ubamobile

13
Sun, Sep

Business

News

Letters

News

Sports

Stephen Keshi, coach of the Nigerian national soccer team, Monday, released the list of the 23 players to represent the country at Brazil 2014 World Cup.

The list includes three goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight midfielders and ten strikers.

Full List:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim

Defenders: Joseph Yobo, Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth Omeruo, Efe Ambrose, Kunle Odunlami

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Michael Uchebo, Reuben Gabriel

Strikers: Osaze Odemwingie, Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Emmanuel Emenike, Babatunde Michael, Victor Moses, Uche Nwofor.

I am Aisha Falode, Mother of 19 year old Toba Falode. I’m giving the following statement as fact in the unfortunate death of my son. Oluwadamilola Oloruntoba Falode, who was a student of SAE Institute, Dubai in the UAE admitted to study Audio Production in October, 2013 and resided on the 17th floor of Manchester Towers, Dubai Marina. In the early hours of the 15thof February, 2014, I received a call from the security guard at my son’s apartment block informing me that something serious had just happened to my son, Toba. I then immediately called his close friend, Nick Allison, a South African, who then informed me that my Toba had passed on from falling from the balcony of his 17th floor apartment.

Upon hearing this, I made various frantic calls to Toba’s pastor (his guardian in Dubai), to go to the scene. After which I was informed that the police had arrested all those at the scene and also taken the body of my son away. Four family members then proceeded to retrieve my son’s body and also met with the Deputy Director of the Jebel Ali police station, who read out the preliminary report to the family and mentioned Faisal’s name which was mysteriously missing in the report that was later given to the family.

 The summary of the police report is as follows:

a. That they confirmed that Toba died in the morning of the 15th of February 2014 at approximately 4am.

 b.That they indicated that this occurred around the premises of Toba’s apartment, the Manchester Tower, Dubai Marina.

 c.That they confirmed that there were 5 other people with him at the time of his death - (4) four boys and 1 girl - a Nigerian, a French Canadian national, a South African and  a Saudi national. The girl is British.

 d. That close to the time of the accident, Toba was on the balcony of his flat with his alleged girlfriend.

 e.That Toba was sitting on the railing of his balcony with his feet off the floor and that he was swinging in this position backward and forward.

 f.That his girlfriend was still there with him, and was warning him to be careful.

 g.That she later went inside the flat and shortly after, they all noticed that Toba was no longer sitting on the railings or on the balcony, and must have fallen down from the balcony railings.

 h.That his friends all rushed down and found him lying dead in front of the apartment block.

 i.That they then called the Police who took charge of things.

j.That all statements of the witnesses as described above were similar and that they were all interviewed separately.

k.That forensic evidence including the examination of Toba’s body at autopsy did not reveal anything to contradict this version of events.

l.That there were no injuries on Toba’s body inconsistent with a fall from a great height as the cause of his death.

m.That there was no evidence of bruising or other injury to indicate anything else could be blamed as the cause of his death.

n.That based on their findings, they decided therefore not to conduct a full internal autopsy.

o.That if from their investigations they had even the slightest indication of anything other than this version of events they would definitely have conducted an autopsy.

However, because of the various inconsistencies in the Police Report given to my family, and because I know the apartment layout very well and my motherly intuition I knew something was not right. So I decided to investigate further by myself accompanied by a family member and my family lawyer Mr. Festus Keyamo.

We travelled to Dubai in April and met with some of my son’s friends who were present in the apartment on that fateful day.

The summary of the accounts of these friends were totally different from what the police report indicated and revealed a weak attempt by the authorities in Dubai to hide facts that pointed to the fact that my poor son was murdered.

This account, the friends (witnesses) in question volunteered to give as written statements to me.

Summary of account as follows:

a.That sometime in December, 2013, the said Faisal Aldakmary Al-Nasser stormed the apartment of my deceased son Oloruntoba Falode and ordered Miss Olivia Melanie Richards Evans (his supposed girlfriend) out of Toba’s apartment, accusing her of having an affair with Toba.

b.That a fight was to have ensued from this confrontation, but for the intervention of other mutual friends. Since then, there was no love lost between Toba and Faisal Aldakmary Al-Nasser.

c.That in the evening of the 14th of February, 2014, Toba, together with his friends, namely, Ebele Oladeji Onwugbufor,

Nick Allison and Joachim Senteni went to a club in Dubai known as M Deck, Media 1 Hotel, Media City.

d.That at the club, they met the said Faisal Aldakmary Al-Nasser and Miss Olivia Melanie Richards Evans who were also at the club.

e.That again an argument started at the Club concerning Olivia, and shortly after this, Faisal and Olivia left the Club.

f.That shortly after the two left the club, Toba and his friends also left the club.

g.On their return to Toba’s apartment, Toba, Nick and Deji were shocked and surprised to find Faisal and Olivia outside Toba’s Apartment door, waiting and Olivia was crying hysterically and appeared frightened while Faisal, however appeared calm, with a determined look on his face.

h.That after they all went into the apartment,  after which Toba, Faisal and Miss Olivia Melanie Richards Evans entered his room “to sort things out”.

i.That shortly after, the three of them exited the room and moved on to the balcony of the apartment on the 17th floor.

j.That there were signs of serious argument coming from the balcony with raised voices and flaying hands by faisal visible through the glass door of the balcony.

k.That after about twenty seconds Faisal and Olivia came back into the room and announced that Toba had fallen off the railings. However, Faisal had blood splattered all over his shirt and he had bloody knuckles. There was also a noticeable cut on his finger.

l.That at this point they all rushed downstairs to see Toba’s dead body lying meters away from the building (approximately 12 to 15 meters).

m.That the position of my Toba’s body (which can still be verified today) was not consistent with someone falling from the balcony (in which case the body would be much closer to the building) but was consistent with someone that was violently pushed from the balcony.

n.That the police arrived thereafter and arrested all of them to the station.

o.That before and during the journey to the station, Faisal kept repeating to the hearing of everyone that the maximum punishment for him would be twenty-five (25) years in jail and that the other boys should not worry. Meanwhile, Olivia remained hysterical.

p.That at the station, Faisal and Olivia were kept away from the rest and were interviewed separately, whereas the other three were kept in a separate room and interviewed separately.

q.The witnesses were clear that the above account was what was narrated and written as statements at the police station, A vital piece of information deliberately omitted in the Police Report which did not make any reference to the presence of Faisal or Miss Olivia Melanie Richards Evans on the balcony when Toba allegedly fell.

r.That Faisal was released without taking the blood stained T-shirt from him as should have been done in any investigative matter.

I am appealing to my Government that I have done much more than I should do as a grieving mother who was left with no option but to start investigating my own son’s murder by myself. I implore the Nigerian Government to prevail on the authorities in Dubai to re-open the investigation into the murder of my son Toba Falode and to bring to book Mr. Faisal Aldakmary Al-Nasser and Miss Olivia Melanie Richards Evans both of whom murdered him in cold blood.

The loss of a son is not what any parent should have to suffer, let alone a brutal murder. I do not wish this on any one because the pain is not only excruciating but almost unbearable.

JUSTICE MUST PREVAIL NOT ONLY FOR MY DEAR TOBA, BUT ALSO IN HONOUR OF THE MEMORY OF ALL THE OTHER YOUNG LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN CUT SHORT BRUTALLY. IF NO ONE ACTS EVERYONE IS AT RISK OF THIS UNFATHOMABLE PAIN.

I am asking for justice for my son and prayers from everyone that God in his infinite mercy gives my family and I the strength to bear this great loss.

THANK YOU.

AISHA FALODE.

Just four days to the 10th May deadline for the submission of final list of players selected to represent their countries at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Super Eagles chief coach Stephen Keshi, has released his 30-man list.

Keshi released the list on Tuesday, after a three-hour meeting with the Nigeria Football Federation Technical Committee at the Glass House in Abuja.

Names on the list are:

Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Victor Moses, Emanuel Emenike, Victor Nsofor, Osaze Odemwingie, Michael Babatunde, Nnamdi Oduamadi and Nwofor Uche in the attack.

John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Ejike Uzoenyi (Rangers Int’l), Sunday Mba, Gabriel Rueben, Nosa Igiebor, Joel Obi, and Michael Uchebo in the midfield.

Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Kenneth Omeruo, Joseph Yobo and  Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars) in defence.

Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim (Gombe Utd), Daniel Akpeyi (Warri Wolves) in goal.

Keshi disclosed that all the players on the list would resume in camp by 26th May where the final 23 will be selected and made public by 2nd June. 

Moving up two spots from the last ranking of the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), Nigeria is now 45th in the world with 620 points against its previous 616 points.

Released on FIFA’s website on Thursday, the ranking placed Nigeria 6th in Africa, displacing Tunisia to the 7th position it earlier occupied.

Ahead of Nigeria in the African countries’ ranking are Ivory Coast, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana and Cape Verde with 830, 798, 795, 713 and 665 points respectively.

Meanwhile Ivory Coast, ranked first in Africa, was ranked 21st in the world, Egypt ranked 24th, Algeria maintained the 25th position, while Ghana and Cape Verde dropped to 38th and 42nd position in the world respectively.

Spain retained its first position in the world with 1,460 points, followed by Germany with 1,340, Portugal with 1,245, Colombia with 1,186 and Uruguay with 1,181 points pushing Argentina from3rd to 6th.

Next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 8th May.

Let a sleeping dog ‘lie’ without disturbance is a metaphor that sometimes show how weak an individual is in terms of confronting issues that are personal to him. Is NSC a sleeping dog? Should we let NSC lay motionless because of a Giant (really puppet) at the helm? I was informed of new Sports Minister or Chairman of NSC that was recently appointed without any commissioner named to the commission he is to lead. I will say again that this appointment of Chairman and lack of appointment of commission members simply suggests that the country missed road again. The country got the chance to right the wrong but choose mediocrity once again and at that one could only expect garbage and lots of scandals based on ineptitude and deliberate affront to common sense.

Recent Scandal

Such garbage and scandalous action occurred within days of Danagogo’s appointment by the former Sports Minister favorite pal heading the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), with biggest blunder that vibrated locally and internationally. This loud uproar is AFN creation of its own Gestapo Empire where AFN is the prosecutor, judge and the enforcer of its own rule. Imagine this, AFN created a panel made up individuals lacking legal skills, medical skills, IAAF rules skills and formerly fired Saudi Arabia ineffective Coach to rule on issues concerning doping violations without any verifiable evidence. Without going in further details as this writer is aware of multi-billion Naira lawsuit pending, but it is safe to say:

1. The constituted panel is not independent of the accuser (AFN) and in fact have grudges that can be alleged as pay back to the accused individuals;

2. Eric Campbell and Dr. Ken Anugweje dissociated themselves from the panel resolve stating that they were pressured;

3. An individual was banned because the kangaroo panel said “it was not impossible for food supplement to be laced with banned substance”;

4. Femi Ayorinde does not have legal training or lab skills to identify banned agents, as this is medical law specialty not bachelor of surgery credential.

Clearly, AFN showed lack of leadership. Certain people are being finger-pointed and others been hidden from public scrutiny from doping offences. Panelists are afraid of lawsuits and now dissociating themselves from the panel conclusions and of course Eric Campbell can be sued in Georgia, USA for defaming his fellow citizen abroad. Mr. Campbell, there will not be jungle justice in Georgia rather your pockets and future earnings will pay for damages especially your cool $200,000 salary in Nigeria and any property you owned.

Furthermore, liberty or right to earn a living comes with unflinching exercise of such rights and only the judicial branch can rely on rules that may violate such rights but with one proviso and that is that it was proven beyond reasonable doubt that such person committed an offence. Can it be said that a parent feeding a child food purchased in supermarket can be banned because its’ not impossible for the food to be laced with banned substance. Well, only in AFN world of ineptitude and mediocrity can that happen.

Moving on, Commonwelth Games will be CommonWaste from all indications and it seems too late now to re-engineer the country’s preparation but this is not to take away our athletes’ efforts toward excellent performances. To do well will be a tall order that is so tall, but not impossible because miracle does happen, however.

Looking forward

Come 2015 there will be new people in charge of sports but its’ clear those imposed on athletes now are on path of destruction to pave way for the same mediocrity to continue.

NSC tampered with legislative creation of a Doping Centre by converting such federally Gazette property into High performance Centre without a legislative mandate to do so. Predecessor Minister brought in two individuals from abroad without satisfying Nigeria’s Procurement Act that Mr. Lamido Sanusi was accused of and this illegally hired individual sat on a panel that acted contrary to Nigeria’s constitution.

Now, AFN is destroying personalities that are relevant to the country’s success in the past and years to come because of its alleged likely hidden agenda to destroy athletics in the future and must be stopped immediately. Danagogo take note, take action or you must go. God help, Nigeria.

I rest

Dr. Rashid A. Balogun, CPA, LLB(Hons.), LLM(London)

The leadership of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed disappointment over a statement of Super Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi that the wives of the players would be allowed to go with their husbands to Brazil for the FIFA World Cup competition.

According to a representative of the NFF who spoke anonymously to journalists, the issue had earlier been discussed and agreed upon, that wives accompanying the players would only mean distraction to them.

“There was a meeting of which Keshi was part where it was stated that having the wives with the players will be a distraction, hence it should not be approved”, the NFF official said.

He further stated other issues discussed earlier with Keshi, saying that because NFF agreed with him, not to bring in a foreign physical trainer, he should also respect NFF’s no-wife-in-Brazil stand.

“That particular meeting was when the issue of a foreign fitness trainer was mooted, which Keshi rejected. Mind you, we did not impose the foreigner, we actually asked for his opinion. So, we cannot understand why Keshi would go ahead to say what he said”, the NFF bos added.

Keshi had told the press that allowing the players to take their wives along to the competition would be a big psychological boost to them. He had applauded the idea at a media parley organised by Tom Tom, an official partner of the NFF, last week in Lagos.

But the NFF official argued that Keshi is aware of the financial situation of the federation, that it does not have adequate financial muscle to sponsor players and their spouses, so he should not have flaunted the idea again. It is unclear, though, if the N2 billion approved for the team’s World Cup campaign covers the players’ partners.

In 1994, when Keshi captained the team to the World Cup in United States of America (USA), the spouses of married players were sponsored to the competition by the government. This may be the reason why Keshi, having experienced the benefits of having the players’ wives with them during the competition, is advocating strongly for it again.  

However, the NFF boss revealed that the issue would be resolved at the next meeting with Keshi in Abuja on Monday. 

 

 

A sum of N2.08 billion has been budgeted for the preparation and participation of Super Eagles of Nigeria at the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said on Monday.

Speaking while defending the federation’s budget before the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Sports, NFF Secretary-General, Musa Amadu explained that a grant of N1. 25bn has been secured from the Federal Government, while the deficit of N829.89m would be sourced from alternative donors.

The budget reveals that each Super Eagle would receive a cumulative $107,500 as winning bonus should the team win the tournament, while Coach Stephen Keshi would receive $215,000.

Each player would get $10,000 for the three matches in the first round, while the head coach would receive double the amount. For the knock-out stages, each player’s pay rises to $12,500 in the Round-of-16, $15,000 in the quarterfinal and $20,000 in the semi-final.

The assistant coaches, team doctor, physiotherapist, welfare officer as well as secretary would receive different amounts as winning bonus, same as the psychologist, media officer, team security officer, match analyst and equipment manager.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Godfrey Gaiya praised NFF for its recent successes in football, and assured of the committee’s cooperation towards raising the needed N800 million.

“I have always assured Nigerians that funding for our football should not be seen as a problem”, he said.

“We have a president that is sensitive to this sector and he has said so time without number that they should make their preparation. You can see that there is a grant for the World Cup outside the NFF’s main budget and that grant is a proposal. The moment we go beyond the round of 16, certainly more money will be given”.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday night rewarded members of the bronze-winning Eagles of the 2014 African Nations Championship, at a dinner in Abuja held in their honour.

Jonathan commended the team for raising the nation’s flag with pride t the tournament, and announced a donation of N1m for each players and N1.5m for the coach. The assistant coaches also got N1m each, while other classes of team officials received N500,000 each.

“I am delighted to receive the Super Eagles of Nigeria, who did the nation proud with their brilliant performance at the recently concluded 2014 Orange Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa”, the president said.

“The team’s impressive performance adds to a memorable season for Nigerian football, starting with victories at both the 2013 African Cup of Nations and the FIFA Under-17 World Cup competitions.

“I am particularly proud of this team, which, even though they placed 3rd at the championship, exhibited an uncommon degree of resilience, discipline, commitment and patriotism throughout the competition.  This is even more noteworthy considering that this is the first time that Nigeria is qualifying for this particular championship. 

“My dear Super Eagles, I keenly followed your performance from the group stage up to the last third-place match.  I noted that you epitomized the true never-say-die Nigerian spirit, especially in the match against Morocco’s Atlas Lions where you came from a three-goal deficit to win the match against all expectations.

“You may not have won the championship, but you performed gallantly, competed fairly and made all Nigerians proud.  You also produced the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and, today, some of you are being sought after by renowned football clubs around the world.  As the coach has confirmed, some of you may make our team to the FIFA World Cup in June this year. 

Jonathan noted that their exploits at the championship further demonstrated the fact that the efforts being put into rebranding and reinvigorating the Nigerian Football League are yielding positive results.  While admitting that there is still much more work to be done, he observed that it is gratifying to note that, today, the Nigerian league is ranked among the best in Africa. 

“On behalf of all Nigerians, I would like to specially congratulate each and every member of the team for your remarkable achievement.  The glory and honour which you have brought our fatherland is greatly appreciated. You are a credit to Nigeria, your Clubs, and your families”, he continued.

 

“Let me encourage you all to remain committed. To take your game to greater heights, you must not forgo the discipline and all other qualities you displayed and the experience and exposure you have gained from the competition.

“Let me also commend the technical team for their dedication in preparing this team for this commendable result. It is evident that we are reaping the dividends of our investments in the sports sector.  

“The Supporters Club deserves special commendation for the unflagging inspiration they continue to provide our national teams. I will like to seize this opportunity to assure you all that our Administration will continue to give maximum support to our sportsmen and women to enable them optimally realize their potentials for excellence on the international stage

“Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, as a token of our appreciation for the heroic efforts of these gallant patriots, we have decided to reward them as follows: 

i.                   Players                                        -       N1,000,000 each

ii.                Head Coach                                -       N1,500.000

iii.              The 3 Assistant coaches            -       N1,000,000 each

iv.             Team Secretary                          -       N500,000

v.                Team Doctor                               -       N500,000

vi.             Team Physiotherapist                 -       N500,000

vii.           Chief Technical Officer               -       N500,000

viii. Team Coordinator                       -       N500,000

ix.  Team Media Officer                    -       N500,000

x.   Curator                     -       N500,000

  

“Congratulations our Super Eagles. Thank you 

President Goodluck Jonathan (GCFR) has approved the concession of the National Stadium in Lagos.

According to Special Assistant on Media and Strategy to Honourable Minister for Sports, Julius Ogunro, the approval was granted last week.

With the approval, the Honourable Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi will constitute the Project Steering Committee and the Project Delivery Committee, which will liaise with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to draw up modalities for the concessioning.

The Federal Executive Council set up a committee in September 2012 to look into the mode of maintenance of federal stadia and to develop a sustainable funding framework for sports in general.

That committee in turn set up a technical sub-committee, which would in collaboration with the Bureau of Public and Enterprise (BPE) and Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), recommend the most viable option for the maintenance of the six federal stadia.

The Technical Sub-Committee recommended the involvement of private sector participation in the management and operations of the stadia with concessioning as the preferred and most sustainable approach. It also recommended that the concession of the federal stadia should start with Nation al Stadium, Lagos.

Ogunro also confirmed that further announcements concerning the commencement of the process would be made soon.

Manchester City and Cote d’Ivoire midfielder Yaya Toure has been named the 2013 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) African Footballer of the Year.

After being nominated for the fifth straight year but only winning it for the very first time, Yaya could not hide his delight at fending off competition from Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Burkinabe Jonathan Pitroipa, and the Nigerian due of John obi Mikel and Victor Moses.

 “Thank you to all the fans around the world who continue to support me and who love me a lot”, BBC quoted Yaya as saying.

“I’m very proud; I’m very happ; this award is amazing. It’s the fifth time in a row and this time is very special”.

After Toure received the award at Manchester City’s Carrington training ground on Monday, Current Affairs Editor of BBC Africa, Vera Kwakofi spoke highly of the Ivoirian.

“We are pleased for Yaya Toure that he has finally won the BBC African Footballer of the Year on his fifth nomination for the award”, Vera said. “This shows the high esteem in which he is held by lovers of African football and the respect the fans have for his exploits for club and country”.

Toure is also in the running for the 2013 Confederation of African Football (CAF) African Footballer of the Year, an award he has won in the last two years. And should he win this time, he would have equalled Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o’s feat of winning in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Nigeria and Chelsea FC of England footballers, John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses (albeit on a brief loan deal at Liverpool) have been named in the five-man shortlist for the 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year award.

Also listed for the award, which was revealed on the BBC’s Newsday programme, are current African Footballer of the Year award holder Yaya Toure of Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso’s Jonathan Pitroipa and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon.

The list was drawn up by 44 journalists across Africa and the winner, to be determined by a vote by African football fans until 18:00 GMT on 25th November 2013, will be announced on Monday, 2nd December 2013 at 17:35 GMT on the BBC’s Focus on Africa radio and television programmes.

While Obi and Moses shone in the Chelsea team that won the Europa League last season as well as the Nigerian team that won the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in February, 24-year-old Aubameyang finished the 2012-13 season with 19 goals for St-Etienne and the second highest goal scorer in France only behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic. These goals helped the club win the French Cup, and they have also been flowing at his new Bundesliga club, Borrusia Dortmund, where he has scored seven goals in 11 games.

Twenty-seven-year-old Pitroipa was named AFCON player of the tournament as Burkina Faso reached the final, while Toure is an ever-present rock in the midfields of both the Ivoirian national team and dethroned English Premier League winners Manchester City.

The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has barred Spanish football club, Barcelona from selling or buying players over the next two transfer windows.

The development is especially a huge blow to the goalkeeping department, as first-choice keeper, Victor Valdes has announced his decision to walk away on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of the season, while the deal for his heir apparent, Borussia Monchengladbach’s Marc-Andre Stegen, has only been agreed in principle. It is likely that the deal will no longer go ahead, courtesy of the ban.

According to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, Barcelona was found guilty of breaching the rules relating to acquisition of under-age players. Spanish Football Association (RFEF) was also found guilty of allowing such illegal deals.

In addition to the ban and the ultimatum to regularise the deals involving 10 underage players acquired by the club within 90 days, FIFA also slammed a fine of $509,000 on the La Liga giants.

Coming less than 24 hours after the club’s 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, the sanction was announced in a statement released by FIFA after an investigation that began in 2013.

“The Disciplinary Committee regarded the infringements as serious and decided to sanction the club with a transfer ban at both national and international level for two complete and consecutive transfer periods,” the FIFA statement read.

On its part, the Spanish Football Federation was ordered to pay a fine of $563,698 for its role in the deal. FIFA also gave them one year to modify the rules concerning international transfers concerning minors.

FIFA’s rule on the matter is that a player must be 18 years old to be transferred, except in special cases where the minor’s parents relocates, the relocation takes place within the European Union if a player is aged between 16 and 18, or the player’s home is less than 50km from the national border being crossed.

But on looking into Barcelona’s transfer activities between 2009 and 2013, the club was caught by FIFA’s web-based Transfer Matching System, which became mandatory for all international transfers of professional male footballers in October 2010.

Earlier in February 2013, FIFA had banned six Barcelona youth team players ― Lee Seung-Woo, Paik Seung-Ho and Jang Gyeol-Hee from South Korea, Patrice Sousia of Cameroon, France’s Theo Chendri and Bobby Adekanye, a Nigerian-Dutch teenager ― from competitive games.

A similar woe had befallen English Premiere League’s Chelsea Football Club in 2010 when FIFA banned the club from transfer deals over the signing of French youngster Gael Kakuta. The ruling was later overturned after Chelsea reached an agreement with the player’s former club Lens.

 

Can any human being be certain when a goat gets angry? No, it’s not about instigating such observation rather it is about how the animal deals with everyday bondage its’ been subjected to. Bondage living is a situation whereby an individual has no control over his or her liberty because others predetermine it, arguably a slave mentality coupled with useless and meaningless human rights enshrined in a country’s constitution. This writer asks what the effective value of human rights is when societal necessaries diminish such rights.

An average athlete has freedom of liberty, right to free speech and association but in order to eat or provide for his family, the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Sports federation habitually invites athletes to a slave camp where those fundamental rights are thrown away. Is this not bondage or enslavement? Is this not gross violation of the constitution? Carrots and sticks analogy or bribery metaphor does not explain the magnitude of these atrocities that continues unabated. This must stop.

Sports governance begins with leadership with qualities of a true leader not an imposed perambulator. The followers must predetermine a true leader; he must be an individual with extremely high leadership qualities including a strong academic and working experience related to such endeavor. In Nigeria however, this is a fantasy or dream right out of academic folklore because such view of leadership is tantamount to treasonable offence when advocated and that explains why people considers it bravery for any individual to challenge several rotten agenda.

 In recent days, sports commands brief mention in the media simply because the country’s football is in hiatus and the politics of the day are so sexy for the media. Examples include Sanusi imbroglio, Boko Haram finger pointing, PDP implosion, APC calculations, Okonjo-Iweala resignation or not.

These issues are simply preventing and impeding coverage about sports, although, Angie Taylor, the American hired recently, noted that she did not come to Nigeria with magic wand to reverse the rotten trend about Nigeria’s sports. The question that ought to have been asked, what does she brings to the table that cannot be handled by others including Nigerians at about $200,000 salary while athletes are gagged and caged at slave camp in Abuja for about 50cents per day? Is this right? Angie’s got freedom of speech while the country’s athletes are simply muscled like a pitbull. It must be noted that athletes are not really forced to be enslaved rather they arrived there as a way out of poverty that is preventing them in achieving greater heights in their chosen past times.

Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi on his part continues to be out of limelight due to precarious political situation that he finds himself. Of course he is currently in lame duck position without any political card to play and more importantly, Mr. President has been assertive these days than usual following Mr. Sanusi imbroglio. As to sports federations, they are all trying to reposition themselves based on this writer’s suggestion on what sports governance is all about and of course, they lacked such mandate based on their governing instruments.

 Way forward

Athletes ought to be catered for - wherever and whenever. Slave (athletes) camps and rules of gagging athletes must be abolished rather it’s the officials that ought to be gagged for making senseless and discriminatory utterances, specifically, favoring a specific state over others contrary to the country’s constitution. ONE NIGERIA I was told and that’s still valid as at now.

I rest.

Dr. Rashid A. Balogun, CPA, LLB(Hons), LLM(London)

Human rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo has described reports of plans by the National Football Federation (NFF) to hire a foreign technical assistant for the Super Eagles ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup as unpatriotic, untenable, illogical and consequently unacceptable to Nigerians.

In a statement released on Tuesday, he argued that Nigerians cannot be swayed or fooled by the reported decision of the NFF that Stephen Keshi will remain the Head Coach of the Super Eagles while the foreigner will merely assist him. Describing the move as nothing but a smoke screen to execute the hidden agenda of the NFF, he listed a number of reasons.

“When Lars Lagerback was brought in as a technical adviser five months to our 2010 World Cup preparation, he did nothing but to break up the bond the team had created, lowered the morale of the indigenous coaches and players (who never worked with him) and that led to our disastrous outing at the World Cup in South Africa”, he said.

“In addition to that, the issues of corruption surrounding the hiring of his services have not been properly addressed till today. After initially negotiating the sum of $500,000 with Lars Lagerback (i.e $100,000per month for 5 months), the bill overnight jumped to $1.5Million(for three months) with Nigeria even paying his taxes. Those who did that damage to the country were never brought to book and the issue was swept under the carpet. Now, it is obvious that certain corrupt characters want to cash in again on the issue of a foreign technical adviser.

“The state of our football before Stephen Keshi and his crew took over was that we even failed to qualify for the 2012 Nations’ Cup and the team was in disarray. Sponsors abandoned the team. Now, nearly two years later, we have won the Nations’ Cup, qualified for the World Cup, took bronze at CHAN, and raised a bunch of local boys that can easily walk into the main Super Eagles. If that is not progress, then I don’t know the definition of progress. Now, the sponsors are back and Nigerians are again watching their team with some hope. Instead of encouraging the coaching crew, the imposition of a foreigner in their midst will lower their morale, blunt their patriotism and kill the spirit in the team. This should never be allowed to happen”.

Keyam punctured NFF’s position that the CHAN Eagles could not break down 10-man Black Stars of Ghana as very puerile, saying examples abound all over the world where 10-man team reverts to defensive roles and frustrates the opposing team.

“The greatest teams in the world have lost to 10-man defensive teams, for example Barcelona (at its peak) did not get the required two goals against Inter Milan in the semi-finals of the Champions’ League in 2010 despite playing nearly 70 minutes against a 10-man Inter Milan side”, he added.

“A third-place finish for the CHAN team hurriedly assembled six weeks to the tournament is not a bad result, considering the fact that the other leagues in Africa are even better organized than the Nigerian Premier League. Stephen Keshi, the head coach, has said it repeatedly that he does not need a foreign technical adviser.

“Since Keshi is supposed to remain the head of the team, what is the use imposing a technical adviser on him that he is not prepared to consult? Is that not the waste of public funds? All over the world, managers of teams are allowed to choose their back room staff. Stephen Keshi has said if he needs an assistant, it will be Sylvanus Okpala. So, why not bury the hatchet with Sylvanus Okpala for the good of the team? Are we going to allow ego wars to destroy the Super Eagles? Again, from where will the money come to fund the foreign adviser, when the NFF complain it had no money to even pay the local assistant, Sylvanus Okpala?

“This decision cannot just stand. I am appealing to all well-meaning Nigerians, sport enthusiasts, patriots and the sports community in Nigeria to oppose this decision. This is the same attitude of the NFF that led to the unjust dropping of Shaibu Amodu, who twice qualified Nigeria for the World Cup, but was not allowed to lead the team to the Mundial. We cannot continue to destroy our own because of corruption.

“The plain truth is that the decision of the NFF is borne out of corruption and the need to cut Keshi down to size. The NFF is allowing selfishness to destroy our football. If the decision is not rescinded, I will be reaching out to anti-corruption groups and the sports community to march on [to] the Glass House in Abuja”.

Legendary Former AC Milan midfielder, Clarence Seedorf has announced his retirement from his lengthy playing career in order to assume the vacant coaching role at the San Siro side he served for a decade.

The Dutch veteran made more than 400 appearances over an impressive10 years with Milan, winning two Serie A and two UEFA Champions League titles. The 37-teay-old is expected to be named the new coach any moment, following Sunday’s sack of Massimiliano Allegri in the wake of a humbling 4-3 defeat to lowly Sassuolo.

 “I am here to announce that I will retire from playing after 22 years”, said Seedorf, who has been playing for Botafogo since 2012.

“I leave an improved club, especially in terms of their mentality and team spirit. Milan? We will meet again. This experience of the last year and a half has made me grow up a lot and will help me in my next step as coach of Milan, who have hired me in both an elegant and correct manner.

“I like challenges and coaching Milan will be another challenge in my career. I couldn't say no to Milan after having spent 10 years there”.

Seedorf also spoke on the difficulty of reaching the decision, as well as Brazil’s chances at summer’s World Cup.

“The sacking of Allegri was crucial to my decision. The call from [Adriano] Galliani only came yesterday. I want to travel to Milan today. If I don't make it, then I will travel tomorrow”, he said.

“I made the decision to join Milan today, but last night was a difficult night for me. But I made the right choice. I'm very happy about the opportunity Milan have given me and I'm very motivated”.

 On Brazil, he said: “I hope that Brazil can have a memorable World Cup and the national team can honour its colours. Thank you”.

Friday Njengo, a member of the Golden Eaglets team that played the qualifiers for the 2013 CAF African Youth Championship, has died.

Njengo died on Sunday night at the National Hospital, Abuja. He had been in intensive care unit of the hospital for almost a year, since he sustained fatal injuries in a car crash.

Confirming the death, Nigeria Football Federation expressed sadness, especially as there was a glimmer of hope that Njengo would recover.

“This is very sad news”, General Secretary of NFF, Musa Amadu said. “We had looked forward to the boy eventually recovering to be part of the team again as the squad progresses to the next level. It is a thing of sorrow to lose such a huge talent this way”.

 

Members of the victorious Golden Eaglets of Nigeria have been rewarded with N2m each for winning the FIFA U-17 World Cup concluded on Friday in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Similarly, Head Coach of the team, Manu Gara received a reward of N3m while his assistants got N2.5m. A sum of N500,000 went to the team doctor, team physiotherapist and team secretary, while the team coordinator, medical officer, chief technical officer and curator received N300,000 each.

President Jonathan made the announcement after receiving the trophy and shaking members and officials of the team at a reception in their honour at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

“You will also be honoured, you the team, the handlers, the coach, and the officials including some key members of the supporters club and the Nigeria Football Association will be rewarded when we give national honours”, the president said.

He particularly appreciated the team for dominating the world convincingly despite only emerging second best on the continent before the world cup.

 “Nigeria is now the only country to win the U-17 world cup four times and create a new record of 26 goals”, he added.

 “However amidst our joy and celebration, we must underline that the enduring test of the victory we have achieved will be the progress of these players. We have been doing very well at the junior level. If we can conquer the world at U-17, there is no reason why we cannot conquer the world at the highest level.

“Our celebration today will be short-lived if we don’t progress to win U-20, and of course the Senior Eagles that will represent us at subsequent tournaments. You cannot afford to relax on today’s laurels”.

Also speaking, Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi described Jonathan as the most successful of all presidents in the area of sports, courtesy of his transformation agenda.

“This team is a work in progress”, he said. If properly managed, the future of Nigeria football is secured for the next 10 years with these boys”.

Government officials present at the reception include Governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada; Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio; and Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang.

Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal, PDP National Chairman Bamanga Tukur, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim also attended.

 

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will not begin their final preparations for the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup until 26th May 2014, as most of the team’s players would still be involved with their clubs until then.

According to Ademola Olajire, the assistant director of communications of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the players will be busy with their clubs until the middle of May, after which the team can then begin serious preparation for the tournament.

“The players are expected to arrive at the team’s camp in the U.S. on 26th May 2014, two days to the international friendly with Scotland”, he revealed.

“Right now, the players are still committed to club activities until the second week of May when most the leagues in Europe will end. The players will have about two weeks’ rest period before the deadline for arrival in camp”.

He also spoke on the intensity of competition for places in the team, saying the players understand that they have to do their all to impress Coach Stephen Keshi or miss out on the plane to Brazil.

Still on the World Cup, club managers in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) have urged Keshi to spend time watching matches in the domestic league in order to discover more players.

“Talented players abound in the league and can still be identified if Keshi adequately monitors the competition”, Chairman of Enyimba International FC of Aba, Mr. Felix Anyansi-Agwu said.

“We have good players in the league with what Nigeria did at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa last January”.

Similarly, General Manager of Rangers International FC of Enugu, Mr Paul Ozor urged Keshi to scout for more home-based players, who could be placed on standby ahead of preparations for the World Cup.

“The players that were taken to the 2014 CHAN were not the best the country could produce”, Ozor said. “The World Cup is a different ball game. It is where the country’s best players will be needed”.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday approved the release of N50m to the Nigerian Football Supporters Club in order to motivate them to participate at the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup.

He announced the approval on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa during his decoration as Grand Patron of the Supporters’ Club, which held just before the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Jonathan praised members of the Supporters’ Club for their support to the national teams, saying the money will motivate the supporters to further support the team in Brazil.

“We need to encourage you to go to Brazil. We will give you a token. We will start with N50 million and we will talk to some of our senior boys to support you”, he said.

He dedicated his decoration as Grand Patron to all members of his cabinet and all Nigerians of goodwill, and also pledged that being a keen supporter of all sports, he would be with the team and the supporters in Brazil.

President-General of the Nigeria Football Supporters’ Club Worldwide, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo revealed plans of the club to travel to Brazil with 1,000 members, and also joined the campaign for team coach, Stephen Keshi to have free hands over the composition of the technical staff.

“Our plan is to go with 1,000 supporters to the World Cup. Five hundred will go from Nigeria while the remaining 500 will come from other countries”, he said, adding that the Eagles would qualify for the semi-finals at least, with the support of everyone.

“Steven Keshi has done very well, but he still needs two or three people to help him read the game because he cannot see everything by himself”, he said. “But nobody should force down anybody on him. He should be allowed to make his decision”.

The International Federation of Football History and Statistics has rated the Nigerian football league, known as the Globacom Premier League, as the fourth strongest league on the continent for 2013.

It also rated the Spanish La Liga as the best in the world during the same period under review.

The Tunisian league was rated Africa’s best, followed by those of Egypt, Morocco and then Nigeria. Mali, South Africa, Algeria, Angola, Cameroon and Ghanaian held the other spots in the top ten.

Despite the loss of their two most powerful clubs in the semi-final of the year’s UEFA Champions League, La Liga was still voted the strongest league, while the English Premier League is ranked second. The German Bundesliga, which has the two finalists of the 2013 UEFA Champions Leagues in Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, was rated third best, beating off the Italian Serie A and the Brazilian league to fourth and fifth respectively.

 

Once upon a time, life was very valuable and cherished with minimalist tendencies, if any. Humans, animals, birds and other visible creatures roam free except for occasional predatory snipers. Yes, life was good back then because now predators are not snipers in hideout rather are in your face with knowledge that your family is watching their atrocities. Bondage I say, but God will help us out.

Case for Special Sports

The above is simply a graphic metaphor to drive home the plight of an ordinary athlete facing the continual degradation, assaults, threats and all other unbecoming conducts of so-called officials. Of course the National Sports Commission (NSC) in its (constant) sleep maintains a nonchalant attitude or ignorance towards any of such behaviors even in the event that well-meaning individuals confront it with mountainous evidences. This writer fears for the life of average special sports athlete because they keep the country image alive in all sports than our able-bodied at least for the time being.

The key point to note is that an able-bodied can seek and obtains necessary support even though may not be adequate or enough, but special sports’ athletes usually got nothing! A noted circumstance in the media recently concern an individual named Shehu Isa, who is a physically challenged individual who peddles some legitimate products at the Airport in Lagos just as other individuals. They were all driven out due to reconstruction without compensation. On the surface of this, average Nigerian will not have a problem with this scenario but a learned person will see a big discrimination written all over it for adverse effect on the physically challenged retailers. Mr. Isa cannot find alternative means of earning elsewhere and significant level owners of shops do discriminate against anyone without their physical character including physically challenged.

At no time has NSC ever declared publicly its intention to fund any special sports athlete welfare as opposed to other athletes. Furthermore, the rate of accolades given to the Sydney Olympics medalist, Blessing Okagbare and many individuals that have nothing to do with her, Coaches and other entourages though as pointed out by the majority of Nigerians as well deserved but can anyone articulate whether such praises ever gone to the families and so-called entourages of our London Olympics Paralympics GOLD MEDALISTS. To this writer, the policy of unequal treatment of the effect of a decision is discriminatory and in fact legally unsound.

The country is endowed with highly skilled legal advisers to His Excellency Mr. Goodluck Jonathan that this writer is in pain to understand how the country cannot see this adverse treatment. Good intention but bad delivery, justifying a need to slap someone silly.

The country special sports’ athletes need the nation right now before next Olympics and in some quarters some of them are already contemplating dumping the country just as other individuals.

 

New Year, New Beginning

When the media shout brain drain as reasons for the shortage of doctors but the NSC or sports officials cannot comprehend that such acknowledged phenomenon cut across all professions including sports. Again, certain states are doing their part to keep Nigerian athletes at home which is commendable and of course it is necessary to name such states, they are Delta, Lagos, Kano, Cross Rivers, Imo, Abia and a few others not in the media like Jigawa, Zamfara, Plateau. Some states strategically never announced publicly what they are doing, so it’s very difficult to suggest they are not doing anything because the results of the performances of their athletes in junior competitions were commendable. Good journalists are aware of what many states doing and that some are doing all they can for the athletes while mediocre writers are focused on propaganda for just one state simply because that state funds some of their travels and extends some monetary gains to them. This writer knows them well (however these words are interpreted).

The country must now focus on the athletes, key suggestions include:

1. Funding identified elite athletes directly from the Finance Ministry;

2. Funding local community area sports facilities directly from Finance Ministry / Public works;

3. Funding School sports program (PE aspects of the school curriculum) directly from the Education Ministry;

4. NIS must be merged with the Education Ministry;

5. The Federal Sports Facilities upgrade must be downloaded from the NSC responsibility to the Public Works mandate;

6. If the NSC is to remain a commission then at least SIX COMMISSIONERS MUST BE APPOINTED.

Political Calculation and Speculations

A news report that is essentially a propaganda tool by NSC advocating for the wreckers of sports in Nigeria to retain their political appointments as Minister, Director-General, etc. by some individuals calling themselves stakeholders headed by an individual from National Schools federations who said in advance of the President dumping Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi as Sports Minister, claimed the country needs continuity of ‘mediocrity’ where a small country like Kenya has more relevance internationally than Nigeria. To that, Mr. Mohammed (the writer believes) you are dead wrong, the country needs a rebirth in Sports where the focus is athletes not perambulators, incompetence, archaic equipment, foolish spending, duplicate agenda, weak leadership, a commission without commissioners and illegal operations.

Sani Ndanusa, the former Sports Minister and Tennis federation imposed leader also entered the propaganda bandwagon without shame. Tennis is the worst sport in Nigeria in terms of all categories of quantification whether equipment, facilities, athletes’ performance or relevance in discussion in Nigeria and Mr. Ndanusa has led this sports federation for almost 30years but yet no one is saying that his time is up not even the successive sports Ministers including the incumbent. This is really sad, where are the former ace Sadiq Abdullahi, Nduka Odizor, etc.? Those former stars ought to be ashamed of themselves for not intervening as handballers and footballers are doing just as this writer. These guys are PhD holders and some of them are respected lawyers and this writer simply can’t understand why the silence or support of sports Minister not even showing any bit of concern for Tennis.

To add further insults to Nigerians, Mr. Elegbeleye, the so-called Director-General also threw accolades to his Excellency for a job well done and this writer can then ask if Mr. President is the one doing the job, then why is the country paying Mr. Elegbeleye?

Clearly, these individuals are simply licking you know what and cannot be taken seriously. As usual, Mr. Abdullahi is AWOL in this propaganda campaign because he is now in the precarious situation of political loyalty logjam and that’s the reason of having others do the bidding for him. The writer believes the balcony closed long time ago but the replacement is another conundrum.

The Main Atrocities of NSC in 2013

NSC seized the athletics federation (AFN) control with imposing its leaders by fraudulent election process, hiring its’ coach and technical director, although it’s a welcome development for NSC to handle athlete's development but the commission cannot do that within AFN rather publicly remove all federations from sharing its own responsibility. Again good intention bad delivery, someone got to be slapped silly.

AFN lacked authority to meddle with athlete development according to the IAAF rules but in Nigeria NSC transferred such to AFN in violation IAAF standard of independence from the athletes or national government in return NSC determines AFN leadership by favoring people lacking any skill in such sport.

But the granddaddy of all NSC atrocities is the public advertorial, trips and announcement of the National Youth Games. Imagine, the sports Minister sought under-15 UK citizens by hosting a party in London at significant costs of his entourage including Mary Onyali, Elegbeleye and others rather than going to the thick forest of Abia, Enugu, Osun, Sokoto, Kano, Edo, etc. to seek under 15 talents at no cost (these states would have incurred the costs). And of course it was not reported that anyone of those UK Citizens showed up at the Youth Games and this writer is among those that demands the return of money wasted on estacode, accommodations, airline tickets (some first class), hall rental, food, drinks, etc.

Many more atrocities were chronicled by this writer throughout 2013 and in summary, Mr. Abdullahi tenure serves no purpose and a total waste of funds, therefore, he must go.

I rest for now.

Dr. Rashid A. Balogun, CPA, LLB(Hons.), LLM(London)

 

 

President Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated the Super Eagles of Nigeria on their 2-0 victory over Ethiopia on Saturday in Calabar, which booked the country’s qualification at the Brazil 2014 World Cup finals.

 A first half goal off a coolly converted penalty by Liverpool forward Victor Moses and a fiercely driven free kick in the second half by substitute Obinna Nsofor with his first touch of the game were all the Eagles needed to secure their tickets to Brazil, notwithstanding that their overall performance on the day was generally lacklustre.

 “President Jonathan joins other proud and happy Nigerians in applauding the Super Eagles' dogged and determined performance against the Ethiopians over the two legs of the final qualifying round, which ensured away and home victories, and also ensured that Nigeria will be at the World Cup Finals for the fifth time”, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati wrote in a statement.

 “The president also commends the team’s performance in all the preceding qualifying matches and the consistent commitment and dedication of the players to building on their victory at this year’s African Nations Cup by qualifying for the World Cup Finals and bringing further glory to their fatherland”.

 He added that as the team and its handlers bask in the glory of being the first African country to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, they should rededicate themselves to excelling on the global stage and reaching for heights never previously attained by the country at the World Cup finals.

 “The president believes that with the enormous pool of footballing talent available to the country, the Super Eagles can, with more hard work, dedication, resilience and further honing of their skills and tactics, fulfil the national dream of being the first African Nation to win the world cup”, Abati’s statement went on.

 “He assures the NFF and the team, of the fullest possible support of the Federal Government and all Nigerians in their quest to win even greater glory for Nigeria at the world cup finals in Brazil”.

Coach of the victorious Under-17 Nigerian team, Manu Garba has dedicated the country’s fourth U-17 World Cup trophy to President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife.

Speaking inside the team’s dressing room in Al Jazira, Abu Dhabi, Manu thanked the president and his wife for their efforts on the team, recalling that only President Jonathan hosted the boys after winning silver at the African U-17 Championship.

“This trophy is for President Goodluck Jonathan, who had a strong belief in us despite the fact that we came second at the African championship,” Garba said on Friday.

“We were really fired up when he hosted us after the African Championship and we are looking forward to meeting Mr. President again with the World Cup.”

He described Jonathan as a man of luck, considering that the Super Eagles won the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) only in February 2013, ending a 19-year wait dating back to the 1994 edition in Tunisia. The coach also thanked his own wife, whom he hadn’t seen in nearly half-a-year.

“In fact, for the past four months, I was not able to see my wife because of the nature of this job and I’m so happy that all the efforts we put into this work was not in vain,” he said. “I want to use this opportunity to thank my wife for taking care of the home front.”

Manu also thanked Senator Liyel Imoke, governor of Cross River State and Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, His Excellency Ibrahim Auwalu, among many others, for their support to the team in several ways.

 

More Articles ...

  1. All-Conquering Eaglets Win U-17 World Cup
  2. National Youth Games: No medals for athletes
  3. Eaglets Drub Iraq, Qualify for Round-of-Sixteen
Page 4 of 8
Today375
Yesterday1065
This week5169
This month9181
Total1420372

Visitor Info

  • IP: 216.73.217.178
  • Browser: Unknown
  • Browser Version:
  • Operating System: Unknown

Who Is Online

3
Online
2026-09-13

Joomla! Debug Console

Session

Profile Information

Memory Usage

Database Queries