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Tag: Sylvanus Okpala

  • Awka-based Edel FC name Okpala as new coach

    Awka-based Edel FC name Okpala as new coach

    Former Super Eagles Assistant coach Sylvanus Okpala has been named the new Technical Adviser of Nigeria National League (NNL) side, Edel FC of Awka.

    Okpala replaced Abdulazeez Hamza Abara, who was hired less than two months ago to guide the club’s survival in the NNL.

    Okpala’s appointment was confirmed on Wednesday and he has since  assumed duties.

    The former Green Eagles defender  holds the rare distinction of winning the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) both as a player and as a coach.

    In 1980, he was part of the first generation of Green Eagles players to lift the AFCON title on home soil, receiving generous rewards from then- President Shehu Shagari.

    Over three decades later, in 2013, he won the title again as an assistant coach under the late Stephen Keshi in South Africa.

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    Okpala also made history as one of Nigeria’s early football exports to Portugal, moving from Enugu Rangers to CF União in 1983. He later played for Portuguese giants Marítimo in 1984 before returning to CF União in 1986, where he remained until 1989 before switching to Nacional.

    On the coaching front, he previously managed Rangers and also served as an assistant coach at Enyimba.

    Abara lost his job after his failure to turn around the fortunes of the Awka-based side.

    Okpala, whose appointment at Edel FC was made possible by Olisa Onuchukwu, a consultant to the club , would hope to help Edel FC survive relegation.

    He will be assisted by Kingsley Ihekwoaba, popularly known as ‘Papin’.

    Edel FC will host Igbajo United FC in the return leg of the NNL tie which ended goalless at Ile Ogbo in Osun State before the lower league proceeded on break.

  • Hard work, dedication, key to Rangers success – Okpala

    Hard work, dedication, key to Rangers success – Okpala

    Sylvanus Okpala, Rangers International FC  of Enugu coach, says the secret to the team’s success in the Nigeria Professional  Football League (NPFL)  matches are hard work, dedication, and God’s grace.

    Rangers are currently placed 8th on the table with 52 points after 36 matches in the league.

    Okpala, a former assistant coach of the Super Eagles, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that the team was determined to end the league on a good note.

    “We are still on and we are not leaving any stone unturned, we are going on to the end of the season.

    “We are determined to finish the league on a good note. We have two games to play,” he said.

    Okpala, also an ex-Rangers midfielder, said the team would give desired attention to the Aieto Federation Cup while playing the remaining league matches.

    “As we play the league, we will give equal attention to the Federation Cup. We will not underrate any team,” he said.

    He said some of the players had injuries while four travelled abroad for trials.

    “We are trying our best with what we have because some of our regular players are down with injuries while four travelled abroad for trials. It has not been easy, but we are doing well with what we have,” the coach said.

    Okpala assured fans and supporters of the club that they will not disappoint them.

    Emeka Akabueze, an ex-Rangers winger, commended Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state for assisting the team to achieve good results.

    “ I thank the governor for assisting the team, especially in the appointment of Sylvanus Okpala as the coach and Christian Chukwu as the General Manager.

    “ The team will not disappoint and I want all fans and supporters to continue to believe in Rangers,” he said.

  • My last conversation with Keshi – Okpala

    My last conversation with Keshi – Okpala

    Sylvanus Okpala, a former Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles under the late Stephen Keshi, has described the death of the ex-national team coach as shocking.

    Okpala told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos that Keshi’s death was shocking because two of them talked on phone only a week ago.

    The ex-Super Eagles midfielder said he never expected that the chat was going to be their last.

    `When he called, I left my phone at home because every morning I go to exercise.

    “So when I returned, I saw his missed call.

    “Then I said ok let me take my bath and after, which I will call him.

    “Immediately I finished taking my bath, he called back and we discussed.

    “We didn’t even talk much about football.

    “I said Oga to what do I owe this call and he asked me if I was ok.

    “He asked me about my family and I said we were okay, and I asked about his job, to which he answered in the affirmative.

    “Then after two days, I called him back, and we just talked about how we were doing.

    “I never knew that was the last time I will hear from him.’’

    Okpala, who was a contemporary of Keshi from their youth football days, told NAN that they were invited to the senior national team at the same time.

    “We started together from what we call today Flying Eagles in 1978/79.

    “We also joined the Green Eagles almost at the same time, the Super Eagles as you call them today, before we met again as coaches at the national team.

    “So it has been a long journey together,” he added.

  • Okpala’s claim mischievious, says Eagles’ coordinator

    Okpala’s claim mischievious, says Eagles’ coordinator

    •‘Team needs concentration, not controversies’

    Super Eagles’ Coordinator, Emmanuel Danjuma Attah, has described as worrisome and unbelievable claims by former Assistant Coach of the team, Sylvanus Okpala, that Nigeria Football Federation officials shared from gifts given to the team by individuals and state governments.

    Speaking in Abuja on the matter, Attah said Okpala’s claim smacks of either lack of information or mischief and he should be called to order, especially as he has already gone to court over his dismissal by the NFF. “Those of us who are insiders of the team know how we handle our affairs when it comes to gifts to the team. Decisions are normally taken by the team’s skipper in conjunction with the team administrator and at the end of the day all of those concerned are briefed. The NFF never even have any idea of how we share our money or who gets what and Okpala knows this. It’s surprising that he can come out to say monies were shared with NFF officials, it’s share desperation and it won’t help his case”.

    Team’s Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, quotes Attah, as saying that what the team needs at the moment if full concentration for the World Cup in Brazil not distraction from those who are supposed to be patriots whether they are with the team or not. “Time on our hands is rather short and all we need now is to focus on the World Cup where we think we can make an impact not debating whether monies was shared, which has never happened before. Otherwise the players should have been the first to react to any deduction no matter how rich Nigerians think they are.”

  • Foreign assistant for Keshi unnecessary-Dosu

    Foreign assistant for Keshi unnecessary-Dosu

    Ex-international, Joseph Dosu, on Friday said that Nigeria Football Association (NFA’s) proposal for a foreign assistant to Coach Stephen Keshi was unnecessary.

    Dosu, a former Super Eagles goalkeeper, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the proposal could distract Keshi.

    He urged the NFA to allow Keshi to concentrate on the 2014 World Cup coming up in June in Brazil.

    “I think the NFA should allow him to do his job because he has always delivered.

    “Keshi is a seasoned coach; he has shown us what he can do so far.

    “I believe we should allow him to continue with his backroom staffs.

    “I know NFA wants the best but it just have to trust Keshi’s judgment,” Dosu said.

    NAN reports that NFA recently met with Keshi, the current African Coach of the Year, and proposed employment of a foreign assistant to him.

    Keshi, however, turned the offer down, saying that he wanted one of his assistants, Sylvanus Okpala, who was sacked in 2013, to be recalled to the team. Keshi is currently working with Daniel Amokachi, Ike Shorunmu and Valere Houandinou as his assistants.

     

  • I’m waiting for Keshi’s return — Okpala

    I’m waiting for Keshi’s return — Okpala

    Sylvanus Okpala, who was recently sacked by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), said on Saturday he would make no further comment on the issue.

    Okpala told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that he would wait for Keshi to return from his trip to the United States before making any further comment.

    The former assistant coach said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos. Okpala, until the termination of his appointment on April 10, was the second assistant coach to Keshi.

    It would be recalled that the NFF had wanted to sack Okpala in February but Keshi had to prevail on the body to save his assistant.

    “I’m waiting for Keshi to come back. He is my boss, as far as being a coach is concerned, and we will discuss this. I don’t want to talk about it on the pages of the newspapers for now, I want to do things the right way. Because Keshi was instrumental to my being appointed as an assistant coach,’’ Okpala said.

    When asked about the terms of his contract as regards issues such as his sack, Okpala, a member of the 1980 Green Eagles squad that won the AFCON in Lagos, told NAN that he had a written contract with the NFF.

    “All I can tell you is that I have a written contract, that’s all I can tell you for now,’’ he added.

    It would be recalled that the NFA recently carried out an audit of the Super Eagles’ technical crew which affected the salaries and also resulted in the laying-off of several backroom staff.