WE ARE READY FOR SUNSHINE STARS—–AIGBOGUN

The Technical Adviser of Warri Wolves , Paul Aigbogun has said the team is fully ready for Sunshine Stars on Saturday at the Warri City Stadium and assured their fans that they have nothing to fear.

Soft spoken Aigbogun who spoke after their training on Friday morning declared that what happened during the week when the players made an attempt to go on strike will not affect their performance because the players know what is at stake at this time.

“We have just finished our training and I know that the players will live up to expectation. We have talked to them and they know what is at stake at this time. We cannot allow that to affect us especially with what Sunshine did to us in the first leg in Akure”

Warri Wolves fc, photo credit Warri Wolves

“We want the fans to come out and support the boys. We need them at this time when the situation has become critical as we march on to catch up with Enyimba. We know we can do it and we are going to give our best. In Kano, what I saw really impressed me and I want Warri people and its environs to come out on Saturday to cheer the team to victory.”

Uduaghan Bails Warri Wolves Out Again

The Managing Director of Warri Wolves, Davidson Owumi has praised the sports loving Governor of Delta State for coming to the teams rescue by bailing them out after providing funds for the team to travel to Congo.

Apart from making available fund for the trip to Congo, the Governor equally released money to offset part of the salary being owned the players and that really gladdened the heart of the players who have vowed to play their hearts out in Congo on Friday as they confront Entancheite in the second leg which ended 2-1 in their favour two weeks ago in Warri.

According to Owumi, the Governor deserves kudos for coming to bail the team out at this time otherwise, the story would have been different.

“We are very grateful to the Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan for bailing us out by given us fund for the trip and he also made available money to pay part of the salarys. This has gone a long way to motivate the boys and one can see the way they are behaving now. I pray that we qualify so we can dedicate the victory to the Governor once again.” said Owumi.

Gov Uduaghan addressing Warri Wolves players before the match vs MK Etancheite. photo credit Moses Etu Media Manager Warri Wolves

It would be recalled that before the first leg in Warri, the Governor visited the team and motivated them and promised to pay whatever that is accruing to the players this week.

Meanwhile, the team which left Nigeria on Wednesday afternoon via Asky Airline through Lome arrived Kinshasha around 8pm and have since settled down.

Wolves Dedicates Victory To Gov Uduaghan

The Captain of Warri Wolves, Azubuike Egwuekwe has dedicated their slim victory over MK Etancheite from D.R.Congo to the Executive Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan who motivated them before the first leg and assured him that the team will qualify for the next round which is the group stage.

According to Azubuike, even though people tend to say that it is over, the players have seen their opponents and know what to do in the second leg which comes up next week.

He said some of their key players did not play in the first leg including himself and the second leg would be a different ball game.

“We dedicated our victory to Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan who came to talk to us before the match. It could have been worse and we thank him for all he has done for the team. We hope to overcome the team from Congo even though a lot of people have given up but we know what to do having played them here.

Gov Uduaghan addressing Warri Wolves players before the match vs MK Etancheite. photo credit Moses Etu Media Manager Warri Wolves

On the performance of the team since its inception, we have not done badly because we have rubbed shoulders with the best in the land within a short time. There are teams who have been on ground for the past 30 years or more but here we are, within 8 years, we have qualified for the continent four times, played FA Cup final once and if you mention four teams in this country, you must mention Warri Wolves.

We know we can do better and we are working towards that. Our players are all over the world, doing well.” said Egwuekwe .

MK Etancheite Football Club of Congo Arrives Warri For CAF Confederation Cup Clash

A 27 man team of MK Etancheite Football Club of D.R Congo, Warri Wolves opponent in the CAF Confederation Cup, 2nd round, 1st leg on Saturday, arrived Warri on Tuesday afternoon aboard Arik Airline, beaming with smiles.
The team which landed at the Murtala Mohammed Airport at 11am was received by officials of Warri Wolves and air lifted immediately to Warri where they hope to spend a whole five days before the cracker which comes up at the Warri City Stadium on Saturday.

There was a mild drama at the airport as we refused to cater for 2 of them because CAF rules put it clearly that the host team can only cater for 25 but it was resolved amicably.

Meanwhile, the Match Commissioner from Ghana and Match Officials from Sychelles will arrive Warri on Friday for the match which promises to be explosive.

“The Congo team actually arrived Lagos at 11am and we took them straight to Warri on Tuesday. They came with a 27 man team but we told them we can only airlift 25 based on the CAF rules but it was sorted out at the airport. We know that they mean business by coming five clear days before the match but we are equal to the task.” said Etu Moses, Media Manager of Warri Wolves.

Among the players that Warri Wolves need to focus on are Captain Kabangu, Losiyo Bofumbo, Mombo Lusala and Kabangu Ndima.

Warri Wolves team before their match against Racing De Bobo FC photo credit Moses Etu

In a related development, Gbolahan Salami whose birthday comes up on Wednesday, 15th, April has urged his team mates to brace up for the challenge and give him a befitting birthday gift which is victory over MC MK from D.R Congo.

” Wednesday is my birthday and I want my team mates to brace up for the game and use the victory as a gift. I will cherish it if we win by a wide margin.”

OWUMI SPEAKS ON WOLVES

The Managing Director of Warri Wolves, Davidson Owumi who arrived with the team from Ethiopia on Tuesday afternoon after qualifying for the next stage of the CAF Confederation Cup at the expense of Dedebit FC has said that he believes the Warri based team will go far in the competition based on what he saw in their last match.

Owumi who celebrated his birthday last weekend however revealed that for the team to achieve this, the boys must be well motivated and therefore urged the Government to provide what it takes to ginger the boys.

According to him, with the next match comes up on the 18th, April against MK Entancheite from DR Congo at the Warri City Stadium, the boys will have to move straight into a close camping because the higher you go in this competition, the tougher it becomes.

Owumi known as Okada in his hey days further said for this to be achieved, it depends on the funds available and so all hands must be on deck to see that the club achieve its aims.

Davidson Owumi, photo crdit qedng

“i sincerely believe these boys can go far from what I saw in Ethiopia but they must be well motivated to achieve the desired goals. We need funds now to move straight into a close camping because the next match is around the corner, It is on the 18th of this month and we are playing the first leg so we need to do well. We are the only hope of the Nation now with all other clubs eliminated and we cannot afford to let the Nation down. You know that the higher you go in this competition, the tougher it becomes and we just have to work hard. We need a lot of things to succeed”.

Owumi equally appealed to the fans to come out each time the club plays in Warri as this will go a long way in motivating the players.

“At this time, we need the fans now than before and they must come out in their thousands to support the team. They should be our 12th player and with them, we can achieve what we set to do by going far in this competition” said Owumi.

Dedebit FC Of Ethiopia Arrive Nigeria For Wolves

A 24 man team made up of 18 players and 6 Officials of Dedebit SC Football Club from Ethiopia, opponents of Warri Wolves FC in the CAF Confederation Cup match fixed for Saturday at the Warri City Stadium arrived Lagos on Thursday afternoon and were Air-lifted to Benin before making it to Warri by road.

At the Same time, the match Commissioner , Al-Hadj Jawulu from Ghana and Match Officials, Hassan Mohammed Hagi, Hamza Hagi Abdi, Bashir SH Abdi Suleiman and Bashir Olad Arab, all from Somalia arrived Warri Thursday afternoon for the 1st leg, second round of the Championship.

In a brief Statement released to the press by the Media Manager of the Club, Etu Moses on Thursday evening, the stage is now set for the match which promises to be explosive as both sides have what it takes to make it to the next round.

” We will continue to appeal to our fans to come out in thousands to watch this classical match. In Ethiopia, we have been told that we will meet not less than 35 thousand fans so if we can get about 20,000 fans here, it will go a long way in motivating the players for a good victory” said Etu.

Egwuekwe Rallies Wolves For Dedebit fc

Warri Wolves Captain and Super Eagles defender, Azubuike Egwuekwe has warned his team mates that the match against Dedebit SC of Ethiopia on Saturday in the CAF Confederation Cup second round, first leg will be tough and urged the fans to come out in thousands to cheer them to victory.

Azubuike spoke when reminded that Dedebit who play their matches in Bahir Dar Stadium, about 700km, North of Addis Ababa has about 42 thousand fans in attendance in their last match, disclosed that they have to finish the work in Warri, otherwise, they will have themselves to blame.

“We are aware of the herculean task ahead because Dedebit is not a small team. About 42,000 fans were present in their last match so we want our fans to come out in thousands to cheer us to victory. They parade national team players, about seven, so we just have to work hard to see that we do well in the first leg because the second leg would be difficult.” said Azubuike.

Azu as he is fondly called by friends has however assured all stakeholders that they are ready to shed their blood to win the first leg by scoring many goals.

Meanwhile, as at Wednesday morning, no word has come from the visiting team as to the time of their arrival and they seem to be playing hide and seek game in the match which comes up on Saturday at the Warri City Stadium.

CAF Confederation Cup: Wolves Moves Into Closed Camping For Dedebit FC

The Management of Warri Wolves has put the loss to Gabros Football Club in Nnewi at the weekend behind them by moving the players into closed camping ahead the first leg of the CAF Confederation, Second round cracker against highly rated Dedebit FC of Ethiopia.

According to the Media Manager of the Club, Etu Moses, immediately after the loss, the Managing Director, Davison Owumi ordered that the players be moved into a closed camp somewhere very close to Warri to start preparation for the match which comes up on Saturday at the Warri City Stadium.

Owumi warned that any player who fails to obey camp rules would be sanctioned and advised all of them to take the match serious, noting that the team from Ethiopia parades some National team players.

Warri Wolves team before their match against Racing De Bobo FC photo credit Moses Etu

Meanwhile, the likes of SuperSand Eagles, Ibenegbu Ikechukwu and Abu Azeez who missed the Gabros match because of their involvement in South Africa with Beach Soccer team will join the team on Tuesday morning to prepare for the match.

It would be recalled that Warri Wolves crashed out of the competition at this stage last year and will not want a repeat against Dedebit on Saturday

WARRI WOLVES TO PLAY ON SATURDAY

The second leg of the CAF Confederation cracker between Warri Wolves and Racing Bobo Dioulasso earlier fixed for Sunday, 1st March has been moved back by a day and will now hold on the 28th, February at the Warri City Stadium.

In a similar development, a 29 man delegation from the visiting team will arrive Warri on Thursday from Burkina Faso for the match which promises to be exciting and explosive with Warri Wolves having a slight advantage of winning the first leg by a lone goal Immediately after the first leg in Dioulasso, Racing Bobo FC officials had promised to turn the table in Warri and to see to their dream, a 2 man advanced team arrived Warri on Tuesday to prepare grounds for the team’s arrival.

“The match will hold on Saturday which is the 28th of February even though our normal day of playing our home matches is Sunday but there is no cause for alarm We are really ready for them because after the match in Dioulasso, they promised to turn the table in Warri, so we are not taking them for granted.

They have a good team. A 29 man delegation will arrive Warri on Thursday and on Saturday, all things being equal, the match will take place. 2 of their staff arrived Warri on Tuesday to begin preparations for their arrival and that shows they are serious. We want the fans to come in thousands and make the stadium uncomfortable for them with their noise and support. Hopefully, with the level of preparation, we will scale through. said Etu Moses who is the Media Manager of the team

Warri Wolves Off To Burkina Faso For CAF Confedertions Cup First Leg

Warri Wolves Football Club will depart the Oil city for Lagos on Wednesday and further depart for Burkina Faso on Thursday to begin their campaign in the CAF Confederation Cup competition.

In a brief release made available to Sports Writers in Warri by the Media Manager, Etu Moses, the team made up of 18 players and 9 officials will leave Lagos by 15.00 hours.

According to Etu, the team has been in closed camping in Otu-Jeremi, in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State after the Super Six in Abuja where the Coaches led by Paul Aigbogun have been perfecting their strategies for this crucial match.

Etu further revealed that some of the players that will make the trip are Goalkeepers Daniel Akpeyi and Okiemute Odah, Goodluck Onamado, Eyimofe Joseph, Semiu Liadi who joined from Enyimba, Monday Osagie, Oke Ogagotewho and Ibenegbu Ikechukwu.

Others are Micheal Egbeta, Michael Okoyoh, Joseph Osadiaye, Stanley Dimgba, Abu Azeez and Bright Akpojuvwewo.

Warri Wolves bus

Also, some of the team’s U-23 players like Ichull Lordson, Austin Amutu, Omoforman Freedom and Achibi Ewenike have been released and may make the team depending on the Coach’s plan.

Etu however disclosed that Oghenekaro Etebo was not released because the National team Coaches sent a word that he is nursing an injury.

Speaking on the match, Coach Paul Aigbogun expressed the confidence that his wards would would do the nation proud and he called on Nigerians to pray for them.

Gumba, Gaiya Endorse NFF Electoral Appeals Committee Members’ Report

The report submitted to the NFF Secretariat by members of the NFF 2014 Electoral Committee, upholding the NFF 2014 Elective Congress held in Warri on Tuesday, 30th September has been endorsed by prominent and relevant authorities and bodies across the globe, including the sports committees of the National Assembly.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Adamu Gumba said his committee will stick by the report of the majority of the members of the NFF 2014 Electoral Appeals Committee.

All four members of the NFF 2014 Electoral Appeals Committee on Wednesday conveyed to the NFF Secretariat their decision throwing out the appeals and upholding in its entirety, the NFF 2014 Elective Congress of Tuesday, 30th September, 2014.

In any judicial body, the opinion of every member counts. The chairman merely reads the decision, which may be against his own considered view and position. A ruling is either unanimous or split, and even when the chairman’s position is in the minority, he has no choice but to read the majority decision.

Honourable Godfrey Gaiya , Chairman House Committee on Sports

Chairman of the House of Reps’ Committee on Sports, Hon. Godfrey Gaiya added his voice on Thursday, saying that he has never seen anywhere in the world where one prevails over four.

“It is a moot point. The decision of the majority is what the House Committee on Sports will stand by. Any other claim is minority opinion that does not have any leg to stand on.

“Personally, I was at the election in Warri, and it was to me one of the fairest and freest you can see anywhere. It was appropriately conducted, in line with the Statutes and regulations governing the elections, and we should simply forget dissenting voices and move on with our football administration. ”

Warri Wolves To Boycott Lafia Match If…

Arising from a meeting where issues bothering the league especially the last matches was reviewed, Management of Warri Wolves has declared emphatically that unless Nasarawa United honour their match with Giwa Football Club, the Warri based team will not honour their last match with Nasarawa United in Lafia.

Speaking after the meeting, ex-international, Davidson Owumi who is the Chief Executive Officer of Warri Wolves said they have had enough of the rubbish going on in the league especially the last four matches and will no longer fold their hands and allow that to continue.

According to him, any Club who want to be a champion should work for it and not scheme to get free points and as a result of that, Nasarawa should go and slug it out with Giwa FC rather than scheming to get free points.

‘If you look at the last few weeks, you will be wondering whether this is the way they run football in other countries. The whole thing looks disgusting and come to think of it, Nasarawa United said they will not honour their match with Giwa FC.

Warri Wolves bus

We have resolved not to go to Lafia for our last match if they fail to play against Giwa FC. We have had enough of this nonsense and we can no longer keep quiet. Any Club that wishes to be true Champion should work for it and not scheme to get free points.” said Owumi who was known as Okada in his playing days.

The former Super Eagles striker who was once in charge of the League advised that referees should be up and doing in this crucial stages of the league and urged journalists to shine their eyes to report accurately so as to better the league.

“I want to also appeal to the referees to be up and doing in this crucial time and ensure that they do their best. I also want to beg our media men to travel to all venues to cover matches and not limit it to one area.

They should go to the South, West and North to see what is going on and report same.”