Sports
NPFL’s Uncertainties Worry Rangers’ Vice Captain
Enugu Rangers vice-captain Tope Olusesi has bemoaned the uncertainties surrounding the commencement of the 2020/21 Nigeria Professional Football League season amidst continuous postponements which has plagued the kickoff of the league post-Covid-19.
Olusesi, while speaking with news men described the situation as very frustrating and discouraging, as players and coaches were left completely in the dark and were not even aware of when to expect the start of a new league season.
He also added that players’ careers were on the line with the continuous period of inactivity lingering for longer than necessary.
“It’s really frustrating because we the Footballers in Nigeria we spend our lives playing football and this is what we know how to do and what we love doing and there are people up there not putting in efforts to make things better. Hearing that the league will start and that it won’t start again, the whole thing is just frustrating seriously.”
In a related development, Lobi stars defender Ebube Duru has lamented the absence of the Makurdi based NPFL side from continental Football while taking a scorecard of the current situation of inactivity with no organized Football competition other than pre-season tourneys in Nigeria.
Duru said that not playing on the continent has deprived him and other members of the team a bigger and better platform to showcase their trade to the world.
He added that he has his mind on Lobi stars and will only consider leaving the club for pastures anew abroad.
“It’s painful missing out on continental football because it’s a bigger platform to showcase oneself and I know how it is. I’m getting calls from teams playing on the continent for me to play for them but everything is patience. I already have the mindset that if I will be leaving Lobi stars, it will be for a club outside Nigeria.”
In another development, the Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria National League Emmanuel Adesanya has counseled clubs in Nigeria’s second-tier division to keep the faith and enthusiasm ahead of the return of the league.
Adesanya said in an interview with news men that there was no going back as regards the plan to have the league return and urged clubs not to lift their foot off the pedal.
He added that clubs should continue with the zeal and enthusiasm towards a new league season.
“The message I want to pass across is they should maintain the enthusiasm that they started with, they should let it continue and there is no going back.”
The Nigeria Football Federation has defended the recent quarter-finals draw for the 2025 President Federation Cup, saying it was conducted in line with best global practices.
A member of the NFF Executive Committee Board, George Aluo, stated that criticism over venues for the quarterfinals was unfortunate.
Going by the fixtures released on Saturday by the football body, Abakaliki FC will take on Nasarawa United in Benin, Wikki Tourists will clash with Ikorodu City in Bwari, Abuja, Akwa United and Kwara United will fight it out in Enugu, just as Area 3, Abuja, will host the encounter between Rangers International and Plateau United. All matches are scheduled for May 3rd for the emergence of semifinalists in a leg affair.
However, there have been criticisms over the Ikorodu United vs Wikki Tourist tie billed for Abuja, with a section of the press saying the venue is skewed in favour of the Bauchi team.
Aluo, also the Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), said: “Some of our media men need better education, and newsmen should not be like the fans out there on the streets. In the English FA Cup, it is always a one-legged pairing that can see a club like Arsenal host Manchester United at home”.
A new contract that will see Act Sports Di Oyibo Limited managing the career of Nigerian teqball specialist, Victor Oyemade, has been signed in Lagos.
The deal gives exclusive rights to Act Sports to manage, and exercise power of attorney over issues relating to the player’s welfare as it concerns his transactions, engagement for professional, promotional, sponsorships, endorsements, and exhibition purposes.
In signing the document, both parties also agreed that proper safeguards would be put in place to protect and promote the player’s interest at all times.
Director of Act Sports, Di Oyibo Limited, Pastor Samuel Robinson Oyibo, excited about the deal, said it would benefit both parties in the area of spreading the message of the sport, as well as laying a firm foundation for his new client’s future.
“Teqball is one of the world’s fastest-growing ball sports, and Victor Oyemade is the face of the sport here in Nigeria and Africa. That is why we are excited about this partnership that gives Act Sports official authorisation to manage his career, just as it will lay the foundation for its rapid growth in our country,” Pastor Oyibo said.
Oyemade was no less excited about the deal, saying it would help his growth in the sport.
Coaches of Nigeria’s U-18 and U-20 women’s handball teams have released their final lists of 14 players ahead of the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase, which will be held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, that commenced yesterday to end 24th of this month.
The two teams have been training at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos, for close to two weeks and departed for the competition on Thursday.
Coach John Uzor of the national U-18 team has included Omole Joy of Defender Babes and her sister Omole Shola alongside Ojie Princess of Funad Academy alongside right back Faisat Balogun in the mix while Success Duru, Chetachi Ngaodurubie of COAS Babes and Sharon Okonkwo make the cut, amongst other players.
In the U-20 team, Coach Shittu Agboola has largely stuck with the players he has been grooming since their U-18 days. The team is led by Captain Chidera Ogbusimba alongside, her Rima Queens teammates the Samuel Sisters, Amina Mohammed and Joy Peters.
Israel-based Rahima Bello, Kehinde Babatunde of ASPAC HBC of Benin Republic and Esther Mathew, who is also based in Benin Republic, keep their places.
Coach Shittu believes his team will make Nigeria proud just as they did previously at the U-18 level.
“I am really upset that Taiwo Babatunde will not be part of the team for this competition as her school, Yaba College of Technology, insisted that they will not release her for national service because of examinations.
“We did everything humanly possible to secure her release and they didn’t care that it is a national service for the interest of Nigeria and the growth of sports. We have other players who are also students and they got a release from their schools but for no tangible reason, Yabatech refused to release Taiwo despite the fact that we did everything possible to secure her release. It’s sad and I hope the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission will work in tandem so that schools will support our goal in making Nigeria proud in sporting events”.