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WEDNESDAYSPORTS
Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY
TRANSFER NEWS....
Troost-Ekong Completes Five-year Watford Switch from Udinese Watford have signed Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong from Italian
William Troost-Ekong...shortly after completing the transfer to Watford...yesterday
club Udinese on a five-year contract. The 27-year-old centre-back was born in the Netherlands, where he began his career with Groningen. He joined Udinese in 2018 and his move to Watford is the latest in a series of summer deals between the two clubs, which are owned by the Pozzo family. “I believe in the project for Watford to get back into the Premier League,� the 27-yearold told BBC Sport Africa. “It’s always been my dream to play in the Premier League and Watford has given me the platform now to get there.
Looking at the squad, I believe we have the quality to do it.� Troost-Ekong made 66 appearances for Udinese, but no details about any transfer fee have been disclosed. “I’ve always made tactical
decisions for my career and this felt like the right step now for me and my family,� he added. “As for my international future, I have shown what I can add to the Super
Eagles. I have consistently contributed to the team’s success in the last five years and have had the pleasure of captaining the team.� Watford have also agreed a deal to sign 17-year-old
Guinea youth international striker Djibril Toure from Ceffomig FC on a five-anda-half-year deal. He will complete his move to Vicarage Road on 1 January 2021.
Relegated Leganes Slam â‚Ź7.5m Fee on Omeruo Relegated Spanish club CD Leganes want to make a tidy profit on the transfer of Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo, after demanding any interested club pay 7.5 million Euros. Several La Liga clubs as well as clubs from Turkey have indicated interest in signing the experienced central defender, who cost Leganes 5 million Euros. However, the Madrid club have rejected a loan move for Omeruo, insisting on an outright sale. With just a week to the close of the summer transfer window, the international defender could well play in
the Spanish second-tier league when the new season kicks off. He still has four years left on his contract with Leganes.
L-R: CEO, Monimichelle Ltd, Ebi Egbe; Delta State Deputy Governor, Kingsley B. Ofuaro; NFF President, Amaju Pinnick and General Secretary, NFF, Mohammed Sanusi at the groundbreaking ceremony of the FIFA Goal Project in Ugborodo, Delta State...yesterday
Work Begins on FIFA Mini Stadium Project in Ugborodo Duro Ikhazuagbe Kenneth Omeruo
Pinnick: NFF To Partner Rivers on Real Madrid Academy The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is to partner the Rivers State government for the camping of Nigeria youth teams at the Real Madrid Academy based in Port Harcourt. NFF’s President, Amaju Pinnick revealed this shortly after being taken around the facility by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Real Madrid Academy, Chris Green in company with Rivers Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye and Permanent Secretary, Sir Honour Sirawoo According to Pinnick, the facilities at the academy were top notch and comparable to any of the best football academies across the world “This is incredibly impressive. I was here two years ago when the foundation was being laid and when you lay the foundation stone, you become skeptical about the reality but this is beyond our comprehension. “I have seen academies in other parts of the world; as the president of NFF, I have been opportuned to go round the world, what I have seen here is super, super impressive. The beauty of the academy is that it has world-class facilities, the hostel, the labs, the gym, the dining; the finishing is superb. “On behalf of NFF, we want to commend the Rivers State
Government led by Governor Wike. When he said two years ago he was going to complete this in record time, there were some doubting Thomases but I am here to say we have seen it. We will be coming here in the next few months with very tall football personalities to commission this project.� Pinnick stressed further that the NFF would soon be knocking on the door of Rivers state government for the use of the facility to camp junior national teams. “The NFF will partner Rivers State government in many ways, you know, we have our youth teams, we can also get them to come and camp here; because we have a relationship, it will cost us little or nothing, the camp is world-class, when you hear players go camping, it’s not a tent, it’s a hotel and this one is beyond the hotel, this one is purpose-built for football, quite really impressive. “I came here with Fanny Amun and you know his technical prowess. We will give Rivers state government all the necessary certification, this is to support youth development programme, because they are the future of the country, we need to take them off the streets, off the creeks,� he stated.
The groundbreaking ceremony of the second FIFA Goal Project in Nigeria, aimed at helping to develop football at the grassroots, held yesterday at Ugborodo, Delta State. The project awarded to one of the best turf experts in the continent, Monimichelle Limited, consist of a FIFA standard playing turf and a sitting pavilion that can conveniently accommodate nearly 500 fans, is expected to be completed in six months. Speaking at the event, Deputy Governor of Delta State, Hon. Kingsley B. Ofuaro, described the project in Ugborodo as strategic and historical and will go a long way to foster unity among the Itsekiri, Ilaje, and Ijaw people and it will also aid the development of the area in all facets. He promised that the government will be an integral part of the project and thanked FIFA and the NFF for the project.
“I want to start by specially thanking FIFA and the Nigeria Football Federation for this FIFA Forward project. The citing of this project here is strategic considering the geographical location as it will serve the Itsekiri, Ilaje, and Ijaw communities around the Atlantic Ocean area of the state. The citing of this project can only be done by a man (Amaju Pinnick) who clearly understands the geographical location of this area. We can’t over-emphasize the importance of this laudable project as it will foster unity, build capacity, social harmony, attract more development and government presence and also aid the development of the round leather game of football.� NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, expressed his delight at the kick-off of the construction of the project while also thanking the government of Delta State for their support so far. He urged the communities to ensure they give the needed
support to the contractor in order for him to have an enabling environment to execute the project. Pinnick who doubles as Member of CAF Executive Committee further listed the immediate benefits the communities will derive from the project while also pointing out that FIFA is fully committed to making it a world-class facility. “I am overjoyed that this is happening here today. We started nurturing the idea of citing this project in this small community of Ugborodo two years ago and I am delighted that we have finally kicked it off. “We want to use this project to correct the wrong notion that the Niger Delta is a volatile and restive area. We urge youths in the community to give the contractor all the support in order for him to do a good job. FIFA will monitor and ensure every detail is taken care of,� stressed the NFF Chief. Earlier, Delta FA Chairman, Kenneth Nwamoucha in his
welcome address hailed world football-governing body, FIFA and the NFF for bringing “this huge project to Delta State especially the riverine communities.� In his remark, NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi thanked the Government and the people of Delta State while also urging them to see the project as a good omen of bigger projects to come. He urged the people of the State to continue to support their illustrious son, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, who is well appreciated for his contribution to the development of football in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large. The Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro subsequently led dignitaries in the performing of the ground-breaking ceremony even as the General Secretary handed over the certificate of the project to MoniMichelle Construction Company to signal the commencement of the project.
NWFL Congratulates Obaseki on His Re-election The management of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) has sent congratulatory messages to Governor Godwin Obaseki on his re-election for another four-year term at the recently concluded 2020 Edo State gubernatorial poll. The NWFL management headed by Aisha Falode described the hard-fought victory of the incumbent and his deputy, Phillip Shaibu as heartwarming and well-deserving. “Congratulations Governor
Godwin Obaseki and the Deputy Governor, Comrade Phillip Shaibu on your welldeserved victory at the Edo State governorship polls. “The NWFL says a heartwarming well done to you and your hardworking deputy, Comrade Phillip Shaibu. It must have been your peopleoriented programmes and deep rooted interest in the well-being of the youths and sportsmen and women that earned you the resounding yes votes of the Edo indigenes
at the polls. “You and your deputy, Comrade Phillip Shaibu exemplary and principled leadership especially in the past four years have proven to be the antidote and cure for most of the ills and anti-social activities among the youths in most of our states. “Once again accept the NWFL deepest and warmest congratulations,� said the NWFL boss. Aisha recalled with fond memories the uncommon
and unwavering interest the governor and his deputy showed in the programmes of the league body as well as the height the governor has taken the state-own women team, Edo Queens in the annals of women football. “The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board member prayed fervently that the second coming of the amiable governor will be impactful and unleash more visas and common areas of collaboration with the women league body.