Top European scout storms Nigeria for AMAPRO Soccer Market

A renowned football scout, Harry Varley has stormed Kwara State, Nigeria for the maiden edition of AMAPRO Soccer Market where exceptional football talents will be showcased and exposed to a bigger prospects. 

The brain behind Amapro Soccer Market, Shogo Shodunnke on Sunday announced the kickoff date, venue and teams expected to showcase their players in the 2-day scouting tournament in Ilorin. 

“This scouting tournament was created to showcase talented players and put them in the path of greatness. 

“Harry Varley is the head scout for Belgian side KAA Gent in the Africa zone and we have established a partnership with him to create a platform for young talented players to showcase themselves and move up to foreign leagues” Shodunnke said on Sunday. 

Shodunnke also revealed that 12 teams will compete in the 2024 AMAPRO Soccer Market  at the Kwara State Stadium Complex.

“The scouting tournament will have 12 teams, HMK FC, AMAPRO SSA, Kwara Football Academy, Laycon FA, Abraysports FC, Young Antlers, ABS FC, Na Royal FC, Dickalo FA, DollyP FA and Watered Plants FA competing against one another in the 2-day tourney.” Shodunnke said. 

KAA Gent scout, Harry Varley said he is happy with the prospect of discovering talented players from the tournament and process their progress to greatness. 

“I’m always happy to be in Nigeria. I just want the teams to play their best players and see how we can identify the best among these players in the 2-day tournament.” Varley said.

AMAPROBet9ja Football Championship semifinal wrap: Abraysport pips SGFC to set up final against KFA

Abraysports Football Club will be taking on Kwara Football Academy (KFA) in the final of 2023 AMAPRO Bet9ja Football Championship billed for Sunday in Ilorin. 

The final will be Abraysports' second in three years having been a losing in 2021 against NNL All Stars. 

The team led by former NPFL icon, Sarafa Usman defeated SGFC Athletics by a lone goal in the first semi-final played at the Pitch A of KFA. 

Sholabi Bode headed home a good corner from Adebayo Suraj just nine minutes into the match. 

SGFC had themselves to blame for the defeat having missed number of chances created with Samuel Bamigboye the major culprit. 

The second semifinal saw KFA recorded the same scoreline against HMK FC from Osogbo courtesy of Mukhtar Habeeb's brilliant finish as he capitalized on a lose ball in HMK defense. 

Sunday Samuel went close to doubling the lead for KFA in the second half but was denied by HMK goalkeeper.

The Coach Ladi Ojokojo boys will be playing in their first ever final of AMAPRO championship which will be against one of their city rivals, Abraysports.

According to BrainBehind of the championship, Shogo Shodunnke, fantastic prizes have been set aside for King of AMAPRO, top scorer and best goalkeeper.

Shodunnke added that Executive Chairman of Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Bola Mogaji, Chairman of Kwara State Football Association, Alhaji Abdullahi Idris will be among the top dignitaries expected at the final. 

NNL All Stars won the last edition of the AMAPRO Bet9ja Football Championship after beating NPFL All Stars 3-2 on penalties.

AMAPRO Bet9ja Football Championship Quarter-final wrap: Abraysports, HMK, KFA zoom to last four

 

The trio of SGFC Athletics, Abraysports and HMK FC, all from the Nationwide League One (NLO) have been joined by Kwara Football Academy (KFA) in the semi-final of 2023 AMAPRO Bet9ja Football Championship taking place in Ilorin.

The Quarter-final matches that were decided on Friday produced enthralling encounters.

Opening match of the quarter-final was between SGFC Athletics and Nigeria National League (NNL) All Stars which ended 1-0 in favor of the latter.

Samuel Bamigboye scored the lone goal of the match in the 73rd minute after both sides had fluffed numerous begging chances.

Abraysports got the better of Jazzy Stars FA from Jos with 3-0 victory in the second quarterfinal engagement. 

Two quick first half goals from Onatola Ayobami and Quadri Hammed put the NLO side in the driving seat. 

Jazzy Stars tried to stage rally in the second half but met a more resolute Abraysporty side. Subomi Olatunji put the icing on the cake with third goal to seal the last four spot.

The encounter between Dickalo FA and HMK FC from Osun State was decided on penalties with the latter winning 4-3 on penalties after 1-1 in the normal time. 

Ibrahim Akinade shot HMK to the lead in the 17th minute with a sublime free kick that left Dickalo keeper stranded.

Emmanuel Damilola got the equalizer for Dickalo within seconds into restart. Both sides would then canceled each other out for the remainder of the game until it headed to shootouts that was deservedly won 4-3 by HMK, thanks to brilliant goalkeeping by Okotore Rasheed. 

The last match of the quarterfinal between KFA and NPFL All Stars was also decided by penalties.

The young academy boys marched the NPFL big boys for strength as they held on to a goalless affair in normal time. 

The host boys won the shootouts by 5-3 to pick the last ticket for the semi-final. 

SGFC Athletics and Abraysports will square up for the first semifinal on Saturday by 7:15am at the Pitch A of KFA while HMK FC will then be taking on KFA in the second semifinal match by 9:20am. 

The grand finale will be decided on Sunday at the same venue.

Former Shooting Stars and Vandrezzer striker, Kola Daniel is currently leading the goalscorer's chart with five goals.

NLO I: Osun FA parley with clubs, urge all to play by the rules

Osun State Football Association have met with participating clubs of the Nationwide League One Division One for 2023 season and dialogged on the need to have an indefectible league season.

The representatives of the seven clubs gathered at Late Chief Taiwo Joseph Ogunjobi Football House in Osogbo where Osun FA board members had a heart to heart conversations with assurance of hitch free proceedings before, during and after the season.

Osun FA supremo Otunba Rasaq lshola Mustapha RIM., congratulated the three teams representing the state at the ongoing Federations Cup for their victory in the last round, he noted that, arrangements have been concluded for teams to have hitch free proceedings cum worthwhile season. He equally harped on discipline and downplayed any act of favouritism by match officials.

" I want each team to shun any act that can bring the game to disrepute, we won't condone any trouble at match venue. As such, there will be strict sanctions on any teams that cause troubles through club officials, players and supporters.

" Our board don't have favourites in this process. All of us must comply with the interpreters of the laws of the game.

All club belongs to FA . Each club will be given free and fair platform to execute their games." The British trained lawyer explained.

Following the agonising lamentations of private club owners, as regards the late introduction of participation fees of two hundred thousand naira by the secretariat of the Nationwide League, Ajiroba has facilitated from government and provided each team a sum of one hundred and fifty thousand naira as bailouts, participating clubs to sort out the remaining. This gestures from the FA was tagged unprecedented by the visibly joyous clubs representatives.

Meanwhile, the President of Hammola FC, Muhydeen Odeyemi has been unanimously picked by NLO Club Owners to represent Nationwide League One clubs during the forthcoming Osun FA elections billed to hold on June 13th 2023.

HMK FC commences screening exercise

 

The Nationwide League One Division One outfit, Highest Majesty Knights FC have commenced the process of recruitment of new players.

Based in Osogbo State of Osun, the 'Royal Warriors' campaigned in division three last term but will size up muscles in division one in the coming season.

According to General Manager of the club Kunle Sipebi, paper works have been sorted and necessary requirements have been settled for the club to play in division one.

To this end, HMK FC camp is widely opened for players as screening for recruitment of new players will commence on Friday 7th of January and ends by Thursday 20th January 2022. The screening is necessary to identify great talents which will add value and bolster the current side.

The information further has it that, UniOsun Football Pitch Osogbo Main Campus is the venue of the exercise. Players are expected to resume with their kits by 8am.

The exercise is to fortify the team ahead of the forthcoming NATIONWIDE LEAGUE ONE season and as well give young talents the right profile and platform to achieve their dreams of playing professional football in Nigeria, Europe or anywhere in the world.

 HMK FC is well organized with fascinating welfare packages, world class camp with itch-free mode of transportations.

H.M.K FC acquires new vehicle to ease movement to league venues

Osun based Nigeria Nationwide League One Outfit Highest Majesty Knights FC have purchased a brand new Toyota Hiace ahead of the upcoming Nigeria Nationwide League One season.

The team camp was thrown into frenzy when the bus arrived the camp recently. The development comes as a boost to the players as the preparation for the new season is in top gear.

Nicknamed 'Royal Warriors', the ambitious side made its debut in the Nigeria's third tier league last season and narrowly missed the promotion to second division in Akure Centre.

While unveiling the new acquisitions, the Club Administrator, Coach Kunle Sipebi informed that, the latest arrival is the answer to several challenges being confronted in line of duty.

"We are happy for this gestures from our pragmatic president. The bus will not only ease the travelling hitches but will serve as one of the ways to showcase our products to the world.

"We are in the industry for business, we want to take our academy guys to far and near for proper assessments through tune up games. 

"A lot is in stock for our players, apart from usual remunerations monthly, our camp is befitting and we have acquired a vast expanse of land to build our own stadium and camps which will be for our immediate usage and for any intending users. 

"The arrangements are even in top gear to play in the higher division, that's the story for another day." The former Head Coach of defunct Ajiroba Ooni FC stated.

The team currently pinned at the second position on the log in the ongoing Osun Apex League and sustains its chances of making it to Super Four.