Sports

Oriental Derby: Yemastar says respect for Ilechukwu won’t stop Enyimba

Published

2 years ago

June 5, 2024

Joel Ajayi

Ahead of the Cathedral showdown in Enugu, Enyimba lead Coach, Yemi Daniel Olanrewaju has warned that though he respects Rangers Fidelis Ilechukwu as a senior colleague, the match is about defending the club’s colours.

He would be leading Enyimba to Enugu where the two top teams face off at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium with swashbuckling Ilechukwu in the opposite dug-out.

After hailing Ilechukwu as his senior and who would have been his boss at the defunct MFM, Yemi warned, “But everyone has to defend his club and try to get the job done”.

“He is a great guy I have a lot of respect for and nothing will change no matter the results in Enugu”.
“Ilechukwu is a senior and more like a big brother to me. He left MFM when I got there and we have a good relationship”.

Still, on the Matchday 35 winner-takes-all fixture, Yemi described it as going to be “a tough game, league decider if you ask me. Rangers look like the favorites but we’ll fight till the end”
He admitted to not having much scouting of the opponents saying, “I don’t think I know them much. The way they started the season is not the way they are playing now and the formation is also different with personnel”.

This lack of deep knowledge of the Enyimba team coupled with their inability to defeat the Flying Antelopes in Aba is not something the Coach is worried about According to him, “If our two points had not been unfortunately deducted, we should be on the same points now”.

Yemi could be described as one of the new-generation coaches in the Nigerian football ecosystem.

He is a young Turk in the football management business with ship-sized ambitions and you only have to watch his animated gesticulations on the sidelines during matches to agree with this tag.

Promoted to the position of Head Coach in the wake of Finidi George’s appointment as Super Eagles manager, Yemastar as his fans call him is unfazed by the king-size task thrown on his young shoulders in coaching. He is barely five years into the business after starting with Magate in 2019.

Asked if this was going to be his season of big statements as a Coach, Yemi played it down but insisted that he is not being boastful in claiming some credit for Enyimba’s performance so far.
“I don’t think it is a season of a big statement for me, I don’t want to praise myself but I have done well with the club even before being appointed after my big ‘bro’ Finidi left for Eagles. I have handled the team for two months while he was away at AFCON and many qualifiers matches and everything was going on smoothly”

It is not a light task to work as Coach of a club in a city where the club is hugely loved and expected to return laurels every season. The demands are not lost on him but he would rather dwell on the positives.

“I feel good to be the head coach of a big club like Enyimba. I want to say thank you to the management led by ‘King’ Nwankwo Kanu for his trust and belief. I also wish to say thank you to Aba fans for the massive love and support I get from them always. It has been fun and interesting with the support of everyone out there”.

Enyimba is two points behind Rangers as both teams go into the first of the last four games to end the season.

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Sports

Gang James Makes History Despite Second-Place Finish in Abuja Half Marathon

Published

19 mins ago

November 15, 2026

The Gleamer

Cyril Ogar

Ethiopia’s Gemechu Tolosa Daba on Saturday emerged winner of the men’s elite race at the third edition of the PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon, finishing ahead of Nigeria’s Gang James, who set a new national record.

Tolosa crossed the finish line in an impressive time of 1:01:56 to claim the top prize of $8,000 in the 21km race, while Nigeria’s James finished second in 1:01:58, setting a new Nigerian national record.

James also emerged as the best Nigerian runner, earning $6,000 for his second-place finish in the international category, alongside ₦1.5 million as the winner of the local runners’ category.

Kenya’s Lampard Kingoo finished third in 1:01:59, while compatriot Enos Kipruto came fourth in 1:02:06. Uganda’s Julius Ochieng completed the top five with a time of 1:02:27.

The race, which attracted more than 5,000 participants, started opposite the Federal Fire Service on Mohammed Buhari Way and ended at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

Speaking after the race, James expressed delight at setting a new national record in front of his home crowd, describing the achievement as a reward for his hard work and dedication.

“I am very happy to break the National Record. I worked so hard for this moment, and to do it here in Abuja, in front of my people, makes it even more special,” he said.

He added that competing against some of Africa’s finest long-distance runners inspired him to deliver his best performance.

“Running against Gemechu and the Kenyans pushed me to give my best. I knew I had to stay with them till the end. This record is just the beginning for me,” James said.

The third edition of the competition attracted elite athletes from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, among other countries, with about 50 international elite runners participating.

The event, sponsored by PremiumTrust Bank and organised by Nilayo Sports Management, recorded increased international participation compared with previous editions.

The competition offered prizes ranging from $8,000 to $500 for international participants, while Nigerian athletes received cash rewards ranging from ₦50,000 to ₦2 million.

The successful outing further highlighted Abuja’s growing potential as a destination for international road-running competitions, while providing Nigerian athletes with an opportunity to compete against some of the continent’s best long-distance runners.

The colourful event also featured musical performances by Nigerian artistes, entertaining athletes, guests and spectators before, during and after the presentation of prizes to the winners.

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