Euro 2016: England unveil home and away kits

Confirmed: Englands brand new home & away kits for Euro 2016
  • England have unveiled their brand new home and away kits for Euro 2016 tournament in France. The Home kit consists of a white shirt with light blue sleeves, white shorts and red socks while the Away kit is a red shirt with crimson sleeves, red shorts and bright blue socks. 
  • Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling, Man United’s Wayne Rooney and Tottenham’s Harry Kane all pictured parading the new Nike strips .
    “England have had great moments in red over the years. Our design team have risen to the challenge of integrating references to England’s footballing history with a futuristic system of performance apparel in both the home and away kits.” Nike creative director Martin Lotti said.

    Photos: Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the first athlete to try Nike's self-tying sneakers

    Cristiano Ronaldo now has a new pair of sneakers that Takes Him Back To The Future! Thanks to Nike. Launched yesterday March 16, 2016, the shoes called HyperAdapt 1.0 was inspired by the film ‘Back To The Future.’ How it laces up. Sensors at the heel level activate the lacing when a foot slips into the shoe. Two buttons on the side of the shoe can be pressed to loosen or tighten the lacing.
    Thanks @Nike for letting me be the first athlete trying the new HyperAdapt 1.0  “. He announced on his twitter page.

     He has become the first athlete ever to try the auto lacing shoes. 
    The sneakers will go on sale at the end of 2016. 

    Yaya Toure will donate £1m a year to the hospital that treated his late brother on one condition

    Manchester City player, Yaya Toure has revealed his intention to donate £1m a year to the Manchester hospital where his brother, Ibrahim Toure died last year but he will only do that on one condition…..if he gets a new contract at City, the Ivorian star’s agent, Dimitry Seluk revealed.
    “Yaya said if he signs a new contract he will give £1million from his salary every year to the hospital where his brother was treated to help other cancer patients and the doctors and nurses and staff,” Seluk told theSun
     The midfield ace has who has just one more year left on his £220,000-a-week contract is reportedly demanding  three year deal from the English club next week.

    The Demise of the Yoruba Novel | By: Tony Ogunlowo

    yoruba novels
    For those of us of a certain age, predominantly over fifty, there used to be a thing called a Yoruba novel. Yes, that’s right, a novel written entirely in Yoruba.
    The one author whose books we read at one time or another in secondary school was no other than D. O Fagunwa whose novels “ Ogboju Ode ninu Igbo Irunmale “, “ Igbo Oludumare”, “Ireke Onibudo”, “ Irinkerindo ninu Igbo Elegbeje” and “ Aditu Oludumare” kept us enthralled with tales of supernatural folklore and tradition in way never before done. To ensure a wider readership his first book was translated into English by Wole Soyinka in 1968 as “The Forest of a Thousand Demons”
    Sadly he died in 1963 and since his death there has been little or no attempt to encourage the genre back into mainline publishing. Nollywood has done a great job churning out Yoruba movies. There are Yoruba T.V programmes,plays,theatres and music but no original Yoruba novels.
    One writer who tried his hands at writing an entirely Yoruba was the late Afolabi Olabimtan who published two novels “Kekere Ekun” in 1967 and “ Ayanmo” in 1973.
    Sadly not even our higher institutions or publishing firms are doing enough to encourage the next generation Yoruba novelist/writer. In the past ,organisations such as the African Heritage Research Library and Cultural Centre in association with the Society of Young Nigerian Writers have  organised Yoruba Literature Writing Competitions in additions to arranging a ‘D.O Fagunwa’ night to celebrate the works of the late author and Yoruba fiction. Not much has come out of this.
    The Yoruba language is spoken by more than 30 million people in Western Nigeria and in neighbouring countries of Togo and Benin. It is studied as a language in many of our universities and even abroad at SOAS University of London and in more than forty-seven universities in America.
    There have been translations of such great works like ‘Things Fall Apart’ which was translated by the late Chief Wale Ogunyemi into Yoruba and titled ‘ Igbesi Aye Okonkwo’ and some others but very few originals.
    With our younger generation growing up on a staple diet of Western fiction and indigenous published English fiction it won’t be long before the Yoruba novel becomes a relic of the past, joining a host of other forgotten languages, such as Latin, that books are no longer published in.
    The advent of print-on-demand books, ebooks and blogs have made it easier for anyone to be published these days, reaching a wide audience spanning the world. Setting up a publishing house to publish Yoruba novels (- or any of the  other ethnic groups’) won’t be too difficult – or expensive. Existing higher institutions can offer classes in creative writing in Yoruba as they do English to encourage and help would-be writers. There is a potential huge readership base out there but no one to supply the demand.
    And to Professor Wole Soyinka, and others out there, it’s not too late to pen that last great novel in Yoruba. 

    "They have weak players and they are cheating the fans." Roy Keane slams Arsenal

    Roy Keane has launched a scathing attack on Arsenal following their exit from the Champions league last night. Keane believes their crop of players are week and their poor performances are have seen them cheat their fans. The Gunners crashed out of the competition after a they were walloped 5-1 by Barcelona on aggregate. They had a handful of scoring chances during both games but failed to convert them.
    Speaking on ITV, the Irish ex footballer said: “It tells you that they’ve got a weak group of players, who can’t seem to lift it for certain games. No doubt the pressure has got to them in the last few months and for players at Arsenal football club who can’t deal with pressure, then you shouldn’t be there. The damage was already obviously done in the first game. There’s no great shame in losing 3-1, the effort was there – but I think Barcelona had switched off – but it must be hard for the manager to stomach that, and for the supporters when they see their players lift it for certain games, but they can’t do it for Watford at home, or Swansea at home.
    “They’re cheating the supporters in that sense.”

    Oliseh’s Appointment Is NFF’s Worst Fraud – Godwin Izilein

    Ex Golden Eaglets coach, Godwin Izilein has described the appointment of Sunday Oliseh as Super Eagles coach as the worst fraud ever committed by the the NFF under the leadership of Amaju Pinnick. Oliseh was appointed as a replacement for Stephen Keshi who was fired July 2015.
    “The worst fraud that the NFF under Pinnick has ever committed on Nigerians is the appointment of Sunday Oliseh as the Super Eagles coach. Nobody was carried along, NFF president only met with him at a bar in London and announced to Nigerians, Oliseh will be the Guardiola of Africa. This is a man that has never coached any known club in his life. So, what was the yardstick for measuring his competence physically and mentally?” He asserted.
    Izilein continued, “Amodu Shaibu was appointed for Eagles, NFF owed him, Christian Chukwu was there, NFF owed him, Stephen Keshi was there, the same thing happened, Austin Eguavoen others too, it was same story. What made Oliseh special that he got all the upfront payment? Such treatment is suspicious and nothing more than fraud, bias and wasteful spending.”
    Oliseh also denied reports that he was paid upfront by the NFF after his unveiling in July 2015.
    “When it comes to money, I am disappointed because based on what I’m being owed I should have stopped working, my assistants should also stop working. They make people think I was paid in advance, which is not so and am still waiting to be paid. The only thing is that I just decided not to go public with it.” 

    "Justice At Last". Sister of doctor killed in accident caused by Ibinabo Fiberesima writes an open letter.


    Biola Giwa-Adeyemi, a sister to the late Dr Suraj Giwa killed in an accident caused by actress, Ibinabo Fiberesima has expressed satisfaction over the verdict. Last weekend, the AGN President lost her bid to have a 5-year jail  term overturned. Read Biola’s open letter below.

    First of all, the case was between Lagos state Government Vs Ibinabo Febresima but not Giwa Vs Ibinabo Febresima. On this faithful day of February 26, 2006 along the Lekki Epe Express way, my late brother Dr Giwa was driving with his brother and another family friend in his car coming from a meeting in Ajah, they were held up in a traffic around the evening time, when this tragic accident happened.
    //
    Ibinabo was driving towards Lekki while the late Dr Giwa was coming from the other direction facing towards Island, just by shop-rite, when Ibinabo’s jeep flipped and lost control from her lane jumped over the culvert or pavement  that demarcate the road from the on coming vehicle.
    The speed that

    //

    skipped and flipped a jeep over the road demarcation will be considered ‘Reckless and Endangerment‘ because the VIO dept checked the jeep brakes, the engine and all the mechanical and electrical of the jeep but the result shows nothing wrong with the jeep and confirmed that the accident was caused by ‘OVER SPEEDING’ in which the result was on record.
    After the accident, Ibinabo left the scene of the accident without checking for any survivors, she took the license plate and registration out of the car and fled from the scene, that was considered “HIT AND RUN”. The people at the scene of the accident recognized her as Ibinabo Febresima, and stated she was drunk.”Driving Under Influence” of whatever she had.
    The State Department of Transportation had to use the VIN number to locate the owner of the jeep, who was Daniel Wilson. That was my very first time of hearing the name of Ibinabo Febresima. The doctor died at the scene of the accident because the jeep was on top of the Honda accord driven by him and they couldn’t save him on time because of the seat belt and the weight of the jeep, his brother and the other family friend in that car survived. Did she know the state of mind and the emotional instability of the people involved in that accident up till now? Ibinabo was never in a coma.
    After all the evidences against her, with the result of the VIO by the State department of Transportation, The DPP office took over and charged her to court and she hired Festus Keyamo in which after reviewing the case he withdrew by saying he cannot represent her because it’s a bad case.
    Doctor Giwa has a living mother for goodness sake, wife with 3 children, Ibinabo deprived him of  seeing his children graduate from university and getting married, also from being the one to bury his mother at her old age, ‘Whereas no one ever prayed that on the day of their children’s success and happiness they should replace them with someone else’.
    Ibinabo was never remorseful, they brought her to meet with me shortly after my brother’s death in GRA Ikeja before my return to the USA, but her only concern then was to drop the charges against her. I told her that it’s not my family Vs her but the State Vs her, that where I come from in USA that we do not interfere with the justice system, that they should do their job and advise her to apologize publicly to the masses and to the family and throw herself to the mercy of the court.
    She said and l quote “I CAN’T DO THAT, BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO DAMAGE MY CAREER” what an ego, she cannot apologize publicly, I felt like kicking her ass. She’s worried about her stupid career, What happened to the career of the Doctor, who happened to be a ‘MEDICAL DIRECTOR AND THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL REHABILITATION MEDICINE AT GENERAL HOSPITAL LAGOS.
    People say there is no justice in Nigeria, but it there is once in a while. The lower court magistrate O.A Isaac found her guilty with the option of 100,000.00 Naira, which is considered a judicial recklessness, 100k does not even buy an iPad, the life of someone is not worth more that 100k, so that people will take the liberty of committing crimes.

    //

    Later, Justice Deborah Oluwayemi of the High court found her guilty and overturned the option of fine and gave her 5 yrs in prison, she spent 3 weeks and came out on bail to go to Court of Appeal, however, how can a convicted person come out on bail, here in USA you will be in jail and they will transport you to and from each time you have an hearing. Finally Appeal court found her guilty and sentence her to 5 years in prison.
    Let her face the wrath, it is said that you can run but can’t hide, it’s law of Kama that catches up, this will serve as a deterrent to others. Who will believe after 10yrs she will still be slammed, The Family of the late Dr Giwa has moved on with our lives, She was forgiven, it was very difficult and painful, but God gave us especially his mother and children the fortitude to bear the loss.
    On behalf of our families and friends, we really thank the Lagos State Government, The attorney general Mr Sasore, DPP Mrs Odutola and colleagues, Justice Deborah Oluwayemi, Justice Jamilu Yammama Tukur, Justice U.I Udukwe-Anyawu and Justice Tijani Abubakar and everyone for their support, no evil shall befall anyone, as you all go out and come in, may God’s grace and protection abide with each and everyone.
    ‘JUSTICE AT LAST’ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  JUSTICE AT LAST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  JUSTICE IS FINALLY DONE !!!!!!!!!!!!.
    “IBINABO HAS NEVER PAID A DIME TO ANY FAMILY MEMBER OF THE LATE DR GIWA AS INDICATED BY HER FRIEND’S, AND IF SHE DID PAY ANY FAMILY MEMBER, SHE NEEDS TO START MENTIONING NAMES NOW”

    Scholes wants Manchester United to sign these players

    Paul Scholes has come up with a list of three players Manchester United must sign to improve their squad. The former midfielder revealed this to ‘club fanzine United We Stand’. Paul suggested the plaers should be targetted in the transfer market this summer.

    “I’d like Luka Modric. How old is he now? Might be a bit too old, but he’s a great player. I like Raphael Varane. I said realistic and I’m picking Real Madrid players? We probably need a centre-forward but there’s not too many of them about so I’m going to say I’d like us to bring Paul Pogba back.”

    Coming To America | By: Mark Okonkwo

    Coming to America was nothing like the famous movie, absolutely nothing like it. I do not know how the first conquistadores felt setting foot in this continent, nor the first black slaves. But my feeling was very awesomely nice and depressing all at the same time. I have spent over a quarter (yea that’s right, that’s one vocabulary America has taught me “quarter”, I could say 25 but that would be “Un-American”). Before I digress so much I am over 25 years and have never left Nigeria. I was born and bred in Nigeria. So things I saw and felt on stepping on JFK airport was literally chilling and heartwarming at same time. It was freezing with snow; I was so cold that I can’t put it into words. I don’t have such literally skills. I would have to exhume Chinua Achebe to help me do that. It was that bad.
    My reality check on taking off Murtala Muhammed Airstrip started with landing in transit at Abu Dhabi International airport, it was there I had a sudden realization that Nigeria had no airport. We have local and International airstrips but not an airport. I must apologize that I can’t explain most of my thoughts. No one can achieve that literary feat. You have to experience it. How do you explain an Ocean to a man born blind and deaf? Where do you start? Any ways I managed to make it to America all the while stoned in the awe of the Airbus 380, I was certain that’s how Jonah felt in the belle of the big fish, but without the wonderful in-flight entertainment. But the in-flight meal was hell, I was just too local for such posh meals and proudly so. Anyways I made it to America and got into a taxi, actually a Toyota Highlander XLE 2010 Model, a preserve for only “Chairmen” and folks that have “Connect” back home. Then my real reeducation started.
    I am a man. Men love cars, almost just or more than women (every pun intended). Just like some women does it for men, so does cars and Mercedes sedans does it for me, I can flirt with other brands but I always come back to Mercedes sedans. Any day that I can’t get it up, forget about Viagra, get me a flagship Mercedes Benz sedan. I had a hard on from the airport till I got to my destination. I had seen more sexy looking cars than I have seen power failure in all my entire life. The cab guy was a fellow Igbo brother and I asked him why all these nice cars and it’s like there are more millionaires than regulars folks in America. He laughed and said these are all regular folks. The entire place was just one big Maitama, it was surreal. In less than 24 hours I had a forgiving spirit. The kind Jesus asked us to have. I forgave all my relatives and friends who left and never came back to Nigeria. I would have proudly joined the league if not for my both parents still alive and my sibling with them in Nigeria.
    Several times at Ihop and Wendys I have had abominable thoughts. Very evil thoughts that I never would have had back home. I remember the first time I had that thought. I was having breakfast with my wife. Two cops walked in and it’s like my mind stopped working. I was day dreaming in broad daylight about being a police officer! These officers were fit, well dressed and armed, there presence/looks was a crime deterrent. They looked like they could take on any criminal even without the pistol and other God knows other stuffs they had on their waist. Back home I would rather dream of becoming a native doctor than a policeman! The presence of most of our “friends” in black/blue or whatever colour they wear these day facilitates crime and not deter it. My dream took deep roots when I saw the cars used be cops in execution of their duties; I swore I was going to become one. But the deep rooted fear of the job still got the best of me.
    It wasn’t all rosy thoughts. I went to bed having nightmares from converting money paid for eating out and buying some necessary stuff needed by me to survive the cold. With the dollar to naira at N380, when I calculate $10 meal, I mutter “blood of Jesus” till I sleep. I almost had an epileptic seizure in Footlocker buying a Nike flip flop for $27. Brethren in very simple words I bought a rubber Nike slippers at Footlocker for N10,260, instead of N500 I buy at Oshodi market. In fact I didn’t buy it, I dropped it and left so fast I forgot my wife in the store. She had to drag me back and insisted on buying it for me. As any married man will tell you, there are times you don’t argue with your wife. That was one of those moments. I left that store angry and swore I must get value for the money spent on the stupid slippers. I wear it all the time even to bed. I am very sure if am Moses and God tells me to take it off that I am standing on a holy ground, am sorry but I won’t.

    Talking about God reminds me about home. I have never felt I am a good Christian. But I am afraid am getting worse or better am not too sure which one. The fear of hell was a deterrent to committing some sins. But now hell holds no iota of fear for me anymore. The biggest thing coming to America did for me was to learn to love God without fear of hell. I came into America and realized that even though Nigeria is not hell, but it’s obviously not too far from it. Possibly it’s within a trekking distance, after all we were not given the exact coordinates of hell, but I am willing to bet I am correct. I have lived near hell all my life a big thanks to our leaders, why would I be afraid of hell as preached in our churches? Maybe a few years from now the fear would return. But for now if you have spent your entire life in our dearly beloved land, do not be afraid of the hell preached in the altar, because you are living in one already. 
    The ignorance of this is bliss, until coming to America shattered it all. I still love my country dearly. It’s like coming from a dysfunctional family, you know it’s messed up and you hate it but you can’t stop loving it. For all my disappointment and hatred, for our airstrip for not being an airport, I still can’t wait to see it again. I still can’t wait to be coming to Nigeria. It sounds strange but I miss the darkness. The intense feeling albeit disappointing and frustrating you get when NEPA, PHCN or whatever they call themselves takes the light in the middle of an interesting football match. I miss the strong quality of our drinks, Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Beer etc, America sucks when it comes to drinks. I miss the sweltering heat and madness. I miss the ladies and guys and the effusive companionship you can have with perfect strangers you met a minute ago, gisting away like you were lifelong friends. I miss my country.

    Comedian Ushbebe welcomes first child

    2 years after tying the
    knot, comedian Ushbebe is now a dad! This good news is coming few
    days after staging his comedy show tagged ‘Chronicles Of Ushbebe’. The OAP revealed that his wife Annette has
    finally put to bed their first son. 

    “Yes that’s my hommie, sonnie infact Ya
    Dadi Jnr,”
    the “Welcome once again. Your mummy has done well. all the Glory be
    to God.”
    The new dad wrote on Instagram. The couple tied the knot in
    November 2014. 
    Open chat