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Tag: Shorunmu

  • Shorunmu, Giwa join Ikorodu Utd

    Shorunmu, Giwa join Ikorodu Utd

    Former Super Eagles goalkeeper coach, Ike Shorunmu has joined the top-flight newcomers, Ikorodu United as goalkeeper trainer for the rest of the on-going season.

    “Shorunmu and Giwa were presented to the team on Tuesday as goalkeeper trainer and assistant coach respectively. Shorunmu actually met with the players same yesterday (Tuesday) during training to familiarise himself with the bench and players.

    “Ikorodu United have a tradition of giving former internationals a pride of place in the team so the newest additions is in keeping with the house trend. Of course, their jobs are well spelt out to work assiduously hard to ensure the team survives relegation in the on-going season.

    “Incidentally, all the appointees will be on the bench for the first time in Sunday’s NPFL matchday 25 clash at MFM FC in Agege. We hope their experiences will signal an instant rebirth of the side’s fortune and firm path of survival. They are happy with the enormous challenge on their shoulders and promised not to disappoint,” said Ayoola to supersport.com.

    An official of Ikorodu United, Tunde Ayoola said the restructuring is aimed at helping the side stave off the threat of relegation starring the Lagos outfit in the face in the 24-week old Nigerian top-flight.

  • Amokachi, Shorunmu, Keshi scared of sack

    Amokachi, Shorunmu, Keshi scared of sack

    Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer and former Nigeria international, Ike Shorunmu have said that the recent Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) crisis affected the national team in their games against Congo Brazzaville and South Africa in the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON)’ qualification series.

    “My prayer is that this crisis should end fast because the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has a big role to play in any national team,” Shorunmu said in an exclusive chat with SportingLife yesterday.

    “At the time we played the first match which we lost in Calabar against Congo, no coach in the team was sure of his job. But we summoned courage to do the work when the Chief Coach (Stephen Keshi) called and told us that  we needed to prosecute the matches against Congo and the second one away to South Africa which ended in a scoreless draw.

    “Despite the fact that we were afraid of losing our jobs since we didn’t know our fate as regards our employment, we still handled the team for the two games in the interest of the country.

    “Since we don’t have any other country but Nigeria, we chose to prosecute the matches despite the fears in us that we could lose our jobs in the aftermath of the football crisis.”

    The goalkeeper coach is however confident that the Eagles would still book a ticket to the 2015 African Cup of Nations, although he admitted that the team needs to beat its next foe Sudan home and away to brighten Nigeria’s chances of qualification for the 2015 AFCON in Morocco.

    “Firstly, I want to confess to you that we the coaches were very disappointed with the performance of the team in the two games and the Chief Coach did not hide this fact from the players.

    “From the way things are now, the team (Super Eagles) must win the remaining four matches in the group to be sure of qualification. “It is a matter of fact that African teams always up their game when they play against the Super Eagles which always make such matches very difficult, but there is no hiding place for us as a team because the players are aware of the fact that they must win the remaining four games for Nigeria to be in Morocco in January, 2015”.

    “But we will see how things turn-out after playing the next two games against Congo (Brazzaville) and I am confident that the players will rise to the billing”, Shorunmu concluded.

  • World Cup qualifiers: Eagles are fired up, says Shorunmu

    World Cup qualifiers: Eagles are fired up, says Shorunmu

    Super Eagles Goalkeeper Coach, Ike Shorunmu has voiced it loud and clear that the Eagles are in a vantage position and in a good frame of mind to achieve victories in all their matches next month.

    The former Super Eagles goal tender believes that the team’s form has not dwindled since the players that make up the team are doing well in their respective clubs.

    He also said that the improved rating of Nigeria in FIFA rankings (28th best team in the world) would fire up the boys to win their 2014 FIFA World Cup matches away to Kenya and Namibia.

    “The improvement of the Super Eagles in FIFA ratings for this month is good for the psychology of the team, especially now that we have important matches to play as from June 5th, 2013, Shorunmu told SportingLife yesterday.

    “But it is important to say that the improved rating is a call to do more and not to disappoint Nigerians that are supporting us and always behind the team”, he remarked.

    Shorunmu was also full of praises for Eagles’ first choice in goal and Deputy Captain Vincent Enyeama for helping Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel to end a 10-year league drought by winning the Israeli Ligat ha’Al championship after his Maccabi Tel Aviv FC’s 2-0 away victory at Ironi Ramat Hasharon on Monday April 22, 2013.

    Enyeama was in goal for Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC for all duration of the game, and kept a clean sheet.

    “Enyeama is in a very good form. He did well in the last Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa early this year. It was that form he took to his club and I sincerely believe that his good form will also help us in winning our two (2014) World Cup matches next month”, Shorunmu told SportingLife.

    Shorunmu also allayed fears over Eages’ preparations saying that the officials and coaches of the team do not need to make any noise about it before Nigerians would know that they are preparing.

    “I am using this medium to tell Nigerians that they should continue to pray for the team and we won’t disappoint”, he assured.

  • Shorunmu, Attah grateful to German Embassy for visas

    Shorunmu, Attah grateful to German Embassy for visas

    Super Eagles’ Goalkeeper trainer Ike Shorunmu and Eagles Team Coordinator Emmanuel Attah has showered praises on the Germany Consular for the prompt attention the Embassy gave the 12 home based Super Eagles and the officials that stormed the Embassy in Lagos yesterday to process their visas for the team’s camping that is expected to commence in Germany on May 16th, 2013.

    The Eagles would kick start preparations in Germany on the said date for June’s World Cup qualifiers and FIFA Confederation Cup with matches lined up against Mexico Kenya and Namibia. Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi made public the list of 30 players with 18 coming from Europe, while 12 others are from the home front.

    The 12 home-based stars stormed the German Embassy in Lagos yesterday together with the team coaches and backroom staff, among who were assistant coach Daniel Amokachi, goalkeeper trainer Ike Shorunmu, team secretary Dayo Achor Enebi, team Coordinator, Emmanuel Attah, team curator, team doctor and physiotherapy.

    Shorunmu, however, gave kudos to the German Embassy staff for the prompt attention they gave to the Eagles.

    “I am particularly happy and impressed with the reception accorded us by the staff of the German Embassy. I am using this medium to say a very big thank you to them”, Shorunmu told NationSport from Lagos yesterday.

    The Team Coordinator also showered encomiums on the Embassy. “The German Embassy staff are wonderful. We are very grateful for the way they treated us and our promptly processed of the visas. We are sure of getting back our International Passports with visas in them in few days”, the amiable former FCT Football Association Chairman disclosed.

    The players and officials would face the United States of America Embassy on Tuesday (April 30, 2013) for visas for the Mexico friendly game. Officials are also optimistic of getting the visas on time before departure for Germany on May 16, 2013.

  • Eaglets start on a good note, say Onigbinde, Shorunmu

    Eaglets start on a good note, say Onigbinde, Shorunmu

    Adegboye Onigbinde, a former Head Coach of the Super Eagles, on Monday applauded the performance of the Golden Eaglets for starting the ongoing CAF U-17 Championship in Casablanca, Moorocco on a winning note.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Eaglets defeated their Ghanaian opponents by six goals to one at the ongoing tournament on Sunday. He told NAN that being a patriotic Nigerian; he expected the team to build on the result of their first match, to excel in the tournament.

    “Concerning the Eaglets performance, naturally as a patriotic Nigerian, I’m very happy and I think that was a very good beginning. I think that will spur them to perform better. For them to maintain their winning streak depends on the coach, I mean the technical crew. It is just for them to sit down and analyse.

    “Because in football there is a difference between performance and result, the result as we have seen is very good, What about their performance, which is also important,” Onigbinde noted.

    Onigbinde, a CAF and FIFA instructor, urged the handlers of the team to ensure that they maintain and instil discipline in the squad, for better results.

    “They should maintain discipline in the team and ensure that they build on the success of the opening match; they should not rest on their oars,” Onigbinde said.

    Also commending the Golden Eaglets, Ike Shorunmu, the goalkeeper trainer of the Super Eagles, described their victory as ‘a good start’. He, however, urged them not to relent in their efforts, so that they would lift the cup.

    “That’s a good start for the Eaglets, and for the country. I hope they will continue on this note, their victory will boost their confidence, which is necessary for the team. I just hope they get to the final of the competition and come back home with the trophy. 2013 is a year of trophies for the country’s football,” Shorunmu predicted.

    NAN reports that the ongoing CAF U-17 Championship in Casablanca, Morocco, kicked off on April 13 and will end on April 27. The Eaglets will be playing their next group match on April 17 against Cote d’Ivoire

     

  • Enyeama, Ejide fit for AFCON —Shorunmu

    Enyeama, Ejide fit for AFCON —Shorunmu

    •Says the best will be in goal in South Africa

    SUPER EAGLES’ goalkeeper trainer, Ike Shorunmu has allayed fears on the readiness and fitness levels of the team’s top two goalkeepers, Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide who are based in Israel.

    The two goal stoppers topped the list of four goalkeepers included in the squad list of 32 released by Eagles gaffer, Stephen Keshi for the Faro, Portugal camping that would commence on December 29th, 2012. The other keepers are Rangers’ new keeper Chigozie Agbim and Heartland’s goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.

    “Yes, Enyeama and Ejide are in good shape for the 2013 AFCON and I can assure you that all is well as far as that position is concerned. For now they are injury-free and they have been playing regularly for their respective clubs in Israel”, the former Eagles first choice in goal, popularly called ‘Ike Anobi’ told NationSport in Abuja yesterday.

    “Back there in Israel I got good news about the duo and I do follow their performances on websites and television and I have been calling them too to keep the records on the number of matches they played, the way they performed in matches and I kept trailing them in various ways.

    “Sincerely speaking, they will have to face our own final screening in Faro, Portugal, but I am confident of their abilities as a goalkeeper to make the final squad for the AFCON proper and to use their wealth of experience to help the team in the competition proper barring unexpected situations and injuries”, Shorunmu told NationSport.