The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Professional Football League

  • Wikki Tourists dismiss player, disengage coach

    Wikki Tourists dismiss player, disengage coach

     

     

     

     

    Management of Wikki Tourist held an emergency meeting with players on Thursday following their dismal performance of the team in the ongoing 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional football League (NPFL) season.

    The club chairman, Isa Musa Matori and his board took some decisions after the meeting which they said are in the best interest of the club.

    Part of the decisions taken according to the club’s media officer, Nasiru Abdullahi Kobi, is that Daddy John, who joined the club from Plateau United on free transfer, be dismissed.

    Kobi said John has been on suspension for breaking club’s rules that include absconding from team’s camp before his dismissal.

    The board also disengaged one of the technical crew members, Tijjani Okeddy.

    He added that all players have been issued warning letters while some technical crew members accused  of hypocrisy were also issued with warning letters.

    The management has also given the players three matches ultimatum to improve or be placed on half salary.

    The chairman, Matori, commended the State Governor Muhammed Abdullahi Abubakar Esq, and good supporters of the club for their support and understanding when the club is experiencing a difficult moment.

    Matori solicited for more prayers for the club to get out of its present predicament.

  • Maikaba relishes first league win

    Maikaba relishes first league win

    Akwa United technical adviser, Abdu Maikaba heaved a sigh of relief after his side finally secured its first Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) win on Sunday.

    The Promise Keepers defeated newly promoted side, Remo Stars by 1-0 in a match day 6 encounter at the Godswin Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.

    The former Mountain of Fire and Miracles ministries (MFM) striker, Musa Newman’s 83 minute goal separated the two sides in a highly contested match.

    The former Sunshine Stars forward came on as a 61 minutes substitute for Amaechi Orji and he justified his inclusion into the team.

    Maikaba, who guided Wikki Tourists FC to continental ticket last season, believed that ill-luck had been affecting his team to get deserving results in their previous matches.

    In a chat with SportingLife, Maikaba said the win is a morale booster to the team as he promised to continue to work harder for the team’s success.

    “Goal scoring has always been our problems. We always create so many chances but failed to concert them. Nobody has ever complained about our style of play because we played good football. I never doubted my boys because I believe so much in them. I knew that this time will come and we finally got out first win which is a boost to the team. We will build on this and continue to strive hard in our next matches,” Maikaba said to SportingLife.

  • 3SC will bounce back, chairman assures

    3SC will bounce back, chairman assures

    The Chairman of Shooting Stars Football Club (3SC) of Ibadan, Mr. Gbolagade Busari has assured the teeming fans of the club that the team will bounce back from its not too impressive performance in the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

     

    The chairman of the club made this assurance in a statement on Monday.

     

    The Oluyole Warriors are currently occupying 19th position on the NPFL log, after losing their match-day 5 game against ABS on Sunday in Ilorin.

     

    Busari said that hope is not lost as the season has just started, adding that the team will start getting better results and live up to the expectations of the fans.

     

    According to Busari: “We are not happy with standing of our darling team. The results we got in recent matches have not justified our efforts to reposition the team. However, hope is not lost as we are ready to change the tide and get good results.”

     

    He noted that the management of the club has identified the problems of the team, stressing that adequate measures are being put in place in order not to disappoint the fans, supporters and well-wishers of the club.

     

    He promised that the team will be rejuvenated for the remainder of the season, insisting that the club is targeting continental ticket for the next season.

     

    “We have a mandate from Governor Abiola Ajimobi and we will not disappoint the trust he has in us. The governor said the team should reclaim its lost glory and compete as a premier team it used to be. This mandate is our motivation and it will drive us to success. We want to appeal to our fans not to lose hope in us, they should believe in us and we will make them and the state proud at the end of the season,” Busari promised.

  •  Wikki Tourists confidence back, says Ganaru

     Wikki Tourists confidence back, says Ganaru

     

     

    Wikki Tourists Technical Adviser, Mohammed Baba Ganaru has said that his side’s 1-0 win over Akwa United is a morale booster to his players.

    Harrison Madu’s second half goal was all the Big Elephants needed to secure the maximum three points in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match day three fixture played at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium Bauchi.

    The win over Akwa United was Wikki’s first win of the season which helped them to amass four points out of possible nine in the three matches’ game so far.

    Ganaru told SportingLife that the win was needed to raise the hope of the team for the next game.

    “I thank God that we finally got our first win. The victory was very important because it has helped rising the confidence in the team now, Ganaru said to SportingLife.

    The former Kano Pillars manager has also admitted that his match against Akwa United has been the toughest so far.

    He attributed this to the fact that Akwa United coach Abdu Maikaba is familiar with Wikki tourists who he coached last season.

    He commended his players for their resilience particularly in the second half which resulted in the 1-0 win.

    The will travel to Lokoja for the midweek encounter against Niger Tornadoes on Wednesday.

    “Every game is very important to us now and we are going to take every game as it comes. We are going to Lokoja full of confidence with hope that we will get something out of the match.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Niger Govt. threatens to sack Tornadoes technical adviser

     

    The Niger Government has threatened to sack the technical adviser of Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna over poor performance of the club in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    Malam Mamman Musa, the state commissioner for Youth Affairs and Sports Development, made the threat on Tuesday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.

    He said that the government would sack the adviser if the team would not win its next two matches in the ongoing 2016/2017 NPFL.

    “We are not comfortable with the performance of Niger Tornadoes in the ongoing league.

    “The bottom of the NPFL table is not meant for us, and we don’t have any reason to be there.

    “We thought we had a brilliant technical management team, but from the current performance of the club, it is not so.

    “The best we can do in the interest of the club now is to give the technical adviser the benefit of doubt to win the next two matches for the team or quit,’’ he said.

    Musa said that the state government gave the club’s technical crew free hands to operate but did get positive results.

    He explained that, of the three matches played by the club so far in the current league, it lost two and drew one.

    The official said that the poor performance was not acceptable.

    “We are not saying that Tornadoes should top the league for now, but to be on the bottom of the league table with minus four goals is not acceptable.’’

    Responding, the Technical Adviser, Coach Abubakar Bala, appealed for more time.

    Bala said that many of the club’s players were new and needed time to blend.

    “We need to perform together for some time before we can make headway; I am sure that, with time, we will do well.

    “We want the government and other supporters to be patient with us; we will get better,’’ he said.

    The Media Officer of the club, George Daniya, told NAN that the club would play Wikki Tourists FC of Bauchi on Wednesday in Lokoja.

    He added that defending champions, Rangers International of Enugu FC, would play host to Tornadoes on Sunday in Enugu.

    Daniya said that Tornadoes was currently on 20th position on the league table.

    NAN reports that Bala took over from Coach Abdullahi Biffo as Tornadoes Technical Manager on June 1, 2016, after the latter was accused of anti-club activities.

  • Kano Pillars commend fans

    Kano Pillars commend fans

     
     
     
    Kano Pillars FC have commended its fans for the sense of maturity displayed for the disappointment attitude of FC Ifeanyi Ubah in their opening game of 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season on Saturday at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
    The club’s Media Officer Rilwanu Idris Malikawa said the sense of discipline exhibited by their supporters when the visiting FC Ifeanyi Ubah abandoned the match in the second half with Sai Masu Gida leading the game courtesy of Gambo Muhammad’s 36th minute goal.
    Malikawa said the management was convinced that sensitization and orientation given to their supporters before the commencement of the league is yielding a positive result.
    He urged them to sustain the tempo in the rest of the matches for the success of the team.
    “We are happy despite what happened during the match all our fans control themselves and leave the Stadium peacefully,” Malikawa said.
    Pillars FC arrived in Makurdi this evening ahead of tomorrow’s match day two encounter against Lobi stars FC at the Aper Aku Stadium.
    Addressing them shortly after their arrival, the club’s technical adviser, Kadiri Ikhana (MON) charged them to be focused on the task ahead of them.  

  • We are aiming at the league title – Idoko

     

     

    Vice chairman Lobi Stars Football club of Makurdi Mike Idoko has said his team will strive to win the Nigeria Professional Football League ,( NPFL,) tittle this season .

    Idoko spoke at a thanksgiving and dedication service held at Dunamis International Gospel Church in Makurdi ,Banue state capital , ahead of the 2016/2017 football season which commenced on 14/1/2017,

    Mr. Idoko noted that they return to the church where he dedicated the team a year ago to thank God for what he has done for the club in the 2015/2016 season .

    In thanking God for the success recorded last season ,the former Warrior Wolves and Sunshine manger said he hopes to get the league title this season and requested for prayers from the church.

    Idoko: “The team did not witness any accident despite travelling through out the country on air and road transport .

    He noted further that for the first time in 12 years the team finish 5th on the league table saying it’s called for a thanksgiving .

    Earlier senior pastor of the church ,King Oloche Adaji prayed and anointed both players and officials of the club urging them to do exploit in the coming season .

  • Mathias targets Rivers United scalp

    Mathias targets Rivers United scalp

  • 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.

  • Akwa Utd 60% ready for league – Coach

    Akwa Utd 60% ready for league – Coach

    Akwa United technical adviser, Abdul Maikaba, has revealed to SportingLife that his team would be fully ready for the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) kicks off by the middle of next month.

    Maikaba said the team’s preparation is going well and the players are responding to training session.

    The former Wikki Tourists coach said his team is now 60 percent ready but he still needs more time to put the team in shape.

    “Yes, we are 60% ready as of now but we’ll be fully ready in the middle of next month. The management is taking good care of us and the players are responding well to training,” Maikaba said to SportingLife.

    However, players and officials of Akwa United will go on Christmas break on December 21 and will resume on December 28.