Nigerian Football
CAN WARRI WOLVES GET ROUND THE RIVERS IN AITEO CUP ROUND OF 16 INTO QUARTER FINALS?
BY SAMMY WEJINYA
Rivers
United return to AITEO Cup duty on Sunday when they face Warri Wolves in the
round of 16 of the competition.
The Wolves reached this stage by devouring unfancied Kaduna club, Ambassador
FC, 1-0 in the round of 32 at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja and have now set
their sights on a place in the last eight.
Doma United were Wolves’ opponents in the round of 64 so Sunday’s game against
Rivers United at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa will represent the Warri
club’s first real test of the competition this year.
Can the sleeping giants stir from hibernation?
Warri Wolves currently ply their trade in the second tier of Nigerian football
but the institution has a fairly healthy history steeped in tradition.
Wolves represented Nigeria in the CAF Champions League in 2016 but were knocked
out in the first round.
Four years later, the club returned to the continent where they reached the
round of 16 of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Two second round finishes in the same competition followed in 2012 and 2014 as
the Wolves unsuccessfully tried to smash the glass ceiling under former coach,
Paul Aigbogun.
As NPA, Wolves had played in the first round of the now defunct CAF Champions
League.
Success in this year’s AITEP Cup will see Wolves return to familiar terrain –
their old stomping ground, the continent.
Stellar names like Ike Thankgod, Ambrose Uanzekin, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Sunday
Mba and Ogenekaro Etebo have previously pulled the storied strips of Wolves but
these days, the defenders of the badge are a little less stellar.
Head coach, Kester Ojo-Osagie will be relying on his trusted charges, Onome
Onotafe, Igho Akporiri Walter, Samson Gift, Orukpe Innocent and Ibo Uro.
Other Wolves stars who will be looking to set the Cat amongst the Pigeons in
the United camp include Onyebuchi Ogwu, Amadi Samuel, Nwafor Ikechukwu,
Atshimene Charles, Ebuka Nnebuo and Ebule Jonathan.
Nnebuo was a former United midfielder and the playmaker will be extremely
important for the Wolves if they are to upset the applecart and reach the
quarter finals.
Chief Executive Officer of Warri Wolves, Moses Etu is upbeat about Sunday’s
game and predicts a difficult time for the ‘Pride of Rivers’.
“We got to this stage against all odds. Rivers United is a big team so if they
beat us, it is not going to be news, but if we beat them, it will be headline
news,” Etu said.
“We respect them because they have star players and a great manager, Stanley
Eguma.
“Hopefully, we will give them a good run for their money. If they win, they
will suffer for the victory,” Etu promised.
United poised and focused
Rivers United have been quietly, steadily and consistently going about their
business in this year’s AITEO Cup.
Performances have been solid and the team spirit has never been better with the
ranks of the ‘Pride of Rivers’.
A 4-0 win over FC Timberloader in the round of 64 in Lafia was followed by a
classy 3-0 win over tournament favourites, Akwa United.
Rivers United look a frightening proposition and Stanley Eguma’s men have not
conceded a single goal in the tournament.
“Winning against Akwa United has built so much confidence and now, our target
is to go as far as we can in this competition,” Eguma, the technical manager of
United told the club’s official website, www.riversunitedfc.com.ng.
Peter Ubakanma who has scored twice in the competition already, was also upbeat
when he shared his pre-match thoughts.
“Wolves are an experienced side but we are in very good form at the moment and
I think that will be the crucial factor,” he said.
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.
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