Nigerian Football
ORGANIZERS UNFOLD PLANS FOR 2ND OGUNJOBI U-17 TOURNEY
BY BOLAJI OKUNOLA
Organisers of the late Chief Taiwo Joseph Ogunjobi U-17 Tournament, have unfolded plans for the second edition. The tournament is in memory of the former footballer and administrator who died in February 2019. The competition is billed to kick-off on 5 February and run till 28 February.
It is being organized by the Ijesha football council in Ilesha, where Ogunjobi hailed from. Revealing plans ahead of the annual cadet championship, the chairman of Ijesha Football Council, Rawlings Oyebayo, stated that all hands were on deck to make the tournament a successful one.
He outlined modalities for the soccer fiesta which he said was largely on talent hunt. The essence of the age grade tournament which is sponsored by Siji Lagunju, Deputy Technical Director of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is to boost the discovery of exceptional talents at the grassroots and catching them young in a bid to provide a well defined future for them.
“Interested grassroots teams are expected to pay none refundable fee of Ten Thousand Naira Only (N10, 000) as the sale of registration forms has begun since Monday, 17th of January.
“With a view to curbing age-cheats, the local organizing committee (LOC) has fixed January 31st for players screening and they won’t hesitate to sanction any team found to have presented over aged players,” he assured.
Late Ogunjobi died at 65. He made his debut for Nigeria in a 1984 Olympic qualifier game against Morocco. The deceased also ply his trade for IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan before venturing into football administration.
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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