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Atlanta ’96 book celebrates Nigeria’s biggest sporting triumph

An e-book titled “Nigeria’s Olympics: Sports and National Development” has been launched to celebrate Nigeria’s biggest sporting triumph at the Olympic Games 20 years after.
Co-edited by Lolade Adewuyi of football website Goal.com Nigeria and Tosin Adebisi of the University of Sussex, United Kingdom, the free book is a collection of 10 essays from a writing competition organised to celebrate the victory of the Dream Team at Atlanta ’96.
The book was released at an awards ceremony to fete the winner and finalists of #WritingGamesNG on Thursday September 8, 2016.
The essay competition, open to final year students in Nigerian higher institutions and National Youth Service Corps personnel, was won by Oladele Oluwasogo Dare, a National Youth Service Corps personnel based in Anambra State.
The joint runners-up were Ekene Ezike, NYSC Osun State and Alfred Olajide, NYSC Taraba State. The third place was taken by Olumodeji Gabriel Shola, NYSC Anambra State.
The other finalists were Mmerenu Harrison (NYSC Kwara), Okanga Okanga (NYSC Lagos), Orji Sunday Sylvester (University of Nigeria, Nsukka), Adewale Abiodun Sodiq (Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba), Temitope Bakinde (NYSC Lagos) and Ikpebe Akpa Simon (Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti).
“Words presently have failed me in expressing my heartfelt gratitude to everyone. You have successfully turned a near frustrating service year into a life changing story,” said Oladele, who went on an all-expenses paid trip to attend the 2016 Writivism Festival in Kampala, Uganda.
The ceremony had in attendance Mr Dotun Coker of the Lagos State Football Association, who represented NFF 1stVice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, and Mr Wale Joseph, deputy secretary general of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) as well as Mr Seun Methowe, Perform Media Country Manager for West Africa.
There was a high-powered delegation from the NYSC led by Mrs. Eno AwakEssien who represented the Director General, Brigadier General Sule Zakari Kazaure. Also in attendance was the Lagos State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mr. Cyril Akhaneme as well as several Assistant Directors.
The competition’s judges – Professor Richard Follett of the University of Sussex and Professor Dipo Salami of the Obafemi Awolowo University – praised the effort of the entrants and encouraged them to continue developing their talent. They joined AIESEC Nigeria and the NYSC in celebrating youth development and empowerment across the country.
The co-editors, Messrs Adewuyi and Adebisi, said they undertook the collaborative effort to bring synergy between sport and education as well as promote writing and a celebration of Nigeria’s heroic team of 1996.
“We see this e-book as an important contribution to Nigerian sports and scholarship that needs to be encouraged in our country as a reminder of its important football heroes. The depth of writing which explored politics, culture, religion and sports point to how our country can succeed if we work as a team like the Dream Team of 1996,” the editors said in a statement. 
The winner was offered an internship and a trip to any part of the world by youth leadership organisation AIESEC who were one of the partners of the competition.
The e-book can be downloaded free online via this link.
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Sports

China's richest man and Sepp Blatter's nephew to set up new football league

Chairman of China's Wanda Group Wang Jianlin.
Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin
who bought a 20% stake in Atletico Madrid in February 2015 and Phillippe Blatter, a nephew to former
FIFA helmsman, Sepp Blatter are about giving existing football leagues a run
for their money. The duo who own Dalian Wanda
Group and Infront Media respectively are working towards creating
a new football tournament. The pair are in talks with leagues and clubs and even
have the backing of Javier Tebas, the President of Spain’s La Liga.
“Wanda Sports representatives are in regular conversations with many
stakeholders in the industry to explore ways in which today’s sports landscape
and business can be further developed.
“There are varying ideas and concepts in discussion – all still in a
very early stage. They need careful further consideration and exploration, as
well as involvement of all concerned parties.
“Whether and when they
would become a reality is still dependent on many factors beyond Wanda Sport’s
area of influence, and on an ongoing exchange with all key representatives in
the industry.”
 Tebas added in an interview with Financial
Times, “If (European club competition) is reorganised as Wanda has set out,
there is a greater opportunity to generate more revenue from audio-visual
broadcasting.”

Source: Foxsports.com

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Sports

Ronaldinho to retire from football


One of the greatest players to ever grace the round leather game, Ronaldinho is considering retiring  from professional football.

The 36-year-old who has been without a club since
he left Fluminense last September is considering hanging his boots. “I am an
old man now, I am 36. I am no longer 26 like I once was, and I am
looking at what I can do to mark an end to my career. The plan is to play one
more year.”
But before he calls time on his career, the
Brazilian is also considering a spell in the US. “I’ve had the chance to
play (in the U.S.) many times. I have a lot of friends, many directors at
clubs. And now I’ve got the chance to play there again. It’s an option, but
what I most want is to have the chance to travel, to promote the things I want
to do.”

The Barcelona, PSG and Brazil soccer icon has won 1
World Cup, 2 La Liga trophies, 1 UEFA Champions League, 2 FIFA World Player of
the year, Golden Foot award, Best soccer player ESPY award.

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Real and Atletico Madrid to serve transfer bans

Real and Atletico logos
Top Spanish clubs, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid
have lost their appeals against transfer bans imposed by world football governing body, FIFA for breaking rules protecting underage players.
Players involved were aged under 18 who played in competitions for Atletico
between 2007 and 2014, and Real from 2005-2014.
The rivals were initially charged early this year but appealed
and were allowed to sign players during the last transfer window. Unfortunately
FIFA’s appeals committee dismissed both clubs’
appeals window and now they have to serve their bans.
“Both
clubs are to serve a transfer ban that prevents them from registering any
players at national and international level for the next two complete and
consecutive registration periods for breaching articles 5, 9, 19 and 19bis as
well as annexes 2 and 3 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of
Players (the “Regulations”),” a FIFA statement said.
“The
transfer ban applies to each club as a whole – with the exception of the
women’s, futsal and beach soccer teams – and does not prevent the release of
players.”

The implication there is they can make deals with
other clubs to sign players, but cannot register them to play. Atletico were fined £622,000,
while Real Madrid were given a £249,000 fine.
Recall that Barcelona were also dealt a similar blow
in April 2014 after breaching rules on the transfer of under-18 players.

Reacting to the verdict, Real Madrid coach, Zinedine Zidane
said, “I don’t understand anything. It’s unfair, absurd. We’re going to
wait and hope the issue gets resolved. The club will do everything in its power
to overturn this sanction. I hope things get fixed quickly.”

Both Spanish teams are however taking their cases to
the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
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Sports

David Luiz's return, a last minute decision – Conte

Luiz has been backed to become one of the best defenders in the world by Antonio Conte
Chelsea coach, Antonio Conte has spoken
about the event that led to the return of David Luiz to Stamford Bridge. The
Italian said the decision to bring the Brazilian defender from PSG was made on
the final day of the transfer window. The 29 year-old who left Chelsea in 2014
was resigned for £32million.   
‘When we take the decision
about players, we always take the decision together: me and the club. 
‘This transfer market was very
difficult for us to reach our targets, but at the last minute, on the last day,
there was this situation which was good for me and the club to improve the
squad.

‘For this reason, we bought
David Luiz. We invested in David and I’m very happy. We took a player with a
great personality, good technique, he likes to play. I like to play football
and I like defenders who like to play football. 

‘I think every player can
improve. David Luiz is 29, it’s a fantastic age for him to become one of the
best defenders in the world.’ Conte said.
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Kelechi Iheanacho wins CNN Goal of the week award

Nigerian sensation, Kelechi Iheanacho’s stunner during Nigeria Vs Tanzania 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier clash played in Uyo recently has won the CNN Goal of the week award. 
 

“Congratulations to the latest CNN Goal of the Week winner, Kelechi Iheanacho!” CNN Football wrote on their official Twitter handle.
With Aguero missing the Derby this weekend, the Nigeria international who scored 14 goals & provided 5 assists in 35 appearances for Manchester City last season has been heavily tipped to lead the club to glory.
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Guardiola would be happy to share a glass of wine with Mourinho

Guardiola (centre) says he will have a glass of wine with Mourinho if he is offered one
The Manchester Derby is one of the hottest topics discussed
in football circles right not. The reason isn’t far-fetched. The managers of
both teams would go head to head for the first time since taking reigns at
their respective clubs. Downplaying his rivalry with Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola said he won’t turn down an offer to share wine with the Portuguese. “I’ll accept
(wine) if he invites me.  I have a lot of
respect for him. I learned from him, it’s as simple as that. ‘He was
my coach, the assistant with Bobby Robson. OK it was not easy at Barcelona. We
met each other two weeks ago at the manager’s meeting and we spoke with Koeman,
Pulis and so on.


And his expectations in the forthcoming game, the former Bayern Munich manager
added,
‘I want to control the game, concede few counter attacks. I would like to play
the way we did in the last five games. United are getting better, like us. They
have a lot of talent. Martial is so fast, Mata in between the lines. Set pieces
with the tall guys it is impossible to control. They are a top team.’
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I'm on Messi and Ronaldo's level – Arsenal star

Arsenal forward, Alexis Sanchez has
equalled his abilities with that of renowned sports men, Cristiano Ronaldo and
Lionel Messi. The Chile international netted 30 goals in 68 league appearances and
won the La Liga title and one Copa del Rey before leaving the shores of Spain
in 2014 and signing for the Gunners.
 
He told Sport: “I have reached a level where I can compete with
great players. I do not feel inferior to anybody. I liken [my qualities] to
Messi and Ronaldo. I have the same abilities as them.”

.
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Wenger reportedly refuses to let Mourinho sit beside him at a UEFA conference

Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho attended a UEFA managers' conference over the break

This is many shades of funny.

Arsene Wenger reignited his beef with Manchester United boss, Jose Mourinho today after he refused to let the latter sit beside him at a UEFA managers’ conference.

 Here’s a report from Dailymail.co.uk.

Mourinho arrived late at a speech being delivered by an Old Trafford great,
Sir Alex Ferguson. Spotting a seat opposite Paris Saint-Germain manager Unai
Emery and Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane and next to Wenger, the 53-year-old
asked if he could occupy the space. Without batting an eyelid, Wenger replied:
‘No, it isn’t possible.’ Wenger is regarded as having ‘won’ the exchange, with
other managers in the room laughing at his response to the Manchester United
boss.

Wenger needs to chill.

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Messi's son signs for Barcelona

Photo published for Lionel Messi's son, Thiago, is set to join Barcelona
We can’t
wonder why. Most of us saw this coming.
Another
member of the Messi clan has joined the Catalans.
Lionel
Messi’s eldest son, Thiago Messi has signed for Barcelona. The 3 year-old has joined
the FCBEscola; a pre-kids training intended for children of athletes and
members of all professional departments of the club as well as employees
of the La Liga club. The project is targeted at kids between 3 and 5 years old
who could then go on to play in the La Masia youth teams.

This
interesting development is coming less than a week after the Argentine revealed
in an interview that the lad isn’t so much interested in football.  “I don’t buy him many balls or
force him to play with them because he doesn’t like them that much. Let’s see
if he gets hooked.” He said.
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