Rivers United Begin NPFL Campaign With 1-0 Win Over Rangers FC

Aguda and Fortune combined to score the only goal of the match for Rivers United.

Fortune Omoniwari tapped in a sumptuous Godwin Aguda' cross to ensure Rivers United beat Rangers 1-0 on Wednesday and made a winning start in the NPFL.

Godwin Aguda put up a man of the man performance and looked right at home at the Adokiye Amiesimaka when his bending ball was tapped in by Fortune Omoniwari in the 28th minute before a 73rd minute red card ensured the Stanley Eguma's men finished the game with 10 men

Rivers United's playmaker Cletus Emotan was the player sent off after he committed a second bookable offence.

It was enough for players of Rivers United to depart to a standing ovation from the few persons who had access to the stadium after they held on the last 15 minutes onslaught from Rangers FC.

In the post-match interview, Rivers United's Technical Adviser Stanley Eguma expressed how important it was to get all three points.

"It was good for us to win. It really raised our moral and confidence. The league has just started. It wasn't an easy game. Rangers too came for the three points. We are rivals and they came here and prove that. 

I commend my players, they have done well, the three points was very important for a start and I thank them."

Eguma spoke about United's next league on Saturday against Abia Warriors in Aba.

"Well it's the league, we all look for three points at every away encounter. We are looking out for three points and that's another derby and we expect a tough one but we are prepared for it. Having won today, we expect to win the Abia encounter. We expect to go to Abia State to get a good result."

FC Ebedei Camp Wears New Look

 

Ahead the kick off of Nationwide League One (NLO) season, the FC Ebedei sports complex Sagamu is a bee hive of construction activities as it now wears an enhanced magnificent look with new and improved facilities.

Club President Barrister Churchill Oliseh, carried out another pacesetter routine, involving maintenance and renovation of his team's camp facilities which covered the players rooms, ensuring condusive living atmosphere and standards for the Oliseh Boys.

Marble tiles were laid in the players rooms, and each also got it's own plasma television, new bigger beds, mattress and wardrobe. Choice South African wall bricks adorn the edifice creating a stunning look.

The pitch, perimeter fencing, players library, laundry, camp gym and clinic were not left out. The gym was fitted with computerized state-of-the-art equipments, cycling, lifting and areobic section.

Churchill an elder brother of former Super Eagles gaffer and captain Sunday Oliseh, is known for identifying and developing outstanding fresh talents with his FC Ebedei and promotes such talents.

The club developed, and sustains a football culture, tradition and unparalleled professionalism for Nigeria and Africa.

Today FC Ebedei graduates are yearly part of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and Nigeria Professional Football League.

Numerous graduates of FC EBEDEI have reached and impacted the top leagues of Italy, Denmark, Norway, England, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Romania, Greece, Holland, Serbia amongst others.  

FC Ebedei have become synonymous with youths, talents and professionalism even the opponents of the team admit that they preach and practice a brand of football that is unique to them.

Since 1995, Churchill Oliseh and or his FC EBEDEI has contributed players to ALL trophy, medal or laurel won by the Nigeria National teams(Male). This speaks volumes of their relevance and contribution to Nigerian football.

Ecstasy As Debutant TSI FA Won Olansile Cup 3rd Edition

 

Osogbo based football academy TSI FA have emerged the champion of Olansile Cup 2020 at the Osogbo Township Stadium after a fierce contest with House of Prayer FC from Ilorin on boxing day evening.

Having dumped past their neighbor Laplanet SA in the semi final via a penalty shootout after the goalless encounter, Ilorin based side picked the final ticket and waited TSl FA who pipped Knights FA by three goals to one.

The tournament which is in its third edition lived up to its hype as the two sides tangos for most part of the first stanza before Opeyemi Adeyemo broke the deadlock just before half time.

The refired prayer warriors came back stronger after the restart as Joshua Aiyenugba out muscle his marker before sizing up Abdul Malik in goal for TSI who was left stranded after the loop has nested perfectly thereby increased his goal tally to two. 

Opeyemi Adeyemo thought his second goal would be the match winner as he was provided the golden chance of scoring the winning goal from the spot after House of Prayer defender pulled down TSI forward but he fluffed the chance as he erringly aimed at keeper's path which kept the game opened for another threeR minutes.

The game which ended 3-2 in favor of TSI FA after the shootout produced TSI FA as the winner of the third edition of Olansile Cup. TSI's Adekunle Kolawole emerged the tourney's Most Valuable Player while Ajayi George of Knights FA won the tournament's highest goal scorer with 3 goals as House of Prayer team was given the Fair Play Team Award.

The tournament's General Coordinator Tunde Shamsudeen lauded the financier of Olansile Cup, Sulaimon Olansile for his vision and consistency in making sure that Olansile Cup remain the most glamorous grassroot tourney in the state as he equally appreciate the partner of the tourney Multiple O's Plus Nig. Ltd for identifying with the brand. 

Barrister Paul Edeh Donates Another 500KVA Transformer To Hausa Community In Otukpo

The Hausa Community in Otukpo, Benue State on Christmas day, heaved a sigh of relief as Philanthropist and President of Naija Ratels Football Club, Barrister Paul Edeh donated a 500KVA transformer sub-station worth over N7m to boost electricity supply to the area, which has been without power for more than than 11 months. 

The event which was held in Otukpo, had in attendance, the Senator representing the good people of Benue South Senatorial district and former Minister of Interior, Senator Abba Moro and some other great son's and daughters of the Idoma Nation.  

Speaking after handing over the transformer sub-station to the Christian and Muslim Community of Otukpo, the Legal luminary noted that it was necessary for him to donate the sub-station after he learnt that the community have been without power for close to a year. 

The United Nations Peace Ambassador said the new transformer would boost power supply, address the challenges of electricity supply faced by the people and also promote economic activities in the community which was hitherto before then grounded due to the power outage. 

"You will recall that today is exactly 166 days since I donated the first transformer to Zone HB Community and a generator set to the Divisional Police Headquarter in Otukpo , which was of course motivated by the fact that they have not had light for a long time. Sadly, i also understand that this same community I donated transformer to, today have not also had light for close to a year with all economic activities grounded. 

"When I got that information, almost three months ago, I was hoping and waiting that the authority concerned (Jos Electricity Distribution Company) will do the needful but they didn't. So in on of those days in my hotel room in Uyo, I felt the need to reach out to the community and I made that call around 12 midnight and truly realised they have been in darkness for almost a year and hence, I took the onus to assist them by providing a brand new 500kva transformer.

"Indeed what I did was to build a new substation from the scratch to finish which was done within two weeks and today while celebrating Christmas with the same community, we decided to commision it and it was done by no other person, but Senator Abba Moro. 

"Truly, the  Muslim community are the biggest beneficiary of this donation and they were very elated and happy about the development. Infact the Transformer is located beside the St Mary Catholic Church which is adjacent the Central mosque. So I am happy that the Muslim and Christian community benefited from this project. 

"The truth is that I  have never been a politician and not all of us must get into politics to make impacts in our community. What is important is having the right mindset and heart  to give back to the society, which is what I am doing. Am glad that for the first time in almost a year, these people will enjoy uninterrupted power supply and that is exactly what pleases my heart as a person." He concluded. 

Commissioning the transformer sub-station earlier, the Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District Distinguished Senator Abba Moro commended Barr Paul Edeh for his efforts at complimenting the efforts of the Government by providing another transformer sub-station within a space or 6 months.

 He noted that rather than sit in the comfort of his office like many critics who prefer to criticise government for lack of provision of basic amenities, he rather chose to assist his community. 

“For the second time within this year I am coming to commission a transformer provided by a son of Idoma land Barrister Paul. Each time Paul tells me I should commission a project, I have never asked him what is actually your motivation. Because when I begin to listen to the story of Paul, it is a story of somebody who denies himself happiness to make the other person happy. 

"He is a person who tirelessly works so hard with a hard face to put a smile on the faces of other people. Paul has been a typical example of what I tell people that you don’t have to be in government to help the other person.” Senator Abba Moro stated  

The Chairman of the Muslim Youth in the community, Alhaji Aliyu Yinusa thanked Barrister Paul Edeh for coming to their rescue and commended him for keeping the faith with the Muslim and Hausa Community. 

"We can't thank Barrister Paul Edeh enough, he has done something that pleases the heart of everyone in this community. We have been without power for almost a year now, and God sent Barrister Paul Edeh to help us out from this difficult situation. 

"We shall jealously guard the equipment because we don't want to go back to the days of darkness. He concluded.

Senator Abba Moro commissioned the project and performed the ceremonial switching on of the light which signalled the availability of electricity supply to the community after almost a year with the community going wild with jubilation.

"This is the first Capacity training in Gombe State since 1986" - Gombe Sports Commission Chairman

 

Gombe State Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Adamu Soye has revealed that the one day capacity building program for Referees and Coaches organized by the Adamu Yola Cup LOC in collaboration with the Gombe State FA is the first in over 3 decades. 

While declaring the event open at Mawato Hotel, Katungo on Thursday, Mallam Soye expressed his joy with the innovation.

Soye said it has been long that an event of this magnitude took place in Gombe state. 

In his words, "This is the first Capacity training within the state in the modern era as the last time something like this took place was in 1986."

On the coaches' side, he clarified some of the mentalities that destroys the beauty of the game. 

First is the home advantage syndrome. In his words, the Chairman said there is no such thing as home advantage from the Referee. 

"The only advantage you have at home is the Pitch, the fans and the weather," he explained.

"Coaches, should guide their wards against such mentality as this will lead to players and fans challenging the referee's decision. Discipline is the keyword in football."

The Commission Chairman thanked organizers of the educative program.

He rounded up by imploring Referees and Coaches present at the capacity building program to maximize the opportunity that this workshop will afford them so as to better their understanding in their respective fields.