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Tag: Mikel Obi

  • Mikel Obi parties with fans over Amstel Malta deal

    Mikel Obi parties with fans over Amstel Malta deal

    It was a short ceremony, but the early arrival of fans spoke volume about the man coming to dinner.

    Super Eagles star, Mikel Obi, walked into a roaring applause, accentuated by the DJ’s music as he arrived the Nigerian Breweries HQ bar, in Lagos, on Monday evening. His mission was to spend some time with top executives of the company over drinks and canapés, having been endorsed as ambassador for the Amstel Malta brand alongside Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji.

    Rising to the occasion, friends and clients of the company were invited to the evening of fun, where the Chelsea FC star spoke to reporters about what his pact with the brand entails.

    “My contract with Amstel Malta is to promote the brand and make the brand even bigger. As you can see, I’m here with the Amstel Malta family. I’m very happy and proud to be a part of this family. The future is looking bright. All we need to do is to work together and I am hundred percent sure we can achieve success to make this brand bigger,” he said.

    Mikel and Genevieve are the protagonists of the new Amstel Malta commercial, which was unveiled during the 2014 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) in February. Image from the commercial has gone viral, spotting both stars on a jet scene in South Africa.

    Mikel, who noted that he grew up taking the Amstel Malta brand, told reporters that working with Genevieve on the commercial of the beverage was fun. He also described the actress as an amiable personality.

    Asked when he will be getting married, the footballer said the time might be near as he had been in a serious relationship of late. ‘I’ve been dating seriously for two years now. I’m in love. I’ve found love,” he said repeatedly.

  • Mikel Obi parties with fans over Amstel Malta deal

    Mikel Obi parties with fans over Amstel Malta deal

    It was a short ceremony, but the early arrival of fans spoke volume about the man coming to dinner.

    Super Eagles star, Mikel Obi, walked into a roaring applause, accentuated by the DJ’s music as he arrived the Nigerian Breweries HQ bar, in Lagos, on Monday evening. His mission was to spend some time with top executives of the company over drinks and canapés, having been endorsed as ambassador for the Amstel Malta brand alongside Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji.

    Rising to the occasion, friends and clients of the company were invited to the evening of fun, where the Chelsea FC star spoke to reporters about what his pact with the brand entails.

    “My contract with Amstel Malta is to promote the brand and make the brand even bigger. As you can see, I’m here with the Amstel Malta family. I’m very happy and proud to be a part of this family. The future is looking bright. All we need to do is to work together and I am hundred percent sure we can achieve success to make this brand bigger,” he said.

    Mikel and Genevieve are the protagonists of the new Amstel Malta commercial, which was unveiled during the 2014 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) in February. Image from the commercial has gone viral, spotting both stars on a jet scene in South Africa.

    Mikel, who noted that he grew up taking the Amstel Malta brand, told reporters that working with Genevieve on the commercial of the beverage was fun. He also described the actress as an amiable personality.

    Asked when he will be getting married, the footballer said the time might be near as he had been in a serious relationship of late. ‘I’ve been dating seriously for two years now. I’m in love. I’ve found love,” he said repeatedly.

  • Tuface opens up on face-off with Mikel Obi

    Tuface opens up on face-off with Mikel Obi

    WHEN pop legend, Tuface Idibia, released his hit track, Only Me, rumours were rife that it was directed at Chelsea footballer, Mikel Obi.

    However, during his performance at the fifth stage of Star Music Trek in Orlu, Imo State last Saturday, the award-winning singer said: “I know some people have been saying I sang this song because of Mikel Obi, but I didn’t. I didn’t sing this song because of him.”

    The legendary musician, who has been touring various cities with his live band on the popular pan Nigerian music tour, Star Music Trek, performed the hit song, which also happened to be an extremely popular favourite with fans.

  • Amstel Malta signs Genevieve, Mikel as ambassadors

    Amstel Malta signs Genevieve, Mikel as ambassadors

    With the sensational unveiling of a new Amstel Malta commercial (TVC), featuring football star, Mikel Obi and screen diva Genevieve Nnaji, at the AfricaMagic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), at the Eko Hotel and Suites, last Saturday, the lid is finally off the leaked photos of the two celebs and their upcoming movie, The Journey.

    Genevieve, who was signed to telecommunications company, Etisalat, has confirmed another romance with the acclaimed low sugar malt drink.

    Although there is no word yet on how much the stars were paid, or the duration of the contract, the deal, we gathered, was sealed earlier this year, with the initial campaign themed around inspirational journey to success stories.

    The commercial, which was aired at the star-studded AMVCAs, highlights the individual career journeys of both stars, ending at a point of triumph.

    Mikel was not present at the awards but Genevieve, who presented an award with OC Ukeje, spoke with Amstel Malta red carpet host Vixen on her own journey to success and how she hopes this project would help young Nigerians make the best of their own journeys.

    “It’s been a fantastic night and I’m delighted with Amstel Malta’s efforts in celebrating our own with the world,”says Genevieve, who is the first Nigerian actress to be profiled on the popular Oprah Winfrey Show.

    “I am very excited about the opportunity this platform gives me to inspire youths, and I will definitely do my best to support this noble cause,” she stated.

    Mikel, who was captured in a video, emphasised how glad he was to be a part of the project. “I’m very happy to have an opportunity like this to inspire young Nigerians to be the best they can be. Life is not always a bed of roses, so we all have to learn to make the most of it even in the midst of the struggles that we might face,” he said.

    The film follows Amstel Malta’s new campaign weaved around inspiration, using the iconic stars as models. The flick portrays the odyssey of their rise to national and global acclaim – the humble beginnings, the struggles through uncertainty, initial breaks and major breakthroughs.

    “It’s a message to young Nigerians,” says Amstel Malta Brand Manager, Hannatu Ageni-Yusuf.

    “We all have to prepare and plot our journeys to success and Amstel Malta is committed to empower our consumers all the way. That’s why we have constantly supported MultiChoice in rewarding the best of Nollywood, through the AMVCAs,” she said.

  • FA Cup: Mikel dreams 5th title

    FA Cup: Mikel dreams 5th title

    Nigeria and Chelsea star John Obi Mikel has revealed his ambition of winning the English FA Cup for the fifth time with his west London outfit.

    Chelsea travel to the Etihad Stadium today to face Manchester City in their fifth round encounter.

    Mikel boasts of four winners’ medals so far and will be eager to add a fifth in the 2014 edition.

    ‘The FA Cup is still very important. It’s always been important to Chelsea, and it doesn’t matter how many times you’ve won it,’ Mikel told Chelseafc.com

    ‘I’ve won it four times, so there’s a good tradition, and having missed out in the League Cup already, we want to get back to Wembley this year. If we can get past Manchester City we are only one game away from another semi-final.”

    Commenting on what to expect when they confront the Citizens for the second time in two weeks, Mikel stated that his team would leave no stone unturned against Manuel Pellegrini’s side.

    ‘This is a different game from last week when we won in the Premier League. It’s a different competition and we need a different mentality. I am sure Manchester City will be thinking the same.

    ‘We lost to City in last season’s semi-final at Wembley, it was a difficult day. We didn’t start well, we let them get right on top of us, so on Saturday we have to make sure we don’t let it happen again,’ he concluded.

    Mikel scored in his side’s victory in the previous round.

  • CAF Award: Mikel not unfairly treated

    CAF Award: Mikel not unfairly treated

    SIR: The failure of Mikel Obi to win the African Footballer of the year 2013 again brings to the fore the character of the Nigerian society. Mile, a great distributor and defender, with a controversial start has been with the elite English club, Chelsea for over eight years during which he scored four goals. A favourite of manager Jose Mourinho, he is planted in the midfield to defend and to distribute balls to his strikers.

    I have often wondered why our protégé always fights shy of the goalpost. Face to face with goalkeeper, he would look for a colleague to strike. As a result of this, his team and this nation had lost many games due to the rigidity of the positioning of the player. I am not convinced, going by my little experience as a footballer at school and more importantly the chairman of IICC Shooting Stars in Coca House in the 70’s, that a defending midfielder cannot, or should not, attempt to strike at opponent’s goal. I was privileged to hire or retain star players like Segun Odegbami, Muda Lawal, Akande and a host of other stars including imports from Ghana. Muda who invariably played in the midfield also doubled as an adventurous striker. Of course Odegbami is an all time legend.

    Recently, part of my surprise was resolved by the unbelievable admittance of Mikel that he has always kept strictly to the order of his coach never to attempt to score goals. This is bewildering to say the least. I have seen and have encouraged all midfielders and indeed full-backs to enter the vital area and strike at the goal when the opportunity occurs. It is a miracle that a midfielder (striking or defending) of a leaving club like Chelsea could receive national acclaim for scoring four goals in eight years! What is he defending when his side has no goal advantage?

    Compare this with Yaya Toure of Ivory Coast who scores at least two goals in three matches and who on most occasions functions in the midfield. The goal tally of Toure and his aggressiveness and hunger must have had lasting impression on nominators or assessors. There is little to recommend in a midfielder who distributes his balls side ways and on many more occasions backward towards his defenders or keeper. How could you score a goal or help others to score a goal when 99% of your passes go negative? If you cannot score a gola direct by yourself, sending the balls forward will help your strikers or cause confusion with the vital box area.

    One other point that is persistently obvious in Mikel is that his shots lack power. His balls are so weak and nimble that any keeper can easily handle them with one hand. Obviously these are not the attributes of a continental hero. Apparently Mikel is the hero of Nigeria’s tabloid papers. He wins matches and trophies on the pages of the papers. By all means let us continue to be patriotic, but let us also be realistic. Was it an Anglo-French contest when our own Nwanwko Kano won the continental trophies several times, several years ago? Why will some Nigerians now equate Mikel’s failure to the preponderance of French speaking African countries in CAF?

    •Deji Fasuan,

    Afao-Ekiti.

     

  • CAF awards: Chelsea jet flies in Mikel

    CAF awards: Chelsea jet flies in Mikel

    Super Eagles midfielder, Mikel Obi, will be specially flown into Lagos for the African Player of the award ceremony in a jet provided by his English Premier League side Chelsea.

    The GLO/CAF 2013 Player of the Year ceremony takes place on Thursday.

    Mikel has been nominated for the prestigious award alongside Ivoirian duo of Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba.

    He told MTNFootball.com he plans to fly in and out of Lagos for the ceremony in his club’s jet on Thursday.

    “I am coming for the CAF awards, I will be flown in and out of Nigeria by the Chelsea jet. I will arrive on the awards day and return immediately after,” Mikel told MTNFootball.com

    “It is an honour to be selected and nominated for the award. I am looking forward to winning it for my country.”

    His brothers Patrick Tochukwu Obi and Ebele Obi, who is a goalkeeper with Nigeria Premier League side Heartland, will accompany him to the event.

    Nwankwo Kanu was the last Nigeria star to be named Africa Footballer of the Year by CAF when he won in 1999.

     

  • Media accreditation for 2013 GLO-CAF awards begins

    Confederation of African Football (CAF), organisers of 2013 GLO-CAF Awards, have begun in earnest the accreditation of journalists that will cover the ceremony in Lagos, Nigeria.

    Over one hundred press men are expected from different parts of the world to cover the 2013 GLO-CAF Awards, an annual soccer event that celebrates the best of African football including footballers, coaches and administrators who have distinguished themselves in the game either on the African Continent or beyond.

    Top journalists and media houses worldwide are expected to cover the high profile ceremony which comes up at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre, Lagos, Nigeria on January 9th, 2014.

    CAF recently released the list of 25 short-listed players for the African Player of the year Award. Five top Nigerian players that featured in the list include Mikel Obi, Emmanuel Emenike, Vincent Enyeama, Ahmed Musa and Sunday Mba. The list will be pruned down to the Top Ten and Top Three players later this month.

    The award categories include African Player of the Year (Based in Africa); National Team of the Year; Club of the Year; and Coach of the Year.

    Other categories are Women’s National Team of the Year; Women’s Footballer of the Year; Most Promising Talent; Referee of the Year; Legend of the year; Fair Play Award; Platinum Award (which has only one nominee); and Africa Finest XI. Globacom has been sponsoring the CAF Awards since 2005.

  • Super Eagles mobbed in Ethiopia

    Super Eagles mobbed in Ethiopia

    Super Eagles players were mobbed by adoring fans on Saturday after the team chartered plane landed in Addis Ababa for Sunday’s crucial World Cup qualifier against hosts Ethiopia, futaa.com reports.

    The fans, who will come out in their thousands on Sunday to cheer the Walya Antelopes put patriotism aside and openly expressed admiration for the star-studded Nigerian team.

    According to reports, John Obi Mikel, who has won two European trophies in the last two years with English Premiership side Chelsea, was one of the major attractions.

     

     

  • ‘Mikel going nowhere’

    ‘Mikel going nowhere’

    Midfielder John Mikel Obi will not be leaving Chelsea, at least not during this transfer window, according to his agent, John Shittu.

    Mikel, 26, has been heavily linked with Turkish club, Galatasaray throughout the summer, with Russian club, Anzhi Makhachkala and Italian side, Napoli also emerging as late entrants for his services.

    But Shittu told KickOffNigeria.com yesterday that the Nigerian is going nowhere.

    “He loves this club, the manager knows him and likes him and he will not be going anywhere during this transfer window,” he insists.

    Shittu admits that there had been interest in the player, but all suitors have been rebuffed by Chelsea and he denies that it was ever a question of the club’s valuation not being met.

    “Some clubs came in and expressed their interest but that is where it stopped. They were never allowed to get to the point where we could even begin to start talking about valuation or negotiation.”

    Mikel has barely featured for the Blues this season, his only appearance being a cameo role in the last few minutes of Chelsea’s 0-0 draw against Manchester United.

    Shittu said it is down to match fitness.

    “He didn’t have a proper pre-season because he got a couple of weeks extra due to his Confederations Cup participation and then an injury so he is not fully match fit.

    “When he starts playing is down to the manager, but as soon as he gets his match fitness back, he will be in contention.”

    With Shittu being so categorical about the midfielder not leaving this window, there is the suggestion that he could perhaps leave in January.

    “We cannot say what will happen in the future. This is football and anything is possible. But for now, he is a Chelsea player, and is happy to remain a Chelsea player for the rest of his career.”