After Bamako Sad Experience: Mimiko Hosts Sunshine Stars

Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko

Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, on Sunday hosted players and officials of the Sunshine Stars to a dinner  in Akure after the sad experience of been trapped in crisis-ridden Bamako, Mali last week.

The governor who was full of praises to God for sparing the lives of the players and officials urged Sunshine Stars not to be deterred by the experience but strive to win the CAF Champions League title for the country.

“Don’t be discouraged with what happened in Mali. You have to re-double your effort and go for the trophy. God has reason for sparing your lives in Mali at this stage of the competition. What you need now is determination and confidence. God will surely see us through to the final,” observed the sports loving governor at the Rev Emmanuel Bolanle Gbonigi Hall in the Ondo capital city.

Earlier, the Chairman of the state football agency, Segun Adagunodo, who was in the second batch of the contingent that was trapped in Bamako, recounted the ordeal.

“We saw hell in Bamako because what we went through was like a war situation,” Adagunodo told governor and the audience.

“We were trapped in the hotel and we were hearing gun shots as if it was music. There was a particular day the soldiers stormed our hotel in search of ‘enemies’. It was a traumatic experience for us. We thank God we came back alive.

“But I must say that the Nigerian Ambassador to Mali did not do well. While the crisis was on, I put several calls across to him, but he refused to respond. I thought the ambassadors were posted to foreign countries because of things like this.

“He was with us during the match and even in the hotel after we drew, but to my greatest surprise, he abandoned us at the time we needed him most.”

Meanwhile, Sunshine Stars won the 2012 Ondo State FC Cup, beating Rising Stars on penalties.

AFN/NDDC League: Police Dominate Third Leg

Nigerian athletes

Police athlete, Ademola Akomolafe, at the weekend won the 100m event of the 3rd leg of the 2012 AFN/NDDC Golden League in Akure to make it almost impossible for any of the sprinters to lay claim to the jackpot prize.

But before Akomolafe posted his 10.62 against a head wind, the 100m final was not without its usual drama at the sports complex of the Federal University of Technology, Akure. Abia sprinter, Jonathan Mmaju who placed second in the Port Harcourt leg in 10.38 behind Bamidele Taiwo beat the starter’s gun and so got disqualified.

Just like Usain Bolt at the last World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, Mmaju lost the chance of picking the N30,000 at stake and the chance to also push for a share of the jackpot prize at the final.

Another police athlete, Tamuno Briggs (10.65) picked the silver while Chukwuma Onyeakwu (10.69) of the Customs club settled for the bronze. Both Bamidele Taiwo who won the event in Port Harcourt  skipped the Akure leg while favourites, Elvis Ukale of Delta State was clearly off form and failed to place in the final.

“I am glad that I have proved here that I merited my invitation to the second phased national camp in Port Harcourt. This is my state and I know this track because I train here,” gushed the police athlete, who admitted missing the inspirational support of late Technical Director of the AFN, Sunday Bada.

In the women version, Delta sprinter, Margaret Benson, easily won the race in 11.71 while Peace Uko (11.75) of Ondo and Susan Obehi Akene (11.77) of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) placed second and third respectively.

Benson who won the 100m, 200m and the 4x100 events gold of this year’s Nigeria Polytechnics Games (NIPOGA) at the Federal Poly, Ede, swept past all, including, Josephine Omaka many had hoped would challenge her for the top prize.

“I almost lost the race because I slept on the blocks. The 11.71 I ran in this final is not as good as my PB of 11.58 in the heat,” observed the Otefe Polytechnic Business Administration major.

In the women long jump, Chinasom Amadi who won the first and second leg added this third leg to make her one of the sure bets for the jackpot prize.

Although the Civil Defence Academy jumper was unable to reproduce the 6.44m she opened her season with at the Shagamu All Comers, Amadi leapt 6.15m to clinch this third leg in Akure.

As it happened in both Port Harcourt and Nsukka, Mary Otoaruoh (5.96) of Mega Rocks and Adewunmi Ademuwagun (5.90) of the Police placed second and third respectively.

Another athlete in the fray for a share of the jackpot prize is Benue State middle distance, Agber Shiminenge. She also won this third leg in 2.11;52 mins. NSCDC runner, Philo Ihekandu (2.12;34) was second while the bronze went to Tobi Ashamu (2.14;14) of Oyo State .

Warri is to host the fourth leg of the Golden League on May 19 before the final leg slated for the main-bowl of the National Stadium in Abuja.

Yekini: Keshi Leads Coaches, Officials to Sign Condolence Register

Stephen Keshi

Super Eagles technical crew and backroom staff on Tuesday evening took time off their schedule and on behalf of the players signed the condolence register of legendary striker, Rashidi Yekini, who died in Ibadan last Friday and has since been buried according to Muslim rites.

National team Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi led the team to the NFF Glass House in Abuja and was accompanied by assistant, Dan ‘the bull’ Amokachi, Sylvanus Okpala, Houandonou Valere and goalkeeper’s trainer, Ike Shorunmi.

Other officials who were there are team psychologist Robinson Okosun, scribe of the team, Dayo Enebi Achor, equipment manager, Chidi Ngoka, team doctor, Ibrahim Gyaran, physiotherapist, Wale Oladejo and Media Officer, Ben Alaiya.

The team was received by the NFF Scribe, Musa Amadu and afterwards headed back to camp to start preparation for training on Tuesday morning.

Below is some of what the coaches wrote on the condolence register:

Stephen Keshi: A wonderful person, a great player that our youths need to emulate. Sweet Sleep Yekini.

Dan Amokachi: A great loss to the football world. You would be missed the legendary goalscorer.

Sylvanus Okpala: A hero is gone, may his sould rest in Peace.

Houadonou Valere: A wonderful person, a great football titan.

Ike Shorunmu: Gangling, Rest In Peace

Taribo Recalls UCL Excitement at Heineken Planet

Former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West 

Former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West has become the latest UEFA Champions League emeritus to grace the Heineken Champions Planet and describing his experience in the world's most prestigious clubs competition as akin to a planetary trip.

"It's really one of the greatest experience any footballer can wish to have. The ambience as well as the extra ordinary attitude of the fans, especially when you are playing away from home gives you a feeling that you have come to another planet.

"It was a great honour for me to have played alongside global football greats like Roberto Baggio and the Brazilian Ronaldo when I was featuring for Inter Milan and later AC Milan. Baggio had extra ordinary talent with his ability to inspire other team members," said Taribo.

Many Nigerians will not easily forget the inspirational role that Baggio played in the elimination of the Super Eagles at the round of 16 of the USA '94 World Cup. With barely 90 seconds to end the game, Baggio struck to cancel Nigeria's 1-0 lead and went ahead to smash in the winner in an extra time penalty kick.

Even though Taribo did not make the Super Eagles' team to the USA '94, two years later, he was part of the history-making Nigerian side that became the first team outside Europe in 68 years to win the gold medal in the football event of the Olympics. The high point of their feat was the semi final encounter with Brazil.

"Even when we were down 1-3 at half time, Bonfere Jo (the coach) inspired us in the dressing room, telling us we could still make it. Remember that Brazil had some of the great players like Bebeto, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo; we too had stars like Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Ikpeba and Daniel Amokachi.

"We grew from match to match and that gave us the edge that we can match Brazil having lost to them in the group stage. We eventually levelled up at 3-3 and scored the golden goal in the extra time.

"After Brazil, we were more confident that we could take on Argentina who also had great players like Ortega, Diego Simone, Roberto Ayala and Cresco. My wish is that Nigeria can raise soon, another formidable squad like the one I featured for in the 1990s," said Taribo West.

Taribo, who has been a regular visitor at the Heineken Champions Planet in the previous seasons, was impressed at the aesthetic value of the exclusive venue on his first visit this season saying it can only get better if Heineken can sustain tempo and continue to raise the bar.

NFF: Sidney Sam May Not be Good for Eagles

Leverkusen’s Nigerian winger, Sidney Sam 

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has cautioned on the reported willingness of Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi to cap Sidney Sam, when it declared that the German born midfielder as not good enough for the national team.

Keshi has not hidden his desire to hold talks in Germany with the Bayer Leverkusen winger on the possibility of making him a Nigerian international.

But NFF Secretary General Musa Amadu, poured cold water on the reported interest by saying that Sam is not as good as the media is making him to look.

“This too much talk concerning Sidney Sam is not necessary as he is not good enough for the Eagles. We have players that are better than him in the local league and in the senior team. Even he is rated the number four-player in his position in German pecking order,” Amadu blasted.

Sam has continued to make the headlines in Nigeria with report yesterday even claiming that the player who had already been capped by Germany at youth levels may have communication problems with his Nigerian team mates, as he speaks no English language.

Even if Keshi eventually initiates the move to land Sidney, Amadu said there is no guarantee that the winger would play a role in Nigeria’s busy programmes in June because the processes of securing his switch will take more than 90 days.

NFF: Sidney Sam May Not be Good for Eagles

Leverkusen’s Nigerian winger, Sidney Sam 

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has cautioned on the reported willingness of Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi to cap Sidney Sam, when it declared that the German born midfielder as not good enough for the national team.

Keshi has not hidden his desire to hold talks in Germany with the Bayer Leverkusen winger on the possibility of making him a Nigerian international.

But NFF Secretary General Musa Amadu, poured cold water on the reported interest by saying that Sam is not as good as the media is making him to look.

“This too much talk concerning Sidney Sam is not necessary as he is not good enough for the Eagles. We have players that are better than him in the local league and in the senior team. Even he is rated the number four-player in his position in German pecking order,” Amadu blasted.

Sam has continued to make the headlines in Nigeria with report yesterday even claiming that the player who had already been capped by Germany at youth levels may have communication problems with his Nigerian team mates, as he speaks no English language.

Even if Keshi eventually initiates the move to land Sidney, Amadu said there is no guarantee that the winger would play a role in Nigeria’s busy programmes in June because the processes of securing his switch will take more than 90 days.

Saintfeit Won't Interfere with Keshi’s Job

Newly appointed NFF Technical Director, Tom Saintfeit 

Any possible clash between the Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi and Tom Saintfeit has been doused after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Monday night clarified the schedule of duty of the two coaches.

Belgian Saintfeit was last week appointed as the technical director of Nigeria by the board of the federation.

NFF Secretary General, Musa Amadu, insisted Monday night that Keshi will not be submitting his programmes to Saintfeit for vetting, as the Belgian is not the technical adviser to the national teams, contrary to insinuations in some quarters.

According to Amadu, the only authority Keshi will continue to discuss his programmes with for ratification is the technical committee, while Saintfeit will be limited to formulating grassroots developmental programmes for Nigerian football.

“Keshi is the Eagles coach and will not in anyway be reporting to Saintfeit. There will not be any clash whatsoever because his programmes will not pass through the technical director for approval. Saintfeit is expected to resume in Nigeria as soon as possible and the target we have for him is to develop grassroots football in the country. He will not have anything with the Eagles,” Amadu insisted.

The federation scribe said that while Saintfent will keep a home in Abuja, the Belgian will travel the length of the country by conducting coaching clinics and assisting the clubs in their youth training.

“He (Saintfeit) is contacted to conduct clinics for our coaches and work in grooming talents at the grassroots. His job is not on the medium term which means that we should be able to assess his contributions to our football development after many years,” Amadu said.

Saintfeit was once the former coach of Namibia and Kenya and will be placed on monthly salary of $20,000 (about N3.2 million) in his new capacity with Nigeria.