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NATIONSPORT TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2012

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT U-20 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP SEMI FINALS

Falconets practice penalties for U.S.A.

ENALTY shoot-out dominated Monday's training of the Nigeria U-20 Women's National Team ahead of Tuesday's (September 4) semifinal clash against the United States of America at the on-going FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan. The Edwin Okon-led coaching crew is not taking anything for granted since it was through penalties that Nigeria defeated the Americans two years ago in Germany. "Anything can happen at this stage even though we have always practiced penalties during our training sessions. But this time we felt it was pertinent to step up the tempo because of the possibility of the match going into extra time," he said at a Pre-Match Conference on Monday. Okon, who has continued to hinge the team's success on determination and a renewed spirit, said most of the mistakes observed in the previous matches have been corrected. "We had four days to work on the players' weaknesses and strengths and l can say that the response from them has been very encouraging," he added. Ironically, both Nigeria and the U.S.A. faced resilient opponents in their quarter final matches that went into extra time. While Nigeria won by a lone goal against Mexico, the U.S.A. edged out North Korea 2-1 to move into the last four.

U.S.A., champions o f t w o U - 2 0 competitions, have been in the semi final five out of six times, while Nigeria will be making its s e c o n d consecutive appearance. Incidentally, it was Nigeria that knocked them out in the quarter final two years ago 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out after regular time ended 1-1. Meanwhile, FIFA-badged referee, Esther Staubli who handled the Argentina versus Canada group match will be in charge of today's encounter that comes up at 8am in Nigeria and 4pm (Japanese time). A native of Switzerland but fluent in German, Staubli has been a referee since 2000 but became internationally acclaimed in 2006.

OLD AGE FEAR

I asked to quit Baggies —Osaze

•Osaze

Stop Dunn, Ubogagu, Falconets warned

ALCONETS' coaches have instructed the country's U-20 team to play the game of their lives as they seek a place in the final of the FIFA Women's World Cup in Japan against the United States at the Tokyo National Stadium this morning. Speaking with NationSport from Japan Monday afternoon, one of the assistant coaches, Chris Nwaehi said that the players have been drilled on what to expect, what is at stake and the need for them to up their game to fashion out a win against the North Americans. He noted that having watched the USA’s games at the competition thus far, the Falconets parade players that can defeat their opponents without much sweat. Nwaehi confirmed that the coaches have warned the defenders to be alert to the dangers pose by Crystal Dunn, who wears jersey number 4, and the player with jersey number 9, Chioma

From Tunde Liadi,Owerri Ubogagu. "We are in Japan to win the Cup and having gone thus far our target remains intact. We are ready for the USA and I need to tell you that the coaches have watched their games and are confident of a win if the players lift their games. "For once, there won't be any inferiority complex and the players have been told to put jersey number 4 (Crystal Dunn) and number 9 (Chioma Ubogagu) in check and they have vowed to do that," Nwaehi told NationSport. A win will guarantee the Falconets back-to-back appearance in the final of the U-20 World Cup having played at that stage two years ago in Germany before bowing out to the hosts, 2-0. The two nations met at the quarter final stage in 2010 but the Nigerians triumphed on penalties.

COPA COCA-COLA FOOTBALL STARS

Chelsea coaches support Africa

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AS Chelsea FC, we are in Africa to support the COPA Coca-Cola Football Stars programme and not talent scout”, these were the firm words of the club’s Senior International Development Officer, Robert Udberg. Udberg made this strong statement to allay fears that they are on the continent to simply take promising and young talent back to Europe. Chelsea’s coaches are in the country to train and impact young players and not talent scout, which is done by a different arm of the Chelsea foundation. “We have a very strong and complicated scouting network around the world which is to recruit players of the highest quality to Stamford Bridge. What we are doing now is part of our mission to help to train and develop players from Africa. We are definitely not here to recruit players,” he said. Udberg, who has been involved with the programme for the past two years, said every year brings its own situations but he is happy with the talent that the teams

how new boss Steve Clarke convinced him to stay. And the Nigeria international insisted he has now put thoughts of a move behind him and rediscovered his hunger for the Premier League. “Summer was a time when, at my age, I had second thoughts about continuing to play at this level,” said the 31-year-old, who was the subject of a failed bid from Qatari club Al-Gharafa. “I thought there would be nothing new for me at West Brom and I gave it a try (asked about leaving) to see what would happen. “But the club said that it was too early for me to go and they thought I could play an important role for them and keep playing. EST BROMWICH ALBION “Then pre-season started and I got hungry again star Peter Odemwingie on for Premier League action and I forgot about it.” Monday admitted that he wanted to leave The Odemwingie, who hit 15 goals in his first Premier Hawthorns this summer. League campaign two seasons ago, signed a moneyThe striker lifted the lid on months of spinning three-year contract last summer and speculation surrounding his future and revealed responded with a further 10 goals last term.

produce annually. On Saturday morning, Udberg worked with the Mozambican team and he said they impressed him with their enthusiasm, athleticism and positive attitude towards football. “I have only started working with them this morning but I have seen some good things and I can’t wait to see how they perform in the tournament proper,” he added. While they work with the players, Udberg has encouraged the coaches to watch closely so that they can pick pointers that they can use in the future. “The coaches must look at the types of coaching that we do and learn from it. We are only involved with the players at training and their coaches will be in charge during matches because they know the players better. During matches we will sit back and take the back seat,” he said. Together with his five colleagues, they will be in the country for the duration of the tournament.

BANKERS GAMES

But he questioned his future at the end of the season and told new head coach Clarke about his doubts, although Odemwingie has dismissed a story claiming a training-ground bust-up between the pair in the wake of Al-Gharafa's bid. “I don't know where that came from,” he said. “People would have seen afterwards if there was a problem. “We sat down and had a normal talk. He was the new coach and he said 'give me a few weeks and see how we work, because we're ambitious for this year'. “I said I would give it a couple of weeks and after that I was enjoying training and it looked like it was going to be an interesting season, so I forgot about the offer.” Odemwingie created the opening goal for Shane Long in Saturday's 2-0 win against Everton a result that kept the Baggies unbeaten under Clarke and took them third in the Premier League. “I am happy for Shane because the run he made was that of a determined striker,” he added.

Ameobi primed

Skye Bank in good for Everton return start to title defense C S

KYE BANK began their defense of the Bankers Games football title on a flying start with a 1-0 defeat of a resilient Stanbic-IBTC on the opening day of the 2012 Nigeria Bankers Games (NBG). The official opening match came on the heels of a novelty All-stars match and a parade of colours by the participating teams in a ceremonial march past at the University of Lagos Sports Complex on Sunday. Industry chiefs including the Managing Director of Clearline Medical Insurers, Segun Ogundimu, Emeka Onodiugo of Chi Pharma and Barbara Harper of First Bank were on hand to witness the ceremony which was kickedoff with a match between the Insurance All-Stars and the

Telecom-All Stars. The InsuranceAll Stars were the surprise 2-1 winners of the tie with goals from Thompson Friday of Union Assurance while Yusuf Abubakar nicked the consolatory goal for Telecoms All-Stars from the penalty spot. Skye Bank’s quest to establish dominance in the opening game of the tournament met a steely resistance from a determined Stanbic-IBTC until late into the game when Alex Ude turned in an own goal off a Samaila Sanni cross with just two minutes left to play. For his efforts and daring saves, Stanbic-IBTC’s goalkeeper, Azeez Owolewa was voted the Most Valuable Player of the game. In the second match of the day, last year’s runners-up, Fidelity

Bank failed to pry open a well knitted Sterling Bank defense in a match that they played without their two illustrious members of the Corporate Hall of Fame, Theo Amadi and Kayode Agbalaja. The match ended 0-0 with Fidelity Bank’s Olaolu Aloo voted the Most Valuable Player. Three of the seven nominees for the Corporate Hall of Fame were unveiled following their selection by the members who voted in a secret ballot. The new entrants are Agbalaja Kayode, a Deputy Manager, Corporate with Fidelity bank, Rotimi Saka, a senior banking officer with Skye bank and Emeka Udegbulem, the Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Relations of UBA. The tournament continues this Saturday.

HEIK TIOTE and Shola Ameobi are set to return for Newcastle United at Goodison Park.

•Ameobi

Tiote has missed the last four games with a calf problem. And Ameobi is yet to feature having been sidelined with a hamstring injury on the eve of the campaign. United manager Alan Pardew felt Tiote would have made a difference in Sunday’s disappointing 1-1 home draw against Aston Villa. Ameobi would have also given Pardew – who didn’t name a striker among his substitutes – a welcome option from the bench. However, the pair are pencilled in to return against Everton on September 17. “Shola has a good chance, and I’m hoping that Cheik has also,” Pardew said. “We have two weeks to get him right. “That’s what we hope to do – get him fit and strong. “That was Cheik’s game against Villa – we missed him like nobody else. “There was a lot of midfielders there, and he’s have bashed a few of them up. That’s what we needed to do.” Sammy Ameobi and Shane Ferguson are also closing in on their combacks.

Nwaneri eyes Eagles return •Says, 'I'm in Malaysia for the money’

ORMER SUPER Eagles defender Obinna Nwaneri has disclosed that he wouldn't mind returning to the national team. Nwaneri, who has won the double for his Malaysian side Kelantan, said he would not make a fuss about an Eagles return, saying that the national team handlers should know players who merit national calls. Nwaneri, who netted in his side's 1-1 draw against ATM in the group stage tie of the Malaysia Cup, said he had no regrets being ignored by the national team coaches, saying he contributed immensely to the team while he played. “I would not forget the last 2010 World Cup qualifier against Kenya where I bloodied my head and was urged on by Coach Shaibu Amodu to finish the game; I eventually helped my country qualify for the World Cup, only to be dropped for the World Cup finals,” Nwaneri recalls. “I'm happy for my contribution to the national team while I lasted but I will not make a fuss about getting recalled to the team because I believe the coaches, with help of the internet, know the players who are doing well. “I may be playing in Malaysia but does that matter? What matters is how much money you put in your pocket. “I may not be wrong if I say I'm playing for the money because the life of a player is short. So, I must also put those things into consideration. “I have won everything I needed to win in my short stay in Malaysia. We're

also in the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup and in the group stages of the Malaysia Cup. “I can also return to Europe to play again but that will depend on the offer. I'm happy here and doing well too.” Nwaneri left Swiss club FC Sion to have a taste of football in the Middle East, joining Kuwaiti side Kazma. He signed for the Malaysian club last season.

•Nwaneri

Sunshine lament Esperance loss

UNSHINE STARS goalkeeper Moses Ocheje has maintained his club did not deserve to lose to Esperance in a CAF Champions League encounter in Tunis. The Nigerian representatives lost 1-0 Sunday night courtesy of a 52nd minute own goal by James Ebitogwa, but Ocheje told MTNFootball.com that Sunshine did enough in Tunis to at least get a draw. “It was a painful way to lose a game, we played well and did not deserve to lose the game, a draw would have been the worst result for us there in Tunisia, but it was not to be. We created chances too but we failed to convert them,” he lamented. “The game has been lost and won. Now our attention is on how to scale through the semi-final. We know the

higher we go the tougher it becomes and we are ready for that.” The Akure club, who also reached the last four of last year’s Confederation Cup, will now await the winners of Group B between TP Mazembe of DR Congo and Al Ahly from Egypt in the semi-finals. Defending champions Esperance have won Group A as they have recorded an unassailable nine points with only a game to be played in this group following the disqualification of local rivals Etoile du Sahel. Esperance, who beat Sunshine Stars 20 in the reverse fixture in Nigeria in July, will play the final game of the group in a fortnight at bottom team ASO Chlef of Algeria, who are still to gain a point at this stage of the tournament.

Funds delay Edo State School Sports Festival

HE non-release of funds by the Edo State government is taking its toll on the proposed Edo State School Sports Festival billed to hold at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin-City. The festival is aimed at selecting student athletes that will represent Edo at the forthcoming 5th National School Sports Festival (NSSF) slated for October 11th 21st in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State. NationSport gathered from a reliable source that the proposal sent by the Ministry of Education to the state government is yet to receive a positive response from the authorities, even though the festival is around the corner. Furthermore, the source stated that several efforts have been made by the organisers to make sure that the event is held while the athletes discovered for

From, Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin-City the national event will be camped and groomed together in order to come out best at the festival in Port-Harcourt. The state is planning on taking part in fifteen events at the National Festival; they are chess, judo, basketball, handball, swimming, athletics, and football among others. The festival was earlier scheduled to hold in the month of July but was shifted as a result of the electioneering in the state; yet, two months after the elections, funds have not been provided. NationSport recalls that Edo State placed fifth behind the Cross River, Lagos, Ondo and Anambra at the last edition of the festival held in Calabar.