The Nation Newspaper

Tag: promises

  • Keshi promises Nigerians, Imoke sweet victory

    •Pomp welcomes Eagles to Calabar

    NOT KNOWN to be flippant when it comes to making promises, Super Eagles boss, Stephen Keshi, momentarily threw that to the winds when he assured Nigerians and especially Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River and the people of the state that the national team will offer a sweet victory to the nation come Saturday October 13 when they square up against Liberia at the UJ Esuene Stadium.

    Keshi who was overwhelmed by the huge reception accorded the team on arrival at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, thanked the leadership of the state and urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the team. “Because by God’s grace come Saturday we will give the nation a sweet victory and qualify for the Nations Cup in South Africa,” he said.

    Keshi also spoke on the arrival of his army of European based professionals, revealing for the umpteenth time that he has the promise of all of them to be in Calabar today at the latest. He assured that there was enough time to prepare the team for the game against the Lone Star of Liberia, arguing that the fact that most of the players invited have been playing regularly for their club sides is enough to make up for lost time.

    The team was welcomed at the airport by the Commissioner of Sports, Hon. Patrick Ugbe, and a retinue of other top government functionaries, with the State chapter of the Nigeria Football and Other Sports Supporter Club drumming away to the delight of the seven home based players and officials.

    The Arik Air Plane that took the team to Calabar, left Abuja at 10:50am and arrived the airport at 11:50, about an hour flight, that was described as fairly smooth. The team has since moved into its abode at the Metropolitan Hotel, while expecting the foreign based legion to start streaming in later in the day.

  • We’ll fulfil our electoral promises, says Aregbesola

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said his administration will fulfil its electoral promises to the people.
    The governor spoke in Ikire, headquarters of Irewole Local Government Area, during the monthly Walk-to-Live programme.
    Despite the heavy downpour, the long procession of participants walked through the streets of Ikire, singing and dancing.
    Aregbesola saluted the endurance of the participants for defying the rain.
    He urged residents of Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency and the state to take care of their health and hygiene.
    The governor re-emphasised the importance of the monthly physical exercise, saying it would raise the bar of the low life expectancy attributed to Africans.
    He said the low life expectancy was attributable to lack of regular exercises among the people.
    According to him, life expectancy is low in this part of the world because of inadequate health care system and good, quality foods.
    Aregbesola advised the people to sanitise their environment to prevent flooding and outbreak of diseases.
    He said: “Our main aim for introducing this programme is to educate our people on the need to take good care of their personal health and hygiene. This alone will go a long way in increasing the low life expectancy ratio ascribed to Africa.
    “This is the fulcrum of the monthly exercise. We, as a human beings, owe certain responsibilities to our bodies to function very well and for us to have healthy bodies.
    “We must, in addition to regular physical exercise, eat good food and keep our immediate surroundings clean to prevent outbreak of epidemics and other preventable diseases.”
    Among the dignitaries at the programme were Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Folorunso Bamidele Olabode; a member of the House of Representatives, Alhaja Ayo Omidiran, representing Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan Constituency; state executive and legislative members; the newly appointed Head of Service (HOS), Mr. Sunday Olayinka Owoeye.
    Others were the former Super Eagles coach, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde; renowned sport administrator Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi; a former Super Eagles player, Ademola Adeshina and a crop of Nollywood actors and actresses.

  • Obuh promises 2013 AYC qualification

    Obuh promises 2013 AYC qualification

    Coach John Obuh has promised that the Flying Eagles will qualify for next year’s AYC in Algeria after they drew 1-1 with South Africa in Nelspruit on Friday.

    The Flying Eagles are the defending African champions having won the 2011 competition in South Africa and they maintained an unbeaten record in the qualifying tournament for the 2013 edition after they fought back from a goal down to tie with a good and spirited Amajita of South Africa.

    The return leg match will be played on Sunday, October 7, in Ilorin with the overall winners advancing to the eight-nation AYC in Algeria in March.

    “It won’t be an easy game in Ilorin against a good and fast South African team, but we will qualify. I’m okay with the draw in South Africa as well as the overall performance of the team. We gave away the ball rather easily at the beginning, but we later settled down and took the game to them,” declared Obuh.

    Six-time African champions Nigeria will be the favourites to beat their South African counterparts in Ilorin, but Obuh warned that playing in front of the home fans would not count for much against a good team.

    “These days there isn’t such a thing as home advantage because a good team can play anywhere and win. Football has changed and so we can’t relax to ensure we finish off the job in Ilorin.”

    Amajita coach Solly Luvhengo said after the draw at the magnificent Mbombela Stadium that they were up against a very good Nigerian team, but will still hope to get a result on the road to reach Algeria 2013.

    “We played against a very good side, who showed they are the defending African champions. We had a chance to score at least two goals early in the game, we put them under pressure, but could not really hurt them,” Luvhengo remarked.

    “However, Nigeria came back at us, we took the pressure, but I was disappointed we let in a goal even though at that moment Nigeria deserved a goal. The return leg in Nigeria will be very difficult, but we will fight there. They are a good team but we will fight them. We just need to score in Nigeria and the pressure will be back on Nigeria. That is our target.”

    The South Africans will play on an unfamiliar astro turf pitch, but the coach insisted it will enhance and not affect their passing game.

    “It’s very good that we are playing on such a pitch, at least it won’t be bumpy pitch,” he reasoned.