The Nation Newspaper

Tag: move

  • Ighalo closer to Watford move

    Ighalo closer to Watford move

    Udinese striker Odion Ighalo has revealed he is close to sealing a loan move to English Championship side Watford.

    Watford are keen to bolster their attacking options and are ready to use their affiliation with Udinese to bring the Nigeria ace to Vicarage Road.

    Ighalo, who joined Udinese from Norwegian club Lyn in 2008, has spent the last four seasons on loan at Spanish team Granada and Udinese are thought to be willing to loan him out again next season. The 25-year-old has confirmed talks are ongoing about a move to Watford and that it is the player’s dream to play in England.

    “I am in talks with Watford and I believe we are in final negotiations,” Ighalo told Sky Sports.

    “I am hopeful that those talks will go well and that the move will be finalised very soon. It has always been my dream to play in England and I am looking forward to playing for Watford. The Watford fans may not know a lot about me, but I promise to give my all and help them achieve their goal of getting back to the Premier League.”

    Watford finished 13th in the English second-tier league last season.

  • Popoola makes Belgium loan move

    Popoola makes Belgium loan move

    Nigerian midfielder, Sodiq Popoola has left FC Metz on loan for Belgium club, RFC Seraing.

    The former 36 Lion FC midfielder, Popoola signed a two year deal with French side, FC Metz but when it looked like he wasn’t going to get enough playing time with FC Metz in the 2014/2015 season, his advisors suggested it’ll be better he moved on loan to another club where he’ll get more playing time.

    According to the vibrant chairman of 36 Lion FC, Liameed Gafaar in a chat with SL10, Sodiq Popoola attracted a couple of interest from some clubs but RFC Seraing acted fast.

    “Sodiq is one of our exports at 36 Lion FC and I must say that he is making us proud.”

    “Sodiq Popoola is now on loan with Belgium club, RFC Seraing for a season where we expect that he’ll get more playing time,” said Gafaar.

    Popoola ,whose accurate passes can split any defense, was part of the RFC Seraing team that played a 2-2 draw with FC Metz in a friendly early July.

    Liameed Gafaar also told SL10 that Standard Liege forward Ezekiel Imoh who also left 36 Lion FC on  January12, 2012 to Belgium will move to his new Qatar club, Al Arabi in a matter of days.

    “Imoh’s deal is 90% done, he has passed his medicals but the only thing left is that Standard Liege wants him to play in the Champions League qualifier next week and after that he’ll leave,” Gafaar stated.

  • Babatunde eyes Barca move

    Babatunde eyes Barca move

    • Cherishes World Cup debut, thanks President Jonathan
    • Says playing against Messi, Di Maria best moment of his life

    Nigeria World Cup Star and Super Eagles winger Micheal Babatunde has stated that his target as a player would be to feature for Spanish giants, Barcelona in the nearest future.

    Babatunde who is currently in an Abuja hospital where he is receiving treatment after he sustained fracture  at the ongoing World Cup told SportingLife that his focus at the moment was to see his contract out with his present club, Volyn Lutsk FC of Ukraine before looking forward to a possible move to another European side.

    Two years contract are still left in the Ukranian-based player.

    He however revealed that various clubs from across Europe are scrambling to sign himmbut refused to disclose any offer.

    He disclosed, “At the moment, I’m enjoying my stay in Volyn where I’m like their number one player. My interest now is not really how to make all the money but to build my career gradually. As I talk to you, my agent is receiving many calls every day from many clubs but I want to wait until the right time.

    On his World Cup debut appearance, the 21-year old Babatunde added “yes playing at the world Cup at my age was memorable and give God thanks. I want to also express Super Eagles technical crew for extending call-up to me. I promise to continue to do my best anytime I’m called upon to play for Nigeria.

    “I also want to use this medium to extend my gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan and Minister of Sports for their tremendous support during the World Cup and since I sustained injury.

    Currently,the Nigerian government is bearing the cost of my treatment in the hospital here in Abuja and I will be ever ready to give my best.

    Babatunde who dazzled for Nigeria against Bosnia-Herzegovina at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil where he was preferred ahead of Chelsea’s Victor Moses also confessed that playing against world best players like Lionel Messi and Di Maria of Argentina was the best moment of his playing career which he would forever cherish for a long time to come.

    “Playing at the World Cup was a dream come true to me because I have always believed that the day I play against the likes of Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria would the highest point of my football carrier. Everything was okay for because at my age, playing as the youngest player in the Nigerian team was a very big life achievement, which I would like to carry to do well in my future carriers for both my club and the national team. It was so amazing, I prayed for this and God answered me.

    “I would like to say a big thank you to the president, the minister of sports and the leadership of the NFF for standing behind me during my injury at the world cup group match against Argentina.

    “With the type of support I have received so far from the government and Nigerians,I cannot do but promise to give all my best to the Super Eagles whenever I am called up to represent my country.

    I was filled with joy when coach Stepehn Keshi told me that I would start at the match against Bosnia because I never thought I would make to the world cup, not to talk of making the start list of the super eagles. But I know I worked very hard during training and I am still a young boy that has just started in the game. I wanted to use my surprise inclusion to the Super Eagles World Cup squad to prove that it I rightly deserved a place in the team and I thank God that I was able to make that despite the injury I sustained against Argentina.” The super Eagles’ winger noted.

     

  • Dolphins move to stop players’ strike

    Dolphins move to stop players’ strike

    The management of Dolphins has officially reacted to the complaints made by the players and their threat to embark on a strike.

    The players are unhappy that their signing-on fees for the 2012/13 football season remain unpaid and stressed that going on strike would compel their sponsors to offset the debts.

    General manager of the club, Joe Johnson expressed regret that the situation was allowed to get out of hand but stated that plans have reached an advanced stage to get the players paid.

    “It’s unfortunate that a few of our players who are not grounded in what the club is doing went public to claim that we have not paid their signing-on fees. That’s not correct,” Johnson exclusively told Supersport.com.

    Johnson added that he had been working “tirelessly with other key officers of the club” to see that the debts were offset.

    “The declarations came to me as a rude shock because I had been working tirelessly with other key officers of the club and also to get the approval for the funds from the Rivers State sports commissioner who is also aware of what we are doing.

    “We received funds from the (Rivers State) government but we have now decided, for this special case, to source for funds elsewhere to cushion the effect of the sufferings of the boys.

    He also promised that the players will start receiving forms of payment very soon.

    “Hopefully, in less than a week, the players will start getting paid. The payments would have arrived sooner but we have been pre-occupied with issues of clearance for the new players.

    “I however appeal to the footballers to always follow the normal line of communication in matters like this in the future.

    “Nobody is stopping them from talking to the press but there are certain procedures that should be followed.

    “If the players who complained in the press had sought clarification from the relevant authorities, there would have been no need for them to have done what they did,” he said.

  • 2015: Akwa Ibom senators, others move to resist aspirant imposition

    The move to resist imposition of governorship aspirant on the people of Akwa Ibom State thickened yesterday in Uyo, the state capital.

    Senators, elders, former House of Representatives members, lawmakers in the House of Assembly, past commissioners and youths agreed to revisit the December 14, 2006 primaries of the Peoples

    Democratic Party (PDP), which produced Governor Godswill Akpabio, where the people queued behind their preferred candidate and opposed any form of imposition.

    At a rally convened by a former lawmaker in the National Assembly, Senator Effiong Bob, in Uyo, the lawmakers and the elders spoke one after the other.

    Their speeches were not different. They agreed to oppose any form of imposition of governorship aspirant, as the 2015 governorship poll approaches.

    Bob advised the people to be vigilant, saying he would not suggest any governorship candidate.

    His said: “We want everybody to come out for the overall interest of this state and the country. Anybody, who wants to contest can contest.

    My advice to the people is that they should be vigilant. They should also be conscious of their rights, their rights to vote and be voted for. They should know what is good for them.

    “I will not suggest anybody. I believe we are wise enough to choose a person, who will lead the state.”

    Former deputy governor Chris Ekpenyong enjoined the people to resist any form

    of imposition of governorship candidate.

    Senator Etang Umoyo, who represented Eket in the ill-fated Third Republic, described Akwa Ibom people as republican people, who cannot be cowed.

    Onofiok Luke, a member representing Nsit Ubium, who spoke on behalf of youths, said the elders and the indigenes must revisit the December 14, 2006 primaries where the people lined up behind their preferred candidate.

     

  • APC’s committees move to field

    The 13 directorates set up by the Chris Ngige Campaign Organisation (CNCO) have moved to the field, with the Director, Special Duties, CNCO, Chief Dennis Ngene, setting the pace in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    Ngige is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the November 16 poll. He is a former governor of the state.

    Yesterday, the APC candidate visited Onitsha prisons and said it was lamentable that over 800 persons were languishing there instead of 300 inmates.

    Ngige spoke during the 50th ordination anniversary of the Most Rev. Valerie Okeke, the Archbishop of the Catholic Church.

    He said judges should hear some of the cases to decongest the Onitsha prison, adding that most of the inmates had stayed there for years without trial.

    At the weekend in Awka North, APC members went round the 14 wards, telling the people to vote for Ngige.

    The enthusiastic crowd shouted Ngige’s chieftaincy title (Onwaa-Onwaa) and most of them displayed his posters.

    Addressing members of each ward, the former chairman of Awka North Local Government, Chief Dennis Ngene, said the governorship poll was a serious project.

    He went on: “Anambra indigenes have decided to vote for the person they know very well, who is trusted and tested. His name is Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige.

    “All of you can testify to what he did in Anambra State during his short rule. If Ngige had ruled this state for four years, Anambra would not have been in this mess it is today.

    “We have come to you, the good people of this state, with our party, the APC, to tell you that Ngige has come to complete the things they did not allow him to finish.”

    Ngige’s speech was greeted with an ovation of Onwaa-Onwaa K’anyi gesso, meaning, Ngige we shall follow.

    Other committee members also went to their areas to mobilise the people. The visit to Awka North, scheduled to last for three days, will end tomorrow.

  • Enyeama linked with move to Almeria

    Enyeama linked with move to Almeria

    Following a credible performance at the ongoing Fifa Confederations Cup, the stock of Vincent Enyeama is on the rise.

    However, the future of the former Enyimba custodian remains unresolved.

    He spent last season on loan at Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv and is not guaranteed a starting shirt at Lille this coming campaign.

    With Nigeria tipped to be one of the five teams to represent Africa at next summer’s World Cup, Vincent Enyeama must look for a new club where he will play on a continuous basis.

    The electronic edition of Spanish newspaper Almeria360 says newly promoted Almeria are vying for the signature of Vincent Enyeama following the departure of Diego Garcia Bravo.

    His contract with Lille expires at the end of the 2013 – 2014 season. The experienced goalkeeper is available at a low price of 1.5 million dollars.

  • Mo Abudu’s bold move

    Mo Abudu’s bold move

    HUGELY followed TV host and chief executive of Inspire Africa, Mo Abudu, is making a bold move as she plans Nigeria’s and Africa’s first global Black entertainment network, EbonyLife TV Channel.

    She hopes to create over 700 hours of non-stop, original and premium programming to be immediately transmitted to and watched in over 46 African countries and by over 8 million viewers, with Roll Out distribution strategy also including major international platforms in the UK.

    Mo Abudu was recently hosted by the Presidency on a visit there to formally introduce her exciting new media platform. She was received at the presidential villa in the Federal Capital Territory by Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Dr. Reuben Abati.

    Ms. Abudu presented a detailed brief on the channel which will be beamed across Africa, United States, Brazil, Canada and other parts of Europe to Abati, who gave his best wishes to Ms. Abudu and her partners for the channel which will soon become available to viewers on DSTV and other global platforms. He also emphasised government’s support for the channel, as well as the creative industries in Nigeria.

    “We are grateful for all the support on this historic journey to build a television channel exclusively dedicated to Nigerian and African entertainment programming,” Ms. Abudu said. “The channel, broadcasting from Tinapa in Cross River State, is driven by a world-class team and will be targeted at young, discerning, ambitious, vocal, progressive and dynamic Global Black audience through a robust multiplicity of engaging platforms including TV, Web, Mobile, Apps and Live. We can’t wait to launch,” she added.

  • Besiktas move for Utaka

    Besiktas move for Utaka

    Nigeria’s John Utaka has surfaced on the wish list of Turkish side Besiktas after a move to Qatar for the Montpellier forward fell through.

    Beskitas also have interest in the services of Lyon attacker Jimmy Briand before also turning their searchlights on the 31-year old fast moving winger cum Nigeria forward.

    Utaka is under contract with Montpellier until June 2013. If the club want to recoup some of the investment on the player, they have no choice but to sell him this winter.

    He has scored 3 goals in 14 matches this season, and played 2 Champions League games against Schalke and Olympiakos Piraeus.

    Apart from Utaka, The Black and Whites are also interested in other names with French League teams. Valenciennes’ Vincent Abubakar and Olympiakos shirt-wearing 20-year-old Kamerunlusu, 28-year-old Algerian Rafik Djebbour amongst others.

  • Gambo close to El Gouna move

    Gambo close to El Gouna move

    Kano Pillars striker Gambo Mohammed is close to joining up with Egyptian club El Gouna, officials said.

    Both Pillars and El Gouna have been in discussion over the player’s transfer, which has only been stalled because he has yet to get an entry visa to Egypt.

    “Both clubs are discussing over Gambo’s transfer but the discussion has been held up because the player has yet to get his visa to travel to Egypt,” Pillars spokesman Idris Malikawa told MTNFootball.com

    “We believe that as soon as Gambo gets his visa, the discussion will move to the next level.”

    The highly-rated striker did not feature in the pre-season Super 4 tournament which Pillars hosted this past week to further fuel speculations over his future. Gambo was the second leading scorer in the league last season with 15 goals as Pillars won their second league championship.

    He has also been called up by the Super Eagles ahead of the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    In the summer, he had trials in Turkey, while there were serious interests in Egypt.