The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • 2012 FIFA BalLon d’or award: Keshi: Why I did not vote for Messi

    2012 FIFA BalLon d’or award: Keshi: Why I did not vote for Messi

    Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has revealed he did not vote for Barcelona’s Lionel Messi for the 2012 FIFA Balon d’or award.

    The Argentine whizkid beat perennial rival Cristiano Ronaldo and clubmate Andreas Iniesta to the title, winning it for a record fourth time. Instead Keshi gave his vote to Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure.

    “I voted for Yaya Toure and not Messi. He (Messi) is an exceptional player but I just have to acknowledge the good job that Yaya Toure has been doing in recent years especially for Man City. He is an African brother and I have to encourage him,” said the Eagles coach

    Toure, a former teammate of Messi at Barcelona, is the 2012 African Player of the Year.

  • Angola coach explains choice of final 23 players

    Angola coach explains choice of final 23 players

    Angola coach Gustavo Ferrin has explained that his choice of the country’s final 23-man team to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations was informed by the physical condition of the players.

    According to him, their behaviour and tactical competence also played a part. The coach gave the explanation at a news conference on Tuesday in Johannesburg, South Africa, where the team – known as Palancas Negras – is training for the Jan. 19 Jan to Feb. 10 tournament.

    The team had the first stage of its preparations in Lubango, in Angola’s Huila Province, before flying to South Africa, where the tournament will be held.

    “We had enough time to get to know the players well. We had healthy living, but someone had to go. If it were up to me everyone would be, but there are limitations as we were forced to make this decision. I apologise, but this was my decision,’’ he said.

    Coach Ferrin announced the final squad after his team’s 2-0 victory over defending champion Zambia in Johannesburg on Saturday.

    Asked if the game influenced his choice of the players, the coach said it was just a game, meaning it did not. Angola is in group A with host South Africa, Cape Verde and Morocco at the Nations Cup finals.

  • SWALLOWING THEIR VOMIT: NFF pays Keshi, others N40m arrears

    SWALLOWING THEIR VOMIT: NFF pays Keshi, others N40m arrears

    The leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation has directed its accounts department to pay all the four months outstanding salaries and allowances (N40 million) of the technical crew of the Super Eagles up to January 2013.

    According to findings at the Glasshouse secretariat of the NFF, the Chief Coach Stephen Keshi is expected to receive an arrears of N20 million, while his first assistant Daniel Amokachie will be paid N12 million. The two other assistants Ike Shorunmu and Sylvanus Okpala will be paid N6 million each.

    Confirming this to Sportinglife on Wednesday, Federation scribe, Musa Amadu who gave the directive said it was to ensure that the technical crew concentrates fully on the task ahead, which is winning the trophy.

    “ I have given directives that the salaries and allowance of the coaches be paid with immediate effect. We don’t want anything that will disturb them at the Nations Cup. We want them to concentrate fully on the task ahead. The accounts department is expected to credit their individual accounts before the end of business on Thursday (Today),” he stressed.

    This development confirms Sportinglife’s story which revealed that NFF was owing the technical crew four months salary. The football governing body widely denied the report which they described as mischievous and malicious.

  • Al Ahly deny eyeing Utaka

    Al Ahly deny eyeing Utaka

    The Egyptian premier league side Al Ahly has denied any interest in Nigeria player John Utaka.

    Egyptian reports insinuated that the Montpellier attacker is wanted by the Egyptian giants to boost their front line before the start of the new season.

    “ Utaka is a very good player , but he is not on our list. I think he will not leave Europe because he he can still play there for two or three more years.” Al Ahly director Sayed Abd Al Hafez said to Supersport.com.

    Utaka who born in 1982 and is known very well in Egypt since he played for the Egyptian side Arab Contractors from 1998 to 2000 before moving to Al Ismaily from 2000 to 2001 where he was one of the best foreigner players in the League.

  • Ndanusa, lauds Minister for reforms

    Ndanusa, lauds Minister for reforms

    The President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Sanni Ndanusa has praised Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi for granting sports federations more autonomy. He said it was over due.

    The NOC boss stated that the new policy would bring sports administration in the country in line international standard. “Greater autonomy will definitely make the Federations more effective, especially if adequate monitoring mechanism is put in place,” Ndanusa said. He said that NSC should give the Federations targets by reviewing their performance on a yearly basis to ensure success.

    Secretaries of Sporting Federations were recalled back to the commission this week by Abdullahi. The federations would now have to appoint their own Secretaries.

    The NSC will set the guidelines for the appointment of Secretaries

    Similarly, , President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Kayode Abdulwahab revealed that the new policy would improve performance”

    “I am convinced that the Federations have the capacity to rise if given the support like football”, he said.

    He further praised the Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi for being passionate about all sports and only Football’.

  • Akpan joins Reading

    Akpan joins Reading

    English Barclays Premier League club, Reading have confirmed the signing of 21-year-old Hope Akpan from League One side, Crawley.

    The midfielder, who joined Crawley from Everton in 2011, has agreed a three-and-a-half year contract.

    Reading manager, Brian McDermott told the club’s official website: “I’m delighted to have signed Hope, we have known all about him for a very long time. He has a great pedigree coming through the ranks at a top Premier League side in Everton. There were a lot of clubs in for him during this window, but once he heard of our interest this was the only place he wanted to play. He’s 21 and is a player we feel can play at this level.”

    Reading said the deal is subject to final ratification of all the paperwork from the football authorities, but they expect that to be a formality.

    Despite being born in England, Akpan has declared his intention to represent Nigeria – the country of his parents – at international level.

  • TV TELECAST MATCHES: N1.4bn threatens Nigeria’s coverage

    TV TELECAST MATCHES: N1.4bn threatens Nigeria’s coverage

    Soccer loving Nigerians may not watch their darling Super Eagles team at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a result of the exorbitant Television Rights fees for the three weeks competition holding in South Africa.

    Barely 10 days to the kick off of the competition in South Africa, Broadcasting Corporation of Nigeria (BON) has not resolved the matter with CAF agencies handling the matter. But BON Chairman has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to wade into the matter so that soccer loving Nigerians could watch the matches.

    The Chairman of BON Abubakar Jijiwa has told SportingLifeof its efforts made so far to resolve the matter.

    “We have been talking (with CAF representatives) since October last year and have made efforts at reaching a conclusive solution. We have looked at our market and made an offer of $1.2 million to JCM-African Sports Consulting via a letter dated November 1st, 2012 which they rejected.

    “We went further and upped our money to $1.5 million through our letter with reference BON/ES/Vol.III/12/27 to Mr. Jean-Claude Meyer of African Sports Consulting and that too was rejected. They are sticking to € 8 million (N1.6) billion but we said the amount is not acceptable by us because we cannot market such a massive sum of money. We would run into a loss at the end of the day”, the BON boss disclosed.

    He also explained that BON received an E-mail dated December 5th, 2012 from LC2 directing BON to negotiate with CFOOT limited and BON replied through a letter dated December 12th, 2012 with reference BON/ES/Vol.III/12/48 offering $1 million for all the 32 matches as well as $3000,000 for selected matches. But Jijiwa said all these were rejected by CFOOT in a letter dated December 21st, 2012.

    The BON boss said the CFOOT in January 4th, 2013 came up with an offer of 8 million euros for the entire 32 matches but BON responded to CFOOT’s letter reiterating their earlier offer of $3000,000 for the selected matches.

    “So, what we are suggesting to them now is that they should give us selected matches involving Nigeria including the opening ceremony and the closing ceremony of the 2013 AFCON, and the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final matches of the competition at $300,000. So we have only a week to market this sum of money since the tournament is just about 10 days away. We don’t have the luxury of time to go on an advertisement drive and the global melt down has also affected most industries now which has made them to cut their expenses including advertisement”, Jijiwa said .

    The BON boss, however, blamed the ridiculous figure being charged was to fleece Nigeria based on the premise that it is a rich country which is passionate about the game.

    “ These people think Nigeria is a fat cow that they could milk dry. So we detest this shylock attitude and we cannot subscribe to it”, Jijiwa screamed.

    He, however, believes there is going to be a light at the end of the tunnel. “We have briefed the Minister of Sports, Honourable Bolaji Abdullahi and the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation and we believe that there is going to be some room for dialogue. I understand that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is going to protest to CAF in Cairo over what is happening. So, I expect some last minute surprises and I would say we are open to dialogue. .

    It is insulting that a foreign company will exploit Nigeria. It is the right of Nigerians to watch the Cup of Nations, more-so, when Nigeria is participating.”, he summed up.

  • INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY: Giant Killers Cape Verde expose Eagles’ defence

    INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY: Giant Killers Cape Verde expose Eagles’ defence

    Super Eagles chief coach, Stephen Keshi and his technical crew may have to battle with a wobbly defence during the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa judging from Nigeria’s poor performance in Wednesday’s international friendly against Cape Verde in Portugal. Cape Verde knocked out Cameroon during the qualifiers to secure its first ever Africa Nations Cup ticket.

    Defenders led by Captain Joseph Yobo, Efe Ambrose and Elderson Echiejile all received yellow cards for rough tackles.

    The bookings were done in the first half of play and should be a source of concern to keshi given the perceived problems of the defence.

    Interestingly, Chelsea of England forward, Victor Moses was lucky to escape with a yellow card after stamping a Cape Verde player in retaliation for a foul on him.

    At the start of the second half, the Eagles technical crew made three changes puling out Ambrose, Fegor Ogude and Moses while the trio of Nosa Igiebor, Kennedy Omeruo and Brown Ideye took their place on the pitch.

  • Oboabona earns rave reviews

    Oboabona earns rave reviews

    Former Sunshine Stars manager, Gbenga Ogunbote, is relishing the expected debut of the club’s skipper, Godfrey Oboabona, at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

    Super Eagles supremo, Stephen Keshi, gave Oboabona his international debut against Angola in 2012 and the central defender has since progressed in the set-up.

    The versatile Oboabona featured regularly as the Eagles qualified for the 2013 AFCON and is at present in Faro, Portugal, as the preparation for the competition continues. “I’m excited for Oboabona. I give glory to God for his progress because he’s a hardworking player. It’s every player’s dream to represent the country and he has done well so far. I want to see him in South Africa,” Ogunbote said to supersport.com.

    Ogunbote revealed that Oboabona has learnt useful lessons from the participation of Sunshine Stars in the continent’s club competitions: the CAF Confederation Cup and Champions League, respectively.

    “Oboabona led Sunshine for three consecutive seasons as captain and we had back-to-back campaigns on the continent. We played against the best on the continent and some of these teams had players who are regulars in their national teams.

    “Any creative manager will like Oboabona for his versatility. The only position he didn’t play was in goal. I’ve used him in the midfield, both sides of the defence and even as an attacker,” Ogunbote told Supersport.com.

  • Cranes coach REPLIES Keshi: I didn’t take Uganda job for cash

    Cranes coach REPLIES Keshi: I didn’t take Uganda job for cash

    A month after helping The Cranes win the Cecafa Tusker cup, team coach Bobby Williamson denies that he came to Uganda to make money. This followed allegations from Nigerian coach Steven Keshi that white coaches come to Africa to earn huge amounts of money for their services.

    Bobby told BBC: “I never came here for the money. I came here for the job, for a new experience and a new working place. I’ve never regretted it.

    “When I first came here, the money I was being paid was just enough to pay the mortgage. It has improved because I have been relatively successful; at the regional African Cecafa tournaments and I’ve also got close to qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations.

    “It is not about being black or white, it is about having the qualifications,” he added.

    “I’ve got them. My Uefa licence doesn’t expire until 2016 and I’ll be doing what I need to in the meantime to keep it up.

    “I’m not sure that many African coaches have that qualification and that is the biggest problem. They have Confederation of African Football qualifications but I don’t think they match the level of the European qualifications.”

    Williamson was appointed in 2008 to fill the vacant place left by Lazlo Csaba who had resigned to take on top division side Heart of Midlothian FC in Scotland.