LMC INSPECTS UMUAHIA TOWNSHIP STADIUM

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.

Sharks Gm, Apologize To Fans After Relegation

The Management and Players of Sharks FC have apologize to the government, fans and people of Rivers State over their inability to avoid the drop to the lower league.

The General Manager of the club, Okey kpaluku stated this shortly after his teams zero-one loss to Abia Warriors at the Umuahia Township stadium yesterday.

Kpaluku who was so optimistic of staying afloat the premier League next season described the loss in Umuahia and subsequent relegation as heart breaking.

“let me apologize to our fans and the government of Rivers State led by Barr. Nyesom Wike for failing to meet their expectations”.

“Am still trying to come to terms with our relegation to the NNL because we did not bargain for it as we did everything possible to stay afloat but our best was not good enough to keep us in the premier League “. kpaluku said

Captain of the side, Odinga Odinga commenting on his teams relegation, described it as one of the saddest moments of his career because it happened at a time when they thought the team was better positioned to escape the drop.

Odinga stressed that they have themselves to to blame for failing to make the avalanche of chances they had in the match against Abia Warriors yesterday.

“We came into the game with so much expectations, had the game going for us, threw away begging chances and we got nailed for it”.

Andrew Abalaogu of Enyimba against Odinga Odinga and Yusuf Jaiyeola of Sharks photo credit: LMC Media

“Am saddened by our relegation to the lower league, I just pray that our Governor who has done so much for us in such a short period will have a place in his heart to forgive us for disappointing him”. odinga said

Odinga also seized the opportunity to thank shirt sponsors, Eunisell for identifying with the team and apologize to the chemical solution company for letting them down,.

He appealed to the Rivers State government, fans and Eunisell to keep faith with the team for a quick return to the premier league

Sharks Duo Disappears From Camp

The duo of Yomi Olaoke and Tayo Fabiyi have been declared missing in action by the Management of Sharks FC.

General Manager of the team, Okey Kpaluku, who made the disclosure in a statement, said both players were last seen around camp after week 11 and 12 encounters in the league respectively.

Kpaluku said the disappearance of both players, has further depleted the struggling side and wondered why the players will go A.W.O.L despite the challenges facing the team.

“How can players just wake up and disappear from camp without permission from the Management or Technical Crew”.

“We cannot give account of the where about of these players and just imagine the negative impact their disappearance will have in the team, knowing fully well that the season has been pretty rough for us”.Kpaluku said

He added that, the players should know they have a contract with the club and as such have no choice but to return to camp.

SHARKS GM GOES TOUGH.

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The Management of Sharks FC has told players and technical crew to get out of relegation waters by the end of the first stanza of the league or face severe sanctions.

General Manager of the team, Okey Kpaluku, handed down the warning during a crucial meeting with the technical crew yesterday.

Kpaluku, who was particularly disappointed with the manner the boys approached the last match against Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan, described the attitude of the boys as unbecoming of a side that wants to win silverware.

“You must rise up to the occasion and make sure you are not at the bottom of the league table by the start of the second round of the league or be prepared for the worst from Management ”.Kpaluku said

Andrew Abalaogu of Enyimba against Odinga Odinga and Yusuf Jaiyeola of Sharks photo credit LMC Media

“How can you put up such an awful performance against 3SC and you expect me to be happy with you, that was one match you should have won with relative ease”.

He ordered the Head Coach, Daboere Dokubo, to ensure that any player who refuses to fall in line with the clubs drive of getting out of relegation waters, does not go unpunished, stressing that the days of treating gross misconduct with levity is over.

Kpaluku seized the opportunity to inform the players and officials that the LMC, has formally approved the team’s relocation to its traditional home ground (The Sharks Stadium) for the rest of the season, beginning with this weekend cracker against Nasarawa united.

Responding to the cheering news of a return to the Sharks Stadium, Captain of the side Odinga Odinga assured Management that Sharks will not be relegated and promised to give fifty free match ticket to the first fifty fans for tomorrow’s fixture against Nasarawa united at the Sharks Stadium.

“GM sir, this news of our going back to Sharks stadium will certainly boost our campaign and let me assure you that we will be among the teams that will play in the Glo premier league next season”.Odinga Said

Sharks FC Camp Comes Alive

The Camp of Sharks FC came alive during the week following the payment of back log of salaries owed the team as approved by Governor Nyesom Wike.

Captain of the side Odinga Odinga who described the development as breathtaking thanked His Excellency Barr. Nyesom WIKE for giving them cause to rejoice as footballers.

“We thought it was one of those political gimmick, when Governor Wike said he will clear the back log of salaries owed us by the immediate past administration but today the reverse is the case and the excitement in camp is just overwhelming”. Odinga said

“And on behalf of the team I want to say a big thank you to his Excellency, The executive Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike for putting smiles on our faces”.

Speaking further Odinga said the largess from the Rivers State Chief Executive, will no doubt spur the team to fight the battle of their lives against relegation, beginning with tomorrow’s cracker against Heartland FC.

“We are condemned to win, starting with Sunday’s match against Heartland because so much as being given to us and much is expected, at least that is all we need to end the season well”.Odinga stressed

Jamiu Alimi of Sharks against Mfon Udoh of Enyimba photo credit LMC Media

Similarly, General Manager of Sharks FC Okey Kpaluku also gave Governor Wike thumbs up for matching his words with action following the payment of outstanding salary.

Kpaluku also appealed to the sports loving Governor to consider the outstanding Sign on fees owed the team.

“His Excellency has swept us off our feet, by clearing all that is owed the team and it as coming at a time when we need everything on and off the field of play to fight our way up the league table”.Kpaluku said

Another cheering news for the team according to Kpaluku is that approval for outstanding match bonus has also been made by His Excellency to further motivate the boys.

SHARKS-PLAYERS SMILE TO THE BANK WITH BACK LOG OF MATCH BONUS

SHARKS football club of port harcourt has joined the league of clubs in the domestic scene that do not owe its playing staff match bonuses.

This follows management’s provision of a back log of match bonuses including the team’s last match against City rivals Dolphins Football club of Port Harcourt, a development which is happening for the first time in a long while.

General Manager of the club Okey Kpaluku who stated this in chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt described the development as cheering which will go a long way to motivate the lads to go the extra mile in the remaining matches this season beginning with this weekend cracker against Gombe united.

“This is a welcome development in the team as you know it’s been a while that players and officials got their match bonus up to date in a particular season”.Kpaluku said

“Not only do we have a clean bill before the players in terms of match bonuses and salaries as agreed with the players at the moment I expect that the payment of the outstanding match bonus will motivate the players to tackle our next opponents with all seriousness, starting with this weekend game against Gombe united “.

On the sign on fees for last season still owed the players, Kpaluku said the players will get their contract fees in full before the end of the season stressing that all necessary paper work has been done and approval will soon be made by the Rivers state government.

“you know we don’t pay sign on fees anymore, what we now have is enhanced salary as directed by the league management company and the sign on fees for last season is the last contract fee we have to pay the players so be rest assured that before the end of the current season what is due the players will get to them”.

“All the necessary paper work for the funds have been done, we are just waiting for approval from the government and moreover you know that it is a bulky sum since we pay one hundred percent and not in piece meal in Port Harcourt”. Kpaluku stressed

“The latest development is also our way of assuring the league management company that we are on the same page with them in their transformation agenda for the Nigeria professional football league”. He echoed

Sharks-management congratulate coach Ogunbote and Pyagbara

Management of Sharks fc has congratulated the duo of Gbenga Ogunbote and Christain Pyagbara for winning the League Bloggers Awards LBA for manager and player respectively for the month of April.

General Manager of Sharks fc Okey Kpaluku who sent the congratulatory message onbehalf of the management of the club from Kenya described the award as timely and well deserved by the coach and player.

Kpaluku added that the award will go a long way to motivate the team to break more ground this season and consolidate on its good run so far in the league by not dropping point at home and picking valuable point on the road.

“Let me congratulate you on the award which did not come to us as a surprise because you truly worked for it and am sure this honour will spur you (coach and players) to do more in the field of play”.Kpaluku said

Responding to the award, technical adviser of the club and coach of the month of April Gbenga Ogunbote who was excited with the award commended the League Bloggers Awards for recognizing the input of coaches on the growth of the game in the local scene.

He however attributed the award to the entire team and used the opportunity to call on the teeming fans of Sharks fc to come out in their numbers and support the team to victory against Giwa fc tomorrow(Wednesday) stressing that the ugly incident after the match against Enyimba fc will not repeat itself again.

“Ah am very happy with this award, it goes to show that somebody somewhere appreciates what we coaches are doing in our team’ and I commend the initiators of this award for doing a great job “.Ogunbote said

And player of the month of April Christain Pyagbara who expressed shock after he was singled out of the lots in the elite league for the award assured fans of the team that the award will ginger him to channel his energy into achieving the ambitions of the team this season.

“ I was shocked when I got wind of the award for the month of April and the much I can do now is do the best I can to ensure that Sharks fc wins a major silverware this season”.Pyagbara said

Gbenga Ogunbote nicked the manager’s award by edging out Kelechi Emeteole of Heartland, Salisu Yusuf of El-Kanemi Warriors and Paul Aigbogun of Warri Wolves, who were also shortlisted for the monthly award.

Ogunbote was honoured for guiding Sharks to the top spot of the league table and also masterminded their away win at Kaduna United while they went unbeaten in five matches from Match Day 7 to 11.

In the players category Pyagbara beat Saibou Badarou of Heartland, Osaguona Ighodaro of Enugu Rangers, Gbolahan Salami of Warri Wolves, Emem Eduok of Dolphins, Nnamso Edo of Akwa United and his teammate and goalkeeper, Danladi Isah to emerge winner.

Pyagbara in the month under review scored three goals in the Glo Premier League including two in the road trip victory at Kaduna United and one against Nasarawa United and also played a vital role in the team’s overall performance in April.

Sharks FC-Management To Transports Supporters To Omoku

The management of Sharks Football Club of Port Harcourt has promised to provide vehicles to convey fans and supporters of the club to Omoku on Wednesday for the week ten game against Nembe city.

General Manager of the club, Okey Kpaluku said the gesture is to appreciate the fans for their unflinching support towards the team.

He stressed that the management is also working towards providing vehicles to convey them (supporters) to the club’s matches taking place at nearby states in subsequent games.

“We are grateful to the fans and supporters for the strength they have been lending to the team and to encourage them to do more we have decided to provide vehicles to convey them to our match with Nembe City on Wednesday taking place in Omoku”Kpaluku said

“And not just that, we also intend to extend the gesture to matches taking place in nearby states as our finances improve”

Kpaluku also implored the supporters to continue in their relentless support and cheer the players to more victory.

“I also want to urge our fans and supporters to continue their good work, we’ve come this far because of you, but we still need your support to win the ultimate goal this season, which is a continental ticket.” Kpaluku said

The will buses will be stationed at the Sharks FC stadium as early as 8am for onward journey to Omoku at exactly 10am