Nigerian Football
JIGAWA GOLDEN STARS’ STAR PLAYER, LALA TARGETS TOP-FOUR FINISH WITH CLUB
Jigawa Golden Stars forward Abdullahi Musa Lala said the team’s target in the on-going Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) campaign was to finish in the top four.
The Dutse-based outfit won their first league game against Sunshine Stars by 1-0 but lost their second game against Dakkada FC 2-1 last Sunday in Uyo to stand in seventh place on the log.
Yet Lala said the team has all it takes to compete among the big clubs in the NPFL, stressing he and his colleagues are poised to secure a continental ticket.
“My expectations this season is to be in the top four; so that we can be among the clubs that will played in the CAF competitions next season,” Lala said.
The former YSFON product has in the meantime, set sight on registering his name on the scorers’ sheet when Jigawa host Rangers International on Match day three on Sunday at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium.
“We just want to take that points and I hope to be one of the goal scorers for my team by God’s grace,” he affirmed.
The season resume a fortnight ago after a nine-month break due to COVID 19 but the 2012 Nigeria national League (NNL) highest goal scorer said the NPFL has not been the same without fans.
“Yeah! It’s not been easy playing without fans because they are the one to boost our moral,” he said.
The Kaduna-born star started his top flight football career at the Katsina United in the 2017/18 season after helping the team gained promotion to the elite division in the 2016/2017 season.
He played at Dynamic Sporting Solution in Kaduna and Kaduna United respectively before joining Jigawa Golden Stars in 2019.
The 2005 YSFON U13 highest goal scorer and 2006 U14 Most Valuable Player said he has fond admiration for Ronaldo da Lima, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Sadio Mane.
Remo Stars on Saturday made it two straight wins in the Nigeria Premier League after labouring to a 1-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars of Akure to follow-up their last weekend 2-0 away win over Abia Warriors.
On Saturday, under eight minutes they shot ahead through Shuaibu Ibrahim. That was where the story ended as Sunshine Stars came up strongly and almost stalemated scores.
The win, though narrow, is enough to temporarily take Remo Stars to the top of the log after two games.
They are followed by Rivers United who beat Heartland 3-1. It is the second consecutive 3-1 loss that Heartland are getting in the two-week old season.
The situation could change on Sunday when other matches are played.
On the card are: Akwa United hosting Abia Warriors while Kano Pillars will be away to Bayelsa United.
Katsina United host Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes will be home to Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars will host Plateau United.
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.
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