THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2011
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NATION SPORT
NATION SPORT GLO/CAF AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR AWARD
IKE THANKGOD REPLIES KESHI
‘I am still young for Eagles’ B
ARELY twenty-four hours after Super Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi cast doubt over his eligibility, Warri Wolves defender, Ike Thankgod has debunked the insinuation that he was too old for an invitation into the country’s senior national team and has tasked the Big Boss to be mindful of his advisers, stressing that he needs to scrutinize their advice before acting on them. The former Heartland of Owerri player told NationSport in a no-holdsbarred interview that all that was credited to the Eagles’ boss couldn’t not have emanated from him when in actual fact Keshi had not met or seen him play before now. He challenged Keshi to give him a call up to the home-based Eagles currently sweating it out in Abuja for him to verify for himself if indeed he was too old, as he was allegded to have said in the papers. Highlighting that these unverified claims made by The Big Boss whom he has a lot of regard for was rather unfortunate, unsubstantiated and unverified. Thankgod further disclosed that besides his present club Warri Wolves, he had only featured for Sunshine Stars of Akure (2003/2004) and Heartland
From Tunde Liadi, Owerri of Owerri (2004-2009) after his secondary school education when he was then training with Arugo Babes FC of Owerri an amateur side. He further added that the insinuation by Keshi could have adverse effect on his career if he did not come to clear the air and let the public know that the people advising Keshi may make him take wrong decisions if he fails to validate the genuiness of their allegation . According to Thankgod , “ It is just because I have made a name in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) that made them to have the believe that I am too old. How old am I and how many clubs have I played for in the NPL? Most of the players that are currently invited to the home-based Super Eagles’ camp are even older than myself. Keshi ought not to have said anything like that, he should have made effort to verify first before coming out with such damning verdict credited to him. “I started playing in the NPL in 2003 with Sunshine Stars and it was barely
months after I finished secondary school education. Before then I was with Arugo Babes FC. I moved to Heartland FC from Akure in 2004 and I stayed there till 2009 from where I joined Warri Wolves after we played the final of the CAF Champions League.” “I was born on April 4, 1985 which makes me 26 years old now. It is because of my exploit in the NPL that makes them to think that I am too old. I demand a call up to Eagles’ camp to prove my true potential. I have not even seen Keshi one on one and he doesn’t even know me. The only time he would have seen me was when he came to watch the final of the Delta State FA Cup but I was not in even in action in that very match.” Thankgod said. The Imo State-born footballer said he was still making consultaions to know the next line of action to take but a visibly angry Thankgod explained that he was still in shock that Keshi could say all that was attributed to him.
2018 YOUTH OLYMPICS
Facilities upgrade to gulp N19.5bn A
BOUT $120 million would be required by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration to develop the required facilities for its bid to be the host city for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Abuja. This was part of the presentation made yesterday by the Secretary, Social Development Secretariat Department, Mrs. Blessing Onu, to the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Miss Olajumoke Akinjide. The presentation was made prior to the inauguration of a 21-member committee on the 2018 Youth Olympic Games Bid by the Minister of State. The committee is headed by the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Federal
FIFA WORLD RANKING
Nigeria retains 43rd spot •Still 4th in Africa
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IGERIA is finishing the year 2011 in the 43rd spot, and still 4th in Africa on the log of the latest FIFA World Ranking released yesterday. The Nigerian senior national team, the Super Eagles has had to struggle for stability in the hope to return to its most favourable rating in the world, and Africa in particular in recent times, a development which pundits have said is responsible for the low rating. Having missed out of the African Cup of Nations slated for Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, with a spat of other failures in the year 2011, Nigeria will have to wait till next year to make better impart. Meanwhile, Spain finished on the log ahead of the Netherlands, Germany and Uruguay The reigning world champions
By Innocent Amomoh remain first in the standings, ahead of European rivals the Netherlands and Germany Reigning European and world champions Spain have finished the calendar year top of the FIFA World Ranking as runners-up Netherlands and Germany in third were unable to close the gap to Vicente del Bosque’s men in the last month of 2011. There’s very little movement in the top 50 following the lack of international games in recent weeks, and Bosnia & Herzegovina are the only new faces inside the top 20 as they climb three places to 20th position. Wales have claimed the title of Best Mover of the Year as they finish 2011 in 48th position after collecting 300 points following impressive wins over Montenegro, Switzerland and Bulgaria in the Euro 2012 qualifiers.
YSFON ‘ll sort out age cheats in Nigerian football –Gawuna
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EWLY elected National President of Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria, YSFON, Dr. Nasiru Gawuna believes the federation that can solve the issue of age cheat in Nigerian football. The issue of age cheats has been seen as a stumbling block to football development in the country and Gawuna believes that with proper documentation of its age grade programmes, the federation will be able to get the right talents with their correct ages. He said: he believes it was high time for the country to go back to the grass roots where the raw talents abound. Gawuna told NationSport in Lagos that the federation which is known as the
•Gawuna
By Akeem Lawal most successful grassroots sports development organisation that have produced several leading sportsmen and women for the country, will be repositioned for that objective. Speaking on his plans for the federation, the former Nasarawa Local Government Area Council chairman in Kano State, said he was determined to lead YSFON towards positive change. “We are going to have our constitution reviewed to make a sound and time bound constitution that will provide opportunity for everyone to make meaningful contributions to sports development. “We will decentralise the working structure of the organisation and give all zone autonomous power to operate. This will definitely bring us closer to the youths in all nooks and crannies of the country and also make our presence felt in all the local government areas of the country. “We will partner with all the relevant sports bodies in the country and work closely with them to ensure that our lost glory in sports is restored. We are going to knock on the doors of all relevant bodies and individuals that will help us to attain our desired goal of lifting YSFON and Nigeria’s sports in general to greater heights,” he said.
From Patrick Ngwaogu, Abuja Capital Territory, Alhaji Nuhu Ahmed. Akinjide said the FCT Administration will work with the committee to enable it succeed because Nigeria needs to win the bid to show that we are emerging as a sporting nation. She emphasised that the bid is not only for Nigeria but for the continent as a whole. She also said the committee should not take the other African nations for granted but approach them early enough to be able to garner their support for the bid, adding that this was important to prevent any situation of any negative response.
According to the minister, Nigeria’s previous loss for the 2014 Olympic games to Scotland, should arm the country with the experience that would serve as asset to make a good bid for the Youth Olympics Games. She expressed satisfaction on the fact that the success of the bid would galvanise development of the federal capital territory especially as the committee contemplates the development of a new district which she maintained must carry along the locals in such places. The minister said that as much as the administration is desirous of accelerated development of the territory, especially the satellite towns, the committee must look at districts with comparable advantage for siting the venue for the game for deployment of infrastructure. Speaking at the 2018 Olympic Bid budget presentation, former National Sport Commission (NSC) chairman Sani Ndanusa said that the bidding process is a complex process and requires greater support by the administration which he noted was a city driven and would be attractive to public private partners. He said the programme would also show-case the nation to the world and 200 nations expected to participate in the games would explore the country for the nation’s economic good. “We are expecting about two hundred countries to participate in the youth Olympic games and offer the country and the FCT the opportunity to expose our country, our education, our culture, academics tourism and business, Director of Sports in the Social development Secretariat, Alhaji Muhammed Halim Musa who made the presentation on behalf other secretaries, explained that the N20 billion could be the cost of the whole project while about N10b will be needed for additional infrastructure where existing ones have been found. He also said that for facility upgrade, where they exist about, N2billion would be needed to complete them, while N5billion would be needed for logistics on the project.
NFF cautious to hold AGM Toure, Keita battle Ayew – Kano FA chairman
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HE chairman, Kano state Football Association, Musa Rabiu believes the current Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board lacks the confidence to hold it’s 2011 Annual General Meeting slated for December 29 – 31 in Kaduna state. Rabiu disclosed this to brilafm, adding that the current board does not take wise counsel from knowledgeable stakeholders. He said: ‘’The technical committee of the NFF is a little bit afraid to hold that congress because there are many challenges from all over this country. I
By Olusoji Olukayode know they are afraid to hold that AGM. They don’t listen to the people who know how to move football forward in the country. Only few people are running the NFF. So that is the main problem in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Nigerian football recorded a low this term with the various national teams falling short of capturing their targets except the SuperSand Eagles that notched the COPA Lagos four nation tournament last Sunday, beating Brazil 9-4.
NFF TO ITS COACHES
Don’t grant unverified interviews
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HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will not take kindly to coaches in its employ granting uncensored interviews to the media. The declaration comes on the heels of comments credited to assistant coaches of the Nigeria Under-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, Emeka Amadi and Emmanuel Amuneke in a national daily. Both men reportedly rejected the N350,000 (about $2,200) monthly salary from the NFF and the federation has now stated that the coaches must not grant indiscriminate
CROSS RIVER FA BOSS
Planning, NFF’s bane By Olusoji Olukayode
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ROSS RIVERS state football boss, Oswald Atueke believes the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board did not do too badly this year. Atueke stated this in an interview with brilafm, noting also the failure of the different national team managers in the outgoing year. He said: ‘’I will say, give them average because we are all human beings. We all know that managing people is a complex thing. Coaches who were employed to do the job didn’t do the job. He went on that Nigeria football federation lacks proper planning and says the issue need be resolved at the next AGM. ‘’Programming is my topmost agenda, whether we like it or not we don’t have programmes, but I think these are very technical issues that we should discuss at the Annual General Meeting on December 29,’’ he said.
interviews to the media. “They were never expected to speak to the media. If they had any issue, they should have spoken to the federation and not the media,” chairman of the NFF technical committee, Chris Green told SuperSport.com. The NFF chief also stated that the dissatisfaction of the coaches over the wages would not compel the federation to make any change in that regard. “It (the wages of coaches) is not something that we negotiate. Salaries of coaches are fixed and the coaches have the option to either accept or refuse it,” he said. Amuneke, a former African Footballer of the Year, racked up 27 caps for the Nigerian national team scoring 9 goals, while Emeka Amadi was part of the Nigeria Under-20 team at the 1989 World Youth Championships in Saudi Arabia.
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•Ike Thankgod
“Yes he has called up some homebased players but it must be recognised that he will be away for a month and it will be just 12 days before the Rwanda game by the time he returns and that’s too short a time to prepare a team for such a game as the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
•Yaya Toure
Taiwo gets Allegri’s praise
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UPER Eagles’ left-back, Taye Taiwo has received high praise from his manager at Italian champions AC Milan, Massimiliano Allegri. Taiwo started his second game in four days for the Rossoneri in their 2-0 win over Cagliari on Tuesday night at the Stadio Sant’Elia. The 26-year-old had earned rave reviews after his composed performance against Siena at the San Siro on December 17 and Allegri was quick to commend the former Lobi Stars’ man after another accomplished showing in the shirt of the champions. “He has improved a lot. He has some problems when he first came from Marseille and was not playing.
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ORMER Nigeria international, Finidi George believes 2013 will be even more difficult for the Super Eagles ‘unless we begin to do things in the right way’. The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea following a disappointing 2-2 draw with Guinea’s Syli Stars in their final qualifying game for the tournament. With new coach, Stephen Keshi now saddled with the responsibility of steering the Super Eagles to a place at the 2013 Africa Cup of nations, Finidi has now moved to declare that failure lies on the horizon
“Also if he goes away for a month, who picks up his salary of N5 million for staying away from his duty post? Now let me put it straight that the NFF or its technical committee is yet to take any decision on this. “Every member of the committee has his view on the matter, which is personal. But we will wait till Keshi makes this formal and then we will discuss with him and if his reasons (to go for the job) are genuine then it is left for the body (the NFF) to decide,” Bassey told SuperSport.com on Tuesday.
unless preparations begin in earnest. “The players and coaches have a big work ahead of them and they have to work really hard to qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. “They will also have to work even harder if they are to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil because things are not looking rosy,” Finidi told SuperSport.com. Speaking further on the poor performances of the Nigeria senior national team in 2011, the Finidi said a lot would have to change for the fortunes of
“He also had injury problems too but he has now started to play at a very good level,” Allegri submitted. Taiwo has made just four starts in Serie A this season. The left-back is, however, confident his side can retain their Serie A crown this season. “We have a great team with great players like (Alexandre) Pato, (Clarence) Seedorf, nobody can beat us. “We just have to do what the manager (Allegri) tells us because he is the one that chooses who plays and does not. If we do that, we won’t have any problem,” he said. AC Milan currently sits atop Serie A with 34 points from 16 matches.
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IGERIAN striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni scored his 10th goal of the season for his Barclays Premier League club, Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night, as opposing manager Owen Coyle says the goal was terrific. His effort, an exquisite chip on 67 minutes, was, however, not enough as the struggling Blackburn Rovers side lost 1-2 to Bolton Wanderers. The 29-year-old striker still has cause to remain upbeat as even the opposition manager; Owen Coyle of Bolton Wanderers recognised his performance on the night. “It was a terrific goal from Yak,”
the team to change in 2012. “I do hope we qualify for both tournaments but things will continue the way they are unless we begin to do things in the right way. “The way we go about (organising) football in this country is not right but I keep my fingers crossed and hope that we qualify for both tournaments,” Finidi said. The 40 year-old Finidi played for Calabar Rovers, Sharks, Ajax Amsterdam, Real Betis, Mallorca and Ipswich Town. He won 62 caps for the Nigeria national team between 1991 and 2002 scoring 6 goals.
Babangida debunks ‘NFF sack story’, thumbs up Maigari
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ARABA FC Chairman and ex Nigeria international Tijani Babangida has debunked statement credited to him in a daily publication alleging that he told the Aminu Maigari-led Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) board to resign. In a chat with allnigeriasoccer.com, the 38-year-old says he was grossly misquoted by the publication, and wishes to set the record straight. ‘’I was asked that since the Nigeria Federation sacked all the coaches of the National teams.........What is next? Then, they must sack themselves as
Yakubu’s goal terrific, says Coyle
•Keshi
spat with Mali coach Alain Giresse. Yaya Toure won the English FA Cup with big-spending Manchester City and remains an integral part of the rampant Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire. The winner will be announced at the Awards Gala which will be held on Thursday, December 22. at the Banquet Hall, State House in Accra, Ghana.
AFCON: 2013 will be even tougher –Finidi
NFF waits on Keshi over ‘pundit’ job HE Sub-Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has said Super Eagles’ head coach, Stephen Keshi is yet to notify it on his plan to work as a TV analyst for SuperSport at the 2012 Afcon. The issue has generated mixed reaction but spokesman of the NFF sub-technical committee, Paul Bassey told SuperSport.com that Keshi has not officially mentioned it to the committee members. Bassey also disclosed that the matter was raised during a recent meeting of the federation’s sub-committee in Lagos but that no decision was taken. “Naturally I don’t like getting involved in controversies. But I must tell you that the coach hasn’t spoken about this to the committee. It is something that we (the members of the committee) have heard as news. I can’t say if there has been contact with the NFF secretariat on the matter on this because the last time we met in Lagos we didn’t get any official word on it though we talked on it. “Keshi may have signed a contract to do analysis job for your company (SuperSport) but this is coming at a time when we have a big game in February. Besides he will be away for a month and what happens to preparation for the game against Rwanda.
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HE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has narrowed the nominees for the prestigious African Footballer of the Year to three players, namely Andre Ayew (Ghana), Seydou Keita (Mali) and Yaya Toure (Cote d’Ivoire). This means that there will be a new winner on Thursday for Africa’s most prestigious individual accolade as none of these players have won it yet. Ayew must now be top favourite to win this award that has already been won by his father, Abedi Pele Ayew, after he won a similar honour instituted by BBC last week. Ayew is now the main stay of the Ghana Black Stars and has also established himself at top French club Olympique Marseille. Keita has been a part of the allconquering Barcelona, but his international appearances have been limited this outgoing year following a
Coyle told the media after the game. The ‘Yak’ has been in irrepressible form this season with impressive displays for the relegation threatened Blackburn Rovers. Aiyegbeni has hit an impressive 27 shots in 11 games for Rovers this term and is the sixth top scorer in the Premier League. Only Robin Van Persie (Arsenal), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Demba Ba (Newcastle United) and Edin Dzeko (Manchester City) have scored more goals than the Nigerian this season.
well? ‘’ Babangida added: ‘’Contrary to the misleading reports, Aminu Maigari has my full support. I told the publication you can not force any official of the glasshouse to resign or even more gravely sack them because they were elected by the people, and their tenure is yet to lapse. ‘’The members of the NFF are trying their best to move football forward in this country. Whatever the coaches and the players asked for was provided. ‘’Recall that at the last World Cup, England had a dismal tournament by their own high standards. But the fans and the Media never told the English FA to resign. Instead, the hammer fell on the players and the coaching staff.’’ Babangida believes the Aminu Maigari-led Board did the right thing by sacking the under-performing coaches because they always provided moral and financial support to the national teams. ‘’To whom much is given, much is expected. The Nigeria Federation always provided funds for training camps ahead of major tournaments. Unlike in the past, we never had problems of players holding the nation to ransom over unpaid allowances. So, I was misquoted, and I am thinking of the next step......,’’ the ex Ajax Amsterdam flying winger concluded.