The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Wikki Tourists

  • Nwabulu out of Tornadoes’ game

    Nwabulu out of Tornadoes’ game

    Wikki Tourists first choice goalkeeper, Emeka Nwabulu has been ruled out of Wednesday’s match day four of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash against Niger Tornadoes at the confluence stadium, Lokoja, Kogi state.

    The club’s media officer, Nasiru Kobi who disclosed the information to SportingLife, revealed that Nwabulu sustained bruises on his lap during their last home game against Akwa United on Sunday in Bauchi.

    Kobi said that Nwabulu did not travel with the rest of the squad to Lokoja for the match on the team’s doctor’s advice.

    SportingLife however, reports that the second choice goalkeeper Gambo Gideon would be a likely replacement for Nwabulu.

    “Nwabulu didn’t travel with the team, he is at home. He suffered bruises on his lap on Sunday during our game against Akwa United. The doctor advised that he should stay at home to take care of the wound because we have a big game in our next game at home against FC Ifeanyi Ubah.  Nwabulu has been fantastic for us this season. We will surely miss him. The team spirit is very high. Our last home against Akwa United has raised our hope. A win is what we are hoping for in the game against Tornadoes,” Kobi told SportingLife.

     

  • French, Norwegian clubs queue for Obaje

    French, Norwegian clubs queue for Obaje

     

     

    NPFL top goalscorer for last season, Godwin Obaje’s representatives

    and Wikki Tourists are studying transfer offers presented by

    unspecified clubs in France and Norway as the striker inch closer a

    move abroad.

     

    The striker had previously had transfer talks with Tunisian clubs

    Etoile du Sahel and Club Africain but nothing concrete came out of

    them.

     

    The Chairman of Wikki Tourists, Mallam Isa Matori told SportingLife

    that Obaje is billed to travel to either France or Norway soon after

    he has picked one out of the two that have shown serious interest in

    him.

     

    He said that Obaje has made it known that he is not motivated to play

    in the Nigerian league again and that they are striving to help the

    player achieve his dream of playing abroad.

  •  Wikki Tourists confidence back, says Ganaru

     Wikki Tourists confidence back, says Ganaru

     

     

    Wikki Tourists Technical Adviser, Mohammed Baba Ganaru has said that his side’s 1-0 win over Akwa United is a morale booster to his players.

    Harrison Madu’s second half goal was all the Big Elephants needed to secure the maximum three points in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match day three fixture played at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium Bauchi.

    The win over Akwa United was Wikki’s first win of the season which helped them to amass four points out of possible nine in the three matches’ game so far.

    Ganaru told SportingLife that the win was needed to raise the hope of the team for the next game.

    “I thank God that we finally got our first win. The victory was very important because it has helped rising the confidence in the team now, Ganaru said to SportingLife.

    The former Kano Pillars manager has also admitted that his match against Akwa United has been the toughest so far.

    He attributed this to the fact that Akwa United coach Abdu Maikaba is familiar with Wikki tourists who he coached last season.

    He commended his players for their resilience particularly in the second half which resulted in the 1-0 win.

    The will travel to Lokoja for the midweek encounter against Niger Tornadoes on Wednesday.

    “Every game is very important to us now and we are going to take every game as it comes. We are going to Lokoja full of confidence with hope that we will get something out of the match.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Zikiye seeks winning start against Nasarawa Utd

    Zikiye seeks winning start against Nasarawa Utd

  • Wikki Tourists hunt for goalkeepers

    Wikki Tourists hunt for goalkeepers

    • Defensive,attacking midfielders too

    Wikki Tourists are in the hunt for capable cover up goalkeepers, defensive and attacking midfielders before the start of 2016/2017 NPFL season where they will face Nasarawa United in the first match next month.
    The Bauchi side placed third with four points from three matches during the NPFL Super Four tournament held in Enugu recently and the club’s head coach, Mohammed Babaganaru told the team’s Media Officer, Nosiru Kobi that Wikki need more reinforcements in the stated departments to ensure that the club makes a meaningful impact in the league and the CAF Confederation Cup competition.
    Wikki have Emeka Nwabulu, Gideon Gambo, Sani Haliru and Chinedu Udeh who just arrived the camp of the team but Nwabulu kept throughout the club’s campaign during the Super Four in Enugu which denoted Babaganaru’s lack of confidence in the reserve goalkeepers paraded by the team in Enugu.
    The team has invited Udeh, who has kept for Heartland and Abia Warriors in the topflight since he joined from Inter FC of Enugu some seasons ago and he could be handed a contract if he justifies himself better than those currently in camp.
    Wikki have proceeded on a break and are due to return to camp on January 2, 2017 in preparation for the start of the season which kicks off on January 16.

  • Akwa Utd 60% ready for league – Coach

    Akwa Utd 60% ready for league – Coach

    Akwa United technical adviser, Abdul Maikaba, has revealed to SportingLife that his team would be fully ready for the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) kicks off by the middle of next month.

    Maikaba said the team’s preparation is going well and the players are responding to training session.

    The former Wikki Tourists coach said his team is now 60 percent ready but he still needs more time to put the team in shape.

    “Yes, we are 60% ready as of now but we’ll be fully ready in the middle of next month. The management is taking good care of us and the players are responding well to training,” Maikaba said to SportingLife.

    However, players and officials of Akwa United will go on Christmas break on December 21 and will resume on December 28.

  • NORTH EAST PRE- SEASON TOURNEY: El Kanemi Warriors are champions

    NORTH EAST PRE- SEASON TOURNEY: El Kanemi Warriors are champions

  • Gold Cup Tourney: Wikkki Tourists pull out

    Gold Cup Tourney: Wikkki Tourists pull out

    Wikki Tourists of Bauchi have pulled out of the 4th edition of Gold Cup pre-season tournament a day before the kick-off of the competition.

    The tournament is scheduled to take place at the Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State from Friday November 25 to Saturday December 3, 2016.

    The club’s media officer Abdullahi Nasiru Kobi informed Sportinglife that the club withdrew because they have other two parallel pre-season tournaments.

    Kobi said the chairman of the club Isa Matori regretted club’s inability to attend the competition while hoping that the development will not affect the relationship between Wikki Tourists and the organizers.

    “We are not going to participate in the Gold Cup tournament in Ijebu-Ode. The reasons are; we have committed to another pre- season invitation tournament and it is also close to Super Four tournament. The arrangement is too close and we don’t want to exhaust our players before the Super Four tournament,” Kobi disclosed to SportingLife.

    He added: “The chairman expressed his regret over club’s inability to attend the Ijebu-Ode pre-season tournament. He hopes the development will not affect the relationship between our club and the organizers of the tournament.”

    Meanwhile, former Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, Kano Pillars FC and Crown FC of Ogbomoso have arrived in Ijebu Ode, for the Tournament.

    The Pyramid City side who recently named ex-Shooting Stars Sports Club ( 3SC) of Ibadan coach, Kadiri Ikhana will begin their quest in the country’s most prestigious pre-season event on Saturday afternoon (4pm) against Nationwide League One (NLO) side FC Ebedei.

    Crown coach, Osho Fatai, will be leading the Ajilete Warriors against newly promoted Remo Stars FC in one of the Group B contest scheduled for Saturday evening.

  • Nwabulu, Henlong, Waziri dump Wikki Tourists for Rangers

    Nwabulu, Henlong, Waziri dump Wikki Tourists for Rangers

     
    The league champions, Rangers International of Enugu have raided Wikki Tourists of their best players in its bid to form a formidable squad ahead of next season’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and CAF Champions League campaigns.
    SportingLife can reveal that Wikki Tourists’ trio of goalkeeper Emeka Nwabulu, left full back Christopher Waziri and Charles Henlong have pitched tent with the Flying Antelopes.
    Nwabulu, Waziri and Henlong were integral part of Coach Abdul Maikaba’s squad that won the CAF Confederation Cup ticket for the Bauchi-based outfit after finishing third in the NPFL last season. Maikaba has also dumped Wikki Tourists for Akwa United.
    “Ever since the team resumed camping, we didn’t see Nwabulu, Waziri and Henlong in the camp. What we are hearing is that they have moved to Rangers. Although, the management has not said anything about their move but I don’t think they will play here next season,” a source told SportingLife.
    Information from Wikki Tourists camp also revealed that majority of the first choice players have shown interest of moving to another club ahead of next season but the management is doing everything to keep them.
  • Wikki Tourists appoint Bala Nikyu as chief coach

    Wikki Tourists appoint Bala Nikyu as chief coach

    • Ganaru to sign deal today 

    The management of Wikki Tourists of Bauchi has appointed coach Bala Nikyu as chief coach.

    Nikyu will assist the newly appointed technical adviser Mohammed BabaGanaru at Wikki Tourists next season.

    Nikyu was in charge of the national U-17 women team, Flamingoes at the 2016 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan.

    The club’s media officer, Nasiru Kobi informed Sportinglife that the management believes in the competence of the duo of Ganaru and Nikyu to help the team achieve its set target this season.

    “Their experiences are important and we believe that we made a good choice. The management will give them a free hand to work and we will give them all necessary support,” Kobi said to SportingLife.

    Ganaru is expected to sign the deal today at the team’s secretariat and he will be officially presented to the team.