Contact

MPFC Official Contact Details
Email Address: mypeoplefc@live.com
Telephone: +234 (0) 7051114119

CAF YOUNG AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2009

For My People FC’s Sani Emmanuel, the best is definitely yet to come!!

The young African player of the year is an award presented by CAF to the most talented African footballer who is yet to clock 23. In scope, the award covers all African footballers, whether professional or amateur, who have had the opportunity to showcase their talents to the world.

The trend observed in the past shows that no player has ever won the award after emerging the best player at any age group competition. The closest observed so far was John Obi Mikel who won the award on the back of his performance at the U-17 world cup in Finland in 2005.

Sani Emmanuel of My People FC

In the year 2009 alone, young African players have showcased their talents to the world again; winning the MVP awards at both the U-20 and the U-17 competitions. It is expected that one of these will win the award for the young African player of the year 2009.

Dominic Adiyiah:
Dominic Adiyiah was a member of the Black Satellite’s team that conquered the world at the U20 level. He scored a total of Eight (8) goals and was awarded the Golden Ball as well as the Golden Shoe. He has since moved from Fredrikstad FK to A.C. Milan.

Sani Emmanuel:
Sani Emmanuel was a member of the Super Eaglets team that lost the final match of the U17 world cup to Switzerland. He scored a total of five (5) goals in a remarkable 221 minutes of play and was awarded the Silver Shoe as well as the Golden Ball. There have been rumours of several European football clubs hoping to acquire his services. Sani Emmanuel is known to celebrate his goals by going down on his knees to thank God. At a young age of 16, he has promised to establish a foundation that will give other footballers the opportunity to succeed.

Alexander Song:
Alex Song is a member of the Cameroonian team. A formidable midfielder who has imposed himself into Arsene Wenger’s young Arsenal team thanks to his consistent performance. He has matured into a reliable defensive midfielder who can also play as a central defender. He is a niece of the Cameroonian legend Rigobert Song.

John Obi Mikel:
John Obi Mikel is a regular member of the Nigerian Super Eagles’ team. A defensive midfielder who has effectively combined with Michael Essien to fill the void left by Claude Makelele. He won the award in 2005. He led played a prominent role in Nigeria’s last minute qualification for the 2010 world cup.

Other notable names are:
Dede Ayew
Ramon Azeez
Ransford Osei
Emmanuel Agyeman-Badu

SOURCE: Accra Mail

Sani Emmanuel Plans Foundation For The Needy

An article in today’s ‘Nation’ newspaper concerning Sani Emmanuel’s desire to improve the lives of less-privileged youths…

Golden ball winner of the recently concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup Sani Emmanuel, has disclosed a desire to float a foundation that will enable him give hope to the hopeless and identify talented youths among the needy.

The Delta born striker who was the toast of many during the keenly contested World cup where Nigeria finished second behind debutants Switzerland, said recalling what he went through in life before he was given a lifeline by Pastor TB Joshua, made it imperative for him to equally float a foundation that will provide same opportunity for those passing through the same rough road in the society.

Sani Emmanuel Displaying His Ball Skills In The SCOAN Auditorium

Dont forget that I was once a needy. I mean, I know what it is to be poor. I dedicate these awards to all the needy. I am going to start a foundation where scholarships will be given to the deserving ones and every proper means will be used to discover the talented just as I was discovered by my father in the lord, TB Joshua,” he said during a thanksgiving ceremony held Sunday at the Synagouge Church of All Nations . The service which saw Emmanuel and some of his teammates including midfielder Onazi Ogenyi and goalkeeper Dami Paul cut two giant cakes on behalf of themselves and impressive U-17 team had former President of Zambia Fredrick Chiluba, and former PMAN President Tee Mac among other dignitaries in attendance.

By Julius Okorie

SOURCE: The Nation

Emmanuel Plans NGO For Less Priviliged

A report in Nigeria’s ‘Sports Day’ concerning My People FC striker Sani Emmanuel and his passion for the plight of the poor:

FIFA U-17 World Cup Most Valuable Player, Sani Emmanuel has declared that his long term plan in football is to channel whatever will accrue from the beautiful game into helping the needy. According to a close pal and colleague of the Golden Eaglets ace forward in My People FC, Emmanuel has said he hopes to establish an NGO or a Foundation that will cater for the less privileged in the society to be able to give back what God has given to him.

Emmanuel SportsDay learnt is acting strictly on the prophesy given to him on his arrival to SCOAN few years ago by the General Overseer of the Synagogue Of All Nations (SCOAN) Prophet TB Joshua, who told the player that he will be great provided he works according to the directives from the Almighty God. The player was further told to ensure that he set up an NGO that will cater for the less privileged and the physically challenged.

Emmanuel who himself has been under the care of the church (SCOAN) since his father took him there about five years ago is a case-study of how God works in the lives of His people.

Says he, “when Emmanuel came here he was a nobody just like most of us who were from the suburbs and slums from all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria. Today he is one of the most sought after youths in football. That is the story we all share and hopefully he will move from grace to grace because as we pray for him we will also climb to greater heights in our chosen careers.

Sani Emmanuel in action for the Golden Eaglets

“Emmanuel is really a child of God and since his arrival here at the Synagogue he has been working in the path of God taken all prophesies, messages and directives from the man of God, Prophet TB Joshua seriously and abiding by them. It is therefore not surprising to all of us that he has attained the height he presently enjoys. Most others will take a cue from him.”

SOURCE: Sports Day

Sani Emmanuel of My People FC is Golden Ball Winner!!

My People FC’s Sani Emmanuel has won the Golden Ball and the Silver Shoe at the just concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup. The best is yet to come…

Nigeria’s Sani Emmanuel was voted the Most Valuable Player of the Fifa Under-17 World Cup, claiming the Golden Ball ahead of Switzerland Nassim ben Khalifah and team mate Ramon Azeez.

Sani Emmanuel - To God be the glory!

Emmanuel also won the Silver Shoe for the second highest goal scorer, behind Spain’s Borja.

Both men, along with Uruguay’s Sebastian Gallegos, scored five goals but the Spaniard had one assist where the other two had none and that proved to be the tie-breaker.

Nigeria also claimed the Fifa Fair Play award after collecting the lowest number of bookings in the tournament.

Emmanuel dedicated his award to a long list of people, starting with his teammates.

“I would like to dedicate this award to my coaches, players, widows, widowers, homeless people and those in the motherless babies homes.”

Colin Udoh

SOURCE: Kick Off

U-17 World Cup: Sani Emmanuel Shines Again, Wrecks Spain

History in the making! My People FC’s Sani Emmanuel has netted 5 goals in a stunning 144 minutes, his brace against Spain taking Nigeria into the FIFA U-17 World Cup Final!!

Nigeria defeated Spain 3-1 in yesterday’s semi final match of the 13th FIFA Under-17 World Cup, but the two goals from My People Academy’s forward, Sani Emmanuel were all that the Golden Eaglets needed to book a place in the final.

Emmanuel, who has been an altar boy at The Synagogue Church of All Nations for many years, wrecked the U-17 team of Spain. His goals came after Stanley Okoro’s first goal while Borjan scored Spain’s only goal.

Sani Emmanuel celebrates with his team-mates after scoring against Spain!

The youngster electrified the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos immediately he was introduced into the match. He was a thorn in the flesh of the Spaniards with his blistering runs and ball control, which earned him two goals in the match, watched by a capacity crowd.

Emmanuel, who was introduced into the match in the 48th minute began to do damage to their opponents barely 23 minutes later. He scored a brace to take his goal haul in the competition to five, making him a joint top scorer with two other players from Uruguay and Spain.

The player, who was literally raised in the Synagogue, owned by Prophet T.B Joshua, has been described as the hottest super-sub of the ongoing competition.

Eaglets coach, John Obuh says Emmanuel has been very instrumental to his team’s success at the Nigeria 2009 World Cup. “Emmanuel has become my joker and he’s playing to instruction,” Obuh said.

Apart from the praises he has received from his people back in Ikotun, it was a carnival-like atmosphere as the worshippers celebrated the performance of one of their own till late yesterday. An elated Joshua, said: “I’m happy for Emmanuel. When I noticed he’ll be a great footballer, I sent him to Sweden and registered him in my academy, My People F.C. So, I’m glad he’s making progress and the young boy will go places.”

Obuh has assured that his wards would be ready for their final match against Switzerland at the Abuja Stadium on Sunday.

Obuh, the former Kwara United coach said he was impressed with his team’s performance and disclosed that he would make some changes in the team to be battle-ready for Sunday’s clash.

Sani Emmanuel - one with a difference

“I’m really delighted that my players rose to the occasion; they played to instructions and I’m happy that we would play in the finals. It is a good thing that though we started slowly, we were able to put back smiles on the faces of Nigerians.”

On his expectations and what he knows about the European newcomers, Obuh says he knows little about them. But he believes with the right attitude and approach to the match, his team would retain the trophy in Nigeria.

He added that he is aware the Swiss are a very mobile side, but will get a strong team to beat them.

“I know them as a team that have qualified for the final. By the time we meet in Abuja on Sunday, we would get the better of them and win again for Nigeria.”

SOURCE: The PM News

Sani Emmanuel: From Altar Boy To Football Star

My People FC’s striker Sani Emmanuel believes the best is yet to come…

The story of Golden Eaglets’ Shehu Sani Emmanuel is just like that of Joseph in the Holy Bible, who was sold by his brothers into slavery in Egypt, but later became their saviour when famine struck their land and they had to go to Egypt to buy food to survive.

Unknown to most Nigerians, Emmanuel, who many are beginning to see as the new Daniel “Da Bull” Amokachi, caught the eyes of the coaches of the Golden Eaglets during a friendly match his club, My People FC, played against the Flying Eagles, ahead of the Egypt 2009 World Youth Championship, WYC.

My People FC is a club side sponsored by the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Prophet T. B. Joshua.

Celebrating the winner...

Emmanuel, an altar boy in the Synagogue, never thought he would one day wear the green and white colours of Nigeria as a footballer in his life.

The Edo-State-born player, after impressing the leader of his church, Pastor T.B. Joshua, with his goal-scoring ability, was given the opportunity to travel out and try his skills in football alongside one of his team-mates, Onazi Ogenyi.

The opportunity paid off as he was signed on and now plays for Bodens BK of Sweden.

The player, who was literally raised in the Synagogue Church, Ikotun Egbe, Lagos, has declared that his best is yet to come.

Nobody would believe that a player, who has spent most part of his life serving God, can make it to the present level of his career, playing for Bodens BK of Sweden and for his country at the FIFA Cadet World Cup.

Emmanuel believes that “there is nothing God cannot do for those who serve Him diligently and pray fervently.

“I believe in the power of prayers, so, whatever I want to do, I always put it to God in prayers and it has been paying off,” he said.

On his role as a super-sub for the Eaglets, he said he never thought of playing as a substitute, because he features regularly for his club, adding that he was surprised when he was handed the bench role by the John Obuh-led technical crew.

He disclosed, however, that he is not worried about his bench role as he would continue to train and play spiritedly, hoping that someday he would break into the first team, an ambition he believes God would allow him to achieve.

Emmanuel said the injury sustained by Omoh Ojabu in their first match against Germany gave him the chance to prove his mettle to the coaches. Since then, he has not looked back.

“Playing as a sub, to any footballer, is not a good story to tell, because you will continue to wonder what the first choice players are doing that you are not doing. However, my thinking is that the coaches know best. As it is now, I’m no longer a sub, but a super-sub, if I must borrow the language of you journalists.”

Taking a glance into the future and what it holds for him, Emmanuel said the sky is his limit, adding that since signing with his new club in Sweden, he is ready to explode and give his best.

The 17-year old player said: “Sweden is a stepping stone for me. I have just signed for Bodens, but I see myself going beyond that place. I only want to use the club to launch my career. I know that other suitors will start seeking and fighting for my signature in the nearest future.”

SOURCE: PM News

Sani Emmanuel: A Star On The Rise

My People FC’s Sani Emmanuel notched two goals in the space of five minutes in Nigeria’s 5-0 mauling of New Zealand, taking his goal tally to three from two games…

At tournaments like this, stars are made. The 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup may turn out to be Sani Emmanuel’s tournament. The lad who has played only two matches in this tournament has notched up three goals.

In his first match of the tournament, Emmanuel, who plays for My People Football Club, came from the bench to score Nigeria’s second and winning goal against Argentina in their last group game played at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi. The goal came from the penalty spot after the Argentines had fouled a Nigerian player in their goal area.

Sani Emmanuel: Giving glory to God!

After coming from the sub’s bench in the 73rd minute to score two goals in five minutes against New Zealand, My People FC’s Sani Emmanuel is already making a name for himself…

In the Golden Eaglet’s round of 16 matches against New Zealand yesterday at the Abuja National Stadium, Emmanuel, who came into the match in the 74th minute as a replacement for Omo Ojabu, struck a minute later to increase Nigeria’s lead to 4-0. The goal was the work of sublime skill as the player, waltzing into the New Zealand eighteen, outpaced his markers and coolly slotted the ball past the New Zealand goalkeeper.

Four minutes later, collecting a pass from Stanley Okoro, he fired from eight yards out to score Nigeria’s fifth goal. With his future spread before him, the player whose explosive playing style and close ball control closely mirrors that of super eagles forward, Obafemi Martins, may not have to wait for long before getting a look in from handlers of the Super Eagles.

With three goals under his belt, he has put himself in contention for the Golden Shoe, an award reserved for the tournament’s highest goal scorer.

By Tunde Eludini

SOURCE: Next

Sani Emmanuel – From Bench To Bona Fide

On the heels of Sani Emmanuel’s impressive performance for Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets against Argentina, the My People FC striker has attracted a bout of attention, FIFA’s official website dedicating an article to him…

At the start of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, Nigeria’s Sani Emmanuel looked destined to fulfil a mere supporting role for the U-17 hosts and holders but Lady Luck, combined with an unfortunate injury to one of his team-mates, has nudged him into the glare of the spotlight.

Sani Emmanuel strides past two Argentine defenders

As the final Group A game kicked off against Argentina, the young striker took his place on the substitutes’ bench for the third time in a row. From that vantage point, he saw La Albiceleste open the scoring early in the game, followed by his own team’s immediate response, delivered by Omoh Ojabu. A welcome turn of events for the Golden Eaglets, but not necessarily for Emmanuel. As often happens in sport, however, one man’s calamity can become another man’s chance.

After half an hour’s play, Ojabu was forced to leave the pitch with an injury. To everyone’s surprise – including the interested party – Emmanuel was instructed to replace him. “Of course I was amazed! I hadn’t played a single minute since the beginning of the tournament and suddenly the coach calls on me for such a crucial match,” he told FIFA.com with a smile just after the final whistle. “The vote of confidence provided me with real motivation. I felt for Omoh, but I just told myself that I couldn’t pass up this opportunity.”

And opportunity was to present itself to him again less than five minutes later, when Aigbe Oliha’s 25 metre rocket was spilled by Ignacio Arce, the Argentinian goalkeeper. The ball landed at the feet of the substitute who, on the point of celebrating his entrance with a goal, contrived to shoot over the bar from point-blank range. “I still don’t understand how I put it over,” he says. “I’d never missed such an easy chance in all my life. But it was my first goal-scoring opportunity – I was possibly a little tense and hadn’t quite found my touch yet. If the chance had come around a few minutes later, I’m sure that I would’ve scored.”

Emmanuel in action for the Golden Eaglets

But in such a high-octane match, there was no time to dwell on it. At least that was the impression given by Emmanuel, who proceeded to make incisive and lung-bursting runs for the rest of the match, demanding the ball as often as possible. “Funny thing is, I couldn’t get it out of my head!” he admitted. “I kept thinking that if we lost, it would be down to me. All I wanted to do was to make up for it.” He would have to put in an intense 15 minutes of work in the second half to achieve that goal.

A goal for My People
Having started the move that ended with Olarenwaju Kayode being brought down in the box, Emmanuel then placed the ball on the spot himself, as Stanley Okoro, the usual penalty-taker, had just been substituted. This time there was no mistake as he dispatched the ball into the Argentinian net. “I couldn’t miss it – I owed it to all of our supporters,” points out the forward from the My People club, responsible for making his compatriots jump for joy.

“It’s a reward for all of the work that I’ve put in each day. Even when you’re not playing, you still follow the same routine as the starting eleven – you train just as hard, you put in just as much effort, you’re part of the same adventure as everyone else. I’m happy to have contributed towards it.”

Sani Emmanuel celebrates his beautiful strike against Argentina

The Golden Eaglets do not yet know if Ojabu will be fit to face New Zealand in the Round of 16, but what they do know is that in Emmanuel they have more than just a bit-part player. An exemplary team-mate, hard-working and always smiling, the Nigerian number 14 is obviously hoping to play and get on the scoresheet against the Kiwis, but is also looking even further ahead.

“Please don’t take this as arrogance, but we’re not just thinking about our next match. From the first day onwards, we’ve only had one thing in mind: to become champions,” says the luxury substitute before getting on the bus taking the Nigerian team back to Abuja. “I don’t know if I’ll be in the coach’s plans for the upcoming matches, but if he puts his confidence in me, he won’t regret it,” he promises by way of conclusion. It’s the kind of language that could well be translated into the term ‘first-choice’ when the next team-sheet appears.

SOURCE: Official FIFA Website

Sani Emmanuel Nominated For African Footballer Of The Week By MTN!!

My People FC’s Sani Emmanuel has been nominated as one of the five African footballers of the week by MTN Football following his blistering performance against Argentina for Nigeria’s cadet team, the Golden Eaglets. Emmanuel scored the winner for Nigeria, a goal that saw the Eaglets soar through to the next round of the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup at the top of their group.

My People FC's Sani Emmanuel - nominated for African player of the week

As can be seen on the MTN Footballl website, the five players nominated are:

Obafemi Martins
Martins had been on something of a goal-drought having scored just once in nine matches for the German champions Wolfsburg, but hit back with a brace against Mainz on Saturday. It was still not enough for his side to win, as they conceded an equaliser in the last three minutes to end the day at 3-3.

Bobo Balde
Veteran Guinea defender Bobo Balde made his first Ligue 1 start for Valenciennes on Saturday and put in a Man of the Match performance as his side claimed an excellent 3-0 away win at Stade Rennes. Balde spent the previous eight seasons at Glasgow Celtic in Scotland, though the weekend’s start was his first competitive club fixture since May last year, and just his second appearance in total.

Aruna Dindae
No English Premiership goals in five games for Cote d’Ivoire striker Aruna Dindane had many wondering whether Portsmouth boss Paul Hart had done the right thing in bringing him to the Fratton Park strugglers. But the Ivorian hit back in spectacular style with a hat-trick, the last a penalty which he earned, as Pompey finally won at home in the League with a 4-0 thumping of Wigan Athletic.

Jean Makoun
The Cameroon international midfielder won rave reviews for his performance in the 1-0 away win at Saint Etienne on Saturday, earning a place in the Team of the Week from respected French publication L’Equipe.

Sani Emmanuel
The substitute held his nerve to score from the penalty-spot as the hosts Nigerians claimed a crucial win over Argentina at the 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup on Friday. Having earlier missed a good chance to seal the game for his side, Emmanuel was a picture of calmness as he stroked home the vital spot-kick to put his side into the Last 16.

You can make your vote for Emmanuel on the MTN Football Website!

With Nigerias next encounter against New Zealand scheduled to take place on Thursday, people are expectant that Emmanuel will once again be on the field and get his name on the scoresheet…!