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33rd NPL Team of the Week

33rd NPL Team of the Week

Posted: 2011-07-21 10:36

The Nigeria Premier League (NPL) released its 12-man Team of the Week on Wednesday, with Enugu Rangers and Plateau United the dominant sides.

Rangers provided three players: James Okwuosah in defence, John Nnam in midfield and Brendan Ogbu in attack.

Plateau United head coach, Bitrus Bewarang, who also doubles as general manager of the club, is picked as coach of the week.

Centre-back Obinna Nwokolo and top scorer of the League, George Akpabio, complete the three personnel in the team from Plateau United.

The 3SC duo of Chima Akas and Kabiru Alausa are also selected in the team by the Premier League.

Chike Michael (Zamfara United), Uche Oguchi (Dolphins), Kola Anubi (Sharks) and Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars) complete this week's team.

HOW THEY MADE THE TEAM

Goalkeeper: Chike Michael (Zamfara Utd)

Michael put up a decent performance against Heartland at the weekend to help his side to a 1-0 win. He makes the team for the first time.

Right-back: Uche Oguchi (Dolphins)

He distinguished himself in his side's 2-3 loss at Kano Pillars. Oguchi got his name on the scoresheet but it was not enough to help side with a result.

Centre-back: James Okwuosah (Enugu Rangers)

The former Lobi Stars' man was solid in the heart of defence. He played a role in keeping free-scoring Sibi Gwar of Niger Tornadoes quiet.

Centre-back: Obinna Nwokolo (Plateau Utd)

The big central defender did a yeoman's job in defence for his side against Warri Wolves. Nwokolo slots in to pair Okwuosah in the heart of defence.

Left-back: Chima Akas (3SC)

The 3SC youngster returns to the team after a decent display at left-back against Kwara United. Akas has seamlessly slotted into left-back at the Ibadan-based side.

Right midfielder: John Nnam (Enugu Rangers)

Nnam has shown that he can play at right-back and right side of midfield. Against Tornadoes, he excelled and capped his performance with a fine strike.

Central midfielder: Kola Anubi (Sharks)

Anubi's performance against Gombe United meant he claimed the central midfield role in this week's team.

Left midfielder: Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars)

He's been one of the shining lights at Pillars this season. Ali was the link man to his team's forward against Dolphins, and he also kept his composure to score the winner for his team.

Left-wing forward: George Akpabio (Plateau Utd)

Akpabio got two goals against Wolves including a sweet volley. His performance has shot him to the top of the race for the golden boot.

Centre-forward: Kabiru Alausa (3SC)

The veteran striker caused Kwara United all sorts of problems at the back. He put his big frame and positional play to good use and got his side's winner.

Right-wing forward: Brendan Ogbu (Enugu Rangers)

Ogbu hit a brace in 44 minutes to help his side on a 4-0 rout of Tornadoes. The big striker is turning to be Rangers' source of goals this term after netting 11 times.

Coach: Bitrus Bewarang (Plateau Utd)

Bewarang masterminded a big win from the sidelines for his side against title-chasing Wolves.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

GK: Chike Michael (Zamfara Utd)

RB: Uche Oguchi (Dolphins)

CB: James Okwuosah (Enugu Rangers)

CB: Obinna Nwokolo (Plateau Utd)

LB: Chima Akas (3SC)

RMF: John Nnam (Enugu Rangers)

CMF: Kola Anubi (Sharks)

LMF: Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars)

LWF: George Akpabio (Plateau Utd)

CF: Kabiru Alausa (3SC)

RWF: Brendan Ogbu (Enugu Rangers)

Coach: Bitrus Bewarang (Plateau Utd)

Comment on this article:

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Game147: 2011-07-21 18:44

See as everybody just keep quite, if to say na Barca or Man U news we for don see trillion comments. We shall get there sha, Rome wasn't built in a day.

Daddy Patto: 2011-07-21 18:56

HA! HA! HA! NO COMMENT? LOL

Philosopher`: 2011-07-21 19:02

Soccerbabes again??? Smh

Philosopher`: 2011-07-21 19:03

Soccerbabes again??? Smh

9ja Guy: 2011-07-21 19:11

NFF dey try..sometimes we need to support them not to yabb them like say their head na coconut water na em dey inside.LOL

Philosopher`: 2011-07-21 19:23

haba! Udoh after how many weeks? You started the new season on a commending note by updating us with the latest From NPL but along the road, you suddenly '' went to sleep'' from week 6 to week 33rd. Na waoh!

moore036: 2011-07-21 19:43

Here na graveyard? Al the guys that say homebased this homebased that, come on annd comment and give us updates/complete profiles of these players above, off the record. Arent they the best around? Enough said, charity begins at home.

val: 2011-07-21 20:34

I wished it was very easy for me to access our NPL. The caption here appears so attractive, however, the silence here is no suprise because all we see on the net are, DSTV, SSP and a host of other foreign sports channels. The Arab channels are even a step further as they beam the CAN champions league involving our own clubs! The NPL site is bad news, the NFF site is worst, even kickoff is not helping matters as NPL news appear here seldomnly! So what do you do when news from our NPL shows up, since you can not corroborate or contradict it? I also appeal to memebers who have access, links or based in Nigeria to keep us updated, such will also assist in criticizing, recommending, checking or commending our coaches when they draw out lists for national assignments.
It does not always have to be 'why is Ideye not on the list?
where is Ujah? XYZ banged in 100 goals in spain and should be on the list, Okoronkwo should not have been....bla..bla..bla.
Honestly, i have searched for a credible site all to no avail.

coache: 2011-07-21 20:54

I know well that peeps will not comment about the home based players. But just to concur with val, What is Nsofor doing in that team. He does not create chances, neither has he scored any goal for Nigeria of recent. No full impact on the field left for some crazy shots. Oduamadi should have been given the nod ahead of the 30year old Nsofor. Sia One I am disappointed.

val: 2011-07-21 21:16

Micheal Eneramo starts for Sivaspor of Turkey against against Bundesliga side VFB Stuttgart in a pre-season freindy.
Hope our coaches are watching.

val: 2011-07-21 21:29

Eneramo level scores for Sivaspor with a header off a corner kick in the 15 mins first half.
VFB Stuttgart 1
Sivaspor 1

Dee: 2011-07-21 21:45

@coache, Oduamadi is injured. Please check your facts before commenting

Game147: 2011-07-21 21:53

This article is about the Local league, why the bearing change ??? Lol.

Tartan: 2011-07-21 21:56

@Dee.....He was injured but now okay....he even scored a hatrick yesterday....read below....

Oduamadi in hat-trick debut for Torino

Thursday, July 21st, 2011 at 08:53

On-loan striker Nnamdi Oduamadi bagged a debut hat-trick for Torino as they beat local side Sapphire 12:0 in a warm-up game.

The AC Milan winger struck in the 41st, 61st and 73rd minutes as the Serie B side ran riot over their less illustrious opponents.

Oduamadi, who plays for Nigeria's Olympic team, joined Torino this summer on loan from Milan in a move to ensure he gets regular playing time, after making only a five-minute spell for the Rossoneri last season.

The 20-year-old has only made one substitute appearance for the Super Eagles, against Kenya, but says he is not disturbed by not having held down a place, insisting his moment will come.

"I just believe my time will come to play for the Super Eagles" he told Complete Sports.

Earlier in the year he was invited to the national team by coach Samson Siasia, but the invitation turned into a seconding to the Dream Team V who had a crucial Olympic qualifier to play against Equatorial Guinea. He has been with Austin Eguavoen's team since, but still has his eyes on a return to the senior team.

"I will be ready to grab the chance whenever it comes my way again." he said.

"I just have to make sure that I play regularly here at the club. The management have have really showed that they want me, which is exactly what I need at the moment."

topstarz: 2011-07-21 22:20

@moore036 , thanks for the comment

val: 2011-07-21 22:37

Game147, Halleluya!! i found a latest from a Nigerian newspapers site. LOL.....
Source: LEDERSHIP Newspapers.
Strike. NPL SUSPENDS TODay'S MATCHES!
The Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has suspended the re-scheduled league games slated for today. Planning against the nationwide warning strike which was slated for yesterday but suspended Tuesday midnight, the NPL had postponed the midweek matches.
Acting executive secretary of NPL, Tunji Babalola, who was relieved over the botched strike told SuperSport.com that it is too late to ask the affected teams to play their games today. But informed that only the week 34 games will go on as scheduled at the weekend. “today’s games will not hold. Fine, the proposed strike has been suspended but then it is too late for teams to play today, we can only go ahead with the week 34 games and teams have been informed appropriately,” he said.
The games slated for today include the encounter between second placed Dolphins and Crown at the Liberation stadium, Port Harcourt which is a week 29 game; Kaduna United versus Lobi Stars billed for the Kaduna township stadium which is a re-scheduled week 26 game and another re-scheduled week 33 tie involving league leaders, Sunshine Stars and bottom placed JUTH in Ijebu Ode.
There are equally an oriental warfare week 28 game involving Enugu Rangers and Enyimba at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium, Enugu and the disputed week 31 game between Ocean Boys and Heartland early slated for the Old Parade Ground, Abuja, but later moved to Yenagoa which will be played behind closed door.

Game147: 2011-07-21 22:30

@Val, Thanks my brother. Charity begins at home. Enugu Rangers vs Enyimba used to be a cracker years back. Thanks for that piece of info.Let the awareness campaign begin, not all these Barca Barca every time. I wonder why soccer experts are keeping mute.

Dee: 2011-07-21 23:42

@Tartan, i stand corrected. The last update i heard was he was injured during the nig vs Ghana match in Kumasi

Game147: 2011-07-21 23:56

We all know the conspicuous factors facing the Nigeria premier league. These may include : (a) Inadequate finance (b) Lack of sponsorship (c)Inadequate media coverage (d)lack of basic orientation (e)Substandard officiating (f) 'A must win at home' fans mentality (g) Government interference e.t.c . All these factors could be embedded in inadequate finance.
Let's use this KON to promote our league instead of using it to brag about affluence and showing unnecessary ego (or megalomania) and academic excellence...... In a nutshell : 'All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing'--Edmund Burke. Peace.

moore036: 2011-07-22 00:18

The problem with the NPL is simple: Corruption.

steve : 2011-07-22 09:32

@Mega Million, the different between you and other forumites is that you leave in denial.Calling me names and saying that i am a liar shows your psychological imbalance.I dont know you from Adam and will not wish to, therefore why should i lie in making my point?.Without dignifying your presence and drug infested mind and for the benefit of some forumites, i will like to educate you on some basic entreprenuership of doing business in Nigeria.This is to enable you retrace your hard suffering life of drugs and 419 in the US ,so that you will know that there is meaningful leaving in Nigeria if you know how. I told you i have seven companies, four of which are in oil/gas business.My specialty is facilities maintenance services/expert labour supply/tank construction/rehabilitation/ offshore services.Now we supply expert/professional labour work force to all the oil producing companies, to take care of thier facilities, both foriegners and Nigerians.Some retainership contracts comes with over seventy/ hundred personnel!!! for say four years , now if i have four of such contracts from four different oil producing companies what do you call that? (mind you i said over 250!) .They pay you the maximum internationally (oil/gas industry) acclaimed market value for your staff and you handle the rest.This basic services is enshrined in the local content law of Nigeria. I know your drug infested mind cant think of such opportunities in Nigeria , rather than boosting of your non existing wealth and your wayward leaving in US, please come back home and build your life afresh.Opportunities comes from where there is need and in pocket sizes, there is a lot of need in Nigeria which creates instant millionaires, if only you can persever, know-how and be patience. Bro , wealth comes from God and give him the Glory.This is my last response to any of your touting reply.

Sley: 2011-07-22 09:52

The clubs aren't helping matters. NPL clubs should have their own website(functional ones). You can also have a fan base where supporters of the club meets and share their views. Go to the mart, you'll see people purchasing Chelsea, Man u,A r senal Barca,Real M jersey. I haven't seen where they sell Enyimba Jersey for peeps to buy maybe in Aba u can get that. Since Enyimba has more fan base in Nigeria.Not to talk of other clubs like Ranger, Heartland,Kano Pillars etc.At least this alone can generate funds for the club. Lets clean the house while we await the football authority to spice it up. The Govt should also make it a necessity too. Like if you want to get a govt job u have to show @least 5 match ticket that shows you go to the stadium to watch league matches. Security should be made at the stadium too for the Ref & Fans. Away teams can pick up wins. In NPL its 1/10 for you to see away team triumph. Enyimba beats Juth FC 5nil in Aba. They go to Juth FC home and loose 4nil,Its a sham. Even fans should also help themselves too at least show committment in going to watch NPL. In this case the authority& club side will also do their best to improve the league. But if its to watch AY Live they are ready to spend btw 10- 20grand to watch 2 hrs event. They drink 1 carton of beer. Hennessy in joint,Big boy! But lie lie they cant near the stadium. This gullible trend should take a Halt

Game147: 2011-07-22 10:38

Eradicating corruption is an unrealistic ideal state .No Nation is free from corruption. The achievable state is reduction and it can be achieved through actions and not theories.

no be una fault: 2011-07-22 11:59

Ramon and Kayode joins F/Eagles in Panana


Flying Eagles skipper Ramon Azeez and striker Olanrewaju Kayode have finally joined the team in Panama City.Both players arrived Panama Thursday evening via Amsterdam to ignite a buzz of excitement among the other players.

“It’s great to rejoin the team. I’m fit and ready to go,” Azeez said at the Hotel El Panama immediately after dinner with the rest of the team.

Azeez was refused a work permit by the Spanish embassy in Nigeria and it took the intervention of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) before he could secure a transit visa that allowed him to fly into Europe and thereafter connect to Panama.

Kayode, on his own part, was held back by his Ivorian club Asec Mimosas before they eventually agreed to release him ahead of time for the U20 World Cup in Colombia.

He will miss the opening match against Guatemala on July 31 in Armenia after he saw red in the final of the African Youth Championship in May in South Africa.

In the meantime, injured goalkeeper Gideon Gambo is expected to be fit next week after he suffered an ankle injury in a friendly against Portugal last week in Lisbon.

The tall Sharks of Port Harcourt shot stopper was the hero in the first Portugal clash as he stopped a penalty in the second half to ensure a 0-0 draw in Portugal.On Wednesday, the Flying Eagles fell 2-0 to the same team in an invitational tournament in Panama

moore036: 2011-07-22 12:05

@game147 You are 100% correct. Eradicating corruption is impossible. If we can reduce it by say 40% then we are in for a jolly ride @Sley the matter tire person oooo

steve : 2011-07-22 12:36

@Sley ..ooohh you are 100% correct, especially on the aspect of fans showing at least 5 match tickets of sports (not just football) before getting employment from government or any organisation, recieving salaries or get governmental favours.Again companies making over N100m per annum should sponsor sport games (any sports) as a criteria in getting any government contracts or any contract over N500m in Nigeria per year.This will make companies to seek for lucrative sponsorship partners, branding of our players etc will be part of the deal.Finally the english pool version should be adopted for our league / teams cos where there is money, there is interest.Because sports can create lots of employment opportunities , govern should make it imperative to raise fund attached to winning our league to at least $1m than the stupid pea nuts of N10M that is being paid now (this also can be achieve through good sponsorship).After all the security allowee of some our governors per month is over $2m!!

Game147: 2011-07-22 13:32

@Sley, @moore036 and @Steve , all of una too much. We can make it only if we believe and work. I know this passion is burning in lots of Nigerians. @sley, what time is the meeting this week ???

Philosopher`: 2011-07-22 15:37

London 2012: NFF chases
Olympic ticket with N500m
By George Aluo
Friday, July 22, 2011


The Nigeria Football Federation
(NFF) has vowed to do
everything possible to ensure
that Dream Team V qualifies for
the London 2012 Olympic soccer
event, even as it has budgeted
N500 million to host the eight
nation Olympic qualifier billed
for December.
The NFF, Daily Sunsports
gathered, wants to host the
event despite the princely sum it
needs to do so, since it appears
to be the only way to guarantee
that Nigeria qualifies, given the
poor away record of the Austin
Eguavoen tutored side.
Our source disclosed that the
federation has secured the
approval of National Sports
Commission (NSC) to bid for the
hosting right, just as Edo State
government has shown interest
in Benin being one of the
centres to be used.
“The NFF has the backing of the
Sports Commission in the bid
project, but is definitely not
going to get a kobo from the
latter. So, it is left for the soccer
federation to play its politics
well in CAF and to source for the
needed funds. Everybody at the
Glass House is worried that
Nigeria won't make it to the
Olympics if we don't host. The
thinking of NFF right now is to
do everything to pick the ticket
after which a decision would be
taken on whether to retain
Eguavoen as the coach or get
another coach to lead the team
to London.”
On the N500 million needed to
host the event, should CAF grant
the country the hosting right,
our source said the NFF would
be banking on Edo State
government and any other state
that shows interest in its state
capital being one of the centres
alongside Benin that has been
the home of the Dream Team.
“NFF plans to use two centres-
Benin and one other venue. It is
the hope of the federation that
Edo and one other state will
bankroll the event. In fact, the
NFF may approach Lagos State
government to be part of the
show as well as some corporate
bodies.” It is recalled that Nigeria
a fortnight ago failed to qualify
for the Maputo 2011 All Africa
Games soccer event after Dream
Team V fell to Ghana's Black
Meteors by 0-2 in Kumasi.
Nigeria went into the Kumasi
game with a 3-1 first leg
advantage.

Sley: 2011-07-22 17:13

@Game147, nxt meeting is on Sunday 5pm Nig Time