Dolphins Sink Deeper Into Relegation Zone

Dolphins sank deeper into relegation zone as they failed to beat FC Ifeanyi Ubah in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

Dolphins’ players seemed uninterested in the game from start to finish and it seemed the visitors were the ones who needed a result more.

Omoh Johnson, Oghogho Oduokpe and Chiwendu Ali in attack for Dolphins didn’t cause the visitors much trouble all game long.

The first half had just two clear cut chances; in the 15th minute when Sunday Rotimi did well to tip and Austin Oladapo freekick for corner and a minute later when Christian Weli freed Oghogho Oduokpe but his lame effort was saved by Edwin Nwakanma in goal for the visitors.

Chiwendu Ali would have had a chance to put Dolphins a goal up in the 24th minute after Christian Weli dribbled his way in to the box and found him in space. He didn’t time his volley well and his miskick was as awful as they come.

In the 2nd half, Omo Johnson, Ifeanyi Egwim and Christian Weli had offers to put their names on the score sheet but turned them down.

Johnson ran at the defence in the 56th minute but and shot at goal but Nwakanma saved; in the 65th, Christian Weli had a pop but it sailed wide even though half the ground thought it was in; and in the 79th minute, Ifeanyi Egwim who had come in for Chiwendu Ali had a shot from distance but the keeper parried for a corner that was wasted.

FC Ifeanyi Ubah then adopted time wasting tactics until the game ran its course.

Stanley Eguma of Dolphins blamed the players for not giving their all.

“It wasn’t a good game and I am not surprised because the players did not live up to expectations.

Godbless Asamoah in action for Dolphins vs Giwa fc in a Glo NPFL match

“I attribute it to their non-challant attitude towards the game and that is why I say the team is not prepared psychologically,” Eguma said

John Obuh of FC Ifeanyi Ubah said his side were determined to get a result.

“We knew we had to get something on the road when you consider our recent poor home form,” Obuh said.

Dolphins will be on the road to Giwa FC in a Match Day 33 fixture.

New Blood Fail To Lift Dolphins

Dolphins failed to swim over Abia Warriors on Sunday at the Liberation Stadium in spite of five new additions to the team.

Stanley Eguma gave three players debuts in the game- Godwin Obinze from Joseph Yobo Academy, Oghogho Oduokpe from Bayelsa United as well as Ebuka Nnebue but their fortunes did not change.

30 minutes into the game, Isiaka Olawale put Dolphins ahead after fine work from Ifeanyi Egwim.

Egwim had run down the flanks and his cross was parried by the goalkeeper onto the path of Olawale who blasted home.

Nine minutes later, former Dolphins boy, Bolaji Sarkin drew level.

Chisom Chikatara lifted the ball over two Dolphins defenders and Sarkin sped past them, controlled coolly, before tucking in behind onrushing goalkeeper, Godwin Ayalogu.

In the second half, Eguma threw in Ebitimi Agogo who just signed from Bayelsa United for IFeanyi Egwim and Abia Israel from FC Inter but it was not enough to change the score line.

dolphins salute

After the game, Abia Warriors coach, Ladan Bosso said he had watched Dolphins play in recent times so knew how to counter them.

“I especially watched their last game which was on TV. I saw it about three times and I was able to know how they will play today.”

Dolphins coach, Eguma praised his new players for the efforts they put in saying they were unlucky not to have won. He also frowned the officiating on the day

“I’m impressed with the performance of my new players. We scored and they equalized. Its football and there is nothing we can do about it but begin to focus on the next game,” Eguma said.

Nigeria Professional Football League, Match day 7 – Dolphins v Lobi Stars

Dolphins v Lobi Stars

Kick Off 16:15

Nigeria Professional Football League, Match day 7

Venue: Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium

Date: Sunday, May 3, 2015

TEAM NEWS

Emeka Atuloma and Festus Austin return to the match day squad for Sunday’s game against Lobi Stars.

Atuloma has not dressed for a game since the rescheduled match day 2 fixture in Umuahia against Abia Warriors on March 25, 2015 where he scored a goal in Dolphins 2-1 loss.

Festus Austin was last named in a match day squad on April 22, 2015 in the home game against Rangers which Dolphins won 1-0.

Rufus Ebue and Abdelrahame Diarra may make their debuts for Dolphins if they play against Lobi Stars.

Rufus Ebue, a right full back signed from Heartland but is yet to get a game as his season has been plagued by injuries so far.

Abdelrahame, a Burkinabe striker joined up from Clube De Futebol Carregal do Sal of Portugal and is set to get his first start for Dolphins.

Teenager, Victor Daniel fails to get into match day squad after an inpressive performance as a second half substitute in Uyo against Akwa United.

No Dolphins player has scored more than one league goal this season.

Emeka Atuloma, Chiwendu Ali and Ifeanyi Egwim are the only goal scorers for Dolphins this season.

In this same fixture last season, Dolphins won 3-1 with Ifeanyi Egwim scoring his first hattrick for Dolphins.

Sunday Rotimi, Chidiebere Okolie, Emeka Atuloma, Victor Ezuruike, Isiaka Olawale, Ifeanyi Egwim and Jonathan Zikiye were in the match day Squad for this fixture last season and are set to play again against Lobi Stars.

MATCH PREVIEW

Dolphins will have to watch their on the pitch discipline as ten yellow cards have been shown to their players after just five games in the league.

Dolphins are yet to concede a goal at home this season having drawn 0-0 against Kwara United on Match Day 1 and beaten Rangers 1-0 on Match day 5.

Dolphins have four points from five games played. At this same stage last season, Dolphins had seven points.

Dolphins form this season

26/04/15 NPFL Akwa United 2-0 Dolphins

22/04/15 NPFL Dolphins 1-0 Rangers

19/4/15 NPFL Sunshine Stars 2-1 Dolphins

25/ 03/2015 NPFL Abia Warriors 2-1 Dolphins

08/03/2015 NPFL Dolphins 0-0 Kwara United

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

11/16/14 Lobi Stars 1 – 0 Dolphins FC

5/31/14 Dolphins FC 3 – 1 Lobi Stars FC

10/12/13 Dolphins FC 1 – 0 Lobi Stars FC

6/6/13 Lobi Stars FC 1 – 0 Dolphins FC

8/1/12 Dolphins 0 – 2 Lobi Stars FC

Dolphins Fc

Dolphins Match Day Squad

Sunday Rotimi

Joseph Onwuga

Rufus Ebue

Kingsley Ashu

Onyekachi Akakem

Chidiebere Okolie

Isiaka Olawale

Diarra abdelrahame

Ayobami Asekunowo

Jonathan Zikiye

Emeka Atuloma

Victor Ezuruike

Festus Austin

Victor Alegbe

Sochuma Elum

Ifeanyi Egwim

Ayo Saka

Chiwendu Ali

Eguma “Egwim Can Score 20 Goals This Season”

Dolphins coach, Stanley Eguma has thrown his weight behind striker, Ifeanyi Egwim to score twenty goals this season.

Egwim has managed just one league goal this season, against Rangers in the 1-0 win recorded last week, but Eguma says, following the trend, his striker can grab twenty goals.

“For the last two seasons, Egwim has been our top scorer but last year, Emem came up and scored twenty goals,” Eguma said of Egwim.

Ifeanyi Egwim against eyimba

“It is something that has to do with hardwork. I believe that Egwim has the potential and all that it takes to score twenty goals but you cannot do that unless you work hard and that is the challenge that has been given to him,” Eguma said.

Ifeanyi Egwim is in his 4th season at Dolphins, having joined from Rangers International.

Dolphins Back To Winning Ways

A 32nd minute penalty converted by Ifeanyi Egwim gave Dolphins a 1-0 win over Rangers at the Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium on Wednesday.

Kalu Orji had handled the ball when Jonathan Zikiye whipped a cross into the box from the left and the referee wasted no time pointing to the spot before Egwim finished it off.

It as ahis second goal against his former club since he joined Dolphins from Rangers four seasons ago.

Stanley Eguma had kept faith with the team that played in Akure against Sunshine Stars on Sunday, making only one change- Jonathan Zikiye for Kingsley Ashu, and it seemed fatigue set in on the players towards the middle of the second half as the visitors completely dominated play.

This forced Dolphins to make three changes, Omoh Johnson for Ifeanyi Egwim who seemed injured, Tijani Adamu for Ayo Saka in the 70th minute and later, Hope Fiberesima for Chiwendu Ali.

Chigozie Agbim stopped Dolphins from making it 2-0 when he stretched full length to tip to safety a cross from Victor Alegbe that seemd to be going it, but after that it seemed one way traffic for the visitors.

Rangers had a chance to draw level in the last minute of added time when substitute, Emmanuel Eze beat the Dolphins’ offside trap and with just Sunday Rotimi to beat, he put the ball wide.

This win against Rangers is Dolphins first in the league since October 22, 2014 when they beat Nembe City 6-0 in Port Harcourt.

John Apollo, coach of Dolphins described it as a tough game, saying fatigue from the Sunshine game affected his players in the second half.

“Rangers were good but we came out victorious. We kept the bulk of the team from the Sunshine game for today to show we believe in them and hope we can get the from them by giving them more time together,” Apollo said.

Imama Amapakabor of Rangers said it was disappointing that his side have not scored a goal in their last three games but says they have a lot of rookie players in the team they must encourage

“We have been having a bad phase but this was a good and exciting game. We will continue to keep on pushing. We feel a bit disappointed but it’s a long season and we will continue to push it,” Imama said

Dolphins lose in Akure

A controversial goal in added time by Prince Aggrey gave Sunshine Stars a 2-1 win over Dolphins in the league on Sunday evening.

It was a game Dolphins drew last season and when Chiwendu Ali put the Pride of Rivers ahead after 37 minutes it seemed like another day in the office for the 2011 league winners.

Ayo Saka turned round his marker in midfield and passed to Victor Alegbe who in turn freed Ifeanyi Egwim on the left.

Egwim’s cross who struck in ferociously by Chiwendu in only his second game for Dolphins after joining from National Division One side, Go Round FC.

Two minutes later, referee, John Charles called a penalty for Sunshine after a Dolphins defender was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box, but Tunji Adeniyi shot the kick wide.

At half time, Sunshine Stars coach, Kennedy Boboye brought in Dele Olorundare and he made his impact felt two minutes later.

Joseph Douhadji failed to head clear a cross into the Dolphins area, Olorundare latched on the loose ball and found Adeniyi who controlled well before slotting home behind Sunday Rotimi in goal for Dolphins.

With the game in added time, Sunday Rotimi failed to take care of a cross into his area and Prince Aggrey scored though it seemed he handled the ball before turning round to score, a glaring hand ball both the referee and his assistant missed.

Dolphins’ players protested the goal for two minutes before restarting the game.

Stanley Eguma was livid at the end of the game, blaming the referee for the loss

“The referee made us to lose this game. The whole world has seen it. Even under live television this happened. We have to do something about this because it is not the best,” Eguma said.

Kennedy Akinboboye of Sunshine Stars described it as a very difficult game but that he noticed the Dolphins players got complacent thinking they had escaped with a draw before he punished them with game changing substitutions

“It was difficult playing against a very experienced side. I never gave up. I brought in some people to push the attack and when I noticed Dolphins were relaxed thinking they had gotten a draw, we pushed up,” Boboye said.

Dolphins Win Rivers State FA Cup

Dolphins FC on Sunday at the Port Harcourt Liberation stadium beat Sharks 1-0 to lift the Rivers State FA Cup.

A 17th minute freekick converted by Ifeanyi Egwim ensured Dolphins took the trophy at stake.

Dolphins had played three matches in three days, the quarter final on Friday and semi final on Saturday before Sunday’s final and it was feared they would be affected by fatigue but it did not show as the battled against their city rivals.

Dolphins Captain, Festus Austin receives FA Cup trophy from FA board member, Kingsley Woke

Dolphins Assistant coach, John Apollo said it was a good game but admitted the fatigue affected his players

“It was a keenly contested game and we just showed that we can do it.

“You can see that we were just managing but we ended up being victorious,” Apollo said.

Sharks coach, Ere Dokubo conceded victory to Dolphins.

“They deserve it. Our players were on break but we respected the Federation and we just had to play,” Dokubo said.

Dolphins players celebrate FA Cup victory

Both Sharks and Dolphins have already qualified for the Federation Cup.

Rotimi Blames Profligacy For Dolphins Loss

Dolphins’ captain, Sunday Rotimi says missed chances were to blame for the loss in Malabo to Leones Vegetarianos on Saturday.

Dolphins lost the CAF Confederation Cup game via a 57th minute goal and Rotimi says that goal may not have mattered if the team had taken their chances.

“It’s a game we should have won but our attackers threw away many chances in the first half. From where I was, I counted four of them.

“In important games like these you must take your chances and these four we got were clear cut chances and we should have scored them but our attackers failed to do so and the result is the loss,” Rotimi said.

Rotimi also pointed out that the team was not robbed in Malabo but that they lost due to carelessness.

“We know the terrain very well and referees will always give slight advantages to the home side which he did on Saturday, but imagine if we had scored those four goals or even two of them and the story would have been different.

“We were not robbed, we were just careless on the day,” Rotimi said.

Dolphins Fc

How they played

Coach of Dolphins, Stanley Eguma handed a debut to Christian Pyagbara and it was Dolphins on the front foot in the first half but carelessness on the part of the attackers ensured the first half ended goaless.

Ifeanyi Egwim had a chance to score but missed when that was the more difficult option.

Isiaka Olawale was also through on goal but failed to find the back of the net and Tijani Adamu had his turn to miss and while the goalkeeper was beaten, his outstretched leg stopped the ball from going in.

Christian Pyagbara also registered his name amongst players who missed clear cut chances in the first half when he blasted wide with the ball at his feet in front of the goal.

Going into the break, it seemed Dolphins would turn out winners on the day until the 57th minute when Jonathan Zikye failed to take care of a Vegetarianos winger whose low cross in the box was jabbed home after defenders Victor Ezuruike and Joseph Zaovi Douhadji were found ball watching.

Five minutes later it could have been 2-0 if not for Sunday Rotimi making a point blank save in the box and Dolphins were the more relieved team at the full time whistle.

Dolphins start list

22. Sunday Rotimi, 6. Ayobami Asekunowo, 26. Jonathan Zikye, 8. Emeka Atuloma, 30. Victor Ezuruike, 5. Joseph Douhadji, 7. Isiaka Olawale, 13. IFeanyi Egwim, 9. Christian Pyagbara, 20. Tijani Adamu, 10. Victor Alegbe

Subs

Omo Johnson replaced Christian Pyagbara, Chigozie Ihunda came in for Victor Alegbe and Ifeanyi Egwim was taken off for Chidiebere Okolie

Rotimi, Douhadji, Egwim Make Dolphins Confederation Cup Team

Dolphins Fc

Captain of Dolphins, Sunday Rotimi, Togolese born defender, Joseph Yaovi Douhadji and attacker, Ifeanyi Egwim are some of the players registered by Dolphins for the CAF Confederation Cup.

Dolphins start their campaign on the continent on the 14th of February in Malabo against Leonas Vegetarianos FC and have already submitted a list of twenty two players to the Confederation of Africa Football, CAF.

Sixteen players from the team of last season will join five newly acquired players to do battle in the Confederation Cup.

Victor Ezuruike tries to stop an Enyimba player in the League last season

Sunday Rotimi is the only goalkeeper returning from the squad of last season while defenders who are returning to the team are Chidiebere Okolie, Joseph Douhadji, Ayobami Asekunowo, Tobins Zikalla, Jonathan Zikiye and Victor Ezuruike.

The returning midfielders are Tijani Adamu, Tasiu Lawal, Hope Fiberesima, Victor Alegbe, Emeka Atuloma and Isiaka Olawale while attackers are Chigozie Ihunda, Omo Johnson and Ifeanyi Egwim.

The names of the newly registered players will be made available to the press next week.

Dolphins Resume For New Season

Players of Dolphins returned to Port Harcourt over the past weekend as they begin preparations for 2014/15 football season.

Dolphins will attack football in all fronts- the CAF Confederation Cup, Nigeria Professional Football League and Nigeria Federation Cup.

The team currently has four weeks to its opening match in the CAF Confederation Cup, a road trip to Leonas Vegetarianos of Equatorial Guinea and hope to be ready enough for that game.

Dolphins Fc

“Three weeks of training plus five games in the League Management Company organized pre-season tournament next week may not be enough preparation but is above average considering the circumstance,” Media Officer of the club, China Acheru said.

“The old players of the club have returned and we expect the newly signed on players to be in camp by today (Monday) or tomorrow (Tuesday) so the coaches can start their fitness exercise then begin to impose their philosophy on the team.”

Players like Chizoba Amaefule, Jonathan Zikiye, Emeka Atuloma, Tijani Adamu, Ifeanyi Egwim and Omo Johnson are expected to resume training on Tuesday under the tutelage of coaches, John Apollo, Okey Okabie, Joe Buma and Ernest Teigbanyo.

Dolphins have already registered players to feature for the club in the CAF Confederation Cup this year.

Dolphins vs Sharks Teams News And Preview

Dolphins salute

Dolphins v Sharks

Kick Off 4pm

23 August 2014

TEAM NEWS

Ifeanyi Egwim, Victor Ezuruike and Emmanuel Olowo return to the match day squad for Saturday’s game against Sharks after missing out on last week’s draw in Akure against Sunshine.

Goalkeeper, Pius Ibrahim is a shock inclusion in the squad as he has not been named in a Dolphins team since May, 31, 2014 when Dolphins beat Lobi Stars 3-1 at the Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium.

He was an unused sub on the day.

Chigozie Ihunda, also named in the match day squad for the first time since July 17 in the Federation Cup Round of 16 game against ElKanemi in Lafia. He as an unused substitute on the day.

Ihunda last made a match day squad in the League on June 14, in the 3-1 road loss to Kano Pillars.

MATCH PREVIEW

Dolphins have been unbeaten in their last 5 league games- at home were wins against Kano Pillars 1-0, Heartland 1-0 and Crown 2-0 while on the road were draws against Giwa FC 1-1 and Sunshine Stars.

Dolphins have also been unbeaten in the last ten games in all competitions as they didn’t lose in five Federation Cup games- Ingas 3-1, Kogi United 1-0, ELkanemi 1-0, Lobi Stars 4-2 and Prime FC 1-0

According to Togolese born Central defender, “Last season we lost at home to Sharks but it will be different this season. We need to win to top the league and we won’t be taking any chances.” Douhadji said

Dolphins have kept 11 clean sheets in the league this season and 14 in all competitions.

The last time Dolphins conceded a goal at home in the League was on May 31 in a 3-1 win against Lobi Stars.

The last time Dolphins lost a home game in the League was one year and one week ago, on August 13, 2013 in a 2-1 loss to Sharks

Goalkeeper, Sunday Rotimi has kept 10 clean sheets in the league and 13 in all competitions this season.

Emem Eduok is top scorer in the team with 9 goals in the League and 12 in all competitions.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Apr 5, 2014 Sharks FC 0 Dolphins 0

Aug 14, 2013 Dolphins FC 1 – Sharks FC 2

Mar 31, 2013 Sharks FC 0 – Dolphins FC 0

Jun 10, 2012 Dolphins FC 1 – Sharks FC 0

Feb 25, 2012 Sharks FC 3 – Dolphins FC 1

Match Day Squad

Dolphins salute

Sunday Rotimi, Pius Ibrahim, Victor Alegbe, Emem Eduok, Emeka Atuloma, Ebube Okpokwu, Hope Fiberesima, Isiaka Olawale, Omo Johnson, Victor Ezuruike, Jonathan Zikiye, Ayobami Asekunowo, Emmanuel Olowo, Ifeanyi Egwim, Chigozie Ihunda, Chizoba Amaefule, Tijani Adamu, Chidiebere Okolie

Dolphins make steady rise

Chidiebere Okolie scored his first goal this season while Emem Eduok got his 6th as Dolphins beat FC Taraba 2-0 to move to 5th on the Nigeria Professional Football League table.

With 20 minutes gone in the game, Chidiebere found space in FC Taraba’s box to shoot behind Chinedu Kakawa in goal for the visitors.

Before the opener, Taraba had been under siege as shots from Omo Johnson in the 9th minute and Ifeanyi Egwim in the 19th were saved by the goalkeeper.

Just before half time, it was Emem Eduok who put Dolphins 2-0 up, his 6th goal of the season.

Five minutes later, Isiaka Olawale tried a shot but it was again saved by Kakawa.

Abdulmalik Mohammed who had come on for Osita Echendu before half time proved to be a handful for Dolphins as time without number he breached the Dolphins defensive wall but failed to score.

Dolphins top scorer this season, Ifeanyi Egwim described FC Taraba as difficult opponents on the day

“It was not an easy game and as you saw, they came out strongly but we stood our grounds and got the win,” Egwim said.

FC Taraba’s coach, Ndubuisi Nduka said his players sat back in the first half and it was not an instruction that came from him

“We conceded two silly goals and then my players decided to start playing. I never told them to sit back in the first half. It certainly was not my instruction,” Nduka said.