Flying Officers Cup 2021: Rivers Angels' Players To Watch And More.

Rivers Angels will be competing for honours in the Flying Officers Cup for the first time ever and they would definitely be presenting a very strong squad. 

The defending Champions of the NWFL Premiership have a very rich history in women's football, having won the league title a record 7 times, equaling the record, previously set by Pelican Stars of Calabar. 

Edwin Okon have succeded in smoothly integrating the bright young talents at his disposal, including Deborah Abiodun, Maryann Ezeanagu, Oghenebrume Ikhekua and many more, all whom have now established themselves as key parts of the 'Jewels of Rivers'.

Deborah Abiodun, a tireless grafter, since joining from Nasarawa Amazons have being a muat-start cog in midfield and has garnered a reputation of being a combative and feisty player in her performances.

Club legend and Super Falcons Midfielder, Evelyn Nwabuoku have also rejoined the team after a stint in Spain and would also bring her wealth of experience to play when it matters. 

Rivers Angels have all it takes to do very well at the Flying Officers Cup and use the tournament to prepare properly ahead for the CAF Women Champions League starting in the early November 2021. 

The team have also imported some new players from neighboring African countries like Ghana and Mali and these new players will need to quickly get in vibes with the team's technical policies and style of play before the big event in Egypt.

Zimbabwean International forward Kabwe Berita, Cameroonian Lioness midfielder Omboudou Brigitte, Ghanaian Black Queens Goalkeeper Adjei Charlotte will all be competing for Rivers Angels at the Flying Officers Cup.

2021 Flying Officers Cup: 6 Facts About Nasarawa Amazons

Two times finalist of the Flying Officers Cup, Nasarawa Amazons lost to Edo Queens and Bayelsa Queens in 2019 and 2020 (Makurdi & Lafia) consecutively. 

A very strong side tutored by Christopher Danjuma who was a highly succesful defender as a player. He was a rock of a defender with strength, vision, an adept tackler and had an awesome organisational leadership skills. 

The 'Solid Babes'  have won the NWFL Premiership title twice in 2013 and most recently 2017 and were recently overthrowned by Bayelsa Queens as AITEO Cup Champions. 

Out of the 16 participating teams in this year's Flying Officers Cup, Nasarawa Amazons can be regarded as one of the favourites to lift the title. Every box required for success is ticked and they boast of a squad rich in talent and in Christopher Danjuma, they have a Manager who is renowned for success. 

The team boasts of a blend of youth and experience and this mixture, may perhaps be an advantage for them. Amarachi Okoronkwo, Maryam Ibrahim, Dooshima Tarnum, Loveth Edeh, Adoo Yina and many more are some of the great talents the team posseses.

Amarachi Okoronkwo, the Nasarawa Amazons midfield general would be the heartbeat and fulcrum of the 'Solid Babes' with her great vision, creativity, ball control and dribbling ability in small spaces. She is also comfortably able to effectively create opportunities and goals for both her teammates and herself.

36 Lion Held To Goalless Draw In A Pre-Season Training Tour Abroad

36 Lion were held to a goalless draw by Benin Republic top-tier side Ayema FC in a friendly match played on Saturday.

The game which took place at the Seme Krake Stadium saw plenty goalmouth action with both teams settling for a draw.

It was the clash of Lions as five players of Ayema were developed by 36 Lion before moving back to Benin Republic to joing the top tier side in the country of their origin.  

The two captains Azeez Oseni (Flying Eagles) and Ishola Olaitan (Benin senior team) were also familiar with one another which made this encounter and all attacking football match. 

Youthful mistakes were made by both teams but the goalkeepers were in brilliant form. 

Each player covered minimum of10 kilometers in the game. There was never a dull moment at Seme Krake Stadium today. 

It was a good game for 36 Lion who faced a side that finished in the Benin Republic Premier League last season.

Flying Officers Cup 2021: Organisers On Schedule To Deliver Outstanding Tournament

With less than three weeks to the beginning of the 2021 edition of the Flying Officers Cup, Organisers of the biggest Women Football Pre-season Competition in Africa have promised a thrilling Championship. 

Already, top teams in Nigeria and neighbouring African countries have started preparation for the competition, which is billed to hold from the 10th to the 24th of October 2021 at the Area 10 Sports Complex, FCT, Abuja, with 16 teams contesting for the trophy, currently held by Bayelsa Queens.

Preparation for the tournament has reached a pivotal stage and General Coordinator of the Championship, Barrister Victoria Nlemigbo said everyone involved has been working relentlessly to deliver the biggest and best Pre-season Championship.

"We no doubt have an overwhelming desire to deliver the biggest and best women football Pre-season Championship and through our determination, plans and decisiveness, we will be able to achieve this vision. 

"We understand it takes a lot and we are working relentlessly and will take the most extraordinary measures with the support of all involved to stage a fabulous tournament. 

"The facilities, logistics and other important things needed are almost  100% ready. The re-grassing and upgrading of the Area 10 Sports Complex and also made arrangement and partnership with relevant bodies to ensure we have a smooth competition. 

"The fans, media and other stakeholders can look forward to the beautiful game of soccer here in Abuja from the 10th to the 24th of October." She concluded.

The 2021 Edition of the Flying Officers Cup, will see sixteen teams battle for honours in Abuja from the 10th to the 24th of October 2021.

European Sportswear Giant Throws Weight Behind Flying Officers Cup

One of Europe's biggest Sports Equipment brands, Masita on Monday in far-away Holland gave its backing to the biggest Women Football Pre-season Championship in Africa, the Flying Officers Cup. 

The Dutch Sportswear brand stamped their endorsement on the Women's Pre-season Championship when the President of Ratels Sports Development Foundation (RSDF) President, Barrister Paul Edeh was received at their head office in Maastricht, Holland on Monday.

Masita was founded in 1933 by the Mass family from Sittard and focus mainly on the trade and processing of sportswear, kitting clubs like Fortuna Sittard, Guinea National Team, Kiyovu Sports Rwanda, Mees Palace Football Academy Jos, Namungo Tanzania, KVM Tanzania, Wakriya Guinea and the many more. 

While receiving Barrister Paul Edeh, the Chief Executive Officer of the top European Sportswear, Kurt Molin was full of praises for Edeh, who he said has invested massively into the growth of women's football in Nigeria and Africa. The top executive further went on to say that a partnership deal between Masita and Ratels Sports Development Foundation is on the verge of getting sealed. 

"We are thrilled to enter into a relationship with Ratels Sports Development Foundation and Naija Ratels, a promising and ambitious Club and we hope that this strategic partnership allows us to work closely with the club as they enter into this next phase. 

"We have read a lot about what Ratels Sports Development Foundation are doing with women football in Nigeria and are proud to receive the President of the Foundation, Barrister Paul Edeh to our head office here in Holland.

"We are highly satisfied with all these achievements and are ready to partner with the foundation on their numerous programmes including the upcoming Flying Officers Cup.  

"Masita look forward to a great partnership and is also confident that we can always get the best from this agreement. 

"We are proud to be a kit sponsor of the club in the forthcoming Women's League season in Nigeria."

Also in the meeting in Holland was Former Super Eagles and South Korea Men National team Head Coach, Bonfrere Joe, who described Barrister Paul Edeh as a man who should be emulated by many in the Football Cycle in Nigeria and Africa. 

Bonfrere Joe who was pioneer Technical Adviser of the Super Falcons, leading them to their first-ever FIFA Women World Cup in China (1991), inspiring players like Ann Chiejine, Uche Eucharia, Marvis Ogun, Chioma Ajunwa and many more to greatness later on in their career expressed his happiness with the project of Ratels Sports Development Foundation.

"It is a huge achievement from my brother, Barrister Paul Edeh. We need more of this to develop women's football in Africa and am impressed with what we have been able to see from the last two editions. 

"I would like to inform you that what you are doing is unprecedented and that's the reason I am giving my full support to this competition and am sure it would go a long way to help get women's football to its right position in Africa and the world as a whole.

"I'm very hopeful and optimistic that this partnership with Masita is one of many partnerships that would be sealed by your foundation." 

He also hinted that he will be in Nigeria in the coming weeks for the 25th-anniversary celebration of the Olympic Gold Medal won by  Nigeria. 

Also reacting, Mr Emmanuel Adukwu, the CEO of Mees Palace Football Academy, Jos who brokered the deal heaped praises on the Sports Brand that has continued to support teams in Africa. 

"The Masita brand offers the biggest opportunity to the growing sports market in Nigeria and Africa at large

producing the highest quality sports equipment at the most affordable prices known for durability as well. I am happy that more teams are deciding to come on board the Masita partnership especially the Ratels Sports Development Foundation". Adukwu noted.  

He further listed technical assistance to the Various teams kitted by Masita through their coaches exchange program as a variable benefit no Nigerian sports club can Afford to Ignore.

Ratels Sports Development Foundation (RSDF) Boss, Barrister Paul Edeh thanked the Chief Executive Officer of Masita Sportswear for giving them the chance to seal a partnership with them, He also hailed former Super Eagles Coach Bonfrere Joe for lending his hand of support to the Flying Officers Cup, promising him that his Foundation will do all that is possible to continue pushing for a better future for the girl-child. 

"Today's announcement with Masita represents a landmark day for Ratels Sports Development Foundation and Naija Ratels Football Club's commercial strategy as we continue to attract new global brands to our projects. 

"My visit to Europe is to seal partnership deals and develop the various programmes of the Ratels Sports Development Foundation, as we get prepared and ready to host the best and the biggest Women Football Pre-season Championship next month. 

"We are glad about this kind of support and partnership gotten from 'Masita' which is well known worldwide as one of the top sports clothing company. We will also work and ensure that we get positives from this agreement. 

I also want to thank Mr Emmanuel Adukwu, who is Nigeria representative of the brand 'Masita' and also the veteran Football Coach, Bonfrere Joe, who is a man that I have always admired even before he led Nigeria to their first-ever Gold medal at the Football event in the Olympics. He is technically sound and has always been a winner. 

Ratels Sports Development Foundation is the brainchild of Legal Luminary, Barrister Paul Edeh and has been given various supports to the girl-child through Sports and Education. 

Edo Chess Association Frowns At Selection of Austin Apemiye as Representative

As the sports federation election draws nigh, controversies have begun to show their ugly faces across the country as an aspiration for the top position of sports federation in the country garners more heat. A bit of this showed itself in Edo State Chess Association as the representative on the federation level, earlier endorsed by the association, Akhiwu Eugene deprived the right to be the State's representative as against the earlier endorsement. 

According to a reliable source, the Association had earlier endorsed the aspiration of Akhiwu Eugene to vie for the post of the President of the federation, and that endorsement was sent to the relevant authorities (Chairman Sports Commission, the Director of Sports etc) were duly copied; but that was ruled out by an ambiguous ruling which started from nomination forms signing.

The investigation confirmed that the nomination form of Akhiwu Eugene on the ploy to have him ruled out was signed but had no official stamp on it as against Austin Apemiye's form which carried both. The Plan to impose Apemiye Austin was successfully concluded at the government house moments before the final endorsement of all prospective representatives of the State at the Government house. 

However further reliable sources confirmed that Austin Apemiye is not resident in Edo State as he is based outside of Nigeria. He is not a member of the Edo State Chess Association board and has neither made any reasonable contribution to the development of Chess in the state.

The source also confirmed that this development did not go down well with the chairman of the Edo State Chess Association, Mr EHIOZUWA Isaac, who frowned at the manner at which the whole process unfolds.

36 Lion ready to feast on Dynamo FC

The team kick started their training tour of Benin Republic with a 1-1 draw against AS Cotonou on Wednesday morning.

The boys had a recovery session before jetting off to Abomey for their next assignment. 

The team arrived Abomey at 11am from the city of Cotonou on Thursday.

Secretary General and Vice President of Dynamo FC gave the Lions a superb reception and treated them like Kings with Pounded Yam done naturally with Mortar and Pestle while they watched amusingly. 

The Lions had a feel of the Stade Municipal de Bohicon where their second match of the tour will be played on Friday. Kickoff is 4pm.

It would be recalled that 36 Lion have produced the likes of Junior Ajayi, Imoh Ezekiel, Sadiq Atanda, Yira Sor, Sodiq Popoola, Yusuf Lawal, Samson Akinyoola amongst others.