₦airaland Forum

Nice goal from Taiwo there, I don't see it as a fluke.

^^

Abeg leave me joo lol, i no no when we go start

Time to move back to the top, buy Valencia no gree oo

we must to win this match

^^^^

While you are restricted to being an internet wastepipe.

Premier League to kick off October 2

Nigeria's domestic league will now begin on October 2 for the 2010/2011 football season.

A meeting between the NFF and NPL on Friday in Abuja resolved to get the league underway a day after the country's Independence Day celebrations.

The NPL had initially picked September 25 as the kick-off date for the top division, but that date was jettisoned by the executive committee of the NFF shortly before their election was nullified by a Federal High Court in Lagos.

Champions Enyimba will open the defence of their title with a home fixture against former champions Ocean Boys.

Week 1 Fixtures
Enyimba v Ocean Boys
Plateau Utd v Dolphin
Rangers v Lobi Stars
Gombe Utd v Heartland
Sharks v JUTH FC
Bukola Babes v Zamfara Utd
Tornadoes v Crown FC
Wolves v Kwara Utd
3SC v Sunshine Stars


1st match (2nd) is between Kaduna Utd and Kano Pillars

NFF, NPL to meet over Premier League kickoff

The Nigeria Football Federation is expected to meet with Premier League stakeholders on Friday to decide on a start off date for the 2010/2011 season.

"The management of the NFF and that of the NPL will meet with club owners to harmonise plans for the new season, even though no date has been reached on the commencement of the season," NFF Acting General Secretary Musa Amadu said.

Amadu stated that the NFF came to the decision after a recent meeting between the Federation‘s management staff and the Sports Minister, Alhaji Ibrahim Bio.

"It was agreed that the league may commence a day or two before the country’s Golden Jubilee celebration or immediately after the celebration," he said.

Amadu said other issues to be discussed at the meeting are the welfare of players, referees, match commissioners and other class of officials.

"The meeting will also examine all other issues such as the venues for the league matches and look at the ones that have met the set standard and those that need to be worked upon," he said.

The league season was earlier scheduled to begin on Saturday September 25.

http://www.kickoff.com/news/17945/nff-npl-to-meet-over-premier-league-kickoff.php

Interview with Stephen Worgu

Stephen Worgu switched the blue jersey of six-time Nigerian champions, Enyimba, for the red of Sudanese giants, Al-Merreikh, in 2009 for a fee of $2.5 million after helping the Peoples Elephant reach the semifinal of the 2008 CAF Champions League by scoring 13 goals.

Weeks later after Enyimba’s exit in the Champions League, he agreed to join the Sudanese club, he scored in his first game.

Almost two years into his contract now, the 20-year-old tells SuperSport.com about his life in Sudan, coping after the death of his team-mate and friend, Endurance Idahor and why he has turned in a less ratio of goals at the Omdurman club.

It has been quite a while that you have been heard about after that big-money move from Enyimba to Sudanese side, Al-Merreikh Sporting Club.

Well it is one of those things in life. This minute you’re on top of the world and the next you’re nowhere to be found. But it has been good with me here in Sudan.

I know you were very close to the late Endurance Idahor. How have you been coping at Al-Merreikh SC since his death in March this year?

Life here has not been the same again because I feel really alone out here though Kelechi (Osunwa) is here too. But I really miss Endurance (Idahor) because he was like a big brother and a Godsend to me when I first arrived here in Omdurman. On and off the pitch, he was a great guy and he was totally helpful when I first came here because I didn’t understand anything out here.

Has his absence affected your performance for Al-Merreikh SC?

No it has not. Instead when I go out there to play for my club, I always have it in mind that apart from playing to make the club and the fans happy, I am also playing for my late friend and brother.

So, his death has not affected my game in anyway rather it has pushed me to want to achieve something with this club.

Last season, you featured in 58 matches in all competitions for your club and managed to return just 12 goals. Are you satisfied with that performance considering the fact that you were signed from Enyimba with an impressive goals’ rate?

Actually I do not agree with that statistics but at the same time I cannot argue against it because I have not scored many goals since I came to Al-Merreikh. But I must say that I am happy with my contribution to the side since I joined them last year.

Football is all about team work and I am part of a team, so I careless about personal achievement because I will like to be in a team that wins all the trophies there is to win.

Can it be that the Sudanese Premier League is tougher than what you anticipated?

Sincerely they have a good league here but I think the Nigerian league is more competitive than what I see here because the league here is about two teams – Al-Merreikh and Al Hilal.

You have witnessed the Omdurman derby between your club, Al-Merreikh and rivals, Al Hilal, what’s your impression about it?

Seriously in my life as a footballer I have never seen such rivalry before. Even while I was playing for Ocean Boys, when we face Bayelsa United it is usually not like this though I understand that these things happen in football.

For me, I will say that I did not find it funny because the supporters of the other club do not like you for anything at all, and they do not hide from the way they behave. But as a professional footballer I must do my job all the same no matter what.

At some point last year, there were reports suggesting that you were unhappy in Sudan and wanted to leave. Al Ahly of Egypt was touted as one of the destination, why didn’t you leave?

There were several clubs coming for me then but I was not allowed to leave because of the huge money that my club paid for me.

Clubs from Europe especially Belgium came calling but I had to stay and honour the contract I signed. But now I have offers elsewhere. I am talking to a number of clubs at the moment.

What have you enjoyed so far in Sudan since you joined Al-Merreikh?

I will say that it is the fans that make me feel at home now. They’ve been very supportive, and even when I don’t score goals they are always screaming my name and that pushes me the more to perform the more for the team. So that’s why I want to repay them back and hopefully we can win something this season.

Dolphin duo returns to training
by George Akpayen 25 September 2010, 10:03

Only two of the 16 players that were declared to have gone on absent without leave (AWOL) have since returned to the camp of Nigeria Premier League (NPL) side, Dolphin Football Club.

SuperSport.com was informed of this development by the club’s spokesman, China Acheru, of the return of the players.

“Two of the players, Osita Echendu and Achibi Ewenike, that did not resume for training with us at the start of the week returned to the team yesterday (Friday) and training with the rest of the team. But others did not show up,” he said.

It will be recalled that Ewenike’s whereabouts was said to be unknown while Echendu alongside Victor Ezuruike took permission to travel to Owerri to watch Heartland Football Club face JS Kabylie in a CAF Champions League game last Sunday.

Acheru also said he does not know if the Dolphin FC manager, Stanley Eguma, will sanction any of the erring players for failing to show up for the side’s pre-season programme.

“I can’t say if he will punish them, because he went to Abuja for the NPL seminar. So it is until he returns that we can really tell,” Acheru said.

Eguma during told SuperSport.com during the week in Abuja, where was attending the NPL seminar organised for coaches and captains of the 20 clubs, that the players took permission to pay visits to their families.

2nd of october, the only match for the opening day of season is the game between Kaduna united vs Kano pillars, that's what we call the northern derby.


^^^^

3SC vs Sunshine comes up the 2nd day of the season.

Pillars vs Enyimba remain my best game to watch any season!

Age cheat i guess, their body could not handle the torment

I still do not know what he did wrong.

^^

ok

Sani Kaita is hoping that getting playing time with new club Metalist Kharkov will earn him a recall to the Super Eagles.

Kaita was demonized by Nigeria fans after getting himself sent off against Greece at the World Cup, a situation that left a brittle Nigeria team hopelessly exposed, and finally broken by Greece in a 2-1 win.

The midfielder subsequently left French club Monaco for another loan spell, this time with Ukraine's Metalist, who finished third last season.

Kaita made his first appearance for the side in their 5-0 Europa League win at Debrecen, coming on for the final quarter of an hour. He followed that up with another substitute appearance in their 1-0 league win at Arsenal Kyiv.

Stand-in Nigeria coach Austin Eguavoen is expected to name his squad to face Guinea this week in an early but decisive African Nations Cup qualifier in Conakry and Kaita says he is hoping for an international recall.

"The move to my new team is a boost for me. I am doing well at the moment playing in my natural defensive midfield role.


"I am really happy with myself and I hope to keep doing well. I am also looking forward to a return to the Super Eagles if I am invited," he said.

kickoffnigeria.com

Falcons drawn with Banyana Banyana

Hosts South Africa have been drawn against record five-time winners Nigeria in Group A for the 7th Africa Women’s Championship next month.

Also pooled in Group A are newcomers Tanzania and Mali following the draws held on Tuesday at the Birchwood Hotel, Ekurhuleni City, South Africa.

Defending champions Equatorial Guinea are in the opposite section where they will contest against Ghana, Algeria and Cameroon in what is immediately a difficult group.

The top two teams advance to the semifinals, and the two finalists qualify for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany next June.

Matches for the tournament scheduled from 31 October – 14 November will be held at the Sinaba Stadium in Daveyton and Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa, in the Ekurhuleni Municipality of Gauteng.

Group A
South Africa vs Tanzania; Nigeria vs Mali
South Africa vs Nigeria; Tanzania vs Mali
South Africa vs Mali; Tanzania vs Nigeria

Group B
Equatorial Guinea vs Cameroon; Algeria vs Ghana
Equatorial Guinea vs Algeria; Cameroon vs Ghana
Equatorial Guinea vs Ghana; Cameroon vs Algeria

kickoff source.

Two Nigerian referees slumped and died in Abuja on Wednesday during the Nigerian Referees Association's fitness testing programme.

NFF Acting General Secretary Musa Amadu gave the names of the late referees as Oyetola Olatunde, a national league referee from Oyo State and Faloye Matthew Bankole, a Premier League referee from Ogun State.

NFF Media Officer Robinson Okosun confirmed the deaths to KickOffNigeria.com.

"We have just heard the news now, and we are still trying to find out details of what happened."

Sources informed KickOffNigeria.com that both men had failed the last test which took place three months ago, but had their names included again.

Taye Taiwo has been recalled to the Nigeria squad for next month's 2012 African Nations Cup qualifier against Guinea in Conakry.

Also recalled are Yusuf Ayila, Obinna Nsofor and Dele Adeleye as Austin Eguavoen named 30 players for what is expected to be his last game in charge.

There is also a first time call-up for former Spain junior international Sunday Stephen.

But there was still no place in the squad for Everton forward Yakubu Ayegbeni, while defender Danny Shittu has also been left out as he seeks to rebuild his career after being released by Bolton Wanderers.

The squad is a 50-50 split between domestic and foreign players.

The domestic players have been asked to report on September 26, and will be joined by their Europe-based counterparts a week later on October 4

Eagles full squad for Guinea clash on October 10 in Conakry:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei-Yehuda), Bassey Akpan (Bayelsa United), Chigozie Agbim (Warri Wolves)

Defenders: Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow), Dele Adeleye (Metalurh Donetsk), Taye Taiwo (Olympique Marseille), Emmanuel Anyanwu, Emeka Anyanwu, Valentine Nwabili (Enyimba), Joseph Yobo (Fenerbache), Ugwu Uwadiegwu (Enugu Rangers), Ikechukwu ThankGod (Heartland), Chibuzor Okonkwo (Bayelsa United)

Midfielders: Mikel (Chelsea), Kalu Uche (Almeria), Otekpa Eneji (Enyimba), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham), Sunday Stephen (Valencia), Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev), Daddy Bazuaye (Enyimba), John Nnam(Enugu Rangers), Ayo Saka (Ocean Boys)


Strikers: Obinna Nsofor (West Ham), Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars), Obafemi Martins (Rubin Kazan), Osaze Odemwingie (West Bromwich Albion), Michael Eneramo (Esperance), John Owoeri (Heartland), Moses Bunde (Lobi Stars)

http://www.kickoff.com/news/17939/taye-taiwo-gets-nigeria-recall-danny-shittu-dropped.php

Former Nigeria coach Shuaibu Amodu has been appointed Football Consultant and Technical Adviser by the government of his home state of Edo.

Amodu will oversee football development in the state's educational sector, starting from primary schools to tertiary institutions.

“We have a duty to the youths as well as to create an enabling environment and support and hopefully they would become world stars in the future.

"To this effect, we have appointed Coach Amodu Shuaibu as Consultant and Technical Adviser to handle this project and provide the leadership,” Edo State governor Adams Oshiomole said at Amodu's presentation on Tuesday.


The decision to appoint the coach followed a recommendation by a committee set up by the government to revive sports in the state, especially in educational institutions.

http://www.kickoff.com/news/17925/shuaibu-amodu-appointed-football-consultant.php

Heartland chairman Ignatius Okeahialam has praised the work done by Samson Siasia, despite the club's inability to advance beyond the group stages of the CAF Champions League.

Last year's finalists finished bottom of the group with 5 points after just one win in six, but Okeahialam said Siasia was distracted by negotiations over the Super Eagles job.

“I can understand his frustrations," Okeahialam said.

"He so much wanted to be coach of the national team and in one game he joined our team at the match venue after staying back to discuss with FA officials.

"There is no way he would have been able to give his all to our course."

Okeahialam is not one to throw praise around lightly, but he was keen to stress that the club would do everything to keep Siasia after the work he did.

“Yes we are disappointed that we could not go all the way but one thing I know is that Siasia is a very good coach.

"In fact he is one of the best that have ever worked with our club and we intend to keep him.

“In the little time he spent with us, you could see the difference and we know that the club will gain in the long run if he starts and ends the new season with us.”

In the event however, that Siasia get the Super Eagles job, Okeahialam says there is a Plan B.

“We know that he could get the national team job sooner or later so we want to tap from his wealth of knowledge while we have him.

“If the job comes, we will have to go for an alternative coach but for now, we want to enjoy what he offers to the team.”

While the club are happy to keep Siasia, the same is not the case for his assistant and former teammate Emeka Ezeugo.


The former midfielder has been asked to go after failing to agree contract terms with the Naze Millionaires.

http://www.kickoff.com/news/17926/heartland-boss-samson-siasia-made-a-difference.php

Nigeria will take a decision on the Super Eagles coaching situation immediately after next month's game against Guinea.

Acting Secretary General Musa Amadu, who is running the federation in the interim, told KickOffNigeria.com that if the situation of the NFF is not resolved by the end of the month, the secretariat would have to take action.

"The management may have to take action to find a permanent coach after the match against Guinea," Amadu said.

"We cannot leave things the way they are, and we need to move forward. Austin (Eguavoen) has done a marvellous job keeping things together, but we have to understand that we need to take a permanent decision in the interest of the team and the fans."

After discarding the decision of the past board to employ Samson Siasia, the new NFF executive committee announced that the position of Super Eagles coach would be advertised.

But their election was nullified by a Federal High Court days later, leaving the national team coaching situation in a state of uncertainty.

Amadu, a lawyer, said the secretariat could not act on that board decision, as it might be tantamount to contempt of court.

"Appointing a coach is the decision of the board, and they decided to advertise the position.

"Unfortunately, we cannot act on that decision because a court ruled against the election. So pending the final outcome of the court process, we have to maintain status quo."

Nigeria take on Guinea in a 2012 African Nations Cup qualifier in Conakry on October 10.


http://www.kickoff.com/news/17899/nigeria-to-decide-on-coach-after-guinea.php

yousouph:
@honeric. You are more informed on the local league and i want you to please help me check for a player called Azeez Shobowale playing for Abiola babes. Heard he is now playing in the Premier league and i want to confirm from another source.

Ah!, this one go hard oo, Abiola babes should be in div2 or maybe div1 and information from that department is hard to get, i may not be able to get you the info.

Embele:
can't wait. Port Harcourt Derby, Ilorin Derby, Oyo Derby (sort of) and the Jos Derby. Could be the most exciting league in years. Hopefully the home-based Eagles get some good clean competition for their preparation.

Mouth watering, then the regional rivalry too, pillars vs enyimba, heartland vs rangers, heartland vs enyimba, rangers vs enyimba, kaduna vs enyimba, heartland vs pillars e.t.c

^^

Thanks, opting for western union.

I am thanking you oh lord for tomorrow's miracle

You will stab him? can you hear yourself?

medjai:
and they will both end up getting relegated. 3sc only survived it with a stroke of luck last season well I think the delay is not only due to stadium inspections.

Lol funny, they better get relegated so that clubs like Insurance can come up

This la liga season is going to be hot, even after Valencia sold most of their stars, they are still competing and contending, mennnn Barca, make we no slack oo

semid4lyfe:
How u dey? You take style scarce these past 2 days o

bro, na so i see am, working on some things jare, the stuffs dey take my time and the stuff na VERY important thing to me. how u dey?

Allowed


FFXROIE

England - League Cup
22:37 September 22
Chelsea [3 - 4] Newcastle U.
49' [1 - 3] S. Ameobi
90' [3 - 4] S. Ameobi

^^^^

Maybe you should tell me how to show you

^^^^

Who said scalpers don't live long in forex?