The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Victor Ikpeba

  • Ikpeba joins league of mourners for Phil Masinga

     

    Nigeria international Victor Ikpeba joined the league of mourners following the demise of former South African striker Philemon Raul Masinga.

    Ikpeba who recalled playing against the former Jomo Cosmos and Mamelodi Sundowns forward, prayed God to give the family and indeed SAFA the fortitude to bear the loss.

    “My condolences to the family and South Africa Football Association, I played against him severally and he was a good man” he submitted.

    Masinga who made over 58 appearances for Bafana Bafana between 1992 and 2001 scoring 18 goals, died at the weekend at the age of 49.

    Masinga who played for premier league side Leeds United for two years after joining from Sundwowns in 1994, played alongside compatriot Lucas Radebe. He left for the Swiss side St Gallen in 2006 and went on to play for Salernitana and Bari in Italy.

    He contributed in no small measure to Bafana Bafana’s victory at the Nations cup in 1996 when the country hosted and won the championship. Many of his fans have not forgotten his super strike against Congo which sealed South Africa’s qualification for the 1998 World Cup in France.

    Chief Executive officer for the organising committee of the 2010 world cup and South Africa football Association President Dr. Danny Jordaan described the late striker as a loyal servant who maintained an impressive personality on and off the pitch.

    “Sad day for South African football.  A loyal servant of the game, on and off the field of play,” he said on Twitter.  Management CAF Champions league campaigners Mamelodi Sundowns have also reportedly condoled the family and the football federation over the death of Masinga who played for them between 1991 and 1994 scoring 98 goals in 108 appearances.

    Mamelodi only few days back lost 2-1 to Lobi stars in the group stage of the CAF Champions league tie at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium Enugu.  The South African side are in group A which also has WAC Casablanca and Asec Mimosa.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Ikpeba shares Leicester City’s grief, remembers late wife

    Victor Ikpeba has shared in the grief of Leicester city over the demise of the owner of the English Premier League Club in an helicopter crash.

    The Nigerian ex-footballer and widower who spoke on Monday Night Football broadcast said The Foxes have been heavily grieved beyond their fans understanding since the demise.

    The helicopter crashed after taking off from the club’s stadium on 27 October, killing Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha who owns the club and four others.

    Jamie Vardy and club captain Wes Morgan led other players to a prayer ceremony at a Bangkok temple for Srivaddhanaprabha’s funeral.

    “I have been there before, as a footballer l understand the grief and tragedy to loss somebody you have bond and affection for, it is a hard time for the team.” the Prince of Monaco, Ikpeba said.

    “I know what it feels to lose somebody. l lost my wife, Tinuke, almost a decade ago, l still feel the death,” he added.

    Atinuke,mother of three, died in May 2000 at the age of 26, after losing her battle with breast cancer.

    Ikpeba who has since not remarried, however, is now a father of five daughters with the addition of two girls from his Congolese-French lady whom he met in the year 2015.

  • Edo Deputy Governor trains with pupils ahead of Okpekpe 10km race

    Edo’s Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, on Thursday in Iyamu joined school pupils from Edo North in training in preparation for the 10-kilometre Okpekpe marathon race scheduled for Saturday.

    Shaibu was joined by a former governor of Edo, Adams Oshiomhole, in the exercise tagged “Let’s Play”

    While addressing the 1,100 pupils from 45 schools at the Edo University Iyamu sports complex, Shaibu encouraged the pupils to engage in all kinds of sports for their physical and mental development.

    He described sports as a sector which keeps children busy and away from negative vices, urging teachers to always encourage their pupils to engage in sports activities.

    Shaibu stated that government was currently working out a plan of providing facilities in all primary schools as well as all wards of the state to regenerate sports at the grassroots.

    Speaking with newsmen, Oshiomhole explained that he instituted the Okpekpe road race to bring government’s presence to the surrounding communities.

    He said the move was also to help take advantage of the natural landscaping of the area.

    The former governor described the “Let’s Play” initiative as a well thought-out plan to encourage development of sports at the grassroots.

    On his part, one of the event’s organisers and ex-international, Victor Ikpeba, said the “Let’s Play’’ initiative came along with the Okpekpe race to expose children to different kinds of sports.

    Ikpeba said it was also meant to encourage children to engage in physical training to keep them fit.

    One of the pupils, Aliu Nurudeen, who spoke on behalf of other students, thanked the organisers and the state government for the opportunity, describing it as a good way to keep fit.

    The pupils later participated in a mini-football match, in which former governor Oshiomhole led the male team to defeat the female team led by his wife Iara and the deputy governor 2-0.

  • 5,000 schools to participate in 2017 COPA Coca-Cola football tourney

    5,000 schools to participate in 2017 COPA Coca-Cola football tourney

    The Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC) on Tuesday announced that the 9th COPA Coca-Cola Secondary School Football Tournament will kick off with 5,000 schools nationwide.

    The NBC Marketing Manager, Cletus Onyebuoha , who made the disclosure at a news conference in Lagos, said the 2017  U-15 COPA Coca-Cola, tagged “Give You More’’, will kick off on April 24.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that COPA Coca-Cola is an international youth football tournament and a global celebration of football passion.

    It unites more than one million teenagers in over 60 countries around the world, promoting an active lifestyle and encouraging values that are the foundation of life and sportsmanship.

    It’s about team spirit, friendship and respect. The Copa Coca-Cola Tournament is more than a game.

    It’s an opportunity for teens to pursue their football dream, and in the process come together to make new friends and learn what it takes to be part of a team.

    Onyebuoha said: “Football enthusiast that follows the COPA Coca-Cola tournament has so much to look out for at this year’s edition.

    “The competition which is now in its 9th year has contributed largely to the success of some of the participants, who are currently pursuing careers as professionals.

    “At the state level, all 110,000 participants will get a COPA Coca-Cola bib; the top three teams will receive medals.

    “The winning teams in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will receive a trophy and makeover of a football pitch of their choice worth N5 million’’.

    Onyebuoha said that an Education Trust Fund worth N500,000 would be given to the national winner to ensure that they combined their education with sports.

    “This year, the competition has been divided into three stages, the grassroots, group and the final.

    “At the grassroots, interested schools in each 36 states and FCT will have to compete for a chance to represent their states at the group stage and the national,’’ Onyebuoha said.

    The President of the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF), Malam Ibrahim Mohammed, urged competing schools to ensure that they presented players of eligible age.

    “These children are young and as such, we should instill discipline in them, they should be registered according to the prescribed age for the tournament.

    “I appreciate Coca-Cola for partnering with us all through these years; we are grateful for helping these children,’’ he said.

    Also, the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, commended the Education Trust Fund.

    “It’s a laudable development; there is need for these young players to get educated because they can’t play soccer forever.

    “Sports remain one of the tools to address youth unrest; if all the youth in this country participate in one sport or the other, there will be peace in this country.

    “They need education to give them an edge all through their adult life; we can’t thank Coca-Cola enough,’’ Dalung, represented by the Director of Grassroots Development, Ademola Are said.

    An ex-international, Victor Ikpeba, urged participants to take the tournament seriously.

    “This competition has produced great talents like Ronadinho of Brazil; if he didn’t take this competition seriously his talent would have faded away.

    “See this tournament as an opportunity to spread your tentacles by making friends and being an all round individual,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oyo State’s Asegun Comprehensive High School won the 2016 edition of Copa Coca-Cola U-15 tournament in the boys’ category.

    The victory came after Asegun defeated National Grammar School, Nike, Enugu 5-3 in a penalty shootout at the national final match played at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos.

  • Mikel should quit Chelsea now, Ikpeba advises

    Mikel should quit Chelsea now, Ikpeba advises

    Ex-International Victor Ikpeba has expressed concerned over John Obi Mikel’s lack of playing time at Chelsea.

    Mikel has fallen way down the pecking order since Antonio Conte took control in the summer.

    The former African Footballer of the Year advised Mikel to swallow his pride and move to another club to save his career.

    Ikpeba observed that Mikel was too tired during Saturday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Algeria at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State before he was substituted.

    “I am concerned that Mikel is not getting playing time at Chelsea. He needs to have enough playing time. On Saturday (during World Cup clash against Algeria) he was very tired because he lacked playing time in Chelsea. Mikel should know better why he is not playing at Chelsea.

    “I can understand the support he is getting from fans and coach but the truth is that he needs to play regularly even if it is with reserve team. When I played in Belgium and I didn’t get enough playing time with first team I played with reserve team to keep myself fit. He should forget about pride and go to another club,” Ikpeba said.

  • Ikpeba: Mikel can still win Africa Player of the Year

    Ikpeba: Mikel can still win Africa Player of the Year

    Victor Ikpeba has advised John Mikel Obi to use the disappointment of losing the African Player of the Year title as a springboard to perform even better and win it soon.

    Mikel lost out to Côte d’Ivoire’s Yaya Toure, leading to widespread disappointment around Nigeria.

    “He should not give up, he should continue to up his game and I believe he will win it soon,” Ikpeba, a former winner, said.

    “We Nigerians were disappointed because we have not won it in a while and the expectation was for Mikel to win it,” Ikpeba said.

    “It was a close call, and I think Mikel’s start in the EPL affected him. He did not have a great start, and Yaya was on fire.

    “Mikel had a great Nations Cup and Confederations Cup and he was ahead of Yaya there, but I think Yaya’s nomination as the only African for the Ballon d’Or also played a part.

    “But I want to say congratulations to Mikel. He had been on top of his game these last two years and if he continues like this, he will certainly win it soon.”

  • More experience, more expectations

    More experience, more expectations

    The Nigeria squad at the time lacked the experience of the present team. Many of the players in Clemens Westerhof’s team were just embarking on their careers –

    like Jay Jay Okocho (20 at the time), Daniel Amokachi (21) Sunday Oliseh (19) and Victor Ikpeba (21). In fact, the only players who had reached their 30th birthday were the present coach Stephen Keshi and goalkeeper Peter Rufai.

    Despite their shock topping of a group ahead of Bulgaria and Argentina, many Nigerians still believe that had the team been just a little bit more experienced, they might have held on to their lead over eventual finalists Italy in the Round of 16 instead of succumbing to the Roberto Baggio-inspired Azzurri.

    It seems likely that Keshi will have a side with more guile in Brazil, with several of his players plying their trade for top-notch European clubs. Players such as John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses and Victor Obinna will bring a wealth of experience playing at the highest level with them. The flip side of this is that, unlike the 1994 squad, Keshi and his team will arrive in Brazil with the burden of huge expectations back home.

    Even Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan weighed in heavily, saying in a statement: “With the enormous pool of footballing talent available to the country, the Super Eagles can, with more hardwork, dedication, resilience and further honing of their skills and tactics, fulfill the national dream of being the first African Nation to win the World Cup.”