Sports

Kumaga, The Hero As Lobi Stars Pip Tornadoes In Lafia

Published

1 year ago

December 29, 2023

Lobi Stars dig deep to maintain the unbeaten home record in the north-central derby clash as Suur Kumaga’s long-range strike was all the Pride of Benue needed to pick a maximum of three points against a hard-fighting Niger Tornadoes.

Coach Eugene Agagbe welcomed Samuel Tiza back into the team, and drafted Francis Odinaka to pair with Moses Tsehuan at the heart of the defense while Sunday Chinedu started on the bench as the gaffer retained Suur Kumaga to the right back as the match gets underway.

Tornadoes had less possession in the game as the home team dominated proceedings from the beginning of the game to the 90th minute.

Stanley Oganbor almost broke the deadlock in the 3rd minute of play when he released a long-range strike that failed to hit the desired target.

Lobi Stars goalkeeper Lucky Adullahi was in the right spot to save Clinton Japthet’s close-range header when the Tornadoes winger noded on target.

Goalkeeper Enaholo had to go the extra mile to deny Tiza from his well-taken freekick as the first half ended 0-0.

Both teams returned for the final minutes of the game as Coach Agagbe replaced Samuel Tiza, and Stephen Eneji, with Suleiman Mojereola and Sunday Chinedu for more tactical play.

As the minutes ticked down, the Ikon Allah boys defended resolutely while the Yes Father boys kept faith in their philosophy of pressing forward knocking on the visitors to exploit.

However, The Shoe Get Size Boys finally made the breakthrough in the 75th minute when Suur Kumaga surged forward from the right back and converted a half-chance into a full chance when he released a long-range bullet with his left foot to beat Enaholo in goal to change the scoreline to 1-0 in favour of Lobi Stars.

The Minna-based side came all out in search of an equalizer, but Japhet’s effort was denied by the crossbar as the Shoe Gets Size boys emerged victorious in the North Central Derby upon full time to end the year on a brighter note.

With the 1-0 victory, the Food Basket Team has gathered 29 points to go joint top on the league table with Remo Stars.

Speaking after the match, Coach Eugene Agagbe thanked his side for the wonderful performance

“I thanked my boys for playing under instruction in the second half of the game, the boys played with character and it showed that they are equal to the task and are ready to get what they are looking for in the 23/24 season and our most target is to be among the first three” Agagbe maintained.

Up next, Lobi Stars will be traveling to Ilorin, to face Kwara United for another North Central derby on Matchday 17.

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Sports

Nurudeen Academy Unveils State-of-the-Art Talent Camp in Mararaba

Published

1 hour ago

May 18, 2025

The Gleamer

…Aims to Nurture and Develop Young Footballers

By Tolulope Oguntimehin

One of Nigeria’s leading football development institutions, Nurudeen Football Academy, has launched a state-of-the-art residential camp in Mararaba, Nasarawa State — a strategic location near the Abuja-Nasarawa border.

The newly unveiled facility is designed to support talented young footballers, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds or living outside Abuja and Nasarawa, who previously faced accommodation challenges while training at the academy.

Speaking at the launch, President of Nurudeen Football Academy, Mahmud Musa, shared the inspiration behind the initiative:

“Football has always been a passion of mine. I played when I was younger, and I’ve always dreamed of creating a platform where young, aspiring players can thrive. This academy is more than just a training ground — it’s a hub for nurturing talent while recognizing the business side of football. That’s why we’ve invited top professionals in the industry to assess and help enhance what we’ve built.”

“We’re not stopping here. We also encourage our players to learn a vocation alongside football, giving them something sustainable to fall back on beyond their playing days.”

Chairman of the academy, Engr. Adamu Salihu Rabo, emphasized the significance of the new camp in attracting more youth to the academy:

“This facility opens the door to many more players, especially those previously held back due to accommodation barriers. Now, they can live and train here under the guidance of some of the best coaches in the country.”

Also present at the event was the Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Football Association (FCT FA), Usman Ilerika, who lauded the academy’s investment in youth development:

“This is a truly commendable project. Nurudeen Academy is not just building footballers — they’re transforming lives. By providing a safe space for kids to live and train, they’re helping steer youth away from social vices while giving them a platform to shine.”

“Mararaba has long been a breeding ground for raw football talent, with many players in the FCT leagues emerging from these suburbs. This camp, which has been affiliated with the FCT FA for over five years, provides an even stronger platform to nurture and harness that potential. We at the FCT FA are proud to be associated with such a meaningful initiative.”

The Nurudeen Academy Talent Camp is set to become a beacon of hope for aspiring footballers across the region, combining technical training with life skills development to empower the next generation of stars.

Among the dignitaries who graced the occasion were the Patron of the Academy, the Emir of Karshi; Chairman of FCT Coaches Association, Bartholomew David; former Nasarawa United coach, Bala Nikyu; and several other notable guests.

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