TCC League: Henry Madubuko steals show as Dino Sporting Club rebounds with victory

Henry Madubuko stole the spotlight as Dino Sporting Club redeemed themselves following a disappointing exit from the Ogun State FA Cup. 

The star player's standout performance earned him the Man of the Match title as Dino SC clinched a crucial 1-2 away victory over Sporting Lagos in a rescheduled Creative League match.

Despite missing their talismanic player Ogonna Hyacinth, Dino SC exhibited dominance throughout the game, ultimately sealing their triumph in a commanding fashion. 

With this win, Dino Sporting Club edges closer to the league summit, amassing a total of 36 points.

As the title race intensifies, Dino SC aims to maintain their newfound momentum, poised for a thrilling battle to secure the championship title.

Tayo Egbaiyelo: NLO top official bags Icon of Youth Development Award

For his years of proactiveness, self-motivation and passion to resolve challenging tasks at the Nationwide League One (NLO), Tayo Egbaiyelo has been honoured with an Icon Of Youths Development Award. 

The Award of Excellence was proudly presented to Mr Tayo Egbaiyelo, (Member Of the Niger -MON) by the National Association Of Northern Nigerian Students (NANNS). 

The ICON OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT award was in recognition of Egbaiyelo's tremendous contribution towards peacebuilding,

educational upliftment, exceptional track record of philanthropy and relentless services to the nation, the student body said. 

The Chief Administrative Officer at the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and NLO's League Manager expressed his delight. 

Recall, that Egbaiyelo was a former Secretary of the Under 17 national men's team (Golden Eaglets). 

Egbaiyelo as Secretary of the U17 team to the World Cups in the United Arab Emirates and Chile, saw Nigeria produce the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi, Isaac Success, Taiwo Awoniyi, Moses Simon and Francis Uzoho.

While Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Kelechi Nwakali, and Chigozie Awaziem excelled from the 2015 edition.

NLO unveils three technical partners to accelerate growth, development

 

The Nationwide League One (NLO) on Thursday announced its technical partners in Abuja, to drive referral revenue, generate quality leads, and accelerate growth in Nigeria’s third-tier domestic football division.

The Chairman of NLO, His Excellency Silas Agara, named three technical partners: Sofascore, SportsMeetTech, and Naemosports. 

Sofascore, a Croatian sports-tracking platform with over 25 million active monthly users worldwide, has partnered with NLO to assist in bringing on board all other leagues in Nigeria. This partnership is not based on any monetary value but on shared benefits in developing the league. 

SportsMeetTech, an IT firm, will develop a website and social media channels for all NLO clubs. They will also train club officials on how to manage the sites and commercialize them to generate funds to support their clubs. The revenue will be shared between NLO, clubs, and SMT.

Naemosports, a data company, will facilitate talent discovery with the use of technology. They will access NLO’s data, and the benefits will be on revenue sharing when the data are sold. NLO has a device to monitor what they do with the data.

New Year Mega Lottery splashes #964 million sponsorship on NLO

The Nationwide League One has announced a deal worth a staggering sum of N964 million as a sponsorship deal with New Year Mega Lottery. 

This sponsorship will make New Year Mega Lottery the official Title Sponsor of the third-tier domestic football league in Nigeria for the next four seasons.

The NLO signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) with New Year Mega Lottery at a special signing and unveiling event held at the Harris Hotel, Wuye in Abuja on Thursday, March 14th, in Abuja.

The announcement was made by the former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State now NLO Chairman, His Excellency Silas Agara, during the unveiling of New Year Mega Lottery to the media.

Agara provided a detailed breakdown of the sponsorship deal, stating that the Nigerian licensed lottery company will provide an annual payment of 241 Million Naira in cash and value in kind, totalling a sum of #964,000,000 Naira for the four seasons of the sponsorship deal.

"New Year Mega Lottery is a Nigerian firm and lottery company licensed by the Nigeria Lottery Commission; they will be our Title Sponsor for the NLO. 

"The sponsorship deal will run for four seasons and of Two Hundred And Forty-One Million Naira (N241, 000, 000) annually (both Cash and Value in kind). With the annual payment totalling the sum of N964, 000, 000, 00 (Nine Hundred And Sixty-Four Million Naira).

“This sponsorship recognises NLO not just as a football body but also acknowledges our position as the league with the single-biggest football talent base in Africa.”

The collaboration between the Nationwide League One and New Year Mega Lottery is intended to effectively promote and elevate the status of grassroots football in the country, aiming to establish it as a prominent Nigerian spectacle and one of the most flourishing and appealing leagues on the continent.

In her address during the epoch-making occasion the representative of New Year Mega Lottery, Ms. Obiorah Emmanuella, Head of Corporate Communications, said it was the firm passion for football and humanitarian commitments that have compelled them to sponsor the NLO.

She also canvassed for the support of other well-meaning Nigerians to ensure grassroots football continues to flourish.

She said: “We are thrilled to enter this sponsorship deal with the Nationwide League One (NLO) and engage a large audience through our brand. It is for the love of soccer and a prioritized social responsibility in line with our humanitarian commitments, that prompted us to sponsor the NLO.

“Through this collaboration, we are also excited to connect with the future generation of football athletes at the grassroots level across Nigeria and help them grow. The company’s strong commitment to nurturing and empowering talents, fostering opportunities, and gratifying fans within its market are among the primary motivations for aligning with the NLO.

“I want to use this medium to urge other well-meaning Nigerians to get involved in the development of these laudable sports to enable the country to attain its expected height in world football,” she said.

By sponsoring the NLO until 2027, New Year Mega Lottery is building on its rich history as a frontline provider of job creation and empowerment through sports and education in Nigeria.

NPFL: Abubakar Bala resigns as Katsina United Head Coach

 

Bala Abubakar has resigned from his position as Head Coach at Katsina United after their Nigeria Premier Football League Match Day 25 game against Sunshine Stars on Wednesday. 

The former Kwara United coach decided to walk away due to a lack of a conducive atmosphere and the non-fulfilment of his contractual agreement by Katsina United. 

It has been reported that Bala has not received his monthly salary since joining the club four months ago.

Furthermore, he was twice attacked by irate Katsina United fans, with no efforts made by the interim management to intervene. On one occasion, he was rescued by heavily armed security men. 

In his resignation letter, Bala stated, "I humbly wish to resign my position as the Head Coach of Katsina United. This is a result of the lack of a conducive atmosphere and the non-fulfilment of my contract agreements.

"I'm sincerely grateful for the opportunity and support given to me during my brief stay with the club and wish the team the best of the season."

Bala took over as Katsina United's Head Coach on MatchDay 13 when they were in the 15th position with 14 points, just one point above the relegation zone. 

He played 12 matches, recording 6 home wins, 2 away draws, 1 home draw, and 3 away losses, accumulating a total of 21 points from a possible 36 points.

Coach Adedeji Adeyemi: An expert in talent's grooming, development

 

Coach Adedeji Anthony Adeyemi is an Nigerian who is plying his trade in the Swiss league.

During his playing days, Adedeji Adeyemi won Oba Cup with Stationery stores.

He hails from Ondo state but was born and bred in Lagos State.

Coach Adedeji Adeyemi's passion for Nigerian National teams is unparalleled and unmatched.

Coach Adedeji Anthony Adeyemi was a regular caller on Brilla FM Sports program, also pundit of Afrosport during FIFA Women's World Cup, African Cup of Nations, AFCON and World Cup qualifiers with Afrosport, pundit on Jordan FM Lagos during Nation's cup, Sportsville program on Channels TV.

Coach Adedeji Anthony Adeyemi in a recent chat with Sportsgister Nigeria talked about his Coach sojourn in Europe and penchant for youth development.

" I have heard people saying that l have no experience when it comes to coaching"

"I started coaching job, January 2009, when the professional team I was playing for then, the team U-16 female side was about to go on relegation and the president sacked the coach of the team and asked me to take over because I was training U-7 youth team then, I took over for 6 months and rescued the team from relegation".

"June 2009 , I went to a club called FC Dübendorf, I coached youth teams for 6 years, started with U14 ( in June 2009 to June 2010) then I was promoted to U16 (in June 2010-2016) won best Coca Cola Youth League and runner's in FA Cup, lost in FA Cup in semi finals both lost were penalty shootouts".

"June 2016) l went to FC Rüti U23, I was there for 2 years. I left in 2018 after winning the U23 League for them. 

"June 2018) a club called FC Kloten ZH came for my service, they were playing second professional league. I coached them for a year, brought them to 4th position, that's team that's always finished in 8th & 9th position".

"June 2019, I joined another professional club called FC Winterthur U16 I took them to FA Cup final we couldn't play the final due to COVID 19 in June 2020".

"January 2021, I joined a regional team called FC Gossau ZH playing regional Liga 2.

They are also always in 9th and 10th position in table and when I took over, I brought them to second position and went to playoff, but we lost through penalties shootout. Then I left them after 2 years".

"I later joined FC Witikon 2 Liga in 2023 as first assistant coach and promoted to head coach 2024 January".

"I have spent most of my coaching times with youth teams, I am so passionate about grooming and developing the youth," he said. 

Coach Adedeji Adeyemi is a patriotic and passionate Nigerian who believes in rendering selfless service to the nation.

He holds UEFA License B Coaching Certificate with many other certificates in coaching and football philosophy.

Coach Adedeji Adeyemi has joined other Nigerian coaches who have applied for the vacant Super Eagles and Golden Eaglets' coaching jobs.

SportsGister wishes him the best in his bid to develop our football talents at the national team levels.

UK Pro licenced Nigerian coach indicates interest for Super Eagles top job

After the exit of Jose Peseiro as the Head coach of the Super Eagles and the Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) declaring the position vacant, a United Kingdom professional licenced coach, Donald Malomo-Paris has declared interest for the job, reports www.totorinews.com. 

In an exclusive chat with www.totorinews.com, Malomo-Paris said that it is time for a Nigerian coach to tinker the affairs of the Super Eagles and it will be honour to serve the most populous black nation in the world in that capacity.

He noted that Alhaji Ibrahim Gusua -led board of the NFF have made giant strides with the Super Eagles as witnessed at the last AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast and he hopes that the best candidate will be appointed to lead senior national team.

"There is no doubt that the NFF led by Ibrahim Gusau is doing well. At least there is sincerity of purpose. The Super Eagles is a national asset, a big football brand in the world, not just in Africa and i think a Nigerian is worth leading the team," Donald Malomo-Paris said.

"As a qualified Nigerian coach with a UK professional licenced coach, it is my desire to offer my service to the motherland.

 I have sent in my application to the NFF for the Super Eagles job.

"After Jose Peseiro, Nigeria have to look inwards for the Head Coach of the Super Eagles. Ideally, he should be a Nigerian, a professional licenced coach.

"The big question is who is the best Nigerian candidate? He asked and he also answered the question.

"There should be highly qualified Nigerian football coaches, both within and outside that should be assembled by the NFF and put through a robust interview process leading to the selection of the best candidate that will improve the fortunes of the national team.

"Nigerians want to see improvement of the Super Eagles, in terms of style of play, strong winning mentality, high sense of patriotism and raising the standards to the highest elite level, which our players are used to in the various European clubs," he said.

Adeleke confirms four years sponsorship of Osun School Sports Governors Cup

 

Project Manager Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited, Engr. Olalekan Adeleke says funds committed to the Osun School Sports Governors Cup programme will be for four years, as they also plan to accommodate other sports. 

Speaking with the media as the maiden Osun School Sports Governors Cup enters its grand finale on Monday next week, Adeleke talked about his firm's vision for sports development in the state with a priority on grassroot. 

"We have been involved in sports development for several years. As a company, we aim to touch the lives of our youths and scout raw talents at the grassroots level. 

"This is why we are sponsoring the Osun School Sports Governors Cup. We are glad that the State Government has shown interest in sports, and we are collaborating with them by committing our funds to the event. 

"Our sponsorship will run for four years, and the Osun School Sports Governors Cup will be an annual event.

"As the main actors of the tournament are secondary school students, we will consult with the Osun State Ministry of Education regarding the school calendar. We plan to stage the Osun School Sports Governors Cup during the second term of every session.

Engr. Adeleke

"In Season 2, we plan to add other sports such as athletics, basketball, tennis, volleyball, and table tennis to the event. Nigeria has enough talent in these other sports, and we can organize such events in Osun State.

"We have been highly impressed with the talents we have seen at the ongoing maiden Osun School Sports Governors Cup. We have seen quality football and good talents with bright futures. Our utmost desire is to see youths at the grassroots level develop to the top level of their careers.

"Finally, I appeal to corporate Nigeria to sponsor laudable programmes like this. The more we are, the merrier it is for the sports development of our youths."

Organisers reveal why Ife Anglican Grammar School was expelled from Osun School Sports Governors Cup final

 

Ife Anglican Grammar School has been expelled from the Osun School Sports Governors Cup final on allegations of cheating.

The Local Organizing Committee received a protest claiming that Ife Anglican Grammar School used six non-school players in their semi-final match against Lanre Leke Sports Academy, Ile Ogbo.

Upon investigation, it was discovered that the players in question had left the school three years ago, which violated the tournament's rules.

The Local Organizing Committee, led by Yomi Elijah, conducted a thorough investigation that involved verifying the players' registration forms with the Ministry of Education in Osogbo.

The forms were found to have been doctored, and the committee concluded that Ife Anglican Grammar School had indeed used ineligible players. As a result, the school was disqualified from participating in the final.

"From our findings, we discovered that Ife Anglican Grammar School used players that have left the school 3 years ago.

"I recall before the kick-off of the tournament, we had a meeting with all the Zonal Heads in Osogbo where rules were spelt out to all the participating schools. One of such rules was to use players who were no longer students of such schools.

"We got a hint of this abnormality from Ife Anglican Grammar School in the quarter-finals and we to go verify the players in question from the Ministry of Education in Osogbo. A contact person based in Ife was provided for us.

"At the end, we got their registration forms for the tourney and behold, there were abnormalities as it was well doctored. They came with the same set of players for the semi-final which they won but from the records obtained from the database of the Osun State Ministry of Education, the players in question were found to have left the school.

"The non-school players Ife Anglican Grammar School used are Oyinloye Khalid, Oyesunbola Iyanu, Salam Abdulmuhameen, Olakanmi Lekan, Badejo Damilare and Akinlabi Yusuf.

"In lieu of this, Ife Anglican Grammar School has been disqualified from taking part in the final."

The Osun School Sports Governors Cup is sponsored by Peculiar Ultimate Concerns, and other partners include Olafiranye Sports Foundation, the Osun State Ministry of Education, Ministry of Sports, Osun State Sports Council, and Kidzfoot Nigeria.

TCC League: Dino Sporting stretch winning momentum with victory over Real Sapphire

Dino Sporting Club secured another resounding victory, overpowering Real Sapphire 4-1 in their rescheduled Creative Champions League match on Wednesday.

This triumph comes on the heels of their dominating 3-1 win against Valiant FC at the Onikan Stadium in Lagos.

The first half concluded with both teams scoring a goal each, setting the stage for an intense second half where Dino Sporting escalated their performance, unleashing three unanswered goals.

The driving force behind this formidable onslaught was Patrick John, whose hat-trick significantly contributed to the memorable away win.

With this latest triumph, Dino Sporting Club now sits just one point behind the league leaders, Beyond Limits, at the pinnacle of the table.

Alkali showers encomium on Ogunnowo on birthday anniversary

Erstwhile Chairman of the Nationwide League One, Mohammed Alkali has poured glowing tributes on the Chief Operating Officer of the nation's third-tier domestic football league Olushola Ogunnowo on his birthday celebration.

Ogunnowo celebrates his birthday today Tuesday March 5, and Alkali, a former Executive Member of the Nigeria Football Federation, joined his family and friends to celebrate the brilliant football administrator.

Alkali congratulated Ogunnowo and expressed his delight, saying that he was celebrating with him, his family, friends, Nigeria's football family, and the over 300 NLO Clubs and Football Academies. 

He described Ogunowo as a thoroughbred football administrator whose years of experience, work ethic, and output in seeing Nigeria's grassroots football development are second to none. 

Alkali also expressed his appreciation for the good working relationship they had during his time as the head of NLO and noted that the league has achieved different success stories since he left under Ogunnowo's leadership.

Finally, Alkali wished Ogunnowo good health and challenged him to keep up the good work to ensure that the NLO remains a brand not just in Nigeria but also in the outside world.

NLO seals multi-million naira sponsorship deal

 

The Nationwide League One (NLO) is set to seal it biggest sponsorship deal worth multi-million naira and also announce partnership with two foreign service providers. 

The sponsorship deal which will run for four (4) years, is record-breaking and a breakthrough for grassroot football development in Nigeria. 

NLO Chairman and ex-Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State His Excellency Silas Agara, shared more light on the deal.

"We are happy with the several brands that has shown interest in the NLO in the last few months, as we want the NLO to grow to become a global phenomenon as the most successful grassroot football league across Africa, as challenged by NFF President, Alh. Ibrahim Musa Gusau 

"One of our partners, is a lottery company licensed by the Nigeria Lottery Commission; they will be NLO Title Sponsors. We have agreed on a four year sponsorship deal. And we shall unveil them on Thursday March 14, 2024.

Twenty-four hours later, precisely Friday March 15, the NLO will unveil four of its prospective partners. 

"One of them is a service provider- a Croatian based sports tracking platform with over 25 million active monthly users worldwide. This is very good for our clubs. They have also mandated the NLO to assist them in bringing on board other leagues in Nigeria.

"No monetary value involved, but on share benefits on developing our league, and we have agreed to work with them.

However, there is another IT firm that has accepted to develop websites for all the NLO clubs, they will as well open social media channels for all the clubs as well.

"They will train club officials on how to manage the sites and then commercialize the website and the social media handles to enable the clubs generate funds to support their clubs.

"The NLO sees this as a good avenue for club development and another source of revenue stream for the clubs in NLO."

Honourable Silas Agara hinted further, 

"Two other technical partners will join the NLO, as they will help to facilitate talent discovery with the use of technology. 

"The nation's third-tier domestic football league sees them as Development Partner and we have agreed to allow them access to our data. The benefits to NLO is on revenue sharing when the data are being sold, we have a device to monitor what they do with our data."

In a separate development, to expand it's reach to a larger audience and passionate followers of the league, the NLO has lunched it's two (2) channels on Blend TV.

UK based Nigerian coach urges stakeholders to support Gusau for sustained development momentum

With Nigeria Football bubbling after the silver-medal podium finish of the Super Eagles at the AFCON 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast last month, a Nigerian UEFA/IFA Pro licenced coach, Donald Malomo- Paris has charged every Nigerian football stakeholder to support Ibrahim Gusau -led NFF board to maintain the momentum, reports www.totorinews.com. 

The UK based football coach also appealed to some aggrieved football stakeholders in the country to bury the hatchet, sheath the sword and allow a peacefully atmosphere to permeate Nigeria Football, as he noted that the signs are there that Nigeria Football will flourish tremendously under the leadership of Gusau.

"One word that is often used in football is momentum and I feel the Super Eagles now have the momentum and the challenge now is maintaining it," Donald Malomo-Paris told www.totorinews.com exclusively.

"The silver medal at AFCON is a huge positive. The most important thing in maintaining the momentum is to give support to NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, his board members and officials of the NFF.

"I am particularly amazed by the leadership style of Gusau. I feel deeply that he has a good heart and the strong will to move Nigeria football forward. The positive signs are there for every sincere football stakeholder to see.

While speaking on the issue of court case against NFF, he informed that litigation does not create the environment for football to thrive in Nigeria.

"As far as I can remember, there has always been litigation hanging over the NFF. This is not conducive for the focus required to manage the affairs of a football federation.

"There is never such distractions in the best run football federation around the world. Our grievances can be settled amicably within the confine of football rules and regulations, not at the court.

"In my opinion, I believe now is the time to bury the hatchet, and give our full support to NFF President Gusau and his team in his quest to improve the fortunes of our football," he said.

Malomo-Paris is a member of the technical crew of Larne FC, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. 

Lanre Vigo reveals future plans on Inter Lagos FC project

 

Lanre Vigo, the co-founder and CEO of Inter Lagos, has stated that the club's primary objective is to become the best team in Africa. 

Vigo, who used to be a semi-professional footballer in England, revealed this after Inter Lagos lost to Osun United by a line goal in a Nigerian National League fixture. 

Although the defeat was disappointing, Vigo expressed confidence in his team and stated that they would bounce back in their next match. 

He also discussed how Inter Lagos managed to go unbeaten for seven matches after a shaky start to the season. 

According to Vigo, "Inter Lagos is a new team that needed time to find its rhythm. However, once the team started winning, their critics began to take them seriously."

Vigo and the other co-founders have invested heavily in the club, and they have received support from a few investors who believe in their vision. 

"The club's long-term goal is to become the number one team in Africa, and they have a 10-year plan to achieve this. 

"As part of this plan, they intend to build their stadium, which will help them settle down better."

He summed up how their player recruitment works, which adds up to why an average Inter Lagos player has a physical presence on the pitch. 

"When you watch a football game, it's about 11 versus 11 regardless of the sizes of the players, for Inter Lagos, is more of the ability.  It just so happened that our players are of certain sizes,  so when scouting if any player is good enough, he can play for the club."

Vigo also believes that there is a lack of connection between clubs and fans in Nigeria, which is why Inter Lagos is focusing on engagement to attract more fans to their matches. 

He draws from his experience playing semi-professional football in England, where he was part of a team that attracted over a thousand fans to every home game.

"We felt that there was no connection between clubs and fans in Nigeria, as nothing was attracting them to games. So we thought using the media/social media in engaging with the fans, which has also helped our marketing."

Felix Samuel Agba: Nigerian striker happy with new found form in Lebanese league

 

Nigerian striker Samuel Felix Agba, has been causing ripples in Lebanon, emerging as one of the standout players in the league and vying for the prestigious title of Best Foreign Player of the Year in the Lebanese second division.

Having previously showcased his talent with clubs like Rangers of Enugu and Coton Sport Garoua, Agba embarked on a remarkable journey in his debut season in the Lebanese second division after signing for Al Mabarrah in August 2023.

The 30-year-old Kaduna-born striker wasted no time in making his mark, swiftly adapting to the rigors of Lebanese football and making significant contributions to his team. 

Throughout the season, Agba featured in 18 out of 20 games for Al Mabarrah, netting an impressive 11 goals and providing five crucial assists, solidifying his reputation as a force to be reckoned with in Lebanon.

His stellar performances didn't go unnoticed, earning him two Man of the Match awards and helping Al Mabarrah secure a commendable third-place finish in the league standings. 

Agba's form has also attracted interest from several top-tier clubs, eager to secure his services even before the culmination of the championship play-offs.

Reflecting on his achievements, Agba expressed his satisfaction with his performance and adaptation to a new environment. 

"It is always a good feeling to come to a new club, settle in, and score goals to help your team," Agba stated. 

"Settling in can be challenging due to language and cultural differences, but with dedication and hard work, along with the support of my teammates, I was able to integrate quickly."

Looking ahead, the determined striker remains focused on furthering his success and repaying the faith of his coaches. 

"There is still a lot to achieve and a lot more to come from me," Agba emphasized. "I want to continue to deliver goals and strong performances, regardless of where my future lies."

As numerous suitors queue up for his signature, Sam Agba is poised for an even brighter future, aiming for continued success and excellence in the seasons to come.