THE NATION MONDAY 19, AUGUST , 2013
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SPORT EXTRA AFTERMATH OF ROMANIA DEAL
AHEAD OF MALAWI CLASH
Onduku: I didn’t want to go for trials
No more experiments with F home Eagles—Keshi
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UPER EAGLES’ Chief Coach told NationSport exclusively yesterday
that the days of experimenting with players playing in the domestic league are over because he has confirmed what he wanted from the home front and now wants to concentrate on moulding the team. Keshi on Wednesday led the Eagles to a heartwarming 20 victory against the Bafana
•Only in-form foreign players will be called •Team resumes camping August 25 in Abuja From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja Bafana of South Africa in the Nelson Mandela Challenge football competition, held at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban. Keshi, however, told NationSport that only overseas
based players that have something special and unique quality to add something new to the team, will be the only players he wants to concentrate on for now since he had given enough time and opportunity for the home based players. Soccer pundits have been wondering when the rebuilding process of the Super Eagles under Stephen Keshi would be over. But the Eagles‘ coach seems to be saying experimenting with the players in the Glo Professional Football League is over unless he discovers a high quality player that has the unique attributes to break into the main team from the domestic league here in Nigeria. “We are still searching for good players. If we see one or two good players that can break into the line-up then we will bring such players into the main squad. But it is not
going to be a local player (from the Glo Nigeria Professional Football League). We don’t need that for now. “We want only players that will contribute something better than what we have seen from the present squad of the Eagles. Honestly speaking that is the way things are for now”, the Eagles’ handler disclosed. He also revealed the programme of the team for the all important 2014 World Cup qualifying match against the visiting Malawi national team slated for Calabar September 7, 2013. “For the Malawi match, we expect the Europe based players to arrive camp at least a week (September 1st, 2013) to the match as being stipulated by FIFA while the home based players will be in camp two weeks to the match (August 25th, 2013).
Mourinho, Chelsea stars visit Omeruo •Wish him quick return
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•Keshi
NBBF still owing us —Dodan Warriors’ boss
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HE Chairman, Dodan Warriors Basketball Club, Col Sam Ahmedu (rtd) has insisted that the club and three others; Union Bank, Oluyole Warriors and Lagos Islanders, which played the Atlantic Conference Final Four in Lagos were entitled to the sum of N250,000 from the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF). Speaking in Lagos on Saturday, Ahmedu reacted to the reports credited to the NBBF President, Tijjani Umar who said it was wrong for any club in the league to claim that they were owed after the federation had fulfilled their own part of the bargain with them for the regular season. The Dodan Warriors boss said it is irrational for NBBF to have paid all the 16 teams in both Savannah and Atlantic Conferences the same ‘meagre’ amount, whereas the four teams which qualified from each conference expended more funds in preparation and additional competition. According to Ahmedu the clubs complained of being short-changed by the federation adding that there was an agreement that each
By Akeem Lawal team was to get N250k before the commencement of the conference play-offs. He said that was the reason the teams insisted that they will boycott the games unless they were paid. “Notwithstanding that the four clubs concerned voiced their displeasure with the manner the federation handled the matter and stated they may not play until they got clarification from the body, Umar chose the media to pour venom on imaginary enemies, instead of making efforts to explain the rationale for this ill-conceived decision”, he said. He revealed that it took the pleas and re-assuring act from two officials of Supersport for the teams concerned to play the tournament, adding “that is not to say the clubs have given up the pursuit of our legitimate right”. The 2013 DSTV Basketball League Final 4 now has Union Bank and Islanders that qualified from the Atlantic Conference while Kano Pillars and Mark Mentors of Abuja came out as the best two teams from the Savannah conference.
ANAGER Jose Mourinho, Petr Cech and Frank Lampard are some of the top Chelsea stars that have visited Super Eagles’ player, Kenneth Omeruo to wish him quick recovery from a keyhole surgery for a shoulder complaint he underwent last Wednesday. Omeruo’s adviser, Conleth Chika Akujobi said in an interview that the youngster’s spirit has been lifted after getting words of encouragement from those that matter at Chelsea. Akujobi hinted that Cech informed Omeruo that he was once involved in similar shoulder injury but later overcame it and now enjoying his game. He revealed that the player had since been released from the hospital and has begun his rehabilitation towards recovery. Akujobi noted that the healing process won’t sideline Omeruo completely as he could move about and involve in other light workouts stating that the former ADO Den Haag of Holland centre back was at the EPL FIXTURES Man City vs Newcastle RESULTS England Crystal Palace 0 - 1 Tottenham Chelsea 2 - 0 Hull City Spain Barcelona 7 - 0 Levante France Monaco 4 - 1 Montpellier Lorient 2 - 1 Nantes Germany Nürnberg 2 - 2 Hertha BSC Dortmund 2 - 1 Eintracht Brau Italy - Coppa Italia Internazionale 4 - 0 Cittadella Atalanta 3 - 0 Bari
From Tunde Liadi,Owerri Stamford Bridge Stadium on Friday to watch Chelsea U18 play a game. The Holland based football expert confirmed that Omeruo would stay out of competitive football for about seven to eight weeks before he regains full recovery. “I can tell you that some Chelsea players and coach Mourinho had visited Kenneth to wish him well in the surgery he just did. Frank Lampard and Petr Cech are the other notable men that visited him. “He told me that Petr Cech told him that he had sustained similar injury before and later recovered to return to active football. Kenneth is calm about everything and very optimistic of coming back strongly as soon as he gets the green light of the medics,” Akujobi expressed in a chat. The player’s shoulder pulled out during the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil and it relapsed during training at Chelsea recently. He won’t be available for next month’s 2014 World Cup qualifier at home to Malawi and could even miss the final qualifying fixtures should Nigeria advance to that stage. The one-time Sunshine Stars of Akure defender returned to Chelsea after a loan spell at Dutch club ADO Den Haag and was expected to be given a look in by new Chelsea boss, Mourinho before the injury.
•Omeruo
ORMER home based Super Eagles’ winger, Gomo Onduku has said that his move to Romania was the best option for him as he didn’t want to go on trials to the club sides showing interest in him both in Europe and Africa. The former Bayelsa United and Sharks Football Clubs player just completed a oneyear contract with the Romanian Liga I side, CS Concordia Chiajna. “I had so many offers on my table, I studied them properly and accepted CS Concordia Chiajna’s offer,” said Onduku. “A lot of questions have been raised over my move to Romania but it was just the best move that I had to make to really fulfill my dreams. I prefer playing here regularly and make a case for a bigger move than joining a club in second division in Germany where I will not be given enough playing time. This move is all about my career, its good I started from an unknown club but well known in Romania and propel my move to a bigger league in Europe,” he told NationSports. “I choose Romania because
By Innocent Amomoh it’s a first division side. i turned down offers coming from the African countries because I think in Europe I will get better exposure despite the fact that the African clubs offered more money. “I had offers to come on trials in lower clubs in Italy and Turkey but as a matter of fact, I think this is not the best time for me to go for trials in lower leagues.” “When I went to Shaktar Donetsk, Arsenal, Juventus I had nasty experiences and I don’t want a repeat so I think I need were I will have a playing time in Europe.”
•Onduku
UEFA EUROPA CLASH
Haruna warns teammates against complacency
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UPER EAGLES’ and Dynamo Kiev holding midfielder Lukman Haruna has warned his compatriot Brown Ideye and his other Dynamo teammates against complacency as they gear up for Thursday’s UEFA Europa League play-offs tie against Kazakhstani opposition FK Aktobe. The Ukraine based club take on Aktobe on Thursday 22 August in Kazakhstan at the Ortalýq Stadion for the first leg encounter before
•Haruna
the return leg at the NSK Olimpijs’kyj in Kiev on Wednesday 28 August 2013. Haruna who has been an integral part of Oleg Blokhin’s side has called on his team-mates to avoid underestimating their visitors as they know little or nothing about their host on Thursday. “We know almost nothing about this team, so the game won’t be easy. “We must take Aktobe seriously. Still I’m sure that we’ll qualify to Europa League group stage. Haruna told the Daily Times. Meanwhile the club is yet to announce the travelling details for the squad but there are speculations suggesting that Dynamo may depart for Kazakhstan 72 hours before the game on Thursday. The Nigerian stars will first of all have to overcome compatriot Mohammed Aliyu’s Tavriya in a domestic battle in the Ukraine Premier League Sunday 18 August 2013 as they aim to avoid another home defeat.
ETISALAT/ FC BARCELONA U-17 SCHOOLS CUP
Keke High School Ijaiye emerges champions
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FTER an exciting route to the final, Keke high school emerged champions of the Etisalat FCB U-17 tourney, after they defeated Anthony Village High school by four goals to nothing, at the campos mini stadiun, Lagos highland on Saturday. The first prize winner Keke high school won the sum of one N1million education grant and a trip to United Arab Emirates for the team, while Anthony village high school, the second placed team walked away with N750,000 and
By Aluko-Olokun Abolaji Akande Dahunsi High school in the third postion won N500,000 in form of grants. Speaking at the event, Chairman Football association Lagos state Mr Seyi Akinwunmi said “When I look around and see kids play I can see the sense of pride in them(students in Lagos state), the FA is proud to associate with this and we share in Etisalat’s vision of wanting to improve talents from a very young age.