PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, August 5, 2015
Page 43
Sport
Valle issue Roma warning over Salah
Abia Warriors signs Nwanna
T
he first player to be bought at one million naira in the Nigerian League, Emeka Nwanna popularly called “Ayaya” has joined Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia on loan until the end of the current season. The lethal striker, who made the mega move from Rangers international of Enugu to Enyimba of Aba in 2001, was until his loan move to Umuahia in mid season, on his second missionary journey to Enyimba. Ayaya told Abia Warriors’ website that he decided to pitch his tent with the Umuahia based outfit to contribute his quota towards the realization of the club’s aspirations. The former Calabar Rovers, Heartland of Owerri and Kwara Utd hitman, said he simply loves Abia Warriors not only as
Enyimba’s sister club but also because of the professional way the club is run adding that his ambition is to help the club pick a continental ticket at the end of the season. “I love Umuahia because I started my career here with then NEPA Football Club of Umuahia when I was still in the secondary School and I had hoped to return here one day and when the opportunity came, I never hesitated to seize it with both hands”, Nwanna who also played for Tunisian and Qatari Clubs said. On the secret of his longevity in football, the Anambra stateborn striker said he does not indulge in negative influences but takes lots of fruits and vegetables particularly after every training session or after a match
Former Fiorentina on-loan Mohamed Salah battles with Juventus players
Emeka Nwanna
R
oma have come under fire from Fiorentina president Andrea Della Valle for parading Mohamed Salah as one of their own players, despite the fact that the Egyptian’s contract situation is yet to be resolved. The Chelsea player reportedly
has a contract with Viola for the upcoming season, although he has made it clear that he has no intention of returning after enjoying a successful loan spell in the second half of last season. Instead, Salah is training in Rome, waiting for the technical issues surrounding his contract to
be resolved so that he can join the Giallorossi on loan. However, Della Valle has warned that Salah will have to wait for some time, as Fiorentina are set to fight their case. This is why he believes Roma did not make a wise move in inviting Salah to the Italian capital last week.
Adebayor set for Villa medical today
Pogba keen for world establishment in Scottish
Emmanuel Adebayor
Mathias Pogba
P
artick Thistle’s new signing Mathias Pogba - brother of Juventus midfielder Paul aims to make a name for himself in Scotland’s top flight. Pogba, 24, has signed a one-year deal with the Scottish Premiership outfit. However, much like Dundee United’s Rodney Sneijder, the striker knows he cannot be mentioned without reference to his more famous brother.
“Everybody has been talking about my brother, but now it would be nice to say ‘OK, Mathias Pogba is here’.” Pogba could have an immediate opportunity to make his own mark, with Thistle’s upcoming league game this Sunday at home to Celtic. So what about the prospect of a winning debut goal on live television against the defending champions? As well as Paul, Mathias’s
twin brother Florentin is also a professional footballer, with St Etienne. “We are all proud of each other because we always talked about becoming professional footballers. We expected good work from him (Paul), but not as quick.” Mathias is in daily contact with his brothers and aims to bring them to Firhill to watch him in action, as he seeks to underline the family’s footballing pedigree.
A
ston Villa target Emmanuel Adebayor will undergo a medical at the club today ahead of a proposed move. The 31-year-old was seen at Villa’s training ground and in the evening it was reported that Adebayor was lined up for a medical on Wednesday. The attacker’s prospects at Tottenham Hotspur looked bleak under coach Mauricio Pochettino, having featured just three times in the Premier League in 2015. With Villa looking for a new striker to replace Christian Benteke, who joined Liverpool
last week, a move for the Togo player makes sense. Adebayor did not travel with the rest of the Tottenham squad for their game in Denver against the MLS All-Stars. The West African striker is set to reunite with Tim Sherwood, a manager with whom he enjoyed some success at White Hart Lane. Adebayor fell out of favour when Andre Villas Boas was Spurs’ head coach, but following the departure of the Portuguese and the appointment of Sherwood in November 2013, Adebayor was reinstated to the first team and scored 14 goals in 24 appearances