Sports
Ikhana Set To Quit Sharks?
Sharks coach Kadiri Ikhana has told close aides that he will quit Sharks if team officials fail to offer him a proper contract.
The coach’s threat was reinforced by his no-show at the Liberation Stadium in the club’s 1-1 derby draw with Dolphins on Saturday; although the official word is that he took ill hours before the game.
Ikhana’s deal with the Port Harcourt club ran out at the end of last season, and there was some confusion in the close season as to whether he was remaining in the Garden City or moving to Sunshine Stars.
In the end, the two-time league winner opted to stay, but left little time to negotiate a new deal before plunging head-on into the new season.
Five match days after the commencement of the current campaign, Ikhana is still waiting for the Sharks hierarchy, represented by the Rivers State Sports Commissioner, to offer him a new contract and his patience appears to have worn thin.
Sharks Secretary Cyril Dum Wite however, said that the club had received no official notification of a resignation from Ikhana.
“We are not aware that he wants to resign. If that were the case, he would send a formal letter,” Wite said.
However, he did admit that the coach was working without a contract but said the issue would be resolved as soon as possible.
Ikhana himself could not be reached for comment.
Sharks are currently at the lower rung of the league table with two points from three matches.
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.