Sports
Enyimba’s Win Against CARA, My Happiest Moment – Anyansi Agwu
The Chairman, Enyimba International FC of Aba, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, says the team’s victory over CARA Brazzaville of Congo on Wednesday marked the happiest moment for him as a football administrator.
Anyansi-Agwu made the assertion at a post-match news conference at the Enyimba FC Stadium in Aba shortly after the Peoples’Elephants defeated Cara Brazzaville 1-0 in their CAF Confederation’s Cup in Group C on Wednesday.
According to him, his team’s victory in the tension-soaked match was pleasant because they have qualified for the CAF Confederations Cup quarter-finals, adding that the win was a delightful way to dedicate their remodelled stadium.
He said he was optimistic that Enyimba would win because of his firm faith in God, noting that they got the last minute victory because God wanted to show His hands were upon the club.
Anyansi-Agwu, however, expressed displeasure with the attitude of the Enyimba fans immediately after the match ended, saying that football administrators globally frown at such a rush onto the field of play.
He said steps would be taken to check a repeat of the undesirable attitude by fans which could earn the club some sanctions.
Speaking, Cara Brazzaville Coach, Jacque Ontsira, said that his team knew Enyimba would fight hard to defeat them so they adopted a defensive game.
He, however, expressed delight at the effectiveness of the tactics as his team also qualified after the group’s second match between Williamsville and Djoliba ended in a goalless draw.
Enyimba FC Coach, Usman Abdullah, said that his team played their heart out because only a hard fight would ensure their victory and qualification.
“We did not come out to depend on the result of the other teams. The result came out positively for both teams that played in Aba today. Our game plan was to win.
“I am happy we got the three points not only because this is the first continental game in Aba but because it feels so good to dedicate the stadium with a win”, he said.
He described the return of the peoples’ elephant to Aba, their home ground as “a positive thing” that would pay dividends, adding that this was the first time they were playing in the stadium in three years.
The coach said that since the last three years, they had never played with their home support, but added that now such a support would enhance their performances.
Abdullah says his team begins preparation immediately against the semi-finals by working harder than ever before.
The Team’s Captain, Mfon Udoh, said the pitch was pleasantly different from those in Calabar and Port Harcourt where they played their matches in the last three years.
He said Enyimba walked on a tight rope playing against their opponents to qualify for the quarter-finals, expressing joy that they eventually won.
Tidesports source reports that the goal which came through Wasiu Alalade in the third minute of extra time was made possible through a free kick by Mfon Udoh which bounced off the cross bar.
Enyimba has booked a place in the quarter-finals stage of the competition, with 12 points, which is three points higher than Cara that now occupies the second position.
England captain Harry Kane netted a hat-trick to guide Bayern Munich to an impressive victory against Stuttgart.
Kane’s goals, plus one from Kingsley Coman, helped Bayern end a three-game winless run in all competitions.
They faced a tough task against a Stuttgart side who sat back and limited their chances, leading Vincent Kompany’s side to enter the break frustrated and with the deadlock unbroken.
Bayern eventually found a way past Stuttgart’s steely defence when Kane drilled a low effort into the bottom corner from around 30 yards out after Joshua Kimmich overturned possession.
Former Nigeria goalkeeper, Dosu Joseph, is full of thanks to God after he miraculously survived another life-threatening automobile accident recent at Kara, along the Lagos-Ibadan Express Way, where a heavy-duty truck ran into his SUV.
Narrating his ordeal, the 51-year-old, who guided Nigeria to gold in the Men’s Football Tournament of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, broke the news in a statement on his social media handles on Friday.
“To God be the glory, another death escaped by Grace and Mercy of God. Me and my friend SM were at Enyo Filling Station after Ojodu Berger bus stop to get fuel on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, around 6 p.m. when this MACK truck fully loaded with iron, with registration number LND 470 XX, left the road and crushed my car beyond repairs. Thank God for life,” he stated.
This is the second time the soft-spoken club proprietor will cheat death by a whisker, having been involved in an accident in 1997 that ended his career at 23 and left his spinal cord in bad shape.
He helped Julius Berger win the Nigeria FA Cup in November 1997 shortly a memorable Olympic outing by keeping a clean sheet in the finals against Katsina United. The following year, he was involved in the auto along Ikorodu Road, Lagos, which not only cut his career short but also left him almost paralysed, ending his spell at Serie A club Reggiana.
The former Nigeria international, who also kept goal for Julius Berger FC, said the case has been reported to Isheri Police Station, Ogun State, where the driver is currently detained and the truck also seized.
According to him, the owner of the truck said he can’t fix the badly damaged SUV until after a year.
Ex – Super Eagles of Nigeria, Okwuchukwu Waobikeze has observed that sports development in Nigeria is going down.
According to him, grassroots sports is very important, without it, the administrators cannot get it right. So everybody should key into grassroots sports development, he said.
Waobikeze said this last Wednesday in an interview with sports journalists shortly after the Port Harcourt All Stars Independence football festival (OCTOBERFEST) at the Port Harcourt club, Rivers State.
He explained that for sports administrators to get it right, grassroots development is key. “They should be organising competition at the grassroots level to fish out the young ones for different sporting activities.
“Grassroots sports is very important so the administrators have to go back to the grassroots.
” Sports Development in Nigeria is going down we need to go back to the basics.
“Look at the just concluded Paris Olympics, Nigeria did not win any medal.
” Our football team did not even qualify for the Olympics. We are going down.
” If they should go back to the grassroots, they will get young ones in the games and talents will be developed.
” I started from school games, to youth games before playing for the national team. Now everybody wants to fly board to play professional football and a lot do not know the basics of the game.
” A lot of people did not know the little things about the game, they just want to play. It is not done so,” Waobikeze stated.
Kiadum Edookor