors ended Rivers United five-match unbeaten run with a 2-1 victory at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.

    3SC duo of Sunday Faleye and Jide Apena struck either side of half time to render Lukman Mohammed’s effort in the first period abortive and handed the hosts a well deserved win in Ibadan.

    Eguma noted that his boys committed some blunders after getting equaliser which didn’t help their cause, conceding that his wards lost to a better side on the day.

    “The big lesson that we will take from this game was that we didn’t start well plus some blunders we committed in the second half after getting back into the game with the equaliser. Going five matches unbeaten does not make you invincible and that is something we have to learn,” Eguma said.

    The defeat saw United dropped from fifth to eighth on the NPFL log while 3SC rise from 19th to 12th.

  • MFM FC whips Sunshine Stars in Akure

    MFM FC whips Sunshine Stars in Akure

    Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry (MFM) Football Club of Lagos on Sunday stunned hosts Sunshine Stars FC of Akure 1-0 in a 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) fixture.

    The Match Day 6 fixture played at the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure had MFM FC scoring the match’s only goal through Stephen Odey in the 49th minute.

    At the end of the match, Kayode Olujohungbe, the host team’s Technical Adviser, said he was disappointed with the result and that his team got its tactics wrong.

    “They utilised their advantage and we opened the door for them. But we are very disappointed with the points we dropped, especially as we are planning to use this match to improve our standings on the log.

    “It is very unfortunate, but we have learnt our lessons,’’ he said.

    On his part, Fidelis Ilechuckwu, the Technical Adviser of MFM FC, said he had always believed in his players’ ability because they are young.

    Ilechuckwu said what affected them last season was that they had no players on the bench who could always fill in for the others last season.

    He said they would now be aiming for the title this season.

    “I think it is all about players who can listen to instructions. They are very young with great spirits and we have a good bench that can perform very well,” the coach said.

    The Technical Adviser later praised the League Management Company (LMC) for the improvements witnessed so far in the league competition.

  • Nwabulu out of Tornadoes’ game

    Nwabulu out of Tornadoes’ game

    Wikki Tourists first choice goalkeeper, Emeka Nwabulu has been ruled out of Wednesday’s match day four of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash against Niger Tornadoes at the confluence stadium, Lokoja, Kogi state.

    The club’s media officer, Nasiru Kobi who disclosed the information to SportingLife, revealed that Nwabulu sustained bruises on his lap during their last home game against Akwa United on Sunday in Bauchi.

    Kobi said that Nwabulu did not travel with the rest of the squad to Lokoja for the match on the team’s doctor’s advice.

    SportingLife however, reports that the second choice goalkeeper Gambo Gideon would be a likely replacement for Nwabulu.

    “Nwabulu didn’t travel with the team, he is at home. He suffered bruises on his lap on Sunday during our game against Akwa United. The doctor advised that he should stay at home to take care of the wound because we have a big game in our next game at home against FC Ifeanyi Ubah.  Nwabulu has been fantastic for us this season. We will surely miss him. The team spirit is very high. Our last home against Akwa United has raised our hope. A win is what we are hoping for in the game against Tornadoes,” Kobi told SportingLife.

     

  • Rangers are mentally fit for Akwa United

    Rangers are mentally fit for Akwa United

    Players of Rangers International FC of Enugu have said that the home win against El-Kanemi of Maiduguri have put them in a psychological victory ahead of the match day four of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash against Akwa United in Uyo on Wednesday.

    The Flying Antelopes defeated Borno Army 1-0 courtesy of Bobby Clement’s 67 minute goal in the match day three game on Sunday.

    The club’s media officer, Foster Chime revealed that the players have shifted their focus to Akwa United encounter and resolved to pick the maximum points to maintain their winning formula.

    According to the players, the away draw with Nasarawa United followed by the victory over El-Kanemi have brought back their winning mentality and geared them towards reclaiming the number one spot in the league as the reigning League Champions.

    The players believe that the return of the likes of Chisom Egbuchulam, Odah Onoriode and Ugwu Nwadiegwu will propel them to another league title this season.

    The club’s technical adviser, Imama Amapakabo described Rangers’ 1-0 victory over El-Kanemi on Sunday as a morale booster for his players to confront Akwa United.

    An optimistic Amapakabo said that “the issues of goal  scoring will soon be a thing of the past  as the technical crew is leaving nothing to chance in correcting the problem of missing scoring chances even when a lot of chances were created.”

    Imama believes that the lapses observed in the team’s first two games will be corrected in the subsequent matches as he assured Rangers fans that the club will continue its winning feat.

  • 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.”

  • PRE-SEASON CAMPING: 3SC storms Ilaro with 35 players

    PRE-SEASON CAMPING: 3SC storms Ilaro with 35 players

    Players and officials of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) arrived in Ilaro in Ogun State on Tuesday for a two-week training camping in preparations for 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

    Sportinglife  reports that 35 players and seven officials traveled with the team and will start training Wednesday morning. In the team are 17 old players and 18 possible new signings, with five from Team B of the club.

    The club’s management said the Oluyole Warriors dumped its natural habitat Ijebu-Ode camping for Ilaro because of the array of club sides already having their pre-season training sessions at Ijebu Ode. Oluyole Warriors have been camping in Ijebu-Ode in the last five football seasons.
    In his reaction, the Technical Adviser, Fatai Amoo says the first two phases of the screening have been successful going by the calibre of players who made the cut. “It’s been a tough but interesting exercise and we took the best decision in final selection of the players,” he disclosed.
    The Dream Team VI assistant coach, however, assured the club’s teeming fans of a good outing when the league resumes. “Soon, the world would see new emerging stars in the team, we only crave for their more support and understanding,” he concluded.

  • Nwabulu, Henlong, Waziri dump Wikki Tourists for Rangers

    Nwabulu, Henlong, Waziri dump Wikki Tourists for Rangers

     
    The league champions, Rangers International of Enugu have raided Wikki Tourists of their best players in its bid to form a formidable squad ahead of next season’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and CAF Champions League campaigns.
    SportingLife can reveal that Wikki Tourists’ trio of goalkeeper Emeka Nwabulu, left full back Christopher Waziri and Charles Henlong have pitched tent with the Flying Antelopes.
    Nwabulu, Waziri and Henlong were integral part of Coach Abdul Maikaba’s squad that won the CAF Confederation Cup ticket for the Bauchi-based outfit after finishing third in the NPFL last season. Maikaba has also dumped Wikki Tourists for Akwa United.
    “Ever since the team resumed camping, we didn’t see Nwabulu, Waziri and Henlong in the camp. What we are hearing is that they have moved to Rangers. Although, the management has not said anything about their move but I don’t think they will play here next season,” a source told SportingLife.
    Information from Wikki Tourists camp also revealed that majority of the first choice players have shown interest of moving to another club ahead of next season but the management is doing everything to keep them.