Sports

‘Lack Of Dedication, Cause Of Club’s Dwindling Fortunes’

Published

9 years ago

June 28, 2017

A former Rangers International FC of Enugu and Green Eagles winger, Emeka Akabueze, says the current players’ not being as committed as the older generations was responsible for the club’s dwindling fortunes.
Akabueze, told newsmen in Lagos that the players of old were always playing for the fans and not for money.
Tidesports source gathered that, Rangers was founded in 1970 but has never been relegated from the Nigeria Premier League. It has won several honours and last year, won the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).
It has won in total the Nigeria Premier League seven times in 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1984 and 2016 and Nigeria FA Cup five times in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1983.
The club was also finalists seven times in the competitions in 1971, 1978, 1987, 1990, 2000, 2004 and 2007; won the Nigerian Super Cup in 2004, Africa Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977 and was finalist in the African Cup of Champions in 1975.
However, it started the 2016/2017 NPFL on a low note, threatened by relegation. It has overcome the threat and has since the second stanza of the league struggled to do well.
Rangers are currently 13th on the NPFL log with 32 points after 25 games.
“During our own time, we always have the interest of the fans at heart. We always consider the market men who had to leave their stalls to watch us.
“We were always conscious of the fact that, if we lose a game what will be their reaction. They left their businesses to support us.
“Whenever we lose a match, we dare not exchange pleasantries because everybody will be sad and that was the spirit then, we are concerned.
“We think much about our fans because we don’t want to lose them as well, we want to always increase our fan base, unlike now when money has taken over,’’ he said.
Akabueze, a die-hard fan of Rangers, said that monetisation had rubbished the flavour often enjoyed in football, adding that, passion was no more the driving force of many footballers.
“The issue of money has really damaged the entire system. Players no longer play for their passion for the game but what will be paid to them at the end of the match.
“A player will not follow you to a club for the purpose of playing with passion, it is about how much he will receive at the end of the game.
“Football is more than the money in it but the presence of money has rubbished the entire system. I think the system needs an overhauling.
“We need to change our mentality from monetary gain to passion for the game that is the only option to move the game forward,’’ he said.
Akabueze alleged that the present crop of players also lacked respect for each other, adding that, there was a hierarchical order in the team which all must abide with.
“Players don’t respect themselves anymore and that is a problem. During our own time, we recognise our seniors and we accorded them due respect, we were not rude.
“If we were rude, we might get a dirty slap. Some of our seniors like Stephen Keshi were in the team with us and we were not rude to them. All these are missing now.
“Can you imagine a team will play a home game and lose, then the next thing you see them talking and discussing happily? You can’t try that during our time.
“Also, an amateur player without a club will be heard saying that he has a manager somewhere. How can players without clubs already have managers and that is what has been,’’ he said.
Akabueze added that Nigeria football could be at par with other football countries in the world if the system was change to reflect standards.
“If we want to have standard like other advance countries, why not? But we need to do the needful. The system must conform to the standards.

Sports

Tottenham’s Miserable Run Continues

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Relegation-threatened Tottenham’s miserable 2026 continued as their winless run extended to 10 league games with Fulham gaining a deserved victory to boost their hopes of qualifying for European football.

Fulham, who scored twice in the opening six minutes in their 2-1 win over Spurs in November, again got an early goal with Harry Wilson netting in the seventh minute.

However, the goal was controversial as new Spurs boss Igor Tudor felt it should have been disallowed as home striker Raul Jimenez pushed Radu Dragusin as they challenged for a Kenny Tete cross, before Oscar Bobb picked out Wilson to volley home from six yards out.

Tottenham had a similar goal ruled out last week in their 4-1 loss to Arsenal for a foul by Randal Kolo Muani on Gunners defender Gabriel but, following a check from the video assistant referee (VAR) Craig Pawson, Fulham’s goal was allowed to stand, much to Tudor’s fury.

Spurs, though, had no excuses for the 34th-minute second goal with Alex Iwobi left with space to shoot home superbly from 18 yards out, with the ball going in off the inside of the post after a neat exchange with Wilson.

Sports

City Survive Leeds’ Challenge At Elland Road

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Antoine Semenyo scored just before half-time as title-chasing Manchester City escaped Elland Road with victory over an energetic Leeds United.

The hard-earned outcome narrowed Arsenal’s lead to two points at the top of the Premier League.

City travelled to West Yorkshire without their Leeds-born star striker Erling Haaland who was injured in training, and it looked for large periods in the first half that they would rue not having their top goalscorer available.

But Ghana international Semenyo stretched to convert Rayan Ait-Nouri’s fizzed low ball into the penalty area for his sixth City goal since joining from Bournemouth in January.

Leeds will be wondering how they did not score after making a sprightly start and giving City real cause for early concern.

Meanwhile , a clinical Liverpool performance helped them beat battling West Ham in the Premier League and move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.

The hosts were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister.

West Ham pulled one back early in the second half through Tomas Soucek before Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal lead in the 70th minute.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side scored again through Taty Castellanos, but an Axel Disasi own goal ensured Liverpool hit five goals in a league game for the first time this season.

Bayern Rebound To Overcome Dortmund In Bundesliga (5)

Harry Kane scored two second-half goals as Bayern Munich came from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund in a thrilling match and move 11 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.

The England striker took his tally to 45 goals in all competitions this season as Bayern became the first team to inflict a home league defeat on Dortmund.

Kane, who passed 500 A clinical Liverpool performance helped them beat battling West Ham in the Premier League and move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.

The hosts were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister.

West Ham pulled one back early in the second half through Tomas Soucek before Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal lead in the 70th minute.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side scored again through Taty Castellanos, but an Axel Disasi own goal ensured Liverpool hit five goals in a league game for the first time this season.

All three of the Reds’ first-half goals came from set-pieces – with Arne Slot’s side now leading the table in 2026 when it comes to goals from set-plays (excluding penalties).

In the fifth minute, Ryan Gravenberch teed up Ekitike, who finished smartly to beat Mads Hermansen at the near post for his 16th goal of the season.

West Ham threatened to equalise, but against the run of play Liverpool doubled their advantage when Van Dijk headed in Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner.

The visitors failed to take advantage of Liverpool’s complacency with Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jarrod Bowen and Soucek all wasting chances.

And just before half-time, Mac Allister’s superb volley took a deflection and ended in the back of the net. That was the cue for sections of the travelling support to head for the exits.

Nico Schlotterbeck’s opener.

Dortmund thought they had snatched a point when Daniel Svensson’s thumping volley sent Signal Iduna Park into pandemonium.

But that was until Joshua Kimmich’s strike three minutes from time kept Bayern in pole position to win a 14th title in 15 seasons.

Schlotterbeck headed Dortmund ahead in the 26th minute when he rose highest in a crowded penalty area to connect with Svensson’s free-kick from the left.

Dortmund had the chance to double their lead later in the half when Fabio Silva squared the ball to Maximilian Beier, who was denied by the onrushing Jonas Urbig.

Despite dominating possession in the first half, Bayern – playing with a front three of Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz – were unable to test Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

But Kane equalised early in the second period with a poacher’s effort from inside the area at the end of a slick move involving Kimmich and Serge Gnabry.

Both teams missed chances before Kane scored a penalty – a record 10th in a Bundesliga season – after Josip Stanisic was floored by Schlotterbeck.

Dortmund levelled when Svensson volleyed past Urbig, but Kimmich all but ended their hopes of winning a first title since 2012.

Sports

PSG Extend Lead In Ligue 1

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Paris St-Germain stretched their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to four points by claiming a narrow win at Le Havre.

The defending champions hoped to take advantage after second-placed Lens drew at Strasbourg on Friday, and Bradley Barcola gave them a deserved lead shortly before half-time.

PSG had chances to extend their lead and substitute Desire Doue had a late penalty saved by Le Havre goalkeeper Mory Diaw.

Lee Kang-In had an effort saved by Diaw before his right-wing cross was headed home by Barcola for his ninth goal of the season.

Moments later Lee fired wide when through on goal, before PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia fired against a post just after half-time.

Keeper Matvey Safonov made a fine save from Issa Soumare to keep PSG in front, while Diaw denied substitutes Nuno Mendes, Ibrahim Mbaye and Doue.

Diaw parried Doue’s spot-kick low to his right after Doue was brought down by Lucas Gourna-Douath with 11 minutes left.