LMC Sanctions Warri Wolves, Team Manager and Player

LMC Sanctions Warri Wolves, Team Manager and Player…,Delta FA Reprimanded for security breaches

Nigeria Football Professional League governing body has reprimanded the Delta State Football Association for not ensuring adequate and proper security at the Warri Township Stadium during the Match Day 17 Glo Premier League match between Warri Wolves and Enyimba International. Warri Wolves FC, its Team Manager and player were also subjected to disciplinary measures for various breaches of the Rules and Framework during their rescheduled Match Day 7 fixture in Ibadan against Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC).

The sanctions are part of the latest measures by the League Management Company (LMC) to enforce compliance to the league rules by all participating clubs and their players.

These decisions were conveyed to the various parties through letters signed by Salihu Abubakar, the Chief Operating Officer of the LMC. He said the LMC has a duty to call every individual and club to order to serve as deterrent to others who may find themselves in similar situations.

In these latest disciplinary measures carried out in exercise of Summary Jurisdiction, a fine of N250, 000 has been imposed on Warri Wolves for the encroachment on to the field of play by its officials and substitute players. The Club’s Team Manager, Gordon Ogbe was also fined N50, 000 and suspended from one match for exhibiting several acts of misconduct and “failing to set positive example for others and showing disrespect to the Match Officials by leading a confrontation that delayed the Match Officials from gaining access to the changing room”

Midfielder, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu was also handed an additional one match ban to the automatic ban arising from his expulsion in the match against 3SC and fined N50, 000 for “several acts of misconduct including showing disregard for the authority and decision of the Referee by refusing to leave the field after being issued a red car and violently pushing his fingers into the eye of the Referee”. The LMC held that the action of the player was not in the best interest of the game and “failed to comply with the principles of fair play, sportsmanship, the rules and regulations governing the league and acting in a manner capable of bringing the league to disrepute”.

Warri Wolves photo credit Moses Etu

In a related development, FC Taraba and its Welfare Officer, Fada Dennis have opted to appear the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Disciplinary Committee to defend themselves on the charge of assault on Match Referee in their Match Day 14 fixture against Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC). The Club was fined N500, 000 while Dennis was suspended from participating in the league activities for the rest of the season.

LMC RESCHEDULES WOLVES MATCHES

The League Management Company has rescheduled all the outstanding matches involving Warri Wolves Football Club with the cracker against Shooting Stars fixed for Wednesday 15th, July at Ibadan.

According to a release made available to journalists by the Media Manager of the Club, Etu Moses, the LMC through a letter signed by Salisu Abubakar dated 23rd, June, 2015 has also fixed the match with Kwara United in Ilorin on the 22nd, July, while the home match against Elkanemi would now be played on Friday, 26th July at the Warri City Stadium.

“We have just been told of new dates for the three outstanding matches involving our Club with that of Shooting on the 15th in Ibadan, Kwara United, on the 22nd in Ilorin while Elkanemi will come to Warri on the 26th. We want our fans to take note of these dates and turn up in large numbers in various venues to cheer the team”

Warri Wolves team before their match against Racing De Bobo FC photo credit Moses Etu

Meanwhile, the League Management Company has confirmed that Akwa Unted will host Warri Wolves in Godswill Akpabio Stadium otherwise known as Nest of Champions this weekend.

“it would be recalled that the Uyo based team had relocated to Calabar for its home matches but have resolved their problem and we are glad that the pitch will allow the players to exhibit their skills.”

17th MILO BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: ANOTHER YEAR OF TEAMS EMERGENCE AND CONSOLIDATION

The Nestle Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship remains an inspiration for Nigerian youth instilling life values of hard work as well as team work, discipline and fair play. The organizational structure which controlled over 10,000 Secondary Schools across the country pencilled down for this year’s edition in the four conferences after the states finals.

The first was the Confluence Conference in Lokoja in April this year followed by the Atlantic in Benin, Central Conference in Akure and Western Conference in Ibadan and culminated with the National Final just concluded in Lagos.

Each conference has its own unique features. Debutants St. Peters College Idah, Kogi State emerged Confluence Conference champions and almost sat on top at the grand finale. The Confluence Conference also produced the youngest player 12 year old Aisha Mohammed of Bilingual Secondary School, Maiduguri who was also the captain of her team. Although her school did not make it to the National Final but Aisha displayed superlative skills which confirmed she has prospects in the game.

Coach of the The Ogun State addressing his wards during The Semi-final Of The 17Th Milo Basketball Championships Zonal Qualifiers

Also in this group of first timers who excelled are Onome and Omena Akpoyibo, the 12 year old twins identified from the Central Conference in Akure. In terms of consolidation of the already existing position, the two finalists in the girl’s category. National Champions St. Jude’s Girls Secondary School Amarata, Bayelsa and runner-up Idiah College Benin City need to be mentioned.

Both teams have been rivals from the Atlantic Conference swopping positions at every encounter showing the improved standard of play from that part of the country.

Coach Chris Nomigo of Dodan Warriors Basketball Club sees this development as a great one for basketball in Nigeria. “The players are very young and skilful, if the standard is maintained; the sky is the limit for the game of basketball in Nigeria”.

Some teams have also remained consistent. Ilupeju Grammar School, Lagos and Yejide Girls Grammar School, Ibadan Oyo State continued with the steady growth. Both teams were also present at the 2014 National Finals in Lagos.

In terms of tactical play the boy’s champion Government Secondary School Kaduna seemed to have mastered a particular strategy especially in the last quarter. Just like what the team did at the Central Conference Final against Benue. The Kaduna boys came from behind using the same reliable and dependable player David Isa’s “buzzer” shot to pick the trophy at 52-51.

President FIBA Africa (Zone 3) Col. Sam Ahmedu presents an electronic scoreboard to the organisers of the MILO championship

Of course Isa was named the Most Valuable Player of the Championship. The Public Relations Officer School Sports Federation Kudu Umar said the players “ball sense” was highly commendable.”No one was sure of who would emerge victorious because the tempo was high. Although we watched from the terrace but it was as if we were the ones on the court. The standard was very high”. The referees’ co-ordinator Halidu Mohammed was happy with the officiating. “The referees used at the National Finals were graded from their outings at the conferences.

We used the best at the National Finals”. The winning coach in the girl’s category Tony Nelson of St. Jude’s Girls Secondary School Bayelsa State noted that the Nestle Milo Basketball has shifted attention from football to basketball. “You observed that on the day of the final games, there were two other sporting events at the National Stadium Lagos, a league match at Legacy Pitch and Tennis Championship at the Tennis Court but the Indoor Sports Hall where the Milo Basketball was held was filled to capacity. Thanks to Nestle Milo, the sole sponsor.

Islanders Set To Make Marks At Landmark Centre…Host Oluyole In Week-8 Pairing

Islanders basketball club of Lagos is gradually returning to its age-long status as one of the most followed basketball teams in Nigeria with the way it has been promoting the slamming and dunking game with superb performance week-in week-out in the DStv Premier Basketball League.

Though under a new management led by telecommunications expert Oladamoye Oyesiku who took over the Islanders basketball club franchise in the wake of 2009 by relegating his former club Kennys’ Bullets basketball club by retaining the traditional name – Islanders basketball club and with the fusion with some goal driven young Nigerians who have added flair to the club image and partnering with the management of Landmark Event Centre, Victoria-Island, Lagos.

Islanders basketball club is on the verge of becoming the envy of other clubs in the Nigerian league.

Islanders during a regular Season game at the National Stadium Surulere

With initial challenges in securing the basketball equipment which include a floor and uprights the club temporarily retained the national stadium as its home court where it has continued to build a solid fan-base which has seen it win six of its seven regular season games including great away results with an emphatic 86-62 points away win at Oluyole Warriors in Ibadan.

The Islanders will then host the Ibadan war-lords – Oluyole Warriors basketball club in a week-8 pairing at the Landmark Event Centre and has promised to give fans a worth-while first game at the Landmark by setting a mark that basketball fans will always look forward to returning to the Landmark to see the best of basketball mixed with entertainment to be provided by hip hop crooner Sound Sultan.

The May 29 week-8 game against Oluyole Warriors will be remarkable in the history of the league and the upward looking profile of Islanders basketball club at the Landmark Centre.

Club chairman, Damoye Oyesiku says plans have reached an advanced stage for the Islanders to host a hitch free first game at the Landmark by making a mark with the game against Oluyole Warriors.

Islanders at their Landmark event centre home

“We are on top of the situation and are set to have our first game at the Landmark Event Centre, gate fee will be charged and adequate preparations has been made as we set to make basketball games an enjoyable event that people will always yawn to see because we have lined-up great artistes to perform on the night.

With an impressive records of having the best offense in the Atlantic Conference where it has scored an average of 71 points per game and conceded 56.86 points per game the Islanders will host three more regular season games at the Landmark against Kwara Falcons of Ilorin (June 07) versus Union Bank (June 16) and against Delta Force (June 28).

Oluwasegun Ikuesan

NBBF Hammer Falls on Oluyole Warriors, Kada Stars and Civil Defenders

With the first phase of the Zenith Bank Female Basketball league ongoing at the national stadium in Abuja, the board of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) sat on Sunday to address major issues brought forward by the technical committee as regards the National domestic leagues and the national team programmes, with far reaching decision made and some already being implemented.

After a comprehensive update on both the current DStv Premier Basketball League and the Zenith Bank basketball league season, major issues pertaining to clubs owing players were brought forward by the technical committee and disciplinary action will be taken against Premier league teams, Oluyole Warriors of Ibadan and Kada Stars of Kaduna for owing their players sign on fees and salaries from last season.

The Civil Defenders (Civil Defence team) in the lower league were also in for the NBBF hammer for bringing the game into disrepute by deliberately failing to honour their match against Hoop ‘n’ Read in the National Div-1 championship in November.

Also the Technical committee of the Nigerian basketball Federation briefed the board on the debt stock of the federation and their efforts to offset them, with the board endorsing some of the strategies suggested to help ease the process.

3SC’s Woeful Performance, Happy Days Ahead-Ladoja Assures Supporters

A former governor of Oyo State and Accord gubernatorial candidate in the April 11 elections, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has promised to pay adequate attention to the financial and welfare needs of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan if he is elected into office.

He made the promise in Ibadan in a statement released by the Director-General of his campaign, Hon. Deolu Adeleke, while reacting to the woeful start in the on-going premier league by the darling team of Oyo State, due to lack of financial support by the incumbent administration in the state.

“Reports reaching me indicate that the government has not paid the salaries of 3SC players and workers for December 2014,January and February 2015.

“Neither has the Ajimobi-led government allocated money for players’ recruitment for the new season. And we all expect the team to do well.

“How can the players play on an empty stomach? Neglecting this crucial arm that gives joy to thousands of people is wicked,” the statement said.

3SC

Senator Ladoja recalled that during his tenure between 2003 and 2007, his administration allocated generous funds to the team so much that for a long time, the team led the premiership log and was going to win the title in 2005 if not for the political crisis that engulfed the state.

“The glory days of Shooting Stars are around the corner. My administration will revamp and revive the team. It is the pride of, not only Ibadan and Oyo State, but of the Yoruba nation,” the statement added.

Senator Ladoja said he was sad to learn that 3SC not only lost its first match away to Wikki Tourists of Bauchi by 0-2, but was also defeated at home by Heartland of Owerri by 2-1.

“Such results are unacceptable to the soccer-loving people of Oyo State. We will reverse it.”
He called on the numerous supporters and fans of the team to vote for him and other Accord party candidates in the elections and ensure glorious future for their darling club.

Okpekpe 2015: International Athletes To Arrive From May 14

The coordinator of the annual Okpekpe 10km Road Race, Yusuf Alli, has revealed that some of the international athletes will be arriving the community from May 14 ahead of the race scheduled for May 16.

Speaking with our correspondent, Alli said all the athletes pencilled down for the race have confirmed their participation and will be coming in from May 14.

“We are going to intensify preparation immediately after the national election and I can confirm to you that the international athletes will be arriving from May 14,” he said.

“Because of our plan for the race, we have contacted some top long distance runners across the continent while some others have also signified their interest.”

On the performance of some of the country’s athletes at the Splash FM Integrity Race in Ibadan, the 1990 Commonwealth Games gold medallist said it was a welcome development.

Splash FM Marathon 2014, photo credit splashfm1055.com

He said: “The idea is to have enough major races before the competition so that our athletes can be in top shape for the race.”

He however said the target of the organiser, Padmodzi was to see in the nearest future a citizen of the Okpekpe community representing Nigeria at the Olympics in long distance race.

“The plan for us in Padmozi is that in future somebody from Okpekpe community will compete in the Olympic Games for Nigeria.

“We have athletes from Edo State at the Olympics and the neighbouring states, but we want someone from the town itself to represent Nigeria in long distance race at the Olympics,” Alli added.

Okpekpe 2015: Pam Gears Up With Splash FM Integrity Race title…As Alli advocates For More Indigene Participation

Nigeria’s leading marathoner, Deborah Pam, has sent a strong warning signal to her competitors at the 2015 edition of the Okpekpe Road Race with an excellent performance at the seventh edition of the Ibadan 42 km marathon tagged ‘Splash FM Integrity Race’ that was held last weekend.

The Plateau state-born athlete who emerged the best Nigerian woman during the last two editions of Okpekpe race won the Ibadan marathon in a record time of 3hrs, 3mins and 23secs.

Pam said after her victory in Ibadan that she had come of age and hopefully she would emerge the overall winner at this year edition of the Okpekpe race in May.

Splash FM Marathon 2014, photo credit splashfm1055.com

“I have been consistent at the competition for the past two years, but I don’t want to settle for less again,” she said.

“I want to become the first Nigerian athlete to win the competition and I will be going back home to intensify preparation for the competition.

“I would have started early but school activities have been affecting my preparation, but with this victory in Ibadan, I can move on from here.”

Meanwhile, the coordinator of the race, Yusuf Alli, has urged the indigenes of Okpekpe community to actively take part in the tournament.

“We want more indigenes of the state to be actively involved in the race, we are really looking forward to the locals winning something and hopefully represent Nigeria at the Olympics,” the former Nigeria international said.

Former 3SC Handler Joins Sharks FC

Sharks football club of port Harcourt has intensified preparations for the new season with the addition of former shooting stars sports club of Ibadan handler Festus Allen who takes over from Abdul Maikaba who has pitched his tent with Wikki Tourists of Bauchi.

Allen who is no stranger to top flight football is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear in the team as Sharks takes its search for a major silver ware in the land to the new season.

The team is currently training in Ijebu Ode to perfect strategies for the new season.

Festus Allen, sharks fc coach

Nestlé MILO Continues to Show Unwavering Commitment to Basketball

Nestlé MILO’s unwavering commitment to sports development comes to light again as the grand finale of the 16th edition of the Nestlé MILO Secondary Schools Basketball holds from 1st to 6th of December at the indoor sports complex of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Annually, the competition provides the opportunity for Nestlé MILO to reach thousands of secondary school students with the platform both to play basketball at its best as well as to learn livelong values that help to shape the youngsters to become the adults of their dreams.

These values include teamwork, determination, discipline, honesty and respect.

This year, nearly 100,000 students from 7,530 schools participated in the championship from the state preliminaries to the regional conferences across Nigeria.

Mr Dharnesh Gordhon, Managing Director, Nestle Nig. PLC, Mrs. Doja Ekeruche, Category Business Manager and Mrs Olabisi Joseph, Secretary, Nigeria School Sports Federation, at the draws ceremony for the 16th edition of the Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championships at Nestle PLC head office in Lagos.

The schools that will feature in the finale include

Dutse Model International School and Government Girls Secondary School, Gwawaran, both from Jigawa state,

St Augustine Seminary, Ezzamgbo of Ebonyi state;

Osadennis High School Asaba and West End Mixed Secondary School, Bayelsa State.

Others are St. Jude’s Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Jesus College, Oturkpo,

Government Girls Secondary School Gboko and CAC Grammar School, Akure.

Henson Demonstration Group of Schools Benin, Ilupeju Grammar School, Lagos and Yejide Girls Secondary School, Ibadan complete the list of finalists.

According to the organisers, the top 50 camp will take place immediately after the Nestlé MILO Secondary School Basketball finals, from 7 – 10 December. The camp will be facilitated by a team of NBA coaches and will be led by the NBA Coach of Toronto Raptors Patrick Engelbretch.

Dr. Samuel Adenekan, Corporate Affairs Manager Nestle Nig. PLC, Mr. Dharnesh Gordhon Managing Director and Mrs Doja Ekeruche, Category Business Manager presenting the trophy to Mrs. Olabisi Joseph, Secretary NSSF and Mr. Lanre Balogun, Vice President, NCSF, at the draws ceremony for the 16th edition of the Nestle Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship at the Nestle PLC head office Lagos

Multiple award winning Nigeria artist Iyanya will be performing at this year’s edition of the games.

Commenting on the event, the Category Business Manager, Doja Ekeruche reaffirmed Nestlé’s unwavering commitment to the development of basketball and raising the quality of the game.

The winner at this year championship is expected to fly the nation’s flag at the World Schools Basketball Championship in Linigoes, France from 17th to 25th April 2015.

OLUYOLE WARRIORS PROTEST UNPAID SALARIES AND BONUSES

Players of Oluyole Warriors Basketball Club of Ibadan have appealed to Oyo State Government through the Commissioner of Sports, Honourable Umar Farouk Alao for an intervention over the non-payment of their match bonuses and outstanding salaries.

According to the Players who who spoke under the condition of anonymity because of the fear of victimisation by the Oyo State Sports Council, lamented that the Senator Abiola Ajumobi led administration is still owing the players about 2 months salaries with 5 match bonuses which greatly affected their performances during this year’s DSTV/NBBF Men Basketball League play-off.

A player who claimed to be close to the Commissioner of Sports revealed that Hon. Farouk Umar claimed that the state government had processed and released their salaries and match bonuses into the coffers of the Oyo State Sports council chaired by Ogundijo Ogundiran, but as at press time, none of the players have been paid.

The players complained that all efforts to get in touch with the Oyo State Sports Council’s Director of Organisation, Gboyega Makinde proved abortive while their head coach, Yemi Abiodun had tried all efforts to calm the players down promising that their entitlements will be settled but from all indications, nothing concrete has materialised.

They lamented that most of them were cajoled to leave their previous clubs with a promise of a better welfare package but the current situation is a far cry from what they were promised.

The angry players lamented the inhumane treatment by the Oyo State Sports Council arguing that most of the players have relatives that depend on them for their means of livelihood and the continued withholding of their entitlements is having a far reaching effect on them and their relatives.

They appealed to the sports loving Governor to look into their plight before the situation gets out of control.

Crown Fc vs Sharks Fc: Coach Ogunbote Rings Changes

Ibrahim Salawu of Sharks Fc. port-harcourt

Coach Gbenga Ogunbote has dropped four players from the team that played out a one all draw against Heartland football club in one of the double header matches played on Wednesday at the liberation stadium for this weekend cracker against Crown fc of Ogbomosho.

The players that were dropped by coach Ogunbote for the trip to Ibadan are Goal keeper Henry Vincent who has been dressed four times this season,Tammy Tams,Chiamaka Madu who is out injured following a knock on his knee against Heartland Fc and Yinka Adedeji out due to card offences.

Gabriel Olalekan is back in the team after he served his card suspension against Heartland fc,Brown Brune,Evans Iyor and goal keeper Olaide Okanlawo are also back in the team.

Pyagbara Sharks fc of Portharcourt

Below is the 18 man squad in Ibadan

11-Fortune Omoniwari
1-Danladim Issah
17-Odinga Odinga
6-Gabriel Olalekan
24-Ezekiel Michael
18-Joseph Nathaniel
7-Fabiyi Tayo
20-Fredrick Obomate
21-Yusuf Jayeola
30-Kelly Kester
32-Olaide Okanlawo
34-Brown Brune
26-Ibrahim Salawu
10-Christian Pyagbara
19-Abraham Okereke
23-Evans Iyor
16-Alaba Osawe
22-Jamiu Alimi

Odinga odinga – Team is hale and hearty

captain of Sharks FC Odinga Odinga says the entire team is intact contrary to report that some of the players were injured after the team bus skidded off the road while trying to avoid hitting a vehicle minutes after leaving Warri, Delta state.

Odinga stressed that the players did not receive a single scratch on their body neither was the coaster bus dented in the incident and wondered why people should peddled such rumours about a near fatal accident that never happened.

He described their journey as very smooth as they arrived the ancient city of Ibadan on time for a visit to Shoprite.

“We are very okay here as you can see nothing happen to us, the driver was only trying to avoid hitting a car so he skidded off the road and we were back on the road almost immediately”.Odinga said

“We even got to Ibadan in good time to visit Shoprite”.

Odinga added that the team is focused on compounding the woes of their host Crown fc when they meet on Sunday because they have long put behind them the one draw against Heartland Fc on Wednesday.

“We are the least bothered about the draw at home against Heartland what is on our mind right now is how to leave Ibadan unscathed against Crown FC”.