admin2020

Lionel Messi named 2015 Goal 50 winner

Argentine forward, Lionel Messi has won the Goal 50 award for the fourth time. The Barcelona hitman who snatched the gong in 2009, 2011 and 2013 fought off competition from his Nemesis Cristiano Ronaldo who won it last year and teammates, Luis Suarez and Neymar who came third and fourth respectively.

“I always say that, for me, the most important awards are collective ones, the ones that recognise us as the best at the end of the season. But I am also happy when I receive individual awards like this one. I am very grateful. Thank you.” The 28 year-old told Goal.

The Goal 50 is an annual award that both recognises and ranks the world’s 50 best footballers of the past 12 months.

Chief editors and correspondents from Goal’s 37 editions around the world all cast their votes, with candidates judged on their level of consistency over the previous year of action, their big-game performances, footballing legacy and the success of their teams at both club and international level.

Top Ten Goal 50 2015 winners.

1) Lionel Messi
2) Cristiano Ronaldo
3) Luis Suarez
4) Neymar
5) Eden Hazard
6) Thomas Muller
7) Arturo Vidal
8) Carlos Tevez
9) Paul Pogba,
10) Kevin De Bruyne

Credit: Goal.com 

Short Story: Wonderland. | By VictorMaria

Swirling between mirages and reality
Lost a glimpse of the truth
Seems like it happened outside my head or inside
Not sure which
Bones weak to the marrow
And I seem to enjoy every moment that passes
I feel soft from the inside 
Can’t clearly express this feeling
Seem to be losing it
I tend to have detailed reasoning on every wave of light I see
My mouth feels somehow – can’t explain that
My eyes wide open, sleepy but can’t sleep
Feeling a sudden urge for something sugary or fruity
I seem to hear my boom box beating louder than usual, even the flexible pumps I can feel and hear them breathing
Also seems like I can hear some impossible decibel of waves
Everywhere silent like a crypt….hold on
Who says a crypt is silent? At least some bad-arse ghosts could be chilling off-grave and making some noise. 
Anyway everywhere seems so silent….but all seems noisy…
The ticking of my wrist watch that seems inaudible deep in my wardrobe
Seems to be one of the factors of noise..
I think I can also hear my silent phone sounding like a gas leakage
I feel some ounce of courage…very unusual ‘dutch courage’
After a long battle with reality
My eyes take me to dreamland
In my dream I get confused with reality. Series of funny dreams pass across my skull like an EMP. After what I thought was 10 hours but just 3 hours of sleep. I hear the birds tweeting and a big bang on my door. The door swings open and I see my friend… I guess he too had a hell of a night. What scares me is not his swollen eyes nor his funny look but the glass of drink for two and a brand new bottle of vodka. This is the same drink responsible for all my little drama before my 3 hour night rest. Still can’t distinguish some of last night’s action from reality or dream.What else can I do than to accept my friend’s lovely gesture…..more vodka please
 ****************************************************************************************
VictorMaria is an aspiring author of fiction, fantasy and non-fiction. He also works as an artist with interests in landscape and nature drawings. He also has great passion for classical music, lego bricks, architecture, travel and wildlife. Visit his blog owlsandrobins.wordpress.com
Instagram Profile: @saintvictormaria

Pep Guardiola set to take over at Manchester City?

Reports emanating from Spain claim Bayern Munich boss, Pep Guardiola has signed a contract with Manchester City. The Spaniard who is yet to renew a contract with the German outfit mentioned few weeks back that he is still undecided about his future at the club.
 “I have not yet decided what is best for this club and I want to do the best for this club. I have not made a decision yet.” He was quoted months back.

Spanish radio station Cadena COPE says Guardiola will move to the Premier League, Manchester City to be specific next season.

“Pep Guardiola will leave Bayern Munich at the end of this season and will train Manchester City next season.

“Guardiola has decided on a change of scenery. He considers his time in Germany will end on 30 June after three seasons and he will, therefore, fulfil one of his wishes: to coach in England.” The report read.

48 luxury watches confiscated from FIFA officials to be donated to charity.

A total of 48 luxury watches confiscated from top FIFA officials after the Brazil World Cup will be donated to a charity in Brazil. Valued at $25,000 each, The Brazilian Soccer Federation revealed that a Parmigiani Fleurier SA watch was contained in each of the 65 gift bags distributed to representatives of each of the 32 competing nations and someone from each of member country of the regional governing body during the 2014 tournament.
This is one of the several plans outlined to rid the governing body of its culture of corruption. 
FIFA ethics committee have thus “decided that all watches returned to FIFA would now be donated to the international non-profit organization streetfootballworld, who will directly invest all resources generated through the sale of the watches into initiatives across Brazil that use football to drive social change,” the panel said in an e-mailed statement. “The investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee considers the matter to be closed.”

Real Madrid have more players on the FIFA FIFPro World XI shortlist. See full list.

Spanish outfit, Real Madrid have more nominees on the FIFA FIFpro World XI 55-man shortlist released today. 12 players of the Blancos were featured, 10 from Barcelona, Bayern Munich have 11, while English Premier League has just 10.
The FIFA FIFPro World XI is decided by the players, for the players and It involves votes from more than 20,000 professional footballers from 70 different countries. They select one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards.
FIFA will announce the final nominees for the FIFA Ballon d’Or Awards on Monday, 30 November 2015.
The 55player shortlist
Goalkeepers (5): Gianluigi Buffon (Italy/Juventus), Iker Casillas (Spain/FC Porto), David De Gea (Spain/Manchester United), Keylor Navas (Costa Rica/Real Madrid) and Manuel Neuer (Germany/FC Bayern Munich).
Defenders (20): David Alaba (Austria/FC Bayern Munich), Jordi Alba (Spain/FC Barcelona), Jérôme Boateng (Germany/FC Bayern Munich), Daniel Carvajal (Spain/Real Madrid), Giorgio Chiellini (Italy/Juventus), Dani Alves (Brazil/FC Barcelona), David Luiz (Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain), Diego Godín (Uruguay/Atletico Madrid), Mats Hummels (Germany/Borussia Dortmund), Branislav Ivanović (Serbia/Chelsea), Vincent Kompany (Belgium/Manchester City), Philipp Lahm (Germany/FC Bayern Munich), Marcelo (Brazil/Real Madrid), Javier Mascherano (Argentina/FC Barcelona), Pepe (Portugal/Real Madrid), Gerard Piqué (Spain/FC Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain/Real Madrid), John Terry (England/Chelsea), Thiago Silva (Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain) and Raphaël Varane (France/Real Madrid).
Midfielders (15): Thiago Alcântara (Spain/FC Bayern Munich), Xabi Alonso (Spain/FC Bayern Munich), Sergio Busquets (Spain/FC Barcelona), Eden Hazard (Belgium/Chelsea), Andrés Iniesta (Spain/FC Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Germany/Real Madrid), Luka Modrić (Croatia/Real Madrid), Andrea Pirlo (Italy/New York City FC), Paul Pogba (France/Juventus), Ivan Rakitić (Croatia/FC Barcelona), James Rodríguez (Colombia/Real Madrid), David Silva (Spain/Manchester City),Yaya Touré (Côte d’Ivoire/Manchester City), Marco Verratti (Italy/Paris Saint-Germain) and Arturo Vidal (Chile/FC Bayern Munich).
Strikers (15): Sergio Agüero (Argentina/Manchester City), Gareth Bale (Wales/Real Madrid), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Douglas Costa (Brazil/FC Bayern Munich), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid), Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden/Paris Saint-Germain), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/FC Bayern Munich), Lionel Messi (Argentina/FC Barcelona), Thomas Müller (Germany/FC Bayern Munich), Neymar (Brazil/FC Barcelona), Arjen Robben (Netherlands/FC Bayern Munich), Wayne Rooney (England/Manchester United), Alexis Sánchez (Chile/Arsenal), Luis Suárez (Uruguay/FC Barcelona) and Carlos Tevez (Argentina/Boca Juniors).

Barcelona surpass Real Madrid as top all-time European scorers

Spanish giants, Barcelona have surpassed their fierce rivals on the goalscoring charts. The Catalan side who are having an impressive run this season netted in their 1,037th goal this season, just one goal more than Real Madrid who have recorded 1,036.

Top 20

Barcelona (1,037 goals)
Real Madrid (1,036)
Bayern Munich (856)
Juventus (746)
Anderlecht (640)
Benfica (639)
Liverpool (612)
Milan (612)
Ajax (606)
Inter Milan (606)
Manchester United (594)
Porto (542)
Valencia (529)
Red Star Belgrade (507)
PSV (503)
Celtic (500)
Atletico Madrid (488)
Sporting Lisbon (463)
Rangers (461)
Club Bruges (458)

(Photo) Didier Drogba unveils his autobiography in London.

Chelsea legend, Didier Drogba has unveiled his autobiography in London. The Ivorian forward signed copies of his autobiography ‘Commitment’ at Waterstones in Canary Wharf – London United Kingdom on Wednesday 25th November 2015.
The book traces the life and career of the sportsman. Drogba tells of his separation from his country at the age of five, bosses, colleagues and many more.
In other news, the Ivory Coast international has backed Arsenal to win the 2015/2016 EPL title. He told Sky Sports News during his book signing.
I think Manchester City will be as strong as they have been in the last few years. Unfortunately Chelsea are too far [behind in the title race], so I will go for my friend Petr Cech at Arsenal.’ 
Photo Credit: Wenn.com/getty images.com

More photos from Chief HID Awolowo's burial

Prominent Nigerians/political leaders thronged Ikenne, Ogun State, venue of the burial ceremony of the late Chief HID Awolowo. The long list of guests include Governor of Edo, Imo, Osun and Kaduna States; Adams Oshiomole, Owelle Rochas, Rauf Aregbesola and Mallam Nadir El Rufai. Others include, Audu Ogbeh – Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Transport – Chibuike Amaechi, Ogbonnaya Onu, ministers of Solid Minerals, Work, Power and Housing; Kayode Fayemi and Babatunde Fashola, Senate President Bukola Saraki etc.
Chief HID Awolowo’s granddaughter, Mrs Dolapo Osibanjo and her husband, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as well as President Muhammadu Buhari all paid their last respect to the former Tribune Chairman who breathed her last two months ago. She was aged 99.

Oh my! Ex-Chelsea defender takes Jose Mourinho to the cleaners

Ex Chelsea defender, Paul Parker has launched a scathing attack on Chelsea boss, Jose Mourinho for criticizing a former Chelsea player, Graeme Le Saux. Speaking before his team’s Champions League clash with Maccabi Tel-Aviv on Tuesday, the Portuguese manager had pointed out that, “I didn’t have a single problem within the squad. I didn’t have a Graeme Le Saux. I had everybody without fears, just wanting to come.”

Infuriated by the comments Park told The Sun: “Jose Mourinho just can’t help himself, can he? It’s horrible to see. Mourinho had actually gone out of the spotlight a little bit in the last few weeks, and there was a part of me that wondered if he’d finally realised that silence is golden, and that a manager can act with dignity and respect.

“Obviously, that was a pipe dream.”

He continued: “But what else would you expect of Mourinho?

“What else would you expect of a man who stayed safely behind one of his colleagues during a touchline row, but reached around and poked opposition coach Tito Vilanova in the eye… and later tried to justify it?

“That incident has always summed him up, to me; he’s like the kid at school who watches a playground fight from a safe distance, then sidles up quickly to kick one of the fighters in the stomach when he’s sprawled on the floor.”

Siasia's mother kidnap: Family not impressed with FG, NFF

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are yet to get in touch with the family of Nigeria Under 23 team coach, Samson Siasia, who was kidnapped 10 days ago, Dennis Siasia, a sibling to the ex-Nigeria international has claimed . Their matriarch, Mrs Ogere Siasia, was abducted at their family house in Bayelsa and whisked away on a motorcycle over a week ago, albeit the governing body made an appeal to the gunmen to free the 72 year-old, Dennis said, the NFF hasn’t contacted the family since the incident occurred.
The family who is yet to meet up with the outrageous demands of the kidnappers have also appealed to the Federal Government to track the kidnappers down and rescue their aged mother.
Dennis told NationSport, “It is disheartening that the NFF has not deemed it fit to get in touch with the family since the incident happened last week. They were only talking to Samson, who is far away in Gambia for national assignment, and, for us, we think this is not the appropriate thing to do as this might distract the coach from doing his job. For now, it is only the family they are supposed to have contacted because the coach is not here and they just need to leave him to focus on his duty because if the team fails to qualify they will blame him.
“The last time we spoke to the kidnappers was on Saturday, when they said they would bury Mama if we failed to meet their demand and we told them that we don’t have the kind of money they are requesting for as we were only able to raise N600, 000, from their voice, they were angry. As at this morning (Tuesday) they have not called and we have not heard from them. Although we spoke to Mama and I think she is okay.”
He also commended the efforts of the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police and the Director of the Directorate of State Security (DSS). 
“I must tell you that the CP and DSS Director have been working with the family on this and this has been how far we had gone. I must let them realize that Samson has served this country as a player, and now he is a coach on national assignment in Gambia and I don’t think he needs any distraction for now in Gambia.”
The latest development (as at this morning) is that the kidnappers have reduced the ransom to N32m.

Open chat