Sports
Violence, Poor Officiating Mar NPL… Rangers Lead Table
The Nigeria Premier League Week 11 matches almost turned into a battlefield as the majority of the clubs playing at home used every avenue to win their games, last weekend, even as Rangers still tops the league table after a 1-0 victory over Lobi Stars.
Chikeluba Ofoedu scored for Rangers in the 22nd minute to take his goals haul to four. The Enugu side maintained their top spot on the league table with 22 points.
Abubakar Bukola Saraki started reaping from the decision to suspend coach Erasmus Onuh as his replacement Kabir Dogo led the Ilorin lads to defeat Kaduna United 2-1 at home in his first game.
ABS took the lead in the 17th minute through Ofili Chirstian, while Buhari Jaffar equalised for Kaduna United in the 30th minute. Bashir Rahman found the winning goal for ABS a minute before the end of the first half.
“I told you that we are not going to go on relegation and with this away victory, we are aiming for the top,” said the team manager, Alloy Chukwuemeka.
Wikki Tourists beat Sharks by a lone goal and media officer of the Port-Harcourt side, Confidence Idah, complained that the referee Thomas Tikvor from Benue State gifted Wikki Tourists with a penalty.
Gombe United forced Heartland to a 2-2 draw with two of the Spartans players given their marching orders.
Brendan Ogbu and Daniel Akpeyi were red-carded as Heartland finished the game with nine players.
An official of Heartland, Tonne Chukwu told newsmen that “only God saved our players and officials from the hands of irate fans of Gombe United.
“There was real trouble some minutes before the end of the game and immediately the match ended. The two players that were red carded were harassed by the fans and the match officials had to run for their dear lives after the game.
“Mobile police men escorted us to the boundary of Bauchi and Gombe States before we arrived Bauchi where we slept for the night,” Chukwu fumed.
Shooting Stars Sports Club had to come back from a goal down to snatch a point off Warri Wolves, but their supporters also caused some problems for the match officials before the game.
The game between Kwara United and Sunshine Stars was heading for a 1-1 draw when supporters of Kwara United took the laws into their hands and attacked everybody in sight, including players and officials of the opposing team, supporters and journalists. The referee Sani Mohammed was reportedly rushed to a private hospital after the inconclusive match.
Mannir Ubale scored his fifth this season when his lone strike secured all three points for Kano Pillars against Akwa United.
Port Harcourt the capital city of Rivers State will be at the centre stage in Nigeria as Port Harcourt Arsenal Community will hold her maiden edition of Football Fans Fiesta (FFF).
The Fiesta scheduled to hold on the 13th December, 2025, at Eddiz wine bar GRA, promises to be all football fans carnival in the State , as there will be a lot of fanfares.
The Coordinator of Port Harcourt Arsenal Community (PHAC), Ugochukwu Oputa has said that the forthcoming Football Fans Fiesta was basically to promote peace, unity and love among football fans in irrespective of the cub.
He stated that sports is a catalyst to bring peace, love and Unity in any given society, hence the occasion was initiated.
Oputa said this in an interview with sports journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, saying that arrangements are on top gear for a successful programme.
” This event is for all football fans irrespective of your club. It is basically to promote peace, love and Unity among fans.
“It is like stating the obvious that football is the catalyst of peace and unity in the world. So the Port Harcourt Arsenal Community want to use this avenue to bring people together and foster friendship.
“There is no gate fee, but it is expected to put on jersey of your club as to make the event look unique” Oputa said.
The Coordinator used the forum to advice football fans in the world to love one another, and equally urged fans that will attend the occasion to be of good conduct and behaviour.
Tonye Orabere
Consistent with its project execution routine, Dunamis-Icon Limited, Project Consultants of the Niger Delta Games, has concluded the first phase of physical inspection and evaluation of facilities for the event, 24 hours after the presentation of the hosting right to Edo State was performed.
The project management team was guided round select facilty locations in Benin City by Desmond Amadin Enabulele, Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, and the team leader, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo expressed satisfaction with the sports infrastructure assets of the host.
“Edo is a ready-made choice based on all the factors that are necessary to host this kind of big event. We are expecting over 3000 athletes coaches, alongside journalists and technical officials, with an approximate number of people outside spectators in the range of 5000. So, we need facilities that work for the games itself”, Ikpokpo explained.
He commended the Edo State Government for the good state of facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, and promised that the state will be assisted with the renovation of some of the facilities as may be necessary to ensure good competition experience for the athletes.
“I have been to the iconic Ogbe Stadium and must commend the Edo State Government for maintaining the facilities there. We are also considering taking some events to the University of Benin, so that people in that part of the city can also feel and enjoy the fun. Where need be, we will also see how to assist the state and the University of Benin to add value to some of the sporting facilities”.
Dunamis Icon Limited is the franchise rights owner to the games conceived and designed to provide a platform for unity and integration, and identifying and grooming talented youths from the region into national and international stars.
The NDDC as the flagship interventionist agency for the nine states that make up the region, is the prime sponsor of the games as part of their strategic focus on youth engagement and human capital development.
The inspection tour began at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, after a brief meeting with Enabulele and the Sports Commission team at his office.
Areas inspected include the stadium’s main bowl, the tartan track, the state box, the VIP lounges and other key areas like the ceremonial room, the media studio and other indoor facilities.
Other facility locations assessed are the Wire Road Sports Centre being listed to host basketball and volleyball games, the University of Benin Sports Complex, and the Etete Sports Centre.
In the entourage of Dunamis-Icon were the Project Director, Mr Fred Edoreh; Director of Facilities and Equipment, Dr Emmanuel Ochuko Igbigbisie; the head of Communications, Harry Iwuala; Head of Transport and Logistics, Israel Umueri Afoke. Others are Theresa Ineke, Head of Secretariat, Godwin Enakhena, the Head of Scouting, Mr. Edi Lawani, the Head of Culture Affairs and Entertainment and Elder Siegha Porbeni of the Technical Department.
The Edo Sports Commission Chairman was also supported by Hon. Frank Ilaboya and Mrs Sabina Chikere, Executive Directors, with Mr Baldwin Bazuaye (MON) also in the company.
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