Entertainment
Gombe United Storms Aba For Super League Play-Offs
Nigeria National League says Gombe United last Wednesday arrived in Aba for the Nigeria National League Super 8 play-offs which began yesterday.
This is coming as some other teams, who are scheduled to take part in the competition, were yet to leave their bases as at Wednesday afternoon.
Eight teams – Remo Stars, Kada City Stars, Kogi United, Delta Force, Insurance, Shooting Stars, Gombe United and Real Stars – finished first and second in the four groups of the lower league at the end of the season.
But the Super 8 has generated a lot of controversy after the NNL at its Annual General Assembly on November 24 agreed to promote eight teams to the Nigeria Professional Football League for the 2019 season but the League Management Company and the Nigeria Football Federation rejected the proposal, insisting that only four teams would join the 20 teams in the Nigerian topflight.
After the failure of five clubs to honour its previous instruction to participate in the play-offs last December, the NFF instructed the NNL to organise the play-offs among the teams and present four winners for promotion latest January 3.
However, since the NFF’s announcement, our correspondent learnt that the lower league body has failed to communicate with the eight clubs, who will play in the play-offs.
On Wednesday, the NNL in a letter to the Chairman of the NFF Football Committee requested for a shift in the commencement date of the play-offs from January 3 to 5.
“Sequel to our meeting of December 27th, 2018, held in Lagos, we hereby request for a shift of date of commencement of the Super 8 tournament from January 3 to 5, 2019. This is to enable the concerned clubs effect the resolutions of the meeting in good time,” the letter, signed by the Chief Operating Officer of the NNL, Lawrence Katken, read.
However, while awaiting the response of the NFF, Gombe said they have arrived at the venue of the competition and would be there till further instructions on the competition are communicated.
“Our players arrived in Aba on Wednesday and we are ready for the Super 8. We don’t know if there will be a change in the starting date but we followed the January 3 commencement date and any other information will be communicated to us there,” club spokesman Halilu Teli told our correspondent.
But some other clubs officials who spoke with our correspondent said they have yet to arrive in Aba.
Real Stars coach Garba Lawal said, “We are still in Kaduna – in fact the players trained today (Wednesday). We are waiting for the instruction from the club chairman before we leave for Aba.”
Also, 3SC Team Manager Dimeji Lawal said, “The resolution of all the clubs on the Super 8 is still unknown. Shooting Stars have not left for Aba. We are waiting for instructions on the competition.”
Remo Stars spokesman Dimeji Oshode said, “Remo Stars have not left for Aba.”
Meanwhile, Gombe and Real said they have yet to receive the N2m promised them by the NFF.
The NFF Emergency Committee promised to pay each of the three teams who were in Aba in December for the postponed play-offs N2m. Delta Force, Real and Gombe are the affected teams.
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.
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