Ndukwe apologizes to Remo Stars fans after Lobi draw

 

GOALKEEPER Chizoba Ndukwe expressed disappointment over his error against Lobi Stars in Match Day 9 of the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

Ndukwe spilled Kingsley Eduwo's shot to the path of Anthony Opkutu for a simple tap in to score the equaliser in the 48th minutes

"I felt so bad because something of this nature has never occurred in my career, I thought to myself to know what went wrong in the cause of the game but it's part of the game."

"I have been with the team for over two years plus and I have also been the number one man for the team, the error throw me off balance but I tried controlling my emotions on the field."

"I heard so many complains from the fans as regards my error after the game but I wasn't just myself."

"I also want to use this opportunity to appreciate my Coach, Fatai Osho, his words of encouragement has really assisted me to overcome the thoughts of my error."

"I have learnt my mistakes. I know by the grace of God, I won't make such mistakes again. One thing is to make mistakes, the other to to correct the mistakes immediately and never allow it to happen again."

"My fans aren't happy with me but am pleading with the fans not to be angry with me and I promise it won't happen again. All I need from you all are your prayers and support."Ndukwe said. 

I could not turn down Remo Stars offer-Osho

 

NEW Technical Adviser of Remo Stars, Fatai Osho has given his reasons why he accepted to return to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

Osho, a former coach of the Sky Blues in his first media chat with the club also spoke of his plans for the club and how he intends to move them from the drop zone.

The Bet9ja sponsored team are currently placed bottom of the log with 6points from seven matches after it recorded victories against Abi Warriors and El-Kanemi.

Recall it has lost two home games to Plateau United and Niger Tornadoes while its away form has been poor, as they have lost to Gombe United, Nasarawa United and Akwa United.

Below is the excerpts of Osho's first words:

RSFC MEDIA: How does it feel to be back?

OSHO: It's quite emotional for me I was going through the streets of Ikenne on Sunday, I was looking at the buildings and it's been a while I saw all these and it's really emotional coming back and that can only spur me to do better.

Have been here once it's not a new terrain to me, one way or the other have played one or two roles in bringing the club to where it is now and we want to be a club that would be playing in the CAF Champions League and that's the target.

Expectations on your second calling?

Well based on my exploit last season with Crown FC it was not that easy because everybody believed this year we have to build on the little we achieved last season but there is no way I could turn a Remo Stars offer down, this is where I started my football as a professional coach and the Chairman Is like a father figure it's definitely impossible for me to say I would not come.

My coming back I want to see it has something better than what we were

able to achieve the last time.

What are your plans to change Remo Stars current position on the log?

When you start the league and you have played 5-8 matches, the margin between the league leaders and the last team is not a gap that cannot be redeemed. We are in a position that within 2-4 victories, we get into the first five, then stabilize and start looking at the continental ticket cause I believe we can still do that and thats what

I tried to make the lads understand this morning and we believe we can do that.

Your thoughts on the brand of football the fans know you to play?

Honestly in terms of the philosophy it has not changed but what would have change is within the time I left I have been able to acquire one or two things maybe that would be the surprise they would see but in terms of how we going to play our football there won't be any difference.

If you leave your house to come and watch a football game, then you are spending your money and time and you meet a team that wins the game and gets you entertained cause that's what you have to take home so we have to entertain our fans with the orientation of getting result.  Its what I call the sugar concept and you are going to enjoy it.

Whats your take on the current squad you have at your disposal?

Before now have been monitoring, have watched them play here during my leisure time and I believe they can do it. All we need to do is to create a new mentality for them if we don't defeat ourselves it will be difficult for anybody to defeat us.

The lads we have on ground are capable of bringing smiles to the faces of our fans and management and we have what it takes to defeat Lobi Stars come Sunday.

Osho drills Remo Stars ahead Lobi Stars game

 

By Rasaq Oboirien 

FATAI Osho today (Monday) conducted his first training session with Remo Stars players at the Gateway Stadium, Sagamu, reports NaijaSportsXtra.blogspot.com.

The former Crown FC of Ogbomoso coach was 24hours ago confirmed as the new Technical Adviser to the Sky Blues Stars who are rock bottom of the NPFL log on 20th with 6points.

Recall less than two weeks ago, the newly promoted Nigeria a Professional Football League (NPFL) team parted ways with former Eaglets assistant coach, Nduka Ugbade  after contract negotiations hit the rocks.

The disciplinarian coach and his Chief Coach, Shola Ibrahim Adewuyi at 7am this morning introduced captain, Victor Mboama and his mates to his training methods.

Both coaches will be making a return to the club after they left at the end of 2013/2014 Nigeria National League Season.

Osho is expected to make his NPFL debut in the dugout when Remo Stars host Lobi Stars of Makurdi on Matchday 9.

Meanwhile, the management of Shooting Stars of Ibadan have sent their kind words to Osho following his move to Remo Stars.

The Oluyole Warriors via their Twitter handle‏ ‪@Official3SC, "Our best wishes to .@FataiOsho on his return to ex-club, @RemoStarsFC. Congratulations, our brother, our friend," the tweet read.‬

Remo Stars victory well deserved-Ugbade

 

NDUKA Ugbade says it's a well deserved victory for his Remo Stars that have no experience in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) as they ended Abia Warriors unbeaten run to record their first victory of the season.

A delighted Ugbade who thanked his lads said in a post-match chat: "It's a deserved victory that the guys who have no experience before in the NPFL have now been able to get their first victory in the league."

"The next thing here is to keep fighting for every match, points and getting wins and draws, this will boost them psychologically to know that there is nothing there."

"All that is there is experience and it can be acquired over a period of time, though we don't have too much of time in a league that is more like a marathon."

Victor Mbaoma's penalty kick was enough to give Remo Stars it's awaited first win of the season against Abia Warriors in the Match Day three of the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL.

The goal came in the 90th minute when Abia Warriors defender handled the ball in the box while trying to stop the Sky Blue Stars from getting a goal.

It was an entertaining 90minutes at the Gateway International Stadium, Sagamu as both sides thrilled the fans.

The game started on a high as Remo Stars had chances of getting a goal ahead of the visitors in the early minutes of the game.

Mbaoma and Umar Martaba had chances to score for the Sky Blue Stars but Abia Warriors' Agbor Ekoi denied the lads on different occasions.

Nonso Paul's shot was denied by the upright of the pole in the closing minutes of the first half.

The second half started with the visitors piling pressure on the home team.

Chizoba Ndukwe had two chances of Abia Warriors saved late in the closing minutes of the game.

Fans of Remo Stars were thrown into jubilation mood after Mbaoma scored his third goal of the season from the spot to make it three goals in three games.

The next point of call for the Sky Blue Stars is an away game against Nasarawa United on Wednesday.

Remo Stars will get season right against Abia Warriors-Ugbade

 

NDUKA Ugbade says his young Remo Stars squad will put their debut season back on a wining track when they host Abia Warriors at the Gateway International Stadium, Sagamu on Matchday 3.

Speaking after the 2-1 defeat to Gombe United, a calm Ugbade remained positive that his wards will recover from the back-to-back defeats.

"The boys played well today, Technical we were better and am positive my boys will recover from this loss and get the season up and running in our next home game against Abia Warriors.

The Sky Blue Stars will head back to Sagamu as they prepare to get their season back on track with a win.

It's was a game of misfortune for Remo Stars as Fabason Djoufouna 87th minute strike secured maximum points for Gombe United and ended the dreams of Remo Stars picking a point on the road.

The Sky Blue Stars drew first blood after Captain Victor Mbaoma converted a free kick beautiful in the 20th minute and Ndukwe was right on point to make consecutive saves to deny Gombe United an equaliser after the restart.

Manir Ubale was close in giving the host the leveler as his header hits the crossbar.

In the 37th minute Gombe United wins a FK and a powerful cross by Ogundele Ola was headed into his own net by Oshobe Shuji and Gombe got their equaliser.

The first half ended in level terms and at the start of the second half Gombe United showed intent and approached the game more physically but we're contained by the offside trap as the high line defence of the Sky Blue Stars did a decent job.

Late into the second have in the 87th minute Fabason Djoufouna who arrived late into the box was right on time to slot home a low cross from Giwa Isaac to give the dessert scorpions the lead and eventually the winning goal of the encounter.

Coaches, players await new NPL official match balls

 

By Rasaq Oboirien

COACHES and players of the 20 Nigeria Premier League teams await the supply of the season's official match balls by the League Management Company (LMC), reports NaijaSportsXtra.blogspot.com.

Checks on the clubs activities revealed that no club has got any supplies from the country's domestic football regulators let alone train with the new balls.

In most pre-season games involving the topflight teams and practice sessions, the team play with last season's match balls while the newly promoted teams of Kastina United, ABS FC, Gombe United and Remo Stars train with personal balls.

Opinions of players and coaches on the development informed of anxiousness or fear.

Some who spoke on condition of anonymity said: "Good idea from the LMC but as players, we needed to have practiced with the official match ball. Take for example, am an attacker-cum-winger, I don't know if my pace can match that of the ball or my final ball from a cross would get to where I want it to get to for the strikers to score.

"In a nut-shell, we don't know the quality of these balls."

Another player, a goalkeeper said:"I don't know if the new match ball is a jabulani, how would I deal with its pace when I have not trained with it with my trainer. 

"I could be blamed for an own-goal from fans, little would they know we have not trained with the new NPL match balls.

A top coach of one of the clubs while making his comment said, "Logistics could have been the problem supplying these match balls to clubs, however, I don't think we should start making excuses rather prepare our teams for the season which kicks off this weekend.

"Ideally the coaches ought to have been training with the squad with the match ball. Nowadays these balls can be funny, looking at the technology behind producing them.

"I want to urge the LMC to make available the official season match balls to the various clubs on time."

The new season kicks off with a high profile game between Kano Pillars and FC IfeanyiUbah who are both Federation and Charity Cup winners at the Sani Abacha Stadium today(Saturday).

I won't owe Remo Stars players, Soname vows

 

KUNLE Soname has vowed not to owe his Remo Stars players a kobo as the club makes its debut in the Nigeria Premier League which kicks off this weekend.

While addressing the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Ogun State Chapter at the MKO Abiola International Stadium on Thursday, Soname says the country's systemic cheating has refused clubs to pay players salaries, wages and incentives.

"The country's systemic cheating has refused clubs to pay player's salaries, wages and incentives considering the fact that they are still compelled to play without getting their pays."

"Our management will never owe any player salaries or any monetary reward due to them because the players are the actors of the footballing industry."

"We will motivate the actors in order to appreciate them for a job well done in the cause of the upcoming games in the NPFL."

He also pleaded with all stakeholders in the country to work hands in glove in order to take Nigeria Football to it's greater height.

Remo Stars host Plateau United in their first game of the season at the Gateway International Stadium,Shagamu. 

LMC okay Shagamu Stadium for Remo Stars

 

By Our Reporter

THE League Management Company (LMC) have given the Gateway Stadium in Shagamu the nod to host Remo Stars home games, reports NaijaSportsXtra.blogspot.com.

It scooped during the week that the place got its final approval close to two months the LMC stadium inspection visited the Gateway Stadium.

Recall Remo Stars gained promotion into the topflight division last season having played their home matches at the Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode.

Information shared on social media platform, Twitter also informed that The Sky Blues Stars will on Sunday play their debut NPL game against visiting Plateau United at the close to 12,000 capacity Gateway Stadium.

Meanwhile, His Royal Highness the Ewusi Makun of Sagamu pledges his support for  Remo Stars FC.

The Bet9ja sponsored team paid him a courtesy visit recently to seek royal blessings from the traditional ruler.

Chizoba vows to keep Remo Stars up

 

REMO Stars shot-stopper, Chizoba Ndukwe has indicated he's willingness and readiness to ensure the team maintains its new status in the Nigeria Professional Football League, (NPFL).

Speaking with RSFC Media, he says "I am willing and ready to assist the team in maintaining the NPFL status by God's grace".

"God assisted me and the team during the NNL season to gain promotion and I am very sure he will do the same when the NPFL season starts in some days time".

Chizoba who was the team's number one goalkeeper during the club's time in the Nigeria National League, (NNL) hailed the team for doing the greater job of making sure the club secured the NPFL slot.

"It's a delight to have the team gain promoted, I appreciate my teammates for doing the greater job during the NNL season and I am sure they will do the same in the NPFL".

The Sky Blue Stars will play Plateau United in the first game of the new NPFL season scheduled for the 15th of January, 2017.

Remo Stars win NNL Super4 losers final

 

By Rasaq Oboirien

REMO Stars on Thursday evening claimed the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 4 third place trophy after they defeated Gombe United 1-3 on penalties, reports NaijaSportsXtra.blogspot.com.

Oche Salefu gave the bet9ja sponsored team the lead in the 41st minute after he capitalized on Gombe United's school boy defending to tap into the net, to the dismay of the home fans at the Pantami Stadium.

The Savannah Scorpions were at various times denied by Ndukwe in the second whose risky save almost caused him an injury in the closing minute of the game.

He had to receive treatment for about three minutes after a Gombe United player collided with him when contesting for a ball.

The home team were then handed a penalty for a hand ball in the box by a Remo Stars defender in the 84th minute.

Maurice Chigozie then leveled the score line to 1-1 putting his spot kick to the left bottom corner of the post, thus sending Remo Stars goalkeeper the wrong way.

The Sky Blues who scored three of their kicks had their shot stopper, Chizoba Ndukwe to thank as he was at his best after he saved two Savannah Scorpions spot kicks while their third hit the wood work.

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. 

I won't fund Remo Stars as from next season- Soname

 

PRESIDENT of the newly promoted Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL)side, Remo Stars Football Club, Honorable Kunle Soname has talked up his team's chances to make a meaningful impact as they begin new life in the apex league in the country.

The former board member of Nigeria NationL League (NNL)in an interview with sports writers at the ongoing Gold Cup Preseason Tournament in Ijebu-Ode on Monday.




What's your impression about the ongoing 4th Gold Cup Preseason Tournament?

I will say that it's a fairly well organized competition, well covered in terms of media, clearly I guess that had to do with caliber of people organizing the tournament, as Media men you will expect their colleagues will rally round them, but sincerely I will give it a good pass park.

Ekene shoots Remo Stars to Gold Cup semis

NEWLY promoted Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Remo Stars have qualified for the semi finals of the Gold Cup Preseason Tournament after defeating non league side, FC Yobo 3-2 in the final round of Group B match.
The Sky Blue Stars started like a house on fire and it paid off in the 2nd minute after Ekene Awazie scored from a nice build up.
Ekene doubled the lead with a beautiful finish just after 15 minutes into the game before Chukuma Emmanuel pulled one back for FC Yobo in the 37th minute of the game.
Yobo FC started the second half brilliantly but they couldn't make all their efforts in front of goal count against the NPFL newcomers.
In the 52nd minute of the game, Francis Nwako rounded FC Yobo goalkeeper to shoot into the net to make the scoreline 3-1.
FC Yobo missed couple of chances before Bright Ogbonna scored with a sublime freekick to end the game on an interesting note.
Remo Stars garnered 8 points from four matches and will be up against an unconfirmed opponent from group A on Thursday evening.

Enyimba, Remo Stars lock in talks for Adebogun

                                                         

                                                  By Rasaq Oboirien

SEVEN times Nigeria Premier League champions, Enyimba FC of Aba and newly promoted, Remo Stars are lock in talks for attacking midfielder, Adebogun Omatayo, reports NaijaSportsXtra.blogspot.com.

The petit player who last season was loaned to Giwa FC and then moved to Shooting Stars of Ibadan after the Jos team was banished from the elite division by the League Management Company (LMC) for breaking its rule governing the domestic league.

Adebogun who was spotted training with the Aba Elephants in their pre-season camp of Ijebu-Ode may not go cheap going by our source.

"He has made his intentions known to Remo Stars that Enyimba is his preferred destination after playing under coach Gbenga Ogunbote both at Giwa FC and 3SC.

"The problem he's now having is for both his parent club, The Sky Blues and Enyimba to agree on a transfer fee.

"Once that is done, I see no reason why he shouldn't play for the People's Elephants in the new season which is expected to kick-off on December 18."

Enyimba who went trophy less last season, will be hoping to give other teams a run for the NPL title this season.