Udeh dumps Rangers for Heartland

Midfielder Damien Udeh has hinted that he has no plans to return to Enugu Rangers for next season’s campaign in the Premier League.

Udeh moved to rival side, Heartland Football Club, after he was slammed an indefinite suspension by the Flying Antelopes.

Udeh told the official website of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) that he will not return to Enugu in spite of pleas from the management of Rangers.

 “How can I go back to Enugu to play for Rangers after all they did to me? For no just cause, they went on a media blitz just to rubbish my hard earned name. That I said that I was not in the right frame of mind to take a penalty in our semi-final loss to Kaduna United in the Federation Cup (FA Cup) was the crime I committed to earn an immediate sanction and eviction from the team’s camp within 12 hours. It was very pathetic and I don’t wish to go through such harrowing experiences again in my career,” said the midfielder bitterly.

Udeh scored six goals for Rangers  last season and now believes that return to former club, Heartland, is the best option for him.

 “I believe that if I had a bad record with Heartland in my first time here, they will not have opened their doors to receive me in my time of distress,” he said.

Ganiyu Salami replaces Akande at Crown FC

Crown Football Club has appointed former Golden Eaglets’ coach, Ganiyu Salami, to take charge for the new season as head coach, thereby leaving former handler, Niyi Akande, in the cold.

Naijaligue.blogspot.com understands that Akande has been relieved of his position and Salami resumed last week with the Premier League newcomer.

Akande, who was in Ibadan, when contacted claimed that he still remains with the club as head coach apparently unaware of the change in guard that had occurred in his absence.

It was learnt that Akande had obtained a casual leave to attend his brother’s burial in London.

Salami last held the position of head coach at relegated Ranch Bees last season though he left the club before the end of the season citing lack of commitment on the part of the managers of the Kaduna team.

However, Crown FC has retained the services of Godfrey Esu. He will be working with Salami in the coming season.

Two new coaches were also appointed this month to help the duo of Esu and Salami.

Former Gateway Football Club, David Egbiri and ex-junior international, Oladunni Oyekale, will join Crown FC’s backroom staff as assistant coaches.

Also, the club sent some of its old players and staff for training courses at the Nigerian Institute for Sports (NIS) in Lagos.

Crown FC explained that the decision to send some of its older playing personnel and staff on refresher courses was borne out of the human development policy of the club aimed at empowering those on its payroll for serving the side.