Didier Drogba has confirmed he will leave Montreal Impact at the end of the season. He’s played in his last home game against Toronto FC few days ago, he was cheered in the 71st minute of the game and given a special farewell tribute on the field after the match. In 18 months, the Ivorian has scored 22 goals and provided 4 assists in 32 games for the MLS club.
“My contract ends at the end of the season and I won’t be returning. I want to end things well, out of respect for everything the people here, the city, have given me. I was disappointed with the result, but we will do everything to qualify to the final. I don’t think the adventure will end in Toronto.” Drogba announced.
He continued, “I had one and a half years of good emotions. I think we made history. And when I came I here for the first time, last season we played against Columbus in the semifinal and this year we’re in the conference final, so it’s a good progress. I’m quite happy with the way things are going and I think I kind of reached the target, but there’s still more work to do. There’s still 90 minutes to play and a lot of things will happen in those 90 minutes. I hope we’re going to be happy by the end of it.”
Monreal Impact captain Patrice Bernier, also paid tribute to the Chelsea legend. “Didier brought so much on the field, off the field, with his leadership and experience and he brought a human factor as well. It was great to get to know him more. I was happy the club honored him after the game. But it’s not over yet — there’s still one or maybe two games to play.”
The Premier League great hasn’t revealed his next destination but there are indications he will be making a return to Stamford Bridge. Goodluck Drogba!
Five-man shortlist for 2016 African Player of the Year unveiled.
The Confedration of African football, CAF have released their top 5 candidates for the African Player Of The Year Award.
Meet the five-man shortlist.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Gabon/Dortmund
Riyad Mahrez – Algeria/Leicester City
Sadio Mane – Senegal/Liverpool
Mohamed Salah – Egypt/AS Roma
Islam Slimani – Algeria/Leicester City
Zlatan Ibrahimovic named Sweden's best player for the 10th time in a row.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been named Swedish Footballer of the Year for the 11th time in 12 years. The Swedish Football Association have announced plans to immortalize one of their greats by erecting a statue in his honour at outside the Friends Arena – the country’s national stadium located at the Swedish capital of Stockholm. The Red Devils striker who called time on his international career after the Euro 2016 has scored 62 goals in 116 games for his country was presented with the Golden Ball prize and a miniature replica of the statue.
Reacting to the honour, the former PSG forward said,
After 20 years of hard work I got a statue in the capital city of Sweden. Who else.
Super proud, happy, emotional, wow and thank you Sweden.
Meanwhile, David Beckham in a video message described the 35 year-old as one of the greatest players whose physique, passion and love for the game hasn’t changed.
“He’s still one of the greatest players that has ever played the game – one of the reasons why I’m happy he is now playing at Manchester United, my team. Thanks for that, Zlatan.” Beckham added.
FIFA Puskas Award 2016 contenders revealed!
The nominees for the 2016 edition of the FIFA Puskas Award has been revealed. Established on 20 October 2009, to award the best goal or the most beautiful goal of the year. Organizers whittled down thousands of goals from around the world between 30 September 2015 and 30 September 2016 down to just ten.
Nominees include:
Mario Gaspar – 13/11/2015, Spain v England, friendly (Alicante)
Hlompho Kekana – 26/03/2016, Cameroon v South Africa, Africa Cup of Nations qualifier (Limbe, Cameroon)
Marlone – 21/04/2016, Corinthians v Cobresal, Copa Libertadores (São Paulo)
Lionel Messi – 21/06/2016, USA v Argentina, Copa América semi-finals (Houston)
Neymar – 08/11/2015, Barcelona v Villarreal, La Liga (Nou Camp)
Saúl Ñíguez – 27/04/2016, Atlético Madrid v Bayern Munich, Champions League (Vicente Calderón)
Hal Robson-Kanu – 01/07/2016, Wales v Belgium, Euro 2016 (Lille)
Daniuska Rodríguez – 14/03/2016, Venezuela v Colombia, South American Under-17s Womens’ Football Championship (Barquisimeto, Venezuela)
Simon Skrabb – 31/10/2015, Gefle v Atvidaberg, Allsvenskan league, Sweden
Mohd Faiz Subri – 16/02/2016, Penang v Pahang, Malaysia Super League
The top 3 goals would be unveiled on 2 December.
Courtois reportedly earns £98,000 per save for Chelsea
Chelsea goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois has reportedly been earning more than £90,000 per save for The Blues this season.
No goalkeeper has kept more clean sheets than the 24 year-old in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season. The Belgian footballer who rakes in £120,000 a week, has been very instrumental in Antonio Conte’s side’s run of six wins and six clean sheets in a row in their last 6 EPL games.
Courtois has faced a combined total of 17 shots in the premier league this season.
Source: Goal.com
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.
Source
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!
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.
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.
