The Nation Newspaper

Tag: wants

  • Dedevbo wants Falconets to be group winners

    Dedevbo wants Falconets to be group winners

    Falconets of Nigeria coach Peter Dedevbo has said he hopes to win Group C of the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada with victory over England on Wednesday.

    Saturday’s 2-1 win over Korea Republic has already put Nigeria on top of the group with four points.

    England and Mexico have two points each after they drew 1-1 also on Saturday, while Korea are bottom of the standings with a point.

    “We are not going to relax on this victory (vs Korea), the team will continue to train hard in order to clinch the three points against England. That will give us a comfortable lead,” Dedevbo said.

    The coach said his tactics worked magic against Korea.

    “After our first game we sat down and went back to the drawing board. Even the girls were disappointed with the first game,” he said.

    “We had a strategy against Korea, you know the type of football we play, so we decided to play by throwing the ball forward because their defence always stands flat. We played fast.”

    Meanwhile,Falconets ace Halima Ayinde was named most valuable player in the match against Korea.

    Asisat Oshoala was the MVP in the 1-1 draw with Mexico.

    The team will depart Moncton on Sunday for Edmonton, where they will take on England on Wednesday in a final group game.

  • Sarki wants more goals for Wisla Krakow

    Sarki wants more goals for Wisla Krakow

    Wisla Krakow of Poland forward Emmanuel Sarki has promised to score plenty of goals this season for his club in the Polish Ekstraklasa.

    The 2014/2015 Polish league season is two games gone already, with Wisla not having the best of starts, with just 2 points in the 2 games played so far, but Sarki is looking forward to having a lot goals for the club this season.

    “I just want to score plenty of goals for my club this season and do a lot better. It’s a new season and everybody is optimistic and really looking forward to it because we believe it holds a lot of promise for us,” he told Brila fm.

    Sarki, 26, is currently playing in his second season for Wisla in the Ekstraklasa, says despite it not being the very best of starts to a season, it also hasn’t been a very bad start.

    “Well we have drawn the two games we have played so far this season, so yes you can’t say it is a very good start. But I wouldn’t say it has been very bad either.

    “We lost some good players at the end of last season but we hope to replace them with some better ones. Like I said, the season has just started and we’re looking at having a very good time in the league.”

    Wisla Krakow are presently 11th on the log, and will play 3rd placed Lech Poznan this weekend in what potentially could be a tough encounter, but Sarki is remaining bullish and positive his club will get the desired result.

    “I’m looking forward to the game against Lech, first because we need to get all three points, and secondly because Wisla and Lech Poznan are big rivals when it comes to Polish football, so you see why it’s a big deal for me.

    “I’ve been training hard, and I’ve looking after myself so I’ll say I’m quite ready for the game against Lech; not just me, but the whole club. We’re ready and looking forward to it,” he said.

    The former junior and youth international has struggled to fulfil the expectations that was had of him, after he broke unto the scene in 2003 with Nigeria’s U17 national team, the Golden Eaglets. He played alongside Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel and Shalke 04’s Chinedu Obasi on that team, but has struggled to replicate that initial potential into real success.

    He signed a four-year contract with Chelsea in 2006, but spent the whole time out on loan at Belgian side, KVC Westerlo and never played a single game for the former English champions.

  • Ogunjobi wants Prime in the final

    Ogunjobi wants Prime in the final

    Prime FC  chairman, Taiwo  Ogunjobi has backed his side to replicate their impressive form in edging past Dolphins in the Federation Cup semi-final today in Abuja.

    The Osun-based second tier side suprisingly advanced to the semi-final stage via successive penalties rumping past Elkanemi Babes (3-1) in the Round of 64, Warri Wolves (4-2) in the Round of 32, First Bank (3-2) in the Round of 16, and Gateway United FC (4-2) in the quater finals.

    Ogunjobi, who praised the improving mentality of his players, urged them to sustain the momentum against Dolphins and ensure the team surpasses its 2012 feat when they won third place against Kano Pillars.

    “I have to praise my players for the good work they have done so far. They have made us proud all the way and I’m sure this time they can do it against Dolphins. It’s g not to be complacent but remain focused so as to  win the Federation Cup.

    “Dolphins are a very good team with quality players. It is not easy to beat such a team but my players work extra hard to overcome them.

    “My players are gradually improving – we have a resolute resilience and commitment among the players and we are playing good football,” the former general manager of Shooting Stars Sports Club.

    “We still have a lot to play for in the league and Federation Cup, we’re just starting and it’s going to be tough when the league resumes, but if we play to our potential we should be capable of winning matches both home and away,” he concluded.

    On the other hand, semi-final opponents, Dolphins beat Ingas 3-1, Kogi United 1-0, Elkanemi 1-0 and Lobi Stars 4-2.

    Prime FC, the only National League side left in the competition will face four-time winners Dolphins in quest for their first ever final appearance in the Federation Cup by August 16 in Lagos.

     

  • Maccabi Tel Aviv wants Igiebor

    Maccabi Tel Aviv wants Igiebor

    Norwegian-Nigerian agent, Atta Aneke, has commented on the transfer situation of his client, Real Betis midfielder Nosa Igiebor.

    The Nigeria international is at the Andalusian outfit’s pre-season training sessions for the start of their campaign in the Segunda Division. But his soul is not with the club and he has been undergoing individual practice since returning to Spain.

    A couple of teams based in Spain and Israel could rescue the Super Eagle from this nightmare, however, the powers that be at Real Betis have rejected some of the bids outright as they failed to meet their valuation of the player.

    ”Nosa Igiebor is still a Real Betis player. Maccabi Tel Aviv have not met the valuation set by Real Betis and he respects that.

    ”Apart from Maccabi, 2 – 3 teams in the Primera División want him on loan but we are not focusing on that now. Talks are ongoing but not concluded.

    ”It is beyond my power to determine his present transfer fee but I know Betis paid around 1 million Euros to Hapoel Tel Aviv to enable him move to Spain,” says Atta Aneke to SL10.ng.

    Though Nosa Igiebor is keen on sealing an exit from Real Betis before the close of the summer transfer window, he is still contracted to the club for the next two seasons.

  • Kharkiv wants Ayila back

    Kharkiv wants Ayila back

    Having impressed manager of Metalist Kharkiv, Igor Rakhaev, while on loan last season, the Ukrainian club have expressed their interest in securing the signature of Nigeria international Yussuf Ayila for the upcoming campaign.

    Ayila appeared five times in the Ukrainian championship for Metalist, netting once against Chornomorets and also reminded his present employer, Dynamo Kiev about his qualities, scoring in the 2-3 Cup loss late March.

    “I was pleased with the invitation to Metalist of Yussuf. This is a good footballer. But it was obvious that he has not played at such a high level regularly and was sometimes dropped.

    “Sure, now, he will look better, starting with the team fully. We are looking forward to him,”Igor Rakhaev, said to xsport.ua.

    Ayila has been on the payroll of Dynamo Kiev for more than a decade apart from brief loan spells with Metalist and Odurspor (Turkey).

  • National Conference wants marketing boards back

    National Conference wants marketing boards back

    The National  Conference is pushing for the revival of the scrapped Commodity Marketing Beards.

    The boards will however be driven by farmers to stop middlemen from further exploitation of the farmers.

    The  boards  were scraped in 1987 with the introduction of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP).

    The boards are expected to protect the interests of the farmers as swell as guarantee stability for agricultural produce.

    The delegates, at the resumed consideration and adoption of the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources yesterday voted overwhelmingly for the revival of farm settlements on large expanse of land.

    They however saw no reason why Information and Communications Technology (ICT) centers, accommodation and hospitality centers and other modern amenities that can be assessed at reduced rates should not be established in the farm centers.

    In addition, it was recommended that states and local governments should facilitate the revitalisation  of existing  Skills  Acquisition and Agricultural Training Centre in each of the  senatorial districts for the purposes of job creation.

    It was also agreed, as recommended by the report that in addition to existing budgetary allocation to agriculture, 30 percent of the National Resources Fund be used for the development of agriculture.

    Twenty (20) per cent of the same fund was also recommended to be devoted to mechanised deep sea  fishing.

    The delegates, however, rejected the creation of a National Water Commission on the basis that all issues relating to water should be left to the Ministry of Water Resources.

    While the government was advised against funding cross species genetic manipulations, the delegates urged  that farmers should be exposed to export opportunities.

  • Aloma wants Warri win

    Aloma wants Warri win

    Experienced El-Kanemi Warriors’ defender, Idris Aloma has sounded a note of warning to Warri Wolves that they would be beaten in front of their faithful today.

    Warri Wolves and El-Kanemi Warriors will go head-to-head on Thursday for their Globacom Premier League match day 2 encounter.

    Aloma’s last visit to Warri ended in calamity last term when his former employers, ABS were shown the exit door from the top flight losing 1-2 to Warri Wolves in their final duel of the season.

    The former Babanawa FC captain revealed to superpsport.com that his teammates are ready to pick the maximum points in Warri.

    “I doubt if El-Kanemi Warriors have ever won in Warri, but records are meant to be broken. My last visit to Warri ended in tears because it was where my former team (ABS) got their relegation ticket, but this time around, Warri Wolves would be beaten in their house,” he said to supersport.com.

    Aloma, 20, would also be glad to see a balanced and unbiased officiating on Thursday at the Warri City Stadium.

  • Ibenegbu wants silverware for Wolves

    Ibenegbu wants silverware for Wolves

    Ikechukwu Ibenegbu hopes his arrival at Warri Wolves will coincide with a period of success in the club.

    The midfielder quit Heartland for a new challenge and feels Warri Wolves is the perfect place for him to start all over. He reckons they have put up some strong sides recently, but have been unlucky not to win silverware.

    He told supersport.com that he is aware the success-starved fans in his new base expect him to replicate the winning mentality from Heartland with the club.

    “I played for Heartland for six years and needed to make a move. I needed another challenge and I was happy a club like Warri Wolves showed interest in me. They are a big club and have a huge following. There must be a lot of expectations from the fans,” Ibenegbu said.

    “They have been doing well recently. Last season they reached the Federation Cup final and finished sixth in the league. I understand they have not won any major trophy and I want to help them achieve that goal.

    “In addition to the domestic trophies, we will also play in the Confederation Cup, so there’s a lot to play for. I have played in both the Confederation Cup and the Champions League, and I hope my experience can help make the difference in our continental campaign. I’m looking forward to winning at least one of the three trophies we’ll be competing for.”

    Ibenegbu said they have a squad that could compete favourably for the Globacom Premier League title.

    “I am impressed with our squad. There is real quality here and we should be able to contest for the league. The league is an open contest and with hard work we could win it. We should bear in mind that there are about four or five other clubs also capable of winning and start planning our strategies early,” he told supersport.com.

    Ibenegbu won the Federation Cup twice, and reached the Champions League final while with Heartland FC of Owerri. He has won two caps for Nigeria and is a constant figure with the country’s beach soccer national team.

  • Sunshine Stars’ Olorundare wants Eagles call-up

    Sunshine Stars’ Olorundare wants Eagles call-up

    Dele Olorundare, Sunshine Stars FC of Akure striker, has said he would like to be invited to play for the Super Eagles.

    Olorundare told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure on Saturday that his desire was to wear the country’s colours one day.

    NAN reports that Sunshine Stars currently have two players — Godfrey Oboabona and Solomon Kwambe – in the senior national team in Brazil for the 2013 Confederations Cup.

    The prolific striker, who has 11 goals from 18 Globacom Premier League games so far, is the leading scorer in the competition.

    “Every time I play, it is with the belief that I will soon get my chance with the Super Eagles and that keeps me going. First, I want to thank God and my teammates for helping me to score 11 goals,’’ he said.

    Olorundare added that he wanted to score 25 league goals this season to help his team return to continental football.

    “At the start of the season, I set a target of 25 goals for myself and I believe that by the help of God and my teammates I will achieve it,” he said.

    Sunshine Stars are currently sixth on the league table with 27 points from 18 matches.

  • Tompolo wants to kill me, says local chief

    The crisis rocking the Egbema/Gbaramatu Communities Development Council in Delta State assumed a worrisome development yesterday when the outgoing chairman, Edmund Doyah-Tiemo, accused ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, (alias Tompolo) of threatening to kill him.

    The EGCDC is the body entrusted with the multibillion naira budget of Chevron Nigeria Limited for the development of 16 Ijaw communities in Egbema and Gbaramatu.

    The chairman, who convened a meeting to explain the delay in inaugurating a new leadership for the body yesterday, accused “some persons who are not members of the council” of interfering in the affairs of the body.

    He then zeroed in on Tompolo, saying: “Tompolo called me and threatened my life.

    “He said if I continue with the election and inaugurate a new chairman he would find me wherever I am and deal with me.

    “Tompolo said even if I go to Lagos or anywhere, he would search for me.”

    Doyah-Tiemo said he was waiting for Benikrukru, one of the 16-member communities in the CDC, to nominate its representatives to enable him inaugurate new leaders and handover.

    But, Tompolo, who spoke through his media aide, Paul Bebenimibo, denied the allegation.

    He accused the EGCDC Chairman of sacrificing the communities’ interests for his personal gains.

    Tompolo said: “There was no threat to his life. We merely warned him not to do anything that is against the interests of our people.

    “The council is made up of the people of Egbema and Gbaramatu kingdoms.

    “Recently, he went ahead to sign a GMoU with Chevron, even though his tenure had expired.

    “Now, the Gbaramatu people said they are no longer comfortable with the GMoU and they withdrew.

    “The man has no issue; he is based in Lagos and has no interest here; that is why he is not bothered about the interests of the people.

    “He is trying to bring divide-and-rule tactic into the council.

    “Besides, Doyah-Tiemo is an Egbema man, he is not from Gbaramatu. So he should be minding his business as an Egbema person and not dabbling in the issues of Gbaramatu,” he added.