2014 Federation Cup kicks off April 5
This year’s Federation Cup competition will kick off with the Stat preliminaries on Saturday, 5th April, according to a release from NFF’s Head of Federation Cup, Miss Ruth David.
The State finals are scheduled for Sunday, 4th May across the federation, while the play-off matches will be played over the days of 14th and 15th May. The Draw for the National finals will hold in Abuja on 29th May.
Miss David also warned that deadline for submission of 2014 Federation Cup licenses remains Monday, 31st March. “Late submission of licenses is allowed from 1st April – 11th April, 2014 and will attract a fine of N300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira Only) by the defaulting club(s),” she explained.
According to the timetable for this year’s competition, the Round of 64 matches will hold across 32 centres between 2nd and 3rd July, with the Round of 32 matches taking place a week later and the Round of 16 games to be played between 16th – 17th July.
The quarter finals are slated for 23rd July, with the semifinals to follow on 30th July while the Grand Finale of this year’s Federation Cup competition has been scheduled for Sunday, 3rd August.
In Imo State, 17 clubs including Heartland and last year’s finalists Bussdor United will be vying for the two slots to represent the state at the National level.
The State FA recently conducted the draws for the kick-off last Monday while the teams are still awaiting the venue and commencement date of the games, one of the tough encounters would be the game involving Heartland Comets and Pakat Fc as Heartland Fc will face the winner between Royal Force and debuting Obulimba Fc in the second round.
Defending champions Enyimba defeated Warri Wolves via penalties in last year’s final in Lagos after regulation time ended 2-2.
Keshi: Wives Will Allow Eagles Concentrate
The national team coach has said that spouses and family members can be allowed in the team’s camp in Brazil to calm the nerves of the players Keshi said that it would allow the players to concentrate better if their family members get access to them during the competition as he also tried to wave off insinuations that the players could be distracted by Brazilian women.
“It’s good for the players because it makes you concentrate better. I remember World Cup 94, some of us went with our wives. When I was with Mali, we went to the Nations Cup in Angola with our wives,” Keshi said during a roundtable meeting with media organised by national team sponsors TomTom in Lagos.
Keshi’s mentor and former Nigeria coach Clemens Westerhof once said that sex doesn’t affect players but the staying up all night looking for it that affects performance.
The 52-year-old, however, said that he is not sure about access to girlfriends for the players. “I don’t know about girlfriends but wives, yes. I think it’s a good thing.” He also said that the players would not be distracted during the tournament by the beautiful Brazilian women after after a journalist prodded him for a response.”What do they have in Brazil that we don’t have in Nigeria,” he asked.
FIFA U17 QUARTER FINALS
27/3/14
Venezuela — Canada
Ghana — Italy
Japan — Mexico
Nigeria — Spain
GLO NPL RESCHEDULED RESULT
26/3/14
El Kanemi 2 0 Abia Warriors
WEEK 4 GAMES (28/3/14)
Gombe United — Heartland
29/3/14
IMO FA CUP FIXTURES
Okara Fc — Royal Force
Amacuff — Location Fc
Comets — Pakat Fc
Obulimba Fc — Global Fc
Baton (Police) — G United Fc
Elephant Fc — Bally Fc
NEK United — St Benedict
Mbaise United — Bussdor Fc
DAME EMILY OBIYO CUP (28/3/14)
Municipal — Aboh-Mabise
30/3/14
Ezinihitte — Ngor Okpala
2/3/14
Ikeduru — Mbaitolu
NATIONAL AMATEURE GAMES
Ibom Stars — Pilo FC
Barton (Police) — C-Akoma (Warri)
Sat 29 Mar 2014 – Premier League
Man Utd v Aston Villa 12:45
Crystal Palace v Chelsea 15:00
Southampton v Newcastle 15:00
Stoke v Hull 15:00
Swansea v Norwich 15:00
West Brom v Cardiff 15:00
Arsenal v Man City 17:30
Sun 30 Mar 2014 – Premier League
Fulham v Everton 13:30
Liverpool v Tottenham 16:00
Mon 31 Mar 2014 – Premier League
Sunderland v West Ham 20:00
