The Nation Newspaper

Tag: injury

  • Injury stops Uzoenyi

    Injury stops Uzoenyi

    Mamelodi Sundwons head coach Pitso  Mosimane has explained why Elias Pelembe  and Ejike Uzoenyi failed to make the club’s CAF Champions League squad.

    The duo was not registered for the preliminary rounds of the tournament.

    Mosimane revealed that Pelembe is yet to renew his contract at the club, while Uzoenyi is still nursing a long-term injury which has seen him out of action for the last couple of months.

    “We didn’t involve Elias Pelembe in the CAF list because you must remember that we were doing the CAF list in December and imagine if I included him and he went on to sign a pre-contract at another club and leaves Sundowns,” Mosimane said.

    “People are moving. Imagine I put him on the CAF list, but I can’t choose him, I lose one spot. I played it safe. I didn’t want to lose one spot, I didn’t have time.

    “We spoke to him, he knows, he is professional. His contract is ending, we are still busy with negotiations. I can’t lose a spot and he might not be here.

    “I told him it is only three games, if he is around, and he has done well and he has renewed his contract we will go with him. He is professional.

    “Ejike is injured, that is why [we didn’t include him]. He will miss the six games. You haven’t seen him for a month or two. He won’t make the three rounds in CAF, so we keep the space,” Mosimane added.

    The Brazilians kicked-off their African adventure with a 1-1 draw away to Seychelles outfit St Michel.

    The return-leg will take place at the Lucas Moripe Stadium at the end of the month.

  • Injury is frustrating me -Babatunde Michael

    Injury is frustrating me -Babatunde Michael

    Super Eagles midfielder Babatunde  Michael has been out of his club’s recent games.

    The 22-year-old has suffered several injuries since breaking his wrist at the last FIFA World Cup, and continues to suffer more setbacks. In this exclusive interview, the Volyn Lutsk midfielder spoke to SL10.ng of his injury woes.

    He also speaks on reports linking him to several other clubs outside Ukraine, and he also talks about the Super Eagles.

     

    SL10: Hello Michael, thank you for giving us your time. How are you doing?

    Babatunde: I’m good. I thank God for the gift of life, but just been battling injuries.

     

     I was going to ask you that. How has it been struggling with the injuries?

    It has not been funny I must tell you. I am a professional footballer and all I want is to be on the pitch doing what I know best, but the injuries won’t allow. It has been a difficult period for me obviously, but I am really hoping and praying that I recover fully soon.

     

    You seem to suffer these setbacks when you’re on your way to full recovery. What’s the problem?

    It is quite unfortunate to be honest. The other time I recovered and returned to training, only for me to get injured again a day before a match. The doctors are doing their best but I just don’t want to rush it again. They have advised that I take my time for it to heal properly and that is what I’m doing. I will be back soon though.

     

    A lot of people believe Nigeria would have been successful at the Africa Cup of Nations if they had qualified, do you agree with that?

    Yeah, sure. The teams have given their best, but we would have done better had we qualified. I think it would have been a big opportunity to retain the title if we had qualified. But it’s unfortunate that we did not, so we have to look forward now, and focus on the next edition. The qualifiers will start soon, so that should be the focus for now.

     

     What do you make of reports linking you with clubs outside of Ukraine?

    I heard about them. But I just have to focus on my team for now. If a bigger club comes in with a bigger offer and if they agree terms with Volyn, then I’ll move. But for now, my concentration is on helping my team do well and hopefully things will get better.

     

    Thank you so much for your time.

    You’re welcome.

     

  • ‘Minor’ knee injury rules Mikel out of QPR match

    ‘Minor’ knee injury rules Mikel out of QPR match

    Super Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi has been ruled out of today’s Premier League home game against QPR after failing to recover from a ‘minor’ knee injury.

    The Nigerian international is among the 25 man squad released by Coach Stephen Keshi for the double header 2015 Cup of Nations qualifying matches against the Red Devils of Congo and Bafana Bafana of South Africa this month,

    The 27-year- old was in action for 80 minutes before being replaced by Nemanja Matic  in the team’s 2-1 win over Shrewsbury Town in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday.

    Chelsea revealed the absence of Mikel in the clubs injury news on the club’s official website on Friday.

    “John Mikel Obi misses the home game against QPR on November 1 due to a minor knee injury”, the club said on its website.

    Also Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who confirmed Diego Costa’s and Ramires’ fitness, said  Mikel and Loic Remy will not be available against QPR at Stamford Bridge.

    “Costa is available, it’s good news for us,” Mourinho said. “It’s been difficult for us having only one striker [Didier Drogba] available. When you have two the situation improves.

    “We don’t have Mikel, it’s not good for us because he is always an option, but the fact we have Ramires back is a compensation for that loss. The situation is a bit better,” Mourinho noted.

     

  • INJURY RULES CHIKATARA OUT OF BAYELSEA UTD TIE

    INJURY RULES CHIKATARA OUT OF BAYELSEA UTD TIE

    Abia Warrior striker, Chisom Chikatara will not be available for his side Glo Premier League match day 33 encounter against Bayelsa United on today at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

    The free-scoring striker picked a yellow card each in his side’s clash against Kaduna United as well as in match day 32 encounter at Akwa United in Uyo on Sunday.

    Chikatara said ruefully that he had anxiously waited for the clash to unleash his full weight on Bayelsa United having missed the first fixture against the side at their adopted ground in Benin.

    “I’m suspended for the match against Bayelsa United on Thursday(today) due to cards I picked against Kaduna United and Akwa United.

    “Of course, I feel bad that I won’t play a part in the game I keenly waited to feature after missing the first leg in Benin against Bayelsa United.

    “However, I’m confident my absence won’t hurt us badly as we’ve quality replacement who will perform creditably well.

    “We’re taking maximum six points off Bayelsa United this season and that can’t be negotiated.

    “Though we don’t expect Bayelsa United to go down  without a fight,  we know how to  handle them perfectly well.

    “We’re boosted with the point at Akwa United going into the Thursday’s clash, we’re certain to grab the three points to further boost our push to the summit,” said Chikatara to supersport.com.

    The Glo Premier League newcomers are fifth on the 20-team elite league log on 48 points from possible 96 at the conclusion of week 32 matches.

  • NNAM TO MISS ORIENTAL DERBY DUE TO INJURY

    NNAM TO MISS ORIENTAL DERBY DUE TO INJURY

    Heartland star John Nnam will miss today’s ‘Oriental Derby’ against his former club Rangers after the injury he suffered in a 1-0 win over Kano Pillars.

    “I won’t be playing because I still feel some pains when I try to kick the ball,” said the former Rangers skipper.

    Meanwhile, attacking sensation Fred Okwara has said he is fired up for the encounter as he will feature for Heartland against his former club Rangers.

    “I will just play my normal game if fielded by the coach and hopefully, it will lead to a positive result for Heartland,” he said.

    “It will be an interesting match and we hope to win.”

    When both sides met in the reverse fixture, the ‘Naze Millionaires’ smiled away with a 1-0 win inside the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.

  • Moses’ injury worries Keshi

    Moses’ injury worries Keshi

    Head coach of the Nigeria national team, Stephen Keshi has expressed worry over the recent injury picked up by Stoke City winger, Victor Moses.

    Moses pulled up injured in Stoke’s 1-3 defeat to Sunderland in the Barclays English Premier League on Saturday.

    He provided the assist for Stoke’s solitary goal at the Stadium of Light, dispatched by Charlie Adam, before he was forced off with the injury.

    He is now a huge doubt for Nigeria’s 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying double-header against Sudan.

    Speaking exclusively to supersport.com, Keshi expressed concern about the injury and expressed hope that it is not as serious as is feared in some quarters.

    “I was naturally worried to see him (Moses) get injured (on Saturday). He’s been in good form and I just hope that the injury is not that serious because we need him for those important games against Sudan,” Keshi said.

    Meanwhile Stoke City manager, Mark Hughes says the extent of Moses’ injury is not yet clear.

    He suffered a recurrence of the tight thigh he injured in Monday’s win over Newcastle, but Hughes defended the decision to start the on-loan winger against the Black Cats.

    “Victor had a bit of tightness after the Newcastle game (on Monday).

    “But he felt discomfort and we weren’t going to take a risk. We are hoping it’s nothing serious, but given nothing showed on the scan we’ve got to get to the bottom of what’s causing it,” he said.

  • Injury sidelines Edjomariegwe for two weeks

    Injury sidelines Edjomariegwe for two weeks

    NASARAWA UNITED FC of Lafia suffered a big blow to their title ambitions on Thursday morning when news emerged that they would be without the services of their talismanic winger, Tony Edjomariegwe, who has been ruled out for the next two weeks by the club doctors due to a face injury.

    The exciting former 3SC of Ibadan winger, famous for flicks and tricks, may have tried one dribble too many in their Match Day 21 encounter in Lafia against FC Taraba, and though he escaped his marker and sped off  towards goal, the right full back had recovered and tackled him from behind. Edjomariegwe sprawled on the turf and was unlucky to have been stepped on the face by the defender who had aimed to jump over him.

    Following close examination by the team doctor, the player was advised to rest it for around two weeks as a result of which he may miss Nasarawa United’s next games against Akwa Utd, Bayelsa Utd and Lobi Stars.

    Speaking to www.lmc-ng.org, Edjomariegwe expressed disappointment that he would be out of action for some time, but thanked God it wasn’t such a serious injury.

    “It feels bad to be out of action for a few weeks but such are the hazards we face in professional football. I am sure my team can cope without me. Maybe I was marked out and targeted by FC Taraba as a threat that’s why they got me injured, but we still won 3-0, so I am sure that we will continue our winning streak even in my absence.”

  • Knee injury knocks off Babadidi

    Knee injury knocks off Babadidi

    •Lives on largesse from Dutch club

    Former VVV Venlo of Holland top target, Mustapha Babadidi, may have retired prematurely from football owing to his problematic knee injury, a close source of the player has told SportingLife.

    Babadidi was an household name in the Glo League two years ago in the colours of Gombe United and even received an invitation to the Golden Eaglets team under Manu Garba but the player’s dream to make it big in the game may have been punctured by the knee injury.

    The player sought all medical advice including trips to the United States and England to have the knee injury treated but SportingLife source confirmed that all Babadidi’s attempts to resurrect his career could not materialise as the doctors were unable to properly treat the injury well.

    The source said that Babadidi could not even walk properly as he still has his leg a little bent from the knee region because of the injury.

    SportingLife also gathered that VVV Venlo of Holland tried on their part to have the injury treated and that they had him flown to specialists hospital in London but owing to the treatment he had from other hospitals, the injury was not able to be treated in London.

    SportingLife was also told that the player was made to return to Nigeria by VVV Venlo and also given money in the region of N30million for him to take care of himself.

    The source said Babadidi has be living on this largesse from Venlo and that he has also been advised to invest on the money so that he does not spend it lavishly. The striker hit the league by the storm from Gombe United Feeders and a combination of him with Sanusi Sani was lethal and before the end of the first stanza two seasons ago, both players accounted for over 70 per cent of the goals scored by the Desert Scorpions before injury reduced both players roles.

    Babadidi didn’t come back from that injury while Sani has been in and out of football with knee injury too being cited.

  • Injury made me bench Anichebe — WBA boss

    Injury made me bench Anichebe — WBA boss

    West Bromwich Albion boss Pepe Mel has said that he didn’t drop Victor Anichebe for their draw with Fulham.

    Mel insists the Super Eagles striker has been carrying a knock during the week.

    Anichebe was arguably West Bromwich Albion’s best performer in the second half of their Barclays English Premier League clash against Fulham at the Hawthorn on Saturday.

    He replaced Billy Jones on 44 minutes and proceeded to produce a game-changing performance as the Baggles battled from a goal down to draw 1-1 against the relegation-threatened side.

    The 25-year-old provided an intelligent assist for Matej Vydra’s equaliser in the 86th minute as West Brom settled for a share of the spoils.

    In the 82nd minute, Anichebe used his upper body strength to create space before squaring for James Morrison whose shot was deflected away for a corner.

    Anichebe’s impressive display raised questions as to why the West Brom manager, Pepe Mel opted to start him on the bench.

    “The problem with Anichebe is during the last three days in Spain he couldn’t work because he was injured – and also the first day back in England.

    “And it is only for this reason I preferred Thievy (Bifouma) or (Saido) Berahino,” Mel said at the post-game press conference on Saturday.

    After his late equaliser against Chelsea on February 11, Anichebe is now proving he can be a great provider of goals as well as taking the chances himself.

    The forward has now scored three league goals this season.

  • Emenike returns from injury

    Emenike returns from injury

    After injuring his hamstring in a Turkish Super Lig game against Konyaspor, Super Eagles ace, Emenike says he is happy to be back jogging.

    The Nigerian, who on Monday this week began his rehab at the gym, Thursday speeded up his recovery process when he started light jogging.

    The AFCON 2013 top scorer was seen jogging with the Yellow Canaries’ physiotherapist at the club’s Bartu Facility.

    “I’m quite excited as I began jogging today (Thursday),” Emenike was reported to have said.

    “I feel good with my recovery progress but I’m not sure if I could play against Sivasspor this weekend.

    “But if I don’t, I know my teammates will go all out there to do their best.”