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NPFL: NFF hands Premier League referee 8-match ban, warns assistant referee

NAN-S-22
Sanctions
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Jan. 23, 2017 (NAN) The Referees Unit of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has sanctioned Dankano Abdullahi, a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) referee from Kogi State Referees Council.

Kelechi Mejuobi, the Publicity Secretary, Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

“To ensure better officiating this season, the referee in charge of the Remo Stars versus Abia Warriors match in Sagamu, Ogun State on Sunday, Dankano Abdullahi from Kogi State, has been sanctioned.

“Also, an Assistant Referee, Hulda Nkwocha, has been warned to sit up,” he said in the statement.

He quoted Sani Zubairu, Head of NFF’s Refereeing Unit/Secretary of the NFF Referees Committee, as saying Dankano was handed an eight-match ban for poor officiation in the said game.

“Nkwocha, a female FIFA Referee of FCT Council, was urged to live up to expectations or risk removal from the Panel of Premier League Referees, after her performance in the Katsina United versus Gombe United match in Katsina on Jan. 15.’’

Zubairu was quoted as saying the NFF Referees Committee’s decision came after a careful review of the video clips and reports of all matches of the Referees Assessors.

“All Premier League referees need to be mindful of their decisions and actions before, during and after any game.

“Our committee willl give appropriate sanctions to those found wanting in the course of discharging their duties,’’ he had said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NPFL had begun on Jan. 14 in Kano.(NAN)
VO/OIF/OLAL
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(Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Kano Pillars win NPFL opening game as FC IfeanyiUbah abandon match

NAN-S-12

League

Kano, Jan. 14, 2017 (NAN) The 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) began on an unimpressive note on Saturday with the match between hosts Kano Pillars and FC IfeanyiUbah being abandoned.

The match at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano was played before the usual large crowd of spectators, but this did not deter the visiting side from disrupting the game.

The visiting side left the field in the 50th minute of the game, with the scoreline at 1-0 in favour of Kano Pillars.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the development followed the sending-off of one of the visiting side’s officials by referee Foluso Ajayi.

After consulting with other officials, the referee decided to call off the match.

Efforts to speak later on with the match officials on the issue proved abortive.‎

However, while speaking after the game, Pillars’ coach Kadiri Ikhana said he was happy with what his team took away from the match.

“It was a good game of football and the result I would say was satisfactory.

“It is just the first game of the competition, so it was nice seeing the players perform as well as they did.” he said.

Speaking on the visiting side’s action, Ikhana described it “as shameful and disgracing”  to Nigerian football.

He also called on the appropriate authorities to take necessary action to deter others from doing so too.

NAN reports that the Kano Pillars’ team captain, Gambo Muhammad, scored the match’s lone goal in the 30th minute of the game.

The match was watched by the State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, and members of the State Executive Council.

Other dignitaries at the match included the Cha‎irman of the League Management Company (LMC), Shehu Dikko, and the Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles, Salisu Yusuf.(NAN)

MNT/OLAL

‎(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Enyimba FC elated at reception at new Calabar home, club chairman says

NAN-S-22

Enyimba
By Dianabasi Effiong
Calabar, Jan. 11, 2017 (NAN) Felix Anyansi-Agwu, Chairman of Enyimba International Football Club of Aba, says his club were elated at the reception they got during their friendly match in Calabar.

He told newsmen in Calabar on Wednesday that the positive reception would serve as a huge form of encouragement for his team in the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar would be hosting the former African champions’ home matches in the 2016/2017 season.

This is because their Aba home ground, the Enyimba International Stadium, was being reconstructed.

Anyansi-Agwu, who appealed for support from the media in the team’s quest to win the 2016/2017 premier league, also urged football fans to support the team in its new home.

“Calabar will henceforth be our home ground as the Aba Stadium is under reconstruction. Enyimba are in Calabar to stay.

“I know we are called Enyimba of Aba, but now we are `Enyimba of Calabar’.

“We will stay in Calabar until the end of the season. We want Calabar to be our home. We don’t want to be treated as outsiders.

“The team will be fully based in Calabar. We will not have to be travelling from Aba down here for our home matches.’’

Anyansi-Agwu said the club’s management had met with all stakeholders to seek cooperation and synergy to work as a team, and called for massive support for the team.

“Our coming here will be of immense benefit to the state. We are here to contribute positively to the development of Cross River.

“It will not be nice for us to feel that we are not at home. We ask for support and we will make you proud.”

The club chairman also disclosed that to fully integrate the team with their new home base some indigenes of Cross River had been recruited into the team.

Anyansi-Agwu said the team’s management chose Calabar because of the good history and relationship they have with the city and also the hospitable nature of its people.

He said the team would be open to advice and constructive criticism.

NAN reports that the club which on Tuesday drew goalless in their friendly match with visiting Rivers United of Port Harcourt will play their first league match at home.

They host Sunshine Stars FC of Akure in Calabar on Sunday in their first match of the 2016/2017 season.(NAN)
DOE/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)