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  • Ilaboya hails Bassey, Danladi on new appointments

    Ilaboya hails Bassey, Danladi on new appointments

    Former  Edo State Football Association Chairman, Honourable Frank Ilaboya, has congratulated  two eminent sports personalities for their recent appointments in their states.

    Etubom Paul Bassey and Barrister  Isaac Danladi, were last week appointed  Sports Commissioners in Akwa Ibom and Nasarawa States respectively.

    According to Ilaboya, who is currently an Executive Director with the Edo States Sports Commission, ‘these appointments are heart-warming and capture the story of rewarding  competence of the duo’.

    The erstwhile  Chairman of Lagos State’s chapter of the  Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) added: “I am excited about these appointments, which to me are richly deserved. I must commend the Governments of Akwa Ibom and Nasarawa States for recognising and giving honours to who honour is due.

    Read Also: Fulham took ‘sting’ out of Man United  in FA Cup win, says Bassey

    “Both Paul Bassey and Isaac Danladi are some of the best brains this country can boast of when it comes to sports administration in Nigeria.

    “These appointments are a just reward for the enormous contributions the duo has made to sports development in their different states and the country as a whole over the years.”

    Bassey, former Akwa United boss, rose through the ranks from the position of a reporter to becoming a  publisher, and also made his mark as a member of the Media Committee of the Confederation of African Football, CAF. 

    Danladi, who recently retired as a Permanent Secretary in the Nasarawa State Civil Service, was also a Chairman of Nasarawa as well as former Chairman of the Club Owners Association of Nigeria, among other positions.

  • Fulham took ‘sting’ out of Man United  in FA Cup win, says Bassey

    Fulham took ‘sting’ out of Man United  in FA Cup win, says Bassey

    Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey is thrilled to play a crucial role in Fulham’s FA Cup triumph over Manchester United at the Old Trafford describing the win as a “privilege and an honour.”

    Bassey was one of Fulham’s standout performers in the game, scoring the opening goal as the Cottagers secured a hard-fought victory via a penalty shootout at Old Trafford on Sunday.

     “It’s a privilege and an honour to be here. To come here, it is a blessing, so I’m happy,” Bassey said in an interview with the BBC after the match.

    Read Also: NSC: N100m ‘guaranteed bond’ may hamper  sports federations’ elections

    The Nigerian defender showcased his attacking instincts, reacting quickly to a flicked corner kick to head home Fulham’s first goal just before halftime. Reflecting on his goal, he said, “I like to say I’m a bit of a poacher. Trying to smell where the ball would go and reacted first. Put my head on it and back of the net.”

    Manchester United responded in the second half with Bruno Fernandes’ equaliser , forcing the match into extra time and eventually penalties. Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno emerged as the hero, making two crucial saves to secure his side’s progression to the next round.

    Bassey acknowledged the quality of the opposition and the difficulty of the match, stating: “They [Manchester United] are a very good team with a lot of talent. We tried to take the sting out of the game and control possession. They had their chances and sometimes a game goes down to penalties. We had a bit of fortune in the penalties with Leno saving two. I am proud of every single player.”

    Fulham’s victory keeps their FA Cup dreams alive, with a quarter-final clash against Crystal Palace up next. However, their immediate focus shifts to the Premier League, where they will take on Brighton on Saturday.

  • NFF salutes Bassey, Danladi on government appointments

    NFF salutes Bassey, Danladi on government appointments

    The Nigeria Football Federation has felicitated with Etubom Paul Bassey and Chief Isaac Danladi, two eminent members of the Nigeria football family who have been appointed commissioners by the Akwa Ibom State and Nasarawa State governments respectively.

    “These appointments are, no doubt, just reward for the excellent contributions that these two illustrious men have made to football development in their different States in particular, and the country in general, in over one decade. Etubom Bassey and Chief Danladi have had their hands in the plough in Nigeria football for a very long time, and they have always shown great passion, dedication and diligence all the time.

    “The NFF congratulates them on their new posts and believe they will do more than enough to justify the confidence reposed in them by their State Chief Executives,” NFF President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, said.

    Read Also: Ikoyi Club 1938 Golf captain Adekunle bows out in grand style

    Bassey, a dyed-in-the-wool communication expert, rose through the ranks from the position of a reporter to becoming a newspaper publisher, and also worked as a member of the Media Committee of the Confederation of African Football. He mutated to becoming a CAF and FIFA General Coordinator, and has been Chairman of elite-division club, Akwa United FC for over a decade, alongside serving meritoriously as special adviser to the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports. He has always been in the forefront of ensuring comfort and easefulness for players and officials of the National Teams whenever they are in Uyo to play international matches.

    Chief Danladi, who recently retired as a permanent secretary in the Nasarawa State Civil Service, was also Chairman of NPFL club, Nasarawa United FC for over a decade, and surely, is leaving giant footprints in the sands of time.

  • Nathaniel Bassey petitions IGP over alleged defamation

    Nathaniel Bassey petitions IGP over alleged defamation

    Gospel singer Nathaniel Bassey has filed a petition to the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun against four persons who accused him of paternity fraud.

    Bassey tasked the office of the IGP to investigate and prosecute for criminal defamation and cyberstalking.

    The singer submitted the petition to the IGP on April 1, 2024, through his lawyers, Peter Abraham, Uche Matthew, Gbenga Agunloye and Anthony Abia.

    The Nation reported that four social media users alleged that Bassey fathered the son of a fellow popular gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo.

    The lawyers urged police authorities to urgently treat the petition against the four social media users, identified in the petition as Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, Terrence Ekot and Dj Spoiltkid.

    “Our client is a gospel music minister whose songs and ministrations have impacted the lives of so many from different walks of life across the globe,” the petition partly read.

    “On Friday, the 29th day of March 2024, Mercy Chinwo Blessed another popular gospel music minister, and her husband posted pictures of their son and themselves on different social media platforms.

    “However, our client was disheartened, saddened, and grossly disturbed to find that the above-mentioned suspects, as mischief makers with a criminal intent to destroy the image and character of our client, had made different social media posts of defamatory matter, calling our client ‘the father of minister Mercy Chinwo Blessed’s son,’ a woman who is married to another man.

    “The post by Mr. Okoronkwo Ejike has since gone viral on the platform. In reaction to the post, Mr. Kingsley Ibeh commented on Mr. Okoronkwo’s post with a picture of our client with the caption “The real father of the baby.”

    “In a post on the platform “X” formerly known as Twitter, “Dj SpoiltKid” a verified X user, quoted the statement by Okoronkwo Ejike with a screenshot of the post and added, “When are we doing DNA test?”

    Read Also: Why S3x, music inseparable – Terry G

    “In another post, Mr. Terrence Ekot, on the platform “X” said:: “Take a look at the stunning resemblance of Mercy chinwo’s son and Nathaniel Bassey. Though the duo has been working together on several projects in the past..what do you have to say?”

    The lawyers said the social media posts by the four individuals amounted to assassination of Bassey’s character.

    “These nefarious acts of these suspects, if not immediately dealt with, will continue to destroy our client’s image, injure his reputation, assassinate his character, and cast aspersions on the good name built by our client over the years”.

    The lawyers said the alleged actions of the four individuals contravened Sections 373 and 375 of the Criminal Code Act as well as Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.).

    “The consequences of making such statements on social media have been known to tarnish the reputations of individuals, render marriages unstable, and many never recover from them. International reputation is an asset both for the individual and for the nation and it takes time to acquire.

    “Consequently, we urge you to use your good offices to, in the interest of justice, investigate this matter, arrest, and bring the suspect to justice, which will serve as a deterrent to others.”

  • Bassey relishes new playing position at Fulham

    Bassey relishes new playing position at Fulham

    Fulham defender Calvin Bassey has admitted he’s still trying to get used to the new position he’s playing under Marco Silva.

    Bassey was speaking to Capital Football after a gutting 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at the weekend.

    Bassey was starting his fourth match on the bounce after his summer move from Ajax.

    Marco Silva hasn’t had to deal with too many injuries this season, but centre-back has become a problem area recently.

    Tosin Adarabioyo hasn’t been fit enough to play all season, while Issa Diop picked up an injury in the build-up to Sheffield United’s goal last month.

    It has meant that Calvin Bassey and Tim Ream are Fulham’s only fit senior players in this position.

    Silva did hand Luc de Fougerolles a debut in the Carabao Cup last week to give Ream a break and he performed admirably.

    But, Bassey has admitted that it’s taking him time to get used to playing on the right-hand side of a centre-back partnership.

    Read Also: Calvin Bassey sees red

    The Nigerian international typically plays as either a left-back or a left-side centre-half.

    His lack of experience in this role has been mentioned on several occasions already.

    Asked about his new role in the squad, Bassey said: “The Premier League’s one of the best leagues and when you make a mistake – like two mistakes in the Tottenham game, it’s two goals.

     “But I just get better each time and I’m just happy that the manager still trusts me.

     “I’m just trying to improve and get better each game. I just back myself really to give my best. It’s good here.”

    He added:  “The boys are top. As I’ve said before, it’s like a family, and we try to keep the family together.

     “Of course, it’s different [in my new position]. With each game, I think it’s getting better you know – picking which passes to make, when to make them.

     “Obviously when I’m opening up on my dominant side, it’s a bit less natural, so it’s about picking the times when to open up when to play the short one or go a bit longer.”

  • Work for the masses, Bassey urges governments

    Work for the masses, Bassey urges governments

    A highly respected Christian leader in Cross River State,  Bishop Josef Bassey has called on governments at all levels to make the people their priority in all their decisions and actions.

    The Bishop made the call during a parley with reporters on the occasion of his birthday.

    Josef stated that the average  Nigerian today is bleeding to death while families are famishing with small and medium scale business strangled into extinction because successive governments served only the government itself and the elites. 

    This situation, he lamented, has  turned the people into slaves in their own land.

    He admonished all those in positions of authority to think more on how to make their systems and organisations work for and in the best interest of the people. 

    Read Also: Calvin Bassey sees red

    According to him :”We all must put our hearts into coming up with decisions, systems and policies that will free the people from the untold burden and hardship that living in the Nigerian state has placed on them.”

    Bassey commended Cross River Governor Prince Bassey Edet Otu for being discerning, empathetic and visionary by making the people the policy thrust and regulating conscience of his administration. 

    He said the free education policy of the government is a step in the right direction and has taken some loads off parents already. 

    He challenged other state governments to follow suit so that the people first agenda can become a national agenda.

  • Bassey seeks disqualification of opponent

    Senator Gershom Bassey (Cross River South) has called on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to disqualify his opponent Ntufam Okon for allegedly instigating violence.

    Bassey escaped being lynched at a hotel in Calabar last Wednesday as supporters suspected to be loyal to Okon booed and threw sachet water at him when security agents tried to escort him to his car

    They had descended on his car as they could not reach him and the back screen of the Prado jeep was smashed as he was hurried out of the hotel premises for safety.

    Commenting on the incident, Bassey said after the attack he sustained some injuries trying to dodge stones aimed through his shattered back screen.

    “Violence must not stand. Ekpo should be disqualified. We cannot tolerate violence in this election.

    “First of all why was Ekpo standing the election when he was disqualified by the election panel?

    “It was only at the last minute that his name entered through whatever dubious means. Why was he in that election when all the people that were disqualified with him were disqualified?

    “21 of them were disqualified for various reasons ranging from tax, forgery, resignation and others. So why was he contesting that election?

    “But be that as it may, having become contestants must he now become a violent contestant,” Bassey said.

    Okon, a former chairman of PDP, debunked allegations Bassey was attacked on Wednesday by his supporters.

    Speaking to reporters in Calabar on the events that transpired at the said hotel, he said, “We were holding meeting with the chairman of the Primary Committee, Col. Ahmed Usman in his hotel room when Gershom Bassey entered and started attacking me.

    “The O.C. SARS was there as well as the Area Commander and the DPO State Housing”

    “I was still with the chairman when he went out and I later learnt he was attacked for conniving with a member of the committee to hijack materials meant for the primaries.  That was why the primary election did not hold”.

    Okon wandered how the senator would have been attacked to the extent of being injured when he had heavy security operatives around him and described the allegation that his supporters attacked Bassey as false.

  • BBNaija: Debie Rise, Bassey in romantic photos

    BBNaija: Debie Rise, Bassey in romantic photos

    Two of the housemates at the recently concluded Big Brother Naija reality TV show, Bassey and Debie Rise have appeared in romantic photos.

    See photos below:

  • How Bassey bombed 1 million Euros Barcelona deal

    How Bassey bombed 1 million Euros Barcelona deal

    SCORENigeria has gathered more details why Enyimba forward Ezekiel Bassey will not be offered a contract that would have fetched Enyimba over a million Euros from mighty Barcelona at the end of his much-celebrated loan move to Spain.

    Bassey, nicknamed ‘Hazard’ by Enyimba fans after the Chelsea star, has failed to impress with Barcelona ‘B’ during his loan spell at the Catalan giants.

    Despite joining Barca second team without any trials, he did not impress in training but the deal breaker was his below-par performance for Barcelona B in an international friendly against a Zambian team.

    “Bassey is not Barcelona standard and those who recommended him to the club do not know football,” a top source told only SCORENigeria in sheer frustration.

    “He did not measure up during the friendly match he played for them and even in training he has failed to impress.

    “He has now blocked more deserving Nigerian players from Barcelona.”

    SCORENigeria was reliably informed Enyimba stood to be richer by a million Euros had Bassey been given a contract in the summer.

    It was further understood that his residence papers will come through, but after what he has showed on the pitch, the papers will no longer be necessary.

    Bassey, who has already debuted for the Super Eagles, was to have been offered a permanent deal had he impressed at the end of his loan spell in the summer.

  • BASSEY UNYIELDING TO DEBBIE-RISE

    TBOSS was sat across the dining table wrapped in conversation with Debbie-Rise, both of them playing out their wedding characters. No one saw it coming when she dropped the bomb, “I think you’re in love with Bassey”, least of all Debbie-Rise. She stumbled over her words trying to find out if TBoss was still playing “the wedding designer” but it was soon clear what her friend and confidant was pointing out. Debbie-Rise couldn’t even muster the strength to pretend it wasn’t true anymore. “I’m blushing. I wish I could blush and turn pink” she exclaimed, unable to say to say “yes”.

    What was striking about the moment was she didn’t look to be a woman in love, experiencing all the joy it elicits. Instead she looked pensive and uneasy and it’s not hard to figure out why. It all started when Bassey infamously dodged her kiss on the dance floor making it clear that he wasn’t going to take things to the next level. She went ahead to plat a kiss on his lips while he was asleep.

    Although, he always praised her intellect, it was Uriel and TBoss that he always ended up having heated flirtations with. To his credit, he did tell her that he wasn’t going to lead her on but with the two of them being stuck in the same place it’s hard for them to put distance between one other. The emotional evictions and the feelings of loss they rouse also keep pulling them back toward each other to connect and confide. He also owe it to her, his new skill on the guitar.