The Nation Newspaper

Tag: udoh

  • UDOH IS TOP CLASS – ENYIMBA CAPTAIN

    UDOH IS TOP CLASS – ENYIMBA CAPTAIN

    Captain of Enyimba, Chinedu Udoji, has described joint-leading scorer in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Mfon Udoh, as “a top-class player.”

    Udoji was full of praise for the former Akwa United man while speaking to the official website of the Aba club this week.

    The plaudits on Udoh comes just two days after his brace of goals helped the former CAF Champions League winners secure a 2-1 win at Nembe City to stay in the title race and in the hunt for a record seventh league title in Nigeria.

    The Enyimba centre-back and captain also commended Udoh’s contribution to the team’s campaign this term in which he has netted 20 league goals and two in the Cup.

    “We have very good players in the team and we all work hard on the pitch to get good results. But Mfon Udoh has given the team a major boost in attack. He has scored very important goals to help us win some big games and I admire him for that.

    “Against Nembe City, a game we needed to win, we went behind in the first half and it made things a bit tough but in the second half he scored twice after a penalty miss. Not many strikers can do that. He’s really a top-class player,” Udoji told Enyimbafc.net.

    Udoji is now looking forward to Sunday’s big clash at Dolphins, and expressed confidence that Enyimba “can rise to the occasion” in their bid to wrest the title from the champions, Kano Pillars.

    The ex-FC Abuja centre-back is aware of the threat of Dolphins’ Emem Eduok, who is joint-leading scorer on 20 goals with Udoh, but he believes that they have a match in Udoh.

    “We’re hoping to win the league. That’s our target this season and Mfon has played a major role in helping us remain competitive. We have two tough games left to play but I’m confident that we can rise to the occasion.

    “No doubt the Dolphins game is going to be really tough because we’ve seen their quality, but I’m sure we will match them strength for strength. We have Mfon Udoh in attack and they have Emem Eduok and things will get interesting, but what I know is that our defence can cope with Emem and hopefully we can claim the three points,” he said.

    Udoji has been Enyimba’s defensive leader and underscored that by helping the side to a clean sheet in all of their home matches last season. This term, Udoji has played in 35 of the 36 NPFL matches for Enyimba.

  • Udoh nets 15th goal of the season

    Udoh nets 15th goal of the season

    •Now joint leading scorer with Salami

    Enyimba striker Mfon Udoh has stressed that he hopes to get more goals to emerge as the best marksman in the Glo Premier League at the end of the season.

    The People’s Elephant went down 1-2 to Gombe United in a Premier League Week 32 tie played at the Pantami Stadium, Gombe through two penalty kicks awarded the home team in the second half of the encounter.

    Haruna Babalo put the Desert Scorpions in the lead in the 66th minute before Udoh equalised in the 80th minute but the home side had the last laugh through another spot-kick converted four minutes from full time.

    Udoh, who was sad at the way Enyimba lost the encounter to Gombe United, however, expressed delight at his goal which was his 15th of the season.

    The goal ensured he levelled with Warri Wolves’ Gbolahan Salami who was absent when the Seasiders defeated Bayelsa United 2-1 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City. Salami has scored 15 goals too.

    “I am not happy at the fact that we lost the game against Gombe United but we will strive to ensure that we turn things around before the end of the season.

    “On the goal I scored, I am happy to add more goals but still sad that we lost the game by the way we did,” Udoh told SportingLife.

    Others still in the race for the highest goal scorer award are Bayelsa United’s Peter Ebimobowei and Enugu Rangers’ Ighodaro Osaguona who have both scored 14 goals this season. Ebimobowei lost the opportunity to increase his goals tally after he failed to beat Warri Wolves’ Okeimute Odah from the penalty spot in their game against Bayelsa United.

  • Udoh confident of hitting 20 goals target

    Udoh confident of hitting 20 goals target

    Nigeria Professional League record scoring stands at 20 and the record holder is Jude Aneke, who played for Kaduna United but Enyimba’s attacker Mfon Udoh is hoping to equal the 20 goals record before the end of the current season.

    The former Akwa United man, who scored a brace in his side’s 5-2 win over Sharks to bring his season’s tally to 14 goals, said he had set a personal target of 20 goals  at the start of the season.

    There are only seven games left to the end of this season, but Udoh is confident he can score the six goals required to meet his target.

    Udoh told www.lmc-ng.com that he is well on course to meet his target,”I set a personal target of 20 goals  and I have scored 14, I believe I can score six more goals in the remaining seven games. With God, nothing is impossible”, he declared.

    Despite his terrific form, Udoh has been overlooked by the national team selectors but the 22 -year- old forward is unfazed and said:”I will continue to do my best, I leave the decision to the coaches to either call me or not .”

    Enyimba has scored a total of 38 goals while conceding 21 and are third on the log with 38 points. The club enjoys the highest goal difference of +17, a factor that may come into play should the season end on points tie.

    Mfon will be looking to increasing his tally and getting closer to his target when Enyimba travel to Gombe United for Match Day 32 fixtures.

     

  • Udoh hopes Pillars will revive his career

    Udoh hopes Pillars will revive his career

    Former Nigeria Olympic team captain Kingsley Udoh has said he hopes his move to Kano Pillars will revive his career.

    Udoh, who last season struggled for playing time at Heartland, told MTNFootball.com, his switch to champions Pillars can only be a major boost to a once promising career, which was expected to have berthed in Europe after Udoh played a big role for Nigeria to win the 2007 FIFA U17 World Cup.

    “I am still shocked at the move. I never expected it considering all I went through last season at Heartland. And now I am with the league champions getting ready for Continental action. I just give God the glory,” he said.

    Udoh, who battled an ankle injury for the better part of 2012, added: “This move would help me relaunch my career both locally and internationally.

    “To play in the league and the CAF Champions League would be wonderful and I wish to help Pillars win both competitions.”

  • Udoh up for Akwa Utd target

    Udoh up for Akwa Utd target

    Newly appointed Akwa United manager, Patrick Udoh, has revealed that he’s looking forward to achieving continental target with the Uyo-based side.

    Udoh has resumed in what is his second spell at the club since acquiring coaching experience at First Bank and Bridge Boys FC.

    “As a banker I love targets so it’s no surprise that Akwa United have set a continental target for me. If you don’t have targets, then there is no destination in life. I’m not new to the job having worked at First Bank and Bridge Boys FC,” he told supersport.com.

    The former Nigerian Under-20 goalkeeper, who was in his country’s squad that made the debut at the former World Youth Championship (now FIFA Under-20 World Cup) in Mexico in 1983 expressed satisfaction with his return to the club.

    “I was stand-in coach when Godwin Uwua left and later worked with Bernard Ogbe, before leaving Akwa United. Besides, I see this as an opportunity to prove a point,” Udoh said to supersport.com.

    Udoh expressed confidence that he will build a strong side despite the exit of top scorer, Mfon Udoh to rivals, Enyimba.

  • Udoh confident Akwa won’t relegate

    Udoh confident Akwa won’t relegate

    Akwa United leading scorer Mfom Udoh has said Saturday’s surprise win at Warri Wolves has boosted their chances of staying up this season.

    Akwa United defeated Warri Wolves 1-0 and moved out of the relegation pack with 47 points.

    “The victory is a big step out of relegation, we need to be more focused now because we still have two matches left and we need the minimum six points at stake to be sure of our survival, so the battle has just begun,” said Udoh, who has scored 13 goals this season.

    “It was God that gave us the victory because they were given a penalty in stoppage time, but our goalkeeper Femi Kayode saved it. So we give God all the Glory.”

    On Wednesday, Akwa will host Kaduna at home and on Sunday they will be away to Kwara in Lokoja.

  • ENYIMBA VS LOBI STARS Expect the best from me — Ref Udoh

    ENYIMBA VS LOBI STARS Expect the best from me — Ref Udoh

    • I didn’t give ballboy red card

    FIFA/CAF badged referee, Ferdinand Udoh has said he would not compromise standards in today’s Federation Cup semi-final tie between Enyimba and Lobi Stars at the Samuel Ogebmudia Stadium, Benin.

    The Geology gradaute from the University of Ilorin stated in a telephone chat with SportingLife.

    “Once again, I’m delighted that I have been tasked by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to be at the centre in a big game like this.

    “Nigerians know that Enyimba and Lobi Stars are not just big teams but they have a tradition when it comes to the Federation Cup having been one time winner or finalist.

    “I wouldn’t want to use the word intimidation as they can’t do that to me, even though I know that the game will be a tough one, rather I want to assure them and Benin fans that they will get the best out of me.

    “So, I urge both teams to be clean and play football because I also like to be professional in my job.”

    Udoh also clarified the issue concerning the ballboy he sent away in the Week 26 Globacom Premier League game between host Sunshine Stars and Kano Pillars.

    “Well the ballboy did not get a red card rather I sent him out for obstructing play when Pillars were goal bound as he threw his ball into the field of play.

    “Meanwhile, according to FIFA rule there was no way I could have given him a red card as he was not a participant in the game. So, the person that can see red are the players and members of the bench.”

  • Omeruo’s brace sinks Pillars

    Omeruo’s brace sinks Pillars

    • Referee Udoh shows ball boy red

    CHRISTIAN Omeruo’s brace was all Sunshine Stars needed to defeat Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) defending champions, Kano Pillars 2-1.

    Omeruo, the elder brother of Super Eagles defender Kenneth, scored both goals within fifteen minutes via headers in the 21st and 36th minutes to give the home side a confortable first half lead.

    Pillars put one back in the 69th minute after Shehu Adamu’s low strike hit the bottom right corner of Sunshine Stars’ goal post.

    Meanwhile, FIFA/CAF-badged referee, Ferdinand Udoh did a rarity in the local league by giving a ball boy a straight red card during the game.

    The ball boy was sent off for halting play when he threw in a ball during a goal bound move.