The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Wikki Tourists

  • Wikki Tourists resume training today

    Wikki Tourists resume training today

    • To invite three coaches for interview

    Players and officials of newly promoted side, Wikki Tourists of Bauchi, will resume training today ahead of the Glo Premier League season.

    The club’s chairman, Suleman Chindo said the team re-grouped on Sunday and the former Wunti FC attacker was emphatic that early preparation was key to performing well in the top division.

    “We are set to make a bold statement in the Premier League from the start of the season. We are not new to the activities in the league. We’ve been there before and we know what is expected of us. We are not in the league to make up the numbers,” Chindo said.

    The former Gombe United forward confirmed that only three out of 12 coaches that applied for the vacant technical adviser job will be interviewed.

    He stated that the management had scrutinised their CVs and will appoint the best hand for the club.

    The likes of Abdullahi Maikaba, Donald Malobo Paris, Zachary Baraje, John Obuh and Abdulrahman Tunde applied for the job.

    Others are Evans Ogenyi, Godfrey Esu, Abdullahi Ahmed Pele, and Hassan Abubakar among others.

    “We’ve received lots of applications and we’ve gone through their CVs; only the best three will be called for interviews. I believe at the end of the day the best coach will be appointed to handle the club,” the former El Kanemi striker said.

  • Wikki Tourists in six-point lead

    Wikki Tourists in six-point lead

    Wikki Tourists of Bauchi has brightened their chances of an early return to top flight football after playing a goalless draw against Road Safety in the Week 16 Nigeria National League (NNL) clash at the Keffi Township Stadium on Sunday.

    The coach Tunde AbdulRahaman-led side kick started the game yesterday full of determination with the hope of being victorious in the game.

    SportingLife understands that the Bauchi-based side got scoring chances but the poor state of the pitch at the Road Safety’s adopted home ground at the Keffi Township Stadium, Nasarawa State could be blamed for their missed opportunities.

    The Bauchi-based side got relegated to the lower division last season after a poor run of results but they showed determination to make a quick return back to the premier League with impressive results this season.

    The away draw helped Wikki Tourists to extend their lead on the Group A table with six points, having gotten 32 points from 16 matches played so far this season. The closest rivals, Adamawa United who followed in the second position with 26 points, lost 2-0 to Prison FC of Abuja on Sunday.

    Wikki Tourists got two away wins against Jigawa Stars (1-0) and DSS of Kaduna (1-0), two away draws against Prison FC Abuja 1-1 and Road Safety of Abuja. They have secured 10 home wins this season.

    “We were supposed to beat them 3-0 if not for the bad pitch at Keffi Stadium. We played well and we will continue to push until we get our promotion ticket,” the club’s media officer, Usman Abbas Shehu told SportingLife.

  • Abdul-Pele backs Wikki technical adviser

    Abdul-Pele backs Wikki technical adviser

    Wikki Tourists chief coach, Ahmed Abdul-Pele has declared total support for the team’s newly-appointed technical adviser,Tunde Abdulrahman.

    The former FC Taraba gaffer was recently handed the mantle to oversee the Bauchi-based side’s campaign in the 2013/14 Nigeria National League season due to kickoff on January 25.

    Abdul-Pele said he is prepared to support anybody who shares the side’s dream to return back to the elite league at the end of the coming season.

    “I’m ready to work hand in hand with the technical adviser, Tunde Abdulrahman to achieve our aim of gaining promotion to the Premier League at the end of the season.

    “Together we’ll fight hard to get back the side to the elite league where it rightly belongs.

    “Abdulrahman is an experienced coach as his wealth of knowledge was handy to see FC Taraba gain promotion to the Premier League in the out gone Nigeria National League season,” Abdul-Pele said to supersport.com.

    Abdul-Pele said the technical helmsmen will leverage on their knowledge of Jigawa Golden Stars to beat them in the NNL Division A opening game on January 25 in Dutse.

    “We’ll start our promotion campaign on a winning note at Jigawa Golden Stars on January 25 in Dutse.

    “I was once a coach of the side before I joined Wikki Tourists same as the new technical adviser, Tunde Abdulrahman.

    “We worked together at Jigawa so we’re sure to use our respective knowledge of the Dutse-based side to unsettle the side on January 25.

    “We’ve been able to assemble together quality players for the season’s assignments and I’m confident they won’t disappoint,” Abdul-Pele said.

    Abdul-Pele presided over the side’s demotion to the lower league in the 2012/13 Glo Premier League.

  • Wikki Tourists flog Kaduna Utd 2-0

    Wikki Tourists flog Kaduna Utd 2-0

    Wikki Tourists made home advantage count after they eased to a 2-0 win over Kaduna United at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi in a Matchday 35 Glo Premier League tie.

    The Bauchi side who are dodged by relegation worries grabbed a morale boosting victory through goals from Ahmed Ahmed and Usman Sani.

    They predictably went off the block faster than the visiting Kaduna United and despite the heavy presence of the Ambrose brothers, Skipper Emma and Peter(siblings of Efe) the Crocodile couldn’t muster and attempt to get a draw in Bauchi.

    Wikki moved to 18th on the log with 45 points from 35 matches while Kaduna United are 13th with 47 points from as many games.

  • Pele still confident

    Pele still confident

    Wikki Tourists coach, Ahmed Abdul Pele has said he is not losing sleep over his side precarious position on the log.

    With four matches to round off the 2012/2013 Glo Premier League season the Bauchi-based side occupy the 19th position on the 20-team topflight league log on paltry 42 points from possible 102.

    Wikki Tourists will host Kaduna United in Wednesday’s Glo Premier League Matchday 35 encounter in Bauchi.

    Pele said despite the odds against his youthful side with just four matches to end the regular season his mind has never shaken over the chances of the team maintaining their Premiership status in the next season.

    “I know for certain that Allah will see us through that’s why I’m not bordered nor going to lose sleep over our current position on the log. I’ve refused to waiver in faith that Wikki Tourists won’t go down on relegation. I am a die-hard optimist, I won’t give up nor surrender the survival battle till the last game, I’m confident Wikki will scrap through the hurdle.

    “Heartland came here to pick point so who said I can’t go out to pick points in the remaining two away games while winning my two home matches. Kaduna United are coming to Bauchi for Matchday 35 game that’s a sure three points for us. We know the game is crucial to our survival that’s why we’ve gone the extra mile to prepare for the game.

    “The players are in good shape and roaring to go because they’ve seen their faith to stay in the Premier League next season depends on winning every available match right now and they’ve vowed to fight to keep the team. We’re not too concerned on the goal margin but the three points however if we get the chances to score goals we’ll surely make use of it,” said Pele to supersport.com.

    Wikki have two home and away matches each to wrap up the season’s campaign.