Sports
Kwara Utd Names Unuane New Technical Adviser
Kwara United FC of Ilorin has officially announced the appointment of Coach Samson Unuane as its Technical Adviser for the 2012/2013 Nigerian Premier League (NPL) season.
Chairman of the club, Bamidele Aluko, announced the appointment at a media briefing at the Kwara Stadium in Ilorin last week.
Aluko said that Unuane was selected for the job out of 43 applicants, because of his experience, adding that the club’s management would name a technical crew to support him.
The club chairman, who announced a sign-on fee of N10 million for the new coach, also presented him with a brand new Kia car as his official vehicle.
He added that the new coach would also be provided with official accommodation.
Aluko, however, hinted that Unuane had the enormous task of taking the club to top of the NPL league and winning all available trophies next season.
“We appreciate Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed for adequately providing for the club and setting new goals for its administrators.
“We will ensure that the players salaries and allowances are paid as and when due,” he said.
In his remarks, Unuane, who is also the assistant coach of the Super Falcons, said that working for Kwara United was a long time dream that came to pass.
“I love the club and I have always wished to work with it since 2008. I appreciate that the dream has come true today.
“Kwara United is a big team. Every ambitious coach will want to handle the club, so mine is not exceptional.
“I think I know the yearnings of the people of Kwara concerning the club and I will endeavour to deliver,” he assured.
Unuane, however, added that he would welcome constructive criticism.
Unuane, 48, from Edo, signed a one-year renewable contract with the club.
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.