The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • Uzochukwu fears Afcon blackout

    Uzochukwu fears Afcon blackout

    Super Eagles’ right full-back, Ugonna Uzochukwu says he fears an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) blackout for domestic players due to uncertainty surrounding the league kick-off date.

    The Nigeria Premier League (NPL) season was scheduled to start on Saturday, December 1 before the latest indefinite postponement of pre-season activities by the league body.

    Uzochukwu said the scenario poses a sstrong disadvantage to the domestic players compared with their foreign-based counterparts playing competitive matches week in, week out.

    “Of course, we’re at a disadvantage for selection for the Africa Cup of Nations next January in South Africa.

    “The foreign-based players have the edge at the moment because their league season is on and majority of them play regularly every other week making it easy to assess their form.

    “We were happy when December 1 was fixed to start the season, rumour has it that it has been postponed indefinitely and now our morale has gone down once again.

    “Though we’re stepping up preparations to avoid being caught unawares, it won’t be the same if the commencement date was certain.

    “I know few domestic players will still make the AFCON list but had the league been running the opportunity would have been more. We’re now endangered species and least attractive for the AFCON for no fault of ours,” he lamented to supersport.com.

    The Enugu Rangers defensive midfielder wants Eagles’ manager, Stephen Keshi look in his direction for the batch of home lads to return to the AFCON camp next month.

    “I want another consideration when the Eagles’ gate opens next month for the final leg of preparations.

    “I still have lots to contribute to the team especially in the backline department,” he said.

  • AFCON 2013 NFF: Keshi yet to submit Eagles plans

    AFCON 2013 NFF: Keshi yet to submit Eagles plans

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has disclosed that the head coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi is yet to submit his 2013 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) programme for its assesment and approval.

    The country’s national team booked a passage to January’s AFCON in October when they defeated the Lone Stars of Liberia 8-3 on aggregate but the NFF said a full picture of Keshi’s blueprint for the biennial tournament was yet to reach the Glass House.

    The NFF’s Technical Sub-Committee Chairman, Barrister Christopher Green revealed this to SportingLife in a chat in Calabar shortly after the Golden Eaglets’ 2-0 victory over Mali in an African U17 Championship qualifier.

    Green revealed that the NFF’s Technical Committee would move swiftly to convene a meeting towards having a critical look at the programme submitted and from there make adequate suggestions in the interest of Nigerian football.

    “We can’t say for now how the whole programme will look like. We are still to get the programme meant for the Nations Cup because Super Eagles’ coach Keshi is yet to submit it.

    “We will be able to give full details as soon as he submits his programme,” Green informed SportingLife.

     

  • Catalunya Friendly Game Pique, Xavi, Fàbregas ready for Eagles

    Catalunya Friendly Game Pique, Xavi, Fàbregas ready for Eagles

    • Valdes, Puyol, too
    • Game holds on January 2

    According to the online edition of mundodeportivo.com, widely regarded as the mouthpiece of Catalunya, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will trade tackles with the National Team of Catalunya in an exhibition game, billed to be held on January 2, 2013 at Cornella-El Prat Stadium.

    The friendly match at Cornella-El Prat Stadium, the home ground of Espanyol, is one of the tune up games to prepare Stephen Keshi and his charges for next year’s African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    This won’t be the first meeting between both National Teams. The biggest win recorded by Catalunya was against a makeshift Nigeria selection in December, 1998.

    At least 12 players from Barcelona – including Victor Valdes, Puyol, Pique, Xavi and Cesc Fàbregas – are expected to be called up by coach Johan Cruyff for the tie against the West Africans.

     

  • Lennon: Celtic still have a lot to do

    Lennon: Celtic still have a lot to do

    Celtic manager Neil Lennon has told his players that their UEFA Champions League campaign is not about to get any easier as they look to tie up qualification for the last 16.

    The Scottish champions have enhanced their reputation in home and away games against Barcelona, narrowly losing at Camp Nou before claiming a famous victory in Glasgow.

    They are second in Group G and in control of their own destiny, but Lennon does not want complacency to creep in ahead of tough clashes with Benfica and Spartak Moscow.

    He said: “I really enjoyed the first game against Benfica and qualifying against Helsingborgs was a tremendous night for the players and the supporters. The win in Moscow was a huge psychological lift and it broke the hoodoo.

    “Benfica away is as difficult as Barcelona away. Spartak at home will be very dangerous because they might just come here with nothing to lose.”

    Celtic drew 0-0 at home to Benfica in a tight opening fixture which was the debut Champions League group game for the vast majority of their team.

    But they have grown in confidence since then with a 3-2 win over Spartak showing they could take the game to teams away from home, before they defied the odds with their performances against Barcelona.

    Ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Portugal, Lennon said: “So far the players have given us a hell of a ride. I don’t think anyone would have expected us to be where we are now.

    “We have given ourselves a good foothold in the group and the players are developing very well.

    “The expectation after the Barcelona game is that ‘you are going through to the last 16, it’s going to be comfortable for you’. But we still have a lot to do.”

  • Adebayor can’t see Arsenal winning trophies

    Adebayor can’t see Arsenal winning trophies

    Tottenham Hotspur striker Emmanuel Adebayor cannot see Arsenal winning any trophies this year and blames the fact that the side keep losing ‘top players’.

    Adebayor spent three years at Arsenal until 2009 and believes that signing one or two top players would give them the edge to win titles but for now, he doesn’t believe they can.

    “I think we all know it is a long time since Arsenal won a trophy. I have a huge amount of respect for all the players there now. But to win a trophy is not so easy,” Adebayor told The Sun.

    “The players at Arsenal are good but sometimes you need more than good to win a trophy. You also need luck. You never know but the league looks over for them and the Champions League looks tough, so I cannot see them winning any trophies.

    “You also need people who say OK, I will give my life on the pitch. That is rare in football.

    “Man City have Kompany, Richards, Yaya Toure and quite a few others. At United, you have Rooney, Vidic, Cleverley, who will fight. You have Scholes and Giggs as well. Chelsea have Lampard and Terry. All great players.

    “Spurs have Gallas, Walker and Parker who never give up. My team-mates always fight. Assou-Ekotto is a great left-back. Friedel is also a strong character. They all work hard in training.”

    Adebayor added: “Lots of top players have left Arsenal over the years. The top players have always said, ‘I think we have a chance to win the title if we sign one or two top players’. I always thought we could win lots of trophies with a few more good players.

    “As you can see, I don’t know if it is the manager or the board at Arsenal but no one has taken what the players and fans say into consideration.

    “If one player has a great season at Arsenal do not be surprised if they leave in the summer.”

     

  • BOXING: Khan promises to fight Brook if he wins world title

    BOXING: Khan promises to fight Brook if he wins world title

    Amir Khan has handed Kell Brook an even bigger incentive to beat Devon Alexander in his world title fight by promising to fight the winner.

    Brook is set to challenge for the IBF belt on January 19 in either New York  or Las Vegas after maneuvering himself into the mandatory position with victory over Hector Saldivia last month.

    And should the 26-year-old upset the odds in America, he could set up an all-British summer showdown against bitter rival Khan.

    ‘I think it’s a great fight,’ Khan told BoxingScene. ‘I think it’s a great step up for Brook because he has been fighting at a lower level.

    ‘I’m surprised he’s taking the fight with Devon Alexander. Devon Alexander is a great fighter. It is a great fight for the welterweight division and in the future I can fight the winner.

    ‘If he gets past Devon Alexander, then I think it makes sense to have a fight with him – and he’ll have a world title [so] it makes sense to fight Brook maybe in the UK – it would be huge.’

    Khan himself returns to action on December 15 against undefeated Carlos Molina in Los Angeles.

    It will be the first time the 25-year-old has fought under the guidance of new trainer Virgil Hunter.

    And the Bolton man is all too aware that he must get back to winning ways if he is to fight the world’s biggest names.

    ‘There’s always pressure when I fight but I definitely have to win this because if I lose, I’m done,’ Khan said.

    ‘This is a fight I need to win, 100 per cent. If I don’t win it I’m done. It’s that simple. The big super-fights I’ve always dreamed about won’t be there if I lose this. Pacquiao, Mayweather — forget it.’

    In an attempt to revitalize his fortunes, Khan took the bold step of ditching revered trainer Freddie Roach in favour of the quietly-spoken San Francisco-based Hunter.

    ‘It’s a very tight community in that gym. You need to have people there you trust. Virgil keeps it very limited and that’s what I like about it,’ he added.

    ‘You’re not bothered about who’s watching, you’re not training for a crowd, or fans.’

  • Hulk returns for Zenit’s Malaga Clash

    Hulk returns for Zenit’s Malaga Clash

    Brazil star Hulk has recovered from a thigh injury in time for Zenit St. Petersburg’s crucial Champions League clash at home to Malaga on Wednesday, the Russian club said Sunday.

    Hulk arrived from Porto with much fanfare as a €40 million signing in September, but has scored just three times in 11 games in all competitions since then, including one goal in Zenit’s 3-2 Champions League defeat to AC Milan last month.

    He has not played since hurting his thigh in a 2-1 win over FC Rostov on November 2, missing the dour 1-0 defeat to Anderlecht, but trained with the team Sunday, a statement on the Zenit website said.

    Hulk’s recovery was interrupted by the brief kidnapping of his sister Angelica in their home city of Campina Grande on November 5.

    Also in line for a return for Malaga’s visit is midfielder Viktor Faizulin, who missed Zenit’s 2-1 win over FC Volga last week with a minor knee problem that also ruled him out of Russia’s 2-2 draw with the United States on Wednesday.

    Zenit must beat Malaga to be sure of keeping a chance of qualifying for the knockout round. Any other result would allow second-placed AC Milan to qualify with a win over Anderlecht.

    Malaga lead Group C and can only fail to qualify if they lose both of their final two games and all four other results go against them.

  • ATHLETICS: Blake predicts furious 2013

    ATHLETICS: Blake predicts furious 2013

    Jamaican sprinting star Yohan Blake is fine-tuning ahead of next season’s defence of his 100 metres World Championships title after resuming training just over a week ago.

    Blake won the 100m title at the Daegu World Championships last year after training partner and Olympic champion Usain Bolt false-started and was consequently thrown out of the race.

    The former St Jago High School standout told The Gleaner that things have been progressing well in training at the University of the West Indies-based Racers Track Club, and that he and Coach Glen Mills have been working on correcting several technical defects ahead of the season.

    “I started training last Monday and it has been progressing well. I am just in the background part of it, of course, but it’s going according to plan so far,” Blake said.

    “My start has improved, but technically, what I am looking to work on is getting more stride length. If I get that, I will be able to shave a lot off my times,” Blake added. “Also, my hand comes across my body and I tend to run sideways, and so we are working on that a lot this year, so next season should be a cracker.”

    The 22-year-old, who became the youngest 100m World champion at 21 years old, also pointed out that his experience in Daegu and at the recent Olympic Games in London, where he won two silver medals in the 100m and 200m, as well as a 4x100m gold medal, will go a long way in preparing him to deal with the expectations and pressures of a title defence.

    “I’ve been through the Olympics and I have been through the World Championships before so I have got the pressure off my back. Coach Mills is also working with me, and also Usain Bolt is there with me every day encouraging me, so next year is not about pressure for me but it’s all about just training hard and going to the World Championships and defending my title,” Blake underlined.

    The sprinter, who was last year awarded for the ‘Performance of the Year’ and was among the finalists for the Athlete of the Year award at last year’s IAAF Grand Gala in Monaco, is no longer in contention after he was not named among the top three. He, however, shared that there is no disappointment on his part, and that he is motivated to work even harder going into the coming season.

    “I am not disappointed because it was expected, there are so many persons who did exceptionally well this year and are being recognised. I am young, I am just 22, so there will be a lot more time for me,” said Blake. “Next year is the World Championships and in 2015 another World Championships, and then the Olympics again after that, so I have a long 10 years ahead of me. So I am not disappointed, this just encourages me to work harder.”

  • FORMULAR 1: Hamilton wants FIA to clean up COTA grid

    Lewis Hamilton has called on the FIA to organise a clean sweep of the starting grid before today’s race, to ensure that cars starting off the racing line aren’t unfairly penalised.

    Lewis Hamilton vocalised the concern of many drivers and teams in Austin for the 2012 F1 United States Grand Prix in Texas by calling on the FIA to put additional effort and resources into cleaning up the dirt and dust on the starting grid in time for this afternoon’s race.

    Even though race organisers have brought in jet dryers to help blast the dust and dirt off the parts of the track not on the regular racing line, many drivers fear that starting from the wrong side of the tracks at the Circuit of the Americas could see them lose up to two positions at the start of Sunday’s race because of a basic lack of grip.

    “I hope the FIA clean the circuit, particularly on the inside, so the guys on inside have the chance of keeping position as least,” said Hamilton on Saturday, after securing second place on the grid – on the dirty side of the track – in qualifying.

    “I hope we can get away well,” he continued. “We’re going to ask Charlie to clean that side of the grid so that the people on that side get an equal start and hopefully I can fight Sebastian down to turn one. But after that it’s quite a difficult circuit to follow on because it’s so fast, so position will be very important.

    “I am not concerned about the first corner more concerned about the slippery side of the grid,” Hamilton added. “It’s so wide in turn one that I don’t think really much can go wrong generally. [But] I might be wrong!”

    If the track conditions off the racing line aren’t improved, Hamilton fears that his race may be wrecked in the first seconds after the lights go out.

    “It’s one of the dirtiest parts of the track because no-one ever drives on there,” he explained. “The first few may get the better of me – in fact, everyone on the right hand side,” he said. “I did a little launch from it earlier on in FP3 and it was quite slippery.

    “Obviously I don’t want to get in the way of Sebastian’s race, but I do want to win so I’m going to try my best to get through cleanly,” he added.

    Meanwhile, German motorsports specialist publication Auto Motor und Sport has speculated that the problem with grip at the Circuit of the Americas is not simply dust and dirt, but is being exacerbated by oil seepage from the newly laid track surface.

    “The brand new asphalt is sweating oil,” said the report.

    The designer of the COTA track, Hermann Tilke has told FIA officials that the circuit uses the same type of asphalt as utilised at Korea and India, but HRT driver Pedro de la Rosa disagreed and said that the surface in Austin was different.

    Ferrari’s championship contender Fernando Alonso felt the same, comparing it with Portimao in Portugal as being “very smooth and not at all porous.”

  • United’s progress pleases Carrick

    Michael Carrick believes Manchester United can be satisfied with their progress in the UEFA Champions League this season.

    United crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage 12 months ago, but are already safely through to the last 16 of this term’s competition after winning their first four games.

    With United also a point behind champions Manchester City in the Premier League, Carrick is content with how the campaign is going.

    “We can be quite satisfied with the position we are in,” said Carrick.

    “It doesn’t mean to say we can take it for granted because we know how much hard work lies ahead of us.

    “But we are in a better position this year than we were last, certainly in the Champions League.

    “It does make things a bit easier but we need to build on what we have got so far.”

    United play Galatasaray in Turkey in midweek and Carrick added: “You do draw experience from being in different situations before and figuring out what is the best way to handle them.

    “We have had plenty of ups and downs and there will be more of them between now and the end of the season.

    “It is up to us to deal with that and get the consistency to do our best every week.”