IMHA Member Commends
Eaglet’s Effort
The Hon Member representing Aboh-Mbaise LGA in the State House of Assembly Hon Lady Ngozi Pat Ekeji, has commended the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria for their efforts in making Nigeria proud at the on-going FIFA U-17 World Youth Football Championship in United Arab Emirates.
According to a release made available through her 2011 Campaign Manager Chief Milo Olewuike, the State House Minority Leader described the young cadet boys as destiny children who since after coming together have continued to grow in strength and confidence with their style of play to further illustrate the resilient and patriotic nature of Nigerian citizens.
Continuing, the House Member further stated that the Eaglets reminds her so much of her husband’s exploits Chief Patrick Ekeji, an ex-international and former DG National Sports Commission during his youthful age adding that She is however, particularly happy with the Imo indigenes (Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali) who have been exemplary in their performances so far in the championship.
Olaedo as she is fondly called was optimistic that Nigeria will eventually clinch the trophy to make it the fourth time they will be winning the FIFA U-17 trophy pointing out that the Far East has been a fertile ground for our Golden Eaglets who won the trophy three record times in China ’85, Japan ’93 and S/Korea 2007.
She therefore, wish’s to congratulate Nigerians in advance for the anticipated victory in the final on Friday adding that the Eaglets would have once more helped to place our great country Nigeria on the World map of football wish also comes almost a year after the Super Eagles lifted for the third time the African Cup of Nations in South Africa in January.
NFF To Borrow For World Cup Playoff
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will again have to borrow for next weekend’s 2014 World Cup playoff against Ethiopia, officials disclosed.
The NFF need at least 50 million Naira for a November 16 playoff for a place at next year’s World Cup in Brazil.
This cost has been reduced because of the part sponsorship from the Cross Rivers State Government
This will be to cover match bonuses as well as the return ticket refunds for the team and also logistical costs.
“We will again be forced to borrow to fund this match,” a top NFF official told reporters.
“We are seriously broke as we only receive a monthly subvention of 52 million Naira from government and this is far from adequate to cover our many costs.”
Our reporter was told by officials that NFF finances took a direct hit when the over 700 million Naira spent for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations was removed from the federation’s annual budget by government.
“It was to have been a special grant but government later decided it should come from our budget,” another top official said.
Nigeria have a foot at Brazil 2014 after they beat hosts Ethiopia 2-1 in the first leg of the playoffs last month.
ACP Kigigha Advocates For
Players Welfare Enhancement
The Area Commander Owerri ACP Felix Kigigha has advocated that football players’ welfare in the country be enhanced to reduce their migration to foreign clubs.
ACP Felix Kigigha who spoke to our sports editor in Owerri, noted that they are often owed many months of arrears of salaries and match bonuses, pointing out that foreign clubs pay far better than Nigerian clubs which contributed in enhancing their performances. Nigerian leagues are not the best in Africa, he said.
He wondered why Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) , always approve the use of sub-standard stadia which often cause ankle injuries on the players and beckoned on them to strive to improve the standard of stadia in the country.
ACP Felix Kigigha who is also CAF/FIFA Referee Physical Instructor and Match Commissioner attributed the problems in Nigerian League to attitudinal lapses, as in the Nigeria, all what it have are not person’s property which is very dangerous, as we see sports administration in the country as that of civil service.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police who plays for Imo All Stars International Owerri, further advocated that private sector should be allowed to take-over the ownership and running of football clubs like in other countries of the world, stressing that in Nigeria everything is politicized, this is because everybody wants his or her relation to play even if he cannot do well in that aspect. Unless such scenario is expunged in our attitude, there would be no headway for us to excel in this country.
On the selection of home- based players, the senior Police boss noted that Stephen Keshi is a good coach, but one of his handicaps is the unnecessary encroachment into the selection of players.
According to him “we have talents in the home-based players, but technically, we have problems, because of facilities, lack of exposure and remuneration like the welfare which is zero in our football teams, players are owed sign on fees, match bonuses etc, these have contributed our chances of retaining the home-based players.
Enyeama: I Just Want
To Help My Team
Vincent Enyeama has shrugged off talk of his impressive goalkeeping stats so far this season for Lille, and insisted team success is more important.
The Nigeria goalkeeper has piled up 8 consecutive shut-outs for a total of 10 in 12 games so far for French club Lille.
Those numbers have led to high praise from in and out, but the unassuming Enyeama directs the praise elsewhere. “We give the glory to God,” he told reporters
“What I’m passing through is not of my own making. I didn’t go out to get it. I have a great team in front of me and they are doing a fantastic job, and that makes my own job easier.
“For me, it is not about Enyeama. I just wished to be able to help my team succeed. That’s always been my dream and God is helping me to achieve that dream.”
Last weekend’s victory over moneybags Monaco moved Lille up to second on the standings behind PSG, but the Nigeria goalkeeper is not thinking League title just yet.
“It’s too early to start talking about title or things like that. There are still so many games to play.
“I didn’t have a target from the start, apart from just seeing how we can qualify for Europe.
“We just want to play one game after another and continue working hard and pray that God gives us good results.”
FIFA U-17 SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
5/11/13
Argentina 0 3 Mexico
Sweden 0 3 Nigeria
FINAL (8/11/13)
Nigeria — Mexico
3RD PLACE GAME (8/11/13)
Sweden — Argentina
EUROPA CUP GAMES (7/11/13s)
Kuban fc — Swansesa City
St Gallen — Valencia
PSV — Dinamo Zagreb
S Liege — Salsburg
Rubin Kazan — Wigan
APOAL — Bordouex
Rapid Wien — Genk
Maccabi Tel Aviv — Frankfurt
Sevilla — Liberec fc
Rijeke fc — Olympic Lyon
SC Lazio — Limossol fc
Tottenham — FC Sheriff
Tromso fc — Anzhi Makachkala
AZ Alkmar — Karagandy fc
RESULTS OF UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
5/11/13
R/Socieded 0 0 Man United
Shakhter D 0 0 B/Leverkusen
Copenhagen 1 0 Galatasaray
Juventus 2 2 R/Madrid
Olympiacos 1 0 Benfica
PSG 1 1 Anderlecht
Man City 5 2 CSKA Moscow
Viktoria Plzen 0 1 B/munich
