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 We’re Condemned to Shopping for Strikers During Mid-season, 3SC’s Ogunbote Says

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Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) say they are condemned to shopping for at least one striker during the competition’s mid-season period.

Gbenga Ogunbote, the club’s Head Coach, told newsmen they still have issues in their attacking department in spite of sitting in third place after 19 matches in the 38-match competition.

Report says that 3SC have 33 points from 10 wins, three draws and five losses, with 18 goals scored and 13 conceded.

On Sunday at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, they beat visiting Kwara United Football Club of Ilorin 1-0 in a match day 19 fixture to end the league’s first round.

Substitute Mustapha Adams’ brilliant free-kick was deflected into goal in the fifth minute of first half added time to give the hosts the game’s full points.

While reflecting on the victory, Ogunbote said they had only one injured attacker available as at then.

“The only 3SC player in the attack line while Samuel Ayanrinde was away on national assignment has  been playing with injuries.

“So, we have managed the team to this mid-season, and we still have issues in the attack.

“But we are doing our best to see if we can make a possible recruitment.

“We are condemned to looking for centre-forward players, and we are trying to get two or three very soon,” he said.

Speaking on Sunday’s game, Ogunbote admitted that Kwara United were dominant in the second half of the match.

“But that was because we were out to protect the only goal scored in the first half to get all maximum three points.

“To us, the game is another derby and one should always expect this kind of tense game.

“Both sides had their careless moments. We were also lucky on two occasions.

“But, with no disrespect to any team, they proved to be another good side,” the coach said.

Also speaking on the match, Tunde Sanni, the Head Coach of Kwara United, said the goal conceded by his team was from a deflection which could beat any player.

He however noted that his team could still be referred to as “a work in progress” team.

“We will however work hard to get all maximum three points when 3SC are in Ilorin for the opening match of the league’s second stanza,” Sanni said.

He nonetheless commended the management of NPFL for its proper handling of the league.

“The away wins recorded in the first round of the league are a testament that there have been improvements in the league,” the coach said.(NAN)

SPORTS

Tottenham Interested in Crystal Palace’s Eze

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Tottenham FC are exploring a deal for Crystal Palace and England forward Eberechi Eze.

Thomas Frank is looking to bolster his options in the final third after attacking midfielder James Maddison was ruled out for the majority of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

South Korea forward Son Heung-min left the club after 10 years earlier this month having scored 173 goals in 454 appearances, while midfielder Dejan Kulusevski is still out after knee surgery.

Thus Eze has scored 14 goals across all competitions for Palace last season, including in their 1-0 win against Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

The 27-year-old made his England debut in 2023 and has won 11 caps for the Three Lions, including three appearances at Euro 2024.

Tottenham are also in talks with Manchester City over a move for Savinhobut multiple sources have indicated that Eze is now emerging as a player of serious interest for Spurs.

There is no confirmation whether Tottenham will look to progress with deals for both Brazil winger Savinho and Eze.

Arsenal also have an interest in Eze but are currently looking at trying to move players on, with the likes of Leandro Trossard, Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira set to leave.

However, it remains to be seen whether Tottenham’s active interest in Eze results in Arsenal accelerating a move for the England international.

Eze joined Palace from Queens Park Rangers in a deal worth £19.5m in 2020 and has scored 40 goals in 168 appearances.

His contract at Selhurst Park is due to expire in the summer of 2027.

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Liverpool Stepping up bid to Sign Palace’s Guehi

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Liverpool are stepping up their attempts to sign Crystal Palace and England center-back Marc Guehi.

Palace captain Guehi has a year left on his contract, but Chairman Steve Parish said earlier this week he could be sold this summer to avoid him moving on a free transfer in 12 months’ time.

Sources have said that Liverpool have held initial talks with a view to signing the 25-year-old before the summer transfer window shuts.

Liverpool are also trying to sign Parma centre-back Giovanni Leoni.

The 18-year-old Italian is not seen as a potential rival for Guehi but more as one for the future.

Guehi was the subject of bids worth up to £65m from Newcastle last year.

The FA Cup winners are believed to want £40m for him now, but Liverpool want to pay less than that.

The Reds have already spent about £270m this summer, though they have recouped about £170m through player sales.

They have also had a £110m bid for Alexander Isak rejected by Newcastle, though sources have said the Swede remains determined to move to Anfield.

Signing Guehi and Isak would take Liverpool’s summer spending above £400m.

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Finals of Gov. Peter Mbah Secondary Schools Games Begin in Enugu

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The finals of Gov. Peter Mbah Secondary Schools Games, on Thursday began in Enugu with the arrival and accreditation of athletes at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu.

Dan Onwuegbuna, Director, Information, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Enugu State, said in a statement on Thursday that the games would be held between Aug.

7 and Aug.
10 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and the Enugu State Sports Council.

“The games is designed to help the state discover talents to represent the state at the forthcoming U15 National Youth Games scheduled to take place in Asaba, Delta, from Aug. 26 to Sept. 6,” he stated.

Onwuegbuna said that apart from representing the state at the Youth Games in Asaba, talented athletes discovered would represent the state in other competitions.

He quoted the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ekweremadu as thanking Gov. Peter Mbah for approving the games.

Onwuegbuna said that the games was made possible following the collaboration between the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the state Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB).

The games finals followed the outcome of the inter- Secondary Schools competitions held at the local government areas in the six Educational Zones in the State – Enugu, Agbani, Awgu, Udi, Nsukka and Udenu.

“The games will feature athletics, boxing, chess, basketball, volleyball, football, tennis and scrabble,” Onwuegbuna stated.

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