ubamobile

06
Thu, Aug

Well, Nigeria's team at the ongoing Africa Nations Cup met stiff challenges so far and the country can only hope for better days ahead (I genuinely believe so). While some people find it easy to make a case for strong criticism, others simply recycled vague allegations and to make matters worse Patrick Ekeji, the Director General of NSC was making legal threats to anyone who criticise NSC. He said and I quote, “ …that the time had come for the NSC to use all legal instrument at its disposal to protect its image from the utterances and activities of people who he said have turned the act of disparaging the NSC into a pastime as well as a means of livelihood...insisted that the criticisms were baseless.. The decision to include elite athletes in the National Sports Festival & sack Secretary-General of Federations were met with criticism. “

 Preamble

Firstly, Nigeria is in democracy and the government are led by people representatives and those individuals must act within established laws of the land as enacted by the legislative branch. However, there comes time when those laws failed to meet the current needs of the people where it becomes useless and hindrance to development. As a result, the people representatives in the legislative arms of the country leadership are empowered to amend and create new laws.

 Nitty Gritty (koko in Yoruba slang)

If people are fed up with useless policies and rules then they must be heard by all reasonable legitimate means (I think that is one of democratic principles). For example, if a house of representative individual failed to follow up on constituents’ grievance, then, the question, whether it is reasonable to approach the media and if so, what is disparaging about it? Again here, Nigeria Sports development policy turned out to be a piece of cotton candy where with one bite the whole policy melted as noticed in the Olympics Games and God forbid at the ongoing Nations Cup. Is it time for people to use the same media NSC, the House of Assembly and the Presidency used to take up their positions and make announcements? I think so.

 Ekeji Threat (alleged)

NSC was established by a federal legislative act and nowhere in such act that NSC was required to (or) becomes a corporate body under Company and Allied Matters Acts (Chapter 54 of Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria) to be able to bring an action in civil court to repair its corporate image (if any). Based on NSC act, the entity is a commission within the executive branch of the federal government and its’ actions (Policies) are reviewable by the legislatures and the Presidency.

 It will be surprising however, in private law, whether NSC can bring action directly in a civil court because a Commission generally is at the convenience of a seating government to partake a highly technical aspect of governance, as such it has no image of its own (to protect), rather it is the Attorney General that can bring action on behalf of the federal government for any alleged tarnished Federal Government (via NSC) image if practicable (I doubt it will prevail).

 To do otherwise mean NSC is above public scrutiny and I doubt sincerely whether Ekeji threat can ever materialise into any legal victory. Imagine, the seating government telling opposition that they lacked any right to criticise. Is Nigeria in dictatorship?  Frankly, this threat suggests that NSC really need a competent legal adviser as soon as possible because going forward with establishing new rules for federation require this need as a necessity.

 Going forward

Clearly, Nigerians whatever their motives as suggested by Ekeji are within their democratic right of dissent to disagree with policies that affects them and the onus is on the federal government to mitigate such disenchantment with meaningful policies to meets current needs of the populace.

 

Go Eagles fly high.

 I rest.

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

 

 

Arsenal forward, Theo Walcott has signed a new three-and-a-half year deal worth £100,000 a week with the London club.

The deal ends weeks of speculation about the future of the 23-year-old who is the club’s top scorer yet this season, after he turned down a £75,000-a-week offer last August.

Earlier in the season, Wenger had secured new contracts for Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey, Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson. Joining Walcott to the list gives him a lot of happiness.

“We are all delighted that Theo has signed a new contract,” he said. “He joined us as a 16-year-old, and since then has developed very well to become an extremely important player for both Arsenal Football Club and England.

He described Walcott has a strong player and also a great person, saying the combination of his ability and pace makes him such a valuable asset either from the flanks or down the middle.

“Theo’s contract extension now gives us a strong nucleus of ambitious young players who have committed to the club and want to be successful with us as a group,” he added.

Walcott himself expressed happiness at extending his Arsenal career despite reported interest from the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool.

"I am very happy to have signed a new contract here,” he said. “Thanks to everyone for their continued support — the manager, everyone at the club and, most importantly, the fans.

“I have made it clear from the start that I wanted to stay at Arsenal, so I am pleased we have agreed a deal that everyone is happy with. What’s important now is for the team to realise its potential and win trophies.”

 

Nigeria Coach, Stephen Keshi released the final list of the Super Eagles squad to the 2013 edition of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Portland Timbers of USA striker, Bright Dike, emerging the major omission from the initial 27-man contingent in camp.

Thirty-two-year captain of the team, Joseph Yobo will play in his sixth Nations Cup, which he long reckoned may be his final tournament.

Yobo began his career as a forward during the 10th FIFA World Youth Championship in 1999, which Nigeria hosted, and then went on to star for the senior team at the 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010 editions, four of which the country won bronze at.

A disappointed Bright Dike wished the team well and expressed hope that he would be considered for future tournaments, the World Cup especially.

“I am disappointed not to make the AFCON final list,” he said. “But I am thankful for the experience and opportunity. I was hoping to be at the tournament, that's soccer for you. Now I am looking forward to the 2014 World Cup qualifiers and the tournament itself.”

Keshi had earlier dropped Papa Idris (Enyimba, Nigeria), Kalu Uche of Reizpur in Turkey (who was injured), Rabiu Ibrahim (Kilamrock, Scotland) and Henry Uche (Enyimba, Nigeria). And on the final day Raheem Lawal, Benjamin Francis, Solomon Kwande and Heartland Fc goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi joined Bright Dike on the rejection list.

Chelsea FC of England midfielder, John Mikel Obi will join other stars of the team such as 11-year veteran goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, and experienced forward Ikechukwu Uche at the tournament.

Below is the full list:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheba, Israel), and Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria)

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (SC Braga, Portugal), Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Israel), Joseph Yobo (Fenerbache, Turkey), Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland), Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves, Nigeria), Kenneth Omeruo (ADO Den Haag, Netherlands), and Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria)

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England), Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis, Spain), Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy), Obiora Nwankwo (Calcio Padova, Italy), Fegor Ogude (Valerenga FC, Norway), and Reuben Gabriel (Kano Pillars, Nigeria)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Emmanuel Emenike (Spartak Moscow, Russia), Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England), Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria), Ikechukwu Uche (Villarreal FC, Spain), Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine), and Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria)

 

 

Argentine and Barcelona playmaker, Lionel Messi has been named winner of the 2012 FIFA Player of the Year award (also known as Ballon d’Or), thus completing a remarkable year in which he shattered series of histories.

Messi’s 91 goals in the 2012 calendar were the highest by any footballer, and he has now completed his record-replete year by becoming the first footballer to win the Ballon d’Or a whopping four times.

At the award, held in Zurich on Monday, Messi received 41.60 per cent of votes cast by coaches and captains of national teams. Christiano Ronaldo claimed 23.68 per cent of the votes to place second while Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta emerged third with 10.91 per cent of votes.

“To tell the truth, this is really unbelievable to get the fourth award. I am so nervous,” Messi said at the event.

In other award categories, the Female Coach of the Year 2012 award went to Pia Sundhage, former coach of US women national team

Coach of the Spanish national team, Vincent Del Bosque was named Male Coach of the Year while the FIFA Presidential Award went to German Franz Beckembauer.

The Uzbeskistan Football Federation won the Fair Play award, Miroslav Stoch won the Puskas Award for Best Goal of the Year, and Aby Wambach won the FIFA Female Footballer of the Year award.

Former Barcelona FC coach, Josep Guardiola has been appointed the coach of Bayern Munich Fc of Germany, beginning from the 2013/2014 season. Guardiola departed Camp Nou in 2012 after winning a total of 14 trophies in a space of just four seasons.

At the bundesliga club where he has signed a four-year deal until 2016, he succeeds Jupp Heynckes, who ascended the position in 2011 but confirmed late last that he would be relinquishing the post at the end of the current season.

A host of top European clubs, including last year’s Champions League winners, Chelsea, and Manchester United had been linked to the Spaniard but he opted for Munich in the end. “We are very pleased that we have succeeded [in appointing] the football expert Pep Guardiola, who was courted by many famous clubs and contacts,” said Bayern CEO, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. “Guardiola is one of the most successful coaches in the world and we are sure that he can [help] not just Bayern, but German football, shine.”

He also praised outgoing coach, saying, “As a club and as Jupp Heynckes' friends, we have to show understanding for this decision. We have to accept it and we have to respect it. “During personal talks with Jupp Heynckes, we assured each other that we will do anything we can, and now even more, to have a successful second half of the season, in which we want to get the title to Munich.”

Management of Startimes Nigeria on Tuesday unveiled plans to bid for the hosting rights of the forthcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Director Operations, Startimes, Maxwell Loko disclosed this at a press conference held in Abuja, saying the company has injected N15bn over the past two years since its entry into the Nigerian economy, via the digital terrestrial television network otherwise known as pay television.

Loko explained that the firm is currently perfecting negotiations to acquire hosting rights to air the forthcoming African Cup of Nations. He also unveiled additional packages to be provided by the company, including DVB-T2 decoder, M50 Mobile TV phone and the launch of the Door-to-Door service.\

According to Loko, the DVB-T2 technology’s unique advantage is its ability to offer more educative, informative and entertaining programmes, one frequency having the capacity for 25 channels.

Loko explained that the latest introduction places Nigeria at the same level with other African countries like Kenya, Mozambique and Uganda where, Startimes had introduced the technology.

"Besides the African Cup of Nations, which will be provided on the bouquet for Nigerians to enjoy, the Startimes DVB-T2 decoder will gather over seventy channels of great sport, music, movies, news, kids and teens entertainment, documentary, religion and lots more,” he assured.

“Other exciting channels to join the T2 decoder channel list soon are WAP TV, EuropeSports News, Africa Movie Channel, A Music Channel (AMC), Business TV, Freshwave among others.”

Loko also noted that the company has captured 16 states and promised that the expansion programme will establish its presence in 15 other states 

The Chinese company, currently sharing partnership with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), described terrestrial broadcasting all over the world as being capital-intensive.

On his part, Chief Operating Officer of Starttimes, Joshua Wang reiterated that the focus of the company is beyond profit-making but rather the challenge of achieving its corporate social responsibility, especially in relation to migration policy from analogue to digital broadcasting in the country.

“Our mission is to ensure that every home in Nigeria enjoys affordable digital entertainment backed by the collaboration with NTA, a strategic partnership that will help Nigeria in actualising its 2015 transition deadline,” he added.

Sandro Rosell, President of Barcelona FC has affirmed that Tito Villanova will return to his managerial duties within twenty one days.

The coach has been sidelined since mid-December, following a relapse with parotid gland cancer.

Rosell hopes that the Tito Villanova will be able to cope with his chemotherapy and coaching Barca, but insists that Vilanova’s recovery is the priority over footballing matters.

The club president told reporters in Dubai: "He will return to work in 15 or 20 days, but he will be going back and forth from the hospital and he will be resting.

“He's going to combine the treatment with his work. The most important thing is his health. For the moment, football comes second."

Rosell avoided stating that Xavi and Carles Puyol will be given new contracts at Camp Nou, but the chief insisted that he wants the Barca legends to stay with the squad.

"They are among the best players for Barcelona and for Spain, and they are important for society because they are a great example to young people,” he added. “I hope they will remain at the club in some capacity in the future."

While on the topic of contracts, Rosell also said he believed the fact that two recent signings took pay cuts to join the Blaugrana shows the commitment players have to the Catalan club.

"We have signed two players in Cesc Fabregas and Javier Mascherano who both earn a lower salary than at their previous club,” he said. “They also paid the commission on their transfer fee. They really wanted to play for us. It's a beautiful thing."

More Articles ...

  1. Super Eagles depart for Faro Thursday
  2. Tito Vilanova to undergo surgery this Thursday
  3. NPL Congress Shows Baribote Way Out of Board
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