₦airaland Forum

Still early, but we can hope.

Back in the Champions League!

Yeah, yeah. Nobody wins on the road in Nigeria. We shall see how the remaining 37 matches go.

You gotta have faith!
Up Enyimba!

i hope the sports commissioner is content with runner up (which will get 3SC in the Champions League) because the league belongs to Enyimba.

I watched it live (5:30am) fun match.

Nigerian football needs cleansing-Sen. Bukola Saraki

Senator Bukola Saraki has expressed displeasure, discontent and dismay over the poor state of Nigerian football, saying it’s corrupt and stinks and also in dire need of cleansing.Saraki was speaking at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos during the final of the 2012 NNPC/Shell Cup“We need to clean up Nigerian football because it is corrupt and stinks,” Saraki, who owns the only privately run club in the Nigeria Premier League, ABS FC, said.“The NPL (board) should go and sort itself out. We can’t change the system from outside; we must do that from the inside. I am now a stakeholder and I am happy that I can contribute my quota to the development of football in Nigeria.”The Senate Committee on Sports began its hearing on the dwindling fortunes of sports in the country on Monday and Saraki said he would address the issue in the upper chamber of the House.“The game needs to be properly administered and we need to address the issues of violence and officiating. Our league matches must be entertaining. I am presenting a paper on my views about the country’s football at the senate hearing,” he added.Saraki, who also established the Kwara Football Academy, said despite the recent success of ABS and KFA, he was not fulfilled.He said, “I am not fulfilled because there is still a lot to do. We need sponsorship to sustain the level we are now. We have about four players from KFA in Europe and we also have some in the national teams.“ABS is lucky to have an academy where they recruit youngsters and this should be emulated by other clubs. I hope the government encourages more private sector involvement in football. State governments can help but not as club owners.”

Week 18

ENYIMBA 1 - 1 AKWA UNITED
SUNSHINE 1 v 1 W.WOLVES
RANGERS 3-2 SHOOTING
ABS 3-0 JIGAWA G.S
DOLPHINS 1-0 KANO PILLARS
NIGER T 1-1 LOBI
KADUNA 1-0 OCEAN BOYS
GOMBE 1-0 WIKKI TOURIST
KWARA 2-0 RISING STARS
HEARTLAND 0-1 SHARKS


Enugu Rangers Pld:18 W:9 Pts:32
Enyimba Pld:18 W:9 Pts:31
Kano Pillars Pld:18 W:8 Pts:29
Gombe United Pld:18 W:8 Pts:28
ABS FC Pld:18 W:7 Pts:26
Kwara United Pld:18 W:7 Pts:26
Dolphins Pld:16 W:8 Pts:26
Warri Wolves Pld:16 W:6 Pts:25
Wikki Tourists Pld:17 W:8 Pts:25
Sharks Pld:18 W:7 Pts:24
Kaduna United Pld:18 W:8 Pts:24
Sunshine Stars Pld:16 W:6 Pts:23
Akwa United Pld:17 W:6 Pts:23
Heartland Pld:17 W:6 Pts:23
Niger Tornadoes Pld:17 W:6 Pts:22
Lobi Stars Pld:17 W:6 Pts:21
3SC Pld:18 W:5 Pts:20
Ocean Boys Pld:17 W:5 Pts:20
Jigawa Golden Stars Pld:18 W:5 Pts:18
Rising Stars Pld:18 W:3 Pts:15

http://www.supersport.com/football/nigeria/news/120119/Nine_NNL_clubs_in_trouble


Nine NNL clubs in trouble
by George Akpayen 19 January 2012, 09:50

Nine Nigeria National League (NNL) sides stand the risk of being thrown out of the 2011/2012 season.

The clubs are Bendel Insurance, Nasarawa United, FC Abuja, Adamawa United, Gateway FC, Juth, Prime FC, Ranchers Bees and Plateau United.

The sides are alleged to owe their players and coaches outstanding salaries and signing-on fees.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has directed the NNL to take appropriate action against the sides before the season kicks off on February 4.

The NFF in its letter to the second tier of the Nigerian league body stated that the nine clubs are yet to comply with the directives of the players' welfare and arbitration committee of the federation.

The NNL secretary, Ayo Rahaman confirmed receipt of the letter from the NFF.

“We have just received a letter from the NFF warning that these clubs should not be allowed to participate in the league unless they settle all their outstanding debt to players and coaches. And we are going to comply with the directives if the affected clubs fail to pay up before February 4th, when the league is expected o kick off,” he stated.

The NFF Players' Welfare and Arbitration Committee passed the decision on the nine clubs since June 7, 2011 to pay up outstanding wages and contract fees of their players and coaches.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/12/2012-season-to-last-7-months-only-npl/

Nigeria Premier League (NPL) said yesterday that they are determined to end the 2012 season in a record seven months period.

The League is shceduled to begin on January 7 and according to NPL executive secretary, Tunji Babalola, the matches will terminate on July 15.

“We hope to go strictly with these dates and that is why we are asking for the co-operation of everyone involved especially the clubs,” Babalola disclosed.

A complete fixture list of the 2011/12 season shows that the teams will play mid-week matches to make up for lost time after the season began far behind schedule.

The second transfer window in the league will be between February 29 and March 3 after Week 11 matches.

On February 29, an NPL All-Stars team will take on the league leaders in a special match.

The first round of the season is slated to end on April 8, while another special match between the NPL All-Stars and league leaders at that time will be staged on 11.

This will also provide the last transfer window before the second round of the championship resumes on April 14.

Dolphin of Port Harcourt are the defending champions and they open the new term on January 7 against last season’s runners-up Sunshine Stars of Akure.

The four promoted teams are Rising Stars, Akwa United, Jigawa Golden Stars and Wikki Tourists.

Right then, who from this group is stopping Barcelona?

http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/blog/2011/12/bukola-babes-sold-for-n150m

Posted: Dec 08, 2011
Nigeria Premier League club, Bukola Babes of Ilorin, have been sold for a fee of N150m to a new owner, Complete Sports understands.

The team made their debut in the Nigerian top flight in the concluded 2010/2011 season and finished in the 12th position with 51 points; albeit other new entrants like Plateau United, Crown FC and JUTH FC have been relegated from the top flight after just a season.

Our regular checks reveal that immediate past governor of Kwara State, Dr Bukola Saraki, is now the new owner after coughing up about N150m. The initial valuation however stood at N250m.

Officials of the club are unwilling to disclose the exact
amount the club was sold saying only the new owner can make such pronouncement.

“For sure, the club has been sold as it now has a new owner. But as to how much, that I cannot say for now. The new owner should be the one to talk while we listen,” Alloy Chukwuemeka, the Team Manager of the club, said.

“Everybody will get to know all that needs to be known about the transaction during the unveiling ceremony. We cannot say the exact date of the unveiling ceremony now because the new owner, Dr Bukola Saraki, is out of the country.

“This of course is one of the reasons why we have not resumed preparation for the up-coming season.”

JUTH are a yoyo club, they'll be back.

Um, Bayelsa United aren't in the Premier League, how is this possible.

Dis Guy:
read

Rising stars-Ondo
Wikki Tourist- Bauchi
Jigawa Golden Stars
Akwa Utd

is the two format system good for the National league?

Aren't Rising Stars the reserve team for Sunshine Stars?

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/egbe-wants-better-media-coverage-for-nigerian-league/

By KATE OBODO
Ocean Boys FC third choice goalkeeper, Austino Egbe believes the Nigerian Premier League, NPL can be like any of the European Leagues if there are consistent media coverages of league matches.

Egbe, who wants the Nigerian League to be like other European leagues in the World in order for it to attract massive public viewership and other attractive packages that will make the game interesting, told Inside Out Premier League that it would be possible with the help of the Nigerian media.

“I believe the media is a powerful tool that can make things happen especially enhancing the quality of the league and exposing the quality of players we have to other parts of the World and alongside attracting investors who want to invest or sponsor the game. This could be possible if the NPL can partner with them(media). The NPL should not relent in trying to make the league what it ought to be despite the current crisis in the league.

“Our league has so much to offer if there is good media coverage. The NPL has come of age. Most of the foreign-based professional players we have in the national teams are products from the league, yet the league still remains the way it is.

“The media have so much to do in this regard if there is good pattern-ship with the NPL. I believe with time our league will be like the European leagues,” he said.

Sharks promise top three finishing in league

Sharks FC of Port Harcourt have assured they will be better and stronger in the remaining weeks of the Premier League after the Federation Cup competition next week to post a top three finishing.

Media officer of the team Confidence Idaa said that the management of the club is doing everything possible to ensure the team finish among the top three at end of the season, stressing that they have learned from their mistakes and hope to correct it when the league resumes.

“We are very much prepared for the concluding part of the season after the Federation Cup. Our joy is that most of our players that were out because of injuries are back and better.

They are have recovered and are very much ready to explode for the concluding part of the season. I believe we will definitely get the best at the end of the season,” he said

Cotton Sport vs Enyimba (Part 1)
http://youtu.be/Tozl4aDyH2c

Cotton Sport vs Enyimba (Part 2)
http://youtu.be/OSdVT8Vi2Dc

http://nigerianobservernews.com/26042011/sports/sportsnews2.html

NPL: Salami Fires Quit Notice

NIGERIA ‘B’ international striker Gbolahan Salami plans to quit Nigeria Premier League side Shooting Stars of Ibadan and take up a better offer from former club Sunshine Stars.

Salami, who was recently unbanned after he attempted to attack a referee after a league game, has told 3SC he now wishes to head back to Sunshine Stars, who have offered him a signing-on fee of six million naira.

A top club source informed MTNFootball.com that Salami has already informed the 3SC management he wishes to quit for Sunshine of Akure.

“Salami is showing that he is an ingrate,”an angry club source disclosed.

“How can you do so much for a player only for him to pay you back this way?”
Salami told 3SC boss Joseph Ladipo that Sunshine Stars have made him a great offer.

“Your management cannot afford to pay me six million naira, which Sunshine Stars have agreed to pay me and so I am leaving. Give me my transfer certificate,” Salami reportedly told Ladipo.

However, the 3SC boss turned down Salami, insisting that he could not grant him his wish as his transfer to Shooting Stars at the beginning of the season was negotiated by his agent and so the player was not in a position to demand for his release.

Salami has since skipped training in protest, while Sunshine Stars are ready to break the bank to get their man.

http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/2010/12/sharks-emerge-wafu-kings/

Sharks Emerge WAFU Kings
Monday, December 27, 2010, 10:37Nigerian League37 viewsAdd a comment
Beat Casa Sport 1-0 In Final

Sharks of Port Harcourt on Sunday in Lome, Togo, emerged the 2010 West African Football Union, WAFU Cup champions after defeating Casa Sport 1-0 in the final.
Veteran Victor Ezeji handed Sharks their first ever silverware following his 10th minute striker which proved enough to lift the cup for the John Obuh men.

The West African regional kings of clubside football had made the trip to Lome last week with many Nigerians not expecting much from them.
But John Obuh and his wards have set a record of being the first club from Rivers State to lift a trophy outside this country.
They are expected back into the country on Monday.
According to Chris Green, Rivers State FA chairman and NFF Technical Committee chairman, the team will return to Nigeria by road but will have to move to Port Harcourt by air.

medjai:
Enyimba 1 vs Rangers 0

Kano Pillars 5 vs Plateau United 1

Up Enyimba!!!

5!!! Where are all these goals coming from?

A lot of goals.

Sharks are supposed to be in Togo this weekend to play in the WAFU Club Cup finals. Any word on postponing the Bukola match?

Sunday, December 12, 2010
Heartland 1 - 0 Crown FC
Zamfara Utd 2 - 1 Sharks
Sunshine Stars 3 - 1 Gombe Utd
Ocean Boys 2 - 0 Tornadoes
Lobi Stars 2 - 1 Kaduna Utd
Shooting Stars 2 - 1 Plateau Utd

semid4lyfe:
Anyway, we tired of winning the league. Na Champions League we wan concentrate this season cos there is more money & prestige there

We'd win the CAF Champions League and go on and rub shoulders with the elite continental clubs at the FIFA world club cup next year

Yeah, yeah, Let's go with that Actually they're just mad they aren't getting paid (see story in the league thread)

Full Time
Dolphins 1 Warri 0
Bukola 1 Rangers 0
Juth 0 Kwara Utd 2
Kano 3 Enyimba 0 (dammit)

As much as it pains me to say it, Kano will take this.

Up Enyimba!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria_National_League

1-A 2010-2011

Abuja FC
Adamawa United F.C., Yola
Babanawa F.C., Anyigba
Dankalat F.C., Kano
El-Kanemi Warriors, Maiduguri
FRSC Strikers, Abuja
Jigawa Golden Stars F.C., Dutse
Jimeta United
Jarma United, Kano
Mighty Jets, Jos
Nasarawa United, Lafia
Ranchers Bees, Kaduna
Spotlight F.C., Katsina
Supreme Court FC, Abuja
Taraba FC, Jalingo
Wikki Tourists, Bauchi

1-B 2010-20011

Abia Warriors F.C., Umuahia
Akwa United F.C., Uyo
Anambra Pillars F.C., Onitsha
Bayelsa United F.C., Yenegoa
Bendel Insurance FC, Benin City
Bridge Boys, Lagos
F.C. Ebedei, Ijebu-Ode
Enyimba Feeders, Aba
First Bank, Lagos
Gabros F.C., Nnewi
Gateway F.C., Abeokuta
Living Springs F.C., Oshogbo
Okpe United
Rising Stars, Akure
36 Lions, Lagos
UNICEM Rovers, Calabar

Changes from 2009-2010

Relegated from Nigerian Premier League

Bayelsa United
Gateway F.C.
Ranchers Bees
Wikki Tourists

Promoted from Nigeria Amateur League

Dankalat
FRSC
Jimeta United
Jarma United
Okpe United
Enyimba Feeders
FC Ebedei
36 Lions

Relegated to Nigeria Amateur League

Ajiya Babes, Gumel
Anambra United F.C., Onitsha
Bussdor United F.C., Owerri
Dabo Babes, Kano
Dalhatu United, Gusau
Delta Force F.C., Ogwashi–Uku
Gray's International, Oshogbo
FC Lokoja

Name Changes from 2009-2010

-Julius Berger F.C. renamed Bridge Boys F.C.
-OUK F.C. renamed Abia Warriors F.C.
-Prime F.C. renamed Living Springs F.C.

http://www.dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7972:national-league-kicks-off-sunday&catid=5:sports&Itemid=5

Wednesday, 08 December 2010 00:00 .


The Nigeria National League’s 2010/2011 season will kick off on Sunday with sixteen matches across the two divisions.


At the Draw ceremony held inside the FIFA Technical Centre, Abuja on Tuesday, Jimeta FC of Adamawa was pitched against FC Abuja for the Week 1, with Jigawa Golden Stars to face Wikki Tourists of Bauchi and El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri up against Ranch Bees of Kaduna.


Mighty Jets of Jos are away to Dalhat FC of Kano, FRSC host Jarma of Kano in Abuja and Nasarawa United will visit FC Taraba in Jalingo.

Sportlight of Katsina are home to Babanawa FC and Supreme Court of Abuja host Adamawa United.

Before the draw, NFF’s Assistant Secretary General (Competitions), Dr. Mohammed Sanusi delivered a paper ‘Challenges of Operating Professional League in Nigeria’, positing that the problems of funding, technical and administrative deficiencies, poor facilities and equipment, interference, win-at-all-cost syndrome, ignorance and hooliganism bedevil the domestic game’s second tier.

He however recommended that corporate organizations and well-to-do individuals should take over the teams in the National League, teams should strive to win with fair tactics, officials should not offer or take bribes to influence results, managers of clubs should be honest and accountable and sign-on fees, allowances and salaries of players should be paid as due.

Chairman of the National League, Dr. Shehu Adamu who represented NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari noted that the National League would have started earlier but for previous crisis in the game.

Sorry, forgot the link:
http://www.nigeriasoccernews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2866:lagos-gets-new-club-as-berger-change-owners&catid=37:latest-soccer-news&Itemid=110

Meanwhile outside the NPL:

For football-starved Lagos football fans, a new dawn is here as a group of seven individuals have put resources together and acquired the former Julius Berger Football Club of Lagos from the construction firm owners. The new club is called Bridge FC of Lagos.

Speaking on the ground-breaking venture, a member of the group, Emmanuel Ibru told our correspondent that the group felt it necessary to fill the void created by the winding up of clubs like Stationery Stores of Lagos and absence of a top professional league club in the state.
Ibru who once ran an amateur club, Racing FC said that the group was driven by a passion for the beautiful game and the need to give Lagos youth a future through the club.

“For the first time a group of entrepreneurs will come together and shoulder the risk to run a football club as business. We want to introduce modern methods of managing a truly professional club in Nigeria,” Ibru said.

He informed that the club which is in the national professional division one league, will use the Agege stadium as its base
Lagos, once the centre of high calibre club sides like the defunct Stationery Stores, ACB FC and lately, Julius Berger FC have reeled under the status of a breeding ground for clubs around the ountry as the state has no professional league club.

Berger which began in Lagos relocated to neighbouring Ogun state in the late Nineteen nineties when Onikan stadium which was the club’s base was undergoing renovation, ahead of the Nigeria ‘99 FIFA U-29 World Cup. The club never returned until it final days.
It is the club that the group acquired, Emma Ibru explained

Tuesday, 9 November 2010
NPL names Team of the Week

Twelve outstanding performers have been rewarded for glowing displays on the opening weekend of the Nigeria Premier League.

On a weekend which saw one away win and three draws, there was no shortage of heros.

Dolphins goalkeeper stood out, with a succession of crucial interventions to help his team hold out for a valuable three points on the road. The combination of the clean sheet and excellent display was enough to beat out the competition from Ocean Boys' Olufemi Thomas, who stopped a penalty at the Enyimba Stadium.

In defence, Kano Pillars' Alhaji Alhaji's bounding raids down the right flank earn him the right back spot, while resurgent veteran Ajibade Omolade of Plateau United sneaks into the left back position.

"Ajibade was excellent at left back and deserves his place in the team of the week even though they lost," says Dolphins Media Officer China Acheru.

Monday Osagie of Kwara United,a nd ThankGod Ike of Warri Wolves were on opposite ends of a 1-0 result, with Ike the happier of the two. But both men did more than enough to find themselves on the same side as the centreback duo in the Team of The Week.

Two goalscoring players are at the centre of midfiel. Defensive midfielder Emmanuel Omodiagbe bagged the winner for Warri Wolves, and Kingsley Odoh found the back of the net twice, although his Lobi Stars still went down 2-3 to Rangers.

Gombe United's Rafiu Salaudeen and Rangers' Ejike Uzoenyi also scored their way into right and left midfield respectively.

Upfront,  3SC's two-goal match-winner leads the line along with Kano Pillars' Rabiu Ali, whose wicked half volley set the league runners-up on their way to a valuable away point.

The team will be coached by Stanley Eguma, who masterminded the weekend's only road win.

 

NPL Week 1 Team of The Week 4-4-2

GoalKeeper: Rotimi Sunday (Dolphins)

Right Back:  Alhaji Alhaji (Pillars)

Left Back: Ajibade Omolade (Plateau Utd)

CentreBack: Monday Osagie (Kwara Utd)

CentreBack: ThankGod Ike (Wolves)

Defensive Midfielder: Emmanuel Omodiagbe (Warri Wolves)

Attacking Midfielder: Kingsley Odoh (Lobi Stars)

Left Midfield: Ejike Uzoenyi (Rangers)

Right Midfield: Rafiu Salaudeen (Gombe United)

Forward: Gbolahan Salami (3SC)

Forward: Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars)

 

Coach: Stanley Eguma (Dolphins)

 

 

 

 
http://www.npl.com.ng/news.php?id=282

Week 1: Results
Kaduna Utd 1 - 1 Kano Pillars
Kaduna Utd: Siman Yusuf 37, Pillars: Rabiu Ali 29

Enyimba 1 - 0 Ocean Boys
John Chukwudi 35

Plateau Utd 0 - 1 Dolphin
Owusu Addae 8

Rangers 3 - 2 Lobi Stars
Rangers: Fred Okwara 15, Ejike Uzoenyi 44, Bertrand Ogbu 92; Lobi Stars: Kingsely Odoh 35, 53

Gombe Utd 2 - 0 Heartland
Rafiu Salawudeen 38, Ifeanyi Okoro 52

Sharks 1 - 1 JUTH FC
Sharks: Victor Ezeji 76; Juth: James Amankwei 90

Bukola Babes 0 - 0 Zamfara Utd

Tornadoes 1 - 0 Crown FC
Baba Sule 15

Wolves 1 - 0 Kwara Utd
Emmanuel Omodiagbe 82

3SC 2 – 1 Sunshine Stars
3SC: Gbolahan Salami 46, 91; Sunshine Stars: Akombo Ukeyima 6