The Nation Newspaper

Tag: relegated

  • NPFL 2016/2017: Supporters warn Rangers against Relegation

    NPFL 2016/2017: Supporters warn Rangers against Relegation

    Okechukwu Onwudiariri, Chairman, Rivers Chapter, Rangers International FC of Enugu Supporters Club, has warned the team to be wary of being relegated after the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    Onwudiariri gave the warning on Monday in Enugu while reacting to the club’s 2-2 draw with Zesco Utd of Zambia on Sunday, in the ongoing Africa Football Confederation (CAF) Confederation Cup.

    He said the development was heartbreaking, noting that the supporters expected victory in the encounter after the 2-0 lead in the 47th minute.

    Onwudiariri, who advised the technical crew to be mindful of their performance or face relegation in the domestic league, adding that the supporters had fears that the club might be relegated.

    “We are not happy with Rangers performance in the ongoing season because the club is the joy of millions of Igbo people.

    “What pains us most is the 2-2 draw with Zesco after an early 2-0 lead up to 69th minute only to relinquish the advantage after wrong substitution by the coach that favoured the Zambians.

    “Thank God that the imported Ghanaian goalkeeper, Nana Bonsu, saved us from further embarrassment with a brilliant last minute save, if not, the Zambians would have defeated Rangers,’’ he said.

    He recalled that the club had not gone on relegation and urged the players to do everything possible to save the club from relegation in the ongoing league.

    “We won the league last season and this season we are occupying the bottom position in the league and facing relegation, but honestly, we are not expecting that.

    “Our position at the league is very bad, therefore we want them to come out of it; indeed, we cannot take relegation from anybody.

    “It is better that the government comes into this matter and perform its duty diligently to ensure that the club did not go on relegation for the first time in history.

    NAN reports that though Rangers have four outstanding games, it currently at the bottom of the league table with 13 points from 14 matches.

  • Dike: Heartland won’t be relegated

    Dike: Heartland won’t be relegated

    Heartland head coach, Alphonsus Dike has predicted a turnaround for the Naze Millionaires in their bid to escape relegation at the end of the season after their 1-0 home win over neighbours, Enyimba in a NPFL Match Day 26 tie played in Owerri on Saturday.

    The game was destined to end goalless at the Dan Anyiam Stadium before Heartland pulled the trigger through Bright Ejike who scored his first goal of the season from the penalty spot after Enyimba’s skipper, Chinedu Udoji upended the Naze Millionaires’ striker, Akpoveta Ojevwe in the 91st minute of the encounter.

    Speaking with SportingLife after the tension soaked encounter, Dike opined that he is more than sure that his boys would escape the relegation battle and that he is delighted that the newly acquired players are bonding with the other players at this crucial time of the season after losing some of his best legs during the mid season transfer.

    Dike praised Enyimba players for giving the crowd at the stadium something to cheer about with their impressive display but added that his boys never lost hope even after the match officials indicated the five minutes added time and was happy that their patience paid off.

    Heartland improved to 29 points on the log from 25 matches and will face MFM in Lagos this weekend.

  • No pay cut for relegated 3SC

    No pay cut for relegated 3SC

    Acting chairman of relegated Shooting Stars

    Sports Club (3SC), Tunde Kelani, has promised the players their salaries and sign-on fees will not be slashed even after they were demoted to the lower league.

    “We have already told the players that their salaries and their sign-on fees will not be slashed because they will now play in the second division. We want to keep the core of the team from the past season so that we return to the top flight by the coming season,” Kelani revealed.

    He added: “We do not belong to the lower league and that is why we have to make a quick return to the top league, where we rightly belong. And we are now working day and night to ensure we do just that.

    “Our fans should just bear with us as we now wish to re-position the club so that by the time we return to the Premier League, we will again be a force to reckon with.”

    Top transfer targets from the club would be strikers Gbolahan Salami, Ighadalor Osagona as well as midfielders Philip Asuquo and Oladapo Olufemi.

    Shooting Stars finished bottom of the 20-club league with 46 points from 38 matches.

  • Prime FC will not be relegated, says Chairman

    Prime FC will not be relegated, says Chairman

    The Chairman, Prime FC of Ogbomoso, Taiwo Ogunjobi, on Wednesday said that the club would not be relegated in spite of its position in the ongoing 2012/2013 Nigeria National League (NNL).

    Ogunjobi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that the club was in the 13th position of the 14-club Division B side of the league.

    NAN reports that two clubs in each of the Divisions A and B of the league would be promoted to the Premiership while two in each of the divisions would be relegated to the Nigerian Nationwide League.

    Ogunjobi, a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Association, said that the club had played 24 of its 27 matches in the league with 31 points.

    The chairman told NAN that, although the position left the club in the relegation zone, it will approach its remaining three matches with utmost zeal to escape relegation.

    “We are doing everything possible to ensure that our standard improves in the remaining matches, at least, to escape relegation. The club will put all its tactics in display to escape relegation; I want the club’s supporters to be at rest and believe that all is well. I know we have a lot in our hands to do in revamping the club. All these are already being looked into,’’ Ogunjobi said.

    According to him, Prime FC will be aiming to secure promotion to the Globacom Premier League next season.

    “The club is aspiring to join the Globacom Premier League in the 2013/2014 season because that is where the club is supposed to be,’’ he said.

    The former secretary-general said that the team performed well in the ongoing NNL in spite of some challenges.

    “I am impressed by the performance of my players so far, and I believe it will get better; our late take off in the league is part of the reasons for our being behind,’’ he said.

    Ogunjobi said that the club would undergo a complete overhaul after escaping relegation.