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).

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. 

Ikorodu Utd's Onyelonu leaves Pillars camp for Wikki

 

By Rasaq Oboirien

IKORODU United striker, Chinedu Onyelonu has left Kano Pillars pre-season camp in Ijebu-Ode to join Baba Ganaru's Wikki Tourists, reports NaijaSportsXtra.blogspot.com.

Onyelonu who has been with the Sai Masu Gida team pre-season camping played in their 0-0 draw against Sunshine Stars.

An inside source revealed that: "He been dropped by coach Kadiri Ikhana as the gaffer said Onyelonu didn't meet his standard.

"So he and a few others were decamped allowing the Edo-born coach to concentrate on the team as the new season kick-off is less than 20 days away."

But as at this (Wednesday) morning another source informed that the striker is now training with CAF Confederation Cup flag-bearers Wikki Tourists of Bauchi.

The Ganaru's team are in Kaduna for the Shehu Dikki Pre-Season Cup which kicks today, December 30.

"Onyelonu is now with Wikki Tourist. I can't be exact if he was dropped by Ikhana, the little I know is that he left saying Ganaru showed in him.

Recall the 'Oga Boys' were relegated at the end of last season after claiming 32points from seven wins and 11 draws.

Baleria to NPL fans, clubs, watch out for Pillars

 

By Rasaq Obirien

COACH Kabiru Baleria has cautioned other Nigeria Premier League(NPL) clubs to be wary of Kano Pillars.

The ex-Maisu Gida youth team coach told NaijaSportsXtra.blogspot.com at the Gold Cup pre-season tourney that:"Pillars is growing strength from strength going by the performance of the players in our pre-season camping of Lokoja and now Ijebu-Ode.

"The coming of our new Technical Adviser, Kadiri Ikhana have changed the mentality of the players who now see themselves as title contenders after they failed to win a silverware at the end of last season.

"The players we have also recruited are responding to the TA's training methods. In no time and before the season kick-off, I expect that the old and new players would have blended.

"So to our fans and other Nigeria Premier League clubs, they should watch out for a deadly Kano Pillars."

Recall, the Pyramid team finished 7th on the Nigeria Premier League log with 52points. 

Why Olufemi Thomas left Pillars camp-source

By Our Reporter
GOALKEEPER Olufemi Thomas left Kano Pillars pre-season in Lokoja to Rivers United camp in Abuja, reports NaijaSportsXtra.blogspot.com
The Enyimba of Aba shot stopper who trained with the Maisu Gida team for two days was said to have absconded for reasons best known to him, even as he and his agent blamed Pillars management for a lack of communication.