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Tag Kwara United FC2017/2018 NPFL

Sport

Kwara United, Obuh have agreed to part ways, club management says

Agreement
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, March 12, 2018 (NAN) The management of Kwara United Football Club of Ilorin on Monday said it has mutually agreed with the club’s Technical Adviser, John Obuh, for both parties to part ways.

The club’s Media Officer, Abdulwaheed Bibire, in a statement in Ilorin said this followed the club’s unimpressive performance so far in the 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the club management had earlier given Obuh a three-match ultimatum to either return the club to winning ways or get sacked.

However, the Obuh-led Kwara United technical crew had only led the team to losing one and drawing the other of two of the three matches.

Bibire, in the statement, quoted club chairman Oladimeji Thompson as saying the two parties mutually agreed after a meeting facilitated by the Kwara State Football Association Chairman, Busari Ishola on Monday.

He explained that the decision became necessary in view of the yearnings and aspirations of football stakeholders in Kwara to move the club forward.

Thompson added that Obuh would be long remembered in the history of the club as a passionate and committed coach.

“The management wishes the club’s former coach the very best in his future endeavours.’’

The club also assured the team’s teeming fans and supporters that a substantive Technical Adviser would be named as soon as possible so as not to create a vacuum.

NAN reports that Kwara United had dropped seven points from a possible 18 points at home this season.

The latest were the two points dropped in the 1-1 draw with El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri on Sunday in Ilorin.

Meanwhile, NAN also gathered that a former coach of Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna, Bala Abubakar, would be unveiled on Wednesday as the club’s new Technical Adviser.(NAN)
OOH/ECN/OLAL
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(Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye and Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

Kwara United beat Katsina United 2-1 to move up one step

NAN-S-11
Movement
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Feb. 11, 2018 (NAN) Kwara United Football Club of Ilorin on Sunday defeated visiting Katsina United 2-1 in a Match Day 8 fixture of the 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match was played the Kwara Stadium Complex in Ilorin.

With 20 minutes into the game, Joshua Agboola would have put the visitors ahead but goalkeeper Eze Chidiebere for Kwara United made a brilliant save to deny them the opening goal.

NAN reports that the first half was an end-to-end battle, but the duo of Akeem Onigbari and Chinedu Chukwu of Kwara United defended brilliantly on many occasions.

But the hosts went ahead with just three minutes after the restart when Emeka Godwin smashed a brilliant effort into the roof of the net.

Twelve minutes later, Stephen Alfred scored his third consecutive home game goal when he headed past goalkeeper Yinka David to extend Kwara United’s lead.

Substitute Sunday Odudu would have extended their lead but David made a fantastic save to deny the former Kwara Football Academy product.

Martins Usule ghosted past Kwara United’s Chinedu Chukwu before he brilliantly found the back of the net to make it 2-1 in the 84th minute.

There was a mild drama in the 90th minute when Katsina United’s appeal for a penalty kick was waved off by the centre referee.

The visitors had claimed that Chukwu used his hand to deflect an effort for a corner kick.

Another drama ensued one minute later when Joseph Adah who came on for Tasiu Lawal in the 58th minute was adjudged to have been fouled in the box.

The referee’s decision to wave play on led to some dissatisfaction.

Speaking after the game, Katsina United’s coach Abdullahi Biffo said while he had never complained about officiating he would not be out of order to complain this time around.

He claimed that it was the referee who handed the hosts the maximum three points.

“The referee made some calls that decided the game.

“But we can’t continue to see the game like this. It is like a waste of time when you prepare your team and the match officials hand you a performance like this.

“We want to be part of the development of the NPFL. But there is no cause for alarm, we will go back and strategise for the next game,’’ Biffo said.

His counterpart at Kwara United, John Obuh, said he was delighted to see his wards performed so brilliantly.

“We want to step up our game more than what has been seen today.

“We had to defend very well at the closing minutes of the game, because we had to defend our goals and they have nothing to lose. That was why they came out at us,’’ Obuh said.

Reacting to Biffo’s comments on the match officials’ handling of the match, Obuh said it was rather unfortunate.

He said it was lamentable that many Nigerian coaches complain when they not pleased with match results and keep quiet when they are happy with the results.

“As far as I am concerned, the referee did well. If we are to assign blames, we (Kwara United) will even say he didn’t give us any advantage playing at home,’’ the coach said.

NAN reports that Kwara United moved one place up on the log from 19th to 18th, with nine points from a possible 24.

They will travel to Lafia to face Nasarawa United for a Match Day 9 encounter on Feb. 18.(NAN)
OOH/OLAL
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(Edited by 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)