NIGERIA TO BE IN GABON FOR TOTAL NATIONS CUP

As the Nationa cup kicks off next year in Gabon, one Nigeria will definitely be among those for the biannual football fiesta.

Nigeria topmost referee in the Elite A category, Abel Baba is among those officials invited by CAF to officiate in the one month tournament.

If Baba can put up a worthy and expectation performance in the preliminary stage, he may go all the way to the final.

MASS FAILURE TRAIL NRA FITNESS TEST

With the just concluded fourth quarter of the referees fitness test in Abuja, much can not be said of its success as there was mass failure of participants.

The fourth quarter fitness test is to usher both the promoted referees and the old ones to the new football calendar year.

With the referees subjected to take the test by running 12 lapses, it was obvious most of the referees were not medically fit and mentally sound as it is required by FIFA standard.

Palace Deities can reveal that most of the newly promoted referees from the lower league failed and also few old ones already in the NPFL, while the FIFA badge referees proved their worth by showing class .

48TH ASOJU OBA CUP ENTERS KNOCKOUT STAGE

Less than 48hours to the end of the 48^thAsoju Oba Molade Okoya-Thomas Cup, players will be aiming to remain in the competition as knockout round begins on Thursday November 24 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

With 16 men competing for places in the last four while the remain eight women aiming for places in the final.

From former champions, Tolu Durosimi-Etti to 2012 finalist, policewomen Funke Hassan, the race for the title will go to the wire.

A determined Durosimi-Etti who claimed the brand new car at the 45^th edition of the championship in 2013 believes she is capable of beating the younger players to the laurel. “I am well ready to win back my title having taken part in the just concluded NTTF National Championships. For me, I am confidence that nothing can stop me from reclaiming the title this year based on my present form coupled with my warm-up with the national tournament. I am not going to rule out the fact that it is not going to be easy but I am up to the task to prove myself again this year and I look forward to making it to the final on Friday,” she said.

Also, Policewoman Hassan is optimistic that the title would not elude her this year. “This year I don’t want to make any mistake having played in series of final and also making it to the last four at the just concluded NTTF National Championship, I am indeed in a good framce of mind to win the title this year,” Hassan vowed.

For the last 16 pairing, men’s singles defending champion, Ahmed Adeyinka will confront giant-killer, Dayo Adenugba while women singles defending champion, Bose Odusanya will square up against Taiwo Williams.

  For the women’s singles quarterfinal, Alimot Ayinla will take on policewoman, Funke Hassan, Fatimo Bello will face Nimota Aregbesola while Modinat Yusuf will battle Tolu Durosimi-Etti.

  In the men’s singles pairing, Nurudeen Hassan will take on Isiaka Seriki, Joseph Osendukwu battles David Fayele, while Rogba Olawoyin clashes against Rilwan Akanbi.

Seun Adeleye will take on Monsuru Kazeem, Samson Agbaje faces Olakunle Ajulo while Bolaji Asekun will keep a date against 2015 finalist – Ayo Omotara.

However, 2012 and 2013 women singles champion, Durosimi-Etti believes she is poised to reclaim the title she lost to Odusanya in 2015.

NIGERIA PLAYERS OFF CAF RADAR

With this year's list for CAF award just release, no Nigeria player made the cut, making it 17 years in a roll that CAF is looking away since the last time Kanu Nwankwo won it.

The exploit of Kelechi Iheanacho, Ahmed Musa and captain fantastic Mikel Obi could not get a look by the voting panel.

Those nominee for this year's award are last year's winner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, Mohammed Salah and Islam Slimani.

The top five was decided by votes from the members of the CAF Media Committee, CAF Technical and Development Committee and half of the 20-member Panel of Experts .

The award comes up on 5th January 2017 in Abuja.

MFM HIT IJEBU-ODE FOR GOLD CUP

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club of Lagos have joined other Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) teams for the fourth edition of the Gold Cup Pre-Season Tournament scheduled to take place in Ijebu-Ode from November 25th to December 4th, 2016.

The Olukoya Boys who are making their debut in the country’s most distinguished pre-season tourney arrived Ogun State Monday evening as they intensify preparation for the new NPFL season.

The head coach of the team, Fidelis Ilechukwu spoke about his teams readiness ahead of the 2016/17 Nigerian top flight season stating that Gold Cup tourney will enhance his sides performance.

“Every serious team will look for away to participate in a pre-season tournament hence the reason for our participation in this year’s Gold Cup event.

“We have some new players in our team who were impressive during our screening exercise. We want to use this event to size them and the entire team up as we continue preparation for the forth coming leageu season.

“One good thing about pre-season tournament is that it affords you the opportunity to see your team lapses and work on them before the beginning of a new football season and we have thought it wise to take advantage of it” Ilechukwu told mountaintopfc.com

MFM FC will begin their quest in the 10-day soccer fiesta by 4pm on Friday against Sunshine Stars FC at the Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium.

FIFA RETAINS MBA AS TECHNICAL ADVISER ON REFEREEING

World football –governing body, FIFA has retained Nigerian Linus Mba, a former FIFA referee, as its Technical Adviser in Africa for Refereeing.

Mba, one of the finest ‘Gentlemen of the Whistle’ to have come out of Nigeria, and who is also NFF Consultant on Refereeing, is one of only two Africans retained in that position – the other is former Tunisian FIFA referee Neiji Jouini.

Both men have been involved in FIFA development activities for close to two decades now.

Mba, a Member of the CAF Referees Committee for 10 years, has continued to serve as Referee Instructor for FIFA and CAF, and has trained referees in virtually all English –speaking National Associations in the African continent. He also serves as Referee Assessor in top grade FIFA World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches, and is involved in general referee instruction programs for CAF.

Jouini has a long –term contract with the Qatar Football Association and works for CAF during a number of championships.

Both men are in the company of the likes of Pierluigi Collina (Italy), Barry Neale (England); Batta Marc (France), Vicar Donald (Scotland) and David Elleray (England) as FIFA Technical Advisers.

The world body works through three Referees Development Officers in Africa: Carlos Henriques (South Africa), El Shenawy (Egypt) and Megassa Sidi Bekaye (Mali).

ALIMOT AYINDE ADVANCED TO QUARTER FINAL

Three member of the eight-man Team Nigeria listed for the 2016 ITTF World Junior Championship, Azeez Solanke, Alimot Ayinla and Rilwan Akanbi yesterday advanced in the singles event of the 48^th Asoju Oba Molade Okoya-Thomas Cup holding at Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Solanke and Akanbi continued their unbeaten run in the men’s singles breezing into the last 16 of the men’s singles while southpaw Alimot Ayinla also scaled through to the quarterfinal round of the women’s singles.

A determined Solanke believes the tournament would aid his preparation for the World Junior Championship as he is expected to compete against some of the experienced players in Lagos State.

“I am using this competition to tune up for the South Africa championship and I know it is not going to be easy but I will give my best to finish among the top players in the singles. I can also admit that the standard this year is high because most of the players taking part have featured in the just concluded NTTF National Championships,” Solanke said.

  Meanwhile men’s singles number seed, Ahmed Adeyinka continued his good form when he qualified for the last 16 of the championship while two members of the Team Nigeria to the 2016 ITTF World Junior Championship, Azeez Solanke and Rilwan Akanbi also secured their places in the last 16.

For the Deputy referee of the competition, Olufemi George, the turnout for this year’s championship has been impressive as more schools are now competing in the cadet and junior events.

“I must say that the turnout of players for this year has been encouraging as more players are participating in the cadet and junior events. This is a good development for the sport because it is always good to unearth these players when they are young so that they can be groomed to world class players like Aruna Quadri. More schools are now taking part in the competition as schools like Indian Language School (ILS) has over 62 players taking part in the competition. This for us is good for the sport and we hope we can identify these players at a tender age,” George said.

BOSE ODUSANYA VOWS TO RETAIN ASOJU OBA TITLE

Just like he did in 2015, Ahmed Adeyinka is not ready to surrender his men’s singles title at this year’s Asoju Oba Molade Okoya-Thomas Cup holding at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
Also, women’s singles defending champion, Bose Odusanya is poised to become the first player in recent time to win the competition back-to-back.
From Adeyinka, the just concluded NTTF National Championships would have given him the ample opportunity to shape and assess some of his possible opponents for the championship.
A confident Adeyinka said: “Nothing can stop me from holding on to the title because I am going to be unstoppable, “I think I can retain the title again this year because I don’t see anybody stopping me from holding on to the title.
There is no doubt that the NTTF National Championships has prepared most of the players for the championship, i won it in 2014 and 2015 and for me this year will not be an exception.
But I must also admit that I won’t play to the gallery because there are lots of good players that will be aiming for the title as well, I am hoping that I can also inscribe my name in the annals of the competition’s history.
It was our former coach that is still holding the record as the most successful player in the competition and I hope I can also meet up with his feat,” Adeyinka boasted.
As the oldest sporting competition in Nigeria, the annual championship has been breeding players for the country since 1968 and it has produced some of the great stars for the continent, the likes of Atanda Musa, late Yomi Bankole, Bose Kaffo and current African women singles champion, Olufunke Oshonaike were former champions of the tournament which started in 1968.

48TH ASOJU OBA CUP SERVES OFF MONDAY

The oldest sporting tournament in the country, Asoju Oba Molade Okoya-Thomas Cup will on Monday November 21 serves off with 18 titles to be jostle for by over 300 players across Lagos State.

The Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium will come alive as players besiege the venue to share from the mouthwatering prize money at stake at the five-day championship.

According to the organisers, this year’s tournament will have the women singles title renamed Lady Olivet Okoya-Thomas Women’s trophy after the late wife of the initiator of the competition.

 According to Ayodeji Okoya-Thomas, “This of course will be the second, after 46 years, that is not being addressed by the initiator and sole sponsor of the tournament, Sir Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas. One of his greatest wish while alive was that the family should continue the sponsorship of the tournament after his demise; we would therefore like to give God all the glory for giving the grace to continue this noble legacy for the second year running, since he was called to glory.
  He added: “From this year the women’s singles trophy is now renamed ‘Lady Olivet Okoya-Thomas’ women’s trophy in honour of our late mother, lady Chief (Mrs) Olivet Abosede Okoya-Thomas who was a pillar of support to our late father, the visioner and sole sponsor of the championship,” he said.

  The tournament grand finale holds on Friday November 25.

  Since 1968, the tournament has been staged for 48 years uninterrupted and it remains the longest running competition which has also produced some of the great stars for the continent. The likes of Atanda Musa, late Yomi Bankole, Bose Kaffo and current African women singles champion, Olufunke Oshonaike were former champions of the tournament which started in 1968.

OTU-AKPAN CLAIM SINGLE TITLE

Sola Oyetayo and Cecilia Otu-Akpan claimed the singles titles at the final of the maiden Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) National Championships held at the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos.

National junior sensation, Ajoke Ojomu was also adjudged the most valuble female player of the competition while other awardees were also honoured by the organisers of the five-day N2.8m prize money championship

The climax of the competition was the comeback of Sola Oyetayo in the men’s singles final against Azeez Jamiu while experience came to fore when Otu-Akpan defeated Fatimo Bello 4-2 in the women singles final. From 3-0, Oyetayo stunned Jamiu 4-3 to throw in the venue into ecstasy.

For the Tournament Director, John Peters, the tournament would assist the members of the Nigeria junior team going to the 2016 ITTF World Junior Championships holding in South Africa later this month to shape up.

  His words: “The championships served as a final training session for our South Africa- bound junior players. Happily, the young lads and lasses lived up to expectations. They not only won several prizes, but also won awards as the players of the championships in both female and male categories. The organisation was super and praise worthy.  I wish our ambassadors to the ITTF Junior World championships a good outing. I must also give kudos to the NTTF President, Wahid Oshodi for rallying his friends to sponsor the competition. I call on al lovers of table tennis in Nigeria to support him to ensure that there are top performing players to succeed the Toriolas, the Oshonnaikes and the Arunas when they retire,” Peters said.

FALCONETS BOW OUT WITH DIGNITY AND PRIDE

Despite making it two win out of three, the Nigeria female U20 team still went out of the tournament.

The girls lost their first match to Japan with a wide margin of goals, but salvage their pride as they defeated both Canada and Spain, only to be shown the exit on goals different.

Japan 6 : 0 Nigeria

Nigeria 3 : 1 Canada

Spain 1 : 2 Nigeria

TEAMS	MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
JPN	3	2	0	1	11	1	6
ESP	3	2	0	1	7	2	6
NGA	3	2	0	1	5	8	6
CAN	3	0	0	3	1	13	0

SEASON OF NATIONAL TEAMS COACHES IN THE NPFL

With the 2016/17 kicking off in the next couple of weeks ,coaches have started making moves to various clubs for the new season, with most of the coaches having in one way or another coached one of the national team at a point in their career.

While also some top coaches are making return back to the league after quitting the league midway last season, one of those coaches is veteran Kadiri Ikhana , last season he dumped shooting stars of Ibadan due to breach in contractual agreement, coach Ikhana has now joined Kano pillars for the new season hoping to bring back the magic that once made him the top coach in Africa to the “Sai Masu Gida” squad.

Coach Gbenga Ogunbote “THE ORACLE” after making sure that the Oluyole warriors still retained their status in the NPFL moved to Enyimba international to see if he can change the fortune of the once Africa champion after a fruitless 2015/16 season.

Coach Fatai “ARSENAL” Amoo, will be bringing his wealth of expirence from the olympic team to the Oluyole warriors, as he will be in charge of the team for the new season ,hoping this time his stay with the Ibadan club will be a better one than his last outing with the club.

Coach Abdu Maikaba joined Akwa united from Wikki tourist of Bauchi, a move many league follwers sees as a strange one ,due to the facts that the club he tutored last season did very well during the season and will also be playing on the continent come next .

Other confirmed transfer for the new season are listed below,

Wikki tourist – Baba Ganaru

Kano pillars – Kadiri Ikhana

Plateau united – kenedy Boboye

Enyimba int’l – Gbenga Ogunbote

FC Ifeanyi Ubah – Kenichi Yatsuhashi

Akwa United – Abdu Maikaba

3SC – Fatai Amoo

Gombe United – Manu Garba

Kastina United – Bala Nikyu

Sunshine Stars – Kayode Olujohungbe

Abia Warriors – Okey Emordi

Remo stars FC – Nduka Ugbade

NEW FORMAT FOR PREMIERSHIP REFEREES ON FITNESS TEST

Programs for 2017 fitness test /Seminar adjusted

available information has it that programs for the 2017 fitness test for premier league referees have been adjusted.

While the 24th November kick off date remains sacrosanct, ONLY list of shortlisted premier league referees whose names appear on the NFF Referees Committee new panel of referees for 2017 season shall attend.

The new shape has been divided North and South instead of the Zones beginning with the Southern part of Nigeria on 24, before North and then FIFA Referees.

Listed premier league referees assessors shall also have their date immediately.

Meanwhile all premier league referees MUST use their official NRA ID cards to take part in the medical and Fitness Test exercise in Abuja as strict compliance must be observed.

GOMBE STATE TO HOST NNL SUPER 4

This year's edition of the Nigeria National League NNL super 4 to round off the season will hold in Gombe between 22nd to 26th November 2016.

A circular by the League office signed by the Secretary Mr Lawrence Katken which revealed that the Gombe state government had given approval to host the tournament which involves the 4 newly promoted clubs.

The circular further approved that each of the clubs namely ABS FC, Gombe utd FC, Katsina utd and Remo stars FC shall be allowed to register additional 7 new players to participate in the tournament.

This accordingly will afford the clubs opportunity to test new intakes as well as prepare ahead of the NPFL season which kicks off in December.

All the four clubs involved in the super 4 tournament are expected to arrive Gombe state north eastern Nigeria on Monday 21st November for accreditation and other formalities. ‎

FIFA TMS WORKSHOP BEGINS IN ABUJA

A three –day workshop aimed at further education of officials of the Nigeria Football Federation, League Management Company and Nigeria National League on the workings of the Domestic Transfer Matching System (DTMS) began in Abuja on Tuesday.

The workshop, being coordinated by NFF TMS/Club Licensing Manager, Nasiru Jibril and NFF Assistant Director (Legal), Barrister Okey Obi, will also focus on how the trained officials will susbsequently take on the responsibility of educating the 20 Clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League and the 32 Clubs in the Nigeria National League on the Domestic Transfer Matching System.

NFF President Amaju Pinnick, who was in company with NFF 2^nd Vice President/LMC Chairman Shehu Dikko, LMC chief operating officer Salihu Abubakar and NFF Acting Director of Communications Ademola Olajire, expressed appreciation to world football –governing body, FIFA for the workshop.

“As a Member Association, the NFF will continue to key into FIFA’s new thinking and reforms, and I can assure you that we have very warm relationship with the FIFA leadership and will always support them.

“The seriousness that FIFA attaches to this workshop can be seen in their decision to send four persons from Switzerland to Nigeria for the programme. We cannot thank FIFA enough.”

FIFA officials in Nigeria for the workshop are Prisca Mutesi (Legal Counsel, Integrity and Compliance); Bertrand Vinit (Project Manager); Annabel Belzunce (Client Services Coordinator) and; Natalia Pliszczak (also a Clients Services Coordinator).   

LAGOS TO KEEP SUPPORTING ASOJU OBA CUP

As one of its unique sporting competition, the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) has pledged its support to the annual Asoju Oba Molade Okoya-Thomas Table Tennis Cup as the 48^th edition of the competition begins on Monday November 21.

According to the chairman of LSSC, Deji Tinubu, it behoves on the state to continue to nurture the tournament which has produced stars for the state and the country.

  “I must say that this is the foremost sporting competition in this country and seeing some of the champions still connected to the championships showed the good organisation that the competition has continued to enjoy. I am pledging the support of the state to the tournament and we hope more top players can come through again like other top stars like Olufunke Oshonaike, Atanda Musa and a host of others,” Tinubu said.

  However, being the oldest sporting competition in the country, the 48th edition will commence on Monday November 21 with 22 titles expected to be jostled for by players in Lagos State.

  For Ayodeji Okoya-Thomas, the Okoya-Thomas family would continue to water the seed sown by their late father, while disclosing that this year’s the women singles title would be renamed and known as Lady Olivet Okoya-Thomas Women’s trophy after their departed mother.

  His words: “This of course will be the second, after 46 years, that is not being addressed by the initiator and sole sponsor of the tournament, Sir Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas. One of his greatest wishes while alive was that the family should continue the sponsorship of the tournament after his demise; we would therefore like to give God all the glory for giving us the enablement to continue this noble legacy for the second year running since he was called to glory.”

  The grand finale is schedule for Friday November 25 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

300 PLAYERS JOSTLING FOR NTTF CHAMPIONSHIP HONOURS

For the first time in recent, over 300 players across the country are jostling for honours at the maiden Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) National Championships holding at the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos.

With players taking part in five categories – senior, junior, cadet, para and veteran, the competitors will be aiming to have a share of the N2.8m prize money at stake at the five-day championship.

Cross River Coach, Richard Edem could not hide his satisfaction for the turn-out, saying, “I must sincerely commend NTTF for putting this kind of competition together because it has been long we had such assemblage of players all across the country. Even some players who have retired because of inactivity are competing in this competition. I am impressed personally and I think the federation has done well for the sport,” Edem said.

For the Referee of the competition, Olufemi George, the large turn-out would also keep the umpires busy as this is the biggest tournament in the last two years. “Players and teams cut across the country and this is indeed a good development for the sport and I hope we can get more Aruna Quadris and Segun Toriolas from this competition because there are talents in this country,” George said.

Among the old players rubbing shoulders with the young ones in the competition is Taofeek Maya, a former African champion in the 1990s.

Maya, who recently won a tournament in Gabon said he is excited with the quality of play coupled with the huge turnout of teams and players.

  “I can tell you that there is no age barrier in table tennis and that is why Segun Toriola can still be competing with the continent and world best in major competitions. For me, table tennis is my life and I am enjoying every moment. I hope to make a statement with my performance in this competition. I must also commend the NTTF under the leadership of Wahid Oshodi for restoring the glory of the sport. Now table tennis is now getting popular as it used to be in the 1990s. I am happy that I am part of this resurgence,” May said.

QUESTIONABLE FA FINAL

Come Sunday 6th, November this season will come to and end with the final of the FA cup which will be played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

The two teams, Nasarawa united and Ifeanyi Ubah football club are making their first appearance in the oldest competition in Nigeria.

On their way to the final, Nasarawa united defeated two times Africa champion Enyimba international in Ibadan to book their ticket to Lagos.

While on the other hand Ifeanyi Ubah had to wait for the outcome of Nigeria Football Federation disciplinary committee to book their ticket from Kaduna to Lagos.

The boardroom decision has left many in doubt of the glamour that is fast eroding away due to such decision coupled with bad officiating, lack of sponsorship as seen in the past and also fans staying away from stadia.

LMC CAUSE OF CLUBS FINANCIAL DWINDLING

When will the league organiser enforce it's own rules going by LMC rules clubs are expected to fulfill some conditions as stated in section A, subsection 5-8.

Section A - Administration structure

Subsection

5 - Clubs

6 - Owners and Directors

7 - Obligations of clubs to LMC

8 - Club finances

Going by this section, one can not pin point to any of the club adhering to the rules since the takeover of the league by the league management company.

Even with the juicy financial gain enjoyed by clubs since the taking over by LMC.

The organiser should have enforced it's own rules so that clubs can optimize the good gestures thrown at them since the smooth and effective running of the league for the past four season by LMC.

With various seminars, clinics and trips overseas on capacity building enjoyed by club owners, by now clubs should have been able to build on their structures, ticketing arrangements, organization framework, players welfare, sponsorship mode and club media structure.

Much can be said that the non-enforcement of this section from the league framework and rules contributed to the dwindling financial status of clubs in the premier league.