ABS FC appoint coach Tunde Sanni as Technical Adviser

The chairman of Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Ilorin FC, Mr Seni Saraki has approved the appointment  of former Kwara United Head Coach, Tunde Sanni, as the Club's Technical Adviser.


Alloy Chukwuemeka, the team's Director of Football, confirmed this development in an interview with the newsmen on Tuesday in Ilorin.


Chukwuemeka said the former  Shooting Stars of Ibadan player will take charge of the Saraki Club in March  as hostilities in the NNL league resumes .

He added that the appointment of Tunde Sanni became necessary after the expiration of the two seasons contract of coach Henry Makinwa who is presently on disengagement leave in Spain .


The ABS Director of Football, explained that Sanni's wealth of experience earned him the job and called on the club's teeming supporters to give  him the needed support for the progress of the Club.

Sanni has worked under the watchful eyes of the likes of Chief Festus Onigbinde, late Kafaru Alabi and Ahmadu Shuaibu, Joe Erico, Clemence Westerhoof, Fatai Amoo among other notable coaches.

Coach Tunde Sanni, an indegiene of Ilorin in kwara state holds a CAF B' coaching license and a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife.

Chukwuemeka said details of his contract will be made available during his unveiling ceremony.

LULU CONGRATULATES 15 FOSLA ACADEMY STUDENTS FOR GAINING ADMISSION IN THE UNIVERSITY

Former NFF President and Proprietor of FOSLA Academy Karshi Abuja Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi at the weekend congratulated the pioneer students of the Academy that were recently offered admission into Nasarawa University Keffi to pursue various academic disciplines.

Lulu who expressed his joy on the development said that the dream of establishing the Academy is gradually coming into fruition, and future revealed that the Academy would continue to sponsor the students until they complete their degree studies "the concept of  FOSLA Academy is to produce players who would excel in both academics and football. Within the last six years, you have excelled in the game of football in the country , now you have also excelled in your academics by doing excellently well in your Senior Secondary School examinations, and also gaining admission into the University. Now, I want to challenge you further to carry all the good attributes we have inculcated into you to the University, and also conquer in your various chosen academic disciplines, and University Sports. You are free to play for any club of your choice in the country, but always ensure that that will never jeopardize your academic pursuit. We are expecting you to come out with good grades at the end of your stay in the University " the former FCT Director of Sports told the lucky students in a meeting at the weekend.

The Omachi Atah of Igaland warned that the Academy is ready to part ways with any of the students who tries to jeopardize his education for football,  insisting that they must combine both effectively to secure a better future for themselves, their families and the country in general. He challenged the other students of the Academy to ensure that they surpass the achievements of the pioneer students both in academics and football. He finally called on other spirited individuals and bodies in country to support the Academy to secure a greater future for the less privileged children in the country.

It would be recalled that Nasarawa University Keffi recently offered provisional admission to 15 out of 19 scholarship students of the Academy to study various academic disciplines in the University.

FOSLA Academy was established in 2011 to give students who are naturally endowed in the game of football the opportunity to pursue their football career and education at the same time.

CHAN: 5 things Eagles must do to conquer Libya

After making a slow start to the 2018 African Nations Championship(CHAN) on Monday, playing out 0-0 with Rwanda in their opening Group C game in Tangier. Ahead of the second group game clash against Libya on Friday, here are 5 things 'Super Eagle B' must do to conquer almighty Libya.



1. The Home Eagles Must Be Clinical In Front Of Goal

Salisu Yusuf’s men recorded 18 shots on goal and six on target in their first Group C match against Rwanda. Three of those efforts hit the crossbar. The trio of Anthony Okpotu, Sunday Faleye and Emeka Ogbugh who had scoring chances in the  game must be clinical against a Libyan side that was not really tested defensively in their opening game win against Equatorial Guinea. Also Kano Pillars midfielder, Rabiu Ali, who supposedly is the team’s play-maker must also do more to ensure his crisp passes beat the defence of Libya for his forwards to score.



2. Salisu Must Change His Approach

The Home Eagles need more than one player to dictate the pace of the game, to stand a chance of defeating Libya on Friday. Coach Salisu Yusuf deployed a 4-3-3 formation in his opening game restricting Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, playing in the deep lying role to just the ball winning duties which unarguably is his primary assignment.

The Akwa United midfielder can do more than what he offered against Rwanda by influencing the game more if he is also allowed to launch attack from his defensive position. By doing that, Rabiu Ali could also get the freedom to move up front and closer to Anthony Okpotu who was isolated for the better part of the match against Rwanda. Okechukwu Azubuike is another player with experience who can come on at some stage in the game to offer more threat in attack for the Home Eagles.



3.  Okpotu Needs More Support In The Attack

Parading Anthony Okpotu, a last season top scorer in the Nigeria Professional Football League, didn’t help the Home Eagles in their opening game against Rwanda last Monday. The Lobi Stars marksman who scored 17 goals for the Markudi outfit was isolated in the attack and barely got the needed support from his teammates to get off the mark in the competition.
The inexperienced duo of Sunday Faleye and Emeka Ogbugh did not really support Okpotu who was restricted to half chances for the 78 minutes he featured in the game. Despite the lack of support,  Okpotu had three attempts on goal. But that must change if the team are to stand a chance of defeating group leaders, Libya.



4. Top Players Must Raise Their Game

Top stars in the Home Eagles were far from their best in their opening game. The likes of Osas Okoro, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Rabiu Ali, Anthony Okpotu did not really stamp their authority in the game against Rwanda. Ali in particular,  who touched the ball more than any player  during the game, failed to create clear cut chances and also failed to take his chances despite coming close to scoring twice.

For all their qualities as individuals (Okoro, Ifeanyi, Ali and Okpotu), they proved defiantly ineffective in changing the course of the game against
 Rwanda. Not one of the quartet showcased any genuine leadership that the team can turn to in times of adversity.



5. Coach Salisu’s Need Good Luck

In every facet of life, we all need a bit of luck to pull through despite the hard work and efforts put into a task. The Home Eagles’ game against Rwanda saw Salisu Yusuf’s men firing 18 shots on goal, three on target and they also crashed the woodwork three times in their opening game. Undoubtedly, they were unlucky that none of those strikes went in. Against Libya the Home Eagles must pray that they lightening doesn’t strike twice.


Credit: Complete Sports

Haggai to kit Osun Utd, Osun Babes

Nigeria Sportswear giant Haggai has reached an agreement to become the official kit sponsor of Osun United and Osun Babes FC from the 2018 Bet9ja Nigeria National League and Nigeria Women Premier League season, codedreporter.blogspot.com.ng gathers.





Haggai is a sister company of Nigeria’s foremost sports equipment marketers, the popular Zenith Sports and comes after the Omoluabi Giants and Omoluabi Queens end its association with Owu Sportswear at the end of the 2016-17 season.






The leading Nigeria's sportswear manufacturing will provide training and playing kit, to the teams and will have the exclusive right to distribute dual-branded merchandising products worldwide.




Chief Executive Officer, Paul Maduakor, said the deal would help the firm "to further strengthen its position in key markets around the NNL and NWPL.

Away and home jersey 

Maduakor, expressed delights on the kit partnership deal with the two State of Osun teams, and noted that his firm are read to give quality services to Osun Utd and Osun Babes.




"We're happy for the honour to become the kit sponsor of Osun Utd and Osun Babes, our passion is to kit teams and we desires a fruitful relationship with the State of Osun in years to come."




Haggai are the official merchandise partner of Nationwide League One (NLO) and also provide kit for Lobi Stars, FC Ifeanyi Ubah, and provides athletes with the most innovative performance apparel and accessories for a variety of sports (including inter-house sports) and other sporting activities.

NPFL: Udi hails 'Fantastic' Fatokun

Akanni Seyi


Sunshine gaffer, Duke Udi has heaped praises on one of his new recruits, Jide Fatokun for his discipline and outstanding performance displayed in  Owerri after a crucial away point earned by 'Owena Whales'.



Heartland couldn't make use of their begging chances and Sunshine Stars too had the chance to nick maximum points when Ezekiel Thompson set up Franklin Sasere in front of goal at the tail-end of the game but the big framed striker's effort was blocked to safety minutes before the game came to an end.



Speaking to codedreporter.blogspot.com.ng,
 elated Udi described the performance of debutant Jide Fatokun, as classy and overwhelming.


"Since he joined us, he has been wonderful. Very discipline and hard working. A fighter to the core.


"Everyone loves him here in Sunshine FC Akure. He is very humble and always ready to learn." He concluded.


Fatokun teamed up with his former boss at Sunshine FC this season, after an excellent and brilliant performance for Osun United last season.


The lanky midfielder recounts the experience of playing in the Nigeria Professional Football League for the first time.


"My experience is massive, I thought the first match will be hard for me, but with the  courage and support of my coach and senior colleagues, I was able to adapt without headache.


"I see my new team at the top at the end of the season because, we have experienced and young players in the squad who are ready to fight for the team coupled with amazing coaches.


"Sunshine Stars will be the team to beat this season." The former Gray FC of Ede concluded.

Sunshine Stars will welcome Katsina Utd on Wednesday in Match Day two (2) of Nigeria Professional Football League,  NPFL.