The Nation Newspaper

Tag: England

  • England will miss Gerrard —Hodgson

    ManagerRoy Hodgson says England will miss Steven Gerrard’s “leadership qualities” following his captain’s retirement from international football.

    “He was a tremendous captain and an exceptional role model for everyone who was fortunate to come into contact with him ”

    The Liverpool midfielder, 34, won 114 caps and scored 21 goals, representing his country at six major tournaments.

    “We shall miss his leadership qualities as we look ahead to qualification with a youthful group,” Hodgson said.

    “He is an incredible man and fantastic footballer who we have all been blessed to see in an England shirt so often.”

    Gerrard, whom Hodgson also managed at Anfield, will now assume a “high profile” ambassadorial role with the Football Association.

    Hodgson added: “It is never by coincidence that people reach such a staggering figure as 114 caps. It is a mark of his wonderful talent allied to a huge drive and determination to live up to the highest standard.

    “He is not only a player to bring crowds to their feet with moments of brilliance; he was a tremendous captain and an exceptional role model for everyone who was fortunate to come into contact with him.

    “I wish him all the best in the future, although I know I can count on his continued support and influence as a helpful presence moving forward.”

    Former England striker and BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker led the tributes to the midfielder, tweeting:  “Steven Gerrard has retired from international football. He’s been a wonderful servant to his country. A great player who always gave all.”

  • Bank of England names London Chinese currency clearing hub

    The Bank of England has appointed one of China’s “big four” banks as the Chinese currency clearing bank in London.

    The China Construction Bank will be the London renminbi clearing house.

    The appointment is part of a plan to make London a hub for Chinese currency dealing.

    Standard Life chair Sir Gerry Grimstone said renminbi trading is the most important issue facing the City of London at the moment.

    In March, the Bank of England signed a memorandum of understanding with the People’s Bank of China setting out the deal.

    The banks have said they want to encourage the cross-border use of renminbi, or yuan, to rebalance the global economy.

    Bank of England governor Mark Carney said the appointment was an “important milestone”, because the Chinese bank would “play a valuable role in facilitating greater use of the RMB (renminbi) for trade, investment and other economic activities in the UK”.

    Mr Grimstone, who chairs financial services trade body The CityUK and Standard Life, helped broker the memorandum.

    He said the deal could help to secure City jobs for decades.

    “We’re moving down a track very rapidly where London is going to become … the offshore centre for trading renminbi,” he told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

    Two-thirds of Chinese currency traded outside of China is already done in London, he added.

    On Tuesday, Prime Minister David Cameron announced that trade deals worth more than £14billion had been signed during a state visit by Chinese premier, Li Keqiang.

    Mr Li said the yuan clearing house deal “will further consolidate and promote London’s status as an international financial hub” and help “promote trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation”.

    During Mr Li’s visit, the London Stock Exchange (LSE) said that it had signed agreements with two of China’s biggest banks to develop UK renminbi trading.

    The LSE deal with the Bank of China will see the two firms design clearing and financing processes for financial products.

  • Vigils for Chibok schoolgirls in England

    Vigils have taken place across north-west England to highlight the plight of the over 200 students of the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, kidnapped by Boko Haram.

    The vigils in Liverpool, Manchester and Bolton all started at 1pm local time.

    Liverpool organiser, Tracey Hylton, said campaigners wanted politicians to increase pressure on Nigeria to get the girls home.

    The Liverpool vigil was at the bombed-out St Luke’s church in the city.

    Campaigners have held a second vigil in Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester.

    The first vigil there on Tuesday was joined by former Coronation Street star, Julie Hesmondhalgh.

    Organiser Colette Williams said it was important to keep the fate of the girls in the public eye.

    “Even in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens on Tuesday there were an enormous amount of people who didn’t know about the issue,” she said.

    The Bolton vigil was held outside the town hall.

  • Monster waves slam into UK

    Monster waves slam into UK

    Waves up to 27 feet (8.2 meters) high slammed into Britain’s southwestern coast yesterday, as lashing winds and heavy rain battered parts of the U.K. and coastal residents braced for another round of flooding.

    The monster waves were recorded at Land’s End, the southwestern tip of the U.K.

    In Aberystwyth in Wales, seafront homes, businesses and student residence halls were evacuated as high tides hit the Welsh coast.

    The Met Office, Britain’s weather forecasting body, warned of wind gusts up to 70 mph (113 kph) and exceptionally large waves along the coasts of Wales, southwest England and Northern Ireland.

    At least seven people have died in a wave of stormy weather that has battered Britain since December, including a man killed when his mobility scooter fell into a river in Oxford, southern England.

    The Environment Agency issued three severe flood warnings yesterday – meaning there is a threat to life and property – for the county of Dorset in southwestern England, as well as more than 300 less serious flood alerts.

     

  • Nigerian striker switches club in England

    Nigerian striker switches club in England

    League Two side Mansfield Town have signed Anglo-Nigerian striker, James Alabi from Premier League Club Stoke City on a one-month loan deal.

    Though of Nigerian descent, Alabi was born in London and began his career with Stoke City playing for the club’s academy in 2010–11 before moving to Scottish club Celtic.

    The 18-year-old is yet to make a first-team appearance for the Potters and in his second spell at the Britannia Stadium after a season with Celtic.

    Alabi,who scored one goal in nine substitute appearances on loan at Scunthorpe last term, is available to for his new club as they face Southend United on Friday.

    “I am really happy to be here”Alabi was quoted as saying on the BBC after completing his short loan move adding that he lives to score goals.

    Initially listed amongst 20 youngsters that could take the Premier League by storm, many say If Alabi can learn to combine his strength and technically ability along with his blistering pace and brilliant aerial ability into a cohesive package then he could be the solution to the goal scoring problem of his club.

  • Keshi to storm England for Anichebe

    Keshi to storm England for Anichebe

    Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi is planning a welfare visit to Everton striker Victor Anichebe and discuss about a possible return to the Nigeria team.

    Anichebe had announced that he has put his international career on hold to manage his body accordingly. But Keshi is now looking forward to making the player rescind his decision as he hopes to persuade the 25-year-old to change his mind.

    “Anichebe is a great striker. He is young, strong and gives us several options in attack. I plan to visit him in England and talk to him face to face,” Keshi told BBC Sport.

    “We’ve tried in the past on the telephone but now is the time to speak to him in a proper meeting atmosphere. He’s a smart boy, intelligent enough to know what is good for his body and we have to respect his fitness programme with his club.

    “We have to put this into consideration when we talk to him. Hopefully, he can change his mind and make himself available to the Super Eagles. I need the support of the Nigeria Football Federation to make this happen as soon as possible because we cannot afford to lose a player like Victor Anichebe.”

    Anichebe has suffered from injuries over the last few years and if fit could be just what Nigeria need as they have looked a bit thin in attacking options.

  • Omeruo’s England visa ready soon

    Omeruo’s England visa ready soon

    •Player closes in on return to Chelsea

    Kenneth Omeruo’s bid to return to Chelsea is getting closer by each passing day after his representative told SportingLife that the Eagles’ defender’s visa to England would soon be ready.

    Omeruo was bought by the UEFA Europa League champions in 2011 from Belgian club Standard Liege and was subsequently loaned to ADO Den Haag in the Dutch top flight to gain playing time and experience.

    After spending two seasons with the Dutch side, Omeruo is to make a sensational return to Chelsea before the start of this season and after getting the all clearance of Chelsea’s new manager, Jose Mourinho, the Nigerian is working on getting his travel documents sorted to make it to England.

    A source, who is one of his representatives, told SportingLife that he is making frantic effort to ensure Omeruo’s visa application is successful having met most of the requirements.

    He noted that the participation of the Abia born player in the ongoing FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil would go a long way to convince the British Home Office to grant him a work permit through the special talent arrangement even though he was yet to participate in about 75% of the Eagles’ matches in the last two years.

    “Kenneth is Chelsea bound and no one can stop that. We are presently working on the technicalities to ensure he makes a swift journey to England.

    “We have sought the consent of Chelsea’s new coach, Mourinho and he said he would like to work with our client. What is left is to get a visa for him and try to convince the British Home Office to grant him a work permit.

    “Kenneth’s participation at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa and his inclusion in the FIFA Confederations Cup should put him in a strong position for them to issue him a work permit to enable him begin his Chelsea adventure,” the source said.

    The former Sunshine Stars of Akure defender was in the Super Eagles team that beat Tahiti 6-1 in yesterday’s Brazil 2013 FIFA Confederation Cup Group B encounter.

  • Rio Ferdinand retires

    Rio Ferdinand retires

    Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has announced his retirement from international football with England.
    Ferdinand, 34, has just celebrated winning his sixth Premier League title with United and his desire to continue playing for the English champions was central to the decision.

    “After a great deal of thought, I have decided the time is right for me to retire from international football,” Ferdinand said in a statement on the FA’s official website.

    “At the age of 34, I feel it is right for me to stand aside and let the younger players come through, which allows me to concentrate on my club career.