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Meet the 30-men vying for the 2016 Ballon d’Or award.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Another Ballon d’Or award is upon us. And perennial rivals, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are in the front seat. Noticeably, there’s an increase in this year’s number of nominees (23-30). The list will be whittled down to three, and the winner and the final placings will be revealed on Dec. 13 by France Football
 

30-man Shortlist

Sergio Aguero (Manchester City),

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund),

Gareth Bale (Real Madrid),

Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus),

Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid),

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City),

Paulo Dybala (Juventus),

Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid),

Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid),

Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli/Juventus),

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint-Germain/Manchester United),

Andres Iniesta (Barcelona),

Koke (Atletico Madrid),

Toni Kroos (Real Madrid),

Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich),

Hugo Lloris (Tottenham),

Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City),

Lionel Messi (Barcelona),

Luka Modric (Real Madrid),

Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich),

Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich),

Neymar (Barcelona),

Dimitri Payet (West Ham),

Pepe (Real Madrid),

Paul Pogba (Juventus/Manchester United),

Rui Patricio (Sporting),

Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid),

Luis Suarez (Barcelona),

Jamie Vardy (Leicester City),

 Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich)

 

Jose Mourinho accuses Chelsea manager of humiliating him. The Italian replies!

Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho and Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte appeared to have exchanged heated words while shaking hands after the final whistle of the game involving both sides yesterday. Sky Italia’s Gabriele Marcotti somehow deduced the Portuguese told Conte in Italian he took offense in his sideline celebrations: “You don’t celebrate like that at 4-0. You can do it at 1-0, otherwise it’s humiliating for us.” He was quoted.

Chelsea’s manager has however denied the accusation saying emotions ran high and his behaviour was appropriate.

“There has always been respect for all, and naturally for Manchester United. Nothing happened. I did something absolutely normal. I didn’t do anything to humiliate Mourinho.” Conte explained

He continued, “The players, after a 4-0 win, deserved a great clap. It’s very normal. We live with emotions. If you want to cut the emotions, we can stay at home and I will change jobs.”

“I was a football player, so I know how to behave on the pitch.

“There were United fans who kept singing, while ours were in silence after a great performance from my team. I wanted to call the crowd to applaud the players, which seems normal enough to me.

“I have great respect for everyone. Nothing happened with Jose, especially as my behaviour seemed normal. I didn’t make fun of or humiliate anyone, as I always demand respect.

“Today, I think it is important to talk about the game and I say my players deserved this type of performance.”

“The crowd behaved in a normal way so there was nothing wrong.”

Ryan Giggs slams Man Utd players for swapping shirts after heavy defeat

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Ryan Giggs was left gutted by the post-match attitude of Manchester United players yesterday. Shortly after the Reds were beaten 4-0 by Chelsea, some players, notably Ibrahimovic, Juan Mata and David De Gea were seen laughing and swapping shirts with their rivals and this didn’t sit well with the club’s former player and assistant manager.

“You can get beaten in a football match, but then when you’re getting beaten and you’re swapping shirts – which is something I don’t like, call me old fashioned,”

“If you get beaten 4-0, you congratulate the opposition, you thank the supporters and then you get off the pitch.

 “You don’t stand around on the pitch, swapping shirts and laughing, with the team that’s just beat you.” The club’s most decorated player said.

 

The Demons Of President Goodluck Jonathan | By: Sonala Olumhense

PARIS, FRANCE - DECEMBER 6:  Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan arrives for a dinner with the French President as part of the Summit for Peace and Security in Africa at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France on December 6, 2013.  (Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Few articles in print can be as troubling as “The Spiritual Side of Aso Villa,” published by former Nigeria presidential adviser Reuben Abati on October 14.

Mr. Abati’s account portrays the Nigerian seat of power under Mr. Goodluck Jonathan as having being under spiritual bondage, and suggests that performance was impossible.

The situation was so bad under Mr. Jonathan that staff were always falling sick, according to the account.  Men routinely reported they had become impotent, and their wives comforted themselves with sex videos and toys.  Mysterious fires were common in homes of villa staff.

It was so bad that someone warned the writer that he was “coming to the villa using Lux soap, but that most people around the place always bathed in the morning with blood. Goat blood. Ram blood. Whatever animal blood…He said there were persons in the Villa walking upside down…”

A pastor told Abati the villa was full of evil spirits and too much human sacrifice.  Someone always died.  People “lost daughters and sons, brothers and uncles, mothers and fathers…”

Faulty presidential aircraft, one enduring a bird strike in Kenya.  In Norway, a helicopter bearing President Jonathan almost crashing.

Abati, who twice in the article claims not to be superstitious, fields far-reaching conclusions: “When Presidents make mistakes, they are probably victims of a force higher than what we can imagine…When the President makes a speech and he truly means well, the speech is interpreted wrongly by the public…”

His most important one is probably this: “Should I become President of Nigeria tomorrow, I will build a new Presidential Villa: a Villa that will be dedicated to the all-conquering Almighty, and where powers and principalities cannot hold sway…in the United States, Presidents live like normal human beings. In Aso Villa, that is impossible…No Nigerian President should be in spiritual bondage because he belongs to all of us and to nobody.”

That last point seems to be an effort to make Nigerians accept that the squalid picture the writer paints of the Jonathan presidency applies to Muhammadu Buhari, who assumed power famously declaring that he belongs to everybody and to nobody.

Abati’s article’s should have been written in 2011, somewhere between June and November, that first half-year in office when he discovered it was impossible for Mr. Jonathan to succeed.  This is the import of his story.

Since neither he nor any of his so-called troubled colleagues found the strength to quit, his dissertation is laughable, at best.  A lot of Mr. Jonathan’s initiatives were well-received.  He did not run into trouble because they were poor.  The devil, pardon the imagery, was always in his failure to implement.

The Freedom of Information Act, for instance, was one of his early, and celebrated efforts.  But in practice, neither he nor any of his senior officials honoured it.

Similarly, in July 2011, Mr. Jonathan announced an anti-corruption “war,” saying he would begin with a comprehensive audit of the finances of all Federal Government ministries, departments and agencies, with effect from 2007.  For four years thereafter, he never implemented it.

This was not new.  That year, I documented how Mr. Jonathan, in an effort to win the election, bathed every nook and corner of Nigeria with promises. Not only did he fulfil none of them, in November 2014 at the launch of his presidential campaign in Lagos, he lied that he had fulfilled ALL of them.

In February 2015, Abati himself, in response to The Economist’s dismissal of Mr. Jonathan’s re-election hopes, backed that position, claiming Mr. Jonathan had “worked very hard to fulfil all the major promises he made to them on assumption of office.”There is a comprehensive contradiction between the energies Mr. Jonathan and his staff spent in trying to remain in power and the claim that uncontrollable forces was preventing them from exercising that power.

The truth is that power is a strange aphrodisiac which lures the unwary into forgetting that its flip side is responsibility.  Ibrahim Babangida, Aso Rock’s first occupant, didn’t want to leave, neither did its most prominent occupiers so far: Sani Abacha and Olusegun Obasanjo.  Are we to take it that the same gremlins that encouraged them to underperform and to betray also insisted that they must be forced to leave?

Jonathan is known as Nigeria’s luckiest politician.  He virtually sneaked into the presidency, unnoticed.  But by his own admission, even as vice-president, he declared his assets in 2007 only because President Umaru Yar’Adua forced him.

And then he found in his hands presidential power, that is: the opportunity to transform his country forever.  What did Jonathan do with it?

“A colleague called me one day and told me a story about how a decision had been taken in the spiritual realm about the Nigerian government,” Abati writes.  “He talked about the spirit of error, and how every step taken by the administration would appear to the public like an error.”

Error?  Jonathan swore never to declare his assets. He didn’t give a damn. He conferred respectability on stealing.  He granted state pardon to the corruption ex-convict, Dipreye Alamieyeseigha.  He armed the National Security Adviser (NSA) with slush funds. Arrogant and deliberate howlers, obviously but in no wise spiritual.

Jonathan’s embrace of corruption enhanced the decay of our military.  The disaster of Chibok was magnified because the Jonathan government first chose to deny the abduction.  Was that supposed to appear to the public as though it was a wonderful decision misunderstood by the public?

Jonathan was not hampered by extraneous forces, but by a lack of vision, motivation and strength.  He ran a bazaar, not a responsible, responsive outfit.

For example, Doyin Okupe was appointed Special Adviser in 2012 because Abati himself was said to have demonstrated no ability to “defend” the First Lady from critics.  For that position, the former medical doctor explained last July that NSA Dasuki gave him N50m upon his appointment, another N50m in October 2014, and N10million monthly.  To do what, you wonder.

Okupe also said he had a staff of 23, of which about half had at least university graduate degrees.  How did one attack dog multiply so darkly and expensively?

People were sick in Aso Rock?  Sorry o!  But people are sick all over Nigeria, their miseries of diabetes and hypertension and cancer compounded by incompetent and malicious governance.  Unlike Aso Rock, they often lack diagnosis or treatment, and cannot travel to Germany.  Families are dying of hunger, and in road crashes, robberies and kidnappings.

Let us be clear: Bad governance is not a victimless crime.  It is a weapon of mass destruction.  Bad policies are bad policies, such as Buhari not identifying powerful looters and speedily prosecuting them.  Nigeria should not erupt in joy because he is trying to sell only two executive jets instead of at least five.

Leaders should not spend power on themselves and their inner circle, and when it is gone, attribute their failure to people who walked on their heads.  We like to cite the US, while conveniently forgetting that in that country, the licence Nigerian leaders take in Aso Rock would put the president in jail within one week.

And our people have a saying: If the man who slept indoors says he saw a ghost, what should the man who slept outdoors say?

Credit: PUNCH Newspapers

Korede Bello defends choice of Outfit to MAMA 2016


 

Mavin Records singer, Korede Bello has defended his choice of outfit to MAMA 2016. The ‘Godwin’ singer stepped out in an outfit which was likened to that of a mechanic’s for the MTV Africa Music Awards that was held at the TicketPro Dome in Northgate, Johannesburg, South Africa. And unimpressed fans had a field day criticizing the piece.

In his reaction, he posted a video on Instagram saying his mechanic outfit was deliberate.

Mourinho never spoke to me at Chelsea

Victor Moses has opened up on his relationship with Jose Mourinho during his stint at the club. The Nigeria international disclosed to ESPN that the Manchester United never had a face-face discussion with him.

“He never spoke to me. I thought in my head, ‘He’s got his own players already.’ I think we chatted a couple of times on the phone – ¬he asked if I was alright at Liverpool, but that was it.”

Now given a starring role since his return to the Stamford Bridge, the Super Eagles player is enjoying life under his new Italian boss, Antonio Conte.

“The manager who is here now is giving everyone a chance – even the young lads. I’m pleased that he’s here and I’ve just got to go out there and enjoy my football. As long as you work hard, the manager will see it and he’ll give you an opportunity.

“When the new manager came in, I just wanted to see how it went. It’s a blessing for me that he enjoys the way I play and appreciates the effort I put in. It gives you a lot of confidence when the manager believes in you.”

Premier League not intense than La Liga or the Bundesliga – Guardiola

Pep Guardiola has dismissed the notion that the Premier League is more intense than other European leagues, specifically La Liga and Bundesliga. Speaking after his side’s 1-1 draw on Saturday, the Barca boss said all the leagues are competitive
“I hear a lot of times about the intensity of the Premier League when none of you have been in La Liga or the Bundesliga to know how it is. The problem here is maybe that there are more games but the way that they play in Germany is… it’s amazing. I think you have to have respect for the other leagues, how they play and the way they play.
“Of course Barcelona is special in how they play, a machine. Three amazing players in front, good counter-attack, the way they build-up so when they win 4-0 it’s because they deserve to win 4-0.
I think every league has its points but especially it’s the quality of the players and that’s the reason why. In Spain in the last seven, eight, nine years they’re winning or in the final of all the European competitions because they play well because they have good players. That is the reason why.

“Here there are more games to play… but the intensity in Italy, in all of these places, is the same.”

CBN, Heritage Bank, NYSC disburse N774M to 310 YIEDP Beneficiaries

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Heritage Bank Plc, Nigeria’s most innovative banking services provider and The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have disbursed a whooping sum of N774million to 310 beneficiaries under the Youth Innovative Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YIEDP).

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony for the disbursement of funds to young entrepreneurs under the YIEDP, on Thursday, the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, commended Heritage Bank for its painstaking effort to buy into the vision of job creation and piloting the programme to a successful stage.

The governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Alhaji Suleiman Barau, said the CBN in partnership with Heritage Bank and NYSC instituted the programme to reduce the alarming rate of unemployment affecting over 16 million unemployed youths in Nigeria, adding that the access to credit via this platform would be a powerful instrument to grow businesses and the economy.

He noted that the YIEDP was part of the plan by the CBN and the Federal Government to create over one million direct jobs by 2020.

Emefiele, who affirmed that the programme would have a multiplier effect on job creation and economy, urged all the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the fund.

He added that the YIEDP has the potential of becoming the stimulus for job and wealth creation, growth and economic development through improved access to finance for young entrepreneurs.

He also assured the business community that the CBN would continue to provide enabling environment, devise ways and means to grow the real sector towards a self-reliant economy.

Speaking in the same vein, Managing Director, Heritage Bank Plc, Mr. Ifie Sekibo, stated that the beneficiaries would get the fund as soon as certain concerns raised by the beneficiaries regarding the conditions for the loans are addressed.

According to Sekibo, who was represented by Group Executive Director, Lagos /South-West Corporate and Banking of Heritage Bank, Mrs. Mary Akpobome, a proper process of disbursement would be done to the benefit and happiness of all parties.

He said, “They will get the money as soon as all those issues they raised are addressed. The money is available. They have been disbursed. CBN has disbursed to the bans. It is now about sorting out whatever the challenges are, and then the funds are now made available.” Read more

Quote of the day: Don't put plaster on what needs surgery

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“Don’t put plaster on what needs surgery” it’s such a great day to be alive and behold the goodness of God. Remember that you cannot filter reality So remain true to yourself and don’t covet the seeming perfect lives you see on social media. People have scars that are masked. People put a plaster on what needs surgery. Live life on your own terms. It’s ok not to have it all figured out.”
Beautiful words by Betty Irabor, media entrepreneur and Publisher, Genevieve Magazine.

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