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LVG didn't like me – Rafael Da Silva

Rafael Da Silva has claimed that Manager of Manchester United, Louis Van Gaal did not like him but was not certain if it had to with his nationality. Rafael joined Lyon for €3Million last week bringing an end to his seven year stay at Old Trafford.
The right-back had been a regular under previous managers Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes but began just six  league games under Van Gaal, the last of them in October. Van Gaal has had a difficult relationship with some Brazilians at previous clubs, including Rivaldo and Giovanni at Barcelona, and Lucio, whom he sold when he was Bayern Munich manager. 
And Rafael told Globo Esporte: “I know this history that he doesn’t like Brazilians, but I can’t say: ‘Oh, he doesn’t like Brazilians.’ I know that he didn’t like me, but if that’s because I’m Brazilian, I don’t know.”
Van Gaal also let Anderson leave United, although the Brazilian midfielder had fallen out of favour long before his appointment. Rafael said he felt Ferguson’s 2013 retirement was a “fatal” setback for his United career and felt that the Scot’s final year was his best at the club.

“I did the complete season, when he [Ferguson] left,” he added. “In 2012-13 I played almost every game, it was my best season at United, we were even champions. And that’s when they changed the manager. That change was fatal for me. I was going well, then Ferguson left.”

Rafael, who was reluctant to discuss Moyes, said he was disappointed when Van Gaal preferred to use winger Antonio Valencia at right-back.
“I won’t talk much about the relationship with Moyes, because it was too little, less than a year,” he said.
“Valencia started playing as a right-back for Van Gaal. He’s also a great player, but I was doing well in that position.
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Entertainment, Sports

Kevin De Bruyne absent from training amid city rumours

Kevin De Bruyne missed club training on Tuesday amid wide reports that Manchester City have made a second bid of £47Million for the Belgium international. Coach Dieter Hecking confirmed De Bruyne’s absence from training but insisted that Manchester City have not made an offer.
Despite Hecking’s claim that there had not been any contact with City, Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws reported on Wednesday that the English club are still waiting for an official response to their €67m bid.
The report added that De Bruyne has been offered a five-year contract, worth €320,000 (£228,000) a week, which would see him become the best-paid Belgian player of all time. Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, the current top earning Belgian, is reported to earn €280,000 (£200,000).
In an interview published in Wednesday’s edition of Sport Bild, Hecking was asked whether the DFB Pokal winners had enough quality in the squad to compensate for a potential De Bruyne sale.

“Given his current form, Kevin would be hard to replace for any club,” he said. “But should he leave us one day, then we have to spread the responsibility onto many other players’ shoulders, because every departure is also a chance for others.

“Our squad is strong enough, even though it hardly needs to be said that a player like Kevin makes the difference.”
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Entertainment

I don't know if I will continue at Barca – Pedro

Pedro Rodriguez has expressed uncertainty over his future at Barcelona despite claim by the club’s technical Secretary that he wants to leave the club. The 28-year old who scored Barca’s winning goal in the Super Cup final against Sevilla said ‘no’ when asked if he wants to leave the club but described his situation as difficult and complicated.

“The answer is no. But it is a difficult, complicated situation. When you know you may leave, it is difficult. The truth is that I had a good chance to play [in the Super Cup]. The coach has decided not to count on me. I don’t know, I don’t know if I will continue here,” he added.
“Today I’m here, and I’m happy. And if I go, I will go with my head held high having always given everything.” he concluded.
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Entertainment, Sports

Coach of Enugu Rangers shot by gunmen

Charles Offodile, the coach of Enugu Rangers was shot by gunmen in Enugu on Monday.
The ugly incident took place in Asata area of Enugu where the team was preparing to travel for its federation cup tie with ElKanemi Warriors. An official of the club has suggested that the gunmen are likely to be cultists who recently unleashed terror in the area.
“From what we have gathered, it is likely that Offordile was shot by cultists in Asata area of Enugu. They have been constituting nuisance to lives and property in the area for some time now”

Rangers’ media officer, Foster Chime, said the coach is in fine condition in an undisclosed hospital in the city.

“We were all preparing to travel to Abuja for our Federation Cup game when we heard he has been shot by gunmen. But we thank God, he is in a stable condition and he will be discharged soon. The management of the club has paid him a visit and he is fine,” Chime said.
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Entertainment

We have no regrets appointing Sunday Oliseh – Amaju Pinnick

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick has insisted that the NFF have no regrets in appointing ex-international, Sunday Oliseh as the manager of the Super Eagles.
Amaju maintained that Oliseh remains the best option for the team while also appealing to the fans to be patient and supportive.
He made this known on Tuesday via Twitter and the federation’s website as he defended some decisions of the FA that had taken public scrutiny.

He said, “We have no regrets appointing Sunday Oliseh. Other African countries were gunning for him, but he opted for his country. Oliseh’s stock in international football is high because apart from his work with FIFA, he has a company that trains and grades coaches all over the world.
“What the NFF, Oliseh, the League Management Company and other aspects of Nigerian football need is support from everyone, and patience, so that we can put in place our developmental programmes that will take the country’s game to a new height.”

In response to the regular criticisms of Oliseh due to his lack of experience, Pinnick responded that his national team playing career, which saw him winning the Africa Cup of Nations’ gold, silver and bronze, Olympic gold and working with the FIFA Technical Study Group, would take care of that area.

“Experience is accumulation of knowledge over time to be used in a given situation. Technology provides immediate solution. “Oliseh won’t be only a coach; he will be manager of the Super Eagles.”

Pinnick then urged critics of Nigerian football to be constructive and not destructive, and to cultivate the habit of proffering alternative solutions whenever they feel that the federation’s decisions were not good enough.

“Instead of simply castigating those at the helm of affairs, we should have tendency to offer what we believe are better solutions for specific issues. It is not about one person; it is about our dear country, Nigeria.
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Entertainment

Messi, Suarez and Ronaldo up for best player in Europe award.

The trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Cristiano Ronaldo have been announced as the final candidates for the 2014-15 Uefa Best Player in Europe award. European football’s governing body announced the 10man longlist for the individual award in July, and UEFA confirmed on Wednesday that Messi, Suarez and Ronaldo were selected for the three-man shortlist.
Ronaldo, who picked up the trophy last year, earns another nomination after a season in which he scored 61 goals in 54 appearances and claimed the Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup.

Messi and Suarez, meanwhile, formed a fearsome attacking partnership with Neymar that helped inspire Barcelona to the treble in Luis Enrique’s first season in charge.

Chelsea star Eden Hazard finished sixth after inspiring Jose Mourinho’s side to the Premier League title last term, winning the PFA Player of the year award in the process.
Past winners include Messi (2011), Andres Iniesta (2012), Franck Ribery (2013) and Ronaldo (2014).
Despite finishing third in the 2015 Ballon d’Or, Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer only managed to secure 12th spot in the UEFA longlist voting.
Meanwhile, Real’s most expensive ever signing Gareth Bale finished joint-19th with Lyon’s Andre-Pierre Gignac after a frustrating campaign at the Bernabeu.
UEFA also announced the Best Women’s Player of 2014-15 shortlist, with France midfielder Amandine Henry up against German duo Dzsenifer Marozsan and Celia Sasic.
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Entertainment

Edin Dzeko joins AS Roma on Season-long loan

Manchester city striker, Edin Dzeko has completed a move to Serie A side, As Roma on loan.
He had arrived in the Italian capital on Thursday, passed a medical the following day and has been pictured training with his new teammates. Roma needed to free up a space among their non-EU players for Dzeko which they did on Tuesday by loaning striker Antonio Sanabria to Sporting Gijon.
Roma are obliged to purchase the striker for €11 million next summer — “if certain conditions” are met, City said — as part of the terms of the €4m loan deal, bringing an end to his four-and-a-half year stay at City.
“I came here to win titles with Roma,” Dzeko told the club’swebsite. “Hopefully we will win many, many trophies but first we have to work hard on the pitch and at the end, hopefully we will get where we want to be. I can only promise one thing and that is that I will give my best for this club in every game.”

Dzeko, who was a £27m signing from Wolfsburg in January 2011, scored 71 goals in 185 games for City. He will wear No. 9 for Roma.
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Entertainment

Actress, Stephanie Okereke-Linus speaks on why she waited for 3 years after marriage before getting pregnant.

Mum-to-be and Nollywood Actress, Stephanie Okereke- Linus in a recent interview with Genevieve Magazine opened up on why she waited 3 years after she and her hubby, Linus Idahosa exchanged marital vows in France to get pregnant. 
“Waiting this long to have a baby is a personal choice, and God ultimately decides. You have to be ready mentally and physically. I had a film I was shooting and I was travelling a lot to, My movie is out now, and I cannot even promote it across Africa like I wanted to, because am stuck in one place. It’s also Gods timing, neither my husband nor I were pressurized. I feel this is the right time for it to happen. Right after we got married, I was on set shooting. but this year is different. It’s the perfect year for me to get pregnant.” The producer explained
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Entertainment

Sam Okwaraji – 26 Years After

Gone but not forgotten! Exactly 26 years ago, Super Eagles midfielder, Samuel Okwaraji died of cardiac arrest while on duty. The doctorate degree law student slumped 13 minutes to the end of Nigeria’s 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Angola at the National Stadium, Lagos and was confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital. The sad incident happened on August 12, 1989.
‎The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will today pay tribute to the Nigerian football legend by displaying his portrait around the eight venues of the Federation Cup quarter-finals in Enugu, Benin City, Neros Stadium, Oleh, Lokoja, Abuja, Ilorin and Makurdi. 
It is sad note and very hard to believe that that the incumbent NFF President, Amaju Pinnick is the first person to call/contact Mrs Jane Okwaraji in 26 years since his son died. No NFF,NSC or Federal Government Official deemed it necessary to check up on her.
“Mama, there is nothing I can say other than to tell you to continue to take solace in the fact that Sochukwuma was a star for Nigeria, a name that no one has been able to forget no matter how much they tried. He was the quintessential professional and patriot per excellence. Please be rest assured that Sochukwuma will continue to be in our hearts and consciousness. He was a rare gem. I assure you that the NFF will continue to keep in touch with you.”‎ Pinnick consoled the woman.
He continued, “It was a horrible day, for someone like me and several other Nigerians who were right inside the National Stadium, Lagos that day. By all accounts, Sam Okwaraji was a consummate professional and was a shining example of patriotic fervour.” 
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Entertainment

Funke Akindele talks 39th birthday plans.

‎Funke Akindele is painting the UK red for her 39th birthday and she wants you to know about it. The award-winning actress shared her birthday plans with fans on her instagram page few hours ago.

Jenifa as she’s fondly called will be a year older on August 24 but the shindig will hold on the 28th, 29th, 30th and 4th September at London, Manchester Birmingham and Aberdeen.

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