The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NPFL

  • Manu Garba is Gombe Utd’s technical adviser

    Manu Garba is Gombe Utd’s technical adviser

    The management of Gombe United has appointed Nigeria Golden Eaglets’ coach, Manu Garba, as Technical Adviser of the team ahead of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

    Garba’s appointment according to the club’s head of media, Tanimu Umar, is based on his experience and international standing.
    While confirming the deal, Garba said his plan for the club is to finish among the top four next season.

    “God willing, I will be in charge of Gombe United this football season. Our objective is to finish among the top four if we get the support from the management and train the players in all areas of football fitness as well as getting good pre-season training. Every player and official must work in harmony for us to achieve our aims,” Garba said.

    Based on this appointment, the technical crew has been reshuffled.
    The former technical adviser who guided the team to promotion, Hassan Abubakar is now the club’s chief coach. Ali Garba was named Assistant Coach I, Haruna Abdullahi will be Assistant coach II, while Glory Aghomon will serve as goalkeepers’ coach.

    However, the Savanah Scorpions have released ten players.
    The dropped players, according to the club, are Chinedu Kawawa and Obinna Akuchie (Goalkeepers), Douglas Uzama (Left full back), Shehu Maijama’a Demeron Efevwie (Central defenders) and Sarki Adewale Kabiru (Midfielder)
    Others are Tasi’u Mohammed, Alaba Johnson, Nnanna Orji, Shuaibu Amadu (Strikers).

  • MFM FC appoint new director, Adeyemi

    MFM FC appoint new director, Adeyemi

    Following the ongoing restructuring of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club of Lagos, the General overseer of the church, Dr. Daniel Olukoya has appointed Mr Emmanuel Adeyemi as the Director of the club.

    The new Director will henceforth be representing the General overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries worldwide who is now the chairman of the football team at all LMC’s meeting.

    Adeyemi who has been charged by Dr. Olukoya to take full responsibility of running the club’s activities described the new appointment as a great opportunity to discover more lost souls and bring them back to Christ as he revealed the vision of the G.O for the football club in an interview with the media team of the modest NPFL outfit.

    “It’s a great opportunity given to me by the General Overseer to contribute positively towards the repositioning agenda of the youths through football and to assist in developing the football team and winning the youths back to Christ.

    “The General Overseer believes so much in the youths. His love and appetite for empowering the youths is unprecedented and legendary, we will work hard to ensure that we have a better outing in the next session.

    “Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football team is founded on a vision given by God to move the youths out of the woods to a position of destiny.

    “Our General Overseer instituted this destiny discovering programme for the youths in a bid to ensure that they live a Godly life, fulfill their destinies, rewrite their family histories and positively impact their generation for Christ,” he told mountaintopfc.com.

  • UK businessmen set to invest $1.5bn in NPFL

    UK businessmen set to invest $1.5bn in NPFL

    A consortium of investors from the United Kingdom has indicated interest in investing $1.5 billion  in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Sports Minister Solomon Dalung has revealed.

    In a statement, Dalung disclosed that the UK-based sports promo and marketing firm under the auspice of Arabella 21st Century made the proposal during a visit to his office in Abuja.

    “Yes, they want to bring in about $1.5bn into Nigerian football, but there is a caveat to it. They are not going to tamper with the constitution, statutes or football article. It is the same thing they did in China and Japan. The league board will operate with the NFF and the Ministry will be involved. They want to set up a Football Development Company that will be quoted on the stock exchange, with the same applying to all the football clubs in Nigeria,” said Dalung.

    Chairman of the firm, Femmy Carrena said his team of investors was ready to invest in the country’s league for the next 20 years with core restructuring but on few conditions.

    “They want to come to Nigeria and manage our league for the next 20 years. After a meeting with the ministry and other stakeholders, they’ll set up the company but their Nigerian counterparts are expected to invest 30 per cent of the $1.5bn,” he said.

    “They’re ready to put their own money into the stock exchange, but they’ll have the controlling share. They will restructure the league, get the television rights but not before a conference which will explain to everyone how it will work. They will be coming with technical experts from the premiership that will be operating in the development company that they will set up, which will include representatives of the ministry, the LMC, and the NFF.”

    When the deal is established,  the country’s national teams are expected to benefit from training and subventions. The League Management Company (LMC) had recently urged domestic clubs to register with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

  • Rohr congratulates SupportTheNPFL Goal King Award winner, Obaje

    Rohr congratulates SupportTheNPFL Goal King Award winner, Obaje

    Nigeria’s Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr has congratulated 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) highest goal scorer,  Godwin Obaje on receiving the maiden edition of SupportTheNPFL Goal King award in Abuja on Friday.

    The SupportTheNPFL Group who are the flagship promoter of the fastest growing football league in the world, NPFL were on hand to present Wikki Tourist goal poacher, Obaje for scoring eighteen goals being the highest in the Nigerian league in 2015/16 season.

    Currently preparing the Super Eagles for a FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifier away to Zambia on Sunday, Gernot Rohr was on hand to present the award to the Goal King who is also in the Super Eagles camp

    The delighted German tactician, Rohr was full of smiles when he met with the SupportTheNPFL crew as he charged Obaje to surpass his personal goals record.

    “I am proud of your achievement this season, you have been challenged to surpass your personal goals record. Congratulations,” Gernot Rohr said as he gave the plaque to Obaje.

    Godwin couldn’t hold back the joy of being celebrated as he dedicates the award to his family,  friends and team mates.

    “I am delighted, it is a great honour. I am dedicating the award to my family, friends and teammates at Wikki Tourist and I hope to be better next season,” Obaje said.

    According to one the scribes of the SupportTheNPFL group,  Adepoju Tobi Samuel, Nigerian football deserves to be celebrated even in the midst of obvious challenges.

    “Football has its place in the heart of Nigerians regardless of where they are, it’s a sport that has brought joy to the land and it’s only appropriate that we celebrate the main actors. Even in the midst of obvious challenges, football has always brought something special to Nigerians,”Adepoju stated.

    The SupportTheNPFL 2016 awards was solely sponsored by the Gombe State Commissioner for Youth Empowerment,  Mallam Farouk Yarma.

     

  • New NPFL champions to get N40m

    New NPFL champions to get N40m

    Champions of the 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season stand to win N40 million from the Merit Award of the League Management Company (LMC). Rangers International of Enugu and Rivers United of Port Harcourt are the two clubs in contention for the big prize money from N200 million pool set aside by the LMC as reward for top position on the league table  at the end of the season on Sunday.

     Last season, the highest payout from the Merit Award which went to Enyimba International was N30million from a total of N150million and this year’s figure of N200million represents an increase of 25%. The Merit Award pool has been witnessing an annual progression from N50m in 2012/13 to N75m in the 2013/14 season and now N200m. The top three clubs on the table usually receive the chunk of the Merit Award which supports the clubs financially in their preparation for the CAF Club competitions the next season.

     According to figures released by the LMC, the champions would have received a minimum of N90m in all direct payments for the 2016 season including the Basic Award  which comprises pool of funds shared equally amongst the 20 participating clubs, the Merit award paid to clubs based on their final position on the table, the Football development and the Bonus award which is paid to clubs based on performances including incentives for improving match attendance, away wins/draw, fielding players under the age of 18 and hosting live broadcast matches.

     The lowest placed team in the NPFL this season would thus have received up to N55m in direct payments from the LMC from all payment centres.

     A statement from the LMC explained that “in addition to the direct payments clubs also benefit from other indirect payments such as free registration of players and officials, free insurance, payment of match officials’ indemnities and hotel accommodation as well as sponsored seminars and other engagements funded by the LMC.”

     Rangers are three points ahead of Rivers United with the Flying Antelopes hosting El-Kanemi Warriors at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium now called The Cathedral by Enugu fans needing a point to guarantee the title while Rivers United go hunting for three points in Uyo against Akwa United. The Port Harcourt side will seek to win big while hoping that Rangers will falter against their visitors.

  • ‘No NPFL mercy for Heartland

    ‘No NPFL mercy for Heartland

    El Kanemi Warriors striker, Chinedu Ohanachom has said that the top-flight struggling side, Heartland will not get any mercy from the Maiduguri outfit.

    Ohanachom said his side will go for the whole three points at stake to maintain the Maiduguri outfit 100% record on home ground.

    “Of course, there is nothing like favour or mercy in football so Heartland are not going to get any from us. Too bad the poor position they find themselves on the league table at the moment.

    “We did not cause their plight so for us playing well and winning are the watchword aimed at maintaining our 100% home record so far in the on-going top-flight. Of course, we are no more haunted by relegation but we still want to finish the league race on high.

    “Our newest target is to finish the league campaign among the best seven teams. We will feel achieved in the top-flight if we are able to pick points in the remaining matches to end within the bracket.

    “I love to score goals and will want to score against Heartland but whether I celebrate or not will be determined by the instant mood after scoring,” said the former FC Taraba hitman to supersport.com.

  • ‘NPFL win good for title chase’

    ‘NPFL win good for title chase’

    Enugu Rangers striker, Chimezie Amanfor has said his side are firmly back to the title limelight after a hard-fought victory against Mountain of Fire Miracles Ministries (MFM) FC.

    Amanfor said the side win against MFM FC has divine touch given the heaven downpour that necessitated the shift of the clash by a day.

    “The victory against MFM FC has once again pushed us into the thick of title contention in the on-going top flight. The win looks ordained by God as rain prevented us from playing the match on Wednesday.

    “Others who played their rescheduled matches on Wednesday recorded draws who knows ours may have ended in same result which would not have augured well with us as well as title chase. I think God destined us to play today (Thursday) so that He will give us our hearts desire in the clash.

    “It was thoroughly a difficult match as MFM FC threw in everything into the game aimed at achieving an upset. I give MFM FC kudos for their fighting spirit but they met their superiors who are determined to win no matter the challenges.

    “We are back to where we rightly belong and we are certain to hold firmly in the remaining matches on the calendar. Usually, we are not used to bragging rather we allow our game to speak for us so we will be ready to fight Rivers United hands down for the three points at stake on Sunday.

    “We will not miss the rare opportunity offered by the matchday 34 tie against Rivers United to reclaim the summit,” said the former Akwa United and Enyimba marksman to supersport.com.

  • Star is first official Beer Partner of NPFL

    Star is first official Beer Partner of NPFL

    Nigeria’s leading beer brand, Star Lager, yesterday announced a partnership with the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), to be the first official beer partner of the NPFL.

    The event brought together stakeholders from the Nigerian football industry on Tuesday, to celebrate a major milestone in the country’s football history.

    This first of its kind partnership will commence from the 2015/2016 football league season and end with the   2019/2020 football league season.

    Commenting on the partnership during the event, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries, Franco Maria-Maggi said: “We’ll  findways to use this unique partnership of the NPFL to give our consumers more reasonsto enjoy the local football. Football in Nigeria and Star Lager have a proud past, strong present and very bright future in front of them.”

    Chairman of League Management Company, Shehu Dikko also remarked, saying, “We are excited about this partnership with Star Lager, and we hope to achieve more from this with the support of all stakeholders involved. Having Star as a major sponsor will certainly be the key to a bright future for professional football league in Nigeria”.

    Star Football is Nigeria’s largest football platform, which brings fans together to celebrate and acknowledge their passion to the beautiful game of football.

  • Valencia, NPFL All-Stars donate gate takings to Alzira fire victims

    Valencia, NPFL All-Stars donate gate takings to Alzira fire victims

    Gate takings from  friendly between Valencia and NPFL All-Stars will be donated to the victims of a major forest fire that ravaged the little town of Alzira.

    The fires destroyed over 3000 hectares of the Valencia province which also includes Alzira.

    “We have been made to understand that the Alzira Stadium was chosen for our match against Valencia to assist the victims of the forest fire that affected the town of Alzira in June,” disclosed NPFL All-Stars team manager Ameobi Ezeaku.

    “The ticket sales from this match will be donated to the victims of the fire.”

    The Enugu Rangers team manager said the trip to Spain has been an eye-opening experience.

    “The experience has been wonderful for both the players and officials,” he told AfricanFootball.com.

  • NPFL All-Star team departs for Spain ahead LaLiga tour

    • Ogbuh, Bashir re-joins team  as Alhassan passes fitness test

    Heartland’s Emeka Ogbuh and Abdulrahman Bashir of Nasarawa United earned late call -ups on the eve of the NPFL All-Star departure for Spain following injury scare for Gabriel Wasa of Niger Tornadoes and visa challenges for Hussain Bata of El-Kanemi Warriors.

    Wasa, however, travelled with the team as coach Salisu Yusuf was banking on his possible recovery.

    Bata, whose visa processing was not completed, was thus not part of the 25-man squad of the NPFL All-Star team that departed Lagos in the early hours of Monday for the Maiden NPFL-LaLiga tour which kicks-off on Wednesday. Another injury worry was Ibrahim Alhassan of Wikki Tourists who was earlier declared not fit by team doctors but passed a late fitness test at the Abuja National Hospital on Saturday and was included in the squad.

    The Nigerian delegation travel to Spain aboard Morocco Air and would arrive Spain later on today in time for the team to have their first training preparatory to the opening friendly against Valencia CF on Wednesday.

    The NPFL All-Star team will on August 12 play their first match in the Carranza World Club Tournament against Malaga CF in Cadiz at 9.30pm and a win will guarantee them a place in the finals while a loss will mean they play in the losers final against the winner between Atletico and Cadiz CF, hosts of the tournament on August 13.