I saved up N50 to watch Aguero’s EPL-winning goal – Iheanacho

Manchester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho.

Kelechi Iheanacho has told The Players’ Tribune that he had to save up around 15p (50 naira) to watch Sergio Aguero’s famous goal that secured the Premier League title for Manchester City in 2012.
Iheanacho was a 15-year-old in his native Nigeria when his now teammate Aguero scored a 94th-minute winner on the final day of the season to clinch a 3-2 victory over Queens Park Rangers and City’s first title in 44 years.
Iheanacho had never watched City before but says the moment had a big impact on him — and four years on, the strikers are now lining up alongside each other at the Etihad Stadium.
The 20-year-old said he usually could not afford to watch Premier League matches when he was growing up but made a special exception for Aguero’s dramatic winner on the final day of the season, which saw City take the title away from bitter rivals Manchester United.
“There was one place in town that everybody called the ‘game centre,’ and it had a satellite dish, but you had to pay money to go inside,” Iheanacho said.
“It was 50 naira [about 15p] for a Premier League match, and I did not have that kind of money. So I would wait outside playing football with my mates until somebody came out and told us what had happened in the match.
“In 2012, when I was 15, I saved some money and went to the game centre on the last day of the Premier League season. It was a very big deal, because the title race was so close.
“I sat there and watched Sergio Aguero score the last-minute goal that won Man City the title — and that took it away from Man United. On the TV, Sergio took his shirt off and whipped it around, and everybody in the game centre was going crazy.
“That was maybe the first Man City game I ever watched. I had never been to England before. I had no idea that in a few years, I would be playing on the same team as Sergio.”
Iheanacho, who has scored six goals this season, also revealed how special it was to net the winner at Old Trafford in the 2-1 victory over United earlier this season.
He was called into the side for the derby on Sept. 10 because Aguero was serving a three-game suspension, and Iheanacho said it was difficult to stay calm for such a big game.
“Because I was only 19, I did not expect to be in the starting XI,” he added. “When the manager told me that I was going to start, I tried to tell myself, ‘it’s just a game of football,’ but if I am telling the truth, it is not a normal game.
“The atmosphere and intensity gives you a very different feeling as soon as you step on the pitch. It’s war for 90 minutes in the Manchester Derby. You cannot give anything less than 100 percent concentration. So I just tried to focus completely on the match.
“I was so happy, but then in the 36th minute, something really amazing happened. I was standing in front of the United goal when Kevin [De Bruyne’s] shot struck the post. The ball came right to my feet. I kicked it into the back of the net without thinking. I looked over to the linesman, not believing that I had really scored. The flag was down. I was onside.
“My teammates ran over to me, and I felt what I can only describe as the ‘Manchester Derby feeling.’ No one can know how I felt unless they’ve scored in the derby. I did not even celebrate. The feeling was too much.”

Liverpool match Borussia Dortmund’s team spirit – Klopp

Former Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp.

 

 

Jurgen Klopp has likened the atmosphere at Liverpool to that of his successful Borussia Dortmund sides.
Klopp’s Dortmund teams took home two Bundesliga titles and reached the final of the Champions League in 2013, and Klopp, who took the reins at Anfield in October of 2015 says he feels a similar vibe at the Merseyside.
“I am still in contact with a lot of the Dortmund players and hopefully I will be in contact after my time at Liverpool with these players because they are nice lads. That is first of all,” Klopp told multiple outlets in the UK.
“But they are not here because they are nice lads; they are outstanding footballers and I love working with them and really appreciate them.
“We have an atmosphere which is as good as it should be because of all the people working here. We had our Christmas party last week and it was really nice having all the people around. It was a big difference after one year because you know all of them.
“After three months I still had no idea the name of certain staff. We have a completely different situation to last year. It is not the same but similar to what we had at Dortmund.”
Klopp could have defender Joel Matip available against Stoke for their match on Tuesday after keeping the Cameroon international out against Everton at Goodison Park.
But the German boss says Ragner Klaven, who has played in Matip’s stead, is getting more comfortable in the Premier League following a £4.2 million summer move from Augsburg.
“We were never in doubt about him,” Klopp said. “That is how we always work. We always decide for the player, not against the other one.
“We saw the good moment Ragnar and Lucas Leiva were in. Joe Gomez is in a good way too. It was clear there is no reason for rushing Joel back even though everyone outside thought that without Matip we could not get anything.
“That was good and I said a few times before that timing is very important. A few weeks ago Ragnar was not struggling but he was not that player he is now because he still needed to adapt a little bit to all the circumstances. Now he is in a really good moment and we should use it.”

Delay in payment of Super Falcons, unfortunate – Dalung

Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung, said on Tuesday in Abuja that the delay in the payment of allowances of the victorious Super Falcons “was unfortunate’’.
Dalung said this at a Special Town Hall Meeting for the Youths organised by the Federal Ministry of information and Culture.
“It is unfortunate that we have to go through that situation. We learn from our mistakes and we will ensure issues that will subject our national image to ridicule will be avoided.
“We will take careful look at such issues when planning in the future,’’ Dalung said while responding to questions from the youths.
It will be recalled that the Super Falcons’ bonuses and allowances after their AWCON 2016 victory were delayed until they protested and the Presidency ordered immediate release of their money.
Dalung assured the gathering that the National Youth Parliament would be reformed and democratised to ensure that its representatives have mandate of members.
“We inherited this very important body for youth representation and we are going to embark on reforms. The next parliament would be democratically elected.
“Therefore, those interested should be informed and be getting ready,’’ he said.
Dalung blamed the crises in the Council on interference by politicians and others not in age bracket of youths but using the group for their selfish motives.
He said the ministry is planning to hold youth stakeholders meeting next year to discuss on best ways to address the challenges facing youths.
Dalung urged the youths to change their mind set and disengaged from indiscipline and negative values.
The Minister of State for National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed said the 2017 budget was designed to expand partnership between the public and private sector.
She said in the design, the government funds would be used to act as catalyst to attract the private sector resources.
Ahmed said the government is determined to take the country out of recession by using the National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan which will be concluded in January 2017.
She said other critical component of the 2017 Budget is its focus on infrastructural projects such as road, rail, power and ICT to have positive effect on the economy.
The minister said there are provisions in the budget for the creation of special economic zones and industrials parks which will act as vehicles to accelerate domestic activities for innovation, wealth creation and job creation for youths.
She said that the economy has made significant increase in the development of agricultural and mining sectors.

Leicester City could appeal Vardy red card – Ranieri

Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri will consider appealing the red card awarded to Jamie Vardy in the thrilling 2-2 draw with Stoke City.
Referee Craig Pawson dismissed Vardy in the 28th minute for a challenge on Mame Diouf where the England international, jostling with Glen Johnson, left the ground with both feet before returning to the turf by the time he won the ball.
It was a contentious call from Pawson, particularly after he had only booked Manchester United’s Marcos Rojo for a clear two-footed lunge on Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha three days earlier, and he furthered enraged the Foxes players by giving Stoke a penalty for handball against Danny Simpson, when his arm was above his head as he slid in to stop Bojan Krkic’s cross.
Bojan converted the 39th-minute spot kick and Simpson was booked, the first of five Leicester players to be cautioned prior to the break, which Stoke entered 2-0 ahead thanks to a second from Joe Allen.
The normally mild-mannered Ranieri was livid at that point and had to be dragged away from Pawson by goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, yet his side banded together in the face of adversity and picked up just their second away point of the season thanks to second-half strikes from Leonardo Ulloa and Daniel Amartey.
With Vardy now set to miss games against Everton, West Ham and Middlesbrough, Ranieri was asked if he would consider appealing against his suspension.
“I don’t know, let me think … if it is possible, yes,” he replied. “He wants to challenge and get the ball, not make a foul.
“If you listen to me I say, ‘No’ [it was not a red card]; if you listen to [Stoke manager] Mark Hughes, he says, ‘Yes.’ But the decision is the referee and he says it’s a red card. There was a big challenge between Johnson and Vardy. He touched the ball. Maybe it was yellow.”
That was not the viewpoint of Stoke boss Mark Hughes, though.
“People are trying to say he was pushed and that is why he jumped in with two feet off the ground,” the Welshman said.
“It looked to me like there were two feet off the ground and out of control. There were a couple of incidents where players have done similar and got away with a yellow card and it was deemed wrong.”
Pawson and his officiating team needed to be escorted by stewards, who were pictured shielding themselves as they moved near to the visiting supporters and down the tunnel.
Ranieri, who was just ahead of Pawson and his assistants, said he did not witness any coins being thrown and, when asked why he was even on the pitch, he said: “I just wanted to show to our fans I was there.”
Pawson’s decision ensured he will be under the microscope again and former referee Howard Webb suggested on BT Sport on Saturday afternoon that he should be taken off the New Year’s Eve clash between Liverpool and Manchester City.
“The match changed when Jamie got sent off,” Ranieri added. “We were so nervous and then after penalty we lost our calm, our shape, everything. In the dressing room we started to think what was best for the match and they showed a very fantastic performance.”

Professional footballers beg NFF to pay Falcons.

      

            Professional footballers beg NFF to pay Falcons.

 

The National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers has appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation to pay all outstanding allowances due to the Super Falcons.

The association, in a statement by its General Secretary, Austin Popo, on Tuesday said that the Super Falcons were being ridiculed for making Nigeria on the continent.

He said, “Since the team came back from Cameroon, the players have refused to vacate their hotel on grounds of unpaid salaries and allowances, coupled with other unfulfilled promises.

“Promises from tournaments, ranging from the Olympic qualifiers to the All African Games and now the African Women Championship, remained unfulfilled.

“We believe this situation is avoidable with proper dialogue, sensitivity and transparency on the part of the authorities.

“The union condemns a statement credited to the Minister of Sports that adequate preparation was not made to offset the players’ entitlements because he did not expect them to win the AWCON Cup.

“The union wants the NFF to take responsibility by ensuring the players and officials are paid their entitlements without further delay.

“There is no doubt the NFF is cash-strapped and government’s release of funds dysfunctional.

“But it is important the welfare of the players and coaches should be of top priority in the disbursement of available fund.

“We expect the leadership of our sports’ authorities to make sacrifices in ensuring that the issue of players and coaches takes the centre stage above personal interest.”

The association said it has information that the NNF spent N40m “on charter flights to and from Cameroon during the finals of the AWCON Cup between Nigeria and the host country?”

It added, “This flight carried about 15 officials including the minister and top echelon of the NFF while no concrete arrangement was made to pay the players and coaches with all the promises made before the games.

“The union also cautioned the NFF against the alleged plan to ban some of the players and coaches for demanding for their rights.

“This can fan the embers of further discord and should be jettisoned.

“Right is right, these girls have served and brought glory to their fatherland and should be treated as true champions.’’

The Super Falcons defeated host Cameroon 1-0 to clinch their 8th title since the inception of the tournament.

Toure banned, fined for drink driving.

  

                                            Toure banned, fined for drink driving.

 

           Ivory Coast football great Yaya Toure has been banned from driving for 18 months and fined £54,000 ($68,500, 64,600 euros) for drink driving, he said on  Facebook on Tuesday.

The 33-year-old Manchester City midfielder insisted though he imbibed the alcohol by accident.

Toure, a four-time African player of the Year and a member of the Ivory Coast side that won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, is a Muslim.

“Over the last two weeks there has been some confusion as to why I was charged with drink driving, as it is well known that I am a Muslim and do not drink,” wrote Toure, who was stopped last month while driving in east London and found to be over the limit.

“I have always refused alcohol. Anyone who knows me or follows football will have seen me refuse champagne for Man of the Match performances because of my commitment to my religion.”

Toure, who retired from international football in September, said the court had also accepted he had not intentionally drunk alcohol but had nevertheless punished him according to the law. Toure did not disclose how the alcohol got into his system.

“The matter has now been resolved in court on Monday,” wrote Toure, who only recently returned to first team action with Manchester City after a stand-off with manager Pep Guardiola caused by his agent.

“As I was above the permitted limit when tested on the night, I decided not to challenge the charge.

“However, it was important to me that I told the court that I had not intentionally consumed alcohol. The judge in his sentencing remarks accepted that I had not been intentionally drinking.

“Drink driving is a serious crime and even though I was not intentionally consuming alcohol I accept the ban and fine and I would like to apologise for this situation.”

EPL: How Watford beat Champions, Leicester City 2-1.

EPL: How Watford beat Champions, Leicester City 2-1.

Etienne Capoue struck after just 32 seconds as Watford added to Leicester’s domestic woes by beating the Premier League champions 2-1 at Vicarage Road on Saturday.
Roberto Pereyra netted Watford’s second after 12 minutes and Riyad Mahrez’s penalty couldn’t revive Leicester.
Claudio Ranieri’s side are still looking for their first away win of the season and remain stuck within sight of the relegation zone.

Leicester will return to Champions League action against Club Brugge next week but while they have impressed in Europe, they continue to struggle for form back at home in the Premier League.

Once again Jamie Vardy failed to find the target, extending his club drought to 13 games although the forward did follow up his midweek strike for England by winning the penalty that allowed Mahrez to bring his side back into the game.

But the defensive weaknesses that have marked their disappointing title defence were again all too apparent as Watford claimed the victory that consolidated their place in the top half of the table.

Walter Mazzarri had been left incensed by Watford’s performance in the 6-1 defeat at Liverpool immediately before the international break and had insisted the anger shared by manager and players would ensure there would be no repeat.

But as anxious as the manager was to see his players recover quickly, their response was even more impressive than he might have hoped.

Just 32 seconds had elapsed when Watford exposed Leicester’s fragile defence to take the lead, and they had doubled that advantage within 12 minutes.

Pereyra was involved on both occasions, with the Argentinian’s left wing cross helped on by Troy Deeney’s backward header into the path of Capoue, who placed his volley beyond Leicester keeper Ron-Robert Zieler.

Gnabry Hat-trick In Germany Romp.

Gnabry Hat-trick In Germany Romp.

Ex-Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry scored a hat-trick on his senior Germany debut in Friday's 8-0 World Cup victory at San Marino as coach Joachim Loew set a new rocord.
Gnabry, 21, who left the Gunners before the start of the season, is the first German to score a hat-trick on his debut since Dieter Mueller achieved the feat for Germany in 1976.
"Of course, I didn't expect the hat-trick and I'm delighted to have helped the team," said Gnabry who joined Werder Bremen in August after a lack of chances at Arsenal. "The last few years have been hard for me, so it's nice to have had a few goals and I hope it keeps going well."
Cologne left-back Jonas Hector also netted twice after Germany's stand-in captain Sami Khedira opened the scoring.
Mattia Stefanelli scored a late own goal before substitute Kevin Volland netted Germany's eighth.
Germany maintain their perfect reord of four wins to stay top of their 2018 World Cup qualifying group and five points clear of nearest rivals Northern Ireland.
After a decade in charge, this was Loew's 95th victory, in his 142nd international as coach, to better the 94 wins of legendary Sepp Herberger, who steered West Germany to the 1954 World Cup title.
"We wanted to score as many goals as possible and let them do the running. It worked out well," said Loew. "Gnabry has showed for Werder, and for us in training, that he's in good form."
With Toni Kroos and Jerome Boateng injured, Loew gave debuts to both Gnabry and 19-year-old Bayer Leverkusen right-back Benjamin Henrichs.
Germany romped to a 13-0 win on their last visit to Serravalle in 2006 and took just seven minutes to take the lead against San Marino's part-timers.
With goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer missing with a virus, Khedira skippered Germany and put his side ahead.
In pouring rain, Man-City's Iikay Gundogan spotted Khedira's run into the box and the defensive midfielder buried his shot. Gnabry doubled the lead when a clearance from defender Davide Simoncini went straight to the Werder winger.
His shot beat Simoncini's twin brother Aido in the San Marino goal on nine minutes. Hector found himself in the strikers' position when Mario Goetze's pass picked him out and he tucked away Germany's third on 32 minutes.
Mario Gomez stroked Thomas Mueller's pass into the net, but he was incorrectly flagged for offside and it stayed 3-0 at the break.
The San Marino FA's Twitter account gleefully pointed out their halftime score was better than Brazil's 5-0 during the 2014 World Cup semifinal.
Gnabry grabbed the fourth on 58 minutes after converting Joshua Kimmich's floated pass over the defence. The Hector added his second after good work from Goetze opened up the defence on 65 minutes.
Schalke's Max Meyer replaced Goetze for the final 20 minutes and hit the post with his first touch of the ball.
Gnabry wrapped up his hat-trick 14 minutes from time before Stefanelli, who a national hero by scoring their goal in last month's 4-1 defeat to Norway, turned the ball into his own net.
Volland then came off the bench to score the world champion's eighth four minutes from time.