The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • ‘Match fixing scandal won’t affect AFCON 2013’

    ‘Match fixing scandal won’t affect AFCON 2013’

    The South Africa Football Association (SAFA) has said the match fixing scandal rocking the association would not affect the preparation and hosting of the 2013 African Nations Cup.

    SAFA Acting president, Mwelo Nonkonyana, told newsmen that a commission of enquiry, to be headed by a retired judge, would be set up to investigate the involvement of its officials in the scandal.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that SAFA president Kisten Nematandani and four other top officials were suspended by the emergency committee of the association on Monday.

    This was consequent upon the FIFA report implicating SAFA in the match fixing of the Bafana Bafana warm-up matches ahead of the 2010 World Cup. Nonkonyana said the suspension of the top officials does not imply that they were involved in the match scandal.

    “This action in no way implies that these individuals were involved in match-fixing. It is simply for good governance that this measure is being implemented,’’ Nonkonyana said.

    Apart from Nematandani, SAFA interim CEO Dennis Mumble, head of referees Adeel Carelse, head of national teams Lindile Kika and former head of national teams Barney Kujane, had been placed on a voluntary leave of absence after their names were mentioned in the FIFA report. They are expected to give evidence in the commission of enquiry.

    Nonkonyana, who is the current Vice-President of SAFA, would serve as acting president in Nematandani’s absence, while Pinky Lehoko had been appointed interim CEO.

    “This is a difficult situation for the association and for those who have been named in the report. We hope that there would be no speculation about their presumed guilt or otherwise. We need to allow the investigation to take place speedily and fairly, so those that are innocent can be separated from those who are not,’’ Nonkonyana said.

    He said former CEO Lesley Sedibe and former head of referees Steve Goddard would be asked to give evidence at the enquiry.

    SAFA said it had apologised to FIFA after “compelling evidence’’ was found that the results of the World Cup warm-up matches were fixed.

     

     

     

  • KESHI BEGS NIGERIANS Don’t distract Eagles

    KESHI BEGS NIGERIANS Don’t distract Eagles

    • Galadima calls for prayers  

    • Fegor sparkles in training 

    Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, has declared that the team has reached a crucial bend in the preparations for the Nations Cup championship in South Africa next year and pleaded with Nigerians not to distract the team from focusing on set goals.

    Speaking at the team’s Bolton White Apartment abode, Keshi said he was not averse to critics of the team but cautioned against those who are hell bent on distracting the team. “The entire team needs absolute concentration but everyday there are reports about divisions in the team and several other negative stories and that are not good for the type of team we want to build for the Nations Cup.”

    He declared that he has received 100 per cent support from the Aminu Miagari-led NFF Executive Committee and hopes that it will continue all the way to the Nations Cup championship.

    Meanwhile, former NFA Chairman Ibrahim Galadima, has called on all Nigerians to join him in praying for the team’s success in South Africa. “The team has done well so far and we should help Keshi by praying for the team. I have already started praying for the team and I hope the rest of the Nigerian football public will do same”, he said from his Kano base.

    In another development, the only foreign based player that has so far been invited, Fegor Ogude of Velaranga of Norway breezed into camp Monday night and by Tuesday morning was in full flight during the team’s training. Fegor said he was in camp to meet with his teammates and hopes he can pick a shirt for the Nations Cup proper in South Africa.

  • 22 STARS OPEN AFCON TRAINING

    22 STARS OPEN AFCON TRAINING

    •Reuben, Idris fitness boost for Eagles

    AFTER OVER three months of layoff from the national team’s camp as a result of injuries, Kano Pillars duo of Gabriel Reuben and Papa Idris, were the cynosure of all eyes as the Super Eagles opened camp for the African Cup of Nations in Abuja, with its first training session.

    There were fears that the two players who have been part of the national team from the home front since Stephen Keshi took over about a year ago may not be fit on time for the AFCON 2013 championship, but they came out sparkling in training on Monday morning at the Practice Pitch of the Abuja National Stadium.

    Team doctor Ibrahim Gyaran, who later spoke on the state of health of the two players passed them fit for hostilities in the run-up to the championship.

    “The only fear I have is that since they have not played competitive football for sometimes they will still experience some mind jitters. But that is only a thing of the mind and the team psychologist, Dr Robinson Okosun and the coaching crew are already working on that aspect,” he declared.

    At Monday morning training session, 22 players trained with only Akwa United’s Bassey E, and Fengor Ogude of Velaranga of Norway, who is expected to join the team, were not at the early morning training session. The players were grilled on fitness, tactics and general conditioning for a championship of the magnitude of the Nations Cup.

    Head Coach, Stephen Keshi again assured the players that if they prove worthy of a place in the team and better than their European based counterpart they will be picked for the championship.

    “It will be my delight if 10 players prove good enough to make the championship roster and I will be happy if at all times four of such players start every game but you have to prove it on the pitch that you are ready for the challenge,” he told the players before training commenced. The team’s training continues today in Abuja.

  • Injured Apam in for Joel Obi

    Injured Apam in for Joel Obi

    EAGLES coach Stephen Keshi will take a chance on injury-hit Onyekachi Apam for the AFCON but not Inter Milan midfielder Joel Obi. MTNFootball.com has specially gathered that Rennes defender Apam is being considered to plug the leaky central defence and even though he was not involved in the qualifying series for the Nations Cup and his fitness has been in doubt lately, Keshi is ready to take a chance on him.

    Apam has bounced back from a long-term knee injury which sidelined him for over 18 months.

    However, Italy-based defensive midfielder Obi is not so lucky and so will miss out on his first AFCON.

    Obi first suffered a muscle problem in March and recently staged a comeback, but the injury relapsed forcing to him out again.

    He has now returned to training with the hope of playing again before the year runs out.

  • OMERUO ITCHES FOR AYC ACTION

    OMERUO ITCHES FOR AYC ACTION

    ADO DEN HAAG defender Kenneth Omeruo has expressed desire to play for Nigeria at the 2013 African Youth Championship.

    Omeruo, who is believed to be one of the Euro-based players that Stephen Keshi will call upon as he tries to rectify the problematic Super Eagles defence at the forthcoming African Nations Cup in South Africa said he is looking forward to play for the team.

    “I’m still eligible to play for the team and it will be a great honour if the coach calls for my service which I wouldn’t hesitate to accept, he said with the promise of helping the team retain their AYC title.”

    Omeruo is on loan to the Dutch top-flight club from Chelsea and has been one of the key players for the club this season winning a number of individual awards in recognition of his great form so far.

  • KESHI VOWS NO AUTOMATIC SHIRTS

    KESHI VOWS NO AUTOMATIC SHIRTS

    NIGERIA coach Stephen Keshi says players must earn their places as preparation begins for next month’s African Nations Cup.

    With an avalanche of Europe-based players expected to converge at the team’s Faro camp in Portugal, Keshi has moved to reassure the domestic league professionals that they will be evaluated on merit.

    “I have said it time and again that I don’t have preference for any set of players and I will be giving any good players the chance to play in my team,” Keshi said.

    “My selection will be fair, and it’s up to the players to prove to me they want to play,” he said.

    With the Nigerian league having been on break since October, there are worries that fitness issues may cost the local players their places in the final squad to South Africa, but Keshi says that might not be an issue.

    “Because of their conditioning, we will focus on mostly fitness training to start with. I still have a lot of belief in the home-based players. I have been working with them for almost a year now and they have shown that they can compete with the foreign-based players.

    “Any player that wants to play for Nigeria in the Nations Cup will have to be of high quality and must be ready to give a lot of sacrifice by giving his best to the team. That goes for both local and foreign pros,” he said.

  • Showbusiness, football hallmarks of Copa Lagos 2012

    Showbusiness, football hallmarks of Copa Lagos 2012

    THE 2012 edition of the just-concluded Copa Lagos Beach Soccer Tournament has come and gone; but some football enthusiasts will continue to relish their experiences at the Eko Atlantic beach.

    The fans that thronged the venue of the tournament described it as a world-class event which kept them enthralled from the beginning to the end. In addition to the actual football matches which featured Nigeria, Lebanon, Portugal and Argentina; the Copa Lagos organisers thought it fit to spice the tournament with a bit of show business. At match intervals, bikini-clad damsels entertained fans with their well choreographed routines which left many of the fans drooling and asking for more. This was an initiative that Samson Adamu, Managing Director of Kinetic Sports, organisers of the tournament, said was necessary to make the 2012 edition better.

    “Kinetic Sports is a company that organises beach soccer every year. We learnt from our mistakes last year and this year, we have tried to improve: that’s what we modestly tried to do. Last year, we were rookies in it but this year, we are getting better. It still has a long way to go but this is a very long way from what last year was,” he said.

    When asked why the company’s emphasis was on beach soccer events, Adamu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that it accommodated all the things they did. “It’s another form of football, its sports and entertainment and we have what it takes to make it work for us,” Adamu said.

    Sharing the same view with Adamu was ace comedian, Ali Baba, who urged other entrepreneurs in the country to join hands in enlarging the scope of the Copa Lagos tournament.

  • NFF to invite 17 foreign-based players for AFCON

    NFF to invite 17 foreign-based players for AFCON

    NFF to invite 17 foreign-based players for AFCON

     

    The Nigeria Football Federation will announce this week, the 17 foreign-based players for the African Cup of Nations training camp in Faro, Portugal, officials said.

    Officials informed MTNFootball.com that there will be a few notable omissions on the list, while several other players could well be placed on standby to cover for injury and other unforeseen circumstances.

    “The invitation letters have been sent out to the players and their clubs, but they have also been told to keep it quiet until the list is made public probably by Friday.

    “There will be a few shocks, otherwise it will be the usual suspects on the list with some players probably placed on standby,” a top official disclosed.

    Holland-based defender Kenneth Omeruo is already one of the surprise call-ups as he has yet to be capped at full international level and was not involved in the qualifying tournament for the 2013 AFCON.

    He has played at central defence for both the U-17 and U-20 teams but could well be considered for the problematic right fullback position which is where he plays for his Dutch club ADO Den Haag.

    Spain-based striker Ikechukwu Uche, skipper Joseph Yobo, Ahmed Musa and Nosa Igiebor are among those called up for the AFCON.

    The Eagles, drawn from players from the domestic league and Norway-based Fegor Ogude, began training Monday morning in Abuja.

    The 24-man squad will train once a day for the time being and they are due to depart for Portugal on December 27.

     

  • Elderson: Faro training can make Eagles champions

    Elderson: Faro training can make Eagles champions

    Elderson Echiejile has said Nigeria could be African champions again next year if they make the most of a training camp in Faro, Portugal.

    The Eagles will open a training camp in Portugal on December 27 and the Sporting Braga star defender has told MTNFootball.com the hard work and sacrifices there could be rewarded with a third Nations Cup conquest by Nigeria in South Africa.

    “I believe if we give everything in the training camp, we will have a very great Nations Cup,” Elderson said.

    “This means that most of us have to cut short deserved holidays after a hectic season in Europe and also hope our clubs release us in good time so that we have enough time to work as a team.”

    The Braga left back said the Eagles have struggled to play as a team because they have often not had enough time to train together for longer than four days.

    “We will now have at least two full weeks before our first game in South Africa and that is a lot because we hardly get that before many of our matches,” he said.

    “This will be enough time to really work as a team and the result of this we will see by our first game against Burkina Faso in January 21.”

    Defending champions Zambia and Ethiopia are the Eagles’ other first round foes in Group C to be based in Nelspruit.

    The former U17 and U20 international is set for his second Nations Cup after he featured at the 2010 tournament in Angola, where Nigeria finished third.

  • FIFA turf for Aper Aku Stadium —Commissioner

    FIFA turf for Aper Aku Stadium —Commissioner

    The Benue Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Aondowase Chia, has disclosed that a FIFA turf would soon be laid at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi.

    Chia told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Makurdi that the contract for the laying of the turf was awarded to Monimichelle Company at N170 million, but was later reviewed upwards to N270 million.

    He said the turf had already been brought into the country from Spain and would soon be laid at the stadium. The commissioner, however, dispelled insinuations that the execution of the contract was deliberately delayed to increase its initial cost.

    He explained that the delay became necessary owing to the late release of funds to the contractor, which ultimately affected the initial sum for the execution of the job.

    The commissioner noted that the time difference between when the contract was awarded and the actual release of funds, led to variations in the contract sum. He said that the materials incurred demurrage charges.

    Chia added that 75 per cent of the materials were imported from Spain and assured that they were of the best quality.