Phoenix ASC Recalls Player From Lobi Stars …Over Breach of Contract

The management of Phoenix Athletics Sports Club has recalled young sensation Tolulope Ojo from NPFL 2018 champions- elect Lobi Stars.

The player who was a product of the Ekiti based club was transfered to Lobi Stars on agreement of N2 million to be paid in two instalments.

According to the letter of intent to withdraw the player and made available to the press, Lobi stars reneged from the contract agreement after an initial letter of complaint against the Makurdi based for allegedly poaching was withdrawn from the League Management Company.

The letter which was signed by Bayo Olanlege, General Manager of Phoenix ASC, also stated; ” Recall that on the 10th of April 2018, you were served with a default notice reminding you of your failure to pay the outstanding transfer fees as agreed in the circumstance. This letter is our formal declaration of our right to recall the player in line with the terms of our contract.”

Olanlege further expressed his disappointment with the management of Lobi stars over what he describes as ‘attempt to bully’ his team by NPFL side.

” It is unfortunate that teams like Lobi stars often intimidate and bully smaller teams by poaching and hoodwinking them to release their young talents without regards for contractual agreements,” the ebullient football administrator lamented.

Enyimba Train On New Turf, Receive $5000 From Governor Okezie

Enyimba Football Club trained on the new turf of their revamped stadium for the first time on Friday.

After nearly three seasons away from home due to reconstruction, Friday’s training session marked a symbolic and emotional return for the seven time Nigerian champions who had hundreds of fans in the stands cheering their every move and touch of the ball.

The training was preceded by a prayer session as the club rededicated the stadium to God. The brief service was anchored by Reverend Father Paulinus Nwachukwu.

Under the watchful eyes of Coach Usman Abd’Allah, the players performed several ball drills with admirable comfort and hailed the lush green surface as world class.

It was however the unexpected arrival of the Abia State Governor, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu that was the highlight of the day, as he made his way onto the pitch to warmly receive the team back in Aba and reaffirm his continued support.

“The expectations of not only Abia people but all Nigerians is on your young shoulders,” the Governor remarked.

“After the Super Eagles’ early exit from Russia, if there is any hope for Nigeria to make impact in soccer in 2018, it is on your young shoulders. Those that spend time to pray and wish you well cut across all strata of society, from far and near. So you are not only representing your club Enyimba but you are also representing Nigeria and the expectation is quite high,” Governor Okezie stated, before handing the team $5000 as a welcome back bonus.

Club captain Mfon Udoh reacted by thanking the Governor for what he described as the best pitch in the country and promised that the team will reciprocate the government’s gesture by bringing more trophies back to Aba.

Enyimba are likely to play their first competitive game on the new turf when they host CARA Brazzaville on August 28 in a crunch CAF Confederation Cup tie.

I’M HAPPY TO REJOIN RANGERS – Ugonna Uzochukwu

Former CHAN Eagles bronze medallist and Chippa United of South Africa defensive midfielder, Ugonna Uzochukwu, who returned to the country after his contract with Moroccan side, Olimpique Club de Khouribga, was not renewed has told fans of Rangers International F.C that he returned to the club to help it reclaim the league trophy at the end of the 2017/2018 NPFL season.

Ugonna who rejoined the ‘Flying Antelopes’ with his former team mate at Anambra Warriors, Uche Nwofor, from where they joined Rangers some seasons back said that the manner in which the management of the club treat players matters attracted them back to the club coupled with the family-like atmosphere that radiates within players.

“Well, I must have to say that my coming back to Rangers is for good knowing well how we worked the last time I featured for them. This is a club that treats every player with respect just as they respect players’ contract. I am very glad for this second coming and believe that I am here to help us challenge to emerge champions of the league at the end of the season. The welcome I and Nwofor received will push me to give my hundred percent whenever I am selected for any match,” stated the 2014 CHAN Eagles bronze medallist.

Ugonna in the colors of O.C Louribga
Photo credit: Rangers fc

The midfielder who has featured nine times for the senior national team with two goals to his credit advised other football talented Nigerians roaming the streets of various European countries to retrace their steps back home to rediscover themselves stressing, “We have a lot of good clubs in the country that can take a lot of our brothers who are roaming the streets of European countries in the name of playing football. Let us come home, rediscover ourselves, lift our league football to a higher level and the foreign clubs would surely come for us.”

It would be recalled that the management of Rangers International F.C led by Prince Davidson Owumi, has confirmed officially the capture of the duo of Ugonna Uzochukwu and attacking sensation, Uche Nwofor after a lengthy negotiation to help the squad achieve its set target for the season.

The Enugu side is currently placed 7th on the twenty team NPFL log amassing 23 points from sixteen matches played.

ENYIMBA’S OKONKWO REGRETFUL OVER ABIA DERBY SUSPENSION

General appraisal of the game
I really thank God for the result, and I thank the players for the way we came out in the game. Also, I’m very very happy about myself, although toward the dying minutes of the game, I was so disappointed about the red card.

But if you watched the game, you’d know that, at a time, it became so frustrating to me because, [off] the ball, the (Rivers) defenders were kicking and hitting me. I know that was their game plan, but it was quite unfortunate that I got the (second yellow) card.

On playing as a lone striker
In the Nigerian league, you have an away plan and you have a home plan. So, for away games, we had that as a game-plan that I’ll be played alone (upfront), trying to keep the ball while the support comes from behind.

It isn’t that I really enjoy it, because it’s more stressful to hold the ball alone and it takes time for others to support you. But in a home game, we wouldn’t play like that.

I think that’s the plan of the Technical Director, so that’s the reason we played like that.

Eyes on the ball.

On missing the Abia derby and the team coping in his absence.
I’ll tell you the truth: it’s bad. As you can see, some of our players are not available – they went for CHAN – while some are injured. It’s not like I wanted to get the red card, it was just a part of the game. I feel bad. You know, in a local derby, you have to give all. Assuming I could be there, at least… What will be, will be; but I prefer being there to make something happen.

I think the team has what it takes to get all three points against Abia Warriors. The team has it all; without any particular player, the team will move. No body will say, “Without me, (Enyimba) can’t play”. Without the captain (Mfon Udoh), we have been playing—we’ve won, drawn and lost.

So without anybody, the team will play. I know they might feel the absence of that particular person for the moment, but if the team comes together and plays the way the Technical Director tells them to play, I believe they will win against Abia Warriors.

#NPFL18 match day four preview: It’s Sunshine Stars vs Rivers United

Rivers United return to Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) duties on Wednesday, January 24 when they face Sunshine Stars at the Ondo Sports Complex, Akure.

Both sides come into the game on the back of contrasting results on match day three.

United impressed in their 2-1 victory over four-time champions, Kano Pillars at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt while Sunshine Stars suffered a 0-2 reverse to Nasarawa United at the Lafia Stadium on Sunday.

Sunshine Stars famously defeated Rivers United 1-0 in Port Harcourt the last time both sides faced off in the NPFL.

They will be looking to replicate the same feat on home soil on Wednesday particularly after the Lafia misadventure which represented their first defeat of the season.

Sunshine Stars head coach, Duke Udi is well-respected across the land; widely viewed as one of the most progressive young coaches in the country and he spoke to http://www.riversunitedfc.com.ng ahead of Wednesday’s game.

The Stars beat Rivers United 1-0 in Port Harcourt the last time the two sides squared up against each other but Udi is keeping that success in the archives.

“The past is past and we don’t think about the past in football. We only talk about the present,” Udi said.

“We are facing Rivers United; they are a great side and we will accord them the same respect that we accord to other teams.

“I know they (Rivers United) want to win but we want to win too,” Udi said.

The ‘Owena Waves’ are not exactly star-spangled but have effective performers that can worry any opposition on a given day.

Henry Ayodele is a goal keeper with a huge physical presence and he commands his defence impressively while ‘captain fantastic’, Sunday Abe continues to lead in exemplary fashion, on and off the pitch.

Nojeem Raji is as experienced as they come while ‘Olokpa’, Yusuf Jaiyeola knows the ‘Pride of Rivers’ well having spent the last two seasons at the Port Harcourt club.

Jide Fatokun, Abiodun Joseph, Kehinde Adedipe and Sikiri Alimi and Ezekiel Thompsom all bring freshness and goals to the party in equal fashion.

Rivers United team news
Sunday Rotimi made his first league appearance for the “Pride of Rivers” on Sunday in the 2-1 win against Kano Pillars and will be favoured to start ahead of impressive youngster, Robert Cole who has also been included in the match day squad.

Striker, Samuel Akinbinu is still side lined so Eguma will have to make a choice between Elum Sochima and Malachi Ohawume to partner Guy Kuemian, the league’s second most prolific marksman, in attack.

Ochowechi Salefu impressed with a spectacular display against Pillars on Sunday and will be favoured to get a look in alongside Prince Aggrey and left back, Chiwendu Ali who made his second start of the season against ‘Sai Masu Gida’.

Eguma was suitably impressed with the application of his charges against Pillars on Sunday but admits that only a similar performance on Wednesday in Akure will fetch rewards.

“We are working ahead of that game (as) we know Akure is a very tough ground,” Eguma said.

“We have a team that can play anywhere in the country and we are trying to build that confidence and instil it in the players that they can win anywhere.

“We want to do better than we did last time and we will try to up our game in Akure and ensure that we come back with the points at stake,” he said.

Rivers United have yet to score or win in their last four matches against Sunshine Stars in all competitions and will need a big performance on Wednesday to buck that trend.