Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola says he does not expect goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to leave the German champions any time soon. Guardiola will leave Bayern to take over Manchester City this summer, leading to reports this week that suggested the Premier League side were eager to keep him paired with Neuer in England. But the German international has three years remaining on his contract, and Guardiola said that City buying Neuer from Bayern was unlikely. “Manuel Neuer will be the goalkeeper at Bayern Munich for the next five, six, seven, eight or nine years,” Guardiola said. “That’s my hunch. I…
Author: David Folami
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has confirmed that Gareth Bale is finally fit to return for Saturday’s La Liga game at home to Celta Vigo. Bale, 26, has missed almost two months of action since picking up a calf injury in January — when he had been on a fine run of form, having scored 11 goals in his previous eight games. Madrid have had mixed results during the Wales international’s absence, doing well in the Champions League against Roma, but slipping out of contention in the La Liga title race after draws at Real Betis and Malaga as well…
Former Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello says Cristiano Ronaldo “maybe should have examined his conscience” before criticising his teammates after last weekend’s derbi defeat to Atletico Madrid, saying the Portugal star had missed two chances to score during the game. Real’s hopes of winning La Liga suffered a huge setback as they lost 1-0 to their local rivals at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, and Ronaldo defended his own form after the game by saying Los Blancos would be top of the table if his teammates were all at his “level.” The forward, who later said he had been referring to…
Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri says the Premier League’s big clubs “should blame themselves” if they fail to qualify for the Champions League amid speculation surrounding a breakaway European Super League. Representatives from five established powers of the English game — Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United — met with the chairman of American company Relevent Sports Charlie Stillitano in London on Tuesday. The meeting was primarily about the preseason International Champions Cup (ICC) competition which is staged in the United States and Asia and organised by Relevent Sports, and the clubs have denied that any discussions took place…
Guus Hiddink has warned the Chelsea hierarchy that the squad needs greater depth if the Blues are to compete for the Premier League title while fighting for multiple trophies next season. Last month, former boss Jose Mourinho claimed that a lack of significant investment in his title-winning Chelsea squad during the summer sowed the seeds for the disastrous run of results and “palpable discord” that brought about his sacking in December. Hiddink has overseen a dramatic revival since returning to Stamford Bridge for a second interim spell, losing one of 15 matches in all competitions to lead Chelsea up to…
Fourth-placed Manchester City trail leaders Leicester City by 10 points with a game in hand. But with none of the top-four winning in midweek, Manchester United closed the gap at the top — moving level on 47 points with City while West Ham United are just a further point behind. And in such an unpredictable season, Pellegrini says any of the top six sides that puts a winning run together is capable of winning the title. He told a news conference: “In the whole season all the teams are losing a lot of points. That’s why I just said that…
Harry Kane says Tottenham are motivated by Arsenal’s struggles, ahead of one of the most significant North London derbies in history. Second-place Spurs host their neighbours on Saturday knowing a win would move them six points clear in the title race, significantly denting Arsenal’s hopes of a first Premier League crown since 2004 and leaving Spurs with a golden chance to finish as the top dog in North London for the first time since 1995. The North London clubs have played their last two league matches simultaneously and while both lost on Wednesday — Spurs at West Ham and Arsenal…
Louis van Gaal has rejected the notion that Marcus Rashford saved his job, instead saying the teenager epitomises the trust in young players that Manchester United fans should be thanking him for. There have been plenty of peaks and troughs at Old Trafford this season, with the 18-year-old’s remarkable breakthrough certainly fitting into the former category. Thrown in against FC Midtjylland after a warm-up injury to Anthony Martial, Rashford netted a brace to help United win that do-or-die Europa League clash. Another double a few days later in the 3-2 victory over Arsenal increased the feel-good factor and alleviated the…
Former President, Goodluck Jonathan has again been praised for saving Nigeria from chaos by conceding defeat in the 2015 elections. Jonathan’s action was described as ‘classy’ by Ghanaian activist, Nii Akuetteh in the Wilson Centre’s Africa Year Review 2015. “Thanks to Jonathan’s handling the election and the turnover of power so smoothly, another potential havoc was avoided,” Akuetteh wrote. “Unquestionably, Nigeria’s recent embrace of democracy and Jonathan’s classy role define Africa’s most important—and uplifting—story of 2015. Africa and the world should give thanks,” he added. Jonathan has earned worldwide accolade for conceding defeat to President Muhammadu Buhari after the March…
Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has no reason to resign from his present position, a former deputy governor of Kaduna State, James Bawa Magaji has said. Saraki is being accused by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) for wrongfully declaring his assets 13 years ago when he was governor of Kwara State. The Senator who is standing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), said recently that he is facing persecution because he emerged Senate Present against the powers that be. “I have certificate from the CCB stating that the declaration I made in 2003 was okey,” Saraki has…
The deputy national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, who was arrested by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), last week, has described his detention as a witch-hunt and pure political persecution. The EFCC arrested the PDP Chieftain over the luxury vehicles he received from the detained Jide Omokore, an associate of former minister petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is being investigated for alleged fraud. Secondus admitted to receiving the automobiles, noting that he has been friends with Omokore for over 20 years and regularly received car gifts from him for personal use. “Mr. Jide Omokore…
Implementation of N500 billion intervention fund contained in the 2016 budget proposal will not be feasible since there are no clear implementation strategies, the joint committee on Appropriation has said. The chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Sen. Danjuma Goje, made the statement on Thursday in Abuja. He spoke at an interactive session with Ministry of Budget and Planning, Ministry of Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Accountant General’s Office and other stakeholders in the economy. Goje noted that though the executive gave explanations about the implementation strategies, they were not satisfactory. “There is no detailed, clear cut structure laid down…
Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, has denied reports that he’s planning to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Ayade made the denial via a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Christian Ita on Thursday, March 3, 2016. It reads: “In a recent briefing with newsmen, the governor stated in very clear terms that he is a member of the PDP. The fact that the governor has a very good relationship with President Buhari does not, in any way, suggest he wants to join the APC.” “For the avoidance of doubt, Governor…
The National Working Committee (NWC), of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) whose tenure is supposed to expire this month, is planning to extend its stay until August, 2017. Theinfostride gathered from a document prepared by the National Working Committee on Thursday night which is to be presented to the members of their party on Monday which indicated that they want extension of tenure. In the memo jointly signed by the National Organizing Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha and National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwan, claimed that only the offices of the National Chairman, National Secretary, Financial Secretary and the National Auditor are…
Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has said that Nigeria’s senators are too important to use buses for their official duties. Ndume made the comment following criticism from various sectors on the National Assembly’s plans to purchase vehicles worth N4.7 billion. “…Money has been budgeted but the budget has not been passed and you know there is this public debate going on that Senators should not buy cars,” Ndume said while appearing on Channels TV today, March 4, 2016. “Look I am a senator representing 9 Local governments. A Minister was appointed, 36 of them. All of them are driving a convoy…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State has criticized the governments of President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for performing below expectation. The comment was made by Lagos PDP Chairman, Tunji Shelle during the party’s General Assembly, Daily Trust reports. “A new government came in May 2015 and up till now, nothing has happened. We have the history of stolen budget, missing budget, and padded budget. Is that what we are looking for? Is that the change we are looking for?” Shelle said “I can’t see any spark in the new governor of Lagos State. The only thing…
Former president Goodluck Jonathan’s ex-aide-de-camp (ADC), Ojugbane Adegbe, has been released. Adegbe was arrested on February 11 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and later transferred to the custody of the Nigerian army. He was picked up in connection with the distribution of N10 billion to delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the 2015 general elections. The funds is believed to be from the controversial $2.1 billion meant for arms procurement for the military to fight insurgency. Confirming his release, Adegbe’s counsel, Ogwu Onoja, said he was freed today, March 4, following the Tuesday order of…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos state has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is dead in Lagos and Nigeria. The comment was made by Lagos APC spokesman, Joe Igbokwe, according to Daily Trust. “The non-existing Lagos PDP says Governor Ambode has performed below expectation. Now, are they in Lagos? What does the PDP know about leadership and service delivery?” Igbokwe said. “Can they see the indelible marks the man has left in Lagos in less than one year? Can they see the monumental lighting of Lagos Metropolis? Can they see the security situation and the Security architecture…
Governor of Edo state, Adams Oshiomhole, has reacted to Senator Dino Melaye’s statement, berating his marriage to a non-Nigerian woman. Melaye made the statement at the plenary session on Wednesday, March 2, while speaking on a debate about the need for Nigerians to patronise made-in-Nigeria goods. “We will also move in order to encourage the made-in-Nigeria products in Nigeria, begin to talk about made-in-Nigeria women. Apologies to my uncle, the governor of Edo state, we must, as a people, stop paying dowry in dollars and pounds. It is time for my colleagues here to become born again”, Melaye said. Reacting…
Globacom, Nigerian telecommunications operator and has released an official statement, denying the reports that their contract with P Square has been terminated. GLO revealed that its brand endorsement deal with music duo, Peter and Paul Okoye, popularly known as PSquare is still very much intact. The company confirmed this in a statement released in Lagos on Thursday that, contrary to media speculations, the twins were still its brand ambassadors, adding that it was only in the process of reviewing contracts with its ambassadors, including the twins. “We have not disengaged PSquare or any of our other ambassadors. We are currently…