The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PLAYERS

  • ‘English players happy to take easy option’

    Ashley Cole has claimed English footballers are happy to stay in their comfort zones after becoming the country’s only current representative in Italy’s Serie A.

    Left-back Cole has joined Roma and moved abroad for the first time in his career at the age of 33.

    England manager Roy Hodgson said the national team would benefit from more players going abroad after the dismal World Cup campaign.

    And Cole has now suggested that English players would rather take the easy option and stay at home, rather that testing themselves abroad.

    “I think perhaps English players feel in their comfort zone in England,” said Cole. “It’s a big opportunity for me to try a different language, culture and way of living. I’m happy with my choice.”

    Cole retired from international football after being left out of Hodgson’s World Cup squad.

    He watched England crash out of the tournament after just two games, but believes the young players, such as his replacement Luke Shaw, can benefit from what they learned in Brazil.

    “I saw the matches and this time as a fan,” said Cole. “It was a squad with many young players who had the opportunity for experience and to grow.

    “Things went less well than we had hoped, but they have had an experience that will be useful on their return. There was a positive note, the future is bright.”

  • Gombe Utd fans, players receive Eguavoen

    Gombe Utd fans, players receive Eguavoen

    The arrival of Austin Egauvoen and Oladuni Oyekale as the Technical Adviser and Coach of Gombe United respectively has been received with mixed feelings by the modest club side, despite the respect they have for the former Super Eagles handler.
    Eguavoen was said to have arrived the previous Tuesday following a mutual agreement between the club and its last handler, Maurice Cooreman to part ways.
    Though fans are satisfied with the pedigree of the Super Eagles ex-Captain and are happy with his arrival, they are also in doubt whether the changes would save the club which presently occupies the rock bottom position of the Nigerian Premier League.
    “We are happy because Eguavoen will now be in charge of Gombe United. But what we don‘t know is whether he can save us from relegation because we are presently at the bottom of the league and so far, we don’t have a team,” said Babaji, a fan of the club.
    Ahmed Buhari said: “Maurice is not bad. The man has good results with all the clubs he has handled. It’s just that he is unlucky with Gombe United. I think there is more problem in the club than what they are trying to make us understand.”
    Another fan who identified himself as Danlami Hussaini shared Babaji’s views and hoped Oladuni Oyekale would replicate his exploits with Crown FC.
    Some players of the club who spoke in anonymity unanimously said above a shake up in the technical department, government should address the issue of finance squarely. They said part of the reason the team has posted poor performance thus far was that their morale had been dampened as a result of the neglect of players’ welfare.
    The Savannah Scorpions’ fans are however disenchanted and frustrated over the performance of their darling team which has never been relegated since the commencement of premiership in Nigeria.

  • Kaduna United players still unpaid

    Kaduna United players still unpaid

    Hot on the heels of claims by players of Crown FC that they have not been paid salaries since February, players and officials of Kaduna United have revealed to SL10 that they have not been paid any form of salary since the commencement of the season.

    The players had a meeting with the Kaduna State Commissioner for Finance Bashir Zubairu at the State Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Commissioner, who also doubles as the board chairman, promised to look into their plight soon.

    “We just finished a meeting with the Commissioner for Sports and he promised to source for funds because since I came to this team I have not been paid a dime as salary,” a new player revealed.

    “Since the start of the season salaries have been paid twice but it’s only to the old players, we that joined before the start of the season have not been paid since the season started.”

    SL10 later spoke to another player who has also been with the team since last season and he confirmed that they have not been paid this season, that the salary they got was last season’s outstanding debt.

    “It’s true we have not been paid since the season started, but we the old players from last season that were owed six months, we got paid for two and half months, and that was since March.”

    It was also gathered that the team’s late coach Saleh Lato Tanko was owed 10 months salaries before his demise because when salaries were paid prior to his death, his name was omitted from the pay voucher.

  • Anichebe: Players to blame not coach

    Anichebe: Players to blame not coach

    SUPER Eagle and West Brom forward Victor Anichebe has emphasised the urgent need for him and his Albion team-mates to up their game, stressing that head coach Pepe Mel cannot take all the blame for the club’s current predicament.

    With 10 fixtures left to go this season, the Baggies are currently 17th in the Premier League and separated from the relegation zone by goal difference alone.

    They have not won any of their seven matches under Mel following his appointment in January and reports have suggested the Spaniard’s job is under threat.

    Anichebe is in no doubt that things need to change – but on the pitch, in terms of the players’ performance.

    “We’re in a serious position and we need to pull our socks up and get some points,” Anichebe, quoted by West Brom’s official website, said.

    “The next game (Saturday’s trip to Swansea) we need to improve and all of us know that. It’s down to us as players to go out there and play as well as we can.

    “It’s not all down to the head coach. We, as players, need to go out and do well for the team and the supporters.

    “Whatever team the head coach puts out, we’re the ones who step over the line and we need to work hard and fight.”

    West Brom’s last outing saw them beaten 3-0 at The Hawthorns by Manchester United on Saturday. After Swansea, they face Hull and Norwich away, either side of hosting Cardiff.

    Anichebe said: “We can’t be too down about last Saturday because we’re not going to play Manchester United every week.”

  • Taraba Coach warns players: Shape up or get fired

    Taraba Coach warns players: Shape up or get fired

    • As training resumes today

    The Technical Adviser of FC Taraba, Ndubusi Nduka has fired a stern warning to players of the club to live up to expectation as his ambition is to lead the team to success this season in their Premier League debut.

    The former Heartland Football Club coach, who also disclosed to SportingLife that training would commence today in Jalingo in preparation for the league demanded total commitment to the team from the players in their quest of having a successful debut in the Globacom Premier League.

    Nduka, who took over the affairs of the club few weeks before the Christmas and New year festivities, said most of the players have arrived in Jalingo on Sunday but stressed that he expects that the other players would be on ground to join them in the first training session of the year today.

    Nduka, however, warned that there will be stiff penalty awaiting any player who turns up late to the camp. “The party is over for the playing personnel, technical crew and back room staff. We must adhere strictly to achieving our set goals for the season.

    The chief coach maintained that his mandate was to get the players fully ready for the new season, especially as the league has long been on brake. He noted that it will take seriousness on the part of the players and all the coaching crew to be able to get the players in the form that is needed to participate well in the league.

    “I know I have a big job on my hand to get the players ready for the task ahead. This is why we are not leaving any stone unturned in ensuring that all hands are on deck in achieving that. We demand 100 per cent seriousness from the players as there will not be any room for lazy and unserious players,” he said.

     

  • Nembe City denies owing players

    Nembe City denies owing players

    The management of Nembe City have refuted claims that the club owes its players last season monthly salaries, signing-on fees and bonuses.

    One of the players alleged that the club still owed some of its player’s five month salaries, signing-on fees and several bonuses.

    The club’s Team Manager, David Ikputu in a telephone chat with SportingLife challenged the players to come out openly to prove their case, adding that the club has settled its players all their wages.

    “We are surprised to have read on the pages of newspapers that the club still owes monthly salaries, signing-on fees and match bonuses. In as much as we don’t like to engage people on these kind of issues but we have to set the record straight by saying that we don’t owe any player money for last season,” Ikputu told SportingLife.

    “We have settled them all their entitlements for last season and any player who has anything contrary to that should come out with proof. We know that we are capable of handling the club that is why we set it up and we will continue to do our part to make it great.”

  • Life in the lower league: ABS GM warns players, coaches

    Life in the lower league: ABS GM warns players, coaches

    ABS General Manager, Alloy Chukwuemeka has warned players and officials of the club to brace up for a fight in their bid to return to the elite division as they resume today for pre-season activities ahead of the National League season.

    Chukwuemeka, in a mail to SportingLife, said ABS FC decided to begin preparations for the 2013/2014 Nigeria National League (NNL) season so that the club can fashion out ways to negotiate their way back to the top flight.

    He, therefore, directed that all coaches and players of the club should resume at the team’s playing ground at the Kwara Football Academy by 7.00am today. The players are to come with their kits as they will commence training immediatelly.

    Following the relegation of the club at the end of the 2012/2013 Premier League season, ABS will now campaign in the NNL, and have been placed in the Southern Division of the cadre for the season.

    Chukwuemeka confirmed that the club would lose the services of some notable players who have teamed up with some Premier League Clubs.

    He added that the immediate task at hand was to return the team to the elite league, even as he called for support from fans, supporters, and stakeholders.

    He then commended the proprietor of the team, Senator (Dr) Abubakar Bukola Saraki (CON), for keeping faith with his vision of using the team to empower and develop young people.

    ABS were relegated alongside Ilorin-based club, Kwara United at the end of the 2012/2013 season and both clubs.

  • Lobi players resume pre-season next Monday

    Lobi players resume pre-season next Monday

    • Club to shape up for 10 days before christmas break

    Lobi Stars have told their players to return to their Mc Arthur Sports Complex, Makurdi on Sunday for the start of their 10 day close camping exercise ahead of the 2013/2014 Globacom Premier League season.

    The Makurdi Bombers’ head coach, Evans Ogenyi told SportingLife that the camping is to ensure that the club raises a formidable team that would represent the state in the premier league and the Federation Cup competitions.

    The training will commence on Monday and the players will remain in camp until few days to the yuletide celebrations.

    “Lobi Stars players will resume training for the next league season on Monday and it will be a 10 day programme to get the best players possible for the team ahead of hostilities in the league and FA Cup.

    “We are going to make use of the MC Arthur Sports Complex in Makurdi. The training will be intense as Lobi looks forward to very fruitful season in the league and other competitions.

    “We are going to play some grade A friendly matches around this period too,” Ogenyi told SportingLife.

    Lobi finished last soccer season in 14th position with 52 points from 38 matches but they went as far as the semi finals in the Federation Cup before losing to Enyimba 1-0 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin.

  • 20 players hit Pillars screening today

    20 players hit Pillars screening today

    All players invited for the Kano Pillars screening exercise will report to the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano today.

    The club’s media officer, Idris Malikawa disclosed this to SportingLife on Sunday.

    Malikawa said the club is poised to pick the best leg for the team ahead of next season’s campaign.

    The Pyramid City side will represent the country in the CAF Champions League in the coming season and Malikawa said the club is willing to surpass its past record in the African money-spinning showpiece.

    “The preparation for the new season has begun after the Super Cup game against Enyimba. We have informed all the invited players to report to camp on Monday for screening. We are expecting about 15 or 20 players,” Malikawa told SportingLife.

    “As you are aware, we have lots to compete for next season. As the league champions, we want to ensure that we do well in the league and also make a good impression in the CAF Champions League. We’ve played in the continent before but we want to win it this time. So, the best players will be selected from the screening. Some of them were spotted during the league last season and they are all aware of our interest in them.”

  • Manu to Keshi: My players are good enough for Brazil 2014

    Manu to Keshi: My players are good enough for Brazil 2014

    • Says Eaglets will learn more under the Big Boss

    Golden Eaglets’ head coach, Manu Garba has challenged the Super Eagles’ handler, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi to look in the direction of his players for next year’s senior FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    The Eaglets have been flawless since the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup began in the United Arab Emirates(UAE) and are only a game away from carting away a record fourth cadet title on Asian soil.

    Ahead of the final match in Abu Dhabi tomorrow, Manu told journalists in Sharjah that Keshi would do very well to invite some of the players to camp for them to gain additional knowledge and experience leading to the 2018 edition which he said they would be prepared for.

    The Eaglets gaffer said that securing spots in the 2014 FIFA World Cup squad may be a tall order for his boys because they still lack the necessary requisite experience to cope with the demands of the senior World Cup.

    But Manu noted that his boys would relish the opportunity for some of them to train with the Super Eagles and that it would remain indelible in their hearts till when they would have their own chance in the senior national team.

    “Yes, I believe that some of my players are good enough for the Super Eagles. They can play at next year’s World Cup though it may be too early for them. They can, however, gain experience from their stay in the Eagles’ camp that will be of help when they have the opportunity to represent their fatherland in 2018 World Cup.

    “I want to appeal to Keshi to give some of the Eaglets the chance to train with the senior national team because they will definitely have something to learn that will be of immense benefit to them in the future,” Manu told journalists after the Eaglets 2-0 win over Uruguay in Sharjah last Saturday.

    Two goals from Taiwo Awoniyi got the Eaglets a spot in the last four before another impressive 3-0 scoreline over Sweden in the semi final which secured their place in the final.