The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • Trabzonspor battle for Kalu Uche

    Trabzonspor battle for Kalu Uche

    Besiktas and Trabzonspor are both interested in the services of Super Eagles ace, Kalu Uche.

    The Kasimpasa striker has been in prolific form scoring 10 goals in all competitions for the Istanbul side this season.

    Trabzonspor have only scored 19 goals this season, the lowest total in the top half of the season. The Black Sea giants haven’t found a like for like replacement for Burak Yilmaz and have struggled on the goal scoring front.

    Besiktas meanwhile only have one inform striker, the Black Eagles only have Batuhan Karadeniz as an alternative for Hugo Almeida as Mustafa Pektemek is out with a long term injury.

    Kasimpasa completed the transfer of Kalu Uche from Espanyol for €1.5 million on a three-year deal during the summer transfer window.

    The 30-year-old striker joined Espanyol from Neuchâtel Xamax on a free transfer during the winter transfer window. The Nigerian international impressed during his short stay, scoring six times in 16 games for the La Liga outfit.

  • Enyimba boycott fails

    Enyimba boycott fails

    A planned players’ boycott to a training camp by Enyimba in Otta has failed as most of them have turned up there.

    The Aba club’s players from last season are still grumbling over unpaid sign-on fees over several seasons and had planned to stay away from the training camp near Lagos. However, MTNFootball.com checks have since revealed that the likes of Emmanuel Anyanwu, Chinedu Udoji, Rasheed Olabiyi, Ayo Saka have all made their way to the Otta camp.

    Markson Ojobo is also expected to join, so also new signing Sibi Gwar. The only exception is midfielder Eneji Otekpa, who will not be part of the training in Otta. Otekpa, who has been capped by the Super Eagles, missed the last part of last season after an appendicitis operation. A total of 35 players moved into Otta for a two-week residential training.

    Two-time African champions Enyimba are hoping to return to winning ways after they failed to win a major honour in the last two seasons.

  • MAIGARI CONFESSES: NFF owes Keshi N10m

    MAIGARI CONFESSES: NFF owes Keshi N10m

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Aminu maigari has confessed that the body is owing Super Eagles chief coach Stephen keshi tow months salary amounting to N10 million.

    Disclosingthis exclusively to SportingLife on Wednesday morning in a telephone conversation, Maigari lauded Keshi for showing understanding with the federation especially with the staggered form in which his entitlements are being met.

    “It is important to let know that keshi has not being around in the country hence the delay. but I must tell you also that anytime Keshi is in the country, NFF underwrites his expenses. I must confess to you that when I read the story of the N30 million debt, I was furious. I contacted federation’s chief operating officer, who said that what was outstanding was two months and, of course, this December salary. I can however assure you that when we get our allocations for the last quarter which should indeed include cash for the Africa Cup of Nations, Keshi’s entitlements would be paid.

    “Let me also appeal to the media not to make our players’ and coaching staff’s salaries and entitlements a public matter esepcially with the spate of kidnapping of prominent Nigerians, their paraents and sibblings. How many Nigerians earn N1 million a month how much more N5 million?

    “As for his car and house, I can assure you that he would get them soonest. Indeed, we have a car which Samson Siasia used in the pool but I instructed that a brand new one should be bought for Keshi. Aside, the car which Siasia used is there even though it has not been driven in the last seven months. Keshi will get a brand new car. His house issue is being taken seriously, we have been shown several houses but they don’t meet the specification that Keshi asked for. Now that he is in town, he would be shown the new ones that we have seen and we will pay for the one that he picks,” Maigari promised.

  • Uduaghan showers athletes with millions

    Uduaghan showers athletes with millions

    Delta State contingent to the just concluded National Sports Festival tagged ‘Eko 2012’ held in Lagos State were on Tuesday rewarded by the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for their outstanding performance.

    The governor who announced one million naira for each gold medallist, also gave out N600,000 and N400,000 for each Silver and Bronze medallists. While athletes without any of the medals went home with N50,000 naira each. These rewards were for individual events.

    For that of team events, Dr. Uduaghan gave out N400,000, N300,000 and N200, 000 for gold, Silver and bronze medallists respectively.

    Excited Delta State number one citizen told mammoth crowd at the Events Centre, Asaba that the athletes and their coaches have made them proud for winning the highest Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at the festival also announced one million naira for head coaches and secretaries of the various sporting associations that won gold medals. The silver and bronze medallists were rewarded with 600,000 and 240,000 for the head coaches and secretaries.

    Assistant head coaches and assistant secretaries were not left out of the largesse as they went with N400,000, N300, 000 and N200,000 for gold, silver and bronze won by their various associations.

    The governor went further to put smiles on the faces of the athletes and their coaches when he announced that automatic employment would be given to all gold medallists who have not gainfully employed before now.

    Uduaghan noted that those with silver and bronze medals employment will be selective, while those in school will have automatic scholarship.

    Similarly, Delta Queens Football Club were also honoured alongside the Delta State contingent to the 18th National Sports Festival with a million naira to each player. The technical adviser of the club smiled home with N2m . The head coach was given N1.5 million.

    “You all have made us proud for winning the highest gold, Silver and Bronze medals at the festival. We have proven to our brothers’ governors in Rivers, Lagos, and Edo that our winning wasn’t a fluke,” Uduaghan said.

    “We have proven to my governor brother in Rivers that we were robbed of the first position in the 17th National Sports Festival held in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State. Now the difference in Lagos is clear. The men have been separated from the boys. In Calabar in 2014, the gap we be so much that the gold difference would be up to 40.

    “The state has done to the admiration of the whole world, if not what happened, I would have been dancing because I’m full of joy that the youth of the state have decided to shift attention from oil to their individual talents. The National Sports Festival brought all delegates together. I congratulate my brother Fashola for providing the enabling environment for all of us.”

    Speaking earlier, the state Commissioner for Sports and Chairman, Delta State Sports Commission, Hon. Pinnick Amaju said that the hosting of the athletes was a night to celebrate success.

    While thanking the governor for the establishment of Sports Commission in the state, Amaju said that vision is the driving force behind the success the state is celebrating today which have also put Delta ahead of other states.

    “This night is to celebrate success. That success started with the establishment of the state Sports Commission. I want to thank Dr. Uduaghan for that vision. We need his directive now towards the 2014 edition in Calabar. Let me tell you one thing, in Delta State we create a comfort zone for others to come and learn. Our state is the only state without controversies at the festivals. All these were achieved with honest and discipline of our athletes,” he said.

  • Imo ALGON secretary alleges threat to life

    The Secretary of the Imo State chapter of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Enyinnaya Onuegbu, has alleged that some of bandits have attempted to kill him.

    He accused members of the Imo State Security Network of being behind the alleged plot.

    The embattled council chief has been involved in a legal battle between the government and disengaged council chairmen.

    Onuegbu alleged that suspected members of the state’s security outfit stormed his home in Owerri, the state capital, with the intent to abduct him.

    He said: “When they arrived, I was outside the state for an official assignment. I was lucky to be away from that place. But they harassed my security man until a neighbour’s guard came to his rescue.

    “They threatened my life. They told my security man that I was lucky yet again and that I must die because of my recent interview on Africa Independent Television (AIT), which was critical of the Rochas Okorocha administration.”

    The ALGON chief said he was ready to appear before any relevant authority to answer the allegation the government levelled against him.

    Onuegbu said: “But the private soldiers of Okorocha, which came to my premises, had a sinister motive. They did not leave any invitation or names.

    “I am calling for the attention of the security agencies, journalists and the public to this threat to kill me through extrajudicial method.”

    The Commander of the Imo Security Network, Mr. Angus Oguike, denied knowledge of the incident.

    He said: “I did not post anybody there. Tell the man to name the unit that came for that operation.”

    Police spokesman Vitalis Onugu said he was not aware of the incident.

    He said: “I believe Onuegbu is a lawyer and knows the necessary steps to take.”

    The Commissioner of Information, Mr. Chinedu Offor, described Onuegbu as a joker seeking cheap popularity.

  • 2013 AFrica Cup Of Nations: Don’t leave out Taye Taiwo

    2013 AFrica Cup Of Nations: Don’t leave out Taye Taiwo

    Former Nigeria defender Ben Iroha believes Nigeria’s coach Stephen Keshi will be making a huge error should he leaves out Dynamo Kiev defender Taye Taiwo in his plans for the upcoming Nations Cup in South Africa.

    Iroha said Taiwo provides lots of alternatives in the team and is incomparable to all the other players for the left full-back position.

    “If you look at the left full-back, Taye Taiwo is our best player in that position for now. He has the experience at both international and league stages and since we are going for the cup we need him in our team,” Iroha, who plays in the same position when Nigeria last won the competition in 1994 declared.

    He recalled that the former Marseille defender apart from his solid play is also good in set-pieces.

    “He will be a threat to our opponents because he can support the attack and he also have a powerful left foot to hit the ball very hard which is something all the other defenders are lacking,” he added.

  • Delta to host African U-17 athletics competition in March 2013

    Delta to host African U-17 athletics competition in March 2013

    Delta government says it has begun preparations for the hosting of the African U-17 Athletics championship in March, 2013.

    Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan said this on Tuesday at the reception by the state government for its victorious contingent to the just-concluded18th National Sports Festival in Lagos.

    Uduaghan said the tournament would be hosted at the Warri Township Stadium and expressed optimism that facilities there would suffice for the four-day event.

    He said that a technical team from the African Athletics Federation was already in the state to inspect facilities ahead of the championship.

    Uduaghan said that the government placed much premium in the development of sports and would not compromise standards and proper training and motivation of athletes.

    The governor also announced the award of scholarships to the children of Monday Aigbe, a swimming coach in the state, who died on Dec. 13.

    He said that the scholarship would take the children of the deceased coach, who died after leading the state’s swimmers to victory at the festival to doctorate degree level.

    The governor presented a cheque of N1 million to the children as cash reward for their late father for being victorious at the Games.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that swimmers from the state won 24 gold medals out of the 40 available in the swimming event at the festival. The late coach was said to have died of Hypertension-related ailment which lasted for a few days.

  • NFF awaits Eaglets programme

    NFF awaits Eaglets programme

    Nigeria Football Federation Technical Committee member Paul Bassey has told futaa.com that the body is anxiously awaiting the programmes of the Golden Eaglets for next years African Junior Championship.

    Bassey, who was part of the NFF delegate for the team’s first qualifying match against Niger in Niamey said they expect coach Manu Garba to submit his programme for the build-up towards the tournament in Morocco before the end of the year.

    “The team has done so well and this is backed with their awesome record in the qualifiers. What we are waiting for now is to get the team’s programme for preparations and we are looking forward to have it anytime from now but if at all it will come late, it shouldn’t exceed the current year,” he told futaa.com.

    Nigeria had an impressive qualifying record winning all their six matches scoring 21 goals and conceding just once.

  • Chipolopolo line up 4 warm-ups for Eagles

    Chipolopolo line up 4 warm-ups for Eagles

    The African Cup of Nations (AFCON) defending champions, the Chipolopolo of Zambia, has lined up some friendly games ahead of the 2013 AFCON tournament in South Africa.

    The team is scheduled to play four warm-up matches against Tanzania, Swaziland, Morocco and Namibia, before their first Group C match against Ethiopia on Jan. 21.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Zambia is grouped along with the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit. Zambia’s first friendly match would be against a non qualified team for AFCON, Tanzania in Dar es Salaam at the weekend.

    The team would later proceed on a short Christmas break after the Tanzanian game. The Chipolopolo would then resume the camping in South Africa after the Christmas break in January, before playing the friendly against two non qualified teams, Swaziland and Namibia in Nelspruit.

    The last friendly match would be against Morocco, one of the teams for AFCON in Johannesburg.

    Coach Herve Renard considered the friendly games key in the team’s preparation ahead of the start of the tournament.

    “These matches will sharpen us as our first Cup of Nations fixture against Ethiopia is very important. It is crucial to start the tournament well,” Renard said.

  • Nsofor gives up

    Nsofor gives up

    Russia-based forward Obinna Nsofor has admitted his chances of making the Nigeria squad to the AFCON are “very slim”.

    Nsofor is back in Nigeria on holidays and has revealed he has not received a call-up for next year’s Nations Cup. A nagging knee injury last season ensured the former Inter Milan forward has not been involved with the Super Eagles since coach Stephen Keshi took charge last year November.

    “I have not received an invitation for the Nations Cup. My chances are very slim of making it to the competition,” said the Lokomotiv Moscow star.

    Nsofor, who has featured at three Nations Cups – 2006, 2008 and 2010 – said he will now support the team to win a long overdue trophy in South Africa.

    “I believe in the team because there is so much talent there. We just need to play with all the commitment. We need to win a trophy as it is a long time since we did that,” he added.