NFF Rates ARIK High, Says Plane Engine Not Lost

The Nigeria Football Federation has declared that ARIK Air remains one of the best airlines in the world, and that it would continue to patronize the airline for its efficiency and excellent safety record.

Just as ARIK Air came out on Sunday night to explain that its plane conveying the Nigeria U-23 team to The Gambia for a training camp did not lose an engine, NFF President Amaju Pinnick on Monday regretted the misunderstanding that led to panic reports of ‘lost engine’ and ‘near plane crash.’

Pinnick stated: “I was contacted immediately after the incident and I know that the airplane was not in any serious problem. When these things happen, the tendency is for people to sensationalise.

“ARIK Air has remained one of the safest and best airlines, and we will continue to patronize them. They have provided us excellent services in recent times, flying the Super Eagles to and from Tanzania, Burkina Faso and Swaziland, without any untoward incident.”

Pinnick commended the aircraft in ARIK’s fleet and said the airline’s safety precautions are marvelous.

“They have flown us with their excellent Boeing 737-800 and the Bombardier Jet in recent times, and players and officials have never had any reason to complain.” ARIK flew the Super Eagles to and from Tanzania for a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in September, flew the Eagles B delegation to and from Burkina Faso for a 2016 African Nations Championship qualifier in October and also flew the Super Eagles to and from Swaziland for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier last week.

The NFF on Monday reiterated the statement by ARIK Air’s public relations and communications manager, Banji Ola, that “the captain saw an indication light and as a precautionary measure, he had to make an air return. It was not a case of lost engine.

“There was no case of lost engine. It is true that the one that flew the team from Lagos lost one tyre while landing in Accra. As for the other airplane, the pilot only saw an indication light and made an air return as a precautionary measure.

“ARIK immediately made arrangement for another aircraft to fly the team to The Gambia.”

The Nigeria U-23 delegation has since arrived and settled down in The Gambia, where the team is undergoing a 10 –day training program ahead of the 2nd Africa U-23 Cup of Nations starting in Senegal on November 28.

Gambia Gear Up For Rio Olympic Beach Volleyball Qualifiers

Gambia men and women beach volleyball teams will leave the country on Thursday for Dakar to take part in the sub zonal Pool 2 qualification round for Rio Olympic Games in 2016. Gambia will be partaking in its first international championships since the beginning of the Yunusa Barry’s led-executive. The qualification will be played between 4 nations in Senegal as the host, Cape Verde, Mauritania and The Gambia. The tournament was originally scheduled to be hosted by Gambia but Gambia was denied to host the tournament at the scheduled dates because of the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa. The host country was later changed to Senegal and will be held from 22 January to 26 January 2015 in Senegal.

“We are all ready and well prepared to represent the nation in this momentous event,” Alfousainey Jarju Secretary General of GVBA said. Jarju further stated the importance of the competition, “This is part of the plan to send our national teams to all the continental competitions and we are anticipative that we will come out with an excellent result.

Gambia women team prepares

Gambia National Olympic Committee would be providing the funding for the travel and needed logistics to support and warrant smooth participation of the team in this very imperative competition. The team will leave to Dakar on 22nd January and the tournament will kick off on 23rd January.

“We are going to play against different nations with different styles of modern volleyball, so we have to prepare comprehensively. There is no need to explain that we will be competing against teams from the best volleyball nations in Africa. I am pleased that we will get to know all the famous style and background of African beach volleyball. I am proud and expectations are really high,” Malick Jammeh a senior player said.

Babucarr Jarra another selected player further thank the new executive for the moral and financial support rendered and the trust they bestowed on him to carry out the national duty. We are representing our country in the Olympic qualifies, where unfortunately I never played, so I will have to be humble and to play with respect and pride.”

Gambia during training

Abie Kujabi of GAF said it is a very tough challenge for them. “We will face great nations with rich backgrounds in African beach volleyball and huge volleyball schools. But still see this championship as a great moment for us. It will be a challenging experience for us-the players, the coaching staffs, and the board and of course our country she stated.

Selected players for women’s team are Abie Kujabie (GAF), Saffie Sawaneh (GAF), Sainabou Tambedou (Gamtel/Gamcel), Fatoumatta M. Ceesay (Interior) and for the Men’s team Malick Jammeh (Old Jeshwang), Babucarr Jarra (Old Jeshwang), Pa Ali Njie (Serre Kunda East) and Alieu Barry (Gamtel/Gamcel).

By Muhammed L Saidykhan- Press Officer GVBA