Nigerian Football
HOTSPORTS WELCOME IBITOYE BACK TO THE BEAT
After a five-and-a-half-year hiatus from active sports journalism, Toyin Ibitoye returned to the beat last week following the completion of an acclaimed and highly successful tour of duty as the Media Officer of the Super Eagles.
And leading sports production and marketing company, HotSports Nigeria Limited has finalised plans to formally welcome back to the beat the brilliant and resourceful purveyor of sports news and information whose experience cuts across the print and broadcast media.
The event slated for Studio 2 inside the Company’s sprawling television production complex in Ikeja, Lagos takes place on Sunday, 8th November 2020 from 4 pm.
Leading the welcome party will be Taye Ige, President/CEO assisted by top officials of the Company.
Expected to grace the event will be Ibitoye’s friends and family members, top officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and other leading lights of the football confraternity in Nigeria, sports editors and managers of Nigerian newspapers and programmes on radio and television.
In a release he personally signed on Sunday, Ige said: ‘On behalf of the teams at both HotSports Nigeria Limited and HS Studios, Nigeria’s leading sports marketing company and owners of the largest television production complex in the west coast of Africa, I wish to extend my heartfelt salutation and congratulations to our colleague, Toyin Ibitoye on the successful completion of his tour of duty.
‘The HotSports team would like to recall, with immense gratitude, how pleasurable it was working with Toyin in the last five-and-a-half years, especially during our several activations in furtherance of our roles as both the official media partner as well as marketing consultant to the Nigeria Football Federation.
“We all know how difficult access to the national team camp can sometimes be.
“This became significantly easy for us to achieve under Toyin’s watch, making both our editorial and marketing activation responsibilities much easier to carry out.
“It has thus been a privilege working with Toyin and now it’s an honour to celebrate the legacy of hard work and exceptional dedication to duty he has left behind for his successor’.
Ige further said: ‘Secondly, that the Super Eagles largely delighted us with good results on the field of play during Toyin’s tenure, qualifying for both the Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup finals in grand style (in some cases two matches ahead) is also evidently traceable to the quality of “technical assistance” Toyin afforded the Team’s chief coach, Mr Gernot Rorh.
“It is not for nothing that, in informed circles, Toyin was regarded as the de facto assistant to the national coach as he was reputed to put at Rohr’s disposal his awesomely rich knowledge of Nigerian players, their current status in their various clubs both home and abroad as well as advise the coach on the best formations to adopt based on options of players available at any given time.
The HotSports CEO further said: ‘It is for these services to our Company and to our dear country that we wish to thank you and formally welcome you back to the profession we know you have always loved. We know your passion for sports journalism and we are almost certain that you can’t wait to get back to it’.
Remo Stars continued their good form in the Nigeria domestic league as they snatched another 2-0 away win against one of the traditional strong sides, Kano Pillars on Sunday.
They had earlier had another 2-0 away win when they defeated Abia Warriors in Umuahia two weeks ago. With Sunday’s win, they remain on top of the log with their nine points and five goals.
They are yet to concede any goal this season. On Sunday, Sodiq Ismail put Remo Stars in front after 26 minutes. Togolese import, Franck Mawuena doubled the lead in the 60th minute.
In another encounter, Niger Tornadoes pulled a major upset, winning 2-1 away from home as they beat former Nigerian champions, Plateau United. Ifeanyi Okechukwu put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute. They doubled theit lead in the fourth minute of added time of the second half through Kufre Ebong.
A minute later, Pam Samuel scored a consolatory goal for Plateau United. Hearrtland of Owerri continued their winless run as they played a goalless draw at home with visiting Katsina United.
Sunshine Stars also played 0-0 with Abia Warriors.
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.”
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