No fewer than five Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubs have shown interest in signing Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) striker, Sunday Faleye.
A source in the team’s camp in Ibadan revealed to SportingLife that clubs like Niger Tornadoes, FC Ifeanyi Ubah and Rangers International have contacted the club over the possibility of bringing the young star to their sides but Faleye has rejected the offers to stay with the Oluyole Warriors.
Faleye, who has scored five goals this season, promised to finish the season with the Ibadan-based side before considering any move.
“Falaye has displayed loyalty to the club because as at last count, we have about five clubs contacting us for his service. But he has no intention of moving to another club now. And he appreciates the club for bringing him to the limelight. He said the club and the fans encouraged him and leaving now will be disappointing. He has said that if at all he wants to move, it should be to a team as big as 3SC. He has scored five goals and he has promised to score more,” a source told SportingLife.
Other clubs chasing Faleye are Rivers United, Katsina United and Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) FC.
Tag: Tornadoes
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Faleye shuns Tornadoes, Ifeanyi Ubah, others
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Biffo hails Abia Warriors’ response against Tornadoes
Abdullahi Biffo admits he is delighted that Abia Warriors gave a positive response to their recent ‘adverse situation’ following their topflight victory over Niger Tornadoes on Wednesday.
The Umuahia based side have suffered a bad patch of form, one that resulted in the resignation of former coach, Okey Emordi.
Biffo took over and after a defeat at Akwa United over the weekend, an Anthony Okemmiri 18th minute strike ensured they pipped Ikon Allah Boys 1-0 at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
And the gaffer has hailed the reaction of his charges to the situation.
“The result satisfied us a lot and we are happy it came at the right time,” Biffo told Goal.
“We did a great job. It was a fantastic response to what was an adverse situation. The match was hard for us, Tornadoes were very strong. When we changed our way of playing in midfield the game changed.
“We made key tactical switches which helped us as we looked to play into spaces and get closer to their penalty area.
“There is happiness at achieving a very important result. It’s incredible the reaction we produced. Everyone put in a great performance. The team must be congratulated. We will go on taking things game by game.”
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Ajoku vows to score against Gombe United
Niger Tornadoes leading goal scorer in the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Chidebere Blessing Ajoku says he hopes to re-discover his scoring form beginning with the tie against Gombe United on Sunday.
Ajoku last scored on match day 7 in Niger Tornadoes 0-1 win over Remo Stars in Sagamu, revealing that he is not happy to have played two matches now without registering his name in the score sheet especially after setting 15 goals target for himself.
“I am not happy that I have not scored since getting the lone goal winner at the match day 7 at the Gateway International Stadium, Sagamu”, he said.
The former Heartland striker said he has been training hard with intent to bouncing back with a bang, adding that the desire in the tie against Gombe United is not just about scoring but claiming the three points at stake
“It is not about me scoring, but if I see the opportunity I will take it. I am not going to force it happen, goal scoring is a natural thing. If I can’t score I will assist others to score. It is a team work”, Ajoku explained.
Ajoku currently has four goals to his name with Tornadoes sitting 8th on the log with 12 points in nine matches, Sunday’s opponents Gombe, are just two places below with 11 points in nine matches.
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Cathedral draw a morale booster -Bala
Tornadoes coach Bala Abubakar has described Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Rangers at the Cathedral as a morale booster that will further ginger the Minna side to greater heights.
The result he said came through hard work and determination adding that it was what he promised the fans, to present a formidable team that can hold their own whether playing at home or away.
“I am very happy about the draw against Rangers at the Cathedral.it is a show of determination and courage and that was what we promised our supporters, to present a formidable team and put in the best in every match,” he enthused even as he challenged the supporters to remain steadfast as the league progresses
On set target for the season, Coach Bala said the desire is to improve on what was achieved last season and take up from there.
“Last season we finished 11th on the log, this season our target is to improve on that and then progress from there,” he submitted
Chidebere Ajoku’s 45 minute strike that cancelled out Rangers goal by Godwin Aguda was all that was needed to earn the visitors a vital away point.
It was not only Ajoku’s goal that gave Tornadoes a lot to cheer about, the impressive form of goalkeeper Mustapha Aliko was equally worthy of note as he effectively checked moves by the Flying Antelopes to carry the day.
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Tornadoes bank on Lukas, Momoh against Wikki
Former Elkanemi Warriors midfielder, Lukas YahayaShinye and former Kaduna United attacker Peter Momoh are to be unleashed on Wikki Tourist as Niger Tornadoes aim to win their first match in new season
Tornadoes host the Bauchi side at the Confluence Stadium Lokoja on Wednesday and Coach Bala Abubakar is hoping that his team can earn maximum points for good.
Bala revealed that he introduced the new players to add life to the team. He however admitted that the team is under pressure to return to winning ways.
“Everyone is worried back at home and as well as our supporters here in Lokoja, but we assure you that everything has been put in place to start winning our games.
“We had a good match in Port-Harcourt against Rivers United, we did our best to get at least a draw but we couldn’t cancel out the first half goal united scored”, he said.
According to the coach, the team has found its rhythm and is confident that his lads would put a super performance against the Tourists even as he called on the club’s fans to keep faith as the boys have what it takes to turn things around. Tornadoes have merely managed to earn a 1-1 draw against ABS of Ilorin; other ties had seen the Minna landlords lose 3-0 to MFM and 1-0 to Rivers United respectively.
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Tornadoes itchy to win Gold Cup
Tornadoes coach Abubakar Bala has declared that winning the Gold Cup tournament especially as new comers will be a major boost ahead of the new Premier league season in December.
Bala who has reduced his team to 30 players after serious screening admitted that it was not an easy decisions as virtually all the players look good noting however that there was no way he could take everybody.
“Winning the Gold Cup will no doubt be a major boost for us especially considering that we are new comers, but we intend to do our very best,” he said.
The level of competition witnessed last season according to him is an indication that the new season will be full of fireworks. “Preparation for next season has to be thorough and we are taking it seriously, we have reduced the team to 30-man squad to remain here with us for the Gold Cup.
“It was a tough decision for us, but as professionals the technical crew ensured that we select the best,” he said adding that the Gold Cup will provide ample opportunity to watch the new additions in real match situations.
“I am happy that the boys showed high level of maturity after I named the 30-man squad. Those that could not make the team are even wished the club well as they move on with their lives.”
Tornadoes will kick off the Gold Cup on Friday against FC Ebiede in Ijebu Ode. The Minna based side had earlier played some friendly matches against New Generation Academy of Lagos, Lobi Stars and Rangers respectively.
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Tornadoes begin pre-season camping
• Set to drop 10 more players
Determined to make a huge impact in the 2016/17 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Niger Tornadoes flagged off intensive closed door camping on Sunday in Ado Ekiti. Coach Abubakar Bala described the camping as timely adding that it would provide the technical crew ample opportunity to screen more players with a view to settling for the best legs.
The choice of Ado Ekiti, according to him, is to help the team acclimatise on one hand and prepare for the forth coming Gold Cup billed for Ijebu Ode later in the month.
‘We are here to make our last practice and allow our new boys to get to understand themselves with the players retained.
‘We are in Ado Ekiti with 40 players as the exercise continues we will prune the team to 30 players and we are going to be fast about it, as we anticipate that the NPFL will commence next month’, he said.
Bala, who was recently confirmed as Tornadoes head coach, expressed satisfaction with the level of discipline among players adding that everything will be done to maintain the level of discipline while combining it with hard work in the new season.
He praised the club’s management committee for not only approving the preseason exercise but for also providing the funds for it, promising that the best crop of players would be picked at the end devoid of sentiments.
‘The present technical crew is prepared to select the best legs, we have learnt enough from our mistakes in last year’s recruitment and we will not repeat same this year, Bala promised.
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Tornadoes invite 25 for trials
Niger Tornadoes have invited 25 players for screening in preparation for the upcoming 2016/17 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Tornadoes head coach, Abubakar Bala said arrangement has been concluded to receive the invited players in Minna on Sunday as trials and screening exercise will commence on Monday.
Bala said the 10-day exercise will afford the technical crew the opportunity to assess the players as well as select those who distinguished themselves in the exercise.
The former FC Lokoja coach said among the 25 invited players are two foreigners who are expected to join the 17 retained players in camp.
Bala, who guided Tornadoes to 11th finish in the out gone top-flight, said there will not be any automatic shirt for both the retained and the invited players.
He charged them to give a good account of themselves as various measures are in place to select the final list urging the players to be disciplined as it was one of the major criteria of the trial exercise.
Bala, however, warned that gate crashing will not be entertained as there is no time for the team to have an open screening exercise.
“We want to avoid the mistakes of last season, we won’t open up the screening exercise, what we are even doing now is filling up the areas where we have deficiency. All that we want now is to assemble the best crop of players that will compete favourable well with other top clubs in the league as getting a continental slot will be our priority in the coming season. At the end of the 10-day exercise the team will go for a pre-season tour outside the state as well as take part in pre-season tournaments,” said Bala to supersport.com.
Bala said the side are aware of interest by top teams in their left full back but insisted that they are monitoring the situation as well as options available.
“Wassa is still our player, young, talented and promising. We know many clubs are after him, for now we are not ready to part ways with him. The best we can do is to let him out on loan, this is the only consideration we can offer for now,” said Bala.
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Tornadoes must be more ambitious next season-Adebayo
Niger Tornadoes’ Abiodun Adebayo has assured fans of the Ikon Allah Boys of fireworks in the 2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.
“I want to give my best for the club to win the NPFL and play in the CAF Champions League,” Adebayo told Goal.
“We have switched our focus to the future. I must admit that the recently concluded season comes with food for thoughts. We have to be more ambitious if we want to compete with the best. There was no difference between playing in Minna and the Confluence Stadium. The Lokoja community really gave us the needed support. We can’t find enough words to appreciate them,” he said.
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Tornadoes sack eleven players
• Place eight on standby
Niger Tornadoes have sacked 11 players following their unimpressive performance in the just concluded Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.
Ahead commencement of the 2016/17 NPFL season, the team will be hoping to add 11 new players to the squad.
“The report card of the side in the out gone season showed that 11 players have been dropped outright due to low performance, indiscipline and attitudinal problem,” Abubaker Bala told Supersports.
“Though some of the dropped players scored vital goals in the out-gone top-flight, but their behaviour was not in tandem with the club’s policy.
“Eight players too were placed on transfer or standby. The idea is that if they proved themselves better than the new ones, we will re-absorb them. We hope to recruit 11 new players as 19 were retained after the out-gone season’s campaign.
“The management actually awarded high pass mark on our performance in the out-gone top-flight. The players are on a three-week break and are expected in camp on October 27 to kick-start pre-season activities.”