The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rafiu Ladipo

  • Nigerian fans risk jail

    Nigerian fans risk jail

    • Brazilian police vow to arrest violent supporters

    Although members of the the Rafiu Ladipo-led Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) are known to be peaceful and easygoing, reasons have emerged why the body and indeed other fans should maintain the status quo and keep violence at arms length as the World Cup kicks off tomorrow in Brazil.

    A recent report on the state of the prisons where those caught fomenting trouble will be held, indicates that it will be hell on earth.

    Italian photographer Giuseppe Bizzarri was given rare access to Sao Paulo’s most infamous penitentiaries where football fans who run foul of the rules will definitely end up during the tournament.

    Bizzarri, who has lived in Brazil for more than 20 years, described Brazilian prisons as ‘crime universities’. The situation in the prisons, according to the report, is so bad that single beds accommodate five inmates with many struggling to find a squatting place.

    ‘These prisons really are brutal and no-one in their right mind would want to end up there,” the report published Monday further added.

  • Supporters’ club launches campaign for Eagles

    Supporters’ club launches campaign for Eagles

    The Nigeria Football and other Sports Supporters’ Club (NFSSC) on Friday launched a World Cup sticker campaign titled: “Goodluck to Super Eagles.”

    At the launch of the stickers, President-General of the NFSSC, Rafiu Ladipo, said the “Goodluck to Super Eagles initiative is geared towards ensuring that the Super Eagles get maximum support during the 2014 World Cup.

    Ladipo further revealed that aside the stickers; the club will also produce banners, flyers and t-shirts as a source of support to the team.

    “This is just the beginning of what to expect from the Supporters’ Club at the Mundial because we want to ensure that the Super Eagles get maximum support to enable them excel in Brazil,” KickOffNigeria.com quoted Ladipo as saying at the forum.

  • World Cup: Jonathan boosts Supporters’ Club with N50m

    World Cup: Jonathan boosts Supporters’ Club with N50m

    To ensure the Super Eagles excel at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday approved the release of N50 million cash to Nigerian Supporters’ Club.

    The money, according to the President, will enable the Supporters’ Club prepare adequately for the biennial tournament starting in June 12.

    He made the announcement after he was decorated as the Grand Patron of the Supporters’ Club just before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting started in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    While urging the supporters club not to relent in cheering the team to victory, he also promised to talk to some of the country’s “senior boy”’ to support the supporters’ club members throughout their stay in Brazil.

    He said, “We need to encourage you to go to Brazil. We will give you a token. We will start with N50 million and we will talk to some of our senior boys to support you.”

    As a grand patron now, the President said he will continue to support all sports in the country in all its ramifications.

    On the decoration, Jonathan said, “This decoration is dedicated to all members of my cabinet and all Nigerians of goodwill. I have always been a keen supporter of all sports. I hope to be with you in Brazil.”

    “We want to commend the Nigerian Supporters’ Club for your support to the country. It is therefore joyful to be associated with the supporters club. We really appreciate what you have been doing. The nation is mostly grateful to you all.”

    Speaking earlier, the President General of the Nigerian Super Eagles Supporters’ Club Worldwide, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, noted that the club plans to storm the World Cup in Brazil with 1,000 members.

    “Our plan is to go with 1,000 supporters to the World Cup. 500 will go from Nigeria while the remaining 500 will come from other countries. With your support, Super Eagles will minimally get to the semifinals in the World Cup,” He stated.

    Speaking with State House correspondents on whether a foreign technical adviser should be engaged for the team, Ladipo said, “Steven Keshi has done very well, but he still needs two or three people to help him read the game because he cannot see everything by himself.”

    “But nobody should force down anybody on him. He should be allowed to make his decision.”

    The Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, assisted Ladipo to decorate the President with white Agbada dotted with green-coloured design and green hat to match. He was also decorated with big golden neck chain, trophy and black walking stick to match.

     

  • Victories show Keshi deserves Glo/CAF awards — Ladipo

    Victories show Keshi deserves Glo/CAF awards — Ladipo

    The President-General, Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Rafiu Ladipo, on Sunday said Coach Stephen Keshi had shown with victories at the ongoing Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) that he deserved the Glo/CAF Awards.

    Keshi was named “Coach of the Year’’ by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) during its 2013 Awards ceremonies held recently in Lagos.

    Oladipo said in Cape Town that the club was also vindicated as the Glo/CAF Best Supporters Club award winner considering its performances so far at the CHAN in South Africa.

    The president-general told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that it was a feat for the Eagles to rally to defeat the Atlas Lions of Morocco 4-3 at the quarter-final match.

    The Eagles had come from three goals down in the first half to level scores at 3-3 at regulation time before going into extra time where they prevailed over the Moroccans.

    Ladipo said that Keshi’s change of pattern in the second half made the team to win the match.

    “Many coaches could have lost hope of recovery but Keshi proved his worth when he rose to the challenge to emerge victorious.

    “His confidence motivated his boys to go ahead and win the game in the second half to qualify for the semi-finals,’’ Ladipo declared.

    A sports commentator with the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation, Kunle Olowusi, said the determination of some of the boys to make the team to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil motivated them to victory.

    Olowusi told NAN that some of the players could have also been motivated by a desire to grab the attention of foreign scouts.

  • Ladipo rates Nigerian football high in 2013

    Ladipo rates Nigerian football high in 2013

    PRESIDENT General of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Rafiu Ladipo has revealed that football in Nigeria was at its best in the year 2013.

    The seasoned football supporter pointed out areas where Nigeria football deserved a pat on the back in a chat with the site.

    Earlier in the year, Ladipo created controversy when he stated on an LTV programme that he used to carry juju around in order to see the national team win football matches and tournaments.

    “Nigeria football was on a high in 2013. Starting from January 2013 in South Africa , the Super Eagles won the Cup of Nations and went ahead to win the Mandela Challenge,” Ladipo told Goal.

    “They [Eagles] also picked the World Cup ticket. And if you look at our national Under-17 football team in August, they won the World Cup while the Falconets did well by picking the World Cup ticket.

    “The Sand Eagles capped a successful year by successfully defending their Copa Lagos Beach Soccer trophy. In summary, you will discover that we were outstanding in 2013.”

    Ladipo also hinged the success of the Super Eagles on the technical crew’s ability to beam their searchlight on the Nigerian Premier League.

    “I believe the technical crew of the Super Eagles went to the grassroots and drafted in good players to fortify the team and that is why you have about five players in the Afcon-winning squad.

    “We once got it wrong and now we are getting it right and if we continue to make our league viable and stronger we will continue to get better,” he said.