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Tag: Taiwo

  • Let’s save Aremo Taiwo Allimi’s life

    Let’s save Aremo Taiwo Allimi’s life

    By Bayo Osiyemi

    Every season brings out the best in any area – from the farm and among humans.

    In the Second Republic, a star emerged from the firmament and became an instant celebrity in television broadcasting and all of Nigeria attested to his imagination and creativity then.

    Taiwo Allimi is his name; a young American-trained television presenter and programmer whose emergence introduced a breath of fresh air into the hitherto lack-lustre political presentations in the country. He came into national consciousness as a youth corps member in NTA headquarters in Lagos but it didn’t take long before he established himself as a television superstar waiting to be discovered.

    He introduced uncommon personality interviews for top politicians at the state and national levels, such that the long-forgotten deeds and misdeeds of such political actors were unearthed to either diminish or promote the electoral fortunes of such political gladiators.

    He was the first in TV personality interviews to dig into past actions and utterances of politicians, which were contradictory, with a view to exposing the variance in their standpoints on crucial national issues.

    For example, he would take on his interviewees, running for elective offices, and ask them to reconcile their past positions on which he would quote them verbatim, with their latest utterances which were apparently being made to hoodwink the public with a view to seeking votes. 

    In Taiwo Allimi’s words then: “ Mr or Chief or Doctor so so and so, in so so year, you said and I quote; how do you now reconcile these statements with your present positions on the same issues”

    Those well-researched questions destabilised some of these politicians from which they never recovered on live television and these went a long way to put them in bad light which ultimately affected their electoral fortunes at the polls.

    That stellar performance by a young, dynamic TV presenter of the time drew the ire of the victims of his probing and incisive interviews but it brought him out as a TV star that anyone who valued class and talent would treasure.

    Read Also; FG to give N25,000 grant to vulnerable pensioners

    Alhaji Lateef Jakande, who also went under Taiwo Allimi’s unsparing and rigorous interviews on television as a gubernatorial candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), went on to win convincingly the governorship of Lagos State; and one of his very first acts as governor was to decide in setting up a state-owned radio and television outfit as against the federal radio and national television. 

    He was quick to appreciate the professional wizardry in Taiwo Allimi and promptly decided to hire him to set up a television station for Lagos State. That decision met with stiff resistance from the federal government which deployed all the dirty tricks in the game to jam the then LTV8 Ikeja out of existence. But, as they say, there will always be a way where there’s a will. Jakande, a world class journalist himself, knew the power of TV broadcasting and was resolute in ensuring that LTV, as a baby did not suffer still-birth while Taiwo Allimi showed his brilliance and assembled a team of young and vibrant men and women like Jimi Odumosu to start off and immortalise the truly ubiquitous LTV, Ikeja.

    Taiwo Allimi became a gold fish that had no hiding place. He became much-sought after by governments, to assist their information dissemination process. 

    Ogun State, where he hailed from, snatched him from Lagos and made him its commissioner for information by a military regime. He was such a roaring success that he was retained by two or three successive regimes in Ogun State to remain to date the longest serving information commissioner in any state in the country.

    The federal government also could not be indifferent to his high professionalism as he was appointed some years ago as the director general of Voice of Nigeria in Abuja where he also served without blemish.

    But suddenly, he went out of the radar, until recently it was discovered that he was vegetating away in his Sagamu homestead due to an illness that is said to have made him bed-ridden due to lack of funds to get him quality medi-care.

    A star of Taiwo Allimi’s calibre must not be allowed to dim so soon, as his brain is still needed to re-jig the broadcast industry. This is a challenge that must be taken up by all and sundry, first by the governor of his home state, Prince Dapo Abiodun, in whose state Aremo Taiwo Allimi is a member of the Council of Elders; the Lagos State Government to which he has bequeathed a standard television station, the Voice of Nigeria where he also made impact and all his friends in the media, advertising industry and elsewhere.

    To make Taiwo Allimi bounce back to life is a task for everyone who wish to celebrate and preserve talent!

  • Man bags one month in prison

    An Ikeja Magistrate’s Court on Monday sentenced a driver, Seun Taiwo, to one month imprisonment for damaging two side mirrors of a jeep.

    Taiwo, 37, a resident of Ibuloko Street, Lanfenwa, Ogun, had pleaded guilty to a malicious damage charge and urged the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing him.

    The Magistrate, Mrs O.I Raji, who sentenced him to one month imprisonment, did not give an option of fine.

    “You are hereby sentenced to one month imprisonment with hard labour and without an option of fine,” Raji said.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. George Nwosu, had told the court that the convict committed the offence on March 7, at Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos.

    Nwosu said that Taiwo damaged two side mirrors of a Chirokee jeep belonging to Mr Johnson Adeyemo.

    “The accused maliciously destroyed the two side mirrors of the complainant’s car, valued at N28,500,” he said.

    Nwosu said that the convict damaged the complainant’s car side mirrors because one of his drivers beat him up.

    “The accused sneaked into one of the complainant’s buses to sleep; the complainant’s driver sighted him and insisted that the accused must not sleep in the bus.

    “An argument ensued and it generated into a fight; the complainant’s driver beat the accused up.

    “The accused went to report to the complainant that his driver beat him up because he wanted to sleep in his bus.

    “While the complainant was going home, the accused came to block his car and damaged the two side mirrors for refusing to deal with his driver that beat him,” he said.

    The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 337 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

     

  • BEWARANG DARES TAIWO: Name bribe-taking coaches

    BEWARANG DARES TAIWO: Name bribe-taking coaches

    The National President of The Nigeria Football Coaches’ Association, Bitrus Bewarang, has challenged Nigerians that have concrete evidence against any Nigerian national team coach that collected bribe before inviting players to the national camp to make such fact available now.

    Bewarang, who is the General Manager of Plateau United, said his association has decided to take those accusations very seriously, to, among other things, bring sanity to the profession in the country. Hear him: “These accusations are becoming many, and if nothing is done now, it would soon get out of hand. We are now challenging those making the accusations to come forward with their facts. They should make them available, and let us work on it. If not, such persons should keep their cool and should stop all the blackmail”.

    The former Super Eagles coach said he was pissed off by the recent accusation by a former national team defender, Taiye Taiwo, who said that he is not ready to bribe coaches to be invited to the national team.

    “Does it mean that Taiwo has been bribing his way to national teams all this while?”  Bewarang wondered. “If that is the case, he should be able to make available more facts on all these.”

    He continued: “And why is it now that he is not being invited that he is making such claims? This is a player who grew from the wings, and passed through many coaches, coming out to make such a statement. We are not taking it lightly, he should come up and substantiate his claims.”

    Bewarang did not fail to express his displeasure on how some of the national team coaches are appointed without any input from the Coaches’ Association, saying that although it is the duty of the NFF to employ whoever they want as the national team coach, they should request for the technical input of the Association before such appointments are made, because it is a “national assignment”, as such a Coach serves as the ambassador of the country whenever they go for international assignments.

     

  • Taiwo rejects Eagles’ bench role

    Taiwo rejects Eagles’ bench role

    Taye Taiwo tells KickOffNigeria.com’s Colin Udoh about his disappointment over his national team snub, but makes it clear he will not be benched by any of Stephen Keshi’s current crop. Despite enjoying a revival in Turkey, Taiwo has been locked out of Keshi’s Nigeria squad for nearly two years.

    FIRST off, you seem to have enjoyed a good season with Bursaspor. You’re happy there, obviously.

    Of course. But now we’ve finished the season and it seems they want to make some changes. Like the president, and so on. Maybe get some new players in, but we’ll see what’s going to happen in the new season. For me, it’s been really good. They are very nice people. I’m very happy here. My family is happy, and that’s the important thing.

    As long as my family is happy, I can stay here for as long as possible.

    We havent seen you score too many goals. Whats happening with that?

    We started well, and I scored a couple of goals and when they changed the manager, it became difficult. The one we had before gave me the opportunity to take a lot of freekicks and cornerkicks but all that changed and it’s all about the new tactics. But that’s the way it is and I don’t have to complain.

    Lets come to nigeria now. Are you disappointed that despite being so consistent for  Bursaspor, you’ve not been in the Nigeria team?

    I’m really disappointed because I’m a Nigerian player. But I can’t say I want to stop playing for the national team. Life is all about understanding. Maybe this period our coach doesn’t want me. But that is not a problem for me. There are people who have played there before who are not there anymore. If they call me, I will come.

    You played under the new coach but then you have not been invited. Did something happen?

    I don’t really know. But even in Europe when they bring a new coach, there are a lot of changes sometimes. Sometimes the new coach doesn’t have you in his plans. Everywhere, even in Europe, the coach has his own players that he wants. If the coach doesn’t believe in you, no matter how you train, you can’t do anything about it.

    So as far as you are concerned you had no issues. Are you surprised you haven’t been in the team since?

    Yes. I’m surprised. Because we never had any problems. And if there was any problem, at least they could have told me ‘okay Taye, this is the problem’.

    But have you tried to call the coach to find out why he doesn’t want you in the team?

    No. I don’t really know why. But as I always say to myself. Even my teammates ask me and I say I don’t know. If you play very well in your club you deserve to be in the national team. If you don’t play very well, you don’t deserve to go. Maybe the coach doesn’t want me in the team because he knows that if he calls me to come and play for Nigeria with his boys, I will never sit on the bench for his boys. So maybe that is why he decided he doesn’t want me to come. Because if I come, I will surely play. So he doesn’t want me to play because he knows that if he calls me, I will not come and sit on the bench for his players. It’s not going to be possible. I don’t have any problem with him but I was really really sad because I did not believe that I would not go to the World Cup with the way I’m playing for my club.

    But you’ve been to the World Cup before. Surely that must be some consolation?

    It’s a really great experience, for any player in the world. If they call you to come and play at the World Cup, you’ll be jumping around and thanking God because it is the greatest experience for a player. So yes, I thank God for that.

    But would you say the team has improved without some players like you?

    For me, it’s all about results. As the coach decided to pick new players and players from home and we won the Nations Cup, I don’t have any problem with that. Almighty God has already said this is the right time too for Nigeria to win it. It has helped some of the home players to sign for clubs in Europe and that’s good for them and for their families. So you can say the team has improved. But right now, we are going to the World Cup and we need experienced players because it is not the Nations Cup. All the countries will be bringing their best players. I’m not saying our coach should turn around and bring back all the old players, but he has already chosen his team and I wish them good luck. They should make Nigeria proud.

    After this World Cup, do you expect things to change and maybe you can return to the national team?

    I have already said I am not going to stop my national team career now. I don’t know what is going to happen after the World Cup. If they call me, I’ll come and play. If they don’t call me, I won’t bother myself. I don’t have any problem with Stephen Keshi, I don’t have any problem with NFF, I don’t have any problem with anybody. My life is very simple. But if they bring a new coach and they call me, I will come. If they don’t call me, I will still remain the way I am. The same Taye Taiwo.

    Lets look at Nigeria’s World Cup group now. You have experience playing against Argentina. How hard will it be for us?

    Argentina will be our most difficult opponent and we will have a problem with them. But the other teams, I don’t think we will have a problem with them. But it’s all about commitment. We don’t have to make any stupid mistakes, like what happened in South Africa last time. We had all the opportunity in our hands and we threw it away.

    The most important thing is the first game. We have to get three points there. If not, it is over.

    How far can we go?

    The most important thing is not to think how far we can go, but to play one game at a time. Every game we play is very important. If we play the first game, and get three points, then the boys will have confidence to go all out there in the second game and get what they want. But if we don’t win the first game, then there is pressure immediately and the second game becomes harder. So if we want to get three points, we have to work hard, be focused and play as a team. If we don’t play as a team we will never get three points.

    Talking about that last World Cup, and how we went out early, what lessons do you think this current team can learn from that?

    We played in South Africa but we didn’t play as a team. We didn’t like each other. We just played normally as individuals and when we had the opportunity to score, we couldn’t score all our opportunities.

    And then if you see the Europeans, they always have continuity, but here in Africa, we like to change the team all the time. If there is any problem in the team, they can solve it and let the team have continuity. But we like to change all the time. A new coach comes in, he brings new players. Another coach comes in, he brings more new players. European coaches don’t change like that unless by injury or you are not playing well. But in Africa we like to change everything. Change the coach, change the players. All the time. That’s our problem.

    You have played with Mikel from U-20 until now. Do you think this could be his World Cup for Nigeria?

    Mikel is not just a teammate, he is also a very good friend of mine, and I’m very happy for him. He is a very intelligent player. It’s very difficult for him at Chelsea, but he has to do what the coach tells him to do. Because if you don’t do that as a player, you will never get on the field. To me, Onazi playing with him in Nigeria is a good thing because Onazi is a very good player. And it gives Mikel the freedom to play his game. That’s why when he plays for Nigeria, he plays better than at Chelsea. I am very happy for him and I wish him all the best at the World Cup and I believe he will shine.

    What will you be doing during the World Cup? Will you watch?

    Of course I will watch the World Cup, but I will be on holiday, maybe in America and I will always try and watch the Nigerian game, cheer for them because I am still a Nigerian and I wish all of them goodluck and I hope they make us proud. But the most important thing is that they should have fun at the World Cup and fly our flag again as Super Eagles. Anything that happens to man in this life is what God has said is going to happen. What if I go to the World Cup and I get an injury? So I believe God has a reason and I thank God for everything that happens to me. Samir Nasri is not going to the World Cup, Tevez is not going to the World Cup. If God says it is not going to happen, you can’t do anything about it.

    You had your spell in England with QPR, would you consider a return?

    As a player you never know what is going to happen. Maybe in the summer after the World Cup, clubs can come for me, and anything can happen. But I am happy here and my family is happy so that is okay for me and we’ll see how it goes.

  • ‘Nigeria’s oldest professor, Taiwo, was self motivated’

    ‘Nigeria’s oldest professor, Taiwo, was self motivated’

    A commendation service was held yesterday for Nigeria’s oldest Professor, Cornelius Olaleye Taiwo, at All Saints Anglican Church in Yaba, Lagos. Taiwo died at 103.

    The service was part of activities lined up for Taiwo’s one week-long funeral ceremony, which started on Tuesday with a service of songs at his home in Ikeja, Lagos.

    The late Taiwo was born to the Olumota of Imota ruling house in Oru Ijebu, Ogun State.

    He was an industrious and self-motivated man, who dedicated his life to the service of God, his family and community.

    In his sermon, the Bishop of the Diocese of Ijebu North, Anglican Communion, Rev. Solomon Kupouu, described the late Taiwo as “a great man, who lived a great life”.

    He said: “He was a good man and he lived with a vision. Taiwo was not a lazy man; he was an academician, an administrator and lived an exemplary life.”

    Urging the congregation to live meaningful lives, the bishop said: “Move around the right set of people, desire to move to the next level, improve yourself, don’t live anyhow and do not sleep or wake up at any time. Live with a vision and you will make it.”

    The late Taiwo’s daughter, Mrs. Sowemimo Olayemi, said her father lived a holy life and was always ready to attend to everyone’s needs. She described him as “a lovely dad”.

    The deceased’s son, Dr. Bayo, said his dad lived an exemplary life and contributed immensely to growth of the church, academics, Ijebu land and those who came across him.

    “We are very proud of him and he is our role model,” he added.

    Mrs. Olufemi Taiwo, the deceased’s daughter-in-law, described him as God fearing and a devoted Christian, who took good care of his children.

    She said: “He was a good leader, a mathematician, lawyer, an educationist per excellence, an icon in the field of education and we will surely miss him.”

    The late Taiwo’s grand daughter, Titi Lewis, said he was “very involved” in her life.

    Mr. Lanre Ogunlesi, the deceased’s son-in-law, said he would miss the late Taiwo’s “love and care”, adding: “He touched many lives. He was a teacher, mentor and leader.”

  • I would have been a lawyer

    I would have been a lawyer

    TAIWO started his career with the Shooting Stars, 3SC, the darling team of Ibadan in the Oyo State capital, before moving to Europe where he stared for different clubs in the Netherlands and Austria. In the summer of 2008, he moved back home to rejoin his former teammate, Edith Agoye, at 3SC before teaming up again with Heidebloem in the Dutch third division.

    According to the former 3SC star who now lives in Ibadan after calling it quits with the senior national team in 2003, while still in top shape playing for MVV Maastricht, he developed a passion for caring for the disadvantaged, while growing up but his excessive love for the round leather game robbed him of this dream.

    “If not for football, I would have been a lawyer,” said Taiwo. “I would have schooled to the highest level and obtained a degree in law so l can stand and defend the oppressed and the less-privileged.

    “Since I was young, football did not allow me to do any other thing. Football was everything to me and it killed any other interests because l wanted to be the best,” he said, as he barred his mind on other matters. Excerpts

    Coaching after retirement

    Up till 2011, l was still playing professional football with a Division three club, Heidebloem Football Club in Holland, but I have been coming to Ibadan to spend some holidays. But l’m fully back to Ibadan now and because of my love for the game of football, which l am so passionate about, I have made up my mind to be a coach after quitting the game. That is what l’m working on now.

    Growing up

    I had a very hard time with my parents and most especially my father on the issue of playing football. You won’t believe that my father personally called a police man to arrest me and also detained me because of football. He had warned me severally not to play but I refused and he had to go to the extent of arresting me with the police for me to change my mind and stop playing football. He actually wanted me to go to school like every other children. But I was so passionate about football that I found it very difficult to stop and listen to his advice then. He actually made the arrest when he got the hint that a prominent club in Benin Republic, Natitingu FC, wanted me to join them. So, he had no option than to stop me from going with the arrest. I had already packed my bags and I was in the motor park to embark on the journey to Cotonou. Fumingly, the officer in charge of the station came to me and said, we can’t delay you or stop you from going to Benin Republic because players are making good money from the game. So, they released me and advised me to listen to my father. I then decided to still pursue the Cotonou ambition. The funny thing again is that when I finally joined the club and after I collected my first sign-on fee I decided to come back to Nigeria just to come and make peace with my parents. On reaching Nigeria, I and my parents were not on speaking terms for a week. But my parents were surprised that I was feeding myself without their assistance. I even bought a brand new black and white television with a new mattress for my room. They couldn’t stomach it any longer, so my mother came to me and urged me to go and beg my father and explain things to him, which I did. So, I begged him and told him about my salary and other entitlements in my new club and he was very happy with me and the matter died just like that after that. Unfortunately, my father is no more. He died in 1997 when I had already settled down in Holland, but my mother is still alive.

    With Super Eagles

    I had a good time in the national team of Nigeria and I will never forget in a hurry the Olympics qualifiers then in 1995 with Kanu Nwankwo, Austin Okocha and the rest of them. That time, Johannes Bonfrere was in charge of the team as the Technical Adviser. I could remember vividly the last time when we were going to play the last qualifier but first leg match against Kenya at the Onikan Stadium and the first leg there in Lagos ended scoreless draw (0-0). The Onikan fans were very mad with us and they did not allow us to come out of the stadium because they laid siege to us so as to deal with us when we come out. They were later dispersed by the police. But after preparing very well for the second leg, we bounced back away to Kenya in Mombasa and won the match 3-0. It was a match I will cherish for a long time because I scored a goal while Okocha scored the other two goals in the match. It was the match that booked the Olympics ticket for Nigeria. After this match, my profile soared and Coach Shuaibu Amodu invited me for the Gold Cup in U.S.A. Interestingly, my first touch in the tournament produced the first goal for Nigeria and it was a memorable one for me. The last time I played for the Nigerian team was in 2003 in an international friendly game with a selected side in Spain, a game we lost 3-0. We had many fresh players that played the match that day and some of them were playing for the Eagles for the very first time. So we did not prepare very well for the match.

    I was still playing very well and like I told you I am still playing in Holland despite playing for a third division side. But I still hope to team up with a top division team next season. The reason for being shut out of the national team is not farfetched; new technical crew, new players, and new techniques. Frequent changing of Super Eagles coaches does not allow room for consistency in our national team. The new coach failed to invite me and that was all.

    Assessment of Nigerian players in the Dutch league

    There are a few of them in the top league. At a point, VVV Venlo had three Nigerian players that were doing well: Alex Nkume a right back (defender), Michael Uchebo, a tall and gangling striker, and Ahmed Musa. Musa had a good time at VVV Venlo before moving on. The Dutch league is based on technique and not power or physique and you know that Nigeria’s style is hinged and based on power and physical abilities. It was here that Musa learnt the ropes, and after watching a couple of his games I knew he would definitely become a great star and also help the Nigerian senior team in years to come. I am a striker of many years and I know what I am saying. I know when I see a good player.

  • Taiwo scores first Turkish league goal

    Taiwo scores first Turkish league goal

    • Eneramo too

    Nigeria defender Taye Taiwo scored his first goal in the Turkish league on Saturday, but still ended on the losing side.

    Taye Taiwo’s Bursaspor lost 2-1 at Sivasspor after the former AC Milan defender struck in the 77th minute to take the game to 1-1.

    Bursaspor are 11th on the league table with 14 points from 11 games.

    Also on target in Turkey was compatriot Michael Eneramo.

    Eneramo, who joined Besiktas in the summer, had scored in a friendly but opened his goals’ account in the league on Saturday when they beat host Kayserispor 3-0.

    The former Esperance of Tunisia captain hit target in the added time of the game to help his team win 3-0 after he went in as a substitute for Hugo Almedia in the 72nd minute.

    Besiktas are now fourth on the table with 21 points from 11 matches.

  • Taiwo eyes Eagles return

    Taiwo eyes Eagles return

    • Targets Turkis

    Bursaspor ace Taye Taiwo has told MTNFootball.com his club will challenge Galatasaray, Besiktas and Fenerbahce for the Turkish championship.

    He described his team’s ouster from the Europa League as disappointing, but said he believes they will get a consolation with a solid performance in the league. He also restated his wish to return to the Eagles.

    Congratulations on your switch to Bursaspor in Turkey, Taye.

    Thank you.

    How do you feel about this move?

    I feel great to join a club like Bursaspor. It is a very good club and I am glad to be part of the team.

    You have a new coach in your team in the person of Christoph Duam, what do you have to say about the experienced German coach?

    As a player my duty is to play under any coach who is in charge of my team. Play according to his instructions and give him the maximum support for us to achieve great things. He has been employed so I am ready to give my best under him and the team.

    You were well received by the Bursaspor fans.

    It was a wonderful reception for me, the fans and supporters of Bursaspor are wonderful. They support the team massively. They make me remember my days at Olympique Marseille, they make the atmosphere so great for us to do well. They have been so wonderful.

    Bursaspor had high hopes of making it to the next round of the UEFA Europa League, but you lost out right in front of the home fans. How disappointed were you by this?

    It was a bad feeling. We were thinking of making it to the next round of the competition, but it was not to b. It was so shameful that we lost in front of our appreciative fans. But we have to take it like that, that is football, at times we get what we don’t want.

    After losing out in the Europa League, what are your next targets with your team?

    The league has started this past week, so we are focused on doing well there. Who says we can’t win the league and return to Europe next season? There is still the cup to play for. I know it won’t be an easy task but we have to do our best to achieve for ourselves, the team and the fans.

    Talking about winning the league, do you think Bursaspor can really compete with the likes of Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas?

    It won’t be easy as I said, they have big guys and many famous players, but we are not lacking in quality to challenge them for the title.

    You have been out of Eagles for a while, are you looking forward to a recall?

    I am a Nigerian and always give my best to Nigeria when I am called up. I will definitely give my best again for the Eagles when the chance comes. But first, I will keep doing my best at club level.

    Why do you think a lot of players are trooping into Turkey?

    It is a nice place to be and the league here is of a very high standard. The clubs are truly professional and so they attract big players worldwide. I am sure it can only get better and tougher this season.

    h League

  • Taiwo on target in Bursaspor’s 2-2 draw

    Taiwo on target in Bursaspor’s 2-2 draw

    TAYE Taiwo could not have wished for a better start to his career in Turkey as he helped Bursaspor salvage a 2-2 draw away to Vojvodina in the third qualifying round for the Europa League on Thursday.

    The Super Eagles ace scored in the 90th minute to give the Turkish club a good result before the return leg next week.

    The left-back transferred to Bursaspor last month to resurrect a career that has fallen on hard times since he transferred to AC Milan from Marseille two seasons ago.

    He played on loan at Queens Park Rangers and then Dynamo Kiev in Ukraine before signing a four-year deal with Bursaspor last month.

    In another match, Kehinde Fatai scored for Romanian side, Astra Giurgui as they beat Trencin of Slovakia 3-1 away. The 23-year-old scored the third goal in the 58th minute and was replaced in the 78th minute by Mirko Ivanovski.

    Also in the Europa League on Thursday, Imoh Ezekiel helped Standard Liege to a 2-1 away win over Xanthi of Greece. Imoh started the game and was replaced in the 62nd by Michy Batshuayi.

  • Taiwo: Why I snubed Cardiff for Bursaspor

    Taiwo: Why I snubed Cardiff for Bursaspor

    NIGERIAN defender Taye Taiwo has declared that he also had interest from Cardiff City after finalising a move to Bursaspor from AC Milan.

    The 28-year-old decided to move on this summer after struggling to establish himself in the Milan side following his switch from Marseille two years ago.

    He spent time on loan with Queens Park Rangers in early 2012 and was at Dynamo Kiev last season, but he has now sealed a permanent transfer to Turkish club Bursaspor on a three-year deal.

    Taiwo admits that he did have other options, including the chance to return to the Premier League with newly-promoted Cardiff, but he has no regrets about his decision.

    He said: “I am delighted. I wanted to play in the Turkish league with a good team and I made a good choice.

    “Cardiff contacted my agent but I decided to come here.”