Grassrunners FC: Difference between revisions
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The club’s administrative office is in Sagamu, while its training camp is located in Ikenne, Ogun State. | The club’s administrative office is in Sagamu, while its training camp is located in Ikenne, Ogun State. | ||
Grassrunners FC won the 14th [[Gold Cup Preseason|Ogunjobi Gold Cup Preseason]] Tournament in August 2026, in their first appearance in the competition. During the 2025/26 football season, the club also reached the final of the Nigeria Youth League Cup, finishing as runners-up.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fasetire |first=Sam O'Femi |date=2026-08-24 |title=Grassrunners FC's Coach Daniel Itodo Dedicates Ogunjobi Gold Cup Victory To His 'Hardworking Players' |url=https://www.sports247.ng/grassrunners-fcs-coach-daniel-itodo-dedicates-ogunjobi-gold-cup-victory-to-his-hardworking-players/ |access-date=2026-08-26 |website=Sports247 Nigeria |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Grassrunners Beat Abakaliki 3-0 to Win Ogunjobi Gold Cup {{!}} Africa Sport Network |url=https://www.africasport.net/article/football/grassrunners-fc-crowned-ogunjobi-gold-cup-champions-after-3-0-final-win |access-date=2026-08-26 |website=www.africasport.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=SPORTS |first=BSN |title=Grassrunners Defeat Abakaliki FC To Emerge Ogunjobi Gold Cup 14th Edition Champions |url=https://bsnsports.com.ng/post/-Grassrunners-Defeat-Abakaliki-FC-To-Emerge-Ogunjobi-Gold-Cup-14th-Edition-Champions |access-date=2026-08-26 |website=Grassrunners Defeat Abakaliki FC To Emerge Ogunjobi Gold Cup 14th Edition Champions}}</ref> | Grassrunners FC won the 14th [[Gold Cup Preseason|Ogunjobi Gold Cup Preseason]] Tournament in August 2026, in their first appearance in the competition. During the 2025/26 football season, the club also reached the final of the Nigeria Youth League Cup, finishing as runners-up.<ref name="sports247">{{Cite web |last=Fasetire |first=Sam O'Femi |date=2026-08-24 |title=Grassrunners FC's Coach Daniel Itodo Dedicates Ogunjobi Gold Cup Victory To His 'Hardworking Players' |url=https://www.sports247.ng/grassrunners-fcs-coach-daniel-itodo-dedicates-ogunjobi-gold-cup-victory-to-his-hardworking-players/ |access-date=2026-08-26 |website=Sports247 Nigeria |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="africasport">{{Cite web |title=Grassrunners Beat Abakaliki 3-0 to Win Ogunjobi Gold Cup {{!}} Africa Sport Network |url=https://www.africasport.net/article/football/grassrunners-fc-crowned-ogunjobi-gold-cup-champions-after-3-0-final-win |access-date=2026-08-26 |website=www.africasport.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=SPORTS |first=BSN |title=Grassrunners Defeat Abakaliki FC To Emerge Ogunjobi Gold Cup 14th Edition Champions |url=https://bsnsports.com.ng/post/-Grassrunners-Defeat-Abakaliki-FC-To-Emerge-Ogunjobi-Gold-Cup-14th-Edition-Champions |access-date=2026-08-26 |website=Grassrunners Defeat Abakaliki FC To Emerge Ogunjobi Gold Cup 14th Edition Champions}}</ref> | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
Grassrunners Football Club was established in 2024 in Ogun State, Nigeria.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adesanya |first=Taiwo |date=2025-07-30 |title=NLO: Grassrunners FC appoint Agoye new head coach |url=https://dailypost.ng/2025/07/30/nlo-grassrunners-fc-appoint-agoye-new-head-coach/ |access-date=2026-08-26 |website=Daily Post Nigeria |language=en-US}}</ref> | Grassrunners Football Club was established in 2024 in Ogun State, Nigeria.<ref name="dailypost">{{Cite web |last=Adesanya |first=Taiwo |date=2025-07-30 |title=NLO: Grassrunners FC appoint Agoye new head coach |url=https://dailypost.ng/2025/07/30/nlo-grassrunners-fc-appoint-agoye-new-head-coach/ |access-date=2026-08-26 |website=Daily Post Nigeria |language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
In August 2024, the club appointed [[Paul Offor]] as its head coach on a three-year contract. Offor had previously managed Sporting Lagos, guiding the club from the Nigeria National League to the Nigeria Premier Football League and at the time mutually parted ways with [[Kano Pillars F.C.|Kano Pillars FC]]. Offor will go on to lead the club in its maiden appearance in the Nationwide League One.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adesanya |first=Taiwo |date=2024-08-26 |title=Paul Offor joins new club after Kano Pillars exit |url=https://dailypost.ng/2024/08/26/paul-offor-joins-new-club-after-kano-pillars-exit/ |access-date=2026-08-26 |website=Daily Post Nigeria |language=en-US}}</ref> | In August 2024, the club appointed [[Paul Offor]] as its head coach on a three-year contract. Offor had previously managed Sporting Lagos, guiding the club from the Nigeria National League to the Nigeria Premier Football League and at the time mutually parted ways with [[Kano Pillars F.C.|Kano Pillars FC]]. Offor will go on to lead the club in its maiden appearance in the Nationwide League One.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adesanya |first=Taiwo |date=2024-08-26 |title=Paul Offor joins new club after Kano Pillars exit |url=https://dailypost.ng/2024/08/26/paul-offor-joins-new-club-after-kano-pillars-exit/ |access-date=2026-08-26 |website=Daily Post Nigeria |language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
In July 2025, after Offor left the club to join [[Akwa United F.C.|Akwa United]], Grassrunners appointed former Shooting Stars Head coach and former Nigeria international Edith Olumide Agoye as head coach. Agoye signed a three-year contract, with his appointment taking effect on 1 August 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grassrunners FC Appoints Edith Agoye as New Head Coach {{!}} Africa Sport Network |url=https://www.africasport.net/news/grassrunners-fc-appoints-former-shooting-stars-boss-edith-agoye-as-head-coach |access-date=2026-08-26 |website=www.africasport.net}}</ref><ref | In July 2025, after Offor left the club to join [[Akwa United F.C.|Akwa United]], Grassrunners appointed former Shooting Stars Head coach and former Nigeria international Edith Olumide Agoye as head coach. Agoye signed a three-year contract, with his appointment taking effect on 1 August 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grassrunners FC Appoints Edith Agoye as New Head Coach {{!}} Africa Sport Network |url=https://www.africasport.net/news/grassrunners-fc-appoints-former-shooting-stars-boss-edith-agoye-as-head-coach |access-date=2026-08-26 |website=www.africasport.net}}</ref><ref name="dailypost" /> | ||
=== Nigeria Youth League Cup === | === Nigeria Youth League Cup === | ||
Grassrunners competed in the 2025-26 Nigeria Youth League Cup reaching the Super 8 stage and subsequently advancing to the final where it lost to Sporting Supreme . | Grassrunners competed in the 2025-26 Nigeria Youth League Cup reaching the Super 8 stage and subsequently advancing to the final where it lost to Sporting Supreme . | ||
Grassrunners forward Abdoulaye Agbejoye emerged as joint top scorer alongside Habeeb Adewusi. Agbejoye was also named the tournament's best player.<ref>{{Cite web |title=N-Youth League Cup |url=https://nylc.ng/ |access-date=2026-08-26 |website=N-Youth League Cup |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Akinbo |first=Peter |date=2026-06-05 |title=Sporting Supreme pocket N40m after N-YLC triumph |url=https://punchng.com/sporting-supreme-pocket-n40m-after-n-ylc-triumph/ |access-date=2026-08-26 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite | Grassrunners forward Abdoulaye Agbejoye emerged as joint top scorer alongside Habeeb Adewusi. Agbejoye was also named the tournament's best player.<ref>{{Cite web |title=N-Youth League Cup |url=https://nylc.ng/ |access-date=2026-08-26 |website=N-Youth League Cup |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Akinbo |first=Peter |date=2026-06-05 |title=Sporting Supreme pocket N40m after N-YLC triumph |url=https://punchng.com/sporting-supreme-pocket-n40m-after-n-ylc-triumph/ |access-date=2026-08-26 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=I |first=Admin |date=2026-06-02 |title=Sporting Supreme pip Grassrunners to win|url=https://blueprint.ng/sporting-supreme-pip-grassrunners-to-win/ |location=Abuja, Nigeria|access-date=2026-08-26 |language=en-US|newspaper=[[Blueprint (newspaper)|Blueprint]]}}</ref> | ||
=== Ogunjobi Gold Cup === | === Ogunjobi Gold Cup === | ||
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The final was played against Abakaliki FC at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta on 22 August 2026. Grassrunners won 3–0 to claim the tournament. | The final was played against Abakaliki FC at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta on 22 August 2026. Grassrunners won 3–0 to claim the tournament. | ||
The victory gave Grassrunners its first major tournament title. The club's coach, Daniel Itodo, subsequently dedicated the victory to the players and praised their performance during the competition.<ref>{{ | The victory gave Grassrunners its first major tournament title. The club's coach, Daniel Itodo, subsequently dedicated the victory to the players and praised their performance during the competition.<ref name="africasport" /><ref name="sports247" /> | ||
== 2026–27 squad == | |||
Below is the squad registered for the 2026–27 N-Youth League Cup season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Grassrunners Football Club Squad |url=https://www.nylc.ng/club/110/grassrunners-football-club-1/squad |website=N-Youth League Cup |access-date=14 October 2026}}</ref> | |||
== Current squad == | |||
{| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
|+ Grassrunners FC 2026–27 N-Youth League Cup squad | |||
! No. | |||
! Player | |||
! Date of birth | |||
! Height | |||
! Weight | |||
! Position | |||
|- | |||
| 41 || Ahmod Shuiab Shola || 10 September 2007 || 188 cm || 75 kg || GK | |||
|- | |||
| 40 || Nwanzi Gideon Chidera || 19 May 2009 || 182 cm || 68 kg || GK | |||
|- | |||
| 45 || Chiemela Godswill || 28 November 2009 || 184 cm || 84 kg || GK | |||
|- | |||
| 39 || Awe Seyi || 31 July 2009 || 185 cm || 71 kg || GK | |||
|- | |||
| 16 || Agbejoye Mark Olamilekan || 8 May 2008 || 188 cm || 81 kg || CB | |||
|- | |||
| 74 || Ogunrombi Boris || 5 April 2009 || 191 cm || 86 kg || CB | |||
|- | |||
| 31 || Labode Faroukou Abdullahi || 10 August 2008 || 197 cm || 86 kg || CB | |||
|- | |||
| 6 || Agbejoye Folly Bernard || 18 December 2008 || 191 cm || 75 kg || CB | |||
|- | |||
| 8 || Fatai Olawale || 4 April 2009 || 179 cm || 73 kg || CM | |||
|- | |||
| 18 || Morou Isilam || 5 December 2009 || 181 cm || 77 kg || DM | |||
|- | |||
| 81 || Ajuwon Baki Akande || 9 July 2010 || 170 cm || 62 kg || DM | |||
|- | |||
| 53 || Adetunji Daniel Ademola || 15 December 2009 || 184 cm || 76 kg || DM | |||
|- | |||
| 27 || Nwokoma Chukwuebuka Fiz-patrick || 27 March 2010 || 183 cm || 66 kg || DM | |||
|- | |||
| 25 || Adam Gafaru || 1 December 2009 || 182 cm || 70 kg || DM | |||
|- | |||
| 14 || Yunusa Muhideen Olayinka || 28 January 2009 || 169 cm || 64 kg || AM | |||
|- | |||
| 20 || Abdulwahab Abdulbasit Opeyemi || 10 July 2009 || 180 cm || 71 kg || AM | |||
|- | |||
| 28 || Fatai Usman Daramola || 8 November 2011 || 172 cm || 62 kg || AM | |||
|- | |||
| 17 || Yekini Abdullahi || 21 May 2011 || 171 cm || 61 kg || LB | |||
|- | |||
| 87 || Okorafor Richard Ebuka || 19 March 2010 || 177 cm || 65 kg || LB | |||
|- | |||
| 3 || Samsudeen Isiaq Alabi || 14 September 2008 || 172 cm || 68 kg || LB | |||
|- | |||
| 13 || Lawrence Elvis || 27 July 2009 || 177 cm || 74 kg || LB | |||
|- | |||
| 12 || Isiayei Shammah Edieni || 9 April 2007 || 177 cm || 71 kg || RB | |||
|- | |||
| 2 || Nwose Emmanuel Bamiyei || 18 June 2008 || 173 cm || 69 kg || RB | |||
|- | |||
| 11 || Ajibola Emmanuel Adeola || 28 August 2009 || 184 cm || 67 kg || LW | |||
|- | |||
| 32 || Mohammed Abdulatif || 2 December 2009 || 178 cm || 63 kg || LW | |||
|- | |||
| 23 || Adesanya Mosses Ogooluwa || 11 November 2012 || 179 cm || 65 kg || LW | |||
|- | |||
| 15 || Ubi Sylvarnus Johnson || 1 July 2010 || 175 cm || 79 kg || RW | |||
|- | |||
| 22 || Mousa Sadath || 20 January 2010 || 183 cm || 77 kg || RW | |||
|- | |||
| 76 || Labode Giovanni || 30 April 2020 || 173 cm || 62 kg || RW | |||
|- | |||
| 42 || Tijani Habeeb Adeshina || 11 January 2010 || 172 cm || 65 kg || RW | |||
|- | |||
| 7 || Adelabu Timileyin Anuoluwa || 15 December 2007 || 177 cm || 68 kg || RWF | |||
|- | |||
| 36 || Onu Nzubechukwu Joseph || 1 May 2010 || 197 cm || 85 kg || CF | |||
|- | |||
| 24 || Emelobe Chidozie Fortune || 27 May 2010 || 186 cm || 76 kg || CF | |||
|- | |||
| 5 || Abiodun Olasheni Abdulmumeen || 14 January 2009 || 188 cm || 77 kg || CF | |||
|- | |||
| 29 || Lasisi Musa Olusegun || 25 May 2009 || 185 cm || 73 kg || CF | |||
|- | |||
| 75 || Adeola Fadel Akani || 1 June 2008 || 193 cm || 75 kg || CF | |||
|- | |||
| 33 || Atchikpa Juste Jordane || 18 April 2009 || 179 cm || 77 kg || CF | |||
|- | |||
| 50 || Agbejoye Papi Adeola || 8 December 2007 || 189 cm || 80 kg || CF | |||
|} | |||
'''Positions:''' GK = goalkeeper; CB = centre-back; CM = central midfielder; DM = defensive midfielder; AM = attacking midfielder; LB = left-back; RB = right-back; LW = left winger; RW = right winger; RWF = right wing-forward; CF = centre-forward. | |||
<references /> | |||
== Club products == | == Club products == | ||
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Other players associated with Grassrunners FC who have moved to foreign leagues are Emmanuel Chukwu and Benjamin Precious, who moved to TSG Hoffenheim.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-08 |title=Two promising Nigerians Chukwu and Benjamin join Akpoguma at Hoffenheim - Soccernet NG |url=https://soccernet.ng/2025/02/two-promising-nigerians-chukwu-and-benjamin-join-akpoguma-at-hoffenheim.html |access-date=2026-08-26 |language=en-NG}}</ref> | Other players associated with Grassrunners FC who have moved to foreign leagues are Emmanuel Chukwu and Benjamin Precious, who moved to TSG Hoffenheim.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-08 |title=Two promising Nigerians Chukwu and Benjamin join Akpoguma at Hoffenheim - Soccernet NG |url=https://soccernet.ng/2025/02/two-promising-nigerians-chukwu-and-benjamin-join-akpoguma-at-hoffenheim.html |access-date=2026-08-26 |language=en-NG}}</ref> | ||
=== Other Club Products === | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|Emmanuel Chukwu | |Emmanuel Chukwu | ||
|TSG Hoffenheim, on loan to SC Austria Lustenau<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oyebola |first=Mike |date=2026-06-20 |title=Transfer: Chukwu completes loan switch to Austrian club, Lustenau |url=https://dailypost.ng/2026/06/20/transfer-chukwu-completes-loan-switch-to-austrian-club-lustenau/ |access-date=2026-08-27 |website=Daily Post Nigeria |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffenheim |first=TSG 1899 |title=TSG loan Emmanuel Chukwu to Wolfsberger AC |url=https://www.tsg-hoffenheim.de/en/news/overview/2025/08/tsg-loan-emmanuel-chukwu-to-wolfsberger-ac |access-date=2026-08-27 |website=www.tsg-hoffenheim.de |language=en-US}}</ref> | |TSG Hoffenheim, on loan to SC Austria Lustenau<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oyebola |first=Mike |date=2026-06-20 |title=Transfer: Chukwu completes loan switch to Austrian club, Lustenau |url=https://dailypost.ng/2026/06/20/transfer-chukwu-completes-loan-switch-to-austrian-club-lustenau/ |access-date=2026-08-27 |website=Daily Post Nigeria |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffenheim |first=TSG 1899 |title=TSG loan Emmanuel Chukwu to Wolfsberger AC |url=https://www.tsg-hoffenheim.de/en/news/overview/2025/08/tsg-loan-emmanuel-chukwu-to-wolfsberger-ac |access-date=2026-08-27 |website=www.tsg-hoffenheim.de |language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Benjamin Precious | |||
|TSG Hoffenheim, on loan to SCR ALTACH<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffenheim |first=TSG 1899 |title=Precious Benjamin moves on loan to SCR Altach until the end of the season |url=https://www.tsg-hoffenheim.de/en/news/overview/2026/01/precious-benjamin-bis-saisonende-zum-scr-altach-verliehen |access-date=2026-08-27 |website=www.tsg-hoffenheim.de |language=en-US}}</ref> | |TSG Hoffenheim, on loan to SCR ALTACH<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffenheim |first=TSG 1899 |title=Precious Benjamin moves on loan to SCR Altach until the end of the season |url=https://www.tsg-hoffenheim.de/en/news/overview/2026/01/precious-benjamin-bis-saisonende-zum-scr-altach-verliehen |access-date=2026-08-27 |website=www.tsg-hoffenheim.de |language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 64: | Line 159: | ||
|Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz | |Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Lendambi Bonaventure | |[[Lendambi Bonaventure]] | ||
|Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz | |Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz | ||
|- | |- | ||