Eaglets get plaudits from Keshi

Football | Fifa U17 World Cup

Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi, has praised the Golden Eaglets for emerging champions at the 2013 Fifa Under-17 World Cup in the UAE.
Keshi told supersport.com that the Nigeria under-17s deserve commendation for the manner with which they emerged world champions.
"I'm very impressed with the boys. It is a big achievement in their careers winning the Under-17 World Cup. They showed every ingredient to become champions and that's why they deserve commendation," said the Nigerian trainer.
The former Mali and Togo manager, however refused to single out any particular player for individual praise.
Keshi rather believes Manu Garba's team played as a unit.
"At this level of football you don't want to single out one player over another. Yes if we say the midfielders or strikers did so well, we need to also remember that there are the goalkeeper and defenders who also kept their discipline to make sure the team didn't concede during delicate periods in some of their matches.
"So you'll now understand that football is a team sport. I agree that a number of players distinguished themselves ahead of the others but we really cannot overlook the contribution of the others in the team," said Keshi to supersport.com.

Arsenal can beat anyone - Ozil

Football | Barclays Premier League

Mesut Ozil says Arsenal are ready to take on all-comers after proving that they can maintain their fine early-season form.
The Gunners stumbled out of the Premier League blocks on the opening weekend, but then spent big to land Ozil on transfer deadline day and have not looked back.
Only two defeats have been suffered in all competitions since coming up short against Aston Villa, and one of those was avenged in midweek as they edged out Borussia Dortmund in the Uefa Champions League.
Ozil believes that showing in Germany proves that Arsenal are the real deal and he is delighted to have linked up with a squad at Emirates Stadium that is brimming with confidence.
Ahead of Sunday's crucial clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford, the talented 25-year-old told The Sun: "The message after Wednesday's win is that now Arsenal can beat any team in Europe.
"Maybe in the past they have struggled against some bigger clubs. But, as of this week, we have shown we can beat any team. And now we realise the big players all around the world have a huge respect for us.
"I knew before I signed that Arsenal were a high-quality club so I never considered it a gamble to join them.

Tottenham leave out Lloris after injury

Football | Barclays Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur, criticised for continuing to play goalkeeper Hugo Lloris after he was knocked unconscious in a match at Everton last week, left the Frenchman out of their squad for the home Premier League clash with Newcastle United on Sunday.
Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas said in midweek he was "astonished" at the reaction to keeping Lloris on the pitch after he was injured in a collision with striker Romelu Lukaku.
"The medical department advised that he should not play but he should be OK for the (France) World Cup playoffs," Villas-Boas told Sky Sports.
France meet Ukraine in the playoff first leg in Kiev on Friday.
Head injury charities criticised the decision to keep the French international on the pitch but Villas-Boas was defiant.

I’m not worried about Kenny’s female fans — Wife

The Ogungbes

Showbiz entrepreneur, Kenny Ogungbe, has been married to Bolajoko for 20 years. They give an insight into what makes their marriage tick

Was yours love at first sight?

Kenny: Allow my wife tell you that.

Bola: Somehow it was because he did not say, ‘I want you to be my girlfriend.’ He said, ‘I want to marry you.’ We met in Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, at a friend’s wedding  but that was not the day he told me he wanted to marry me. After the wedding, I visited his sister and that was the first time he spoke to me.

What was the certainty behind your pronouncement?

Kenny: I knew that was the right person and it was at the right time too. Prior to that episode, I was scared of marriage. I was young, just finished school and living in Los Angeles but in my mind, I knew that God would direct me in making a decent choice at the right time. When she showed up, I knew she was the chosen one.

What are those qualities that swept you off your feet?

Kenny: She was and is still very beautiful and it is easy to tell she is a responsible person from a responsible home.

Bola: I was not very sure when he proposed because I was just out of the university. I was also in a relationship with an Igbo man and I was a bit confused. Somehow, God intervened and I let go of the other person. I saw in him a gentleman, who is quiet, calm and he is the opposite of what you see on television or listen to on radio.

Did you follow up with a formal proposal?

Kenny: That was not informal. Sometimes as men, we even employ that as a lie to women but when I told her I wanted to marry her, I was not lying. It was time to get married because at that time, my younger brother was already married with children. It was a case of, ‘enough is enough, and I cannot be a bachelor forever.’

Liverpool win sent a message — Skrtel

 

Martin Skrtel

Martin Skrtel believes Liverpool’s 4-0 victory over Fulham has sent out ‘a message’ to the rest of the Premier League.

That message would appear to be that the Reds are not going anywhere any time soon.

A 2-0 defeat against table-topping Arsenal last weekend cast doubt over Liverpool’s ability to compete with the very best and sustain a challenge for Premier League title glory.

They were, however, back to their best at Anfield on Saturday and Skrtel feels they have shown that they have the spirit and ability to push for top honours.

He told Sky Sports: “We wanted to send a message – we are here and we are ready to fight. We are happy with the three points today.

“We wanted to keep a high tempo. Even after the first half and it was 3-0, we wanted to play our game.”

More cash rewards for Eaglets

 

U-17 WINNERS: Nigeria players celebrating after winning the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, in Abu Dhabi, Uae... on Friday

After getting increased match bonuses for winning the 2013 U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, the Golden Eaglets will further receive cash rewards from President Goodluck Jonathan when he hosts them in Abuja on Sunday (today).

Police sending bad signals ahead of 2015 – SANs

 

Inspector- General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar

Some Senior Advocates of Nigeria have described the recent disruption of a meeting of some governors in Abuja as an abuse of human rights and bad signals for the 2015 elections.

 the lawyers said it was illegal for the police to disrupt the peaceful gathering of Nigerians, noting that the court ruling that said the New PDP was not recognised by law as a party did not ban its members from meet

Constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN, said though the court had not recognised the New PDP, it did not stop them from meeting because the constitution guarantees free assembly.

He said, “The court ruling has nothing to do with this. The right of meeting; the right of association; the right of expression of opinion; the right of religion and other rights are guaranteed by the constitution. Anybody can meet anywhere and he is fully entitled to do so.

Five-year jail term for exam cheats unfair — ICPC

 

Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission, Mr. Ekpo Nta

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission has faulted the five-year jail term proposed for examination fraudsters. It said the law was unfair to students, who were not provided with basic learning tools.

It blamed the spate of examination frauds in the country on infrastructural deficiency in the education sector.

The Chairman, ICPC, Ekpo Nta, in an interview with our correspondent, said more examination cheats were found in schools where there was  shortage of human and material resources.

He criticised proprietors of schools, both government and private, saying educational institutions should  meet standards or be shut down.

Genevieve Nnaji Stunting In A N4million Rolex Watch

 

So we have discovered that the latest hype for naija celebs is getting themselves very expensive Rolex watches.
Current celebs known to be wearing millions on their wrist include Wizkid and Iyanya; apparently, Genevieve Nnaji has been on this list but we just discovered.

How I Caught Two Actresses Having S*x – Yoruba Actress Exposes Lesbianism In The Industry

She also talks about her experience; witnessing two actresses having s*x.
See her response:
On her challenges in the industry:

The biggest challenge is patience, having to wait for your own time. Then there is the issue of seniority when some people older than you in the industry expect you to accord them some docile kind of respect, like, not addressing them on a first name basis. These people expect you to call them “aunties” even when you are older than them in real age.

On how acting has affected her marriage:

Photos from Obasanjo’s son’s traditional wedding in Ebonyi state

 

One of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s sons, Bisoye Obasanjo (pictured above) married his sweetheart Chigozie Nwenyi today in Ebonyi state, the home place of the bride. President Obasanjo, his wife, former Ebonyi state governor Sam Egwu, current Ebonyi Governor Martin Elechi and his deputy Dave Umahi and wife, plus Ebonyi House of Assembly speaker, Chukwuma Nwazunku and Nkem Owoh were all at the wedding. See more photos after

25-year-old Venezuelan Crowned Miss Universe

 

Gabriela Isler

A 25-year-old Venezuelan television presenter and flamenco dancer, Gabriela Isler, has been crowned Miss Universe in Moscow in a glittering ceremony.

Judges, including rock star Steven Tyler from Aerosmith, picked the winner from a total of 86 contestants, including Miss Nigeria, Stephanie Okwu.

Equatorial Guinea Blocks Regional Free-movement Deal

 

Oil-rich Equatorial Guinea said Saturday it would block an agreement between central African countries to allow people from the region to circulate freely, due to fears it would be flooded with immigrants.
“Having analysed and discussed the document…the government of Equatorial Guinea has decided not to apply it, given there are a series of stages with requirements and conditions the states must previously meet and comply with to reach the intended free movement,” it said in a statement.
After years of negotiation, the Economic Community of Central African States, or ECCAS (Gabon, Congo, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea), had agreed to allow people and goods to circulate freely within their borders, dispensing with visas and establishing a common biometric passport.

Russians Hurl Tomatoes At Dutch King Willem-Alexander

 

(L-R) Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima meet Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow. Earlier, the royals were targetted by protestors throwing tomatoes. Source: AFP

Russian opposition activists in Moscow threw tomatoes at visiting Dutch King Willem-Alexander on Saturday to protest the January suicide of one of their members turned down for asylum in the Netherlands.

Gasquet parts ways with coach Piatti

Tennis | ATP

 French world No 9 Richard Gasquet said he was surprised that his Italian coach Riccardo Piatti had decided to call time on their partnership.
Gasquet, whose ATP World Tour Finals campaign came to an end with a 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-3 defeat against Novak Djokovic on Saturday, said it was not his decision to call time on their two-year link-up.
"It wasn't me who decided, it was him who indicated yesterday that he wanted to stop. I was surprised," he said.

ATP Finals Federer accepts underdog role v Nadal

Tennis | ATP

Roger Federer insists he is happy to be labelled as the underdog in the latest instalment of his epic rivalry with Rafael Nadal after booking a semifinal showdown with the Spaniard at the ATP World Tour Finals.
Federer defeated Argentine fourth seed Juan Martin del Potro 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-5 on Saturday to ensure a second place finish in Group B and a 32nd career meeting with world No 1 Nadal.
In the other semi, defending champion Novak Djokovic, who finished Group B with a 100 per cent record after a 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-3 win over Richard Gasquet on Saturday, takes on Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka.
Federer, a six-time Tour Finals champion, is desperate to finish one of the worst campaigns of his illustrious career with yet another triumph in the prestigious season-ending event at London's O2 Arena.
The 32-year-old knows Nadal goes into the tie as favourite after capping a remarkable return from a serious knee injury by winning the French and US Opens, as well as eight other titles, en route to securing the first place in the year-end rankings. History also favours Nadal, who leads their head-to-head 21-10 and has won 13 of their last 17 matches, including all three this year.

Arsenal vie for upper hand in rivalry

Football | Barclays Premier League

Manchester United and Arsenal will resume their historic rivalry at Old Trafford on Sunday with the London club holding the whip hand for the first time in several years.
The two teams have enjoyed many memorable tussles during the Premier League era, but it is usually United who have come out on top, and particularly when playing on home turf.
Arsenal have not won at United in seven years and manager Arsene Wenger has enjoyed victory on only four of the 22 occasions that his side have visited the home of the 20-time English champions.
The period between 1997 and 2005 bore witness to several titanic encounters, but although Arsenal claimed three league titles and four FA Cups during that period, they have not lifted any silverware since edging United on penalties in the final of the 2005 FA Cup.
Old Trafford has also been the scene of some chastening Arsenal defeats. They went down 6-1 in February 2001 and were humiliatingly routed 8-2 only two years ago.
Now, though, the winds of change are sweeping through English football and they have borne Arsenal to the top of the table after a start to the season in which they appear to have accumulated belief and purpose with each passing week.
After beating Liverpool 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium last weekend, Arsenal became the first English team to win at Borussia Dortmund in mid-week and they approach Sunday's game with an eight-point lead over United.

Mourinho forgives saviour Hazard

Football | Barclays Premier League

Jose Mourinho praised Eden Hazard after the Belgian finished a difficult week by converting a hotly disputed 96th-minute penalty that prevented Chelsea from suffering a second successive Premier League defeat.
Hazard was disciplined after missing training this week, but he was restored to the line-up against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday and struck the added-time equaliser that secured a 2-2 draw.
The 22-year-old had taken an unauthorised trip to France last Sunday and was delayed when he lost his passport, but Mourinho insists the matter is now closed.
"I don't need to accept his apology. I don't need to think any more about it," he said.
"It was a big penalty. Penalties are easy to score in training sessions – I score – as they are when you're winning 3-0 or 4-0. But this was a difficult one and the kid was very calm."
West Brom manager Steve Clarke and his players were incensed by referee Andre Marriner's decision to award a penalty when Ramires went down under a challenge from Steven Reid, and questioned how easily the Chelsea midfielder went to ground.
"I'm disappointed that a bad decision has cost us two points," said Clarke, who was Mourinho's assistant during the Portuguese's first spell at Stamford Bridge.

Baxter whips Chiefs into shape

Football | Absa Premiership

Coach Stuart Baxter's tongue lashing after their defeat to Ajax Cape Town earlier in the week gave Kaizer Chiefs the lift they needed, according to Bernard Parker.
Parker earned the Man of the Match award in Amakhosi's 2-1 victory over high-flying Wits in their Premiership match at FNB Stadium on Saturday evening.
"In our last game we know we made some mistakes and we weren't switched on in certain areas," he said.
"Sometimes we have moments in the game when we rise and then we're a little bit down again, but it's all about mental strength.
"The coach was a little bit harsh with us, he gave us some harsh words, and told us we need to stretch ourselves. Today we definitely did that.
"We had longer good periods, better possession and combinations, and we went down a little bit, but we kept our maximum focus and we got a positive result."
Baxter admitted they were under pressure after the 1-0 loss to Ajax, and he was relieved to grab three points at home as the title holders climbed further up the top half of the league table.
"When we play here we want to win every game, be positive and try and make that effort to win every game," he said.
"The crowd demands it and the club demands it, and we try that but sometimes it doesn't work."
Wits coach Gavin Hunt was frustrated with his team's performance after they struggled to capitalise on their opportunities up front.