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Tag 2017/2018 NPFL

Sport

NPFL Week 2 Review: Heartland hold Enyimba, as Lobi Stars stun Rangers

NAN-S-8
League
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Jan. 17, 2018 (NAN) Enyimba International Football Club of Aba on Wednesday drew goalless with visiting Heartland FC of Owerri in a Nigeria Professional Football Club (NPFL) fixture at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

The nervy encounter saw the Aba-based hosts applying the early pressure from the opening minutes to force the visitors’ defence on the back foot.

Both sides created several chances at goal afterwards but were unable to convert as it ended 0-0 at the end of a pulsating encounter.

The result meant Enyimba and Heartland stay in the 15th and 16th positions respectively on the league’s log after two draws each by the end of Match Day 2.

However, the outstanding result of the day saw visiting Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi stun hosts Rangers International FC 2-1 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.

The result moved Lobi Stars to fourth on the NPFL log after amassing four points from two games.

Former champions Rangers dropped into the relegation zone in 18th position with no points so far.

Eight other matches were also played on Wednesday, with newcomers Go Round FC of Port Harcourt grabbing their first victory of the 2017/2018 NPFL campaign.

They defeated Akwa United FC 1-0, through a 17th minute goal by Adeseun Adelani who capitalised on a defensive mix-up to tap into an empty net.

The result shot Go Round FC to 10th position on the log, while Akwa United are joint seventh with Abia Warriors.

Hosts Kano Pillars beat Nasarawa United 2-0 to move into third position on the log, while Nasarawa United with no points so far dropped to the bottom of the log.

MFM FC were 1-0 victors over visiting Kwara United after Adebayo Waheed scored the only goal of the match in the 51st minute to move the Lagos-based side to 12th position on the log.

Kwara United are in the 19th position on the log with no points so far, having also lost their two matches.

Hosts Plateau United continued with their fine form, defeating Rivers United 2-0 with goals from Elisha Golbe and Emeka Umeh in the 30th and 69th minutes respectively.

The defending champions with six points are in the second position on the log, having won their two matches so far.

Table-toppers Niger Tornadoes defeated FC IfeanyiUbah of Nnewi 2-1.

Solomon Owello opened scoring for the hosts in the 15th minute, but Godwin Obaje levelled scores in the 34th minute, before Sunday Akinmoladun scored the decider in the 49th minute.

The result saw FC IfeanyiUbah slipping into the ninth position on the log, with three points from two games played.

Also, Sunshine Stars of Akure defeated Katsina United 2-1 to move to fifth on the NPFL log.

Katsina United, with just one point so far, moved down to 17th position on the log.

Newcomers Yobe Desert Stars were also 2-0 winners over Wikki Tourists of Bauchi as Ali Aliyu and Philip Asuquo scored in the 45th and 60th minutes respectively.

It was a result which moved the Desert Stars to sixth position, while Wikki Tourists who have three points so far are joint 12th with MFM FC and Rivers United.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a total of 17 goals were scored on Match Day 2 with one draw and an away victory recorded.(NAN)
VO/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

NPFL: Enyimba FC Chairman charges team ahead of Sunday’s match

NAN-S-11
League
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Jan. 12, 2018 (NAN) Felix Anyansi-Agwu, Chairman of Enyimba International Football Club, has charged the team to race out of the starting blocks as the 2017/2108 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season begins on Sunday.

A statement on the club’s official website indicated that Anyansi-Agwu made the call at a meeting with officials and players of the club on Friday at the team’s camp in Aba.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that as part of preparations for the new season, the team had been involved in a closed camping exercise which spanned the entire Yuletide.

According to the statement, Anyansi-Agwu was effusive in his appreciation of the sacrifice made by the team.

“What you did is highly commendable. It’s not easy for you to have deprived yourselves of the feeling of Christmas. I know there is already a reward. Something has already been added to you.

“I watched, from a distance, your reactions, even on social media and I am strengthened by your discipline, commitment and professionalism. I seriously appreciate you, from the bottom of my heart,’’ he said.

Anyansi-Agwu laid out the club’s season targets, saying in spite of the absence of key players due to their involvement with the national team, Enyimba must hit the ground running.

“We are going to move on, in as much as we will miss them. We are also going to demonstrate that we have capacity. It’s an opportunity for others to prove themselves.

“We are hoping for them to do well, both for themselves and for the team. It is a huge statement, that we have five players (in the national team),” he said.

“What denied us last season was a slow start. From day one, we want to start posting results. We’ve done it before. In this club, we set records, and we break our own records.

“Let our work speak for us. The only way to show how hard we have worked is by getting results. In our history, we don’t stay out (of the title picture) for too long.

“At least every other year, we win trophies. That is why it must be a target, for this team to win this year,’’ he added.

Responding on behalf the players, the team’s Vice-Captain Ifeanyi Anaemena, expressed gratitude to the club’s chairman for his support and encouragement.

He agreed with him on the two-time African champions’ laid-out targets for the season.

“We are going to go out and do what we do best, to ensure that this season is a trophy season,” Anaemena was quoted as saying.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the “People’s Elephant’’ will open their league account on Sunday against Lobi Stars FC at Makurdi.(NAN)
VO/ERO/OLAL
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara and Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

Rivers United captain says winning first match against El-Kanemi Warriors crucial to season

The Rivers United FC team

 

NAN-S-13
Match
By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos, Jan. 12, 2018 (NAN) The captain of Rivers United Football Club, Festus Austin, on Friday said his team needed a good start to the 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season this Sunday.

Austin told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that his team was ready for their first match of the season against El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri.

“Winning our first match is important to our campaign this season,’’ he said.

Austin said his team would aim for the maximum points on Sunday, after drawing inspiration from recent successes in the pre-season period.

“We are ready for the first match against El-Kanemi. It is an important match for us and we cannot afford a miss.

“The first match is crucial for us because it may determine what the team will look like in the season. We want all three points against them.

“We have prepared well through various pre-season tournaments.

“We are going to defeat El-Kanemi Warriors in Port Harcourt,’’ he said.

NAN reports that Rivers United had an unimpressive performance in the 2016/2017 NPFL season and barely escaped relegation in spite of playing in the 2017 CAF Champions League.

This time however, the club has had some reinforcements, and prepared for the season by playing in several pre-season tournaments.

Rivers United won the recently-concluded four-team pre-season competition at the Sharks FC Stadium in Port Harcourt, beating Abia Warriors in the final.

The club are now up against El-Kanemi Warriors in a stand-out fixture in the opening weekend of the 2017/18 campaign at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.

El-Kanemi Warriors will be hoping to continue from where they stopped last season, after narrowly missing out on winning a ticket to the continent.

The Desert Warriors management have gone on to employ the 2015/2016 title-winning coach, Imama Amapakabo, to bolster their campaign.

Amapakabo, currently with the CHAN Eagles as the team’s assistant coach, is expected to bring his wealth of experience to the team.(NAN)
KOJE/AIB/OLAL
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(Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde and Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

2017/2018 NPFL: Kwara United FC unveil 17 new players

NAN-S-15
Players
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Jan. 11, 2018 (NAN) Kwara United Football Club of Ilorin on Thursday unveiled 17 new players it recently signed on ahead of the 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the players were unveiled at a colourful ceremony held at the Kwara Sports Council premises in Ilorin.

At the occasion, the State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, charged the players and the club’s technical crew to take up the responsibility with utmost seriousness.

Ahmed, represented by the State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Bolakale Ayo, advised them to see their recruitment as a win-win situation to develop themselves and further promote the club.

He assured them of putting in place a conducive atmosphere which would help to ensure the success of the club in the new season.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Kwara United Football Club, Oladimeji Thompson, said the club was ready to prosecute the league to the admiration of football stakeholders in the state.

Thompson called on all football stakeholders in the state to exploit the enormous benefits in the football game.

“I appeal to residents of the state to put aside differences and work collectively for the progress of team,’’ he said.
The Kwara United chairman thanked the state governor for the support given to the team at all times.

The new players include Babangida Ibrahim, an attacker from Nasarawa United, Chima Uluocha, a midfielder from Abia Warriors, and Chinedu Chukwu, a defender from Abia Comets.

Others are Kayode Agboola, an attacker from Shooting Stars, Mudashir Olamide from Kwara United Feeders and Musa Abdulateef, an attacker from Adamawa United.

Responding on behalf of the players, Aminu Abdulkadir, a midfielder who joined from Nasarawa United, assured that the team would not disappoint the people of the state.

“We have put in some necessary efforts to succeed when the league starts on Sunday across the country,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the Kwara United chairman has assured that the team would honour their game in the opening week of the 2017/2018 NPFL on Sunday.

This will be in spite of the club’s unfortunate auto crash on Wednesday in Ibadan on their way from Lagos.

NAN reports that the team’s bus was involved in an auto crash at the Moniya area of Ibadan, which left three members of the team injured.(NAN)
OOH/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

Abia Warriors to be independent of govt. funding in next 3 years, club chairman says 

NAN-S-17
Club
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Jan. 9, 2018 (NAN) Emeka Inyama, the Chairman of Abia Warriors Football Club (FC), on Tuesday said plans were ongoing to ensure that the club was an independent one in the next three years.

Inyama told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the Umuahia-based club’s goal was to make it more commercially viable.

He explained that the successes achieved by the club had been as a result of an experienced management team as well as the support received from Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia.

Inyama said Abia Warriors FC was one of the best-organised professional football clubs in the country and was being run with the highest standards and with a functional academy.

“The experience of the management has been a great benchmark to the strides and successes achieved so far by this great club.

“We have a well-structured academy and we have created an affinity for the club.

“Gov. Ikpeazu has also been the best supporter of the club. He has always showed his determination to transform the club to making it more commercially viable.

“He has been supportive and has always been available to listen to us whenever we needed anything to make our job easier.

“The support is 100 percent and we are taking it beyond that to make sure that the club is an independent one in the next three years,” he said.

On the club’s goal for the 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season, the chairman said: “The league is a marathon. For us there is no advantage or disadvantage.

“What matters is preparing very well for the new season. It is very clear, picking points at home and away is very necessary. For us, it’s time to work.

“Coach Rafael Everton is a man that comes highly rated and he has the support of the management.

“He has been saddled with the responsibility of creating a unique structure for the club. We have brought on board a man that has what it takes to push the club to the next level.”

NAN reports that Abia Warriors will begin their campaign at home to Lagos-based Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) Football Club on Sunday.

Abia Warriors finished 12th on the NPFL table last season with 53 points.

Inyama added that the club’s overall target was to pick a ticket to play on the continent in 2019.

He expressed confidence in the ability of the team’s current technical crew and squad to deliver.

“Every player is striving to make the first team because there is no reserved shirt for any player under the new coach.

“The competition among the players is a healthy one because it demands that every player should be at his very best anytime he is called upon to play.

“Getting all the three points in the first match is always important and we’ll work hard to ensure we beat MFM in Umuahia,” Inyama said.

The 2017/2018 NPFL season has been slated to kick off on Jan. 14 and comes to an end on Sept. 30.(NAN)
VO/MO/OLAL
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(Edited by Omolade Morayo and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

NPFL calendar unfavourable for Nigerian clubsides’ continental campaign, sports journalist says

NAN-S-16
Calendar
By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos, Jan. 4, 2018 (NAN) A veteran sports journalist, Segun Agbede, on Thursday said Nigerian clubsides’ campaign in 2018 CAF tournaments may not be fruitful in view of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) calendar.

Agbede told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the calendar was unfavourable to the four clubsides and would affect their performance while playing in the two continental competitions.

NAN reports that Plateau United Football Club of Jos and Lagos-based MFM FC would play in the 2018 CAF Champions League.

Similarly, Enyimba International of Aba and Akwa United of Uyo would feature in the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup.

Plateau United’s only appearance on the continent before now was in 2000, when they were edged out from the CAF Cups’ Winners Cup in the first round.

Enyimba were regular on the continent, and they won the CAF Champions League back to back in 2003 and 2004.

Akwa United, the AITEO Cup winners, will be playing for the second time in the CAF Confederation Cup having lost out in the first round in 2016.

Agbede said Nigeria’s representatives should have, in view of their relative experience, had enough playing time before featuring in the competitions this year.

“I have a serious doubt if they can perform well because only Enyimba has the pedigree in the continental tournament; other three clubs are new entrants.

“If they are not careful, they will exit the tournament early even as CAF has changed the calendar of the competition from the end of 2018.

“The championships are now expected to start by November and finish by May 2019 which is in line with most of the other leagues around the world,’’ he said.

Agbede said changing the NPFL calendar to be in line with that of many league competitions in Europe and Africa would afford Nigerian clubsides the opportunity of adequate preparations.

“Hopefully, if the Nigerian league starts by Jan. 14, it can be compressed to finish latest by September so that we can start again before November to accommodate the new calendar.

“We must also realise that the date for AFCON has been changed to a new date in 2019 which is now June/July.

“Our clubs need to be ready and have good playing time in order to be able to square up successfully against their opponents who have favourable league structures.

“Otherwise, they may not do well.

“But I hope things get better in 2018 for all our clubsides and the national teams as well,’’ he said.(NAN)
KOJE/COO/OLAL
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(Edited by Cecilia Odey and Olawale Alabi)