The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

Life ban for 146 goals match officials

The Nigeria Football Federation on Monday pronounced a life ban on all the match officials consisting of the Centre referees and their assistants and match commissioners for the two matches that recorded a total of 146 goals in a nationwide division three play-off held in Bauchi recently.

Announcing this in a world press conference in Abuja, the NFF First Vice President Mike Umeh said the referees were banned for not living up to their responsibilities and allowing the game to be brought into disrepute and for not using their powers, within the regulations of Association Football.

Also banned for life is the captain of Akurba FC of Lafia Anjide Said Timothy who scored three own goals against his team, and was believed to have been the arrow head in the scandalous result. All the players and officials of the four clubs involved in the two matches: Plateau United Feeders FC of Plateau State, Akurba FC of Nasarawa State, Police Machine of Adamawa State and Bubayero of Gombe State, registered for the two matches were to be banned for life, including their technical and administrative staff who led them to the play-offs in Bauchi. However, the four teams were banned for a period of ten years either as they now, or in whatever form they would transform in future. The Nation wide League is to provide the comprehensive list of all those players and officials involved for sanctioning process to commence immediately. Also, the centre coordinator, Tanko Bawa Maiyaki a Board Member of the Nationwide League was found seriously wanting in discharging of his responsibilities. His case was referred to the Nation wide League Board for appropriate action.

A breakdown of how the goals were scored showed that in the Match between Police Machine FC and Bubayero FC, Dahiru Mohammed (No 7) scored 11 goals, while Harrison Small (2) scored 10 goals. In the match between Plateau Feeders FC and Akurba FC, John Bulus (No.2) scored 14 goals, while Paul Danjuma ( No.5) scored 11 goals.

July 22, 2013
Joel Obi targets starting XI at Inter

The injury –stricken midfielder is ready to fight for starting shirt at the star-studded Italian giants.

Inter Milan midfielder, Joel Obi, has declared his readiness to fight for first team shirt when the Italian Seria A starts in September.

The Nigerian prodigy told The NationSport from Italy that he wants a repeat of the regular playing times he enjoyed under Rafael Benitez.

He admitted that only hard work would secure him a place in the new –look Inter Milan squad being put together by Walter Mazzarri.

“Gaining a first team shirt for a young player like me has a lot to do with hard work and total commitment. Whichever way, I am determined to fight hard for the shirt,” said Joel Obi.

“I owe myself the responsibility to convince the coach that I am ready to play and fight for my shirt. I know it is difficult but it is absolutely possible. It’s just a matter of time and how far I am ready to stretch myself,” he added.

July 22, 2013
18 die in Edo auto crash

18 passengers were on Monday roasted to death in an accident that occurred at Okada town along the Benin-Lagos-Ore road.

Those dead included two children, 15 adults and a motor-boy of a heavy duty truck.

The accident caused heavy gridlock along the express road as it happened on a one- way lane while construction work was ongoing on the other lane.

The accident involved a heavy Mark truck loaded with gravel and a commercial Toyota bus belonging to Peace Mass Transit Company Limited.

Edo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC), Mr. Kenneth Nwaegbe, confirmed the accident in a chat but said many children who survived the accident have been taken to the hospital for treatment.

Nwaegbe said, “It was not really a head- on- collision like that. What happened was that the Mark truck was carrying gravel and was coming from Ore to Benin when it lost one of its tyres and control. And the Toyota bus was coming from Benin to Lagos when the two collided.”

Rescue operations were carried out by FRSC operatives from the Tollgate unit command, policemen from Okada town police station and some sympathizers.

Coordinator of Save Accident Victims of Nigeria, Dr. Eddy Ehikhamenor, said all the victims were burnt beyond recognition.

July 22, 2013
Victor Moses seals Chelsea’s 4-1 victory

Super Eagles forward Victor Moses opened his pre-season goal account scoring in Chelsea’s 4-1 victory over a Malaysia XI at the Shah Alam Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

The Nigerian international who started the game from the bench scored the Blue’s only goal of the second half with one minute left in the game.

Burkinabé international footballer, Bertrand Traore opened the floodgates in the fifth minute, tapping home a low cross from Kevin De Bruyne.

De Bruyne doubled their advantage just before the half hour mark, while Romeo Lukaku put the tie to bed in first-half injury time with a near post finish to make it 3-0.

There was drama in the final moments of the match as Moses drove home a fourth for Chelsea in the 88th minute. The former Wigan striker received the ball on the left wing, and proceeded to drift inside and put the ball in the back of the net thanks to a wicked deflection and some calamitous goalkeeping. Malaysian substitute Mohammad Fadhli Shas however grabbed a consolation for the hosts to end the game at 4-1.

The 22 year old striker, who has been included in the Super Eagles list released by Stephen Keshi to prosecute the Nelson Mandela Challenge against Bafana Bafana on August 14 in Durban, was however captured while being interviewed by Chelsea TV immediately after the encounter.

An excited Moses then took to twitter to express his feelings towards his goal.

“Great win today and good performance from the boys. Really pleased to get on the scoresheet too #Chelsea, ” he twitted.

July 21, 2013
London passenger dies at Lagos Airport
A middle aged passenger who returned from London aboard Arik Air on Sunday slumped and died at the domestic terminal one of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

The passenger it was learnt slumped at the entrance departure hall of the old domestic terminal.

According to sources, immediately the passenger slumped, he was rushed to the Aviation Clinic, where he was confirmed dead.

The passenger’s wife and brother who were with the deceased at the time of the incident later travelled to Owerri, Imo State.

The general manager, corporate communications, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN), Mr Yakubu Dati confirmed the incident.
July 21, 2013
How Banna emerged Most Beautiful Girl winner

With elegant display of contemporary traditional costumes, depicting the peculiar symbol of each state in Nigeria, erotic see-through dress parade and the dreaded IQ test, a personality quest session for 32 young girls in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant, 18-year-old Anna Ebiri Banna was Saturday night crowned the queen.
Coincidentally, Banna, who was crested Miss Bayelsa, after her home state, stunned the crowd in the banquet hall of the Bayelsa State Government House with poise each time she appeared on stage. The State was hosting the contest for the first time.

Close to Banna’s success as 1st Runner Up was Okwu Stephanie, representing Imo State.
Banna who also won the best traditional costume award at the show got an addition from Governor Henry Dickson, who immediately announced her as Special Assistant on Culture and Tourism.
The new queen who took over the reigns from MBGN 2012 winner, Isabele Ayuk, will be representing Nigeria at the Miss World pageant, holding later in the year in Takarta, Indonesia, while the 1st Runner Up will be representing Nigeria at the Miss Universe contest holding in Moscow, Russia in November.
As usual, Banna’s crown goes with an undisclosed cash prize and a brand new car.
The governor praised the dedication of contestants who brought fanfare to the State having lived in Bayelsa for two weeks during the pre-event activities, visiting beautiful tourist sites.

” Only one winner will emerge, but having seen these young girls earlier, I am convinced that they are all winners already,” he said before the verdict.

The governor noted that Silverbird Group has produced several beauties, including Agbani Darego who hails from the South-South and had represented Nigeria as Miss World.
He said his aspiration as governor is that every quarter, there will be major tourism event of international reputation in the State. ‘The new Bayeslsa’ he said, is safe and that he is looking forward to hosting the MBGN pageant every year. He announced that in September, a similar initiative: the Centenary Beauty Pageant will take place in Bayelsa.
MBGN in Bayelsa took place four months after the State hosted the prestigious Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
“For us, playing host to these historic events within a space of just four months gives credence to the fact that Bayelsa is fast growing to become the next tourism hub of the country. It also speaks volume of the restoration of government unwavering commitments to the promotion of gender equality as illustrated in the national gender policy of our great country.” He said.
Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce, Chairman of Silverbird Group, organisers of the pageant said the essence of the competition is to bring about unity among ladies with different cultural and social backgrounds.
“In over 25 years, we have produced beautiful ambassador who have represented Nigeria at various international events.”
Star actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde was among the seven judges of the competition. Adding pep to the show were sterling performances by ‘Limpopo’ crooner;KCee of former Kcee and Presh group and Project Fame star, Timi Dakolo

July 21, 2013
Emenike scores first league goal

Returning from injury after months of lay off, the Nigerian international, Emmanuel Emenike Sunday afternoon registered his first league goal in the Russian Premier League to announce his return to scoring form.

Nigeria’s goal poacher, Emmanuel Emenike has scored his first league goal for Spartak Moscow in their 2-0 away win over FC Ural.

Emenike, who was initially on the bench for the league cracker, came in as substitute for preferred striker Yura Movsisyan from Armenia.

He came in in the 63rd minute before finding the back of the net in the 90th minute.

With this victory, Spartak has recorded their second win in two games to put the last year’s Champions League campaigners on top of the league table.

July 21, 2013
NFF orders fresh MRI test for Eaglets

Determined to ensure that false age declaration is eradicated in Nigerian football, the nation’s football federation has slammed a compulsory MRI test on the current U-17 national team players

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has ordered a fresh Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test for the current players of the current U-17 national team.

Players who featured at the last CAN Under-17 tournament in Morocco and their counterparts picked from the screening exercise are to undergo the mandatory test.

The text will be done before they report at the team’s Princeville Hotel Camp which opens on Monday (July 22) in Calabar.

Emmanuel Ikpeme, the Federation’s Director Technical, informed that a repeat of the test was necessary to ascertain player’s current status.

The MRI test has become a regular feature at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup since 2009 to help ascertain whether players are over age or not.

Ikpeme said the NFF will follow the rule as stipulated by the world soccer ruling body, FIFA, to the letter.

“We are conscious of the fact that only players within the stipulated age brackets would be allowed to compete at the FIFA World Cup,” he said. “As a result, we are equally extending the MRI test to some of the players that represented the country in Morocco.

“We are taking every necessary step to avoid any untoward incident at the World Cup especially when we were informed by our medical team that the MRI scan deals with the rate of bone growth which cannot be determined on face value,” Ikpeme explained.

All the shortlisted 30 players and numerous others on standby are due in Abuja to undergo the test.

July 21, 2013
Abducted Mali election workers freed

Gunmen have freed four election workers and a deputy mayor a day after they were kidnapped in Mali’s remote northern town of Tessalit, a local official said on Sunday.

The kidnapping, a week before election day, highlighted insecurity hanging over the vote that is intended to draw a line under a coup and Islamist uprising, although some fear it could lead to further instability due to poor preparations.

“The five hostages were picked up this morning by French soldiers outside the town. We do not know what led to them being freed,” Cheick Fanta Mady Bouare, the prefet of Tessalit, told Reuters.

France sent troops to Mali early this year to fight the Islamist rebels.

July 21, 2013
Drama, intrigues as Bayelsa hosts, wins MBGN

.Omotola knocks Senate on child marriage

In a show characterised by drama and intrigues, the fair-skin, not-so-tall 18-year old Miss Anna Ebiere Banna from Bayelsa State emerged the winner of the 26th edition of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, 2013.

Banna, one of the youngest winners of the crown since its inception, will now represent Nigeria at the Miss World pageant holding in Jakarta, Indonesia later this year.

She was crowned at the well-decorated Banquet Hall, Yenagoa on Saturday night by the outgoing 2012 winner of the show, Miss. Isabella Ayuk in the presence of the excited Governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson.

Dickson immediately appointed Banna as his Special Assistant on Culture and Tourism and made her Culture and Tourism Ambassador of the state.

Banna clinched the crown after beating 31 other contestants to the admiration of the rapturous crowd who were mainly from the state.

While some believed that her victory was based on the home support she enjoyed from the crowd who gave her standing ovation each time she appeared on the stage, others said her composure, beauty and mien endeared her to the judges.

But the entertaining event started unfolding with lots of drama when the Silverbird Group asked Dickson to present an award to the screen diva and musician, Mr. Omotola Jalade.

Jalade was also on the panel of judges.

The governor in his brief remarks to present the award forced most spectators to roll with laughter.

After looking closely at Omotola, Dickson said: “Having seen you closely, I can see why they call you, Omo sexy”.

But Omotola who thanked the Silverbird Group for the award changed the mood of the event from excitement to sober reflection.

In a prepared speech, she lamented the hopelessness of the Nigerian child citing the inability of the Senate to protect the rights of children.

She was particularly angry that the Senate turned its back on children by refusing to make law abolishing child marriage.

If the Senate with members perceived to be fathers could show nonchalant attitude to sensitive issues affecting children, who protects the child in Nigeria? Omotola queried.

“A very alarming number of children are hawking on the streets. Let us say no to the Senate Bill endorsing child marriage”, she said.

July 21, 2013