Nigerian Football
Remo Stars Begin Race Against Relegation
BY DIMEJI OSHODE
Remo Stars host one of the league power houses, Enyimba as the second stanza of the Nigerian leagues resumes.
The Sky Blue Stars suffered a 1-0 loss in Calabar after Stephen Chukwude’s free kick gave Enyimba the valuable three points at home.
However, Remo Stars will not enjoy the presence of their home supporters following a decision by the League Management Committee (LMC) that the game should be played behind the doors.
It is a punitive decision for the home team for failing to control its crowd. The Sky Blue Stars who are bottom placed are determined for maximum points to begin the drift from relegation waters. Enyimba are also desirous of returning to winning ways.
Meanwhile, captain of Remo Stars, Victor Mbaoma, said he and his teammates have learnt their lessons going into Sunday’s game against Enyimba FC.
“We have actually learnt our lessons in the first half of the season and we can’t afford to lose or draw tomorrow’s game against Enyimba FC.
“We will miss our fans on Sunday, they have been instrumental to us but we have no choice than to make them proud.
“I have to keep my head straight, score more goals and I am very optimistic I will score against the people’s elephant.”
“I want our fans and people around the world to trust us, keep faith in us, pray for us and I am sure we will escape relegation.” Mbaoma assured.
Going into the second stanza of the Nigerian league, Remo Stars have acquired the services of Dahiru Dalhatu Ilu as the new goalkeeper. Dahiru said he was quite excited joining the Sky Blue Stars as a trainer.
“I honestly feel excited joining Remo Stars, I am happy to have met young and talented goalkeepers who are ready to work and excel.
“My primary target is to train and guide the talented goalkeepers to succeed and save the club out of relegation waters.
“I also want to train the goalkeepers not only for the club but also for the national team when called upon to represent the country because the talents I have seen here will make them excel to that level.
“I worked in Niger Republic and Kigali, I can’t but say that Nigeria goalkeepers are naturally talented compared to other goalkeepers around the world.”
The former Gabros International (now Ifeanyi Ubah FC) has assured the fans of better goalkeeping in the remaining games in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
After two matches last March in which Nigeria Super Eagles won one and lost the other, the Nigeria Football Federation Finidi George has been judged as the right man for the vacant Super Eagles job.
He thus become the 41st person to occupy the position since the adhoc engagement of John Finch, former Fulham winger in 1949. According to a press release by the NFF, the board of the federation on Monday approved the recommendation of its technical development committee to appoint Finidi George as Head Coach of the Super Eagles.
George who belong to the Nigeria Golden Generation of Super Eagles of 1994 spent 20 months as assistant to José Santos Peseiro.
In his baptism as an interim national coach, his squad edged Ghana 2-1, ending an 18-year winless streak against the Black Stars, but then lost 0-2 to Mali in the second game. The loss to Mali was the first time Nigeria had been beaten by Mali since 1972.
As a national team player, George is best known as the player whose goal qualified Nigeria for the World Cup for the first time ever.
It was a goal scored against Algeria on 8 October 1993 – incidentally it was the 44th anniversary of Nigeria’s maiden international match played against Sierra Leone in 1949.
Finidi played 60 times for Nigeria and was Nigeria’s 40th scoring debutant when he came as a substitute in a 7-1 defeat of Burkina Faso on 27 July 1991.
He is a winner with the Super Eagles at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nation and featured at the World Cup at the USA ‘94 and France ’98.
Incidentally, his major task now is to qualify Nigeria to another World Cup in the USA and two other nations. The match is 35 days away from this Monday.
Enugu Rangers on Sunday beat Plateau United 2-0 to hold on at the top of the Nigeria Premier League. They extended their point haul to 57, two points ahead of their Oriental brothers, Enyimba who also beat Katsina United 1-0 to keep the chase for the title very hot.
Initial second placed team, Remo Stars dropped to the third position but still in contention for either the title, but at worse a continental ticket for next season.
Following Shooting Stars 2-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars in a South West derby, the top four positions of the are now held by the South East and South West as the league gets into its closing stage.
While Rangers and Enyimba are first and second at the moment, Remo Stars, though with an outstanding home game are third while their fellow westerners, Shooting Stars are fourth.
The weekend’s results:
Rivers United 2-0 Katsina United
Remo Stars 3-0 Niger Tornadoes
Doma United 0-0 Kwara United
Bendel Insurance 1-0 Heartland
Enugu Rangers 2-0 Plateau United
Shooting Stars 2-0 Sunshine Stars
Akwa United 3-0 Kano Pillars
Enyimba 1-0 Katsina United
Gombe United 3-2 Lobi Stars
Sporting Lagos 4-2 Abia Warriors
Remo Stars on Friday inch closer to achieving their first ever title in the Nigeria elite division league after beating visiting Niger Tornadoes 3-0 to move second on the log and just a point behind league leaders, Enugu Rangers.
Remo Stars are now with 53 points and still have an outstanding home game to play.
Friday’s win which comes on the eve of the proprietor’s birthday has put the team back into contention for the title.
They have progressively become prominent in the Nigerian premier league having placed third two seasons ago and second last season.
Top finish this season will confirm their progression and also a third consecutive continental outing.
Top scorer, Sikiru Alimi launched them of victory path as his 28th minute penalty kick heralded their return to high scoring ways.
It has been a while since they scored high in the league. Barely three minutes later, Sikiru, a contender for the top scorer award increased the tally to two.
Ahmed Akinyele completed the route in the 75th minute.
Finidi George becomes Nigeria’s 41st national coach
Further CAF Sanctions await USM Alger and Algerian Football Federation
What a twist of fate! Before now, Morocco and Algeria were allies
SUPER EAGLES TO FACE ENGLAND IN PRE-WORLD CUP FRIENDLY
Apart from Okwaraji, Nigeria’s Other Field-Related Obituaries
Grudgingly, Eto’o accepts new Cameroon coach Brys, but fails to attend ceremony
-
CAF Confederation Cup5 days agoNigeria’s Samson Adamu signs Algeria’s USM match forfeiture
-
Boxing1 day agoNigeria sports minister set for ’bout’ with Bash Ali
-
CAF Confederation Cup5 days agoBREAKING! CAF awards abandoned Confederation Cup semi-finals to Morocco’s RS Berkane
-
African Games6 days agoBREAKING! Accra 2023 African Games Chieftain is dead
-
Premier League6 days agoFive-Star Arsenal hammer Chelsea to move three points clear at the top
-
Nigerian Football13 hours agoFinidi George becomes Nigeria’s 41st national coach
-
Nigerian Football3 days agoRemo Stars close to winning their first Nigeria Premier League title
-
CAF Confederation Cup1 week agoConfederation Cup runs into crisis as Moroccan players of RS Berkane are stranded at Algerian airport following seizure of jerseys and equipment