The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sunshine

  • Eduwo dumps Sunshine for Dolphins

    Eduwo dumps Sunshine for Dolphins

    Former 3SC striker Kingsley Eduwo will now feature for Dolphins FC in the new season after he turned down an offer by Sunshine Stars.

    Eduwo has made a U-turn to join Sunshine Stars after the player and coach failed to agree to the terms, his agent Famakinwa Lanre has disclosed.

    The 17-year-old striker, who hit the headlines in the 2011/2012 season following his brace for Gateway which sent 3SC parking from the Federation Cup, has now agreed to join Dolphins for the coming season.

    “Kingsley will play for Dolphins in the new season, we have agreed terms. The discussion with Sunshine didn’t go well because they didn’t agree to our terms. He will sign a one-year loan deal with Dolphins. The terms have been agreed.”

    Eduwo was invited to the training camp for the CHAN 2014, but did not make the final list due to late invitation.

  • ‘Sunshine ‘ve quality replacement for Kwambe, Ikenna, Odunlami’

    ‘Sunshine ‘ve quality replacement for Kwambe, Ikenna, Odunlami’

    Newly appointed chairman of the Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA), Akin Akinbobola is confident Sunshine Stars will not be under pressure to get worthy replacement for the the trio of Solomon Kwambe, Ikenna Hilary and Kunle Odunlami (players of Sunshine Stars) who are members of the Super Eagles African Nations Championship (CHAN) squad.

    According to the former member of the Nigeria Premier League Board, the Akure Gunners is braced for their imminent exits.

    “Solomon Kwambe, Ikenna Hilary and Kunle Odunlami are still players of Sunshine Stars and like any other club we are braced for their pending departures in the future.

    “The club is currently observing its pre-season in Ijebu-Ode and I can assure that we have quality players. When the likes of Kwambe came to the club, they were unknown but now they are household names, the same process that brought them in will bring their replacements,” he told Lagos-based Brila FM.

    Speaking on preparations for the forthcoming Glo Premier League campaign, Akinbobola admitted that the League Management Company (LMC) was doing a good job but also noted that next month’s commencement of the new season was rather late.

    “The LMC remains a child of circumstance and a stop-gap arrangement but I must say they have not done badly, let’s just say so far so good.

    “I am hoping the LMC improves this season and at the end we have elections and have a true league board in place.”

    Meanwhile, Akinbola expressed doubts regarding the LMC’s new salary regulation which mandates clubs to pay players a minimum of N150, 000 a month as salary.

    “N150,000 may be tough for clubs to pay. For me, I think it may still happen even though clubs may struggle to do it on a consistent basis but they say a journey of a thousand miles always starts with one step,” Akinbobola said.

  • Enyimba, El Kanemi, Sunshine, others want NNL hotshot, Abdulmalik

    Enyimba, El Kanemi, Sunshine, others want NNL hotshot, Abdulmalik

    Nigeria National League hotshot, Mohammed Abdulmalik, has disclosed that he was not in any rush last season to sign a new contract with his current club, Taraba United but would rather study all the offers before deciding on where to go to.

    Abdulmalik’s goals were instrumental to Taraba United’s top flight status for the first time in their history and with the current delay by the Chairman of the club, Tijani Babangida, to offer him a new contract the Kaduna born player has said that he was yet to make up his mind on his next move.

    As at the last count, Enyimba, El-Kanemi Warriors and Sunshine Stars had all made solid enquiries about the goal-poacher ahead of the next premier league season from what the player told SportingLife.

    Abdulmalik said he is thrilled to be linked with those big clubs but that he won’t make any hasty decision that may draw his career back by at least a year.

    “I am happy to be linked with Enyimba, Sunshine Stars and El-Kanemi Warriors. They are all good clubs but I am still studying the package they have for me first before I can then make a decision on my future.

    “I have done my bit in the lower league and I believe it is the time to move up in my career,” Abdulmalik who fired over 12 goals to help Taraba United grab a premier league ticket last season, told SportingLife.

  • Ezenwa seals Sunshine switch

    Ezenwa seals Sunshine switch

    Former Nigeria Under-23 goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa has completed a switch to Sunshine Stars from Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club, Sharks.

    The deal, which will run for a solitary season, was completed for an undisclosed fee after the 25-year-old agreed personal terms with the club.

    Ezenwa, who is now expected to man the sticks for the Akure club in the 2013/14 NPFL season, thanked his former club while stressing his desire to help his new side amass silverware in the upcoming season.

    “I am in Akure as I speak. I want to thank the coaches, players, management and supporters of Sharks for their kindness to me during the two and a half seasons I spent in Port Harcourt. Right now, I am focused on helping Sunshine Stars win trophies next season,” Ezenwa told supersport.com on Tuesday.

    The goalkeeper had previously played for NPFL clubs, Ocean Boys, Enugu Rangers and Heartland before he moved to Sharks in 2010.

    He played three times for Nigeria at Under-23 level and helped the “Dream Team IV” win silver at the football event of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

    Ezenwa also represented Nigeria at Under-20 level and was part of the side that reached the quarterfinals of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Canada in 2007.

  • Muyiwa Lawal agrees Sunshine switch

    Muyiwa Lawal agrees Sunshine switch

    Former Spanish La Liga ace, Muyiwa Lawal has agreed personal terms with Sunshine Stars ahead of the forthcoming season.

    Lawal, 33, was part of Sunshine pre-season training camp in Rojenny, near Onitsha, last week and he impressed to be given a contract by the Akure club.

    The talented forward, who is a younger brother of former Nigeria international Dimeji Lawal, featured for Atletico Madrid in the 2000/2001 season, MTNFootball.com reports.

    He also featured for several other Spanish clubs including Albacete and Xerez before he moved to the United Arab Emirates in 2005.

    However, he has had to battle injuries in his time overseas.

    Shooting Stars Tony Edjomarigwe and Kingley Eduwo are also set to join Sunshine for the new season.

     

     

  • Amoo wants Sunshine deal

    Amoo wants Sunshine deal

    Sunshine Stars’ head coach Fatai Amoo has said he will not turn down an offer for contract renewal from the side for the upcoming 2013/2014 Glo Premier League season.

    The former 3SC gaffer stepped into the shoes of coach Abimbola Samuel in mid-season and guided the Akure Gunners to 12th place finish in the outgone elite league season.

    Amoo, who headed out to New Jersey, the United States of America on Tuesday for a one-week advanced coaching course, said it had become routine to always update himself for future challenges.

    “Of course, I won’t turn down an offer to continue with Sunshine Stars in the upcoming season, I took up a short contract with the side which elapsed at the end of the outgone season. The only reason that will make me turn down an offer from them would be if the contract package is not commensurate with my service.

    “I’m more familiar with the terrain better than in the past and better placed and experienced to handle problems better than any other new person. We didn’t win the league shield or continental ticket but we didn’t drop to the lower division which is a success.

    “I have an advanced coaching course with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) to go for, I’m actually leaving today (Tuesday) for the one-week course in the first instant. It has become a routine for me to train myself first and wait for offers.

    “It helps me to be a better coach as well as helps me to work better with my colleagues. An updated coach will always talk with the players with lots of confidence,” said the former Super Eagles assistant coach to supersport.com.

    Amoo said he worked under severe pressure from the side’s supporters in the outgone season insisting that it affected the side’s performance badly.

    “I worked under pressure throughout my stay at their ground in Akure mostly from the supporters and it didn’t help the side a bit. Ironically, while the side sojourned at Ijebu-Ode they churned out good performances than now they’re at home. It’s important the supporters are well educated so that they’ll help the side to achieve good results in future assignments,” the former Nigeria star said.

  • Amoo unsure of Sunshine future

    Amoo unsure of Sunshine future

    From Tunde Liadi,Owerri

    Sunshine Stars of Akure sweat merchant, Fatai Amoo has hinted he is still not clear if he will remain with the Akure Gunners next season.

    Amoo took over from erstwhile coach, Samuel Abimbola towards the end of the first stanza but the coach has revealed to SportingLife that his stay at Akure has not been as smooth as he expected, hence his resolve to keep his options open for now.

    He said he would like certain unrevealed issues resolved before he could contemplate whether to stick with Sunshine or seek an escape route.

    “We thank God that we had been vindicated by the victory over Enyimba of Aba last Wednesday. The game was not supposed to be a live game but they changed it at the last minutes.

    “There are so many things going through my mind as I speak with you regarding my future with Sunshine. I can’t categorically state that I am leaving or staying but I have had it tough than I envisaged in Akure. There are so many things that must be corrected if I am to stay here next season.

    “But for now, we shall go to Yenagoa and enjoy our game and then see what becomes of me and next season,” Amoo disclosed to SportingLife.

  • Motivated Rangers hold Sunshine in Akure

    Motivated Rangers hold Sunshine in Akure

    Enugu Rangers top official has asserted that the Flying Antelopes players were left unhappy after the could only get a draw as against a road victory targeted in the Glo Premier League Matchday 35 tie played against Sunshine Stars at the Akure Township Stadium.

    Rangers’ players were promised N500,000 and N300,000 respectively if they get either a win or draw at away in the remainder of the league season by the club chairman, Festus Onu.

    This propelled the Coal City side against Sunshine and they aptly took the lead in the 44th minute through in-form Chinedu Udeagha but Sunshine fought back and equalised through Philip Auta who was also responsible for the goal that sank the Akure Gunners’ last home opponents, El Kanemi Warriors.

    Speaking with SportingLife from Akure, the director, media and publicity, Foster Chime said the players put up one of their best displays of the season to hang on to the morale boosting draw as they seek a late onslaught on a place on the continent.

    “We are happy with this draw although a win would have been ideal because we strove to get a win to booster our continental ticket target. We shall continue to do our best to ensure we get it.

    “The promise made by Rangers’ Board Chairman, Festus Onu and other well meaning personalities of the club is working wonders and we shall go back home to face Sharks full of optimism,” Chime said.

    Rangers retained fifth position on the log with 52 points from 35 games while Sunshine are on 49 points from same number of matches.

  • Ogunbote: We’ve learnt from our loss to Sunshine

    Ogunbote: We’ve learnt from our loss to Sunshine

    Technical Adviser of Sharks Football Club of PortHarcourt, Gbenga Ogunbote said his side have learnt their lessons from Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Sunshine Stars in a week 33 Globacom Premier League at the Akure Township stadium.

    Auta Phillips fired from the edge of the box on the stroke of 45th minute to score the only goal of the encounter to give coach Fatai Amoo tutored-side three points.

    Ogunbote, who was looking forward to an eventful outing against his former team, said they were victim of their inability to convert many chances that came their way which would have unsettled Sunshine Stars in the first half.

    He said the team have put the defeat behind them and will concentrate on their next game. Sharks will host El-Kanemi Warriors in the week 34 League game on Wednesday in Port-Harcourt.

    “The game has been played, won and lost. The important thing is what we have learnt from the game. We go back home and work harder and ensure that we are able to correct the mistakes we made here,” Ogunbote added.

    “We had a few chances and could have wrapped up the game in the first thirty minutes, we didn’t and that goal was conceded in the dying moment.

    “We lost the game and it’s not the fault of anybody, I don’t run away from responsibilities,” he stressed.

    The team was not happy with the way they were treated by the Ondo State Football Association when they were prevented from training on Saturday.

    But Ogunbote said he was flattered by the reception given to him by the Akure fans that were happy to see him once again.

    “I didn’t expect it. By the special grace of God while I was here (with Sunshine Stars), God with his infinite mercy made it possible for me to do very well so they don’t have any choice than to give me a warm reception,” Ogunbote echoed.

  • Sunshine will finish strongly, Olowo, Suleiman vow

    Sunshine will finish strongly, Olowo, Suleiman vow

    Sunshine Stars’ duo of Emmanuel Olowo and Sule Mohammed have said that the Akure Gunners would end the season in a respectable position on the log.

    The Akure side are 9th on the log with 37 points from 26 matches but the two new recruits told SportingLife that Sunshine would be in their true position by the time the final matches are played.

    Olowo, who joined Sunshine after some years at Heartland of Owerri, said: “I am here to help Sunshine get to the top of the league.

    “I know it won’t be easy but with renewed zeal and joint effort, it is achievable.

    “We need to improve on our abysmal away record if we are to finish very high on the table.”

    The no-nonsense defender also told SportingLife that he had to snub offers from Dolphins, Enyimba and some other clubs to get his dream move.

    Mohammed, a goalkeeper and another new addition, also predicted a good finish for the Akure Gunners.

    He said: “Everyone is aware of the true potential of Sunshine. It was their track record that attracted me to the club.

    “They were second and third for two seasons running and they played in the CAF Confederation Cup and the CAF Champions League. We are here to ensure that the glory days return.”

    Suleiman was in top form in goal for Sunshine in their matchday 24 tie against Dolphins which they won 3-0. He was out on injury for a while before his recent return to form.

    He is also nursing an ambition to play for any of the national teams from the Flying Eagles to the Super Eagles.