For the eighth time, Cristiano Ronaldo has been named as Portugal’s player of the year 2016. He received the honour after leading his country to their first major title at the European Championship last summer and converting the winning penalty that saw Real Madrid clinch their 11th Champions League triumph last May.
He beat off competition from club teammate Pepe and Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patricio.
Receiving the prize at the Quinas de Ouro gala on Monday, the 32-year-old forward said, “It was a very special year for me because the Euros was the only trophy I was still missing, I want to thank the Portuguese people again, they gave us confidence on our way to the title.”
Cech named Czech Footballer of the Year for the 9th time
Arsenal goalkeeper, Petr Cech has emerged the Czech Player of the Year award for the ninth time. The former Chelsea skipper edged out Hertha BSC midfielder, Vladimir Darida and China-based Borek Dockal.
“Thank you for this award tonight – Czech Player of the Year “ He wrote on Twitter.
Votes were determined by players, coaches, football officials and journalists
Victor Moses pulls out of Eagles’ friendlies
Super Eagles star, Victor Moses, has pulled out of Nigeria’s friendly matches against the Teranga Lions of Senegal and the Stallions of Burkina Faso, due to injury.
The Chelsea player who had been on three loans in four years has flourished under Antonio Conte-led team and has been a vital part of the squad got injured in his club’s FA Cup quarterfinal match reported at the Super Eagles’ camp and explained the situation to coach Gernot Rohr.
Neymar drops Premier League hint
Barcelona star, Neymar has spoken of his desire to play in the Premier League and has listed four club he admires as well as managers he would like to work under.
The Brazilian whose contract with the Catalans ends in 2022 was heavily linked with Manchester United last year.
Speaking to The Sun, the former Santos player maintained that the Premier League is a championship that amazes him .
“I like the playing style and the teams. And who knows, someday, I would like to play at it, yes. I admire Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool — these are the teams that are always there fighting. And then you have high-level coaches like Mourinho and Guardiola. These are coaches with whom any player would like to work. “ He said.
Eden Hazard out for 10-15 days
Eden Hazard will be out for 10-15 days with a calf injury. The Belgian could miss Chelsea’s Premier League match with Crystal Palace on April 1 as well as Belgium’s World Cup Qualifier against Greece on Saturday and the friendly with Russia on Tuesday.
“Eden has suffered an injury before the match against Stoke, it does not look so serious. But he will not play against Greece. We are going to follow the injury. It is a big disappointment for Eden that he cannot lead the team. If you want to be a good team, you have to absorb everything. This is a good test for us. I see enough players who can take over his role.” Belgium coach Roberto Martinez revealed
Ghanaian referee banned for life, for match-fixing
FIFA Disciplinary Committee has banned Ghana’s referee Joseph Odartei Lamptey for life for match- fixing after he awarded a controversial penalty to South Africa during their World Cup qualifier with Senegal last year.
Lamptey who awarded the home side a spot-kick in the 43rd minute of the match in Polokwane on November 12 as the South African club beat Senegal 2-1 was found guilty of “unlawfully influencing match results”. Senegalese players protested his decision to award a wrong penalty given for handball against Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
He was banned by The Confederation of African Football (CAF) for three months.
“Further information concerning the South Africa v Senegal match in question will be provided once the decision becomes final and binding, FIFA follows a zero-tolerance policy on match manipulation and is committed to protecting the integrity of football.
“As a result, FIFA will continue with its ongoing efforts to combat match manipulation through a variety of initiatives, which include the monitoring of international betting and a confidential reporting system with a dedicated integrity hotline and e-mail address.” a FIFA statement read.
4 Reasons Why Wenger Should Leave ~ By: Temitope Bolarinwa
Why #WengerOut
The 29th round of matches is upon us and there are a lot of new things happening in the English premier league except in the red part of North London. As usual the rounds of 16 matches of the UEFA champions’ league have passed and Arsenal will play no further part. Arsenal did not win the League Cup (Capital One Cup) and have not yet won that since Wenger took over reigns in 1996. Arsenal FC unseated Manchester United in 6th Position; 19 points behind league leaders Chelsea albeit with a game in hand and 6 points behind 4th placed Liverpool FC. Although Arsenal still has hopes alive in the F.A. Cup, the club has Manchester City awaiting them in the semi-final fixture with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspurs in the other semi final fixture. This situation makes the hope of silverware very bleak for the gunners this season leaving many fans to believe that the best the club can achieve this season is a top four finish to guarantee champions league football next season. Many of the club supporters are now very weary of this reality making them to bring back a now becoming familiar chant of #WengerOut.
While the man at the helm may have steered the club through really challenging times, many of the supporters of the club think that enough is enough and that both parties would be better if parted. Here are four reasons why the opinion of most fans 10-2 be correct.
- Wenger plays every team the same way: Whether it is Lincoln or Barcelona, Preston or Chelsea; whether the other team has 3 at the back or is playing a high pressing game, Arsenal under Wenger always set out with the same game play. The dynamics of the modern game does not give any club the luxury of getting a lot of success approaching every game the same way. The modern game has a name and change is that name, if you don’t change quickly enough, you are beaten. Managers who have tasted success more recently have simply understood this and give each game what it takes and not simply use a one approach fits all. The days Arsenal enjoyed a lot of success and very evidently had a more competitive squad, they fell short again and again by approaching every opposition with the same style of play.
2. All good things really have an end: You have to pick a time to leave and if you did not take your bow when the ovation is loudest, you have to take the walk even if it is without any ovation. At 21 years on the job, he is very easily the longest serving football manager in the world. When the salt has lost its taste, it’s really time to look for another seasoning.
3. Wenger has nothing new to offer: After 20 years of trying, we can tell that Wenger cannot win the champions league and the league cup with Arsenal. He has achieved the same level of success with various types and calibre of players, so we can tell it is not about how good the players are or are not, this is simply the best Wenger can produce and we have seen it all. It is injustice to all for a person who can no longer offer anything new to continue at a job when new methods and new victories is a constant expectation.
4. Wenger is no longer the shrewd man he was in the transfer market: I am trying really hard to remember the last shrewd business Wenger made in the transfer market, the way he has managed the club in the last 5 years at least, we have continuously seen youngsters prefer other rival clubs to coming to Arsenal. Without any name calling, Arsenal has missed out on a lot of potential stars for the future and the youngsters that have settled with Arsenal recently have not been outstanding. Apart from aptly signing Cech from Chelsea, there has not been that masterstroke he once had in transfer business. He even passed on the buyback clause Arsenal had on Cesc Fabregas with the resultant that Fabregas literally assisted Chelsea to the league at Arsenal’s expense. Transfer business is one highlight of Wenger’s success story and even that is gone, so #WengerOut.
With Wenger’s inability to cross the last sixteen of the champions’ league for many years now, inability to deliver the premiership even losing to Leicester city in 2016, poor transfer market dealings, tactical deficiency that makes his team approach every game with the same tactics and practically showing nothing new from his sleeves; it is time to kiss the professor goodbye. Hopefully in a new role in another football establishment, he can find success. Please #WengerOut.
Mali suspended from international football
World football body, FIFA on Friday in Zurich suspended all of Mali’s football clubs from international competitions, after the country’s sports minister, Housseini Amion Guindo sacked the executive committee of its football federation and FEMAFOOT (the Malian FA) and appointed a provisional committee mandated to run the association.
FIFA maintained that its member FAs must be able to manage their affairs independently without government interference adding that “The suspension will be lifted once ministerial decisions are nullified and the executive committee of FEMAFOOT and its president, Boubacar Baba Diarra, is reinstated.”
Until the issue is resolved, Mali who currently sit at the 61st position on the FIFA world Rankings will not be able to feature in the World Cup qualifiers and other football events.
The Champions League Quarter Final Draw Is Out!
The Full quarter final #UCLdraw has been released and we must say, they are epic clashes.
Spanish club, Atletico Madrid will face reigning Champions of England, Leicester. Two European heavyweights, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid met in 10 knockout ties, and won five each. Borussia Dortmund will take on Monaco while La Liga giants, Barcelona will battle with out with Juventus.
Interesting ties.
Ahmad Ahmad is the new CAF president
Ahmad Ahmad of Madagascar has emerged the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
He beat Issa Hayatou who presided over Africa’s football ruling body for 29 years. While Ahmad garnered a total of 34 votes, the Cameroonian pulled 20 votes at an election which took place today at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Ahmad, the head of Madagascan Football Association ousted Hayatou who was running for the 8th term in office.
Hayatou’s loss will see him leave his positions as president in Africa, FIFA vice president and a member of its ruling council. Those positions will be taken over by the President