Sports
Derby Clash: Sharks, Dolphins’ Fans In War Of Words
The war of words have been on in Port Harcourt between fans of Dolphins and Sharks as the derby day approaches.
Both teams go head to head on Sunday at the Sharks FC Stadium in a game that will have a role to play in whether both sides remain in the Nigeria Professional Football League next season.
Both sides need to win the game, but a draw will favour Dolphins more since they are the away side and currently above Sharks on the log.
Telema George who says he has been a fan of Sharks all his life declares that only one result is possible on Sunday which will be a win for his side.
“Sharks are in a bad position now and do not need to drop points at home. We need the three points badly to escape relegation and I am sure we will win on Sunday against Dolphins,” Telema George said.
A member of the Dolphins Supporters club, Agwu Augustus, however, is optimisitc that Sharks will lose on Sunday.
“We are going to beat Sharks. It’s a local derby and it is unpredictable but with the caliber of players we have, I am optimistic we will defeat Sharks,” Augustus said.
Looking at the recent exchanges between both sides, Telema George admits that Sharks should be wary of Dolphins but says he will pray to God so his side could win.
“We look on God and we are praying. We always have the fear of Dolphins because when you compare both of them, Dolphins have a better head to head record compared to Sharks,” Telema George said.
Agu Augustus on his part admits it will be a tough game, but Dolphins will win and escape relegation at the end of the season.
“It will be a tight match, but we will win. With the caliber of players we have I don’t see why we won’t win,” he said.
When both sides played at the Liberation Stadium in the first round of the league, it ended 1-1, Yusuf Jaiyeola opening scores for Sharks and Godbless Asamoah getting the equalizer with three minutes left to play.
Meanwhile, Six goal hero for Dolphins this season, Godbless Asamoah wants his seventh and maybe eight on Sunday in the Port Harcourt derby.
Asamoah did not play for Dolphins until Match Day 10 against FC Taraba in Jalingo.
He has also been out injured on two occasions totalling eight match days, yet has managed six goals for his side this season.
Now he wants to score the goals that will give his side maximum points against neighbours, Sharks on Sunday.
“Remember, my first ever goal for Dolphins was against Sharks at our home. Now I pray to God that I can do same at their home,” Asamoah said.
“It’s a local derby. Remember the last time I scored against Sharks was my first goal in the Nigerian league so I believe I can do same again as we continue on our way to escaping relegation,” the Ghanaian striker said.
After he made his debut for the club against FC Taraba, he expressed the the desire to either finish top scorer in the league or at least for the club.
“The league is still going on and I know if I cannot be league top scorer, then I can be for Dolphins, just like Emem (Eduok) did last season.
“Then after this season, I can continue my goals adventure next season,” he said.
Heartland Technical Manager, Emmanuel Amuneke has praised his players for not losing focus at the crucial moment in Sunday’s 2-1 home win over Shooting Stars in a NPFL Matchday 24 fixture in Owerri.
The Naze Millionaires defeated the Oluyole Warriors through Chukwuma Agor and John Bassey goals in the 31st and 88th minutes with Mustapha Adam’s 80th minute spot kick a mere consolation for the visitors.
Amuneke while speaking to journalists shortly after the encounter, said his boys showed the zeal and determination to seal the three points and that despite the shenanigans of the centre referee, Kolawole Emmanuel, the boys were never troubled.l
“We were eager to get the three points and we were aware Shooting Stars are a good side and won’t allow us to have our way easily,” Amuneke told journalists in Owerri.
“We planned for them and almost throughout the entire game, they were never a threat to our team. We were able to control the game from the beginning. It was unfortunate how the game ended. We were just focussed on the three points and we are thrilled we got it. It was a very good game from both sides but we subjected them to constant pressure almost throughout the game.”
While he was asked if he believed his boys could finish the season impressively, Amuneke was evasive but noted that he and his players would continue to work harder.
“Everything in line is possible but we know that nothing happens without hard work. We will continue to work harder and continue to see how we can grow as a team. We have a lot of young players in the team. Some of them just got their topflight breakthrough.
“We didn’t lose focus at the time of the controversies. We continued to do the same thing we have been doing and taking the game to them.”
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, turned the sod of the new Olympic-standard 25,000-capacity Bayelsa Stadium project at Igbogene, Yenagoa, as part of the activities marking the fifth anniversary of the Senator Douye Diri administration.
The former Nigerian leader performed the ground-breaking ceremony as Governor Diri restated his appeal to the federal government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), oil firms operating in the state and the private sector to join hands with his administration to develop sporting talents.
The Federal Government through the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) equally thumped up Governor Diri for initiating the project.
Dr. Jonathan expressed delight over the project, saying as a Bayelsan, he was duty bound to celebrate with the state government for the progress so far achieved.
He lauded Diri’s developmental strides, urging him not to rest on his laurels and that the contractor and the state government should ensure the project met the highest standards.
Jonathan also called on the state and federal governments to set up a sports fund to cater for sportsmen after their active days and encourage younger ones to be involved in sports.
He said: “This is my state and I have to celebrate with the government for the progress so far made. This is an iconic project that will develop the state. Please do not rest on your laurels as we want this stadium to meet the best standards.
“I am happy with the presence of relevant federal government officials. I hope they will guide the state well and support where necessary.
“As a country, we must have a fund to care for sportsmen. The federal and state government can think about it so that the younger generation will be interested in sports.
“I am happy that you gave a target of 24 months and I hope that by that time I will escort President Tinubu to Bayelsa to inaugurate it.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has condoled the family of former Nigeria international midfielder, Ayo Ogunlana, who died in Kaduna on Friday after observing his early-morning walk.
NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, showered tributes on the departed midfield pearl, who was a star attraction during a number of important Nigeria FA Cup battles in the 1980s and held sway in the middle for the Super Eagles in the late 1980s, and at the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Algeria.
“We are very sad to learn of the sudden passing of Ayo Ogunlana, only a couple of weeks after the demise of another former Eagle, Moses Effiong (a member of the 1980 AFCON-winning Green Eagles squad, in far-away USA). Ogunlana was a great midfielder who made playing football look so easy with his majestic touches and turns, and his magnificent free-kicks.
“We pray that the Almighty will grant both of them eternal rest and grant the families they have left behind the fortitude to bear the losses.”
Ogunlana was magisterial in the midfield as Nigeria overhauled Guinea and Zimbabwe to qualify for the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations, and was imperial against Cameroon in a 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Ibadan that the Super Eagles won with an emphatic 2-0. He also played in the 1990 ECOWAS Cup competition that Nigeria hosted in Kaduna.
