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Tag: Russia

Russia 2018: Menu booklets for launch before kickoff

Fans to the world cup in Russia will be handed a menu booklet at the venues to enable them know where to get special delicacies.

The Booklets on local food specialties and restaurant recommendations will appear in the 2018 World Cup host cities before the tournament kicks off, the state-run TASS news agency has reported.

The guides, which are part of the broader “Gastronomic Map of Russia” project, are meant to steer football fans in their gastronomic forays and identify spots where they can get football-themed delicacies.

For example, the bread making factory in Samara has proposed producing special pastries in the shape of footballs, which would be sold along the path to the local stadium when it hosts World Cup matches next summer.

Restaurants in Sochi, on the other hand, will be featured in the booklets through their dishes that reflect regional tastes.

The Krasnodar region, which Sochi is a part of, presented its gastronomic map on Friday at the Sochi International Forum for Tourism. Its menu includes Kuban wines, cheeses, shashlik and a local variation of borsch.

The booklets will be published for World Cup host cities as well as cities with links to the international tournament, such as Vladimir, which is being promoted as a cultural tourism hotspot for visiting football fans.

November 28, 2017
Five things to know about Lineker – 2018 world cup draw host
Gary Lineker, who won the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup, was announced last week as the host and will be partnered by Russian Sports Journalists, Maria Komandnaya to coordinate together the 2018 World Cup final draw billed for Friday, December 1, 2017.

It is less than a week for the draws that will determine the groupings of the 32 countries that had booked a ticket at next year’s World Cup in Russia, and it is pertinent to have an insight of who Lineker, the main conductor of the Draw Ceremony is.

These 5 things about Lineker, starting with the more astonishing ones to the most jaw-dropping, are guaranteed to keep your head swirling. Carefully go through them.
1. Was predicted not to make a living out of football:
After leaving school with just four O’ Levels, one of Lineker’s teachers predicted that he would never make it as a footballer.

The teacher attributed the failure to his passion for football, and he wrote on his report card that “he concentrates too much on football and that he would never make a living at that.”
1. England’s highest goal scorer at the World Cup:
The former striker who was capped 80 times by England is the Three Lions’ all-time scorer at the World Cup with 10 goals.

With six goals at the 1986 World Cup, Lineker emerged as the top scorer of the tournament, one that had the likes of Jorge Valdano, Socrates and Diego Maradona as participants.

No English player has yet to win a World Cup Golden Boot even after seven World Cups.
1. Highest goal scorer with three different English clubs:
The former Barcelona forward is the only player to have been the top scorer with three different clubs in England. In 1984 for Leiceser City, Lineker emerged as the joint top scorer with Chelsea’s Kerry Dixon. The duo recorded 24 goals apiece.

In 1985, Lineker moved to Everton in a deal worth around £800,000. He scored 30 goals for Everton in his debut season and finished the season as the league’s top scorer for the second time in a row.

In the 1989 season, he emerged again as the English league’s top division highest scorer– scoring 24 goals for Tottenham Hotspur.
1. Presented a show in 2016 with shorts:
Lineker, who is BT Sport’s lead presenter for Champions League back in 2016, appeared in the first BBC Match of the Day for the 2016/2017 season in boxer shorts.

The 57-year-old had promised in a tweet in 2015 that, if his former club, Leicester, should win the 2015/2016 Premier League, he would appear on the BBC match of the day in his undies. And appear he did!
1. Had zero yellow card in his entire playing career:
With a 16-year playing career that saw him had spells with the likes of Barcelona, Tottenham, Leicester City, Everton and Nagoya Grampus Eight, Lineker went his entire career without receiving neither a yellow card nor a red. This feat earned him the FIFA Fair Play Award in 1990.

Hope Lineker has a great day on Friday like he did during his playing days.
November 28, 2017
China, others complete border disarmament inspections

China has completed the last round of inspection on the obligation of border disarmament agreements with four countries, the official newspaper of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), has said.

The PLA daily said the countries that signed the agreements with China are; Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

The newspaper reported on Tuesday that China and a team, representing the other four countries, inspected each other’s border defence forces in mid-August.

According to the PLA, the five countries signed agreement on Confidence-Building in the Military field along border areas in 1996.

Similarly, in 1997, they signed agreement on Mutual Reduction of Military Forces in the border areas.

The PLA reports that the agreements opened the cooperation process of the “Shanghai Five” and laid solid foundation for the establishment and development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation ( SCO ).

During the past two decades, the two sides convened more than 30 meetings and organised more than 140 mutual inspections along the borders, with over 7,600 kilometers between China and the other four nations, according to the report.

Currently, the number of military personnel and amount of arms and military technology equipment are below the limits set by the agreements in applicable areas, said the report.

The two sides also stepped up exchanges by visiting each other’s border defence posts and border cities, as well as organising literary and sports contests and military training and performances, it added.

They have organised several “Peace Mission’’ joint military exercises under the SCO framework, carried out regular joint patrols, and regularly reported border situations to the other side, it added.

“Though the staff are different in their professional backgrounds, language and culture, they can trust and understand each other and cooperate closely,’’ Huang Xiaodong, head of the office for the obligation of border disarmament agreements, Ministry of National Defence of the People’s Republic of China, was quoted as saying.

The report said the China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan would continue to deepen implementation of the two agreements and cooperation on border defence.

November 21, 2017
Udeze, Allen, hail Super Eagles’ remarkable 4-2 victory over Albiceleste

More football stakeholders on Wednesday hailed the remarkable performance of the Super Eagles, after their hard-earned victory over the Albiceleste of Argentina in the international friendly match at Krasnodar, Russia.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Eagles battled from a 2-0 deficit to trounce the two-time world champions 4-2 in the keenly-contested match.

The Grade A friendly match, was one of the series of matches lined up by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to prepare the Super Eagles for the upcoming Russia 2018 World Cup.

Ifeanyi Udeze, a former Super Eagles defender told NAN in Lagos that the team exhibited and played with confidence against their South American opponents.

Read Also: Aguero now better after collapsing at halftime against Nigeria, Argentine FA says

Udeze commended the players for the victory, and urged them to remain steadfast as the country prepares for the 2018 World Cup.
“The players did well and also played well against Argentina in the encounter and should be commended.

“Coming back from two goals down to win the match showed that the players have the confidence and zeal needed to go far in the upcoming 2018 FIFA Mundial,” he said.

In the same vein, Festus Allen, a former coach of 3SC FC of Ibadan said that the win was a morale booster for the team.

Allen urged the NFF to organise more friendly matches for the Super Eagles in the build up to the FIFA World Cup.

“The win is a confidence and morale booster for the players and there is the need for us to play with more countries that have also qualified for the tournament.“By so doing, our team will be fit and ready to represent the country in Russia,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the Super Eagles were the first African country to qualify for the 2018 World Cup after topping their group that had Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia.

Other African countries that also qualified for the FIFA flagship tournament are: Egypt, Senegal, Morocco and Tunisia; the Egyptians last played at the World Cup in the Italia ’90 edition of the tournament.

November 15, 2017
Russia 2018: River taxis set to sail

River taxis have been introduce along Moscow River ahead of the forth coming world cup. Tickets for ride in the taxis is expected to go for 500 rubles about N2950

No fewer than ten river shuttles will start traveling along the Moscow River ahead of the city’s hosting duties for the 2018 World Cup, Moscow City Hall has announced.

The initiative is part of City Hall’s program to expand tourism infrastructure in the capital ahead of the international sports tournament which will kick off in June next year. Moscow is also expanding walking routes and bus tours in Moscow.

The new river buses will have a telescopic glass roof, climate control and audio guides in nine languages.

The shuttles, which fit 44 passengers each, will stop at seven city piers at 30-minute intervals. The stops include the Luzhniki Stadium, which will host the opening and final match of the World Cup, Gorky Park and Vorobyovy Gory.

To make the shuttles easy to recognize, they will be painted in bright colors, including pink, lilac and burgundy.

The shuttles are expected to start working in spring 2018 when navigation reopens on the Moscow River.

meanwhile the Education and Science Ministry has denied it plans to empty student dormitories to house security services during the World Cup 2018.

Russian media reported last week that law enforcement would be moved into student housing in May, a month before Russia hosts the international football tournament. Universities in host cities were reportedly changing students’ schedules to accommodate the police and military.

“The reports of mass evictions from dormitories during the World Cup 2018 circulated in the media are not true,” the ministry said in a statement carried by the Interfax news agency.

The ministry said students will have already left their dormitories for the summer holidays by the time security personnel move temporarily into the student housing for the World Cup.

No students who stay for the summer will be forcibly evicted, the ministry said. It added that the plan would “not disrupt the educational process.”

November 14, 2017
2018 W/Cup: Abba Yola tips Super Eagles to win

The newly appointed Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) Technical Study Committee Chairman, Abba Abdulahi Yola has predicted that the present Super Eagles squad alongside Spain, England,and Brazil will be among the top 4 nations likely win Russia 2018 World Cup going by the current form of the teams while also qualifying from the group stage without loosing a game.

Yola who made this prediction in a chat with Sportinglife, said his conviction came after studying other nations that qualified for the global soccer fiesta in June next year, as the Super Eagles is likely to parade the youngest team with no name but focus players.

He said the only problem that may stop the eagles from reaching the semi-final of the tournament is the issue of winning bonuses and allowances if not settled before the kick off of world cup which could affect the team’s performance.

Read; Police foil robbery in Yola, arrest two

The former Kano Pillars Utd Chairman, also commended the management of the glasshouse the manner they have handled the super eagles world cup qualifiers and the support given to Gernot Rohr the eagles technical adviser.

” Frankly the board has done well especially our world cup qualification matches. For the first time the players were motivated and paid as at when due. Rohr also deserve all the praises, the way he goes about his job without complain, paid or not paid and the manner he manages our players to achieve result”, Yola stated.

Read Also: Super Eagles to Camp in Rabat for CHAN 2018

November 13, 2017
Ex CIA director assumes Trump ‘afraid’ of Putin amid Russia meddling probe

Former CIA Director John Brennan suggested that U.S. President Donald Trump might be “afraid” of Russian President Vladimir Putin, amid Russia meddling probe.

On Saturday, Trump said after a brief on-the-go meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit with Putin that he believed the Russian leader when he said “he absolutely did not meddle in our election.”

Trump said that the Russian president was insulted by the ongoing investigation, which is not good for the United States.

Read also: Trump requests additional $4bn for missile defence programmes

“I think Mr Trump is, for whatever reason, either intimidated by Mr Putin, afraid of what he could do, or what might come out as a result of these investigations,” Brennan told CNN.

The U.S. Congress is currently investigating Russia’s alleged meddling in 2016last year’s US presidential election.

The FBI has been carrying out a similar investigation under Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

A number of hearings regarding the issue have been held in Congress, but intelligence service officials did not provide any evidence, claiming that the information was confidential.

Russia denies meddling in the 2016 US election, calling the accusations absurd and groundless.

NAN

November 13, 2017
World Cup Qualification: Brian Idowu Joins Team

.As Rohr Commends NFF
Russia –based Bryan Idowu has joined up with the rest of the Super Eagles squad after they arrived in Krasnodar, Russia. He told thenff.com: “It’s a big privilege for him to be part of this great squad. I will definitely give my best in order to remain a part of this team.
“It’s a big honor for me to be called into the Super Eagles. I will give this opportunity my very best shot so I can stay here for a long time. I believe this team will put smiles on the faces of Nigerians at the World Cup next year,” he added.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr is full of encomiums for the Nigeria Football Federation for the “professional and committed manner” it handled the Super Eagles’ 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Not only were the three –time African champions unbeaten in what was styled ‘Group of Death’, the Eagles picked the ultimate prize in that group with a game to spare, becoming Africa’s first candidate for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia in the process.

The man that led the team to achieving this feat believes the professional approach to the team’s preparations by the NFF for all the six qualifiers played a pivotal role in the team’s success.

“For sure, we must commend the NFF for the role they played right from that game in Ndola against Zambia to last Friday’s game in Constantine, Algeria.

“Apart from putting together excellent arrangements for our games at home, they ensured we travelled in comfort to all our away games and the fact that our away travels were always direct on chartered flights made sure we had very good recovery period between games. This also helped to manage the few days we usually have because of the congested and very small number of the FIFA international days,” Rohr said.

Nigeria won four games and drew two to finish top of the eminent pile with 14 points, six ahead of second –placed Zambia. In both drawn games away from home, they were pegged back by late penalties to the hosts in dying minutes, underlying the Super Eagles’ praiseworthy performance through out the campaign.

This, the Franco –German tactician believes, was down to paying attention to little details.

“From the time the draw was made for the group series of the qualifiers, we know that in a difficult group like the one we were in, the difference between success and failure could be down to little things that most people would take for granted, but I am happy that the NFF were very professional, passionate and committed to the cause. Their great planning and arrangements made the players to focus on the football only, so we got the best out of them.

“Now we cannot rest on our oars because there is a bigger challenge ahead of us. We have to prepare better and focus even more as we get set for the World Cup next year,” Rohr concluded

November 12, 2017
Argentina beat Russia in World Cup venue’s inaugural match

A late goal by Sergio Aguero lifted Argentina to a 1-0 win over World Cup hosts Russia in the inaugural match at Moscow’s newly-renovated Luzhniki stadium on Saturday.

Aguero’s header found the back of the net in the 86th minute, the striker beating veteran goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev after his initial shot was blocked by the Russian defence.

Led by team captain Lionel Messi, Argentina were dynamic from the start of the friendly but were unable to capitalise on their chances in the first half.

Argentina’s attack expertly combined to generate several scoring chances, with Messi finding Angel Di Maria in the box in the 36th minute.

But the Paris St Germain midfielder could not control the ball.

“Some of the things that we planned worked in this clash against this tough opponent,” Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli told reporters.

“We played in a courageous, bold manner. We created resistance to the pressure our opponent put us under. We need to build on this.”

Konstantin Rausch kept Russia alive in the opening minutes of the second half by heading the ball off the line after Messi had chipped Akinfeev.

Although they regrouped in the second half, Russia struggled to keep possession, heavily relying on Akinfeev to deny the Argentine attack.

Russia tested Argentina for the first time in the 61st minute with a short-range shot by Denis Glushakov tapped away by goalkeeper Sergio Romero before defender German Pezzella cleared the ball.

“We knew that it would be a tough match and that we wouldn’t have possession in some moments,” Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov said.

“I think our defence played correctly from a tactical point of view but we were unable to start quality attacks, especially in the first half, when we had the ball.”

Argentina’s friendly against Russia was the first test match held at Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium, the venue for the opening game and final of next year’s World Cup.

Originally opened in 1956, Luzhniki was one of the venues for the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

It hosted the 2013 world athletics championships before being closed for renovations to prepare it for the World Cup.

Argentina play Nigeria in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar, which will not host any World Cup matches next year, on Nov. 14.

Russia face Spain in a friendly in St Petersburg on the same day.

NAN

November 12, 2017
Super Eagles handlers should focus on players’ psyche – Omokaro

Ex-international Bright Omokaro has advised Super Eagles handlers to ensure that the players are psychologically prepared for their encounter with Argentina on Nov. 14 in Russia.

He gave the advice in an interview in Lagos on Monday.

Omokaro said that playing a friendly against great teams like the Argentines would boost the morale and improve the confidence of Super Eagles players.

While commending the team’s current form, Omokaro, who won silver for Nigeria at the 1988 Morocco African Cup of Nations competition, said the team needed lots of motivational advice for the World Cup matches in Russia in 2018.

“This is not just a friendly match; it will test our players’ tenacity. The match will give our players all the confidence they need before the World Cup kicks off.

‘’It will boost the morale of the players, if they perform well because of the status of the country involved. Psychologically it will prepare them towards what to expect in Russia.

“And it is also important for the handlers of the team to constantly charge these players mentally so that they will be prepared and understand that they are no second fiddle to the Argentines.

“This match will improve our profile if we ensure that we give our team all the needed support to hold their ground in Russia,’’ Omokaro said.

As part of the preparation for the 2018 World Cup, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had organised a friendly with Argentina in Russia.

Omokaro, a former 3SC of Ibadan defender, said that the choice of Russia as location for the friendly was appropriate.

“At least they get to stay a few days in Russia which will help them acclimatise at the World Cup proper; the NFF has really out-done itself, kudos to them.’’

NAN

November 6, 2017