The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • FINANCE MINISTRY SABOTAGES EAGLES

    FINANCE MINISTRY SABOTAGES EAGLES

    •Delays release of N1.4bn AFCON cash
    •Promises remittance into NSC’s account Friday

    SPORTINGLIFE has learnt exclusively in Abuja Monday the main reason why the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has not received the approved N1.4 billion ($9m) funds for the Super Eagles’ participation in the 2013 Africa Nations Cup holding in South Africa between January 19 and February 10, 2013.

    A top source in the National Sports Commission (NSC) disclosed that the Commission was not to be blamed for the delay in the release of the funds since they haven’t received the cash equivalent to that effect from the Federal Ministry of Finance.

    “The main problem is that the Ministry of Finance has not paid the said money into the covers of the National Sports Commission. Not until that there is nothing anybody can do. So we just need to wait for the release of funds from the Finance Ministry,” the source disclosed to SportingLife on condition of anonymity. Another influential member in the Commission also buttressed the point adding that the money is due for release on Thursday or latest Friday.

    “Yes it is true that we are yet to receive the funds from the Ministry of Finance. But the main problem that delayed the release of the funds is that the Super Eagles’ Nations Cup money was not in the 2012 budget, but it was captured in the 2013 budget. So there is no way the Ministry of Finance can release funds meant for the year 2013 in year 2012.

    “It is now very visible that the NSC will get the money on Thursday or latest this week Friday,” the impeccable source disclosed. A board member of the Nigeria Football Federation and Chairman Technical Committee of the Federation, Christopher Green had revealed on Saturday that his committee was yet to receive the funds for the prosecution of the 2013 Africa Nations Cup.

    “Up till this moment (Saturday) are yet to get anything and have been using internal funds for all our activities since the Eagles started camping here in Abuja in December 17th, 2012. I can’t just explain how we have been going with the preparations because it is like a magic,” Green said.

    “We have been kept going by the will of God. So it would be a great relieve to the Football Federation if the money is released this week as being expected according to the top NSC sources.”

     

  • Ambrose ready to lose Celtic shirt for Nigeria

    Ambrose ready to lose Celtic shirt for Nigeria

    CELTIC defender Efe Ambrose has said he does not bother if he loses his first team shirt on return from the Africa Cup of Nstions, as he is dedicated to play for Nigeria at the competition in South Africa. Ambrose knows that if the club did put the squeeze on him he would be in a tricky position. “If the club says I can’t go, then I can’t go. It all depends on what they say. I believe the manager has his own opinion. If they say I can’t go, I don’t have any option. But I believe they will come to the right choice for me. I won’t be worried about losing my place. If that is the challenge I have to face when I come back, I will face it. I will just have to fight my way back into the team.

  • No Eagles recall for Martins

    No Eagles recall for Martins

    OBAFEMI MARTINS will not get a late recall to the Eagles contrary to speculations in the media. “(coach) Stephen Keshi has made it clear that he will not call up any new player as he has enough players to choose from for the Nations Cup,” disclosed Eagles spokesman Ben Alaiya from the team’s training camp in Faro in Portugal.

    Levante striker martins was one of the top stars left out by Nigeria for a training camp in Portugal ahead of the forthcoming Nations Cup in South Africa. England-based defender Danny Shittu has opted out of the squad and there are still doubts over the availability of Newcastle United Shola Ameobi.

    “There is no word from Ameobi yet on whether he will be part of our Nations Cup preparations. Keshi said he cannot force the player to play for the country and so he is still waiting to hear from Ameobi on his position and then we will take it from there,” said Alaiya.

    There are now a total of 20 players in Faro – nine overseas-based pros and 11 from the Nigeria Premier League. Turkey-based striker Uche Kalu was the last arrival. US-based striker Bright Dike has been terrific in training as battle for places at the AFCON have stepped up a gear, according to officials. The Eagles will fly out to Spain on Tuesday for a friendly against Catalonia the following day with either Chigozie Agbim or Daniel Akpeyi started in goal as none of the team’s foreign-based goalkeepers are in Portugal.

  • FARO CAMP MIKEL OBI CONFIRMS JAN. 5 ARRIVAL

    FARO CAMP MIKEL OBI CONFIRMS JAN. 5 ARRIVAL

    MIKEL OBI has told MTNFootball.com he will report at the Nigeria training camp in Faro, Portugal, for the AFCON on January 5. The Chelsea midfielder also played down a knock on his knee in an English Premier League game against Norwich City, saying he is fully fit even though he was not listed for Sunday’s clash at Everton. Mikel told MTNFootball.com that he will leave for Faro, Portugal, along with club mate Victor Moses immediately after an FA Cup game against Southampton.

    “I have two more games to play for Chelsea before I will resume at the Nations Cup training camp in Faro, that would be the league game against QPR and the FA Cup against S’hampton on January 5. I will leave for the camp immediately after the game together with Victor Moses,” he informed.

  • NFF awaits N1.4bn budget

    NFF awaits N1.4bn budget

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Committee head Chris Green has stated that the the body is yet to get the money budgeted for the Super Eagles for the forthcoming Nations Cup in South Africa, more than a week after it was was reported that the Nigerian government had approved $9m (about N1.4bn) for the country’s campaign at the tournament.

    Stephen Keshi and his troop are already intensifying preparations for the tournament in Faro, Portugal and as they look forward to Wednesday’s friendly with Catalonia XI, they are still using internal funds to get the team’s programme running.

    Green said: “Up till this moment (Saturday) we are yet to get anything and we have been using internal funds for all their activities since they started the camping on December 17 in Abuja.

    “I can’t just expalin how we have been going with the preparations becuse it’s like a magic. We have been kept going by the will of God.”

    Green however said he expects the money to be released on time so as to ensure smooth preparations for the tournament which bookmakers believe Nigeria is one of the favourites.

    $9m is budgeted for the tournament by Nigeria who are seeking their third African title with their last coming in 1994.

  • February 16 League kick-off

    February 16 League kick-off

    A prominent member of the newly inaugurated Premier League Management Committee who is also the Commissioner for Commerce in Kano State, Abubakar Nuhu Danburan has disclosed reasons why the Committee chose the February 16th, 2013 League kick off date instead of the January date as was suggested by the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari during the inauguration of the Committee at the NFF’s office on Friday.

    Danburan said: “We have been able to come up with important decisions that will help the league in the country and we have critically looked at issues that affect the welfare of the players who are the major actors.

    “I will also say that we arrived at the February 16th kick off of the League because clubs need enough time to meet the Committee’s demands and the requirements prescribed to make the league better”, Abubakar disclosed in Abuja.

    He stated further that, “Clubs need time to prepare and get the N50 million Bank Guarantee required to be able to participate in the 2012/2013 league season. We are aware of the fact that for every match that a club plays, ordinarily such club must spend about N2.5 million. If you multiply this by 38 matches, it amounts to over N90 million. So, N50 million, I think is a good start.

    “We also looked at the issue of medicals. It is a critical thing and it is one thing that CAF and FIFA are very serious and particular about in terms of ensuring the good health of players and guide against the prevalent cadio related issues like cardiac arrest. Any player that fails the test will not participate in the league.

    “Also, seminars would be conducted for medicals and administrations in Kano between January 9th and 13th, 2013.

    “As regards the issue of sponsorship we have already said that we are going to look all at contractual obligations as regards the issue of the league. We already have a sub-committee that is looking at that. We are going to look at it and do everything possible to resolve this knotty issue,” the former FinBank executive disclosed.

  • Ethiopia v Togo warm-up cancelled

    Ethiopia v Togo warm-up cancelled

    Ethiopia are now most likely to take on Guinea in an AFCON warm-up after a match against Togo was cancelled.

    Media reports from Addis Ababa said that the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) have cancelled the friendly due to operational reasons.

    The speculation is that Togo have decided not to travel to avoid another potential stand-off with their players over bonus payments from their previous away friendly against Morocco on November 14 that the Atlas Lions lost 1-0 in Casablanca.

    However, Ethiopia too are in a date poser over the Guinea friendly.

    Guniea want the friendly played on January 7, the same date Ethiopia are due to face Tunisia away in another friendly in Qatar.

    Ethiopia are considering hosting Guinea on January 6 or shifting their away date in Doha against Tunisia to January 11.

    Ethiopia staged their first test ahead the AFCON on Sunday when they hosted Niger in Addis Ababa.

    The game against fellow 2013 Africa Cup finalists Niger will be Ethiopia’s first pre-tournament friendly since the main team went into camp in Addis Ababa three weeks ago.

    Coach Sewnet will be looking for a convincing result at home to get his sides’ three-match friendly match series on the road before facing Togo at home and Tunisia away on January 3 and 7 respectively.

    Moreover, a good result at the National Stadium will be key in keeping a strong public interest especially after a disappointing 2012 CECAFA Cup outing where Ethiopia reached the quarterfinals despite winning just one of their four games in Uganda.

    Sunday’s friendly was also be a big test for Ethiopia’s four foreign-based players.

    Striker Faud Ibrahim of North American League side Minnesota FC was expected to make his Ethiopia debut after earlier playing for the USA U20 and U17 teams.

    Winger Yusuf Saleh from Swedish club Syrianska, who was part of the CECAFA team, was also in the team hoping to impress Sewnet.

  • Siasia keen on Kenya job

    Siasia keen on Kenya job

    Former Nigeria national-team coach Samson Siasia has thrown his hat into the ring for the vacant Kenyan coaching position.

    Former France, Cameroon, Morocco, Tunisia and Ivory Coast boss Henri Michel stepped down from the post after just three months in charge over issues surrounding his contract.

    Henri’s assistant, James Nandwa, was named as his temporary replacement until a suitable candidate could be found.

    And Siasia, who has a significant amount of experience at international level, is hopeful of an invitation to apply for the vancancy.

    Siasia has previously been assistant to the Super Eagles before being appointed coach of the Nigeria U-20 team in 2004.

    But he was sacked from his position after failing to guide Nigeria to AFCON 2012, having been appointed in 2010.

    He told SuperSport: “Managing the Kenyan national team would be an exciting opportunity for me.

    “They have such enormous talent, with players in the local leagues and in Europe. It would not take so long before they become a formidable force in football.”

  • NFF to consolidate on 2012 gains — Maigari

    NFF to consolidate on 2012 gains — Maigari

    NIGERIA Football Federation (NFF) President Aminu Maigari has revealed exclusively to SportingLife that the target of the football house in 2013 is to consolidate on the gains of 2012 and ensure that the game moves forward.

    The former Bauchi State FA Chairman, said: “It is wrong for anybody to say that we did not perform well in 2012. The outgoing year was an eventful one for us. Though we did not make it to the 2012 Africa Nations Cup, we had an almost 100 per cent qualification result in the 2013 edition. Also, the Super Eagles are on course to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. At present, we are topping our group. The Flying Eagles (U-20) male team also had a 100 per cent qualification result for the Africa U-20 Youth Championship to be held in Algeria later next year, same to the Golden Eaglets (U-17) male team. They also posted a 100 per cent qualification result in their own cadre to qualify for the Africa U-17 Youth Championship holding in Morocco in April next year.

    “In the Female category, it was not also a bad result, as the Flamingoes ( U-17) female team played up to the quarter finals of the U-17 World Cup in Azjabazan, while the Falconets (U-20) female team played up to the semi-finals in their own category in Japan. It was only the Falcons (senior ) female national team that performed below average in the Africa Women’s Championship in Equatorial Guinea. In all we had a good outing in the year 2012. The Beach Soccer team crowned it all by retaining the COPA Beach soccer trophy towards the end of the year”.

    Projecting into the year 2013, Maigari said,“We are going to consolidate on these achievements in the new year. We are going to kick-start the year with the Super Eagles’ campaign in the Africa Nations Cup holding in South Africa. I am not entertaining any fears that the team would do well. We gave the technical crew all the free hand to rebuild the team, and everyone is now happy that a new Eagles is gradually evolving. We will see them more in South Africa, and by the special grace of God, they will make Nigerians smile at the end of the day. We will also ensure that the team qualifies for the 2014 World Cup slated for Brazil. The other qualifying matches will be played in the new year. So, we will motivate the team properly to ensure that they pick one of the Africa ticket. Both the U-17 and U-20 male teams will be supported to ensure that they qualify for their various competitions at the world level. We will also support the rebuilding process in the senior women’s team, to ensure that they reclaim their lost title in Africa, same to the junior women’s team, and the Beach soccer team. However, these things will not be realised without adequate funding. We need all the financial assistance from the federal government and corporate bodies to achieve these feats in 2013,” he concluded.

    He was full of praises to the federal government for the enabling environment given to the NFF, while also appealing for the support of all soccer-loving Nigerians in the new year.

  • Yobo: Eagles target top prize

    Yobo: Eagles target top prize

    Skipper Joseph Yobo has declared Nigeria are gunning for a third continental trophy at the AFCON in South Africa.

    Yobo also talked about his charity in this chat with MTNFootball.com

    Eagles are in Faro, Portugal, preparing for the AFCON, when are you joining up with the rest of the squad?

    There is a deadline set for us to arrive by the coach and I won’t exceed that deadline.

    How has the AFCON preparation gone for the Eagles?

    It has been good. I believe in Stephen Keshi being an ex-Captain and now as the coach knows what he wants at the competition. Nothing is perfect in life, so there may be one or two difficulties along the line, but we will handle them definitely.

    Some players have problems with the national team, what do you have to tell them?

    Those that have issues or problems with the team or anyone know why they have that and it is their problem. Nigeria is bigger than anybody. I am here today as Captain, but tomorrow I might decide I don’t want to play for Nigeria again.

    The country has done a lot for me as an international player. People are different. So, those who have problems in the national team create those problems and should fix it themselves. We should be grateful for what Nigeria has done for us, not what we have done. It is give and take. I have played for over 10 years for Nigeria. If I don’t go to the AFCON or World Cup, life goes on. I will thank God because where I am today, I didn’t expect it.

    What should Nigerians expect from the Eagles in AFCON?

    I know Keshi has a big plan for the Nations Cup. The players also want to win the trophy, so we will put in everything within us to see that we go as far as possible. We will look at getting through the group, then quarterfinal, semis and final. The trophy is our target.

    Looking at 2012, how would you rate the Super Eagles of Nigeria?

    The past year (2011) was bad because we could not qualify for the AFCON, but we have enjoyed a better time this year.

    How do you feel that again a player from Nigeria did not make the top three in the CAF African Player of the Year award?

    No hard feelings, they know what they used to pick the winner. So, I congratulate Yaya Toure for winning it again.

    You have partnered different players in the heart of the Eagles defence, who is your preferred option?

    I have no preferred option. It’s for the coach to decide as all those I have played with have been wonderful.

    Some have written off Nigeria’s chances of winning the AFCON. What do you think?

    Well, it is good to be rated as an underdog as it eases pressure on the team. We are better off this way.

    What motivated you to come down and give to children in need?

    I have been doing this for a long time, but this is my first time of coming here to do it by myself. I love kids and I am pleased to give part of what I have to make them happy.

    How would you describe the experience going round the wards to see the children?

    I am touched, it is painful to see them in such situation, it is even more painful to know that most of them will die. One must therefore be grateful to God for the gift of life. I had private discussion with the owner of the home on what I will do to further help the kids and the house.

    It is great to help. I am therefore calling on Nigerians to help those in need. One doesn’t need to be rich before he engages in charity work and nothing is too small or too big to give, so far it comes from the heart. If we all could be involved in this, we would raise the hope of many.

    Will this visitation in anyway lift your spirits ahead of the AFCON?

    No, this has no connection with football. It is my life, what I choose to do. I could have been like any of those kids, but God chose not to let it be so. Life goes on without football. I am happy that I am able to put a smile on their faces and give them reason to hope. Football is my job, but it is not my life. There is a lot more about life than football.