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thursday
NPFL 2014/15 Season: Heartland
In Good Shape For 3SC – Onuh
As Keeper Obiozo, Babangida Dazzle In Training
Ahead of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Week 2 fixture between Shooting Stars Soccer Club (3SC) of Ibadan and Heartland FC of Owerri, the coach of the Naze Millionaires has said his wards are in good shape for the Ibadan showdown.
Speaking to Trumpeta Sports desk immediately after his team’s training session on Tuesday evening, Coach Erasmus Onuh Olottah said his players are gearing to go for their game against 3SC in Ibadan this Saturday.
“We have shifted our attention to the 3SC game and my boys are responding well in training as you can see, God willing we expect to get a good result in Ibadan,” the former Sunshine Stars FC gaffer said.
On the week one game which his team could not execute due to the road mishap their opponent, Kano Pillars encountered along Lokoja Road last week, Onuh said they have put that behind them and are focusing on the next game assuring that he has the team that can give 3SC a good run for their money in Ibadan but also noted that the league will surely be good if more games are televised which he said helps to eliminate the must win at home syndrome.
In a related development, goalkeeper David Obiozo who recently joined Heartland FC from El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri has continued to showcase why he is one of the safe hands in the NPFL after saving two penalties during his team’s training session last Tuesday.
Obiozo who has warmed his way into the hearts of the darling fans of the Naze Millionaires said though he is not in his best form yet, he is optimistic that if picked for the game in Ibadan, his desire is to help his team get the points at stake, thanking Owerri fans for the warm reception since his arrival.
The Ozu Item in Abia State-born goal tender said he hopes to have a successful season and help to achieve the aspirations of the club when this season draws to its conclusion.

Flying Eagles Qualify For U-20 World Cup
Flying Eagles defeated hard-fighting Congo 4-1 on Wednesday at the ongoing African Youth Championship in Dakar, Senegal to book their passage to the 2015 FIFA World Cup scheduled to hold in New Zealand.
Despite playing one-man short, the Manu Garba led team proved too strong for the Congolese to cope with. The victory thus earned Nigeria maximum six points from two matches in Group ‘A’.
Ifeanyi Matthew opened Nigeria’s goal haul with his fifth minute strike. He latched on a pass from Bernard Bulbwa to slot home past Congolese goal keeper, Pavelh Ndzila. That goal sent Nigerian fans inside the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor in Dakar into a frenzy.
Series of efforts by Nigeria’s two-goal hero from the first game against Senegal, Taiwo Awoniyi, to increase the tally few minutes later failed to yield dividend.
Congo reduced the tally after 62 minutes, when Silvere Mboussey connected home a long ball beyond Olorunleke Ojo who replaced Joshua Enaholo who got sent off for a professional foul on Constantin Bakaki. The Congolese was clear on goal after the Flying Eagles defence was caught napping.
Man-of-the-match Awoniyi however got his name on the scorers’ sheet when he scored a beauty goal in the 87th minute. He controlled a pass by Ifeanyi before smashing past the Congo goalkeeper almost in the same manner he did against Senegal in Nigeria’s first game against the host country.
He is now the leading scorer at the biennial championship with three goals.
The Flying Eagles last group match is against Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday at the Stade Caroline Faye, M’Bour. A win will put Nigeria as winners of the group into the semifinal.

Onyeagocha Flags Off Soccer
Talent Hunt For Owerri Zone Youths
All is now set for the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) organised Hon Uche Onyeagocha Owerri Zonal Talent Hunt for all talented football players in Imo East Senatorial zone, comprising Owerri Municipal, North, West, Ngor Okpala, Ikeduru, Mbaitoli, Ahiazu, Aboh and Ezinihitte Mbaise LGAs.
According to a release from YSFON Office Owerri, the exercise which will kick-off this Saturday, March 14, at the Old Township Stadium along Tetlow Road, Owerri by 11am will see youths from Owerri Municipal and Owerri North LGAs showcase their talent on the opening day while their counterparts from Owerri West and Ngor Okpala LGAs will take to the field on Sunday by 3pm.
The exercise which is one of the many activities lined up by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Owerri zone Senatorial election coming up on March 28 to help the youths of the zone identify their God-given talent as well as to actualise their dream, will provide all interested and talented players in the nine LGAs the ooprtunity to participate and be selected to further their footballing career..
The schedule which was made available to Trumpeta Sports desk further informs that all selected players during the exercise will converge at the Old Stadium on Friday, March 20 by 2pm for a final screening ahead of the main event slated for March 22 at the same venue, as a friendly football match between the Hon Uche Onyeagocha Selected Talent Hunt side and Team Imo will be used to entertain guests during the closing ceremony with lots of awards and cash prizes set aside for outstanding players.
Talent Hunt Schedule:
Owerri Municipal & North LGAs ──── Saturday, March 14 @ 11am
Owerri West & Ngor Okpala LGAs ──── Sunday, March 15 @3pm
Ikeduru & Mbaitoli LGAs ──── Monday, March 16 @ 3pm
Ahiazu & Aboh Mbaise LGAs ──── Tuesday, March 17 @3pm
Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA ──── Wednesday, March 18 @3pm

Imo 2015 FA Fixtures (19/3/2015)
Patros FC vs Campos FC @Nworieubi
Ezena FC vs Orlu Lions @Old Stadium

20/3/2015
Real Madrid vs NEK FC @Njaba
Heartland Jr vs Pilo FC @Nworieubi

21/3/2015
Pakat FC vs Ekwueme FC @Nworieubi
Bally FC vs Amacuff FC @Njaba

23/3/2015
Bussdor FC vs Baton FC @Old Stadium

NPFL Week 2 Fixtures
14/3/2015
3SC ─ Heartland FC
Nasarawa Utd ─ Wikki T.
Rangers Int’l ─ Sharks FC
Akwa Utd ─ FC Taraba
Kano Pillars ─ Bayelsa Utd
Sunshine Stars ─ I. Ubah FC
Kwara Utd ─ El Kanemi

18/3/2015
Lobi Stars ─ Enyimba FC
W. Wolves ─ Giwa FC

19/3/2015
Abia Warriors ─ Dolphins FC

CAF Champions League
14/3/2015
Enyimba FC ─ Smonha (Egypt)

CAF Confederations Cup
14/3/2015
Warri Wolves ─ Dedebit FC (Ethiopia)
Club African (Tunisia) ─ Dolphins FC

CAF U-20 Fixtures
14/3/2015
Nigeria ─ Ivory Coast
Senegal ─ Congo

15/3/2015
S. Africa ─ Zambia
Mali ─ Ghana

EPL Games
14/3/2015
Crystal Palace ─ QPR @1:45pm
Arsenal FC ─ West Ham @4pm
Leicester C. ─ Hull City ”
Sunderland ─ Aston Villa ”
West Brom ─ Stoke City ”
Burnley ─ Manchester City @6:30pm

15/3/2015
Chelsea ─ Southampton @2:30pm
Everton FC ─ Newcastle @5pm
Man Utd ─ Tot’ham Spurs

16/3/2015
Swansea FC ─ Liverpool FC @9pm