"Okocha Is The Best Captain I've Ever Had" - English Coach, Sam Allardyce

England manager Sam Allardyce says Austin Okocha is the best captain he has ever had.

Okocha, 43, was named skipper of Bolton Wanderers following Guðni Bergsson’s retirement and as leader, he led the Trotters to the 2004 League Cup final where they bowed to Middlesbrough.

And Allardyce - who manager of the team then reveals Okocha was proficient in the role and also a brilliant player.

“Jay Jay Okocha. On and off the field he was the captain you looked for,” the Three Lions boss said. 

"In a multi-national side from all over the world he could speak four different languages, communicate very well with some of the players who couldn't speak quite as good English.

“He sorted the odd scuffle out in the dressing room, talked to the players about how we had to go out and win. He'd take the manager's instructions and apply them in the right way.

“Then there was outstanding ability on the field, leading by example and showing everybody he wasn't a mercenary which was suggested in the beginning, that he'd only come for the money. He became an iconic figure at Bolton Wanderers.”

Allardyce leads out England for the first time in Sunday’s 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier against Slovakia.

Source:

http://m.goal.com/s/en-ng/news/4093/nigerian-football/2016/08/30/27016752/okocha-the-best-captain-ive-worked-with-says-england-manager?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com.ng%2F

New Coach, Rohr Pushes Out Coach Imama Amakapabo From Super Eagles

New Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has made his first major change in the team – he has asked that he would not need assistant coach Imama Amakapabo.

Franco-German Rohr jetted into the country this week with an adviser, a fitness trainer as well as a video specialist.

Amakapabo has proved to be one of the country’s brightest young coaches as he leads Enugu Rangers to a first league championship after 32 long years.

However, Rohr is not impressed and has asked that the assistant coach be dropped.

“Yes, it’s true that the new coach (Rohr) has decided he does not need Imama,” a team official informed.

“That decision came to us as a big shock especially knowing that it was the technical committee who appointed him.”

Former Nigeria U17 goalkeeper Imama first worked as part of the Eagles backroom staff in the May friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg as an assistant to Salisu Yusuf.

He will also assist Yusuf with the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) All-Stars playing tour of Spain recently.

Earlier Tuesday, Imama disclosed he will rejoin his club Rangers for a rescheduled home game against MFM FC on Wednesday, saying he does not wish to take any chances as Rangers stay among the prominent league title chasers. 

Source:

http://africanfootball.com/news/643672/EXCLUSIVE-Rohr-pushes-out-coach-Imama

Iheanacho Overtakes Mikel As Eagles Highest Earner

MANCHESTER City wonderkid Kelechi Iheanacho is now the top Nigeria earner in the Premier League on £85,000-a-week to knock off Chelsea star Mikel Obi.

This month, Iheanacho signed a new two-year contract extension at City till 2021, saying his new contract will “change the lives of his family”. Mikel, who moved to England 10 years ago, has been the biggest earner from Nigeria for many years and he is now on 70,000 pounds a week at Stamford Bridge.

The midfielder’s compatriot at ‘The Blues’, Victor Moses bagged a 50,000 pounds-a-week when he joined Chelsea from Wigan Athletic in 2012. Watford striker Odion Ighalo is believed to have improved on his 25,000 pounds-a-week after he recently signed a contract extension.

Defender Kenneth Omeruo is on 15,000 pounds every week even though he has yet to play an official match for Chelsea. It was further gathered that Iheanacho’s new handlers negotiated this bumper deal even though they are still locked in an ownership tussle with the player’s previous representatives, who are based in the United States of America.

Iheanacho’s former agents had proposed a new contract of 50,000 pounds-a-week for the 19-year-old forward. He earned less than 18,000 pounds-a-week when he first joined Manchester City.

source: 

http://xtrimlaughs.com/2016/08/iheanacho-overtakes-mikel-eagles-highest-earner/#more-184

Government Policy Stopped Us From Paying Siasia – NFF Head Of Media

The Head of Communications in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Ademola Olajire says, the new policy of the President Mohammed Buhari regime is part of the reason why coach of the Nigeria U23s Samson Siasia has not been paid for five months.

Siasia while announcing his resignation from his role as the coach of the Nigeria U23 said he is being owed five months salary by the NFF, which Olajire admits the body is owing the bronze medal winning coach.

However Olajire pointed out, that the delay was caused by the policy of the government, which mandates all cash inflow to public institutions to first go through the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

Olajire angered by the coach decision in making public the issue of none payment of his salary for five months, says the coach should also be gracious enough to reveal to the public once he is paid.

“The NFF admits owing Siasia, but I believe you must have read about certain money from Caf was earmarked to pay himself and assistants but it had to first go into TSA, cos of new Govt policy. Siasia should be able to credit NFF for getting his team friendly matched and invitational tournaments, and for getting the team to Atlanta.

“The rest should be NOC and Sports Ministry. If Siasia does not appreciate anything at all, he should be able to appreciate that NFF gave him a job in the first place. He will get his five months salary (let me add that NFF Management are also being owed the same five months) but by then he will not be gracious enough to tell anybody that he has been paid.

“NFF has never meant evil for him. Of the 22 months he did in the job, he has been paid 17 months. He will get the balance soon, but will tell no one. The part people will hear and retain in their memory is that NFF is owing him”.

Source:

http://owngoalnigeria.com/2016/08/29/nff-head-of-media-says-government-policy-stopped-them-from-paying-siasia-five-months-salary/

Cristiano Ronaldo Wins UEFA 2015/16 Best Player Award

Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo has lifted the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award for a second time.

Cristiano Ronaldo's 2016 has been phenomenal. The soccer superstar won two trophies, one with his club and one with country, and they were the biggest. In May, he took home the Champions League crown with Real Madrid before winning Euro 2016 with Portugal this summer. Could it get any better? It just did.

Ronaldo, voted by 55 European sports journalists, won the Best Player in Europe award for 2015-16 on Thursday during the Champions League group stage draw in Monaco, defeating club teammate Gareth Bale and Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann.



Ronaldo had 35 league goals and 16 Champions League goals last campaign, adding three at Euro 2016. He was the clear-cut favorite entering the day. Bale had 19 goals and 10 assists for Real Madrid, and Griezmann had 22 league goals for Atletico Madrid, seven in the Champions League and six goals at Euro 2016. Bale did get the Champions League trophy as well. Ronaldo and his club and country beat Griezmann in both the UCL final and the Euro final this summer.

This is the second time Ronaldo was won the award, winning it for the first time in 2013-14. Lionel Messi of Barcelona won it last year but was not a finalist this year.

Speaking after receiving the award,Ronaldo said...

"It's a great honour. My team-mates are the key – they are the key every year. I work hard myself but without their help this would not be possible. Thanks to my team-mates from Real Madrid and Portugal. [Winning EURO] was different because I've won the Champions League three times now. To win something with Portugal was the highlight of my career."


Source: 

http://www.trezzyblog.com/2016/08/cristiano-ronaldo-named-201516-best.html

Champions League Draw Today At 5pm - European Football

The European and UEFA Super Cup champions are one of the seeded sides in today's draw, which is to be held at Monaco's Foro Grimaldi (18:00 CEST…5:00 PM in Nigeria).

The European and UEFA Super Cup champions will begin their quest to become the first side to successfully defend the Champions League title under the competition's current format on 13 or 14 September, whilst the final will take place on 3 June 2017 at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. 

In the group stage draw, Real Madrid for example cannot play another Spanish side, nor can they face any of the other clubs from Pot 1. Each of the teams have been placed in the respective pots based on the UEFA club coefficient system, barring Pot 1, which is made up of the winners of the major leagues and the defending European champions.

The pots

Pot 1: Real Madrid (Spain), Barcelona (Spain), Leicester City (England), Bayern Munich (Germany), Juventus (Italy), Benfica (Portugal), Paris Saint-Germain (France), CSKA Moscow (Russia).

Pot 2: Atletico Madrid (Spain), Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Arsenal (England), Manchester City (England), Sevilla (Spain), Porto (Portugal), Napoli (Italy), Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)

Pot 3: Basel (Switzerland), Tottenham Hotspur (England), Dynamo Kiev (Ukraine), Lyon (France), PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands), Sporting Lisbon (Portugal), Club Brugge (Belgium), Borussia Monchengladbach (Germany)

Pot 4: Celtic (Scotland), Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia), Monaco (France), Besiktas (Turkey), Legia Warsaw (Poland), Ludogorets Razgrad (Bulgaria), FC Copenhagen (Denmark), Rostov (Russia)

Brazilian Girl Usain Bolt Had A One Night Stand With Said He Is Small Under

Usain Bolt spent a night of passion with a Brazilian student after wooing her by flashing his six-pack and pulling his famous 'lightning bolt' pose, she has sensationally claimed.

Jady Duarte, 20, shared snaps which appear to show her kissing and cuddling the sprinting sensation after his 30th birthday bash in Rio.

And now she has broken her silence on spending the night with the Olympic ace - claiming he persuaded her to accompany him back to the Olympic Village by using the Google Translate app.

They then allegedly made love in a small single bed, while listening to Rihanna's Work.

The pair's raunchy antics reportedly lasted over two one-hour sessions, with them enjoying drinks together in between.

The star has since returned to London, where he has been snapped surrounded by a bevy of beauties on wild nights out ever since - despite Jady claiming he had promised they would see each other again.

They met in Rio's upmarket club All In, and Jady claims the sporting legend slowly made his way over to her group of friends, before shamelessly flashing his impressive six-pack.

"He was stood in front of us and suddenly he pulled up his shirt and showed us his six pack," she told Mail Online. "I had never seen anything like it. I just had to reach out and stroke it."

Bolt then reportedly asked his bodyguard to invite her over to join him, and while she was hesitant at first, she eventually met him again at the end of the night.

"Finally we were waiting in line for a taxi and he smiled at me and did the famous victory pose so I was in no doubt who he was," she added. "That's was when I decided it was time to give in to him. He pulled me into the taxi and gave me an incredible kiss."

Despite heavy security, Bolt managed to sneak his companion into the Olympic Village on an official bus, and she claimed they kissed the entire way.

The mum-of-two doesn't speak any English, and claimed Bolt used the Google Translate app throughout.

After showering in his room, which is said to have had two small single beds in, the sportsman started playing music on his phone, settling on Rihanna's Work, before they enjoyed a night of passion.

"It was very passionate and hot - we were devouring one another. He has the body of a champion although his male parts do not match - he is just like a regular guy," she claimed.

According to the brunette beauty, they had sex twice over a lengthy period of time, before taking selfies in bed together.

She claims Bolt then gave her a 100 Euro bank note to get a taxi, and promised to call her to arrange another date during the Paralympcs.

"I really thought we had something going," she told the site. "But now I can see that he picks up women as quickly as he picks up gold medals."

We have contacted the star's reps for comment.

And it comes after Bolt's sister insisted he would not split from his girlfriend - despite his very public antics recently.

Source: 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/usain-bolts-student-lover-breaks-8693760

Iheanacho injured in Man City’s win over Steaua

Manchester City's Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho is stretchered off the field after picking up an injury during the UEFA Champions League second leg play-off football match between Manchester City and Steaua Bucharest at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England on August 24, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Anthony Devlin

Nigerian international, Kelechi Iheanacho, on Wednesday picked up an injury during Manchester City’s second leg playoff game against Steaua Bucharest at the Etihad Stadium.

In the 75th minute the striker pulled up with what looked like a serious hamstring injury after chasing a through ball, putting more pressure on Kun Aguero to stay fit.

Before he was stretched off, the Nigerian contributed to City’s lone goal of the night after connecting with a Yaya Toure pass in the 56th minute. He played the ball outside of the box to an onrushing Jesus Navas, whose cross found Fabian Delph, who nodded down past Steaua goalkeeper Valentin Cojocaru.

Source:

http://punchng.com/iheanacho-injured-win-steaua-bucharest/

UNFINISHED BUSINESS Lionel Messi’s boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys believe he will return once he finishes playing days at Barcelona

Argentinian superstar could return in under two years time if he does not pen fresh deal to stay at Nou Camp

BY ALEC SHILTON  23rd August 2016,

Messi was smaller than his team-mates at a young age in Rosario

He is now wanted by his boyhood club before he retires from football

Messi playing in a youth match for Argentina aged 19

He lifted last season’s Liga trophy before before scoring twice against Betis

Messi‘s current deal at Barca expires in 2018 – meaning there is a chance he could be back in Argentina in under TWO years.

Newells VP Cristian D’Amico said: “I am convinced, like many of my peers, that we can make history as a club if we get the best player in the world in a Newell’s shirt.

“I think we’re going to get the pleasure of Messi wearing the shirt.

“Imagine a game with Messi in the ‘Coloso’ (Estadio Marcelo Bielsa), with the press around the world.

“The sponsors who would come… that would make a difference economically, apart from the sentimental value, and could make a big difference to clean up the debts.”

Messi left Rosario at 13 because, while his talent for clear to all, he just wasn’t developing physically.

He was forced to undergo a $1,500-a-month treatment of injecting himself every night before bed, seven days in one leg and then seven days in the other.

Messi’s father Jorge took the decision for his son to move to Barcelona

It would be difficult to leave given his partnership with Neymar and Luis Suarez

The 29-year-old retired from Argentina duty after his Copa America final defeat

"What’s taken him to the level he’s now reached is his talent and his self belief. Leo knew that he had to do that to become a professional player."

Messi, who scored twice in Barca's 6-2 opening Liga win against Real Betis on Saturday, has since won the league eight times and Champions League on four occasions - scoring an incredible 467 goals in 566 games for the 'Blaugrana' while scooping 29 major trophies.

He announced his retirement from international football after Argentina's Copa America final defeat to Chile this summer.

His Dad has since indicated on social media that Messi may perform a U-turn.

Source:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/1657348/lionel-messis-boyhood-club-newells-old-boys-believe-he-will-return-once-he-finishes-playing-days-at-barcelona/?CMP=spklr-_-Editorial-_-TWITTER-_-TheSunFootball-_-20160823-_-Football-_-551658022

Mikel Obi Donates To Siasa, His Share Of Japanese Surgeon's Cash Gift

Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel will, according to team’s sources, donate part of his share of the $390,000 awarded to the bronze winning Nigeria U-23 team at thae Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Katsuya Takasu, a Japanese surgeon made good his promise to reward the team for their bravery in Rio after they beat Honduras 3-2 for the bronze medal.

The Nigeria Football Federation and the Sports Ministry made their observations known by insisting that the money must be from a credible sources, but according to feelers from the camp of the Olympics Eagles, the NFF were only seeking for means of getting their hands on the money.

However, Takasu issued two Citibank cheques $200,000 in the name of coach Samson Siasia and $190,000 in the name of Mikel.

One of the team’s officials disclosed to Africafootball.com that the team vowed not to hand over the money to the NFF.

“Mikel has insisted all of us will get our share of the money. That we should not mind what the people in the NFF are saying.

“He will make available this cash when he comes for next month’s AFCON qualifier against Tanzania in Uyo.”

A team meeting has already resolved that both players and officials will receive equal amount of the cash with Mikel himself agreeing to give part of his own share for the chief coach (Siasia) to get more than the rest of the squad.

It was further gathered that the sharing formula agreed was a flat rate for the 22 players (18 accredited players and four alternate players) and 10 officials.

Source:

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/mikel-donates-japanese-largesse-siasia/

Nigeria Coach, Rohr Receives $47,000 (18 Million Naira) A Month - Africanfootbal

It can be specially reported that new Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr will earn $47,000 a month.

This sum converted to local currency at the current exchange rate comes down to over 18 million Naira and it is a geometrical jump from the five million Naira Sunday Oliseh pocketed before he quit his post in February.

The Franco-German has signed a two-year contract, which is now believed will be bankrolled by an oil company owned by Ifeanyi Ubah.

Officials have already argued that Rohr will be assisted by three others he has handpicked – an adviser, a fitness trainer and a video specialist.

The former Burkina Faso and Niger coach will be the one responsible for these assistants.

Rohr will be in charge of next month’s AFCON 2017 qualifier in Uyo against Tanzania, which will mainly serve as warm-up to Nigeria’s opening 2018 World Cup qualifier in Zambia on October 3. 

Source:

http://africanfootball.com/news/640247/REVEALED-Nigeria-coach-Rohr-pockets-47000-a-month

See 7 Photos here on Abdulsalami Abubakar Visit to Ifeanyi Ubah FC In Nnewi

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar Show of his Football skill During his working visit to the Ifeanyi Ubah Games Village, Industrial Park, Residential Complex, in Nnewi, Anambra state. 

See photos Below:

Source:

Source:http://www.flexygist.com/2016/08/21/photos-abdulsalami-abubakar-shows-his-football-skills-as-he-visits-ifeanyi-ubah-games-village/

Usain Bolt In Bed With Jady Duarte, 20 Year Old Rio Girl After Wild Party

A twenty-year-old student from Rio has shared photos of what appears to be her with Usain Bolt after a wild night of partying on the final weekend of the Olympics.

Jady Duarte shared the WhatsApp pictures that show her wearing a white top while embracing a bare-torsoed Bolt - who has a long-term girlfriend.

In one of the photos - which first appeared on several Brazilian websites including El Globo after Duarte shared them with friends - Bolt seems to give Duarte a kiss on the cheek while she looks into the camera.

The Jamaican sprinter, who turned 30 on Sunday, was also pictured partying until the early hours of the morning at All In, a club in the Barra de Tijuca suburb of Rio.

Bolt, who has a girlfriend of two years at home in Jamaica who he calls his ‘First Lady’, also attracted the attention of 20-year-old Duarte who shared photos of herself in bed with the superstar on Whatsapp early Sunday morning.

The intimate photos show the star curled up in bed with the student at 7am local time this morning.

Speaking to local newspaper Extra, Duarte said she hadn't realized that she was with a famous athlete and described their nocturnal encounter as 'normal'.

Source:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3752215/Usain-s-Olympic-blowout-Rio-student-20-shares-WhatsApp-photos-appearing-bed-Bolt-following-wild-30th-birthday-bash-girlfriend-say.html

I Hope To Go Back To Chelsea With Olympics Gold - Mikel.

Mikel says he doesn’t want to return to Chelsea without an Olympic Games gold medal. 

He says his teammates all want to achieve the same thing. 

Mikel hopes to win the Olympics gold medal after his coach Conte urged him to do so. 

The Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has said he plans to return to his club with an Olympics gold medal.

Speaking ahead of Nigeria’s clash with Germany in the semi-finals, Mikel said he is determined to have the Olympics gold to declare in his luggage, Vanguard reports.

Mikel said: “I hope to go back to Chelsea as the Olympic champion.

“I came out here to do my best to help the team with the gold medal.

“That has always been my objective. It’s my aim and the players all want the same. When you have a group of players all wanting to achieve the same thing, hopefully it will go well at the end.

“Hopefully, the semi-final will go well on Wednesday and then we will be in the final and win the gold medal.

“It was a bit frustrating coming down here, but while we were in Atlanta we knew that we had a good shot at getting to the final or winning the tournament.

“With the problems we have had getting to this stage, it is just absolutely amazing and we just have to keep going.’’

Source;

https://www.naij.com/930352-mikel-plans-make-contes-wish-come-true.html

I Can Call Messi Out from International Retirment.

Argentina’s new coach Edgardo Bauza said Thursday he was optimistic he can convince Lionel Messi to come out of international retirement after meeting the five-time World Player of the Year.

Bauza said he had “a good conversation” with the 29-year-old superstar when they met earlier on Thursday in Barcelona.

“We only talked about football. I’m optimistic. But I’m not inside his head,” he told Argentine television station TN.

“I’ll call him when I get back to Buenos Aires.”

He said Messi’s Barcelona and Argentina teammate Javier Mascherano was also present at the meeting.

Bauza, who became Argentina manager on August 1, is due to announce his squad on Friday for Argentina’s next qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.

He boarded a flight to Spain on Monday night on a mission to persuade Messi to rethink his decision to quit the national team.

The Barcelona striker abruptly announced his international retirement after Argentina lost the Copa America final to Chile.

Messi, who missed a crucial penalty, left the pitch in tears after the match, saying: “For me, the national team is over.”

Argentina have suffered a string of disappointing losses in big tournaments with Messi, including the World Cup final in 2014.

Bauza took over the job from Gerardo Martino tasked with turning things around amid a crisis at the Argentine Football Association.

The AFA is currently in the hands of a temporary normalizing committee appointed by FIFA after being decimated by corruption allegations and rows over TV rights.

Source;

http://guardian.ng/sport/argentina-coach-upbeat-after-meeting-messi/

Gernot Rohr Signs Contract With NFF To Lead Super Eagles of Nigeria

Gernot Rohr bags 2-year contract to lead Nigeria

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Tuesday gave 63-year-old Franco-German Gernot Rohr a two-year contract to lead the country's team.

According to the Twitter https://mobile.twitter.com/thenff/status/762987710600675328 handle of the NFF, Rohr has signed a two-year contract as technical adviser of the Super Eagles.

Officials disclosed he will be presented to the public and media next week.

At the weekend, the NFF technical committee recommended to the executive committee that the former Gabon and Niger coach be appointed after they met with him in Abuja.

His immediate task will be to qualify Nigeria to the 2018 World Cup after the Eagles failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations for second straight time.

Nigeria begin their qualifying campaign in Zambia on October 3.

They are also drawn against Algeria and Cameroon in a difficult group. 

Source;

http://africanfootball.com/news/636720/Gernot-Rohr-bags-2-year-contract-to-lead-Nigeria

Here are 10 facts about the 63-year-old.

1. His playing career spanned 17 years, mostly at French club, Girondins Bordeaux, but beginning with German side, Bayern Munich.

2. He played as a defender.

3. He began his managerial career in 1990 with Girondins Bordeaux.

4. In 1996, he led Girondins Bordeaux to the UEFA Cup final, where they lost to Bayern Munich.

5. He was sports director of Eintracht Frankfurt from 1998 to 1999.

6. Rohr managed Tunisian club Etoile du Sahel from 2008 to 2009, but eventually got sacked on May 15, 2009 following a third-place 

finish in the league, outside of the 2010 CAF Champions League places.

7. In the following month, Rohr was named as the head coach of FC Nantes, another french side. Eventually, he got fired December.

8. February 2010, Rohr was named coach of the Gabon national football team.

9. He became manager of Niger national football team in September 2012, but later resigned in October 2014.

10. He became coach of Burkina Faso national football team, 2015. He got sacked December the same year.

I Substituted Mata Because He Was The ‘Smallest Player’ – Mourinho

Substitute Juan Mata was replaced in Manchester United's Community Shield win "because he was the smallest player", boss Jose Mourinho said. Mata,sold by Mourinho to Unitedwhen at Chelsea, looked unhappy tobe taken off 30 minutes after coming on in the 2-1 win over Leicester Cityat Wembley.

"I needed to take off the smallest player because we were expecting alot of long balls," Mourinho said.

But BBC pundit Danny Murphy said the decision was "embarrassing" for Mata.

"You don't do that unless you are trying to send a message," ex-England midfielder Murphy said.

"They have a lot of history at Chelsea and he has embarrassed him in front of his supporters and his family.

"He is basically saying to him you are not important and he has done it publicly. I can't see him still being at the club at the end of August."

Midfielder Mata, who is 5ft 7in tall, was sent on in the 63rd minute in place of goalscorer Jesse Lingard, with the score 1-1.

He was replaced 10 minutes after Zlatan Ibrahimovic's 83rd-minute winner by 5ft 10in new signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Mourinho put his arm around Mata when the Spaniard came off three minutes before the final whistle but the former Valencia player looked unimpressed.

Sourced From ;

http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/37005699