The newly promoted side, Katsina United have shown their readiness for the forthcoming Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season after clearing most of their new signings.
The club chairman, Aminu Balele Kurfi said the move to secured their clearance proves that the club meant business and ready to compete favorably well in the league.
Kurfi stressed that the new players will add value to the club with their experience.
“We have cleared our new players as we hope to be competitive in the Nigeria premier league. We have fully paid for their clearance. This is another sign that we are in the NPFL for serious business,” disclosed Kurfi.
Among the new signings cleared are Abdulwahab Bidemi (FC Ifeanyi Ubah), Dami Paul (Nasarawa United), Tasiu Lawal (Niger Tornadoes), Eric Gwammy, Franky Eghervba (Mighty Jets), Kingsley Ajaero (Heartland), Franke C.Kappe (Abuja Football College) and Michael Nelson (El Kanemi).
Tag: NPFL
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Katsina United clear new signing
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Nikyu confident of Katsina United’s chances in NPFL
Katsina head coach, Bala Nikyu has asserted that he is very confident that his young players would be able to cope with the challenges of playing in the NPFL after the team were unscathed in two friendly matches against FC Ifeanyiubah in Nnewi.
Nikyu told SportingLife that they used the two matches to test the confidence of their players and assess how they would cope when they meet stiffer opposition in the premier league while acknowledging that his players through their display showed that they won’t have stage fright when they compete in the elite division starting from January 15 with a home tie against Gombe United.
He confirmed that Katsina United plan to register 30 players for the new league season and that majority of his players are young lads who are eager to make names for themselves and that these ones are complemented by few experienced players.
Nikyu hailed his boys showing against FC Ifeanyiubah who are the reigning Federation Cup champions but cautioned that the results do not determine how both clubs will end the coming season in the topflight.
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Akwa United can compete for NPFL title, says Effiong
Ottobong Effiong has said that Akwa United can compete for the 2016/17 Nigerian Professional Football League title regardless of their current status.
“Last season was not the best for us. We started well but somehow things just did not work out at the end as we hoped for, and at the same time, a number of our best players had to leave for clubs abroad. That is not to say the rest of us are not good enough but these things happen and it can affect any team,” Effiong told NPFL website.
“In the coming season, I want to assure our fans that Akwa United can compete for the title and with the best club. When we won the Federation Cup last year, we were not the favourites but we still went on to win it and I am confident that we can do great things as a team.
The Uyo based team have a new coach in Abdu Maikaba, who led Wikki Tourists to an unprecedented third place finish in the league and got them a ticket to compete on the continent. And the defender feels the gaffer alongside his new signings can help propel the competition for places, and improve the standard within the team.
“Right now we have a very good coach (in Maikaba) and he has brought in some of the best players in the country to join us. Once again the competition (for starting places) in the team has gone up more than before. Everyone wants to impress the coach and play in the team which is good for us, and the coach is a very good man who is patient,” he said.
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Tornadoes 85% ready for NPFL
Niger Tornadoes head coach, Abubakar Bala has said his side are 85% ready for the 2016/17 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
“We are 85% ready for the 2016/17 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and we hope to be the surprise team in the first five weeks. We are determined to create waves in the league as well as take our rightful position in the top-flight.
“We have 70% new players whom we have been working very hard to inculcate the new style we hope to play in the new season. They have been wonderfully impressive and the blending rate is almost to perfection.
“In all the preseason matches they have shown character and hunger to win in the matches. Against Plateau United we played very well even though we lost 1-2 to the Tin City side in Jos. Plateau United were a good side but showed uncanny desperation to win the encounter for reasons best known to them.
“However, we had better ball possession and created more chances at goal as well as played far better than the home side. We are happy with what we have done and hope to be good performers in the upcoming top-flight,” said the former FC Lokoja coach to supersport.com.
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Pillars primed to return to the summit of NPFL, says Gyang
Flying winger Amos Gyang believes Kano Pillars can return to the top of Nigerian football if they put what happened last season behind them.
The former Giwa FC ace said he has always known Pillars to be an ambitious club and the current personnel have it all in their hands to make a lasting impression when the 2016/17 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season gets underway on January 15, 2017.
“Kano Pillars remains a force to be reckoned with in Nigeria. But we weren’t in the top three last term,” Gyang told Goal.
“We know these things happen in football that one season you can win the league and the other you can be relegated.
“There are two trophies to play for this season and hopefully, either the league title or Federation Cup will come to Kano Pillars.” -
NPFL 2016/17 SEASON: Enyimba to play home matches in Calabar
• The People’s Elephant have no problem facing Sunshine in season opener
Enyimba have chosen to play their home matches for the next league season at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar as their permanent home as the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba is still undergoing repairs and won’t be ready for the start of the season.
The Chairman of the People’s Elephant, Felix Anyansi Agwu who revealed this to SportingLife on Saturday during the NPFL 2016/17 season draws held at the Golden Royale Hotel, Enugu, said they will feel more at home in Calabar than any other alternative available to them.
He said they would like to play where it is devoid of competition and where they will be fully concentrated on the game and not other distracting things.
Anyansi Agwu pointed out that there was nothing special in being drawn to face Sunshine Stars in the season’s opener and that they would prepare for the Owena Whales the same way they will do to other clubs they will trade tackles with after the Akure Gunners.
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No more excuses for Kwara United, says Obuh
.As Oladimeji assures of better performance
The Technical adviser of Kwara United FC and former Nigeria Under-20 national coach, John Obuh says it is time to pay back his employer in their own coin by making sure the club gains promotion to the country’s premier league.
Obuh disclosed this at the ongoing invitational and screening exercise for would-be players of Kwara United in the 2016/2017 Nigeria National League (NNL).
A statement signed by the club media officer, Abdul Waheed Bibire said the screening according to Obuh is to fill the vacuum created by the exodus of players that left the club last season hence the need to recruit quality players.
“I will give fair treatment to all players and I need free hand to do my job without interference and if I don’t do well kick me away”, the technical adviser adduced.
He therefore solicits the support of all and sundry to make Kwara United great again.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Kwara United F.C, Ilorin Prince Oladimeji Ladi Thompson says the management of the team will live no stone unturned to meet up with the yearnings and aspirations of the good people of Kwara by gaining promotion to the country’s apex football league – NPFL.
In a statement signed by the media officer Kwara United FC, Abdul Waheed Bibire, the club chairman has put in place various incentives to motivate the players to give in their best come next season.
Part of the steps according to the chairman is adequate insurance package for the players.
The outstanding balance of last season sign-on fees, Prince Oladimaji added would be paid soonest while also thanking the state government for prompt attentions giving to the club. -
PRE-SEASON CAMPING: Akwa United hit Calabar on Sunday
Players and officials of Akwa United are expected to move to Calabar on Sunday for their two weeks pre-season camping.
The club’s technical adviser, Abdul Maikaba informed SportingLife that the team would travel to Calabar with 35 players which include old and new players.
Maikaba said the team’s programme was going on as planned as he expected a good outing in the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.
The former Wikki Tourists gaffer said the Promise Keepers have been training hard and will soon starting playing quality friendly matches to shape the team ahead of the new season.
“We are to move to Calabar on Sunday for two weeks with 35 players. I have finished screening and I have submitted the names of the final 35 players that will play for the club next season to the management. We are training very hard, but we will start playing friendly matches in the following order; Grade C , Grade B and then A matches,” Maikaba disclosed to SportingLife.
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Abia Warriors sign Seun Olulayo
Abia Warriors FC of Umuahia have signed former Nigeria Under-23 national team player, Seun Olulayo ahead of the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.
Olulayo joined Abia Warriors from Sunshine Stars FC of Akure on a year deal. He is expected to arrive in Umuahia on Wednesday to team up with other players.
The left sided attacking midfielder who won the 2015 African Nations under-23 competition in Senegal with Coach Sampson Siasia signed the contract on Tuesday afternoon.
The club’s chairman, High Chief Emeka Inyama said the need to do well in the league necessitated the club’s action to go for the best legs in the Nigerian League of which Olulayo belongs.
Other talented players recruited by the club include; former Heartland FC of Owerri Skipper and Federation Cup Winner, Chinedu Efugh, Dele Olorundare from Sunshine Stars of Akure, Newman Musa of MFM, Zoumana Doumbia of Heartland FC and other good players.
However, the club is expected to be in Calabar on Friday for a closed camping in preparation for the coming season.
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Kano Pillars place five players on transfer
Kano Pillars Football Club of Kano have declared five of its players surplus to requirement.
The club’s Media Officer Idris Malikawa said the affected players were released based on the recommendations from its technical crew.
Malikawa said the report indicated that the players did not perform well last season while some were dropped on medical ground.
He said the management thanked them for the services rendered to the club and wish them the best in their future endeavours.
He also hinted that the new players who are on the radar of the club are expected to hit camp at the ancient city of Kano today (Friday) to begin preparations for the coming football season.
Malikawa also disclosed that the new Technical Adviser, Kadiri Ikhana took charge of the affairs of the training programme on Thursday at Sani Abacha Stadium Kano, warning the players that he would not accept any acts of indiscipline from any of them.
Ikhana also told them that the programme for the season has commenced with a twice daily training session, to keep them in good shape for the coming season.