Nigerian Football
ANOZIE, OKONKWO GO INTO MATCH DAY 3 AS BIG HITTERS
It has been a roller coaster in the Nigeria
Professional Football League (NPFL) after just two match days with most of the
big guns faltering while the unfancied actors have taken the lead cast in this season’s
campaign.
Prior to the season’s kickoff, the preview of
the pundits centred on Akwa United, Plateau United and Kano Pillars among
others considered as the title contenders but after just two match days the
shape and complexion has been characterized by wild and unpredictable outcomes.
FC Ifeanyiubah, with the odds stacked against
them to even keep their status as top-flight teams following high-profile
departures after last season are punching above their weights with goalkeeper
Chinedu Anozie and Chijioke Alaekwe shouldering the responsibilities of largely
inexperienced playing personnel.
Anozie currently leads the race for most clean
sheets so far as he is yet to concede in 180 minutes of football in the league.
He kept clean sheets against Plateau United and Nasarawa United and will hope
for a third successive outing without conceding at Go Round this Sunday.
Alaekwe was responsible for that last-gasp goal that knocked the stuffing out
of Nasarawa United on Matchday 2 in Nnewi. FC Ifeanyiubah are currently second
with four points after two matches behind El-Kanemi Warriors in Group B of the
NPFL.
El-Kanemi go into Matchday 3 as the only side
that have won their opening two matches and against very difficult opponents.
Mohammed BabaGanaru’s men won 1-0 at Akwa United and followed up with an
impressive 2-1 win over four-time champions Kano Pillars. Midfielder Abdulrazak
Aliyu was influential for El-Kanemi in both games as his assist helped win at
Akwa and his winning goal secured all points at home against Kano Pillars.
So far in the goalscoring race, the expected
names are yet to get off the mark instead Heartland forward Chinonso Okonkwo is
setting the pace with two goals — both he scored in his side’s 3-0 thumping of
Plateau United at the Okigwe Township Stadium in midweek. Okonkwo is expected
to lead the Naze Millionaires’ attack this Sunday when they face Nasarawa
United at the Lafia City Stadium.
THE OTHER WORTHY MENTIONS
Seven-time champions Enyimba got their campaign
to a superb start in front of their supporters in Aba where they defeated MFM
FC 2-0, and this weekend they are up against Kwara United in Ilorin. Striker
Abdulrahman Bashir got off the mark on Matchday 1 and he returns to Ilorin,
where he remains a cult hero following his time at ABS FC.
Go Round FC pulled off the shock result of
Matchday 2 when they beat Abia Warriors 2-1 on their patch and are now in
buoyant mood to face FC Ifeanyiubah at the Krisdera Hotel Stadium in Omoku.
After masterminding the defeat of his former team in Umuahia in midweek, Go
Round head coach Willy Udube is keen to add another southeast outfit to his
list of conquered this term.
However it is still early days for these actors
who have jumped to the front row after just two matchdays. Sunday’s matches are
expected to be mouthwatering with two of the big sides Kano Pillars and Akwa
United going head to head at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
Nigerian Football
African Schools Football Championship: NFF, UBEC commit to fruitful collaboration in win-win scenario
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Gusau-Bobboyi.jpg)
The Nigeria Football Federation and the Universal Basic Education Commission have agreed to a meaningful and fruitful collaboration that will see Nigeria challenging strongly for honours in the annual African Schools Football Championship and also compel sporting infrastructure renewal in Nigeria’s pre-tertiary educational institutions.
During a courtesy call on the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi on Monday, President of NFF Ibrahim Musa Gusau explained that the annual competition can spur infrastructural upgrade in Nigeria’s primary and secondary schools, lead to discovery of talents even beyond the imaginable and assure Nigeria’s football future.
“The African Schools Football Championship is for U13 and U15 pupils, and is organized by CAF. There are so many benefits for the winning school, with a prize money of $1million that will be used to provide football infrastructure for that school. I see no reason why our schools should not compete strongly, as triumph for one school in the country will have a multiplier effect on other schools.
“We have come to UBEC because this matter falls squarely within its purview. Last year, the NFF worked with the Nigeria School Sports Federation to produce representative schools in the male and female categories to fly Nigeria’s flag, in our debut in the competition. However, we believe we should expand the scope and get more schools involved, to have a very strong representation and stand the chance of winning both trophies,” Gusau said.
He also disclosed that the NSSF has concluded plans to kick off the state preliminaries of the male and female competitions this month, with the WAFU-B Tournament scheduled for Niger Republic in November, at which the WAFU-B flagbearers for the continental finals will emerge.
UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr. Bobboyi, praised the leadership of the NFF for the visit, and pledged the full co-operation of UBEC to the project. “Infrastructural deficit is a big challenge in our primary and junior secondary schools, and this project will definitely help to speed up our own efforts to restore the good old days of standard facilities and equipment in our schools.
“Since 2018, we have been making efforts to restore sporting infrastructure in our schools, by appealing to state governments and providing the equipment that we can. Many countries of the world specifically offer scholarships to athletes simply because of their sporting ability. Sports help children to develop physically and mentally, and we also must safeguard the future of sports by taking practical steps to unearth talents from the schools and the grassroots that can be nurtured for glory.”
Present as well at the occasion were NFF 1st Vice President, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu; General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi; Engr. Sadiq Sa’ad (UBEC Director of Physical Planning); Ademola Olajire (NFF Director of Media & Communications; Okey Obi (NFF Director of Legal Services); Ruth David (NFF Director of Competitions); Dr. Funsho Usman (Secretary General, NSSF); Mrs Rose Medubi (Director, Academic Services); Mr. Osahon Igbinoba (Director, PRS); Alh. Adamu Misau (Director, Finance & Accounts); Mr. Paul Agi (Director, Admin & Supplies); Mr. Hashimu Ojah (Director, NSSF) and; Mrs Lydia Gbagyi (Desk Officer, Sports).
Nigerian Football
“My name is Clemens Johannes Hendrikus Westerhof”
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Westerhof-and-Kunle-1.jpg)
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, Arnhem, Netherlands.
Undoubtedly, the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) coach in Nigeria, Clemens Westerhof, has a coaching credential that no coach in Nigeria either before his tenure or since 30 years ago that he left, has been able to match.
He did not only qualify Nigeria for the World Cup for the first time, he is the only coach that took the national team to the podium thrice at the Africa Cup of Nation – winning in 1994 and making the first runners-up position in 1990 and third place in 1992.
At the peak of his career in Nigeria, he took the Super Eagles to their topmost height of fifth ranked in the world. Little wonder, his squad is being figuratively referred to as the ‘Golden Generation’ of the Nigeria national team.
Last month marked two milestones of his 1,787-day tenure in the Super Eagles.
First, 15 August marked the 35th anniversary of his being signed on by Nigeria and 27 August was the 35th anniversary of his debut.
Sports Village Square travelled by air, speed train – the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch Sprinter train) and the German Deutsche Bahn, to get to Arnhem, which is just 20 minute drive to Germany to get the now 84-year old football tactician who now lives quietly in his home town.
This book on Super Eagles is a delight to read, says Westerhof
In the course of narrating his tour of duty in Nigeria, he opened up on how he got the job, his relationship with football officials, the footballers, his trials and travails, his joy and sadness as well as how he introduced the concept of official kits to the Nigerian national team.
He spoke of how he discovered local talents and moulded the raw gold materials to 18-carat special metals. Westerhof spoke about the Nigerian players that he groomed and the relationship they still have with him.
Who is this man who is always passionately following all the football leagues of the world as his face is always glued to the television set.
His wife, Lillian remarked Westerhof followed, almost with religious devotion, the Africa Cup of Nations 2023 in which Nigeria got to the final against the hosts, Cote d’Ivoire.
Even Westerhof’s wife displayed an uncanny knowledge of Nigerian football, mentioning names and giving details.
She said she once considered taking courses in football coaching as she has a husband who will add value to her.
One may wish to know Westerhof in detail. He gave his full name which many may not have known. Clemens Johannes Hendrikus Westerhof tells his story to Sports Village Square, the way he never did to any other medium before now. Details later.
Nigerian Football
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Dele Aiyenugba returns to the classroom at NIS
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Dele.jpg)
Former Super Eagles and Enyimba of Aba goalkeeper Dele Aiyenugba has been co- opted to serve as a resource person at the coaches training program at the National Institute for Sports (NIS).
The programme is a collaborative venture of both the NIS and the Lagos State Football Association.
The training programme will start on 14 September 14th and run every Saturday for a month in the first module.
Aiyenugba, who last played for the Nigeria national team on 8 October 2011 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match that ended 2-2 with Guinea, is a product of the NIS.
He is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear on the participants.
Aiyenugba will be speaking on Goalkeeping techniques, Goalkeeping training and Goalkeeping safety.
Over 2,000 coaches in Lagos State are expected to be trained over a two year period.
With the Lagos State FA Chairman Gafar Liameed affirming that NIS certification is now compulsory for any coach that want to ply their trade in Lagos State.
NIS Director General, Professor Olawale Moronkola is expected to declare the training opened.
-
TRANSFER MARKET3 days ago
Points of Interest as Napoli’s coach apologises to Victor Osimhen
-
Badminton1 week ago
American beats Nigeria’s Segun Obasanjo
-
TRANSFER MARKET1 week ago
Transfer market still bubbling as Chelsea agents lands in Napoli for Osimhen
-
TRANSFER MARKET1 week ago
BREAKING! Osimhen is left stranded! Future remains uncertain
-
TRANSFER MARKET5 days ago
Lukaku pays respect to Osimhen
-
Nigerian Football1 week ago
As in 1974 , 1995 and 2005 another coach, Labbadia disappears from Nigeria’s national team job
-
PARALYMPICS5 days ago
How Mikano powered Eniola to Nigeria’s first medal at Paris 2024
-
AFCON1 week ago
Interim Commander, Eguavoen opens up on his plans for Super Eagles