Nigerian Football
Team Mates, NFF Hail Oliseh at 43
BY BOLAJI OKUNOLA.
As former Nigeria’s skipper and coach, Sunday Oliseh clocked 43 this Thursday; he was hailed by the Nigeria Football Federation and some of his former colleagues in the Super Eagles.
The NFF celebrated Oliseh through the official twitter handle of the federation. The message read: “# @ (thenff): Happy birthday former@NG Super Eagles captain and coach, @Sunday OOliseh#”
His former national team mates who felicitated with him include, Dosu Joseph, Ike Shorunmu, Garba Lawal, Teslim Fatunsi and Mutiu Adepoju. They all spoke glowingly of Oliseh in telephone conversations with the Sports Village Square.
Adepoju who played alongside Oliseh in the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations as well as the USA ‘94 and France ‘98 World Cup finals said the former Ajax Amsterdam midfielder remains the best defensive midfielder Nigeria had produced.
“Oliseh was a great player who is worth of celebrating. He is one of the best defensive midfielder Nigeria produced. I am using this medium to say Happy birthday to him’, remarked Adepoju whose header from a corner kick resulted in Nigeria’s 3-2 defeat of Spain in a France ’98 World Cup match which Sunday Oliseh wrapped up with a stunning long range shot that earned the Super Eagles the winning goal.
Super Eagles’ former goalkeeper, Ike Shorunmu also had sweet words on the former Nigerian skipper.
“Oliseh led us to the AFCON 2000 and showed quite a lot of patriotism on and off the pitch”. Dosu, Fatunsi, Lawal who were members of the Atlanta ‘96 gold medal winning Nigerian side also expressed their thoughts in same direction.
Remo Stars on Saturday made it two straight wins in the Nigeria Premier League after labouring to a 1-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars of Akure to follow-up their last weekend 2-0 away win over Abia Warriors.
On Saturday, under eight minutes they shot ahead through Shuaibu Ibrahim. That was where the story ended as Sunshine Stars came up strongly and almost stalemated scores.
The win, though narrow, is enough to temporarily take Remo Stars to the top of the log after two games.
They are followed by Rivers United who beat Heartland 3-1. It is the second consecutive 3-1 loss that Heartland are getting in the two-week old season.
The situation could change on Sunday when other matches are played.
On the card are: Akwa United hosting Abia Warriors while Kano Pillars will be away to Bayelsa United.
Katsina United host Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes will be home to Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars will host Plateau United.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Arnhem, Netherlands.
Former Nigeria manager, Clemens Westerhof has recommended one of his former players, Samson Siasia as the substantial coach for the Super Eagles.
Siasia was one of his players of the famed golden generation of the Super Eagles.
“I called him last month to greet him for his birthday and also to celebrate with him for the end of his five-year ban”, Westerhof told Sports Village Square at his house in Arnhem in the Netherlands.
According to him, Siasia is just like Keshi and that he has the capacity to turn the Super Eagles around for the better. Westerhof, the author of the famed ‘Golden Generation’ of the Super Eagles made his suggestion shortly after Germany’s Bruce Labbadia turned down the Nigerian job offer.
Westerhof remarked that he was surprised about the choice of Labbadia in the first instance and that the now Mali coach, Tom Saintfiet who is his friend could have been a better choice.
Saintfiet, a Belgian, was speculated among the coaches initially short-listed for the Super Eagles’ job. But Westerhof, before the naming of Austin Eguavoen, another member of his famous 1994 squad, strongly back Siasia for the job.
He remarked that he was in touch with the former striker as well as Austin Okocha whom he met with in London recently.
To Westerhof, Siasia has the same quality like Stephen Keshi to handle the Super Eagles. “He has done it before and I think he can still do it.”
The balls hit the nets 17 times this Sunday as the Nigeria Premier League Season 2024/25 burst into life this Sunday.
The first of the goals was from Plateau United’s Olawale Doyeni who converted a 24th minute penalty kick against Katsina United in an eventual 1-0 home win.
Another star-man of the the day is Enyimba’s Clinton Jephta who has become the season’s first hat-trickster. His three goals in the 65th , 70th and 73rd minutes sank heartland 3-1 in their home match.
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