The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Wembley

  • Conte set for £38M contract extension at Chelsea

    Conte set for £38M contract extension at Chelsea

    Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is set to become the highest paid coach in the clubs history by signing a new contract worth £9.6M-a-season. As he prepares to lead the Premier League champions out at Wembley for this afternoon’s FA Cup Final against Arsenal, The Guardian writes that the Italian tactician will pen a two-year extension to his current agreement which will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2021.

    Conte has the chance to become only the second manager to win the double in his first season in charge at a club, following Kenny Dalglish, who achieved the same feat in 1986 at Liverpool. Chelsea could also become just the second team in English football to claim the double twice to join Manchester United.

    Despite rumours of a possible move back to Italy to join Inter, Conte explained on Friday that he intended to move his family to London this summer as that he sees his future in the Premier League.

  • Chelsea axe victory parade after Manchester bomb attack

    Chelsea axe victory parade after Manchester bomb attack

    Chelsea have cancelled a victory parade scheduled for Sunday in London in the light of Monday’s bomb attack in Manchester.

    Antonio Conte’s side won the English Premier League title last Sunday and could claim the double by winning Saturday’s English FA Cup final match at Wembley.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that thousands of fans were expected to turn out for the parade.

    “In light of these tragic events, we feel it is inappropriate to go ahead with the victory parade in London on Sunday,” the club said in a statement.

    “Given the heightened security threat announced by the (British) government, and recognising that this is a developing situation, we have given this careful consideration,” it said.

    “We strongly believe, in the interests of everyone, this is the correct course of action. We are sure our fans will understand this decision.’’

    The club said black armbands would be worn by the players in Saturday’s final against Arsenal and that a donation would be made to a fund supporting the victims.

    Arsenal later also announced that they were cancelling a planned screening of the final match, to have been staged at their Emirates Stadium.

    The club also said there would be no victory parade were they to beat Chelsea.

    “As always, the safety of our supporters and staff is paramount and we are in close contact with security services,” chief executive Ivan Gazidis said.

    “After taking their advice we have reluctantly taken the decision to cancel the screening and potential parade. We are sorry for any disappointment this causes but it is in everyone’s best interests.’’

    An Islamist suicide bomber blew himself up and killed 22 people at a packed pop concert at Manchester Arena on Monday.

    On Tuesday Prime Minister Theresa May’s government announced that the security threat level had been raised to “critical” as the bomber, Salman Abedi, had probably not acted alone.

  • Fury: I would run rings around Joshua

    Fury: I would run rings around Joshua

     

    Tyson Fury claims Anthony Joshua will present him with his “easiest fight” after saying Eddie Hearn had already booked Wembley Stadium for such a bout.

    The 28-year-old is targeting a comeback fight on July 8, provided he overturns a suspended drugs ban at a UK Anti-Doping [UKAD] hearing which opened on Monday.

    Anthony Joshua’s thrilling 11th-round win over Wladimir Klitschko has boosted the profile of boxing in the UK and two British world champions hope to benefit from it this month.

    Fury has not fought since beating Wladimir Klitschko for the world heavyweight titles in November 2015, due to a combination of drug issues and mental health concerns.

    But in the wake of Joshua’s stunning 11th-round knockout win over Klitschko at Wembley last month, Fury has returned to training and is intent on securing an all-British super-fight with the new champion. He revealed that Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has pencilled in a fight in April 2018.

    Fury told the Daily Telegraph: “Eddie Hearn has already booked Wembley Stadium for next April.

    “There isn’t another stadium where it should take place. I would fight Joshua in October, but I believe Klitschko will take the rematch.”

    Fury added to the BBC that he would “box rings” around Joshua.

    “I always said Wladimir would be my easiest fight, now I’m changing the goal posts,” he said. “AJ will be my easiest fight.

    “I always knew what he was. I’ll tell you what he is. He’s a big man with a puncher’s chance. That’s it. He’s got no footwork, no speed and no stamina neither. I will box rings round him.”

    Fury is now keen to focus on the future, but was deeply affected by suggestions he is a drug cheat and denies ever taking any performance-enhancing substance.

    He vacated the WBA and WBO titles he held in October after admitting using cocaine to cope with depression, after which the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) suspended his boxing licence.

    Tyson Fury hopes to fight Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium. Sascha Steinbach/Bongarts/Getty Images

    That development came after an ankle injury had forced the postponement of his proposed rematch with Klitschko, and after Fury and his younger cousin Hughie were charged by UKAD with “presence of a prohibited substance”.

    It is understood the Fury camp are confident about the outcome for both Tyson and Hughie.

    The heavyweight division now boasts four unbeaten champions with Fury, Joshua, New Zealand’s Joseph Parker and Deontay Wilder.

  • Ibrah: My sons convinced me to join Man U

    Ibrah: My sons convinced me to join Man U

     

     

     

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed he was convinced to join Manchester United by his two children and is relishing proving himself when many doubted he would succeed in English football.

    The talismanic United striker scored twice, including the late winner, against Southampton in the EFL Cup final at Wembley to claim the 32nd trophy of his career and Jose Mourinho’s first in Manchester.

    Ibrahimovic is well aware his ability to make it in England has been constantly questioned by his critics throughout his career, even though he has won titles in Spain, Italy, France and Holland, in part down to his repeatedly unimpressive displays against English opposition in Europe.

    After lifting the League Cup on Sunday he is basking in proving his doubters wrong. He said: ‘It is special, not about age, I was not worried about age because I know what I am able to do.

    ‘It is because I am here in England. After all these years [people said] “he didn’t come and show himself here” but I came. And I came when people thought it was impossible for me to do what I am able to do. It feels good. I am enjoying it.’

    But Ibrahimovic is unlikely even to be at United if it was not for Mourinho and the persistence of his two boys, Maximilian, 10, and Vincent, eight. The Swede was planning to move elsewhere until Mourinho called him in the summer, when he was out of contract after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, and his children persuaded him to choose Old Trafford.

    ‘My mind was not here,’ he admitted. ‘Then my kids started to bump my head and Jose called, then I am here. In your career you have moments. I did not come to England before because it was not the moment. I came when I thought it was the moment and the moment was there.

    ‘If we speak about the coach, England, the Premier League, the club has to thank him because he called me and asked me to come here, otherwise I would not have been here. Even my two kids wanted to see me play at United.

  • HEINEKEN sponsors five Nigerians to UEFA Champions final

    HEINEKEN sponsors five Nigerians to UEFA Champions final

    As the much anticipated UEFA Champions League Final holds on May 25, HEINEKEN, will sponsor five Nigerians to the UCL Final in Wembley, London

    Those to be sponsored are Diana Nwajiaku-Smart, Isaac Onochie Ijeh, Mayowa Opeyemi George, Franklin Chukwu Ijeh and Felix Amobichukwu Nwafor .

    Through their inventiveness, ingenuity and resourcefulness these five Nigerians were able to win the HEINEKEN RACE TO THE FINAL CHALLENGE and an all-expense paid trip to watch the Final live at the Wembley stadium in London. The lucky winners proved to be exceptionally intelligent using their intellectual as well as the physical ability to outsmart 300 other participants in the HEINEKEN RACE TO THE FINAL CHALLENGE.

    Saturday the 13th of April, began with 300+ HEINEKEN fans and UCL Final hopefuls gathering at the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu for the RACE TO THE FINAL CHALLENGE. Contestants were expected to cleverly solve 4 riddles to decode 4 ‘secret’ locations and race against the clock to visit all locations and complete the journey, with only the first five contestants to arrive at the Heineken Champions Planet winning the tickets to Wembley.

    Through the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, contestants received a new riddle every time they clocked-in at a location. With the RFID technology, contestants’ clues were posted on their Facebook walls for their friends to help them when they were stuck. What started out as a keen competition with every man for himself turned out be a team effort with strangers working together as friends to solve riddles in order to progress in the race. The riddles led contestants to strategic locations around Lagos: Golden Tulip Hotel, Festac, Rhapsody’s, Ikeja City Mall, Sailor’s Lounge, Lekki and finally the Heineken Champions Planet, Victoria Island where the winners were celebrated.

    The RACE TO THE FINAL CHALLENGE was tied to the recently unveiled HEINEKEN® UCL campaign called ‘Road to the Final’ with the launch of a television commercial titled “The Final”. In the commercial you get to see how, with imagination and resourcefulness, one man was able to race against the clock to witness club football’s most prestigious event – the Final itself live. He had to overcome many hurdles on his way from South America to London in just 24 hours. He proves to be a true Man of the World. And he got inspired by the inventiveness displayed by the great players in the UCL. The journey to the Final is filled with legendary adventures and stories. How he gets to the Final is as much fun as being at the Final.

    “Taking a cue from the TV commercial, we created obstacles for contestants in the form of riddles and asked them to be inventive in solving the riddles then hit the road to the next destination where only the first five that arrive at the Heineken Champions Planet automatically win the 5 tickets to Wembley. The race should be great fun and an adventure in itself” said Jacqueline Van Faassen, Senior brand Manager, HEINEKEN

    The mechanics of the challenge was designed not only to choose winners, but to bring out the real “Man of the World” in every participant in relation to the premium brand. It was also to demonstrate that Nigerians can display legendary acts through inventiveness and imagination by bringing out the can-do spirit in them and sportsmanship. Compared to a transparent draw in previous years, this year’s selection put every consumer’s destiny in their own hands.

    The “Road to the Final” brings together Nigeria’s best in sports reporting like Colin Udoh, Charles Anazodo, Timi Okomi and Biola Kazeem, and legendary ex-internationals like Jay Jay Okocha, Daniel Amokachi and Peter Rufai amongst others who have visited the Heineken Champions Planet at different stages of the competition.

    On the Road to the Final, HEINEKEN encourages fans to watch ‘The Final” TV advert on Heineken.com and to engage with the brand through a series of unique activities. Modern trade stores will sell special edition Heineken UEFA Champions League cans and special edition UEFA Champions League Magnum packs. In April and May, promotions will be running to offer a gift with purchase of the special UCL packs. In addition, HEINEKEN has adopted 75 UCL viewing bars around the country where promotions are being held and consumers can win spectacular UCL prizes including an invitation to the Heineken Champions Planet in Lagos.

    As the ‘Road to The Final’ reaches its climax, HEINEKEN will equally invite fans to the semi-final and the final VIP viewing events that will host over 250 fans from across Nigeria every match night to experience a premium football viewing experience at the Heineken Champions Planet, Victoria Island, Lagos. For a chance to see the final in a uniquely HEINEKEN way at the Heineken Champions Planet, consumers sign up on-line via a Heineken quiz on Facebook or log on to Heineken.com.

    One of the winners Diana Nwajiaku- Smart, commended HEINEKEN for the opportunity not just to participate in the RACE TO THE FINAL to win a ticket to the Wembley final, but also encouraging the true spirit of sportsmanship, respect and friendship. “The prize is beyond a ticket to the final, it also includes the opportunity to meet Heineken and UCL fans from around the world, take a tour of London and attend super premium parties organized by HEINEKEN, and of course the UEFA Champions League Final match being the highlight of the trip”.

  • Which ‘Road to the Final’ Would You Take?

    Which ‘Road to the Final’ Would You Take?

    Heineken® invites football fans to use their imagination in a race to get a seat at the UEFA Champions League Final in Wembley

    Lagos, 2nd of April, 2013 – As some of the best football teams in the world battle it out in the Quarter-Finals of the UEFA Champions League, Heineken® has unveiled the latest element of its ‘Road to the Final’ campaign with the launch of a new ad campaign. The ad demonstrates how, with imagination and resourcefulness, one man is able to witness club football’s most prestigious event – the Final itself.

    Premiering today in more than 170 countries, the ad is the latest element of the brand’s global integrated ‘Road to The Final’ campaign as it celebrates its seventh consecutive year sponsoring the UEFA Champions League.

    The ad features one lucky fan, who receives a ticket to the UEFA Champions League Final. The only problem is that he is on the other side of the world and faces a race against the clock to get to the match. Through a combination of resourcefulness, imagination and inventiveness he manages to overcome every obstacle put in his way – to be rewarded with the ultimate football experience – a pitch side seat at Wembley, arriving just before kick-off.

    In line with the new campaign, Heineken® will be rewarding Nigerian fans for displaying inspiring and imaginative behaviour by offering tickets to the UEFA Champions League Final in Wembley, London. Heineken® invites open minded Nigerian UCL fans to take part in a race to win 5 tickets to UEFA Champions League Final in Wembley, London on an all-expense paid trip. 350 fans will be invited for this once in a lifetime race from the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos on the 13th of April, 2013, where only the first five contestants to complete the race will win the tickets to the Final. On their journey they need to solve riddles to overcome obstacles and complete the race. Entries for the race start on the 3rd of April and close on the 10th of April. To register consumers need to go to the Heineken website, www.Heineken.com or on facebook at www.facebook.com/Heineken.

    Throughout the ‘Road to the Final’ campaign, Heineken® is encouraging fans to engage with the brand through a series of unique activities from on shelf in modern stores to in-bar and social media, offering incredible once-in-a-lifetime prizes.

    The brand’s Facebook fans can play a pinball game featuring elements of the advert. Players can compete against each other – and Heineken ambassadors including Clarence Seedorf – to earn bragging rights and UEFA Champions League prizes. For the Semi-Finals, eager fans will have the chance to engage with Seedorf through Twitter – with the most resourceful receiving prizes for their imaginative responses to Heineken’s task.

    As the ‘Road to The Final’ campaign reaches its climax, Heineken® will once again invite fans to the Final VIP viewing event will host over 250 fans from across Nigeria to experience a premium football viewing experience at the Heineken Champions Planet , Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Jacqueline Van Faassen, Heineken Senior Brand Manager, commented on today’s announcement: “We are delighted to launch the next stage of the ‘The Road to The Final’ campaign with this new TVC. Our fans are intelligent, quick witted and worldly people so we’ve worked hard to craft a campaign that they will enjoy being part of.

    For this we are truly excited to organise the race to the final for the first time so we can reward the biggest Heineken® fans in Nigeria with an all-expense paid trip to the UEFA Champions League Final in Wembley, London.

    We want consumers to watch the advert on youtube.com/Heineken, engage with the brand by playing the digital game, Tweet Clarence Seedorf and come to Heineken® events. If they do, they might even get the chance to see the Final in a uniquely Heineken® way whether it’s in Wembley via the race to the final event or at the Heineken Champions Planet, Lagos via Heineken quiz and in-bar.”

    This week , J.J Okocha will be visiting the Heineken Champions Planet to interact with consumers during the match to make the viewing experience more exciting.The fun and excitement of this UCL season is not limited to the Heineken Champions Planet because video episodes of visitors experience will be broadcast across the nation on major TV stations. Live reports from the Heineken Champions Planet are also available on Nigeria Info Live radio commentaries and twitter at Heineken_NG. Heineken consumers in Nigeria can be part of the exclusive experience by visiting any selected Heineken world class bars or taking part in the quizzes on Heineken face book page.

    http://bit.ly/HNK_UCL2013_Final