Togo tests Saintfiet against Mauritius

The Technical abilities of Tom Saintfiet will be put to test once again on Saturday (Tomorrow) when, The Sparrow Hawks of Togo take on Mauritius in an International friendly.

Saintfiet, the former Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Yemen and Malawi Coach was only Tuesday called up by the football authorities in Togo to take charge of the Team in their friendly international against Mauritius.

The Belgian has been without a job since November, 2014 when he was surprisingly sacked by South Africa PSL side, Free State Stars despite improving their lot in the PSL rankings.

"I just arrived in Mauritius, I will be Interim Coach of Togo in their friendly against Mauritius on Saturday, only this match for now" Saintfiet told Sports Flight.

"I only got called up on Tuesday and we will only have one full training session before the game"

What happens after the Mauritius friendly?
"I have no idea but I hope for the best" Saintfiet, who will be 42 in two days said.

                                 yours sincerely, Ralph with Saintfiet
A win in Mauritius will be a perfect birthday gift for the former midfielder who began his Africa sojourn in 2000 with Satelite FC of Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Togo have been under the watch of former assistant Coach, Tchakala Tchanile who failed to qualify The Sparrow Hawks for the Africa cup of Nations 2015 after taking over from Frenchman, Diddier Six. 

Togo and Saintfiet will come against Diddier Six who became Coach of Mauritius in January.

KeneHelps boost Enugu club

An Enugu based youth football team, Star Plus FC recently got a big boost when a London based Charity organization, KeneHelps doled out kits to them.

Star Plus FC became the first recipient of the kits largesse from KeneHelps founded by an England based Nigerian, Kene Onyia.

Over 70 kids were presented with a pair of football boot each and a carrier bag for the boots.

"Honestly it feels good to have put smiles on the faces of those young lads and I hope the boots will go a long way in helping their football development" Kene Onyia told Sports Flight.

Onyia promised to do more in the nearest future by providing more training equipment for other youth teams in the Coal City.

"This is not going to be a one of thing, I will surely do my best to sustain it"

"The aim of the organisation is to empower youths through sports with particular reference to football."

According to Onyia, his organization, KeneHelps is supported by Sheffield football club foundation of England.

Ikenna Hillary on target in Malta

CHAN 2014 Eagles midfielder, Ikenna Hillary has scored his first goal in the Maltese league.
Hillary opened scoring for his side, Valleta in their 3-1 home win against Mosta FC.

The former FC Inter Enugu and Enugu Rangers big man drilled his shot from the edge of the box giving Mosta's keeper no chance at all in the 28th minute of the match.

Three Nigerians started the match on Mosta's side. They are former International, Ibrahim Babangida, Fortune Udo and I. Okoli.

"I have been working so hard since I joined Valleta and am happy my hard work is paying off" Ikenna who moved to Malta from Portuguese second tier told Sports Flight.

Odafa Okolie moves to Sporting Clube de Goa

Odafa Okolie is the best striker ever to play in the Indian I League and today he completed transfer formalities signing for Sporting Club de Goa.

Odafa had rejoined Churchill Brothers at the start of the season hoping to guide his former club back to I-League glory, but after the club were not allowed to take part in this seasons I-League, Odafa has been restless. 

“I am delighted to have signed for the Flaming Oranje. Their current position does not give a true account of the pedigree and the stature of the club and I will play my part in helping my new team mates get back on track,” remarked Odafa.

Sporting Goa is currently bottom of the I-League table with just three points from eight matches. The recent introduction of the defensive duo Sandesh Jhinghan and Miguel Garcia steadied the ship.

“The name Odafa Onyeka Okolie is synonymous with goals in Indian football. We believe his addition to the team will give us that much needed boost. His track record speaks for its self,” stated Sporting Clube de Goa President Peter Vaz.

Odafa’s journey in Indian football started in 2003 in Kolkata with Mohammedan Sporting, before moving to Bangladesh for a short stint with Muktijoddha.

He soon returned to India in 2005 with Churchill Brothers where his sheer athleticism and eye for goal started to flourish. Between 2007and 2010 he was the I-League’s highest goal scorer for three straight seasons, while also helping Churchill Brothers to win the I-League in 2009.

His success led to a big money move to Kolkata where he donned the colours of Mohun Bagan for three years before moving back to Varca. 

He became the highest paid player in the I League with a take home salary of $600,000 per year.

Odafa replaces fellow Nigerian, midfielder, Ogba Kalu at Sporting.

Moses, Balogun, Ujah and Ideye return for Bolivia and South Africa friendlies

Super Eagles caretaker Coach, Daniel Amokachi has called up 28 players for the upcoming double international friendly games against Bolivia in Uyo and South Africa in Nelspruit.

The list of players see the return of Victor Moses, Brown Ideye, Leon Balogun, John Ogu, Odion Ighalo and Anthony Ujah.

Victor Moses who has been nursing an injury was however only placed as a standby player after he pleaded to be listed believing that he will recover in time for the games.

New faces amongst the foreign based players are Norway based, Akeem Latifu and Belgium based, Moses Simon.

The most notable absentee from the squad is misfiring striker, Emmanuel Emenike.

The list is made up of 18 foreign based players and 10 NPFL stars.

The players are expected to report at the Le Meridien Hotel, Uyo on Monday, 23^rd March for the March 26 clash with Bolivia, with the squad heading to South Africa on Friday, March 27 for the battle with the Bafana Bafana in Nelspruit on Sunday, March 29.

FULL LIST
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France); Theophilus Afelokhai (Kano Pillars); Chidiebere Eze (Ifeanyi Ubah United)

Defenders: Chima Akas (Sharks FC); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor FC, Turkey); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); Nelson Ogbonnaya (Heartland FC); Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough FC, England); Akeem Latifu (Aalesunds FC, Norway); Leon Balogun (Darmstadt 98, Germany)

Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Steven Ukoh (Biel-Bienne FC, Switzerland); Omatsone Aluko (Hull City, England); Hope Akpan (Reading FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Babatunde Michael (Volyn Lutsk, Ukraine); Joseph Nathaniel (Sharks FC); Kingsley Sokari (Enyimba FC)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Aaron Samuel (Guangzhou R&F, China); Brown Ideye (West Brom, England); Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Anthony Ujah (FC Cologne, Germany); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Ubong Moses (Kano Pillars); Stanley Dimgba (Warri Wolves); Mfon Udoh (Enyimba FC); Standby – Victor Moses (Stoke City, England)

Abia Warriors sign 19 new players, retain 14

Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia has signed 19 new players and retained 14 of the old ones in readiness for the 2014/15 Glo Nigeria Professional Football League which kicks off across the nation this weekend.

The new entrants include experienced campaigners like Valentine
Nwabile who moved from Niger Tornadoes of Minna, Uchenna Keke from Akwa United of Uyo, Bolaji Shakin, and Ivorien import, Dosso Achassan from Dolphins of Port Harcourt as well as Rangers International of Enugu twin brothers Joshua and Moses Odo.

Former Enyimba International of Aba star, Josiah Maduabuchi moved from Warri Wolves to join the Warriors who also grabbed Taraba United’s left-footer, Ali Buhari.  Ogu Michael and big goalkeeper, Chinedu Ude (Iroko) have also joined Abia Warriors from sister Club, Heartland of Owerri, along with the Bayelsa United duo, Binebi Johnson and Sheriff Bashir. 

Some local rivals also lost their players to Abia Warriors. They
include, a non-league outfit based in Umuahia, “New Generation” which sold Shedrack Asiegbu and Michael Olaha to the Premier League outfit, while another home side, Abia Comets, lost Emeka Joseph to the Warriors.

National League side, MFM, Lagos supplied Atu Irumekhai to the
Warriors who also signed Husseini Ahmen from Mighty Royals FC and Osita Egbo from Magic International Academy.

The old players who were retained include Captain Austine Obaroakpo and his central defence partner, Nnaemeka Anyanwu as well as experienced defenders Ogbonnaya Okemiri and Mohammed Garba.

Others are goalkeepers, Joseph Onuoha, Nnanna Michael, John Gaadi and Chinedu Anozie as well as free-kick specialist, Ndifreke Effiong and the club’s second highest goal scorer last season Chisom Chikatara.

Roving mid-fielder, Ifeanyi Onyeali and Okorie Torty also made the cut, alongside Nigeria U-23 team star, Michael Ibe Okoro and
Chukwuemeka Nwabalogu.

Pillars book Morocco ticket, as Dolphins face Club Africain

Nigeria champions Kano Pillars will play FC Moghreb Tetouan of Morocco in the first round proper of this year’s CAF Champions League competition.

Pillars swept aside Al Malakia of South Sudan 3-0 in Kano on Saturday, for a 5-0 aggregate win, while Moghreb edged C.O.B. of Mali 3-2 on aggregate to be eligible.  Two goals by Gambo Mohammed saw off the visitors.

On Sunday, Pillars management reciprocated Malakia’s uncommon hospitality in Juba by hosting the South Sudan delegation to a special lunch at Central Hotel, Kano.

 The Kano giants host the first leg of the fixture against Moghreb at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Saturday, March 14.

Port Harcourt lords, Dolphins FC had to endure a penalty shoot-out win over Leones Vegetarianos of Equatorial Guinea, after both teams were tied 1-1 on aggregate.

Dolphins now take on Club Africain of Tunisia, with the first leg in Tunis on March 13.

Warri Wolves, who hammered Racing Club Bobo-Dioulasso of Burkina Faso 4-0 on aggregate, will play the winner of the fixture between Dedebit of Ethiopia and Cote d’Or of Seychelles.