I was there on Saturday.......!

NFF National, Amateur and Women League Election held at the conference room of Nicon Luxury Hotel, Last Saturday 29th of Januray 2011 in Abuja it was supposed to start at 11.am but due to the USUAL AFRICAN TIME we started at past 1.pm in the afternoon, was it a fair election? i will let you know...ill be right back with pictures and full gist......stay here with me plz...dnt go away! wink*wink* RS

My Birthday......

on the 2nd of February, twenty something years ago, this pretty dark woman gave Birth to a pretty girl....she has grown into a beautiful woman now, and on the 2nd of February she will be celebrating her twenty something years birthday....shes owns this blog and she expects your gifts......wink* wink*...RS

gisting as usual...RS

Carlisle land United defender
Carlisle have completed the signing of Manchester United defender Joe Dudgeon on loan until the end of the season.

Rocket wants new fans
Snooker Shoot Out aims to bring new fans to the sport,Burnley have confirmed the signing of highly-rated striker Charlie Austin from Swindon Town for an undisclosed fee.

Final fling for Murray
Now only Djokovic stands in the way of Brit winning first major title...RS wished him all the best

Uefa warning to Ukraine
Co-hosts could lose right to stage next year's final, Ukraine's role as co-hosts of Euro 2012 is in jeopardy due to government interference in the running of football in the country. (RS says like 9ja like Ukraine innit?)


Reds strike Suarez deal
Personal term discussions and medical to take place, Liverpool have announced that they have agreed a £22.8million (€26.5m) deal with Ajax for striker Luis Suarez

its happening now!!!!

Liverpool reject Torres bid
Chelsea's stunning offer turned down by top-flight rivals, Liverpool have rejected a Chelsea bid worth a reported £35million for striker Fernando Torres, according to a spokesperson.
The shock story emerged in the early hours of Friday morning ahead of the end of the transfer window on Monday. FOOTBALL/SOCCER


Terminated Federer: I'll be back
Semi-final exit in Melbourne is not the end for Swiss maestro
Roger Federer dismissed suggestions his career was winding down after being beaten in straight sets by Novak Djokovic in the semi-final of the Australian Open. LETS TALK AGAIN IN SIX MONTH'S TIME QUOTE BY ROGER FEDERER. TENNIS

Birmingham snap up Obafemi Martins on loan from Rubin Kazan until the end of the season

VAN DER SAR TO QUIT FOOTBALL, WHY? PLEASE READ

Van der Sar to retire, Dutchman quitting to spend time with family.

Edwin van der Sar has confirmed he will quit football at the end of the season to spend more time with his family.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitted earlier this season he fully expected the 40-year-old to call it quits at the end of the current campaign.

Ferguson was reportedly keen on having Van der Sar joining the coaching staff at Old Trafford, but the keeper says he will take a complete break from football in the summer.

Van der Sar has admitted he wants to spend more time with his wife Annemarie after she suffered a brain-related illness last year.

"Do not ask me how or why, but suddenly you know. That was sufficient.

"The time has come to pay greater attention to my family.

"Although they have never complained, everyone in the family has indeed always had to focus on me, but all together we have also had a lot in return."

The former Holland international insists his age played no part in his decision to quit as he still feels fit at the age of 40.

"No, my age played no role," added Van der Sar. "I am 40 years old, but I still feel fit."
He told Sports Promotions Netherlands

RS wish himm all the best, and i wish his wife a speedy recovery'hmm what a life, fame and money cannot buy happiness' His wife AnneMarie is a wonderful woman. I will leave you all to reminisce on this piece, Love conquers all.......Show love to someone today your pets inclusive.....see ya! RS

MY FAVOURITE QUOTES BY SPORTMEN!

"The only one who can tell you 'you can't ' is you. And you don't have to listen."- Nike

"It's lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself."- Muhammed Ali

"I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying."- Michael Jordan

"In the end, it's extra effort that separates a winner from second place. But winning takes a lot more that that, too. It starts with complete command of the fundamentals. Then it takes desire, determination, discipline, and self-sacrifice. And finally, it takes a great deal of love, fairness and respect for your fellow man. Put all these together, and even if you don't win, how can you lose?"- Jesse Owens

"I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"Your LOVE Makes Me STRONG, Your HATE Makes Me UNSTOPPABLE!! " - Cristiano Ronaldo

"The man who has no imagination has no wings." - Muhammad Ali

THATS ALL I GOT FOR NOW......4rm me 2U..RS

AmAzInG GhAnA FoOtBaLl aSsOcIaTiOn(GFA)............!

Ghana Football Association(GFA)gave a huge sum of money in euros to the 2 premier clubs representing Ghana AT THE CAF Championship, can the NFF be kind enough to show appreciation to their very own boys? hmmmmm i just sighed......!!!!! blown kisses!!!mwaaah, thanks for reading, R

LATEST HAPPENINGS IN THE WORLD OF SPORT

- Al Jazeera Sport buys broadcast rights to 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups™

-Zimbabwe through to the next stage

- African Football stars misfire across Europe, some Football fans are not happy that they have not been scoring goals lately....hmm well......my blog visitors should figure it out

- The Executive Committee of CAF will be meeting on 29th of January 2011 in Lubumbashi, DR Congo to decide, among others, on the hosting rights for two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations for 2015 ...


- Emmanuel Adebayor has passed his Real Madrid medical, Liverpool are set a deadline to sign Luis Suarez and Fulham have signed Gael Kakuta.


- Timothy Bradley says he will prove he is the world's number one light-welterweight against Devon Alexander, WBC


- Roger Federer is safely through to the Australian Open quarter-finals after a four-set victory over Spain's Tommy Robredo. (Australian Open)


- Hamilton to debut McLaren
2008 world champion to run on first day of Jerez test,Lewis Hamilton will debut McLaren's 2011 challenger when it makes its first appearance at Jerez next month. (FORMULA 1)


- Wolves captain Karl Henry has signed a new four-year contract at Molineux. Captain commits future to club with four-year contract.


- Hashim Alma's century helped South Africa beat India by 33 runs on Duckworth-Lewis in Pretoria and win the fifth and final one-day international to clinch the series 3-2, (CRICKET)


- Turks move for Diouf, Konyaspor bid for Rovers star Konyaspor have tabled a bid for Blackburn star El-Hadji Diouf. West Ham are believed to have expressed an interest in signing Diouf as they look to bolster their attacking options as they battle to avoid relegation.

- Olympic decision on hold, OPLC delay decision until after original Friday deadline, The decision on the future of the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games has been put on hold. Premier League clubs West Ham and Tottenham are both vying to move into the ground and a decision on who wins the right to play their football at the venue was due to be made on Friday.


Hope you enjoyed the piece...see you some other time, stick here and please dont go away.....im also open to questions.....wink* wink* Ronnie

UCHE OKAFOR WAS MURDERED, FBI

According to a very reliable source from the United States, i can confirm to you that Uche Okafor was murdered so the FBI announced this morning, stick to this blog for further details...ill be right back with the full gist...so far its tagged as an unconfirmed/unofficial gist,
wink*wink* Ronnie Sport

EBERE ORJI (nigeria forward).....Super Falcons

Already something of a seasoned international at the ripe old age of 18, Nigeria’s Ebere Orji is nonetheless one of the up-and-coming stars to watch at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in Germany this summer. Having burst onto the scene in 2008 at both the U-17 and U-20 FIFA Women’s World Cups, she confirmed her promise two years later as part of the high-flying Nigerian attack that powered the Falconets to a spot in the U-20 final.
Orji was on the shortlist for Adidas Golden Ball as one of the players of the tournament, and her team’s exploits have given momentum to the whole of Nigerian women’s football. A triumph in the CAF Africa Women’s Championship has helped spirits stay high even in the face of a tough senior World Cup draw, where the West Africans are to line up against Germany, Canada and France.
Orji, the fifth out of seven children in a football-playing family, shares a sense of confidence with a young Super Falcons team that might carry into the showpiece of women's soccer.

You were a member of the Falconets who played against Germany in the final of the 2010 FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup in Germany. What is your target as a Super Falcon in the Women’s World Cup also in Germany this June?

My target in Germany this time around is to reach the final of the competition, so that we can make history again as the first African country to play in the final of such a competition of that magnitude.

Nigerians were not happy that the Super Falcons succumbed 8-0 to Germany in a friendly match last year. Are you and your colleagues ready to correct that impression and bounce back at the World Cup, where you are again drawn against the Germans?

Definitely! We are going to correct that mistake and impression. A lot of things contributed to that loss. The weather really affected us because it was freezing cold and many of us were not used to such unfriendly weather. So nobody can blame the team or our coaches for the result. If you watched our matches in the African Women’s Championship in South Africa, you saw that we played better. The weather was not really in our favour. We were not used to it.


Sincerely speaking, what kind of success in Germany would make you satisfied?

I am sure that firstly we will come out of that group. We don’t fear any team in our group, be it Germany, France or Canada. We’re ready to take on any team. We are not scared despite the fact that some people call it ‘group of death’. We have confidence we can book the ticket to the next round of the competition, and then from there anything can happen.

If not for football what would Ebere Orji have been doing?


(Laughs) I would have been studying to become an accountant because I like the course so much anyway. But I am still grateful to God that football has given me fame and honour, and I am still working hard to achieve more success in the game in the nearest future.

Your best and worst moments in football?

I will start with the bad moment, and that was the day my team lost [3-2 in the quarter-finals] against France in Chile at the 2008 U-20 Women’s World Cup. That was my first time of playing at a World Cup. My happiest moment was reaching the final of the same competition last year and losing to Germany the eventual winner in an exciting final. Being a member of the Nigerian national team that made history as the first African country to reach the final of any organised female World Cup will continue to be my best moment for a long time to come – although I am also looking forward to helping the Super Falcons to repeat this feat again in Germany this year, but this time around at the senior Women’s World Cup.

How did your parents celebrate your feat of playing in the final of the U-20 Women’s World Cup last year?

I would say it was with mixed feelings because there was little sadness as that was the time I lost my dad. But I still thank God for everything because happiness returned to my family through my exploits in the World Cup. It was able to wipe away the sorrow caused by the death of my father.

Will you encourage your children to play football in the future if you get married?

Definitely I will encourage them, be it a boy or girl. As far as he or she has the interest to play, I will surely encourage them. But I will also encourage them to go to school, too, because this will also help them in the game.

Courtesy of the African Football Media through FIFA

RONNIE SPORTS: One on One with The SUPER EAGLES COACH, Samson Siasia

It was a beautiful Saturday evening 22nd January 2011, I met with the Nigeria’s super eagle’s Coach, Samson Siasia, to discuss the way forward and to know what his plans are for the task ahead of him: the interview took place while the thrashing of Birmingham by Manchester United was going on at old Trafford. Below is the excerpt, please lets have your comments and what you expect from the Sia1 led S

uper Eagles.


RONNIE SPORTS: Can we meet you Sir?
SIAONE: (smiling) Ronnie you already know me na! Well my name is Samson Siasia, the Coach of the Nigeria Senior National team AKA Super Eagles.


Ronnie Sports: Nigerian fans and the world are aware of your achievements; please, list your achievements with the National team?

SIAONE: (with a straight look now, he clears his throat) Winner, Under20 Benin Republic 2005(AFRICAN NATIONS CUP): Silver Medal, Under20, Holland, we played 2-1 with Argentina at the finals: Gold Medal, 8Nation Tournament, Malaysia: Silver Medal, Under20 Beijing Olympics 2008, we were beaten by Argentina again by one goal to nil: Quarter Finals Under20 Egypt 2009.

RONNIE SPORTS: Can your achievements with the Junior national teams be transferred to the Senior National Team?

SIAONE: Yes of course


RONNIE SPORTS: So with these achievements, how do you intend to bring back the lost glory of the Nigeria National Team to the days of the 1994 squad?

SIAONE: (wearing a serious look, he said) It will take lots of hard work and dedication on the part of the players, to make the team a great one like we had several years back. To restore the lost glory, our boys need to be encouraged to play right from their heart, and luckily for us some of the boys were able to promote themselves through their FIFA 2010 WORLD CUP appearance. My plan is to rebrand and reshuffle through the invitation and the mixture of foreign based players with the home based players in order to make good impact and create synergy between them. Therefore the camp is open for everyone to come and prove themselves worthy. Everybody will be given an equal chance and the good ones will be retained without sentiments.

Another important morale booster is the issue of their insurance which involves the care given to them after incurring an injury while representing the country in any football match. If this is taken care of, the boys will put in their best as to making sure we take the team to its proper position in Africa and the whole world.



RONNIE SPORTS: What are your major Challenges?

SIAONE: Funds! Fund is our major challenge. We need support from the Public, Corporate Organizations, Individuals, and the Government. I can assure you that what happened after the failure of the squad at the 2010 FIFA world cup tournament in South Africa results in the pulling out of prospective sponsors.

Right now I’m personally financing my scouts globally; we need to finance them to scout for better players.


RONNIE SPORTS: What should Nigerians expect as per the local league players in the Senior National Team involvement?

SIAONE: We will get them on board so far they possess the quality. And for all our Local leagues I believe it’s a matter of time we will get there.


RONNIE SPORTS: What is your wish for your Fans/Nigerians?

SIAONE: (on a lighter mood) to my rich fans and to the rich Nigerians, please we need your support the Football Federation cannot do it alone, Corporate organizations should please come and be part of us.
I want to thank Nigerians for their support and for believing in me.
Nigerians should look forward to a better team, I will make them proud its only a matter of time, remember us in prayers too.

RONNIE SPORT: Thank you Sir.
SIAONE: You are welcome Ronnie, Thank you too

Lets vote please, YOUR VOTE COUNTS!!!

•VOTE NOW for the December winner


ESPN PFA AWARD SHORTLIST - JANUARY


Premier League:

Frank Lampard (Chelsea)

Gareth Bale (Tottenham)

Carlos Tevez (Manchester City)

Samir Nasri (Arsenal)

Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)



Championship:

Andy King (Leicester City)

Shane Long (Reading)

Danny Graham (Watford)

Brett Pitman (Bristol City)

Robert Snodgrass (Leeds United)



League One:

Clinton Morrison (Sheffield Wednesday)

Anthony Pilkington (Huddersfield Town)

Glenn Murray (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Shwan Jalal (Bournemouth)

Elliot Bennett (Brighton & Hove Albion)



League Two:

Elliot Benyon (Torquay United)

Shaun Harrad (Burton Albion)

Jack Lester (Chesterfield)

Clayton Donaldson (Crewe)

Cody McDonald (Gillingham

vote for your favourite!!!
courtesy of ESPN

Women’s World Cup Came to Abuja

The warmth and camaraderie inside a packed hall at a hotel in Abuja appeared to drive away the cold from the dusty Harmattan wind blowing outside as the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Trophy made a first-ever appearance in Nigeria.

As part of the FIFA and Local Organising Committee Welcome Tour to all participating nations in the Women’s World Cup Germany 2011, the cream of Nigerian football came together for a special night of celebrations looking ahead to the finals. One of the biggest stars on hand was Nigeria’s captain at the 2002 FIFA World Cup™, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, who seemed thrilled at the reception.

“It is great to be here to see how things are really done in a professional way,” said the Super Eagles great. “Who could have imagined four or five years ago that women’s football would be promoted this way? It is a big credit to the LOC in Germany for coming out with this kind of initiative to promote the competition. And this is deservedly so because in the past couple of years women’s football has come a long way. It keeps improving and so it deserves the entire pomp and pageantry and the atmosphere we got here today.”



Falcons on the rise
It was only fitting that Nigeria was the first African stopover for the most prized diadem in women’s football as the Super Falcons have been the dominant force in the women’s game in Africa since 1991. In fact, they were unbeaten on the continent until 2008 when hosts Equatorial Guinea defeated them on the way to winning the African championship in front of their own fans. However, Nigeria reclaimed their crown in most emphatic fashion by dumping Equatorial Guinea 4-2 in the final of the CAF African Women's Championship late last year in South Africa.


Today, the official match ball has been handed to me as the chief coach of the Nigerian team, and it means that the World Cup in Germany in 2011 is a reality and it is around the corner.
Nigeria coach Eucharia Uche at the Welcome Tour event in Abuja

COURTESY OF FIFA

Building for the future, quickly
Seven players from the U-20 World Cup made the big jump to the full international team for the African Women’s Championship: Ebere Orji, Ogochi Oparanozie, Amaranchi Okoronkwo, Gloria Iroka, Esther Sunday, Onye Ukonnu and Ochinachi Ohane. Add them to two promising strikers from the FIFA U-17 World Cup team in Trinidad and Tobago, Lovet Ayila and Francisca Udegha, and what coach Eucharia Uche has is a youthful squad looking to make a splash

A former international striker herself, Uche has already made history as the first female coach to lead Nigeria to a major international trophy and more history beckons for her in Germany.


Preparations for the event began this week with a residential training camp in Abuja with 30 fresh call-ups. “We have started working with 30 players who were not picked to be part of Africa Women’s Championship in South Africa. We want to watch them thoroughly and see who we could work with at the World Cup,” the coach disclosed.

Nigeria are drawn in a tough first round group at Germany 2011 against defending champions and hosts Germany, along with France and Canada, I want to wish the super falcons a successful outing in Germany.

Much love Sisters! From me to you
RONNIE SPORT
aderonkeogunleye@yahoo.com

HENRY AND ANELKA TO GIVE THEIR WC2010 BONUS OUT!!!

Former France international Thierry Henry has confirmed he will forfeit his World Cup bonus following their embarrassing display in South Africa.

It emerged earlier in the week that Henry and Nicolas Anelka, whose expulsion from the France camp led to the infamous training strike, were the remaining players who had yet to formally reject the payment available to them.

On Wednesday French sports minister Chantal Jouanno announced that both performers "were in the process" of signing the necessary paperwork.

Forfeit
And Henry, in an interview with French sports daily L'Equipe said: "It was only on Tuesday that my agent received an e-mail from the FFF (the French Football Federation).

"In order to sign a document you have to be aware of it first. It will be signed and approved."

The former France captain added: "In view of how we performed in South Africa I find it more than normal that we forfeit our bonuses."

Henry, Les Bleus' all-time leading scorer, played a substitute's role at the World Cup and is now playing in the United States with the New York Red Bulls.

Anelka has also expressed plans to give his bonus to help the amateur game in France.
Courtesy of SKY SPORTS

Come to think of it, which one of the African Players can boast of the above, the almighty footballers doing well abroad, with focus on my homefront who can come out of the Nigerian Super Eagles squad and boast of this? This is my advice to y'all if you are reading this, go ahead and do something because a day will come, your name will fade but humanitarian gestures doesnt fade.

All the best in your decisions...from me to you!
Ronnie Sports

SURPRISE REGULARS AT THE BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE THIS SEASON SO FAR

Competition for places in every Premier League squad is extremely fierce and, while nobody is there just to make up the numbers, there are players that probably started the season expecting to be on the bench more often the pitch.

Matt Taylor - Bolton

Ali Al-Habsi - Wigan

Pablo Zabaleta - Manchester City

Maxi Rodriguez - Liverpool

Johan Djourou - Arsenal

Marc Albrighton - Aston Villa

Alan Hutton - Tottenham

Seamus Coleman - Everton

Jack Wilshere - Arsenal

Rafael - Manchester United

RWANDA AND BURKINA FASO THROUGH TO AFRICAN U17 CHAMPIOSHIP FINAL

Hosts Rwanda are through to the final of the African under-17 championship after beating Ivory Coast 1-0 on Wednesday.

The Baby Wasps will face Burkina Faso on Saturday after Justin Mico's 72nd-minute goal delighted a packed Amahoro Stadium in the capital Kigali.

The Burkinabe booked their place when beating Congo in Tuesday's semi-final.

Rwanda and the other semi-finalists have all earned a place at Fifa's Under-17 World Cup in Mexico in June.

Rwanda has never previously participated in a World Cup of any sort and has only ever competed at one senior African Cup of Nations - in Tunisia in 2004.

Saturday's match will be the first final Rwanda has contested at continental level - and neither the tournament hosts nor the Burkinabe have ever won the U17 title before.

Courtesy of BBC

The African U17 Championship finals is going to be played between Rwanda and Burkina Faso, all in African Spirit.

Meanwhile, Burkina Faso, Congo and Rwanda has qualified for the FIFA U17 World Cup in June@Mexico.

...well i want to say a big congratulations to this soccer babies and i wish them all the best.....see you guys in June....i pray you will do us proud...... WE ARE AFRICANS!!!

Ronnie Sport
www.twitter.com/ronniesports

GHANIAN TEAM OR NIGERIAN TEAM?

WHICH ONE IS THE STRONGEST.....?

NIGERIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION ELECTION NULLIFIED

A High Court in Lagos has nullified NFF's Last Year election today and ordered a fresh election.

Run-down of African goalscorers in Europe

ITALY

Samuel Eto'o has taken his goal tally in Italy to 23 in 26 games this season
Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o - the CAF African Footballer of the Year - took his goal tally to 23 for the season as he scored twice for Inter Milan in their 4-1 thumping of Bologna at the weekend.

Eto'o also created Inter's opening goal of the game, scored by Dejan Stankovic, and was given a standing ovation when he was substituted late on in the game.



---------------------------------------------------------------------------

GERMANY

Senegal's Papiss Demba Cisse returned to the top of the Bundesliga scoring charts but missed out on the chance of a hat-trick at the weekend. He missed a penalty but scored twice from open play as his side Freiburg came from behind to draw 2-2 with St Pauli and now has 15 goals in the campaign.

Didier Ya Konan of Ivory Coast scored with one minute remaining of Hannover's match with Eintracht Franckfurt, which they won 3-0 - he has now taken his tally to 10 goals for the season so far.



---------------------------------------------------------------------------

FRANCE

Morocco striker Youssef Al Arabi got his 11th goal of the season after finding the back of the net for his side Caen who beat Brest 3-1.

Mali defenderEric Chelle put the ball into his own net as his side Lens still beat St Etienne 2-1.

Ivory Coast striker Gervinho and his Senegal team-mate Moussa Sow were both target to give Lille 2-0 win over Nice. Sow is now the top scorer in Ligue 1 with 15 goals, two more than his nearest rival.

Mali striker Modibo Maiga put Sochaux ahead at the Parc des Princes but they went down 2-1 to Paris Saint-Germain.



---------------------------------------------------------------------------
GREECE

Former Senegal striker Henri Camara was on target for the second time this season as he contributed in Atomitos' 4-2 win over Kerkyra.

Algeria midfielder Djamel Abdoun was on target twice for Kavala but his side lost 4-2 to Panathinaikos.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------

PORTUGAL

Senegal striker Baba Diawara and Cape Verdean Sidnei were both on the score sheet as their side Maritimo overcame Vitoria Setubal 4-2.

Guinea Bissau defender Kevin Gomis pulled a late goal back for Naval who were beaten 3-1 by league leaders Porto


------------------------------------------------------------------
ENGLAND
Nigerian and West Ham Striker Osaze Odemwingie although missed a penalty played against Manchester United, came back after an injury and (according to him) with the help of his psychologist he top the number of goal scorers by 8 goals in his club this season, and he promised more goals before the season runs out.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
all the best guys...from me to you...x
--------------------------------------------------------------------

courtesy of BBC Sport and Ronnie

50 MOST RECENT FOOTBALL RESULTS

Showing 50 most recent results

Comp Date Result Venue

AFC 17/01 Qatar 3 vs Kuwait 0
Khalifa International Stadium

AFC 17/01 China 2 vs Uzbekistan 2
AL Gharafa Stadium

EPL 17/01 Tottenham 0 vs Man United 0
White Hart Lane

EPL 17/01 Liverpool 2 vs Everton 2
Anfield

EPL 16/01 Birmingham 1 vs Aston Villa 1
St Andrews Stadium

EPL 16/01 Sunderland 1 vs Newcastle 1
Stadium of Light

A-League 16/01 Newcastle 0 vs Central Coast 2
EnergyAustralia Stadium

EPL 16/01 West Ham 0 vs Arsenal 3
Upton Park

AFC 16/01 United Arab Emirates 0 vs Iraq 1
Al Rayyan Stadium

EPL 16/01 Chelsea 2 vs Blackburn 0
Stamford Bridge

EPL 16/01 Man City 4 vs Wolverhampton 3
City of Manchester Stadium

EPL 16/01 West Brom 3 vs Blackpool 2
The Hawthorns

EPL 16/01 Stoke 2 vs Bolton 0
Britannia Stadium

EPL 16/01 Wigan 1 vs Fulham 1
DW Stadium

AFC 16/01 Iran 1 vs Korea DPR 0
Qatar Sports Club Stadium

A-League 15/01 Perth 1 vs Heart 1
nib Stadium

A-League 15/01 Sydney 1 vs Victory 1
Sydney Football Stadium

AFC 15/01 Bahrain 5 vs India 2
Al Sadd Stadium

AFC 15/01 Australia 1 vs Korea Republic 1
AL Gharafa Stadium

A-League 14/01 Gold Coast 4 vs North Qld 0
Skilled Park

AFC 14/01 Syria 1 vs Japan 2
Qatar Sports Club Stadium

AFC 14/01 Jordan 1 vs Saudi Arabia 0
Al Rayyan Stadium

EPL 13/01 Blackpool 2 vs Liverpool 1
Bloomfield Road

AFC 13/01 China 0 vs Qatar 2
Khalifa International Stadium

AFC 13/01 Uzbekistan 2 vs Kuwait 1
AL Gharafa Stadium

A-League 12/01 Central Coast 3 vs Brisbane 3
Bluetongue Stadium

AFC 12/01 Iraq 1 vs Iran 2
Al Rayyan Stadium

AFC 12/01 Korea DPR 0 vs United Arab Emirates 0
Qatar Sports Club Stadium

A-League 11/01 Newcastle 1 vs North Qld 0
EnergyAustralia Stadium

AFC 11/01 Korea Republic 2 vs Bahrain 1
AL Gharafa Stadium

AFC 11/01 India 0 vs Australia 4
Al Sadd Stadium

AFC 10/01 Saudi Arabia 1 vs Syria 2
Al Rayyan Stadium

AFC 10/01 Japan 1 vs Jordan 1
Qatar Sports Club Stadium

A-League 09/01 Central Coast 1 vs Wellington 0
Bluetongue Stadium

A-League 09/01 Victory 1 vs Adelaide 4
AAMI Park

AFC 09/01 Kuwait 0 vs China 2
AL Gharafa Stadium

A-League 08/01 North Qld 1 vs Newcastle 3
Dairy Farmers Stadium

A-League 08/01 Sydney 2 vs Gold Coast 0
Sydney Football Stadium

AFC 08/01 Qatar 0 vs Uzbekistan 2
Khalifa International Stadium

A-League 07/01 Brisbane 1 vs Perth 1
Suncorp Stadium

EPL 06/01 Bolton 1 vs Wigan 1
Reebok Stadium

EPL 06/01 Blackburn 3 vs Liverpool 1
Ewood Park

EPL 06/01 Everton 2 vs Tottenham 1
Goodison Park

EPL 06/01 Wolverhampton 1 vs Chelsea 0
Molineux Stadium

EPL 06/01 Arsenal 0 vs Man City 0
Emirates Stadium

EPL 06/01 Newcastle 5 vs West Ham 0
St James' Park

EPL 06/01 Aston Villa 0 vs Sunderland 1
Villa Park

INT 06/01 United Arab Emirates 0 vs Australia 0
Khalifa Stadium

A-League 05/01 Wellington 2 vs Victory 0
Westpac Stadium

EPL 05/01 Fulham 3 vs West Brom 0
Craven Cottage

courtesy of FOX SPORTS

JANUARY 2011 TRANSFER (Contd.)

below is the last of 33 Transfer that was made this January, i would let you know in case of any addition;

Jermaine Pennant
Position: Midfielder
Old Club: Real Zaragoza
New Club: Stoke City
National Team: England

Luis Gustavo
Position: Midfielder
Old Club: 1899 Hoffenheim
New Club: Bayern Munich
Nationality: Brazilian

Steve Sidwell
Position: Midfielder
Old Club: Aston Villa
New Club: Fulham
Nationality: English

Rod Fanni
Position: Defender
Old Club: Stade Rennes
New Club: Olympique Marseille
National Team: France

David Bellion
Position: Forward
Old Club: Girondins Bordeaux
New Club: OGC Nice
Nationality: French

Hatem Ben Arfa
Position: Midfielder
Old Club: Olympique Marseille
New Club: Newcastle United
National Team: France

Bongani Khumalo
Position: Defender
Old Club: Supersport United
New Club: Tottenham Hotspur
National Team: South Africa


24Andrea Ranocchia
Position: Defender
Old Club: Genoa
New Club: Inter Milan
National Team: Italy

Adil Rami
Position: Defender
Old Club: Lille
New Club: Valencia
National Team: France

Neto
Position: Goalkeeper
Old Club: Atletico Paranaense
New Club: Fiorentina
National Team: Brazil

Kerrea Gilbert
Position: Defender
Old Club: Arsenal
New Club: Portland Timbers
Nationality: English

Mike Hanke
Position: Forward
Old Club: Hannover 96
New Club: Borussia Moenchengladbach
National Team: Germany

Jelle van Damme
Position: Defender
Old Club:Wolverhampton Wanderers
New Club: Standard Liege
National Team: Belgium

Charles Itandje
Position: Goalkeeper
Old Club: Liverpool
New Club: Atromitos
Nationality: French

Akihiro Ienaga
Position: Midfielder
Old Club: Cerezo Osaka
New Club: Real Mallorca
National Team: Japan

Jung Jo-Gook
Position: Forward
Old Club: FC Seoul
New Club: Auxerre
National Team: South Korea

Havard Nordtveit
Position: Defender
Old Club: Arsenal
New Club: Borussia Moenchengladbach
Nationality: Norwegian

compiled by Ronniesports

2011 JANUARY TRANSFER SO FAR.....!

Ronaldinho
Position: Midfielder
Old Club: AC Milan
New Club: Flamengo
National Team: Brazil

Edin Dzeko
Position: Forward
Old Club: VfL Wolfsburg
New Club: Manchester City
National Team: Bosnia-Herzegovina

Antonio CassanoPosition: Forward
Old Club: Sampdoria
New Club: AC Milan
National Team: Italy

Ibrahim AfellayPosition: Midfielder
Old Club: PSV Eindhoven
New Club: FC Barcelona
National Team: Netherlands

Julio BaptistaPosition: Forward
Old Club: AS Roma
New Club: Malaga
National Team: Brazil

Freddie LjungbergPosition: Midfielder
Old Club: Chicago Fire
New Club: Celtic FC
National Team: Sweden

Oguchi OnyewuPosition: Defender
Old Club: AC Milan
New Club: FC Twente
National Team: United States

Luca ToniPosition: Forward
Old Club: Genoa
New Club: Juventus
National Team: Italy

Robert PiresPosition: Midfielder
Old Club: Villarreal
New Club: Aston Villa
National Team: France (retired

Federico MachedaPosition: Forward
Old Club: Manchester United
New Club: Sampdoria Genoa (loan)
National Team: Italy

Simao SabrosaPosition: Midfielder
Old Club: Atletico Madrid
New Club: Besiktas
National Team: Portugal

Edson BuddlePosition: Forward
Old Club: Los Angeles Galaxy
New Club: FC Ingolstadt
National Team: United States

Hugo AlmeidaPosition: Forward
Old Club: Werder Bremen
New Club: Besiktas
National Team: Portgual

Martin DemichelisPosition: Defender
Old Club: Bayern Munich
New Club: Malaga
National Team: Argentina

Michael RensingPosition: Goalkeeper
Old Club: Bayern Munich
New Club: Cologne
Nationality: German

Amantino ManciniPosition: Midfielder
Old Club: Inter Milan
New Club: Atletico Mineiro
National Team: Brazil

calling on CAF to assist Kodjovi Obilale a victim of the Togolese last year attack by the Angolans

Go for a drive with Kodjovi Obilale and you could almost be riding with any professional footballer. Almost.

First, see the smart car - a black BMW, in this case. Second, hear the music booming: it's R&B, of some description. Third, see the man, dressed fashionably in black - there are sparkly earrings, and what appears to be a fancy watch.

But take a harder look.

There's a pair of crutches in the passenger seat. And on the back seat, a large white paper bag from a pharmacy, overflowing with small boxes. Painkillers, and a lot more besides.

Scan even more closely, and the car's an automatic for a reason. The man driving is using his left foot only. Underneath the smart jeans, the legs are not as muscular as they should be.


Can those who run football honestly say they would have behaved in the same manner if Kodjovi's team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor had been cut down?

He's a proud man, Kodjovi Obilale - was proud to play for Togo once (even went to a World Cup, though he was never fully professional) - and he'd love to be too proud to beg.

But here's the deal: he can't be. Not with a football career that ended before it had really begun.

Not with two bullet wounds sustained in a gun attack. Not with a probably permanent disability.

Not with a wife and two small kids.

Not with an international football community that he suggests has been far, far too quick to forget who he is, and to acknowledge that life really does go on when you stop playing.

So he tells you, one minute, that he's fine. "Tout se passe bien", he even says, early on in the interview. [Everything's going well].

Yet five minutes later, he's explaining how some nights he can't sleep, because the pain's too great, and that he cries sometimes, when he's on his own, because the flashbacks are so vivid.

So he's asking for support.

He hasn't asked us to be there, sitting in a quiet cafe, next to the marina in Lorient, in Brittany - but he knows the message could help. He outlines, patiently, how football's world governing body Fifa, and the Togolese and French Football Federations, have all provided some financial assistance.

He isn't broke at the moment. The car and the clothes tell you that.

But don't be fooled. The future doesn't feel like a land of milk and honey to Kodjovi Obilale.

He's doing a computer course, and says he'd like to open an African restaurant. But he earned his living as a footballer, for goodness' sake. And he's still only 26.

He hasn't really got a clue what to do or, crucially, what he is capable of doing. Even without a leg that doesn't work like it used to, a scar down his abdomen the size of a thick middle finger, and a mind full of unimaginable horrors.

Obilale needs all the help he can get. A lot of good people nearby are doing what they can. But he needs to feel like he hasn't been forgotten by the wider world. The football family, as I believe they like to call it, needs to live up to its name.

After all, it could have so easily have been Emmanuel Adebayor. All that separates the Manchester City star's life from his disabled friend's is where both chose to sit, on a bus, a year ago as they made their way to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

Can those who run football honestly say they would have behaved in the same manner, if Adebayor had been cut down? (To our discredit, we, in the media, certainly would not.)

AFRICAN FOOTBALL BLOG
Hours after the chaos, it was erroneously reported around the world that Obilale was dead. But, despite everything, he fights on...

Piers Edwards
Kodjovi Obilale is a mighty strong character. If he hadn't been, he wouldn't be here to tell the tale.

When he was lying on the floor of that ill-fated team bus, he wasn't scared of dying, he told me. But he's a young man, with a young family, who's battling a disability, and a dream that's been horribly shattered. He's a little bit scared of living right now.

In the smart car, under the fashionable clothes, the sparkly earrings and the watch, is a man who's no longer a footballer at all.

But he still deserves football's support.

Part of the article by:
Richard Connelly
BBC World Service Sport

THE FIRST ENGLISHMAN TO PLAY FOR REALMADRID IS BLACK, AMAZING

On 15 July 1989, one of the most remarkable careers in English football history came to a sudden and tragic end in a car crash on the outskirts of Madrid.

Laurie Cunningham was only 33 when he died and spent most of the peak years of his career playing abroad.

But what he did on the pitch, and the changes he helped bring about off it, left a lasting impact on the English game.

Rejected by Arsenal, he began his professional career at Leyton Orient in 1974 and within five years he became the first Englishman to play for Real Madrid.


His amazing journey from Brisbane Road to the Bernabeu went via West Brom, where the winger became the first black player capped by England at any level


His amazing journey from Brisbane Road to the Bernabeu went via West Brom, where the winger became the first black player capped by England at any level

His sign on fee then was £950,000, aged 22, Cunningham left the Hawthorns for Madrid. For all parties, things would never be the same.

Laurie was like Cristiano Ronaldo in the way he used to take people on," he commented.

"He had his style, his grace and his pace. He ran on his toes, he was balletic with his amazing tricks and pace."

may he rest in perfect peace.

By Ronnie Collins

Messi, Marta, Mourinho and Neid crowned as the best of 2010

Argentina’s Lionel Messi collected the FIFA Ballon d’Or, his second consecutive title, while Brazil’s Marta continued her winning streak by claiming her fifth FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year award at the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala held at the Zurich Kongresshaus on Monday evening. Meanwhile, José Mourinho, the Portuguese coach of Real Madrid, and Germany’s women’s national team coach Silvia Neid were the inaugural winners of the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football and FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football awards, respectively.

These awards were decided after a poll in which the captains and head coaches of the men’s (for the two men’s football awards) and women’s (for the two women’s football awards) national teams as well as international media representatives selected by France Football voted for candidates in each of the four categories. The votes from each of the three groups counted for one-third of the final result.

It was a night to remember, with on-stage appearances by former and current football stars, top celebrities and a performance by musician by Jamie Cullum to mark the first-ever awarding of the FIFA Ballon d’Or following an alliance to combine the FIFA World Player of the Year award with the France Football Ballon d’Or agreed by FIFA and the Amaury Group in Johannesburg in July 2010.

Messi had an outstanding 2010, winning the Spanish league with his club Barcelona. Messi obtained 22.65% of the votes, ahead of his club team-mates Andrés Iniesta (17.36%) and Xavi (16.48%).

Marta thrilled fans in the Women’s Professional Soccer League in the USA, where she won the Golden Boot and was elected best player of the season with FC Gold Pride. She collected 38.20% of the votes, ahead of Germany’s Birgit Prinz and Fatmire Bajramaj, who received 15.18% and 9.96%, respectively.

Mourinho, who led Inter Milan to the UEFA Champions League, the Italian Serie A and the Italian cup before moving to Real Madrid in the summer of 2010, won with 35.92% of the votes, ahead of Spanish national coach Vicente del Bosque, who received 33.08%, and Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola (8.45%).

Meanwhile, Silvia Neid, coach of current world champions Germany, led the women’s coach category with 24.06% of the votes, ahead of Germany’s U-20 women’s team coach Maren Meinert (18.26%) and the Swedish coach of the USA women’s national team Pia Sundhage (11.68%).

The FIFA/FIFPro World XI to honour the best eleven players of the year 2010, as chosen by over 50,000 professional players from all over the world, went to a “dream team” consisting of Iker Casillas (Spain) in goal; Maicon (Brazil), Lúcio (Brazil), Gerard Piqué (Spain) and Carles Puyol (Spain) in defence; Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), Xavi (Spain) and Andrés Iniesta (Spain) in midfield; and Lionel Messi (Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) and David Villa (Spain) up front.

The FIFA Puskás Award for the “most beautiful goal” of the year as voted for on FIFA.com by over one million fans was also handed out. This prize, created in honour and in memory of Ferenc Puskás, the captain and star of the Hungarian national team during the 1950s, went to Turkey’s Hamit Altintop for his fantastic goal in the UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying match between Kazakhstan and Turkey played in Astana on 3 September 2010.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu received the FIFA Presidential Award from President Joseph S. Blatter for his outstanding commitment to youth development worldwide and his contribution to the use of football as a catalyst for positive social change, as well as for the support he gave to the hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, the first one on African soil.

The FIFA Fair Play Award was given to the Haiti U-17 women’s team, who had to endure many hardships following the earthquake which struck their country in January 2010, during which their head coach sadly passed away. The team showed great courage to make it to the final round of the CONCACAF qualifiers for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2010, where their performance was applauded by the fans despite their eventual elimination. The award was collected by the captain of the team, Hayana Jean-François.

courtesy of FIFA

UCHE OKAFOR COMMITS SUICIDE IN HIS DALLAS BASED

Former Nigeria international defender, Uche Okafor, was found dead at his Dallas, Texas home in the America on Thursday morning.
The defender was a part of the victorious 1994 Nations Cup team and played a match at the 1994 World Cup, where the

national team qualified for the second round in a first ever appearance at the Mundial. He won a total of 34 caps for the national team.
He began his football career at the defunct ACB Football club, Lagos. He then moved to Belgium as was the norm of Nigerian players to join first division side KSV Mechelen.
He also played for Hannover 96 before ending his career in Major League Soccer (MLS) with Sporting Kansas City, formerly known as Kansas City Wizards.
Okafor was a member of the North Texas Soccer Association where he was head coach for the 91 Gold Central boys team and the 93 HP Central boys team who play in the Plano Premier Select Soccer league. He also worked as a pundit on American sports channel, ESPN on the programme PressPass. He was 43 years old at the time of his death.

COURTESY OF 234NEXT

ADEBAYOR LOAN TRANSFER, DOES IT MAKE ANY SENSE?

Manchester City look set to offload Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor during the transfer window and, according to Marca, Real Madrid will make their move for the forward.

The Spanish publication declare that Jose Mourinho's side will sign Adebayor initially on loan until the end of the season before making the deal a permanent one.

The former Arsenal hitman has an uneasy relationship with current City boss Roberto Mancini and has only featured in a handful of games this season, with the likes of Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli securing the lone striker role in rotation, and Edin Dzeko due to complete a big money move from Wolfsburg.

Mancini may be eager to usher Adebayor - who has also been linked with a temporary move to Liverpool - out of the squad after a bust-up with team-mate Kolo Toure before one of their biggest matches of the season at the Emirates.The news that Gonzalo Higuain will need surgery on a herniated disc means a loan deal to assess Adebayor's adaptability to the Spanish game will give Mourinho cover for now, and an option to add the striker on a permanent deal in the summer.