Kanu Is My Role Model…….Mikel Obi

Mikel Obi

Kanu Nwankwo

"I am happy to have won the champions league trophy with Chelsea. It does not come on a platter, you have to earn it. I feel proud to be named with the likes of Kanu Nwankwo and Finidi George. I always looked up to Kanu while I was growing up".

On winning the trophy with Didier Drogba and co….

The confidence and determination to play returned to the team. We became a team again and that was the beginning of the glorious season that we had.

Mikel Obi in an interview he granted Nation Sport .

Tony Parker Suing WIP Club For $20M Over Drake and Chris Brown Fight

NBA player (and Eva Longoria’s ex husband) Tony Parker is suing the W.I.P club for an injury he sustained during the Chris Brown and Drake fiasco. The B baller sustained an injury in his eye (his cornea to be precise).

In a lawsuit filed in State Supreme Court in Manhattan on Thursday, Tony claims the WIP club was negligent in security and supervision, resulting in his injury.
He is suing for $20 million.

Funke Akindele,Banky W,Kanu Nwankwo and Steve 'Yaw' Onu Announced As Olympic Torch Bearers

  Nigerians Funke Akindele,Banky W,Kanu Nwankwo and Steve 'Yaw' Onu have been  announced as some of the Olympic torch bearers that would  herald the forthcoming Olympic games in London.

They will be carrying the torch at the Olympic Torch Relay, holding at Coventry on July 1^st 2012.

NFF restores sanity in football....sacks over-age Eaglets

In line with its avowed policy of whittling away age cheats from its under-aged national teams, no player from the Nigerian Premier League is among the list of players for the second phase closed camping of the Golden Eaglets that opened in Calabar on Monday.

This development has ruled out players such  as Gombe United’s Mustapha Babadidi, Segun

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Alebiosu of Kwara United amongst others from the list of prospective players under consideration for the National Under -17 Team in spite of the fact that they were reportedly within the stipulated age bracket.

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Director, Technical, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme who is in Calabar for the smooth take-off  of the closed camping exercise, said  the shut-out order of Premier League players from the Golden Eaglets is  imperative. He noted that it was a positive development and should be seen as a genuine effort on the part of the NFF at developing new stars as well as the federation’s commitment at eradicating age cheats. The 40 players selected for the closed camping exercise were drawn from those that took part in the first phase screening exercise last March.

Top on the list of players already camped at the  posh Princeville Hotel camp is Muazzam Ibrahim who was tagged ‘ New Kanu’ by Supervising Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi when he played an unscheduled visit during the team’s screening exercise at the FIFA Goal Project Package B Site in Abuja.

Also included are  players from the National Under-15 team, top-rated youth tournaments such as the Shell Cup and Copa Coca-Cola as well as players from soccer academies scattered all over the country.

Officials maintained that this second phase closed camping is strictly for invited players to enable them  demonstrate their abilities as the team  intensifies  efforts to  represent the country in the forthcoming African Under-17 Youth Championship to be hosted in Morocco next year.

Source

Quote Of The Day: "Where Was Everybody When Rashidi Yekini Needed Help".....Kanu Nwankwo

Kanu Nwankwo

Late Rashidi Yekini

"It is a shame that they allowed the man to rust away like that when they know about his predicament. Yekini has done so much for the country and deserved to be taken care of, but unfortunately all of them turned deaf ears only to apply medicine after death," he said.

,"Yekini was a dedicated player with a good heart; he was someone who wanted to give back to the society. I think it’s always good to remember and honour people when they are alive than wait until they die. Yekini should have been celebrated when he was alive"Those who gave everything in the service of their country must be accorded the desired attention at all times. Yekini suffered and died like an orphan. Today, everybody is lamenting over his death. Nobody cared for him while he was alive and suffering,”

"I am not only referring to footballers alone but to other individuals. We (the players) will on our part come together and think of what to do for his children," he added.

Mayweather Defeats Cotto

Floyd Mayweather defeated Miguel Cotto to clinch the WBA light middleweight title. The boxer who is known for his speed and ability to slip punches will be heading to jail in three weeks’ time.

When he was asked about the match, Maywether had this to say…

"I could've just outboxed him and moved, and made it a boring fight. But it's a recession," Mayweather said. "You guys

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spent your hard-earned dollars to come see me, so I said, (expletive), let me give you guys what you want to see."

On his opponent;

"You're a hell of a champion, the toughest guy I ever fought," "I had to fight hard, suck it up. He's no pushover."

He also called Cotto a "future Hall of Famer. He didn't come here to survive," he said. "He came here to fight. I dug down and fought him back. In life there's obstacles. I take the good with the good and the bad with the bad."

On his part, Cotto said he was happy with his performance. "(Mayweather) knows what kind of fight Miguel Cotto brings and so do the fans. I can't ask for anything more."

The three judges at ringside scored the fight unanimously for Mayweather, 117-111 twice and 118-110.

Mayweather is rumoured to have  earned a record $32 million guaranteed, while Cotto got $8million.

Football Legend, Rashidi Yekini Dies At 48

Former Super Eagles Striker Rashidi Yekini is dead. The former eagles player who scored the highest number of goals for the national team; scoring 37 goals in 58 appearances and was also two time African footballer of the year died yesterday in Kwara State.

The Kwara State indigene was also the first Nigerian player to ever score a goal at the world cup during the USA 94 tournament.

My two cents on his death.... I think it is very hypocritical the way people are praising this man right now. In Nigeria (and indeed the world at large… look at Whitney Houston) we have this nasty habit of tearing people down when they are alive forgetting that nobody is perfect. We all have our flaws and anybody, absolutely anybody can fall on hard times.

The main thing holding this country back is ENVY...... unnecessary envy. This man could have been helped by some of his 'friends' but they didin't. Sunday Olish said it all in this Interview he granted last year. According to him... “Some of our players were madly, sickly, mentally jealous the moment Yekini was honoured".

Even when the media (blogs and sports journalists)  reported that he was in bad shape, not much was done. The annoying thing is that the government will

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soon start pouring out their ‘heart felt sympathy’ and I am sure they would call him a great man and promise to take care of his children …that they would never suffer.

With the man’s accomplishments while alive (they were not mean on any scale) I wonder why he did not coach our team or at least why he was not given a spot on our technical team because he NEEDED It and HE DESERVED IT.

May his soul rest in peace.

Italian Player Dies After Suffering Heart Attack During Football Match

 25 year old Italian footballer Piermario Morosini is dead. The footballer slumped on the football field after suffering cardiac arrest during his team Livorno's Serie B match at Pescara.

Morosini, who was on loan from Serie A side Udinese, fell to the ground in the 31st minute of the match and tried unsuccessfully to get up several times before receiving urgent medical attention on the pitch. A defibrillator was used on the player, who also had his heart massaged, before an ambulance arrived on the pitch to take him to hospital where doctors tried to revive him for around an hour and a half.

A consultant in the hemodynamics department at the hospital, who was watching the game and rushed to help before the ambulance arrived, said Morosini never regained consciousness.

"Morosini never had a single heartbeat again," Leonardo Paloscia said. "From when I arrived he never gave a sign of revival, not in his respiration nor his heartbeat. When I arrived everything [his heart, respiration] was stopped.

"No one can say what the cause was, I think nothing will come out until after the autopsy."

The autopsy will likely be held on Monday. All Italian matches this weekend were immediately called off after the death was announced.

"We are living through a drama," Pescara's general manager, Danilo Iannascoli, told Sky Italia.

Source

Italian Player Slumps And Dies On The Football Field

Super Falcons Midfielder Felicia Eze Dies At 38

Felicia Eze, a former Super Falcons midfielder is dead.

The Ex-Super Falcons star who was 38 died on Wednesday in Anambra State after a brief illness. She was a member of the Falcons team that won the gold medal at the 2003 All Africa Games in Abuja and was also a member of the Nigerian team that won the 2004 edition of the Africa Women's Championship.

All My Predictions On Nigerian Football Have Been Accurate......T.B Joshua

Prophet T.B Joshua of Synagogue church recently predicted that Nigeria's national team 'The Super Eagles' will not qualify and they didn't. The video above shows him making the prediction. He has however broken his silence concerning the controversial issue.

He has however addressed the whole controversy in a recent interview with Encomium magazine.....

Nobody can claim to love Nigeria more than I do. I only tell people what God revealed to me. I can't control it. During the ministrations two Sundays ago which was televised live, I said God revealed the outcome of the encounter to me which was not favourable to Nigeria. They should check my track record. All my predictions on Nigerian football have been accurate simply because I love football and I always pray about it before the match

Mikel Obi's Dad Released...... I Am Stressed

Mikel Obi's dad

The father of Chelsea and Nigeria star John Mikel Obi was Monday found alive in Kano State. Michael Obi was last seen on 12 August in the city of Jos, where his car was found last Wednesday.

Obi Senior told the BBC that he had been kidnapped in Jos before being transferred to Kano.

“I am very stressed,” he said.

His abductors are now in police custody in the northern Nigerian city.

The BBC’s Yusuf Ibrahim Yakasai says Michael Obi’s face shows signs of the beatings that he says he endured during his ordeal.

During the time of his father’s disappearance, Mikel Obi continued playing for Chelsea – starting matches against both Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion.

“I wouldn’t want to

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 let the club down and if I didn’t play that game I think my mum would be very sad,” the 24-year-old said after playing against Stoke.

On Friday, Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas hailed the “amazing mental toughness” shown by the midfielder in the wake of his father’s kidnapping.

Police spokesman Olusola Amore told The Associated Press that detectives found Michael Obi in Kano. Amore said police arrested those suspected in the kidnapping.

Michael Obi was kidnapped on Aug. 12 while on his way home from work in the central Nigerian city of Jos.

Kidnappings for ransom regularly occur in Nigeria, though typically in its east and oil-rich southern delta.

Nigeria, an oil-rich country of 150 million people, is almost evenly split between Muslims in the north and the predominantly Christian south. Plateau state, in Nigeria’s fertile central belt, has seen thousands die in recent years in religious and ethnic violence rooted largely in political and economic issues.

Mikel’s family, from the Igbo tribe, is in the minority in the area. However, John Obi Mikel said the kidnapping shocked him because his family never had any problems there before.

Kidnappings in Plateau state are a rarity when compared to Nigeria’s oil-producing southern delta, where militants and criminal gangs often kidnap foreigners for ransom. Middle class Nigerian families also increasingly find themselves targeted in the country’s East as well.

It isn’t the first time a football player’s family has been targeted in Nigeria. In 2008, gunmen abducted the younger brother of Everton defender Joseph Yobo as he left a nightclub in Port Harcourt, the delta’s largest city.

The brother was released unharmed about two weeks later, though it was unclear if a ransom had been paid. Enyimba Chairman, Felix Anyansi-Agwu was equally kidnapped and released. Mother of former NFF President, Sani Lulu-Abdullahi was also kidnapped and released.

Michael Obi’s abduction came after a Forbes magazine survey in June listed Mikel as the seventh highest-paid African player in Europe. The magazine listed Mikel’s salary as $5.8 million a year.

Mikel thanks all!
Super Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi has spoken of his relief after hearing that his father, Michael Obi had been found in Kano.

Obi Senior was last seen on 12 August in the city of Jos, where his car was found last Wednesday but hardworking Police operatives Monday secured the freedom of Mikel’s father.

And in a quick reaction to the cheery news from Nigeria, Mikel’s management company confirmed that the Chelsea man had contacted his family to share in the joy of their father’s release.

Mikel has also expressed his gratitude to everyone who supported his family during the trying times.

Earlier today(yesterday) Michael Obi called his family to advise them that he had been released by his abductors,” Sport Entertainment & Media Group (SEM) said in a statement.

“SEM have waited until now to release this information, to ensure that Michael was safe.

“John Obi Mikel would like to thank everyone in Nigeria, his family and friends, Chelsea FC and their fans and his agents for their total support during this terrible time.”

NFF rejoices

The Nigeria Football Federation Monday  said the release of Mikel’s father came as a great relief to both the Obi family and the NFF.

In reaction to the news last night, chief media officer of the federation, Ademola Olajire said, “we are very very happy over this development. It is a sign of good things to come as we prepare for the crucial 2012 CAN qualifier against Madagascar.

It is good for the psyche of the boy and the entire team. We are happy,” Olajire said.

Source.....Vanguard

Taye Taiwo Is The Highest Earning Nigerian Footballer Now!

One of the hottest stories right now is the story of how Taye Taiwo is now the highest paid footballer in Nigeria’s firmament.

  According to MTNFootball.com, Taiwo has landed 12 million euros in a three-year contract and this is exclusive of bonuses and other benefits.

He will also receive a signing-on fee of 1.5 million euros.Ac Milan will also throw in a Maserati, the world famous stylish luxury sports car which could go for as much as $120,000.
His new pay works out at about 335,000 euros a month as against 80,000 he received at Olympic Marseille, and what he will pay less tax in Italy than what he paid in France.The tax in Italy is 15%, while in France it’s 33%.

A Maserati

He moved from Olympic Marseille a few months ago to Ac Milan where he got a big offer of over N18m weekly, 350,000 pounds, making it  N73m monthly. By the time we add the money he gets from endorsements, (which i am sure, he will get in droves) you can imagine how much he will be worth.

In the next three years, Taye would have earned a whooping N3bn excluding 13% tax.

After Taye comes Chelsea star Mikel Obi who gulps N16m weekly .

Taiye Taiwo Duped By Aide

Nigerian footballer Taiye Taiwo has reportedly been duped by one of his trusted Aides. According to MTN.com,  his aide who is also his agent absconded with about 100,000 euros (he got it from his deal with a top sports brand ), which was allegedly paid to him after an endorsement deal.

The man who is known to handle most of Taiye's of investments in Nigeria also made away with about ten million Niara from his wonder loaf bakery.......  which he bought from the family of the late MKO Abiola.

Why Eagles Ganged Up Against Yekini—Oliseh

     Former Super Eagles captain, Sunday Oliseh, believes Nigeria would have got better results from Rashidi Yekini at USA ‘94 FIFA World Cup and the team could have done better but for the deep-rooted division in the Nigerian team.

He told SuperSport.com that “the only reason I am saying this is for the future and for the country, for people to learn and because

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I feel that honour has not been given to Yekini like it should…some players had scores to settle with Yekini and all that.”So many people have always wondered why Yekini would celebrate alone after scoring Nigeria’s first ever goal in the FIFA World Cup when he opened scoring against Bulgaria on that hot afternoon in Dallas. It was a sweeping move began by Oliseh who won the ball deep in Nigeria’s half. His quick change of pace and precision passing to Daniel Amokachi, who brilliantly guided the ball down the right flank to Finidi George .The winger would explode down the flank and would pick out Yekini for the simple tap in, score and the stadium erupts into a sea of green and white and joyous chants of Nigeria.The world would watch in amazement as Yekini rushed into the net and alone, all, all alone like that famous line from the rhyme of the Ancient Mariner. He would chant, scream all by himself, an image that personified the legendary goalscorer supreme and one of the defining moments of USA ‘94. No one came to meet him.“Yekini had some beef with some players because I was in the background, I was watching everybody and I know those who were involved,” he said.“Some of our players were madly, sickly, mentally jealous the moment Yekini was honoured. He was leaving for Panathinaikos, and there was some jealousy there. Yekini himself was not smart enough to calm things down.”Oliseh believes Yekini was special. “Which other striker do we have in the history of Nigeria, who strikes 30-metre shots? If Yekini can count the number of goals at the highest level, it will be over a hundred… of all the strikers we talk about in Nigeria, which other striker?” he asked.

Source......PM News

Novak Djokovic wins Nadal.... Find out what he is allergic to

Before he conquered Rafael Nadal on the Wimbledon Championships grass courts Sunday, Novak Djokovic beat out another worthy opponent: pizza. 
The Serbian pro tennis player, 24, who secured his champion title with a 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 win over Nadal, has cut out food containing

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gluten, including pizza, pasta and pretzels, from his diet. 
Last year, Djokovic's nutritionist found out the athlete was allergic to the protein, which is found in common flours, reports The Wall Street Journal. Since, he says he feels much more confident on the court. 
And it shows: as of Monday, he was already guaranteed to take over the No. 1 ranking from Nadal. 
"He has massively improved his serve, his fitness, and he's hitting his forehand a lot better," Brad Gilbert, ESPN commentator and former coach of Andy Murray and Andre Agassi, said of Djokovic prior to Wimbledon. "I've never seen anybody move better on a tennis court in my life"

Source...People

Nigeria’s 50 greatest football players of all time

Super Sports compiled a list of Nigeria’s 50 greatest football players of all time. Here are the players.....

1. Nwankwo Kanu
2. Austin Okocha
3. Sunday Oliseh
4. Rashidi Yekini
5. Segun Odegbami

6. Stephen Keshi
7. Emmanuel Amuneke
8. Finidi George
9. Christian Chukwu
10. Muda lawal

11. Peter Rufai
12. Daniel Amokachi
13. Taribo West
14. Uche Okechukwu
15. Teslim “Thunder”Balogun
16. Victor Ikpeba
17. Samson Siasia
18. Adokiye Amiesimaka
19. Vincent Enyeama
20. Celestine Babayaro
21. Thomson Usiyan
22. Taiye ‘Taiwo
23. Henry Nwosu
24. Emmanuel Okala
25. Felix Owolabi
26. Haruna Ilerika
27. Joseph Yobo
28. Aloysius Atuegbu
29. Richard Owubokiri
30. Elkanah Onyeali
31. Patrick Ekeji
32. Best Ogedengbe
33. Bright Omokaro
34. Peter Anieke
35. Yisa Shofoluwe
36. Ben Iroha
37. Julius Aghahowa
38. Osaze Odemwingie
39. Albert Onyeawuna
40. Augustine Eguavoen
41. Yisa Shofoluwe
42. Obafemi Martins
43. Yakubu Aiyegbeni
44. Tijani Babangida
45. Tony Igwe
46. John Obi Mikel
47. Sam Garba Okoye
48. Friday Okoh
49. Etim Esin
50. Dan Anyiam

Friends Celebrate Kanu Nwakwo

Former Nigerian international, Kanu Nwankwo, is receiving the loudest ovation as he plans to quit active international football.

The sportsman who has won many laurels in his professional career is being hosted by friends today in Lagos.

The dinner, which will come after a testimonial match is planned by friends, fans and colleagues of this football star with a heart of gold ( I love what he is doing through his Kanu heart foundation) .

People from all walks of life are expected to grace the event.

Lil Wayne Makes history on forbes under 30 list

Rapper Lil wayne made history as the only rapper apart from 2pac to have a number one album while in prison. The rapper who made $15 million and is  considered as one of the richest rappers around is second to last on the list.

Barbados born musician Rihanna Rihanna came in at

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10th place raking in $15 million although she just failed to make the cut for the Celebrity 100 list which measures a mix of wealth and fame.

She earned $29 million between May 2010 and May 2011 thanks to her tour, album sales and endorsement deals .

Others who made the Forbes list included LeBron James who came in 3rd with $48 million, Serena Williams who was last on the list with $12 million which is great considering she’s been out for most of last year with the foot injury, surgery and resulting embolism, Dwight Howard whose $28 million nabbed him the 11th spot, Dwayne Wade’s $26 million scored him 12th place and Carmello Anthonycame in 13th with $25 million.

Blatter returns unopposed as FIFA president

Steep Blatter has been reelected as World football governing body, FIFA's president for the 4th time.

The 75-year-old Swiss was the only candidate in Wednesday's (June 1st) election, with the English and Scottish Football Associations failing to delay the vote.

They wanted a postponement amid allegations of corruption within Fifa, but were only supported by 17 of the member associations.

Blatter won re-election with 186 votes from the 203 member associations and he will be in charge until 2015.

Shaquille O’Neal Announces Retirement

Basketball star and one time movie star Shaquille O’Neal  has announced that he is retiring.

.The former LSU star, 39, announced his intentions via Twitter with this message:

"We did it. 19 years baby. I want to thank you very much. That’s why I’m telling YOU first. I’m about to retire. Love you. Talk to you soon.”

O’Neal won three NBA crowns with the Lakers and another with the Heat.
He finishes seventh on the scoring list with 28,596 points and 13th in rebounds with 13,099.


Maybe he will revive his once upon a time movie career.