The Nation Newspaper

Tag: team

  • There ‘ll be no sentiments in team selection, says Oliseh

    There ‘ll be no sentiments in team selection, says Oliseh

    Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has said there won’t be sentiments when he selects his teams for games.

    The 40-year old says he will select only the most productive players irrespective of where they play.

    “We have the Nations Cup to prepare for, we have the CHAN to prepare for and we have the World Cup to prepare for,” he said.

    “There will be lots of games for everybody so we’re just going to move on along and try everybody out and try every player in each position and see how they can carry it out.”

    Speaking further, Oliseh added that if a home based player has shown more productivity against an overseas based counterpart, he will play the home based player.

    “If a player that is playing back home in the league here is giving more productivity than the one from abroad, he (home based player) will play because you want to win and I want to win, so there will be no sentiments,” Oliseh stressed.

    18 overseas based players have been invited for the game against Tanzania, and are expected to hit camp on or before the 31st of August, and will join the 21 home based players that have been training in Abuja.

  • Team Nigeria won’t lack support in Congo -Muhammad

    There will be no dull moment for Team Nigeria when the All Africa Games geets underway in  Brazaville,Congo. Niger State Chairman of Nigeria Football and other sports Supporters club Comrade Mohammad Muhammad who gave the assurance, said the importance of supporting Team Nigeria before and during the Games billed for September 4-19th cannot be over emphazised.  Winning medals at the Games according to him will not only require that the athletes train well but will also demand that they have supporters cheering them all to put in their best no matter the level of opposition.

    “Athletes train with a view to performing well but they also need to be cheered to victory when it matters most and we are ready to do that,” he said Comrade Muhammad who was recently appointed as caretaker chairman of katcha local government council by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello stated that his colleagues have agreed to register two members each from the 25 councils of the state.

    According to him, efforts in the past to get Niger state on board the NFSC ship has been challenging, adding however that it is refreshing to see that the obstacles have been overcome.

    “We have come a long way in the struggle to put Niger state on the map of football and other sports support  and now the result is here as all the stake holders the local government level have agreed to key into the new dream of seeing the official launch of NFSC in the state,” he added even as the club appealed to the Governor to help the club with an office accomodation, a 25 seater bus and a set of musical intrument.

  • COUNTDOWN TO KADUNA GOLDEN LEAGUE: Ogba urges athletes to strive to make Beijing team

    The President of  The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Dr. Solomon Ogba over the weekend urged home-based athletes to work very hard to make the lean team that will represent Nigeria  at the Beijing 2015 IAAF World Championships in Athletics.

    Dr. Ogba said: “The Beijing World Championships will not be a jamboree, we are going with a very lean team. Any athlete who does not have a chance of making the finals will not be in our team. I am impressed with the performances of some of our athletes in the Anambra Golden League I hope they will up their game in Kaduna and run better’’.

    Ogba also revealed that only coaches that are producing athletes will make the national team,

    “In the past we took many coaches who were not producing athletes to games and championships, but the criteria for coaches’ selection has changed; only those producing athletes and whose athletes made the team will be considered for a place in the national team.’’

    Meanwhile the AFN is working round the clock to ensure that the Kaduna Golden League is a huge success.

    Olumide Bamiduro, the scribe of the federation, revealed that AFN parent body, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has granted the federation application for the use of Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, as venue of the meet which will hold Saturday, June 27, 2015.

    Bamiduro revealed that most of the athletic clubs and many state athletic associations have signified their intention to participate in the Kaduna meet.

  • Eaglets’ Coach Amuneke screams: We don’t have a World Cup team

    Eaglets’ Coach Amuneke screams: We don’t have a World Cup team

    •As Rapture Academy boss clamours for friendlies

    The Chief Coach of the Golden Eaglets, Emmanuel Amunike, has confessed that he has no team yet for the forthcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup slated for Chile from October 17 to November 8, 2015.

    The ever blunt former Super Eagles attacker did not hide his feelings when he revealed that, “I don’t have a team for now. I am just being honest with you. Let us not try to create or hype things that are not real. You guys (Abuja-based sports journalists) came here today and you are expecting a miracle. We have been here for the past two weeks now and I don’t even think any of you have picked interest to come and see what we are doing.

    “So, let us be realistic as regards what we are doing. You guys know me. I don’t need to tell you who I am. I believe in my principles. I believe in what I am doing regardless of what anybody thinks of me. But I believe that everything in life has its procedure and that is the procedure we are following now.

    “Are we the best people on earth? No. But can we work hard to improve ourselves? Yes, of course. So, we are not here to convince anybody, we are not here to convince any tribe or individual. We are here to serve Nigerians with the best of our abilities. That is what we offer to Nigeria with all fairness.

    “I will also tell you that there is no pressure from any quarter as regards this job. Let me be honest with you. I have played this game to the highest level. As a coach I have been privileged also to coach to the highest level. So, everything  you do in life there will always be a process to it and that is the process I am following.

    “Am I going to do a miracle? Am I going to do this? I’m not telling you I am going to do this. But I am doing the best I can.

    “What we are doing here (with the team in Abuja) is that we remain focused, we remain loyal and honest with what we are doing. For the past two weeks we have seen some Nigerian youths that are enthusiastic and want to play football. What we have to do now is to guide them and see if we can get the best from them. That is all we are doing here”, the former African Footballer of the Year disclosed.

    Meanwhile the Chairman of the Rapture Academy International of Uyo, who lost 2-3 to the Golden Eaglets at the Goal Project Center, Abuja National Stadium on Saturday, Sammy Etuk, has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to arrange more local and international friendly matches for the Eaglets in order to knock the team to shape for October’s FIFA U-17 World Cup.

    According to the veteran journalist, who is based in the United States of America, time is not on the side of the team and the only way to get the boys going is through quality friendly matches.

    “If you ask me I would say we have barely four months to the kick-off of the U-17 World Cup, which I believe is not a long time to prepare. So the Nigeria Football Federation needs to help this team by getting quality friendly matches for them to play to put the players in a competitive mood”, he advised.

  • NFF adopts new strategy for U-17 team building

    NFF adopts new strategy for U-17 team building

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has adopted a new strategy for building the country’s future U-17 teams, according to the chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, Felix Anyansi-Agwu.

    Anyansi-Agwu, a ranking member of the NFF Executive Committee and chairman of two–time African champions Enyimba FC, told thenff.com on Sunday that the new measure is pragmatic and cost-effective, and will enable the building of a strong squad within a short period of time.

    “I have already discussed the new approach with the present technical crew of the U-17 team led by Emmanuel Amuneke, and they love the idea. We decided on this new approach because it will save us time and funds in the long run.”

    He explained: “Instead of doing the MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) examination for all manner of players with potential, we just look at those that have potential from the beginning and create a pool of between 60 and 70 players for whom we will conduct the examination. That way, we can drop those who fail the test quickly and run with those who pass and are therefore eligible.”

    The Technical and Development Committee chairman believes conducting the test after identifying players with promise (as was done in the past) was actually putting the cart before the horse.

    “There is no point conducting open screening for players and discovering 100 players with some promise, and then you go for the test and 80 of them fail the test. You are back to square one, or at best compelled to make do with the remaining meagre pool, which may be populated by mediocre or average players. If you don’t like what you have, you return to the screening ground and take more players and move them to the laboratory, then probably find out that they also are ineligible. That approach is very long–winding, time-consuming and capital–intensive.

    “That was one factor that worked against our U-17 team at the African Championship in Niger Republic earlier this year.”

    The Golden Eaglets finished in fourth place at the African U-17 Championship in Niger, picking the last African ticket to the FIFA U-17 World Cup scheduled for Chile later this year.

    “We believe the new approach we have adopted is much better and pragmatic, and will enable us to raise a much stronger team for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, and in good time as well.”

  • AAUA team visits

    The Management of AdoPoly, has been praised for its quality staffing and availability of various facilities.

    Prof. William Ibunkun made the commendation at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, following a tour ahead of the affiliation between the two institutions.

    Ibukun noted that for the proposed affiliation, ADOPOLY is well-prepared going by AAUA team’s visit to the polytechnic laboratories and workshops.

    He however observed that the polytechnic would only need to work on the status certain workers who will teach in specific subjects of the affiliated program.

    Earlier, Ibukun stressed that such partnership is approved nationwide for collaborative work in vocational education.

    Responding, the Rector, Dr. Taiwo Akande, who spoke through her deputy (Special Duties and Revenue Generation), Dayo Oladebeye, expressed appreciation for the way the team went about its business.

    He called for a collaboration between the two institutions.

  • Team to tackle road accidents

    The Olota of Ota, Oba Osanyintolu Alani Oyede, has raised a group to monitor road users in the community.

    The monarch said the group, Ota/Awori Joint Security Team, was formed to curb road accidents.

    Describing the rate of accidents as worrisome, he said it was time the community joined hands with traffic agencies to instil discipline.

    The team’s coordinator, Chief Agbebi Ojugbele, urged the State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) and other agencies to support the team to guarantee the safety of life and property.

    He said some drivers have turned the roads into death traps, despite the investment of the Ibikunle Amosun-led administration to upgrade roads in the state.

    The operation will hold for 12 hours daily on the roads, including the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway (Tollgate).

  • Crisis in Falcons’ camp: Coach Okon threatens to dump team

    Crisis in Falcons’ camp: Coach Okon threatens to dump team

    Super Falcons’ Head Coach Edwin Okon has threatened to dump the team if the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) refuses to accord him the respect  given to other senior national team coaches.

    In furtherance of his threat, the coach at the weekend prevented a NFF delegation from addressing the team during one of its training sessions.

    It was gathered that Okon’s displeasure started when he submitted his initial Falcons’ team list of 35 players to the NFF. But the NFF increased the number to 36 by including a goal keeper that excelled during the last Women Federation Cup in Lagos.

    This did not go down well with the coach and he voiced his displeasure over the inclusion of the player.

    To make matters worse, the NFF dropped one of Okon’s backroom staff for insubordination and undermining the authority of the federation.

    Okon was said to have not taken that decision lightly, and he questioned why a decision to drop his backroom staff would be taken without his consent. He was quoted as saying that the NFF should know that he is a senior team coach, and should be treated as such. He threatened to dump the team if the NFF refused to respect him as a such.

    As a way of driving home his displeasure, the Rivers Angels gaffer refused the NFF delegation led by Mrs. Dilichukwu Onyedinma, an executive board member and Chairman of the Nigeria Women Football League, the opportunity to address the players in one of their training sessions on Friday.

    The delegation had arrived at the FIFA Goal Project, Abuja National Stadium  training venue of team at about 3.30pm, but waited till 5.15pm, with the coach insisting that no one would be allowed access to the team until he must have rounded up the training.

    Okon’s attitude drew the irk of the fans and journalists who were covering the training, because he directed the delegation to walk round the pitch to the extreme end  where he was seated to meet him, and discuss whatever they wanted to tell the girls

    The coach, however, called off the training at 5.20pm , five minutes after the delegation had angrily left. Nevertheless, Onyedinma still went ahead to donate N100,000 to the girls for their refreshment before leaving.

  • Lack of funds threatens Dream Team’s training tour

    Lack of funds threatens Dream Team’s training tour

    The proposed training tour of Turkey by the U- 23 national team may not take off at the end of the day as lack of funds’ complaints by the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) may stall the proposal.

    The Dream Team VI kick start their crucial phase of preparations and camping for the All African Games match against Gabon today at the Abuja National Stadium’s FIFA Goal Project Center and it is evident the team will have to make do with preparing at home in Nigeria.

    The disappointed Coach told NationSport that the training tour of Turkey may not materialize after all as a result of paucity of funds facing the NFF.

    “Yes we are commencing the crucial stage of our training for the Gabon match tomorrow (today) at the Abuja National Stadium’s Goal Project pitch and we will do everything within our powers to ensure we get the team ready for the task ahead.

    “I am not really sure of our going for the training tour in Turkey because the Nigeria Football Federation is facing cash crunch for now and they would have liked to sanction our going immediately if not for funds problems.

    “But the door is not finally closed on the issue because we are still looking the way of sponsors for the trip. This is the time the corporate bodies should come to the aid of the Nigeria Football Federation by helping sort out this problem. It will be very good for us to go for the training tour for concentration, tactical and technical reasons too”, Siasia told NationSport in Abuja yesterday.

  • U-23 team’s camp in full swing

    U-23 team’s camp in full swing

    All the invited players for the Under-23 team have arrived the Febson Hotel camp of the Dream Team VI, alongside the team’s technical crew led by chief coach Samson Siasia.

    Siasia who addressed the players after dinner told them to brace up for the challenge of training all days of the week as the challenges ahead of them is enormous, he disclosed that not all of them will make the team as only 25 players will eventually be selected, but added that all of them will be given equal opportunity to show what they can bring to the team.

    He added that the players must obey all the camp rules as is written in the team’s code of conduct which the secretary of the team will give to them, adding that they were not given any of such rules earlier because they were screening to be part of the team.

    The team will have its first training session tomorrow (Monday) morning at the Abuja national stadium.