Coach Azeez Mohammed, the coach of Katsina United has revealed how he was able to navigate through the relegation waters and keep the team in the league.

The coach joined the Changi boys mid-season when the team was deep in relegation struggles with just 5 victories in 19 games languishing in the 18th position with 18 points.

The coach understands the challenge at hand perfectly when he was appointed saying ‘ I want to take this challenge and I’m confident that we will turn things around.” and lived up to his words by keeping the team in the league at the end season.

The team added 31 points in the second stanza, almost doubled what they could muster in the first half of the league, and finishing in a respectable 12th position.

The multilingual coach told Sportspedal Media the secret behind the transformation in such a short time ” It’s just hard work” he said.

The former Ranchers bees player also attributes the success of the team to work on their players winning mentality and confidence which he said shows in results on the pitch.

“I also worked very hard on the boy’s confidence and mentality and I’m happy it worked for us,” said Coach Azeez.

The coach who returned from Sudan to coach in the NPFL also rates the league as improving and posited that a lot still has to be done.

” It has improved from what I know about the league before though it has issues that adjustment but it’s better than before” he concluded.

The Owena Whales had to hold on to beat Rivers United by a lone goal on the last day of the league to ensure they retain their status in the top flight.

Executive Chairman of Ondo State Football Association, Otunba Sunday Dele Ajayi told reporters on Sunday in Benin, the venue for this year’s Aiteo Cup final that it was as a result of concerted efforts by football stakeholders in the state with a positive approach from the government that saw Sunshine beat the drop.

Otunba Ajayi who was making a return to the helm of football affairs in the state noted that all hands must be on deck to see the club remain permanently in the league.

He also advised the Ondo State government to reconsider her stand on selling the club to a private body.

“I told the government and people of Ondo State that Sunshine will not go on relegation under my watch as FA Chairman and by God’s grace, we achieve that.

“Since the election has been conducted and I’m the chairman of the state FA, I mobilized all stakeholders to put in our best resources to see the club stay in the Premier League.

“We’ve done our part and it’s now left for the (Ondo State) government what they want to do with the team (to stay in the NPFL).

“We will need to sit down with the stakeholders and government to determine what they want to do on time so that they will start preparation and recruitment for the new season in earnest, and if Government wants to sell they can go ahead, but for now we’ve tried our best to see the team stay in the NPFL.

“I told the government you cannot sell a dilapidated house, it has to be renovated first. We have renovated the house (Sunshine Stars) so they can decide on selling it or not,” he said.

The business tycoon cum veteran sports administrator was asked what he expects from the club next season and he said “We are in the Premier League with the concerted efforts from everyone identified with the team and I’m confident next season we are going to fight for a continental ticket.”

Abdullahi Biffo who is the gaffer of Kwara United on Monday, August 2, broke the record set by Samson Unuanel at the Ilorin based club following his wards’ win over Adamawa United in Gombe.

Michael Ohanu and captain Christopher Nwaeze scored the two goals that gave Kwara United 2-0 win over Adamawa United in what was the Harmony Boys last away game this season.

In the history of Kwara United, Coach Samson Unuanel has the highest number of away wins in a season which was 3.

Biffo has now surpassed this record following his away victories this season at Plateau United, Sunshine Stars, Katsina United and Adamawa United making it four away wins this term which is an incredible record.

Interestingly, Kwara United under Abdullahi Biffo were also the first team in history to beat Katsina United at their home ground in an NPFL game.

Kwara United’s win at Adamawa United has now restored the hope of continental ticket with one game each remaining for all the NPFL teams.

“I want to use this medium to thank my management, players, fans, government and all Kwarans because it is their supports that has been helping us.

“We will try our best to win our last game and we hope that Thursday will be a good day for us,” Abdullahi Biffo explained to Kwara United media.

As things stand presently, Kwara United must beat visiting Katsina United in Ilorin this coming Thursday in final game of the season.

Wives of professional Footballers under the aegis of Professional Footballers Wives Association have congratulated the players and officials of Akwa United FC for emerging champions of the 2021 npfl season. 

In a congratulatory message signed by the president of the Association  Mrs Ify Lordson Ichull, the group said Akwa United are worthy champions of the highly contested league season. 

She said that the Association were grateful to God for the success of the season and urged the Players of Akwa United to be good ambassadors of the country at the continental level.

The players wives Association commended the LMC for a job well done as they described the season as one of the best in the history of the league in Nigeria plus good officiating. 

The Promise Keepers did well to extend their lead at the top of table to four points. Charles Atshimene and Mfon Udoh were on target for the Uyo based side at the Nest of Champions.

Gbadebo who still out injured praised the way Akwa United dispatched the visitors in Uyo.

“We have had five massive games in the last couple of weeks,” he said.

“It has been a hard programme and the lads deserve a lot of praise for that.

“This was not a 100 per cent top performance from us but we never gave in. “That is what the character of this club is all about. No other club in the country has got that. “We are fantastic at gritting our teeth and getting something out of a dead situation.”

The 24-year-old, who has been consistent this season has missed Akwa United’s last three games in the NPFL.

In his absence, Kennedy Boboye has played Charles Okafor as a central defender.

Following the win over Adamawa United, the former Enyimba man is stepping up his fitness in a bid to return to the starting line-up as soon as possible.

Samson Gbadebo will be determined to continue his best form upon return for Akwa United at the business end of the season.

Kwara United energetic midfielder Afeez Nasiru has confirmed his readiness and that of his teammates for their game this Sunday against Lobi Stars in Makurdi.

Over the years, Makurdi has been a tough venue for Kwara United as far as the Nigerian topflight is concerned as the Aper Aku stadium always look like a ‘Kilimanjaro’ to climb for the Harmony Boys.

The last time Afonja Warriors visited Makurdi on November 10, 2019, the home team had their ways winning 4-0 in what remains the Harmony Boys’ heaviest away defeat in 13 years.

However, Afeez Nasiru has disclosed to Kwara United media that himself and his teammates will seek redemption against Lobi Stars by getting the victory this time around.

“We understand the fact that Lobi Stars is one of the best teams in Nigeria, but we have won 3 away games this season at difficult venues and we are ready to do the same tomorrow against Lobi.

“Beating Lobi Stars will help our quest this season and we are ready to fight with our lives to make sure we triumph in this game,” Afeez Nasiru who is a free-kick specialist stated.

In the topflight, Kwara United and Lobi Stars have met 18 times, with Kabiru Dogo’s side winning 8, while the Harmony Boys have 6 victories – with the remaining 4 games ending in draws.

When they both met in the first fixture this term in the NPFL on February 3, 2021, Kwara United won 2-1 in Ilorin, with goals from Chris Nwaeze and Stephen Jude as Samuel Tiza netted a consolation for Lobi Stars in the 80th minute.

Meanwhile, Kwara United are currently occupying 4th position on the NPFL standings with 46 points, while Lobi Stars occupy 8th with 40 points.

The Promise Keepers host Adamawa United at the Nest of Champions and the Nigeria international insists that his men should be considered the team to beat.

“Favourites to win the game? Us. It’s hard to pick a favourite in a game, but playing at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, we’re favourites because we’re at home,” he said.

“We’ve already shown how to beat the best in the league. We have to be ourselves and fight, sweat blood and tears, give our all.

“We have to play our game. They have talented players, but we’re fearless.

“We aren’t scared of them. We’ve already beaten in Gombe. An Akwa United player must never be scared.

“The gaffer works and studies all the details. Kennedy Boboye speaks from his heart and knows how to get the best out of his players.

Etim Matthew has become an everpresent member of the Akwa United backline this season.

The Solid Miners are currently third on the ladder after 27 matches.

United meet Enyimba on Sunday and occupy the final continental place.

“It has been a great season for us at Nasarawa United,” he told reporters.

“We’ve played to a high level and we are very happy.

“We’ll be confronting Enyimba as though it’s a final. Three points are up for grabs but it’s special because it’s against a tough side who beat us in Lafia. We won’t allow them do a double.

“How can we beat them? By scoring more goals than they do.”

On the subject of the Enyimba game, Tebo insisted it was no more important than any other game in the final part of the season.

“Now every game is a final for us,” he argued.

“The tie in Aba is an important League match since we’re third but nothing will be finished. We’ve prepared very well for this game.”

Players of Heartland have insisted that they would not back down from their plan not to train or kick the ball until they make their demands known to the Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma.

The players also blasted the club’s management led by Promise Nwachukwu over plans to serve them warning letters for act of indiscipline, our impeachable source revealed.

“Things have gone sour in the team as the challenge the players face is the antics the Nwachukwu management have now devised, which was to make the players forget about the five months salary arrears owed them.

“They question why he was purporting lies misinforming the Imo people on radio and television sports programmes that the players are been owed four months salaries instead of nine.

“For the records, Promise Nwachukwu was
the Coordinator of Heartland when Ifeanyi Chukudi was General Manager, and they had prepared the five months salary arrears voucher owed a few of the player for payment. Now, he claims that no NPFL club paid players during the Covid-19 first wave of the pandemic and lockdown, which is not true.

“The players have urged Nwachukwu to speak the truth by going back to the press and tell Imo people that a backlog of 9 months, 6 months and 4 months salaries are been owed them by the management of Heartland.

“By right, the players were to be ones to serve the management a warning letter for poor handling of their welfare and not the latter. The players affirmed that the letters are not meant for them as the management could go ahead to serve their family members such notice.”

They blasted the Nwachukwu leadership of the club off being a failure, as they had breached the contract terms they signed with the players.

“Nwachukwu has now termed the player indiscipline, he forgot that the players have every right to protest as the League Management Company(LMC) states that a player becomes a free agent if he’s owed more than two or three months salaries by his club.

Speaking further, “Key members of the Supporters Club also met with team on Wednesday to discuss on the way forward but the players insisted that they won’t back down as they all questioned why they (the Supporters Club) who regarded themselves as true fans were coming when things have gone sour.”

Nwagua, whose side lost to the Pride of Rivers 2-0 away, hinted that Kano Pillars will come out differently when they host Akwa United as they plan to avenge their first leg 1-0 loss in Uyo.

“First of all, I will clear the fact of watching our game, you have to know that sometimes your away strategy is different from home system so watching our game has no difference, we will still maintain our home record and keep our head focused.

“Right now, we are not taking about the one that has passed, we are actually focusing on the one that is coming so his presence has nothing to do with us because we want to win the league title besides he got his 3 points at home so we want to do the same.”

Kano Pillars remain unbeaten at home this season and will face an uphill task when they welcome table toppers Akwa United to the Ahmadu Bello Stadium on Sunday.