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Tag: Ogbonnaya

  • Ogbonnaya’s death is a huge loss to Nigeria, APC family – Gov Uba Sani

    Ogbonnaya’s death is a huge loss to Nigeria, APC family – Gov Uba Sani

    Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state has  said that it was with deep shock that he received the news of the death of former Governor  and ex-minister Chief Ogbonnaya Onu.

    The governor, who made this known on Friday, April 12, said the former minister was a progressive politician, an upright statesman with passion for Nigeria.

    Read Also: We’ve lost a dedicated public servant, true Nigerian, Wamako mourns Ogbonnaya Onu

    Senator Uba Sani further stated that the APC family has been hit by a monumental loss, adding that the late minister’s valuable contributions to democracy and the flowering of our national ethos would remain exemplary

    The governor further stated that late Ogbonnaya’s exemplary leadership and intellect and values of hard work would  remain beautiful legacies for this and future generation of Nigerians.

    While also consoling the people of Abia and Ebonyi states over what Senator Uba Sani described as irreparable loss, he prayed that the Almighty God gives his family, the Nigerian Association of Engineers and  APC the fortitude to bear the loss.

  • Enyimba’s Ogbonnaya speechless

    Enyimba’s Ogbonnaya speechless

    Nelson Ogbonnaya has said he does not ‘have the words to describe’ Enyimba’s surprise draw to Shooting Stars at the UJ Eusene Stadium on Wednesday.

    “It was like a mild drama and I don’t have words to describe what led to our draw,” Ogbonnaya told Goal.

    “But I must confess that Shooting Stars’ goalkeeper was very impressive. He singlehandedly did everything possible to ensure that we were unable to score. The players did very well to get at least a goal but it was impossible,” he said.

    “We must dust off the home draw and strive to go to Kano to get something out of the match. It is not always a good place to visit because of their intimidating home record but we are confident in our ability and what we can get on a good day.”

    The People’s Elephants dominated proceedings but were constantly shut out by the visitors’ goalkeeper, Charles Tambe.

  • Reuben Ogbonnaya: A story I don’t want to remember

    Reuben Ogbonnaya: A story I don’t want to remember

    While Nigerians waited for the start of the 2014/2015 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), teams who were meant to play away from home had hit the road to honour their match.

    One of such teams, Kano Pillars who were going into the new season as the defending champions of the league having won it thrice in a row ran into some armed robbers on their way to Owerri. Kano Pillars big defender, Reuben Ogbonnaya sounded low as he recalled the sad event that took place in March 5, 2015.

    “It’s an experience I won’t like to remember. Well, we were on our way to Owerri to honour our first league match in the 2014/2015 NPFL season against Heartland FC. We were along Abuja-Lokoja road, along Abaji. It’s a sad tale I don’t like to remember at all,”Ogbonnaya told SL10.ng

    “We ran into these armed robbers who didn’t know we were coming because they were busy robbing another car. Immediately we saw them we all bent down in the team bus”

    “Suddenly, there wasn’t any sound and we heard the robbers who were on mask shouting at us to come out of the bus. They kept asking us to bring all the valuables on us. Unfortunately, when they collected everything on us the robbers now started to shoot. The reason why they did that still baffles me because no one disobeyed them,”Ogbonnaya narrated.

    The sad incident that left some players injured from bullet wounds was no doubt a tough experience for the team and most especially the players affected.

    “It was a very difficult experience for me, my family were scared, they didn’t know the extent of the injury and that caused a huge panic. Though I’ve gotten over it at this moment but it’s an incident I don’t want to remember or recall ever again. It’s a very scary scene,” Ogbonnaya stated.

  • Ogbonnaya: Pillars will whip Moghreb Tétouan

    Ogbonnaya: Pillars will whip Moghreb Tétouan

    Kano Pillars have set up preparation for  the return leg of the CAF Champions League First Round contest with Moghreb Tétouan of Morocco fixed for Kano on Saturday striving to overcome a 4-0 deficit.

    Sai Masu Gida has fixed the match kick off time at 2pm local time as the home team wants to make use of the humid weather to their advantage just like the Moroccans did almost two weeks ago.

    Pillars’ defender Reuben Ogbonnaya told SportingLife that he is very confident that Sai Masu Gida will spring a surprise comeback on Saturday as they have been training seriously since their return from Morocco.

    He alleged that Moghreb Tétouan made use of the cold weather to get a big win in the first leg and that they also capitalised on their eagerness to get away goal to hit them on the counter attack for most of their goals scored in the first half.

    Ogbonnaya told SportingLife that they have learnt their lessons and that the players are united in their resolve to turn the table in Kano on Saturday.

    “We have been in camp since we returned from Morocco and we have been working on our mistakes especially in defence. We believe that nothing is impossible and it is the reason we have resolved to turn the table at home. The game will start by 2pm and we are going to utilise our home advantage too to get a revenge ,” Ogbonnaya.

    He however urged Kano fans to troop to the stadium in numbers on Saturday so that the spectators can serve as the 12th men on match day.

  • Ogbonnaya, Ekpai make Pillars’ trip to Morocco

    Ogbonnaya, Ekpai make Pillars’ trip to Morocco

    Kano Pillars  left for  Morocco aboard Egypt Air yesterday ahead of Saturday’s CAF Champions League First Round, First Leg tie against hosts, Moghreb Tetouan.

    The Sai Masu Gida players decided to travel early for the encounter so as to acclimatise to the cold weather in the North African country, just as it was exclusively reported by our correspondent on Monday.

    Pillars’ Media Officer, Idris Malikawa told SportingLife that the players and technical crew were told to go first so that the winter chill in Morocco won’t derail their ambitions to move on in the competition.

    He also confirmed that the trio of Gambo Mohammed, Eneji Otekpa and Adamu Murtala were still recuperating from injuries sustained in an armed robbery attack on the Abuja-Lokoja Road on their way to honour their botched league game against Heartland.

    Malikawa confirmed that fit-again Ubong Ekpai and Reuben Ogbonnaya are part of the squad to Morocco, where the Kano side are aiming for a good result before the second leg tie at home on April 4.