Nigerian Football
Youths storm Jon Obi Mikel Back2Base programme 
The maiden edition of the Jon Obi Mikel Back2Base programme which opened on Thursday at the Sports Centre of the University of Lagos will be rounded up on Saturday.
The multi-sport programme has been the product of several weeks of planning and has involved many youths in attendance.
But some who were eager to be part of the event were disappointed because the organisers over the past few weeks had registered qualified players drawn mainly from interland playing grounds in Lagos.
However, many of them returned to the stand and watched with delight how participants displayed their talents across the three sports namely-football, tennis and basketball.
“I’m delighted that the Back2Base project is underway and this is one of the several ways to discover talents that can be nurtured to become star tomorrow.
“I started playing from the sandy pitch and from there I move into manageable football field and it will be a great opportunity for many of these young talents to discover themselves,” Jon Obi Mikel recalled on Thursday after the first match between All Stars against Agbado Ijaiye Meiran which ended goalless.
According to the organisers of the programme, the two matches played on Thursday will produce the best 11 in each department and will tackle the best 11 from the matches in Friday’s fixtures for the final match on Saturday. Gifts and cash rewards await the best players.
In the other match played 0n Thursday, Almosho Pipeline took on Agbado Ijaiye Adura. On Friday, Ajegunle FC are squaring up with Evans Square, Ebute Meta while Alimosho Akinola will take on Magboro Prayer City (MFM) in the second match.
In the grand final on Saturday, the best 11 from Day-one and two will play in the final match at the same venue.
The same metric was adopted in the tennis and basketball events.
In all, eight teams were registered across all the three sports but only tennis has female participants which the organisers said subsequent editions will allow participants across all genders.
The event would be rounded up with a Gala night and awards giving ceremony at Radisson Blu, Victoria Island, Lagos.
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.
The Nigerian Premier Football League burst into life this Sunday with eight matches on the card and contrasting results. Three of the eight matches resulted in away wins signalling level playing field of the league.
It is a sharp departure from the past seasons when it is almost predictable that home teams would win. Remo Stars, Enyimba and Niger Tornadoes have away wins and with scoring multiple goals.
Remo Stars won against Abia Warriors by 2-0. Enyimba came from a goal down to win 3-1 against Heartland while Niger Tornadoes beat Kwara United 2-1 away from home.
- Kwara United 1-2 Niger Tornadoes
- Sunshine 3-0 Bayelsa: Saidu Salisu
- Bendel Insurance 0-0 Rivers United
- Heartland 1-3 Enyimba
- Abia Warriors 0-2 Remo Stars
- Plateau United 1-0 Katsina United
- Kano Pillars 3-0 Ikorodu City
- Nasarawa United 1-1 Shooting Stars
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