Sports
Rangers Target Perfect Start For Title Defense
. . . As El-Kanemi Hits Enugu For Season Opener
Reigning Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Rangers International FC, claims to be fully set to kickoff it’s title defense as the 2024/2025 NPFL season rolls off with the visit of President Federation Cup champions, El-Kanemi Warriors FC of Maiduguri.
The coach Fidelis Ilechukwu tutored side would be hosting the season’s curtain raiser at ‘The Cathedral’, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, on Saturday, August 31, 2024.
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They are hoping that the fixture would be a replica of the title winning match for the Enugu side in the 2015/2016 season where the ‘Antelopes’ flew over the ‘Warriors’ by four un-replied goals in a packed stadium on October 2, 2016.
Having secured the services of some quality legs and hands to take the places of those that departed from the trophy-winning squad, coach Ilechukwu and his trusted lieutenants will be looking to ensure that the new season starts on a flying note even when a stiff resistance is expected from the Maiduguri side that recently gained promotion from the NNL and won the oldest club competition to pick a ticket to represent the country on the continent.
The arrival of such players as, Tekena Garando, Ekeson Okorie, Evans Ogbonda, Hillary Ekawu, Ernest Governor, Okafor Onyekachi, Bashir Usman, Lucky Abdullahi, Chikeluba Ofoedu, Effimi Nsi, Igwilo Chimobi, Williams Wonah, Oforkansi Michael, Ogbonna Anayor, Daniel Onyia, and a host of others to join forces with the reliable, Opubo Japhet, Ugwueze Chinemerem, Opara Austin, Onyebuchi Ifeanyi, Isaac Saviour, Ugochukwu Ejike, Agu Kenechukwu, Kenneth Igboke, Kazeem Ogunleye, Chiedozie Okorie, Stephen Ikenna, Odoh Joel, and many more, fans of Rangers are assured of a quality display when the encounter happens on Saturday.
Captain of the Coal City side, Ugwueze Chinemerem, in a chat, said that the team was prepared to kick start the new season on a high with the visit of their opponent from Maiduguri, stressing, “I expect a very tough customer in the form of El-Kanemi but with what we have been doing since our qualification for the second preliminary round of CAF Champions League, I see determination, passion and motivation to get a good result and set us on the right track for a successful title defense. We won the title with a young team and this season; we are campaigning with a much younger team that is highly motivated to repeat the feat of last season. Like I said earlier, it would be a tough encounter due largely to the fact that our opponent was recently eliminated from the continent and would come out to ruffle us but we are prepared for them and by God’s grace we shall celebrate at the end of the encounter.”
Shot-stopper and one of the deputy-captains of the squad, Opubo Japhet, who had two assists and twelve clean sheets last season, is optimistic of starting their title defense on a bright note against the ‘Invading Warriors’ from Maiduguri, stressing, “I will say a big thanks to God for the success of last season and for the start of the new season against El-Kanemi Warriors, I am very optimistic going into the match with the caliber of players in our squad. Surely, there are no more underdogs in the game of football hence we expect an open game but we are going for the maximum points at stake.”
The visitors under coach Aliu Zubairu are already in the Coal City as they arrived on Thursday and will have a feel of the playing turf of the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium on Friday for the only match day 1 fixture of the Nigeria Premier Football League 2024/2025 with the others taking place between 6-7, September, 2024.
Abia State took its turn to play host to the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) torch tour in brief ceremonies at the Umuahia Township Stadium and at the Government House.
The state Commissioner for Youth and Sport, Hon Nwaobilor Ananaba Nwadinma received the torch at the Umuahia Township Stadium before leading Team Abia to the Government House where it was presented to the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti.
On arrival at the Government House, Team Abia was treated to a sumptuous dinner with the governor.
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The team then proceeded to the governor’s yard, where the torch was lit and presented to the governor by the commissioner to the admiration of everyone who witnessed the lighting of the torch.
In his speech the governor charged Team Abia to go and conquer in Uyo and come back to receive a state reception.
Gov Otti expressed appreciation to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for initiating the sports festival, which he noted will go a long way to create unity, spot and harness untapped talents in the Niger Delta states.
The Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) has been described as an intervention project of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) designed to include all youths in the region irrespective of gender and physical abilities.
According to the Executive Director Finance and Administration, NDDC, Alabo Boma Iyaye the intent behind the design speaks to global practises of inclusivity in sports and other aspects of life.
He made the assertion while appearing on the ARISE television Morning Show.
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He maintained that the rationale for including Para-Athletics and Para-lifting in the 17 games festival event, Iyaye said, “there are youths in the region with physical disabilities and they must enjoy the benefits of the NDDC intervention”.
“At the international level, we have the Paralympic Games organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to cater for persons with physical disabilities and the Niger Delta Sports Festival cannot deviate from the international best practices” remarked Iyaye who also serves as the Chairman of the NDSF Main Organising Committee (MOC).
He also spoke of the reason behind the NDDC decision to extend its intervention program to Sports, noting that “sports is a powerful too for national unity. We want to provide a platform for youths in the nine mandate states of NDDC to bond, to know each other and find expression for their talents”.
“There is a need to regenerate the line of supply of athletes to represent Nigeria as a country in international sports competitions and the festival will afford us the opportunity to discover new talents that will be nurtured to replace the likes of Blessing Okagbere, Enefiok Udo-Obong, Blessing Oborodudu, Victor Ikpeba, Emmanuel Amuneke, Seun Ogunkoya and many others”.
The NDDC since founded by an act of parliament in July 2000 has championed the provision of infrastructure in roads, health care, education and skills acquisition.
Iyaye said that delving into sports would enable those who may not be successful in education and artisan skills to build a career in sports.
The NDSF which started with trials in the local government and federal constituencies will be held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State from April 1-8. About 3000 athletes will compete in 17 sports.
Carlo Ancelotti, the legendary coach of Real Madrid, is set to face trial next week over allegations of tax fraud, a Madrid court announced on Friday.
Spanish prosecutors are pushing for a prison sentence of four years and nine months, accusing the 65-year-old of failing to report over €1 million ($1.1 million) in earnings from image rights between 2014 and 2015.
The trial is scheduled to begin on Wednesday and will last two days. According to a court spokesperson, Ancelotti is required to be present for the hearings.
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Authorities claim that while Ancelotti declared his salary from Real Madrid, he allegedly used a “confusing” and “complex” structure of shell companies to conceal additional earnings from image rights and other sources, despite being registered as a tax resident in Spain at the time.
A Spanish court initially ordered him to stand trial in 2023, but no date was set until now. Last year, Ancelotti dismissed the case as “an old story that I hope will be resolved soon.”
Ancelotti, who has won a record five Champions League titles as a coach, first took charge of Real Madrid in 2013 before leaving in 2015.
He later managed Bayern Munich, Napoli, and Everton before returning to Madrid in 2021.
With a career spanning top clubs across Europe, he has also secured league titles in Spain, Italy, England, Germany, and France.
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September 1, 2024 at 6:00 pm
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