The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NPFL

  • El Kanemi Warriors pay Emeteole N3m

    El Kanemi Warriors pay Emeteole N3m

    El Kanemi Warriors has finally paid its former head coach, Kelechi Emeteole the sum of 3, 000, 000 (three million naira) owed him when he was in charge of the team.

    The former coach of Enugu Rangers and Heartland FC is seeking support from well-meaning Nigerians to come up with the N6m (11,000 Dollars) needed for throat Cancer surgery in India.

    El Kanemi Warriors media officer, Anthony Obaseki told SportingLife that the money was paid into Emeteole’s bank account on Tuesday.

    “I want to confirm to you that the club has paid coach Emetiole three million naira we owed him. We thank his family for bearing with the club. Now that we have the money and we have paid. We appreciated his contribution to the club. On behalf of good people of El Kanemi and Maiduguri in general, we wish him quick recovery. He can and will never be forgotten and he will always be a member of El Kanemi family. The club’s chairman Mala Zannah Kakaje will visit Emeteole next week,” Obaseki told SportingLife.

  • NPFL players must have patience to succeed-Lawal

    NPFL players must have patience to succeed-Lawal

    Former  Nigeria international Garba Lawal believes Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) players can make a career breakthrough if they remain focused and have the spirit of patience.

    Following the surprise switch of Ezekiel Bassey from Enyimba to Barcelona II in January, the former Super Eagles star insists players can actualise their dreams in Nigeria if they shun fraudulent agents.

    “The important thing for most players is that they need to remain focused,” Lawal told Goal.

    “I watch the local leagues. Most of the players get carried away by agents. During our time, we did not have agents – maybe that’s why we concentrated playing good football.

    “Some of the agents sway them with their sweet mouths and they follow them. As a player, you should know what you want. Let them talk, but you focus on playing what you’ve been playing.

    “Don’t leave what you have and start thinking of grabbing what is not possible. Hold on to what you have. If you’re here, you stay and keep trying your best.

    “If you keep listening to those agents who promise to take you to this or that country – you will just get yourself distracted for nothing.

    “Football is all about time and opportunity. If the time comes, that opportunity you have will make a way for you.

    “But if it is yet to come, remain calm. Patience is very difficult but very important and with it, you will succeed.”

     

  • LMC set to unveil multi-sponsors for NPFL

    LMC set to unveil multi-sponsors for NPFL

    …NFF may adopt same model
    for national teams

    THE League Management Company (LMC) is in advanced talks with several big-money companies desirous to pick some of its sponsorship portfolios even as its chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko reiterated that the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) would no longer have a solitary tile sponsor.
    The NPFL until now had telecommunication outfit, Globacom as its major backer but Dikkko declared that the LMC has adopted a new approach in its drive to attract huge funds and would henceforth go for multi sponsors based on exclusive categories.
    “There would no more title sponsor for the league and this has been our resolve after the expiration of the contract with Globacom; Glo is no more an issue as we had ended since 2015,” Dikko who was a recipient of t the Sport Personality of the Year at the SUN Awards told The Nation. “We have passed that (stage of given out the sponsorship of the league to on company) and we have drop that system; we are only going for multi sponsors based on exclusive categories as well as strategic partner.
    According to Dikko who doubles as the NFF’s 2ndVice-President, there would be different categories such as official telecommunications, official Bank, official car, official Beverage amongst others.
    Last year, the LMC announced a ground-breaking 5-year partnership deal with top Nigeria beer brand, Star Lager as the official beer partner of the league body and Dikko said matter-of-factly that the successful new partners would be operating under the NPFL brand.
    “Even the EPL in England have now dropped Barclays which used to be their title sponsor as such we are talking with so many options and the good thing is that NPFL is at a level that we can bid our time and not rush to take anything.”
    In a related development, Dikko disclosed that the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) were most likely to adopt the LMC model by seeking multi-partnership packages for all its national teams as well as its programs.
    “With the NFF, we are also going the same route by unbundling all the commercial properties especially the national teams by working to get individual sponsors for each national team.
    “We couldn’t have done this earlier as there is already an existing contract signed long before our time that bundled everything together into one single project and sold to one company; so, we have to be patient and wait to for that contract to expire as breaking it would be more complex and problematic likewise renegotiating same as the party with the leverage would not just succumb.
    “Thus we are in the market now working 24/7 to secure new partners in line to the new marketing strategy and within the current economic realities which is making immediate conclusion a bit difficult for obvious reasons.
    “But we will soon be also unveiling new partners for the NFF which for sure will ease of up the financial demands on Government and further enhance efficiency to the NFF operations,” he stated.
    Meanwhile, Dikko has enjoined the public and the press to refrain from actions that could inflict damages on the country’s football brand, insisting that blue-chip companies would invest in sport under a conducive environment.

  • Obadaki ready to take his chances at El Kanemi

    Obadaki ready to take his chances at El Kanemi

    Obadaki Halilu has vowed to take his opportunity ‘with both hands’ at Nigeria Professional Football League outfit, El Kanemi Warriors whenever he is called upon by the team’s handler, Ladan Bosso.

    Obadaki who spent six years at Kwara United before teaming up with the Warriors during the 2016/17 NPFL pre-season, can now feature in the Nigeria topflight after sorting out his clearance.

    In a chat with SportingLife, the leftback said he is enjoying his stay in Maiduguri and now ready to help the team competes for titles this season.

    “My papers have been sorted out and I’m eager to make my debut for this team. I will welcome that opportunity with both hands. Coach Bosso is the type of coach that gives opportunities to every player. He is more than a coach to me as he took me like a son while I see him like a father. He always try to put me on the right way.

    “I join El Kanemi because I want to complete for trophy and history and tradition of the team shows they are competitor at the end of every season.

    “Everything is well okay here, the fans are sport lovers, they always want the best from us and that is why we all always try to give our best. The weather is not different from that of Ilorin and that makes me to settle well here. In terms of security, Maiduguri for now has the best security all over the county,” he told SportingLife.

    El-Kanemi will take on Enyimba in NPFL matchday 6 at the El-Kanemi Stadium this weekend and Obadaki is optimistic the team will bounce back from the 0-2 loss to Remo Stars in Sagamu in their last game.

    “We are working hard and we hope Allah will crown our efforts with victory over Enyimba. Nowadays no game is easy game, I know it will be difficult but with God on our side, we are going to carry the day,” Obadaki said.

  • ABS won’t get carried away, Makinwa vows

    ABS won’t get carried away, Makinwa vows

    Technical Manager of Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC of Ilorin, Henry Makinwa has assured that the team will not get carried away despite making an impressive start to the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League season.
    The newly promoted side had so far recorded three wins, a draw and a loss to stay joint-second with MFM on the NPFL log with 10 points, just three points behind leaders, Plateau United.
    The Saraki Boys had defeated Akwa United FC of Uyo 3-1 in their first game of the season, drew 1-1 in the Match Day 2 away to Niger Tornadoes of Minna, before beating FC IfeanyiUbah 1-0 in Match Day 3. The team lost 0-3 to Lobi Stars of Makurdi on Match Day 4 at Aper Aku Stadium but bounced back to hammer 3SC 2-0 in the Match Day 5 fixture at Kwara Stadium Complex last Sunday in Ilorin.
    In a chat with SportingLife, Makinwa, who holds a UEFA Pro-license coaching badge, said the team will continue to work harder on his newly introduced modern European concept in order not to falter as the league progresses.
    “We’ve been having very good results and everybody is happy about that but we will keep working harder everyday to improve. We knew we are new in the league, so we are taking our time and studying every moves, every steps to see that we get better.
    “I was able to get these players into shape because we selected them when we were playing NNL, from Kogi and other places; we have very good talented players. So what I did was to introduce to them new concept, modern European concept and they took that. They understood and they are playing it very well. They are very happy to execute it and for now it’s giving us results, we hope it will continue like that,” Makinwa told SportingLife.

  • Jonathan: Wikki Tourists’ best yet to come

    Jonathan: Wikki Tourists’ best yet to come

    Wikki Tourists forward, Richard Jonathan says he and his teammates will continue to give their best as the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) progress.

    The former Hearts FC of Abuja was hero on Sunday as he scored two goals in his side’s 3-1 win over FC Ifeanyi Ubah in the match day five encounter played on Sunday at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi.

    The visitors shocked the home team with early goal in the 4th minute through Prince Agreey before new Jonathan equalized for Wikki Tourists in the 37th minute. Jonathan extended the lead in the 43rd minute to end the first half 2-1 in favour of the home side.

    Mohammed Guda netted the third goal in the 79th minute to nail the coffin of the visitors and give Wikki Tourists their first leagues win this season.

    In a chat with SportingLife, Jonathan attributed his good performance during the game to the will of God.

    He added that the supporters of the club also contributed to the success recorded on Sunday by their positive behaviour throughout the duration of the game.

    “It was a massive win for us and I thank God that we finally recorded our first win. FC Ifeanyi Ubah is a big team and we really work harder to get that victory. We will not allow that win to distract us because we still have a long way to go. I have to commend our chairman Isa Matori for his motivation to the players. We will try our best to reciprocate the gesture. Our technical crew under coach Baba Ganaru are doing great job too. I belief Wikki will achieve something big under him,” Jonathan told SportingLife.

     

  • Fidelis Ilechukwu: NPFL win feels like a trophy

    Fidelis Ilechukwu: NPFL win feels like a trophy

    Mountain of Fire Miracles Ministries head coach, Fidelis llechukwu has described his side’s top-flight win against former champions, Kano Pillars, as equivalent to winning a trophy.
    “The victory against Kano Pillars feels like we have won a major trophy in a keenly contested championship. The victory is quite sweet considering the quality of opposition as well as their coach, Kadiri Ikhana.
    “Of course, I expected the quality of opposition exhibited by Pillars, they are a big side, they did not disappoint. They gave the game their very best, but we had the last laugh.
    “Last season both sides shared the spoils but today (Sunday) we had the upper hand. I’m completely excited. I think we got our act perfectly right with a point at 3SC and a win today (Sunday) against Pillars. We are in good shape as we are yet to concede on the home ground. We will not relax but continue to work hard to earn more deserving wins in other matches,” said llechukwu to supersport.com.

  • Rangers seek fans understanding after poor start

    Rangers seek fans understanding after poor start

    The management of Rangers International of Enugu has solicited for their fans’ patience, love and understanding on some of their unsatisfactory home results recorded so far in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

     

    The management expressed gratitude and appreciation to the supporters for their consistent support and loyalty since the commencements of the new season.

     

    The flying Antelopes have won one home match, lost one and drawn one while drawing two away matches out of five played so far.

     

    In a release sent to SportingLife by the club’s media officer, Foster Chime, the club pleaded with fans and supporters not to force unnecessary home pressures on the players and the technical crew, but rather, they should be ever ready and consistent in their support to the team.

     

    “As the league defending champions every other club in the NPFL would always put in extra determination, fund and morale boost to confront Rangers, but as the never say Die “Trojans, the spirit will always be the team’s watch word and guiding spirit that will surely spur the team to excel at the end of the day,” Chime said in a release.

     

    “We however assuring fans of the positive, consistent support and financial assistance of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to ensure the club bounced back to winning ways especially with the first leg of the CAFF Champions League approaches.

     

    “The Technical Adviser and his assistants are seriously working on the lapses noted during matches, relating to utilizing created chances which has been a major Challenge. The management is very worried with the dearth of goals scoring by the players in some of the matches but we also very optimistic that with the coming on board of players like Chisom Egbuchulam, Odoh Onoriode Ugwu Uwadiegwu and likely lfeanyi Ifeanyi and few others to fortify the squad, definitely the Rangers attack will be ambitious and lethal.”

  • Wikki Tourists secure first season’s win

    Wikki Tourists secure first season’s win

    Players and officials of Wikki Tourists of Bauchi heaved a sigh of relief following a 3-1 win over FC Ifeanyi Ubah in the match-day 5 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) tie played at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi on Sunday.

    The Big Elephants were desperate for it’s first win of the season following a below per performances in their last four matches so far.

    The development prompted the management to read the riot act to the coaches during an emergency meeting which involved the management and technical crew on Friday to find a lasting solution to the problem.

    It seems that the outcome of the meeting had started yielding a positive result with a convincing result against the Anambra Warriors.

    It was a clash of the giants as both teams are representing Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup this season.

    The coach Mohammad Baba Ganaru had managed to secure two draws in their last two home games but Sunday’s win is a sign of good things to come for the team.

    The visitors shocked the home team with early goal in the 4th minute through Prince Agreey before new signing Richard Jonathan equalized for Wikki Tourists in the 37th minute. He extended the lead in the 43rd minute to end the first half 2-1 in favour of the home side.

    In the second half, Wikki Tourists continued where they stopped in the first half as Mohammed Guda netted the third goal in the 79th minute to nail the coffin of the visitors and sent the ABS stadium into wild jubilation.

  • Olorunleke hails Sunshine Stars’ fighting spirit

    Olorunleke hails Sunshine Stars’ fighting spirit

    Sunshine Stars goalkeeper, Ojo Olorunleke has admitted that the team had to dig deep before beating Kano Pillars 1-0 in the Nigeria Professional Football League Week 4 encounter decided at the Akure Township Stadium on Wednesday.

    Despite failing to convert from the spot in the early minute of the game, the home team kept their focus and got the winning goal courtesy of an 82nd penalty converted by Sikiru Alimi.

    Olorunleke who was rested for last weekend’s 3-1 loss to Plateau United in Jos, returned to action against Masu Gida and ensured victory for the Owena Waves by making decent saves and in the process maintain a clean sheet.

    Speaking with SportingLife after the encounter, the former Nigeria U20 goalkeeper expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the encounter.

    “In everything you just have to give thanks to God because our hard work really worked for us. It was a tough match as you can see. What matters most is the outcome of the game. We needed the victory and God gave us.”

    After missing the first penalty kick, Olorunleke said the team never gave up and believed the goal will come.

    “Frankly speaking, we never expected to have penalty in the first place. We play the ball to score and penalty is also part of the game. If you are given a penalty, you can’t tell the referee you don’t want it. When we missed the penalty we didn’t give up because we knew that can derail our game plan.

    “We prepared for the match and we know come what may, we are going to win whether penalty or not. But when God says it is with penalty we will get the three points, we glorify His name.”

    Sunshine Stars will take on Gombe United at the Pantami Stadium in one of the NPFL Week 5 fixtures on Sunday.