₦airaland Forum

Crown Football club goalkeeper, Ayobami Ojo, is confident that he and his teammates can keep their team in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) in spite of their modest status.

Crown FC along with Bukola Babes, Jos University Teaching Hospital (Juth) Football Club and Plateau United won promotion to the elite division from the Nigeria National League (NNL) also known as the National Division 1.

“We are not a big club like Enyimba, (Enugu) Rangers, Kano Pillars or Shooting Stars, but there is one thing I can assure our fans – we will play in the Premier League next season,” said Ojo, who was one of the reasons Heartland could only muster just a goal to edge them in a Week 6 match last Sunday.

Despite Crown FC’s 13th position on the league table with just a point above the drop zone, Ojo believes that their decent start to the season that has seen them beat two big sides, Kano Pillars and Kwara United, will continue.

The former Heartland goalkeeper told SuperSport.com that Crown FC though do not have big-names in their team but have players that can compete in the Premier League with the help of their backroom staff.

“As far as I am concerned we have not done badly when you look at our performance so far in the Premier League. We have beaten Kano Pillars and even Kwara United too. Though we don’t have big players in our team but we have players, who have hunger for the game,” the goalkeeper said.

Six weeks into the 2010/2011, Crown FC players such as Harrison Egbune, Bode Daniel, Nehemiah Ekong, John Fashanu Fayoseh and Asuquo Phillip have already proven that they are ready to put their feet into the heat of the top-flight.

Kadiri Ikhana’s Kwara United were given three spots in the current Team of the Week released by the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) on Tuesday.
Ikhana (pictured) was named coach of the week by the Premier League panel while Gbenga Arokoyo and Anthony Okemiri, who joined from Kwara Football Academy (KFA), also made the cut.

The trio was picked on the strength of Kwara United’s two-nil win on the road against Jos University Teaching Hospital (Juth) Football Club at the Rwang Pam Stadium last Saturday.

Arokoyo was handed a place in the Team of the Week for the first time after he kept Juth’s Ghanaian import, James Amankwei, at bay throughout the 90 minutes in Jos.

Three clubs, Dolphins, Sunshine Stars and Warri Wolves, got two players each on the NPL team. Emah Godwin and Kennedy Chinwo of Dolphins were named for their steel in the backline of the former champions in last Saturday’s win over Warri Wolves.

Expectedly, top scorer, Ukeyima Akombo of Sunshine Stars got a place in a two-man attack just as his teammate, Ofem Inah, was handed a
right-back role.

Wolves’ goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim, is number one for Team of the Week while Sunday Mba of same club is one of the four midfielders named by NPL.

Others in the team are Austin Kadiri (Zamfara United), Damian Udeh (Heartland) and Charles Omokaro (Ocean Boys), who saved the former champions the blushes with two late goals in spite of Emmanuel Ogoli’s untimely death.

Team of the Week
Goalkeeper: Chigozie Agbim (Warri Wolves)
Right Back: Ofem Inah (Sunshine Stars)
Left Back: Kennedy Chinwo (Dolphins)
Centre-back: Emah Godwin (Dolphins)
Centre-back: Gbenga Arokoyo (Kwara United)
Midfield: Austin Kadiri (Zamfara United)
Midfield: Sunday Mba (Warri Wolves)
Midfield: Damian Udeh (Heartland)
Midfield: Anthony Okemiri (Kwara United)
Forward: Akombo Ukeyima (Sunshine Stars)
Forward: Charles Omokaro (Ocean Boys)
Coach: Kadiri Ikhana (Kwara United)

Following the marching order he received during last Saturday’s game between his club, Warri Wolves and Dolphins at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt, defender ThankGod Ike has been charged and handed a two-match ban.

The Nigeria Premier League (NPL) apparently charged Ike for his misconduct in the game after he was picked on television shoving Dolphins’ winger, Emem Eduok, in a bid to retrieve the ball. Ike’s altercation with Eduok earned him a straight red card and now a two-game suspension from the Premier League.

The former Heartland centre-back will also pay the sum of N100,000 for his misbehaviour before he returns in the colours of Warri Wolves.
He was also handed a last warning for the misconduct charge. The development means that Ike will take no part in the league this year, as he will miss Wolves’ home game on Saturday (against Ocean Boys) as well as their first game of 2011 on the road to Sunshine Stars.

However, Ike was not the only defaulter of NPL rules, as Niger Tornadoes and Dolphins will play their next home games behind closed-doors.
Tornadoes ran into trouble after an unidentified fan threw a missile onto the pitch that injured Dolphins’ goalkeeper, Sunday Rotimi, during a Week 5 game at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna.

The Minna-based outfit were also fined to the tune of N150,000 and ordered to fish out the fan that pelted Rotimi with the missile.
On the other hand, Dolphins got hammered for allowing their fans intimidate the match officials at half time in last Saturday’s game against Warri Wolves.

Dolphins escaped financial punishment but got a last warning to caution their supporters to desist from intimidating match officials.

Mr J Cork:
50 dollars ? HELL NOOO. Madam I half class. give me punnny instead _ on credit

Officials of world football governing body, Fifa and the local organizing committee of the Women’s World Cup Germany 2011 will visit all 15 countries that have qualified for the championship on an awareness-creation tour which will begin this month.

The ‘welcome tour’ information said the NFF chief media officer Ademola Olajire and made available to Mastersportsng.com on Thursday starts in Australia and New Zealand this month, with the party expected in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Abuja on January 18, 2011 for the event the following day.

According to a letter signed by Fifa general secretary, Jerome Valcke and Fifa Women’s World Cup Germany 2011 LOC head, Steffi Jones and sent to the NFF president, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, the objectives of the tour includes creation of awareness of the championship and women’s football in general, assisting in increasing interest in and knowledge of the women’s teams and improvement of presentation of the women’s national teams to the media. The LOC also seeks to prepare the national team for their stay in Germany next summer and to inform the participating member association about the on-going preparations for the finals.

A delegation of between two and four people consisting of a Fifa headquarters representative, development officer, women’s football instructor and media officer will be supported by LOC president, Steffi Jones, media officer Jens Grittner, logistics chief Marcus Beeck, Markus Jestaedt and Uwe Standop.

The one-day event that will be split into two parts, Fifa and LOC part, will see talks and presentations on Fifa’s activities in women’s football, the Fifa Women’s World Cups, member association and the women’s national teams, as well as the ‘official countdown event’.

Nigeria will play in Group A of the 6th Fifa Women’s World Cup in Germany next year alongside hosts Germany, Canada and France.

https://www.fifa.com/mm//Photo/Tournament/Competition/01/34/31/42/1343142_FULL-LND.jpg
_{SPEEDCELL, the official match ball of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011}

Pace, power and team spirit, three of football’s most essential attributes, are perfectly encapsulated by the breathtaking design of the SPEEDCELL, the official match ball of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011™, which was ceremonially unveiled by FIFA and adidas at Monday’s Official Draw in Frankfurt. The audience and millions watching on TV were captivated by the ball’s refreshing colour scheme, and accurate reflection of the pace and dynamism of the world’s favourite sport.

The design of the SPEEDCELL incorporates significant symbolic elements, including an 11-line graphic representing the 11 players in a team, thus emphasising the need for togetherness and unity of purpose. "The ball is a real eye-catcher, and the name says it all. It's really fast, and a real challenge for goalkeepers like me, although it could be a powerful weapon for our strikers," said Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer.

The SPEEDCELL features Grip'n'Groove material technology, ensuring an exceptionally smooth flight and perfect contact between boot and ball in all weather and climate conditions. Angerer’s Germany team-mate Saskia Bartusiak is certain that the ball will maximise the entertainment for fans and players alike at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011: "A cool design, and cool colours. The ball keeps its promise: it’s quick. I reckon we’ll see plenty of goals at this World Cup!"

Germany struck 21 goals at the 2007 edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in China. By contrast, Angerer was not obliged to retrieve the ball from the back of her own net even once, as Silvia Neid’s team strode to the title in emphatic style. Young midfielder Kim Kulig, a FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup winner on home soil last summer but already a regular for the senior side, is hoping to repeat her heroics at the highest level next June and July. The SPEEDCELL should work in her favour: "The ball’s very fast, which means a very high pace indeed!"

How often will the official ball of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011 hit the back of the net in Germany just a few months from now? It is impossible to predict, but one thing is certain: the SPEEDCELL is a perfect complement to the increasing appeal of women’s football, based on lithe movement and a commitment to attack. The new ball appears destined to occupy a central role at an exciting and goal-laden tournament next summer.

The first ever FIFA Women's World Cup™ to take place in Germany will kick off with the opening match in Berlin on 26 June 2011 at 18:00 CET, with the final starting at 20:45 CET on 17 July in Frankfurt. The kick-off times for both these matches, as well as the tournament's remaining 30 fixtures, were agreed upon by FIFA and the OC along with its official television partners.

"I'm delighted that an agreement could be reached which suits all parties," said OC President Steffi Jones. "Now fans will be able to plan even more games into their viewing schedules. Both the opening match and the final are on during prime-time hours."

The group stage matches, between 26 June and 6 July, will kick off at 14:00, 15:00, 18:00 and 20:45 CET, while games from the quarter-finals onwards will kick off at 13:00 and 20:45 CET. With the exception of the opening match in Berlin, all of host nation Germany's matches have been scheduled for 20:45 CET.

The sale of individual tickets will continue until 31 December 2010 on a 'first come, first served' basis. Aside from the opening match, the final and the other group games involving hosts Germany, other fixtures, such as the match for third place in Sinsheim and the four quarter-finals, have been in particularly high demand.

The 32 Germany 2011 matches will take place in the nine host cities of Augsburg, Berlin, Bochum, Dresden, Frankfurt, Leverkusen, Monchengladbach, Sinsheim and Wolfsburg.

Reigning world champions Germany are the favourites to come out on top in Group A, although with Canada, Nigeria and France making up the section, the hosts can take absolutely nothing for granted. While the Germans will have to handle the pressure of performing in front of their own fans, the battle-hardened Nigerians and Canadians can be expected to mount a strong challenge and the French showed what they can do in a hugely impressive qualifying display. With no reputation to protect and nothing to lose, Les Bleues are sure to pose a danger to their esteemed rivals.

The favourite
Germany. Given their record on the big stage and their current form, the hosts will be expected to top the section. That said, they face plenty of pitfalls in a potentially challenging pool, and though they overwhelmed Nigeria and Canada in recent friendlies, they cannot afford to be complacent.

The players to watch
Nadine Angerer (GER), Ariane Hingst (GER), Birgit Prinz (GER), Inka Grings (GER), Christine Sinclair (CAN), Josee Belanger (CAN), Jonelle Filigno (CAN), Stella Mbachu (NGA), Perpetua Nkwocha (NGA), Sonia Bompastor (FRA), Camille Abily (FRA), Sandrine Soubeyrand (FRA) and Eugenie Le Sommer (FRA).

The big game
Canada-Nigeria The last-day duel between these two competition regulars could well have a big bearing on the final outcome in the group. The two have appeared in nine FIFA Women’s World Cup™ finals altogether but have only met once, a 3-3 draw in the group phase at Sweden 1995, with both sides failing to make the next round on that occasion.

The stat
14 - The number of goals Prinz has scored in 22 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches, making her the highest scorer in the history of the competition.

Have your say
Can Germany cope with the pressure of playing on home soil? Which team has the best chance of upsetting the host nation?

Silvia Neid, Germany coach
"I’m satisfied, but there’s no way we can start thinking we’re already through to the quarter-finals, and there’s no way we’ll underestimate our opponents. We’re just pleased we know who we’re playing against at last. During the Christmas holiday, we’ll start thinking about how we’ll watch and analyse our opponents. I still have a lot to do in the next six months, and the time will fly by. We have to ensure we’re not thrown off course by the huge expectations in the country, because we put ourselves under enough pressure as it is. We’ve got to go out and enjoy ourselves. And if things go our way, especially when we attack, we’re hard to stop. Our initial target is clear enough: we want to come through the group stage. We’ll take it step by step. Our ultimate target is to retain the trophy. That would be tremendous, and we’ll do whatever it takes."

Bruno Bini, France coach
"Once we’d found out who our three group opponents were, my first thought was: ‘Not Germany again!' But we don’t play the Germans until the third match, so we have enough time before that to collect the points we need to make the knockout rounds. I could say we’re aiming for second place, but I’m well aware that Nigeria and Canada will be saying exactly the same thing. I’ve not seen those two teams yet, so I can’t say a lot about them. But I can say this: we have a very strong  team, and our group opponents won’t be looking forward to playing us."

Carolina Morace, Canada coach
"Obviously, playing the holders Germany in front of their home crowd in the opening match is a big ask. But the Germans might be a little nervous in the circumstances too. I see no reason why we shouldn’t take something from the opening match, provided we play well. But obviously, the Germans are favourites to win the group, although I have to say they didn’t exactly dominate us in our recent friendly. It's always hard against Nigeria and France, the Africans in particular are physically strong. What’s important for us is to prepare well, and spend as long as possible together as a group. Our domestic league isn’t that strong, so we have to try and close the gap to the better teams by working very hard indeed when we do come together."

Ngozi Eucharia Uche, Nigeria coach
"This is a really difficult group, but we’re looking forward to the challenge. I think all three of our opponents are equally hard to play, but we’ll prepare as well as we can and give it our best shot. Our juniors made it to the final of the U-20 World Cup in Germany a few months ago, so our goal is to see if we can cause as much of a sensation ourselves. I’m optimistic, because we have such talented youngsters. None of the teams is invincible, and all 16 could win the World Cup. That's football. It's not decided on paper, it’s settled out on the pitch!"

binhozie:
negative on that copy sir. IWP still ticking like clockwork

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Enyimba remains Nigeria’s most decorated club having won two African titles in 2003 and 2004 coupled with six league titles in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2010 as well as two FA Cups in 2005 and 2009.

honeric01:
YOU DEY SLEEP? IT ENDED 3: 0, 2 SHORT OF THE REAL EL CLASSICO

Kano Pillars 53 : 0 Enyimba