CodedSports

Friday, 5 January 2018

GARDEN CITY PRE-SEASON FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT : MAKALA RESCUES POINT FOR RIVERS UTD

Substitute, Victor Makala's last gasp goal was all Rivers United needed to keep their hopes of making it to the final of the GARDEN City PRE-SEASON football tournament alive as the team snatched a 1-1 draw with rampaging Abia Warriors football club of Umuahia in both teams' second game of the tournament at the Sharks Football club Stadium in Port Harcourt.

The Pride of Rivers were desperate for victory after surprisingly drawing 2-2 with amateur side, SKE fc in their first game of the tournament and after a goalless first half against the Warriors, they fell behind in the 57th minute when Emeka Isaac hammered in from close range to raise the curtains. It was Isaac's second goal in as many games in the tournament.

The goal spurred the hosts into more action as they earned a succession of corner kicks which they failed to capitalise on to draw level.

As the game wore on, and with both sides effecting many substitutions, it was the Warriors who could have killed off the game when Cyril Uduak went clear but his team mates failed to connect his pull out to the chagrin of the Warriors bench.

They were to pay for their profligacy when Makala ghosted past two Abia Warriors defenders in the last minute of the game to beat Agbor Ekoi who had remained magnificent all night for the much needed equaliser.

An argument as per the legitimacy of the goal led to the expulsion of Warriors' defender Ozor Chinedu by the referee.

Abia Warriors still lead the pack with four points from two matches and will need to avoid a defeat in their final game against SKE tomorrow to make it to the final. After holding Rivers United in their first game, SKE lost 2-3 to Cynosure and would require an outright victory against Abia Warriors to stand a mathematical chance of progressing to the final.

For Rivers Utd, they must beat Cynosure who are currently second on the table with three points, to make it to the final as a draw will see them take an early shower in the tournament while their city rivals will progress to the final, reserved only for the top two teams on the table after the round robin games.

Thursday, 4 January 2018

Rivers State Government release funds for 2014/15 sign on fees

Rivers State Government has fulfilled its promise in releasing sufficient funds to settle the debt of sign on fees owed its state owned teams.

The Rivers State Government has released funds for the payment of sign on fees owed players of Sharks, Dolphins and Rivers Angels FC for the 2014/15 season.

According to the club Media, the funds were owed by the immediate past administration in the State.

Speaking on the development, Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Honourable Boma Iyaye stated that the present administration will continue make the welfare of sports men and women in the State top priority.

He added the the Rivers State Government will continue to support the two State-owned clubs, Rivers United FC and Rivers Angels FC to ensure that laurels are claimed in the upcoming campaign.

Tuesday, 2 January 2018

Salisu picks Ezenwa, Ali, Okpotu, 20 others for CHAN

Head Coach Salisu Yusuf on Tuesday released his final squad of the Super Eagles B for the 5th African Nations Championship starting in Morocco next week, with goalkeeper and skipper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, midfield Trojan Rabiu Ali and marksman Anthony Okpotu listed.

Ezenwa is joined for the goalkeeping duties by Oladele Ajiboye and Theophilus Afelokhai, and defensive stalwarts Osas Okoro, Stephen Eze and Kalu Orji Okogbue also made the list, as midfielders Ifeanyi Ifeanyi and Ekundayo Ojo and forwards Sunday Faleye and Emeka Atuloma.

The team of 23 players and their officials are expected to fly out of the country in a few days, to continue preparations in Morocco ahead of Nigeria’s first match of the campaign against Rwanda in Tangier on Monday, 15th January.

The 2014 bronze medallists will also play 2014 champions Libya at the same Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier on Friday, 19th January, before travelling to Agadir to tackle Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday, 23rd January.

FULL LIST

Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC); Oladele Ajiboye (Plateau United); Theophilus Afelokhai (Enyimba FC)

Defenders: Osas Okoro (Rangers International); Daniel James (Plateau United); Kalu Orji Okogbue (Rangers International); Ikouwem Utin (Enyimba FC); Abdullahi Musa (Wikki Tourists); Timothy Danladi (Katsina United); Ifeanyi Nweke (Kano Pillars); Stephen Eze (Kano Pillars)

Midfielders: Ifeanyi Ifeanyi (Akwa United); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars); Augustine Oladapo (Enyimba FC); Ekundayo Ojo (Sunshine Stars)

Forwards: Emeka Atuloma (Rivers United); Anthony Okpotu (Lobi Stars); Eneji Moses (Plateau United); Ibrahim Mustapha (Enyimba FC); Emeka Ogbuh (Rivers United); Sunday Faleye (Akwa United); Nura Muhammed (El-Kanemi Warriors); Okechukwu Gabriel (Akwa United)