Nigerian Football
CLASSY RIVERS UNITED TAME ADAMAWA UNITED
BY SAMMY WEJINYA.
Rivers United produced their most dominant league performance in over four seasons on Sunday in a one-sided 2-0 victory over Adamawa United in Gombe.
Junior Osaghae and Malachi Ohawume were the goalscoring contributors for the Port Harcourt club, either side of half time.
The big news before kickoff was that former Super Eagles centre half, Azubuike Egwuekwe would be making his first start of the season while mainstays, Kunle Odunlami and captain, Festus Austine would miss out on the game.
The absence of the two regulars, Austine and Oduami did not weaken the side and if anything, galvanized the troops into producing the most dominant league performance ever witnessed in recent memory.
United could have racked up double figures in the contest and it would not have flattered them – such was the level of dominance displayed by the ‘Pride of Rivers’ at the Pantami Stadium.
United started in brisk fashion with Ishaq Rafiu leaving his marker for dead in the second minute before seeing his goal-bound shot blocked.
A minute later, Rivers United came close again with visionary midfielder, Esor Nelson just failing to reach the lively Ishaq’s teasing cross.
The ‘Pride of Rivers’ continued to play on the front foot and almost took the lead in the fifth minute when a devastating counter attack that involved three players, goalkeeper, Darlington Ovunda, midfielder, Bakary Bamba and forward, Stephen Gopey culminated in the attacker firing agonisingly wide from close range.
The pattern of missing a plethora of chances continued in the seventh minute when Amos James produced a stunning goal line clearance to deny Gopey whose exquisitely-taken half volley seemed destined for the bottom corner.
Three minutes later, Ishaq almost scored an extraordinary goal, straight from a corner but the shell-shocked Bulus Pwadadi in the Adamawa United goal scrambled to make an important stop, pushing the ball away for a corner.
In the 13th minute, Bakary Bamba should have opened the scoring for the visitors had he kept his effort low when he carved out space on the near side and after driving forward with menace.
The hosts were struggling to put passes together and barely stepped out of their half as they concentrated instead on stopping wave after wave of Rivers United attacks.
In the 21st minute, Adamawa United finally created their first goal scoring opportunity in the shape of Idris Abubakar’s tame effort from the edge of the box which Ovunda stooped with minimal fuss.
Almost immediately, the regular pattern of the game resumed with Rivers United creating dangerous moments, almost at will.
Junior Osaghae missed two excellent opportunities in the 23rd and 24th minutes respectively but he wasnt to be denied for much longer.
In the 25th minute, the midfielder displayed great movement off the ball to meet Gopey’s inch perfect delivery with a stunning header which hit the back of the net before Pwadadi could move a muscle.
The goal was the least their dominance deserved but to their credit, Rivers United did not rest on their laurels and nearly got a second goal two minutes later as Gopey saw a fierce effort spectacularly kept out by the overworked Bulus.
Poor decision making by Esor Nelson denied Gopey a chance to double Rivers United’s advantage on the half hour as Esor choose to shoot from an impossible angle rather than square to the unmarked attacker.
The dominance of the visitors was near total with Osaghae managing to miss two more gilt-edged opportunities before the half was over.
One of the chances was a header from three yards with a gaping goal at his mercy after Bulus had already been displaced following Ishaq’s expertly taken corner.
Football is replete with stories ‘games of two halves’ and if the home faithful expected the hosts to turn the tide in the second half, they were to be badly disappointed.
Rivers United continued from where they stopped after the interval, coming close to adding to the score on three occasions before the game had reached the 50-minute mark.
Odaghae headed Bakary Bamba’s cross wide on 47 minutes before remarkably placing a free header wide from point blank range, this time off an Ishaq cross.
Defensive midfielder, Victor Chidume drove forward in the 49th minute before delivering a stunning no look pass to Esor who fired wide from close range.
It was a remarkable passage of events as the home fans watched, stunned, while the visitors continued to dominate in resounding fashion.
On 54 minutes, the hosts had a rare attacking moment of promise but the impressive Egwuekwe reacted well to prevent Idris Abubakar from plundering what would have represented a barely-deserved equalizer.
Just before the hour, the marauding visitors came extremely close to doubling their money again but Esor, who was fed in exhilarating fashion by Osaghae, saw a brilliant goal-bound effort deflected for a corner.
From the ensuing corner, Esor almost scored but a last ditch bit of heroic defending saw the hosts clear for another corner.
Adamawa United were reeling but Rivers United would not take their foot off the gas.
Peter Ubakanma, who was having a barnstorming evening at right back, overlapped impressively to meet a Cletus Emotan cross which was disappointly headed straight at Bulus from six yards in the 66th minute.
Two minutes earlier, Rivers United had missed their best chance of the half when Gopey arrived in the six yard box with Bulus displaced.
He pulled the trigger firmly enough and the away bench had erupted in what turned out to be premature celebrations as Lukman Surajo arrived from nowhere to make a goal saving clearance.
It was a remarkable incident in the game and Surajo understandably celebrated like he’d netted the winner.
‘The Pride Of Rivers’ however refused to despair, their belief hinged on the knowledge that they were the vastly superior side and that their overall quality would carry them safely over the line.
Ubakanma raced forward again in the 72nd minute, taking matters into his own hands with a fizzing effort which flew inches wide of Bulus’ right hand post from 25 yards out.
Rivers United were however almost punished in the 77th minute as Bobby Abel struck with poise and precision from 12 yards only to see his drive deflected for a corner by Bamba who just about arrived the scene at the opportune moment.
The hosts seemed to have stirred from hibernation following that incident and should have levelled matters in the 79th minute.
Idris Abubakar outsmarted the visitors’ rear guard, came face to face with Ovunda but somehow placed his effort over.
Two minutes later, the ball was on the other end of the pitch as Ubakanma saw his freekick just about fly over.
Gopey shot into the side netting in the 83rd minute after turning a defender inside out before substitute, Malachi Ohawume got denied by the offside flag.
Ohawume was to have his moment of joy, three minutes from time as he stabbed into an unguarded net from close range after seeing an initial effort come off the post.
“The players put up a good effort and we want to amass points that will take us to the top of the table,” technical manager of Rivers United, Stanley Eguma told the club’s official website, www.riversunitedfc.com after the game.
United will next face MFM FC in Port Harcourt on January 5 in their first game of 2020.
The Port Harcourt club have now moved into the continental places as they are now level on points with second-placed Lobi Stars on the log having amassed 18 points from 11 matches.
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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