Sports
Drop Aged Players, Izulien Advises Falcons Coach
Former Super Falcons coach, Godwin Izilien, has advised Coach Randy Waldrum to exclude aged players from the list of players he will be inviting to the camp ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup to be cohosted by Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20.
Nigeria’s senior women national team will be taking part in the biggest Women football fiesta, following its qualification at the Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) held in Morocco.
Speaking to Tidesport source on Monday, Izilien said that dropping aged players should be seen as adding vibrancy to team, adding that benchwarmers in their clubs shouldn’t be considered if the country is to perform well at the tournament.
“For the Super Falcons to excel at the 2023 Women World Cup, I believe the old players in the squad should be sidelined to pave way for the younger ones.
“Playing politics in team’s selection will not augur well for the Super Falcons at the world stage. Other teams in the world are building their teams around young players, because they understand that the lifespan of a female footballer is short.
“This year’s World Cup will be tough as 32 teams will be competing and the coach should brace up for the task ahead by picking the best players for the tournament, “he said.
Izilien added that organising friendlies as tune up games for the girls is key to putting them in the right frame of mind.
“The NFF, at this point, should have started setting out guidelines and programmes to get the girls ready for the World Cup. Quality friendlies and good training programmes should be put in place for them.
“I do not understand why the coach is not going round the country to look for more talents who will put the regular players on their toes for a place in the team. The World Cup is just about six months away and I hope he doesn’t show the same attitude we saw at the AWCON in Morocco?
“If that is what he wants to do again, then the Super Falcons may be shown the exit door very early at the competition. The coach should know that women football has advanced in other climes and all hands must be on deck to ensure that the Falcons made the country proud come July,” he stated.
Sports
CAFCC: Supporters Club Chairman Frowns Against Stadium Rejection
The Chairman of Rivers United Supporters Club, Franklin Owhor, has frowned against the rejection of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt to host any of CAF Confederation’s Cup, (CAFCC) games.
He said the rejection will deny United to get total home support when the CAFCC competiition starts next week, saying that playing at home has its own peculiar advantage.
Owhor said this on Wednesday in a telephone interview with Tidesports after the reports from CAF that said the Nigeria Professional Football League ( NPFL) champions had adopted the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo for their home matches.
CAF has earlier asked the management of Rivers United to renovate the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, to International standard, saying that the Stadium lack some basic facilities to host international football competitions.
“ We will still give our maximum support to our team even though the matches will be played in Uyo, but it is painful that we are playing our home games outside our home.
“ I remember when Rivers United FC played in Enyimba Stadium sometimes ago, it was not so good for the team and we saw what happened .
“But I will say that Godswill Akpabio International Stadium is like a home to Rivers United FC, you can see we defeated Dakkada FC in Uyo so we conceived no tension and fear.
“I use this opportunity to appeal to the State Government through Ministry of Sports to try their best and return” the team back to its base, ‘ Owhor said.
By: Kiadum Edookor
Sports
NPFL: Boboye Denies Wikki Tourists Move
Former Akwa United coach, Kennedy Boboye, has dissociated himself from speculations linking him with the coaching job of Nigeria Professional Football League side, Wikki Tourists Tidesports source reports.
The Wikki job became vacant after former handler, Kabiru Dogo, resigned his appointment after amassing only one point in four games.
Following Dogo’s exit, reports have linked the former Plateau United and Sunshine Stars coach with the Giant Elephants, as tweeted by league journalist, Taye Hassan, on Wednesday.
“Kennedy Boboye could be the next tactician to be in Wikki Tourists dugout as information is coming in from a close source in Bauchi,” Hassan posted.
However, Boboye waved off the speculation in a telephone interview with Tidesports source.
“Anything you guys see, just conclude with it, I have been hearing this thing since yesterday,” Boboye said.
While Wikki Tourists have also confirmed the exit of Dogo, the club has put head coach Abdullah Adamu in charge of the squad.
After his spell with Sunshine Stars in 2015, Boboye won the league with Plateau United and Akwa United in 2017 and 2022 respectively, leaving both jobs the following season.
Sports
Bendel Insurance Coach Set To Win LBA Award
Bendel Insurance coach Monday Odigie has emerged as the clear favourite to win the League Bloggers Coach of The Month Award for January in the already five-week-old 2022/23 Nigeria Professional Football League.
Odigie is contending with Lobi Stars Mohammed Baba-Ganaru, Stanley Eguma of Rivers United as well as Daniel Ogunmodede of Remo Stars for the award.
From their respective numbers in the month under review, Odigie stands above the rest with four wins in four games. Baba-Ganaru, Eguma and Ogunmodede all secured three wins in four matches for their respective teams.
Also, Odigie’s Bendel Insurance have met Remo this season with the Benin Arsenal reigning supreme with a 3-0 win in Benin City.
In the Player of The month category, current league top scorer and Bendel Insurance forward Osarenkhoe Imade also leads the pack with his impressive four goals in four games in the month under review.
Imade scored his first goal on the opening day against Akwa United in Uyo, before following it up with further strikes against Plateau United, Kwara United and Remo.
Other players in the running for the award include Imade’s strike partner, Ismael Sarki, who scored three goals in January; Insurance goalkeeper, Amas Obasogie, who kept three clean sheets.
Lobi Stars duo Joseph Atule and Kumaga Suur and Onyebuchi Ifeanyi of Plateau United are also on the nomination list.
-
Sports3 days ago
T’Tennis: Quadri, Bello Retain Positions In World Rankings
-
Politics3 days ago
2023: BVAS Won’t Fail, INEC Assures Following Mock Accreditation
-
News3 days ago
New Notes: CBN Gave False Information To Buhari-Presidential Aide
-
Nation3 days ago
Minister Hails NEPZA Over Special Zones In Universities
-
Rivers3 days ago
Monarch Hails Wike Over Landing Jetty Project Award
-
News3 days ago
BVAS Won’t Fail During Elections, INEC Assures Nigerians
-
Maritime3 days ago
FG Set To Concession Nation’s In-Land Ports
-
Sports3 days ago
29 Nigerian Referees Get FIFA Badges