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Wednesday, July 12, 2017
EXTRATIME
ANDREW EKEJIUBA
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hairman, Local Organising Committee of the annual Bishop Mike Okonkwo Football Championship, Deacon Malachy Ndubuzor, has charged Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and national team coaches to take more interest in the competition. Ndubuzor told Extra Time at the National Stadium, Lagos, that the tournament currently in Season 15
Ndubuzor tasks NFF, coaches, on Okonkwo tourney has produced many talented players who could be nurtured to represent the country in future, thus should not be overlooked by national team coaches. “The championship which is being sponsored by the presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mis-
sion, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, has been going on uninterrupted for the past 15 years which makes it one of the longest running grassroots football competitions in the country. “It is also the most popular grassroots competition with the highest prize money in the country where
the winning team goes home with N 600,000 while the first and second runners-up pocket N300, 000 and N200,000 respectively with a lot of consolation prizes. “Apart from this, great number of players have been discovered in the competition who later played for the
I’m still useful in Eagles,says Michael Ben Nwachukwu, Abuja
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member of the Super Eagles squad to Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup, Babatunde Michael, has declared that his absence in the Super Eagles team under the tutelage of German-born tactician Gernot Rohr is not an indication that he is no longer useful to the team. Michael who plays for Qatar SC said he still has a jersey in the current Super Eagles team, but he’s
only waiting for the appropriate time to grab it back. “I believe in myself. I can do more for my country even as I am doing for my club. I have a jersey in the team. There are good players in the team, but that is not to say they are better than me. It is a matter of time and I believe my time to return to Eagles’ fold has come,” he said. The pacy attacker who joined Qatar SC from Moroccan top club scored 25 goals with several assists and helped to lift his club from the second division to division one pleaded
with the Super Eagles handler not to write him off because he is playing in Qatar. “I am doing pretty well in my club and I only want the coach to give me a chance to prove myself. He should not write me off because I am playing in Qatar. He believes in young players and good a thing I’m young and experienced having played in the world cup. I still have a lot to offer,” Michael added. He said he has added advantage because of his pace, ball passing and marking skills in addition to shooting ability that makes him a terrific goal poacher.
BRIEFS
Williams, Muguruza into Wimbledon semis
Michael
Pillar of Sports, Ejidike prays for Ikeme’s recovery ANDREW EKEJIUBA
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he Nigeria Pillar of Sports, Chief Donatus Agu Ejidike, has joined other well- meaning Nigerians to send solidarity messages to the Super Eagles goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme who was diagnosed of acute leukaemia. In an exclusive interview with Extra Time, Ejidike prayed for Ikeme’s quick recovery as he begins chemotherapy treatment. Ejidike urged all sports-loving Nigerians to pray for him knowing full well that the 31-year-old goalie is at the crucial period of his playing career before the unexpected happened. The sports philanthropist praised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for playing a very significant role by sending words of hope and love to the
sick goaltender. However, Ejidike urged the football ruling authority to beam a searchlight on reliable substitute ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifier against the dreaded Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and other upcoming matches involving the Eagles. Ejidike who believes strongly that the Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper will bounce back, he may not be available for this year’s remaining FIFA World Cup qualifiers. It will be recalled that Carl Ikeme has made no appearance in recent time for Nigeria in 2017 perhaps as a result of injury. Ejidike affirmed that with faith in God and fervent prayers, Ikeme will be in goal again for Nigeria some day.
Bassey thumbs up Yusuf’s CHAN list Ben Nwachukwu, Abuja
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pokesman of NFF Technical Committee member, Etubong Paul Bassey, has commended Coach Salisu Yusuf’s 30 man list of the NPFL players invited to camp for the CHAN qualifiers against winners from Togo/ Benin Republic clash. Bassey commended the coach for defending the list player by player and said that this is the first time a national team coach could sit before
the technical committee to defend his list invited players properly. He noted that the composition of the list was a sole responsibility of the coach but added that the technical committee only performed its statutory role of giving the coach the opportunity to defend the quality of players he invited to ensure the best legs are invited to serve the country. He noted further that it was not an easy thing to go through the list but added that the coach did a thorough job.
“The coach presented his team, defended it, we shared opinions and it’s up to him now to do his best with the team,” Bassey added. He said there was nothing like mandate from the committee, but added that he has to qualify the team for CHAN. “First match against Togo/Benin should not be a problem with the quality of players he has assembled. He knows he has to qualify. He does not need a mandate to do that. We have not been doing well in CHAN.”
various national league sides and that is why it is important that both the NFF and the various national team coaches should beam their searchlights on the championship to enable them discover players that will be introduced into the national team,” Ndubuzor said.
Five-time champion Venus Williams won in her 100th singles match at Wimbledon to knock out French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko and reach the semi-finals. Williams earned a 6-3 7-5 victory against the 20-year-old Latvian in one hour and 13 minutes on Centre Court. She will play either Britain’s Johanna Konta or Simona Halep in the last four. Meanwhile, Garbine Muguruza reached her second Wimbledon semi-final with a powerful 6-3 6-4 victory over seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova. American Williams, 37, is the oldest player to reach the last four since Martina Navratilova in 1994.
Iheanacho set for Tottenham move Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho could well head to Tottenham Hotspur as part of a deal which would see Kyle Walker head in the opposite direction. Nigerian attacker Iheanacho is apparently close to agreeing a move to Leicester City, but Spurs’ interest could well derail any transfer to the King Power Stadium. Spurs, who are reluctant to allow Walker to head to City for a fee of 50-million, could work a transfer for Iheanacho into the equation.
Chelsea in hot chase for Auba!
After missing out on Romelu Lukaku, Chelsea have reportedly turned their attention to Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Gabonese striker is considering his options at the moment, with a big-money offer from Chinese side Tianjin Quanjian on the table and the likes of AC Milan having been in contact. Chelsea have made an approach in reaction to missing out on priority target Romelu Lukaku, who last week agreed to sign for rivals Manchester United.
Agbo joins Standard Liege
Bassey
Nigeria international defender, Uche Agbo has left Spanish club, Granada CF for Belgian club, Standard Liege. Agbo joined Granada in 2014 on loan from Watford and went on to make 37 league appearances for the senior team of the club. Last season, he made 31 appearances for the club but was powerless to prevent the side from getting relegated from Spain’s top flight. Born on December 4, 1995 in Kano, the defender who can also play in midfield will now play his football for the Belgian top division club.