Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has backed David Alaba to become a club legend at the Allianz Arena over the next decade. The Austria international joined Bayern from Austria Vienna in 2008 at the tender age of 16 and has since developed into a key figure at the reigning Bundesliga champions, making close to 200 appearances in all competitions. Alaba featured mainly at left-back in the early stages of his career, but has also played in midfield and as a centre-back in recent seasons and Guardiola is a keen admirer of the 23-year-old’s versatility. Recent reports suggested the Spanish coach…
Author: David Folami
Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano has nothing but praise for Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta and has stressed the duo never stop surprising him with their brilliance on the pitch. Mascherano is adamant football is much more complicated than it seems, but he has conceded his team-mates often make him question that statement with their sublime performances. “Football is not as easy as it looks from television gantry, but for Messi it is,” Mascherano told The Independent. “He is someone you never stop being surprised by. “Iniesta is the same. There is always a piece of skill during a match or…
Club president Aurelio De Laurentiis insists Napoli deserve to be considered a member of Italian football’s elite and has rejected suggestions of the team being too reliant on Gonzalo Higuain. Napoli are second in Serie A, two points behind Juventus, who dropped important points in a 0-0 draw at Bologna on Friday – the first time the champions have failed to win in the last 16 league games. Maurizio Sarri’s challengers have the opportunity to go top if they beat AC Milan at Stadio San Paolo on Monday, while many observers believe this is Napoli’s best chance to win the…
Outspoken AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi has sparked controversy once again after referring to Mario Balotelli as an Italian who has had a “bit too much sun”. The former Italy prime minister was celebrating his 30th anniversary as the head of Milan on Saturday. When asked about the club’s chances of success this season, Berlusconi responded: “We have a rich bed of talent, such as [Jeremy] Menez and Mario Balotelli, who is Italian even if he has had a bit too much sun.” The 79-year-old then went on to praise Balotelli’s talents following his gaffe. “Mario has exceptional athletic attributes.…
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea will have a scan on a knee problem he suffered warming up for their 2-1 Europa League defeat by Danish side Midtjylland on Thursday. Manager Louis van Gaal said the injury would need further investigation after the Spaniard was forced to sit out the last-32 first-leg tie where United’s troubled season took another turn for the worse. Sergio Romero replaced De Gea in the team for the Old Trafford club who were already without 12 players through injury or illness including captain Wayne Rooney. “David de Gea has a knee problem so we have…
Louis van Gaal refused to take the blame for Manchester United’s latest humiliation as the embattled boss claimed bad luck was the reason for Thursday’s humiliating 2-1 defeat against Danish side FC Midtjylland in the Europa League. Van Gaal’s side were expected to coast to victory in the last 32, first leg, but they failed to build on Memphis Depay’s first-half goal as strikes from Pione Sisto and Paul Onuachu rocked crisis-torn United. Just days after United were embarrassed in a 2-1 defeat at Premier League strugglers Sunderland, this was another chastening experience for Van Gaal, whose miserable reign hit…
Former Manchester United manager David Moyes says the Old Trafford hierarchy should keep faith with his embattled successor Louis van Gaal. Van Gaal is under severe pressure after United’s disappointing season hit a new low with a dismal 2-1 defeat at Danish minnows FC Midtjylland in the Europa League last 32 first leg on Thursday. United are also languishing outside the Premier League’s top four and failed to make it out of their Champions League group earlier this season. Moyes was axed by United after less than a season in charge with the club in similar disarray two years ago,…
Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has rejected suggestions the club’s lengthy injury list can be used as an excuse for failure in their FA Cup fifth round visit to third-tier Shrewsbury Town on Monday. Beleaguered manager Louis van Gaal has frequently blamed the club’s injury woes for an unsatisfactory campaign which has seen his own future at Old Trafford brought sharply into question. Thursday’s Europa League defeat at Danish side Midtjylland was seen by many as the low point of the season for United and more embarrassment will await at the struggling Shrews in the FA Cup should United fail…
Mr Peter Angbazo, the District Head of Wakama in Nasarawa state, has advised Nigerians, particularly pregnant women, to use mosquito nets to guard against contacting Zika virus and other diseases. Angbazo gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in his palace in Akun Development Area of the state on Friday. He said the advice was imperative due to the negative effects of the Zika virus and other diseases on human lives as well as on the socio-economic development of the country. “It is our role, not only to preach and ensure peace, unity, progress…
Newly appointed National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ali Modu-Sheriff has denied having any ties with Boko Haram. In a recent interview with ThisDay, the former Borno Governor stressed that he couldn’t have been sponsoring the terrorist sect, yet they killed his blood brother. In the interview, he said, “Boko Haram wanted to kill me at a time because they believed that I was the one that reported them to President Umaru Yar’Adua to destroy their enclave.” Continuing, he said, ‘It was after I left government that they moved to their different camps and bushes. Why should they…
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said on Saturday said that the 2016 budget was not padded because the total figure voted for all ministries had not exceeded N6.08 trillion. Briefing newsmen in Lagos, he said: “The total for every ministry has remained exactly the same as what was submitted to the National Assembly. “A lot has been said about the budget. Let make clear that nobody can ever accuse this government of padding any budget. “The total of all ministries put together has not exceeded N6.08 trillion that was submitted. It is factually incorrect to say…
Akinwunmi Ambode, Lagos state governor yesterday, February 19, 2016, during the Lagos Corporate Assembly tagged ‘A-plus meets business’ hinted plans in place to set up a Microfinance bank for artisans and small business operators. He stated that he is passionate about ‘Made in Nigeria’ products and this project’s goal is to make business processes easier. The governor said while answering questions that the request for the microfinance bank project has been sent to CBN and plans are being made to get the license to run. “We have met with the CBN governor and we believe we should set up a…
The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC), says some of its staff on legitimate duties had been attacked by some youths in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom. The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Jay McCoskey, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Ikot Abasi on Saturday that sadly, the community had enjoyed uninterrupted electricity supply without payment since Nov. 2015. “It is interesting to note that Ikot Abasi had been enjoying uninterrupted electricity supply which had not been paid for by customers since Nov. 2015”, he said. He explained that officials of the company were engaged…
Immediate past Senate President, David Mark has expressed confidence in returning to the senate under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, after casting his vote in the rerun senatorial election in Benue South. Mark, who casted his vote at his Otukpo Club polling unit, was spotted with his friend, Senator Tunde Ogbeha and brother, Igoche Mark amidst political loyalists. “Our people have resolved to return me back. They have decided that no external forces can come in between us in Zone C. We call on our supporters to maintain law and order while the election lasts,” he said.
The Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the ongoing Benue South Senatorial District Re-run, David Mark, has reportedly won at his ward’s polling unit. According to a report by Vanguard Newspaper, Mark polled 150 votes to beat Daniel Onjeh of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who had 37 votes. The polling result was from the VIP 1, Otukpo Club, Township ward. It was further reported that in a nearby polling unit, VIP II, Mark also won Onjeh with 97 votes to 19 votes.
Collation of results by INEC officials across the 3000 polling units in the rescheduled Benue South Senatorial election between David Mark of the PDP and Daniel Onjeh of the APC, has started. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that accreditation and voting took place simultaneously across the polling units in the district. NAN also reports that the exercise went peacefully albeit amidst tight security. A cross section of election observers described the exercise as “peaceful”, and commended the electoral umpire for its successful conduct. INEC officials declined comments on the conduct of the polls
Mrs Blessing Ameh, Health Educator, Kogi State Ministry of Health, said on Saturday that the state was free of polio for upward of six years without new cases. Ameh said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja, attributing the success story to routine polio immunisation exercises. The health educator said that more efforts were still needed to protect the children from re-infection. According to her, the first round of the exercise this year will hold between Feb. 27 and March 1. “The National immunization plus days for this year is here again. It is…
There are allegations that the All Progressive Congress are planning to manipulate the election results of the recently concluded Benue South Re-run election. According to a report by the Vanguard Newspaper, the Benue state chapter of PDP raised alarm over the plot by the APC to manipulate the results. The PDP State chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo alleged that the APC has hijacked the results from the polling units in Ogbadibo local government area. “As a party we call on all security operatives to arrest the situation forthwith so that the will of the people will not be thwarted”. “The APC…
Baseline music’s Aramide and winner of best vocalist female category at the Headies 2015 for ‘Iwo nikan’ features best alternative song 2015 Headies winner and YBNL act Adekunle Gold in this love song titled ‘Love Me’, where both parties go at the song and work their wonderful voices on it. This is easily a likeable song that we can all relate to. The song was produced by TinTin. Download and Enjoy!
Former member of G Unit, The Game shared a controversial picture of himself and G Unit memeber Lloyd Banks that may soon cause a stir on social media. The Game shared a picture of himself posing with G Unit member Lloyd Banks with the caption ‘Still’, while they were clubbing in Dubai. In the past, the crew has not been on cool terms with The Game considering his break away from the group. Following his departure from the group well over a decade ago, he immediately took aim at the group, referring to them as G-Unot during his Summer Jam…