By Chidi-Ebere .O. Moneme.

The 2024 / 2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Match-Day 9 will take center stage across the country on Saturday 26th October 2024, reports silvernews.com.ng

Katsina United Versus Niger Tornadoes will kick off as early as 3pm on the scheduled date.

Two more NPFL games will follow on the same day.

On Sunday 27th October 2024, Six NPFL games will be played across the country.

One of the most anticipated fixture is the clash between Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) and Akwa United.

Ikorodu City who have been enjoying an improved form in their last three games in which they recorded two wins and one draw, will battle it out with Enyimba FC in Aba on 27th October 2024.

The last game of the NPFL Match-Day 9 will take place on Monday 28th October 2024.

The game is between relegation bound Lobi Stars of Makurdi and Bayelsa United.

Below are the NPFL Match-Day 9 Fixtures and kick-off time.

Saturday 26th October 2024 :

Katsina United VS Niger Tornadoes. 3pm.

Heartland FC. VS. Remo Stars. 4pm.

Bendel Insurance. VS. Abia Warriors. 5 : 30 Pm.

Sunday 27th October 2024 :

Nassarawa United. VS. Kano Pillars. 3pm.

Rivers United. Vs. El – Kanemi Warriors. 4pm.

Plateau United. VS. Sunshine Stars. 4pm.

Enyimba FC. VS. Ikorodu City FC. 4pm.

Kwara United VS Enugu Rangers 4pm.

Shooting Stars (3SC) . VS. Akwa United. 5 : 30 pm.

Monday 28th October 2024 :

Lobi Stars FC. VS. Bayelsa United. 3pm.

Rivers United being handled by Ex Nigeria International, Finidi George (Finito), are currently topping the NPFL table with 20 point in 8 games played.

Remo Stars of Ikene are second with 18 points, while The People’s Elephant, Enyimba are third with 14 points.

Imo State Government on Wednesday October 23,2024, organized a candle light procession in honour of Late Christian Obi of Heartland FC of Owerri who died in an auto crash on their way to a pre-season competition.

Footballers, sports enthusiasts, family and friends, Heartland FC management, well-wishers and fans, stormed Dan Anyiam stadium Owerri, Imo State for the candle light procession in honour of the departed coach of the club.

Addressing mourners and sympathizers, the Technical Adviser of the team and former African Footballer of the Year, Emmanuel Amuneke recalled his early days as a player and how Coach Obi and other players supported them to excel in the game.

He added that after his playing days in abroad, he came back to work with him in his first year as a coach in the country.

Amuneke recalled how they worked hard at Heartland last season by not allowing the team to drop which didn’t work out.

Amuneke revealed that on the day of the incident, he asked members of the coaching crew to join the bus brought for the team but the coach decided to be with his players and when his attention was called he rushed down only for the coach to give up when his service is well needed in the team .

The State Commissioner for Sports, Hon.Obinna Onyeocha said that the late gaffer lived a good life as testified by many.

He called on the deceased family not to grief much, though painful that they lost a dear one, pointing out that death is inevitable and that no one can run away from it.

“Obi’s death is a lesson to all of us because no one knows his own day”the Commissioner said.

He noted that the late coach was a nice man, “There are people that when they die you hear all sorts of things about them, but I have not heard any bad testimony concerning this man.”

He rendered a song on behalf of the fallen hero, which says every one has a little time on earth.

Lending his voice, Pastor Princewill Odikanwa said that every human being must one day give account of his life, stressing that it is not the length of time one lived that matters, but impact made while alive.

He cited example with the late Alexander the Great, whom he said died at 32, but achieved a lot before his departure. The clergy man disclosed that the late coach/footballer lived a life of sacrifice, sacrificing his time, money and talent.

He further hinted that the late gaffer prayed and fasted to better Heartland Football club, stressing that every Brutus in Heartland must go down.

The candle light procession which marked the commencement of his journey to eternity had in attendance; elected and government appointees, business moguls, sports enthusiasts and sports journalists, amongst them were Mr Isaac Mbika, Chairman Ex Iwuanyanwu Nationale organization, Director Imo State Sports Commission, Mrs Patricia Ezeji, Engr.Ikenna Adikibe, Chairman Oru West LGA, Hon.Dominic Ezerioha, Member representing Oru West in the State House of Assembly, Hon Dan Ogu, Former Commissioner for Sports, Chief Leonard Amasiama, Nze Arinze Okeke aka ekpuchi onwa of ibiasoegbe, Cosmos Chukwuemeka, Chairman Sports writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN Imo State chapter, Promise Nwachukwu, members of Heartland Football Club, Sports Writers, family and friends of the deceased.

He will be laid to rest at his home town Ibiasoegbe this Friday.

By Chidi-Ebere .O. Moneme.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially declared that the 2024 CAF Awards will take place in Marrakech, Morocco on 26th December 2024.

silvernews.com.ng reports that The awards recognize exceptional achievements in both club and National football, with the prestigeous titles of CAF African Player of the year for both men and women, being the focal point of the event.

Although the final list of nominees for Africa’s best player has not yet been released, silvernews can reveral prominent players are anticipated to be in contention for the esteemed award.

Notable candidates includes Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy and Morocco”s Brahim Diaz, all of whom have delivered impressive performances in their respective league and competitions this year..

The current holder of the African Footballer of the year title in the men’s category is Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, who continues to excel on both club and international fronts.

In the women’s category, the title is held by Asisat Oshoala, who has had an outstanding year on the field, reports silvernews.

CAF is yet to announce the official start time for the 2024 ceremony, with additional information to be released shortly.

It is also Worth to note that this will be the third consecutive time that Morocco hosts this esteemed event, following last year’s glamorous celebration of African Football.

Marrakech renowned for it’s rich cultural heritage and lively tourism scene, will again serve as the back-drop for honouring excellence in African Football, according to silvernews.

Former Nigerian International, Amaechi Nwanze, has called on his colleagues to embrace waka football to sustain their spirit with the game and for health living.

Nwanze, who played for top clubs in the country including Stationery Stores, Kano Pillars, Julius Berger, Iwuanyanwu National and Sharks, said every ex-international passionately loves the beautiful game, and that was primarily the reason they played the game to the top levels. “Many still desires to enjoy the game, but cannot play because of old age. But the introduction of waka football has provided former footballers and lovers of the game the opportunity to enjoy the game, playing.
The former player of Mauritius league champions, Cuprit Starlight FC, who emerged top scorer and MVP of the Waka Football League Season 2, said, Walking Football has made the game enjoyable and easier for players 50 years and above. “It is fun. You play your normal game as you walk with the ball.”

Defending champions, First Waka A fc retained the league title with 22 points after beating archrivals, First Waka B team in an entertaining final match at the Eagle Club pitch in Lagos.
Managers FC came second with 15 points, while First Waka B finished third. FFC and Apapa Ajegunle SA ended the season with four points each.
The Fair play trophy was won by Apapa Ajegunle SA. The award is the night point of rewards for a key tenet of Walking Football which emphasises discipline and sportsmanship.
Captain of First Waka B, Michael Fidelis, who commended his teammates for working hard to retain the trophy, said that though his team won the title without losing a game, it was a tougher season in comparison to the previous year.
” We won because of the experience of our team members. It was not on a platter because we played tougher games than last season. The season was tough as every team have improved,” he said.
A former member of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Emmanuel Ibru, commended the improved quality of the games during the season, saying, Waka football is very safe and entertaining.
“At this age, it is not good to sustain injury. Walking football is non- contact variant of the game. You are not allowed to play the ball above the shoulders, head the ball, kick from behind or sides. The rules make it safe to play. Because of that, we encourage people who are still active to join waka football, ” said Ibru, whose team, First Waka A won the league title.

The palliative by the Federal government through HRH EZE MARCILINUS NWATURUOCHA as Head of Traditional rulers in Aboh Mbaise shared palliative through NZE PLACIDUS EBERENDU as the chairman PG’s for Aboh Mbaise, which umuoda got (9) nine bags of corn and (2) two small bags of garri and was given to umuoda Youth Leader to distribute across the community to indegent people in umuoda has pitched the traditional ruler of Umuoda Nguru, in Aboh Mbaise LGA, against the youths of the community.

This follows the decision of the traditional ruler of Umuoda Nguru in Aboh Mbaise local government area, Eze Ekeocha, to call in the police to arrest the youth leader for distributing the nine bags of maize meant for the community. This action by the traditional ruler pushed the youths to go the traditional ruler’s compound, demanding to know who was responsible for the arrest of the youth leader by operatives of the Anti kidnapping squad aka (Tiger base) Unit of the Nigeria Police Force. The traditional ruler was said to have denied responsibility and knowledge of the Youth Leader’s arrest.

It was further gathered that it was only when the women of the community marched to his compound that he affirmed that he gave the order for the arrest because of the palliative he accused the youth leader of distributing. He further claimed that nine bags of maize was distributed without his permision.

Check by this medium revealed that the youth leader and one member from umulogho umuoda got only four and half bags of maize, while Nduhu umuoda took the remaining four and half bags, in the names of Mr Ukazu Black and GLO akudo unamba which they distributed according to the instructions from the donor who instructed them to distribute the maize to the indegent people of the community they came from. The big question is why was the arrest made.

However, when it appeared peace was about to return to the community, the traditional ruler allegedly decided to drag the youths of the community to the Aboh Mbaise High court as a result of the protest by the youths to demand the where-about of their leader in a suit between Eze Ekeocha and fourteen youths led by Chibuike Onwuliri.

The youth leader who felt his right to freedom was breached by the arrest ordered by the traditional ruler also dragged the Eze to court to enforce his fundamental right.

It could be recalled that Eze Ekeocha and the youths have been at loggerheads following their decision to challenge his decision to create a strange Palm Tree Harvesting Law for the community which gives him the sole right to havest the first palm tree in January of every year, which is considered strange to the people of the area. But instead of discussing the issue in order to reach a compromise, the traditional ruler decided to use his method of intiminidation to instill fear among the people of the community which has not gone down well with the people of the community.