The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Soccer

  • Mass Comm. wins soccer contest

    Mass Comm. wins soccer contest

    It was all excitement at the sport centre of the Kogi State University (KSU) in Anyigba as Students’ Union Government (SUG) organised a soccer contest for all departments of the school. The contest started with preliminary stages, where the departments were divided into groups.

    The teams which qualified from the group stage were fixed against one another in the knock-out stage, leaving Mass Communication and Philosophy departments to qualify for the final round.

    At the final match, players of the Mass Communication Department were clad in yellow jersey and led to the field by the supporters, while their counterparts from Philosophy adorned green jersey.

    It was a hard challenge for the communication students playing against Philosophy team whose members are professional players in the university’s football team.

    The Philosophy students dominated the field as they seemed more experienced than their counterparts in Mass Communication.

    The Mass Communication players, knowing the capability of their midfielder, Peace Egwuda, decided to feed the player with some deft passes to destabilise their opponents’ defence.

    After 90 minutes, the match ended goalless. This made the referee to take decision and called for penalty shootout.

    Philosophy’s Joseph Enemali, who kicked the first penalty, missed the goal. But all Mass Communication players scored points with their kicks. The penalty ended 5-4 in favour of the Mass Communication.

    At the end of the match, Peace was declared the Man of the Match, due to his magical left foot that disorganised the opponents for the duration of the match.

  • Faculty wins soccer contest

    Faculty wins soccer contest

    The Faculty of Management Science of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) has won the maiden Inter-Faculty Football Competition organised by the school’s management to develop students’ skills in sport.

    The school stadium was filled by students, who were there to support their faculties’ players. All the 11 faculties that make up the school participated in the contest, which had the participating teams divided into two groups in the preliminary stage.

    The opening game was between faculties of Social Science and Sciences; it ended in favour of the former after a penalty shootout.

    However, Management Science team beat Social Science 3:1 after a penalty shootout to qualify for the final match, where it met Faculty of Education team.

    In the first 12 minutes of the final match, Faculty of Education team scored a goal, which left the opposing Management Science team distressed. But, the Management Science team equalised in 29 minutes. After 90 minutes, the match ended in draw, leading to penalty shootouts. Faculty Management Science team beat its rival team 3:1 to win the trophy.

    The Dean, Students’ Affairs, Dr Adamu Aliero, described the match as interesting, praising the students for showing spirit of sportsmanship. He hailed the school’s management for organising the contest.

    A player in Management Science team, Yusuf Adeyemo, said: he was excited by the feat, praising his teammates for their efforts.

    President of the winning faculty, Buhari Subair, who was the team’s coach, said his side won the contest because of teamwork.

    Management Science captain, Muttaka Hashim, said: “The feat did not only show the corporation of teammates, it also shows the level of success students can achieve if they work together.”

    The presentation of trophy was witnessed by the Deputy Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr Y. A. Gobiri, his counterpart in City Campus, Dr A. A. Umar; Dr K. J. Jimoh of the Faculty of Law and Chairman of Caretaker Committee of Students’ Union Government, Al-amin Wushishi.

     

     

     

  • Dept wins faculty’s soccer contest

    Dept wins faculty’s soccer contest

    Academics were suspended, last week, at the Faculty of Education of the Delta State University (DELSU) in Abraka as departments under the faculty participated in the Dean’s Cup, a soccer fiesta held to pick the faculty champion.

    The contest witnessed a large turnout of students at the Sport Arena of the main campus in each stage of the competition. The departments were divided into groups in the preliminary stages, with successful ones qualifying for the next stage.

    The grand finale was played between the departments of Physical and Health Education, and Science Education.

    Before the final match started, Dean of the faculty, Prof E.B. Oghuvbu, said the objective of the soccer contest was to develop the soccer talent of the students through extracurricular activities, especially sports. He said he believed the contest would foster friendship among the students, urging them to engage the game with caution and fair play.

    At the end of 90 minutes, the department of Physical and Health Education carried the day, beating its Science Education counterparts by 3:2.

    A player of the winning team, Peace Oghenekaro, hailed his colleagues’ enthusiasm towards the match. He expressed joy on the team’s success despite facing challenges at the beginning.

    In his vote of thanks, the faculty’s Sport Director, Ovie Sokoh, thanked all the students that participated in the contest, praising the faculty’s management for its support throughout the competition

  • Soccer: The gods are angry

    I take a cue from the great poet William Ernest Henley in his work titled: “The gods are dead”. The second stanza of the literary masterpiece resonates well with the utter neglect and despondency that have come to characterised Nigeria’s football as well as the effort of our forgotten heroes.

    Playing for one’s fatherland is one of the greatest accomplishments any professional footballer would ever dream of. However, not many get this opportunity as the team is only for the best of talents who have shown the quality they possess on the football turf either in their club or other platforms. Over the years, however, starting from 1945, when the first Nigerian football set up was assembled with the name “red devils”, it had been a bitter sweet experience, a phase which has seen many football stars represent the country at one stage or the other, with many regretting ever taking such decision. This is so because they have not only been neglected or abandoned but utterly forgotten. This neglect is well pronounced and has seen many of our football ‘gods’ journey to their early grave.

    Notable though, most of the individuals who have been victims of this apathy are mostly players who represented the country in the 60s to early 70s when true patriotism and vigour for the game was at its peak, though with little financial reward compared to what is obtainable in the present football environment. These ‘gods’ aren’t just lying dead but angry at the lack of support meted out to them and their family after their demise having sacrificed their sweat and energy on the altar of patriotism for the country with many languishing in poverty while others died, leaving behind families in dire need of help.

    The list of these fallen heroes who have been victim of this greatest neglect is endless but some readily come to mind. One of the most tragic of all was 25-years old Samuel Okwaraji who collapsed ten minutes from the end of the 1990 World Cup qualifiers game against Angola at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos in 1989 and died as a result of congestive heart failure. Okwaraji was a lawyer who had equally obtained a master’s in International Law from the University of Rome. In his honour, only a bust statue of him was erected at the National Stadium, venue of the disaster.

    Another instance is Orobosan Adum, a goal keeper who played in the Nigerian premier league for Warri Wolves and was assaulted by thugs suspected of be fans of Enugu Rangers. He slumped and died three days later on May26, 2009 of internal haemorrhage during training. The culprits responsible for his death have since not been brought to book.

    Holland World U-20 and Beijing Olympics silver medallist, Adefemi Olubayo, lost his life in a car accident in Greece few weeks to his wedding ceremony. Once dead, the only recognition granted him was a banner during an international friendly to honour him. Rashidi Yekini, born on October 23, 1963,  was also a party to this neglect. Goals father, as he was fondly called, led the attack line of the Super Eagles for 14 years and eight months between 1984 and 1998. During the period, he played 58 international games for the Super Eagles and scored a whopping 37 goals, a record which stands unequalled since he hung his boot in 1998. Until his demise in Ibadan on May 4, 2012 at the age of 48, no national monument or reward has been accorded him. That is pretty sad and disgusting for a nation that claims to recognise the role of sports in national development.

    The list cannot be exhausted as others, including Mudashiru Lawal, Thompson Oliha, Endurance Idahor, Alloysius Atuegbu, Best Ogede, Sam Ojebode, John Ikoroma, Orobosan Bobsam Elejiko and Amusa Shittu, arejust a fraction of football icons whose service to their father land has gone without any reward.

    The crux of the issue has been the blasé attitude on the part of the government and administrators in properly immortalising these fallen heroes, a phenomenon not obtainable in other clime as the ‘gods’ are well appreciated with incentives that make it easy for them to give their all to their country.

    The Zambian national team immortalised their heroes who died in Equatorial Guinea in a plane crash while on their way to a World Cup qualifier against Senegal on April 27, 1993. Till date, Manchester United still celebrates their heroes who lost their lives in the Munich crash of 1958,Marc VivienFoe of Cameroon is still beinghonoured today after slumping in a confederation cup match. Infact, an award of the best goal keeper from Africa was created in his honour in far-away France. Ference Puskas, the Hungarian great, is still highly honoured after his demise. Why then is the Nigerian case so different? Though one might argue that some of these players do not deserve any compensation due to their extravagant lives during their active years, it should also be noted that the majority of them never really had any financial or formal education which would have helped them in planning a sacred financial future.

    In tackling this issue, it is expedient that football authorities nationally or a state levels should begin to look at ways of creating sustainable reward system for sportsmen who have given their very best to their nation. The first process should be the need to educate current players in all cadre of the game on financial literacy. The pay package of players in this present football climate is quite attractive and as such, they should be taught the rules of money so they don’t become a liability to the country after retirement.

    It is also important that a reward system is put in place for the family of deceased footballers so as to help ease some financial burden on the family after the demise of their bread winner. In doing so, administrators can offer cash reward or educational scholarships to the children of the deceased. An insurance scheme should be in place for players in all cadre of the game so as to create a secured future for them in the likelihood of any injury, especially in a contact sport like football as seen in other climes.

    It won’t also be out of place if ex-internationals are put on a pension scheme to help them have a source of income when they finally retire from active football.

    The above propositions will not only help secure a better future for our heroes but will go a long way in encouraging young players, especially the youth who wield enormous capacity to go the extra mile in giving their all for the country.

    While the football ‘gods’ of other nations are resting peacefully, many Nigerian ‘gods’ are in a sombre  mood with the level of impunity, maladministration as well as the alarming level of misery that confronts their families. It is time to do the right thing and put the smiles on the faces of our football ‘gods’ again.

     

    • Jennifer, Mass Comm., OFFA POLY

  • Oyo speaker sponsors JSS pupil on a year free soccer training

    The electorate have been urged to carefully consider the antecedents of the politicians seeking for their mandates as this year’s general elections draw nearer.

    The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, who is also the All Progressives Congress flag bearer  for Oyo Central Senatorial seat, MrsMonsurat Sunmonu, made the plea in Oyo town.

    She spoke at the presentation of a soccer academy sponsorship form to Master Usman Adelodun, the best player of the 2014 Speaker’s Cup competition.

    Adelodun is to receive a year free training in soccer from a foreign-based football institute, Frena, which has a branch in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    Mrs Sunmonu explained that her antecedent as Speaker makes her the best for the seat.

    The Speaker said she had always been fulfilling her electioneering campaign promises and would not rest until the best is achieved for  her constituency.

    Mrs Sunmonu explained that she had earlier promised a handsome reward for whoever emerged as the best player in the competition, hence the reason while she was bearing all the sponsorship expenses of the winner, who is a junior secondary school pupil.

    She urged the senatorial district to give her its mandate on February 14 with a pledge not to betray their trust.

    In their separate remarks, Usman’s parents thanked Mrs Sunmonu for the “kind” gesture. Usman prayed for the success of the Speaker.

    Other speakers at the event eulogised Mrs Sunmonu whom they described as tested, trusted and reliable.

    They pledged their willingness to work for her success and the success of APC in the elections.

  • Feast of soccer at NIJ

    In what could be termed a harvest of goals, the National Diploma (ND) II team has thrashed their senior colleagues in Higher National Diploma (HND) in a football contest organised by the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Ogba, Lagos.

    The match, which was the grand finale of the NIJ Inter-level Soccer Competition, ended 9-0 in favour of ND students.

    Students abandoned lectures to watch the match, which was played on the field at the Institute. A few minutes into the match, Moses Isikalu, scored the first goal, leaving the opponent disorganised. In quick succession, the HND team conceded goals without being able to return one.

    Other scorers for the ND II team are Shina Omolola, Samuel Paul, and Jide Idris.

    Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, the captain of the ND II team, Moses Isikalu, hailed his team, saying they won the match because of team play and co-operation.

    He said: “No one claims credit for the victory, but the co-operation within the team mates us to win the match. The team played well, but we had more chances in the first 45 minutes. Had we utilised our chances in the first half, we would have scored more goals.”

    The HND II team captain, Ayobami Odunayomi, blamed his team’s loss on lack of co-ordination among the players.

    He said: “We didn’t have strong boys to play the match. It was only two players who were fit; others were called to assist.”

    Odunayomi, however, hailed the ND II team, saying they displayed good skills on the field.

  • Feast of soccer at FUTO

    The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Prof Chigozie Asiabaka, has organised a soccer competition for all departments of the institution.

    It was gathered that the competition was aimed at promoting extra curricula activities on campus.

    After several knock-out stages, the final match was played penultimate week by Environment Technology and Electrical and Electronic Engineering departments.

    The game ended in a penalty shoot-out with Environmental Technology edging out Electrical and Electronics engineering with seven goals to six goals.

    Prof Asiabaka awarded the sum of one hundred thousand naira to Electrical and Electronics Engineering deprtment while Environmentl Technology got fifty thousand naira.

    Principal officers of the university attended the event including the Registrar, Mr Orje Ishegh-Nor; Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof M. C. Ofoh among others.

    Iorhula Nathaniel, 200-Level, Electrical and electronics department said: “I am very happy, having EEE emerge as the best department in FUTO, in both academics and extra curricula activities”.

  • Senator Tinubu hosts annual youth soccer competition

    Senator Tinubu hosts annual youth soccer competition

    Four youth teams are set for a final showdown at the finals of the 4th edition of the Senator Muniru Muse Soccer Competition being sponsored by Senator Oluremi Tinubu, OON.

    Like in the past, several dignitaries are to witness the junior soccer tournament scheduled to begin at Campus Mini-Stadium, Ajele, Lagos Island at 4 pm on Sunday, September 14 2014.

    A statement issued from Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s Constituency Office in Yaba indicates that Greater Tomorrow FC and De-Grace FC are determined to outclass one another towards winning the Under-12 Boys’ trophy.

    In addition, two junior girls’ soccer teams, Yomi Queens FC and RAF FC are to finalise their contention for the Under-15 Girls’ trophy on the same football pitch.

    The soccer tournament, which is named after Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s predecessor, is part of her comprehensive initiative for youth empowerment while encouraging young people to stay healthy through physical exercise.

    It also fulfils the aspirations of the Lagos State Grassroots Soccer Association for a sustained discovery of new talents in Lagos Central Senatorial District.

    The First Lady of Lagos State, Her Excellency, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola and her counterpart from Ogun State, Her Excellency, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun were present to do the kick-off and the presentation of trophies to the winning teams last year.

    Prominent citizens including Her Excellency, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State will grace next Sunday’s event.

  • Play soccer, make friends

    Play soccer, make friends

    Occupants of the Alvan Ikoku Hall of Residence at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) have held their annual soccer fiesta for promotion of friendship. KINGSLEY AMATANWEZE (500-Level Metallurgical and Materials Engineering) reports.

    The quadrangle of the Alvan Ikoku Hall of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), came alive last week. It was turned to a pitch for a soccer fiesta organised by the hall’s occupants. The event was full of intrigue, suspense, drama, and disappointment as the students challenged themselves in the contest tagged: “2014 Alvan Inter-Series”.

    The 14-day tournament is usually held before the end of the second semester to foster friendship among students in the hostel. Eight teams participated in the event. They were grouped as Series A and B. The hall has eight sections, with each forming a team.

    The final match was between the 200 Series A and 200 Series B teams. Students trooped out of their rooms to watch their colleagues slug it out on the field. Some stayed on the corridors of their rooms.

    The event kicked off on a dramatic note, with the hall warden, Prof Tagboo Ugwu, chosen as the referee; two students acted as commentators. Music blared from both ends of the field as a disc jockey kept the spectators dancing with hip-hop tunes.

    After 25 minutes of the first half, Chima Ohanyerem, a 500-Level Metallurgical and Materials Engineering student and Team B player, scored the opening goal. The opponents equalised when Nickson Oscar, 400-Level Political Science student and Team A striker, netted the ball in the second half.

    A few minutes later, the Team B took the lead again after Chigbo Onu, a 500-Level Geology student, shot the ball beyond the goal line. Almost immediately, Team B scored another goal, ending the match at 3-1.

    During the trophy presentation, Chigbo was named the highest goal scorer of the tournament, having scored five goals in the tournament. Chima got the Most Valuable Player award, making it the second time he won the prize. Another Student, Jude Agbedo, 500-Level Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, was awarded the Best Coach, while Ifeanyi Eze, 300-Level Computer Science got the Best Defender.

    The highpoint was the presentation of the trophy to Team B.

    In a chat with CAMPUISLIFE, Chigbo described the match as difficult, admitting that the opposing team was the toughest side. He said: “I believed in my team and we all worked like a team.”

    When asked how he managed to score five goals given the small post on the pitch, Chigbo said: “It is a matter of knowing when to strike and then knowing the time the keeper is not watching.”

    Chima said he was elated over lifting the trophy for the first time and for being adjudged the Best Player the second time. “I am very happy because this is my last appearance at the tournament as I am graduating from the university. Thank God the trophy came our way. I think I have written my name in the history book of the hall. I am so happy to have being a part of this team, we really worked hard and I think we deserved it,” he said.

    The hall governor, Chibueze Uzoma, 400-Level Pure and Industrial Chemistry student, said the soccer fiesta was the best. He said: “I can say with all sincerity that this year’s Inter Series is the best that has ever happened in the hall.” He, however, hailed occupants of the hall for behaving decorously and making the event a success.

    The event was graced by dignitaries, including the Secretary of the University of Nigeria Electoral Committee (UNECO), Mr I. A. Amuzie, and Students’ Union leaders, who were led by the president, Christain Agu, and the Speaker of the parliament, Precious Nwacha. There were also hall governors of male and female hostels.

  • The jinxed soccer teams

    The jinxed soccer teams

    They are the kingmakers.  They show so much promise and offer very little when it matters most.

    They are often associated with sports-related curse, a superstitious belief in the effective action of some power or evil that is used to explain failures or misfortunes.

    These teams wowed soccer fans with their dazzling style of play but come short of landing the ultimate prize at every opportunity. They are termed the “jinxed teams.”

    In modern football, there are several teams in this category. Soccer pundits tipped them for ultimate glory, they brushed aside opposition with effortless ease, possess awesome team spirit and breathe-taking technical skill, but that key word – L- U-C-K – deserts them at that crucial moment, when the whole world expects them to be crowned champions.  Those defining glories always elude them.

    They wear long faces after grueling and excruciating soccer battle. They are always second best.  These perennial kingmakers often return to the proverbial drawing board after every disappointment on the soccer fields.  HAMED SHOBIYE, Assistant Editor, Online, looks at some of these unlucky soccer gladiators.

     

    The Netherlands:

    The Dutch national team popularly known as the “Orange” is regarded by many as the best team never to have won the game ultimate prize – the FIFA World Cup.

    The country that produced some of the finest soccer artistes such as Johan Cryuff, John Boskamp, Ruud Gullit, Ronald Koeman, Marco Van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, Dennis Bejkamp, Patrick Kluivert and Ruud Van Nistelroy among others had played times at three World Cup finals and came short of landing football biggest diadem on all three occasions.

    The Dutch lost to West Germany in 1974, Argentina in 1978 and Spain in the last tournament played in South Africa four years ago.

    The Netherlands had won only major tournament before and that was in 1998 when the Ruud Gullit led team stunned the world with its refreshing brand of football and lifted the European championship trophy in West Germany.

    With the next edition of FIFA World Cup less than a month away, soccer pundits across the globe are waiting to see if the Orange would banish the ghost of past failures and join the exclusive list of FIFA World Cup winners come July 13.

     

    Benfica:

    Astonishingly, “o Glorioso” (the Glorious One) had lost in eight European cup decider since its 1960 heydays.

    The 33-time Portuguese champions last lifted a continental trophy in 1962 under the maverick Hungarian coach – Bela Guttmann who later left the club in acrimonious circumstance and  cast a spell on the team.

    The Budapest-born Guttmann, who led Benfica to defeat Raymond Kopa and Alfredo Di Stefano  inspired Real Madrid in 1962 reportedly demanded for a pay rise which was turned down.

    The obliviously furious Hungarian quit the Lisbon club. But before he left, he declared “Benfica would never win another European competition without him at the helm.” And 52 years on, that “curse” still haunts the team.

    Since his departure, the Portuguese giants had been defeated in eight European cup finals, the most recent being a 4-2 penalty shootout defeat to Spanish side Sevilla in Wednesday’s Europa League final in Turin.

     

    Cote D’Ivoire:

    The West African giants last won the African Nations Cup in 1992 in Senegal.  The Elephants debuted in FIFA World Cup in 2006 and would be making its third consecutive appearance in FIFA’s flagship tournament next month in Brazil.

    The current squad is regarded as the most talented in Ivory Coast football history and boasts of such luminaries as Didier Gnari Drogba, Yaya Toure (the reigning African Player of the Year) and his brother Kolo who is plying his trade in the English Premiership side Liverpool.  Other star casts in the Ivorian team are Salomon Kalou, Wifred Bony, Emmanuel Eboue and Gervinho.

    Despite the abundance of talents in the team, it has struggled to translate this quality into success. Off-field distractions and other problems had affected the team in several major competitions.

    The “Golden Generation” of Ivorian football has played in five AFCON and reached the final on two occasions. On those occasions they lost to less heralded teams despite being tipped for success by pundits.

    The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil is the last opportunity for Drogba-led team to truly leave their mark in international football.

     

    Valencia:

     

    The Spanish side played in two consecutive UEFA Champions League final at the beginning of the millennium. Although the Vincent Calderon landlords were clearly the underdog at the start of the competition in 2000 and 2001, they stunned several top sides including Barcelona and SS Lazio along the way before crashing at the last hurdle. They lost to Spanish rivals Real Madrid in 2000 and in 2001 Oliver Kahn’s heroic stood between the Spanish Primera Liga side and victory in the final against Bayern Munich played in Milan, Italy.