Connect with us

Sports

Enyimba At War With NPL Over Rescheduled Matches

Published

on

Nigerian Premier League defending champions, Enyimba International FC is at war with the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) Board over new dates announced for their rescheduled games. According to the club, the matches have been crammed too close to each other and would not give them a fair ground to contest for the title.

The CAF Champions League semi-finalist are scheduled to play three outstanding matches, between October 5 and 12 and after which week 35 matches will be played from October 18.

Enyimba is scheduled to play away to Kwara United on October 5 and four days later they will take on Enugu Rangers in Enugu in an ‘oriental derby”, before they host Kadun United on October 12.

However, club officials have said that this schedule would be too demanding for their team, who are also engaged in the Champions League semi-finals against Wydad Casablanca of Morocco.

They will host Wydad in a return leg semi finals on October 16 in Aba after playing the first leg on Friday.

NPL officials have insisted that this was the best they could come up with for this long drawn league season to finally come to an end.

The league has to be concluded on November 2 and that is why we expect all the clubs to comply with this new timetable”, an official disclosed to Tidesports source.

They also argued that Enyimba have a big squad and so have no reason to complain of fixtures congestion.

Enyimba is currently ninth on the table with 51 points from 31 matches, 13 points off the pace set by front runners Sunshine Stars and Dolphins Football Club.

Gold Monday

Up Next

Former national team captain Henry Nwosu has advised Super Eagles players to go for early goals in tomorrow’s 2012 Nations Cup qualifier against Guinea. Nwosu also advised Samson Siasia’s wards not to fall for the antics of the Guineans as they would employ every antic imaginable to frustrate the Nigerians. “I know the Eagles will play to win. We have the pedigree and the caliber of players to do it. We can beat Guinea but the players must go for early goals. If they can do that there will be confidence in the team and the fans would have less to worry about. They need to score early,” Nwosu told the Vanguard. “The Guineans will come to Abuja to frustrate us. They will be falling unnecessarily and want to delay the game. Our players should expect this.” Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Super Eagles are determined to dismiss concerns about the potentially harsh Abuja weather and knuckle down to the task of beating Guinea on Saturday. CAF have fixed the game for 2pm, ignoring a request by Nigeria to change the time, and Samson Siasia’s wards are determined to get on with it. “We would prefer to play when the sun will not be as hot as it is,” defender Taye Taiwo said. “But since they want us to play at that time, we dont have any choice. “The important thing for us now is to focus on the game, play according to the coach’s instruction and make sure we win to make Nigerians happy.” Teammate Osaze Odemwingie agrees, and adds that there is a silver lining. “We are coming from Europe where it is summer at this time, so the difference may not be much. “But we can’t make any excuses. We just have to do the job and with the support of Nigerians, we will.” Weather forecast for Abuja tomorrow has the temperature on a high of 30 degrees and low of 24, with humidity in the mid-60s, which should make life slightly easier for the players.

Don't Miss

Eight Clubs Battle To Become Samsung’s Champions

Continue Reading

Sports

Iwobi Optimistic On S’Eagles Qualification 

Published

on

Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi says the Super Eagles will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, declaring that Nigeria have the players and abilities to compete against any country in the world.

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.

Continue Reading

Sports

ATLANTICBELL CEO ADVICE SPORTS WRITERS ON SPECIALIZATION 

Published

on

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.

He stated that in spite the fact that sports journalists are doing greatly in the country but hardly find any sports journalist that specializes on a particular sport reporting and become an authority, as it obtainable in advance countries.
Mr. Ogolo , who was the former Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Rivers State Chapter, said this after he received the Veteran Sports Journalist Award, during the SWAN @60 Diamond jubilee award night, in Abuja on Friday.
According to him, sports journalists have done tremendously well in sports development through effective and efficient reportage.
“SWAN has done greatly to develop sports in Nigeria, so they should be given its rightful place.
“Members should continue to do what they are doing, Nigerians are sports loving people when you give them facts and accurate reporting they will be happy, besides, sports writers have a big role to play in advancement of sports in Nigeria”, Mr. Ogolo said.
The former General Manager of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of The TIDE Newspapers, used the opportunity to express his profound gratitude to the National Executive Council (NEC) of SWAN for the award.
He explained that the award is one of the most important and special awards he has received, hence it came from his primary constituency as a journalist.
” I am not just happy but overwhelmed. This award will spur me to contribute more in development of sports and I we equally support SWAN Rivers State Chapter in my little way” he stated.
By: Tonye Orabere

 

Continue Reading

Sports

DEPUTY PRESIDENT EXPRESSES COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT SPORTS DEV, SWAN 

Published

on

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.

He stated that the sports writing fraternity is where he cannot forget as a sports journalist that starts from the grassroots.
Mr. Nyong said this while presiding over South South SWAN zonal meeting of Chairmen and Secretaries, including some elders in the zone, on Friday, in Abuja.
He explained what led to his suspension and sue unity and peace amongst members, saying that what happened should be a thing of the past, as he was actually misled and deceived.
The Deputy National President reiterated his commitment to work with Cyril Dum Wite led administration in Rivers State Chapter of SWAN, saying that SWAN is one and there should be no division of any such.
He reels out ideas that can make SWAN viable and enviable in the zone.
“I want peace and unity amongst members of the association in the zone, we are one family, let us work as family. Thank God I am back fully, members of the zone will enjoy the association”, Mr. Nyong said.
Also speaking the Vice President of SWAN south south zone, Azuka Chiemeka, thanked members that attended the meeting and also advised members to work in peace, unity and love with others members to achieve positive result.
It will be recalled Bonny Nyong was suspended in Full council  meeting held  in Kano following what can be described as misconduct, but was forgiven and his suspension was lifted after he apologised to Full council members in a meeting, held in Abuja, during SWAN@60 celebrations.
By: Tonye Orabere
Continue Reading

Trending