Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has no doubt about Pep Guardiola’s ability to adapt to the challenges at Manchester City and in the Premier League. Guardiola’s City have made a flying start to the season, sitting top of the table after three wins from as many matches. Iniesta, who starred under Guardiola at Barca in 2008-12, backed his former coach and Spain team-mates in the City squad, including the “exceptional” David Silva. “Pep knows how to adapt and I’m sure he’ll do so in England,” Iniesta said, via The Guardian. “He’s also got staff like Mikel Arteta who’ll help that process,…
Author: David Folami
Pablo Zabaleta says Manchester City are lucky to have Pep Guardiola and the full-back expects the club to take the next step under his leadership. Guardiola has made an impressive start to his tenure at the Etihad Stadium with three wins from three in the Premier League, while also securing their place in the Champions League. The Spaniard arrived in Manchester having won Bundesliga and LaLiga titles with Bayern Munich and Barcelona, while also enjoying European success with the Catalan giants. And that experience makes Zabaleta believe the current City squad can go from strength to strength in the coming…
While Chile’s World Cup qualifying campaign has not gone according to plan, Arturo Vidal stressed that there is still time to get things right following Tuesday’s goalless draw against Bolivia. Chile’s Copa America hangover continued on home soil in Santiago, forced to share the spoils with 110th-ranked Bolivia in CONMEBOL qualifying. The stalemate came on the back of last week’s 2-1 loss in Paraguay, with seventh-placed Chile – winners of the Copa America Centenario in June – five points off the pace after eight matches. Speaking afterwards, star midfielder Vidal said: “When one reaches glory is it hard to keep…
Nothing less than victory will do for Manchester City in Saturday’s feisty Premier League derby against Manchester United, playmaker David Silva has said. Silva, who scored both goals in Spain’s friendly win over Belgium last week and two more against Liechtenstein in their World Cup qualifier on Monday, has featured in all of City’s league games this season under manager Pep Guardiola. Table-topper City sit marginally above United on goal difference after both sides won their first three league games. “It’s going to be a very beautiful game. The two teams arrive to this game having taken good results and…
David Luiz insists he is willing to play in a variety of roles for Chelsea following his surprise move back to Stamford Bridge. Luiz rejoined the Premier League club from Paris Saint-Germain on transfer deadline day last month and has been renewing old acquaintances at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground this week. The 29-year-old’s arrival gives Chelsea manager Antonio Conte increased options as he can play in a traditional centre-half role, but also in defensive midfield. Luiz could make up part of a back three with Gary Cahill and John Terry when Chelsea resume domestic action at Swansea on Sunday as…
Not many people talk badly of Pep Guardiola, a sainted figure in football, but Manchester City’s manager will find two of his most vocal critics facing him down at Old Trafford on Saturday. While Spain is a world away from Manchester on a dreary day, the fallout from Guardiola’s combustible relationship with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whom he managed for an ill-starred season at Barcelona, and Jose Mourinho, whom he opposed in 11 ‘El Clasicos’, is impossible to ignore, particularly since all three descended on English football’s second city. Ibrahimovic’s spell at the Nou Camp ended with him branding Guardiola a “spineless…
Nigeria’s national oil company said on Monday there were no immediate plans to increase gasoline prices, days after fuel marketers and former NNPC management called for the removal of a cap on price levels. Maikanti Baru, group managing director of state oil company NNPC told reporters that there was “nothing like that in the offing.” Fuel marketers are pressing the government to remove the current gasoline price cap of 145 naira ($0.4394) per litre, as they say they are struggling to buy the fuel, which priced in dollars, and sell it in Nigeria in naira at a profit. A press…
The Federal Government will employ 10,000 officers into the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in 2017, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami has said. The immediate appointment of 5000 staff into the NDLEA has also been approved by the government, according to Leadership. Malami made the disclosure on Monday, September 5, 2016, during the recent Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ministerial meeting on the Regional Action Plan to address illicit drug trafficking, organized crime and drug abuse in the sub-region. “The world is currently divided in terms of drug control policies; there are countries…
Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has said that Nigeria is better off with Lagos than with the Niger Delta despite the oil deposits in the latter. Sanusi also condemned Nigeria’s long dependence on oil as a sole source of income and the determination of some persons to divide the nation over the oil. “The Lagos story is a story of what Nigeria can do with itself – transparency, consistency, regulations. That’s why today Lagos state is 30% Nigerian non-oil GDP, and Lagos can do without oil. This country is better off with Lagos than with the Niger Delta. Let’s…
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has approved, Malam Umaru Halidu, as the Acting Chairman of Kebbi branch.This is contained in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Dr Peter Ezon, on Tuesday in Kebbi. Ezon said the NLC took the decision in good faith and to further avoid unnecessary crisis in the branch. He said that the former branch Chairman, Malam Murtala Usman, was removed from office by the state congress over qualification-related issues. The secretary-general, however, called on the acting chairman to show exemplary leadership during his acting period. Ezon also directed all concerned authorities to recognise the new…
Senator Dino Melaye has said that Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun is incapable of handling Nigeria’s economy. Melaye had earlier called for Adeosun’s sack due to the economic crisis being witnessed in the country. The senator made the comment on Monday, September 5, 2016, during an appearance on Channels TV. “She has appeared before the senate on two occasions and from my own personal assessment, she does not have the competence, the wherewithal. You begin to ask yourself how many million dollars portfolio has she handled or managed before becoming a Minister of Finance,” he said. “A Minister of Finance, especially…
Former Chairman of the House of Representatives Appropriation Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is not to blame for the economic crisis in the country. The lawmaker made the comment in reaction to Senator Dino Melaye saying that Buhari’s economic team should be sacked over the crisis. Jibrin’s comments are contained in a statement posted on his Facebook wall. It reads: I’m compelled to say a few words on the attempt by some people to apportion blame on President Muhammadu Buhari on the state of the economy and also share my view on the call by Senator…
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige has said that the problems being faced in the country were not created by the Muhammadu Buhari administration. Ngige said further that Buhari had already begun responding to calls to restructure the economy. The minister made the comments on Monday, September 5, 2016, while speaking to journalists in Awka, the Anambra State capital. “Nigerians have positively changed their way of doing things for the better and have become more prudent and judicious in their spending pattern,” he said. “It’s one after the other. After economic restructuring to reposition the economy of this…
President Buhari, speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Edo state, said the current economic crisis in the country will end soon. This is in reaction to calls by Nigerians for the President and his economic team to put policies in place that will improve the lives of Nigerians. The President said his administration will continue to ensure that the country and its economy is stable. Buhari said “We are a nation of great human and material resources especially the youth. Please seat down and reflect and remember what I said 30 years ago. We have no other…
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Gboyega Oguntuase has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is using outdated methods to solve Nigeria’s problems. Oguntuase said further that the current economic crisis shows that Buhari has no economic programme for Nigerians. The PDP chieftain made the comments on Monday, September 5, 2016, while speaking in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. “With what we are witnessing today, it is evidently clear that President Buhari and APC have no economic programme for Nigerians. The APC bad policies and non-listening nature caused the current economic recession,” Oguntuase said according to Vanguard.…
Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole has said that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is making up stories about him because he’s jealous. Oshiomhole made the comment in reaction to Ize-Iyamu saying that the state government caused the flooding on Ugbowo road in Benin City, the state capital. The governor’s comments were contained in a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Peter Okhiria. The statement reads: “We note that Mr Ize-Iyamu is still living in the past; a past filled with emptiness and incompetence which was displayed by the Government of Mr Lucky Igbinedion in which…
The 2016 Nigeria Entertainment Awards held on September 4, 2016, at Tribeca Performing Art Center in New York. The 11th edition of the annual event was hosted by actress Ebbe Bassey and Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD). The event was attended by Adekunle Gold, Aramide, CDQ, Efya, Jay Cube, Kaline, Ketchup, Lil Kesh, N6, Niniola, Osas Ajibade, Papa Dennis, Sambasa Nzeribe, Tosin Martin, Young Paris amongst others. Winners include Faithia Balogun, who beat Omoni Oboli, Adesua Etomi, Genevieve Nnaji, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Belinda Effah to win ‘best actress’ at the 2016 NEA.
King Sunny Ade joins a select few of some of the world’s greatest artistes whose musical instruments have been preserved at the revered Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Pheonix, Arizona, USA. The two-time Grammy nominee and iconic juju musician have a career that spans over two decades with more than 120 albums to his name. King Sunny Ade is easily considered as one of the most influential musicians of his time. Although he has pioneered modern world music, KSA has remained true to the true form of his music style. MIM houses at least 16,000 instruments showcased to tourists on…
Meek Mill has intentionally or unintentionally left Nicki Minaj’s fans wondering if the pair is expecting their first child together. In an unexpected post the 29-year-old rapper shared via his Instagram, a mirror selfie shows Nicki Minaj sporting a baby bump with the caption, “Haters will say it’s #photoshopped.” This would have been easily concluded if 33-year-old Minaj had not performed on stage with beside Ariana Grande at the VMA’s last week, without a baby bump. All the same, fans are speculating that Meek might be projecting a couple of months from now. Nicki is yet to react to the…
Angela Okorie’s son, Kasiemobi Chamberline, turned five-year-old today as she celebrates him via her Instagram page. The Nollywood actress penned touchingly sweet words of blessing and prayers to her baby boy, reminiscing on his birth. Her timeline on the video and photo sharing app was flooded with cute photos of her son who looks so much like her, only better. Angela wrote on one of the cute snaps: “Today 5th of September heaven gave you to me and I named you “KASIEMOBI” Chamberline” when you came into my life you made me complete as a woman, you are my bundle…