Flying Officers Cup 2021: Teams Arrive As Competition Set To Kick-Off On Sunday

All is now set for the start of the 2021 Flying Officers Cup, billed to Kick-Off on Sunday, the 10th of October at the Area 10 Sports Complex, Abuja. 

All the 16 teams participating are expected to arrive on Saturday, with the opening game between Naija Ratels FC and Ghana Police Ladies scheduled on Sunday by 3pm at the same venue. 

2021 Ghanaian Women Premier League first runner-up Police Ladies, arrived the country yesterday morning via the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja and will have their first training on Friday morning at the FIFA Goal Project Package B', National Stadium, Abuja.

Naija Ratels, Ghana Police Ladies FC, Royal Queens FC, Honey Badgers FC are all in group A, while Bayelsa Queens, FC Robo Queens, Osun Babes and Kazeem Eletu Queens are in group B. 

Group C has Rivers Angels, Confluence Queens, Sunshine Queens and Oasis Ladies , while Group D consist of Nasarawa Amazons, Edo Queens, Lakeside Queens a d Dannaz Ladies.

Ratels Sports Development Foundation Set To Honour Arotile, Ukaigwe, Mabo, Jegede, Kujebola Others.

Names of Awardees for the Ratels Sports Development Foundation Heroes Awards 2021 was revealed during Flying Officers Cup draw ceremony held in Abuja on Thursday. 

The award Committee headed by Moses Nagogo Bako followed a set of eligibility criteria which considers factors such as achievements and pedigree of the nominees.

The prestigious award is conferred to those personalities who have rendered outstanding meritorious services to the development of sports and women’s football in the country and beyond.

The award comes in two categories of Special Posthumous Awards and the Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Four people were remembered and honoured in the Posthumous Awards category: 

Tolulope Oluwatoyin Sarah Arotile: 

The first-ever female combat helicopter pilot in the Nigeria Air Force. She contributed significantly to combat operations against insecurity in the northern states of Nigeria. Arotile died from a head injury sustained in an accident at the Nigerian Air Force base.

Henrietta Ukaigwe: She was a veteran sports journalist cum women’s football promoter. Started FFIG – Female Football Interest Group comprising individuals, who actively promoted and energetically projected the women’s game and made it an item of consequence in the media and public space across the nation from the nineties. This group did not only report the game; it coalesced efforts and resources to organize women’s football tournaments and provided much-needed stout and meaningful support to administrators at that incipient stage. 

Chief Larry Eze: Pioneer of women’s football in Nigeria and the Proprietor of defunct Larry Angels, It should be noted that Larry Angels and the likes of Rivers Mermaids metamorphosed to Rivers Angels in the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership. 

Chief Sunny Eghaghe Inneh: Pioneer of women’s football in Nigeria and the Proprietor of defunct Inneh Babes. Inneh babes metamorphosed to Edo Queens in the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership

Lifetime Achievement Awards:

Chioma Ajunwa: Former athlete, notable for being the first Nigerian to win gold at 1996 summer Olympics. The first black African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a field event. She remains only woman to compete at the FIFA world cup both  as a footballer and the Olympics as a track and field athlete.

She is now an assistant commissioner of Police.

Princesses Bola Jegede: Pioneer of women’s football in Nigeria played a pivotal role in Organizing the first women Inter-club competition in Nigeria in 1990. The establishment of her female football Club, Jegede Babes in the late 1980s culminated in the establishment of other female football Clubs in the country producing players for the nascent Super Falcons squad to the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991.

Ismaila Mabo: He was the head coach of the Nigeria women’s national team at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, 2000 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics. He led Nigeria to the quarter-finals of the World Cup, the team’s best ever result

Eddington Kujebola: Pioneer of women’s football in Nigeria and the Proprietor of defunct Ufuoma Babes of warri. Notable players for Ufuoma Babes were Florence Omagbemi, Mavis Ogun, Patience Avre, Uche Eucharia, Mercy Akide, Omo Love Branch, Nkiru Okieseme, Florence Iweta, Phoebe Ebimienkumo, etc.

Alhaja Ayo Omidiran: Pioneer of women’s football in Nigeria and the Proprietor of Omidiran babes, which left the football scene but are now back. She became a member of the Nigerian Football Association Board and remained there till 2005. Since 2006, she has been a member of the FIFA Women Committee.

Other Awards Include:

Heroic Icon Of The Year: Leah Shuiabu.

Women Football Promoter of the year: Phillip Shuiabu.

Women Football Grassroots Icon of the year: Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi.

Women Football Trailblazer of the year: Aisha Falode.

Flying Officers Cup 2021: Naija Ratels To Face Ghana Police Ladies In Opener

The 16 teams, which comprises of teams in Nigeria and neighboring country Ghana were today drawn into four different groups which will compete for honours from the 10th to the 24th of October 2021, at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The tournament which was formerly known as Ratels Pre-season Championship was re-named the Flying Officers Cup to celebrate and immortalize the late Flying Tolulope Arotile, whose remarkable Achievements and impactful story of bravery, courage , heroism and gallantry has continued to provide a beacon of hope and inspiration to many girls who aspire to achieve their dreams regardless the challenges that exists in their quest. 

Speaking at draws, Chairman Ratels Sports Development Foundation, Barrister Paul Edeh urge the football community to embrace further quotas to increase the number of women in decision making roles in order to help secure the future of the game.

“We have been responsibly preparing for this wonderful event and have done our best for players and everyone coming down here for the Pre-season Championship to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of splendid football feast and of course we hope they will enjoy their stay here in Abuja.

The time for talking has stopped. We must move on and start to make impact in the development of women’s football.

Today, I urge the football community to embrace further quotas to increase the number of women in decision making roles in order to help secure the future of the game.

I am extremely proud that FIFA, the world governing Football body has implemented more positive policies to promote gender equality and foster sports through education in women’s football.”

The official ball for the tournament was revealed featuring various colours and pictures variant of Tolulope Arotile and logo of Ratels Sports Development Foundation.

GROUP A:

Naija Ratels FC (hosts)

Ghana Police Ladies FC

Royal Queens FC

Honey Badgers

GROUP B:

Bayelsa Queens

FC Robo Queens

Osun Babes

Prince Kazeem Eletu Queens FC

GROUP C:

Rivers Angels

Confluence Queens

Sunshine Queens

Oasis Ladies FC

GROUP D:

Nasarawa Amazons FC

Edo Queens

Lakeside Queens FC

Dannaz Ladies.

Flying Officers Cup 21: Teams To Undergo Compulsory Covid-19 Test On Arrival

Organisers have announced that players and officials of all the sixteen (16) participating at the 2021 Flying Officers Cup are to undergo the compulsory Covid-19 test before the tournament kicks off on Sunday, the 10th of October 2021. 

In order to facilitate swift testing of all players, the Ratels Sports Development Foundation (RSDF) has entered a partnership with the Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC), for the teams to undergo their COVID-19 test on arrival at the Public Service Institute Of Nigeria (PSIN), Abuja. 

Furthermore, players and officials of teams who are interested in getting vaccinated are to indicate while registering on the registration portal, which will open on wednesday, the 6th of October on the Tournament's website, Www.FlyingOfficersCup.com.

The General Coordinator of the competition, Barrister Victoria Nlemigbo noted that all teams should ensure that they register online in time , as soon as the portal is opened, to enable the LOC get the players licences ready before arrival of the teams. 

"I am happy to confirm that our partnership with NCDC has been activated and this will enable teams undergo their COVID-19 test on arrival in Abuja. 

"This is in line with the policies of the Federal Government and  footballing body in Nigeria, NFF and the women's football league body, the NWFL. 

"We have also made arrangements through our portal on the website for those who are interested in getting vaccinated at the same venue. 

"The portal registration will be opened for team's registration today, the 6th day of October 2021. I urge all participating teams to ensure they complete the form to enable the LOC get the players licences ready before arrival of the team. We wish all the participating teams the best of luck.

The Flying Officers Cup will kickoff on the 10th of October at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja and will have 16 teams participating.

Optima Energy To Power NLO Super 8 From October 18

The city of Remo will be agog with NLO Super 8, powered by Optimal Energy Resources from 18 - 22 October, 2021 at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ogun state. 

The tournament which promises to be exciting , will have eight promoted clubs from the Nationwide League One (NLO) to the Nigeria National League (NNL) trade tackles to know the overall champions of the league in the just concluded season.

Speaking to the media, Mohmmed Alkali, chairman of NLO, informed that the tournament will never lack any dull moment, as he noted that all the teams participating in the NLO Super 8 are champions, therefore football stakeholders and fans should look forward to sublime football at the tournament.

"We are glad to let Nigerians know that the NLO Super 8 is scheduled to take place at Remo stars stadium from 18th - 22nd October and we expects all the participating teams to give a good account of themselves," Alkali said.

"All the teams are champions. So, the tournament is a gathering of champions and when champions play one another, you definitely expect to see great football on display," he added.

He also said praised the efforts of management of Optimal Energy Resources Limited for securing partnership with NLO to power the Super 8 tournament, as he admonished other corporate bodies to take the football mileage in NLO, with over 300 clubs and invest in the league.

"I deeply appreciate the management of Optimal Energy Resources Limited for partnering with NLO to breath life to the tournament and hopefully the tournament will flourish with so many good things to cheer for the fans and stakeholders.

"I hope more Nigerian companies can follow the footsteps of Optimal Energy Resources in moving the league forward at the grassroot of football in Nigeria," he said.

The eight participating champions in the tournament are Udala FC of Anambra state, Ijebu United of Ogun state, Destiny Boys of Lagos state, Campus FC of Owerri, Imo state, JM Liberty of Makurdi, Benue state, Ottasolo Fc of Ogun state, Doma Fc of Gombe and Junior Damburam Fc of Katsina state. 

Aihkoje Lists Sportspedal, Ajidagba, Faruk And 19 Others As Lagos SWAN Tackle SWAN Selected

Head coach of Lagos SWAN, Ojeikere Aikhoje has listed Unilag FM duo, Seun Ajidagba and Adetola Faruk, top striker Emmanual Josiah, Olusola Adebayo aka Sportspedal and 18 others for the international break game between Lagos SWAN and SWAN Selected slated for the Legacy Pitch on Wednesday at 3pm. 

SWAN Selected comprises of journalists based in different states in Nigeria, and this will be the second meeting between both sides. SWAN Selected won the first encounter at the Soccer Temple, Agege 1-0 in 2019.

Lagos SWAN will be playing their second game this year and the gaffer is optimistic his team will return to winning ways on Wednesday.

“I am happy we have this game to work with our young team, we had an amazing performance in our last game and we were just unlucky with an individual error. It was a team defeat, and we won’t blame any individual. We had a lot of positives from the game and it will help our confidence on Wednesday. I am optimistic, we will return to winning ways, this is our second meeting and we are ready to fight for the Lagos SWAN badge,” said Aikhoje.

THE FULL LIST:

Goalkeepers:

 

Seun Ajidagba, Jerome Obuninta.

 

Defenders:

 

Tobi Adepoju, Owolabi Aleshinloye, Pius Ayinor, Raymond Nwaduba, Adetola Adeola Faruk, Steve Dede, Afolabi Ibukun, Victor Modo.

 

Midfielders:

 

George Gift, Olusola Adebayo, Israel Ojoko, Tunde Oyedele, Chinedu Onwunali, Fajimi Kehinde, Sulaiman Alao, Atobatele Tolulope Taiwo.

 

Forwards:

 

Olawale Olatoye, Emmanuel Josiah, Sulaiman Adebayo 'Pooja', Ogundairo Oluwaseun.

Flying Officers Cup 21: Team Profile- Sunshine Queens (5 Days To Go).

Coach Tayo Onilude has a huge responsibility this coming month, leading a new Sunshine Queens team into the new 2022 NWFL Premiership season. 

Many of Sunshine Queens key players left Akure, after the departure of Wemimo Mathew to Edo Queens, leaving Onilude with a lean squad. 

They crashed out in the Federation Cup losing scandalously to neighbours Osun Babes FC and later went on to lose some friendly matches. 

The team picked up at the Betsy Obaseki Invitationals, winning two games, but wasn't good enough for them to scale through to the Semi-final.

The 'Betty Babes' will be using the Flying Officers Cup to strengthen their squad and test more players as they head towards more challenges. 

Experienced Goalkeeper Christy Ohiaeriaku and Seun 'Drogba' Atanda joined from Edo Queens in the summer and would prove to be an important addition to the squad, Ayo Omosuyi, Lucky Andy, Blessing Nkor all joined from Ibom Angels, while Kehinde Salaudeen and Juliet Emereole joined from Osun Babes and Dreamstar Ladies.

The team is beginning to auspiciously show some signs of life and the Flying Officers Cup is just the right place to make some finishing touches to their squad.