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Tag: Adeyinka Akintunde

  • Ten interesting facts you didn’t know about Tiger Woods

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

     

    After 11 years of personal and professional setbacks, one of which was a highly-publicised divorce and multiple surgeries, American golfer Tiger Woods on Sunday made a one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, winning the 2019 Golf Masters for the fifth time.

    This victory impressed President Donald Trump of the United States of America, who is set to honour him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.

    Trump, who took to his twitter handle said: “Spoke to @TigerWoods to congratulate him on the great victory he had in yesterday’s @TheMasters, & to inform him that because of his incredible Success & Comeback in Sports (Golf) and, more importantly, life, I will be presenting him with the presidential medal of freedom,”

    It is on record that President Donald Trump, a golfer himself, once played with Woods including in February when the pair joined golf great Jack Nicklaus for a round at Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida.

    Read Also: Tiger Woods’ net worth rises to $800m

    Here is a look at ten things you might not know about Tiger Woods.

    1. His real name is Eldrick Tont Woods – Eldrick because it has his father’s initial at the start and his mother’s first initial at the end, and Tont is a traditional Thai name
    2. His father was in the army and named his son Tiger because his fellow solider and friend Col. Vuong Dang Phong was also known as Tiger
    3. He is a Buddhist…. Raised in the religion, he claims that his infidelities and fall from grace can be attributed to his deviation from his Buddhist awareness and practices.
    4. At 24, he became the youngest golfer to win the career grand slam.
    5. He was a stutter as a child and overcame it by taking classes at school and talking to his dog at nights.
    6. He became the first billion dollar sportsman. His net worth in 2018 is currently estimated to be $740m.
    7. He had a glittering amateur career, winning the US Amateur Championship three years in a row from 1994-1996. He is the only man to do that.
    8. His father Earl instilled golf in him from a very young age and Tiger would watch his father hit balls in the garage from his high chair from the age of 6 months.
    9. He first began playing at the Navy Golf Course which his dad had access to. He shot 48 for nine holes aged 3.
    10. He attended Stanford University to study economics for two years. He was nicknamed “Ukrel” by his friends. He did not graduate but instead left early to turn professional.

  • AFCON 2019: It won’t be easy for us, says Rohr, Musa

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

     

    The Super Eagles will not have an easy ride to the knock-out rounds of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, going by the draws conducted in Cairo Egypt, on Friday night.

    This is according to coach, Gernot Rohr and skipper, Ahmed Musa.

    The Super Eagles, making a first appearance at the AFCON for the first time since winning it in 2013, have been drawn in Group B alongside Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi.

    Rohr, responding to questions in Cairo, immediately after the draws, said that what is most important right now is for his players to finish the season in their various clubs healthy, in order to prepare adequately for the Nations Cup.

    Read Also: [UPDATED] AFCON 2019: Nigeria draw Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi

    “It is not an easy group because Guinea is a good and young team, Madagascar was the first to qualify for AFCON and Burundi eliminated Gabon en-route to the Nations Cup. So it is not going to be as easy as everyone thinks.

    My players will just have to finish well and healthy in their various clubs and then prepare for our friendly matches against Ghana, at home in Nigeria and against Senegal before the start of the tournament in Egypt

    Captain Ahmed Musa promised that the players will be ready well ahead of the competition.

    “We will prepare well for the Nations Cup. With hard work, we will qualify from this group. I wish my colleagues the best of luck in their various clubs, as they round off the season, and prepare for the AFCON.

    Asked if there was any team he wanted to avoid before the draws, Musa said “I am a football player and I am ready for any country. I am not afraid of anyone.”

    For former Super Eagles player and the 1997 African footballer of the year, Victor Ikpeba, the Nigerian group is decent enough; the players only need to be business-minded, going into the competition.

    “We have a decent group, but we should not look down on any team.  If the Super Eagles players will go to Egypt with a business-mindset to get the job done, we will qualify from the group with ease.

    The Super Eagles will begin her quest for AFCON glory on 22nd June against Burundi at the Alexandria Stadium, Egypt. They will next face Guinea on 26th June, before rounding off the group matches against Madagascar on 30th June.

  • [UPDATED] AFCON 2019: Nigeria draw Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been drawn in Group B with Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

    The Super Eagles will open its campaign on 22nd June against Burundi at the Alexandria Stadium, Egypt. They will next face Guinea on 26th June, before rounding off the group matches against Madagascar on 30th June.

    The draw ceremony for the Nations Cup, which took place behind the famous Giza Pyramids in Cairo Egypt, the Pharaohs of Egypt draw DR Congo, Uganda and Zimbabwe in Group A, and the Teranga Lions of Senegal take Algeria, Kenya and Tanzania in Group C.

    Read Also: AFCON 2019: Nigeria not favourites — Rohr

    Group D is widely adjudged as the group of death as Morocco, Cote d’Ivoire, South Africa and Namibia make up the numbers for the group. Group E holds Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania and Angola and defending champions Cameroon drew Ghana, Benin Republic and Guinea Bissau in Group F.

    This is the first time the Africa Cup of Nations will have twenty-four nations, as against the sixteen it used to have, and this is also the first time the competition will take place in the month of June.

    Egypt will play against Zimbabwe to open the competition on 21st June 2019.

  • VAR sends Man. United, FC Porto to quarter-finals

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was the ultimate factor deciding the fate in the UEFA Champions League matches on Wednesday night.

    Manchester United came from a 2-0 first leg home loss to Paris Saint-German (PSG) to beat the French side, 3-1 in Paris, the last being a penalty awarded by the VAR to Marcus Rashford.

    FC Porto also advanced 4-3 on aggregate against AS Roma, after scoring a VAR given three minutes from the end of extra time.

    Francisco Soares had given FC Porto the lead with a simple tap-in on 26 minutes, but Daniele De Rossi equalized from the spot for the Italian side before half-time after Eder Militao chopped down Diego Perotti.

    Moussa Marega restored the lead on the night for Porto early in the second half to level the tie. Deep into second-half extra time, Telles sent Robin Olsen the wrong way from the penalty spot after a tug by Alessandro Florenzi was spotted upon review.

    This result means that legendary goalkeeper; Iker Cassilas has now won more matches than any other player in the UEFA Champions League history.

    The Red Devils in France started brightly with a two-minute opportunist strike from Romelu Lukaku, latching on to Thilo Kehrer’s blind back pass and finding the net.

    PSG however went 3-1 ahead on aggregate when Kylian Mbappe fed a pass to the unmarked Juan Bernat, who slotted home at the back post.

    But United had other plans in their sleeves. Rashford later on tried a shot that was powerful but straight at goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. But he spilled the ball, and Lukaku followed in to score. It was a sixth goal in three games for the Belgian.

    PSG looked to advance to the last eight 3-2 on aggregate before referee Damir Skomina awarded Manchester United a VAR spotted penalty kick for a Presnel Kimpembe handball at the 94th minute.

    Rashford calmly beat Gianluigi Buffon from 12 yards, as United won a Champions League tie after losing the first leg at home for the first time in their history.

  • Breaking: Poland 2019: Nigeria draw USA, Qatar, Ukraine

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    The Flying Eagles of Nigeria have been grouped alongside Ukraine, Qatar and the United States of America at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland.

    The tournament will begin on May 23, 2019 and end on June 15, 2019 and will be held across six venues in Poland.

     

    Details Later……

     

     

  • Don’t to be used for violence, destruction, Buhari appeals to youths

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday evening appealed to youths to avoid being used for violence and destruction, as they go out to vote in the general elections this weekend.

    He made this appeal during his nationwide broadcast to the nation in Abuja.

    Buhari told Nigerians that the Federal government is committed to ensuring a free and fair election, in line with the peace accord he signed with other candidates on Wednesday.

    In his words “I want to make a special appeal to our youth: Do not allow yourselves to be used to cause violence and destruction. The people who want to incite you are those preparing the ground for discrediting the elections. Having lost the argument, they fear losing the elections.

    “As Government has a critical role in maintaining the democratic traditions, so do citizens. I therefore urge you all, as good Nigerians, to take a personal interest in promoting and maintaining peace in your respective neighborhoods during the elections. This is certainly not a time to allow personal, religious, sectional or party interests to drive us to desperation.

    Listing some of the achievements of the current administration, Buhari noted that “The damage that insecurity and corruption have done, over time, to our collective livelihood is incalculable. However, it is pleasing to note that our frontal attack on these twin evils is gaining momentum and bringing about visible progress. The recovery of the economy from recession is complete and Nigeria is back on the path of steady growth.

    Read Also: We will unite to re-elect Buhari – Nwosu

    “The economic recovery that we promised is well underway, as demonstrated by the recently released statistics. In 2018, the economy grew by 1.93%, with the Fourth Quarter growth being 2.38%, up from 1.81% in the Third Quarter.

    On agriculture and job creation, Buhari said that there has been a high supply of quality agricultural produce, in his administration.

    “I am pleased to note that in major departmental stores and local markets, there has been a surge in the supply of high quality Nigerian agricultural produce. Behind each of these products, are thousands of industrious Nigerians working in factories and farms across the nation. Our interventions have led to improved wealth and job creation for these Nigerians, particularly in our rural communities.

    Buhari urged Nigerians to be wise, and consider the promises made by other candidates, if they are what is already going on in his administration

    “In making your choice this time, please ask yourself whether, and in what ways, others will do anything different to address the issues of Agriculture, Infrastructure, Security, Good Governance and Fighting Corruption. If they are only hoping to do what we are already doing successfully, we are clearly your preferred choice. Think carefully and choose wisely. This time, it is a choice about consolidating on growth for Jobs and Prosperity.”

  • ASUU/ASUP Strike: Fund education, students tell FG

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Students have called on the federal government to listen to demands of the striking university lecturers and fund education for the progress of the country.

    This was the resolution at the weekend in Lagos during a protest by a coalition of student groups from different campuses in Lagos State.

    Speaking to The Nation, the national mobilization officer of the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Wole Olubanji said that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) are justified in their demands, going by the conditions in tertiary institutions today.

    He said, “ASUU and ASUP are justified in their course. It is the federal government that has been reneging in their agreement with the body, and the agreements are still relevant today. We have universities without schools and laboratories, pointing to the fact that government have to fund education.

    Asked if the demands made by the university lecturers are realistic, Olubanji said “When government was going to bail out the banks, was it realistic to spend as much as a trillion naira on bailing bankrupted institutions. But they did that because they had interest in their deposits saved in them. But we are talking about institutions that affect the general Nigerian masses”.

    “Why should a government exist if it cannot benefit the citizens? Government should to use the resources of the country to advance its citizens, and it can be done by education.”

    Read Also: ‘My government will interface with students’

    Olubaji noted that the Nigerian people are the real democracy the country enjoys, and they should be treated as such. “The ordinary Nigerian people are the real democracy in this country.  It is only a few people that are in the government, and opposition, majority of Nigerians are not involved, and this is because they are disappointed in what they have seen from the government.

    The ERC mobilization officer also had a word for students who just want the strike to end immediately. “If we have a situation where Nigerian students are united to make a justified demand, we will achieve our aims fast, but some people are afraid and they want ASUU/ASUP to call off the strike, so that they can graduate, but from what realistic angle are they coming from in their argument?

    ASUU had embarked on an indefinite strike since November 5th 2018, with sister body ASUP joining in 12th December 2018, over the non-implementation of the 2009 Federal Government/ASUU agreements and implementation of the 2013 and 2017 Memorandum of Understanding it signed with the union. The agreement between the Federal government and ASUP also remain unimplemented since 2016.

  • Arsenal beat Chelsea to keep hope alive

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-0 to leapfrog Manchester United to fifth place in the Premier League table, and keep their hopes of a top four finish alive.

    Alexander Laccazette gave the Gunner the lead in the 14th minute, clearing the ball off Pedro before drilling the ball past goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from a tight angle.

    Laurent Koscielny got the second goal in the 38th minute after connecting to a Sokratis ball, and scored, getting the header wrong, but the ball touched his shoulder and got to the top corner of the net.

    Hector Bellerin ended his game 69 minute after going down without contact when chasing the ball . He was stretched out of the field eventually.

    The Gunners however ended the game with 39% of ball possession as against Chelsea’s 61, with nine shots on target for the blues as against seven for Arsenal. Chelsea were however slow in the first twelve moniues of the game.

    Earlier on, current African footballer of the year, Mohammed Salah was on song as Liverpool came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 4-3 at Anfield.

    This win gives the Reds a seven-point gap over second place Manchester City.

    The 26-year old Egyptian found the net after half time to draw level after Andros Townsend had given Palace the lead in the first half. The Reds went ahead with Roberto Firmino, but  Crystal Palace had other plams, with James Tomkins capitalizing on a poor defending to equalize from a corner kick for his side.

    An error from goalkeeper Julian Speroni gifted Salah a second goal and Senegalese forward Sadio Mane made it 4-2 in injury-time

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer recorded his seventh victory in seven matches for Manchester United with a 2-1 victory over Brighton at Old Trafford.

    Paul Pogba put the Red Devils in front after winning and converting a penalty in the 27th minute, and Marcus Rashford scored a second three minutes to half-time with a beautiful solo goal.

    The Premier League table as it stand sees Liverpool top with 60 points after 23 matches, with Manchester City second with 53 points after 22 matches.

    The defending champions visit Huddersfield on Sunday for their fixture.

  • Fabregas leaves Chelsea to join Henry in Monaco

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Cesc Fabregas has completed his move from Chelsea to join former Arsenal teammate, Thierry Henry in Monaco.

    The Spanish International leaves English football after 501 matches.

    Fabregas had on Saturday left the pitch in tears after making his final appearance for the Blues in the FA Cup win against Nottingham Forest

    He started just one league game under Maurizio Sarri this season.

    “It is a great pleasure to join AS Monaco, a new project for me,” Fabregas said in a statement

    “The group is quality with young players and a young coach. I’m here to help the team.

    “I am looking forward to starting, we have a great match to play in Marsielle on Sunday. I am very excited.”

    Reacting to his exit, the club said “There is no doubt Fabregas’s place in the Chelsea history books is assured given his achievements over the past four-and-a-half seasons.

    “Big goals and outstanding moments of quality, all backed up by the ultimate aim, which is to be part of a successful, trophy-winning team.

    “Fabregas departs having helped the club achieve great success, as well as providing our supporters with some wonderful memories.”

    Fabregas joined Chelsea from Barcelona in 2014, scoring 22 goals and laid on 57 assists during his 198 appearances in West London.

  • UPDATED: Salah is 2018 best African footballer

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Egyptian forward, Mohamed Salah has won the 2018 African Player of the Year award, beating Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Senegal’s Sadio Mane to the prize.

    This is his second award, having won the last edition.

    He has become the fourth player after El Hadji Diouf, Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure to win the award back to back.

    The Liverpool forward, who scored two goals in the 2018 FIFA World Cup,  helped Jurgen Klopp’s men end as runners-up in the UEFA Champions League, scoring 44 goals across all competitions in the process.

    Read Also: …Salah, Mane, Aubameyang compete

    Receiving the award from Geroge Weah, President of Liberia and former World footballer of the year, Salah said: “As a child l have always dreamt of a day like this and l am happy that it has come to pass.”

    Other awards saw the Super Falcons of Nigeria win the female national team of the year, after clinching the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations title in South Africa and Morocco’s Herve Renard win the men’s coach of the year.

    South Africa striker, Chrestinah Kgatlana dethroned Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala to win the Women player of the year award. She scored six goals in the Women’s Nations Cup for THE Bayana Bayana.