AMAPAKABO HAILS ASSISTANTS RETURNS TO ACTION AGAINST PILLARS

Rangers coach Imama Amapakabo has returned to the saddle after brief National assignment even as he has intensified training for today's clash against Kano Pillars. Amapakabo who hailed his assistants for putting up a good show in his absence has been away from club action after being appointed one of the assistants to Salisu Yusuf to execute Super Eagles friendly against Luxembourg which Eagles won 3-1. “Hard work is a watch word in Rangers and we always maintain that no matter what, “he said
Rangers at the weekend posted an impressive outing beating Heartland 2-1 in Oriental derby.  The Flying Antelopes currently occupy the fourth position on the log and many say the tie against third placed Kano pillars at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium promises to be a cracker.
Rangers’ defender Etim Mathew had earlier expressed optimism that the Coal City Boys will rise to the occasion against Pillars.  He however predicted that it will not be a tea party as Pillars are a formidable side “Pillars are a good side just like most of the teams in the league, so no match can  be considered cheap, he said .  Both teams have 32 points in 19 matches played.

AKWA UNITED BATTLE KWARA UNITED IN FA CUP R32

Federation cup defending champions Akwa United will attempt to progress further as they take on Kwara United in the round of 32 on June 16 in Makurdi.

Fixtures dished out by the Nigeria Football Federation indicate that the scores will be settled between the 15 and 16 in 16 Centres across the federation

Akwa United who made history by beating favorites Lobi Stars  2-1 at the Teslim Balogun stadium to win the title last year some say may have to double effort if they are to dis-unite Kwara united to make a head way. League champions Enyimba have been pitched against El-kanemi Warriors a tie which some say will be full of fireworks.  The full fixtures are as follows;

Sunshine Stars Vs Abia Comets                  - Oleh

Dynamite FC Vs Flash Flamingoes               - Abuja   

Nasarawa United Vs Go Round FC                 - Enugu      

Rivers United Vs Kaduna United                 - Makurdi   

Shooting Stars Vs Almar FC                     - Agege     

Top World FC Vs J. Atete FC                    - Enugu      

El-Kanemi Warriors Vs Enyimba                  - Abuja     

Crown FC Vs Niger Tornadoes                     - Akure     

ABS FC Vs Enugu Rangers                         - Bauchi  

Kogi United Vs Wikki Tourists                  - Kaduna 

Dreams FC Vs Plateau United                    - Damaturu

Kano Pillars Vs Prime FC                       - Lokoja    

Warri Wolves Vs Jigawa Stars                   - Ilorin    

MFM FC Vs Katsina United                        - Lokoja     

FC IfeanyiUbah Vs Lobi Stars                    - Calabar  

HEARTLAND, RANGERS IN ORIENTAL RE-MATCH

Tact and caution will be at the centre stage as Heartland host Rangers in NPFL rematch at the Dan Anyiam Stadium on Sunday. When both teams met at the Nnamdi Azikiwe

Stadium May 18th, it ended in a barren draw but fans that had trooped out in their numbers were not disappointed as they were given a lot to cheer about despite the absence of goals.

Rangers, fresh from away outing against El-kanemi that ended in a 2-0 loss will be hoping to earn the points at stake to cushion the effect of the away loss.

Although the morale is low in Heartland camp following inability of the club to meet some financial needs, the players have continued to shape up for the game with a promise to win.

Only few days back no fewer than five players indicated interest to leave the club in search of better deals, but it has been revealed  that club management has appealed to the players to shelve the idea promising that better days lie ahead.

“”I had made up my mind to leave but the club has appealed so I had to change my mind but we will see what happens at the end of the season, “said a player on condition of anonymity  even as he highlighted the importance of motivating players for better performance.

“”You can’t underestimate the importance of motivation in football.  It has a way of bringing  out the best in players and ultimately affects overall result”” he added

Heartland occupy the 15^th position on the log with 21 points in 18 matches while visiting flying Antelopes are ten places above in the 5^th position with 29 points in 18 matches.

HEARTLAND BOOK EARLY EXIT IN FEDERATION CUP

Heartland of Owerri Wednesday crashed out the 2016 FA Cup losing on penalties to underdogs Top world. 

The 2012 champions played a barren draw at regulation time, scoring three of their penalties as against four converted by Top world.

The Nazi Millionaires who have recorded a number of goalless draws in the league recently, pushed out information confirming the result shortly after the final whistle, " Top World moves to the Round of 32 while its the end of the road for us in this year's FA Cup" the Alphonsus Dike tutored side dished out afterwards.

It was however pleasant outing for Rivers United who survived initial scare from hard fighting Papilo Fc to progress at the Umuahia township Stadium. 

Both teams had posted what some fans desribed as classical football but it was Stanley Eguma's Rivers United that survived leaving the score line at 4-3.

Fans at the venue had rooted for Papilo considered underdogs in the encounter and the team fought to the finish getting ovation despite defeat.  

Giwa Fc with a pending case over possible expulsion from the league however showed up for their tie against Sunshine Stars in Lokoja crashing out after a 2-0 defeat

UZOENYI SET FOR CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE

A surprise opportunity to play in the lucrative phase of the CAF Champions league has fallen on the laps of Super Eagles winger Ejike Uzoenyi, following the disqualification of Congolese side AS Vita and their replacement by Mamelodi Sundowns.

 The CAF Organizing Committee for Interclub Competitions at its meeting on Tuesday, 24 May 2016 reviewed a complaint by Stade Malien (Mali) on the eligibility of the player Idrissa Traore used by AS Vita (DR Congo) during the preliminary matches of the 2016 Orange CAF Champions League, and found the club guilty.

Traore played with the Malian club during the 2015 season. Whilst featuring for Stade Malien, the CAF Disciplinary Board handed him a four (4) match suspension. He served only one match and the remaining with three (3) matches suspension was carried over to the next competition in line with Articles 114.1 & 114.2 of the CAF Disciplinary Code” ‘the statement said

Uzoenyi who played for both Rangers and Enyimba before heading for South Africa will no doubt be useful to Mamelodi as they attempt to make an impact in the continental showpiece. Sundowns are defending champions of South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) after claiming their 7^th title

Sundowns will face Nigerian champions Enyimba, Zamalek and ES Setif . They can rightly be dubbed under dogs as they are the only team in the log  yet to win the title 

.While Zamalek have won the title five times, Setif and Enyimba have claimed it twice each .

Some who reacted to the draws Tuesday however say the South African side should not be underrated lest they spring a surprise. The first games of next stage  will be played on June 17.

RANGERS NO LONGER DWELLING ON THE PAST -AMAPAKABO

Rangers coach Imama Amapakabo says the era when technical crew and players of the coal city based team dwelled on the past are over for good.  Sing-song over the team's inability to win trophies in the past three decades he noted has been over flogged and the team and players have resolved to ignore it and forge ahead no matter what.

"We have a new spirit and a new attitude.  We have resolved to ignore the past and work hard for the future.  The players are told to put in their very best in every match and they have been doing that.  You will notice that we fight for every point and even when we lose we ensure that we put in our best that is the way it will continue, “He enthused

The six time league champions who have had a good run this season posting some impressive results both home and away in the bargain, are desperate to bounce back to reckoning not only in the local scene but also in the continent.

Fans who assessed the league so far this season hailed teams that have picked points away, describing it as commendable

Some of the results that have tickled the fancy of die-hard fans include Heartland’s recent goalless draw against Kano Pillars in Kano, Plateau United’s goalless draw against Heartland in Owerri and Warri Wolves 2-1 victory over 3SC and the Lekan Salami stadium among others 

EFE AMBROSE GETS NEW MANAGER

Super Eagles and Celtic defender Efe Ambrose will play under a new manager next season.  The Scottish champions announced Friday the signing of former Liverpool boss Bredan Rodgers as their new manager on a 12 month rolling contract.

Rodgers, 43, replaces Ronny Deila who stepped down at the end of a two-year spell which brought in two league titles and a League Cup crown but just frustration in Europe.

"Celtic Football Club is delighted today to announce Brendan Rodgers as the new Celtic manager. Brendan has agreed a 12-month rolling contract with the club," said a Celtic statement.

Rodgers was previously in charge at Swansea, Reading and Watford while he spent three years at Liverpool before being sacked in October.

"I am absolutely delighted to be named Celtic manager," said Rodgers.

"This is genuinely a huge honour for me. I have followed Celtic all my life and to be given this fantastic opportunity and to be part of such a truly great football club is a dream come true."

Rodgers will be the third manager Ambrose will be working with since joining the side from Israeli side Ashod in 2012. He joined while Neil Lennon who left in 2014 was in charge.