Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan general-manager, Rasheed Balogun has confirmed that the team will not take part inn the crises-riddle Super-8 competition of Nigerian National League (NNL).
Against the backdrop of reports that several other clubs in the lower division have opted out of the promotion competition ordered by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Balogun told sports 247.ng that The Oluyole Warriors are following suit.
Balogun stated that his team and other NNL sides have resolved to skip the NNL Super-8, which had been billed to start on Friday in Aba.
He said they took the decision because of what they feel is abject and total disrespect from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) in nullifying the resolution of the last NNL Congress.
Balogun confirmed that his team remain in Ibadan, as Insurance of Benin, Kada Stars of Kaduna and Remo Stars of Ikenne will also not honour the Super-8.
He stressed: “For us to play in the Super 8, the NPFL should also go with the normal plan of relegating four teams.
“Then the NNL will also promote the normal four teams needed to fill the NPFL slots.
“We want all previous decisions to be adhered to, and not for one league to be allowed to shift the goalpost arbitrarily.”
LAWRENCE KATKEN
Meanwhile Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria National League Lawrence Katken has stated that as far as he is concerned the NNL Super 8 will go on as planned because he is yet to receive any official correspondence from any club indicating that they have pulled out of the Super 8. He added that he isn’t even aware of such plan by some clubs to boy cut the Super 8.
EFFIOM MAXWELL
Flying Eagles two goal hero against Ghana Effiom Maxwell has stated that he is fully focussed and unperturbed by the possibility of been a marked man ahead of today’s semi final clash against Mali at the ongoing WAFU cup in Togo. Maxwell who netted twice in the Flying Eagle’s 4-2 win the last game says he is aware the Malians may have planned how they will stop him but remain concentrated on the task of helping Nigeria win the clash against Mali.
EVELYN NWABUOKU
The Super Falcons and other women’s national team in the Country are facing a difficult future over the dwindling fortune of the Nigerian leagues to produce quality players. AWCON winner and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup captain Evelyn Nwabuoku insists the Women’s League in the country faces a bleak future and it could adversely affect the national teams.
NKEM AKARAIWE
There is no hope the nearest future will see a drastic improvement in the wage disparity between Women and Men sports in Nigeria, but there should be according to D’Tigress star Nkem Akaraiwe. She called for a change to the wage structure in Nigeria sport to show fairness, but says it is a systemic problem that may continue.
STAN OKOYE
D’Tigers star Stan Okoye says he expects Nigeria will present a star studded roster and play to win the remaining games of the 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifiers in February. Speaking with Brila FM Stan explained that although the team had already booked its place at next year’s championship winning will also give them strategic advantage in the seedings and Olympic qualifiers.
VALENTINE JAMES
Flying Eagles player Valentine James has stated that Nigeria will be ready for the tough task of facing Mali because he knows Mali always have a good team at the junior level as well ahead of today’s semi final clash between both side at the ongoing WAFU cup in Togo. James however stated that the Nigerian flying Eagles will give their all to outclass their opponent later today.
ASISAT OSHOlA
AFRICAN CHAMPION AND SUPER FALCONS STRIKER ASISAT OSHOALA HAS RUBBISHED CLAIMS THAT
THE TEAM IS SHAKEN BY THEIR WORLD CUP GROUP NEIGHBOURS, WHERE FRANCE, NORTH KOREA AND NORWAY
RESIDE. ASISAT MAINTAINED THAT TEAMS ARE WARY OF THE THREAT NIGERIA POSES, GIVING THEIR RECENT
ACHIEVEMENT IN GHANA, WHERE THEY WERE CROWNED AFRICAN CHAMPIONS FOR A RECORD NINETH TIME.
AMAJU PINNICK
AFCON AND NIGERIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION PRESIDENT AMAJU PINNICK HAS SPOKEN ON THE MOVE BY CAF TO STRIP
CAMEROON OF THE 2019 AFCON HOSTING RIGHTS, SAYING THAT DESPITE THE WORK CAMEROON HAS PUT INTO THE
AFRICAN FOOTBALL SHOWPIECE, WHICH IN HIS WORDS ARE EXCEPTIONAL, CAMEROON WERE NOT READY TO ENTERTAIN
THE REST OF AFRICA. SPEAKING WITH sports247.ng AMAJU PROMISED THAT WHICH EVER COUNTRY CAF
DECIDES TO HAND THE HOSTING RIGHTS TO, WILL BE PLUG AND PLAY. SUCH COUNTRY WILL HAVE HAD THE ALREADY
AVAILABLE FACILITIES TO HOST.