T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JANUARY 3, 2017
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TUESDAYSPORTS
Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com
Transfer: Mikel Snubs China for Valencia Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report Super Eagles Captain, John Mikel Obi, is believed to have agreed a four year deal with La Liga side, Valencia. Mikel who held talks with Valencia’s Sporting Director, Jesus Garcia Pitarch, on Christmas day in London, with the prospect of switching to the Spanish club, snubbed big spending Chinese side Shanghai SIPG, French side Olympique Marseille and Serie A duo of AC and Inter Milan to land the deal. After 11 seasons at Stamford Bridge, Mikel is joining Valencia on a free transfer after Chelsea decided to let the midfielder leave for no fee, despite having six months left on his current deal. Valencia is expected to announce the deal as soon as they are able to trash out the modalities of Mikel transfer with Chelsea. He is due some compensation which both teams have to agree on which party will pay. Mikel, 29, has not featured for Chelsea this season after returning from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games where he led Dream Team VI to Nigeria’s only bronze medal at the Games. Pitarch confirmed to Spanish media, Superdeporte: “In the case of Obi Mikel, with Chelsea’s permission, I met with him in London on Christmas day. “I informed him of the option (of joining Valencia). He said he would think about it.” Valencia is looking to reinforce their squad this month in a bid to turn their
fortunes around. With just three wins in their 15 league games, Los Che are 17th in La Liga and level on 12 points with Sporting Gijon, who are in the relegation zone. Cesare Prandelli quit the Spanish team last Friday after less than three months in charge. The former Italy coach stepped down following a disagreement with the club owners over transfers matters. Mikel has made over 240 appearances for Chelsea since joining the club in the summer of 2006 from Norwegian side Lyn. Valencia host Celta Vigo in today’s Copa del Rey roundof-16 first leg with the former club player Voro Gonzalez stepping in as interim coach for the second time this season and fifth overall. When the news of Mikel’s transfer first leaked, a confidant of the Super Eagles captain insisted that Mikel is likely to settle for the biggest offer he can attract because he no longer has anything to prove in the game. Two seasons ago, Mikel demanded a salary of six million dollars tax-free a year if he were to quit Stamford Bridge. “He is not looking for a club to win more trophies again, he is looking for a club, who will give him the right money. That is the more reason the agents are now carefully studying the offers tabled by all the clubs interested in his services,” revealed the close confidant of Mikel. “He has achieved all what he can in football, so he needs the money now.”
Mikel (left) on duty for Nigeria against Tanzania late last year. He is Valencia bound in the winter transfer window Although the offer from the Chinese clubs appears tempting, sources from Mikel camp hinted that it was not
yet time for the Jos-born footballer to go to Asia for ‘pension’ yet. Mikel has outdone the
legendary Nwankwo Kanu as the most decorated Nigeria star after he won both the UEFA Champions League and
Europa League as well as two Premier League titles, four FA Cup and two League Cup winners’ medals.
RMD, Mimi Fawaz Eagles Coach to Work as Pundit at AFCON 2017 to Host Glo CAF Awards Sports journalist, premium show host and presenter of Sports 360 on Vox Africa, Mimi Fawaz and Nollywood legend, Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD) have been confirmed as the official comperes of the 2016 Glo-CAF Awards. A graduate of City University of London, Mimi who is half-Nigerian (her mother is from Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria) and half-Lebanese, has worked for CNN, ESPN and ITV Television networks. Described as the ‘driving force behind UK’s first original African football show’, Mimi has successfully carved a niche for herself in a field dominated by men. Mimi is delighted by the opportunity extended to her to host the show and has promised Africa and the rest of the world a spectacular delivery. Popularly known as RMD, Richard Mofe-Damijo was born July 6, 1961. He is a Nigerian journalist, actor, politician and lawyer. He was the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Delta
State, between 2009 and 2015. Mofe-Damijo who was born in Warri, Delta State, attended Midwest College, Warri and Anglican Grammar School and was a member of the Drama Club. He enrolled into the University of Benin where he studied Theatre Arts. RMD has featured in several top-notch soaps and films such as Ripples, Out of Bounds, Three Wise Men, Oloibiri and Hush. A multiple award winner, RMD in 2005, won the Best Actor in a Leading Role at the maiden edition of the African Movie Academy Awards. He is the face of Globacom’s powerful television commercials which celebrated the company’s ground-breaking launch of Nigeria’s first nationwide mobile 4G LTE network. Mimi Fawaz and Richard Mofe-Damijo will complement the glamorous event known as the Oscars of African football and scheduled for the night on 5th January, 2017 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr will work as a pundit for a French television channel during the AFCON in Gabon. “Rohr will be a pundit for a French television network at the AFCON in Gabon,” a top source told AfricanFootball.com African football’s showpiece event will
kick off on January 14 in Gabon, but Rohr will still be on vacation as the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the tournament for a second straight time. Rohr has a track record working in Africa for the past eight years after he first handled Tunisian club Etoile du Sahel in 2008.
He has bossed Niger, Burkina Faso and was also in charge when cohosts Gabon reached the quarterfinals of AFCON 2012. The Franco-German, who has been holidaying in Madagascar, the birthplace of his wife, has said he will use the AFCON to spy on World
Cup rivals Cameroon and Algeria. Nigeria leads the 2018 World Cup qualifying Group B section with six points from two matches. They resume the series in August, when they welcome second-placed Cameroon to Uyo in the first leg of a crucial double header.
Kiptum Vows to Retain Access Bank/Lagos City Marathon Title The surprise winner of the 2016 edition of the Access Bank/Lagos City Marathon, Kenya’s Abraham Kiptum, has vowed not only to retain the title he won last year but promised to run a sub 2.10:00. Compatriot Peter Kiplagat was favoured by athletics buffs to win the first international marathon in Nigeria in 31 years but Kiptum surprised bookmakers when he won in 2.16: 21. Said Kiptum in a statement made available by the Communications and Media Department
of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon: “I want to retain my title and run a sub 2.10:00 on February 11, 2017. I came to Lagos as an underdog, nobody gave me a chance, and people were expecting Kiplagat to win, so I ran without any pressure. I know I will be the center of attraction on February 11, but am mentally and physically prepare for the challenge, I know am in good shape to win and do it under 2.100.’’ Kiptum also praised the Lagos crowd and the weather, “for a city that does not have a marathon
culture like we do in East Africa, I was shocked at the people’s enthusiasm and support for the runners. They cheered us so I am appealing to the Lagos crowd to please to come out again in their thousands and support us in February.” “The weather was also agreeable, I was expecting it to be very hot but it wasn’t, the weather was good’’. Kiptum praised the Lagos State Government and the sponsor, Access Bank, for putting Nigeria on the global marathon map again,
“I strongly believe that Nigeria can compete with the world in marathons and road races if they invest in the talents they have. Remember, about 30 years ago they had Abbass Mohammed who was doing 2.16:00 then. At the last outing there was Philip Sharabutu who ran 2:30:51 and some other young runners who finished the race under 2.40:00. If these runners are supported with the right coaches and they run regularly, they can catch up with the rest of the world in five years,’’ said Kiptum.