NFF President Amaju Pinnick has called on the Nigeria Police to intensify search for the wife of Super Eagles’ midfielder Fegor Ogude, who was kidnapped at the family’s house in Warri, Delta State on Monday night.
Gunmen reportedly stormed the Ogudes’ residence and took away the wife of the Russia –based player – a member of Nigeria’s 2013 Africa Cup of Nations – winning squad
“I am calling on the Nigeria Police to please expedite action with regards to the search for Fegor’s wife. The player is very, very worried in Russia where he is based and he can no longer concentrate on his professional duties.
“Fegor Ogude served this country meritoriously and was in the Super Eagles that brought glory to Nigeria at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. I am making a special appeal to the Police to intensify the search for Mrs Maimunat Ogude, but I also call on the kidnappers to consider Fegor’s contributions to Nigeria football and release his wife immediately, hale and hearty.”
On Thursday, when Fegor Ogude spoke to thenff.com from his base in Russia, he was a very disturbed man.
“I am very worried. The kidnappers have not made any contact with any member of the family and this is three days after. I am very anxious that nothing untoward should happen to my wife.”
Reports said the gunmen threw Fegor’s children out of the car and drove away with his wife. The car has since been recovered, but the whereabouts of Mrs Maimunat Ogude remains unknown.
Keshi, Osaze Say Eagles Best Yet To Come…WC Debut Excites Ejike
Stephen Keshi – Super Eagles Coach
Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi and striker, Peter Osaze Odemwingie have reviewed the 1-0 win over Bosnia-Hezergovina on last Saturday and came away with the submission that the team was still yet to play to its full potentials in the Mundial.
Osaze said at the post match media parley that the team has what it takes to reach the very final if all of the players play to full potential. “I saw a Brazilian on the street who told he foresaw Nigeria playing the final against Brazil and I said to myself why not, going by the level of our players and the fact that they are yet to peak”.
Osaze Odenwingie goalscorer, Nigeria vs Bosnia-Herzegovinia
The Stoke City forward who scored Nigeria’s only goal in the encounter said the goal also served as a compensation for his missing out of last year’s Nations Cup in South Africa. “But mark my words we have a very resilient defence, a creative midfield and an attack force that can trouble any defence in the world if we play to our potentials we can go all the way”, he declared.
Keshi on his part, said he will not relent at ensuring that he gets the team in the right mood for the championship but said the players are just gradually coming up. “The annoying thing is that they get criticized unnecessarily back home. When that comes from the man on the street you can understand but when people who should know like ex-footballers criticize the team, I don’t enjoy it at all but the players have showed that they are good enough for the World Cup but they are yet to play to full potential”.
Winger Ejike Uzoenyi, who played his first World Cup game against Bosnia, said he was excited at his debut. “It was like a dream but I thank God, the NFF and the coaches for making me realize the dream of playing at the world’s biggest stage in football. I am a fulfilled man”.
Imoke, Unicem Rovers Hail Eagles…Says Maigari Is History Maker
Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, says he has been enjoying the performance of the Super Eagles and believes that the team has the potential to go all the way. Imoke, whose government hosted all the team’s qualifying games was also in Brazil prior to the start of the championship.
“This team has the potential of making Nigeria one of the biggest football super powers in the world and I also believe that the NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari and his board are on the verge of also becoming the best football administrators that the country ever produced”, he was quoted as saying by Sports Commissioner, Hon Patrick Ugbe.
Also newly appointed Chairman of Unicem Rovers FC of Calabar, Maurice Inok, says the entire team and its officials are backing the team to lift the World Cup adding that the club has a bunch of youthful players that he will invite the national team technical crew to come and pick from for the future.
“We are behind the NFF, Keshi and his entire crew and I can promise that when he returns to a garland of celebration we won’t be behind because the team has raised the bar of football in Africa and the world”, Inok said in a statement from Calabar.
Nigeria Police Force
Nigeria Police Shines In Brazil 2014
The Nigeria Police Force has been one of the strong ambassadors here in Brazil representing the country in various categories of the competition and they have been turning out in flying colours.
Apart from national team Chief Security Officer, ACP Abubakar Baba, there are eight other top officers here and carrying out various World Cup task and they could be seen in the different centres of the championship.
Led by the Officer in charge of Sports in the Nigeria Police, Commissioner of Police, Sani Mohammed, the team includes another CP Abimbola Marcaulay, SP Gabriel Alobo DSP Femi Okunowo, Inspector Kikelomo Ajayi, herself a former skipper of the Women National team, the Super Falcons and Inspector Wakili Isah Shall.
They have been everywhere and helping to ensure that the flag of Nigerian is flown in the security circle very high, even preventing a former top sports administrators from Nigeria from being arrested over branding in the stadium. Nigeria is really going places in Brazil.
Towards ensuring safety at Glo Premier League venues, the League Management Company (LMC) has secured the services of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) to compliment the Nigeria Police as Security Stewards.
Commandant of NSCDC, Dr. Ade Abolurin who received a delegation of the LMC led by the Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar, said the Match Day one games holding this weekend will be used to test run operations of his officers at stadiums.
“We are very happy to support the LMC and our clubs to provide security for Match officials, players and more importantly, fans, declared Abolurin and added, “I have followed the league keenly and believe that the civil defense will be part of the innovations the LMC is bringing to the game”.
Abolurin said operatives of the NSCDC will be deployed at all match venues to work with existing security operatives in ensuring the safety of lives and property. “Football is a game that unites us as a nation and it must be played at safe secure places to attract people, so we will help in providing this enabling environment to make Nigerians comfortable watching their favourite clubs”, the NSCDC Commandant assured.
Abubakar thanked the Civil Defense boss and commended him for the interest in the League. “On behalf of the Chairman of the LMC and the members, let me convey our profound gratitude to Nigeria Civil Defense Corp for this partnership which will help us achieve one of the cardinal objectives of the LMC, that is making league venues safe on match days”, Abubakar stated.
He said that security is critical to the drive to populate the match venues and build fan base for clubs and assured the NSCDC of the LMC cooperation to make their work successful.
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