Oliseh, Other Football Chiefs, Legends Signs up For Soccerex Seminar Lagos

 

Soccerex has announce a raft of footballing legends and big business names that will speak at the Soccerex Seminar Lagos, 27-28 September.

The latest footballing legends to have signed up for the Seminar, not only to discuss business in West Africa, but to relive their football glory days, will be former Nigerian international Sunday Oliseh, ex-Bayern Munich and Ghanaian legend Sammy Kuffour and ex-Feyenoord, Nottingham Forest and Netherlands legend Pierre van Hooijdonk.

The Chairman of Nigerian Premier League, Victor Rumson Baribote, President of Fourteen SA and World-Cup wining ex-player Christian Karembeu, International Advisor to TP Mazembe Jerome Champagne and Managing Director of ASEC Mimosas Benoit You will all be speaking on different sessions at the Seminar with the ultimate goal of developing football in West Africa.

The attendees will be speaking on a number of panels including ‘Developing Africa’s Next Star’ and ‘Successfully running aProfessional League’, and moderating the key ‘Football in Nigeria’ session which will feature the Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association Seyi Akinwunmi and the President of the Nigerian Football Federation Alhaji Aminu Maigari.

Commenting on his involvement, Sunday Oliseh said:

"It's with great optimism that I invite you to join me in welcoming the arrival of Soccerex to Nigeria. Nigeria is such a passionate, 'religiously' football loving country. There is an endless wealth of talent in Nigeria but there is still much work to do in order to create an appropriate environment for such talent to blossom. Soccerex is passionately interested in playing its part in making this happen and thus I am delighted to contribute to the inaugural Soccerex Seminar in Lagos."

Ikhana Expects100 percent From Falcons For AWC

Super Falcons Coach, Kadiri Ikhana

Super Falcons head coach, Kadiri Ikhana (MON), has urged invited players to the team's camp to give 100 percent commitment, in it's bid to retain the African Women championship.

Ikhana invited 27 players to the camp with 23 players already arriving on Sunday 16, 2012.

The Super Falcons’ camp was on Sunday officially opened in preparation for the 2012 African Women’s Championship (AWC).

Ikhana informed the players in camp that full training programs would commence on Tuesday morning, with the tournament just five weeks away.  

“We want to retain the AWC title so nothing short of one hundred per cent commitment is needed

“I hope the players will make it difficult for me to choose my final team for the tournament”

He also stated that he is looking out for players who show “commitment, discipline, skill and the ability to play according to instructions.”

Super Falcons Players Celebrating During a Game

The coach invited nine players who featured for the National U20 side, The Falconets, at the just concluded FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup held in Japan, and made sure to congratulate them for their performances at the tournament which saw them finish 4^th behind USA, Germany, and hosts Japan.

Players in camp include Falconets Josephine Chukwunonye, Ngozi Okobi, Cecilia Nku, Ugo Njoku, Asisat Oshoala, Esther Sunday, and Gloria Ofoegbu.

Also in camp are Defenders Eberechi Maraihe, Gladys Akpa, Evelyn Nwabuoku, Ngozi Ebere, Ulumma Jerome, Joy Jegede.

Others are Chiudo Ehiudo, Stella Mbachu, Onyinyechi Ohadugha, Glory Iroka, Shola Oyewusi, Tshola Tawa, Tochukwu Oluehi, Ifeoma Emenike, Sharifat Saheed and Precious Dede.

Ugochi Oparanozie, Francisca Ordega and Osinachi Ohale are all expected to arrive The Serob Legacy Hotel on Tuesday.

The African Women’s Championship will take place in Equatorial Guinea from October 28, 2012 to November 11, 2012.

Dominic Iorfa Contemplates Return to Football

Dominic Iorfa during his playing career with Galatasaray of Turkey

Lobi Stars Chairman, Dominic Iorfa is contemplating areturn to the game that brought him fame and fortune, several years after he bid the game goodbye.

the 44 year old former Nigerian international  disclosed recently that aftermath of his team's (Lobi Stars) qualification for the Confederation of African Football CAF champions league, he is considerin elisting himself as part of the squad that will prosecute the campaign because he is still fit to play despite his age and long absence from the game.

"I have played at many big clubs in the world, when nobody in Nigeria knew about playing abroad, i have played in Turkey: (am the first to play for Galatasaray before the likes of Amokachi and Okocha played there), England etc, I am thankful for the discipline i got from playing around the world"

Iorfa continued "Dont be surprised if i play for Lobi stars on the continent next season, people will be surprised and i will do it because am still fit and know how to move among the players"

During his active years, he played professionally in England, Scotland, Turkey, Ireland and Belgium before venturing into Administration.

 Renowned for his electric pace but less than stunning control, he became a cult figure at many of the clubs he played for, particularly at Peterborough United where his name is still occasionally shouted during dull periods of matches and as an administrator he is reknowned for his controversial nature

Currently he is a member of the board of the NFF and the chairman of Lobi Stars F.C.

CAF Changes CAN 2013 Final Draw Date

CAN 2013 Logo

The Confederation of African Football has moved backwards by two days the draw date for the African Nations Cup earlier stated for 26th of of October 2012.

CAF announced that the final draw for the South 2013 Orange CAF Africa Cup of Nations will now take place on 24^th of October, 2012 in Durban South Africa.

Fifteen teams will join hosts South Africa in the draw and the matches will take place in Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Rustenburg, Nelspruit and Durban. 

The tournament will run from 19^th January to 10^th February. Zambia is the reigning African Champion of the continent’s biggest sports event.

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Kano Pillars Reign Supreme in Nigerian League

Kano Pillars emerge 2011/2012 Nigeria premier league champions despite losing 2-1 to Sunshine stars in the last match of the season in Ijebu Ode.

Nasiru Ali scored first for Pillars in the 4th minute before sunshine equalized through Dele Olorundare and Ajani completed the victory for the Akure gunners

Pillars had been confirmed league champions earlier in the week when the NPL board expelled ocean boys from the 2011/2012 season due to their inability to prosecute 4 games in the regular season.

The decision left other teams contesting for the league diadem with an impossible task of catching up with pillars with just one match-day remaining.

Lobi stars and Rangers were hoping to stage an upset on the last day but Thursday 6th of September decision by the NPL changed all the permutations, confirming Pillars fondly called Saima Suguda by it's supporters as runaway winners of the league.


 Other results in the last day of action in Nigeria premier league include -

Kaduna    3 - 1 Lobi
Heartland 1 - 0 Akwa
Kwara     2 - 0 3sc
Gombe    1 - 0 Wolves
Rangers   3 - 0 Sharks
Dolphins  2 - 0 Rising
N. Tornadoes 2 - 0 Jigawa (game was Abandoned)

Nigeria Premier League Expels Ocean Boys

The Nigerian Premier League have finally threaded on the line of caution after it agreed to expel ocean boys from the Nigerian premier aftermath of the team from Bayelsa missing four consecutive league matches.

This much was revealed after the NPL board met at it's secretariat in Abuja on the 5th September, 2012.

In a communique signed by Joe Amene the Board unanimously agreed to respect article 4.2(3) of the NPL statutes on a team failure to prosecute two or more league matches.

"In related development, the Board unanimously agreed that article 4.2(3) of the NPL which states thus, “if a club fails to honour two consecutive matches without an acceptable reason such a club shall be expelled from the League and its matches played and unplayed shall be cancelled”. Therefore, Ocean Boys Fc stands expelled and its matches played and unplayed cancelled."

The full text of the communique reads -

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF NPL’S BOARD MEETING HELD AT THE SECRETARIAT AT 31 KARAYE CLOSE GARKI-II ABUJA ON THE 5TH SEPTEMBE, 2012.

1.    The Board affirmed that week 38 League Matches marking the end of the 2011/2012 League season will be played as earlier scheduled at various venues across Nigeria on Friday 7th September, 2012. The venue of star match is Ijebu-Ode.

2.    In related development, the Board unanimously agreed that article 4.2(3) of the NPL which states thus, “if a club fails to honour two consecutive matches without an acceptable reason such a club shall be expelled from the League and its matches played and unplayed shall be cancelled”. Therefore, Ocean Boys Fc stands expelled and its matches played and unplayed cancelled.

3.    The NPL wishes Nigeria’s Super Eagles well in its crucial AFCON qualifier against the Lone Stars of Liberia on Saturday, 8th 2012, in Morovia.

4.    The NPL wishes to thank Nigerians, Partner’s and stakeholders in supporting the League given its challenges in the 2011/2012 season.

Joe Amene
Chairman Media Committee

This developments highly favours Kano Pillars to win the league title with a game to play

SuperSport Nigeria and Arsenal FC To Talk Business at Soccerex Seminar Lagos

 General Manager of SuperSport Nigeria, Felix Awogu and Partnership and Development Director at Arsenal FC Felicity, Croft will be joining Head of Sponsorship, Group Corporate Affairs at Standard Chartered Bank, Simon Mould to speak on ‘The Business of Football’ session at the forth coming SOCCEREX SEMINAR in Lagos.

With the need for football in West Africa to become more self-sustainable and to stop relying on state-funded activities, this session will be essential to get a sense of the various revenue streams surrounding Nigerian football including broadcasting and sponsorship. SuperSport, Arsenal FC and Standard Chartered Bank are three of the biggest brands in Nigeria and will be at the forefront of the development of football in West Africa.

                                        Felix Awogu, General Manager, SuperSport Nigeria.

Commenting on the announcement, Felix Awogu said:

“I am extremely excited to be attending the Soccerex Seminar Lagos, the first international football business event in Nigeria. SuperSport is committed to the development of football across Nigeria and this event provides us with the perfect opportunity to network with the whole of the football industry.”

Arsenal FC travelled to Lagos during pre-season where a number of first team regulars, including new signing Lucas Podolski, took part in a number of commercial and charitable activities to engage with football fans across the country.  

Speaking about Arsenal’s involvement in the Seminar, Felicity Croft said:

"Arsenal Football Club enjoys a large following of passionate fans in Nigeria. Our objective over the coming years is to continue to build relationships within the region and engage with brands and supporters alike through exciting and unique marketing initiatives. The Soccerex Seminar Lagos provides us with the ideal platform to interact with all the relevant stakeholders from the region and thus supporting our long-term vision."