The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sunshine

  • Sunshine to leave for Spain February 3

    Sunshine to leave for Spain February 3

    Sunshine Stars will leave for Spain for a month long training tour from February 3, 2015 before the start of the 2014/2015 Premier League season, a top official of the Akure Gunners has disclosed.

    The Akure side only returned from Hungary last weekend where they went for another foreign tour and the media officer of the club, Wahab Bankole has hinted that the players of Sunshine would assemble ahead of the training tour in mid January.

    They are expected to train for two weeks before their departure to Spain where tune up matches and tournaments have been arranged for them.

    Thirty-five players will make the trip to Spain and they include some of their newly signed players: Okeimute Odah and Sunday Rotimi who have joined the club from Warri Wolves and Dolphins respectively.

    Bankole disclosed that Sunshine players and officials have been heaping plaudits on  Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko for approving their trip to Hungary where they will have first-hand first class state-of-the-art-facilities to train with.

    He said the players and the accompanying officials have termed the tour as unprecedented in the history of the state owed club.

    They also thumbed up the Chairman of the Ondo State Football Agency, Akin Akinbobola for attracting several foreign investors to the club.

  • Heartland whitewash Sunshine 3-0 at Owerri

    Heartland whitewash Sunshine 3-0 at Owerri

    Heartland made  mince meat of visiting Sunshine Stars at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri after the Naze Millionaires shocked the Akure Gunners by three well taken goals in a Glo Premier League Week 32 tie played yesterday.

    The Owerri side showed from the commencement of the match that they wanted the maximum points after they surged forward in search of goals immediately the referee signalled the start of hostility.

    It was not long thereafter that the Naze Millionaires shot into the lead through Happy Okuoka who scored after a nice work from the flank in the fifth minute.

    Impressive Bobby Clement added a second goal for the home team in the 32nd minute after a rebound in the 18 yard box fell to his path for his fifth goal of the season after he joined Heartland from Fame Academy, Lagos at the start of the second stanza.

    Okuoka, who scored two goals against the Akure Gunners during the first stanza, added his second goal of the night at Owerri when he scored Heartland’s third goal in the 34th minute.

    Sunshine Stars’ head coach, Erasmus Onuh shuffled his pack in the second half after he replaced ineffective goalkeeper, Henry Ayodele in place of Emmanuel Fabiyi and also returning Tamen Medrano to his preferred central midfield role at the start of the second half.

    The move paid off as the Akure side did not concede more goals  as the game ended 3-0 in favour of the home team.

    Heartland by virtue of the victory have moved to 47 points while Sunshine are still on 45 points. Both teams have played 32 matches.

  • Emordi targets Sunshine win

    Emordi targets Sunshine win

    Kano Pillars Technical Adviser, Okey Emordi, has charged his players to remain focused ahead Week 22 Glo Premier League tie against Sunshine Star of Akure on Sunday at Akure Township stadium.

    Sai Masu Gida defeated Giwa FC 3-1 on Wednesday to maintain the leadership of the league with 37 points.

    Emordi urged the player not to put the success they are recording in their mind because they still have ways to go in the league.

    Emordi described the win as a giant stride in its efforts to retain the trophy.

    “My boys played according to the instruction from a minute of the game to the final whistle against Giwa FC. It was a good match and both sides played a very good game but my boys used their experience and chances at the right time. Immediately after the match I and my assistants have started focussing and planning how to tackle week 22 game against Sunshine Star of Akure on Sunday.

    Also commenting the new signing left full-back player, Isaac Lotue, who played 90 minutes in two matches he has played so far since he joined the club expressed his delight for having the opportunity to be part of the club. He assured that he will give all his best to see that his dream becomes a reality to win trophy with the team.

     

  • Anyanwu denied dream move to Sunshine

    Anyanwu denied dream move to Sunshine

    Abia Warriors have reportedly blocked Nnaemeka Anyanwu’s dream move to Sunshine Stars of Akure in a mafia like style, FCNaija.com reports.

    The Centre defender who went AWOL ( absent without leave) from Umuahia in a bid to force a move to join the Akure Gunners was left disappointed as he was not cleared by the League management Company (LMC) to make the ‘illegal’ switch.

    Anyanwu who has previously stared for top Nigeria clubs, Enyimba International and Enugu Rangers is said to have been promised better pay at Akure and has already been training with Sunshine with the hope of playing in the second stanza of the league for them.

    “The situation is quite messy” a source close to Anyanwu confided in FCNaija.com

    The report revealed that Abia Warriors were supposed to pay the agent of Anyanwu as much of N.5m for bringing his client to play for them; unfortunately the team are yet to pay the said sum; a development that contributed to the forced attempt to secure a deal with Sunshine.

    Though silent on whether they reneged on a N500, 000 promise to Anyanwu’s agent, Abia Warriors have empathically stated that they are not ready to discuss with Sunshine stars while Ayanwu has gone back to join the Coach Ladan Bosso tutored side with the hope of completing his switch to Akure by the end of the seaosn.

     

  • Sunshine Stars skipper for Norway trials

    Sunshine Stars skipper for Norway trials

    Sunshine Stars skipper Sunday Abe is to undergo trials with an unnamed Norwegian club.

    AfricanFootball.com learnt that the player has been keeping fit in Abuja as he processes his entry visa to Norway.

    Abe, who featured for Nigeria at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt, could play either as a fullback or in midfield. He is a hard-working player who makes up for his lack of inches with his industry.

  • Lobi Stars defender on trials at Sunshine

    Ex-Lobi Stars defender Samuel Iorwuese Utsaha hopes to return to action.  He is currently on trials at Sunshine Stars.

    Utsaha, who was a member of the Lobi squad who lost the Federation Cup final to Heartland in 2011, fell out of favour with the Makurdi club the following year.

    He later had a brief stint with Gombe United, but was out of contract at the beginning of the current season.

    Utsaha, a left-footed player who operates at the left full back and left side of the midfield, said he is confident his career will be revived at Sunshine.

    The talented and skilful player told Africanfootball.com that from all indications, the coach of Sunshine has fallen in love with his style of play and he is willing to give him a chance.

    “I am currently on trials at Sunshine Stars. I was invited by the coach and from all indications, he is willing to give me a chance to prove myself,” he said.

    “There are signs that things will work out and I can’t wait to return to action. I have been out, but this is my time to make a bold statement.”

  • Sunshine switch by Ezeji, Fabiyi may collapse

    Sunshine switch by Ezeji, Fabiyi may collapse

    The transfer of veteran striker Victor Ezeji and Benin Republic goalkeeper Emmanuel Fabiyi to Sunshine Stars may have hit the rocks as has been disputed.

    A source close to Sunshine Stars disclosed that both players have been training with the team with the hope of signing them for the second round, but the different ownership claims over them may scuttle the transfers.

    “Sunshine Stars are at crossroads on Ezeji (Victor) and Fabiyi (Emmanuel),” the source said.

    “Crown are claiming they own Ezeji, that he signed a year’s deal with them, which is still running and which was against the information the team gathered.

    “That is same for Fabiyi – Abia Warriors are claiming Fabiyi belongs to them and the player said something different.

    “Sunshine are looking for alternatives. The deals for both players are not certain at this moment.”

    Experienced campaigner Ezeji, for one, has featured for both Sharks and Dolphins and has posted a stint in Tunisia.

  • Sunshine’s coach faults FC Taraba’s defensive tactics

    Sunshine’s coach faults FC Taraba’s defensive tactics

    Sunshine Stars’ head coach, Henry Abiodun has decried the defensive tactics of their Glo Premier League Week 8 opponents, FC Taraba who sat back for most part of the encounter to gain a road point at Akure.

    The Akure Gunners eventually triumphed 1-0 through a spot kick converted by Cameroonian import, Tamen Medrano in the second half of the encounter played at the Akure Township Stadium.

    Abiodun in a chat with SportingLife confirmed that his players would have won the tie by at least 5-0 if not by the defensive tactics deployed by their foes from Jalingo.

    The coach,however, said that Akure fans need not panic because Sunshine are destined for the top insisting that if they win their outstanding tie against Giwa FC next Wednesday the Akure Gunners would be among the frontrunners.

    The Akure side moved to nine points from seven matches while FC Taraba are also on same nine points but with a game more than Sunshine.

    “The result did not truly depict the way the game was played. This was a game we controlled from the start to the finish but our opponents decided to sit at the back expecting to get a draw which won’t come.

    We could have won the tie by as many as five goals to nothing but we thank God for the maximum points,” Abiodun said.

  • ‘Sunshine can beat Abia Warriors’

    ‘Sunshine can beat Abia Warriors’

    Sunshine Stars midfield, Abe Sunday has said the confidence in the team is high as they prepare to lock horns against new comers and ‘giant-killers’, Abia Warriors on Match Day 7 of the Globacom Premier League come this weekend.

    The Akure Gunners skipper, however, believes that it would be a tough game but his side can shock the Aba team who has in its payroll a former teammate of his Cletus Itodo.

    “Our target is to pick the three maximum points in Abia,” Abe told SportingLife.

    “Sunshine Stars has played well on the road, drawing Kano Pillars and Rangers, so beating Abia Warriors regardless Itodo wearing the opposite jersey will be a delight for us.

    “However, the 3-2 victory over a tough Warri Wolves at home was a moral boaster for us ahead of the trip to Abia.

    “It won’t be easy but my mates and I are determined to give in our best, so we need to take our chances as they come. Mind you, we’re ready to take on any team be it in Akure or on the road,” the petit skipper said.

    The Akure Gunners have six points from five games played and occupy the 16th position on the log.

  • SUNSHINE HOLD ON TO OLOWO

    SUNSHINE HOLD ON TO OLOWO

    NIGERIA Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Sunshine Stars have refused to clear experienced defender, Emmanuel Olowo to join former Nigerian champions, Dolphins, supersport.com can report.

    Olowo, in February agreed personal terms with the Port Harcourt club, but he is yet to make his debut as his former employers refused to let him go.

    Olowo, whose first league appearance this term for Dolphins should have been against his former club, Heartland, revealed to supersport.com that he has taken the case to the League Management Company (LMC).

    “Sunshine Stars have refused to clear me as they don’t want me to go, but I have reported the case to the highest authority.

    “I’m still waiting for the issue to be sorted out before playing for Dolphins this season in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    “My lawyer is also working tirelessly to make sure that Sunshine Stars release me because I don’t want to play for them this season,” Olowo exclusively told supersport.com

    The centre-back nicknamed ‘Iron-no-dey-bend’ also divulged to supersport.com that he is elated to have made the switch to Dolphins adding that he would love to win “at least” a trophy this term when he finally gets cleared to play for the Port Harcourt based campaigners.

    “Dolphins are solid right now with the quality of players they recruited for the this season.

    “We should be able to contest for trophies this season. We should be able to win the league or Federation Cup or both of them,” he told supersport.com.”