Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014
43 Sport
FIFA reform process on-going –Blatter
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IFA president Sepp Blatter insists the reform process at football’s governing body is on-going, but will be a success. Chairman of the Investigatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee Michael Garcia stood down earlier this month following a dispute over the findings of his investigation into the bidding process for the next two World Cups, to be held in Russia and Qatar respectively. The saga has led to calls for reform at football’s global governing body, and Blatter says changes are already being made. “This reform process is now in the face of application, implementation towards the national associations and confederations,” he said. “It will take some time to go through, but it will be well done. “The major problem we are facing with the national associations and with the confederations is the Ethics Committee, because I think sometimes people do not understand what
it means to have an ethics committee, but the control and the compliance committee, discipline committee, board of appeal and the statues of FIFA all that is going well. “There is a lot of discipline and respect inside the 209 national associations and I can say at the next congress in May, I can be proud of the realisations in these reform processes.” FIFA announced earlier this week that it would now publish Garcia’s report - a move Batter backs as he bids to regain public trust and win a fifth term in office. “Yes, we will support the publication of the report, but in the adequate form and always and when all investigation matters are closed,” he added. “Public opinion is important because football is the greatest game in the world, connecting people, giving emotions and passion and hope, so it’s very important for me at the home of football to restore the credibility and bring in the New Year a good attitude for the upcoming competitions.”
Sunshine Stars skipper Sunday Abe (right) is expected to be part of the squad for the trip to Spain in January
Sunshine hit Spain for second round Euro tour
S Sepp Blatter
unshine Stars players will travel to Spain for the second round of a European tour in January, the club announced. ‘The Akure Gunners’ are currently in Hungary on a training tour of Hungary with 18 players, but the trip to Spain
will be for the players who were left out of the Hungary trip. “Our team is in Hungary now for a two-week training tour with 18 players. The second round of the tour will be to Spain in January and that will be for the players who were left out of the trip to Hungary,” a
player informed. “As I speak to you, some of us have our passports at Spanish embassy for visa.” Some of the players who were left out of the Hungary trip are skipper Sunday Abe, Paul Onobi, Kingsley Eduwo and Medrano.
Iorfa pained by deaths of Audu, Abeda
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obi Stars Vice Chairman Dominic Iorfa has expressed grief over the death of their striker Seriki Audu as well as former referee Michael Abeda. The two men passed away in the past week, and Iorfa has described their demise as huge losses for Lobi Stars. The camp of Lobi Stars was
thrown into mourning on Saturday morning when news filtered in that Audu has passed away after an automobile accident. Audu was driving in the company of his family, his wife and daughter, from his home town in Yobe State to Bauchi State when the accident occurred. His wife and daughter are still in hospital.
The former Queens Park Rangers striker expressed sadness and shock over the passing away of Audu. “I’m really in shock to hear of this very sad news. He was one player who was professional on and off the pitch and was always ready to learn. Whenever he got the chance to play for Lobi Stars, his impact was
always felt. It’s a big loss for us and also his family. I want to send my condolence to his family and pray God grant his soul rest,” said Iorfa. Audu joined Lobi Stars from Yobe Stars and scored in the Federation Cup quarterfinal against Dolphins and against Bayelsa United in the NPFL last season.
Late Seriki Audu