Last year was a memorable one both on and off the track for the multi-talented Blessing Okagbare. She capped off golds galore in the Commonwealth Games and African champs by tying the knot in her hometown. Now the Nigerian wants to take on even more in 2015. . You could forgive Blessing Okagabare for feeling a tinge of regret on New Year’s Day. . It is not that the outrageously gifted Nigerian should approach 2015 with anything but optimism; it is just that 2014 was such a memorable year for the sprinter-jumper that it must have been hard to leave…
Author: David F.
Emmanuel Emenike has said he hopes after that breaking his goals’ drought at the weekend he will now fire more goals for Turkish champions Fenerbache. . Nigeria international Emenike ended a long-drawn goals’ drought when he netted the winner for Fenerbahce on Saturday in a 2-1 win at his former club Karabukspor. . The AFCON 2013 top scorer’s last goal for Fenerbahce before that of Saturday was on November 2, 2014 in a 2-0 win at Besiktas. . “I’m very humbled by this goal. I am very sure that everybody is happy and the story has changed. Now, I want…
Former Super Eagles striker Obafemi Martins scored as his MLS side Seattle Sounders defeated University of Carlifonia, Los Angeles (UCLA) 5-0 on Wednesday in their first pre-season game in Walnut. . Obafemi Martins opened the scoring for his side in the 39th minute, Lamar Neagle added the second goal on the stroke of half time. . Chad Barrett, Kenny Cooper and Micheal Azira scored the remaining goals in the second half to complete the demolition. . Martins scored 17 goals last season and has been doing well in training since he rejoined the rest of the squad. . The Sounders…
Hull City boss Steve Bruce has welcomed the addition of Mike Phelan to his backroom staff ahead of Saturday’s fixture against Manchester City. . Phelan was announced as Hull assistant manager on Thursday. . Sir Alex Ferguson’s former Manchester United number two and Bruce were team-mates at Norwich and at Old Trafford. . Bruce said “He comes in at just the right time to add valuable experience, plus he has been assistant to the best boss we will ever come across.” . Hull lost 4-2 against Manchester City in September, despite being level with the Premier League champions at the…
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini expects new signing Wilfried Bony to make his debut in the home match against Newcastle on 21 February. . Bony, 26, joined City from Swansea last month but is away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast, who have reached the final, which is on Sunday. . Yaya Toure is also part of the Ivorian squad that will contest the final, but Pellegrini says it is “impossible”
QPR caretaker manager Chris Ramsey would welcome the arrival of Tim Sherwood as permanent boss. . Ramsey, a coach at Tottenham during Sherwood’s brief reign at White Hart Lane last term, is in temporary charge following Harry Redknapp’s resignation. . “We’re good friends outside football so speak regularly,” he said of Sherwood. . “He gave me an opportunity at Tottenham to coach in the Premier League so I’d be happy working with him as I think he’s very good at what he does.” . QPR have made contact with Sherwood, who won 14 of his 28 matches with Tottenham, but…
Defender Gabriel Zakuani wants DR Congo to pull out of their Africa Cup of Nations third-place play-off against Equatorial Guinea amid security fears. . His side face the hosts on Saturday at the same venue where rioting marred the home side’s semi- final against Ghana. . “If they’re throwing this [rocks and glass] at players, Eq Guinea, you can have 3rd place, I love football but prefer to live,” Zakuani, 28, tweeted. . Equatorial Guinea’s football federation has been fined £65,000 for the trouble. . It has also been told by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) to meet the…
Defender Gabriel Zakuani wants DR Congo to pull out of their Africa Cup of Nations third-place play-off against Equatorial Guinea amid security fears. . His side face the hosts on Saturday at the same venue where rioting marred the home side’s semi- final against Ghana. . “If they’re throwing this [rocks and glass] at players, Eq Guinea, you can have 3rd place, I love football but prefer to live,” Zakuani, 28, tweeted. . Equatorial Guinea’s football federation has been fined £65,000 for the trouble. . It has also been told by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) to meet the…
Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross will be out for “a couple of weeks” because of a back injury. . The 27-year-old defender had to leave the field in the first half of last weekend’s 3-1 home victory over QPR. . “Unfortunately Ryan will be missing now for a couple of weeks,” Potters boss Mark Hughes said. “He’s just got an issue with the disc in his back. . “We have other players capable of filling in though, so it is a chance for them to come in and make a mark.” . Stoke, 10th in the table, travel to Newcastle in…
Wigan boss Malky Mackay has signed Kim Bo- kyung, the player who was allegedly the subject of an offensive text message sent by the Scot. Mackay was Cardiff manager when the Welsh side signed the 25-year-old South Korea international. . The 42-year-old admitted to sending offensive messages, one allegedly about Kim, to colleague Iain Moody, for which he later apologised. . The midfielder joins on a contract until the end of. the season. . He told the club website: “I am very happy to be joining up with the gaffer again. . “I really enjoyed working with him in the…
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Jack Wilshere is “not a smoker” after a picture emerged on social media of the midfielder holding a shisha pipe. . The 23-year-old has been reprimanded by his manager before for twice being photographed smoking. . Wenger said Wilshere had apologised, but added: “One second of your life does not define who you are. . “He is not a smoker. He is sorry about what happened but he has to master his own life.” . On Thursday, Wilshere, currently out of action with an ankle injury, posted a video of him in training on social…
The Russian Football Union said they have cleared their debt to coach Fabio Capello who had been unpaid since June. . The RFU said in November it could not pay the Italian, who earns more than any other national coach. . Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov reportedly claimed on Thursday he had loaned 400m rubles (£3.9m) to meet the payments on Capello’s £7m salary. . On Friday the organisation said it had performed the “necessary operations to transfer the money” to Capello. . Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko, who is understood to have arranged Usmanov’s loan, reportedly said the money would…
Manager Sean Dyche said it would be “inappropriate” for Burnley to spend tens of millions of pounds on players. . Burnley’s only transfer window business was a permanent deal for Manchester United defender Michael Keane as they missed out on their midfield targets. . And Dyche admitted the Clarets, who are 17th in the Premier League table, had found the market tough. He said: “We haven’t got the backers some of the teams have got – even in the Championship.” . Burnley did achieve their stated aim of hanging onto striker Danny Ings, despite firm interest from Liverpool. . The…
Newcastle head coach John Carver says the loan of five players to Rangers will benefit all parties concerned. . Midfielders Gael Bigirimana and Haris Vuckic and defenders Kevin Mbabu, Remie Streete and Shane Ferguson joined the Scottish Championship side on Monday. . “First of all, Rangers are getting some good players,” said Carver. . “Secondly, we are getting our young players some experience of playing in front of big crowds.” . He added: “They will play in front of of 35,000 to 40,000 every other week, under pressure because we know how big that club is – it’s a worldwide…
Southampton boss Ronald Koeman believes European qualification will be crucial to keeping his top players this summer. . England internationals Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw, Rickie Lambert and Calum Chambers, as well as Dejan Lovren, all left the Saints last year. . But Koeman, whose side is fourth in the Premier League, hopes playing in Europe will help avoid a similar talent drain. . The Dutchman said: “It will be maybe easier for us if we play in European cup football to keep the players.” . Southampton were also hit last summer by the departure of manager Mauricio Pochettino to Tottenham,…
Angel Di Maria has been worried about his family’s safety after an attempted break-in at his Cheshire home says Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal. . Intruders failed to get in after triggering an alarm when they smashed a patio door at the 26-year-old’s home. . The winger, who cost a British transfer record £59.7m, has moved into a hotel. . “He was worried about his wife and child,” said Van Gaal. “I believe in the total human being principle. So his environment is important.” . Van Gaal spoke to Di Maria before United’s FA Cup fourth-round replay win over…
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard does not expect to get a fond farewell from Everton’s supporters when he plays in his final league Merseyside derby. . Gerrard, 34, has been a target for Everton fans for many years and thinks there will be little change at Goodison Park on Saturday (17:30 GMT). . He said: “I doubt it very much. I love the banter with Everton fans. It’s what it’s all about. It’s about rivalries. . “I don’t mind it at all. Bring it on, as far as I’m concerned.”
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho suggested Manchester City should not be allowed to be league champions because they broke Financial Fair Play regulations. . City won the Premier League title last season but were then fined in May for breaching Uefa’s financial rules. . The Premier League has its own form of financial regulation. . But Mourinho said: “I don’t think a team can be champions when you are punished because you didn’t comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP).” . City were fined £49m – £32m of which was suspended – and had spending restrictions imposed on them as part of…
Tottenham midfielder Nabil Bentaleb is available to face Arsenal after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea. . It means head coach Mauricio Pochettino has a full complement of players. . Arsenal are again without top scorer Alexis Sanchez because of a hamstring injury, but Danny Welbeck has overcome a thigh problem. . The game has come too soon for Jack Wilshere, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is also among the Gunners’ absentees.