AYAYA JOINS ABIA WARRIORS FC

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

LMC Grants Provisional Approval To Six Suspended Stadiums

Six clubs whose grounds were decertified from hosting Glo Premier League matches have been granted provisional approval by the League Management Company (LMC) to return to their grounds while further inspection would be carried out to ascertain the appropriateness of repairs done.

In a circular to the Clubs, the LMC listed the clubs that have been granted provisional approval to return to their home grounds as Giwa FC (Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos), Nasarawa United, (Lafiya Township Stadium), FC Taraba (Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo), Heartland (Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri), FC IfeanyiUbah (Gabros Stadium, Nnewi) and Arabia Warriors (Umuahia Township Stadium).

The clubs had their grounds decertified from Match Day11 after they were inspected and adjudged not fit to host Glo Premier League matches. The clubs were directed to repair the observed defects and notify the LMC for further inspection.

The LMC in the circular said it has received and reviewed the preliminary reports from field inspections which shows that there has been appreciable level of improvement towards meeting the required standard required for top level league football. It further said, “consequently, the following Clubs are hereby given the provisional approval and option to use their home venues for a trial period in the next four matches”.

The circular signed by the LMC Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar informed the affected clubs that final inspection will be carried out on each stadium during match days to determine the correctness of the repairs on the pitches and compliance to continue to host matches.

“Those we find to have met requirements for certification will be approved to continue hosting matches for the rest of the season while any venue found not to have complied to standard will be decertified indefinitely and the club will return to the alternative venue from Match Day 24”, the LMC declared in the circular.

It further stated that the listed clubs can exercise the option of continuing playing their home games at their adopted grounds if they so desire but must confirm such decision in writing to the LMC before close of business on Friday, July 31.

LMC Sympathises With Pillars Over Robbery Attack…

Postpones game against Heartland…Other Fixtures to hold as scheduled

Port Harcourt hosts double-header Saturday.

The League Management Company (LMC) has expressed shock at the news of the armed robbery attack on Kano Pillars football club contingent along the Abuja-Lokoja Road and consequently ordered an indefinite postponement of their Match Day 1 fixture in Owerri against Heartland FC.

Kano Pillars

Chief Operating Officer of LMC, Salihu Abubakar said the LMC had been in touch with officials of Kano Pillars, monitoring the progress of the injured players and doing everything possible to stabilise the team. He said all other fixtures of the Glo Premier League Match Day 1 will hold as scheduled but that the star match will now be a double-header in Port Harcourt between Dolphins FC and Kwara United and between Sharks and Sunshine Stars.

Whilst we sympathize with the Club and strongly condemn this crime, Clubs are advised that the Match Day 1 fixtures will hold as scheduled except the Matches in Port Harcourt which will now serve as a double-header and will be televised live on Saturday.”, Abubakar said.

GLO NPL – El-Kanemi gets new date with Abia Warriors

A new date of Wednesday, March 26 has been announced for the postponed Match Day 2 fixture between El-Kanemi Warriors and Abia Warriors.

The League Management Company (LMC) announced that the match will be played at the Kano Pillars Stadium in Kano which will now host home fixtures of the Maiduguri-based side until further notice.

Salihu Abubakar, the Chief Operating Officer of LMC disclosed this and said “in the light of developments in Maiduguri and adjoining cities, we had to suspend all fixtures in the town and have moved their home fixtures for now to Kano”.

The match will kick-off at 4.15pm local time. Meanwhile, in Match Day 2 fixtures, Heartland will host Sharks in Owerri in a Friday Star Match while the following day, Crown FC will play home to Dolphins FC, FC Taraba will receive El-Kanemi Warriors in Jalingo and Rangers International are hosts to Kano Pillars.

In Uyo, Akwa United will clash with Kaduna United and in Katsina Ala, it is Lobi Stars versus Gombe United. Also on Wednesday, March 26, Warri Wolves are home to Enyimba International while Bayelsa United are home to Nasarawa United.

In a related development, host broadcasters of the Glo Premier League, SuperSport has said the repeat broadcast of the match between Kano Pillars and Sunshine Stars will start airing from 00.50 am on SuperSport Select and SuperSport Select Go.

It will also be aired on Tuesday at 2pm and 1am on SuperSport 9 while on Wednesday, it will be broadcast at 8am and 00.45am on SuperSport Select and SuperSport Select Go.

The broadcast schedule will continue on Thursday, March 20 on SuperSport 9 at 4.50pm and 00.50am while on Friday, the final repeat broadcast will be at 11.00am and 00.50am on SuperSport 9.