Carlos Tevez would not be surprised if Lionel Messi decides to permanently retire from the national team. “It would be understandable if Messi doesn’t return to the national team,” Tevez told TyC Sports. “When you give and then you are criticised, it becomes very difficult. I’ve been through that and at times you don’t want to go [to the national team].” Argentina football federation (AFA) president Claudio Tapia said last month that it is important for his organisation to have Messi play for the national team for financial reasons, but that he would give Messi time to decide if he…
Author: David Folami
Daley Blind has said he was grateful to play for Jose Mourinho and that his former manager’s approach could help him now at Ajax. Blind, who left United last month to return to his former club after four seasons, said his experience with Mourinho the last two years was “very positive.” “I’ve almost played 150 games and won four trophies with them,” Blind said after a 3-0 victory over Standard Liege in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. “I’ve really had a great time with lots of beautiful moments. I am very thankful for the fans there that…
It’s been almost three months since Liverpool lost the Champions League final to Real Madrid, yet it clearly still plays on the minds of all concerned. Jurgen Klopp still speaks with a little bitterness about one of the major turning points in the game — Mohamed Salah’s shoulder injury. For the Real player involved in the incident, Sergio Ramos, the implication is obvious. He was a winner by default, by cheating almost, and nobody would let any hint of that slip by without a retort. There must be some caution with reports of a player or manager “not letting it…
Sergio Ramos has insisted that ” Real Madrid have “always felt like a family after former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo said that his new club Juventus is “different, everyone is very friendly,” adding that he was sure the European champions would continue to be successful even after losing such an “important and decisive player.” “We’d have to see what Cris meant when he said that,” Madrid captain Ramos said ahead of Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup against Atletico Madrid in Tallinn. “We’ve always felt like a family here. I don’t know where his shots were aimed — the dressing room, the hierarchy……
Diego Godin has said he is proud to take over as the club’s captain after having turned down interest from other clubs. After competing in the World Cup with Uruguay, Godin reportedly considered a move to Juventus, and Manchester United made a late attempt to sign him on the Premier League’s deadline day. Ahead of the UEFA season curtain-raiser in Tallinn, Estonia, Godin will replace midfielder Gabi Fernandez, who joined Al-Sadd, as Atletico’s captain, with Antoine Griezmann becoming one of the team’s vice-captains. “I am happy and proud, and above all, I feel a lot of responsibility wearing the armband…
Wayne Rooney has said he moved to the MLS “to work” amid claims many top level footballers make the switch to the U.S. for an easy paycheck. “I understand people might get frustrated when they see players coming over maybe a bit later in their career,” Rooney told the Washington Post. “But that’s for me to show with performances that I’m not here just to be on holiday. “I’m here to work, and I’ll have plenty of time when I finish playing to enjoy myself and have holidays.” Rooney left Everton join DC United in June and has scored one…
Victor Moses stunned the Nigerian football community by announcing his international retirement on Wednesday. The 27-year-old stated his desire to focus on his club career with his Premier League team, his young family, and encourage the progression of the next generation of Super Eagles players. “I would like to announce that after much thought I have made the decision to retire from playing international football. I have experienced some of the best moments of my life wearing the Super Eagles shirt and have memories with me that will last a lifetime. Nothing will ever compete to what it felt like…
Lai Mohammed has stressed that President Muhammadu Buhari led government isn’t the type that shares money. He said, “people are complaining of no money and high cost of living, but I want to tell you that it would have been worse today but for the massive infrastructural development this government is investing on.’’ Continuing, Mohammed said, “We are not a government that will share money like what others did which put the country in a mess. “This government believes in investing in infrastructure because if you get this rightly, it will translate to wealth creation. “People complaining about lack of…
The Nigeria Police Force has denied compelling Samuel Ogundipe of Premium Times online publication to implicate the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, before he could be released from custody. Ogundipe was arrested on Aug.14 by the police for the alleged publication of the Inspector-General of police report on the siege of the National Assembly by the Department of State Service. In a statement, the Spokesman for the Police, acting DCP Jimoh Moshood, on Friday in Abuja said that no investigator asked Ogundipe to implicate Saraki before he could be released. “There are video and audio records of the…
The police in Imo on Friday arrested some women protesting over the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for allegedly conducting an unlawful assembly. Some of the women, mostly of middle age and from the Southeast states, were half nude, while others dressed in black and marched through the streets of Owerri. They disrupted vehicular movement and other activities in some parts of the town. The protesters chanted war songs and displayed different placards with inscriptions asking the Federal Government to release Kanu. The women claimed that the security agencies knew the whereabouts…
Bukola Saraki on Friday paid a solidarity visit to Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom and commended him for his selfless leadership in the state. Saraki, who is now the national leader of the PDP and who recently also switched from APC to PDP, said he was in the state to show solidarity to Emmanuel. He assured the governor that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representatives in the National Assembly would continue to support him to provide dividends of democracy to the people. “We have come here on a solidarity visit to show that we are strongly with you. We…
President Muhammadu Buhari has joined the business world and all boardroom gurus in Nigeria to rejoice with the founder and Chairman of Honeywell Group, Ayoola Oba Otudeko, who turns 75 years on Saturday. Buhari saluted the business magnate for his vision, wisdom and dexterity in setting up businesses that cut across the oil and gas industry, flour mills, hospitality and transportation. He noted that such businesses had been providing services and employment that strengthen the Nigerian economy. The President said he shared the joyful time with members of Oba Otudeko’s family, friends and community of business colleagues as he celebrates…
The Chairman Yobe State Executive Committee (SEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Adamu Chilariye has accused the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of illegally buying the permanent voter’s card ( PVC) of unsuspecting members of the public. He made the accusation on Thursday at a press briefing in Damaturu. He stated that the state EXCO of the APC was notified of the development. “The PDP political office holders in Yobe Zone B have been using surrogates to purchase voter’s cards within Potiskum town at the cost of N5000 per PVC” He said the APC has lodged complaints with the…
Muhammadu Buhari led government has been described as an administration filled with liars by ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. “This government is a government of liars. They promised three million jobs per annum but Nigeria has been losing three million jobs every year,” he said. Atiku has continued to throw jibes at the All Progressive Congress-led government after he dumped the party in 2017. Continuing, he said, “This job loss has brought the worst form of insecurity in the country. We are facing challenging times in Nigeria. Today, economy is at its lowest ebb and the greatest challenge is unemployment.” The former…
Dino Melaye (Kogi West – PDP) has hailed former president, Goodluck Jonathan, as a better leader that current president, Muhammadu Buhari. While speaking during an interview on ARISE TV, published on Friday, August 17, 2018, the lawmaker said he has no regrets about antagonising Jonathan in the past, but hailed him as a better president than Buhari. He said, "At the time I was criticising President Jonathan, I have no regrets criticising him, like I have no regrets now criticising the Buhari administration, but I want to say if you carry out comparative analysis between the Jonathan admnistration and this…
Uche Secondus has appointed former Minister of Aviation and former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Chief Osita Chidoka, as his Special Adviser on Strategy and External Engagements. A statement issued by PDP National Publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan on Friday in Abuja, said that the appointment was with immediate effect. “Chidoka, who is well reputed for his ingenuity and organisation skills in public office, is expected to bring to bear his analytical expertise and wealth of experience in political strategy development, coordination and implementation, as the PDP sets for the 2019 general elections,” he said.
Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Friday tasked APC stakeholders and party loyalists on electing credible candidates. El-Rufai gave an assurance that he had no intention to support any candidate, hence the need for people to scrutinise and select the best out among aspirants vying for different positions in the party. “As a people, you know who is good and who is more credible among the aspirants; therefore, it is an opportunity for you to select the best out of them. “We are not going to interfer during the primaries, because we have no candidate and whatever you elect is…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it will, henceforth, resist any attempt to rig it out in future elections, beginning with the Osun governorship election scheduled for September 22. Ologbondiyan said that it had become manifest that the ruling party was interested in rigging elections, saying the PDP would henceforth contend with such in all ramifications and magnitude, to discomfit it in all coming elections. He said that the PDP had thoroughly reviewed all infractions and vowed to never again allow the use of foul means to usurp power as it was done in the past and merely ask the…
Sen. Godswill Akpabio (APC-Akwa Ibom) has said any move to declare his seat vacant in the Senate will prove abortive. According to him, if the excuse of those calling for his seat to be declared vacant is that there is no rancour in PDP to warrant his defection, they should also know there is no rancour in APC. “Any defection from APC to PDP, we will like to declare those seats vacant. “As you are looking at me, do I look perturbed? I have not heard the report. “I think that is a rumour because at the moment, there is…
The All Progressives’ Congress (APC) has raised alarm over an alleged plot by Senators of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to employ thugs to attack APC Senators over the ongoing plot to remove Bukola Saraki as Senate President. In a statement signed by the APC’s Acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, the party said Saraki has met with some senators and hatched a plot to harm APC lawmakers to prevent his impeachment. The party said several APC lawmakers will be lured to a meeting by PDP and then harmed with hired thugs to prevent them…