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WEDNESDAY, ͽ˜ ͺͿ ˾ T H I S D AY
WEDNESDAYSPORTS
Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com
Aiyegbeni: I Want to End My Football Career in England
Former Super Eagles forward, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, has revealed he wants to end his career in England after signing for Coventry on Monday. The 34-year-old has a decade of experience in England but in the last five years he has played abroad apart from a brief spell at Reading. He told BBC Sport: “I left to play in China, Qatar and Turkey, but my family and heart was always in England. “I’ve always said I would love to end my career in England and that plan is still on track.” Aiyegbeni has scored 96 Premier League goals - more than any other Nigerian and just five less than the top-ranked African scorer Didier Drogba. His career in England began 14 years ago and has played in the top flight for Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton and Blackburn.
Aiyegbeni
He has now dropped down to League One, where Coventry is rooted to the foot of the table, but is determined to show he can still make an impact. “My career in England started in 2003 and I have been very lucky to play for some top managers and teams,” Aiyegbeni added. “Things are quite tough for Coventry City at the moment and I understand what is expected of me. “I had the opportunity to train with the players here, I see great qualities and believe things can get better. “I love scoring goals and helping my team-mates to score, together we can lift the club. “I know this league very well because I have played in it with Leicester City and Reading in the past.” Coventry City Manager, Russell Slade, further shed light on the signing of Aiyegbeni and believes that the club have landed a player with “a terrific goal record.” The former Premier League star will stay at the club “on a deal running until May 2017, pending international clearance.” “We’re pleased to have secured the signing of Yakubu, who brings vast experience and a terrific goal record. The striker will wear number 22 at Coventry City.
U E FA C H A M P I O N S L E AG U E
PSG Maul Barca 4-0 Paris St Germain’s Angel Di Maria was at his vintage best as he scored twice on his birthday in a 4-0 demolition of Barcelona in their Champions League last-16 first leg last night. The Argentina winger, 29, scored in each half with PSG’s Germany midfielder Julian Draxler and Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani also finding the net as the French champions tore apart a disorganised Barca side who have it all to do in the return. PSG, eliminated by the Catalans in the Champions League quarterfinals in
2013and2015,werethemoreaggressive sideattheParcdesPrincesandhaveput themselves in a commanding position ahead of the March 8 second leg at the Camp Nou. Five-time European champions Barca have not exited in the last 16 since going out to Liverpool in the 2006/07 season. Elsewhere on the night, Benfica defeated Borussia Dortmund 1-0 to also gain advantage going into the second leg. Mitrologu poked in the goal for the Portuguese team while Pierre Aubameyang lost Dortmund’s penalty.
Bayern, Arsenal Light up Allianz Arena Bayern Munich and Arsenal will meet in their big-name UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg this evening, both hoping European success will help lift mid-season gloom on their domestic fronts. The other game of the evening is between Napoli and Real Madrid. Bayern are on track for a recordextending fifth consecutive title with a seven-point lead thanks to their 2-0 win over Ingolstadt on Saturday. But that result does not tell the whole story, with the German champions looking lacklustre for most of the match before snatching two goals in the final minutes. The Bavarians have been more
a model of efficiency under coach Carlo Ancelotti than the high-scoring, high-speed train of past seasons under predecessor Pep Guardiola. Ancelotti could be without winger Franck Ribery, with the Frenchman working towards a comeback from a thigh muscle injury sustained two weeks ago. “It will be difficult but we will have to see. We will, however, take no risk with this,” said the coach. RESULTS PSG 4 – 0 Barcelona Benfica 1 – 0 Borussia Dortmund TODAY FIXTURES Bayern Munich vs Arsenal Real Madrid vs SSC Napoli
PSGí s Di Maria celebrating his opening goal against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 rst leg game last night
2017 NPA Lagos International Polo Gallops off with Clashes in Silver Cup Duro Ikhazuagbe For the next 11 days, the attention of polo aficionados will shift to the Ribadu Road ground of the Lagos Polo Club as the 2017 NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament gallops off to exquisite actions of topflight matches. Already in town for the prestigious Majekodunmi Cup are top players from Argentina and South Africa. Some of the stars listed to light up the tournament include; Manuel Crespo a seven-goaler from Argentina; South African Tom De Bruin +7; and Alfredo Bigati, another +7 handicap player from Argentina, who will be making his debut. Other professional players include; Santiago Cernadas +6, Santiago Astrada +6, Diego Whyte +5 and Martin Juaregi +5 all of whom are Argentines. South African Leroux Hendriks +5 is not left out. Of course, some of Nigeria’s
middle-rated handicap players like Adamu Atta, Babangida Hassan, Bello Buba, Bashir Dantata, Kwame Isa, Abdulrahman Mohammed, Ahmed Umar, Murtala Aliyu and Saidu Umar will also be on parade. The 11-day polo extravaganza, which has Guaranty Trust Bank as main sponsor, will see teams compete for honours in four main cups namely Silver Cup, Open Cup, Lagos Low Cup and Majekodunmi Cup split over two weekends. Scheduled to kick off the 2017 edition in the newly introduced Silver Cup this afternoon is the match involving Lagos STL and Ibadan Challenge. Speaking at a media session to herald the 2017 edition of the premier polo tournament in the country, Lagos Polo Club President, Ade Laoye, promised polo faithfuls top-class action alongside fun and excitement. He added that this year’s edition will be better, describing
the Lagos Polo Club as the new face of polo in Nigeria. The LPC chief stated that massive infrastructural upgrade has been carried out for proper and efficient polo with all the safety measures. GTBank Head of Corporate Affairs and External Communications, Oyinade Adegite, pledges the financial institution’s support for the game. She said, “For GTBank, polo is a special game; a special sport. The uniqueness and the quality of the game endeared us to the sport. Aside, the passion and competitiveness of the sport are part of the values that drives our commitment.” Nigeria Polo Association Chairman, Dolapo Akerele, also expressed confidence on the success of the tournament pointing that Lagos Polo Club has continued to excel and show examples to other clubs. Aside polo, a lot of social activities are on the card for the duration of the tournament.
Deputy Tournament Director, Seyi Oyinlola disclosed that 10 teams will battle for the newlyintroduced Silver Cup which used to be the Dansa Cup while four Lagos teams will compete in the Open Cup. He added further that an unprecedented 12 teams will feature in the Low Cup while three teams will contest for the prestigious Majekodunmi Cup, regarded as the most prestigious polo title in Nigeria. Lagos Centaurs, Lagos Fifth Chukker and Kano Keffi Ponys are the teams competing in the Majekodunmi Cup. Oyinlola also disclosed that there are three select cups which are Oba of Lagos Cup, Italian Ambassador’s Cup and Independence Cup. The Oba of Lagos Cup will feature two Lagos teams and it will come up on Saturday February 18 while the final of the Silver and Open Cups comes up the next day to wind up hostilities for the first week.
Golf: Danjuma Shines at IBB Ladies Open Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Rachael Danjuma exhibited ironcast character over the weekend by winning the 19th IBB Ladies Open Golf Championship in Abuja by nine shots after three days of intense golf. The golfer, a former lady captain of Jaji Golf Club, shot a combined gross score of 256 to beat the field of 45 golfers, who played in the final round. Danjuma, who has 8-handicap, typically romped to victory over IBB International golf course to tie up her second major tournament since she coasted to victory three months ago at
the Northern Nigeria Zonal Open Golf Championship also in Abuja. A strong field of over 90 lady golfers from Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ghana and 27 golf clubs in Nigeria attended the well-organised tournament. A bogey finish in the last four holes of the final round could not dislodge Danjuma from making a routine victory in the ladies Handicap 0-28 flight category. Jessica Tei, from Ghana finished second. The young 5-handicapper from Achimota Golf Club, edged last year’s winner, Amina Wilfred of IBB Club on count-back after they both shot 267 gross. A former national cycling
champion, Rita Izoje from James Ibori Golf Club, Asaba, once again grabbed the attention- not on the track, but on the golf course by finishing in fourth position, 18 shots outside the lead. Tei and Izoje enlivened a spectacular event by thrilling the guests that included Plateau Governor, Simon Lalong, Ugandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Kagimu Kiwanuka, Kaduna State First Lady, Hadiza El-Rufai and others with their dancing ability, when they stepped out with their entourage to receive their prizes. V. Manteau from Ghana finished 5th, while the 6th and 7th positions went to S. Kadiri
of IBB and Blessing Obaje of Otukpo respectively. The evergreen Susan Cole-Kotas finished in eighth position with 282 gross, in addition to making waves with some auxiliary prizes, including the longest drive and nearest to the pin. Blessing Adakole, (Otukpo), B. Hassan (Abeokuta), Justina Christopher (Lafia) S. Choi and Mirabel Edozie, both from IBB Club, took 1st -5th nett positions in Handicap 0-28 flight category. All 45 players who made the final day cut were presented with medals. The tournament was organised by the Ladies Section of IBB Club.