Sports
Anaemena Explains Rivers United’s Move
Enyimba centre-back, Ifeanyi Anaemena has explained the reason behind his decision to leave Enyimba for league rivals Rivers United.
The defender was unveiled on Tuesday alongside goalkeeper and former Enyimba teammate Theophilus Afelokhai as Rivers United’s latest acquisitions in an epic move that generated ripples across the country.
But he said to Tidesports source in an interview that much as he loved playing for Enyimba who gave him his first taste of topflight football as a 24-year-old, he felt his time at the club had run its course and it was time for him to make a move and gain other new challenges.
“I can say that my experience in Aba, my stay there for the first few seasons were good memories, a very exciting one, and they also brought me to the top flight of the game,”
“I’ve been at Enyimba since 2014, and it’s a privilege for me to be reckoned as one of the legends in the team. And having contributed my quota so far, and I so much appreciate the team, I love the team, when I’m playing for Enyimba I’m always (passionate), determined, focused, playing as if the team was owned by my father. But then, I know that there is always room for change.
“When it is time in football for you to move, you have to move, because you don’t know, you can never tell what the situation would be. So, I’ve contributed my quota and I think it’s time for me to move on.”
“It’s true that a lot of fans will be happy for my movement, for my move to Rivers United. Some will feel disappointed that I shouldn’t have left Enyimba, knowing that I’m the captain of the team,” he said.
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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