|
Falcons Coach Drops Foreign Based Players From Namibia Qualifier
Nigeria won the first leg comprehensively by thrashing the Brave Gladiators of Namibia 7-0 and Uche is sure that the same can happen with the local players. “Though we may not be able to have our girls in the foreign clubs join us, but that does not mean that the girls that play in the local league will not perform. They would be going to Namibia to show what stuff they are made of,” says Uche. For Namibia to qualify for the next round the team must beat the Super Falcons by at least eight goals. In event that it does not happen, the Falcons would go on to play the winner of the Cameroun versus Equatorial Guinea tie in round three. Uche has stated that right now, she is not focused on that tie, stating that her focus is on winning in Namibia. “We are not worried about the next round of matches. What matters most to us is to win in Namibia and from there we would go to the next stage.” Oblias in Meanwhile, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has appointed German trainer, Thomas Oblias, as a technical assistant for the Super Falcons technical squad in a deal that is supposed to last for four months. According to Ademola Olajire, the spokesman for the NFF, the German was picked as a result of his wealth of experience and knowledge of women football. “His wealth of experience in women football is exceptional and it will compliment that of an equally experienced former international.” When contacted to comment on this new addition to the squad, Uche declined, stating that the NFF was in the best position to talk about such things: “My major concern now is to qualify for the Olympics and pick those would be best to play in the squad.” Enyimba Slam Union Sportive
- Vote for Nigeria's 50 greatest players The Enyimba contingent which included 20 players, eight officials and top government functionaries led by club boss, Felix Anyansi Agwu departed Nigeria Friday afternoon via an Air Virgin flight. The one hour, twenty minutes flight touched down in Douala, Cameroun before the contingent boarded another flight (45 minutes) to Libreville, Gabon. The Nigerian contingent however got a raw deal on arrival as their hosts provided hotel accommodation that an Enyimba player described as 'below our level'. "The journey was tiring and when we arrived Gabon we were expecting to be lodged in a decent hotel. “We were shocked when their (Bitam) officials gave us accommodation that was below our level.” "Our Chairman said we would not stay in such a place and so we had to wait outside until alternative arrangements were made,” Ifeanyi Ede told SuperSport.com. The Enyimba contingent eventually settled for the exquisite Hotel de Lalala, Libreville where they spent Friday night. The top marksman however stated the poor treatment meted out to them by their hosts would not prevent them from getting a positive result from the game. "We are former African champions and must play with pride and character. We have the advantage of playing the second leg at home in Aba but if we do not get a positive result here we will face an uphill task in the second leg," he said. The Enyimba contingent is scheduled to make another 45 minute flight to Bitam City, where the game will be played on Sunday. Enyimba team rolled over the Congolese side, Michel du Ouenze in the previous round to earn the right to face the Bitam club. FG to engage MEND, militant groups in dialogue
The Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, who said this at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, explained that the government was not “taking lightly” MEND’s latest threat to bomb political gatherings and oil installations in Niger Delta, Lagos and Abuja. Speaking at a pre-departure news conference organised for 75 ex-militants, leaving for post amnesty training in Russia, Kuku stressed that the government was not oblivious of the fact that some militants were still aggrieved. He said, “I am not one of those that will say there is no militant anywhere. I cannot say that because I know that before amnesty, there had been MEND, and after amnesty. Even Henry Okah, a leader of MEND, was the first to even accept amnesty. Today, a few other developments have occurred. MEND is still talking. Mr. President has laudable projects that are going to be embarked upon. LG Chairman Expresses Fear Over Credible Polls In Bakassi
Ekpo told newsmen in Ikang that INEC should correct the anomalies that characterised the voter registration in the area before thinking of credible elections. “I don’t know how INEC will conduct a free and fair election in Bakassi, especially now that we are talking about one-man, one- vote, ’’ he said. He said the last registration actually started in Bakassi on February 2, during the extension period, adding that it only took place in Bakassi for four days. He expressed the fear that many of the people of Bakassi might be disenfranchised during the elections. “So one problem we have here is that so many people may be disenfranchised,” Ekpo said. The Chairman said while some of the people of Bakassi registered under code 0903 which was credited to Akpabuyo, others registered in Day-Spring Ireland under code 0904 meant for Bakassi. He further said INEC had not come out with the overall list of registered voters for the people of Bakassi. “Uptil now the INEC has not told us how many people they were able to capture at that very location,” he said. He called on INEC to collate all registration for the people of Bakassi, transfer them to code 0904 and come out with the authentic list of voters for the April elections. “As far as this is not done, it is going to create problem for us during the election,” he said. Ekpo said appeals by both the state and the local governments to INEC to correct the anomaly were not successful. “The state government has taken interest in the matter and we have made several appeals to the INEC, thinking that by now something would have been done,” Ekpo said. Following the ceding of part of Bakassi to Cameroon, the state House of Assembly enacted a law in 2007. The law created more wards in Ikang to accommodate the displaced Bakassi people. But during the last registration, the people protested the move which prompted the intervention of INEC which reversed to the old Bakassi wards. The REC, Mr Mike Igini, said recently that the issue of voter registration in Bakassi was done based on the superiority of the Constitution on the creation of wards. Ribadu Blames PDP For Crises Around Country
“Equity and justice will bring peace because when people are treated equally, nobody will fight and people will live together as one, despite religious or tribal differences. For example, India, USA, and Tanzania, which have race differences, still live in peace because of good leadership, whereas in Somalia and Rwanda, there is continuous war due to mismanagement of governance,” he said. Mr. Ribadu challenged the youth to use the April polls to vote for the right candidate who would touch their lives and have the interest of Nigerians at heart. “I am a youth because my ideas are young and fresh,” he said. “They are not dead, and we can meet the demands of today. We have given PDP a chance and they have failed and it is not good to allow them to remain in power.” Catch This 'Sneak Disease' Before It Pounces
When the world is coming together this week to reinforce awareness and understanding of the importance of early detection of glaucoma-- the world's second leading cause of blindness-- eye experts of the region are also advocating diagnosing the disease early for its proper treatment before it starts to show its devastating effect. It may be mentioned here that the World Glaucoma Week is being held from March 6 to March 12. The main intention being to help those with an interest in improved eye health to understand the devastating effects of a condition that could affect as many as 80 million people by 2020. Glaucoma is not just a disease of the elderly. Now is the time to change the public mindset about glaucoma," said Shri Kant, professor of the department of ophthalmology, Banaras Hindu University. Saying early detection is the key to treating and halting the effects of glaucoma, he also emphasised if glaucoma was detected early and appropriate treatment was started, 90% of the blindness from glaucoma could be eliminated. Nigeria Call Up League Cup Hero Martins
This will be Siasia's first call-up of the 26-year-old striker since he took over the Super Eagles in December. Martins scored a late winner as Birmingham City shocked favourites Arsenal to win the League Cup. Spain-based striker Ikechukwu Uche, who was ruled out for several months by knee injury, was also picked in a 24-man squad for a March 27 qualifier against Ethiopia slated for Abuja. The Real Zaragoza striker missed both last year's World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations in Angola even after he top scored for Nigeria with four goals in the qualifying tournament. Siasia has also called up three uncapped players, namely Israel-based defender Efe Ambrose, Nnamdi Oduamadi from AC Milan and Fegor Ogude, who is based in Norway. Besides the Ethiopia game, the Eagles will also play a friendly most likely with Peru in Malta at the end of the month. Squad: Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv/ISR), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda/ISR) Defenders: Chibuzor Okonkwo (Heartland), Ayodele Adeleye (Metallurh Donetsk/UKR), Taye Taiwo (Marseille/FRA), Olubayo Adefemi (Xanthi/GRE), Elderson Echiejile (Sporting Braga/POR), Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce/TUR), Efe Ambrose (FC Ashdod/ISR) Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea/ENG), Obiora Nwankwo (Inter Milan/ITA), Joel Obi (Inter Milan/ITA), Fegor Ogude (Valerenga/NOR), Kalu Uche (Almeria/ESP) Nnamdi Oduamadi (AC Milan/ITA) Forwards: Obafemi Martins (Birmingham City/ENG), Ike Uche (Real Zaragoza/ESP), Ahmed Musa (VVV Venlo/NED), Osaze Odemwingie (West Bromwich Albion/ENG), Obinna Nsofor (West Ham/ENG), Victor Anichebe (Everton/ENG), Peter Utaka (Odense Boldklub/DEN), Solomon Okoronkwo (Aalesund/NOR), Ekigho Ehiosun (Warri Wolves) Osun Governor Cautions Politicians
He maintained that violence and bloodshed during elections would no longer be tolerated by the state government, adding that those involved in such acts will be dealt with according to the law. “Elections are meant to be peaceful and devoid of violence. It is a process through which the electorate freely choose their leaders without harassment, intimidation or violence. Elections have no relationship with violence or thuggery”, he said. “We do not plan to punish anyone unjustly but we shall bring the full weight of the law to bear on anyone who is in the habit of using violence during then elections,” he added. David Mark warns President of the Senate, David Mark, has asked Mr Aregbesola, to leave him out his state’s politics. Mr Mark, who made the appeal on Tuesday in a statement signed by his Media adviser, Kola Ologbondiyan, advised Mr Aregbesola to focus on the needs of the people of the state. The Senate President said: “I can never be a party to a plan to destabilise any part of Nigeria, be it a local government council or a state.” “I have also maintained an open door policy to young generation of governors like Aregbesola whom I consider as my brothers and sons. I can therefore only play a supportive role in Osun and any other state. I do not believe that name-calling and character assassination are the yardstick by which the administration of Aregbesola would be measured.” Mr Mark added. The dispute between the Senate President and the state governor began late last year after Mr Aregbesola accused the Senate President of conspiring with other prominent Nigerians, including the vice president, Namadi Sambo, to raise funds of up to N1 billion to destabilise his new administration. Federal Government To Bail Out Tinapa
Addressing PDP presidential campaign rally at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, the president said the project executed by the Donald Duke administration holds a lot of promise for Nigeria’s commerce and tourism that it will be supported totally to reap the fruit of its investment. “Tinapa means so much to our economy. This administration is determined to make that project work. We shall look into all the challenges facing Tinapa. This is one project that seeks to make Nigeria a trading hub and tourist paradise in Africa. Tinapa must reap its investment,” he told the mammoth crowd of supporters at the stadium. He promised that if elected in April, he will run a government that will unify all the federating units, as Nigeria, against the background of recurring ethno-religious clashes, needs unity to move forward in all sphere of development. “I and my deputy hereby promise you that we will run a government that will unite Nigeria. We shall not divide this beautiful country. We shall preach the gospel of unity. Destiny has put this nation together and nothing will divide us. “We are trying our best to create wealth for this country and not destruction. If we do not work hard as leaders to create jobs, it will be very disastrous for Nigeria and the future of youth shall be very bleak,” he said. According to him, “Nigerians who are graduating from universities will have job for themselves instead of roaming the streets. We are considering all avenues that will bring about new jobs in the country. All options will be exploited.” He maintained that what his administration had done so far is a testimony, an indication that it is committed to serving the people of Nigeria faithfully and diligently in line with the manifestoes of the PDP and aspirations of Nigerians. The president promised that in the entire South South, coastal rail line and good roads will be opened for development within the four years of his tenure if elected, stressing these infrastructure will be given priority so as to encourage small and medium scale investments. On agriculture, Mr. Jonathan said the earlier the nation begins to think of mechanised farming the better for it because worldwide farming with machines has become the norm, more so as the country’s GDP will improve. “The new administration is also thinking of venturing into petrochemicals so as to add value to the petroleum products that we export. We want to make the Niger Delta the petrolchemical hub of Africa. There is no way we will not take advantage of the oil and gas resources in the Niger Delta,” he said. On erosion in the south/south and south east, the PDP presidential flagbearer revealed that the federal government was working out modalities to tackle the problem in collaboration with the World Bank under its intervention scheme. He commended Cross River State government for its priority on tourism development, noting that very soon the federal government will begin to patronise the Obudu Cattle Ranch to make it more viable and self sustaining. On the forthcoming elections, he assured Nigerians not to “be worried”: “The vote of Nigerians shall count. Do not be worried. Things will work out properly. Our mission and commitment is to thank you, and we know that you will vote for us and in turn we shall fulfill our own commitment and promise to you.” Cross River State governor and zonal co-ordinator of the South South Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation, Mr. Liyel Imoke, in his remarks, assured the president of 100 per cent vote from the state during the April elections. “We appreciate your presence and whether you visit us or not, Cross River State will give you our entire votes. We are not doing so because you are from South/South; rather, because of your leadership qualities. We are celebrating your capacity and that you are a Nigerian and the best man for the job of the president,” Mr. Imoke said. Also in his speech, the acting national chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Bello Aminu Mohammed, said, “out of the presidential candidates vying for the presidency, it is only President Goodluck Jonathan/Sambo that is campaigning door to door and local government to local government.” He described the president as one who stands for free and fair election and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to advise those who are sleeping to wake up from their slumber and go for campaign in order to win the votes of the people of this nation. According to him, “our nation deserves peace and nothing short of that. INEC should call the opposition to order as well as advise our youth to shun anybody trying to involve them into encouraging in violence.” Earlier, the state chairman of PDP, Ntufam Ekpo Okon, re-assured the president and his deputy of total vote from Cross River State, as it did during the party primaries in Abuja. Also welcoming Mr. President, the women leader in the state, Mrs. Martina Odom, described the Goodluck/Sambo project as that of women, adding “the Goodluck/Sambo project is our project and the women do not have any alternative.” The rally was attended by all serving national assembly members, state house assembly, political bigwigs, women, youth, and party supporters. Erectile Dysfunction Linked To Aspirin and Other NSAIDs
In addition to aspirin, other NSAIDs include ibuprofen, naproxen, indomethacin and Celecoxib, among others. Dr. Joseph M. Gleason of the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center and his colleagues studied 80,966 men, ages 45 to 69, enrolled in Kaiser health plans beginning in 2002. The team assessed the men's use of NSAIDs based on Kaiser's pharmacy records of filled prescriptions and the men's own responses to questionnaires about over-the-counter drugs. About 47.4% of the men in the study were considered regular NSAID users and 29.3% reported moderate or severe ED. The researchers concluded that regular NSAID use "is associated with erectile dysfunction beyond what would be expected due to age and comorbidity." Their results were similar to those obtained in a much smaller study in Finland. The team is continuing to collect data from the men in the study in hopes of better understanding what is happening. |
|
|
