Nigerian Football
LEON BALOGUN HAILS GERRARD’S TACTICS IN RANGERS’ WIN OVER CELTIC
Super Eagles defender, Leon Balogun, was full of praise to his club’s manager, Steven Gerrard, as Rangers edged out rivals, Celtic by a lone goal in Saturday’s Old Firm derby.
Balogun is of the view that the tactician pressed the right buttons after a floppy first half display.
But in the restart at the Ibrox Stadium, it was a much-improved performance that made Celtic captain, Callum McGregor, put the ball into the back of his team’s net to give Gerrard’s side all the points and a comfortable lead at the summit in the Scottish league.
With 19-point lead over eternal rival, Celtic, Balogun, who was in action for 90 minutes applauded Gerrard for his managerial skills and how he got the best out of the team.
“Every time he has to kick our a***s we give a reaction. We saw that today,” the Nigeria defender said, per Glasgow Live.
“I’m not going to expose details but he touches the right spots because he’s been there himself as a player. He knows it won’t help to just tear us down. But he knows which buttons to push in order for us to reset.
“In the first 45 minutes we weren’t as keen as we should have been but we can learn from that. Some of the last few games haven’t been fluid either so it’s a big challenge for us to get back to our best as soon as possible now.”
The fixture marked the 50th remembrance anniversary of the Ibrox disaster where 66 Rangers supporters died after the New Year Old Firm derby in 1971.
Balogun, who recently joined the Gers on a free transfer, highlighted the importance of the game and dedicated the win to the victims’ families.
The 32-year-old said: “For us, for the cause, for the mission that we are on, it is massive.
“But when you think about the club – because it’s not just us players and staff, it is the fans that make the club – it is massive.
“And to win an Old Firm game on that day it is probably some kind of comfort to some of the people who have been affected, the families.
“And it is a great gift from us as representatives of the club to the supporters for the New Year, on that day.”
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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