Rivers United seamless flow in the Nigeria Premier League ended abruptly as the backwaters candidate suddenly got rejuvenated and inflicted a 2-0 defeat on initial table-toppers from Port Harcourt.

Even by the waterfront arena, the Mobolaji Johnson Arena which overlooks the Lagos Lagoon, Rivers failed to flow. The result meant the first defeat this season to Rivers United.

Remo Stars moved up to the top of the log again after a 1-0 defeat of Lobi Stars and the setback that Rivers United got in Lagos.  

Victory for Remo Stars at home is the icing on the cake of the Ikenne town’s celebration of its annual Ereke Day, which concluded on Saturday.

The goal that shot the Ikenne community outfit to the top was scored by Michael Okoro Ibe in the 47th minute.

In Lagos, after a goalless first half, Cole Ayomide, put the Ikorodu City side in the lead in the 48^th minute, just a minute after the goal in Ikenne that compromised the initial top position of Rivers United.

 Rivio Ayemwenre doubled the lead for Ikorodu City in the 53^rd minute. What could have turned a miserable evening for Rivers United was averted when a third goal by Ikorodu City in the 78th minute

But the struggle against relegation is far from being over for Ikorodu City as they are still one of those in the backwaters.

With 11 points, they are 17th in a 20-team league in which four will drop at the end of the season. Their fellow strugglers include Bayelsa United, Akwa United and Lobi Stars. They all have one thing in common – all within aquatic zones of either the sea, lagoon and the Benue River that linked with River Niger before flowing southward into the sea.

Apart from the match in Lagos, struggling Heartland’s heart was large enough to inflict an away win over neighbours, Abia Warriors who were compelled to drop their ammunition following a 2-0 loss.

And so, Heartland FC under Emmanuel Amuneke, continues  a dramatic recovery after a bad start in the season.

Micheal Ogu opened scoring for the visitors in the 12^th minute and Chukwuma Agor in deep into injury time added a second goal. The result practically gave the Owerri side relief as they were out of the relegation zone after amassing 12 points. They are now in the 12^th position.

While in Ijebu Ode, Bendel Insurance recovered from their last week’s home defeat as they inflicted the same fate on Sunshine Stars of Akure.

Kayode Oke Solomon opened the score for the visitors in the 17^th minute but the home side away from home secured parity in the added time of the first half. But Nnamdi Anthony got the winning goal for Insurance in the 60^th minute.

In Enugu, the defending champions secured a two-nil win through Godwin Obaje with the first in the 50^th minute and another in the 60^th minute via a penalty kick.

El-Kanemi Warriors pipped visiting Katsina United by a lone goal while Akwa United won 2-1 against visiting Kwara United. Chijioke Alaekwe opened score for the home side in the 17^th minute but Emmanuel Ogbole restored parity in the 32^nd before Ebedebiri Endurance scored the winner in the 60^th minute via a penalty.

The win still leaves Akwa United, nine points,  in the relegation zone. They are 19th on the log.

In Yenagoa, Bayelsa United forced visiting Enyimba to a 1-1 draw. Eneke Awazie had put the visitors in front in the 29^th minute but Magbisa Wisdom scored the equaliser in the 36^th minute.

In Kano, two late goals from veterans, Rabiu Ali and Super Eagles off-field captain Ahmed Musa gave host Kano Pillars a 2-1 win against Plateau United.

After an uneventful first half, the visitors opened score in the 66^th minute through Gafar Saka before Rabiu Ali restored parity in the 76^th minute and Musa scored the winner deep inside injury time.

While in Minna, Niger Tornadoes dismissed visiting Shooting stars of Ibadan with goals from Joseph Godstime in the 30^th minute and Mendos Rickson in the 88^th minute.

NPFL RESULTS

El-Kanemi 1-0 Katsina Utd

Abia Warriors 0-2 Heartland

Akwa Utd 2-1 Kwara Utd

Bayelsa Utd 1-1 Enyimba

Rangers 2-0 Nasarawa

Ikorodu City 2-0 Rivers Utd

Kano Pillars 2-1 Plateau Utd

Tornadoes 2-0 Shooting StarsSunshine 1-2 Insurance

Following full compliance with the arbitration decisions of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Players Status Committee, the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has restored licenses of newly transferred and registered players of seven of the ten defaulting clubs.

In a letter conveying the development to the clubs, the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, commended the clubs for complying swiftly with the requirements, which will enable them play to their full strength.

The clubs are Enyimba, El-Kanemi Warriors, Plateau United, and Bayelsa United.

Others are Lobi Stars, Heartland, and Akwa United.

In the case of Akwa United, the licenses were restored on the directive of the NFF pending ongoing further investigations into their case.

With the development, two other clubs, Abia Warriors, Katsina United, and Kwara United, are still not off the hook as they are yet to comply with the ruling on their cases.

Former President of Nigeria Football Federation and Nigeria’s FIFA Council Member, Amaju Melvin Pinnick OFR, has called for new methods and a re-dedication to the ethos of sports infrastructure maintenance in the country.

Delivering this year’s personality guest lecture of the Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan on Tuesday, the FIFA Council Member and Member of the CAF Executive Committee started with a brief overview of the country’s sports infrastructure landscape.

He remarked on the relevance of hosting major competitions for sports infrastructure abundance, traced the era of decline and neglect, and concluded by stating that plenteous and well-maintained sports infrastructure is crucial for Nigeria’s success in international competitions.

“Poor sports infrastructure has the consequence of limited talent development, reduces competitiveness, is a major disincentive to athletes, makes it impossible for any nation to host competitions, and hurts a country’s pride and sense of identity,” Pinnick said, as he delivered his paper titled, The Challenges of Sports Infrastructure and Maintenance in Nigeria: Prospect for the Podium Performance.  

To ensure a positive turn-around, he advocated for public-private partnerships in infrastructural development and maintenance, innovative funding models, adopting modern maintenance technologies, capacity enhancement for maintenance experts and a cluster model that will rank States according to sports infrastructure available in their domain and also engender stiff competition among them for infrastructural sufficiency.

“There are a few success stories on the African continent, such as South Africa and Morocco, which have a national sports maintenance agency.

“We do not necessarily need to copy them; we can develop what will work for us. What is important now is that we must confront this sport infrastructural deficit head-on and the Federal Government, States, local councils, tertiary institutions, private club owners and private investors all have roles to play.

“With improved sports infrastructure round the country, there will be brighter prospects for podium performance by our athletes in international competitions, as we will be able to discover more talents in their youth, can nurture them and utilize the facilities optimally to blood them to real competitors. In addition, our country will be able to host major competitions, and our national pride and sense of identity as host of big events will be restored.”

In his opening address, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale , emphasized the university’s vision and mission, which includes fostering a love for sports and promoting national growth and development.

He noted that sport plays a vital role in shaping individuals, communities and nations, and commended Pinnick’s efforts in advancing the cause of Nigeria sport internationally.

The Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor Olufemi Adegbesan, hailed Pinnick for his engaging delivery, which was also inspiring, insightful and thought-provoking. He described him as a visionary leader, astute administrator and a passionate advocate of sport infrastructure development in the country.

Goodwill messages were received from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, CAF President Patrice Motsepe (virtual), as well as Alhaji Shehu Dikko (Chairman, National Sports Commission), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (President, NFF), Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi (Former 1^st Vice President, NFF) and Ms Aisha Falode (Member, NFF Executive Committee) were all physically present.

The carnival-like opening to the lecture featured dance performances by Itsekiri and Brazilian groups, and a special performance by the Nigeria Football Supporters Club led by its President-General Worldwide, Dr Rafiu Oladipo.

Pinnick was presented with a distinguished service award by the Faculty of Education. The award was presented by Professor Aderonke Baiyeroju, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics).

The guest lecture had in attendance the full team of the university’s management. Also present were Oyo State Sports Commissioner, Hon. Wosilat Adegoke; Oba James Odeniran, Chairman of Oyo State Football Association; former NFF General Secretary, Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba and; NFF’s Director of Communications, Dr Ademola Olajire.