The Nation Newspaper

Tag: olabiyi

  • Olabiyi shines for Houston Dynamo vs Gerrard’s Galaxy

    Olabiyi shines for Houston Dynamo vs Gerrard’s Galaxy

    Nigeria midfielder Rasheed Olabiyi shone brightly for Houston Dynamo as they thrashed LA Galaxy 3-0 in an MLS game on Saturday night.

    LA Galaxy paraded former Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane.

    The former Enyimba and Shooting Stars played for few minutes but his impact was greatly felt as he assisted Leonel Miranda for the third goal.

    Olabiyi replaced Alex in the 87th minute, he then won a ball in the opponents’ half, beat his marker neatly and sent Miranda through on goal in the 89th minute which sealed the victory for the Texas State-based team.

  • Write off 3SC at your peril, warns Olabiyi

    Write off 3SC at your peril, warns Olabiyi

    3SC midfielder Rasheed Olabiyi has backed his team to bounce back to winning ways in the league after a shaky start to life back in the top flight.

    The former Enyimba player told AfricanFootball.com it was too early to write off 3SC as they will come through as the league gathers momentum.

    “It is true that we lost our first two games of the season which was so painful, but that’s football. That does not mean we are a bad team. I strongly believe that we will get it right and do well this season,” Olabiyi told AfricanFootball.com

    He also revealed why he joined 3SC despite interests from bigger clubs some of who are campaigning on the continent.

    “I just decided to follow my heart, and I’m very happy to come back home and play on my soil,” he said.

  • Sodiq, Olabiyi train with 3SC

    Sodiq, Olabiyi train with 3SC

    Enyimba midfielder Rasheed Olabiyi and  former Nigeria U-20 star Suraj Sodiq have joined promoted 3SC. The two players trained with 3SC on Tuesday evening

    The club’s media officer Jubril Arowolo revealed to AfricanFootball.com that the Oluyole Warriors won the race to sign star midfielder Olabiyi.

    “Yes, we have signed Rasheed Olabiyi and Suraj Sodiq,” Arowolo told AfricanFootball.com.

    3SC beat Kano Pillars and Warri Wolves to the talented midfielder.

    Sodiq, on the other hand, starred for Nigeria at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. He last played for Dohuk SC in Iraq and has also played for Olympique club de Safi in Morocco.

  • Olabiyi: My Wonder Goal came from persistent practice

    Olabiyi: My Wonder Goal came from persistent practice

    Olabiyi was beside  himself with joy and could barely suppress his excitement when he was presented with the plaque and one hundred thousand naira cheque on a day his club came from two goals down to post a commanding 5-2 win against Sharks FC at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba.

    Businessman, Ide Ifeanyi Chukwuma presented the award memorabilia to Olabiyi who then dedicated the award to his team mates

    “The goal was as a result of persistent training, it was the first time I scored from that distance,” Olabiyi told www.lmc-ng.com

    “My coaches have always encouraged me to shoot whenever I find myself in that position and I’m happy the ball went in”.

    He also described the award as a compliment to a special goal, noting that “it is made more special for me because it was against Abia Warriors, our state rivals who came to Aba and defeated us earlier in the season.”

    The player, who graduated from the famous Pepsi Football Academy to Enyimba, nominated an orphanage in Aba, the Ngwa Road Motherless Babies’ Home as his preferred Charity organization to benefit from the cash reward attached to the award.

    “I want to thank the League Management Company (LMC) for this honour and the reward which has enabled me to give back to the society and more importantly, the less-privileged,” remarked the former national Under-17 player.

    Also commenting on the award which he presented to the midfielder, Okechukwu congratulated Olabiyi and urged him to see the award as an incentive to raise his game to become one of the best players in the country.

    “This award is not an end in itself but a motivation for you and any other winner to improve on your game to become one of the Super Eagles players and indeed one of the best in the world”, the business man admonished the player.

    The LMC introduced the Wonder Goal Award to deepen Club and Community engagement and also reward players who scored spectacular goals in the Glo Premier League. Previous winners are Rangers duo of Osaguona Ighodaro and Emeka Eze as well as Bayelsa United’s Oghogho Oduokpe.

  • Lobi were tough —Olabiyi

    Lobi were tough —Olabiyi

    • Eyes African Champions League ticket

    Enyimba of Aba midfielder, Rasheed Olabiyi says he is happy to have been in the People’s Elephant squad that pipped Lobi Stars 1-0 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City to qualify for another Federation Cup final.

    Olabiyi, who was on the pitch for 90 minutes, said Lobi made life difficult for them throughout the encounter.

    He added that having reached the Federation Cup final, they have set their attention on the league which will enter match day 27 this weekend.

    On their weekend fixture against Kwara United at the Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin, Olabiyi said the Aba Millionaires would be ready to avenge their goalless draw against the Afonja Warriors in Aba in the first stanza.

    “I am elated we are through to the final and looking to the encounter in Lagos with all seriousness.

    “But, before then, we shall focus our attention on the league where we hope to gain a ticket to the Champions League. We are ready for our next opponents.

    “We are going to Ilorin to face Kwara United. It is our personal target to avoid defeat there because they came to Aba to get a draw at the beginning of the season,” Olabiyi hinted.

    Enyimba are top of the league table with 42 points from 26 matches while Kwara United are 4th with 41 points from same number of matches.