Osho: Remo should have got point against MFM FC

 

TECHNICAL Adviser of Remo Stars Football Club, Fatai Osho has downplayed Mountain of Fire Miracles and Ministry Football Club victory over the Sky Blue Stars on MatchDay 12 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on Sunday.

Speaking after the game, Osho feels that the result of the game between both sides was not a reflection of what happened on the field of play.

Stephen Odey bagged his 7th goal of the season from a penalty spot after Walbe David was adjudged by the match official to have fouled CNN Goal of The Week award winner, Sikiru Olatunbosun inside the box in the 14th minute of the game.

"Nothing spectacular went wrong in Sunday's south-west derby game, we came with a lot of expectations and we could have gotten something better."

"MFM FC has won, we have to give it to them because they did their best to win but I must be honest with you, the result wasn't actually a reflection of what happened on the field of play and a draw could have been a better result."

"We are a team in transit, we can't shy away from that but I can assure you that as we go on, we will definitely get better." Osho concluded.

The Sky Blues Stars will on Matchday 13 tackle Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS FC) of Ilorin at the Gateway International Stadium in Sagamu on Sunday.

MFM to host Rangers in Friday Night football

 

By Rasaq Oboirien 

THE Agege Stadium (Soccer Temple) will be agog on February 24 as it will host the season first Friday night game between Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM FC) of Lagos and defending champions, Rangers International of Enugu, reports NaijaSportsXtra.blogspot.com.

The fixture is a Matchday 10 clash which was originally fixed for Sunday 26th of February.

According to our source in the Olukoya Boys camp, "Our game against the Flying Antelopes will now hold on 24th of this month and it's going to be a Friday night game and the first of the season.

"The League Management Company (LMC) have notified us of the change after it adjusted the season fixtures, so as to accommodate that of the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup teams.

"However, since MFM FC will be out of NPFL action again this weekend owing to Wikki Tourists return leg fixture in the preliminary round, it was best we hosted the first night game of the season, claimed the LMC secretariat."

The club after its lone goal loss to ABS FC of Ilorin on Matchday 7, the Olukoya Boys should have hosted Rivers United at home and play away to Wikki.

The game will also be televised by SuperSports who are the television right owners of the Nigeria Professional Football League(NPFL).

Recall the club last season hosted their first Friday night game against Kano Pillars.

The Olukoya Boys are placed third on the NPFL log after seven matches with 13points.

Lagos FA to prosecute, ban irate fans, group-Akinwummi

 

By Rasaq Oboirien

LAGOS State Football Association(LAFA) says it will prosecute and ban any irate fan or group caught during Mountain of Fire Miracles Ministry (MFM FC) home games in the new Nigeria Premier League season.

Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) 1st Vice-President, Barrister Seyi Akinwummi dropped the bombshell during a seminar organized for both players and fans of the Olukoya Boys and Ikorodu United at the Agege Stadium on Thursday.

"Last season was not great for football in Lagos state, because the NPL teams came up at the beginning of the season which was fantastic, but at the end we almost lost it. So we'll not allow that to happen this season.

"I urge our real and loyal fans to please see it as a duty to fish out the fan, fans or group that would want to cause trouble during home games of MFM FC, Ikorodu United and other Lagos based teams too.

"We are aware that some of them are usually sponsored by other clubs just to cause trouble and in the long run want to paint our teams in a bad light, so we'll not allow that to happen this season.

"This season, security will be taken very seriously. I want to warn that the Lagos State FA will make sure the long arm of the law catches up with any irate fan or group found wanting this season.

"We'll also go the extra mile by handing such person,or group stadium ban and also have their pictures put in every stadia around the country.

"I want to assure you fans that LAFA will solidly back MFM FC and the other teams in the Nigeria National League in this regard.

MFM will miss Lagos Derby-Ilechukwu

 

By Rasaq Oboirien

FIDELIS Ilechukwu has admitted his Mountain of Fire FC side will miss the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) Lagos Derby against Ikorodu United, reports NaijaSportsXtra.blogspot.com.

Recall last season, the Olukoya Boys took 4points from the game drawing the first leg at the Onikan and claimed the Lagos bragging right in the reverse fixture at the Agege Stadium.

"We'll miss Ikorodu United, as last season's Lagos Derby was a tough. It gave me a checks and balance of my team too.

"I feel not understanding the league affected them too as they used grass-root players. I saw their training methods and watched some of games on television, they were too good to have relegated.

"But you can't fight the heavens as they a great team, seeing them drop to the lower division was sad."

On his plans for the upcoming season, the 'Working One' stated: "Our target is to retain our NPL status, however, we will give it our best shot once we are within reach of either winning the league or Federation Cup.

"My assistants and I, just want to have a team that's in good shape as one thing we have noticed is that the country's domestic league is very tough. The true performance of any team is assessed as from the second stanza of the season.

"More so, using grass-root players to execute the league was never an easy task too.

"One or two bitter lesson we learnt last season when we started well, later found ourselves fighting to escape relegation."

The Olukoya Boys escaped relegation winning their last game of the season against FC Ifeanyi Ubah.

Olatunbosun targets Gold Cup top scorers award

 

By Our Reporter

Mountain of Fire Miracle Ministries FC of Lagos ace, Sikiri Olatunbosun has vowed to win the Gold Cup Pre-season Tourney top scorers award, reports NaijaSportsXtra.blogspot.com.

The attacking midfielder who scored the tournament's first hat-trick in the Olukoya Boys 4-2 victory over FC Ebedei could have increase his total goal tally to four goals but missed a penalty in their final group game against Niger Tornadoes.

Playing against Ugbade's Remo Stars emotional-MFM Adekunle

MOUNTAIN of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club forward, Adekunle Adegboyega has predicted a tough Gold Cup semi final clash against newly promoted Nigeria Professional Football League( NPFL) side, Remo Stars Football Club in Ijebu-Ode on Friday December 2, 2016.
MFM FC booked the semifinal ticket of the 4th edition of the Nigeria's prestigious Pre-season Tournament after a 1-1 draw against Niger Tornadoes FC on Wednesday evening courtesy of 41st minute strike from Stephen Odey.
High-flying Remo Stars FC who qualified for the last four of the tourney with 8 points from 4 Gold Cup matches as Group B leaders will be up against the Olukoya Boys at the Pitch B of the Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium in one of the most talk about contests of the semi final. 
Adekunle believes his team will be victorious at the end of 90 minutes.
"It is going to be a tough and emotional encounter for us because Remo Stars have quality in all departments and the fact that our former chief coach Nduka Ugbade, is now their technical adviser, will make the match emotional for us.
"We have seen them played twice, we know how they play their games, they play with high intensity and they are very good with the ball but, I believe we will come out victorious at the end of the game," he told Gold Cup Media.

Lobi battle Pillars in Gold Cup semi-final

 

LOBI Stars of Makurdi will lock horns against Nigeria Premier League rivals, Kano Pillars in the semi-final of the ongoing Gold Cup Pre-Season Tournament in Ijebu-Ode, reports NaijaSportsXtra.blogspot.com.

The 'Food Basket' team who finished second in Group B came from behind to draw Crown FC 1-1, thus seeing them advance on superior goal difference was both teams were leveled on 6points each.

Jacob Friday continued his good run of form for the Ajilete Valiants scoring his sides only goal of the match against Lobi Stars after connecting a pass from enterprising Michael Peter before David Tykase restored parity for the Pride of Benue with a stunning strike.

Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries Football Club who are Group B leaders will host newly promoted Remo Stars in the other last four game.

Like Lobi Stars, the Olukoya Boys also came from behind to draw Niger Tornadoes 1-1 to go top of their group at the expense of The 'Food Basket' team.

Abiodun Yusuf, nodded home a right wing cross to put Niger Tornadoes in front after three minutes of quality football that held fans spell bound.

MFM's Sikiru Olatunbosun missed a 15th minute penalty before Stephen Odey drew level for the Olukoya Boys in the 41st minute. 

On Friday evening, Kano Pillars who tops Group A with 8points will set up a semi-final clash with Lobi Stars, while Remo Stars thus set up highly rated MFM FC in the other semi-final at the Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium. 

Odey shoots MFM FC to Gold Cup semis

 

STEPHEN Odey saved Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club blushes as his equalizing goal sent his club into the semi-final of the 4th edition of Gold Cup Pre-season Tournament after drawing Niger Tornadoes 1-1 in a keenly contested game.

Both teams began the fascinating encounter on a remarkable note with sublime passing skills. MFM FC's Ifeanyi Abara two minutes shot at goal was saved by Tornadoes goalkeeper, Edwin Nwankampa.

GOLD CUP: MFM FC Olatunbosun vows to bang in more goals

MOUNTAIN of Fire and Miracles Ministries FC skillful winger, Sikiru Olatunbosun announced his return to his team by scoring a hat trick against Nationwide League One (NLO) side, FC Ebedei at the 4th edition of Gold Cup Pre-season Tournament in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State on Monday, November 28, 2016.
Olatunbosun who was spotted in Akwa United FC's camp during their screening exercise joined the Lagos-based team last weekend in Ijebu-Ode.

GOLD CUP: MFM FC outsmarts Ebedei 4-2

 

MOUNTAIN of Fire and Miracles Ministries, MFM FC beat Nationwide League One (NLO) side, FC Ebedei 4-2 in their Group A game at the ongoing Gold Cup Pre-season Tournament in Ijedu-Ode.

Prior to this encounter Ebedei defeated Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Niger Tornadoes FC and played a goalless draw against Gold Cup defending champions, Kano Pillars but they failed  to repeat their fine form against Fidelis Ilechukwu's lads who appeared to be more tactical and technical.