The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • Chibuike keen on league title

    Chibuike keen on league title

    John Chibuike says he has remained confident in helping his club beat Molde for the Norwegian league title as Rosenborg move to second place on the table with just two points differencein their positions.

    Chibuike who has been given the greenlight by Super Eagles Stephen Keshi, believes that the Rosenborg team are good for the title and ready to declare war against their leader to claim the league.

    “I respect Molde a lot, they have shown technicality this season but we won’t fold our hands for the title,” said Chibuike.

    “On paper, they are considered the favourites, but we are also a good side and good enough for the title. Our last game gave us more confident ahead of Molde’s clash for the title.”

    “I was not part of the Rosenborg team that won it two seasons ago and I want to win it with them now. I am back to my best, I am ready to give it all both in terms of assist and goal scoring.”

    “Of course, we are still on course in Europa Cup, we lost to Bayern Leverkusen, a painful one but I enjoyed myself and it gives me another exposure for the next game.”

    “As a matter of fact, I am looking forward to victorious season here in Norway and I believe the dream will come.” I am eager to prove than I am doing and I can tell the world excited I am to hit the top gong.”

  • Michael vows to upset Arsenal

    Michael vows to upset Arsenal

    Kryvbas’ whizkid Babatunde Michael is looking forward to facing Arsenal Kiev, former team of Nigerian international Michael Odibe in today’s clash.

    Michael fondly called ‘African Messi’ has remained one of the best entertaining youngsters in Ukraine this season and has been able to prove more of his potentials.

    The Nigerian, who possesses the quality to become one of the best wingers in the future, said playing in Ukraine is as a result of having a rough start but hope to get better and take another positive step to bigger stage.

    “Playing in Ukraine has exposed me to lots of things, the league is tough and I am very pleased starting from here, I believe making wave here will spur me to bigger clubs in europe but I am very happy to tell u that Kryvbas’ life sweet,” said Michael.

    “I am not doing bad in my club even though we are at 9th position on the table and beating Arsenal Kiev will gives us more confidence in beating the top teams. I am personally looking towards a victorious game and give all I can to ensure victory.”

    “They’re a proud club and will be out to prove a point this week but hopefully if we can play our own game we can do well.

  • Oyo State team qualifies, breaks 13-year jinx

    OYO State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Adedapo Lam-Adesina has expressed joy at the progress the state has recorded in sports since the inception of the administration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

    He said this in his congratulatory message to the state’s basketball team which has just qualified for the Premier League division of the Nigeria Basketball League in Abuja after winning the Premier League play-off, breaking a thirteen-year jinx of missing out in the elite league.

    Lam-Adesina stated that it was not a coincidence that the state did very well in the last one and half years as the support his Ministry received from the Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, made it possible.

    The Commissioner recalled with nostalgia the success of the rebranded Governor’s Cup which was moribund before the present administration revived it; the hosting and winning of the first-ever Nigeria Academicals finals where the victorious team was hosted personally by the Governor and their eventual sponsorship to the United States of America where they participated in series of friendlies and Soccer clinics. The highest ever reward for the state’s athlete to the National Sports Festival (Garden City Games 2011), the increase in the number of ball games the state qualified for at the recently concluded National Sports Festival Zone 1 Elimination series in Ibadan, the support given to London 2012 Paralympic Gold Medalist, Yakubu Adesokan and the improvement in performance and welfare of both Shooting Stars and Crown FC among some of the achievements.

    Lam-Adesina congratulated players, coaches and officials of the team for doing the state proud again and justifying Government’s support, promising that he would continue to work hard to take sport back to its rightful place.

    He stated that his concept of sports development is not restricted to a few sports alone.

    The team qualified after defeating Ondo State 68-67 points in the first match, the team won their second game against Ondo State by 66-59.

    They however lost to Nigeria Air force team 66-68 points.

    The team won the decisive match against Nigeria Air force by 77-55 points winning three out of the four games played to break a thirteen-year jinx.

    Oyo State basketball team last featured in the prestigious Premier League division thirteen years ago and has now qualified to play among the elite Basketball teams in Nigeria.

  • Terry accepts ban for racial abuse

    Terry accepts ban for racial abuse

    JOHN Terry has announced he will not be contesting the FA’s decision to ban him for four matches over the race row with Anton Ferdinand.

    Last month an FA panel ruled that Terry had directed racist language at Ferdinand in the Premier League match.

    The three-man panel judging over Terry’s case concluded that he was not a racist, but were not satisfied by his defence, describing it as ‘improbable, implausible and contrived’.

    Terry said in a statement on Thursday: “After careful consideration, I have decided not to appeal against the FA judgment.

    “I want to take this opportunity to apologise to everyone for the language I used in the game against Queens Park Rangers last October.

    “Although I’m disappointed with the FA judgment, I accept that the language I used, regardless of the context, is not acceptable on the football field or indeed in any walk of life.”

  • Keshi lists Anichebe, Osaze

    Keshi lists Anichebe, Osaze

    Nigeria striking duo of Victor Anichebe and Peter Osaze Odemwingie have been listed in the squad to face Venezuela in an international friendly in November.

    Supersport.com can report that Nigeria head coach, Stephen Keshi has included the two England-based forwards in his team for the friendly.

    The Super Eagles’ coach also included some new names in the team, according to a member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Committee, Paul Bassey.

    But the nation’s football federation is yet to rubber stamp Keshi’s programme in preparation for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

    “It is still unofficial though but Keshi has made a name of players available for the friendly match against Venezuela next month. Among the players named are Victor Anichebe and Osaze Odemwingie. Both of them were part of the team before now and that is understandable.

    “There are also some new names in the list. The time between now and the Nations Cup is too short for trying out new players. But the NFF technical committee will meet on this,” said Bassey on a radio show monitored in Lagos.

    Keshi has also been reported to be keen on handing Newcastle United forward, Shola Ameobi and Nedum Onuoha opportunities to battle for AFCON places.

  • PORTUGAL CUP CLASH

    PORTUGAL CUP CLASH

    Echiejile left out of Braga squad.

     

    Nigeria left back Uwa Echiejile has not been called up by coach José Peseiro for Friday’s Portuguese Cup clash against Leixões, reports Portugal’s influential sports daily A Bola.

    After international commitment with the Nigeria selection this past weekend, Echiejile resumed training with The Archbishops on Tuesday.

    In fact, he was the first international to arrive Estádio AXA, Braga, the training ground of the bronze – champions.

    The 24 – year – old Nigeria international has suited four times for Sporting Braga in the Primeira Liga.

     

  • Keshi to take NPL stars to Portugal

    Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has disclosed that he plans to stage a training camp for players from the NPL in Portugal ahead of the AFCON.

    This will be in addition to the training camp most likely in Zimbabwe prior to the Nations Cup in South Africa.

    “My plan is to have the home-based players for at least two weeks at the adidas training centre (in Portugal),” he told MTNFootball.com

    “I have submitted my programme but we all know that time is not our friend.

    “We have one friendly game against Venezuela in the US. And I am hoping that I should be able to have my foreign-based players for at least two weeks.”

    It is believed that 22 players from the domestic league will make the trip to Portugal with the hope that some overseas-based players will also join up.

    Hosts South Africa, 2012 AFCON runners-up Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and defending champions Zambia are the seeded countries for Wednesday’s draw for the Nations Cup.

    However, Keshi again maintained he is looking forward to facing any of them in the first round of the tournament.

    “I am not scared of any country. Let’s be put in any group,” Keshi restated.

    Keshi will be at the draw in Durban and will be accompanied by NFF technical committee chairman Chris Green and Eagles team secretary Dayo Enebi.

    They will depart the country on Monday. They are due back in Nigeria on October 26 after attending a seminar, the draw as well as a stadium inspection.

    The Eagles training camp for the November 14 friendly against Venezuela in Miami will open on November 4.

  • Flying Eagles are the team to beat — Omeruo

    Flying Eagles are the team to beat — Omeruo

    Flying Eagles ace Kenneth Omeruo has hinted that Nigeria will be the team to beat when the Africa Youth Championship (AYC) kicks off in Algeria next year.

    Omeruo was signed by Chelsea FC of England before being loaned to ADO Den Haag of Holland to gain first team experience and in an interview with SportingLife from his base Friday, the player opined that good preparation and early consultations between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the foreign based players on their release for the competition would be crucial to the U20 title defence in Algeria.

    The player, who only featured for 45 minutes before being substituted against South Africa in the deciding AYC qualifier in Ilorin, revealed that he left the pitch at half time owing to a hamstring complaint which he doesn’t want to aggravate at all.

    “We are through to the AYC and I am happy to be part of the squad that guaranteed Nigeria’s place. It is another kettle of fish now in Algeria and we must prepare adequately to make an impact as defending champions.

    “The NFF has a lot of work to do on that, because for me I don’t have a say that much in what my club will decide. If the AYC is scheduled for when Den Haag will be needing my services, NFF has a huge role to convince them to effect my release.

    “I would like to play at the AYC because I couldn’t do so last year owing to club commitments. If the NFF make early preparation the watchword, all the foreign clubs should also be reached on time so that overseas players will be released without problems,” Omeruo explained.

    Meanwhile, the no-nonsense defender has asserted ahead of Sunday’s home duel with FC Utrecht in the Dutch Eredivisie that a home win is non-negotiable.

    Omeruo observed that three more points would improve ADO Den Haag’s impressive start to the season.

  • NFF congress holds August

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has resolved to be holding its Annual General Assembly (AGA) in August starting from next year. Revealing this to SportingLife in Abuja on Thursday, the Chairman of the Nigeria National League, Emeka Inyama said the decision was arrived at in the last board meeting held in Calabar last weekend.

    According to the board member, who is also as the Chairman of the Media Committee, this is to enable the various league bodies to begin their leagues in the same year. He said: ‘It is unreasonable that we would end our league, and wait for almost six months to begin the new season.

    “We resolved in our meeting in Calabar that henceforth, the AGA would be held in August every year, to enable the leagues to start off immediately.’ He further revealed that the 2012/2013 league cannot start because of impending appeal cases that are yet to be disposed off. Saying that until all these are done, none of the leagues can start.

    Inyama said that the NNL Super Four competition that will begin in Abuja on Sunday is expected to determine the actual chamipion of the League. He warned that any team that refuses to attend the tournament will be severly dealt with, and their name will not be enlisted for the Premier League in the new season. He appealed to corporate sponsors to embrace the activities of the various leagues, saying that the convincing win the Super Eagles had over the Liberia last weekend would go a long way to boost the country’s football.

    Elkanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, Nasarawa United of Lafia, Bayelsa United and Nembe City FC are taking part in the three day championship which would see the winners smiling home with N500,000, while the runners up will have N300,000.00.

  • Yobo: I don’t run a night club

    Yobo: I don’t run a night club

    Fenerbahce central defender Joseph Yobo is furious with reports in the local media that he has a night club.

    And in response to those allegations, the Nigeria skipper was quoted as saying by htspor.com: ”In Nigeria, some newspapers wrote that I am operating a night club. Years ago, my brother had such a club, but it is now closed. I’m a football player. I’m not a bartender or the publican who runs a nightclub.”

    Last weekend, the Super Eagles qualified for the 2013 African Cup after a 6 – 1 hammering of West African brothers Liberia. Prior to that game, it had been reported by the media that the ex Everton ace, who was injured, would be physically present in Calabar to cheer his teammates.

    Yobo, 32, has cleared the air on the reason behind his no-show in Calabar on October 13.

    He told Turkish media: ”My club wrote the Nigeria Football Federation and wanted to carry on my treatment in Istanbul. That’s why I did not go.”