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2014 World Cup: Full squad list of Brazil, England, Bosnia, Italy, Spain and 10 other countries

It’s just 6 days to go. Few days ago, I compiled the list of the five African teams that would be representing their nations at the 2014 World Cup. Here’s a list of 15 foreign countries, would post the rest today. Which of your favourite players were dropped? Who’s going to shine? Take a look.


(1) England:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Celtic), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion)

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United)


Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Forwards: Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Daniel Welbeck (Manchester United)

(2) Bosnia:

Goalkeepers: Asmir Begovic (Stoke City), Asmir Avdukic (Borac Banja Luka), Jasmin Fejzic (VFR Aalen)

Defenders: Emir Spahic (Bayer Leverkusen), Sead Kolasinac (Schalke 04), Ermin Bicakcic (Eintracht Braunschweig), Ognjen Vranjes (Elazigspor), Toni Sunjic (Zarya Lugansk), Avdija Vrsajevic (Hajduk Split), Mensur Mujdza (Freiburg)

Midfielders: Zvjezdan Misimovic (Guizhou Renhe), Haris Medunjanin (Gaziantepspor), Miralem Pjanic (AS Roma), Sejad Salihovic (Hoffenheim), Senad Lulic (Lazio), Izet Hajrovic (Galatasaray), Senijad Ibricic (Erciyesspor), Tino Sven Susic (Hajduk Split), Muhamed Besic (Ferencvaros), Anel Hadzic (Sturm Graz)


Forwards: Edin Dzeko (Manchester City), Vedad Ibisevic (VfB Stuttgart), Edin Visca (Istanbul BB)


(3) Spain

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool), David De Gea (Manchester United)

Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Raul Albiol (Napoli), Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich), Juanfran (Atletico Madrid), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)


Midfielders: Xavi (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Juan Mata (Manchester United), David Silva (Manchester City)


Forwards: Pedro (Barcelona), Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid), David Villa (Atletico Madrid), Fernando Torres (Chelsea).



(4) Australia:

Goalkeepers: Mark Birighitti (Newcastle Jets), Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United), Mitchell Langerak (Borussia Dortmund), Mat Ryan (Club Brugge).

Defenders: Jason Davidson (Heracles Almelo), Ivan Franjic (Brisbane Roar), Ryan McGowan (Shandong Luneng Taishan), Matthew Spiranovic (Western Sydney Wanderers), Alex Wilkinson (Jeonbuk Hyundai), Luke Wilkshire (Dinamo Moscow), Bailey Wright (Preston North End).


Midfielders: Oliver Bozanic (Luzern), Mark Bresciano (Al Gharafa), James Holland (Austria Vienna), Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace), Massimo Luongo (Swindon Town), Matthew McKay (Brisbane Roar), Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory), Tommy Oar (Utrecht), Tommy Rogic (Melbourne Victory), James Troisi (Melbourne Victory), Dario Vidosic (Sion).


Forwards: Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls), Ben Halloran (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus 8), Matthew Leckie (FSV Frankfurt 1899), Adam Taggart (Newcastle Jets).

(5) Portugal:

Goalkeepers: Beto (Sevilla), Eduardo (Braga), Rui Patrício (Sporting).

Defenders: Andre Almeida (Benfica), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahce), Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid), Joao Pereira (Valencia), Neto (Zenit St Petersburg), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Costa (Valencia).

Midfielders: Joao Moutinho (Monaco), Miguel Veloso (Dynamo Kiev), Raul Meireles (Fenerbahce), Ruben Amorim (Benfica), William Carvalho (Sporting Lisbon), Rafa (Braga).

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Eder (Braga), Helder Postiga (Lazio), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas), Nani (Manchester United), Varela (FC Porto), Vieirinha (Wolfsburg).


(6) Brazil:


Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Toronto FC), Jefferson (Botafogo), Victor (Atletico Mineiro)

Defenders: Marcelo (Real Madrid), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Maicon (AS Roma), Maxwell, Thiago Silva (both Paris St Germain), David Luiz (Chelsea), Dante (Bayern Munich), Henrique (Napoli)

Midfielders: Paulinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Ramires, Willian, Oscar (all Chelsea), Hernanes (Inter Milan), Luiz Gustavo (VfL Wolfsburg), Fernandinho (Manchester City)

Forwards: Bernard (Shakhtar Donetsk), Neymar (Barcelona), Fred (Fluminense), Jo (Atletico Mineiro), Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg)
(7) Colombia:


Goalkeepers: David Ospina (Nice), Faryd Mondragon (Deportivo Cali), Camilo Vargas (Santa Fe).

Defenders: Mario Yepes (Atalanta), Cristian Zapata (AC Milan), Carlos Valdes (San Lorenzo), Eder Alvarez Balanta (River Plate), Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven), Camilo Zuniga (Napoli), Pablo Armero (West Ham).

Midfielders: Carlos Sanchez (Elche), Fredy Guarin (Inter Milan), Abel Aguilar (Toulouse), Aldo Leao Ramirez (Morelia), Juan Fernando Quintero (Porto), Víctor Ibarbo (Cagliari), James Rodriguez (Monaco), Juan Guillermo Cuadrado (Fiorentina), Alexander Mejia (Atletico Nacional).

Forwards: Jackson Martinez (Porto), Carlos Bacca (Sevilla), Adrian Ramos (Hertha Berlin), Teofilo Gutierrez (River Plate).
(8) Germany:


Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hanover 96)

Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Kevin Grosskreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Hoewedes (Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)


Midfielders: Julian Draxler (Schalke 04), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Mario Goetze (Bayern Munich), Christoph Kramer (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schuerrle (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)


Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Lazio), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal)


(9) Uruguay:

Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Martin Silva (Vasco da Gama), Rodrigo Munoz (Libertad).


Defenders: Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica), Diego Lugano (West Bromwich Albion), Diego Godin, Jose Maria Gimenez (both Atletico Madrid), Sebastian Coates (Liverpool), Martin Caceres (Juventus), Jorge Fucile (Porto).

Midfielders: Alvaro Gonzalez (Lazio), Alvaro Pereira (Sao Paulo), Walter Gargano (Parma), Egidio Arevalo Rios (Morelia), Diego Perez (Bologna), Cristian Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid), Gaston Ramirez (Southampton), Nicolas Lodeiro (Botafogo).


Forwards: Luis Suarez (Liverpool), Edinson Cavani (Paris St-Germain), Abel Hernandez (Palermo), Diego Forlan (Cerezo Osaka), Christian Stuani (Espanyol).

(10) Iran:


Goalkeepers: Daniel Davari (Eintracht Braunschweig), Rahman Ahmadi (Sepahan Isfahan), Alireza Haqiqi (Sporting da Covilha)


Defenders: Hossein Mahini (Persepolis), Jalal Hosseini (Persepolis), Amir Hossein Sadeqi (Esteghlal), Hashem Beykzadeh (Esteghlal), Mehrdad Pouladi (Persepolis), Ahmad Alenemeh (Naft Tehran), Pejman Montazeri (Umm Salal SC), Steven Beitashour (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh (Zob Ahan Isfahan)


Midfielders: Reza Haghighi (Persepolis), Andranik Teymourian (Esteghlal), Ghasem Hadadifar (Zob Ahan Isfahan), Bakhtiar Rahmani (Foolad), Javad Nekounam (Kuwait SC), Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan Isfahan)

Forwards: Khosrow Heidari (Esteghlal), Karim Ansarifard (Tractor Sazi), Reza Ghoochannejhad (Charlton Athletic), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (NEC),Masoud Shojaei (UD Las Palmas), Ashkan Dejagah (Fulham)


(11) Italy:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Mattia Perin (Genoa), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain)

Defenders: Ignazio Abate (Milan), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Torino), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Gabriel Paletta (Parma)


Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Marco Parolo (Parma), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain)

Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Milan), Antonio Cassano (Parma), Alessio Cerci (Torino), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli)

(12) Switzerland:


Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg), Roman Buerki (Grasshopper), Yann Sommer (Basel).

Defenders: Johan Djourou (Hamburg), Michael Lang (Grasshopper), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus), Ricardo Rodriguez (Wolfsburg), Fabian Schaer (Basel), Philippe Senderos (Valencia), Steve von Bergen (Young Boys), Reto Ziegler (Sassuolo).

Midfielders: Tranquillo Barnetta (Eintracht Frankfurt), Valon Behrami (Napoli), Blerim Dzemaili (Napoli), Gelson Fernandes (Freiburg), Gokhan Inler (Napoli), Xherdan Shaqiri (Bayern Munich), Valentin Stocker (Basel).

Forwards: Josip Drmic (Nuremberg), Mario Gavranovic (Zurich), Admir Mehmedi (Freiburg), Haris Seferovic (Real Sociedad), Granit Xhaka (Borussia Monchengladbach).

(13) Greece:
Goalkeepers: Orestis Karnezis (Granada), Panagiotis Glykos (PAOK), Stefanos Kapino (Panathinaikos)
Defenders: Kostas Manolas, Jose Holebas (both Olympiakos), Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Borussia Dortmund), Vangelis Moras (Verona), Giorgos Tzavellas (PAOK), Loukas Vyntra (Levante), Vasilis Torosidis (Roma)
Midfielders: Alexandros Tziolis (Kayserispor), Andreas Samaris, Giannis Maniatis (both Olympiakos), Kostas Katsouranis (PAOK), Giorgos Karagounis (Fulham), Panagiotis Tachtsidis (Torino), Giannis Fetfatzidis (Genoa), Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, Panagiotis Kone (both Bologna)
Forwards: Dimitris Salpingidis (PAOK), Giorgos Samaras (Celtic), Kostas Mitroglou (Fulham), Fanis Gekas (Konyaspor).

(14) Belgium:
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid, on loan from Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Koen Casteels (Hoffenheim), Silvio Proto (Anderlecht).
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Atletico Madrid), Laurent Ciman (Standard Liege), Nicolas Lombaerts (Zenit St Petersburg), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Daniel Van Buyten (Bayern Munich), Anthony Vanden Borre (Anderlecht), Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham).
Midfielders: Nacer Chadli, Mousa Dembele (both Tottenham), Steven Defour (Porto), Kevin De Bruyne (Wolfsburg), Marouane Fellaini, Adnan Januzaj (both Manchester United), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Kevin Mirallas (Everton), Divock Origi (Lille), Axel Witsel (Zenit St Petersburg).
Forwards: Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea), Dries Mertens (Napoli).
(15) Chile:
Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), Johnny Herrera (Universidad de Chile), Cristopher Toselli (Universidad Catolica)
Defenders: Gary Medel (Cardiff City), Jose Rojas (Universidad de Chile), Eugenio Mena (Santos), Gonzalo Jara (Nottingham Forest)
Midfielders: Arturo Vidal (Juventus), Mauricio Isla (Juventus), Marcelo Diaz (Basel), Francisco Silva (Osasuna), Felipe Gutierrez (FC Twente), Jose Pedro Fuenzalida (Colo Colo), Carlos Carmona (Atalanta), Jean Beausejour (Wigan Athletic), Charles Aranguiz (Internacional), Miiko Albornoz (Malmo)
Forwards: Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona), Eduardo Vargas (Valencia), Jorge Valdivia (Palmeiras), Mauricio Pinilla (Cagliari), Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo), Fabian Orellana (Celta Vigo)
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Entertainment

The Nigerian Entertainment Industry presents Health Insurance Convention

Good move! The Nigerian Entertainment Industry in partnership with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Lagos State Ministry of Health and Nigeria Medical Association are organizing a Health Insurance Convention. It is billed to hold on July 22nd, 2014 at the Grand Ball Room of Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos.
According to organizers, the awareness and knowledge of health insurance among the practitioners of the Nigerian entertainment industry has become imperative. Due to the absence of it, the industry has lost several of its well loved musicians and actors to dreadful sicknesses like renal failure, fatal accidents and other vices while trying to raise funds. This has however necessitated the need for a well structured health insurance policy and cover for the entertainment industry.

The Nigerian Entertainment Industry Health Insurance Convention is designed as a customized learning and education platform for the practitioners of the entertainment industry and invariably members of the public at large to understand the importance of health insurance and at the same time embrace it.

The convention seeks to create special insurance covers and policies for the practitioners of the entertainment industry. Also, to illuminate complex issues of health care practice and policy by bringing together leading-edge doers and thinkers – from operations to academia, from clinical practice to corporate management. The convention delineates perspectives of stakeholders throughout the healthcare community in addressing broad issues and the type of health insurance to go for.
Topics to be discussed at the convention are; The health implications of celebrity life styles, Benefits of Health Insurance Policies, Health Insurance Policy …at what cost?, The health insurance policy…how dependable? and The Role of Government in Health Insurance Policies to mention a few.
It is absolutely very sad seeing our entertainers beg for money from fans and government alike when they are down with life threatening ailments. Other professionals suffer similar fates and sometimes they cannot afford treatment but they seldom embark on aggressive media campaigns of such magnitudes like their entertainment counterparts. This has however resulted to a big shame and public ridicule.

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Entertainment

Short Story: Moving | By: Su'eddie Agema

Dad’s Mercedes wagon appeared from nowhere. We squeezed our two bedroom apartment into the car. Soon, its stomach was touching the ground from the load it carried. By the time the entire luggage had found space, we discovered we couldn’t find any for ourselves. Terngu and I exchanged glances.
The car looked overfed.
Makurdi was our destination. Mummy said it was better there. There were fruits and water which we only bought here – or used to buy. Eating and going out had become a luxury since Dad lost his job. No one visited anymore. The Landlord had also become harsh and said we should go away. We were leaving.
I took a quick run to find my friends. They followed me back. Mummy says that people go to burials to make sure the dead people wouldn’t come back to finish our food and water. I wondered if they came to make sure I wouldn’t do same.
I met Dad and Mummy looking for me. After a little scolding, they pointed to the place where I was to sit. I stood, looking at it. I knew my buttocks would hardly fit in. Terngu was sulking in the corner, load all around. I looked at my sweaty body and pitied myself.

“Go in!” Dad growled. He was waiting to close the door. I squeezed myself into the space. The car was stuffy and I could hardly breathe.

“Make sure you send us fruits!” It was Uche and Babu, my friends. They had come to my side of the car.

“I will. I will bring when I am coming!!”

Dad gave them Five Naits and they ran off, excited. I wished I was Uche or Babu. I imagined the candy they would buy. Ouch! My legs were hurting.
I removed my shoes as a horrible stench hit my nose.
“Hmmm!! Dad, there is garlic in the car!”
Dad’s frown deepened as Mummy burst out laughing:
“There is no garlic.” Okay. Excluding garlic there could only be one explanation:
“Mummy, Terngu farted!”
Terngu punched me. I hit back as Dad’s voice commanded us to stop. My nostrils were not liars. Terngu’s buttocks had overdone it this time.

“Daddy, Terngu’s fart doesn’t want to go.”
“Terngu, why won’t you allow my child rest?”
Terngu said nothing but carried one of my shoes and stuck it to my nose. The stench hit me worse than the shalanga, pit toilet we used to share in our compound.

“Hmmmmmmmm” was the only sound I could make in disgust.
“What is that?”

“Unde’s shoe.”

“Would you apologise or not?”
I grudgingly did. The journey was already too tiresome. I wished I was back home making toys. Or playing with Babu and Uche, or buying something with the money Dad gave them! I wondered if Makurdi was worth it after all.

“Mummy, I don’t want to go to Makurdi again.”
“What?!!” Dad asked and I had to stammer a reply I can’t remember now.

“You don’t want those fruits or to see the River?” Mummy asked.
I remembered these but was too tired. I wanted to go back home. I had decided. After all, I was a big boy now. Mummy had said so severally. I closed my eyes to Dad and opened my mouth to state my stance when Mummy gave me some biscuits from her bag. Biscuits!! My favourite! It had been months. I could hold my peace for a while.
As I munched, I set my eyes on the road. I hoped that the sight of passing objects would be enough to make me forget my aching buttocks. The discomfort was getting unbearable. Then, I slept…
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Su’eddie Vershima AGEMA is a poet, short story writer and publisher. He is the Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA Benue Chapter) and author of Bring our casket home: tales one shouldn’t tell. He blogs at http://suddie.wordpress.com, @sueddieagema on Twitter and can be reached at [email protected]




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Are you a writer? Interested in sharing your short stories on this platform? Be our guest on our Short Story Fridays segment.
Email: ololade.olatunji@yahoo/gmail.com
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Entertainment

Love from my country home! Commercial drivers inscribe Lupita Nyong'o's name on their buses. (Photo)

Oscar-winning Kenyan actress, Lupita Nyong’o’s popularity continues to soar as drivers of commercial buses in Kenya brands the 12 years a Slave star’s name on their vehicles. “Lupita Nyong’o- Our Own, The Oscars”. They wrote

The actress shared the picture on her official twitter account and captioned it thus.
“Don’t worry- I have a ride” #Matatulove #Kenya
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Entertainment, Opinion

How Nollywood kills people in Nigeria | By: Abimbola Adelakun

Anyone who has ever seen a Yoruba film on a fairly regular basis in Nigeria would be familiar with this mundane storyline: A man is unsuccessful in his business ventures (or, if a woman is unable to have a child); the person takes his/her case to a spiritualist who could be a babalawo/pastor/ Muslim cleric; the spiritualist instructs the victim to carry out some rituals that would strike at the root of his/her affliction; not long after, his/her mother (or stepmother) takes to the street, confessing to witchcraft and reading out a long list of atrocities she has committed.
The conclusion of the story: A crowd of spectators, entertained by the “witch”‘s “confessions,” take it on themselves to stone the woman to death. And after her demise, his/her victim’s business begins to prosper. If a woman, she gives birth to either a set of twins or a male child. Having seen a number of these films, especially the ones produced by semi-literate filmmakers and packaged for a largely ill-informed audience, I am pretty familiar with how the theme of triumph of good over evil is usually treated. There is insistence on materialising evil through a physical body, and in many cases, aged females are the culprits.
Sometimes, you watch the barbarism peddled in these films and wonder what the job of the censors’ board is, really. No, these filmmakers are not totally ignorant of the several diseases associated with senescence; they just feed a social neurosis that seeks to unload all our imaginations of the workings of evil on a scapegoat. When we have identified one, we proceed to destroy it so we can get a sense of collective purging from the effort.
A recent example: A newspaper headline screamed, “Bird Turns to Old Woman in Lagos.” From the way the reporter narrated the story, you would think s/he witnessed the transmutation of the old woman who was described as a “nonagenerian.”

Read through the story and you will not find editorial intrusion in the account; no attempt to probe what happened beyond reporting illiterate “eyewitness” accounts that insisted the old woman fell from the sky while flying to Ibadan from Lagos. It seemed the reporter and his/her editor believed the idle spectators who claimed they saw some birds flying when one fell from the sky. But think about it, who, in an environmentally polluted Lagos, does bird watching at 7am to notice three flying? Did they see these three lone birds in the sky with their korokoro eyes or binoculars? And what is so special about flying birds that they noticed these ones?

Did it even occur to the crowd that when the “nonagenarian” said she fell because she was tired, it was on account of her biological age and nothing else? And could it be that the driver of the van that claimed she fell on his truck fabricated the story of a woman who fell out of the sky because he didn’t want to be held responsible for hitting her?

Most disheartening, however, was the mob that almost lynched the poor woman. People have become so inhuman that the sight of old and weak people no longer compels any sympathy in them. Up till now, I wonder why there was no proper investigation by the Police. Even after the woman’s children had shown up and confirmed their mother had issues, should the Police not have gone after the various participants in the near-lynching and charge them for incitement to commit murder?

But the question persists, why are people convinced witches do fly even though nobody has ever seen one?
I know some readers will argue about the existence of evil forces; insist witches truly exist; and if our ancestors believed witches could fly, they sure must know what they were talking about. Perhaps. All these stories, as pervasive as they are, have never been independently verified. They exist in our imagination and not even the most vociferous defender of the existence of witchcraft has ever seen one woman turn into a bird. These things are created in our imagination by popular culture and then become self-reproducing such that we believe our own fiction.
This is why I blame Nollywood; although, I should clarify that “Nollywood” as I refer to it here is not about all the films produced in the Nigerian film industry. I am specific about a particular genre of films produced in Yoruba language and which tries to toe the line of the late Hubert Ogunde’s cinematographic depiction of evil, witches and witchcraft. I speak of those particular films with linear themes that see the world through only a dual prism of white/black, evil/good. These films are quite popular and are packaged for a market often without enough intellection to filter fantasy from reality.

A lot, of course, has to do with a culture of superstition in which we were raised. While the Oyinbo created Harry Potter and sorcery, hardly any Oyinbo believes that witches fly on broomsticks. In this part of the world, we are steeped in certain cultural beliefs that we have not outgrown. I think a lot has to do with our transition into modernity that was not properly mediated at some point.

When people who were already immersed in cultural beliefs about witchcraft were exposed to Ogunde’s films, and they saw the animation of transmutation and flying witches, it simply sealed their existing beliefs and some of them were locked into that mode ever since. The medium was too credible for transmutation to be incredible. Things are not helped by religious institutions that propagate these beliefs to boost what they sell. The filmmakers, seeing as they have a working formula, continue to sell the same stories about malevolent forces and their exaggerated power over human existence.

Some people, unfortunately, just cannot think outside the oversimplified narratives they see in Nollywood.
When they hear about old women flying from Ibadan to Lagos, they believe it because they already saw it in a film. When old women who “confess” to evil acts are stoned in a film, they want to lynch one in real life too because they think that they are contributing to a good cause by destroying evil. Life, for them, is simply an extension of a Nollywood drama.
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Abimbola Adelakun is a journalist, PUNCH columnist and fiction writer. She lives in Lagos , Nigeria.
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Entertainment

"Some of my colleagues are scared of me" – Nike Peller

Famous Yoruba actress, Nike Peller in an interview with Encomium magazine debunked tales making rounds that she has abandoned acting for magic. The daughter of late magician, Professor Peller and her brother Zito Peller recently stepped into their father’s shoes and have been spotted performing magic at many high-profile events.

The Oyo-born entertainer disclosed that they charge as much as N1m or half a million depending on the client and location of the event. She also added that some of her colleagues in the movie industry are now a bit scared of her.

“Some few ones who know nothing about magic are scared of me. The last time I performed at Lizzy Anjorin’s event, I overheard a lot of my colleagues saying, “Ha, I won’t eat with Nike Peller again o. How did it happen now? After all we didn’t close our eyes.” And so on. I just laughed because they don’t know what we call magic. No voodoo whatsoever, it’s all about entertainment.”

Is her husband afraid of her being a magician?

“He understands the fact that there is nothing special about magic. The way some people see it, they think magic involves something diabolical. Whereas nothing like that at all. Magic is purely an entertainment stuff. So, my husband as a person is not in anyway afraid of me. He even encourages me a lot about it. He always reminds me to go for rehearsals anytime I forget. He knows much about magic, I mean, in terms of what it takes. He is an informed person. He knows there is nothing scary about magic, despite not being a magician.”

On whether she’ll put some of their performances on DVD.

“We can’t do that because people will think we’re trying to put some effects into it. It’s better we invite them to see us live.

Credit: Encomium Magazine

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Entertainment

Lionel Messi, C Ronaldo, Eden Hazard, Luis Suarez others make 25 Most Valuable Soccer Players In The World list.

Prominent footballers; Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Eden Hazard, Luis Suarez have made The Football Observatory’s annual list of its 25 Most Valuable Soccer Players In The World.
11 players are from the English Premier League EPL, 8 from Spanish La Liga, 2 play in France, 2 play in Germany, and 2 in Italy. Also 4 of the players are from Barcelona, 3 players from Real Madrid, Liverpool and Chelsea.
Taken into consideration include their age, length of contract remaining, position, player performance at club level for last and previous seasons (matches, minutes, goals, assists, passes, tackles, interceptions, etc.), results of the clubs to which players belong, players’ international experience and results of association represented at national A-team level.”

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Argentina) — $272-317 million
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, Portugal) — $144-167 million
3. Luis Suarez (Liverpool, Uruguay) — $134-156 million
4. Eden Hazard (Chelsea, Belgium) — $103-120 million
5. Neymar (Barcelona, Brazil) — $86-99 million
6. Paul Pogba (Juventus, France) — $83-96 million
7. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid, Wales) — $80-92 million
8. Mesut Ozil (Arsenal, Germany) — $67-78 million
9. Edinson Cavani (PSG, Uruguay) — $65-76 million
10. Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich, Germany) — $64-74 million
11. Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid, Spain) — $64-74 million
12. Oscar (Chelsea, Brazil) — $63-$72 million
13. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City, Argentina) — $62-72 million
14. Isco (Real Madrid, Spain) — $56-65 million
15. Raheem Sterling (Liverpool, England) — $53-61 million
16. Ross Barkley (Everton, England) — $50-58 million
17. Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich, Germany) — $50-$58 million
18. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, England) — $50-58 million
19. Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool, England) — $50-58 million
20. Andres Iniesta (Barcelona, Spain) — $50-58 million
21. Mario Balotelli (AC Milan, Italy) — $48-56 million
22. Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea, Belgium) — $48-56 million
23. Juan Mata (Manchester United, Spain) — $47-54 million
24. Sergio Busquets (Barcelona, Spain) — $47-54 million
25. James Rodriguez (Monaco, Colombia) — $47-54 million

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Entertainment

Half of a Yellow Sun Movie ban: Ace filmmaker, Tunde Kelani appeals to NFVCB

The last has certainly not been heard of the highly-anticipated movie, Half of a Yellow Sun which was banned in Nigeria by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) few months ago for being partly based on events that took place during the Biafran war. Ace filmmaker and cinematographer has joined thousands of people appealing to the board for the release of the movie.

“This is an appeal to the DG of the National Film and Video Classification Board to release the film Half Of A Yellow Sun to the Nigerian public without further delay. Chimamanda Adichie on BBC programme, HardTalk yesterday revealed that HOAYS is not political but a beautiful love story. We understand that the film is already awarded classification and has been cleared by appropriate security agencies. Nigeria cannot afford another round of negative press and global condemnation before taking action. Please madam let’s do the right thing at the right time.” He wrote on his official twitter page.

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Entertainment

"I don't want him to face Ghana". Meet the Ghanaian witch doctor who claims he's responsible for C Ronaldo's knee injury.

I laughed for minutes when I saw this story. Like seriously? But then, you can’t under-estimate the power of charms. Nana Kwaku Bonsam, a prominent Ghanaian witch doctor has claimed responsiblity for Real Madrid star, Cristiano Ronaldo’s knee injury. He actually predicted in February that the former Manchester United player would not participate in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Nana whose name means “Devil of Wednesday” said the idea is to prevent Cristiano Ronaldo from facing the black stars when they meet Portugal in their final match of Group G in Brasilia on 26 June. Meanwhile the Portuguese might be ruled out of the forthcoming World Cup tournament after he was diagnosed with tendonitis in his left kneecap and a muscle problem in his left thigh. Could this be real or a coincidence?

Nana told presenters at Angel FM, Kumasi that he got leaves and some concoctions and placed it around the image and caricature of the former World best footballer.

“I know what Cristiano Ronaldo’s injury is about, I’m working on him. I said it four months ago, that I will work on Cristiano Ronaldo seriously and rule him out of the World Cup, or at least prevent him from playing against Ghana, and the best thing I can do is to keep him out through injury. I am very serious about it. Last week, I went around looking for four dogs and I got them to be used in manufacturing a special spirit called ‘Kahwiri Kapam. This injury can never be cured by any medic, they can never see what is causing the injury, because it is spiritual. Today, it is his knee, tomorrow it is his thigh, next day, and it is something else.” 

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