INSIDE THE CLUBS

Enugu Rangers



The Flying Antelopes as the club is called has been handed a massive cash boost by the Enugu State governor. The state governor, Sullivan Chime, it was learnt, gave a directive that the sum of N150 million should be given to the club to offset the signing-on fees of players and officials before the start of the new season. A source at the club told Daily Independent that the finance ministry in the state has been instructed to release the money to the club management by this week so as to facilitate the payment of the outstanding signing-on fees of the players and officials of the Coal City Premier League outfit.





Bayelsa United



The current titleholder of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) is hoping that the old trophy, which it won would be given to it after the title sponsor of the Premier League, Globacom Nigeria Limited, acquired a new one that has same feature as the one won by Bayelsa United. But that decision does not rest with the Nigerian champion, as the NPL would take a stand on that.







Sunshine Stars




There are calls for the management team of the club to be reshuffled. This is due to the Premier League’s poor display in last season’s campaign in which the side had to wait until the closing period of the season to escape relegation. Fans are angry that after some coaches of the club except Fatai Amoo were sacked in the wake of the side‘s poor outing in the 2008/2009 season. Now, they believe that the administrators should be next to explain why the Premier League club has been struggling to find its feet in all competitions including the West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup in which it drew 3-3 in Akure with Liberty Professionals of Ghana. It is likely that in the coming weeks that there would be a clean-up exercise at the side. At the same time, the Ondo State government is proposing a 40,000 sitting capacity for the new Akure Stadium instead of the initial 10,000 by the previous government.






Akwa United




In spite of refusing to accept the verdict of the Premier League board after being relegated last season on the virtue of Zamfara United’s 9-0 win over Kaduna United, the club has begun to de-list names of its top-earners, as it appears that it may have after all accepted that it would begin life in the National Division I League next season. The club has placed most of its big-name players on the transfer market in disappointment that they failed to keep the side in the top-flight. Already, Orok Akarandut and Ambrose Vanzekin have left the side and joined CS Sfaxien of Tunisia and Warri Wolves respectively. The only big fish in the pond remains head coach, Bernard Ogbe, who has been saddled with returning the club to the Premier League but with the recruitment of grassroots’ players.





Dolphins Football Club



The feeder team of the club could become the next youth side to be shut down after that of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) few days ago. Rivers State sports commissioner, Boma Iyaye, handed down a warning to members of the Dolphins FC feeder team that at least he wants three of them to be part of the 2009/2010 side in the Premier League or risk being sacked. The Rivers’ commissioner recalled that he had given the feeder team this ultimatum since last year.







Shooting Stars




The club’s General Manager, Mutiu Adepoju, told our correspondent on Monday morning that the club would not only recruit big-names for the side, as it is concerned with bringing in players that would add quality to side in departments where it is lacking. “It is not about bringing big stars to the club because football is not about big stars. We will only recruit players that we feel are suitable to our team’s ambition and also in positions where we know we are lacking. We will not just bring in players because other clubs are signing players, we will only sign when we believe it is for our own good,” Adepoju said.
The club has already shown 11 players the exit door and they include Daniel Mende, Ifeanyi Yango, Olabisi Olagunju, Waheed Olatunde, Ibrahim Yusuf, Idris Arowolo, Ikechukwu Eluonzo, Musibau Olatunde, Sunday Ibeh, Saheed Yusuf and Rotimi Abass.







Ocean Boys




This is one of the Premier League clubs that has a high ratio of sacking its coaches at the slightest instance. Though some coaches have been linked with taking up the head coach job, the club has debunked such speculations saying that it is in no hurry to hire a new coach after sacking its last coach, Lawrence Akpokona, who has since moved to another Premier League side, Warri Wolves. Daily Independent understands that no coach has applied for the job at Ocean Boys as at last weekend due to what most of them fear as the side’s high-handedness in dealing with its technical crew.