The Nation Newspaper

Tag: work harder

  • We need to work harder, says Mikel Obi

    Captain of the Nigeria National Team, Mikel Obi has stated that they have stepped up their preparations for their World Cup opener against Croatia on Saturday evening under the guidance of Gernot Rohr.

    According to the former Chelsea star, he is satisfied with the training facilities at the Super Eagles base camp in Yessentuki.

    ”We need to continue to work hard, we need to continue to train and do exactly what we want and what the coach asks for us,” Mikel told reporters, including TASS.

    ”I think it’s (the base camp) good, the field is very good, the fans and the children who came to support us are amazing.

    ”It was nice that after the training we had the opportunity to give some autographs to the guys. We are in a very good place, I believe.”

    Rohr said that the players are ready physically and he will use the next three days to work on tactics and technique.

    Nigeria will also face Iceland (June 22, Volgograd) and Argentina (June 26, St. Petersburg) in Group D of the World Cup.

  • Osun 2018: Aregbesola, APC must work harder for victory

    Osun 2018: Aregbesola, APC must work harder for victory

    The All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Osun State has been urged to close ranks and work harder to ensure the victory of the party in the next gubernatorial election in the state. In a statement issued in Osogbo at the weekend, a socio-political group, Liberty Forum, said the outcome of the next election in the state will largely be determined by the influence of the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

    President of the forum, Edward Olusola Ajayi, who signed the release, said the Aregbesola factor will play the most significant role in determining who wins the 2018 gubernatorial election in the state. The group said the APC is however ahead of the other political parties in the state in terms of capacity to win the next gubernatorial election.

    “From what we have seen, APC is better positioned to win the 2018 election in Osun. It is also clear that the incumbent governor has been a rallying point for the revolutionary changes that have taken place in Osun in the face of scarce resources. The Governor’s high level of fiscal discipline, his moral attributes and his sincerity of purpose puts him ahead as the iconic character whose charm will largely influence the outcome of the gubernatorial election,” the statement read in part.

    According to the group, though some categories of workers have not been paid their salary, but the “openness and transparency of the governor” strengthens the confidence of the workers and masses in him. “Osun has witnessed tremendous experiences that are uncommon. The state has been badly affected by poor allocation, but the governor has brought a lot of wisdom in managing the lean resources.

    He has denied himself personal benefits, he earns no salary, his aides have been receiving only 50 percent of their salaries while the workers on level 07 downwards are paid as at when due. Nigeria in recession was signified by the personal lifestyle of the governor and his aides. They are making sacrifices that people can see,” the group stated.

  • Pogba: I am ready to work harder

    Pogba: I am ready to work harder

    Manchester United confirmed it has broken the world transfer record to re-sign Pogba for a fee of £89million.

    United released the first part of Pogba’s interview with in-house channel MUTV. In it Paul Pogba talks about his former days at Old Trafford, who he spoke to about returning and his message for the fans…

    What thoughts come into your head when you think back to the Under 18s here, winning the Youth Cup and breaking into the first team?

    When I first came, I remember when I was at school at the academy. They used to come and drop us. I had this picture of my training. I saw Warren Joyce, I always remember the training I had with him, the changing room, the canteen where we eat, just the same and I was thinking about it before. It’s like a picture, I had my picture… it’s just something I cannot explain, it’s crazy. I just feel happy. There’s no words, to be honest, there’s no words. Just happiness. And I just can’t wait to start playing with my new team. It doesn’t look like it’s my new team, it’s just like I left this team and now I’ve come back. It’s just a great feeling to be honest.

    We’ve missed you here on MUTV – we enjoyed having you here the first time. How did your experiences of being on MUTV regularly set up you?

    I started on MUTV. My first interview was here at United. So now I come back and feel like I’m doing my old interview – I’m just taller, bigger, older. And I’m just enjoying it.

    You’re signing for a very successful manager with a big personality, so how important was he in your decision to come here?

     First of all, I spoke with a lot of players [who played under him] when he was at Madrid – I spoke with [Alvaro] Morata, [Raphael] Varane – and they all told me he’s the coach for me; he will make me improve a lot and make me work harder. I feel this. I spoke with him a few times and he gave me energy, he gave me positivity. So I was thinking ‘why not?’ I’m sure he can make me improve and make me a better player and a better person.

     It’s been a big journey for you over the last six or seven years but you’re still very young in a footballing sense, so what do you feel you can you achieve in your career?

     

    First of all, win the league for the first time with United, because I hadn’t won the league when I left. The Champions League, of course, and personally, one of my dreams is to win the Ballon d’Or. That will come with time hopefully but first the Premier League – I’ve never done it.

    This move means you’re reunited with people like Jesse Lingard, who you played with in the FA Youth Cup-winning team. Have you kept in touch with those guys?

    Always we kept talking – I’ve just kept in touch with him. I’m very happy for him and what he’s doing, very proud of him, because he just keeps it up. I know he went on loan, he came back, he went on loan again, but it was just Jesse Lingard scoring goals, as always. So I’m very happy for him. I see Sam Johnstone too, and Will Keane and some other players who went away. We just keep in touch and I’m very happy for them.

    The fans are excited to have you here, so do you have a message for them?

    I’m back and I can’t wait to make them happy, to show them that I’m still Paul Pogba but in a different way, and that I came here not to joke but to make them happy and feel like we can win the league. That’s why I came here.

  • Title race: It’s time for us to work harder-Thomas

    Title race: It’s time for us to work harder-Thomas

    Enyimba goalkeeper Femi Thomas told AfricanFootball.com that this is the time for them to work harder to remain on top till the end of the season.

    “There are still lots of games to play before season’s end, we are not being carried away as leaders,” he said.

    “We will keep working hard because this is the time to work harder to maintain leadership on the table till end because it is not an easy task, but we are hoping to stay top to be the champions.”

    Wikki Tourists striker Victor Yakubu told AfricanFootball.com that the title race is still open and he will favour his team to swing it.

    “The league is not won and lost yet, we are still in contention and believe we can win it, not an easy task but we will do our best to win it” the former JUTH FC forward told AfricanFootball.com

    “We are targeting points away in the remaining fixtures as we want to take care of our home games too.”