tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66449931619893757392024-03-05T02:27:38.180-08:00Sports UpdateSports Related NewsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.comBlogger893125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-64704246711976538952015-04-03T01:46:00.001-07:002015-04-03T02:34:11.080-07:00Joseph Yobo and Wife welcome their Second Child<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
Former Super Eagles Captain Joseph Yobo and wife, Adaeze Yobo welcomed their Second Child.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyCvfS9BDQNICW1lEJu2AJw0JOmWtWuKS9sfgnmplfmjzxHRcDhLzntxSs-YNxLYDtRpcaqajRmTd_n9QGC2hE64wHqyoTg-MYJ8HhKi8CnY-9qSAaymFdcWcpfJmvijbcX_hJuatz2A/s1600/Yobo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyCvfS9BDQNICW1lEJu2AJw0JOmWtWuKS9sfgnmplfmjzxHRcDhLzntxSs-YNxLYDtRpcaqajRmTd_n9QGC2hE64wHqyoTg-MYJ8HhKi8CnY-9qSAaymFdcWcpfJmvijbcX_hJuatz2A/s1600/Yobo.jpg" height="257" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
The couple had a four year old boy named Joey and the new baby boy has been named Jayden..<br />
<br />
The 25 year old wife of Joseph, an ex beauty queen revealed the baby's sex at a surprise baby shower sometime last month<br />
<br />
The bundle of joy arrived in the early hours of yesterday at about 7:57am weighing 75lbs.<br />
<br />
<br />
Twitter @aderonkew</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-73565026653004042992015-04-01T06:38:00.000-07:002015-04-01T06:38:09.838-07:00Gervinho ruled put for three weeks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ivorian winger Gervinho has been ruled out of action for up to three weeks, Roma confirmed on Tuesday.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Jv140MWWw8v3xtRtoMoh1_B0bVgdjF6JpXx_M09mZJ1mx5kBpKPnIzTq8dBpM4A-3ICmAypGn6r5s6PLSae3YUCHCJ4m8lQ1REgWQ_K7X31yAa0xCwxy1SnvzReEhWishohh_E_uJTA/s1600/Gervinho_Roma_v_City_580x473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Jv140MWWw8v3xtRtoMoh1_B0bVgdjF6JpXx_M09mZJ1mx5kBpKPnIzTq8dBpM4A-3ICmAypGn6r5s6PLSae3YUCHCJ4m8lQ1REgWQ_K7X31yAa0xCwxy1SnvzReEhWishohh_E_uJTA/s1600/Gervinho_Roma_v_City_580x473.jpg" height="162" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Gervinho left the field after 37 minutes in Ivory Coast's 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea on Sunday and subsequent medical tests revealed that Rudi Garcia will be without one of his key players for their next three Serie A fixtures.<br />
<br />
The former Arsenal man has scored seven goals, assisting a further four in 30 games across all competitions for the Giallorossi this season.<br />
<br />
"Medical tests carried out on Gervinho have revealed a Grade I hamstring strain. The forward, who will begin a recovery program tomorrow [Wednesday], is expected to be out of action for around three weeks," the club confirmed via it's official website.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://africanfootball.com/news/521906/Gervinho-blow-for-Roma">Source</a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-26638311213147089152015-04-01T06:22:00.001-07:002015-04-01T06:22:28.614-07:00Akpeyi calls Enyeama a role model<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Super Eagles goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi has said the side’s captain and centurion Vincent Enyeama will forever remain his key role model.<br />
<br />
The Warri Wolves shot stopper has been praised for his standout performance in Sunday’s friendly clash in Nelspruit against Bafana Bafana of South Africa.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Akpeyi said aside from Enyeama’s overriding role in his career, Ike Shorunmu, the former Nigerian star and the side’s goalkeeper coach, as well as stand-in coach Daniel Amokachi are equally defining personalities in his flowering football career.<br />
<br />
“Enyeama has been a big brother and role model who has been with me through thick and thin.<br />
<br />
“Enyeama has been encouraging and supportive, ever ready to remind me that ups and downs in life are quite natural but something that can spur one on to a higher height.<br />
<br />
“He always tell me to look ahead in the face of being picked and dropped, saying that he himself faced a similar fate at some points in his career.<br />
<br />
“I learnt a lot from him and I’ll always remain eternally grateful for his positive touch on my career.<br />
<br />
“The same encouragement and support were given to me by Shorunmu.<br />
<br />
“Shorunmu will always tell me not to lose faith but keep my head up no matter what.<br />
<br />
“Coach Amokachi has been wonderful too, especially handing me the starting shirt against South Africa in Nelspruit. I thank him for the confidence he reposed in me in such a crucial match.<br />
<br />
“I understand that I’m not there yet but will work harder to justify future opportunities that may come my way,” said the former Heartland magnet to supersport.com.<br />
<br />
Akpeyi said his side did not disappoint against Bafana Bafana in the high profile friendly match in Nelspruit.<br />
<br />
“The clash against South Africa was really tough because of the existing rivalry between the countries.<br />
<br />
“South Africa came into the game to consolidate their recent edge over Nigeria but we didn’t want that to happen, not after the defeat to Uganda in Uyo.<br />
<br />
“The encounter was a good one for both sides, we didn’t lose the game and I strongly believe we can perform better in future matches,” said Akpeyi.<br />
<br />
The friendly match is part of the programme to keep the side active and competitive ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifying matches among others.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://ng.supersport.mobi/football/super-eagles/news/150331/Akpeyi_calls_Enyeama_a_role_model">Source</a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-13064866673509910942015-04-01T06:16:00.002-07:002015-04-01T06:16:52.749-07:00Herrmann extends deal by three years to 2019<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Borussia Moenchengladbach winger Patrick Herrmann has extended his contract with the Bundesliga club by three years to 2019 as they battle for a Champions League spot next season.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
The 24-year-old attacking midfielder has had a fine season so far, scoring eight goals and setting up another two with Gladbach in third place behind leaders Bayern Munich and VfL Wolfsburg, two points ahead of Bayer Leverkusen.<br />
<br />
Herrmann has also netted four times in the Europa League.<br />
<br />
"I feel at home here," said the player, who started out in the club's youth teams in 2008, in a club statement. "These are conditions for me to continue down this successful path that should also again lead to the national team."<br />
<br />
"But with Borussia I also have goals. The Europa League matches this season wet my appetite for more. I want to be successful with the club both nationally and internationally."<br />
<br />
Herrmann, who in 2013 won a Germany call-up but has yet to earn his first cap, has made 185 appearances for Gladbach scoring 35 goals in all competitions.</div>
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http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-9084150070940382132015-04-01T06:14:00.001-07:002015-04-01T06:14:16.683-07:00Arsenal to sign Wanyama<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
According to reports, Arsenal could be set to launch a massive bid for Southampton's Victor Wanyama.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
The defensive midfielder has reportedly impressed Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, who is eager to bolster his midfield in the European summer.<br />
<br />
According to the Sun, Arsenal, who have been linked with a move for Saints teammate Morgan Schneiderlin, have now shifted their attention to the Kenya international.<br />
<br />
Wanyama joined Southampton from Celtic in 2013 and will cost Arsenal in the region of £20 million.<br />
<br />
The 23-year-old has made 26 league appearances for Southampton this season, finding the back of the net on three occasions.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://africanfootball.com/news/521954/Arsenal-to-launch-big-bid-for-Wanyama">source</a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-11408462100486056002015-04-01T05:13:00.001-07:002015-04-01T05:13:37.066-07:00Tunisian clubside, Esperance to sign U20 Star, Bulbwa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Tunisian powerhouse Esperance are in advanced talks with Nigerian Under-20 midfielder Bernard Bulbwa and could sign him in the next transfer window.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
According to Tunisian media, the Nigerian player is in Tunisia where he will discuss contract terms with officials of Esperance.<br />
<br />
Esperance have also confirmed that Bulbwa and his representative are in Tunisia to wrap up talks.<br />
<br />
"The player and agent are already in Tunisia to discuss contract terms," Esperance announced.<br />
<br />
Bulbwa was one of the key players for the Nigerian under-20s who claimed the African Youth Championship [AYC] in Senegal. He scored a wonder goal in the final against the hosts to seal the African title at under-20 level for Nigeria.<br />
<br />
The Bab Souika-based side have been rebuilding their team this term following the departure of some foreign players. They are also preparing for the likely exit of Ghanaian international Harrison Afful at the end of this season.<br />
<br />
This season the Blood and Gold signed another Nigerian player, Emem Eduok from Dolphins, in<br />
the January transfer window.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://ng.supersport.mobi/football/nigeria/news/150331/Esperance_set_to_land_Bulbwa">Source</a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-31456655463997326092015-03-27T10:37:00.001-07:002015-03-27T10:37:39.116-07:00Cristiano Ronaldo must face ban or fine for Clasico celebration<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.goal.com/en/people/portugal/1945/c-ronaldo?ICID=TP_TST_30" target="_blank">Cristiano Ronaldo</a>'s provocative celebration in the Clasico “must” see him face a fine or suspension, according to La Liga president Javier Tebas.<br />
<br />
<img height="118" id="irc_mi" src="http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/67/590x/cristiano-ronaldo-553153.jpg" style="margin-top: 55px;" width="200" /> <br />
The Real Madrid forward taunted the Camp Nou crowd with a 'calm down'
gesture after scoring the equaliser in Sunday's clash with Barcelona,
although Jeremy Mathieu's opener was eventually added to by Luis Suarez.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
The LFP chief is adamant players should not bate opposition fans in
the way that Ronaldo did and says he will push for the Portugal
international to be sanctioned.<br />
<br />
"We have to be careful with provocative gestures by a player when he
scores a goal or with any other provocation or conduct that could incite
violence among spectators,” Tebas told reporters.<br />
“It must be sanctioned, from a fine up to a suspension. We will look into it."<br />
<br />
If the LFP decide to suspend Ronaldo for one match then he will be
absent for their first clash after the international break at home to
Granada, though a harsher ban could see him miss games with Rayo
Vallecano and Eibar.<br />
<br />
In addition to criticising Ronaldo, Tebas also questioned Real
Madrid's reluctance to allow the Copa del Rey final between Athletic
Bilbao and Barcelona to be played at the Santiago Bernabeu later this
season.<br />
“I wish it were the Bernabeu,” he added. “However, it is the decision
of the club and we must respect their decision not to allow it, for
whatever reason.”<br />
<br />
Real Madrid were eliminated from the Copa del Rey at the last-16
stage by Atletico, who were subsequently dumped out of the competition
by Barca in the quarter-finals.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4099/spain/2015/03/25/10168352/ronaldo-must-face-ban-or-fine-for-clasico-celebration?ICID=HP_PN_1">Source</a> </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-40456032102128990842015-03-27T10:14:00.001-07:002015-03-27T10:21:06.374-07:00 Podolski slams media critics <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.goal.com/en/teams/italy/internazionale/1244?ICID=TP_TN_4_3_4" target="_blank">Inter</a> attacker <a href="http://www.goal.com/en/people/germany/2328/lukas-podolski?ICID=TP_TST_32" target="_blank">Lukas Podolski</a> has hit out at critics of his performances in Serie A following his loan switch from <a href="http://www.goal.com/en/teams/england/arsenal/660?ICID=HP_TN_4_1_1" target="_blank">Arsenal</a>.<br />
<br />
<img height="200" id="irc_mi" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Lukas_Podolski,_Germany_national_football_team_%2804%29.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="200" /> <br />
The Germany international has received his fair share of criticism in
the Italian media since his winter move, with some publications
labelling him as the worst signing of the season.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
However, Podolski has vowed to give his all as he looks to turn around his form.<br />
<br />
"People keep bringing up how the Italian media looks at me," the 29-year-old complained to reporters.<br />
"What can I do about it? Should I just dig myself into the ground and give up playing football?"<br />
<br />
Podolski scored his 48th goal for Germany in their 2-2 draw with
Australia in midweek and he is desperate to keep playing for the
national team.<br />
<br />
"I have always been part of the team and I hope this will continue to be the case," he said.<br />
<br />
"I always enjoy being with the national team and always give my all
in training to show the coach what I can do. It's then up to him to make
a decision."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4091/italy/2015/03/27/10224302/should-i-just-give-up-playing-football-podolski-slams-media?ICID=HP_TS_1">source</a><br />
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-61417711553767653842015-03-27T10:14:00.000-07:002015-03-27T10:16:42.439-07:00Betrayal or Explanation? Amokachi: I did not pick Eagles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="yiv2188671071msonormal">
Assistant coach Daniel Amokachi has
tried to distance himself from the Super Eagles disastrous showing
against Uganda Wednesday night by telling his bosses he did not pick the
team.</div>
<img height="182" id="irc_mi" src="http://city1051fm.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Daniel-Amokachi.jpg" style="margin-top: 83px;" width="320" /><br />
<br />
<div class="yiv2188671071msonormal">
A lethargic Nigeria, who handed
Eagles debuts to the likes of Odion Ighalo, Moses Simon and Akeem
Latifu, were upset 1-0 by Uganda in Uyo Wednesday night.<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<br />
<div class="yiv2188671071msonormal">
And Amokachi, who has been in
temporary charge of the national in the absence of Stephen Keshi, has
tried to save his own neck after angry officials led by Nigeria Football
Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick demanded to know why the
Eagles failed to fly against the Cranes of Uganda.</div>
<br />
<div class="yiv2188671071msonormal">
One of the top officials told
AfricanFootball.com that they were stunned when Amokachi told them he
should not be held accountable for the poor display of the Eagles
because he did not pick the squad.</div>
<br />
<div class="yiv2188671071msonormal">
“He said he did not pick the team,
that it was Keshi who did so. It was his own way of defending himself,”
said the top official.</div>
<br />
<div class="yiv2188671071msonormal">
Amokachi’s latest self defence is not
likely to go down well with ‘Big Boss’ Keshi, who could well be now
having a rethink about who should assist him in his second stint in
charge of the Eagles.</div>
<br />
<div class="yiv2188671071msonormal">
Keshi’s new two-year contract has
been sanctioned by the NFF executive committee and he is now expected to
sign it in time for the qualifying tournament for the 2017 AFCON.</div>
<div class="yiv2188671071msonormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv2188671071msonormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv2188671071msonormal">
<a href="http://amokachi/">source</a> </div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-75841969946371731142015-03-06T08:35:00.001-08:002015-03-06T08:35:43.074-08:00United v Arsenal promises another cracker<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img align="middle" height="200" src="http://images.supersport.com/2015/3/Wayne_Rooney_claps11022015G300.jpg" style="display: block;" width="200" />Manchester United and Arsenal have served up some classic FA Cup
encounters going back to their first 109 years ago and Monday's
quarterfinal under the Old Trafford floodlights promises another special
occasion.<br />
<br />
Fans of both sides can pick out plenty of memorable moments between the
two most successful clubs in the competition with 11 wins apiece.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Holders Arsenal beat United in the 1979 and 2005 finals but United have
won their last two meetings in the competition since that defeat on
penalties at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff 10 years ago.<br />
<br />
Alan Sunderland's last-minute winner for the Londoners in an epic 1979
final and Ryan Giggs's semifinal wonder goal for United 20 years later
are just two stand-outs.<br />
<br />
There was also Arsenal's 2-0 fifth-round win in 2003 that became
infamous after David Beckham was struck above his eye by a boot that had
been kicked in anger in the dressing room by United manager Alex
Ferguson.<br />
<br />
Go further back in time and the history books tell of Arsenal's 5-0
fourth-round demolition of United in 1937, a record home win against the
Red Devils that still stands.<br />
<br />
<strong>DEJA VU</strong><br />
Just four days after securing three much-needed league points with a
last-gasp 2-1 victory over their local rivals, Aston Villa host West
Bromwich Albion again on Saturday in the second all-Premier League
quarterfinal.<br />
Christian Benteke's penalty handed Tim Sherwood his first win as Aston Villa manager and ended their worst run for 52 years.<br />
Liverpool meet second-tier Blackburn Rovers at Anfield on Sunday on the
back of a run of form which has seen Brendan Rodgers' side lose just
once in their last 21 games in all competitions.<br />
<br />
While Liverpool's main focus is securing a Champions league place for
next season, they will be confident of reaching the semifinals against a
Rovers side anchored in mid-table in the Championship.<br />
<br />
The last time the sides met in April 2012 -- a 3-2 win for Liverpool at
Ewood Park -- Rovers were heading out of the Premier League.<br />
<br />
A lower league team is guaranteed a last-four place with third-tier
Bradford City, who reached the League Cup final two years ago, hosting
Championship side Reading at Valley Parade on Saturday in what is
certain to be an emotional afternoon for Phil Parkinson.<br />
<br />
Bradford manager Parkinson ended his playing career at Reading where he
was a fans' favourite, making over 400 appearances in the blue and white
hoops.<br />
<br />
Giant-killing Bradford have the whiff of Wembley again after stunning
Premier League leaders Chelsea and Sunderland in previous rounds.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.supersport.com/football/fa-cup/news/150306/United_v_Arsenal_promises_another_cracker">source</a> </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-72616077873180443932015-03-06T08:22:00.001-08:002015-03-06T08:22:38.841-08:00Cerebral Palsy Football grows in Nigeria<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img alt="Members of the Power Eagles team strike a pose" class="attachment-860x800 wp-post-image" data-attachment-id="178016" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.8","credit":"Picasa","camera":"N9","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1424785199","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.5","iso":"106","shutter_speed":"0.001452","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Members of the Power Eagles team strike a pose" data-large-file="http://media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2015/03/Members-of-the-Power-Eagles-team-strike-a-pose.jpg" data-medium-file="http://media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2015/03/Members-of-the-Power-Eagles-team-strike-a-pose-526x330.jpg" data-orig-file="http://media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2015/03/Members-of-the-Power-Eagles-team-strike-a-pose.jpg" data-orig-size="800,502" height="125" src="http://media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2015/03/800x502xMembers-of-the-Power-Eagles-team-strike-a-pose.jpg.pagespeed.ic.BUEn_8gDuu.jpg" width="200" />When a congenital abnormality at a very tender age seemed to have
shattered the ambition of Yusuf Bakare to be a football star, he braved
the odds and today, he is the Assistant Captain of the newly formed
Power Eagles, Nigeria’s Cerebral Palsy Seven-Aside Football team.<br />
<br />
Many years down the lane, there seems to be a glimmer of hope for
Yusuf as he can now pursue his life-long ambition of playing football
at the ”highest level” and be celebrated all over the world.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Cerebral palsy is one of the commonest physical disability in
childhood, experts say. One in four children with the ailment cannot
talk; one in three cannot walk; one in two has an intellectual
disability and one in four has epilepsy.<br />
<br />
However, Yusuf sees a huge ability in the extremely challenging
physical condition, claiming that he favourably competed with his
able-bodied counterparts in football, a sport he loves passionately.<br />
<br />
However, the stark reality of no prospect for a professional career
and other limitations have always been a source of worry for the
talented midfielder and indeed the over one million cerebral palsy
victims in Nigerians, some of whom surprisingly nurse the dream of
making football a career.<br />
<br />
“I have always liked to play football right from my childhood days,”
Yusuf, who alongside his teammates is preparing for their first
international game against Ghana, told PREMIUM TIMES.<br />
<br />
“I don’t know when this happened to me, but my mother told me that I had an accident when I was very small.”<br />
<br />
Cerebral Palsy football, which is unique in its own concept and
style, creates a fairer game of football for players with physical
disability. It is similar to football for able-bodied players but with
some modifications in the rules, team composition and size of playing
turf.<br />
<br />
For instance, there are seven players on the field at a time, rather
than 11 and the measurements of the playing field smaller. Also unlike
in the conventional football, there is no offside rule and throw-ins may
be made with just one hand. Duration of matches consist of two halves
of 30 minutes each.<br />
<br />
Though relatively new in Nigeria, PREMIUM TIMES’ findings indicate
that cerebral palsy football has gained ground in other parts of the
world with some big clubs already creating departments for CP football. A
functional league is understood to be in place in England and some
other European countries.<br />
In Africa, Ghana, South Africa and now Nigeria are the frontline countries that have embraced this new breed of football.<br />
<br />
Gbenga Dosunmu, the coach of the Power Eagles team, explained to
PREMIUM TIMES the sacrifices the players are putting in to realize
their goals.<br />
<br />
“As you know this is a relatively new sport in Nigeria but we have
the talents that can excel if they are given the right motivation,” Mr.
Dosunmu said. “I must salute the courage of this first set of players
that we have. Beyond their talents, they are very determined; and that
for me is the key to success.”<br />
<br />
The Power Eagles say they hope to be a world power in the sports in no distant future.<br />
“I want to be one of world’s best players,” Adewale Monsuru, another
member of the team, said. “If there is a Ballon d’Or award like we have
for the able-bodied players, I will like to win it someday.”<br />
The Chairman of the Cerebral Football Association, Jude Uwazie, told
PREMIUM TIMES that little has been achieved since the association was
formed in 2012.<br />
<br />
However, he remained optimistic that the team would soon be a force
to reckon with like the Super Eagles and other Nigeria national teams
who have high ratings in not just the continent but all over the world.<br />
“We have big dreams to represent this country at the highest level,”
Mr. Uwazie said. “The journey has not been easy but we are moving
forward gradually.”<br />
<br />
The Power Eagles Team Manager, Adegboyega Ganiyu, said despite the
hurdles confronting the team, they would remain resolute in their dream
to feature at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.<br />
<br />
“We have the vision of playing at the Paralympics but the route to
achieving this is quite tedious,” he said. “We have decided to give it
our best shot and by God’s grace, we will make it.”<br />
<br />
A social campaigner for the physically challenged, Okey Stanley, said
an enabling environment should always be created for young men and
women hoping to make the most of themselves despite their challenges.<br />
<br />
“There are over 20 million Nigerians living with all sorts of
disabilities and these are people who cannot compete favourably to
contribute to Gross Domestic Product,” he said. “If you create an
enabling environment to get jobs , they will add to the GDP. This will
be a major boost.”<br />
<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/AderonkeW">twitter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/178011-amid-high-hopes-%E2%80%8Bcerebral-palsy-football%E2%80%8B-grows-in-nigeria.html">Source</a> </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-73682403431932824592015-03-06T08:13:00.001-08:002015-03-06T08:13:24.710-08:00NFF consoles Kano Pillars over Armed Robbery attack<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img alt="Amaju-Pinnick1" class="attachment-post-thumb wp-post-image" height="240" src="http://www.thenff.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Amaju-Pinnick1.jpg" width="400" />
</div>
President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick
has condoled with players, officials and management of Nigeria Premier
League club, Kano Pillars, who were attacked by armed robbers on the
Abuja-Lokoja highway on Thursday afternoon.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
“It is saddening to hear that people involved in football were
attacked in this way, in broad daylight. Football brings happiness to
the people, and those involved in the game, especially the players,
should not be visited with this kind of pain and anguish.<br />
<br />
“The Nigeria Football Federation and the Nigeria football fraternity
console the injured players and officials. Our hearts are with them at
this tough period.”<br />
<br />
Players and officials of the Nigerian champions, who were on their
way to a season-opening Premier League match against Heartland FC of
Owerri, were ambushed after Abaji on the Abuja-Lokoja highway, and
officials have confirmed that five players remain seriously injured.<br />
<br />
NFF President Amaju Pinnick has also commended the League Management
Company for postponing Kano Pillars’ match against Heartland FC of
Owerri.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thenff.com/2015/03/nff-consoles-kano-pillars/">thenff.com</a><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/AderonkeW">twitter</a> </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-41981258047769694112015-03-06T08:10:00.000-08:002015-03-06T08:10:08.097-08:00Super Eagles to play Bafana Bafana on March 29<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img alt="photo credit - mountfletcheronline.co.za" class="attachment-post-thumb wp-post-image" height="208" src="http://www.thenff.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/photo-credit-mountfletcheronline.co_.za_.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<br />
<br />
The Nigeria Football Federation announced on Friday that the Senior
National Team, Super Eagles, will play a friendly game against the
Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Sunday, March 29.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
The match, which comes a little over four months after a 2-2 draw in
Uyo between the two teams meant Nigeria failed to qualify for the 30th
Africa Cup of Nations finals in Equatorial Guinea, will take place at
the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.<br />
The venue hosted Nigeria’s first two matches at the 2013 Africa Cup
of Nations – 1-1 draws against Burkina Faso and Zambia – but the Eagles
went all the way to lift the trophy for the first time in 19 years.<br />
Both teams are preparing for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations
qualifiers and the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying series. The two last
met in South Africa in a qualifying match for the 2015 Africa Cup of
Nations, which ended scoreless in Cape Town.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thenff.com/2015/03/super-eagles-to-play-bafana-bafana-on-march-29/">thenff.com</a> </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-27335638748587931152014-10-01T10:43:00.000-07:002014-10-01T10:43:54.881-07:00Fabrice Muamba says he fled the DR Congo to England for fearful retribution<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #282828; font-family: 'Segoe UI';">He
fled the Democratic Republic of Congo, fearful of retribution during the bloody
civil war as his father was allied to President Mobutu.</span></div>
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<img alt="Fabrice Muamba seizes his chance after troubled journey from political refugee to Premier League" height="249" src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01918/fabrice_1918232c.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="color: #282828; font-family: 'Segoe UI';">He
arrived in a snowstorm at Heathrow, a political refugee soon enrolled at a
school in north-east London. He was 11 and couldn’t speak a word of English.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #282828; font-family: 'Segoe UI';">But
</span><span style="color: #282828; font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Muamba</span><span style="color: #282828; font-family: 'Segoe UI';"> could play football and on Sunday his journey takes him into a
European Under-21 match against the talented youth of Spain at </span><span style="color: #282828; font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Herning</span><span style="color: #282828; font-family: 'Segoe UI';">, here in Denmark.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #282828; font-family: 'Segoe UI';">So
when times are hard in his career, such as when Arsenal allowed him to leave,
even engagements such as this one when he will be sweating copiously to
dispossess </span><span style="color: #282828; font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Bojan</span><span style="color: #282828; font-family: 'Segoe UI';">, Mata and company, the </span><span style="color: #234b7b; font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-weight: bold;">Bolton
Wanderers</span><span style="color: #282828; font-family: 'Segoe UI';"> midfielder can keep things
in perspective. He has seen too much sadness, heard too much gunfire.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #282828; font-family: 'Segoe UI';">He<i>
has lost close relatives like his uncle, who was murdered. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #282828; font-family: 'Segoe UI';">“I
don’t really speak about it that much,’’ said </span><span style="color: #282828; font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Muamba</span><span style="color: #282828; font-family: 'Segoe UI';">, a highly intelligent soul whose darting eyes betray the horror he has
witnessed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">“It’s Africa, isn’t it? That’s the type
of continent it is. There is always dramas, wars and stuff. My father was an
adviser for the prime minister. Dad was involved in the political situation but
had to move away, to come to England</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">.’’</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">As the rebels moved into Kinshasa, Marcel
</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Muamba</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';"> had to move quickly, telling the
nine-year-old </span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Fabrice</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';"> that he was just going out. Three
years elapsed before they were reunited</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">“When he moved, he had to help me and mum
get to England. If I had stayed, they would have seen us as an easy target to
get information from the regime people, to use it against us. My mum, dad and
siblings all live in London now</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-style: italic;">Muamba</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-style: italic;"> has
never been back to the land of his birth</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">. Although tensions have eased, he
remains suspicious of the reception. So he admitted to being surprised when the
DR Congo FA contacted him at Bolton last year, inviting him to represent the
country. He sensed a trap.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">“I just thought it best not to get
involved. Because of how my family situation is back home, it is quite
difficult for me to go back. They would see me as an easy target, to get rid of
me. I have got family but they have had to change their identity in order to be
safe</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">“I can go back but secretly. I’m going in
the summer out of curiosity, to see what I might be able to give back. I will
have to go back via another country and in that way. Dad won’t go back at all</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">What a journey. </span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Muamba</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';"> will reflect “on how far I have
come” when </span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-style: italic;">God
Save the Queen</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';"> pipes
up on Sunday. “England is my adopted country. People have helped me, welcomed
me with open arms and given me this opportunity. I’m earning a more than decent
living and leading a comfortable life. I’m very appreciative</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">“When I look back on the journey, I see
how lucky I am. I’m not the most talented footballer but I know what I can do
and what I need to do to stay where I am. I just keep myself to myself and
enjoy what I have and hopefully move on to better things</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">"I want to enjoy all life can give
to me. What I have experienced is what keeps me going and gets me out of
whatever difficulty I face</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Relentless appliance defines him on and
off the field. A native Lingala and French speaker, </span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Muamba</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';"> worked hard to become fluent in
English</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Determined to maintain his education, he
will start an Open University course in accountancy in September</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">His footballing journey began at Arsenal
under </span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Arsène</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';"> Wenger and now accelerates under
Owen Coyle at Bolton. “Owen gets involved and plays with us in training</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Arsène</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';"> doesn’t get involved like that. Owen is
more a people’s person. </span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Arsène</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';"> is just </span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Arsène</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">, very strategic. You have to sit
down and talk to him to understand the kind of man he is</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Well trained by Wenger, Steve Bruce at
Birmingham City and Coyle, </span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Muamba</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';"> knows that his footballing journey
could run into a substantial roadblock in </span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Herning</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">“Spain have a very good team, similar to
the senior: pass, pass, pass. We have to hit them on the counter. The boys feel
fresh and ready to go</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">He understood why Wenger stopped Jack
Wilshere from attending the Euros for fear of exhaustion. “I met him at Bolton
and he was good. He has progressed to be very good. Jack has been awesome this
year. He’s not here but we have a bunch of boys chomping at the bit</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">.’’</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Some, like </span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Muamba</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">, remember their last under-21 journey in
Scandinavia, reaching the Malmo final against the Germans of Mesut </span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Ozil</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">, Sami </span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Khedira</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';"> and Manuel </span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Neuer</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">“Before the game we had loads of messages
in the dressing room from David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, all the senior boys.
Then to come in after being beaten 4-0 ... that changing room was not the best
place to be</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">Muamba</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';"> has been in far worse places. He’s been
in harm’s way.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Segoe UI';">“It’s been a long journey. To sit here
and speak English like this – I’m quite impressed with myself!” Some journey,
some man.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Segoe UI';"><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/8569315/Fabrice-Muamba-seizes-his-chance-after-extraordinary-journey-from-political-refugee-to-Premier-League.html">source</a></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-45898738149818781802014-10-01T09:37:00.002-07:002014-10-01T09:49:00.953-07:00KESHI MAY NOT GET NEW CONTRACT<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Coach Stephen Keshi is not likely to be given a new contract by the newly elected NFF executive committee, AfricanFootball.com has scooped.</span><br />
<img src="http://businessdayonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/stephen-keshi.jpg" height="266" width="400" /><br />
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<a href="http://businessdayonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/stephen-keshi.jpg">image source</a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">A majority of the new NFF leadership does not believe in the coach and even though he will supervise the two AFCON qualifiers against Sudan later this month, he will not be offered a new deal.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">“Most members of the old board under Aminu Maigari have been returned, including Chris Green, who was technical committee chairman, and that can only mean bad news for Keshi,” a top source informed AfricanFootball.com</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">“But most importantly even the newly elected executives, the very top officials, do not support Keshi continuing as coach.”</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">It is believed that Keshi will only be left in charge of the team for the matches against Sudan home and away and thereafter a decision will be taken especially if by then Nigeria have mathematically lost out on qualifying for the Nations Cup in Morocco.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Keshi has become increasingly nervous since after the NFF elections in Warri on Tuesday because he is seriously in danger of losing the plum job now.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Recently some of his highly-placed backers had put pressure on the NFF secretariat to give the coach a contract, but that could not come through because only the executive committee has the power to appoint a coach.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Keshi’s problems have been further compounded by the renewed interest of former Eagles coach Samson Siasia in the job.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Siasia has publicly said he will be interested in returning to his former post if he is offered the chance again after he was fired three years ago when Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2012 AFCON.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">“Keshi took the job from me and if I’m given the job again, I will take it,” he said in a radio interview.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://africanfootball.com/news/464817/EXCLUSIVE-Keshi-may-not-get-new-contract">source</a></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-1613239848376444842014-10-01T09:23:00.002-07:002014-10-01T09:23:57.084-07:00EMENIKE FIRES BACK AT KESHI - YOU CAN DROP ME<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Fenerbahce star Emmanuel Emenike has told AfricanFootball.com he is prepared to stay out of the Super Eagles if coach Stephen Keshi believed he is the problem of the team.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br /><img height="304" src="http://europaleaguenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Emenike4551.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://europaleaguenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Emenike4551.jpg">image source</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Keshi has been quoted as saying he is unhappy with the AFCON 2013 top scorer, who he sensationally benched in last month’s AFCON qualifier against Congo in Calabar.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">However, Emenike has quickly reacted to the comments of the coach, saying he has utmost respect for Keshi and will always do, but he has never been a problem to the Eagles and will never be.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"I have always treated Keshi like a father, and he has always lived in my heart to be a good father. Before now, we have been enjoying a smooth relationship and I see no reason why he should be holding grudges against me,” the star striker told AfricanFootball.com in a most revealing interview.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">“Keshi is a good coach, a coach with high pedigree. I give him all the respect I can give my father whenever I come for a national assignment.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"Before the 2013 Nations Cup, I could remember he called me to have a chat and I was ready to give him my best.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">“My performance at the competition was inspired by Keshi. He showed me love, he put me through and I always respected his decisions. I never thought that I am bigger than any coaches."</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">He told AfricanFootball.com he was therefore surprised to read a comment that Keshi and some players in the team are not happy with him.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"Everything changed after the Nations Cup, everything about him towards me changed and I decided to stay on my own,” he further revealed.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">“But I am very surprised by what he said that he and some players in the Eagles are not happy with me. Over what?</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"I don't want Nigerians to see me as being proud or arrogant, but if the coach thought inviting me to his team will not bring result or peace to the team, he can let me be.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">“I have maintained a solid relationship to avoid quarreling with him, but if my invitation to play for Nigeria does not stand for peace, I will like to stay focused with my club."</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">He added: "I have always loved to give my best for Nigeria and I always make it known that I can always fight to score goals for my country and I will not like coach Keshi to let Nigerians see me as an undisciplined player who is not ready to give them my best again.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"My Super Eagles career is as important as my club career. Coming to play for Nigeria was the biggest decision I have ever made in my life. And I appreciate the way the fans have been striving hard to cheer me up whenever I push for goal."</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Emenike further said he would appreciate if his unhappy team mates could go public with his “sins”.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"I have never seen the Super Eagles camp as my father's house, it's a temporary place for everybody, and why should we be making problems for ourselves? he asked.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">“As a matter of fact, I have no grudges with anybody in the team. I see everybody as my friend, I tried not to distinguish myself from any other player, as far as we have come to serve our country, we are equal.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"If Keshi thought inviting me is a problem to his selection or the team, I will prefer to stay back and maintain my big respect for him.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"The bottom line is that I don't have problems with Keshi and I don't have problems with him putting me on the bench. I am not bothered if he chose not to play me in a match and the fact remains that he made me in the Eagles and I will always give him his deserved respect anytime."</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Emenike has not scored for Nigeria since October last year, and that has raised questions over his commitment to the national team, but he has insisted he has been firing blanks because the chances are not being created for him again.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"At the World Cup, I played every role, of course my role is to stay in front and score goals, but in a situation where chances were not coming, it will be difficult for any striker to score," he explained to AfricanFootball.com</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"I am not a magician, I just laugh at some people who talk about my commitment in terms of goals. The right issue has not been addressed. At the Nations Cup, I scored goals because the chances were created and I also fought to score goals. I will score goals when the ball comes out from the right channels.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"I am never bothered by the critics, they have forgotten that form is a temporary situation, but class is always there for life, so I am not bothered.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">“My commitment is always like previously, but things need to get better."</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://africanfootball.com/news/464839/EXCLUSIVE-Emenike-fires-back-at-Keshi-You-can-drop-me">SOURCE</a></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-26507177356573330422014-09-30T08:14:00.000-07:002014-09-30T08:14:02.366-07:00Manchester United to play International friendlies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<img height="200" src="http://images.supersport.com/2014/9/Louis-van-Gaal-140726-LooksOn-AI-300.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" width="200" /></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Not involved in
European competition and knocked out of the League Cup, Manchester United are
considering playing midweek friendlies abroad to help manager Louis van Gaal
prepare for Premier League matches.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Van
Gaal has used an astonishing 29 different players in the club's opening six
league games of the season but a potential lack of competitive matches to keep
a large squad match fit is causing concern.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">United
beat Real Madrid 3-1 in a friendly in Michigan on their pre-season tour of the
United States and the club's managing director Richard Arnold thinks Van Gaal
would be happy to play more such games.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"We
have a fantastic partnership in terms of our work off the pitch and I'm very
appreciative of the support we have had from him," Arnold said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"For
many years of our international tours, there is a plan to ensure we get that
team-building that goes together with getting the team all together in one
place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"That's
something that's being looked at with regards to the future."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Injuries
and a number of transfers in and out of Old Trafford have contributed to the
high number of players used but the meticulous Dutchman will be praying for
more consistency of selection as he attempts to rebuild the team.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">He
will be without his captain Wayne Rooney for the next three games following the
England's forward's red card against West Ham and Juan Mata is likely to be
restored to the playmaking role behind the two strikers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">SPEAK
UP!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">United's
defensive problems could be eased by the return of Phil Jones for Sunday's game
against Everton but Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling are still injured and Tyler
Blackett suspended.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Van
Gaal's reign at United may have started unconvincingly on the pitch but the
Dutchman's influence behind the scenes is growing fast and he has urged his
players to become outspoken in team meetings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"Everybody
gets involved in the project and everyone has their own say, which is maybe new
for some players but not for me as I know how he works," said United
striker Robin van Persie, who played for the Netherlands under Van Gaal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"I
think it's very interesting and very good because we are all pulling on the
same rope, as the Dutch say. It is very demanding in a good way, as you have to
be focused every single day of the sessions or the meetings."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Van
Persie said United's main target for the season was to qualify for the
Champions League again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"That's
our aim this year to be sure, to be in the top four," he said. "If
you look at our players, fans, squad, stadium it's normal to be in the top
four.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"If
I look at what I have seen in training and on the pitch in games I can see that
it is getting much better. Now we have to extend that and make at least the top
four."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://samwww.supersport.com/football/barclays-premier-league/news/140929/United_exploring_friendlies_during_season" target="">supersport</a></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-22754754346602547982014-09-30T07:30:00.000-07:002014-09-30T08:40:18.981-07:00Bacary Sagna pictured with his wife, Ludivine at the beach<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Ludivine Sagna looked as
gorgeous as ever today, posting this picture on social media website Instagram.
The ex-Arsenal WAG is now adapting to life in Manchester, with her husband and
City player Bacary Sagna.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14.979999542236328px;"><b>Images after the cut</b></span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
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<img alt="Ludivine Sagna" src="http://cdn.caughtoffside.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Sagna-Ludivine-ftr.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></div>
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<img alt="Ludivine Sagna" src="http://cdn.caughtoffside.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Ludivine-Sagna2-138x300.jpg" height="640" width="294" /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Twitter @aderonkew</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-20241308346279804372014-09-30T06:08:00.000-07:002014-09-30T06:08:14.215-07:00Does Aminu Maigari deserve National award?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><b>Opinion by Romanus Chukwunonso</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<img height="300" src="http://newtelegraphonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/jonathan-supporterT.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<a href="http://newtelegraphonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/jonathan-supporterT.jpg" target="_blank">PHOTOCREDIT</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">It did not come to many as surprise when the list of the nominees for National Honours award was released two weeks ago with the erstwhile President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari, conspicuously missing.</span><br />
<br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">For some, it would have been more surprising if he had made the list considering the reprehensible roles he played in the whole saga surrounding the crisis engulfing Nigerian football. Yet, for others, there was no gainsaying that he actually merited the award.</span><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">If the players his administrative sagacity propelled to win the U-17 FIFA World Cup in UAE, the Golden Eaglets, were rewarded, why not Maigari. If the coaches he employed to nurture the players to stardom could make the list, why can’t Maigari make it too.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">If Mr. President’s steward and even drivers could be reward with the national honours, why can’t the man who brought multiple international glory to the country especially when Nigeria was helplessly under the clutches of the bloodthirsty insurgency, Boko Haram, bombing the country with impunity. He brought the international honours when we needed it desperately.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">But, it seems the whole brouhaha about Maigari making the award list seems to be a décor and smokescreen to wriggle out of the fraud allegations charges his board members levied against him and the humiliating impeachment he suffered in the hands of the members of his Executive Committee.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Recall that when his board members impeached him in July, he had adopted a tricky measure to free himself from the entanglement, embarrassment and toga of an impeached NFF president.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">He deployed all manners of tricks including dangling his expected nomination for National Honours award at the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyiam to convince and win him over.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">The game plan, interestingly, not only worked out but also changed the complexity and tempo of the crisis consuming the football family. He arm-twisted the SGF to specifically pressurise the then Chief Mike Umeh-led board members, to quash the impeachment to enable him make the award nominee list.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">The decision turned out counterproductive and deadly to his detractors as Maigari hatched unto it, exploited the benefits of the torrents of letters from the world soccer governing body, FIFA, to turn the table against his hecklers.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">After regaining the seat of power, Maigari reneged on many of the agreements, refusing to be intimidated not even by the security agents despite his several visits to their detention facilities.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">He had quickly organised and rallied almost all the State FA chairmen around himself, deployed many other tricks to outsmart his board members and other detractors, including the Minister of Sports, Dr. Tammy Danagogo. He chooses which of Federal Government directives to obey, preferring to obey the ones from FIFA.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">It came to the head when the FG ordered that both the Giwa-led faction and himself should stay out of the Glass House to enable government find a lasting solution to the problem. But when a counter order came from FIFA, with fragrant abuse, he stormed the football federation in commando fashion with retinue of security agents, occupied his seat, settled for office routine and even signed files.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">For the intervention of the SGF who put a telephone call across to him to register his disappointment over his failure to obey the gentleman agreement they reached, he would have continued with the day-to-day running of the federation, even though he remained directly and indirectly in charge of the running of the affairs of the federation despite the intervention.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">For the sins against him, there was no doubt that Maigari is ably qualified for the award having dexterously piloted the football federation that won many continental and international laurels for the country.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">However, many factors counted against him apart from his stiffness and arrogance against the constituted authorities, which resulted in his expected exclusion from the list of award nominees. Some he was deliberately responsible while others came from his constituency, the football family.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Besides his tenacity and desperation to hold on to power as the Glass House lord of manor, the 15-count charges levied against him by his Executive Committee members, which among other things bothered on allegation of financial fraud and forgery, must have equally counted against him.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Maigari might have forgotten that quashing his impeachment deceitfully did not translate to erasing those allegations of financial mismanagement his board levied against him. He fought to reclaim his exalted seat but did not do much to exonerate himself from the fraud allegation charges against him.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">According to his close ally, Barrister Chris Green, Maigari has visited the detention facilities of the different security agencies for more than nine times since the beginning of the crisis.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Lamentably, with his exclusion from the award nominees, Maigari seems to have lost it all. He lost the exalted NFF president seat after reluctantly bowing to the pressure not to re-contest, he also lost his integrity and more pathetically, most Nigerians would remember his roles in the lingering crisis more than the achievements his administration recorded.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">In the history book, his questionable roles in the crisis may have eclipsed the multiple laurels he won for the country.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Maigari’s exclusion was not the only subject of controversy and debate trailing the award nominees from the football family. <b><i>There has been debate on whether the national award was a better recognition to the former Golden Eaglets players instead of scholarship. A scholarship, possibly to university level, would have been a better reward to secure the future of the young lads.</i></b></span><br />
<b><i><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /></i></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Many have also argued that since FG, the State governors and the corporate institutions have rewarded them with millions of naira, there is no need for the scholarship. But, the truth is that education would provide more opportunities to them than the national honours especially when you consider the attendant risk of playing the game.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">More importantly, bearing in mind the unpredictable nature of the lives of players and their predictable involvement in one form of scandal or the other, there is every possibility that the image of the country might be dented should any of them be involved in any disreputable behaviour outside the country.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/romanus.chukwunonso/posts/338113783031408" target="_blank">Culled from Romanus Chukwunonso's facebook page</a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Romanus Chukwunonso is an Award-winning Sports journalist and currently an assistant Sports Editor at the SUN Newspaper,Nigeria</b></span></i></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-56091922518235259092014-09-16T11:06:00.001-07:002014-09-16T11:12:47.689-07:00Nigerians in the 2014 Champions League<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In this feature, goal.com profiledthe four Nigerian players contesting the Champions League this season</div>
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<strong>EDITORIAL</strong><br />
By Ed Dove</div>
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The Champions League returns tonight with the beginning of the first series of group-stage games. Both fans of the teams involved and neutral observers alike are excited at the prospect of another terrific season of elite European competition.</div>
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Hopefully this year’s tournament can cumulate with a final as dramatic as last season’s showpiece between Madrid rivals Real and Athletic.</div>
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But will there be a Nigerian player involved?</div>
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As has been the case in recent seasons, while the nation has not been particularly well-represented in the Champions League, several of the four senior players listed for the competition can be confident of travelling deep into the tournament.</div>
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In this feature we profile the Nigerian quartet who will be contesting the competition this campaign.</div>
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Please note that this article does not include youth players such as Chuba Akpom and Mikel Agu who have been named in their team’s B lists according to Uefa. Similarly, Michael Olaitan is only due to return to action in early November and has not been named in Olympiakos’s squad.</div>
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Comment below and let us know which of this four will travel furthest in the tournament this season.</div>
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<tr style="background-color: green;"><td style="text-align: center;" valign="middle"><strong><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;">Elderson Echiejile</span></span></strong></td></tr>
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French moneybags AS Monaco make their return to the Champions League after an eight-year absence and will look to mark their comeback with an impressive showing. <em>Le Project</em> down on the Riviera has slowed remarkably following the departures of Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez, but the Red and Whites can boast of a number of seasoned European Cup performers.</div>
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They also possess a Nigerian left-back that many of you will be familiar with!</div>
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However, while Elderson Echiejile is the undisputed number one in his position for the Super Eagles, he has a struggle on his hands to get any kind of game time in the Principality.</div>
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The defender has made only five Ligue 1 appearances for Monaco since leaving Portuguese side Braga in January and has found himself in the shadow of French youth international Layvin Kurzawa.</div>
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A thigh injury to his rival may afford Echiejile the chance to impress this week against Bayer Leverkusen at home.</div>
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<tr style="background-color: green;"><td style="text-align: center;" valign="middle"><strong><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ahmed Musa</span></span></strong></td></tr>
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He may only be 21, but Ahmed Musa doesn’t lack experience. The explosive forward already has 40 Nigeria caps while he has already featured nine times in the Champions League.</div>
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Last year he was a regular as CSKA Moscow fell short in Group D, being outdone by Manchester City and Bayern Munich and even suffering the ignominy of being topped by Viktoria Plzen.</div>
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Unfortunately, the Russians face an even tougher test this term.</div>
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Not only are they paired with City and Bayern once again, they were also unfortunate enough to receive AS Roma as the fourth seed.</div>
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If CSKA are to escape from Group E, they will need Musa to be at his absolute best. His magnificent showing against Argentina during the World Cup stole the imagination without taking any points, he may need to be even better to get anything out of the ominous opening stage.</div>
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<tr style="background-color: green;"><td style="text-align: center;" valign="middle"><strong><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chinedu Obasi</span></span></strong></td></tr>
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After a year of desperation, things seem to be going well for Chinedu Obasi once again.</div>
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The forward has overcome his injury concerns—for now at least—and has been recalled into the Nigeria squad be Stephen Keshi, even if the red tape did ultimately complicate his comeback.</div>
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The versatile forward should be confident of being given the chance to shine again for the Super Eagles, and an impressive showing in the Champions League would help his chances no end.</div>
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Schalke are European Cup regulars and ought to get the better of Sporting Lisbon and Maribor to join Chelsea in the Last 16.</div>
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For Obasi, more modest ambitions ought to be the order of the day. He hasn’t, for example, completed 90 minutes in the Bundesliga since April 2012, and played just over half an hour of first team action between March 2013 and February 2014.</div>
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If he can stay fit, he can once again be a valuable asset for both club and country.</div>
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<tr style="background-color: green;"><td style="text-align: center;" valign="middle"><strong><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;">John Obi Mikel</span></span></strong></td></tr>
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To date, only three Nigerian players have won the Champions League: Finidi George, Nwankwo Kanu and John Obi Mikel.</div>
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Only three African players, Seydou Keita, Fotso Geremi and Samuel Eto’o have won the title more than once.</div>
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How Mikel would love to join that second, elite collection of players.</div>
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It is to his credit that such a possibility remains open to him. At times during this summer he appeared to be on his way out of Stamford Bridge as one of Jose Mourinho’s unwanted, a player made wholly redundant by the successful arrival of Nemanja Matic.</div>
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However, Mikel clung on, and while his first-team appearances are likely to be few and far between, he did demonstrate his enduring class with a terrific back heel to set up Diego Costa against Everton.</div>
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Super Eagles fans are fast turning on Mikel for his underwhelming displays for the national side, but in this new, young Chelsea side he is one of only seven players still standing from the unlikely Champions League triumph of 2012.</div>
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He is also a Mourinho original, one of Jose’s trusted lieutenants from his first stint in West London; it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Mikel given an important brief on big European nights.</div>
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<a href="http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4055/main/2014/09/16/5108123/john-obi-mikel-nigerians-in-the-champions-league?ICID=HP_HN_4" target="_blank">culled from goal.com</a></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-41194645183055961272014-09-16T10:48:00.002-07:002014-09-16T11:13:44.264-07:00Godfrey Oboabona pictured with wife and daughter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Godfrey Oboabona, a Super Eagles and Rizespor Defender added a year today.<br />
<br />
All intending girls should keep off, this one has been taken!<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Picture after the cut</i><br />
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<img height="400" src="https://scontent-b-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10671357_10202395106993616_3424102914225073778_n.jpg?oh=3e11bf0165a4e6c5fd9120b8da70eea8&oe=548F0359" width="400" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10202395106993616&set=a.1399485041762.49086.1671367590&type=1&theater" target="_blank">photo source; Ojo Olasumbo Favour's facebook page</a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-66313883135679638202014-09-16T10:38:00.002-07:002014-09-16T10:38:54.429-07:00Serena Williams Is America’s Greatest Athlete<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>Serena Williams’s victory over Caroline Wozniacki puts her in rarefied company in the history of women’s tennis. It was her eighteenth Grand Slam singles title</i><br />
<br />
This week, as the sports world repays our slavish attention with more <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11486641/atlanta-hawks-upheaval-3-months-making">lousy</a>, <a href="http://www.tmz.com/2014/09/08/ray-rice-elevator-knockout-fiancee-takes-crushing-punch-video/">grotesque</a> news,
it’s worth noting that, on Sunday, the greatest American athlete in a
generation won the U.S. Open, again, for the sixth time and the third
year in a row.<br />
<br />
<img alt="" class="horizontal attachment-large" height="240" itemprop="image" src="http://www.newyorker.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Crouch-Serena-Williams-690.jpg" width="320" /><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Serena Williams’s victory over Caroline Wozniacki
puts her in rarefied company in the history of women’s tennis. It was
her eighteenth Grand Slam singles title, tying her with Chris Evert and
Martina Navratilova. (The pair welcomed her to the club by giving her
an <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-09-07/williams-tops-wozniacki-for-6th-u-dot-s-dot-open-title-18th-slam">eighteen-karat gold Tiffany bracelet</a>.)
Even before Sunday, Evert had said several times that Williams is the
best woman ever to play, despite the fact that she remains four major
titles behind Steffi Graf (who, the argument goes, faced lesser
opponents), and six behind the all-time record holder, Margaret Court
(who played before the modern open era). Williams has been to twenty-two
Slam finals and has lost only four times. At thirty-two, she is less
than two months younger than Roger Federer, who is considered to be
playing in the near-twilight of his career, and the oldest player to
hold the women’s world No. 1 ranking. After the match, Evert <a href="http://espn.go.com/tennis/usopen14/story/_/id/11482684/us-open-chris-evert-vs-martina-navratilova-vs-serena-williams">said</a>, “People kept asking Serena the last year, ‘How’s
it going to feel to be in the same company with Martina and Chrissie?’
and I’m thinking to myself, Well, I’m the one who’s honored to have
Serena in the same sentence.”<br />
<br />
<br />
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<span id="more-2822611"></span><br />
Forget
tennis for a moment, though: when I say the greatest athlete in a
generation, I mean the greatest in any sport. Sorry, LeBron. Sorry,
Tiger. Sorry, <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/09/08/slong-jeet">Derek</a>.
For fifteen years, over two generations of tennis, Williams has been a
spectacular and constant yet oddly uncherished national treasure. She is
wealthy and famous, but it seems that she should be more famous, the
most famous. Anyone who likes sports should love Williams’s dazzling
combination of talent, persistence, style, unpredictability, poise, and
outsized, heart-on-her-sleeve flaws.<br />
<br />
<br />
But not everyone loves her.
Part of this is owing to the duelling -isms of American prejudice,
sexism, and racism, which manifest every time viewers, mostly men, are
moved to remark on Williams’s body in a way that reveals what might most
charitably be called discomfort. What are they afraid of? The bodies of
athletes, both male and female, are habitually on display, yet there
has been something especially contentious and fraught about the ways in
which Williams’s singular appearance—musculature both imposing and
graceful—has been discussed. On Twitter, during the final, some people
wrote admiringly about her obvious strength and fitness, but there were
also observations about the size of her butt, her thighs, and
suggestions that her toned arms made her look more like a male boxer or
linebacker than like a women’s tennis player. Yet, while some fixate on
what they see as Williams’s masculine traits, others seem to find fault
in the parts of her that might be considered more feminine: her striking
on-court outfits (and off-court interest in fashion) are criticized as
flashy, unserious, and self-absorbed. No one, meanwhile, seems too upset
by the beautiful mini-dresses worn by the likes of Maria Sharapova, and
Federer’s Wimbledon cream-blazer frippery is admired as debonair.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
When
the culture at large grants athletic adoration to women, it is often of
a temporary, fleeting kind directed toward teen-age American
sweethearts at the Olympics. Williams has never been America’s
sweetheart. She wasn’t when she won her first U.S. Open, at seventeen,
in 1999, and she isn’t now, as she plays on into her thirties. There is
concern on both the men’s and women’s sides of tennis about <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/news/sporting-scene/tennis-gets-anxious">where the next generation of great players is</a>:
no one under twenty-five on either tour has become a proven winner, in a
game once known for prodigies. (This year’s men’s final, won by
Marin Čilić in straight, uneventful sets over Kei Nishikori, gave tennis
fans a glimpse at what a landscape without Federer and Nadal might look
like.) Yet there has, for years now, been a special eagerness to find
the next young-woman breakout star, as if there were some
dissatisfaction with Williams as the game’s untouchable queen. For a
while, it was Wozniacki, and then it was the American Melanie Oudin.
These days, hope has turned to the Canadian Eugenie Bouchard. This year
at the Open, eyes lit up as the fifteen-year-old American CiCi Bellis
won her first-round match. Yet, through it all, Williams has shown that
those pining for her replacement may be left waiting for a while still.<br />
But
it’s not enough to say that Williams would be more uniformly adored if
she were a white woman, or a man. Instead, the failure to fully
appreciate her importance is perhaps evidence of our inability to
appreciate the stubbornly unfamiliar narrative arc of her career.
Williams is underloved because, at times, she has been unlovable and, in
the end, mostly unrepentant about it—something that might be admired as
iconoclastic in a male athlete, but rarely endears women to a wide
audience. As a younger player, she was criticized for being ungenerous
to her opponents in interviews; despite all the evidence of her
superiority, she was expected to be humble. But the great crisis in her
public persona came later, in 2009, when she was penalized the final
point in her U.S. Open semifinal against Kim Clijsters after berating a
line judge over a foot-fault call on the previous serve. Williams is
indeed singular: she is likely the only person ever to <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/usopen09/news/story?id=4468762">utter</a> on
a professional tennis court, “I swear to God, I’m fucking going to take
this fucking ball and shove it down your fucking throat, you hear that?
I swear to God.” (Of course, John McEnroe said things that weren’t so
different, and he is beloved for it.) She eventually offered a full
statement of apology, and her contrition seemed sincere. But, for such
misbehavior, sports fans, the old-fashioned moralists that we are, might
have expected Williams to apologize for the rest of her career (and, in
so doing, to give us the pleasure of forgiving her).<br />
<br />
<br />
Yet the
past five years have not left Williams abject or cowed, or much more
interested in mass approval. Her career story isn’t a straight line from
brash youthfulness to somber and admirable maturity. When she won the
gold medal at the 2012 Olympics, she <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tqxo05tMVP4">danced exuberantly</a> on the court, offending some stuffy folks who claimed that she was doing a gang dance. She has <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/sports/tennis/serena-williams-says-she-apologized-to-maria-sharapova-1.1327655">sniped at her competitors</a> in the press. She stills puts in occasionally odd and maddening performances; her attention to tennis sometimes seems to wane.<br />
This
summer, after a disappointing showing in the three previous Grand Slam
tournaments, Williams said that she adopted a new way of thinking about
the game, to put less pressure on herself by appreciating what she had
already accomplished. “That’s the beauty of my career,” she said before
the Open. “I don’t need to do anything at all. Everything I do from this
day forward is a bonus. Actually, from yesterday. It doesn’t matter.
Everything for me is just extra.” This is surely wisdom, but it is also a
form of sports sacrilege. <em>I don’t have anything to prove; I have been great—so great, in fact, that at this point winning doesn’t even matter.</em><br />
<em><br /></em>
<em><br /></em>
<a class="tny-slot" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="/3"></a> <br />
But
Serena did win, and in dominating fashion (without dropping a set
during the entire tournament), prompting Evert and others to note that
Graf’s total number of Grand Slam titles could be within Williams’s
reach. She remains the future of women’s tennis, at least the immediate
one. After the final point on Sunday, she collapsed on her back in joy.
Later, at center court, holding the trophy and wearing a ridiculous and
fabulous black blazer, she jumped into the air, bending her legs
underneath her, and smiled the same bright smile that she’s been giving
us for fifteen years.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.newyorker.com/news/sporting-scene/serena-williams-americas-greatest-athlete" target="_blank">CULLED FRO<span id="goog_641392395"></span><span id="goog_641392396"></span>M</a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-484956203559624582014-09-16T07:43:00.004-07:002014-09-16T07:43:48.309-07:00NFF/FIFA Security officer retires<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrEasS9Dwu-6EdOpsz9VfxkYoDT0J-Xi4ZUUBIMGZUsXQQ2VxydDiT8OQX5es_dNXOZ-dP_ARYwAn-eZEeuVwZ-9EzUH33__8JqeubZgjFMyTlZy_czNMaPRyBiH71ZX2raAiHJGuK1c/s1600/NFF-logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrEasS9Dwu-6EdOpsz9VfxkYoDT0J-Xi4ZUUBIMGZUsXQQ2VxydDiT8OQX5es_dNXOZ-dP_ARYwAn-eZEeuVwZ-9EzUH33__8JqeubZgjFMyTlZy_czNMaPRyBiH71ZX2raAiHJGuK1c/s1600/NFF-logo.gif" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="yiv0197085436MsoNoSpacing" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30157" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i><br /></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div class="yiv0197085436MsoNoSpacing" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30157" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30161"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30160" style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30159" style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>Nigeria’s FIFA Security Officer retires from Police Force</i></span></span></strong></div>
<div class="yiv0197085436MsoNoSpacing" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30158" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv0197085436MsoNoSpacing" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30833" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30832"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30831" style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30830" style="font-family: Calibri;">The
Nigeria Football Federation has praised the energy and uncommon
commitment of Assistant Commissioner of Police, Elder Gideon Akinsola
for his duties around and away from the Nigeria Police Force, as the
renowned officer marked his retirement from the Force with a
thanksgiving service in Lagos on Sunday.</span></span></strong></div>
<div class="yiv0197085436MsoNoSpacing" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30834" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="yiv0197085436MsoNoSpacing" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30838" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30837"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30836" style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30835" style="font-family: Calibri;">Speaking
in Abuja, NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu pulled no punches
in heaping encomiums on the suave and dedicated officer who also
happens to be Nigeria’s FIFA Security Officer.</span></span></strong></div>
<div class="yiv0197085436MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv0197085436MsoNoSpacing" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30842" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30841"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30840" style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30839" style="font-family: Calibri;">“No
amount of praise words will be too much for the retired ACP Akinsola.
He not only served the Force with such commitment and enthuasiasm, he
was dogged and diligent in his duties as Nigeria’s FIFA Security
Officer.</span></span></strong></div>
<div class="yiv0197085436MsoNoSpacing" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30843" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv0197085436MsoNoSpacing" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30847" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30846"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30845" style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30844" style="font-family: Calibri;">“Over
the past several years, ACP Akinsola became a regular face in Nigeria’s
football stadia, working full –strength at providing safety and
security for stadia facilities and equipment, and of course, spectators.
We adore him for his passion and high sense of dedication and will
never forget the quality of service he rendered to Nigeria football,
whether at important international matches or major tournaments hosted
by our country,”Amadu said.</span></span></strong></div>
<div class="yiv0197085436MsoNoSpacing" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30849" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv0197085436MsoNoSpacing" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30852" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30851"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30850" style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30853" style="font-family: Calibri;">The
56 –year old officer, who authored a number of books on safety and
security at football stadia, held a thanksgiving service at The
Apostolic Church, Ikeja District, Agege Area of Lagos on Sunday, which
was presided over by the National President of The Apostolic Church of
Nigeria and LAWNA Territorial Chairman of the church, Pastor (Dr.)
Gabriel Oladele Olutola.</span></span></strong></div>
<div class="yiv0197085436MsoNoSpacing" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30854" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv0197085436MsoNoSpacing" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30858" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30857"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30856" style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30855" style="font-family: Calibri;">Also
in attendance were friends and well –wishers of ACP Akinsola, including
the President of Taekwando Federation of Nigeria, Mr. George Ashiru,
the General Editors of The SUN newspapers and renowned author, Mr.
Ibikunle Solaja, NFF’s Assistant Director (Communications), Mr. Ademola
Olajire and Special Assistant to NFF General Secretary, Dr. Christian
Emeruwa.</span></span></strong></div>
<div class="yiv0197085436MsoNoSpacing" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30859" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="yiv0197085436MsoNoSpacing" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30862" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30861"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30860" style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_30863" style="font-family: Calibri;">The
colourful event that kicked off at noon witnessed a special
thanksgiving offering by ACP Akinsola, who retired from the Nigeria
Police Force after 35 years of meritorious service. </span></span></strong></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-4472939644703458322014-09-16T05:37:00.000-07:002014-09-16T06:39:16.668-07:00Nigerian Football: NFF to hold 2014 Extra-Ordinary Congress in Warri<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrEasS9Dwu-6EdOpsz9VfxkYoDT0J-Xi4ZUUBIMGZUsXQQ2VxydDiT8OQX5es_dNXOZ-dP_ARYwAn-eZEeuVwZ-9EzUH33__8JqeubZgjFMyTlZy_czNMaPRyBiH71ZX2raAiHJGuK1c/s1600/NFF-logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrEasS9Dwu-6EdOpsz9VfxkYoDT0J-Xi4ZUUBIMGZUsXQQ2VxydDiT8OQX5es_dNXOZ-dP_ARYwAn-eZEeuVwZ-9EzUH33__8JqeubZgjFMyTlZy_czNMaPRyBiH71ZX2raAiHJGuK1c/s1600/NFF-logo.gif" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After a two-month long seemingly unending crisis in the Nigerian Football Family, there seem to be peace at the valley as Chris Giwa step aside and the NFF arranged a congress which will determine a new date for an election.</span></div>
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<strong id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_12233"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_12232"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;">The Nigeria Football Federation has
finally disclosed that it will hold an Extra-Ordinary General Assembly in
Warri, capital of Delta State on Saturday, 20<sup>th</sup> September, 2014
after the two month leadership crisis that rocked the federation ends last week
Monday.</span></span></strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_12239"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_12238"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Speaking in Abuja to press men on
Tuesday, NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu, stated that the event is
the first of two such Congresses advised by world football –governing body,
FIFA, to usher in a new NFF Executive Committee.</span></span></strong><o:p></o:p></div>
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<strong id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_12243"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_12242"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;">“At the Extra-Ordinary Congress, the
General Assembly will elect persons into a fresh NFF Electoral Committee and a
new NFF Electoral Appeals Committee.</span></span></strong><o:p></o:p></div>
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<strong id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_12247"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_12246"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;">“The General Assembly will also, at
the same event, decide on a date and venue for the Elective Congress, which we
hope will take place before the end of the month,” Amadu explained.</span></span></strong><o:p></o:p></div>
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<strong id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_12251"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_12250"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;">All the Chairmen and Secretaries of
the Football Associations of the 36 States and the FCT, as well as Chairmen and
Secretaries of the various Leagues, Coaches Association, Referees Association
and Players’ Union are expected to be in attendance at the event slated for
Brownhills Events Centre, and starting at 11am.</span></span></strong><o:p></o:p></div>
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<strong id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_12256"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410866686250_12255"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Amadu also disclosed that the grand
finale of this year’s Men and Women Federation Cup competitions will come up
only after the Elective Congress of the NFF. </span></span></strong><o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644993161989375739.post-70819232147990767002014-08-19T12:43:00.003-07:002014-09-16T08:14:28.381-07:00Aderonke Ogunleye denies romance with Tunde Aderibigbe of the NFF<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A respected and award winning investigative Nigerian sports writer, Aderonke Ogunleye has denied cooked-up reports from a blog <a href="http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=11253" target="_blank">allnigeriasoccer.com</a> popular for maligning and blackmailing footballers and top sport writers.<br />
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Speaking in a chat with sportdiva.net, Ms Ogunleye rubbished the report by calling it 'an imaginary nonsense' she said, "I saw the report and all I can say is that the report is a figment of the writers imagination, something you can call an imaginary nonsense, it is not true"<br />
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"Whoever has gone through the fictitious article, the way it was written and languages used will know it is not a true report but a cheap blackmail, it looks watery and nursery, an intelligent reader can decipher" she added<br />
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Sportdiva.Net was given the permission to investigate further and we learnt that writer of the article, Ifeanyi Abanum suffers from an inherited, genetic and chronic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia" target="_blank">schizophrenic disorder</a>.<br />
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A further look at the twitter timeline @editor_ans of Ifeanyi Abanum depicts total madness and it shows that he is mentally unstable as his family including his wife and kids suffers from the same illness, investigation reveals.<br />
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A special twitter handle has been dedicated by some of his victims to expose him, PLEASE VISIT <a href="https://twitter.com/BewareOfANS" target="_blank">@bewareofANS</a> for more information.<br />
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"Ifeanyi Abanum suffers from a Bipolar disorder and as soon as I'm through with my plans, the whole world will see him, I am working with Twitter and the necessary authorities and also with one of the best SAN in Nigeria to tackle him, he will be punished, jailed and confined to a mental home where he belongs, very shortly...." Ms Ogunleye boasted<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://twitter.com/aderonkew
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650952655</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16990976444101189146noreply@blogger.com1