Community Shield: DSTV Apologize For Not Airing Chelsea Vs Manchester City

DSTV Nigeria has apologized for not airing the Community Shield game between Manchester City and Chelsea on Sunday.

After the match, the cable TV network, took to their official Twitter handle, to pacify angry Nigerians who were left disappointed.

Fans were left to scour streaming sites to catch a glimpse of the encounter, which is the traditional curtain raiser of the English football season.

DSTV also used the opportunity to list the competitions they have rights to in the 2018/2019 season.

“Dear esteemed subscribers, we don’t have rights to air the FA Cup & Community Shield this year but you can enjoy pulsating football action from the #PL, #UCL, #LaLiga & the recently added Italian #SerieA and Uefa Nations League. Thanks for choosing DStv,” the post read.

Jim Nwobodo: What Abacha Did After Atlanta '96; What I Did For Kanu Nwankwo

Jim Nwobodo, a former old Anambra governor, has revealed some events that happened during the Atlanta 1996 Olympics.

A former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, relives the victory of the Super Eagles in Atlanta Olympics of 1996 and how he saved Kanu Nwankwo from Coach Westerhof.
The Super Eagles won the gold medal in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 when you were the Sports Minister.

Can you share with us the story of what happened then?
They (Super Eagles) beat Japan, beat Brazil and also beat other big teams. That was the time we had wonderful players. You can only know the best team when they go out of the country and play the best teams in the world. Mikel Obi is playing in China and there are other young boys like Alex Iwobi, Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho and many others.

There is one thing I like about Nigerian football. Nigerians are football lovers, there is no doubt about that and football has the ability to unite Nigerians.
I remember very well the 1996 event when we played in Atlanta Olympics. Nigeria was a pariah nation. The day we reached the climax was the day Nigeria met Brazil. We had a very strong team, those who were determined to do their best to make Nigeria proud.

Two things happened that day. We got into the field and, in the first half, they (Brazil) were leading Nigeria by 3-1. I sat by the side of then – FIFA President, Joao Havelange, a Brazilian lawyer, businessman and athlete who served as the 7th FIFA President from 1974 to 1998 and I told him we will beat Brazil and he started laughing because we were two goals down.

Half time break pep talk
During the half time break, I went to our boys in the dressing room and called them one by one, starting with Sunday Oliseh, then Daniel Omokachi, Kanu Nwankwo, Jay Jay Okocha, Victor Ikpeba, Celestine Babayaro and others. I urged them not to disgrace me and Nigerians and they assured me that they will beat Brazil. I then called the coach, Clemens Westerhof, who complained that Kanu was not playing well and that he would remove him. 

I ordered him not to remove the young man. I threatened to sack him if he removed Kanu. He complied with my order and allowed Kanu to play in the second half. In the second half, Okocha scored the second goal, making it 2-3; another goal was scored by Kanu to make it 3-3 and second half ended. In the extra time, we had what is called the golden goal then and, five minutes after, Kanu scored the golden goal and the match ended. Everyone was surprised but God was at work and I heard Him (God) when I said Kanu should not be removed.

Kanu became the man of the match. We were excited and many whites and many Africans, who did not know about the Dream Team, started painting themselves in green white green. I was also told that families that were not in talking terms for ten years reconciled because of that match.

Sweet victory
Then – Head of State, General Sani Abacha, who was not in the habit of answering telephone calls, called almost all of us, including my wife. He did not stop there. He had to wait for us alongside some state governors for two days under the rain at the City Gate, Abuja when we returned to Nigeria and that was what that victory did to Nigeria. What a sweet victory!

The second thing that happened was that Chioma Ajunwa told me that she and other Nigerian athletes were yet to be paid their 300 dollars per day on the day she would compete. I saw reason with her but I told her it was a very small amount. I promised her that I will give her 10,000 dollars if she won a gold medal, she was shocked. I advised her to go for the long jump if she was good at that. Her first jump earned her gold medal for Nigeria and I gave her 10,000 dollars. This thing is about leadership and encouraging people around you.

So, sport, in itself, is something that, if properly developed, will bring the country together. Look at what sport is doing in the world today. If you are a sports administrator, you are known all over the world. FIFA President is bigger that any President in the world. My worry is that Nigeria has not given proper attention to sports.
What is your rating of journalists in Nigeria?
Nigeria has the freest press in the world; journalists write anything and get away with it and they hold people accountable and nobody can fight them. In Nigeria, I can say that we have a very free and strong press. I really don’t see anything wrong with what they are doing, except that they should always get their facts right.

What is your take on employers owing workers?
Any employer that owes his workers should not expect them to be loyal to him. Such could expose workers to temptation because they have to take care of themselves and their families. It is not good to owe your workers; whether they are journalists, footballers, civil servants, you don’t need to owe them. Workers deserve their wages. So it is not good at all. You should do everything possible not to owe your workers.

What about state governments owing workers?
I mean it’s unfair. It is ungodly and unchristian. If you don’t pay workers, what do you want them to do? In fact, when I was governor, I didn’t have anything as salary arrears. Throughout my stay in Government House, I never owed anybody for one month because one thing you do as a leader is to pay your workers before any other thing. That is the first charge and, from there, you motivate them to work harder.

So, any governor that owes workers for months is not fit to be a governor. Although, some governors have said that the problem about payment of salaries stems from the many problems confronting them, that argument does not hold water because you can still sit down and arrange your budget to make the recurrent less than the capital. You give capital budget priority over recurrent.

From Zenithnaija.com

Super Eagles legend Kanu robbed in Russia

Former Super Eagles player, Kanu Nwankwo has been robbed in Russia, the host country for the 2018 World Cup.

The former Arsenal star was robbed of $11,000 when he flew in from London through Moscow to Kaliningrad, where the Super Eagles play their first game against Croatia on June 16.

The money was reported missing from his luggage when he arrived at Kaliningrad.

According to the Associated Press, Police spokeswoman Irina Volk says two baggage handlers at Sheremetevo airport in Moscow have been detained on suspicion of theft.

Kanu played in three World Cups for the Super Eagles featuring in the 1998, 2002 and 2010 World Cups.

Eagles lack quality going to Russia, says Eguavoen

Former Super Eagles coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has stated that the team assembled by Coach Gernot Rohr is deficient for the World Cup, slated to start on June 14, in Russia.

The Eagles will begin their campaign in Group D in an opening match against Croatia on June 16. The three-time African champion will then meet Iceland and Argentina in their last group game.

Speaking to The Guardian at the finals of the MRS Kids Cup Competition, as one of the special guests that included former international, Peter Rufai, Eguavoen hopes Eagles win the World Cup in Russia but doubts the team’s depth, let alone Winning

“As I always say, a team’s first game will determine how far it can go at a tournament. If we can win our first game, I am sure we can get to the quarterfinals. But if we don’t win the first match, the question is do we have the character to come back? That I can’t say.

“Some big countries bounce back when they lose their first game, but for small countries, it can be a bit difficult.

Let’s see how it goes because none of the teams would have settled down at the start of their first game.

And if we can unsettle the Croatians, it might go a long way in giving us confidence to prosecute other games,” he said.

“A quarterfinal berth will be a good feat for us, but I am not pleased with the players we would have on the bench because we only have 13 to 14 key players, who I think can fully represent us well… My prayer is that we don’t have injuries and also that Moses Simon makes the team to the World Cup.

He is such an exciting player to watch and the nation needs his service at the World Cup,” he stated.

Three Lions beat Super Eagles in international friendly

Chelsea’s defender Gary Cahill celebrated his return to England’s squad and stepped up his claims for a starting place against Tunisia in Volgograd on June 18 by opening scoring in yesterday’s friendly against Nigeria, with a powerful header after only seven minutes.

England’s total first-half domination was emphasised when captain Harry Kane scored his eighth goal in his last seven appearances six minutes before the interval when Super Eagles’ goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho allowed his 18-yard shot to slip in.

Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi gave thousands of Nigerian fans inside Wembley hope two minutes after the break with a crisp finish, but England, who had Raheem Sterling booked for diving, closed out the victory in relatively untroubled fashion.

Sterling went close to scoring in the first half but was later booked for diving. He dominated headlines and the build-up to the friendly after he was pictured sporting a tattoo of a gun on his leg and revelations about his late arrival for England’s pre-World Cup training camp when they assembled earlier this month.

The Manchester City forward, whose name was warmly greeted by England’s fans when it was announced, formed a lively partnership with Kane, but it was also a day of frustration for him.

Salah gives Egypt World Cup hope with news over injury

Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah will be fit to play some part in Egypt’s World Cup campaign, Egypt Football Association says.

Salah injured his shoulder during Liverpool’s Champions League final loss to Real Madrid on Saturday, prompting concerns he might miss the tournament. But Egypt’s national team doctor has met Salah, and the country’s football association said the striker’s absence “will not exceed” three weeks.

Salah, 25, met the national team doctor and Egyptian FA president Hany Abu Rida in Spain yesterday.

The Egyptian FA tweeted afterwards: “After the meeting of Abu Rida and the doctor of the national team in Spain today, the Football Association reaffirms Salah in the World Cup, God willing, will not exceed the absence of three weeks.”

Egypt’s second fixture is against Russia on 19 June and they conclude their group against Saudi Arabia on 25 June.

Salah struck a 95th-minute penalty in Egypt’s final qualification game to send them to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years.

But in the Champions League final - the last fixture of a season in which he scored 44 goals for his club - he left the pitch in tears after landing heavily on his shoulder following a challenge by Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos

At the time Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp described the injury as “really serious” but in the aftermath of the final, the Egyptian FA had tweeted that Salah’s X-ray showed he had a “sprain in the shoulder ligaments” and that it was “optimistic” he would be fit for the World Cup in Russia.

2018 World Cup: Super Eagles to meet Buhari

The Russia 2018 World Cup–bound Super Eagles contingent will meet with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday.

NFF President, Amaju Pinnick told newsmen that Wednesday’s session will take place at the Federal Executive Council chambers at 10 a.m., just before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting.

Youth and Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung will present the country’s ambassadors to President Buhari, hours before they would be due to fly to London aboard a chartered aircraft for another pre-World Cup friendly against England.

The match against England’s Three Lions is expected to take place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

From London, the delegation will fly into Bad Tatzmannsdorf, a city in Austria where they will spend eight days at the world –renowned Avita Resort before flying to Russia.

In-between the final camping in Austria, the team will play a final pre-World Cup friendly against the Czech Republic at the Rudolf Tonn Stadium.

FCT AITEO Cup: Supreme Court FC beat defending champion FRSC 1-0 in final

Abuja – Supreme Court Football Club on Sunday in Abuja defeated the defending champion, Federal Road Safety Corps FC 1-0 , in the final match of the 2018 FCT men’s AITEO Cup.

•DONE DEAL … NFF President, Amaju Pinnick and AITEO’s DMD, Francis Peters (in handshake) have the company of Aisha Falode (left), Shehu Dikko (second left), Seyi Akinwunmi (third left), Victor Okoronkwo (right), A. U. Mustapha (second right) and Andrew Onyearu (third right) during the ‘Naming Right’ of the NFF Federation Cup ceremony.
The match played at the Area Football pitch Supreme Court FC took total control of the game.

Peter Mairabo of Supreme Court FC scored the only goal of the game in the 13th minute.
Speaking after the match, John Haggai, the head coach of Supreme Court FC, said he was happy that his team won.
“They played well, we know the strength of our opponent what we needed was to score first.
I thank God for answering our prayers. “We thank God that our score was the only goal of the game, we will go back and prepare well for the national FA cup,” he said. On his part, coach of the FRSC FC,
Akinade Onigbinde, said he was not happy losing the game to his opponent.
“We lost the match by 1-0, I’ m not happy about this defeat we will go and prepare for the national FA cup.

“My Players were very tired because they played seven matches both the league and the AITEO Cup within two weeks. “We did not have enough time to prepare for the final match, ” he said. NAN reports that 19 teams participated in 2018 FCT men’s AITEO Cup. (NAN)