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Emenike Dumps Turkey for Nigeria
Transatlantic Times Sports
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Vacillating Karabukspor striker Emmanuel Emenike has committed his international future to Nigeria after meeting with Nigeria coach Samson Siasia.
Siasia was in Turkey over the weekend to hold talks with the forward, along with captain Joseph Yobo, and the disgruntled striker has now committed his future to the Super Eagles.
Although he would not be eligible for Turkey for another three years, Emenike caused a storm when he claimed he would represent the Turks as a result of shoddy treatment from Nigeria football officials early in his career.
But officials say he was excited by the meeting with Siasia, and has now given the coach his word that he would turn out for his country of birth.
"Emenike was very excited when he was told that Siasia was coming to Turkey to find out about his international commitment," a top team official told KickOffNigeria.com.
"And when he spoke with the coach, he was very happy with the discussion and assured him that all that was in the past and he would honour a call-up from Nigeria."
GLO-CAF AWARDS 2010: History Beckons on Eto’o, Drogba, Gyan
Transatlantic Times News
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Some decades back, Europe and the rest of the world related with African football patronizingly, as poor cousins who needed to be urged on. But over the years, the achievements of the likes of Liberia’s George Opong Weah and Abedi Pele Ayew in the 1990’s has got the world showing some respect for the talents coming out of Africa. Weah picked both the European and world player of the year in 1995 and a horde of African stars have been playing key roles in important club successes in the European championship.
The thriving English Premier League boasts of a good number of African stars who are regular fixtures in the line-up of their respective clubs. This and the good runs of African teams in the FIFA World Cup have all combined to give fillip to the African skills exported to world stage through European football.
Perhaps, the greatest good came to African football five years ago when the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the emerging telecommunications giant, Globacom signed a historic deal in Paris, France for the sponsorship of the African Footballer of the Year Awards. The dazzling performances of African stars have through the award been accorded deserving recognition off the field. The award has since 2005 assumed a dimension that has compelled world attention.
The Mediterranean city of Cairo as the cream of African football personalities and stakeholders gather at the Intercontinental City Stars hotel play host to the very first Glo-CAF Awards ceremony on Monday night. For Issa Hayatou, the CAF President, there is every reason to celebrate the partnership with Globacom which was renewed on August 27, 2010 at the CAF headquarters.
Hayatou had said shortly before the contract was signed that Globacom has in the last five years succeeded in show-casing the beauty and talent of African football to the world. In the words of Hayatou, "Globacom has taken the awards to new dimensions and at CAF, our expectation is that in the next five years, they will do more to improve on their achievements and extend the acceptance of the event beyond the present level".
This year’s award is historic both for the nominees and the record books. Samuel Eto’O is on the threshold of a historic fourth award while Didier Drogba is aiming to equal the three awards already under Eto’O’s belt. Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan is the strong force that is putting pundits on edge. The surge of the young Ghanaian to the elite list of contenders has been described as a fresh breath of air to the usual suspects thrown up in the last five years.
Gyan is very upbeat about his chances and having just been named the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Player of the Year, Gyan is perhaps already rehearsing a stage performance for the collection of the award.
ASAMOAH GYAN (GHANA/SUNDERLAND FC)
Ghana International, Asamoah Gyan is confident that his country will once again produce another African Player of the Year, a feat last achieved by Abedi Pele Ayew. Gyan, who moved to the English Premier League side, Sunderland last summer said his nomination for the Glo-CAF African footballer of the Year award this time will compensate Ghanaians who have agonized over the inability of Michael Essien to clinch the coveted title after five nominations in a row from 2005-2009.
"I am grateful to God for the nomination" the leggy forward told BBC Radio recently, adding, "I also believe I have done enough to win"
The Ghanaian international who joined Sunderland from Rennes of France described his nomination as befitting reward for his contributions to country and club. "It shows that there is reward for consistency and dedication. I was very outstanding at the Nations Cup in Angola, did well at the World Cup in South Africa and here at Sunderland, I could not have had a better start at a new club. All these have combined to put in me a strong position to win the African Player of the Year", Gyan remarked.
Gyan moved to Europe from Liberty Professionals of Ghana in 2003 settling at Italian side, Udinese. He made a World Cup finals debut with Ghana’s Black Stars at the 2006 World Cup in Germany where he impressed and was almost going to sign a record Russian transfer deal with Locomotiv Moscow. However, he extended the contract at the Italian side to 2012 but had to move to French League 1 side Club Rennais, scoring 14 times in 48 appearances.
DIDIER DROGBA (IVORY COAST/CHELSEA)
Didier Drogba’s won his second Glo-CAF Awards title on a day most had expected Eto’O Samuel to clinch his fourth title. Interestingly, the ceremony took place in Accra, Ghana, the same city where he received his first ever Africa Footballer of the Year award two years earlier. His journey to what has turned out a hugely successful football career started with a move by his parents to have him live with an uncle, who was a professional football player in France. He became homesick after a few weeks and returned to Abidjan where he played football every day in the car park.
The Ivory Coast captain won the double with Chelsea last season and is yet to taste the European Champions League glory, the only club honour that is perhaps missing from his shelf. With Ivory coast at the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola and World Cup in South Africa, Drogba did not quite live up to billing as his team got knocked out early in both competitions. However, his strong influence in Chelsea’s success in the English Premier League and FA Cup is sufficient push to win him a third Glo-CAF honour.
SAMUEL ETO’O (CAMEROON/INTER MILAN)
With the envious honour of being the most decorated African player, Eto’O fits the description of ‘seen it all, won it all’. Eto’O’s football track has covered almost all the important clubs in Europe, namely Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan. At the three clubs, Eto’O was decorated with European Champions League medals. With the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, Eto’O has won the Africa Nations Cup on three occasions. He has played in three World Cup finals and also has the Olympic football gold medal.
In 2010, Eto’O linked up Inter Milan to win his third European Champions trophy having been pushed out by former club, FC Barcelona. Eto’O was crowned Glo-CAF Award winner in 2003, 2004
MTN Secures Rights to Sponsor Nigeria Premier League
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After bidding for the Nigeria Premier League twice and losing out to rival, Globacom, telecommunications firm, MTN Nigeria, on Thursday, won the rights to sponsor the Nigeria Premier League for four seasons.
Details of the agreement have yet to be made public, however, MTN is said to have made a commitment to pay N2.6 billion over the next four years to the league. The deal will come as a relief to beleaguered Chairman of the league, Davidson Owumi, given that Rumson Baribote, former Chairman of Bayelsa United is contesting the legality of the NPL elections that threw up Owumi as chairman, in the courts.
The battles
The rivalry between the two telecoms companies over sponsorship of the league started as far back as 2006 when for the first time the league came up for sponsorship. MTN were initially thought to have wrapped up the deal with a sponsorship fee of N300m. That was not to be as Glo, reportedly availing itself of contacts in the Presidency, won the bid with an offer of N70 million. When the contract lapsed in 2008 under Oyuiki Obaseki, a new deal brokered by MTN for N500m failed with Globacom retaining sponsorship.
In January 2010, former league boss, Obaseki, had led his team to Globacom to re-negotiate the sponsorship. Globacom complained that having spent millions in league sponsorship, they were not getting the desired results. Therefore it was not a surprise when the 2010/11 season arrived and Globacom pulled out of the sponsorship deal. The NPL again threw its doors open for new sponsors. This time around, MTN, floored twice by Globacom, decided not to show its hands openly electing to use a front, an organisation known as Total Promotions to push its bid. Total Promotions already does business with the league, having signed a deal with the NPL over broadcast of league matches. After two days of intense negotiations, news emerged that MTN had clinched the deal ahead of its rival.
“It is a good one. It shows that there is still potential for the league if MTN can do business with the NPL,” said Emeka Nwani, Head of Media, NPL. “We are assuring Nigerians that the money will be used judiciously for the improvement of the league.” The NPL has debts of over N700 million as part of recurrent expenditure as they are yet to be paid for last season’s sponsorship. The former sponsors, Globacom, are reportedly owing N923 million for the 2009/10 season.
Monkey business
While Nigerians await a formal announcement of the new deal, there are indications that the last may not have been heard of the matter. Globacom is not taking the latest development lying down. An official of the organisation, who asked not to be named, said “The last has not been heard of the matter. The entire process has been less than satisfactory. We have a situation where one company put it in a bid and then another organisation, which did not formally enter the race, is said to have won the bid.” Attempts to reach Shehu Gusau, the Chairman of the bid committee, to explain to clarify whether the rules permit the use of fronts, proved unsuccessful. Equally, efforts to contact Owumi were unsuccessful as his mobile phone was switched off.
MTN also sponsors the Africa Cup of Nations and the CAF Champions League tournaments in Africa and the Zambia Premier League.
Siasia Goes to England to Meet The Boys
New subtitle
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Super Eagles' coach, Samson Siasia, will travel to England this weekend to meet with some of the country's players, most of whom ply their trade in the English Premier League.
The trip will serve as the first official parley between Siasia and some of the country's top stars since his emergence as the new coach of the Super Eagles. He will also use the opportunity to sell his vision for building a formidable Super Eagles side in the aftermath of last summer's World Cup in South Africa.
Amongst the players Siasia is expected to meet are Osaze Odemwingie, Aiyegbeni Yakubu, Victor Anichebe, Victor Obinna, John Utaka, and erstwhile Super Eagles skipper, Nwankwo Kanu. Siasia will also hold talks with Chelsea's John Mikel Obi, as well as his 1994 World Cup teammate, Michael Emenalo, who is now Chelsea's assistant coach.
He will also get to watch this Sunday's English Premier League clash between Chelsea and Manchester United at London's Stamford Bridge. "I am going to watch Chelsea and Manchester United this weekend, he recently posted on his twitter account. "Will speak to the boys in UK, too." Siasia will, thereafter, travel to Turkey where he will meet with Super Eagles defender and skipper, Joseph Yobo.
Siasia had earlier been scheduled to depart for England last weekend, but the trip had to be put off for undisclosed reasons. There had been speculation that the postponement had to do with the unavailability of funds by the Nigeria Football Federation, but according to a statement made available by the federation, Siasia had the trip moved a few days.
Premier League to Get Sponsors Soon
Ttimes Entertainment News
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Hopes of getting a title sponsor for the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) could be fulfilled today as a newly inaugurated bid committee prepares to hold talks with companies interested in sponsoring the nation’s elite football division.
The bid committee which was yesterday inaugurated by the League chairman Davidson Owumi, is headed by his vice chairman, Shehu Gusau. Other members include Joe Amene, Adebayo Wopa, Kweku Tandon,
Nelson Ine, Isaac Danladi and the NPL’s head of marketing, Gabriel Egwu who will act as the committee’s secretary.
The Nigerian Premier League, which enters the seventh week this weekend, has been without a title sponsor since telecommunications outfit Globacom pulled out midway through the 2009/2010 season; a situation that has starved the board of crucial funds required to properly run the league.
Meanwhile, as NPL officials remain confident that a deal will be sealed very soon, some observers have fingered the ongoing leadership tussle between Davidson Owumi and Rumsey Baribote as a possible clog in the wheel of the latest sponsorship drive.
It would be recalled that Coca-Cola recently terminated its contract with the Nigeria Football Federation, citing the crisis as a major reason for pulling out as it was hurting their brand name.
Coca-Cola’s contract with the NFF to sponsor the national teams was worth N100 million annually, and was due to run until 2014.
Reports suggest that former sponsors of the league, Globacom are also in the race to bank roll the league again.
Globacom pioneered the mega-million naira sponsorship of the Nigerian league. Its deal with the NPL, worth over nine hundred million naira, is the highest ever by any individual organization in the history of Nigerian sports.
However, the relationship between the telecommunication company and the NPL went sour thus leading to Glo pulling out last season.
In a related development, the NPL chairman, Owumi, has assured the companies bidding of fair treatment from the bid committee.
He also disclosed that corporate outfits that have already indicated their intention to land the Nigeria Premier League title sponsorship have backed their intent with a non-refundable deposit of one million naira.
“About two organisations have shown interest in sponsoring the League,” said Owumi. “They have paid one million naira each as intent fee.”
Police Warn Against Posters in Public Place
New subtitle
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Citing illegality, the police in Borno State yesterday warned all political parties and their aspirants for the 2011 polls against display of posters and other bills on public buildings, electric poles, on streets and roundabouts.
It stated that violators of such order could be prosecuted by the police under the state’s 2008 Bill Board Control and Prohibition Law.
The ban on display of posters on public buildings were made in a press statement signed by Lawal Abdullahi, and made available to The Guardian yesterday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
According to the statement, “any person or group of persons that aids, abets or violates the provision of this important state law will be prosecuted under Billboard Control and Prohibition Law of Borno State.”
It further explained that the display of such posters and other printed bills, however, deface the streets and walls of buildings, while traffic and road signs were being obstructed with such illegal activities in the state.
The police therefore urged owners of such signboards, posters and billboards to remove them within a week from the date of issuing the warnings.
Almost all the major roundabouts, some electric poles, highway milestones, walls of public buildings and traffic roads signs in Maiduguri and other major towns in the state are littered with posters of many aspirants from the various parties.
Another Nigerian Footballer Dies on The Pitch
THE Nigerian Premier League was thrown into dark moment on Sunday with the death of Ocean Boys of Yenagoa left back defender, Emma Ogoli.
Ogoli,it was learnt that he slumped on the pitch of the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa after playing only for 39 minutes during the team's week six tie against visiting Niger Tornadoes of Minna which ended 2-1 in favour of the homers.
The stopper who joined Ocean Boys from sister club,Bayelsa United suddenly collapsed on the pitch and was rushed to a waiting ambulance at the stadium but died on the way to the hospital.
In his reaction, Head Media and Awards Committee of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL),Akin Akinbobola described the incident as pathetic, adding that the player's death was not only a loss to his immediate family and club, but to the the entire Nigerian football fraternity.
NFF Never Contacted Me on Tech Committee — Okocha
“I didn‘t Hear Anything About That, Not Even From The NFF,” He said.
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A former captain of the Super Eagles Austin Okocha has said that the Nigeria Football Federation has never made any contact with him concerning his membership of the federation‘s Technical Committee. Okocha made contact with our correspondent via text messages.
The name of the former Bolton Wanderers captain was amongst those released to the media by the NFF as members of the committee. But since the names of the committee members headed by Mr Chris Green were made public, Okocha has never attended any of their sittings including the one that produced Samson Siasia as the coach of the Eagles.
”I never received any thing (letter) from them (NFF),” Okocha said.
Following his refusal to attend meetings since the committee began sitting, his membership has been a subject of debate. On Friday, the chairman of the committee Mr Green was quoted as saying that the retired footballer will cease to be a member if he fails to attend their next meeting. But the former PSG of France midfielder told our correspondent that the threat and every detail about his membership remains news to him.
Okocha was one of the retired footballers that tried to get into the federation when the last election was conducted in Abuja. He has maintained his stand that the whole process was not fair but some of those that were initially vocal about the conduct of the election have joined the NFF team through committees.
Siasia Dares Nff Over ‘Local’ Assistant Coaches!
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Super Eagles gaffer, Samson Siasia seems to have drawn the battle-line between him and his employers, the Nigeria Football Federation when he declared unequivocally yesterday that he must have a say on who will work with him as his Nigerian assistants.
The Nigeria Football Federation have repeatedly said that Siasia will have to work with whoever they pick as his second assistant team coach and goalkeepers trainer.
Siasia is however having none of this and declared in a radio programme monitored in Lagos yesterday that he deserves to pick those he wants to work with and will reject whoever the NFF appoint if he is not satisfied with the person(s).
‘I don’t think they can pick just anybody as my assistants without seeking for my consent.No,it cannot work’,he said matter-of-factly.
Siasia is convinced he deserves the honour to be allowed to pick whoever he wants since he alone will carry the burden of the team if it fails or succeeds.
“I need to appoint those I can work with. It will be counter-productive if they appoint people I can’t work with”,Siasia insisted.
The NFF are also insisting they will have none of that and believes Siaisia is already biting more than he can chew.
A member of the NFF board who pleaded not to be named told Complete Sports late last night that Siasia’s case cannot be different from those before him.
“We appointed coaches for expatriate coaches like Berti Vogts and Lars Lagerback as well as local coaches like Amodu Shuaibu,Austin Eguavoen and Christian Chukwu and they did not complain.I believe Siasia should not be different. We want Nigerian coaches to also hold sway in the scheme of things. He cannot have his way all the time”, the board member said.
Jonathan Faults Wikileaks “Narratives” About His Meetings With US Diplomats
Africa Examiner Reporting
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Wikileaks is the new travesty that international diplomacy has to deal with.
Nigeria is no exception." President Jonathan’s spokesman Mr Ima Niboro has
said.
Report of Wikileads published by Britain's Guardian Newspapers quoted
President Jonathan as saying early this years that he was not interested in
running for president unless he is persuaded to do so by those around him.
The report states "Jonathan said he does not anticipate standing for elections
in 2011 and that he is not working towards a presidential candidacy. He wants
to put into place an electoral structure that will be ready for national elections,"
The report also quoted the president as saying "if they want me to run, that
will be something to consider at that time."
In a swift reaction the wikileaks reports, Mr Niboro said “the point to be made
is that the accounts of meetings between President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
and US diplomats are essentially third party narratives, and are largely
inaccurate.”
Part of the statement reads:
“The President, in those tempestuous days during which the nation tottered
on the brink, held meetings, and then more meetings, with different groups,
the diplomatic community inclusive.
“The President met with different diplomats and special envoys who offered
different suggestions on a way out of the impasse that our late leader's health
had imposed on the nation. We note that this account is largely silent on
these suggestions.
“Instead, what is served up is an unfair account severely impacted by
selective perception and individual expectations.
“This only goes to show that the report itself is a souped up version of the
standard conversation that takes place in such meetings. We find this account
as wholly unfortunate, and we are only employing the best of diplomatic
finesse in that statement!”
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