The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Chinese Super League

  • Life in China difficult, Mikel reveals

    Mikel Obi has finally opened up on the real reasons he returned to England to sign for Championship side, Middlesbrough after spending two seasons in the Chinese Super League.

    The Super Eagles’ captain could not resist mouth-watering £140,000-a-week wages dangled at him by Tianjin Teda FC when he left Chelsea on a free transfer but after playing in the Asian country, Mikel told the Telegraph that he could not adjust to life in China because of the deplorable state of their football facilities.

    Though Mikel admitted that his relationship he had with his teammates was the only positive side to his stint in China but the reality hit him as soon as he arrived in Tianjin, a coastal city of 15 million people in the north of the country and discovered that it was not professional football as he knew it.

    “It was two years of a huge culture shock,” Mikel began in the interview, having finished speaking at Middlesbrough’s training ground to a group of refugees. “The food was a problem, the lifestyle, the style in which everything was done.

    “When you have been at a club like Chelsea in the Premier League, for 11 years, it was very hard to adapt to how things were done. It isn’t at the elite level, let’s put it that way.

    “The pitches were poor, stadiums are poor, and the medical facilities were not what I was used to. I’m not saying it’s all the Chinese clubs, some of them are quite professional, but the one I was at, it wasn’t as professional as it should have been. It became tough for me almost straight away.

    “I wouldn’t say I regretted it, I had a good time with my team-mates, but it was never easy. The standard of football, it’s not even Championship standard.

  • Mikel in full action as Guangzou downs Tiajin Teda 2-0

    Succor is yet to come the way of Chinese Super League side Tiajin Teda as the John Obi Mikel captained side went down 2-0 away to Guangzou R&F at the Yuexiushan Stadium on Saturday.

    The Super Eagles captain and his Tiajin Teda teammates found their hosts a hard nut to crack conceding the first goal in the 27th minute and the second in the 76th minute.

    The club has not been able to sing victory song in the last four matches, with the last win dating back to 10th August against Henan Jianye at home. The four last matches have ended in two draws and two defeats including a 5-2 demolition by Beijing Guoan.

    Ghanaian import Frank Acheampong was in aciton for 73 minutes but found the Guangzou R&F defence difficult to rattle .

    Tiajin Teda will have to wait till 14th September to see if they will earn three points from visiting Shanghai SIPG.

    Mikel who will be missing Super Eagles Afcon 2019 qualifier against Seychelles next Saturday in Victoria after pulling out of the tie, has nonetheless expressed optimism that the Eagles will achieve a good result.

    While Mikel will be missing in action in Victoria, China based Odion Ighalo will be action against the Pirates.  Ighalo was on target August 26th as Changchun Yatai avoided home defeat holding Hebei CFFC to a 2-2 draw.

    Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr believes Victoria tie will afford Ighalo ample opportunity to rediscover his scoring skills for the team.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Ighalo fails to save Changchun Yatai from 5-2 defeat

    Super Eagles forward Odion Ighalo could not save his Chinese Super league side Changchun Yatai from a 5-2 defeat on Saturday by Guangzhou  R&F.

    Although Ighalo grabbed a 12th minute goal in the away tie, it only counted as consolation goal as the homers afterwards went on a goal feast hitting four goals between the 27rd minute and the 73rd minutes.

    Ighalo’s teammate Tan Lang increased the tally for Yatai in the 78th minute but it was of no effect even as rampaging Guangzhou scored the 5th goal on the dot of 90 minutes.

    The former Watford ace who  received a battery of criticism for missed opportunity at the recently ended World cup in Russia has managed to put the ugly experience behind him to begin the season on a positive not despite Saturday’s massive defeat .

    The Nigeria international hit a brace three days back when the club faced Beijing Renhe at the Beijing Fengtai Stadium in front of 10,368 soccer fans.

    While it was disappointing for Ighalo on Saturday, it was neither here nor there for compatriot and Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel who is gradually picking up after injury and return from the world cup.

    Obi, who doubles as Captain of Tiajin Teda, was in action for 90 minutes on Saturday but were held at home to a 1-1 draw by visiting Jiangsu Suning.

    The visitors had shot into the lead as early as the 19th minutes thanks to Italian import Eder Martins, but Teda equalised in the 37th minute through Guo Hao.  Efforts by both teams to increase the tally failed to yield any results.

  • Martins scores hatrick in Shenhua 4-2 victory

     

    *Ighalo fires blank, suffers home defeat

    Out of favour Super Eagles forward Obafemi Martins was on fire for his Chinese Super league club Shanghai Shenhua on Saturday, grabbing a hatrick in the 4-2 defeat of visiting Hebei CFFC.

    Martins, who decided against giving the visitors a breathing space, opened scoring in the 62nd minute after the visitors had scared daylight out of their host with a 48minute goal thanks to Zhang Chengdong.

    Home fans at the Hongkou Stadium (Shanghai) were down cast at the end of the first half with the visitors on the driving seat as they looked with uncertainty to what will happen in the second half.

    On resumption of play however Martins hit target in the 62nd minute after a timely assist from Columbian import Andrés Moreno, but the visitors shot into the lead again through Argentina’s Ezequiel  Lavezzi two minutes later in what could be interpreted to mean catch me if you can warning.

    But that was the best the visitors could register as it became a Matins all the way affair from then on.

    The Nigerian was on target in the 76th minute to level score at 2-2.  Teammate and Columbian ace Guarín Vásquez increased the tally before

    Martins again returned just before the final whistle to seal the team’s fourth goal with assistance from Mao Jianqing.

    The former Seattle Sounders and Newcastle ace who joined the Chinese Super League in 2016 has so far made over 38 appearances for the side scoring over 16 goals.  While it was victory song for Martins however, same cannot be said of Odion Ighalo just back to club duties after featuring in the friendly matches for the Super Eagles ahead of the world cup in Russia.  Ighalo who saw 90 minutes action for his club Changhun Yatai on Saturday, suffered a 2-1 defeat at home no thanks to visiting Guangzhou R&F.

    He was equally shown a yellow card just before end of proceedings when the visitors converted a penalty.

    Super Eagles Captain John Obi Mikel who missed double friendly matches against Poland and Serbia respectively may lead his Tianjin Teda teammates to war against Jiangsu Suning on Sunday. Mikel who doubles as the team’s captain missed the friendly matches trying to renew his work permit in China. It is however hoped that he would have smoothened all rough edges to take part in the remaining friendly matches lined up before the World cup which kicks off in on June 14.

    Eagles will face Croatia, Iceland and Argentina in the group stage.

  • Chinese league will be tough for foreign players next season – Ideye

    Chinese league will be tough for foreign players next season – Ideye

    The Chinese Super League has been the new pasture for many world and Nigerian football stars but Tianjin Teda of China and Super Eagles’ striker, Brown Ideye revealed that foreign players will find the league very difficult as the local players were now upping their play.

    The former junior international, who had been reported to have been in disagreement with management of Tianjin Teda said this on Tuesday in an interview on Sports Café.

    He also confirmed that he would be plying his trade away from the Chinese League next season.

    “I don’t think I will be playing football in China next season maybe Europe,” Ideye said.

    “The Chinese owners are doing their best, they are bringing more big names to the league.

    “Month by month it is really tight because most of the Chinese players are picking very fast. From next season, it’ll be a big task on the foreign players.”

    Ideye also discarded talks that he alongside Super Eagles captain – John Mikel Obi and other big stars joined the Chinese Super League because of the money.

    According to him, football was the reason he moved to China and he alongside the big names in the league were being rewarded based on their input to the league.

    On what took him to China, Ideye, said: “It is football. I’m not the only one playing there, Mikel too is playing and some other big names like Pato and Tevez.

    “They too have the same aim which is going to China and play football and enjoy every moment on the pitch.

    “People think it is that good but you have to work for it (money); nothing good comes easy. You work for it and get your reward.”

    The 29-year-old former Olympiakos player, who has been out of the Super eagles squad for over a year also added that he was looking forward to be part of the players that would represent Nigeria at the World Cup.

    He added, “I’m looking forward to Russia just like every other player looking forward to the World Cup and hoping to do their best.”

  • Ribery and Robben too old for Chinese super league

    Ribery and Robben too old for Chinese super league

     

    Bayern Munich duo Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben are now too old to be of benefit to the Chinese Super League, says Shanghai SIPG director Mads Davidsen.

    Both wingers have been linked with moves to Asia in the recent past, but have opted to remain in Europe.

    Neither have offered any indication that they intend to head to the Far East any time soon, but they have been warned that the opportunity to take advantage of such riches may have passed them by.

    Ribery and Robben are now 34 and 33 years of age respectively, with the CSL eager to move away from veteran performers and towards players with potential to contribute in the present and future.

    Davidsen told Sport BILD: “It’s a misconception that makes me really angry when players in Europe believe they can freely choose the time to move to China.

    “This was the situation three or four years ago but those times are over.

    “If Ribery had an offer two or three years ago from China then that was his chance, but an ambitious Chinese team like Shanghai SIPG wouldn’t sign him or Robben now.

    “Why should a Chinese club sign a 33 or 34-year-old when they can get 27-year-old stars like Axel Witsel or Alex Teixeira, or Oscar at 25?”

    Robben claimed in January that he would never rule out a move to China, saying: “My family comes first, but the life experience, living elsewhere – in the USA, in China – might come. But maybe not. Maybe I’ll go back home [to the Netherlands]. I do not rule out anything.”

  • Chelsea gets chance to sign Aubameyang for £70m

    Chelsea gets chance to sign Aubameyang for £70m

    Chelsea have been offered the chance to sign Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for £70m, according to Sky sources.

    AC Milan are already in talks with Dortmund over a deal for Aubameyang, while Paris Saint-Germain are also interested, but no official offers have yet been made.

    The Blues missed out on the signing of Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United and have now turned their attentions to other targets, including Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata.

    Antonio Conte is keen to strengthen his attacking options ahead of the new Premier League season having told Diego Costa that he is surplus to requirements.

    Aubameyang started his career at Milan, but never made a first-team appearance for the club, instead spending time out on loan.

    The Gabon international, who scored 42 goals for club and country last season, has also received offers from the Chinese Super League, including Tianjin Quanjian.

    But any CSL club attempting to secure a deal for Aubameyang however faces a race against time with the Chinese transfer window coming to a close on Friday.

    The 28-year-old joined Dortmund from Saint-Etienne in 2013 and has scored 85 Bundesliga goals in 128 appearances.

    He has three years left on his current contract at Dortmund.

  • Ighalo on target as Yatai hit Beijing Guoan 2-1

    Ighalo on target as Yatai hit Beijing Guoan 2-1

     

    Super Eagles forward Odion Ighalo adopted a no nonsense approach Saturday grabbing the opener in the 21st minute as his Chinese Super League side Changchun Yatai beat visiting Beijing Guoan 2-1. Ighalo had enjoyed a timely assist from teammate and homeboy Tan Long and did not hesitate to covert to the delight of the team’s teeming supporters.

    Teammate Fan Xiaodong increased the tally in the 40th minute and the hosts maintained the 2-0 lead to the end of the first half.

    It was not until 14 minutes to the end of the match that the visitors got their consolation goal thanks via a 76th minute penalty.

    Ighalo who was in action for the full duration of the match, maintained a perfect sportsman record in a match in which three of his teammates Wu Yake, second goal scorer Fan Xiaodong and substitute Zhou Dadi all saw yellow. Only Uzbekistan import Yegor Krimets was shown the yellow card in the visitors line.

    Elsewhere it was however a celebration of cautions in the match between Brown Ideye’s Tiajin Teda and hosts Henan Jianye.

    The match though ended goalless, the two sides however forced the referee to flash eight yellow cards. The Nigerian international also had his own share of the yellow in the 53rd minute. While Ideye and his visiting teammates were cautioned six times their hosts had two yellow cards in the kitty. While there was near goal drought in the matches played on Saturday, it will be recalled that it was goal feast on Friday as Obafemi Martins Shanghai Shenhua made mince meat of visiting Liaoning Kaixin recording a resounding 8-1 victory in a match where Nigeria international Anthony Ujah was on parade for the visitors.

    Obafemi Martins accounted for two goals in the goal feast for his side but Anthony Ujah’s consolation goal in the 62nd minute merely looked like a drop in the ocean.

    Guizhou Zhicheng who take on Yanbian Funde Sunday, maintain their number one position on the log with 37 points in 14 matches and would be hoping to consolidate. Ighalo’s Changchun Yatai are 10th on the log while Ideye’s Tiajin Teda are 12th on the log even as fans continue to hope that return of captain John Obi Mikel soon, will fire team up the ladder.

  • Hulk gets CFA hammer over OScar ban protest

    Hulk gets CFA hammer over OScar ban protest

     

    Hulk has been banned for two Chinese Super League matches after the Brazilian protested against an eight-game suspension handed to compatriot and Shanghai SIPG team-mate Oscar, while the team’s coach Andre Villas-Boas has been given a two-match stadium ban.

    Former Chelsea midfielder Oscar was hit with the lengthy ban after sparking a mass brawl in his side’s 1-1 draw with Guangzhou R&F by appearing to deliberately blast the ball at opponents twice in quick succession.

    Guangzhou’s Li Tixiang and Shanghai’s Fu Huan were sent off after players from both sides clashed but Oscar initially escaped punishment, only to be later banned by the Chinese Football Association (CFA).

    Hulk and his team-mate Wu Lei were pictured wearing t-shirts in support of Oscar after SIPG beat Henan Jianye 4-1 on Sunday.

    The t-shirt worn by Hulk featured the slogan “nothing to do, nothing to say”, echoing clothing worn by Oscar last week, while Wu’s shirt read “nothing to do”.

    The pair were subsequently handed two-match bans and each handed fines of RMB50000 ($7,375) by the CFA, with Villas-Boas docked RMB16000 ($2,360) for “inappropriate comments on social media”.

    Although the CFA did not specify which post had landed Villas-Boas in trouble, the former Chelsea and Tottenham boss had written on Instagram: “355 career games; 5 years in the English Premier League; 47 appearances for Brazil; 70 goals. ZERO RED CARDS!!! 8 games suspended.”

    The CFA said Hulk and Wu’s conduct had “affected the environment of the Chinese Super League in an inappropriate manner and caused adverse affects [on the league].

    “Victory is the result every participant pursues but it can never be at the cost of sacrificing football order and disrupting football rules,” a CFA statement read. “Respect the rules, referees, fans, opponents and the game.

    “The CFA will keep strictly punishing all violations of rules and discipline and hope that all clubs, officials and players can maintain order.”

    Bans for Hulk, Wu and Villas-Boas will be a blow to SIPG’s title hopes, with the team sitting second in the CSL table after 14 matches, four points behind reigning champions Guangzhou Evergrande.

  • Fellaini refuses to rule out move to China

    Fellaini refuses to rule out move to China

     

    Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini has touted a possible move to China in the future.

    Fellaini has just had a 12-month extension on his contract triggered at Old Trafford after emerging as a key player under Jose Mourinho.

    However the Belgium international says playing in the Chinese Super League later in his career holds some appeal.

    Fellaini told VTM News: ‘In China? Why not? I’m now a Manchester United player, but I do not rule out such a transfer in the future.’

    A number of players have already moved from the Premier League to the Far East, including John Obi Mikel and Odion Ighalo.

    Chelsea’s Diego Costa has also been linked with a transfer to China, but like Fellaini is keen to stay in England for now.

    Fellaini has thrived under Mourinho, after an underwhelming first three years at Old Trafford when David Moyes and then Louis van Gaal were in charge.

    He has developed a knack of putting in good performances and scoring key goals in big games, including in both the Europa League and EFL Cup semi finals.

    He said: ‘At the start of the season, I played as a No 6, then as a No 8 and then a No 10. I play wherever he needs me. He knows my qualities and knows how to use me. If he plays me, I will play there and give my best.’