CLUBS AWAIT CHAMPION'S LEAGUE DRAW

The group winners from the last stage will play the runners-up, other than teams from their own pool or nation.
United and Liverpool will hope to avoid Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
Arsenal and Chelsea, who came second in their groups, could face the likes of Barcelona or Juventus, and will also play the second leg away from home.
Last season, three of the English teams made it through to the semi-finals.
United won last season's competition, beating Chelsea 6-5 on penalties in Moscow after the pair had been locked at 1-1 after extra-time.
The Red Devils have made strong progress again this season, and manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes his side are better placed to retain the trophy than they were after their previous triumph in 1999

LADAN BOSSO INVITES MAN UTD YOUNGSTER ON RESCUE MISSION

Embattled Nigerian Flying Eagles coach Ladan Bosso has turned to unknown Nigerian-born Manchester United Academy youngster Nicky Ajose to rescue his team as he made public a list of 46 players invited for the African Youth Championship billed for Rwanda next month.
Born in Bury, 17-year-old Ajose who had been capped by England at the U-16 level tops the list of 21 foreign-based players invited by the Flying Eagles handler in what he referred to as his first set of invitees, a list that left out his top foreign-based players who prosecuted the AYC qualifiers.
CAF Champions League top scorer Steven Worgu led the 25 home-based players listed in the list as some of the players who featured in the dismal WAFU Cup outing were also given a second chance.
Midfielder Ajose who was born on 7th October 1991 is expected to prove himself when Bosso releases his second list of established players including Lukman Haruna, Rabiu Ibrahim, Chrisantus Macauley, Ganiyu Oseni and Kabiru Akinsola.
The tournament takes place in Kigali from January 18 to February 1.The players are expected to report to the Brifina Hotel camp in Abuja from December 15 for the domestic players and December 28 for the foreign-based players.
The squad:Foreign-based playersChima Daniel (Charlton Athletic FC), Kayode Fagbola (Saint Patrick, Ireland), Innocent Nkasiobi Emeghara (FC Zurich), Azeez O. Balogun (Belenenses, Portugal), Frank Temile (Dynamo Kiev), Jason K. Oladele (Dublin, Ireland), Robert Collins (AC Pro Sesto Calico, Italy), Adeola Runsewe (FC Midtjylland, Denmark),Kingsley Umunegbu, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Harmony Ikande (AC Milan, Italy), Gabriel Baba (Lusitano, Switzerland), Daniel Adejo (Reggina, Italy), Nicky Ajose (Manchester United), Jamil Adams (Barnsley FC, England).
Home-based playersSteven Worgu, Okoro O. Moses, Salami F. Gbolahan, Uchebo M. Okechukwu, Kennedy Eriba, Okafor Uche, Dele Ajiboye, Theophilus A, Steven Joseph, Obum Ogbe, Joshua Daniel, Edet Ibok, Alex Nkume, Vincent Atabo, Ambrose Peter, Edile Origoya, Samuel Tswanya, Obiora Nwankwo, Abe Sunday, Egbeta U. Michael, Igiebo Emmanuel, Otekpa Eneji, Timothy Idogbe, Peter Abraham, Ayo Saka.

OBASI HUNGARY FOR WINTER GLORY IN GERMANY

Super Eagles striker Chinedu Obasi will be expected to play a key role when his Bundesliga side, Hoffenheim file out against Schalke in the last game of the first round of the German league season.
The former Lyn Oslo of Norway player who returned to active football last week after recovering from an ankle injury he picked in Hoffenheim’s 3-2 defeat of Wolfsburg last month will be the cynosure of all eyes at the Carl Benz Stadion when both clubs clash in the encounter.
And the Olympic silver medalist who has scored 6 goals in the Bundesliga is already hungry for goals as he hopes to increase his tally in the league and also help his team to maintain their leadership position in the German League.
Obasi who spoke to Complete Sports at the weekend, said he was back for real though he could not score for the ‘Village Club’ when he played his first game after he returned from injury penultimate Friday.
“I will be glad to go into the winter break with a victory over Schalke because we want to maintain the top and everybody is ready to do his best in the match. The match is very important for us and we are going to do our best to make sure we win,” the Super Eagles striker said.
The Nigerian international is one of the strikers coach Shauiabu Amodu is looking forward to help Nigeria qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

FALCONS WIN PSYCHOLOGY WAR IN EQUITORIAL GUINEA

Nigeria have won the psychological war ahead of Tuesday’s African Women Championship semi final clash with hosts Equatorial Guinea at the National Stadium, Malabo .
Local organizers had slated the Super Falcons to train at the match venue at 9am on Monday but NFF’s Assistant General Secretary (Competitions), Alhaji Sanusi Mohammed, who is also head of administration for the Nigeria team, rejected the time –table and insisted the Falcons would be there at 2pm.
International football regulations allow visiting teams to train at match venue at the time of the match on the eve of the game.
“We had a tough battle with the LOC people who initially denied us entry into the Stadium, but we took up the matter, with the NFF 1st Vice President, Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam, and we succeeded in training there”, Mohammed said.
However, as at Monday night, the Confederation of African Football was yet to respond to a protest by Nigeria that two players of the Equatorial Guinea team be gender –checked.
Super Falcons’ head coach, Joseph Ladipo said on Monday that his girls were fired up for battle: “We are unshaken despite all their antics. Their attitude will bring the very best out of my team.
“We remain focused.

I AM FED UP WITH NIGERIA SPORTS

The Managing Director of CCL, Mumini Alao had intimated the Nigerian Football fraternity through his Soccer Talk column in Complete Sports, that the medium would relaunch a series that was once initiated by Complete Football Magazine: a series to celebrate the living legends of Nigerian sports. Enough of the hypocritical tributes in the media each time a national hero passed on!
The life and times of Oyo Orok Oyo as recorded and celebrated by Complete Football magazine while he was alive at 70 was very inspiring. Incidentally upon his death recently at the age of 86, this writer embarked on an ultimate search (apologies Guilder) to discover late Oyo Orok’s contemporary hero a certain Etim Henshaw (Henshaw of Marine!), a football legend still living quietly in Calabar, aged 88!
The search for Henshaw by Complete Sports was not that easy, being a hidden treasure tucked away in one sleepy community in Calabar. And he would later confirm that his living in obscurity at old age was not by accident but by design — for not so palatable reasons though!
First, yours truly made a serious but failed efforts to establish contact and inform the octogenarian living legend that Complete Sports was coming to Calabar to see him. Most of the football personalities contacted in Calabar on telephone didn’t know the residence nor the contact number of Etim Henshaw, the first ever captain of Nigeria’s national football team in the pre-independence Nigeria.
However, when luck eventually smiled on your frantic Complete Sports’ Ultimate Search man, it was in form of a multi-directional road map — no direct link to Pa Etim Henshaw. It started with a phone call put through to former ace goalkeeper, Etta Egbe, a Calabar resident who provided the contact number of Cross River State FA Secretary, Mr. Greg Abang. And when contacted, Abang needed to contact a relation of the pioneer Nigerian international for approval and consent to visit his ‘hideout’. Yet that contact failed to materialize on phone for a proper appointment with Etim Henshaw.
But the Ultimate Search must go on! So on Saturday, October 25, 2008, Complete Sports decided to ‘invade’ Calabar, hopefully abode of Etim of Henshaw as well, even without a prior appointment.
Alas!, I was an environmental sanitation day in Lagos, and yours truly roughed it through the hassles of the intra-city movement to the airport, but was not lucky for the first Arik Air flight to Calabar, hence settling for an unplanned new schedule and a long wait-for the second — an afternoon flight.
On arrival at Margret Ekpo International Airport Calabar early afternoon, I quickly contacted my guide, Cross River FA scribe, Mr. Abang who kindly adjusted his schedule too, to help locate Etim Henshaw’s residence.The next destination was the residence of Cross River FA Chairman and a member of House of Reps Committee on Sports, Hon. Pastor Essien Ekpenyong Ayi who hailed Complete Sports’ mission in Calabar. Consequently, a call was put through to Etim Henshaw’s cousin, Chief Nta Inyang Henshaw who later showed up at the FA Chief’s house about two hours later.
Chief Nta Henshaw is the Chairman Calabar South chapter of PDP, and was attending the party’s function when he was called to come and attend to his uncle’s visitor from Lagos.
Chief Nta Henshaw’s arrival to meet the Complete Sports’ man was a kind of confirmation that our ultimate search was going to be a huge success.
“You are most welcome to Calabar, and may God bless you people at Complete Sports, for taking an initiative that no one else had thought of doing for the interest of Etim Henshaw,” the amiable middle aged man greeted yours truly warmly at Honourable Ayi’s home.
“I’m sorry for the trouble you’ve gone through trying to reach my uncle,” he continued. “These days, we’re being very careful about people who are desirous to have access to Etim Henshaw. He had an embarrassing experience sometime ago with somebody who claimed to be a sports promoter.
The man came here claiming to have come from Lagos and working with German partners: that they would package something that would benefit the legendary Etim Henshaw. So, we allowed him access to him, and he took some information and pictures, but since has never called back, nor sent a word.
Continued Nta Henshaw: “We (Henshaw family) is glad that Complete Sports is taking this great initiative. Nigeria seem not to know what they have in Etim Henshaw. This is the first captain of the national team, and nobody remembers him for something worthwhile.
“Nigeria has somebody like him who is still alive but he has not been accorded the right recognition that his status in the country’s football deserves. But what can we do? We leave that for posterity to judge. However, thank you Complete Sports, for coming all the way from Lagos to talk to this living legend,” Nta Henshaw concluded soberly.


Road To The Captaincy Of UK Tourists (1949)
How did you start to play football?
The main thing is that in our days — my cousin, Ita Inyang will bear me witness, every space around the houses was a field, every open ground was a field.
And we were kicking anything round. In fact, our parents were complaining about oranges and lime fruits being plucked with reckless abandon for football. So we were kicking any thing round and oranges were coming quite handy.
There was this natural enthusiasm among young men to play football.
In as much as it was competitive, we didn’t expect any money. We played football as kids and carried on at school level. At school level, we had competitions among the schools. I played at Hope Wadell against other schools.
Then after that, I got to Lagos in 1939. I finished at Hope Wadell Calabar in 1938. In Lagos, I was enrolled at Marine Technical School for Engineering.
Then I join the Marine football team. And that’s how I started my official progress (laughs)
How did you get into the Nigerian national team? How did it happen?
Like I said earlier, as a student of Marine Technical School studying Engineering, I was selected to play for the Marine football team. There were such other football teams in Lagos as PWD, LTC, Railways, Police. All these departments had teams.
So, the duty of the heads of these teams was to go around picking good players for their departments. So, the director of the Marine team wanted to know the boys who were leaving school with top grades, and some of us left just in time when we were in class six after taking our Cambridge (A Level). So the director of the Marine team said we should come and learn Engineering.
So, we became the second set of Nigerians brought up as Marine Engineers. Part of their aim was to get some of us into the Marine football team, and that’s how I got into their team. I was good enough to get into their first team, and started my Lagos football there, and started progressing. We had Marine, Railways, PWD, Lagos town council, Police teams in Lagos, as well as some school teams, including Igbobi College.
So, when ever there was any international match for Nigeria, the authority picked players from these teams. That’s how I was first picked and we played countries like Togo, Gold Coast (Ghana) Port-Novo and others in 1940. They came to Nigeria, and later we also went to play them in their respective countries.
These were international friendly matches. There were only few countries in Africa with national teams then.
What was the name of Nigeria’s national team then?
We were called Nigeria 11, just that
Tell us about the UK tour of the national team?
All the things I have been saying led up to the UK tour in 1949. We started practicing and playing other countries teams until 1949 when there was to be this UK tour.
First, the football authority started bringing teams from different parts of the country to Lagos to vie for the Governor’s Cup (now FA Cup). From there, they picked players to represent Nigeria for the UK competitions. That’s how they got boys from Kano, the West the East, to make up the team which went to England.
Was the tour your most important outing with the national team?
Yes indeed, it was the most important at that particular period because before then we never went outside beyond the West Coast of Africa to play any match. But this time, we went straight to London, and to Liverpool. So it was really outstanding.
So, in the UK in 1949 with the national team, Nigeria - Eleven, what happened?
First of all, we played something like their own Marine Eleven in Liverpool. I’m sorry that I can’t remember the details again. I can’t remember the names of the other team we played there or the results of each match. Altogether, we played about eight or nine matches.
Were the matches tournaments or friendly matches?
It was quite official, because they picked out the teams we played and laid out the matches –– well scheduled.In fact, when we got to London, the Prince of Wales came to welcome us to England and bid us goodluck, then we went over to Liverpool.
Marine Crosby is the name of the first team we played. And then, we went up north to play another team, then came back to London to play a few teams there. All together, the team stayed about two weeks in England.
The record has it that you were the captain of that Nigeria -Eleven, for the UK tour, the very first national team captain. Is that correct?
Yes, at least playing international outside Nigeria, that’s very correct.
In that light, plus all your other contributions to the national team, you are a great man- a living legend...(Laughs)... well, you never can tell, I must have been very lucky. I was just lucky to get that privilege - that’s the way I see it.
Could you recall how you got to be picked as the first captain of the national team. How did it happen?
Well, as I said earlier, I got there in 1939 when I actually joined the Marine team, and we played until when some older players in the team retired, then the officials wanted to appoint a leader among the players, and I was handed the captaincy of the team.
I also captained the Marine team, and then the team was a dreaded one because we had good player, and were winning matches. Other teams treated us (Marine team) with great respect.
With Marine team, we players became famous, and I was privileged to be the captain of such a famous team.So, when it came to the time of the UK tour: having selected players for the Nigeria 11, the officials sat and decided to pick a player as the captain, and I was surprised that they picked me.
What position were you playing?
I was playing centre forward
You must be very prolific then — so much so that it earned you the captaincy of Nigeria 11...(Laughs...) well, I was a bit dangerous to be frank, I was really playing out my heart and enjoying the sport.
Who are the other notable players of your time that you can remember so well even today?
Sure, quite a lot of them. We had Dan Anyiam, Tunde Balogun, Otun from Lagos department teams, other great player I can remember are Titus Okere of Railways and one Ibiam (a goalkeeper) and Dankaro from the north who was very good. I’m sorry, I can’t remember the names of many others, but you can see the picture there (pointing at an old framed picture of Nigeria II hanging on the wall of his sitting room).
Who was your national team coach then?
Frankly, at the national team in Lagos, we had no coach oo. We had no coach But for the UK tour, we had an English coach, Mr. Frinch. They employed him to handle the national team especially for that tour and he left us after the tour.
Before the tour, it was just some of the older players that were acting as coaches.
By and large, how rewarding was it materially, playing for the national team during your time?
The last time we played the Governors Cup (now challenge Cup or FA Cup), the Lebanese who were very fond of betting came and had a bet. It was the final of the Governor’s Cup, and if we (Marine) played a draw with Railways, they will take the Cup, but we would only take the Cup if we won.
So we played up till about 10 minutes remaining in the match, and it was a draw. Fortunately for us, we took a corner and it was Ben our left-winger that took the kick. Ben looked at me, and I instantly decided to trick the opponents.
So, I gesticulated with my finger indicating where Ben would put the ball.
But rather than running to the spot I pointed to Ben, I tricked them by running behind their back-keeper (defender) and swerved the ball into the net. And that was how we won that match, and the Cup.
But one remarkable thing that happened was that when it was a draw, the Lebanese who betted on our expected win were leaving the field out of disappointment. But while outside, they heard the shouting that greeted our winning goal and rushed back into the stadium to get the claims of their betting.
They were so happy that they called some of us and gave us five shillings each, while some got 10 shillings.
Then the football authority, LAFA became very annoyed when they heard about the cash gift the Lebanese gave some of us. Why? They said we were taking money just for playing football as if we had become professional betters. They threatened to suspend us. They scared the hell out of us. But that were mere presents of five shillings and 10 shillings.
So, some of us went back to the Lebanese to make our predicament known to them. We told them ‘look this money you gave us is causing trouble for us, please go and tell the authority that you were not bribing us’. They went and confronted LAFA, and warned them that they would stop assisting them if they punish us for no just cause.
So, you can now understand the kind of football we were playing at that time.
We were workers playing for our various departments teams, so once you collect money, the officials would shout: that you were taking bribe.
The truth is that in my time, we were just playing for playing sake.
What about playing for Nigeria – the national team. How rewarding was it? Did the government at one time or the other reward you for doing the nation proud.
Till we left, no. Nothing like that. When they wanted to open the new stadium, King George v Stadium (now Onikan Stadium) mid 60s, they invited those of us members of the UK tourists team, and they gave us commemorative plaque – see it there (pointing at a wooden plaque sitting inside as shelve in his sitting room).
How long did you play for the national team?
There was no definite national team as you have it now. But then, when they wanted to play, say Ghana, they would pick we players from the different departments’ teams, and form a national team for that particular match. But nothing was paid to any player, nothing whatsoever.
Training in school
I attended Duke Town Primary School here in Calabar. Then I went to Hope Wadell — same school Late Nnamdi Azikiwe attended, for my secondary school. And when I finished my class six, I took my Cambridge and got it and went straight to the Marine Technical Institute.
While at Marine technical school, being trained as an Engineer alongside my colleagues at that time, we did our engineering course in the workshop and on-board. Then we went overseas for our Marine Engineer Certificates.
The technical school side took us four and half years, then practical training on board ships took us 4 years. After that, we went over to the United Kingdom for our exams.
For me, it was when I went on the UK Tour with Nigeria II in 1949 that I stayed behind for my Marine Engineer Certificate. That was an arrangement between the Marine department and the Nigeria Football Association; that I should be left behind to continue my course. I was on a steady course, and I was the only member of the UK Tourists that stayed back after the playing tour.
How long did you serve in Marine department before retiring
I didn’t stay the normal 35 years. Actually, I stayed 36 years before I retired.
Now, while in retirement, how has you been following the events of Nigeria football?
Well, in a way, I have been following the proceedings in Nigerian football, but some times, one gets fed-up because one is not happy with situation of things.
The foundation we laid many years ago as non-professional has not evolved so much into professionalism. So, Nigerian football has not developed appreciably.
Obviously, in Nigeria, we have very good players, but there is no encouragement for the boys to enjoy their footballing careers here in good professional atmosphere. So, in this kind of environment, the players are often frustrated out of the game, while many who are talented venture into other businesses to earn their livelihood.And because the environment we have here for our football is not professional enough, the good players we have only play for a club here for a little while, then go. Overseas and join clubs there.
The ultimate challenge I am giving the football authority is to make football in Nigeria very professional, and keep the bulk of our talented players in the Nigerian League, and this way, huge development will come in and the boys will be a lot more useful to the country.
Honestly, I don’t think one should be very happy about the current state of Nigerian football. The authority is trying, but at this age, Nigerian football deserve a lot more better development than what is presently on ground. Nigeria is a very big country – we should be doing more than we are doing right now. For instance, there should be football schools, and NFF can successfully see to this if they are ready to work hard. The authority can run this kind of school for players, and have our talented footballers well schooled.
I doubt if we have any real professional clubs in this country today. Are the boys getting their dues from the clubs they play for? How much sanity are in the clubs’ dealings with the players? I wonder if there is any club that practices true professionalism. I don’t think the situation we have on ground is encouraging to our young footballers. They are not well paid, and most of them are aspiring to play in overseas.
The coaches too, should strive to develop themselves so that they can impart in our players, the good techniques and other values necessary in professional football. NFF should also work very hard in ensuring that they facilitate re-training programmes for Nigerian coaches. I believe we have good brains that can handle Nigeria national team well, but NFF have to invest in developing them too. I don’t believe in hiring someone for the national team just because he’s a whiteman.
Your advice to the present generation of footballers, as father or rather a grandfather as far as Nigeria football is concerned.
(Laughs...) One, if they are actually paid to play for their clubs, they should concentrate on Nigerian league and work very hard to help make it strong, interesting and attractive. They should work very hard to develop themselves. For instant, if you work very hard on your talent, you can be good enough to play different roles for your team, like a player who plays inside-left position can play on the right in an emergency situation. They should work hard to be such complete players who are not stereotyped, but being able to switch roles. This is my candid advice to the young boys of today.
If you are versatile with different positions, you are more relaible because when an emergency occurs during a match, the coach will call on such exceptional talent. We used to play that kind of roles during my time.
Coaches too need players who can play with both legs, and I know with my experience even in the olden days, that such skills can be developed and adapted to with serious practicing.
Did you get to relate with the late Oyo Orok Oyo in any way when you were playing?
Actually, Oyo Orok Oyo was the assistant FA Secretary in Lagos when we were in LAFA, and Effion Okon was the man in-charge. He (Okon) later handed over to Orok. He (Orok) was very efficient. Yes, Orok was there when I was playing for Marine and the Nigeria II.
UK Tourists (1949)AnosikeKanuAniekeChukwuraTunder Balogun (Late)OnwudiweShittuLawsonOttun (late)AdedoyeDan Anyiam (late)Etim Henshaw (Capt)IbiamDokuboOtu Mesembe (Died last year)EbenezerDankaroCoach: Mr. Finch (English).

Calabar Ultimate Search For Henshaw
Calabar, the ancient but still beautiful capital city of Cross River State boasts of a rich history concerning the Nigerian nation. To refresh one’s memory: dating back as far as the 17th century, history has it that Calabar was one a haven for slave trading. It was also there that a certain Mary Slessor, a white Missionary woman first abolished the hitherto gruesome killing of twins.
History also had it that Calabar was the center for the British’s administration of the Southern Nigeria between 1885 and 1906. Calabar’s excellent natural harbor which earlier engendered slave trading would later attract trading in palm oil and palm kernels during the 19th century by the British merchants.
It was even said that Calabar had the privilege of witnessing the first ever football played on Nigerian soil when the whitemen did that for pleasure for Nigerians to copy.
Perhaps, it’s now safe to suggest that it was just following a pre-ordained pattern when Calabar again produced Oyo Orok Oyo (of blessed memory now), a foremost football administrator in Nigeria who rose through the ranks in Nigerian, African and world football, including an eight-year executive seat in FIFA and as Vice President of CAF.
It’s no longer news that in Nigeria, Calabar is playing the leading role in tourism, now famous worldwide with her annual Calabar Carnival and Tinapa, the exotic tourism center.
Back to sports, specifically football: Complete Sports Saturday learnt there was a hidden treasure somewhere in Calabar. It’s a human treasure, but an unsung living legend of Nigerian football, hence this launch of the Ultimate Search.
It’s an ultimate search to unveil the very first captain of Nigeria’s national football team in the 1940s. He is Etim Henshaw, from Calabar!

REDNAP HAILS COME BACK SPURS

David Bentley's brilliant early strike put Spurs ahead, but Mikael Silvestre headed Arsenal level before half-time.
William Gallas put Arsenal in front seconds after the re-start and Emmanuel Adebayor bundled home their third.
Darren Bent pulled one back before Robin van Persie added Arsenal's fourth - but Jermaine Jenas's 89th-minute goal and Lennon's tap-in earned a point.
Bentley's audacious opener gave Redknapp the perfect start to his first official game in charge, but that early optimism soon disappeared as Arsenal took total control of the north London derby.
But once again Arsenal were guilty of their familiar crime of over-elaboration and missing chances, leaving the door open for Spurs to rescue a point from a game that looked lost.

MEXICO OFFER TO REPLACE NIGERIA

Mexico have offered to replace Nigeria as host of next year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup if Nigeria is eventually stripped of the right.
This is the submission of Fifa executive committee member Chuck Blazer who represents the Concacaf region.
Blazer said Mexico is ready if FIFA decide to look beyond the African continent for the new host of the competition.
“They have offered themselves and we are very proud of the fact,” Blazer said. “They have a very good and ready infrastructure.”
Mexico is scheduled to host the 24-team tournament in 2011. FIFA had earlier confirmed that Nigeria wants to pull out of hosting the event.
The world body must now decide whether to help finance the Nigeria or look elsewhere. Blazer says their leader Sepp Blatter is committed to holding the youth World Cup in Africa.
“I think he (Blatter) is going to continue to work to see whether they can find an appropriate alternative there first,” Blazer said.
Fifa said in a statement that Nigeria “is no longer in a position to provide its support for the organization of the tournament.”
The Nigerian government and football officials were at the Fifa headquarters in Zurich this week to explain their situation.
Nigeria President Umaru Yar’Adua had already said that funding the $30 million budget was not a priority. Six cities are in line to stage matches but all need work to upgrade stadiums and infrastructure.

MORINHO WINS OFF-THE PITCH WAR IN ITALY

Catania sporting director Pietro Lo Monaco has been fined and suspended for comments made during his war of words with Inter boss Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho and Lo Monaco became embroiled in a spat after Inter squeezed past Catania 2-1 in Week 2.The Special One antagonised the Etnei by claiming the score could have been 5-0 and that he could have played in goal for Inter.
Lo Monaco hit back and stated that Mourinho “needed a smack in the mouth.”Although the Catania man apologised and stressed that he wasn’t trying to incite violence, the Italian Football Federation has taken action against him.
The Rossazzurri man will be banned from his role for 40 days and has received a fine of just under £12,000

USA BASED S/LEONE STAR WARNS EAGLES

Leone Stars and United State based Houston Dynamo striker , Kei Kamara has warned the Super Eagles of Nigeria defenders that they would face a goal thirsty striker on October 11 in Abuja .


The striker who scored twice for Dynamo in their Tuesday night CONCACAF Champions League clash against Pumas UNAM said he was confident of accomplishing a similar action against the Nigerians.

With Leone Stars preparing to face the group four leaders in Abuja for their final 2010 Nations Cup/World Cup qualifiers, Kamara said his goals scoring form could edge the Super Eagles.

He said: “I missed our 2:1 home victory against Equatorial Guinea due to suspension. I want my comeback to be felt and I believe the only way is to get my first goal for my country.”

“The match is important for us to qualify as one of the eight best loosers in the qualifying series. We must go all out to win the match.”

Despite the striker scored twice for his club, they were held to a 4: 4 draw as their CONCACAF Champions League campaign still continues.

Kamara’s teammate, Craig Waibel headed Dynamo’s opener in the fourth minutes from a corner kick and 4 minutes latter, Kamara got his first goal of the day from a 12 yards rocket striker in the six-yard box to give Dynamo’s a 2-0 lead.

Dante Lopez and Efrain Juarez gave Pumas the equalizer before Kamara converted a penalty as Dynamo regained a 3-2 lead. Waibel again scored for Dynamo before Pumas got their equalizer.




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MIKEL LEADS IN THE CHELSEA PLAYER OF THE SEASON POLL

The rating Nigerian midfielder John Mikel Obi enjoys among fans of English clubside Chelsea continues to soar by the day as he is presently in the forefront in the club’s ‘Player of the Season’ polls.
The former FC Lyn of Norway player, when fit, has been a regular feature in the Blues’ line-up and is the catalyst behind the London side’s impressive start to the 2008-09 league campaign.
Last weekend the Nigeria international was yet again in the heart of the Chelsea midfield dictating play to the delight of manager Luiz Felipe Scolari and the club’s band of traveling supporters as they handed Stoke City a 2-0 thumping at the Britannia Stadium.
Mikel’s performance against the Potters however only earned him third spot among Chelsea fans who voted the duo of Florent Malouda and Jose Bosingwa respectively as their top two performers last weekend.
Voting took place on a website dedicated to supporters of the Blues,and Mikel grabbed a respectable 12 percent of the vote against Bosingwa’s 27 percent and Malouda’s 38 percent.
Any player who emerges man of the match after every game earns five points while three points and a point are on offer for the second and third-placed player, and Mikel for his effort against Stoke picked up the solitary point on offer.
The point was however enough to push Mikel to the top of the leader board as he now has nine points in the overall table, a point ahead of the duo of Deco and goalkeeper Petr Cech.
In fourth place is Frank Lampard with six points followed by the quartet of Michael Essien, Ricardo Carvalho, Alex and Malouda, who are all on five points.
Meanwhile, Mikel has confirmed that everything went according to plan for the Blues last weekend against Stoke.
Chelsea won yet again on the road against a Potters side expected to take a direct and an athletic approach.
And Mikel believes the homework paid off just as he insists nothing caught his side by surprise at the Britannia.“We knew the game would be physical and we knew their game was about chipping the ball and running. We talked about it a lot before the game. We did exactly what we were told,” said Mikel.

MAN-CITY DENIES RONALDO,FABREGAS HIJACK PLAN

Manchester City’s new owners have played down a megabucks January spending spree.
The Abu Dhabi United Group, headed by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan, will take full control of the Eastlands club today.
City had been linked with moves for Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas on the final day of the transfer window last month.
But Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim, who made the audacious claims, has since been sidelined by the new owners.
And new City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak insisted: “Nothing rash is going to happen, we are not going to do crazy stuff. “We are genuine people and we want to develop this club in a sustainable manner.
“We want to hear from the fans and the community. We want to bring this club back to the community and to the fans. “We are here as long-term investors and it makes sense for us to build a dynasty.
“With our backing, with the commitment we are going to make to the academy in the next 10 years there is going to be a tremendous period for Manchester City and for us.
“And I think we are going to have a blast doing it!” Al Mubarak reiterated that boss Mark Hughes will have the final say on transfer dealings.
He said: “One thing I have made very clear to Mark is that any player he wants comes from him.
“I am not an expert. It is Mark who runs the club and Mark who makes the football decisions. “We are here to support and make financial decisions, but we are not here to teach Mark or Garry what to do.
“They are the professionals, we trust them, we have confidence in them and we are going to support them. “Mark is an honest man, he’s a leader, he’s tough and he is everything you would want in a head coach.
“We trust him, he’s one of the gems we saw in this club once we came here. “He will put a plan together to win trophies, but we will be patient.
“As long as it is being managed properly and the players are doing what they need to do, then it will take whatever it takes.”

KANU:WENGER CHANGED MY LIFE

Nigeria's Super Eagles captain,Nwankwo Kanu has hailed Arsene Wenger for offering him the chance to revive his career after his heart operation.
The Nigeria legend is grateful to Arsenal manager Wenger, who signed him from Inter in 1998 and helped him bounce back to form and continue his career at the highest level.
The 32-year-old Kanu feels the Frenchman is the reason why he is still a Premier League star.
“I owe him a lot because he believed in me,” Kanu told Canal+. “He gave me self confidence and faith. And I think I paid him back because I did very well with Arsenal.
“We were all together, like a family during this period, and I scored special goals, especially against Chelsea, three in 15 minutes.
“He gave me the chance to have fun playing football and permitted me to dream on.” Kanu added that his current club Portsmouth have a united group that can be compared to the one he was part of at Highbury.
“I feel great because I have found the same atmosphere than at Arsenal here,” he said. “This state of mind resembles Arsenal’s and helped us win things.”

SCOLARI HAILS MIKEL OBI

Chelsea boss,Felipe Scolari has hailed come-backing Nigerian Super Eagles midfielder,John Mikel Obi courageous after the Nigerian stayed on for over 90 minutes in the Blues of London’s 3-1 win over the Blues of Manchester (Manchester City) last Saturday at the City of Manchester Stadium. Mikel made a 90 minutes return to action after staying on the sidelines for nearly a month following the injury he copped in the 4-0 rout of Portsmouth on the opening day of the on-going season last month. Scolari admitted he was not sure if the former Lyn Oslo youngster would last for that long and actually pencilled him down for a 60 to 70 minutes appearance. Mikel not only lasted the whole match,his impressive showing especially in the second half delighted his Brazilian boss . ‘My players want to play. They have confidence. They like each other. On Tuesday I will say to [Michael] Ballack you can play 45, 60, 70 minutes but we saw today with Mikel, I say before that he play 60 minutes and he played 93 minutes. All the players when they come in play very well.’said Scolari

PETER ,KLITSCHKO IN WAR OF WORLD

Vitali Klitschko and the manager of Samuel Peter traded verbal jabs Thursday ahead of the two fighters’ WBC heavyweight title bout next month.
The two boxers will fight at the O2 World arena on Oct. 11 for the WBC belt that Klitschko lost in 2005 after withdrawing from a title bout because of a torn right knee ligament.
‘’You look a bit nervous because you go to press conference with big body guards’’ Klitschko said to Peter. ‘’Don’t worry ... We will not fight before the fight. I won’t attack you.’’
Peter maintained a stoic silence and brushed off the remark in his brief statements. The retort came minutes later from Peter’s manager, Ivaylo Gotsev.
‘’Nobody is going to beat you up before the fight,’’ Gotsev said. ‘’All you’ve got to worry about is one match - and that’s coming on Oct. 11, that’s a promise.’’
Peter (30-1, 23 KOs) took the WBC interim title by easily beating Jameel McCline on points in September 2007. Earlier this year, the Nigerian-born, Las Vegas-based fighter took care of Oleg Maskaev with a devastating sixth-round knockout in a Cancun bullfighting ring, a fight that strengthened his grip on the WBC belt.
After that victory, Peter called out for a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali’s younger brother and holder of the IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight belts. Wladimir is also responsible for the only loss on Peter’s record.Instead, Peter will fight Vitali, the ‘’champion emeritus’’ of the WBC belt and a powerful, if injury-prone, boxer.Klitschko (35-2, 34 KOs) has been out of the ring since an eighth-round win over Danny Williams on Dec. 11, 2004.
Klitschko said the chance to hold a world title along with his brother has been a lifelong

PETER ,KLITSCHKO IN WAR OF WORLD

Vitali Klitschko and the manager of Samuel Peter traded verbal jabs Thursday ahead of the two fighters’ WBC heavyweight title bout next month.
The two boxers will fight at the O2 World arena on Oct. 11 for the WBC belt that Klitschko lost in 2005 after withdrawing from a title bout because of a torn right knee ligament.
‘’You look a bit nervous because you go to press conference with big body guards’’ Klitschko said to Peter. ‘’Don’t worry ... We will not fight before the fight. I won’t attack you.’’
Peter maintained a stoic silence and brushed off the remark in his brief statements. The retort came minutes later from Peter’s manager, Ivaylo Gotsev.
‘’Nobody is going to beat you up before the fight,’’ Gotsev said. ‘’All you’ve got to worry about is one match - and that’s coming on Oct. 11, that’s a promise.’’
Peter (30-1, 23 KOs) took the WBC interim title by easily beating Jameel McCline on points in September 2007. Earlier this year, the Nigerian-born, Las Vegas-based fighter took care of Oleg Maskaev with a devastating sixth-round knockout in a Cancun bullfighting ring, a fight that strengthened his grip on the WBC belt.
After that victory, Peter called out for a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali’s younger brother and holder of the IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight belts. Wladimir is also responsible for the only loss on Peter’s record.Instead, Peter will fight Vitali, the ‘’champion emeritus’’ of the WBC belt and a powerful, if injury-prone, boxer.Klitschko (35-2, 34 KOs) has been out of the ring since an eighth-round win over Danny Williams on Dec. 11, 2004.
Klitschko said the chance to hold a world title along with his brother has been a lifelong

CURBISHLEY QUITS WEST-HAM

Alan Curbishley has resigned as manager of West Ham because of a lack of control over transfer policy.
Curbishley tendered his resignation on Wednesday and it was accepted by owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson.
The final straw for the 50-year-old had been the enforced sales of Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney.
Curbishley said decisions had been made "without involving me", amounting to "a breach of trust and confidence meaning I had no option but to leave."
The former West Ham player, who succeeded Alan Pardew as manager at Upton Park in December 2006, added: "The selection of players is critical to the job of manager and I had an agreement with the club that I alone would determine the composition of the squad.
"I started my West Ham career when I left school in 1974 and have remained a lifelong fan.
"I have been incredibly proud to manage such a great club and my decision to resign has been very tough.
"Nevertheless, I wish the club and the players every success in the future."
A West Ham statement said the club had accepted Curbishley's resignation "in the best interests of both parties".

MAN-CITY MOVE DELIGHTS ROBINHO

Brazilian superstar Robinho has expressed his delight at joining Manchester City.
The 24-year-old had been expected to join Chelsea from Real Madrid on transfer deadline day.
However, following City’s takeover by the Abu Dhabi Group the club made an audacious attempt to hijack Chelsea’s attempts to land the Brazil international.
City agreed a whopping £32.5million for Robinho’s services and now the talented forward is looking forward to displaying his silky skills at Eastlands for years to come.
“I’m very happy to be here. I hope to show my best football and bring lots of joy to the fans,” Robinho told Sky Sports News.
“I would like to thank the support of the manager as well, which is very important and also to Mr Thaksin (Shinawatra) and the Abu Dhabi Group who made a lot of effort to bring me here.“I hope to bring a lot of joy to the supporters

YAKUBU SENDS WARNING SIGNAL TO BAFANA-BAFANA

Power-playing Super Eagles forward,Yakubu Aiyegbeni landed in Johannesburg,South Africa’s economic capital Tuesday confident of another victory over their familiar foes,the Bafana Bafana in Saturday’s 2010 Africa Nation Cup/World Cup qualifier at the Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU) Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
The Yak,as the Everton striker is fondly called in England told South Africa Press Agency (SAPA) on arrival at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg that the Bafana Bafana stars and indeed South African football is not strange to him and the rest of the Eagles stars.
“I know most of the Bafana players, not just those in England or Europe but even those playing here,” said Yakubu who plays alongside Bafana midfielder Steven Pienaar at the English Premiership club.
“I know Steven from our club and we get along fine, and I know a bit about South African players too. There are a few in England and in Europe so we do know them, they’re no strangers to us,” the Everton striker said.

SIASIA DOESN'T WANT ARGENTINA

Dream Team IV handler, Samson Siasia has admitted that he is not relishing the prospects of coming up against Argentina in the quarter-finals and, as a result, will be going all out for victory in Wednesday’s encounter against the United States of America.
The Nigerian team are presently second on the Group B log standings behind the USA, but only by virtue of their inferior goal difference.
And if the group’s situation remains that way after Wednesday’s round of matches, and if the Argentinians, as expected, go ahead to top Group A, then Nigeria will be heading to Shanghai to take on the South Americans in the last-eight.
Nigeria defeated Argentina 12 years ago to win the Men’s Football Tournament of the Atlanta Games but an Argentine side consisting of the likes of Fernando Gago and Lionel Messi defeated a Nigerian side tutored by Siasia three years ago at the FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands.
But irrespective of the fact that the core of the Nigerian U-23 side presently in Beijing for Wednesday’s game were on the losing side three years ago, Siasia admits he is less concerned about exerting revenge on the Argies and will do anything possible to avoid them in the quarter-finals.
However, the only possible way of avoiding Sergio Batista’s side is by securing an outright win against the USA and Siasia said, that is the only option for his side on Wednesday.
“We must beat the Americans and top our group”, declared Siasia. “That is the only way we can avoid meeting the Argies in the quarter-finals.
“They (Argentina) are going well at the moment and, except the unexpected happens, they will top their group and it won’t be easy for any team that meets them.
“Don’t get me wrong though, we are not afraid of them but I don’t think the quarter-finals is the right time to play Argentina”, submitted Siasia.

ALMUNIA TOUGHENS WALCOTT

TEO WALCOTT must get nastier if he is to fulfil his huge promise.So says Manuel Almunia, who showed his own mean streak last season to oust Jens Lehmann as Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Walcott, 19, has shown only flashes of his potential since joining the Gunners from Southampton as a 16-year-old two-and-a-half years ago.
His England career has been on hold since he was called up for the 2006 World Cup finals well ahead of schedule.
But towards the end of last season Walcott offered some encouraging cameos.
With Alexander Hleb sold to Barcelona, he is likely to be offered more starts.
He needs to have a big season to hold down a regular place for the Gunners and catch the eye of England coach Fabio Capello.
Almunia said: “Theo is ready to take on more responsibility. He has the support from the fans, the club and his team-mates.
“He is one of the best players in the squad. The only thing he has to improve is an aspect of character.“He’s a very lovely guy — maybe too lovely on the pitch.
“I keep saying to him he has to become more nasty. After this he will be one of the best players in the Premier League.”
Over the past two seasons Walcott has made 41 League appearances, many from the bench, and scored just four goals. But Almunia believes he can help guide him.
He added: “In many ways I believe I’m a good example.
“I came from a small club in Spain and when you are young at a club like Arsenal it can be difficult.“But if you use all the facilities on offer and have the determination you would be stupid not to improve.
“Theo knows it’s going to be his season and is ready to give 100 per cent.”
Summer signings Aaron Ramsey, 17, and Samir Nasri, 21, along with Carlos Vela, 19, Denilson, 20, and even 16-year-old Jack Wilshire are all on Arsenal’s senior roster.
And Almunia said: “We have some very young talent. Ramsey is going to be a great player.
“But the league is so hard that we have to give the young players time.”

NIGERIAN BOXER SUSTAIN INJURY

Head of the 8-man medical support team to Nigeria’s contingent at the 2008 Olympic Games, Dr Akin Amao has said that Nigeria’s Izobo Dauda, who was beaten by his Ghanaian rival, Samir Bastie, will require surgery to enable him to stay on his chosen career.
Dauda had a dislocation in his wrist during the fight at which the Ghanaian traumatized him. He took three trips to the canvass before a bad third round hook compelled the referee to stop the contest.
He took counts in each of the three rounds but in the third, he appeared dazed, forcing the referee TO call off the fight, to stem further punishments.
“For now, he is okay but will need surgery sometime later,” Amao said, adding that the wrist is in a critical area of the body for boxers. Izobo may stay away from the sport for the next six months.

ENYIMBA SUSPEND THEIR CAPTAIN

CAF Champions League campaigners, Enyimba International have suspended captain Ajibade Omolade over what the club’s management described as indiscipline, Sports random can report.
Media Officer of the club, Tonnex Chukwu who disclosed this, said the management of the People’s Elephant decided to suspend the captain indefinitely because he has refused to obey camp rules.
Tonnex further informed that Ajibade who has been with the club for the past five years has also been a bad influence to other players as he would desert camp without permission from the technical crew led by Belgian Maurice Cooreman.
“We just want to inform the general public, mostly the media, NFF and NFL that Ajibade Omolade has been suspended indefinitely because he refused to obey the rules and regulations of the team,” Tonnex said.
Efforts made to get Ajibade Omolade to comment on the suspension clamped on him, could not yield any result.
Meanwhile, Tonnex has said that the team is well prepared for its next CAF Champions League match

MARSEILLE STOPS TAIWO

U-23 Eagles quest for success at the Olympics next month seemed to have suffered another major setback after it emerged French Lique 1 outfit Olympique Marseille are unwilling to release Taiye Taiwo but OGC Nice have confirmed Onyekachi Apam will be available for Nigeria.

JAPAN SENDS WARNING SIGNAL TO GROUP B RIVALS

Japan have warned its group B rivals at next month’s Olympics in Beijing that they are not coming for a tea party when hostilities begin for the soccer gold of the quadrennial Games.
Although the Japanese have bucked the prevailing trend by not including a single over-age player in their squad , coach Yasuharu Sorimachi is in confident mood. This despite being denied the services of striker Yoshito Okubo and playmaker Yasuhito Endo, both in contention for the squad’s three available over-age berths, after the gifted duo were called up for senior national team duty.

Yet Sorimachi remains hopeful that his side will have a realistic chance of coming back from their trip across the Sea of Japan with a medal. And the Blue Samurai will have been buoyed by a 2-1 friendly win against Australia in Kobe on Thursday, which also served to dispel lingering doubts over the team’s alleged lack of firepower.
“I’ve chosen the strongest players available, with the aim of winning at the Olympics. It was hard to make this selection as the squad can only contain 18 players,” said Sorimachi, who has an enviable array of talent from which to choose his starting eleven.
One to watch out for on Chinese soil is first-choice keeper Shusaku Nishikawa. Dubbed the “Japanese Chilavert”, after the flamboyant Paraguayan shotstopper, Nishikawa is known for stepping up to fire in free-kicks awarded around the opposition’s box.

Another player likely to impress is Atsuto Uchida, the golden boy of J-League outfit Kashima Antlers, who has already turned out for the senior side. He is likely to be joined in the team by forward Takayuki Morimoto of Italian outfit Catania, whose classy finishing skills have already drawn comparisons with Brazil legend Ronaldo and Juventus’ David Trezeguet. Sorimachi can also call on Keisuke Honda who turns out for Dutch outfit VVV-Venlo, and has the potential to be one of the outstanding midfielders on show in Beijing. Honda’s deadly left-footed free kicks are reminiscent of dead-ball ace Nakamura, while his passing, vision and tactical nous have also been widely praised. I don’t just want to pass the ball, I want to set up goals

Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda sets out his ambitions for the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament “I hope we’ll score from moves that flow right through the team. I don’t just want to pass the ball, I want to set up goals,” said Honda, one of a number of players who gained great confidence from the Australia match. “I’m looking forward to the future, and I think the team will gel.”

ONCE AGAIN,BRAZIL RULE THE WORLD

Brazil beat Italy 5-3 in the Marseille 2008 final to claim their third successive FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup crown. Bruno and Sidney scored doubles apiece, and Andre was also on target for the Seleção as they provided an enthralling climax to a memorable tournament on Prado beach. Brazil kicked off the game as the favourites, but it was Italy who had the game’s first opening. Receiving the ball with his back to goal, Massimiliano Esposito flicked it up and produced an overhead-kick, which dropped to safety off the crossbar. The South Americans swiftly found their inimitable rhythm, and as he has been the case so often this tournament, Benjamin was the heartbeat of their attacking waves. First, he cut inside his marker and fired narrowly wide, before deceiving another opponent with an elastic dribble and volleying on to the roof of the crossbar.

Italy’s resistance was, however, broken just before the nine-minute mark. Buru’s teasing pass was missed by Italy defender Michele Leghissa, but not by Bruno, who controlled the ball on his chest and coolly stabbed it past Stefano Spada. The elegant No6 almost added his second moments later, but his volley from distance was denied by a post.
Bruno did double the Brazilian advantage on 14 minutes, swiveling on to a loose ball and thumping it into the top corner. Sidney then made it 3-0, before Junior Negao hit the crossbar with a sumptuous chip towards the end of the period. There was, nevertheless, still time for the goal of the game before the referee’s whistle sounded. Benjamin employed keepy-ups to carry the ball from one end of the pitch to the other and feed Buru, who in turn set up Sidney for a simple header.
Andre made it 5-0 on 28 minutes, although the third period belonged to Italy. Indeed, goals from Paolo Palmacci, Roberto Pasquali and Diego Maradona Jr proved a sizeable consolation against such a dominant force, Brazil, who once again emerged as the kings of the sport.

INTER CONDOLE BEREAVED MARTINS

Reigning Serie A champions,Inter Milan have sent a message of condolence to their former Nigerian import, Obafemi Martins over the death of his mother,Alhaja Monsurat who died in the early hours of Thursday in Lagos,South West Nigeria.

In a message on its website,the club,led by its new coach,Jose Mourinho prayed for the repose of the soul of the late Alhaja Monsurat and extend their condolences to Obafemi and the rest of the Martins’ family.‘’F.C. Internazionale and all his supporters extend their deepest condolences to ‘Oba’ and his family’’,read the statement on the club’s website.

Obafemi started his professional carrer in Italy. In 2000, he was involved in the youth setup at AC Reggiana, and moved into Inter’s youth squad the following season in a €750,000 deal. With the youth squad he scored 23 goals that season, helping them win the Italian Under-18 title.
He became a part of the Inter first team in 2002 making his debut against Parma in December of that year. However, he did not fully break into the first team until the following season. It was in 2003 that he fully made his mark with the club in the UEFA Champions League, first scoring a crucial goal against Bayer 04 Leverkusen to secure Inter’s place in the quarter finals of the competition. Obafemi then scored another goal in the semi-final of the competition against Milanese rivals AC Milan, although Inter were eventually defeated on the away goals rule.
Obafemi signed a long-term contract with Inter in 2005 which ran until 2010 and was worth around €2.5 million annually.

Although he had some success with Inter, scoring 28 goals for the club in 88 league games as well as 11 goals in European competitions,he was sold in August 2006 to his present English Premier League club,Newcastle.

SIASIA UNVEILS OLYMPIC U-23 SQUAD

Nigerian dream Team IV handler, Samson Siasia is all set to unveil his final squad list for the Beijing Olympics, later on Wednesday.
The former Nigeria international has however told Complete Sports he won’t make public his team list until he assertains the availability of a handful of players who are yet to arrive at the U-23 team’s camp in South Korea.Asked about the outlook of his final squad list for the Olympics, Siasia replied: “I can’t be completely certain about the list at the moment because some of the players I am banking on have yet to arrive.
“They are important players and until I am sure they will be coming I can’t take a decision.”Osaze Odemwingie is obviously one of the handful of players apparently giving Siasia second thoughts regarding the final squad list for the Beijing Games but Siasia has described the former Lille of France player as the ideal professional following the Russian - based forward’s resolve to join up with the rest of the Nigerian Olympic soccer team at their Korean base.
The Lokomotiv Moscow player recently expressed his readiness to head off to the Dream Team IV’s camp as soon as possible notwithstanding his Russian clubside’s tight fixture schedule.
The Russian Premier League is approaching the midway point and the Railwaymen will get to play two games within a space of four days beginning with Wednesday’s top of the bill encounter against UEFA Cup holders Zenit St. Petersburg.
Odemwingie is expected to lead Lokomotiv’s forward line in Wednesday’s fixture but he has expressed his determination to jettison the subsequent game and team up with the Nigerian U-23 side in the Far East, even though the decision is likely to incur the wrath of his employers.
It is however an entirely different scenario with the likes of goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and electrifying forward Ikechukwu Uche whose clubside’s have separately expressed their unwillingness to release their prized assets for, arguably, the greatest sporting event in history.
Siasia will however welcome Odemwingie to Korea with open arms and has lavished encomiums on the 27-year-old for his high level commitment and dedication to the national team’s aspirations.
“Osaze is the only player among the invited over-age players that I am sure will be available [for the Olympics]. He is the only one I have spoken to and he hopes he can join us after his game on Wednesday,” began Siasia on the line from Korea.
“He has always been a top professional, the ideal professional, if you ask me. He is cool-headed and a natural leader. He is also very strong and I love his commitment and dedication to the team.
“He is the only one that is at the moment fighting his club to ensure his release for the Olympics.
“Vincent’s club [Hapoel Tel-Aviv] are proving quite difficult and Uche has long told me it would be difficult for him to secure his release from his club [Getafe].
“He (Uche) would love to go to the Olympics but his club seems to be saying no way,” added Siasia, who isn’t outrightly pleased with the deal reached between the representatives of Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi and his German clubside, Hoffenheim.
The Bundesliga newcomers, following their discussions with Ogbuke, as well as his FIFA licensed agent John Shittu, agreed to release the youngster for the Beijing Games thus making an about-turn from their earlier decision to hang on to their star forward for the whole duration of the Olympics.
Hoffe, as the “Village” club are known to their teeming fans, will however not release Obasi until August 1, six days before the U-23 team’s opening fixture against Holland in Tianjin and Siasia hopes the situation can be redressed.
“I know I am powerless to do anything about it but I have told them I want him 14 days to the Games. I just don’t buy the idea of him coming on August 1,” continued Siasia.
“If he comes on August 1, it will take him a minimum of three to four days to adapt to the weather and the time zone.
“If he leaves on August 1 he will probably get here the next day.
“I just don’t understand why the coach (Ralf Rangnick) is proving stubborn. He’s just been inconsiderate,” added Siasia.

MAKELELE LEAVES CHELSEA FOR PSG

Veteran french holding mid-mielder,Claude Makelele has decided to call it quit with Chelsea.
The 35-year-old, who spent five years at Stamford Bridge, will be unveiled by PSG at a news conference today.
"I wanted this so much that Chelsea gave me the chance to finish my career in my own country," said Makelele.
Makelele joined Chelsea from Spanish giants Real Madrid in 2003, costing the Stamford Bridge outfit £16.8m.
Makelele, whose partner and son live in Paris, added: "It's a very important challenge, I hope to enjoy it, and there's also my family.

IOC DISGRACE NIGERIA

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) have described as baseless Nigeria’s protest and demands following the non-qualification of the men’s 4 x 400m and the women’s 4 x 100m teams for the relay events of next month’s 29th Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Nigeria had fired a strongly worded protest to the IOC on the purported advice of the president of the International Association of Athetics Federation,laying the blame for the 4 x 400m and 4 x 400m relay teams inability to meet the cut-off point for the Games on the refusal of European countries to grant entry visas to the two teams for some of the relay qualifying meetings, especially the 24th Vardinoylannia meeting in Rethymo, Greece on July 14.
The Greek embassy denied the Damola Osayomi-led quartet visas because of the violation of its visa requirements.
In its reply, the IOC said Nigeria was asking for the impossible because all arrangements for the Games have been concluded in terms of accommodation, training venues and other logistics.
The IOC also reminded Nigeria that the IAAF set the qualification period over two years ago for countries to compete for the 16 places allotted to each relay events.
Complete Sports check on the IAAF website confirmed IOC’s argument. In rule 3-1 under rule 3 titled Qualification system, athletes must reach the qualification standards as set by the IAAF for each event from January 1, 2007 until 23 July 2008 for individual events and from January 1, 2007 until 16 July, 2008 for relay events in order to be eligible to participate in the athletic events of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Rule 3.4 on relay teams explained how the IAAF will arrive at the final 16 thus: There shall be a maximum of 16 qualified teams in each relay event, based on the aggregate of the two fastest times achieved by national teams at IAAF recognised international events in the qualification period of 1 January, 2007 to 16 July, 2008.The IOC, in rejecting Nigeria’s appeal wondered why the country did not take advantage of the long qualification period instead of trying to come in through the back door.
Sports at random investigations reveal that the Nigerian relay teams hardly participate in one-day meetings and thus denied themselves the opportunity of taking advantage of the athletes when reach peak form.
Between January last year and July 16 this year, the relay teams only competed in three major events viz the All Africa Games in Algiers last year and the World Championships in Athletics in Osaka also last year.
The teams also participated in the 16th African Athletics Championships hletics Federations (IAAF) Lamine Diack

HOLLAND PROMISES TO CAGE NIGERIA U-23

Nigeria’s group phase opponent in the upcoming Olympic Games, the Netherlands are keen on securing a win over the Dream Team IV and are leaving no stone unturned in order to achieve their set goal.
Both sides will clash head-on in one of the most eagerly anticipated games of the tournament on August 7 in what could eventually make or mar both side’s subsequent involvement in the Olympics.
The Dutch understand the importance of securing a win over Samson Siasia’s Dream Team IV side and have lined up two high profile friendlies against the U-23 side of Cote d’ Ivoire and Cameroun, all in an effort to get to understand the mentality of the Nigerian side.
The Dutch side will first come up against the Camerounians on July 30 before taking on the Ivorians three days later.
And team captain Roy Makaay is confident the games against the Africans will put them in good stead for their encounter in Tianjin against Nigeria.
The Dutch are taking part in the football event of the Olympic Games for the first time in 56 years and Makaay said:
“We want to be prepared and we have but one target out here in Hong Kong which is to prepare for the Olympic Games.
“It is the first time we will be taking part in a long time and we want to achieve a good placing at the end of it all.“We are in a difficult group, no doubt, and our first opponents are a quality side. So it is good that we will play against Ivory Coast and Cameroun, so we can get used to the African style of play.
“These will be two good tests for us and hopefully we can pick some points from these matches and then go out there on August 7 and get a result,” added the former Bayern Munich striker.

EMEDOLU MADE METU A CHAMPION

New Fastest Man In Nigeria, little known Obinna Metu chose the biggest stage in Nigerian athletics ,the annual Athletic Federation of Nigeria/ExxonMobil track and field championship to announce his arrival as the new kid on the 100m block .The Anambra state-born sprinter came into the championships as one of the pretenders to the title held by reigning African record holder in the event at 9.85,Olusoji Fasuba.

Nobody,except those who follow the sport religiously remembered him as a bronze medal winner in the 200m event at the last All Africa Games held in Algiers last year.He was also a member of the gold-winning 4x100m relay team at the Games.He ran the second leg in the same team that dropped the baton at the African Championships last May in Addis Ababa,Ethiopia.

But the new fastest man in Nigeria courtesy his surprise win at the just concluded 19th edition of the championships owes his new status to one of his victims in Wednesday evening’s race on the track of the imposing Abuja National Stadium,2002 International Associations of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Cup in Athletics 100m winner,Uchenna Emedolu.
Metu believes Emedolu’s impact on his rise as a school boy to becoming the champions of Nigeria is unquantifiable.

He sees the Agulu,Anambra state-born sprinter as his role model and somebody he wanted to be like.
‘’Emedolu made me a champion. I was always hoping to become like him when I decided to take the sport as my number one career”,began the athlete who was first into football and actually played for a local youth club called Juventus in Enugu.
Metu didn’t have the privileged of having to pick a role model from so many choices because Emedolu was the only one he saw around him while growing up in Enugu.

‘’He-Emedolu-was the closest person to me then and I was thrilled by how humble he was as well as how he was reverred by the people in Enugu whenever he was around.I was jealous of his achievement and his name was projected all over the world.I saw the benefits of being a champion,a hero and it fired me up to become one.I told myself I have to be like him,be as famous as he still is ..be well known all over the world.”,he recounted.

Apart from the massive encouragement he received from his parents,especially his mother who he said used to pray for him,he is convinced Emedolu’s offer of help when he needed it changed his life and his focus.It made him to dream big..dreams of becoming a world beater,a champion just like his idol who later turned to his mentor.
‘’The whole story of Emedolu from being my idol to my mentor changed one day when I surprised him in Enugu during some kind of trials we organized .I ran so well in the trials that I swept him off his feet.He couldn’t believe what he saw and kept asking whether I was the same boy he met some weeks back who was running with his school uniform on.
‘’My coach then told him I was the one and he became immediately interested in me.He called me aside and asked what were my needs.I told him I needed spike shoes,tennis shoes and running vests.He gave me some Fila kits he must have received from the AFN as a national athlete.

couldn’t believe what was happening to me.I thought I was dreaming..me,coming face to face and actually talking to a world champion..somebody I had always looked up to..it was just too much for me to take.To completely sweep me off my feet,I was surprised by his humility and the fact that he could come down to my level.
‘’He gave me some tips on how to run as well as words of encouragement..he brought out the confidence that I had always felt right from my primary school days that I can do it.From there I was determined to succeed like him.I took what he told me with all the seriousness it required and made sure I put all of them into practice”.
Obinna is the last born in a family of eight-three boys and five girls.He hailed from Idemili North local government area of Anambra state where he first had his primary education before relocating to Enugu where he continued with his primary education before moving up to Community Secondary School,Iva Valley in Enugu.
Apart from his interest in football,he was also a high jumper and was drafted to compete in the event in 2000 by the Enugu state sports council at the first Dan Ngerem U-18 Athletics Championships in Owerri and he won the silver without any meaningful form of practice.
He continued to participate in sports and unlike most kids who had their parents screaming down their neck about the futility of becoming an athlete instead of concentrating on academic education,Obinna’s parents gave him all the support he needed.
‘’Although my father is late,my mother and my brothers have always been there for me (two of them actually followed him to Abuja to witness him become Nigerian champion in the 100m).I could remember some occasions when my brothers will pick up my chores so that I could go to training.
‘’I wish all parents and all households are like that.Parents should always let their children be what they want to be.What they need to do is to encourage them,correct them when they go wrong and praise them when they do the right thing”.
He also appeals to state sports commissioners to emulate the immediate past sports commissioner in Delta state,Solomon Ogba who he said offered him employment when Enugu state was playing politics with his future.
‘’I am sure Ogba will not realize the implication of what he did to me and so many athletes he offered employment during his tenure.He showed he has a good heart.True the money he was spending was not his own but other sports commissioners in other states faced the same situation”,he said and also profusely thank the Civil Defence Corps and Ekiti state government for coming to the rescue of athletes who could be roaming the streets of Nigerian cities today in search of jobs and thereby fail to fulfil their potentials.
Obinna believes all the people he mentioned must take the credit for his transformation from a then naïve school boy in Enugu to the champion he is today.
On the race, he said he knew he was going to win the title and that people should not say he was just lucky to have carried the day.
‘’In as much as I want to agree it was my day,I still must let people know that I actually expected it-the victory over two-time champion,Fasuba.I really trained hard for the championships.I knew it was not going to be easy but I am glad nonetheless to have won what I will call the toughest Mobil championships I have ever seen.”
Metu also refused to accept that he benefited immensely from the fact that the pressure was not on him but on Fasuba who was defending his title and Adetoyi Durotoye who beat Fasuba penultimate Monday at the Abuja Grand Prix.
‘’I don’t think anybody is unbeatable.Durotoye proved it at the Grand Prix and I have proved it today”,he said and believes the pressure of running in the biggest stage ever in world athletics,the Beijing Olympics will not get to him and knock him.
‘’I don’t easily get stage fright.I believe I have what it takes to beat anybody.The fact that the likes of Usain Bolt,Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay are running so well does not translate to the gold in Beijing.We have seen cases of athletes who do so well in pre-Games events only to crumble when the chips are down”,he revealed and cited the example of Powell who was the name on everyone’s lips prior to the IAAF World Championships final in Osaka last year only to struggle to get the bronze.
The easy going,unassuming athlete is not however scared of losing.Instead he sees losing as a form of training because he sees it as a means of correcting his mistakes.
Right he does not want to predict what the outcome of the final in Beijing will look like,instead,he wants to enjoy his victory first before making any plans for the Olympics.

EVERTON OFFERS YOBO SUPPORT

Everton fc of England has said that it would lend a helping hand in order to get the brother of their ever reliable defender released, club’s PRO Reveals Players, Management Concern For Eagles Star
FOOTBALLTeam-mates of Everton footballer Joseph Yobo are hoping for the safe return of his kidnapped brother, a club spokesman has revealed.
Gunmen in Nigeria abducted Norum Yobo as he made his way home from a nightclub in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

ASTON VILLA PUNISH BARRY

Gareth Barry has been disciplined and ordered not to report for pre-season training as Liverpool increased their offer for the Aston Villa captain.

Barry, 27, has been punished for giving an unauthorised interview to a Sunday newspaper in which he criticised Villa manager Martin O'Neill.

Villa report for pre-season on Thursday as the transfer row took another twist.

Liverpool's new bid is around £15m

Villa have turned down a succession of offers from Liverpool, and O'Neill has denied he had received a "take it or leave it" final bid on Wednesday, insisting: "The situation remains the same."

O'Neill has said Barry will be granted his wish to join Liverpool - but only when his asking price is met.

JAMAICA AND USA ON THE OLYMPIC TRACK

Jamaica is the 138th most populous nation in the world. At 2.65 million souls, the Caribbean island nestles between Kuwait and Mongolia in the population ladder.

It is in similar territory when it comes to national wealth.
The United States, on the other hand, is the world's richest and third most populous country.
As neighbours go, these two live at very different ends of a very long street.

But there is one place where these two meet as equals - the running track.

ARSENAL TO COMMENCE PRE-SEASON TRAINING

Arsenal fc of England will begins pre-season training in earnest.
Arsene Wenger's squad kick off with a trip to Underhill to face Barnet. Then it's off to their training camp - with games lined up in Hungary, Austria and Germany. Back in England, Arsenal welcome the cream of Europe to Emirates Stadium for the second Emirates Cup. It doesn't end there. Wenger and his squad face Huddersfield and then head to Holland the following week for another prestigious pre-season affair - the Amsterdam Tournament. Finally an Arsenal XI faces Boreham Wood in mid-August

OKOCHA BOWS OUT WITH BIG BANGS

Foremost Nigerian football has finally retired from the game that brought him so much fame and wealth with a testimonial match that was played in Warri,Delta.The match is between Nigerian nation team and the world x1.

The SuperEagles however beat the world x1 by 2-1.Adebayor, Essien, Drogba Shun Game.
Erstwhile Super Eagles skipper, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha brought his illustrious soccer career to a glorious end by scoring in his farewell game.
The testimonial encounter which came up at the Warri Township Stadium between a Nigerian selection and a ‘rest