Tag: wallop

• Rate Kano Pillars Stadium No. 1 in crowd attendance

El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri continued their impressive form by defeating Nembe City 3-0 in the week 34 Glo Premier League clash at the Kano Pillars stadium, Sabon Gari, Kano.

Ifeanyi Matthew registered an early goal for his side when he opened scoring in the 6th minute before  Malik Demba made it two in the 13th minute to end the first half 2-0.

In the resumption of the second half, Sunday Adetunji made a solo effort to score the third goal in the 46th minute to complete the goals rout.

The Director of Media, El-Kanemi Warriors FC of Maiduguri Tahiru Bala has described the Kano Pillars Stadium, Sabon Gari as the number one stadium in terms of fans attendance in the 2013/2014 Glo Nigeria Premier League more than any stadia across the country.

In a chat with SportingLife, Bala said he was amazed with the large number of turnout anytime there are league matches at the stadium.

“The turnout is amazing and incredible seeing thousands of football lovers coming out to cheer their darling team. I must say it is the largest turnout I saw in the apex league in Nigeria today,” Bala said.

“The crowds give us their support when we play our matches in the same stadium, especially if we are playing the same day with Kano Pillars. Our supporters and that of Pillars are unofficially merged supporting each other and that has been going on whenever we play our home matches.”

Bala added that the security provided for matches in Kano is excellent in terms of organisation of the men and officers of the police under the leadership of the DPO in Sabon Gari.

“The stadium is always given adequate security above the LMC required number, with the spectators parking lots shifted to about 50 metres away from the stadium walls. Searches were conducted upon approaching the vicinity of the stadium and areas are marked with the paint of same marking with the one on the pitch of play.”

Enugu Rangers have expressed delight at their emphatic 3-0 win over Akwa United in a Glo Premier League Week 10 tie played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu yesterday.

The Flying Antelopes’ director of media and publicity, Foster Chime told SportingLife that the big victory has given Rangers a renewed zeal to go all out to aim at the top this season.

Two goals from ex-3SC player, Ighodaro Osagona in the 60th and 75th minutes and Ejike Uzoenyi’s strike between Osagona’s goals in the 65th minute made the maximum points save for the Coal City side.

Chime said that the players and the coaches have been working hard to ensure that the Flying Antelopes mount a serious challenge for the league title and the Federation Cup this season.

He hinted that the club would strive to justify the huge investment of the Enugu government on the team.

“We won and we are happy to get this valuable win. It has lifted our spirits and has renewed our zeal to go all out to fight for the league and the Federation Cup.

“It was sweet victory over one of our main challengers this season and it has boosted our morale,” Chime told SportingLife.

Rangers are on 14 points from 10 matches while Akwa United are fast losing the steam with which they started the season as they have failed to win any game in their last three matches. They are on 15 points from 10 matches.

Wikki Tourists Football Club was in ruthless form as the Bauchi-based team walloped the visiting TEAP FC four nil to lead the Nigeria National League (NNL) Division A just as Gabros International which lost woefully to Go-Round FC in Omoku on Friday is Division B frontrunner.

Gabros was beaten three nil in a better forgotten weekend which also saw Prime FC fumble to a 2-2 home draw with Mountain of Fire and Miracle (MFM) of Lagos.

However, it was sweet victories for Plateau United which beat Supreme Court 2-0 and Adamawa United which defeated Spotlight 2-1 even as Niger Tornadoes and Nigerian Prisons recorded wins against Ranchers Bees and Kogi United respectively.

City of David (COD) FC and Akwa Starlets played 1-1 draw while Gateway and First Bank FC also ended their match 2-2. But Bendel Insurace beat Ekiti United 2-1 and Abia Comets thrashed Shooting Stars of Ibadan 2-0.

Sharks FC of Port-Harcourt yesterday brightened their relegation survival bid with a 3-0 victory over Gombe United in a week 24 Globacom Premier League game.

Abraham Okereke shot the home team into the lead in the 57th minute before Christain Pyagbara made it two in the 68th minute.

Ifeanyi Inyiam completed the rout in the 85th minute with the third goal to the delight of the cheering home supporters.

In a chat with SportingLife after the game, the club’s media officer, Peter Abaje heaped praises on the players’ fighting spirit.

He added that the club will continue to push until they get comfortable points for league survival.

“It was a very good result and scoring three goals against a good side like Gombe United means the team are determined for the league survival,” Obaje told SportingLife.

“This is what the fans want to see from the team. I think this win will be a morale booster to the team. We will take one match at a time. The players know that relegation is not the issue and if they can continue with this impressive form we will definitely survive relegation.

“We garnered twenty points in the first round and we are in the race to garner thirty points for our survival which I believe is easy to get.

“This season, we’ve won two home games and we want to win all our remaining home matches with the hope of getting away draws. We’ve drawn one away game in the second round and we will hope for more. Our fans are very happy with today’s victory because it has been long since we had this kind of victory.”

In Yenagoa, Bayelsa United defeated El Kanemi 3-0 to move to second spot on the log behind league leaders, Kano Pillars.

All the goals were scored in the first half. Azubuike Okechukwu netted the first goal in the 8th minute. Ebimobowei Peter increased the tally in the 17th minute before Gindo Abdulaye’s 40th minute goal sealed a convincing win for the coach Ladan Bosso-tutored side.

Kano Pillars hope they could record a big win over Olympique de Bangui of Central African Republic in Saturday’s CAF Champions League tie.

The first round, first leg game is schedulded for Saturday afternoon at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

Pillars coach Mohammed Babaganaru told MTNFootball.com that they have perfected their plans to beat their opponent by a big score so that the return leg would be a mere formality.

“We are ready for the match. We have perfected our plan to try and win the game convincingly with a very wide margin so that the second leg won’t be very important,” said Babaganaru, who in September led Pillars to their second league crown.

“We know nothing about our opponents but that won’t be a problem as we are fully ready to give the best in this match.

“Our players are fit there is no cause for alarm, they are all okay for the game.”

The little known Central Africa Republic team are due in Kano today.

Kano Pillars are appearing in this competition for the third time after reaching the semi-final in 2009, wile they crashed out in the first round in 2011.

Pillars will be counting on new recruit Kabiru Umar, Gambo Mohammed, U20 International Shehu Abdulahi and Rabiu Ali to do the damage on Saturday.

Olympique de Bangui are appearing in the CAF Champions League for the second time in their history.

In 2011, they were knocked out by Mouloudia Algier 3-1 on aggregate in the preliminary round.

They have won the Central African Republic league 10 times.