Determined to bounce back into reckoning and take its place among the elite clubs in Nigeria, Abia Warriors Football Club has strengthened the team with the signing of four additional players. The players include Chinenye Agoha, Chima Ndukwu, James Nicholas and returnee, Binaebi Johnson. Johnson, who featured for Abia Warriors last season, had failed in […]
via ABIA WARRIORS STRENGTHENS SQUAD… SIGNS FOUR PLAYERS — newfanzoneblog
Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia Chairman, Chief Emeka Inyama has described as mischievous and misleading, a report credited to him in one of Nigeria’s respected all-sports National tabloids, where he was quoted as saying that Referees are killing the Nigerian League. Chief Inyama who angrily reacted to the publication, questioned the authenticity of the […]
via I DIDN’T CRITICIZE THE REFEREES, INYAMA — newfanzoneblog
The League Management Company’s special delegation that inspected facilities at the Umuahia Township Stadium in readiness for the kick off of this season’s Nigeria Professional Football League has concluded its assignment.
Some of the facilities inspected by the delegation at the Abia Warriors Football Club home ground include the playing turf, the dressing rooms for both home and away teams, the press stand, public conveniences, referees dressing rooms, the VIP stand among others.
The two-man special delegation which included Chief Okey Kpaluku a Director of the League Management Company and veteran sports administrator Emeka Iwuagwu also inspected the media and technical facilities at the stadium.
At the end of the inspection exercise, the team said they have seen the facilities on ground, but said that there was still room for improvement.
The team however could not disclose to newsman what their feelings were, insisting that they would write their report and submit same to LMC, which according to them, have the final say.
“We have seen the facilities you have on ground but there is still room for you to upgrade. We will write our report to the LMC and they will communicate you accordingly”, Kpalukwu said.
In his reaction, the Chairman of Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia, Chief Emeka Inyama who had earlier welcomed the team to the Umuahia Township Stadium, commended them for doing a thorough job and expressed confidence that the LMC’s response to their report will be favourable to Abia Warriors.
Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia have continued their build-up to the forthcoming Nigeria professional Football League season with victories in-two pre-season friendly matches.
The Warriors, who finished 10th last season, have indicated their resolve to go for the title in its third year in the Premier League and have engaged some local sides in tune-up games.
At the weekend, Abia Warriors beat LEGENDS FC of Aba 1-0 at the Umuahia Township Stadium with youngster, Michael Olaha netting the only goal through a trade mark free kick.
In another friendly, Enize Emmanuel and Agoha Chinenye scored as the Warriors defeated visiting FOOTPRINTERS Football Club of Owerri 2-0 at the same venue.
Speaking after the friendly match, Godstime Enyerenwa who took the FOOTPRINTERS to Umuahia said the outcome was harsh on them as the team deserved a better result.
Enyerenwa, who revealed that he has bankrolled the National Division Two outfit within the last five years, said the team just regrouped after the Christmas and New Year break, pointing and that they will be stronger and more cohesive before the National League kicks off.
On his own part, Abia Warriors Manager, Kennedy Boboye said he was using the friendly matches to tune-up the boys for the challenges ahead adding that he was happy at the progress made so far.
According to him, the team will soon go into closed camping to finalize strategies for the forthcoming season.
ABIA WARRIOR RESUME TRAINING…engage in friendlies
Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia have resumed training for the new season after observing the Christmas and New Year break granted the players by the technical crew.
Addressing the players, Coach Kennedy Boboye thanked God for the journey mercies granted them and wished them well. Boboye said everybody should brace up for the challenges ahead as Abia Warriors have a target to meet at the end of the season.
Abia Warriors Chairman, Chief Emeka Inyama, who watched the training session with members of his Board, reminded the players and their coaches of the need to work very hard in order to meet the club’s target of winning the league for the first time or at least picking a continental ticket at the end of the season.
Chief Inyama, who described Abia Warriors as one of the best managed sides in the land, revealed that management takes the welfare of the team seriously as no player, Official or staff is owed salaries, allowances or match bonuses and promised to render all the necessary assistance to enable the team excel.
He told the coaches to rely more on the already established stars in the land rather than engage in an open screening as there would be no time to accommodate that since kick off date for the new season is barely three weeks ahead.
Meanwhile, Abia Warriors crushed local rivals, New Generation Football Club 5-0 in a pre-season friendly at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
Sheriff Bashir, Kalu Nweke, Esobe Chukwudi, Elvis Okoroafor and Benenoir International, Ajayi Musa scored the goals for the Warriors.
Coach Boboye, who expressed happiness at the scoreline while briefing newsman, said more friendlies would be arranged for the team in order to put the boys in a more competitive spirit before the beginning of the season.
The former Sunshine Stars tactician said the friendlies would also be used to properly assess the players under a match situation disclosing that the players who failed to meet his standard would be shown the way out.
The Abia State Government has awarded contract for the reconstruction of the Umuahia Township Stadium in readiness for the kick-off of the 2015/16 Premier League season.
Chairman of Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia, Chief Emeka Inyama disclosed this at the club’s secretariat during an end-of-year get-together organized by the management and board for staff, supporters club and well wishers.
He disclosed that MONIMICHELLE Sports Facility Construction Limited will handle the reconstruction project, assuring that work will be completed before the beginning of the season.
The chairman also announced that the State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu will soon perform the ground-breaking ceremony of the club’s 40-hectare sports complex situated in Umuahia.
According to him the first phase of the project will begin next month and will include the construction of an ultra modern office complex, a 40-room hostel for the players and two practicing pitches while the second phase will witness the construction of a multi-purpose hall, a three-star hotel, an ultra-modern housing estate and a swimming pool which will generate money for the club.
He said most of the job will be carried out in partnership with the private sector, pointing our talks have also reached an advanced stage with a Chinese firm in this regard.
The chairman disclosed that when finalized, the deal will run into millions of naira and save the government the inconveniences of sponsoring such huge projects.
He commended the state Governor for having the interest to carry the burden of sponsoring two premier league sides and a National League club despite all odds disclosing that Abia Warriors remains the only side without having money issues with either management, staff or players as the club has paid salary up to December, 2015 and is not owing any match allowance or bonuses.
Chief Inyama said the club will continue to be run professionally in order to set the pace and urged the technical crew led by Kennedy Boboye to do its best to win the league or at least grab a continental ticket at the end of the season.
The ceremony was attended by members of the supporters club, the Abia State Director of Sports, Isaac Ogbonnaya Isaac, a representative of the sports Ministry, Boniface Arukwe, members of the Abia State football Association and the club’s supporters and well wishers.
Abia Warriors petit mid-fielder, Anthony Okemmiri shone like a million stars and was voted the man-of-the-match by sports writers who covered the week 36 Glo Premier League encounter between Abia Warriors Football Club and Enyimba International of Aba at the Umuahia township Stadium at the weekend which Enyimba won 1-0.
The Uzuakoli, in Abia State – born former Dolphins of Port Harcourt and Kwara United Utility player, who joined the Umuahia based Warriors this season, also won the maiden edition of the award in Abia Warriors’ last home match against Lobi Stars of Makurdi a fortnight ago also in Umuahia.
Tony beat his closest rival, Mfon Udoh of Enyimba who scored the only goal in the Abia derby to cart home the award instituted by the Abia Warriors management to encourage the players put up their best during home games.
Receiving the award from a business mogul Chief Obioma Okorie, Tony expressed gratitude to the management of Abia Warriors for initiating the award, adding that he was humbled and honoured to win it back-to-back and particularly against a star- studded Enyimba side promising that he will continue to do his best to lift Abia Warriors to greater heights.
Earlier, Chief Obioma Okorie, who was the guest of honour at the match, described Tony as a highly skilful footballer, predicting that he would go places if he keeps his head low.
The much publicized Abia “el-Classico”, lived up to expectations as the two sides kept it tight. Enyimba was awarded a penalty in the first half but captain, Chinedu Udoji shot tamely into the waiting hands of Chinedu Anozie, in goal for the Warriors.
As the game wore on, the capacity crowd which included the State Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, thought it could end goalless until substitute, Mfon Udoh broke lose from the left side and dragged the ball beyond Bassey Akpan.
The Warriors attack, led by Super Eagles striker, Chisom Chikatara, bombarded the Enyimba defence ceaselessly but could not find the equalizer.
Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia lethal striker, Chisom Chikatara, who scored a hat-trick last weekend in Umuahia against visiting Enugu Rangers International in a week 32 Glo Premier League encounter, said he would have preferred all the three points for his team rather than the individual glory of scoring a hat-trick in a 3-3 home draw.
Chikatara, who looked forlorn after the game despite his heroics, said Abia Warriors needed all the three points at stake to improve their standing on the league table and boost their chances of picking a continental ticket at the end of the season.
“I thank God for giving me three goals today but I would have loved it more if we won the match. For me at this time, three points is better than scoring three goals and sharing the points”, the Ibeku-Umuahia-born striker told Abia Warriors website.
The 20-year-old who has now netted 13 league goals this season and is just two goals shy of the 15 so far scored by Nasarawa United’s Esosa Igbinoba who leads the pack, noted that his team worked hard enough to grab all the three points at stake, but lamented that fate played a fast one on them as Rangers equalized to make it 3-3 during the second minute of the added three minutes in the 92nd minute.
Chikatara said Abia Warriors will not relent as they are looking forward for better outings in their future encounters, pointing out with six matches to end the season, they are still very optimistic that a continental ticket was still realizable.
Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia top striker this season, Chisom Chikatara has described the passing away of his mother as very painful.
While the marksman was busy on the pitch defending the Warriors flag against top flight Warri Wolves in a week 30 Glo Premier League encounter at the Umuahia Township Stadium last Sunday, news filtered in that Madam Ifeyinwa Chikatara, who has been hospitalised for about one week, had passed on, although the story was kept away from the 20-year-old until after the game which the Umuahia based side won-2-1.
Speaking to Abia Warriors website in Umuahia, Chisom, who was discovered on the street while playing for his local side, New Generation FC, said he was very close to his mother even though he is the third child in a family of six and hoped God will receive her in His bosom.
He lamented that the mother died when she should enjoy the fruits of her labour, describing her as a woman of substance who cared for others more than herself.
While promising that they will live according to their mother’s tenets and wise counsel, Chisom, who is one of the top scorers in the League this season with ten goals, said he will continue to do his best on the field of play as a way of projecting the Chikatara family image.
Meanwhile, Abia Warriors management has commiserated with Chisom on the demise of his mother, Madam Ifeyinwa Chikatara.
In a telephone chat with the player, the chairman, Abia Warriors Football Club, Chief Emeka Inyama described the incident as pathetic and urged Chisom to bear the loss with fortitude.
Chief Inyama, who promised that Abia Warriors will stand by him at this trying period, urged him never to mourn like someone without hope, as God will always be his anchor.
Igwe Onuoha
Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia received a boost ahead of their midweek clash with Nasarawa United of Lafia as its hard tackling defender, Nnaemeka Anyanwu who has been out of action since June 21, 2015 due to injury, has returned to training.
The former Rangers International of Enugu and Enyimba of Aba rear man last featured for the Warriors in a 1-0 victory against Akwa United of Uyo in a week 13 encounter at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba where he sustained a knee ligament tear.
But the Imo State born former Flying Eagles defender returned to full training with his team mates last week after recovering from the ailment to further bolster coach Ladan Bosso’s selection options.
Dr Enyinnaya Anozie, the head of Abia Warriors’ medical team who battled the injury alongside his colleague, Uwaoma Ogwuma, described the injury as career threatening but expressed happiness that Nnaemeka recovered from it in a record time after undergoing a series of rehabilitation programmes.
Dr. Anozie also gave updates on Abia Warriors goalkeeper, Chinedu Udeh, who fractured his fibular and dislocated his ankle joint during a training session on June 23, 2015, saying he will soon be back to full fitness after undergoing his own rehabilitation.
“Iroko”, as the goalkeeper is known by his admirers and who last stood in-between the goal post for Abia Warriors against Wikki Tourists of Bauchi on April 19, 2015, expressed happiness that he had a miraculous healing, pointing out that he will soon resume training.
Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia top striker, Chisom Chikatara has said that the team has decided to beat El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri in a Glo Premier League encounter tomorrow to celebrate club mate, Ndifreke Effiong’s birthday.
Chikatara, who has so far scored nine league goals this season including a brace in Abia Warriors’ last home game against Giwa FC, described Ndifreke as a darling of the team.
“Ndifreke will be celebrating his birthday tomorrow (Saturday 15th August, 2015) the same day we will be hosting El-Kanemi Warriors so we have decided to win for him. He is one of our best players and a darling to the club”, the Ibeku-born striker told Abia Warriors website.
Chikatara, who missed about four league games due to injury before he returned against Giwa FC, expressed happiness that he was back to full fitness level and is now ready to contribute his quota towards the realization of the club’s aspirations.
Ndifreke remains Abia Warriors’ best performer this season having started 21 of the club’s 22 league games so far and have featured for the team in alternate positions with seven goals to his credit.
He has already attracted the attention of National team handlers and is one of the 31 boys invited by Coach Samson Siasia to commence preparations for the forthcoming football event of the All-Africa games in Congo Brazzaville where the Dream Team XI has been drawn against Ghana, Egypt and Senegal.
The first player to be bought at one million naira in the Nigerian League, Emeka Nwanna popularly called “Ayaya” has joined Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia on loan until the end of the current season.
The lethal striker, who made the mega move from Rangers international of Enugu to Enyimba of Aba in 2001, was until his loan move to Umuahia in mid season, on his second missionary journey to Enyimba.
Ayaya told Abia Warriors’ website that he decided to pitch his tent with the Umuahia based outfit to contribute his quota towards the realization of the club’s aspirations.
The former Calabar Rovers, Heartland of Owerri and Kwara Utd hitman, said he simply loves Abia Warriors not only as Enyimba’s sister club but also because of the professional way the club is run adding that his ambition is to help the club pick a continental ticket at the end of the season.
“I love Umuahia because I started my career here with then NEPA Football Club of Umuahia when I was still in the secondary School and I had hoped to return here one day and when the opportunity came, I never hesitated to seize it with both hands”, Nwanna who also played for Tunisian and Qatari Clubs said.
On the secret of his longevity in football, the Anambra state-born striker said he does not indulge in negative influences but takes lots of fruits and vegetables particularly after every training session or after a match
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