Nigerian Football

Nigeria’s Ex Internationals Plan Big in US

Published

7 years ago

June 22, 2017

The United States based Nigerian Ex-International Footballers Association (NEIFA), led by Francis Monidafe has unfolded plans to organise its inaugural launching and fundraising event in Atlanta, Georgia on July 29, 2017.

“Comprising distinguished past Green Eagles, former Flying Eagles and Golden Eaglets stars, who are now mostly living in the United States of America, NEIFA has been around for a while now, championing better welfare for its members and promoting causes that will engender proper football development of the current crop of players playing for Nigeria at various levels”, remarked Paul Okoku, one of the prime movers of the project.

According to him, the movement is “with a mission to advocate better quality of life for former teammates in Nigeria and around the world, who have fallen on harder times”. Sports Village Square gathered that NEIFA boasts of members, ranging from varying respectable professional backgrounds and fields of human endeavour, comprising engineering, business, elite academy and university coaching.

According to a statement issued by the secretary, Nathaniel Ogedegbe, NEIFA observed that many Nigerian footballers were battling with many problems on various fronts, which sadly have not been addressed headlong by the country’s institutions, prompting the body to step in and seek ways to alleviate the burden being faced by former footballers and present ones.

Noting that since its formation some years back that members of the organisation have been able to pull resources together to support the expenses of ex-internationals, Ogedegbe said the time has come for NEIFA to reach out to the broader spectrum of footballers and ex-footballers in need of assistance.

The body noted that the coming fundraising in Atlanta will help the organisation to fully achieve its vision of ensuing that footballers do not live from hand to mouth again.

“We continue to seek support and partnership with individuals and organisations with the means and shared interest and giving back to the country by working with NEIFA and the Nigerian public”, the statement added.

NEIFA further said the coming grand launching in Atlanta, which it tagged ‘Association of Brother’s Keeper’, was to seek donations to help the body achieve its outlined goals, comprising “assisting former teammates who, following their days on the pitch, have not had opportunities for education, decent jobs or access to health care.

The press release also gave as objective of NEIFA, promotion of the development of football in Nigeria and in other parts of the world, serve as ambassadors of Nigerian football and be a voice for Nigerian footballers in around the world.

Nigerian Football

GTI enlarges coast…spreads from League fund-raising to Federation Cup

Published

5 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Kunle Solaja

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Strategic partners of the Nigeria Football Federation, GTI Asset Management and Trust Ltd has expanded their scope of operations from fund sourcing for the Nigeria Premier League to adding the responsibility of getting the national cup competition back into its glamorous days.

The MD of the company, Abubakar Lawal at the unveiling a revamped Federation Cup which has been renamed President Federation Cup remarked that his company decided to take a bold step to support the national cup.

“I am the happiest man today, he said in the opening remark of the rebranding of the national cup through signing of Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Sports and the NFF.

“Our company is also strategically involved in ensuring that the President Federation Cup is given necessary attention to thrive using The Nigeria Football Fund (TNFF) as our vehicle to actualise this dream.

“Therefore, it is our vision that the oldest domestic football event becomes one of the best organised football events in the world in no distant future.”

Nigerian Football

Ikenne’s Beyond Limit Football Academy top goal chart as NNL releases vital statistics

Published

2 days ago

April 18, 2024

Kunle Solaja

The secretariat of the Nigeria National League has released the match statistics of the four conferences of the 2024 season.

With 198 matches so far played in Conferences A and B, 426 goals were scored, with 125 home wins and 26 away wins, representing 63.1%, & 26% respectively. There were 47 draw matches, representing 23.7% of matches. 299 home goals were scored, and 127 home goals.

Beyond Limit FC scored the highest goals of 33 goals, with Stormers FC and Ekiti United conceeding the least goals of 28 goals. Tradesafe and Solution FC scored the least numbers of goals of 11 goals and Osun conceded the least numbers of goals of 8.

In group C & D, 209 goals have been scored in the 106 so far played, with 70 home wins and 14 won away representing 66. 3% and 13.1% respectively.

Teams drew 31 matches representing 29.2% of the matches played. Wikki Tourists scored the highest numbers of goals, with 23 goals, while EFCC FC conceded the least numbers of goals. They conceded 18 goals. Nasarawa United’s 8 goals conceded made them the team that conceded the lowest numbers of goals, while ABS scored the least number of goals of 5 goals.

Nigerian Football

Heartland back to their homeland as they host Shooting Stars

Published

2 days ago

April 18, 2024

Kunle Solaja

BY TOSIN OMOJOLA, OWERRI

The uncertainty surrounding our Matchday 31 encounter against Heartland FC of Owerri, has been cleared with the game eventually slated to hold at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, the home ground of the host team

The Nigeria Premier League has given the approval to the stadium after an inspection was carried out on Wednesday afternoon.

The Oluyole Warriors have since arrived the Imo State capital and have settled down ahead of Friday’s clash which will be be shown live on cable television.

Meanwhile, the Technical Adviser of the Ibadan soccer lords, Gbenga Ogunbote, while addressing the players on arrival at their hotel, urged them not to be distracted by the development.

“I want to apologise to you on the change of venue. We got to know about it some hours ago, but be that as it may, I want us to remain focused as and get the desired results we needed”.

In the same vein, the players of the Ibadan soccer lords, said they are not in any way moved by the change of venue, expressing their readiness to get the maximum points, not minding the venue.