The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • Man City lose £100m

    Manchester City have revealed annual losses of almost £100million – but insist they are still on course to fall in line with the new financial fair play rules.

    Although City’s losses have been halved, they still posted a loss of £97.9m in the annual report for the 2011-12 season. City’s overall wage bill rose from £151.6m to £178.1m.

    The new financial fair play rules – that are introduced at the start of the next Barclays Premier League season – which require clubs to meet a series of stipulations.

    City are confident as £15m of the losses comes from infrastructure and youth development costs, while approximately £80m comes from contracts that pre-date 2010, from which City expect to get some kind of relief.

    A statement read: ‘Whilst the 2011-12 financial results represent a further step towards achieving the club’s objective of long-term sustainability both on and off the field, the application of UEFA allowable reliefs for certain categories of expenditure and investment in 2011-12, position the club well for compliance with UEFA’s financial fair play regulations which come into effect in season 2013-14.’

    City’s annual figures also revealed that they have recorded whopping revenue of £231.1m – the first time they have smashed through the £200m mark.

    While the results show marginal increases in gate receipts and TV revenue, it is in the commercial sector where City are making huge gains.

    Revenue went up from £64.7m to £121.1m, underlining City’s increased growing global exposure, which is being shown in all areas, from merchandise to club tours.

    The statement continued: ‘This year’s report demonstrates the tangible and positive impact of four years of strategic investment in all operations since the acquisition of the Club by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed in September 2008.

  • Don’t throw sports festival open — Hassan

    The essence of the National Sports Festival (NSF) may be eroded, if the Games are thrown open as being proposed by the Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdulahi, an official has said.

    Abdulahi Hassan, Niger State Commissioner for Sports, stated this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday. Athletes who participated in three previous editions of the fiesta are presently not allowed to participate in the Games.

    Hassan, however, advised that the views of all stakeholders be sought before a decision could be taken whether or not to open up the Games to all categories of athletes.

    According to him, the matter will need to be deliberated upon by stakeholders before making it an all comers event. He, however, applauded the initiative of the minister in canvassing for creation of an Age-group Games, saying the idea was a welcome development that could develop sports at the grassroots.

    “If they throw it open, the festival will now be for the highest bidder every state that can afford it will go and hire all the professionals to come and play for them. And the states that are not financially buoyant maybe left out. So in my own opinion if they leave it open Niger will develop our own sports at our own level.

    “There is no need for you to come to the festival because you cannot bring young players to come and face players that that have gone professional and play international; it does not make sense. It’s just waste of resources by bringing them. Yes, it’s a very good thing because once you have a young team and then you develop them, it will be very good.

    “If you look at Niger State, our female basketball team and our handball team is a very young team so we just brought them to the festival to acquire that experience and exposure. But next festival they are teams you have to watch out for, this is the first time that they are coming to a competition of that level. We just did it deliberately to see how we can groom them together.’’

    Team Niger finished 16th at the just-concluded festival with four gold, two silver and five bronze medals. The team placed 27th at the 2011 “Garden City Games’’ held in Port Harcourt, with one gold three silver and nine bronze medals.

  • Ayite: Togo will draw strength from tragedy

    Making their seventh appearance at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Togo will have their work cut out for them if they want to escape a tough group that includes Algeria, Tunisia as well as pre-tournament favourites Côte d’Ivoire. Midfielder Floyd Ayite told FIFA.com recently that Les Eperviers (Sparrow Hawks) could spring a surprise.

    Ayite, who was in the squad that was ambushed two years ago in Angola, said the event was a nightmare that remains with them. “We are back at the Cup of Nations after this tragedy. We will never be able to totally turn the page on that. It will follow us all life long. But it also gives us strength, because defending our colours will be a way to pay a tribute to all the people who were injured then.”

    But for the team to pay a fitting tribute, the players will have to dig deep in their reserves to overcome stiff opposition. The 23-year-old believes that they can draw some inspiration from their qualifying campaign, which saw them advance to the finals at the expense of Kenya and Gabon. “I am quite confident for Togo. We played very intelligently against Gabon to qualify. Then, against a very good Moroccan team, we won a friendly recently. It is good if people underestimate us because the pressure will be on the other teams and we can benefit from the situation.”

    Ayite, who was born in France and started his football career with Bordeaux before moving to Stade de Reims in 2011, is aware that their opponents will be tough. “We all know Côte d’Ivoire and their very skilled players. But, so far, the players they have in the team now have never confirmed it by winning an African trophy. So there might be doubt in their heads. As for Tunisia and Algeria, we know that teams from the Maghreb region have skilled players also, but as we recently beat Morocco, so we proved we could deal with those games.”

  • Mancini expects to lose Yaya

    Roberto Mancini expects key midfielder Yaya Toure to leave Manchester City for the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in January.

    The City manager had wanted to retain Toure’s services during the early part of 2013 but has confirmed the midfielder is keen to compete in the tournament.

    Toure is expected to join up with the Ivory Coast squad following the Premier League club’s third round FA Cup tie on January 5.

    Mancini said: “I think he will go to the African Nations Cup after the Watford game.”

    Toure was involved in the 2012 competition when the Ivory Coast reached the final before losing to Zambia on penalties. Next year’s competition runs from January 19 to February 10.

    Meanwhile, Mancini believes skipper Vincent Kompany has only a ‘two per cent’ chance of being fit for Saturday’s trip to Newcastle after he suffered a groin injury against Manchester United last Sunday.

    And while City will give the Belgium international every chance of making the trip to St James’ Park, Mancini doesn’t expect him to make it.

    “We will try but it is difficult,” said Mancini. “Probably two per cent chance.”

  • Ameobi set to profit from injury

    Nigerian player Shola Ameobi may profit from the injury suffered by Hartem Ben Arfa as he is likely to be handed a rare start to his team’s Newcastle United premier league fixture against defeding champions Manchester City.

    The French player is in doubt for Newcastle United’s home clash with Manchester City precisely on Saturday and Ameobi may get a chance to give a five star performance in the huge battle.

    The French dazzler only returned to the Magpies line-up on Monday night after a couple of weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring problem but is struggling to be fit for Saturday’s visit of reigning champions City.

    Toon boss Alan Pardew suggested that Ben Arfa, who scored a brilliant goal in the 2-1 defeat at Fulham, may not get up for this weekend.

    “For this game we have a bit of a concern over Hatem and whether he will be available. His hamstring has a little bit of a problem and we’re still trying to get to the bottom of that,” he said.

  • Aluko is top star

    Sone Aluko has been named the English Championship Player for November. Hull City manager Steve Bruce presented the striker with his commemorative trophy at the Tigers’ training ground as Aluko beat off stiff competition from compatriot Danny Shittu and Marlon King to clinch the award.

    Aluko’s spectacular month began when he scored the winner against Barnsley at the KC Stadium, before a stunning free kick against Wolverhampton Wanderers helped ‘The Tigers’ to a 2-1 victory.

    Some fine link-up play also showed his value and his month peaked with two goals in a devastating 12-minute spell against his former club Birmingham as ‘The Tigers’ earned a first win at St Andrews for 42 years.

    Aluko was delighted to be presented with the award and said: “I feel very happy and blessed to receive the November npower Championship Player of the Month award in a league with so many top players and internationals.

    “Receiving this so early in my Hull City and Championship career, it’s a special moment for me. A massive thank you goes to everybody who has helped me to achieve this and a lot of the credit must go to the manager, coaching staff and my teammates who have helped me to perform well and be effective for the team.”

    Aluko is currently sidelined through injury and having won this award, the club is very much looking forward to seeing the talented attacker back in action soon.

  • Kwara govt pledges support for Utd to win laurels

    Kwara govt pledges support for Utd to win laurels

    The Kwara Government on Thursday pledged continued support for Kwara United FC of Ilorin to win laurels in the 2012/2013 Nigeria Premier League (NPL) season.

    The government restated its determination to give the Afonja Boys, as the team is fondly called by their fans, all that was required to enable it to excel in the new soccer season beginning in February.

    The club’s Media Officer, Ajide Olayioye, said in a statement in Ilorin that the new Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Ramat Adeshina-Abaya, made the pledge when she visited theclub’s secretariat.

    The statement said Adeshina-Abaya, who led other top ministry officials, promised to hold a closed door talk with the management board of the club to ensure that the team lacked nothing during the season. It quoted the commissioner as urging the board, coaches, players and staff of the club to live up to their billings as government expected a brilliant and result-oriented performance from the club.

    In his speech, Abdulganiyu Abdulkadir-Solagberu, the Vice Chairman of the club, commended the government for its financial and moral support.

    Abdulkadir-Solagberu also thanked the people of the state for their support and assured them that the club would contest for the league trophy. He called for government’s prompt attention to the team’s requests.

  • FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP: Mikel, Moses shine as Chelsea hit final

    FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP: Mikel, Moses shine as Chelsea hit final

    With less than 37 days to the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa, Nigeria’s John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses seemed to have tied down a place in the Super Eagles squad after their performance ensured Chelsea cruised to a 3-1 win over Mexico’s Monterrey in Thursday’s semi-final to secure their first-ever appearance at the final of the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.

    While Mikel lasted for all 90 minutes, Victor Moses came off the bench to replace Fernando Torres in the 79th minute and almost came close to scoring but was caught off side in two attempts.

    Spain’s Juan Mata’s 17th minute strike sent the English side in front to record his 7th goal in the Blues’ colors in his side’s 2012/2013 campaign.

    The Spanish midfielder’s goal was the only goal of the first half but on resuming the second half, rejuvenated compatriot Torres who’s got back to scoring ways added Chelsea’s second one minute into the second half before Darvin Charvez committed an own goal to increase the tally to 3-0 two minutes later.

    De Nigris struck late in the one minute added time interval to salvage some pride and end the game at 3-1 score line.

    Monterrey brought on Osorio for Sergio in the 57th minute and his introduction saw the Mexican side delivering some fantastic displays better than their first half performance. However the closest they came to scoring was in the 70th minute but Chelsea’s Peter Czech denied their effort with a fine save. Carreno came off for Cesar while Solis replaced Meza all in the 83rd minute.

    Chelsea made three substitutes that saw David Luiz making way for Frank Lampard in the 63rd minute, Mata for Paulo Ferreira in the 74th minute and finally Moses for Torres 11 minutes from normal time.

    The result means Chelsea are through to the finals and will face Brazil’s Corinthians who defeated Al Ahly to book their final ticket on Sunday.

    Africa’s Al Ahly will thus battle Monterrey for the 3rd place spot in the Losers’ final.

  • NOVember PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Ujah is Cologne’s best

    NOVember PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Ujah is Cologne’s best

    Nigeria’s Anthony Ujah has emerged Cologne Player of the Month of November after turning out top-of -the-table performance for the second Bundesliga outfit.

    The former Warri Wolves ace has been on fire since joining FC Cologne on a season long loan from FSV Mainz 05 and has so far scored seven goals in 14 appearances.

    Already, Ujah’s goal against FC Ingolstadt 04 is tipped for the goal of the season after he propelled his body into the path of a Tobi Strobl cross from midfield and finished beautifully with a flying header on the dot of 45′.

    Speaking on the award, Ujah hailed the club’s fans for their votes. He tweeted: “Thank you all who voted for me as player of the month.”

    Ujah, it would be recalled, signed for FSV Mainz 05 in June 2011, after being tracked by several clubs, most notably Danish outfits F.C. København and Brøndby IF.

    However, on the last day of the summer 2012 transfer window, Ujah signed a season-loan to FC Cologne after failing to tie down a permanent shirt at the Bundesliga side.

    Interestingly, while at Mainz 05 Ujah scored only two goals in a 3–1 victory over VfB Stuttgart, ending his side’s winless run that stretched back to mid-August and moved them three points clear of the relegation zone.

  • NFF AGA:Maigari satisfied with deliberations

    NFF AGA:Maigari satisfied with deliberations

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed satisfaction with the resolutions reached at the 68th edition of its annual congress.

    A communiqué was subsequently adopted by the executive committee of the NFF to officially bring the congress to an end.

    President of the NFF, Aminu Maigari while speaking exclusively to supersport.com after the congress said most of the issues surrounding Nigerian football in 2012 were extensively discussed.

    “We discussed a lot of issues relating to the system. The delegates all came here (Port Harcourt) and gave their account to the congress,” Maigari told supersport.com.

    He further revealed that the executive committee of the federation ratified issues relating to the number of teams to be promoted to the Nigeria Premier League and teams to be relegated to the Nigeria National League (NNL).

    “Yes, we discussed that as well, teams to be promoted and relegated. We also discussed financial issues. It was a total package of the season,” he said.