NPFL KICKS OFF IN KANO

All attention now shifts to the Nigeria Premier League as action begins in Kano as Kano pillars will welcome Ifeanyi Ubah to the Sani Abacha stadium.

Kano pillars hoping to bounce back from last season woeful season of no silverware will want to send out warning to other clubs of their readiness this season while Ifeanyi Ubah still fresh from their euphoria of last season Federation cup and few day back triumph over last season league champion in the Charity Cup.

On sunday action moves to the remaining nine centres across the country.

2017 Nigeria Professional Football League - Week One Fixtures And Venues

Saturday 14th January

Kano Pillars Vs FC Ifeanyi Ubah

Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano

Sunday 15th January

Enyimba FC Vs Sunshine Stars

UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar

Enugu Rangers Vs Abia Warriors

Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu

MFM FC Vs Niger Tornadoes

Agege Stadium, Lagos

Shooting Stars Vs Lobi Stars

Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan

ABS FC Vs Akwa United

Kwara Stadium, Ilorin

Remo Stars Vs Plateau United

Gateway Stadium, Sagamu

Katsina United Vs Gombe United

Karkanda Stadium, Kastina

Rivers United Vs Elkanemi Warriors

Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt

Wikki Tourists Vs Nasarawa United

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi

ARUNA QUADRI WINS DEITIES MAIDEN AWARD

The maiden edition of Palace Deities sportsman of the year goes to Aruna Quadri.

Aruna Quadri is a talented young table tennis player, and he hails from Oyo state.

The young number one ranked Africa tennis player is also ranked 25th in the world of table tennis.

What more can be said of the first Africa tennis player to played in an Olympic games table tennis quarter final game.

The Palace Deities wish the young man a successful 2017 season.



Chierika Ukogu made history as the first Nigerian athlete to compete for the Rowing event at the Olympic games.

Chierika earned the sportswoman award with the passion showed in making sure Nigeria flag is hosted at the Olympic through her resilient effort, even though no fund came her away from the sports ministry, she made sure the country's flag was hoisted in the Rowling event.

OTHER AWARDEES ARE ;

TEAM OF THE YEAR : RANGERS INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL CLUB

MOST ACTIVE FEDERATION : NIGERIA TABLE TENNIS FEDERATION

SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR : SHEHU DIKKO

NPFL REVELATION OF THE YEAR :
AMOS GYAN - KANO PILLARS
STEPHEN ODEY - MFM FC
MOSES EBIYE - IKORODU UNITED

PALACE DEITIES HALL OF FAME : SEGUN TORIOLA

ARUNA TO PARTNER OMAR AS SEASON KICKS OFF

For this year’s ITTF World Tour, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri has decided to partner his continental rival – Egypt’s Omar Assar in the men’s doubles event in their bid to make it to the World Tour grand finals later in the year.

The Africa’s best two players to begin their quest by joining might in the men’s doubles event of the first ITTF World Tour tagged Hungarian Open in Budapest.

Having started their partnership in the event in 2015 and 2016 when they made it to the quarterfinal of 2015 Polish Open and main draw of 2016 Austria Open with their biggest win being against the duo of Portugal’s Marcos Freitas and Croatia’s Andre Gacina at the 2015 Polish Open.

For Aruna Quadri, the decision to join forces with Omar Assar was smooth having played together in previous tournament. “It was an easy decision for me to decide to partner Omar Assar because we seem to understand ourselves when we play together. We played very well at the Polish Open and Austria Open and we have made up our mind to play together in all ITTF World Tours this year with the aim of having Africa’s presence at the World Tour grand finals later in the year. We intend to play doubles together in all the World Tour we will be taking part in this year and I am hopeful that we can achieve our aim.”

Explaining the rationale over their decision to concretise their doubles partner in 2017, Omar Assar said: “Aruna Quadri is a very good player in singles and doubles and I think our relationship has been closer lately so we share more ideas off the table too. The first time we played together was at the 2015 Polish Open when we got to quarterfinal with our big win over Freitas and Gacina. Our target is to make it to the grand finals of 2017.”

With both players plying their trade in the elite French league, Aruna Quadri is spearheading Jura Morez while Omar Assar is the key man in Istres.