₦airaland Forum

Icon79:
Is Junior Ajayi a true out and out striker? If that's the case then he's likely to displace Ighalo if he performs. I have never been a big Ighalo fan but I foresee him going to Russia as he's the only true striker in the team. But if Ajayi plays more as a SS, then he's likely to replace Ahmed Musa. No sentiments!


O pari

Both.

He plays both as an SS and a CF. Though he is naturally a CF. He does well as a lone striker.

somehow:
Enyimba also playing away to Energi fc of Benin and they are leading 2:0.

First half..great result!

MFM fc vs MC Algiers 0:0 first half.

Yeah, following this too.

somehow:
Then players earned less than #100k, you can check your records.

Now NPFL players earn between #80k (minimum) to #700k.

On average, players earn around #150k.

I think Kano pillars have the highest number of players earning between #300k and #700k.


League winner earn between #50M and #100M, I think it's 20M for cup now, not so sure, then it was #10m for the league and #5m for cup.

Participating in the league now earns you #10M, you get #500k for away win and I think you get some money for away goals too.

The money in the league now has tripled.

@Getting another Job, do you like what is currently happening to Enyimba and have you had time to discuss with Anyasi?

1. Time value of money.
2. What was the exchange rate then?
3. As at that 2003-2004 I know a couple of Enyimba star players earning more than that. Be sides we used to see them around the streets in Aba and when they came for training, the kind of cars they drove. The least car driven by an Enyimba player then was a Mercedes Benz V-boot. As at that time this was a car driven by "big boys". Not that this tells all the story but just that it tells you that they were at least still earning something reasonable.

Note that not all clubs win the title so not all clubs get that price money.

The truth is our clubs are not run like Businesses.
Anyasi Agu then tried all he could to raise Enyimba into a team that would not be dependent on the state government. We expanded our stadium to increase revenue from Gate takings, and also to prevent CAF from moving a game like the CAF Champions league final to a more befitting stadium like they did in 2004, moving it to the Abuja stadium. There was this sponsorship drive by the Enyimba management.

But, the Nigerian economy always has a way of wearing its ugly head. Plus Enyimba lost most of its golden generation players to clubs outside the country.How much were the transfer fees then? Peanuts compared to what we have now. There was also a change in Government and our football loving Enyimba governor, Orji Uzor Kalu was replaced by Theodore Orji, that does not value football.

Anyasi Agu has really managed to keep the club afloat as Enyimba are always playing continental football. The club has a pedigree that must be respected and maintained.

Anyasi, I still call him "my big boss" any day. We are still in communication. But he is not that Felix Anyasi Agu that we used to know then that would tell you that "Enyimba is too strong for CAF Champions league, we will start competing in Europe". The club no longer enjoys the full patronage of the state government like before through the commissioner for sports. But he and the entire board have really tried to keep Enyimba afloat even despite these challenges.

I had the opportunity of being attached to Okey Emordi (Enyimba's coach for 2003/2004) after my coaching training. But Baba God answered my call somewhere else

Kadiri Ikhana was also a coach I so much admired his style of play. Enyimba learnt how to play football under coach Ikhana

somehow:
I mean why did you stop getting involved with Enyimba?


Was there money in the league then? How much was the league winner getting then?

How much were players being paid then? If anything, its now we have more money in the league.

What league winners get now is 10 times higher than then.

By now, Enyimba should have become a community or private club looking at all they have achieved, how come Enyimba is still depending on state government? All the monies earned via international cups, what was done with it?

They sold alot of players for good money then, Enyeama, Aiyenugba, Ogunbiyi etc..

Enyimba is a bad model to copy meen.

@ bolded, I got another job.

Taking Enyimba as a model then, the club was by far the highest paying club .A player moving to Enyimba was like a player moving to North Africa or South African League.
The club had some national team quality players: Vincent Enyeama, Dele Aiyenugba, Obinna Nwanneri, Onyekachi Okonkwo were Super Eagles players. Muri Ogunbiyi and Joetex Fringpong played for Benin and Ghana respectively.

I don't know how much the current league price is now so I cant compare it with what it was then.

Enyimba, really made money from gate takings and sponsorship deals. All Enyimba's local and Champions league games were played on Sundays 4pm. We always recorded a full house especially during continental matches. Enyimba's jerseys were also popularly worn amongst the locals. And they kept upgrading with each change of the Jeyseys.

Because there were few recreation centers in Aba then, the Enyimba stadium was a choice as young people took their wives and girl friends to go see Vincent Enyeama and co. It was always a carnival every weekend there was a game. I was based in Akwa-Ibom but I usually spent my weekends in Aba.

It was not all about price money as after-all only one club wins it.

Though the government was a major sponsor, the club's management also raised money from gate takings, sponsorship deals, sale of jerseys, lease of the stadium for other non-football function among others

somehow:
Great, now we are getting there. What made you stop? Enyimba is no longer Enyimba even though Anyasi is still the chairman. Have you tried looking into why Enyimba is in the decline?

Stop? Did I say I have stopped being an Enyimba fan?
I still watched some of Enyimba's games on DSTV up till last season and still went to watch one of their FA cup games(which they even lost) about 2 years ago.

The difference between then and now is we had a football loving governor then who budgeted so much on Enyimba. The Enyimba international stadium had one of the best natural pitches in the country then. Many corporate bodies were ready to associate with the club due to its successes. Business was good at Enyimba FC.

Not now any longer.

There is no money in the league any longer. The few quality players have left or are about to leave.

Abusule007:
Rohr invites Mikel, Onazi, Moses, 25 others for Poland, Serbia friendlies



Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr has listed captain Mikel John Obi, midfielder Ogenyi Onazi and playmaker Victor Moses in his 28 –man squad to battle Poland’s fellow Eagles and Serbia in pre-FIFA World Cup friendly matches this month.




Home –based goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, who stood between the pipes for the very crucial last four World Cup qualifying games (home-and-away to Cameroon, home to Zambia and away to Algeria), leads the goalkeeping section and will be joined by new boy Francis Uzoho and Daniel Akpeyi.



Former junior international Kenneth Omeruo is back among the defenders, as Joel Obi among the midfielders, while Eagles’ B stalwarts, defender Stephen Eze and forward Gabriel Okechukwu, are also handed opportunities.



Russia –based Brian Idowu, who scored against Argentina on his debut in a friendly in Krasnodar in November last year, and Al Ahly of Egypt’s Junior Ajayi, who earned an Olympic bronze in Brazil in 2016, are also called.



Three –time African champions Nigeria will trade tackles with the Bialo-Czerwoni (White and Red) or Eagles, as the Senior National Team of Poland is known, at the 43,000 –capacity Stadium Wroclaw on Friday, 23rd March 2018.



Four days later, the Eagles will take to the pitch against the Senior National Team of Serbia at The Hive, London - home ground of Barnet FC and London Bees.



These are the first two in a list of six friendly encounters planned for the Super Eagles by the Nigeria Football Federation ahead of the 21st FIFA World Cup finals in the Russian Federation this summer.



THE FULL LIST



Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)



Defenders: Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (Ado Den Haag, The Netherlands); Olaoluwa Aina (Hull City, England); Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge KSV, Belgium); Brian Idowu (Amkar Perm, Russia); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); William Ekong (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Stephen Eze (Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Bulgaria)



Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Tianjin Teda, China); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas, Spain); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Uche Agbo (Standard Liege, Belgium); Joel Obi (Torino FC, Italy)



Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Junior Ajayi (Al Ahly, Egypt); Gabriel Okechukwu (Akwa United)

So Stephen Eze is now foreign based. Good one.

Gabriel Okechukwu also made the list.

Well, that is an encouragement for the hommies.

Good to see Joel Obi on the list. We pray he stays fit for the friendlies.

I am also happy for "my boy" -Junior Ajayi

somehow:
There are alot you can do in person and thank God you listed some of them. Additionally, if you have a club you support in the league, go and meet the people in charge, give them your recommendation and then follow through, if that's not enough, get other supporters together, go in group and have these recommendations pushed. Except you are dealing with demons, they will surely obliged as long as the recommendations are feasible.

If those in charge are incalcitated, move up to the state. Once you're able to achieve this at your own club, others will copy.

Kano pillars is what it is today because the followers engaeged those in charge, those in charge can't take some decisions without putting the followers in mind. There is alot we can do in person.

Sir, can I ask you what you would want a club you support look like? Let's start from there.

My brother, I don't think you know how close I am to the corridors of those that run football in Nigeria. Let's leave it there.

I am a fan of Enyimba FC of Aba.
Not just that, during Enyimba's dominance from 2003 to 2005, I was a close associate to Enyimba chairman Felix Anyasi Agu.

Enyimba is my home town club.

I was in Tunis to watch Enyimba overcome Esparance in 2004, at the semi-final, second leg of CAF champions league.
I was involved in the mobilization of Aba traders to go watch the final of that same 2004 CAF champions league final against Austin Ejide's Etoile Du Sahel in Abuja. Orji Uzor Kalu provided buses.

We had a governor that was ready to spend big on the club.
Enyimba had the money to buy the best players domiciled in Nigeria. We bought players from neighbouring Countries.

We were too strong for the rest of Africa.

Due to my knowledge of the game Felix Anyasi Agu encouraged me to go for coaching training. Which I did. But I got something better doing not long after that.

I only analyse football on TV and radio( a couple of years back though) . Notably DRTV Warri and Vibes FM Benin. I also made presentations to Manu and Amuneke's boys of 2013. Ndidi, Iheanacho, Awoniyi, the Nwakalis, Yahaya were some of the kids in that class.

So oga, I would not say more than that.

Kog45:
Oga icon4s no wahala.Respect.

Respect to you too.

But I hope you get my point.

somehow:
Yes, if you're the berating type, we would like to know what you have tried doing in person to correct the anomalies. No one here will see it as bragging, rather it will help us know why some of your opinions are the way they are.

I hope you understand me sir?

What I have tried doing in Person to correct the anomalies in the league?

Please let us be realistic in making certain comments

"In person" there is little or nothing you can do when you are not part of a system.

Asides going to match venues to render support, watch games on TV and maybe buy their jerseys, there is virtually nothing else you can do if you are not part of the clubs' administration or state or national football governing body.
As an outsider, the best you can do is to raise critical issues and bring them to the awareness of those in the "system". Which is what we are doing here. That is not even a guarantee that it will change anything because if you like write 1million recommendations and proposals if those in authority chose to pay a deaf ear there is nothing you can do about it.

Nobody should be called a hater for critiquing a failing system pleeaasse.

somehow:
If you read some of my comments, you should have grabbed some of the things I do offline. The online own speaks for itself already.

Those who are good at berating should continue, it's a free world.

No need to start bragging about our contributions to Nigerian football here.

We each know what we have contributed, but you asking me what my contributions have been...

somehow:
Speaks for itself online. Will keep mute on the offline aspect for now.

Eh, lets continue to keep our contributions offline.

somehow:
And what are you presently doing to improve the league? Criticism is the easiest thing to do, providing solutions and acting on it is the hardest.

Everyone can criticize but only few can make right.

I wouldn't call anyone an hater, never will I when it comes to the league but will call out those who berate the league without inputs on what they have done to correct it.

So what has been your own contributions?

Kog45:
icon4s baba i think you should dust that your coaching certificate and contribute to the growth of the league than running it down.

I think as a veteran you should understand better,so asking me am i satisfied with the league or CHAN team is not the issue.

Hope you read TheSuperNerd post on NPFL,that's it.The post was a balance one not telling us the league is not good blabla.......

Pls go and read tbaba1234 comments on Stephen Odey which was the genesis cos i asked why are you so harsh on the young man and i said you will never passed the same comments on Osimhen Victor.

He explained better and we move on to the extent i say sorry.

Firstly, we must all note something on this thread. Criticism does not mean hatred.
It has become a norm here that whenever you criticize a player or a team you are tagged "a hater".

This same thing has been transferred to if you criticize the local league then you hate the home based players. How can that be?

If I am not pleased with the way things are going am I not free to voice it out?

Even for some of those that are calling the league critics haters I know how far I went to defend the Flying Eagles crew's decision of selecting NPFL players for camping. Those that are pointing fingers today are even those criticizing the selection of those NPFL players. Why didn't I call them haters?

Of course if you are not a hater then you must be a lover.

So how many of the "lovers" of the NPFL here even watch the NPFL matches on TV? How many have used their money to buy tickets to watch them at stadiums? How many watch CAF Club Competition matches live on TV. How many have burnt their data to watch these games online?
How many have any NPFL Club they support?
You are a lover but you don't Identify with them. That one na Love?

Talking about my coaching certificate, you don't have to be a coach to be a sports administrator. We know those that have the say in sports administration in Nigeria, we can only criticize and recommend which is what we do as analysts of the game.

Talking about Stephen Odey, those who were long enough on this thread know how I personally clamored for the inclusion of Odey in the Amuneke's U20 Team. But I kicked against his inclusion in the Super Eagles because he was not (even now) a Super Eagles material. Does that mean I hate him?

If someone should prefer a player over the other, that is his choice or Opinion. It does not mean he hates the other player.

We all want the best for our national team and leagues. Nobody should be tagged a name for showing his displeasures or preferences.

Kog45:
Honestly i wanted to ask why you hate anything related to home especially football but good you came out to put it straight.

Sir based on your last paragraph,it happens and it's not peculiar to NPFL teams alone cos we have seen world class coaches making tactical errors and they were punished for it

It surprises me that a veteran like you would even think of tagging tbaba1234 a hater of the NPFL in the first place .

Are you happy with the state of the league? Are you happy with the performances of the clubs at continental level in recent years? Are you happy with the performance of the last CHAN team?

If your answers are "No". Then you equally hate the NPFL.

TheSuperNerd:
Age Discrepancy – NPFL Top Scorer Lokosa Disagrees With Kano Pillars Over His Real Age

https://i0.wp.com/owngoalnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/3C56E85B-52FC-478D-8B69-5E726A90F8B4-9197-0000045DB7C1AEFB.jpeg


A mild disagreement over the true age of red hot Kano Pillars striker Junior Lokosa is currently going on between the present top scorer in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and the Kano based team.

Lokosa who has scored ten goals for from eleven games this season in the NPFL had trials in Norway three years ago before joining Kano Pillars last season from Lagos based side First Bank Football Club.

The striker on his part said he is 24 years old while Pillars officially claim that he is 22 years old. A fact backed by the player’s league licence signed by the player for registration in the NPFL.

Despite the confusion over his true age, there is no confusion over his ability to put the ball in the back of net judging by his present streak in the NPFL, which could see him shatter the NPFL record of 23 goals a season scored by Mfon Udoh of Enyimba three seasons ago.


As opposed to many top scorers in the Nigeria Professional Football League in past seasons, Lokosa have scored just once from the spot unlike most top scorers in the league in previous seasons, who rely more on penalties to grow their tally.
Already tipped to leave the Kano side for a team abroad, it is believed that Lagos born Lokosa who is now the darling of the Kano Pillars faithfuls isn’t keen on representing Nigeria at youth level, as he is more concerned about taking his trade abroad.


**Ade Emmanuel


Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2018/03/06/age-discrepancy-npfl-top-scorer-lokosa-disagrees-with-kano-pillars-over-his-real-age/


Russia 2018 WC Countdown: 99 days 15 hours 18 mins to go

Na im come make the guy put face like that?

tbaba1234:
I was surprised when you made the statement earlier about Odey because i know i have been critical of several non NPFL players.

I was very critical of Awoniyi at some point but i also praised him when i saw evidence of improvement.Awoniyi was not an NPFL player.

Immediately, one talks of NPFL , the next thing is that he hates NPFL.

I am a honest person, if i see good, i will say it. If i see bad, i will say it even if it is against myself.

That was the same "hate" tag placed on me all through the CHAN because I don't condone nonsense football.

Some of us have come a long way in the followership of the local league. We know how it was and we know how it is now.

The league is in a sorry state.

No hate tag can stop me from saying things the way they are.

Hate my comments from here to the moon and back.

tbaba1234:
It was so bad that Ajiboye was subbed on before the end of the first half.

Not good at all.

Our NPFL goalies sef

tbaba1234:
3:0
8 minutes gone
Plateau united getting walloped

Mtchew

TheSuperNerd:
Exclusive: Why Manchester United Tosin Kehinde Is Not In My Plans – Nigeria U20 coach Reveals

https://i2.wp.com/owngoalnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/84BA1B83-CF29-4A67-87E7-96C6CE60958E-8863-00000441261F6A64.jpeg

Coach of the Nigerian U20 team Paul Aigbogun is not looking the way of fast rising Manchester United midfielder Tosin Kehinde despite the midfielder confessing his desire to play for Nigeria ahead of England.

Kehinde re-echoed his love to dorn the green white green of Nigeria in an interview two weeks ago, and the 19 year old who is on the verge of breaking into the first team of Manchester United is viewed by many as an option for the U20s of Nigeria.
However recently appointed coach of the Nigeria U20 team Paul Aigbogun has ruled out a call up for the Lagos born forward as he is not eligible to play at that level due to his age.

” I am aware of his exploits but he is not eligible to play for us due to his age. He was born in 1998 and only players born in 1999 and 2000 are eligible to play for my team”, Aigogbun told Owngoalnigeria.com in an exclusive chat.

” It’s nice to see a player who has lived most of his life abroad declare his love to play for Nigeria. I badly wish he is eligible but he is not. If he keeps on progressing as expected, he will no doubt get a look in for the senior national team or the Olympic team”, the coach concluded.


**Osas Mahawi

Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2018/03/06/exclusive-why-manchester-united-tosin-kehinde-is-not-in-my-plans-nigeria-u20-reveals/

Case dismissed

dubemcapital:
Testing the electrical fittings

Beautiful!!

Please what is the dimension of the land and also the dimension of the building?

andrew444:
You spoke fact bro,none of these guys are up to the level of yobo

But for the NFF and poor team handling, the Super Eagles crop of 2000s(2002-2010) could have achieved more.

A generation that had the likes of Yakubu, Utaka, Aghahowa, Martins, Kanu, Osaze, Ike Uche, Ogbuke in its forwards line

A defence of Taye Taiwo, Yobo, Nwanneri, Odiah, Babayaro

And a midfield collection of Okocha, Mikel, Lawal, Oruma, Obodo, Olofinjana, Ayila, Kalu Uche

And of course the goalkeeping trio of Enyeama, Ejide and Aiyenugba

90% of those players will walk straight into the current team.

andrew444:
So because etebo play well against Barca una don dey talk am 2 much,pray he should play like that everyday okay,etebo is not a bad player,no b the same etebo wey play qualifier? Nothing special bro,allow world cup reach,if the guy make small mistake na una go still insult am,las palmas Barcelona na normal game okay.

Same player that some were already erasing from the WC list.

Some people will be fielding 11 different players each game if they were national team coaches.

Mujtahida:
Baba I weak. Father into your hands I commit the SE. Shikena. I don rest.

This was a young goalie majority of us here were carrying head high as the best choice for Russia, just because of 45mins action from a friendly.

Some even said he had no weaknesses.

It is obvious we did not know him well enough

ChrisKels:
Rohr planning to hand a call up to SC KRIENS Sebb Osigwe?

Cc tbaba1234 plz confirm this news

I saw this news too.

E don Red be that.

tbaba1234:
Chai, cc: icon4s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAiYCXmoKlQ

To even make it worse, look at even the quality of the opposition.
Thanks Tbaba1234.
Rohr really has a tough decision to make.

tbaba1234:
Chai, cc: icon4s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAiYCXmoKlQ

To even make it worse, look at even the quality of the opposition.
Thanks Tbaba1234.
Rohr really has a tough decision to make.

Kog45:
Kai another looming war today is team tbaba1234 (Uzoho) vs team icon4s (Akpeyi),pls with enough video evidence but guess what the duo are not better than the CHAN .......

First off, let's get this straight. I am not fronting Akpeyi for a place in Russia.

I only criticized the word used by Tbaba1234 to describe the incident we saw here yesterday.

Lilpacshacor:
We still have many players that are doing well that I will mention the need to be given a chance for the upcoming FIFA world cup � in Russia.we need more better players before the world cup �.so we can use Moses as a right back just as in Chelsea

Please mention the players

tbaba1234:
Chinedu Obasi joins Bolton Wanderers

I always prefer to call him Chinedu Ogbuke.

Ogbuke my boy.....

Joebie:
Please tell me what you make out of this. I was only analyzing Rohr’s statement

---

“The games against Poland and Serbia is a big chance for the new players to show they have what it takes to play for us. As you know the next game will be in May so now is time for everyone who want to go to Russia to prove their quality.

“The two games are also important for us because the last time we played together was in November against Argentina. So, it will be an opportunity to work together again before the World Cup.

Also Check: Etebo Invited for Super Eagles Friendlies Against Poland, Serbia
“In May, we will release another 30-man list for the other friendly games from which we will draw the final list for the World Cup,” he told CompleteSports.

The last paragraph says it all.

ChrisKels:
Who else thinks Shehu won't be going to Russia unless Echiejile is dropped? Really hard to stomach but we gotta be real and sincere. I can see and at the same time, feel it.

You mean this thing?

Mujtahida:
If na Kunu count me in. But I no join to chop Gworo. How the weekend? Next week we go see the full list. Already we know about four invited players: Etebo, Idowu, Joel Obi, Omeruo

Hahaha, na so o. The kine things pessin dey see on this thread.

Yeah March 7th is the date.

But I must also point out that for players not invited for the March friendlies there is still hope for them. Some players may still break in.

The final camping list is the one that most determines who and who stands a chance and not this march list.