Sports
Eguma Battles For NPFL League Bloggers Award
Enugu Rangers coach Fidelis Ilechukwu, 3SC coach Gbenga Ogunbote, Stanley Eguma of Rivers United and Niger Tornadoes gaffer Majin Mohammed have been nominated for the League Bloggers April Manager of The Month Award in the Nigeria Premier Football League.
The League Bloggers Award is an initiative of MatchRoom Sports & Media Ltd and has since 2009, been a platform where the efforts of top performers in Nigerian top flight are recognised.
In the month under review, Eguma led the table toppers to three wins in five matches against Sunshine Stars, Plateau United and Abia Warriors, scoring 10 goals in the process.
Ogunbote led 3SC to four wins, including an away win at Kano Pillars and their run of form which produced eight goals powered the Ibadan side from sixth in the table to third.
Rivers United coach, Stanley Eguma is also in the run with four three wins in four matches (one game lesser than the other contenders) while Majin Mohammed of Niger Tornadoes completes the coaches’ nomination thanks to his three wins in five matches which also included away win at Bendel Insurance. Mohammed’s team scored 11 goals in the process which is the most from any team handled by the four nominees.
In the players’ category, the current leading top scorer in the league, Sikiru Alimi of Remo Stars will contend with Rivers United’s Deputy Echeta, Sporting’s Junior Lokosa, Tornadoes’ Clinton Jephta, Akwa United’s Ubong Friday and Katsina United midfielder Michael Ibe.
Despite Akwa United’s poor run, Friday tops the nominees list with five goals in five matches, followed by Jeptha with four; Echeta, Lokosa, Alimi, and Ibe have three goals each.
Winners will be decided by a panel of Nigerian football experts and announced via LBA’s social media channels on Friday, May 10.
Vice president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), Chief Solomon Ogba, foremost Sports Marketer and founder of Okpekpe Road Race, Mike Itemuagbor and top Sports Journalist and Media Strategist, Mitchel Obi have lent their voices in support of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF).
The personalities with backgrounds in sports administration, marketing and media spoke separately in commendation of the festival, an initiative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with Dunamis Icon as consultants.
“This is a positive addition to the evolving sports business ecosystem because it is not just a springboard for identifying talents, it also offers a platform to truly hone the skills of those already discovered”, remarked Obi, who served as Special Advisor to a former Sports Minister, late Anthony Ikhazabor.
He said the festival will be a flagship event in the region that would trigger interest in sports among the youths and people of the region.
Edo State-born Itemuagbor commended the NDDC for the decision to add sports in the list of their intervention projects in the region, adding that: “This speaks directly to the problem of youth restiveness which is of great concern to our people.”
Raphael Onyedika has now emerged as a major doubt for the Super Eagles’ must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
The midfielder was forced out early from last week’s league game against Standard Liege.
He has not recovered from the injury and so will miss today’s league match against Gent and may also miss a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against Aston Villa yesterday.
The Super Eagles take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21, before they face Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later in crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Al-Khalood defender, William Troost-Ekong, has shared his experience on the difficulties of winning the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) while describing it a must win trophy.
The former Watford FC defender has competed in the tournament three times but has yet to lift the trophy.
“I’ve been there three times now, bronze medal, silver medal, but I haven’t had the chance to win it. That remains my ultimate goal,” he told Tidesports source.
“It means so much to me and all the kids growing up in Africa and Nigeria.”
-
Rivers1 day ago
RILTA Seeks Indigenous Language Centre Establishment … Marks Silver Jubilee
-
Nation23 hours ago
Group Honours DPO
-
Business1 day ago
NCAA Explains Impending Ibadan Airport Shutdown
-
Politics20 hours ago
Withdraw Suit Against Akpabio, Ex-Senate Minority Leader Urges Natasha
-
News1 day ago
Don Tasks Varsities On Artificial Intelligence
-
Nation1 day agoNDDC Building Regional Integration Through Inclusive Conflict Management – Ogbuku
-
Rivers1 day ago
Farmers Urge Govt, Corporate Bodies For Support … Wants More Youths In Farming
-
Niger Delta23 hours agoHYPREP Installs ICT Equipment In Secondary Schools