Monday, March 31, 2008

Portsmouth:Muntari wept as armed robbery attacked dad

Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari has made a quick dash home to Ghana from England after his dad fell victim of a violent armed robbery attack.
Alhaji Sulley Muniru was on his way back from a wedding in Nigeria when he was attacked in Ibadan that left him with a broken arm and cuts to his head last week.
Portsmouth coach Harry Redknapp released the midfielder to be with his dad after yobs branding AK47s and baseball bats stole cash, jewellery and mobile phones worth $30 000 in a terrifying car raid.
Muntari wept on arrival in Accra where his father was recovering and Redknapp has called to offer his support.
Alhaji Sulley Muniru told press “Blood was flowing from my head like water and I thought I was going to die.
“I am surprised it has taken me so soon to recover because of the amount of blood I lost.
“My sons decided to tell Sulley after the Ghana friendly on Wednesday and he was so shaken that he flew home the very next day. He wept when he saw me.
“His coach has shown great concern. He’s also called to ask how I am getting on.
“I want to thank Mr Redknapp because he has shown me that he doesn’t only care about football, but also about family.
“My son is worried robbers will target me because they think I have money through Sulley.”
Alhaji Muniru previously coached Nigerian side Kano Pillars in Northern Nigerian where Muntari was born.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Everton :Yobo Absence Wont Cause Blow-David Moyes

Everton coach, David Moyes has declared that he is ready to put behind him a rash of injuries that has hit the club, with Joseph Yobo among the lads down and in doubt for the Merseyside derby against Liverpool.
The upcoming game is a crunch fixture at Anfield, but Moyes is of a belief that even the absence of Yobo would not hamper his quest for a finish in the Premier League top four bracket at the end of this season.
Rather than get worried about the impending absence of Yobo, Moyes declared that he is taking the situation in his stride and aims to line out best of The Toffees available on the evening.
"We know we still have a good chance of getting fourth place but we have always tried to say we will take the games as they come. We haven't really talked too much about fourth place,” Moyes declared.

Beijing :Under-23 national squad booked their place in Olympic

Nigeria’s Under-23 national squad, the Dream Team IV yesterday booked their passage to the soccer event of Olympic in Beijing, China with a 3-0 victory over Amagluglug of South Africa at the Abuja National Stadium.
Taye Taiwo, Olympique Marseille of France left-wing-back opened the flood gate of goals late in the second half, after converting with a header to put Samson Siasia’s boys one-up against the visitors from the south of the continent.
The South Africans would cave in midway through the second half, conceding an own goal for Nigeria’s second on the evening before Everton of England’s youngster, Victor Anichebe made the best of his international debut for Nigeria with the day’s third goal.
Anichebe ensured he put behind him his repeated rejection by erstwhile Super Eagles coach, Berti Vogts, while also defying a recent hip injury and braving the odds of the harsh weather in Abuja to make a 76th minute entry in place of Solomon Okoronkwo and scored his debut-day goal in the 89th minute of play.
The result took Dream Team above Ghana’s Black Meteors, who had been atop the table going into the game, but paid the prize of playing a goalless draw with Nigeria when both rivals clashed late last year in Accra.
The Olympic soccer team coach, Samson Siasia yesterday shed tears of joy immediately after his players defeated the South Africa’s Amaglug-glug 3-0 to pick the group ticket to Beijing Olympics. He said the boys were good and loyal.
“These boys did not disappoint me. From the moment I got in touch with them about this match in their respective base, they all assured me they would come and they did. They did not only come, they demonstrated that they are reliable with the way they came out in full force to beat the South Africans for the ticket to Beijing Olympics.
“So, we should be preparing to really contest the Olympic Games’ medal with other soccer greats that would be in attendance. The way these boys demonstrated tonight, they are capable of lifting the soccer medal at the games. We need adequate preparation to realise our dream”, Samson Siasia said in a chat last night.
He expressed that the Minister’s 4,000 US dollars promise notwithstanding, “The boys have promised to redeem the country’s image by beating South Africa, and they did just that. So, whatever I can I will do for them for their efforts”, he added.

Chelsea:Andersen Bagged a Jail Term Over Transfer Saga

Morgan Andersen, former director of Norwegian club Lyn Oslo, has been handed a one-year suspended jail sentence by an Oslo court.
He was found guilty of forging contracts relating to Chelsea and Nigeria player John Mikel Obi in 2005.
The court said the falsified documents linking Lyn and Mikel effectively enabled the club to gain a slice of the player's transfer fee.
Andersen told the court he would lodge an appeal against Wednesday's sentence.
Mikel went on to become embroiled in a transfer row between English Premier League clubs Manchester United and Chelsea.
"The court is in no doubt the contracts were amended and Andersen knew this," judge Torjus Gard said in his judgement.
Mikel was under 18 when he joined Lyn and was therefore given an amateur contract.
After the midfielder turned 18, the Norwegian soccer authorities were presented with a professional contract Mikel has denied signing.
The documents with Mikel's signature on were cut out from the amateur contract, the judge said.
Mikel joined Chelsea in June 2006 after suddenly announcing he would not go to Manchester United from Lyn as expected.
Mikel said he had been put under pressure to sign for United.
Chelsea said they had reached a financial settlement with United and Lyn under which they would pay the Old Trafford club $24m and Lyn $8m.
Andersen is now on leave from his job as director of another Norwegian top flight club, Fredrikstad.
His lawyer Cato Schioetz told Norwegian broadcaster NRK he would probably not be able to return to that position after the court ruling.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Tragedy 3SC former club boss decleared dead

Former Shooting Stars Football Club chairman Ademola Oyadeyi was shot dead in Ibadan on Friday by gunmen suspected to be armed robbers.
The 64-year-old Oyadeyi, a passionate supporter of the club for decades, was attacked at his fuel station around 8pm as he was closing for the day.
According to 3SC Media Officer, Jubril Arowolo, “Chief Oyadeji was sadly killed by people suspected to be armed robbers who came for the money made that day at his newly-built Demoya Petrol Station which is located alongside his hotel at Alengongo, Akobo, Ibadan.
“We are sad about this unfortunate incident and Shooting Stars Football Club is shocked by this news. We are also using this opportunity to pray that God should grant his family and 3SC family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” Arowolo told KickOffNigeria.com in Ibadan on Sunday.
Oyadeyi, who owns the popular Metro Hotel in Ibadan, where he used to accommodate 3SC players free of charge, was appointed club chairman in December 2006 and served until May 29, 2007.
He later returned to his hotel business when his board was not retained by Governor Alao Akala of Oyo State.
Reacting to his death, the present general manager of Shooting Stars, Mutiu Adepoju, who spoke from Spain on Sunday afternoon, disclosed that he received the new with shock and disbelief.
“They called from Nigeria yesterday (Saturday) to inform me of Chief Oyadeyi's death. I am presently in Spain on an important mission; I will definitely pay a condolence visit when I return to Nigeria this week. I received this news with total shock and disbelief. It is an unfortunate incident and I am short of words. I pray that God should grant his family the fortitude to bear this great loss,” Adepoju prayed

Supersport Sponsor Botswana Amateur Golf Club

Supersport International has come to the rescue of the Gaborone Golf Club Match Play Competition with a P30 000 sponsorship.

Multi Choice Botswana General Manager, Billy Sekgororoane, announced the sponsorship at a short ceremony at the Gaborone Golf Course last Friday.Speaking to reporters at the launch, Sekgororoane said the competition, which will involve 102 male and female players, will be played once a month, starting next month and with the finals slated for September.

Commenting on the prize breakdown, the Multi Choice Chief said: "Golf rules do not allow amateur players to win cash prizes which means we will give the prizes in kind. There will be prizes for winners of each round , which means that the winners of the competition will have won several prizes by the time they get the grand prize. One other thing is the prizes will be treated as surprises and will only be announced the day they are won."

Meanwhile, the Botswana Golf Union President, Derrick Musa, thanked Supersport for their gesture. Speaking to Voice Sport, a delighted Musa said: "We have never had a sponsor for this competition and this sponsorship will give players something to play for. We are grateful to Supersport for what they are doing for golf."

London Nigerians Cricket Club Tour Lagos, Abuja

United Kingdom-based cricketers under the auspices of London Nigerians Cricket Club yesterday began their third competition tour of the country with a promise to take the game to the highest possible level.
The LNCC has four matches to play against top Nigerian teams during their 10-day stay in the country.
According to Makanjuola Akinyemi, captain of the visiting UK-based Nigerians, unlike during their previous visits in 2000 and 2006, Abuja has been added to their itinerary as one of the cities where they will strut their skills.
"We are really glad over the tremendous progress that has taken place in the sport since our last visit. It is a pleasure to be able to come back and give something back to the game in the country," observed the captain of the LNCC at a media briefing on Victoria Island, Lagos yesterday morning.
President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Kwesi Sagoe expressed his happiness that the Tour which started like a leisure thing has really graduated into what cricketers look forward to annually.
"It is remarkable that this idea which started off the cuff has actually become real. I am particularly happy over the innovations like the inclusion of other cities to this year's programme. I hope by the next edition it will go beyond Abuja to other cities with rich cricket culture," stressed the NCF boss.

Olympic 2008 : Olympic torch touch East Africa on April 13.

Dar es Salaam is gearing up for the arrival of the Olympic torch in East Africa on April 13.

This will be the second time that the torch is coming to Africa after its continental debut in Cape Town and Cairo prior to the 2004 Athens games.


Dar es Salaam is one of 22 cities around the world chosen to host the Olympic torch relay, whose slogan is "Light the passion, share the dream."

High-profile personalities from East, South and Central Africa are to converge in Dar es Salaam, among them Kenya's Paul Tergat, a renowned world-class runner, who will train participants for the half-marathon scheduled for April 6.

Other dignitaries expected are: Nobel Laureate and leading Kenyan environmentalist Prof Wangari Maathai; Olympic gold medallist Kipchoge Keino; Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi Dr Anna Tibaijuka; Congolese conservationist Pierre Kakule Vwirasihikya; the president of Coca-Cola Company East and Central Africa, Zimbabwe's Nathan Kalumbu and Ugandan athlete Dorcas Inzikuru.

Inzikuru, Uganda's most famous woman athlete, is credited with ending her country's 33-year world title drought when she won the inaugural 3,000 metres women's steeplechase at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland.

According to a spokesperson from Coca Cola East and Central Africa, the torch is scheduled to arrive in Dar es Salaam from Buenos Aires and will be received by mayor Adam Kimbisa.

The parent company of the giant soft drinks manufacturer has been sponsoring the Olympic torch relay since 1992, when the Games were held in Atlanta, US, the headquarters of the company.

The torch relay programme includes a run through the historic sections of Dar es Salaam, before the torch leaves for Muscat, Oman.

This year's Olympic Games, to be held in August in Beijing, China, are centred on environmental conservation and have been dubbed the Green Olympics.

The relay activities worldwide will contribute to environmental awareness through donation of seedlings, revival of environmental clubs in schools as well as tree planting.

The Tanzanian organisers are offering cash and other prizes for the half marathon (21km) to be held on April 6, for both the men and women's category.

The half-marathon will be flagged off at the Kinondoni Biafra Grounds, loop around the National Stadium and end at the starting point. There will be a 5km family fun run at the Biafra Grounds.

The Olympic torch relay is part of activities planned as a build-up to the Olympic games and is second only in prestige to the Games themselves.This year's relay will last 130 days, travelling over a distance of 137,000 km, the longest distance of any Olympic torch relay, although most of the journey will be by air.

Apart from the 22 cities across the world, the relay will also go through every province in China.

The climax of the event will be the lighting of the cauldron during the opening ceremony of the games in Beijing's national stadium on August 8.

U-23 football team :Invited Players Impressed Crew In Training

IIt was a rare display of good football at the training session of the U-23 football team yesterday when Taiye Taiwo led other invited professionals to thrill expectant fans at the Abuja National Stadium. Other professionals who endeared themselves to fans were Victor Anichebe and Chinedu Ogbuke.
The training was later disrupted by the first rain in the city as the players abandoned the pitch and were driven away by a church bus to the Bayelsa Guest House around 5:20 for dinner.
Before the rain enforced halt, coach Samson Siasia had tried a possible striking formation of Victor Anichebe, Isaac Promise and Chinedu Obuke.
A delighted Siasia said he was happy with the response of players to camp and expressed his confidence in securing victory in tomorrow’s match.
“The early arrival to camp by the players is what I’ve been craving and that was why I politely asked Mikel Obi to stay put in London when he started dictating to me on when to arrive. If every player starts giving me condition on when to report, whom would I work with in our training? I’m happy he (Mikel Obi) has raised his late arriving in good time instead of putting me on the edge of the seat. Since he’s alerted me on good time I now know whom to rely on among the players that I have now in camp,” said Siasia.
The NFA chairman Sanni Lulu and Amos Adamu were some of the dignitaries that witnessed the short training session.
Some of the professionals at the session included: Oladapo Olufemi, Olufemi Ajilore, Kennedy Chinwo, Adefemi Olubayo, Solomon Abwo, Martins Ekwueme and Dele Adeleye.
Others are: Jeremiah Ani, Elderson Echiejile, Obiora Anorue, Tunde Ogunbiyi, Jide Ogunbiyi, Sanni Kaita Onyekachi Apam, Kings Ikpotor and Frank Egharevba.

NFA : Dream Team Will No Earn beyond the $750 bonus

No bonus adjustment will be made for the Dream Team ahead of tomorrow’s Beijing 2008 qualifier against South Africa, THISDAYSports understands.
The Nigerian U-23 side coached by Samson Siasia face a must win test against the Amaglug-glug in order to nick the group ticket ahead of Ghana, which presently leads Nigeria by two points.
Press learnt last night that the NFA has reiterated its position to the team officials that it would not go beyond the $750 (N87500) bonus ceiling.
The fixed amount was the package the team earned for the draw against Ghana in Accra late year which sustained their Beijing 2008 dreams.
It was gathered that NFA Chairman Sani Lulu has done his personal best to raise the spirit of the players by asking them to put national interest first.
Camp sources hinted last night that U-23 coaches have communicated the official position to the team and have tasked the players not to put monetary reward before the task at hand.
“The players are already aware that there will be no bonus adjustment for the match against South Africa. They are entitled to a flat rate of $750. Their coaches have drummed it upon them that at this stage sealing the Olympic ticket is important than money. They must actualise the task at hand first,” disclosed our source.
Meanwhile, Everton striker Victor Anichebe, France-based defenders, Taiye Taiwo and Onyekachi Apam swelled the rank of the U-23s after hitting camp yesterday.
Striker Solomon Okonkwo was expected to arrive yesterday night from Germany.
Mikel Obi is, however, ruled out because of club commitments, although FA officials are unhappy that unlike Everton striker Victor Anichebe, who arrived yesterday after featuring in the Premiership on Saturday, the Chelsea star sent word that he would only be able to arrive today.
However, his request has been turned down. And FA officials are unhappy that Mikel could have arrived the country yesterday if he had wanted too by catching a flight out of London after Chelsea’s derby clash with Arsenal.
“He (Mikel) could have made it in yesterday if he had wanted to after all the match took place in London and he could have caught any one of the flights to Lagos later in the evening. He just did not want to make the effort, perhaps he believes the team (Dream Team IV) can do without him,” said an angry FA official yesterday.
Speaking before he left London Anichebe had insisted he would be able to handle the pressure if given a starting place tomorrow.
“I can handle the pressure,” he told KickOffNigeria.com.
“International football is not easy; but if the manager picks me, all I can do is go there and do my best.
“I hear that people will be expecting a lot from me, but I am just another footballer like the rest of the lads and all we can do is do our jobs properly without thinking about pressure.
“I know there are some very good footballers in the team and I am looking forward to being part of that,” he said.
There were fears over the striker’s injury status following a thigh strain last week, but he assured KickOffNigeria.com that he was fully fit.
“That was a minor problem but it is sorted out now and I should be fit to play.”
The Dream Team stepped up their preparation for the decisive Olympic fixture by refusing to go on break during the Easter break.

Friday, March 21, 2008

Beijing Olympic This Could Be Another Year.:

With barely a week to Nigeria’s last game to qualify for this summer’s Beijing Olympic (male) football event, Chief Mike Umeh, a former team manager of the Super Eagles, believes history can be repeated in the Asian country with the Dream Team IV winning the gold.
Just last week, the Super Falcons grabbed the female ticket via a two-nil drubbing of the Black Queens of Ghana.
Chief Umeh, who is chairman of the Anambra Football Association, told THISDAYSports yesterday that given the calibre of players in the Under-23 team and the quality of coaching being dished out by Samson Siasia, the present squad was capable of repeating the feat performed at Atlanta ’96 by the Nwankwo Kanu-led team.
“I have no doubts in my mind that our boys will beat South Africa and grab the ticket to the Olympic Games. By all standards, our game is way ahead of that of South Africa and now that the stakes are really high, I don’t see our players wasting the opportunity to go to the Olympics,” observed the former Super Eagles Team Manager.
Chief Umeh insisted that history is not too far away from this present squad. “If you follow the team closely, you will realize that the bulk of the boys are the same players Coach Siasia has been using since his Under-20 team days in Holland. There is a perfect understanding and as it is, I see the boys repeating what Kanu and his mates did in Atlanta ’96 when they won the gold.”
Nigeria plays South Africa at the Abuja National Stadium next Wednesday in the last but crucial game in the road to the Beijing Olympic male football event. Nigeria needs an outright win to upstage the Black Meteors of Ghana who presently occupy the driver’s seat with seven points. Nigeria has five points.
Virtually all the top players like Chelsea’s John Mikel Obi, Taye Taiwo of Olympic Marseille and Promise Isaac are expected to arrive town this weekend for final blending before Wednesday’s cracker in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Dream Team wrapped up their preparations for next week’s clash with a 2-0 victory over a local Super Eagles, handled by interim coach James Peters. The match played at the National Stadium, Abuja, saw Siasia’s team getting off the mark in the second minute through Obiora Anorue while John Owoeri, one of the stars of Holland 2005, got the second six minutes to full time.
After the match Siasia said he was satisfied with the performance of his team.

Tennis :Zacharia qualify for third round

Only two Kenyan players have made it to the third qualifying round of the International Tennis Championship in Gaborone, Botswana on Wednesday.

Gabriel Teja and the girls' under-16 Nicole Zacharia were the only Kenyan players who went past their opponents in the week-long tournament.


Competing in the boys' under-14, Teja proved a hard nut to crack as he dismissed Abdoulaye Bagayoko from Mali 6-3, 7-5.Zacharia, the only seeded Kenyan player in the championship, got a bye and meets Pulane Monyatsi of Lesotho for a quarterfinal berth.

Speaking on phone from Botswana, the team's head coach, Allan Cooper, said competition was tight.

"I must say players from South Africa and Egypt in particular are very tactical. Despite this fact, our players have given their best in their respective matches, their losses notwithstanding," said Cooper.

The coach said other players' excellence could be pegged on numerous competitions they have engaging in in the past.

"I don't say that our players lack exposure, but in comparison to their counterparts, we are quite behind. There ought to be more competitive tournaments held so as to have our players get used to high level tennis," he added.

After easily sidelining home player, Othusitse Reetsang, in straight sets of 6-1, 6-0 in the boys' under-18 category, Kevin Kisoso found the going tough as he crashed 6-2, 7-6(2) to Anthony Cugnetto of Australia.

In the same category, Yash Rawal lost 6-1, 6-0 to Hemus Pieters of South Africa. He had been given a bye to the second round of the qualifiers. Others who lost their matches include, Rhoda Chebet, Nikita Dawda and Joie Keter. Gilbert Kibet, Dennis Ochieng and Shufaa Changawa were not lucky either in the specialties.

Chebet, who left the country late last month for trials in the US, lost 6-1, 6-0 to Foune Konare of Mali, while General Motors under-16 champion, Dawda was defeated 6-0, 6-0 by Zarah Razafimhatratra of Madagascar.Keter, who is ranked 1096, could not match the raw determination of her South African opponent, Sarah Du Plessis, who handed her a 6-2, 6-0 drubbing. She is ranked 880.

Kibet and Ochieng also lost to Duncan Mugabe of Uganda and South Africa's Juan De Villiers 76(3), 6-4 and 6-3, 6-2 respectively.

Despite their early exit from the tournament's trophy hunt, the players will compete among those who have also failed to advance, as it will help them improve the country's overall ranking.

Kenya :Brothers battles To Earn Qualification Ticket

Competition between brothers sometimes does not augur well for team cohesion.

The national cross country squad in Embu, however, is seeking to use the sibling rivalry to the advantage of the squad that is heading for Edinburgh, Scotland for the World Cross Country Championships on March 30.Double Africa champion in 5,000m and 10,000m Mathew Kisorio and his younger brother, Peter Kimeli, are a stark contrast, save for their resemblance.

The more talkative Kisorio, a bronze medallist in the Mombasa world championships last year, believes his younger brother is getting too close to him for comfort, and he is watchful lest he is overtaken.

At 19, Kisorio has set his mind on the senior competition and knows he only has one cross country competition, in Edinburgh, before leaving the junior mantle to younger brother Kimeli.

The two are members of the 8km junior men's team that is camping at Kigari Teachers Training College in Embu, together with other athletes making the national team.

Their father, former athlete Some Muge, was a Kenyan international and cross country pioneer who won a bronze medal in 5,000m in the East and Central Africa athletics championships held in Jinja, Uganda in 1983.

"I believe we inherited our running skills from our father. But, I want to live my own life and attain higher success than what he got in his day. That way, I will see him as a living legend," says Kisorio.

The brothers have been running seriously for the Kosirey Secondary School athletics team.

Last year, when they turned up for the national cross country trials at Ngong, it was Kisorio who triumphed and joined the team while Kimeli faltered. Kisorio went on to win a bronze medal in Mombasa in a race that was won by Asbel Kiprop.

"I am keen to finish off the job this time round. I missed out in Mombasa and I have a last chance to do it before moving to the senior ranks," he said.

Kimeli, however, did not give up. He went back to the drawing board and came back stronger, challenging for the slot during the explosive trials this year. He finished eighth and was given a wild card berth to link up with the rest in camp.

"After the trials race, I was dejected for not making the team as only the first five across the line were assured. But the coaches saw my skill and running tactics and called me to camp. I have since put in extra effort and was happy to make the cut when the final squad was named," said Kimeli.

The two brothers believe their task in Edinburgh will be more than their individual rivalry.

"We have always been fighting as brothers. But here we will stick together until the last lap, then it will be everyone for himself," said Kimeli.

The two have another brother, Peter Some, who is also an athlete, though he is still young.

"These two athletes have impressed me. They are focused in training and I have made them to start complementing each other, it is the only way they will learn to help one another, which is good for the team," said Julius Kirwa, the team head coach.

Kisorio, who will not be eligible to race in Poland in July during the world junior athletics championships, hopes his brother will be able to rule the roost in the 5,000 and 10,000m.

"That he must win, but in Edinburgh, I want to bow out of junior cross country competition with victory and I know I will get it," said Kisorio.

Also in the camp are world junior cross country 6km girls' champion Linet Masai and her brother, Moses Masai.

The two do not interact openly, preferring to keep to their set of friends. But, occasionally, they catch up on lost time and talk about family issues.

Linet has graduated to the senior ranks and, just like her brother, has been signed up by Kenya Police.

Both are Kenya Police champions in 12km senior men and 8km senior women races respectively, and they showed their grit and potential in staging superb performances during the national trials.

"We usually train together when we are at home. But here it is different, we are grouped under our respective teams and might not be close together," said Linet.

Moses, relishes the challenge he anticipates from Ethiopian icon Kenenisa Bekele and Eritrea's Zersenay Tedesse in the battle for the gold medal, and looks forward to using the assistance of national champion Gideon Ngatuny, Joseph Ebuya and Augustine Choge.

The Masai siblings also have another brother, Nicholas, who is also a junior runner. He failed to impress in the qualifiers, but he, too, is destined for better things when he comes of age.

Youngster Chebet Cheptai is a cousin of former world junior cross country 6km champion Pauline Korikwiang, and the two were in the same camp.

However, Korikwiang was dropped from the team, with the coaches opting for the experienced Priscah Jepleting.

NFA Finally Sacked Vogts

The long-drawn Berti Vogts’ contract saga finally ended on Wednesday night when the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) formally severed their relationship with the German tactician.
According to the Glass House Vogts has been sent a Letter of Termination of Contract as the Super Eagles’ Head Coach.
The 61-year-old 1974 World Cup winner with Germany had earlier been served with a 30-day Notice of Termination, in line with the letter and spirit of the contract he signed with the NFA in London on February 6th last year.
Signed on for three-and-half years, Vogts endangered his position with constant quarrels with his employers, snide remarks about the Nigeria federation and failure to take his team to the semi finals of the African Cup of Nations in Ghana earlier in the year.
However, there are strong indications that this is not the last to be heard since Vogts has already said that he wanted the case to be settled by the arbitration committee of FIFA in line with the terms of the contract.
While the Glass House has indicated that it was willing to pay the German his three months salaries plus his outstanding medical expenses, Vogts is pressing for more.
Meanwhile, the NFA is expected to name an indigenous handler sometime next week, as the Super Eagles look forward to the start of the 2010 World Cup/Nations Cup qualifying series in 10 weeks time.
And in a related development the FA tackled its critics insisting that they should deal in facts.
Association spokesman Ademola Olajire said in Abuja that certain reports in a section of the media of recent have been needlessly virulent, and totally out of context.
“No one is saying that people should not point out faults in order for us to continuously seek to excel in the running of the Nigeria game. There is nothing wrong with constructive criticism. However, it is clear some persons have other things in mind when they go up against the FA.
“In every area of our national life, as a nation, we need to improve in the way we do things, not just at the NFA. Anyone who does not know that is living in a fool’s Paradise”.

Martins,Newcastle Fight For Relegation

Obafemi Martins whose Premiership club, Newcastle United is in the throes of dropping to the Coca-Cola Championship is worried about his future at the St. James’ ground following the stalling of talks on his new five and a half years deal.
The Super Eagles forward who had a not to good outing at the African Cup of Nations in Ghana last month had expected talks to be concluded on the new deal said to worth 25 million pounds.
According to yesterday’s Sun of London, if the new deal had been signed three weeks ago, Martins would have been guaranteed a 90,000 pounds a-week package.
But the reality of Newcastle dropping out of the elite Premiership may have been responsible for why the management of the club is holding back assent to the new deal.
“Clubs usually have clauses where wages are cut if they drop into the Championship,” observed a source close to the Nigeria player.
However, unlike the get out clause in his contract when he came on board from Inter Milan, Martins and Newcastle big guns never bothered about wage cut for him because they never imagined finding the team in the type of relegation worries of the moment.
“Newcastle never bothered (about wage cut clause) because nobody ever expected they will be in this position,” stressed the informed source.
Three seasons ago, Nwankwo Kanu was in similar situation at West Brom Albion (WBA) but was lucky to have a get out clause (if relegated) in his contract. Kanu exploited it to move on to Portsmouth.
Just last Monday night, Martins was in tears after a shock decision by Newcastle United coach, Kevin Keegan to replace him against Birmingham City.
Martins who thought he was on top of his game, cruising in one of his best performances of recent felt slighted to have been pulled out ten minutes to the end of the 1-1 draw at Saint Andrews.
"I was upset when I had to come off. There were a few tears because I was frustrated and emotional - nobody likes to be taken off and I'm no different.
“I didn't want to go off because I wanted to help the team. I felt we were going to get the winner and I was frustrated when I saw that I was going off,” Confessed Martins who later denied any rift with Keegan.
Although Obagol said he did not understand why he was replaced, he has decided to put it behind him, since the coach explained the move afterwards.
"I didn't understand why I was being taken off so I made my feelings known but the manager was brilliant. He said he understood how I felt.
“He told me to relax because I had played well and that I'd been taken off because it was a tactical decision,” Obafemi concluded even as there are speculations that he may move if Newcastle drops out of the Premiership.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Nwankwo Kanu to motivate the boys to victory

Atlanta 96 Olympic team captain Nwankwo Kanu will lead a posse of gold medallists from that Dream Team I squad, including Daniel Amokachi, to cheer Dream Team IV as they meet South Africa next week in Abuja.
Last weekend, Fifa Ambassador, former African Player of the Year Mercy Akide-Udoh was at the National Stadium Abuja, on the invitation of the NFA, to inspire the Super Falcons to a 2-0 victory over rivals Ghana, and NFA spokesman Demola Olajire told press that the Glass House was happy with the result.
“We were encouraged by what we saw when we invited Mercy," Olajire stated.
“The girls were visibly excited by her presence and it was obvious that it gave them added motivation.
“The crowd also responded well to her presence so we are making plans to invite the likes of Kanu to come and motivate the boys to victory."
Musa Amadu, the NFA Deputy Secretary General (Services) stated that it would be a bug party of Olympic heroes.

“Players like Daniel Amokachi, Garba Lawal, Dosu Joseph and others that are around have been penciled down to grace the match like we did when we invited Mercy Akide-Udoh for the Falcons match against Ghana match last Saturday.

“We want to make the best out of this match and ensure that our Olympic male team also picks the Beijing Olympic ticket like their female counterpart,” Amadu told KickOffNigeria.com.

Amokachi Wants Keshi To Suceed Vogt

Former Super Eagles skipper, Daniel Amokachi has stated that he is shocked that Stephen Keshi is close to putting pen to paper for Mali, saying the former Hawks of Togo gaffer would have been the best man for the Nigerian job.
He, however, noted in a chat with brilafm.net that since the West African country’s sports ministry is dragging foot on a deal for The Big Boss, the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) should still try to persuade the former Eagles skipper not to turn his back on Nigeria.
The Enyimba International coach also said that there should be no sentiment in the task of hiring a new manager for the Eagles, stressing that he would have loved to work as Keshi’s assistant, because the former Anderlecht of Belgium Libero is head and shoulder above the other candidates.
“Keshi is for me the right choice for the Eagles. He is the only one I will put my money on to do a good job, and I believe the NFA should try and see how they can still get him to agree to coach the Eagles, concludes the former power forward.
Meanwhile, former Super Eagles coach, Christian Chukwu has charged Nigeria Football Association to conclude the severance of relationship with Berti Vogts before naming a substantive coach for the senior national team.
The former Green Eagles skipper declared that Nigerians would just have to exercise some patience, so that all ties with the German tactician are sorted out before a new coach is appointed.
“This is something I believe should not be rushed, otherwise we will just end up making the same mistake as we had with Vogts.
“I will just call on the NFA to ensure they wrap up everything about Berti Vogts, so that they can then concentrate of appointing a new coach for the team,” Chairman Chukwu admonished.
The former Harambe Stars of Kenya technical adviser, however, faulted the FA’s procedure of hiring a new coach, stating that the Glasshouse ought to have made a choice and contact the person, not going out for an all comer’s arrangement.
“They must now put their acts together and expedite action on the matter. The 2010 World Cup qualifier is around the corner, and delay could be dangerous,” he stressed.

Friday, March 14, 2008

2008 Olympic Games : Black Queens Plan To Cage Super Falcons

Mumuni Gamel, coach of Ghana’s Black Queens, who arrived Nigeria with his 18-member playing squad on Wednesday for the final 2008 Olympic Games qualifier against the Super Falcons on Saturday in Abuja is determined to return to Accra with the ticket to Beijing, China.
Although the Ghanaian coach is not unmindful that the tie could be difficult for his girls who need just a draw to berth at the summer Games, he however, remains unshaken in his determination.
“We have run them close for many years so we will go to Abuja on Saturday determined to get what we want. We want to make history because the girls know that Ghana always qualifies for the African championships but beating Nigeria is the one barrier we have been unable to break down,” Gamel told the Ghana FA website before leaving Accra Wednesday morning.
The Black Queens hold a hundred percent record in the qualifying campaign after defeating Nigeria at home and recording back-to-back wins over South Africa.
But Super Falcons’ midfielder Effioawan Ekpo who is aiming to make her second Olympic football appearance believes totally in the ability of the Nigerian team to overcome Ghana.
“We are leaving no stone unturned in our bid to ensure that we not only beat Ghana on Saturday, but also to win the match very well. So we will do everything within our power to win the ticket,” stressed the defensive midfielder who scored three goals in Nigeria’s 13-1 crushing of hapless Namibia en-route to tomorrow’s final game.
She, however, admitted that the Falcons would not take the Ghanaians for granted. “They will be tough opposition, but right now we are ready to take apart any team that comes even close to us.”
The runners up of the three-team group will still have a chance of making it to Beijing when they play Brazil in a play-off for a place in the finals of the 2008 Olympics.

Arsenal :Adebayor Gun For the Golden Boot

Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor is desperate to beat Cristiano Ronaldo to the Golden Boot as he does not want to lose out to a midfielder.The Togo international has hit 19 goals in the Premier League this campaign, but Manchester United winger Ronaldo is the league's current leading scorer with 21.

However, Adebayor is eager to win his race with Ronaldo as Arsenal and United also go head-to-head for the league crown.

"At the moment I am having a good race with Ronaldo," said Adebayor. "I am a striker and cannot let myself be dominated by one midfielder.

"I just want to prove I can score more goals and, if I can win the golden boot, there will be nothing better."

Adebayor is also keen to repay the faith which former Gunners forward Thierry Henry showed in him before the Frenchman joined Barcelona last summer.

"When Thierry signed for Barcelona he told me he would score more than 30 goals," added Adebayor.

"If I can get to 30, it will be for Thierry as he believed I could do it."

WBC:Sam Peter To Fight Klitschko

WBC President Jose Sulaiman has confirmed that Vitali Klitschko will be the first defense for the new heavyweight champion, Sam Peter.

Vitali who's battled back from a series of injuries, is an emeritus champion and as such, his opportunity for this fight was confirmed at the WBC's Convention in Manila.Don Jose said: "The first thing Samuel must do is to confront Vitali Klitschko, and the free negotiations period will start next Monday." Don Jose also added: "Vitali Klitschko has a lot to prove. After his retirement and his many injuries, he felt in his heart that he was the champion of the world, because he stepped down without losing the title in the ring.

But after such a long retirement, he needs a lot of training and dedication to become again, the great fighter that he was." Sam Peter has expressed his desire for a re-match with Vitali's brother, Wladimir, to avenge the only loss of his professional career, in spite of the fact that he decked Wladmir three-times on route to losing a unanimous decision back in September 2005.

Peter also confirmed that he's more than happy to fight both brothers tomorrow. He might have to wait a bit longer than that. Peter-Klitschko is slated for the Fall.

Beijing 2008:NFA Prepared $750 winning bonus For Players

How strong the patriotic zeal of the Dream Team’s players will be put to the test in the crucial Olympic Games qualifier against South Africa in Abuja following the discovery that the boys will only be paid $750 winning bonus each.
The Nigeria’s U-23 team needs an outright win against South Africa in Abuja on March 26 to secure an Olympic football berth at the expense of Ghana.
But THISDAY Sports understands that for the decisive fixture the U-23 side will only be entitled to a winning bonus of $750 (about N87,500) unless the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) reviews the package.
Football house sources hinted us that the Samson Siasia led technical crew is concerned about the current package structure and has implored the NFA to review it in national interest before the Amagluglug come visiting.
According to our sources, team officials would want the NFA to accord the U-23 team similar treatment usually accorded to the Super Eagles in relation to match bonus package.
Traditionally the Eagles earn a flat $3000 (about N351, 000) as bonus for wins in key qualifying matches.
It was learnt that it was the same $750 in question that the NFA offered the players for the hard earned draw against Ghana in Accra of last year which sustained the Olympic aspiration of Nigeria.
“Their winning bonus has always been $750. I am aware that it was what they got against Ghana because the draw they pulled was equated to a win. While I know that nothing is on the table for now, however, I can tell you that it would be hard to cajole players with the usual package to go and beat the South Africans hands down,” said our source.
Nigeria, which trails Ghana by two points, must turn the South Africans to cannon fodders to secure the group ticket by one point.
Siasia, who is in the running for the Eagles job, has summoned over 40 players to camp for the make or mar match.
The team was also billed to travel to USA to honour an invitational tournament but visa delays has now prompted officials to defer the arrangement till after the game against South Africa as the tour will serve as part of preparation for the Olympics.
South Africa coach Steve Komphela only on Monday named an 18-man squad of largely home-based players for the trip to Nigeria.

South Africa: Durban Ready To Bid For 2011 Beach Soccer World Cup,

South Africa is expected to take the first step towards hosting the 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup when the 2008 African qualifying tournament takes place at New Beach in Durban later this month.

At the official draw for the African qualifying tournament on Wednesday, eThekwini City Manager Mike Sutcliffe announced that Durban would be bidding for the 2011 Beach Soccer World Cup, reported Southafrica.infoTherefore it is crucial that this year's qualifying tournament lives up to the reputation of the 2006 and 2007 events, which were rated by FIFA as two of the best organised beach soccer tournaments held anywhere in the world.

"Durban will be bidding to host the Beach Soccer World Cup in 2011," Mr Sutcliffe said at the draw.

"That means that this year's qualifying tournament forms part of our bid process.

"We are also bidding to host the International Olympic Committee Congress in 2011, and if we get both it will elevate the city to new levels. It will give Durban a chance to deliver real African excellence."

The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup has previously only been held in the "home of beach soccer", Rio.

However, the decision was made that from this year the event will move to different cities in an attempt to increase the global appeal of what is a fast growing and exciting spin off of traditional field soccer.

The 2008 Beach Soccer World Cup will be held in Marseilles in France in July.

The draw, which was made in Barcelona but beamed live to Durban, saw South Africa chosen to join Senegal, Mozambique and Egypt in qualifying Group A, while Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria, the defending champions, are in group B.

The teams will play round-robin pool matches from 25 to 27 March.

The semi-finals between the top two teams in each pool will take place on 29 March.

The two final four winners will then meet in the final on 30 March, although both teams would have already qualified for the World Cup finals in Marseilles.While the South African team will be happy to have avoided Nigeria, Cameroon and Cote d'Ivoire, they will be aware that Egypt and Senegal will be tough to beat.

Former South African Captain Mark Williams, who was at the draw on Wednesday, summed up his impression of the two groups, saying: "Group B will be a tough pool, but there will be no easy games in this tournament," he said.

"South Africa's first match will be very hard against Senegal, but if they can get a win against Mozambique the next day it will probably set up a 'quarter-final' match against Egypt, with the winner going through to the semis."

Nigeria :Vogts Still In NFA Payroll

The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) in conjunction with Globacom has offered to pay Berti Vogts three-month’s salary. The Glass House had served the German 30-day termination notice, which expires next week.
However, the FA’s action has been a bone of contention between both parties, with the former Super Eagles handler insisting on getting paid a hefty severance package, while the Glass House said he was only entitled to two month’s pay.
An unhappy Vogts has already taken the matter to FIFA seeking to have the football governing body interpret the terms of the contract, which he signed last February in London.
But NFA spokesman Ademola Olajire, who broke the news yesterday, said in Abuja that the association was working out an amicable resolution of the disagreement with Vogts over the termination of his contract.
“Our sponsor (Globacom) has agree to pay Vogts his three months salary from January to March, we are also going to pay what he claimed to have incurred as medical treatment bill,” Olajire said.
Olajire maintained that NFA had not receive any correspondence from FIFA on the purported petition forwarded to the world football governing body by Vogts, he, however, confirm the receipt of a letter from Vogt’s lawyer which he (Olajire) described as “termination without notice”.
“We have not received any correspondence from FIFA on Vogt’s purported petition, we have, however, received a notice from his lawyer on termination without notice complaint after the NFA has forwarded notice of termination of contract to Vogts in Germany,” Olajire said.
In agreeing to pay the former Scotland manager three months, Globacom will be parting with €150, 000.
He said the association was disturbed with the latest ranking by FIFA which placed Nigeria in the 46th in the world and 7th in Africa.
“Although this is not unexpected, we are not happy about it, we are however sure that the Eagles will bounce back, we have the World Cup qualifiers and the international friendlies which have been fixed for the FIFA window time,” he said.

South Africa. get FIFA nod prize money for Confederations Cup

Fifa has approved the schedule and prize money for the 2009 Confederations Cup to be held in South Africa.
Eight nations will compete for US$17.6 million (R140-m) in the tournament - a dress rehearsal for the 2010 World Cup.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter said the event will be “an ideal test run” for the World Cup organisers and South Africa's infrastructure.

“As in Germany in 2005, we are looking forward to a festival of champions and thrilling matches,” Blatter said.

With concerns that the new stadium being built in Port Elizabeth will not be ready for the kick off on June 14, the Confederations Cup organising committee approved two different match schedules - one for four stadiums and one for five.

The tournament will bring together the host South Africa, World Cup holders Italy and the champions from the six regional confederations which make up Fifa.

Those include Iraq, Egypt, the United States and Brazil.

If Italy wins this year’s European Championship, the runners-up will compete in South Africa.

The winners will receive US$3.75-million (R30m), with US$3.25-million (R25m) going to the runners-up.

The teams ranked fifth to eighth will each get US$1.4-million (R11m).

The tournament draw is scheduled for November 22 in Johannesburg.

U-17 World Cup: FIFA AskGhana To Be on standby

World football governing body FIFA has placed Ghana on standby to host next year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup at short notice because of concern about the substandard facilities put forward by Nigeria which officially has the rights to organise the tournament.
The body is concerned over Nigeria 2009 despite the assurance given to the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for Nigeria 2009 when the Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi-led Committee made a presentation in Zurich on its preparations for the event, including details of the venues and stadiums, accommodation and transport concepts, ticketing plans and LOC organisational structures.
The provisional date for the tournament in Nigeria is for 24 October to 15 November 2009.
A FIFA inspection team led by Vice President Jack Warner gave Nigeria a damning report when the team inspected some of the facilities which the Local Organising Committee put forward early last month.
The team toured relevant facilities in five of the nine cities which Nigeria proposed as tournament venues.
But after the first working itinerary, it was only Abuja that got a nod of approval from the Warner team which scored Lagos and Warri low on all grade indices.
A CAF source told our reporter yesterday that FIFA is giving serious consideration to Ghana as the alternative host in the event Nigeria fails to convince the body about the readiness of its facilities before the return of the FIFA inspection delegation in August.
It is understood that Ghana’s candidacy is enhanced by the impressive facilities which it presented in the four centres where the Nations Cup finals were staged in January.
But apart from that, its impressive success rate in the FIFA U-17 World Cup count on almost the same scale with Nigeria is seen as a boost to its candidacy.
Another thing going for the former Gold Coast is that West Africa would still be retaining the rights to the second FIFA U-17 World Cup to be hosted in Africa in the event FIFA awards it to Ghana at the last minute.
But any decision to cancel Nigeria 2009 would be a hard knock for Nigeria which was similarly jolted by FIFA in 1995 on trumped up security and health grounds.
However, the country staged a stunning comeback in what Warner dubbed “the 8th wonder of the world” to host the event four years later.

Nigerian striker Joined Ajax Cape town

Ajax Cape town has finally secured the services of Nigerian striker Tasiu Mohammed who agreed on a two year contract with the Urban Warriors recently.
The former Niger Tornados striker’s agent Mohammed Lawal has confirmed to press that the player has arrived back in South Africa and has already started training.

“Tasiu is now officially an Ajax Cape Town player; however he will only start playing for Ajax next season as they already have five foreign players on their books.

The 21-year-old striker trained with Mamelodi Sundowns earlier before moving to Ajax Cape Town in January where he impressed the team’s technical team.

Mohammed, who scored 12 goals in 18 games for Tornadoes, has also played for the Nigerian national Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 sides.chjnef

Arsenal Drawn With Liverpool in The Q/Final

Arsenal have drawn Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-finals, where Manchester United face Roma and Chelsea must take on Fenerbahce.The Gunners and Reds will face each other three times in a week next month, with a top-flight match sandwiched between the two legs.

United will face Roma - who they have played in the competition already this season and knocked out a year ago - with the second leg at Old Trafford.

Chelsea have the most favourable draw of the English clubs with a trip to Istanbul to face Fenerbahce, before a second leg at Stamford Bridge.

In the other last-eight tie, Barcelona take on Schalke.

Champions League draws: Quarter-finals: Arsenal v Liverpool Roma v Man Utd Schalke v Barcelona Fenerbache v Chelsea. Ties to be played 1/2 and 8/9 of April.

Semi-finals: Arsenal/Liverpool v Fenerbache/Chelsea Schalke/Barcelona v Roma/Man Utd. Ties to be played 22/23 and 29/30 of April

The home team in the final will be the winner of semi-final number two (Schalke/Barcelona v Roma/Man Utd).

The final will take place in Moscow on May 21.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Lagos :Govt Boost School Sport with N500 million

Lagos State government has insured all the 300 athletes participating in the on-going National School Sports Festival (NSSF) holding at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere with N500 million for the duration of the games, which ends on March 19.
The insurance policy tagged ‘Group Personal Accident Assurance’ covers the athletes, officials and spectators at the stadium.
Special Adviser to the state governor on Youths Sports and Social Development, Dr. Dolapo Badru who made this known in Ikeja yesterday, said Lagos is hosting the first national school sports festival in the country and as such is setting the pace for other states to follow.
According to him, providing insurance is a mandatory requirement for Nigeria school sports federation in all its local and international sports competition and to protect the children athletes against death and injury.
While the state put the insurance cover at N100, 000 for each athlete, the insurance company, LASACO Assurance Plc has increased it to N200, 000.
The Managing Director, LASACO Assurance Plc,Mr. Ladipo Ajayi said the state is the foremost insurance government in Nigeria and that the insurance cover for the children was just a replicate of what the government has done for its workforce.

FIFA :Blatter Blamed Vogts For Eagles Worst Peerformance

FIFA boss Sepp Blatter has delivered a stinging rebuke to coach Berti Vogts over his spell in charge of the Super Eagles even as reports out of Austria indicate the German may be heading there in the near future.
Vogts quit the post last month in the wake of a hugely disappointing Nations Cup campaign after their quarter-final exit.
Blatter suggests that Vogts' inability to stay in the West African country during his reign could have been responsible for Nigeria's worst Nations Cup display for 25 years.
"My old friend Berti Vogts was in charge of Nigeria and he didn't even live in the country - that surely can't be the correct way proceed?" Blatter asked.
"Vogts was not living in Nigeria because he said his players weren't there. But to feel a team you must feel the country."
Only four coaches out of the 16 teams at the recent African Cup of Nations were from the countries they were leading.
But in a report in BBC Sports yesterday Blatter believes national team coaches should come from the same country as the players and wants foreign coaches to be banned from national teams.
"In Africa recently, many of the countries competing in the Cup of Nations had foreign coaches but all have now gone," Blatter said.
"Of course, national associations are free to choose who they believe is the right man but I do think that the cause of international football would be made stronger with indigenous coaches.
"I cannot believe that it is possible to properly bring young players into international football and motivate them and bring improvement through a translator.”
However, in spite of the controversy still raging over his status with the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), it is clear that Berti Vogts is going ahead to plot his next move if reports out of Austria are anything to go by.
According to Austrian newspaper Salzburger Nachrichthen, the former German national team manager is being considered by one of the top clubs in the country – Red Bull Salzburg.
The current Austrian champion is bankrolled by one of the richest firms in the world Red Bull, makers of the very popular energy drink.
Paul Breitner, a former national team mate of Vogts, was said to have recommended the 61-year-old former defender to the Austrian club, which has a rich history of working with German players – Oliver Bierhoff and Thomas Hassler being some of the notable ones to have plied their trade with the Austrian champions.
Hassler was part of the initial coaching crew Vogts brought with him to the Eagles. He, however, later resigned late last year in order to concentrate fully on his coaching job in Germany
Incidentally the club was once managed by the former skipper of the German Machine Lothar Matthaus, who has been very critical of the way Vogts has been treated by Nigeria.
Austrian newspapers indicated that the former Scotland manager was almost certain to become the next handler of the ambitious club side, which is yet to become a major player in European football despite the huge investment of the energy drink company.

Monday, March 10, 2008

WBC :Peter Look Forward To The Unification Bout

When Samuel Peter stepped onto the polished marble in his upscale hotel’s lobby late Saturday night, he looked more like a vacationing millionaire than the heavyweight champion of the world. His crisp linen shirt and shorts couldn’t fool the dozens of people who slowly realized they were drinking tequila next to the man who knocked out Oleg Maskaev to win the WBC title two hours earlier. Spring-breaking students, gleeful retirees and a handful of jubilant Nigerian fans crowded Peter, demanding pictures, autographs and handshakes.
Peter filled all the requests and sat down to eat at the lobby bar—but a television above his head soon showed replays of his sixth-round victory, leading to cheers and more backslapping. It’s good to be the king of the Mayan Riviera, even if a heavyweight title doesn’t have nearly the same royal sheen it carried in the days of Louis, Marciano, Ali or even Tyson.
“Oh, thank you, thank you,” Peter said with a smile before the umpteenth hug from a stranger. Even before beating Maskaev into submission in a bullfighting ring, Peter carried the aura of someone to watch in a sport that still hungers for a dominant, charismatic heavyweight champion. In addition to Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Roy Jones Jr., several past greats travelled to Cancun to see Peter’s coronation, including Larry Holmes, Gerry Cooney, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran and Julio Cesar Chavez.
Peter, Nigerian-born and Las Vegas-based, already has the boundless bravado he’ll need to become the division’s first unified champ since Lennox Lewis retired in 2004. Whether he has the skill and stamina will be determined in the coming months when he takes on the Klitschko brothers, who currently stand in front of almost every door Peter hopes to knock down.
“(The) Klitschkos are very good fighters, but for right now, I’m the best heavyweight in the world,” Peter said. “I will fight them any time, anywhere. I’ll beat both of them on the same night. First the older one, and then the other one.”
Two hours earlier, Peter (30-1, 23 KOs) was still dripping wet from the exertion of his hard-charging performance at Plaza de Toros when he called out both Wladimir Klitschko, the IBF and WBO champion generally considered the division’s dominant player, and older brother Vitali Klitschko, the WBC emeritus champion who hasn’t fought in 3 1/2 years.
The WBC says Vitali is entitled to the first crack at Peter, and both Klitschkos have said he intends to take it.
“Samuel respects the WBC, and if they tell us we have to fight Vitali, we are ready to begin negotiations tomorrow,” said Dino Duva, Peter’s promoter. “We will do whatever the WBC says. Samuel will honour it, but our goal long-term is to unify the titles.”
That goal is shared by Wladimir Klitschko, who was responsible for the only defeat of Peter’s career in September 2005. Peter knocked down Klitschko three times, but couldn’t disagree with the unanimous decision against him.
“I didn’t take that fight serious,” Peter said with a shrug. “I didn’t really take boxing serious, but now, with the big-money fights coming up, I take it serious. … He doesn’t need the IBF (title). He needs this one. He’s going to come for this, and he’ll get stopped.”
A rematch would be the biggest heavyweight fight in several years, and it can’t happen quickly enough for Peter, who got $1.4 million to beat Maskaev.
“I’m going to get it, because I’m going to beat his brother,” Peter said.
Peter wasn’t always impressive in the 2 1/2 years since his defeat, but he seems more mature and disciplined now. Though Maskaev (34-6) was knocked out for the sixth time in his checkered career, he’s a smart fighter who simply couldn’t stay out of trouble against Peter, who bulled forward for several key exchanges that weakened his 39-year-old opponent.
“I will be back,” Maskaev said. “My team and I will talk, and we’ll get a few fights together. I can’t blame anybody. It was all my fault. My trainer did a good job training me, and I failed.”
Maskaev enjoyed his unlikely 19-month reign as champion, but Peter has a chance to do something special with the belt.
“I could fight again tomorrow,” Peter said. “I’m ready for anyone.”

English FA Cup :Odejayi Goal Sent Chelsea Packing

Barnsley hero Kayode Odejayi is hoping he has finally silenced the fans who made his life a misery at the start of the season.
Odejayi emerged as the toast of the Tykes after scoring the winner to send holders Chelsea crashing out of the FA Cup and Barnsley into the semi-finals for the first time in 96 years.
When the Nigerian was substituted with 10 minutes remaining, he was given a standing ovation, which was a far cry from the abuse he received early on in his Oakwell career.
The £200,000 buy from Cheltenham last summer struggled to make the leap from League One to Championship, so incurring the wrath of the fans, who felt boss Simon Davey had wasted money.
Odejayi was Saturday a player transformed as he met the challenge of Chelsea skipper John Terry head on, before then beating Carlo Cudicini to the punch with a downward header from a Martin Devaney cross in the 66th minute.
For Odejayi, as he rightly pointed out, it was "the stuff of which dreams are made," and hopefully an end to the earlier nightmares.
"The fans did get on my back, which was disappointing to hear," reflected the 26-year-old. "I tried to block it out, but sometimes I did hear stuff. I guess the fans are entitled to their opinion.
"But I knew I was big enough and professional enough to deal with it, and I did, and now I'm starting to come out on the other side.
"Hopefully, this performance will have gone a long way to turning them around."
As Odejayi struggled for goals and form, Davey was forced to drop him from the starting line-up, but he never lost faith.
"He did take some stick at the start of the season, but he managed to come through it. He never moaned once," said Davey. "When I signed him in the summer, I believed in him from the word go. We've always known he is a good player and that he would come good.
"He is raw and he is still improving, but he is an intelligent lad and he wants to learn. I did have to pull him out of the side at one stage, though, but he then proceeded to work extra hard in training.
"I then put him back in, and he's tortured defences at times. From his heart and his head, he's worked his socks off.
Odejayi's strike ended a 28-match drought stretching back to mid-September when he scored in a 2-0 home win over Scunthorpe.
Not only was it enough to cause another remarkable upset, but he received an additional reward.
"After the game John Terry gave me his shirt," smiled Odejayi. "He signed it for me and wished me all the best. It's a nice memento of the day, and he is a top man for that.
"I'll have to get it framed and find a place for it somewhere in my house."
An FA Cup winner's medal would sit nicely alongside it, with Odejayi believing Barnsley can complete their fairytale journey.
"The big teams have fallen out, two of them losing to us, so we shouldn't fear anyone," added Odejayi.
"We just need to look forward to the semi-final and try and enjoy the day out, but with the teams that have gone, it's anybody's now."

Angola: Manucho In Bright Form in his European debut

The Angolan striker Manucho Gonçalves, with Greece's Panathinaikos, on Sunday scored in his debut game in that European country, ANGOP has learnt.

Manucho scored in the 2-0 victory over Lariss. The striker was elected one of the best African players, during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) that took place in January and February this year.With this triumph, the team coached by the Portuguese Jose Peseiro are placed first at the standing.

Peter Stopped Oleg Maskaev To Retain WBC Heavyweight title

Samuel Peter let out a joyous cry as he left the Mexican bullfighting ring with the WBC heavyweight title belt draped over his hulking shoulders.
The Nigerian Nightmare had finally achieved his sweetest dream, winning his first championship after years as a promising prospect. He did it with no matador theatrics—just the blistering punches that make him the heavyweight division’s most exciting coming attraction.
He also became the first Nigerian to ever win boxing’s ultimate prize – the heavyweight title, and the third to be crowned world champion after Hogan Bassey and Dick Tiger.
Peter stopped Oleg Maskaev in the final seconds of the sixth round Saturday night, claiming Maskaev’s belt with one last punishing flurry of powerful blows.
Peter (30-1, 23 KOs) is widely considered the next big heavyweight in a division that desperately needs a dynamo, but his progression was slowed by politics, a few tame performances and Maskaev’s injuries that forced this bout to be postponed from October. After all that waiting, nothing could stop Peter when he finally got in the ring with the 39-year-old champion.
“I knew he can’t stand my power,” Peter said, still dripping with sweat and years of disrespect. “I’m the best heavyweight in the world. I’m undisputed. I can beat anyone. All of them are going down.”
Peter’s coronation was viewed by a lively sellout crowd at Plaza de Toros, the unlikely site of boxing-mad Mexico’s first heavyweight title fight. The fans got heavyweight-quality entertainment: Maskaev (34-6) and Peter both rocked each other with tremendous punches in the third round, but Peter eventually shredded Maskaev’s defenses with a sixth-round flurry.
The four major heavyweight titles have been dispersed among several relatively unknown Eastern Europeans in recent years, but now an African has joined them—albeit an African who lives and trains in Las Vegas. Though he still lacks some technique, he finally has a belt and a shot at bigger fights— even an eventual rematch with IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko, the only man to beat him.
Boxing’s erstwhile glamour division also should get a boost from a competitive, engaging fight just two weeks after Klitschko’s dull decision over Sultan Ibragimov in Madison Square Garden.
“I’m going to get him,” Peter said. “I’m going to beat his brother (Vitali). I’m going to tell him that I’m coming. I’ve got two belts. He doesn’t need the IBF. He needs this one. He’s going to come for this, and he’ll get stopped.”
After two slow opening rounds in Cancun, Peter stunned and staggered Maskaev with a prolonged burst of power punches, chasing him from one post to the next. Maskaev’s knees buckled, but he stayed up—and then he knocked Peter silly with a brutal left hand moments later.
In the sixth, Peter landed a devastating right hand. Maskaev came up woozy, and Peter pursued him relentlessly, landing more than a dozen shots before the referee stepped in to protect the defenseless champion with 4 seconds left in the round.
Maskaev, who entered the ring laughing and wearing a sombrero, labored through 13 years and five knockout losses before he won the WBC title in August 2006 with a stunning 12th-round KO of Hasim Rahman, the highlight of six straight years without a defeat. Maskaev then developed several nagging injuries that limited him to one title defense since winning the belt, and no fights in the last 15 months.
He was scheduled to fight Peter in Madison Square Garden in October, but pulled out two weeks beforehand with a back injury. Peter angrily claimed Maskaev had been ducking him for more than a year.
“He didn’t knock me out,” said Maskaev, who acknowledged his long layoff affected his sharpness. “He shook me, and he knocked me back, and the ref did the right thing. I hurt him a few times, but I wasn’t able to finish.”
With his new title in hand, Peter is expected to take on at least one of the Klitschko brothers—and possibly both. Wladimir, who unified the IBF and WBO titles last month by beating Sultan Ibragimov, has said he wants to go after all the heavyweight belts.
But Peter probably will fight Vitali Klitschko first, thanks to the arcane rules of the WBC, which appointed Vitali its “emeritus champion” with the right to challenge the champ when he decides to return from his nearly 3 1/2 -year layoff.
After Maskaev dropped out of the first fight with Peter, King’s decision to move the fight to this tropical resort city on the Mayan Riviera seemed strange to many, but more than 6,000 fans crowded into Cancun’s bullfighting ring for the festivities despite the absence of any big-name Mexican boxer.
Hundreds of fans still gathered well before dark on the busy grounds separating the ring from a bustling main thoroughfare in downtown Cancun. Hawkers sold everything from churros and hot dogs to headbands celebrating Julio Cesar Chavez and souvenir fight T-shirts in front of a long line for tickets. Inside, vendors walked the aisles with white buckets of beer, just as they do every Wednesday at the bull fights.

Friday, March 7, 2008

World Indoor : Nigeria sprinters chase titles

With world record holder Asafa Powell unavailable, the coast appears clear for African champion, Olusoji Fasuba to grab Nigeria’s first World Indoor Championship sprint gold today in Valencia, Spain.
The 60m event of the Valencia Meet is very much open as no one particular sprinter has displayed dominance in the short dash this year. What, however, remains a certainty in the men’s 60m is that a new world champion will emerge.
With champion Leonard Scott of USA missing a chance to defend after pulling up with an injury at the U.S. Championships, the way was paved for newcomer Mike Rodgers to make his mark. Even that is contestable given the form of Fasuba, who is aiming to make up at this Indoor for the flop in Osaka, Japan where no Nigerian runner got anywhere near the medal’s prospect.
Fasuba’s chances appear even more boosted when compared with 22 year-old Rodgers.
The Ekiti-born sprinter, with Jamaican gene from his mother, has been perhaps the most consistent this winter. Fasuba is the only man to have run 6.58 or faster on five occasions. Perhaps boding well for today. His 6.51 chalked up in Valencia on February 9 gives Fasuba head and shoulder edge above Rodgers. With Asafa giving this tournament a miss in order to concentrate on his Beijing Olympic ambition, there is so much to look forward to this evening in the Nigerian camp. Definitely, Fasuba is set to wipe away the memories of his fifth place finish at the last edition two years ago.
In the women’s version of the 60m both Franca Ene Idoko, the Ahmadu Bello University English graduate and Damola Osayomi, an erstwhile undergraduate student at the University of Texas in El Paso (UTEP) are in the form of their lives in only their first season indoor.
Idoko is currently joint first on the IAAF 60m world list for the year courtesy the 7.09 personal-best setting run she put up in Chemnitz, Germany last Friday. Osayomi on the other hand, after a successful a sprints double in Algiers at the 9th All Africa Games last July is ranked the 12th best in the event so far this year following the 7.19 she ran at the Chapel Hill Meeting in North Carolina in the United States of America early last month.
On paper both are guaranteed a final placing while Idoko is tipped to become the first Nigerian woman to win a 60m medal in the history of the Championships as well as the fourth woman to win a medal after the trio of Chioma Ajunwa (long jump silver in 1997), Glory Alozie (60m hurdles in 1999) and Falilat Ogunkoya who won the 400m silver medal inside the Green Dome in Maebashi, Japan also in 1999.
However, to achieve this, the Nigerian duo will have to surmount the opposition exemplified by the presence of American Angela Williams who is determined to finally land her first elusive 60m title after winning silver medals at the 2001 and 2003 World Indoor Championships.
In the quarter mile, 2007 World Championship semi-finalist Christy Ekpukhon Ihunaegbo, who set a new personal of 51.75 in Chemnitz last week, may well be in the throes to win the event, a decade after Sunday Bada did same in the male event in Paris in 1997.
But with two of the fastest runners in that category attending Russia has the clear advantage. The East European nation will be confident of landing a fourth successive World Indoor 400m title as they boast the fastest two women in the field. Olesya Zykina has rolled back the years during this indoor season and leads the world list after her 51.09 clocking to take the Russian title and followed this up victory in the European Indoor Cup in Moscow. Her countrywoman, Natalya Nazarova, had to play second fiddle to Zykina at the national championships but with a season’s best of 51.45 she cannot be dismissed in her history-breaking quest to become the first woman to land three World Indoor 400m titles.

Gambia : Scanaid Basketball Lawn Inaugurated

A newly constructed Basketball lawn worth D10,000 was on Thursday inaugurated at the Scanaid Senior Seconadary School in Brufut, Western Region.

The inauguration ceremony coincided with the school's annual fundraising ebbehday, an event said to have financed the project.Speaking at the ceremony, Mariama Baldeh, principal of the school, underscored the importance of the day, according to her the project was financed through ebbeh-days which are held once every year in her school.

Madam Baldeh said that before the school took-up the initiative of constructing the Basketball court, she had had a meeting with students to sound their opinion as to how they should used the money.

According to her, the students suggested three things out of which they agreed on establishing a Basketball lawn that can also be used as Volleyball court and other games as well.

Madam Baldeh believed that even though her school is a non government school, she would wait for the donors to do everything. "We will also in our own bit of effort do our quota," she explained.

She expressed hope that the introduction of this new physical recreational centre in her school would not only benefit her school but the community of Brufut as well.

Mrs Baldeh pointed out discipline as an instrument for every student, urging them to maintain their level of coorperation in school.

Also in her statement, she commended the Government of the Gambia and the community of Brufut for creating the enabling and conducive environment to run the school.In his inaugural address on behalf of the Regional director for region 2, Lamin k. Camara, cluster monitor for Sancha-ba Sulay Jobe circuit, commended the managent and staff of Scanaid Senior Secondary School for initiating such a wonderful project through self help venture without assistance from the donors.

"It is necessary for the head to break down the barriers which separate classes so that there are occasion when the school is like a family. This can be done through sports such as football, basketball among others. For Amadou Camara, the Physical Education teacher at the school, the establishment of the lawn will enhance the physical fitness of the students and expose them to the game.

Alhaji Bully Sanneh, representative of the Alkalo of Brufut and the Scanaid School PTA chairman all spoke at the ceremony.

NUGA 2008: Offered To Construct Sports Complex For The Host

University of Nigeria, Nsukka’s drive to raise funds to host the 22nd edition of the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA) is yielding positive response from corporate Nigeria.
Already, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr. Chairman of Globacom Limited has thrown a lifeline to the foremost university east of the Niger, pledging to build a sports complex worth N600m before the November date for the commencement of the 2008 NUGA sports fiesta.
Professor Ndi Okereke Onyiuke, Director General of the Nigeria Stock Exchange, who also doubles as chairman of the NUGA 2008 Fund Raising Committee, revealed at a media briefing in Lagos yesterday that apart from the gesture from Dr. Adenuga, Renaissance Capital Nigeria Limited has also offered to construct an Olympic size swimming pool towards ensuring the school hosts a successful Games.
“Also we have received another offer from the GTBank to build volleyball courts as well as all the directional signs to help visitors to the university find their ways round the complex,” stressed the Fund Raising Committee boss.
Although Prof. Okereke-Onyiuke admitted that there were other offers in line for the hosting, she called on corporate Nigeria to join hands to help UNN raise the N5 billion it requires to upgrade facilities at the university.
“It is heart warming to note that NUGA has brought about a strategic partnership between the government and the organised private sector whereby the latter regards its support for NUGA as an extension of its Community Social Responsibility (CSR),” observed NSE boss.
While listing some of the benefits open to the Organised Private Sector, who sponsor the 2008 NUGA sports fiesta, Prof. Okereke-Onyiuke revealed that she has secured tax exemption for the value of the sponsorship from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
Vice-chancellor of UNN Prof. Chinedu Ositadinma Nebo, who restated the determination of his university to host a very successful event, assured that with the support of the OPS, “UNN will deliver on its promise.”
Apart from universities from the West African sub region who are coming to Nsukka as non scoring participants, over 70 universities in the country are going to be part of the sports fiesta. Over 20,000 students are going to compete for honours in 15 different sports.

South Africa: Gautrain to complete depot- airport route by 2010

THE power outages and a few geological surprises on site have not derailed Gautrain's target to complete the route from Sandton to OR Tambo airport by 2010.

Gautrain spokeswoman Barbara Jensen said yesterday the first leg of the rapid rail link was on track . The first year of construction had been spent largely on finalising civil engineering designs, the train depot and the route between the airport and Johannesburg's Park Station. This year would see "vigorous" civil construction works.She said R5,6bn was spent in the 2006- 07 financial year, and this was expected to increase to R7,7bn in 2007- 08 .

"The highlight of 2008 will be the expected meeting of two tunnels that are being simultaneously excavated from Marlboro Portal and Mushroom Farm," she said.

Most of the tunnelling between Rosebank Station and Park Station, which is to be carried out by the German-made boring machine, is also expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The 6km stretch is the only section that will not use drill and blast techniques, because of the high water content and soft soil.

Jensen said 6km of test track, consisting of hardened high-speed railway track, would be laid in Midrand towards the middle of this year .

The laying of the 80km train track was scheduled to begin in about 12 to 18 months .

The construction of the stations, which would also be completed in the first phase scheduled for 2010, was proceeding as planned, Jensen said.

Tunnelling at Park Station towards Rosebank Station was 250m from the tunnel portal, while more than 160m had been excavated at Rosebank in the direction of Sandton. Work had begun to link Sandton's two shafts, which are about 50m and 45m deep , with 50m of tunnelling having been completed.

Jensen said construction was under way in the Midrand area, heading towards Centurion. This section included a number of bridges and two of the 15 viaducts planned.

Disruption in areas where viaducts were being installed had been minimised by using precast sections made at the Midrand depot and then moving them to the site.

It will be the job of transport civil engineering company Arup SA, as the project's independent certifier, to check that the Gautrain is designed and built properly. This includes certifying more than 2500 "milestones" the Bombela consortium completes along the way. Arup then issues operating certificates allowing Bombela to be paid.

Chris Andrew, a member of Bombela's technical team, said yesterday work was taking place simultaneously across the 80km route, with the "exception of a few pockets where there are still difficulties gaining access".In some cases this had to do with public objections, including an objection in Centurion to noise. He did not believe the objections would delay the project.

"There have been delays in some sections. But we are ahead in others, so on the whole the project is running on schedule."

Andrew said dolomite in the Centurion area had provided some difficulties because it created large differences in depth from one area to the next, but surveyors had sorted them out.

Celestine Babayaro Failed In LA Galaxy Contract

The professional football career of former Super Eagles defender Celestine Babayaro appeared to hit rock bottom yesterday when America Major League Soccer (MLS) side LA Galaxy offloaded him.
Babayaro, who only joined the club of England super star David Beckham last month after being released by struggling Premiership side Newcastle United, had only played one game for the Galaxy before being asked to leave.
In fact the former Chelsea star had followed the Galaxy on their pre-season promotional tour of the Far East where he had played a solitary game before news broke yesterday morning on SkySports that the one time Nigerian international had been told his services were no longer needed.
Incidentally, speaking exclusively to THISDAYSports some years ago former England international Garth Crooks had described the defender as the most naturally gifted Nigerian player to have come into the Premiership but queried his attitude to the professional game.
“Babayaro is the most gifted player to have come out of Nigeria to ply his trade here (England),” said the former Spurs player, who was reacting to THISDAYSports’ question on his assessment of Nigerian footballers plying their trade in the Premiership.
Crooks, who spoke to THISDAYSports in Middlesex, however, added that although Babayaro was naturally gifted he would not have a productive and long career in England as long as his attitude to training and the game in general was poor.
“Celestine is a very fine player unfortunately his mind-set is all wrong. Unless he changes his attitude I believe he will never reach his full potentials, which will be very unfortunate,” said the former footballer, who now doubles as a freelance journalist with the BBC.
Since making his _2.25 million move to England from Anderlecht of Belgium in June 1997 Babayaro has often hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
On numerous occasions he has been fined by his various clubs for keeping late nights at different night clubs, while some years ago he was accused of rape by some girls who attended a party he organised.
Although he was exonerated by a London court, last year a woman told a British tabloid that she was suing the former junior international after he refused to give her child support for the baby she had for him.
According to the report, which had a picture of a baby, which bore an uncanny resemblance to the Atlanta’96 gold medallist, the lady claimed that a DNA test carried out at the behest of the footballer had confirmed that he was the farther.
It was his refusal to provide her money for the upkeep of the child despite the positive DNA test that prompted her to go to the papers.
With such baggage trailing him it is very difficult to see what the future holds for the Japan U-17 winner since clubs will be very reluctant to sign him on considering his antecedent.
Babayaro, who is still just only 30-years-old, has played for some of the biggest clubs in Europe including Anderlecht, with whom he won the Ebony Boot (given to the best foreign player in the Belgium league), Chelsea and Newcastle United

NFA meet Globacom To Clear Vogts Ghost

Bigwigs of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) are billed to meet this morning with Globacom to intimate officials of the second national carrier of their plans for Berti Vogts.
Also expected at the meeting billed for 11 am at the firm’s corporate headquarters at Mike Adenuga Towers, Victoria Island is Globacom’s Chairman Dr. Mike Adenuga.
A FA Board member was in Lagos Monday to secure today’s appointment for the association to meet with the Globacom boss and other top officials of the telecoms outfit.
Dr. Adenuga, an avid football buff, is one of the NFA of the NFA and was instrumental in securing the services of the former German World Cup winner for the Glass House by agreeing to pick up his wage bill. After bringing the Globacom executives up to date on the current situation as regards Vogts, FA bigwigs will also raise the issue of compensation for the German tactician, whose status with the Glass House is still a subject of controversy.
The FA feels that it is only proper to brief Globacom, which is forking out €50, 000 a month on the Super Eagles sweat merchant, what it would likely cost to pay off the 1974 World Cup winner.
Glass House sources told press yesterday, that they were meeting their main sponsor because the Vogts’ issue was reaching its climax and there was need to plan for the future.
“In the next few weeks the Vogts’ issue would be resolved and there is need for us (FA) to plan for life after him. What is most pressing now is meeting our sponsor and intimating them of what likely financial commitment we will have as regards settling his compensation package. Since they have been kind enough to bankroll his salary it is only proper that we let them know the situation of things,” said the FA official.
Only last week Vogts wrote the National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman Abdulrahaman Gimba to state his position and hint that he favoured FIFA arbitration in his face off with the FA. The NSC Chairman forwarded the letter to the Glass House last Friday asking for prompt action.
The FA is set to send its reply to the German this week. And at the behest of its lawyers will be seeking proper clarification as to whether Vogts’ had actually resigned as widely reported in the German media last month.
The Glass House is seeking this clarification because it will go a long way in determining how much compensation Vogts will be entitled to.
The FA has already given the German a 30-day notification to terminate his contract following the poor performance of the Eagles at Ghana 2008. The notification is expected to expire next week.
According to sources close to the German, Vogts in responding to the receipt of the notification said he was resigning rather than waiting to be fired. But the FA is insisting it was yet to formally receive the said resignation letter.
It is, however, clear that the German is reluctant to resign, because doing so could cost him a sizeable compensation fee from the FA.
According to FA officials if Vogts is resigning he will only be entitled to two months salary (about £100,000) and not the remainder of his contract, which the German is claiming.
The meeting between Globacom and NFA will go a long way in preparing the grounds for paying off the German who signed a three-year contract last February in London.

AKOFA Ivy final League games will hold in Lagos today

The final games of the 2008 season for the AKOFA Ivy League will hold in Lagos today. The league, which is specialised for the private secondary schools in Lagos and immediate environs, will hold at the Avi-Cenna International School in Ikeja GRA. The competition, which is organised by AKOFA Sports Company with approval from the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), is holding in its ninth season.
The Chief Executive Officer of AKOFA John Bimbo Faniran, who is also the President of the Nigeria Basketball Supporters Club (The Hoopers), told THISDAYSports that he expected this year’s finals to be the most exciting going by the level of improvement – technically, by the teams and the acquisition of a brand new indoor venue for the event.
The matches were usually played in an advanced out door court until this year when hosts Avi-Cenna built an indoor arena for the competition. Indeed the entire school structure was practically pulled down and rebuilt to accommodate the basketball hall deep within the courtyard.
The semi finals games held through Thursday. In some of the matches Indian School defeated Atlantic Hall 21-14 in the Girls category while Avi-Cenna International School defeated American International School 53-44 to book a place in the finals of the Boys event.
The final event is billed to start at about 1pm with the junior boys and girls events. These matches will herald the final matches in both categories for the schools.

South Africa :Bafana Bafana will Shape Up With The Warriors

Bafana Bafana will play Zimbabwe in an international friendly at Germiston Stadium on Tuesday.
Confirming this, Bafana manager Sipho Nkumane said the game will start at 19h00 and that the squad of locally-based players will be announced later today.

“Initially, we were negotiated to play Malawi but there were a few problems.

“The squad will only compromise local players, with the exception of those from Bidvest Wits who will be involved in a Nedbank Cup match next week.

Orlando Pirates striker Gilbert Mushangazhike will turn out for the Warriors.

Nkumane also disclosed that the international friendly game between Bafana Bafana and Paraguay, set for March 26, will be played at the Super Stadium.

Portsmouth: Redknapp Charges Utaka To Step Up

Harry Redknapp has challenged John Utaka to make a new start at Portsmouth by fulfilling his obvious potential at Fratton Park, even as team mate Nwankwo Kanu insists an upset is possible in tomorrow’s FA Cup showdown with Manchester United.
The £7 million attacker had a flying start to his Premier League career, scoring on his debut and then again in the third match of the season against Bolton.
However, that form has not continued since then, with only two further goals coming from the flying wideman.
He was left on the bench for Pompey’s recent 3-1 defeat at Everton, and Redknapp has challenged Utaka to find his best form ahead of the weekend FA Cup quarter final at Manchester United.
“We are going to need some performances from him between now and the end of the season,” Redknapp told The News. “He has all the ability in the world and can be what he wants to be.
“He can finish terrifically. You'd take John to score when he goes through. He has done that on a couple of occasions for us this season. “John has fantastic ability so it's up to him to put it to use. He has to use it.”
Meanwhile, Kanu believes that Pompey can cause an upset tomorrow stressing that in cup games anything is possible.
Speaking to THISDAYSports on phone from his London home yesterday, Kanu, who is scheduled to undergo a late fitness test today ahead of tomorrow’s clash, said: “United are a very good side. They are very difficult to beat at home but this is a cup game and anything is possible.
“We’ve already seen a number of underdogs causing upsets. We’re the underdogs tomorrow and we’re also ready to cause our own upset. We have the players and the resolve to do well against the favourites.”
For Kanu who won the FA Cup with Arsenal, believes even a draw for Pompey at Old Trafford would be a stunning achievement.
“Even if we’re able to get a draw we’ll be able to finish the job at Fratton Park,” said the former African Footballer of the Year who was on the wrong side of a 2-0 Premiership defeat when Pompey visited the Theatre of Dreams.
Speaking in a similar view, Jermain Defoe has every confidence Pompey can upset United this weekend, admitting he has been shocked by the level of quality at Fratton Park.
“When I got the phone call before I came here I looked at the players and saw how much quality there was,” Defoe told the club’s website.
“But even then you don’t realise how good they are until you actually play with them.”
United, who have only faced Premier League opposition in this season’s competition, and Portsmouth met in the fourth round last year when two outstanding goals from Wayne Rooney gave the home side a narrow 2-1 victory at Old Trafford.
Both the Manchester United versus Portsmouth FA Cup clash and the evening tie between Barnsley and Chelsea are live on SuperSport.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Oleg Maskaev Will Be Dealt With-Samuel Peter

“For keeping me waiting, I’m going to be punishing him in rounds one, two and three and then I’ll knock him out in four.”

That was the pledge of WBC Interim-Heavyweight Champion Samuel Peter, who was at a lone star at a press conference, as WBC Champion Oleg Maskaev was a no-show.

Sam has had to fight James Toney twice during a year and a half wait, part of which involved Oleg overcoming injuries. The two finally clash in Cancun’s Bullring on March 8th. And Sam resplendent and regally decked out in purple and white flowing robes, with time on his hands, vowed to castigate the ageing Russian for tardiness.

Sam, who’s nickname is the Nigerian Nightmare promised a fight exceeding everyone’s wildest dreams,stating: “It’s going to be a great fight. I’ve been waiting for this for so long. He’s wasted my career because I could have unified all the championship belts by now. He’s been keeping me waiting and for doing that I’m going to punish him, and then I’m going to knock him out. No doubt about it four rounds or before that, he’s going to be gone. I’m going to send him back home! His punching will not be able to do anything to me, but I believe I’m going to drill a hole in his head.”

He also insisted: “I’m really determined, because I have to win this for Nigeria, Africa and Las Vegas.”

He also managed a dig at Oleg who won the title with a final round TKO against Hasim Rahman, claiming: “He stole the belt in Vegas, because the other guy was tired. If someone’s tired and you knock him out, your not really winning. You have to take the guy out while he’s still fresh, so I’m going to do this to prove I’m the real heavyweight champion of the world.”

Sam who also said he’s going to fight all out like a Mexican and he’s vowed to return to defend his title in Cancun.

Stacey McKinley who Sam’s trainer has worked with a whole variety of champions including Mike Tyson, Michael Moorer, Tony Tucker and Earnie Shavers. He explained that Sam’s still developing as a fighter and it’ll take several more bouts for him to realize his full potential. He’s stopped him occasionally switching to southpaw and is complimenting his massive power with a full range of skills. Concerning the three knockdowns against Jumbo Jameel McCline in his last fight, Stacey praised Sam for recovering well, fighting smart and for going on to win convincingly.

Stacey also paid tribute to Oleg Maskaev saying he’s a good fighter and he’s not being taken lightly, but his advanced age could well be a factor if the fight went to the later rounds, when pressure could be applied.

Sam’s co-promoter Dino Duva is equally glad that this fight is finally going to happen. He reflected: “It’s been a year and a half in the coming, ever since September of 06 when Samuel beat James Toney for the first eliminator. This is going to be the first step in Samuel Peter unifying the Heavyweight Championship of the World.

“Samuel’s done everything that’s been asked of him and now everything’s one the line on March 8th as finally we get Oleg Maskaev in the ring.”

Referring to Samuel’s own nightmare when he was decked three times early one by massive Jameel McCline Dino enthused: “What Samuel did in that fight against Jameel was nothing short of sensational. He got hit by a big two hundred and seventy pound heavyweight right on the button. Many fighters would have never even have got up. By Samuel got up, he persevered, he did what he had to do, and that’s what true champions do. They come back from adversity and win. In that fight Samuel showed the champion’s heart that he has.”

South Africa 2010:Economic Blessing

With the FIFA Soccer World Cup in South Africa only two years away, more opportunities are opening up as international companies and role players start focusing on the region.

One such initiative is the German International Football Academy which is an international sport and academic exchange programme run by Bernd Wulffen.The company recently opened an office in Cape Town, with the aim of starting a soccer academy, while they also aim to recruit talented boys and girls to play professionally abroad or to study in the United States.

Wulffen recently visited Namibia with the aim of building up contacts amongst the footballing community and to sound out the possibilities of organising similar academies, training camps and exchange programmes in Namibia.

"We are based in Washington, and we promote football exchange programmes in the United States, Germany and Canada.

We run football academies in the United States where we identify talented players and organise them trials with clubs in Germany.

We also work in partnership with some of the leading universities in the United States, who offer scholarships for talented male and female soccer players," he said.

They have similar programmes for girls who do field hockey by organising them trials with top German hockey clubs and American Universities.

With the World Cup coming to South Africa, Wulffen thought it would be appropriate to open an office with the aim of starting an academy there.

"We have opened an office in Cape Town and are now busy contacting schools to try and identify talented players with the aim of starting a soccer academy.

I want to build up contacts with the Namibian soccer community so that we can organise football clinics and exchange programmes for talented youngsters here," he said.

"We work with top German clubs like Hamburger SV, Fortuna Duesseldorf, MSV Duisburg and the Blackburn Rovers in England, and have sent talented youngsters for trials to these clubs.

But it's not easy and not many make the grade.

We test the players thoroughly before we send them because we need to make sure that they are mentally strong and have the right characters," he added.

PLANS TO EXPAND SCHOOL EXCHANGES Wulffen, who is an A licence coach, plans to further expand his exchange programme by bringing German youths to South Africa and possibly Namibia, as part of their school exchange programme.

Wulffen left Germany for the United States in 1986 where he coached various teams before opening a soccer school.

He started organising soccer camps, while he also organised trials for promising United States players at German clubs.Later on he started working with leading United States universities like Harvard, George Washington University, Boston College and St.

John's Univeristy New York to organise scholarships for promising young soccer players.

Today his exchange programme has expanded to Canada and Germany while they regularly hold youth soccer academies at leading venues like the LTU Arena in Duesseldorf.