Sports

Heartland’s Performance Disappoints Coach

Published

4 years ago

December 30, 2020

Fidelis Ilechukwu acknowledged he was extremely “disappointed” with Heartland’s perfor-mance against Katsina United in the NPFL season’s opener on Mon-day.
The Naze Billionaires went into the new campaign with optimism and were few minutes away from securing victory, but suffered a 3 – 2 defeat to their hosts at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium.
Heartland took the lead in the second minute through a fine strike from Bright Onyedikachi.
Kastina United canceled out the advantage with goal from Boubacar Masally’s 44th minutes.
Heartland regained their lead in the 81st minute through Samuel Nnoshiri, but two goals in three minutes from Masally (88th minute) and substitute Samuel Kalu (92nd minute) turned the game on its head.
Reacting to his team’s collapse, Ilechukwu told brila.net that the players were complacent after they got their second goal.
“It’s so painful that we lost the game, after the first half everything was alright, but we collapsed towards the end of the match,” he told Tidesports source.
“We were relaxed, because the boys thought the game is done and dusted.
“They lost concentration and we made series of errors in dangerous areas and Katsina scored twice in three minutes,” he said.
The former MFM FC coach stressed further that he will continue to work on the players and optimistic they will get a win in their next game.
“We have already noticed the lapses and we will surely correct them before our next game,” he concluded.

Sports

Ogba, Others Endorse Niger Delta Sports Festival

Published

2 days ago

March 5, 2025

The Tide

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.”

Sports

Onyedika Not Sure For Super Eagles W’C Qualifiers

Published

2 days ago

March 5, 2025

The Tide

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.

Sports

‘I Must Win Trophy Before Retirement’

Published

2 days ago

March 5, 2025

The Tide

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.”