The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • Barca win unforgettable, says Efe Ambrose

    Barca win unforgettable, says Efe Ambrose

    Celtic star Efe Ambrose has described as unforgettable a 2-1 home win over mighty Barcelona in Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League clash.

    Celtic remain in second place on seven points, two points behind leaders Barcelona. Benfica are third on four points, while Spartak Moscow drop to bottom with three points.

    They will travel to Benfica on November 20 before they host Spartak Moscow in a final group game on December 5. The former Ashdod FC of Israel defender told MTNFootball.com that it was befitting way to celebrate the 125 years of existence of the Glasgow giants.

    “Victory is always good, but this one over Barcelona was sweet. We avenged the loss from the first leg and this victory was also a great anniversary gift for the team, you know the team clocked 125 years on Tuesday,” he declared.

    “We really deserved the victory because we worked hard for it. It was not an easy game, many people don’t expect us to win but we were focussed and determined, we give God all the glory for crowning our effort.

    “We won’t let this victory get into our head but rather we will build on it for the remaining two games in the competition.”

    Like it was in Barcelona, Nigeria international Ambrose was again outstanding against the onslaught spearheaded by World Footballer of the Year Lionel Messi.

  • No car, no accommodation:Keshi pleads for understanding

    No car, no accommodation:Keshi pleads for understanding

    Super Eagles Head Coach Stephen Keshi has played down on the inability of the NFF to provide him with accommodation and a car almost one year after he assumed duty.

    The Big Boss told SportingLife in Abuja, “I know very well that the NFF is supposed to provide me with these facilities to make my job easy, but I really understand with them, because of the paucity of funds they are facing now. Nigerians also need to understand with them, it is not easy for the Federation, they are striving to keep all the national teams moving, and moreover the funds are not there. I know that, as soon as they have the money they would provide me with those things.

    “But that is not my major concern now. My concern is to return the Eagles to that viable position where they belong to in Africa and the World. Let us go to the Nations Cup and win, qualify for the World Cup, then, I know for sure, that these things would come naturally.”

    The former International also confirmed that the NFF are also working assiduously to ensure that he gets the car and accommodation before the Nations cup “they are working on it, I know that it would ready soon”.

    He confirmed to SportingLife that the team would spend its Christmas and new year festivities in camp here in Abuja. “We would start our camping here in Abuja, before moving Portugal where all the foreign based players would join us for two weeks before we move to South Africa,” he concluded.

  • Kofarmata reunites with Pillars

    Kofarmata reunites with Pillars

    The Nigerian champions, Kano Pillars have signed striker, Bello Kofarmata for the 2012/2013 NPL season.

    Kofarmata spent two seasons at Cup holders, Heartland and played a pivotal role in the side’s back-to-back victories in the Federation Cup.

    The former Heartland goal poacher said family ties weighed high in his decision to rejoin the Pyramid City side.

    “I’ve signed for Kano Pillars and going to play for them this league season.

    “I left Pillars after 2009/2010 to Heartland and now I’m back to fight for Caf Champions League title with them. Three seasons ago, we finished in the semifinals, this time round, we’re going to lift the trophy.

    “I joined Pillars because of family ties and passion for the team. Kano is my home town, my family is in Kano and Pillars are my team. I’m closer home, my family is happy, I’m comfortable and will definitely play better this season.

    “I had a good time at Heartland, I made good friends in Owerri and won two major trophies, the Federation Cup back-to-back which ranks high on my scorecard. I won the league title with Pillars in my first calling and I’ll do more for them in my second sojourn.

    “I’ve started very well with Pillars winning the four-team invitational tournament in Niamey, Niger Republic. Expect an improved Kofarmata in Pillars’ colour this term,” he said to supersport.com.

    Kofarmata featured for his new side in the Niger four-team tourney where they defeated Olympic FC, ASFAN and Junior Mena to emerge winners.

  • Martins: Form earned me Eagles return

    Martins: Form earned me Eagles return

    Levante forward Obafemi Martins has expressed joy at being selected for the Nigeria squad again ahead of the upcoming friendly with Venezuela.

    Four goals in the space of six La Liga league games this season has seen him earn a return to the Super Eagles set-up, having been left out of international selection for over a year due to poor form with Rubin Kazan.

    Martins insists he is raring to go in their friendly on November 14 and looked ahead to the African Cup of Nations at the start of 2013, which has seen them drawn in Group C with Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and holders Zambia.

    “I’m fully ready and I can’t wait to be part of the team,” the attacker told Goal.com. “[The] Eagles [are] my first home.

    “We will shock Zambia; they won the last Nations Cup, but Nigeria weren’t there. For Ethiopia and Burkina Faso, we shouldn’t underrate them at all. But I know Eagles will soon rule African football under [head coach Stephen] Keshi.”

    Martins revealed his time in Russia was fraught with difficulties and blamed his lack of goals on being played out of position, but the 28-year-old is thankful for another chance with the Nigerian team.

    “It was hectic playing in Kazan, Russia,” the ex-Newcastle and Birmingham City striker continued.

    “I didn’t enjoy my playing time at the club due to some problems. The coach playing me in a wrong role, but everyone can see now that if you give me a starting role in the right position I will score.

    “I’m happy to be back in the Eagles and I appreciate Keshi for giving me this opportunity and I promise I won’t let my fans down.

    “I’m really thankful, what happened in Rubin Kazan, it’s an episode of my life I don’t want to go back to anymore.”

     

  • Agbim signs super Rangers deal

    Agbim signs super Rangers deal

    Consistency and a rising international profile have earned Eagles home-based captain Chigozie Agbim an eight million Naira deal at Rangers.

    Agbim will now be one of the highest paid players in the Nigeria Premier League after he sealed his mouth watering eight million Naira (about $50,000) contract with Rangers.

    Agbim, who dumped Warri Wolves for Rangers last season, told MTNFootball.com his “desire to play Champions League football next season was one of the reasons for his move.”

    The agile goalkeeper featured for ‘The Flying Antelopes’ before he left for Warri Wolves. Sunday Mba also dumped Warri Wolves for last season’s league runners-up Rangers. Rangers, alongside champions Kano Pillars, will represent Nigeria in next year’s CAF Champions League.

  • Thugs beat up Sharks GM, disrupt training

    Thugs beat up Sharks GM, disrupt training

    Angry thugs Wednesday beat up the General Manager of Sharks FC Okey Kpaluku during their morning training session. The training was abruptly disrupted as a result of the occurrence.

    Futaa.com learnt from a reliable source in Port Harcourt that a player who is an orphan was dropped by Kpaluku recently, and threatened to attack the Sharks boss.

    “The GM (Okey Kpaluku) was beaten black and blue just as training was about to end on Wednesday morning,” the source told futaa.com.

    “A player, who is an orphan was dropped at the end of the concluded season, and the only means of survival for the player is the football he is playing. So he felt he has no means of livelihood anymore, and he threatened to get back to Kpaluku,” the source said.

    The development may lead to an indefinite suspension of training ahead of the next season.

  • F1: Marko criticizes Webber as title hopes end

    F1: Marko criticizes Webber as title hopes end

    Bull’s Helmut Marko has pointed some criticism at Mark Webber, after the Australian bowed out of mathematical contention for the 2012 title with a messy race in Abu Dhabi.

    Webber made a bad start on Sunday, losing key places, until he clashed with Pastor Maldonado.

    But as he pushed to recover from that spin, his second clash was with Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, before he crashed heavily as Sergio Perez, Romain Grosjean and Paul di Resta fought for position.

    “You can’t have more errors than that in one race,” Red Bull’s driver manager Marko is quoted by Bild newspaper.

    “That was not a good day for him.

    “The start was no good, and the accidents were not good.

    “It’s too bad, because it affects us in the constructors’ championship.”

    Indeed, Red Bull could have wrapped up the teams’ title in Abu Dhabi simply by scoring more points than Ferrari or McLaren.

  • London Olympic stars join women’s road team

    Olympic champions Laura Trott, Dani King and Joanna Rowsell have signed for a new women’s team supported by Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins.

    DTPC Honda is owned by Australian Rochelle Gilmore, who said today: “Wiggins’s provision of generous support, assistance and encouragement will further enable the girls to fulfil their potential.”

    In the wake of his Tour triumph and fourth Olympic gold medal, Wiggins stated his wish to support women’s cycling.

    Trott won gold in London in the omnium and, with King and Rowsell, the team pursuit.

     

  • Chivu a month away from action

    Chivu a month away from action

    Inter stopper Cristian Chivu could still need another month of treatment on a problematic foot injury.

    The Romanian, who signed a new contract at the club during the summer, hasn’t played for the outfit this season since his appearance against Hadjuk Split in the Europa League.

    The former Roma and Ajax player has been in the treatment room as the consequences of a toe issue which required surgery.

    The Gazzetta dello Sport is today suggesting that the 32-year-old is still four weeks away from making a full recovery.

    Inter boss Andrea Stramaccioni has a defensive headache at the moment as fellow centre-backs Andrea Stramaccioni and Walter Samuel are expected to be unavailable for the next 21 days.

  • Nwordu joins Heartland

    Nwordu joins Heartland

    Supersport.com learnt that the former Enugu Rangers’ man has signed for a season in Owerri on Friday.

    Nwordu said the move is a dream come true as well as a huge challenge to his career.

    “I’ve moved to Heartland for the new season. I actually signed the contract paper on Friday, the package is a huge improvement compared with where I came from and the team is well organised. I’m happy with the movement to the Owerri-based side

    “The package could have been bigger but for my previous side, Ocean Boys, it affects one’s bargaining strength and limits to the extent one can complain. I have to start from there, work harder and prove myself once again in all aspect of the game both on and off the pitch,” he said to supersport.com.

    The former Sharks’ centre-back said winning the league shield is the value he hopes to bring to the Naze Millionaires’ camp.

    “The entire State wants the Premier League title as the Federation Cup title seems to hold no attraction any longer having won it back-to-back. I share in their belief that it must be the league shield, it’s challenging and I think with the quality of players I met on ground it won’t be a tall order. Heartland have recruited the best of attackers in the land, competition will be stiff and that will surely bring out the best in us,” said the former Nasarawa United defender.

    Heartland finished last season on 51 points from 36 matches and will hoist the nation’s flag in the 2013 CAF Confederation Cup.