The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • NEW FIVE-YEAR DEAL: Chelsea fans drum support for Mikel

    NEW FIVE-YEAR DEAL: Chelsea fans drum support for Mikel

    Super Eagles and Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, is receiving unprecedented support from Blues fans round the globe following the news making the rounds of a new five-year contract at Stamford Bridge.

    SportingLife gathered from various social sites on Wednesday that the fans are tipping the Nigeria international to continue to excel with the UEFA Champions League defending champions.

    A Chealsea fan, simply identified as Gian-Franco/Luca set the ball rolling by posting this: “Just goes to show, ppl who really know about football know his quality. He is our new Makelele and he is only going to improve. He’s scored for the Eagles; now he needs to score just one for the blues…a hat trick on Sunday to celebrate the deal will go a long way as an act of gratitude.”

    Another die-hard Chelsea fan, zg2000fs said: “He will score this season. He ventures forward more than ever before and actually takes shots at goal this season. Truly great player overall and I am more than happy that it is recognized by the managerial staff (as it has been since he was first bought) and the board. Great news!

    Reacting on Mikel’s new proposed deal, GabeU stressed that the Nigerian truly deserves an improved contract.

    “I am glad for him …richly deserved. That should take him to ~ 32 yrs at which point he can enter into the yearly renewal cycles and hopefully by then Romeu would be in state to take over doing our major lifting as CDM.”

    However, another Chelsea faithful, Mia Maynard feels differently.

    “People who really know about football know that in games where teams attack us and we need to have players running back – like Atletico Madrid and Shakthar, will continue to beat us if we have slow midfielders.

    “As we now play a flat 5 with Ramires linking them to the front 4, I finally think Mikel has some place in the squad as all he has to do is sit in a small region of the pitch – which works to his advantage and the extreme mobility of Ramires and Oscar covers up for his lack of speed. Whether for five more years I don’t know, and you know I am not his biggest fan. But, for once, I feel he could be of use,” read part of the comments from Chelsea fans.

    Interestingly, unconfirmed reports suggest Mikel is close to agreeing a new five-year contract with the reigning European champions.

    The report quoted the players’ agent, John Ola Shittu, saying: “Mikel will soon sign a new five-year deal with Chelsea, with an improved salary.

    “We are just about finalizing the details of the deal and it can be announced anytime soon by the club.

    “He has a year left on his contract and Chelsea has decided to add four more years to it.”

    However, Shittu didn’t disclose the financial aspects of the new deal for his player, who is reportedly on about 80,000 pounds a week.

    In 2006, Mikel opted for Chelsea ahead of Manchester United in a long-drawn transfer saga.

  • Onyewu looking to rebuild career in Spanish Sun

    Onyewu looking to rebuild career in Spanish Sun

    Oguchi Onyewu has had more than his fair share of bad luck with injuries and disruptive changes to coaching staff but the peripatetic American feels a loan move to Malaga has given him the perfect chance to get his career back on track.

    The 30-year-old defender’s stint at AC Milan, whom Malaga host in Champions League Group C on Wednesday, was at first wrecked by a serious knee injury.

    Then when coach Massimiliano Allegri took charge, Onyewu found himself surplus to requirements despite signing a one-year contract extension which would have seen him play for free.

    After a loan move to Dutch side Twente Enschede, he signed for Sporting of Portugal in June last year before he was sidelined by another knee problem and it again became clear he was not part of the club’s plans.

    Malaga came calling and Onyewu, who has also played in France, Belgium and England, decided Spain’s southern coast was the right place to be despite the Qatar-owned club’s apparent institutional instability.

    “If my services are not wanted and appreciated in one place I’m going to look where they are,” Onyewu said in an interview with Reuters in the stands of Malaga’s sun-drenched Rosaleda stadium on Tuesday.

    “I was excited to have this challenge and opportunity in a new country and a new team,” added the Washington D.C.-born player, whose parents are Nigerian.

    “I find myself in a good place back with a top team that’s playing Champions League.

    “I’m very happy with the way my path has propelled me to this point right now.”

    Onyewu, who says he is open to making the move to Malaga permanent, has yet to make his debut for his new team and faces stiff competition for a place in central defence from established pair Martin Demichelis and Weligton.

    UNLUCKY RUNS

    Now that he is back to full fitness, he says he is focusing on working hard to win over Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini.

    “I consider myself an established centre back as well,” he told Reuters as he adjusted the back-to-front baseball cap covering his close-cropped hair.

    “I’ve played in a variety of countries, I have a fair number of national team caps and World Cups under my belt as well.

    “I feel as though my opportunity is just around the corner and when it comes up it’s for me to take or let it go.

    “Fortunately my health at this moment is not in question. It’s good to say because I’ve had a couple of unlucky runs of injuries so I’m happy to feel and to say that I’m healthy right now.”

    Onyewu was left out of Juergen Klinsmann’s latest U.S. squad but is confident of adding to his 66 caps and six goals once he has made his mark in La Liga.

    “Right now I’m not in the mix and rightfully so,” he said.

    “I think you need to take things in their proper order and my main focus is Malaga and concentrating here on getting the playing time I’m working for.

    “Once that all comes to realisation everything else should fall into place.

    “He (Klinsmann) expressed his delight in terms of me putting myself in a good position despite everything that went down in Lisbon.

    “I’m not too worried about it but first things first. I have to take care of business here.”

    First up on Wednesday are his former club Milan, who are in something of a downward spiral after selling a host of top players in the close season.

    Onyewu said he harbours no ill feeling towards the Italians but will not be doing his former team mates any favours.

    “As much as I am looking forward to seeing some of the old faces I used to play with I’m also looking forward to getting the three points against them,” he said.

    “I’m going to laugh with them after the game but during those 90 minutes they are my enemies as much as anybody else.”

    CLUB LEGENDS

    After what he called “a period of transition”, Milan are sure to put their troubles behind them and return to winning ways, he said.

    “It’s going to be very difficult for any team to change a lump sum of players all at one time,” he remarked of the seven-times European champions.

    “They let a lot of important players, not just for the team but for the club, leave. Legends for the club.

    “Right now they have a younger group and they’re looking to rebuild that legacy. Obviously it’s going to take some time and lot of commitment from the players.”

    Malaga’s preparations for the season were disrupted by speculation – that initially went unanswered – that owner Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nassar Al Thani was planning to sell up after only two years.

    The internal problems did not seem to affect the players too seriously, despite delays in wage payments, and they are third in La Liga and top of their Champions League group after two matches on their debut in Europe’s elite club competition.

    “Right now to me being inside, it feels and it seems as though the club is completely stable,” Onyewu said.

    “There hasn’t been any indication of the financial issues that were a question prior to my arrival.

    “You never know what happens in the future but at the moment it hasn’t affected me and it hasn‘t been an issue. Hopefully that will continue and we’ll have smooth sailing for everyone.”

  • Nigeria to face Zambia in Group C

    Nigeria to face Zambia in Group C

    Nigeria will face champions, Zambia when the African Cup of Nations kicks off January after being drawn in the same group C with the East Africans at the draw held in Durban, South Africa Wednesday evening.

    Also in the same group with the Super Eagles are Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.

    Hosts, South Africa was pooled in Group A and will face a tricky qualification campaign with Angola, Morocco and Cape Verde, the ‘giant killers’ who denied Cameroon the Nations Cup finals ticket.

    The Group B sees Ghana tackling Mali, Niger and DR Congo for one of the two quarter-final tickets, while beaten finalists from the last edition of the competition in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire has to contend with Tunisia, Algeria and Togo in Group D

  • Ahead of Africa U-17 qualifier: Eaglets hit Guinea Friday

    Ahead of Africa U-17 qualifier: Eaglets hit Guinea Friday

    The U-17 National Team, known as Golden Eaglets, will fly into Conakry, capital of Guinea from Cotonou, Republic of Benin on Friday,officials have confirmed.

    Eaglets’ delegation of 18 players and technical and administrative officials travelled to Cotonou on Thursday and fly to Guinea aboard an ASKY Airline flight on Friday afternoon.

    Already, the Nigeria Football Federation has put the Embassy of Nigeria in both countries on notice, as the Eaglets chase a spot in the last round of the qualifying campaign for next year’s African U-17 Championship in Morocco.

    The Nigerian cadets missed the last two African U-17 Championships but an impressive tally of 83 goals in 18 matches, including friendlies, have marked the Class of 2012 as a squad to watch.

    Nigeria won the first leg 3-0 in Calabar on Sunday, 14th October.

    The Guinean Federation has confirmed that the second leg match will take place at the September 28 Stadium in Conakry on Sunday, starting from 4.30pm Guinea time (5.30pm Nigeria time).

  • Beach Eagles coach talks tough

    Beach Eagles coach talks tough

    Super Sand Eagles Chief Coach Audu Ejor has said it loud and clear that he would lead his team to beat all teams to win the Dubai, United Arab Emirate’s 8-Nation Tournament holding in Dubai on October 30th to November 2nd, 2012.

    The experienced Beach Soccer Coach said that he planned to use the tournament to push Nigeria’s rankings in the world to number one having been ranked as the sixth best country in the world presently.

    The eight teams that would campaign in the competitionare Group A: hosts United Arab Emirates, defending Champion Russia, United States of America and Haiti.

    Nigeria is in Group B which also has other top teams like five-time World Cup winner Brazil, England and new comer Japan.

    “I am leading my team to Dubai to win the competition. We are not going there to play second fiddle to any team be it the defending Champion Russia, former Champion Brazil who has won the World Cup more than five times. We want to win the Dubai tournament to up our world rankings to number one and no team can stop our ambition.

    “My team is ready and the mood and spirit in camp is great and very high. The boys are raring to go. We are sixth best country in the world in Beach Soccer and we want to use the Dubai tournament to shoot up to world No. 1 and this we are capable of doing. I have experienced and talented players in the team who can hold their own against any team in the world,” a confident Ejor told SportingLife yesterday.

    The Coach also said that he has replaced Kano Pillars striker, Gambo Mohammed with Ayo Aina Festus of Owidesede Club. “Gambo Mohammed is the only player missing from this team now. He is absence due to sickness but I have called up Ayo Aina Festus to replace him,” he added.

  • NFF rejects ‘corrupt’ statement

    NFF rejects ‘corrupt’ statement

    • Says Glasshouse won’t join issues with Gov. Amaechi 

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has flatly rejected a statement by Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi that the Federation is graft-ridden.

    Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee, Emeka Inyama said Amaechi’s statement at Monday’s Presidential Retreat on Sports at the Banquet Hall of State House, Abuja was in bad taste.

    “The present NFF Board is not corrupt and has been employing global best practices in its dealings.“While we are unwilling to join issues with the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, plastic allegations of corruption against persons and institutions are weighty and damaging and should not be thrown in a flippant manner.

    “Of course, Governor Amaechi later told the NFF President and General Secretary at the private session that he was referring to a previous NFA administration. But he failed to make that clarification in his public statement, thereby leaving his speech to mischievous interpretation.

    “The present NFF administration is employing global best practices in running Nigerian football and the Executive Committee members are elected, just like other top public office holders. They deserve regard and respect.”

    Inyama noted that unsubstantiated allegations of graft against public office holders have become trendy, but cautioned that highly-placed individuals have a responsibility to refrain from unjust attacks against agencies that work assiduously for the progress of the nation.

    “Football is the biggest factor that unites Nigerians and the present NFF is very much alive to its responsibilities of ensuring that joy is derived anytime a national team steps out to represent the country. The board has assiduously striven to employ highest etiquettes in all its dealings including management of scarce resources in executing itsassignments.

    “The entire envelope of the NFF for this year is N1.9 Billion, while an average match of the Super Eagles cost about N120 million. There are 11 national teams, eight of which are always engaged in qualifying campaigns and championships. Yet, we get punched here and there for no justifiable reason.

    “The truth is that, without the financial support of the Governors of Cross River, Lagos, Kwara, Edo and Kaduna States, we would have found it difficult prosecuting all our international matches and competitions this year, and we thank them immensely,” Inyama concluded.

  • We’re ready for any team —Ambrose

    We’re ready for any team —Ambrose

    Super Eagles and Celtic free-scoring defender, Efe Ambrose told SportingLife Monday that the Nigerian side is battle-ready for any country that today’s Africa Nations Cup draws would pitch against the Eagles.

    “Right now I am in Spain for the (UEFA) Champions League against Barcelona (played last night). But my eyes are on the draws too.

    “In as much as I pray for favourable opponents for the Eagles in the draws in South Africa, I believe we have a quality and talented team that can stand shoulder to shoulder with any team in the world with good preparation. That is the most important thing; if we have a solid preparation we will achieve successin the Nations Cup.

    “With all sense of humility I don’t see any team stopping us when we are in top form. All the same, a good draw would make us feel better,” he told SportingLife during a telephone chat from Spain Monday.

  • Keshi’s car, house to cost N15m

    Keshi’s car, house to cost N15m

    • Nff awaits Big Boss to make choice

     

    Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi will next week get his official house and car, which would cost the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF over 15 million Naira (about $94,000).

    MTNFootball.com has scooped the NFF are expected to secure a house in Abuja for about 8 million Naira and also hand the former Togo and Mali coach the key to a Kia SUV worth 7.2m Naira. These benefits are in fulfilment of a four-year contract signed by Keshi in November.

    “I am in Abuja to finalise on the car and accommodation for the Eagles coach,” stated NFF Finance committee chairman Shehu Adamu.

    “The NFF president has directed that we resolve the accommodation issue of the coach. So, we are only waiting for the coach to pick his preferred location for his accommodation, while for the car we would conclude the paper work as soon as possible.”

    Keshi’s contract also stipulates that he must reach the last four of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

  • Onigbinde: Eagles don’t need easy draws

    Onigbinde: Eagles don’t need easy draws

    Former Coach of the Super Eagles who is also a member of the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Adegboye Onigbinde has declared that “a well prepared Super Eagles are not expected to fear any foe and should not rely on easy draws to make an impact at the (forthcoming 2013) Africa Nations Cup.”

    The CAF Advisor, as blunt as ever, said he doesn’t believe in the so-called easy draws but believes in the amount of preparation put in by a team prior to a match.

    “You have known me for a long time; I don’t bloody care what the draws decide. What matters to me is the way I prepare my team. I don’t look forward to any draws with any expectation. Let us be pitted against anybody or any team, what is important is to get the team ready for any eventuality,” Onigbinde noted.

    The erstwhile FIFA Instructor also stated that the performance of the Nigerian team at next year’s Africa Nations Cup would depend on team handler Stephen Keshi’s programme for the team.

    “It’s only Keshi that can tell how far the team would go at the AFCON because he is solely in charge of the team and knows the extent of the team’s readiness for the competition”, Onigbinde offered.

  • G/EAGLETS BATTLE BENIN U-17S IN WARM-UP

    G/EAGLETS BATTLE BENIN U-17S IN WARM-UP

    NIGERIA’S Golden Eaglets will battle Benin U-17’s in a friendly on Wednesday before they fly out through Cotonou to Guinea for a return leg qualifier.

    Officials informed MTNFootball.com that the Golden Eaglets will arrive Cotonou today, play the warm-up on Wednesday and depart for Guinea from Benin on Thursday.

    Nigeria Under-20s, the Flying Eagles, also engaged their Benin counterparts in a test game before they took on South Africa in a 2013 African Youth Championship qualifier.

    The Golden Eaglets take a 3-0 lead from the first leg against Guinea.

    The second round return leg clash is slated for Sunday in Conakry with the winners qualifying for a final third round eliminator. The Nigerian youngsters reached this stage of the competition after they dumped Niger 10-1 on aggregate.