NPFL: Nembe holds Enyimba, as Pillars downs 3SC 2-0

Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) debutants, Nembe City on Thursday forced Aba giants, Enyimba International FC to a 1-1 in Yenagoa in the final round of Week 4 matches played across the country.

The club thus recorded its second upset against a top side after defeating Heartland 2-1 in Owerri in its first league game in the 2012/2013 season on March 10.

In Kano, Pillars defeated Shooting Stars of Ibadan 2-0 via a Gambo Mohammed brace at the Sani Abacha Stadium. Surprise Super Eagles call up against Kenya, goalkeeper Dele Ajiboye was injured in the game and had to be substituted with Richard Ochei in the dying minutes of the game.

In Port Harcourt, Dolphins forced Sunshine Stars to a 1-1 draw to keep it from reassuming its position at the head of the table after it was deposed by Kwara United that defeated Heartland 1-0 at home on Wednesday.

Warri Wolves also drew goalless with Nasarawa United at home while El-Kanemi of Bornu drew 2-2 with Bayelsa United in Maiduguri.

In yet another tie, Rangers International of Enugu drew at home against Kaduna United in the match played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.

Lobi Stars pipped ABS of Ilorin 1-0 in Makurdi while Gombe United defeated Sharks of Port Harcourt 2-0 in the last two matches on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Wikki Tourists, playing at home in Bauchi defeated Akwa United 2-0.

Oliech, others may boycott Eagles clash

 As troubled FKF confirms Kasarani for cracker

Harambee Stars captain Dennis Oliech who greatly troubled Super Eagles' defense in Calabar on Saturday may not play in the second leg of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Eagles in Kenya as he and his some of his team mates have threatened to boycott the encounter, we can authoritatively report.

Reports from Kenya are that Oliech is displeased with the paltry sum he and his foreign-based teammates were paid for the first leg of the qualifier in Calabar.

According to an executive member of Football Kenya Federation (FKF), Hussein Terry, Oliech revealed his decision and those of his foreign-based teammates such as Arnold Origi and Victor Wanyama to ignore any more call-ups was based on the fact that they were paid 18,000 Kenyan Shillings (about N10,000) throughout their stay in Nigeria as against the same amount for just a day.

“Oliech came to me while we were in Nigeria and told me they will no longer honour future matches involving Harambee Stars if they are not paid at least Sh10,000 shillings per day in allowances,” Terry was quoted as saying on the team's return to Kenya.

The story has thrown the FKF into disarray as executive members are accusing Chairman Sam Nyamweya of 'running the operations of the Federation through exclusion'.

NEC members Terry and Tom Alila are leading the charge against Nyamweya.

But Nyamweya has rubbished the claims. He told a popular Kenyan daily that if the  Terry and Alila have an issue they should raise it with the various organs of the Federation.

‘“Just ignore them (Terry and Alila). If they have an issue they should raise it in our meetings. We are having a NEC meeting tomorrow (today) and anybody who has an issue should come forward and raise it with us’.

“If they feel there is no financial accountability they are at liberty to ask the financial committee to furnish them with the necessary financial statements,” Nyamweya was quoted as saying.

As at press time, the two sides are yet to agree on what Oliech and his pals would get for playing thus implying that the foreign legion that greatly helped the team against Eagles might not play in Kenya.

Meanwhile, the FKF has confirmed that the Eagles will play Harambee Stars at 60,000 capacity stadium called Moi International Sport Centre (MISC) in Kasarani on June 5.

In the same vein, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has expressed confidence that the team can make it to Brazil for the 2014 FIFA World Cup if it can win its home matches against Eagles and Brave Warriors of Namibia.

Dolphins launches internet TV

Dolphins Football Club of Port Harcourt has launched an internet television channel called Dolphinsfctv on youtube, we have gathered.

The channel, according to the club, is to get the club closer to its fans worldwide by allowing them see the team's games.

The club said on Wednesday that it was for now 'giving out just post match interviews but soon we will have clips of matches played and great goals scored.'

Dolphins is not new to innovation after blazing the trail on Facebook and Twitter. But this is an entirely new development in the local league.

In a related development, the club has said it is confident of winning the league title this year . According to the club's media officer, China Acheru while speaking on Tuesday, the club can pick up the title this year in spite of the odds it faces.

Meanwhile, Rangers has said that it would do its best to beat Kanduna United away in Kaduna in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Week 4 match between the two today.

Players and staff of Rangers, which is second on the log with seven points after Sunshine Stars that leads with the same number of points, departed for Kaduna on Wednesday as against the initial departure date of Tuesday earlier stated by the club management.

Insure Eagles for $1m now - Kalu tells NFF

Former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu has called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to insure the country's national soccer team, Super Eagles for the sum of $1million dollars to change the team's fortunes.

Kalu said in a series of tweets on his Twitter account on Wednesday that the idea of insuring the players of the team is to allow them be more effective when on assignments for the country.

He argued that if the players knew that they were insured, they would play without fear of injury since they know they would be compensated.

The same idea, he noted, worked while he was governor and had control of the state's darling team Enyimba International FC of Aba. It was during that time that Enyimba emerged back-toback champions of Africa in the CAF Champions League in 2003 and 2004.

"In my opinion, the Super Eagles should be insured, just like I insured Enyimba players during my tenure as Abia State Governor.

"Insure the Super Eagles players to the tune of 1 million dollars, and I can assure you that they will play with their all for Nigeria.

"If the players know that in the case of any injury on the pitch, they will be compensated, you will see just how super the eagles will be," Kalu explained.

In the same vein, Kalu criticised Coach Stephen Keshi for making changes to the squad that won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in February against the Harambee Stars of Kenya on Saturday.

According to, Keshi should have just fielded the same squad.

"The game against Kenya only goes to prove that one does not change a winning team. If I were Keshi, I would have paraded the entire Nations Cup team, excluding perhaps, the skipper Joseph Yobo," Kalu said.

Mba is Warri Wolves' player - NFF

.We paid N3.5m for him, says Wolves

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has ruled that Super Eagles striker, Sunday Mba belongs to Delta State club Warri Wolves and not contender Rangers International of Enugu.

NFF stated in a press release containing its findings on Wednesday that indeed Mba, a member of the victorious Super Eagles squad to the Nations Cup in South Africa, has 'has contractual obligations with Warri Wolves!'

The NFF revealed that in the light of this revelation, it would fix Sunday Mba's transfer fee should Wolves and Rangers fail to agree a fee for the player by Thursday.

NFF's revelation puts an end to the long wait for the rightful owner of the players' services following disagreements between the two clubs.

Meanwhile, the management of Wolves has revealed that it paid N3.5million to Rangers International of Enugu for the services of Super Eagles midfielder, Sunday Mba two years ago.

The club's media officer Moses Etu made this revelation on a radio programme monitored by our correspondent in Lagos on Tuesday.

According to Etu, the club is now in possession of the necessary documents to prove it paid for Mba and owns the player. These new documents will be in addition to the ones the club had earlier presented to show its ownership of Mba's services some weeks back.

The earlier documents included a contract signed by Mba with the Warri club and was dated December 20, 2011, Mba’s Players’ Registration Identity Card with Wolves and a letter showing the NPL League Management Committee’s confirmation of Mba’s status as Wolves’ player in reply to the club’s petition against Rangers International of Enugu on disagreement over the player on February 12.

A source close to the matter revealed that the owner of the player was Wolves, a fact that was quite clear to Rangers, he said. But the issue of Mba's worth in the event of a summer move abroad is what is keeping the coal city club hanging on.

'I love Nigeria, Eagles' says Milutinović

.Praises Eaglets preparations

Milutinovic

Erstwhile Super Eagles coach, Bora Milutinović has reiterated his delight at having coached the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

Speaking in Qatar, Milutinovic revealed that he loved Nigeria and had no regrets working with the country's national soccer team which just won its third African title earlier this year.

The 68-year-old Bora, who alongside Brazilian Carlos Parreira, has taken five countries to FIFA World Cup, said he has good memories of his brief stint with Nigeria.

“I love Nigerians and I'm happy to have worked with the Super Eagles at the France'98 World Cup," he said.

Milutinovic also commended the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) for organising a training tour of the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence in Doha for the Golden Eaglets ahead of the CAN U-17 Championship in April.

The vastly-travelled Serbian, who guided Nigeria to the France'98 World Cup, said it was imperative that the Nigerian youngsters be exposed to quality training facility at a centre such as Aspire, was quoted by the team's media officer Morakinyo Abodunrin as saying that the development of youths would eventually translate to success at the senior level on a long term.

"I'm happy to hear that the Nigerian Under-17 team is here at Aspire for training," said the Serbian while on a short visit to the Aspire’s administrative block on Monday.

"There is no better place to be than Aspire and I'm happy that the Nigerian Federation has brought these boys here because it is good for Aspire and NFF," he reasoned. “I had other engagements and that was why i was not at Aspire to see the match.”

Bora, Global Ambassador to Qatar 2022 World Cup and Technical Advisor at Aspire, said it was imperative to prepare youth teams ahead of competitions.

He said: “It is important to develop and prepare young players particularly for a championship and it is good for Nigeria to be here.

Qatar is the best place to be and bringing your young players is very nice because we have excellent facilities at Aspire.”

Keshi goes on vacation

.As Super Eagles reconvene in May

Keshi

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has proceeded on vacation in the United States of America to see his family, we can authoritatively report.

Keshi, who has been in Nigeria since December 16 when the Eagles' camp opened for the 2013 Nations Cup campaign at the Bolton White Hotel in Abuja is expected to be away until May when the Super Eagles will reconvene.

Team spokesman, Ben Alaiya confirmed on Tuesday that the Eagles handler had to go and see his family after being away for over three months.

"You know that 'The Big Boss' has been away from his family since Decmber 16 when the team began camping. So, he is now in the United States," Alaiya said.

Alaiya also disclosed that the team will return to camp in the middle of May when it begins preparations for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Kenya, Namibia and its international friendly matches, preparatory to the Confederations Cup slated for Brazil in June.

"Two of the friendly matches for the team, as you all know, have been confirmed while others are still in the pipeline," he said. "There is also the qualifiers against Kenya and Namibia to prepare for."

Super Eagles has a very tight schedule from May when it will play international friendly matches and play two World Cup qualifiers in about five days before the team heads to Brazil for its first Confederations Cup on June 17.