EFCC Football Club of Abuja at the weekend were Crowned the 2022 Champions of the Unity Preseason Tournament held in Abuja. The tournament ran from 23-29 October.

The anti graft team defeated the NPFL side Nasarawa United by five goals to four on penalties to emerge. The full time scores stood at one goal apiece.

Masoud Danjuma scored the curtain raiser goal in the 7th minutes, when the Nasarawa United defense line led by Benjamin Federick could not tidy up pass. Goalkeeper Yinka David fouled an opponent attacker in the process. The resultant penalty was beautifully tucked in by Danjuma.

Nasarawa United who were runners up in the 2021 edition of the tournament, took the game fully to their opponents on resumption of the second half, and this paid off in the 55th minutes when Joshua John capitalized on another mixed up in the EFCC defense line to score the equalizer.

It became an exchange of nearly until FIFA badged referee Ann ended the proceedings. EFCC scored four of their penalties, while Nasarawa United converted three.

The Unity Preseason final match was attended by various football stakeholders led by the Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu, who is also the Chairman of Enyimba FC, Chairman of NPFL Club Owners, Issac Danladi who is also the Chairman of Nasarawa United, Dominic Iorfa, Vice Chairman of Lobi Stars, Pastor Emeka Inyama Chairman Abia Warriors, Secretary of NPFL Club Owners Alloy Chukwuemeka, who is also the Director of Bukola Babes, Chairman Kogi State FA Isah Suleiman, Vice Chairman of Niger State Football Association Alhaji Yabaji among others.

City FC of Abuja won the fair play trophy, Benjamin Federicks of Nasarawa United won the best player of the tournament for the second year running.

He won the last edition with Simoniben Academy of Kaduna. Victor Peters of Setraco FC emerged as the Highest Goal scorer while goalkeeper of Manahaim FC, Ibrahim Raheem Olalekan emerged as the best.

….. Thanks organizers for the invitation

By Olaoluwa Aro

As the yearly Unity Preseason Tournament takes center stage in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja this coming weekend, Mahanaim FC Captain John Light Maduabuchi, has reacted confidently to the grouping, especially group D, where his team would be facing Wikki Tourist, Doma United- one of the newly promoted teams to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), and Abuja based Nigeria National League (NNL) sides, EFCC.

Being one of the emerging non league football teams in the North central, Mahanaim FC have continued to distinguished themselves at any major events amongst their pairs in the Abuja circuit, since the Club was established.

John Light Maduabuchi, who was obviously elated with the Draws express optimism but didn’t downplay the battle ahead, as Mahanaim prepares for the Unity Cup.

” Football is a game of equal number of players on the Field. Playing Wikki Tourist, Doma United and EFCC of Abuja is a challenge that would be surmounted before our first game, and when the event kicks start on 22nd of this month, which is this coming weekend.

Reacting to questions on if participating for the first time in Unity Preseason Tourney would affect his team’s progress during the Competition, John Light, who is equally dubbed as ‘Lightinho’ appreciate the Organizers for extending one of the invites to Mahanaim FC.

“We are new in the tournament but not a new team on the field of play.

“I have received several overwhelming calls from our fans, football lovers within FCT and beyond regarding the pairing with these top teams and I have consistently maintained strongly that, we are equal to the tasks.

“Of a Truth, Wikki Tourist is a major factor but not a Fear factor and as for DOMA United, their promotion to NPFL showed how formidable they are amongst other NNL sides.

“EFCC of Abuja is a Familiar foe and we wouldn’t disregard any of our opponents but we shall show the world what Mahanaim FC is capable of professionally, in the competition, he said.

The captain took time out to show appreciation to the organisers during the interview ahead of the commencement of the pre-season.

“As a team that loves showing gratitude, we are thanking the Brains behind the Unity Preseason Tourney, led by Veteran Journalist and certified Coach, Mr Patrick Ngwaogu, alongside the two other- Men with letters, otherwise known as Pen- pushers for the opportunity given to Mahanaim to be part of this year’s event, which is also the second edition as well.

“We promise to be professional, responsible in our usual courteous manner, as we are not taking this Golden chance for granted because we were not given gratuitously,” Light concluded with utmost assurance

The unity preseason competition is basically for the purpose of preparing Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) teams, before the new season, which is definitely going to help continental representatives as well.

Historically, Former NPFL champions, Plateau United defeated Nasarawa United by lone goal to hoist the maiden edition of the Unity Preseason Tourney on the 5th of November, 2021.

Kogi United have announced former NUB Bank and Stationery Stores’ midfielder, Ibrahim Adewuyi Shola as their new Technical Adviser for the new football season.

Coach Adewuyi who was unveiled on Wednesday at the Lugard Government House in Lokoja will be replacing Folabi Ojekunle who parted ways with the team before the end of last season.

Chairman of the football, Hon. Abdulmalik Isah Dolly while unveiling the new tactician charged him to ensure that he bring his wealth of experience to bear on the progress of the team.

Also unveiled was former goalkeeper trainer of Jigawa Golden Stars, Abdulazeez Adieza Jimoh who replaced Coach Alao Olaniyi as new goalkeeper trainer.

Coach Shola while appreciating the management of the team for believing in him promised to do his best to ensure that Kogi United gets better.

Coach Shola who has managed notable clubs in Nigeria like Confluence Queens, Kada City, Remo Stars and Malumfashi FC is taking over from Coach Chidi Orji who has being on acting capacity since the departure of Ojekunle.

The experienced tactician is not new to the Confluence State terrain as he was one time the assistant to Coach Fatai Osho in 2015 when they moved to Kogi United. He would then took up the Head Coach position of Confluence Queens in 2016 NWPL season.

Kogi United suffered second consecutive relegation to the Nationwide League One, NLO after last season’s campaign in the Nigeria National League.

The Organizers of the 2022 Unity Preseason Tournament have announced three Abuja based media outfits as their Media Partners in this year’s edition of the tournament.

Announcing this at the weekend, the General Coordinator of the Tournament Patrick Ngwaogu said the relationship was arrived at after proper assessment of the services that the organizations will render to tournament.

According to him, the decision was based on the experiences of the organizations in Sports, and other services they have rendered in past.

He was optimistic that the three organizations would support in properly projecting the tournament to the public.

Quoting his words, Ngwaogu who was the former First Vice Chairman of FCT Football Association said “the Unity Preseason Tournament is a program that has come to stay. We would continue to work hard to take it to perfection. We want to make the tournament which is in its second edition a force to reckon with in the country”.

Ngwaogu said the unstable football calendar remains one of the major challenges facing organizers of Preseason Tournaments in country “sincerely, the unstable football calendar is a problem of its own in the organization of Preseason Tournaments.

“As it is now, all the organizers are just assuming in whatever they doing in ensuring that our teams perform adequately before the season begins. But, no one knows the actual time the season will begin. While in the real sense, Preseasons are supposed to be the in last 60 days before the commencement of the new season.

“But, we would get there one day . Rome was not built in a day. It a matter of time ” the former Abia Warriors Sporting Director concluded.

The Unity Preseason Tournament holds in Abuja from 16th to 23rd October, with 12 teams participating.

According to the General Coordinator of the tournament Patrick Ngwaogu, the invited teams have started confirming their participation and readiness for the tournament.

Ngwaogu who was the immediate past Abia Warriors FC Sporting Director said teams like Nasarawa United who were runners up in last year’s edition have confirmed their participation, Lobi Stars have also confirmed, City FC, Wikki Tourists, EFCC, Like-Minds FC and Mailantarki have all confirmed their participation and readiness to be part of the tournament.

The former First Vice Chairman of FCT Football Association said within the week, teams like Rangers, Abia Warriors, Akwa United, Niger Tornadoes, Doma and Gombe Utd will all confirm their participations to enable the organizers finalize all logistics arrangements.

Ngwaogu promised that the kits and media partners of the tournament will be announced within the week.

The Unity Preseason Tournament is aimed at providing teams the opportunity to adequately prepare for the new football season. Plateau United are the defending champions.

It was a star performance from 2021 Optima Energy Gold Cup runner-up Shooting Stars as they thrashed Beyond Limits in a five-goal thriller at the FC Ebedei Stadium in Sagamu.

Niger Tornadoes on its part had to wait till the opening minute of the second half to find the back of Gateway FC’s goal, to claim their first 3points at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.

The opening two fixtures of the Optima Energy Gold Cup, had six goals recorded from the two venues, with Akpan Joshua of Shooting Stars scoring the first hat-trick of the 10th edition of the preseason tournament.

It was a game of two halves in Sagamu as Beyond Limits went into the break with the lead, while the Oluyole Warriors took advantage of the Nationwide League One side minute of carelessness in the second half, to score four goals with Akpan Joshua taking home the match ball. 

Beyond Limits gave Shooting Stars a scare in the opening 10 minutes, hitting the woodwork twice but couldn’t punish the NPFL side for its sloppy defending.

The Oluyole Warriors were later pegged back after Ebenezer Akinsanmiro scored the first goal of the tourney with a cool finish at the half-hour mark.

Shooting Stars started the comeback five minutes into the second half with Isaac Afolabi making it one apiece for both teams. 

Afolabi’s goal was the tonic 3SC needed, as they were in the driving seat till the end of the game.

Two minutes later the Oluyole Warriors doubled their lead via Akpan Joshua with a strike from a well-struck free kick at the edge of the Beyond Limits box.

Akpan then made it 3-1 and his brace with a thunderous strike from 30yards in the one-hour mark. He then completed the goal rout with his third within 15 minutes, from the spot kick after he was hacked in the box.

In the Tornadoes and Gateway FC fixture, the 2019 Optima Energy Gold Cup champions had to sweat it out to beat the NNL side.

After a goalless first half, it appeared that Coach Abubakar Bala half time pep talk was the spur his Ikon Allah boys needed, as in the 50th minute, Hamza Mohammed got the needed goal off an assist from Musa Wakili.

Shooting Stars now have a date to keep with Gombe United on Saturday while Tornadoes host new boys Hammola FC on Friday.

According to a family source, the Golden Eaglets assistant coach has communicated his resignation to the management of the Nigeria National League (NNL) side.

“He has communicated his decision to leave Vandrezzer FC to the club management. It was a tough decision, he loves the Vandrezzer FC project and he has been committed and professional since he joined the team.

“He has to leave to focus on his future, also Vandrezzer FC can make their coaching decision. He is making the sacrifices because he wishes the club success,” the source divulged.

Olanrewaju joined Vandrezzer FC in 2021 and he was part of the historical squad that won the club’s first title, when they emerged as Lagos FA Cup champions last year.

He was announced as the club’s Interim head coach when he returned from the 2022 U17 WAFU Cup in June. He was able to stabilize the team and retained their NNL status.

The former Crown FC and Kwara United midfielder has previously worked at MFM FC and Magate FC.

The 10-day soccer fiesta of the Ogunjobi Gold Cup now Optima Energy Gold Cup, a preseason tourney for clubs in the Nigerian domestic league, kicks off on September 22 to October 1st in Ikenne and Sagamu.

A total of 10 teams cut across the Nigerian domestic leagues, will use the platform to prepare their teams for the new football season.

Olanrewaju Ogunjobi, one of the sons of former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) late Taiwo Ogunjobi in the statement said: “We are proud to be part of the tourney as it has set the standard for other preseason tournaments in Nigeria.

“It’s our delight that the tourney which has a meaningful mark of our father is in its 10th edition.

“For the teams and Nigeria football family that has contributed one way to the success of the tourney, we say thank you to all of them, as not a few preseason championships have come this far.

“On our part, in memory of our father, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi ‘Skippo’, the Taiwo Ogunjobi Foundation will reward the top scorer and Most Valuable Player (MVP) of this year’s Optima Energy Gold Cup with cash sums and plaques.”

Organizers of the Optima Energy Gold Cup have informed that the 10th edition of the nation’s most prestigious preseason tournament for clubs in the domestic leagues will kick off on Thursday, September 22, 2022.

Organizers of the Optima Energy Gold Cup have informed that Remo Stars will begin the defence of its title, as the 10th edition of the nation’s most prestigious preseason tournament for clubs in the domestic leagues kicks off on Thursday, September 22, 2022.

Organizers of the Optima Energy Gold Cup have informed that Remo Stars will begin its title defence, as the 10th edition of the nation’s prestigious preseason tournament for clubs in the domestic leagues kicks off on Thursday, September 22, 2022.

Tunde Shamsudeen, General Coordinator of the tourney told Optima Energy Gold Cup Media: “We want to use this medium to thank the over 30 different clubs, which cuts across the three tiers of our league that have taken part in the Ogunjobi Gold Cup (now Optima Energy Gold Cup).

” The tournament inception in 2012, has proven to be the best platform for teams to prepare themselves extensively against tough teams, to know their strengths, drawbacks and proffer solutions to them before going into the season.

“Also the Optima Energy Gold Cup over the years has been part of some club’s success stories from former NPFL champions Kano Pillars, Lobi Stars, MFM FC, Niger Tornadoes, FC Ebedei and now Remo Stars.

” It’s on record that one or two teams that participate in the yearly tourney either end up winning the NPFL title, qualify for the CAF inter-club tournament or gain promotion.

“As we set the ball rolling for this year’s edition, it promises to be an exciting one for the 10 teams that will be looking forward to taking part and indeed fans.

“All necessary arrangement and logistics has been put in place to ensure a hitch-free tourney as there will be much fanfare and activation.

“The tourney will be co-hosted respectively at the Remo Stars Stadium and FC Ebedei Stadium in Ikenne and Sagamu.

“Official correspondence (invitation letters) has been sent to intending clubs in the three tiers of our domestic leagues, Nigeria Professional Football League(NPFL), Nigeria National League (NNL) and Nationwide League One (NLO).

” Ten (10) teams are to participate in the 10-day soccer fiesta that will begin on Thursday, September 22 and climax on Independence Day, October 1, 2022.

“Teams will be grouped into two groups of A and B with five (5) teams each, and are expected to play four (4) group matches with two (2) teams with the highest number of points qualifying for the semi-finals.

Remo Stars defeated Kwara United in the second semifinal game to seal their spot in the final 4-2 via penalties after the dramatic game ended 1-1 at duration time.

The newly promoted NNL side, Smart City will battle the CAF Confederation Cup campaigner, Remo Stars in the grand finale on Friday at 3pm.

“I want to congratulate the two clubs that made it to the final, and we are looking forward to an explosive final. We appreciate all the clubs that participated in the tournament, they made the tournament competitive. I love the passion and emotion of the clubs and their sportsmanship behavior,” said Chairman of the ValueJet Cup organizing committee, Otunba Tade Azeez. 

Smart City walked over Vandrezzer FC in the first semifinal game due to a sponsorship agreement with ValueJet Airline.

“ValueJet Airline are the premium sponsor of the tournament, and we must protect our agreement. The first communication to all the clubs was an invitation letter, and we invited 18 clubs to participate in the tournament. 10 clubs responded to our invitation and we invited all the clubs to our unveiling ceremony of our sponsor and the draw which was the platform we used to communicate the framework and sponsorship terms to all the clubs.

“We informed the clubs about the clause in our agreement with ValueJet Airline that all participating clubs would play with a branded jersey at the ceremony. Vandrezzer FC just like the other 9 clubs had a representative at the ceremony, we informed the clubs that the ceremony was important to clarify the rules and benefits of the tournament. We presented the jersey to Vandrezzer FC officials at the ceremony and they accepted our sponsorship terms which include the appearance fee and prize monies. 

“They (Vandrezzer) communicated to us after playing with the jersey in the first game without any issue and we further explain to them about the agreement with our sponsor. They had the opportunity to pull out of the tournament after the sponsor ceremony, we had the clubs and Airline management present at the ceremony in case of any dispute but we had none.

“We apologize to the football fans that came to the stadium to enjoy the game and those watching via our YouTube channel. We regret the unfortunate incident, we must protect the framework and sponsorship terms of the tournament after official communication to all the clubs. We understand and respect Vandrezzer’s decision to discontinue the game and we wish them success,” Tade added.