Sports

Wikki Tourists’ Pre-Season Form Excites Boss

Published

3 years ago

November 4, 2020

Wikki Tourists boss, Usman Abd’Allah has hailed the contributions of his players and other backroom staff in their effort to raise a formidable team that will be good enough to compete for the Nigeria Professional Football League title or grab a continental ticket at the end of the season.
The Giant Elephants held Katsina United to a goalless draw on Monday in the Governor Masari Pre-season Tournament and Abd’Allah informed the tourney’s media team that he is gradually building a team that will be able to compete with any team in the topflight.
He said that he had spelt out areas they must improve on especially ensuring that the strikers are more potent in front of goal and he noted that the tournament will belp boost the fitness level of his players.
“The essence of preseason friendlies are to help boost the fitness level of the players, cohesion of the team and the integration of the new players. We still have some work to do maybe with the finishing part because we have been creating chances,” Abd’Allah informed Governor Masari Pre-season Tournament Media.
“Generally I will say it is impressive what we have been able to achieve thus far with a new team a relatively low budget. Football is all about winning. We were unlucky to miss the last minute chance that hit the frame of the goal post because had it gone in it would have been 1-0 and the whole story would have been different.
“It is fair because Katsina United came with virtually a new team that was divided into two teams. They have done well and the game would have gone either side. We are happy no violence in the game.”
The former Enyimba coach thumbed up the organisers of the Governor Masari Preseason Tournament but still pointed areas that must be improve on to make the tournament international standard in the next edition.
“It is fantastic that within a short frame of time they have been able to organise this and set it up I’m very impressed with it. I hope that next season when we shall come for the Governor Masari Pre-season Tournament again, I think by then the whole nation will be here.
“I also hope that we are going to be having referees from other states as from the next edition of the tournament.
“We are hoping to come out with good results and if we win it, it will be a morale booster. We are hoping to compete favourably with other teams in the league and it will be a delight to either win the league or qualify the team for the continent,” he concluded.

Sports

Race For Zenith Bank B’Ball League Top Four Resumes

Published

5 hours ago

October 4, 2023

The Tide

The battle for the final two slots for the 2023 Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League will begin at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta State, with MFM Women Basketball Club and Bayelsa Blue Whales looking to secure one of the two slots.
Two teams; Nigerian Customs and Air Warriors secured two slots from the Savannah Conference and now, the Atlantic Conference teams will battle to win the two other slots to complete the Top Four for Final Phase.
The Second Phase of the Atlantic Conference was postponed due to the recently concluded National Youth Games and with the arrival of all teams, hostilities began yesterday with Bayelsa Whales and MFM taking on Dolphins and Sunshine Angels, respectively.
MFM, who finished second in the last edition will have to be at their best as they are currently third on the table coming from the First Phase where they won three games while losing two while Bayelsa Whales on the other hand are second with four wins and a loss against undefeated First Bank who is poised to finish top of the table.
First Bank will hope to continue their impressive form when they meet IGP Queens who are also hoping to create an upset and get a slot to be in Lagos for the finals scheduled later in October.

Sports

NRFF President Hails ValueJet’s Contribution to Rugby Development

Published

5 hours ago

October 4, 2023

The Tide

President of Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, NRFF, Dr Ademola Are has hailed the impact of ValueJet’s to rugby development and sports generally in the country.
Dr Are who was speaking on the sideline of the just concluded National Youth Games in Asaba, where Delta State emerged winners in both the male and female events of rugby, said ValueJet’s contributions to sports development could not be overlooked..
“We can’t over emphasize the impact of ValueJet in Nigeria rugby because they came at a time we needed them the most and all thanks to the president of the company, Kunle Soname who went the extra mile to ensure that Nigeria senior men national team, the Black Stallions participated at Africa Sevens Olympic qualifier in Harare, Zimbabwe.
“Despite not being the most popular sport in the country, he saw the potentials in rugby when others were hesitating, just like he has for other businesses of his with his canny business acumen.

Sports

Peseiro Congratulates Rivers Utd

Published

5 hours ago

October 4, 2023

The Tide

Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro has congratulated Rivers United following their victory over Etoile Filante of Burkina Faso which ensured their qualification to the group stages of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Rivers United defeated their visitors 2-0 in the second leg of the second preliminary round of CAF Confederation Cup at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Sunday night.
Rivers United missed two penalties in the game before Alex Oyowah scored the opener in the 89th minute. Oyowah completed his brace in the 10th minute of added time after converting a penalty to end the score 2-0.
The first leg of the encounter ended 0-0 two weeks ago at the Stade Muncipal Yamoussoukro, Cote D’Ivoire, giving the Pride of Rivers a 2-0 aggregate win and a group stage ticket.
Peseiro hailed the former Nigeria league champions on his personal X handle following their achievement.
“Congratulations to Rivers United on making it to the CAF Confederation Cup group stage. Best of luck in the competition!,” he wrote.
Rivers United reached the quarter-final stage of the CAF Confederation Cup last season before being eliminated by Young Africans of Tanzania.
Up next for Stanley Eguma led side is their first Nigeria Premier Football League NPFL game of the season against Niger Tornadoes slated for the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on Sunday.