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Ultimate Team Of The Year: Meet UEFA's All-Time XI

UEFA today unveiled their all-time XI as the Team of the Year 2016 vote launches today!
The football governing body also explained why the select footballers made it to the team.
Meet the nominees!
Iker Casillas (Goalkeeper) – Real Madrid/Porto & Spain
Spain’s captain at UEFA EURO 2008 and 2012 also lifted the 2010 FIFA World Cup – three of the six times he made it into Team of the Year. Manuel Neuer and Gianluigi Buffon (three selections each) are his main (albeit distant) rivals for the No 1 shirt.
Carles Puyol (Defender) – Barcelona & Spain
Enjoyed a golden run from 2005 onwards, winning the UEFA Champions League with Barça in 2006, 2009 and 2011, and UEFA EURO 2008 and the 2010 World Cup as cornerstone of his country’s defence.
Philipp Lahm (Defender) – Bayern München & Germany
One of Europe’s most consistent performers of the past decade, Lahm’s run of three successive Team of the Year appearances came to an end in 2015.
Sergio Ramos (Defender)– Real Madrid & Spain
Four selections in a row are a measure of the Real Madrid man’s standing, the defender having earlier been rewarded for his role in helping Spain to UEFA EURO 2008 glory.
Gerard Piqué  (Defender) – Barcelona & Spain
One of four defenders to have been chosen four times along with Alessandro Nesta, Daniel Alves and John Terry, Piqué squeezes into the XI on a tie-breaker by virtue of having been nominated seven times – while his three rivals received only six nominations each.
Xavi Hernández (midfielder)– Barcelona & Spain
A contender in 2005, it was not until his second involvement in 2008 that Xavi made the cut – then there was no dislodging him as unprecedented success with club and country kept him in the side for five years running.
Andrés Iniesta (midfielder) – Barcelona & Spain
Like midfield partner Xavi, once he forced his way into the Team of the Year Iniesta proved impossible to remove until 2013, but returned in splendour in 2015.
Steven Gerrard (midfielder) – Liverpool & England
One of five midfielders to have been selected three times, seven nominations were key to taking the Liverpool talisman into the ultimate XI at the expense of Kaká (five nominations), Ronaldinho (four), Pavel Nedvěd (three) and Zinédine Zidane (three).
Cristiano Ronaldo (forward) – Manchester United/Real Madrid & Portugal
Nominated a record 13 times, the Portuguese phenomenon has been included in the Team of the Year no fewer than ten occasions, three more than any other player. The 2015 team marked his ninth appearance in a row.
Lionel Messi (forward) – Barcelona & Argentina
Like Ronaldo, Messi was initially categorised as a midfielder – collecting the first of ten successive nominations in 2006 – and has missed out on the Team of the Year just once, in 2013, since his 2008 debut.
Thierry Henry (forward) – Arsenal & France
Nominated for the first six editions, Henry’s consistency was such that he got into the final selection no fewer than five times, including the first four – the only player to achieve that.
 
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Comedian, Ay's 'A Trip To Jamaica' becomes the highest grossing Nollywood movie

 
Ayo ‘AY’ Makun may not be an exceptional comedian but his film-making prowess is undeniable.
The comic actor’s latest movie offering, ‘A Trip To Jamaica’ which premiered on September 30, 2016 has grossed more than N160million at the box office, surpassing revenues of some Hollywood movies released in Nigeria this year. Read more

TV girl, Stephanie Coker holds introduction ceremony

 
Three months after her engagement to Olumide Aderinokun, the nephew of the late GTB MD/CEO Tayo Aderinokun, On Air Personality, Stephanie Coker has held her marriage introduction.



The ceremony took place over the weekend. Olumide has a 5 year-old daughter from a previous marriage.

It’s Time To Outlaw ‘Jungle Justice’ In Nigeria | By: Tony Ogunlowo

For as long as one can remember there has always been ‘jungle justice’ in Nigeria. All it takes is for somebody to shout ‘ole’ (thief) and anybody seen running away – the suspect or not – is apprehended, subject to a kangaroo court before being beaten mercilessly to a pulp – or even killed in the most gruesome fashion imaginable.

It is wrong.

Yes ,the suspect might have committed a serious crime – murder, kidnapping etc – but it’s not up to the members of the public to take justice into their own hands. The police and courts, however inept they are, are there to deal with these kinds of things.

In the eyes of the law everybody is innocent until proven guilty. A man about to be lynched will not have a fair trial at the hands of a baying mob. And most important of all tragic mistakes can be made. How many times have some unfortunate ones happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time? Take the case of the ALUU 4; four Uniport students who were murdered by a lynch mob in Aluu , a town in Port Harcourt, in 2012 for a crime they were totally innocent of. How many more innocent people have been killed by lynch mobs who think they have the moral right to play judge, jury and executioner? Countless and unless something is done there will be more. And to the lynch mob how does it feel to have blood on your hands? Anybody participating in a lynch mob is guilty of MURDER and they are no different to the person they’ve just killed. It becomes a simple story of the kettle calling the pot black; one murderer killing another because they have no legal right to kill anybody.

In the past few days a video, that has gone viral online, has emerged of what appears to be a young boy being lynched and set ablaze by a mob for stealing. What could he possibly have stolen that could warrant him being beaten to death and then set ablaze? And the adults meting out ‘jungle justice’, don’t they have brothers, sisters or offspring the boys’ age that they can’t show mercy? If you want to punish him ,beat him(reasonably) and hand him over to the police. The sad thing is that most Nigerians are hypocrites; when you see a real thief, like a politician who has stolen billions of naira from the public coffers, you bow down and prostrate in front of them. You show reverence to a big thief and lynch a small insignificant thief – double standards especially when a thief is a thief!

It’s high time our lawmakers who like to busy themselves passing tolotolo laws pass a law that outlaws ‘jungle justice’! Nobody has the right to play judge, jury and executioner taking the life of a criminal suspect however heinous their crimes might be . The courts are there to pass judgement and not the people – the rule of law is what prevents anarchy and what makes us different from animals that kill each other at random. And in the words of the Bible, ‘let he who has no sin cast the first stone!’

Footballer, Harrison Chinedu breaks record of longest distance covered with ball on head while cycling

 
Cambodia based Nigerian footballer, Harrison Chinedu who holds the world record of walking the longest distance of 48.04 kilometres in 6 hours, 15 minutes with a ball on his head has successfully set another Guinness World Record again.

He recorded another feat today Sunday 20th November 2016 Chinedu Harrison after he travelled with a ball balanced on his head while riding a Bicycle from La Campaigne Tropicana Ibeju Lekki to National Stadium Surulere. Lagos Nigeria.

He kicked off 7am, cycled 103.621km and arrived at his destination few hours ago.
Trailblazer!

 

Psquare hosts Aliko Dangote at their new mansion.

When one of the richest men in the world shows up at your birthday shindig, brethren, it is a big deal; a larger than life deal.
So Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote was hosted at  Psquare’s birthday and housewarming ceremony which took place few days ago at Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The music duo who turned 35 on November 18 shared pictures of the event on their instagram pages.


The low key event was attended by friends, colleagues and family members.

Fifa President, Gianni Infantino proposes 32-team World Cup.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has pitched sweeping changes to the World Cup.
The football administrator suggests that the tournament could expand to a 32-team tournament and be played in June rather than December adding that a revamped club competition could kick off in 2019. Having the team expanded would create more balance and attract broadcasters and sponsors, he affirmed.
The Swiss’ proposition fuels speculation that China wants to host more international football as part of  their plans to invest in sports.

The Second Coming Of Goodluck Jonathan |By Dele Momodu

Fellow Nigerians, before I get into my main gist of today, let me quickly apologise for my inability to write this column last week. Truth is I had a mental block, pure and simple. Contrary to speculations that I couldn’t write because my great heroine, Hillary Clinton, lost her election, I was just so physically and mentally fatigued because this is one year that I’ve worked so hard on every project at hand. There was no doubt that I was solely disappointed that Donald Trump won the American presidential election but I was able to adjust quickly. My darling mum had taught me about the wisdom of the ancient. You can put your all into any project but the results ultimately remain the exclusive preserve of God. Only God determines the winner or the outcome.

GEJ Turns 59 Today There is so much to learn from the political trajectory of Nigeria. What happened in America had happened repeatedly in our dear beloved country. I will explain in a jiffy. Who would have expected Alhaji Shehu Usman Shagari to defeat a political colossus like Chief Obafemi Awolowo? Who would have expected a Shagari to beat a political philosopher like Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe so black and blue? Who would have expected a stupendously wealthy man like Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, without any political experience to take on the likes of Baba Gana Kingibe and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and come out victorious?  What Abiola did in Jos at the National Convention of the Social Democratic Party in 1993, when he mesmerised and hypnotised the party chieftains was what Donald Trump did recently in the United States of America when he razzle-dazzled the Republicans and virtually hijacked their party. Trump was lucky that he and Abiola belonged in different realms and climes. Abiola was not able to realise his dreams of running government like a business but Trump is set to take power and display the wizardry he flaunted endlessly before the elections. The world is waiting to see if Trump would plunge America into the abyss or perform the miracle of turning water into wine.

The main reason many of us non-Americans opposed Trump so vehemently was because of his supposed bigotry and divisive rhetoric on all fronts. But on a personal note, I’m not too bothered. I have learnt my lessons. Politicians can tell any ignominious lie just to grab power. Voters can believe obvious scams and vote for artful pretenders out of foolish emotions and live to regret it. There is nothing we have not seen before. It is very obvious even this early that the millions of Americans who voted for Trump may never get a quarter of what he promised. Every man has the right to change his mind or beliefs and no one can hang him for it. Trump obviously knew what the Americans wanted to hear and knew how to sell a dead horse at a premium. That is politics. His message resonated with his core base no matter how retrogressive it sounded.

As a matter of fact, it became even more attractive the crazier it sounded. Politics and religion are quite similar in that they thrive on pure faith. The same Trump that appeared a rabid hater of President Barack Obama has since visited his “sworn enemy” in the White House. You would have expected both former warriors to exchange some terrible blows but far from it; they came out behaving like two newly joined love birds. Trump now says Obama is actually a nice guy. Obama also reassures a jittery nation and a confused global community that Trump would actually behave decently and that their allies have nothing to fear. The two opponents must have known that it was all a game all along while their followers actually believed and embraced the charade. One of the things I love about America is the ability of its leaders to rise above pettiness. Every leader comes in after a bitterest electioneering campaign to embrace the one who lost. I do not hear sing-songs of wasting too much energy on the past. Who would have thought Obama and Bush would become as close as they are now? American leaders are wise enough to know that we are all actors and must quit the stage after playing our assigned roles. \

We may have sharp differences but we must be able to calculate the cost of war-war against the price of jaw-jaw. When tomorrow comes, I’m sure Donald Trump would have calmed down and welcome everyone in the true tradition and character of America. No American leader can ever be allowed to transfigure into an Adolf Hitler or a Benito Mussolini. Americans collectively are stronger than their leaders. This is one of the major reasons I’m not worried about Donald Trump and his tantrums. If he returns to the giddiness of his pre-election period, Americans across party lines would know what to do. That is the power of their democracy. This now brings me back home. I have been reading about the rising profile of our former President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and wish to state without equivocation that no one should rule him out of the 2019 presidential race. I first hinted this possibility about two months ago and wish to reiterate that Nigerians should prepare for the shock that awaits us.

The story of Donald Trump should bring us back to our senses. Nothing is impossible. The second coming of Goodluck Jonathan may be so far-fetched or even belong in those categories of impossibilities but I wish to plead with our government and my fellow citizens not to rule it out. As one of those who made our modest and humble contributions to the coming of this Buhari government, I’m pleading with trepidation. Jonathan’s popularity is rising not because of anything he has done to atone the sins that must have led to his waterloo but as a result of what our change government has failed or refused to do.

The obsession of our government with going all out after Jonathan is the main reason the Otuoke man is beginning to smell like roses after the odoriferous position he landed himself last week. Only if our government had succeeded in maintaining the economy it met, Nigerians would have been ready to enter fire with Buhari. But there are just too many unresolved problems and challenges. The excuses that Jonathan and company left this peculiar mess behind has refused to fly. The groans might not be loud enough to reverberate all the way to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, as of now, but trust me it may become deafening, sooner than later. I do not care if men and women of power dismiss my submission with a wave of the hand but they should mark my word, there is a thickening conspiracy in the clouds.

It would be a shame if we inadvertently play into the hands of those hovering and ready to pounce on Buhari. I read about “persecution complex” long ago and I understand how it works. If you beat your own child so ruthlessly as if you want to kill him, the tilt of public opinion would always go against you. Many would wonder why you want to kill your own child. In our anger, let us pick our fights. There is too much tension in the land. I would be delighted if anyone could educate and convince me that Nigeria has gained much more than we’ve lost to this war of attrition. If we haven’t, we may need to retrace our steps urgently. The BBC reported on Friday how Jonathan caused a stir in Sokoto State during his visit to the state to pay his respects to Ibrahim Dasuki, the late former Sultan of Sokoto. According to the report, Jonathan was received by a large crowd of admirers, some holding banners bearing the words “Come Back Baba Jonathan”.

The same voices that chanted “Sai Baba” and “Jonathan Must Go” are now fiddling with the tunes of the possibility of a Jonathan to stage a comeback. Here lies the irony of political triumph and the paradox of high expectations. The euphoria and momentum that saw the exit of Jonathan and the emergence of the Buhari change administration has since begun to wane following the inability of the new government to hit the ground running with the tenacity of a government in a hurry! There are many who believe that the poor management of the ensuing economic recession didn’t help matters. Suddenly, Nigerians who had high hopes and voted massively for change are now caught in a limbo between confusion and uncertainty.

As it stands today, the average Nigerian is confronted with the reality of an economic recession they never planned for; a situation they did not experience under the Jonathan administration and under previous governments. Many of President Buhari’s supporters are worried that the humongous goodwill that engineered the Buhari change mantra is now being frittered away at the speed of light. The unfolding plot has now thrown up former President Jonathan as a new protagonist in Nigeria’s theatre of the absurd. For many of us who are ardent students of history, we have since learnt that nothing is impossible in the game called politics. Will history repeat itself again? Time is pregnant with answers!

Quote of the day: Jose Mourinho

In a press conference ahead of Manchester United’s game with Arsenal, Jose Mourinho, aimed another dig at his rival, Arsene Wenger claiming he is not shown the same respect as his Arsenal counterpart.

Portuguese club, Boavista FC accused of treating Nigerian footballers like slaves.

 
Portuguese club, Boavista FC are allegedly owing Nigerian footballers, Uche Nwofor and Micheal Uchebo arrears of salaries and treating them as slaves, BBC Journalist, Shina Okeleji has learnt. Okeleji made the revelation in a series of tweets via his personal accounts (twitter.com/oluwashina). His tweets below:

The players refused a pay cut at the start of 2016/17 season.  Boavista president then gave instruction for them to be COMPLETELY ISOLATED.. To add insult to injury, they’re barred from the club’s training ground, shunned at team gatherings – & isolated from the rest of the squad. Fifa rules states that a player must NOT train in isolation. But Boavista made them train without a trainer, doctor & a Physio. When Uchebo and Nwofor attempted to use the club facilities, securities acting on the order of the Boavista president pushed them out.
Uchebo has gone unpaid for months & banished from the training facilities since July. Him: “I asked Boavista why? They won’t say a word.” To save his career Nwofor agreed to terminate his contract in Sept but Boavista  boss Alvaro Braga has failed to pay his €110k compensation.
Nwofor’s handlers & Fifpro discovered that Boavista misled the league body by registering the termination but without the compensation. Deadline for payment of €110k has elapsed & Boavista have refused to pay. Nwofor has since tried to contact them but they’ve ignored his phone calls. In a video recording from the facilities. Uchebo can be heard in that video asking why he’s being thrown out by Boavista security. One of the players reps Kobe Benson told me: The club Boavista is a notoriously dishonest side with no respect for FIFA rules/regulations. Benson: “No options but to report them to the authorities. With the amount of evidence, I have no doubt that they will be punished severely”

Benson also added that the club will be made to pay the full value of Uchebo’s remaining contract and Nwofor’s agreed compensation. Nwofor on Boavista: “They are gangsters. They force you to reduce salary or force you out. In france  & Germany this cruel things don’t happen.”
Spare a thot for Uchebo, Boavista fail to pay his house rent, electricity & tax bills. Landlord threatens eviction & stopped from training.
Nwofor: “A crazy situation we had to start keeping evidence. You’re working, they don’t pay U & use security to harass U. This is slavery.”
Portuguese league body allows Boavista to get away with such deplorable acts & allow them sign players even though they owe Nwofor & Uchebo
The club was punished & relegated in 2008 by the league body for gross misconduct. It appears that punishment did nothing to change them.
I spoke to club administrator Diogo Braga about this situation few months back. He requested I sent an email. He never replied or text back.
Boavista security officer to Uchebo in Portuguese “I know he is recording but I am going to hit this guy. I want to put this guy to sleep”
‘Living in fear’  Boavista security officer can be heard on video threatening to punch Nigeria striker Michael Uchebo and put him to sleep.
This is a very serious threat & a criminal offence in most parts of Europe. A big case for Portuguese football. Deplorable act by Boavista
Brave Uchebo admits he lives in fear for his life in Boavista but prays about it. Compatriot Nwofor: “I was very scared in Boavista.” Nwofor: “I was intimidated & threatened by Boavista security instructed by Alvaro Braga the president. How do these people sleep at night.” “I’m happy that me & my family managed to terminate & leave safely. Thou they refuse to give me my money, my life is more important”
Boavista security to Nwofor: “Last night after training, the president told me you and Uchebo shouldn’t come in here.
“Summary: Nwofor terminated his contract and joined Slovak side Trencin in September, but Boavista have not paid his €110k compensation fee. Barred from training and unpaid, Uchebo still has a contract with Boavista as Portugal Players’ Union steps in. Case now with Fifpro& FIFA.
There are more damning videos detailing several atrocious behaviour by Boavista in breach of FIFA rules. I’ll share when I get ’em.