Category: Front News

Any hope of Mikel Obi being part of Chelsea’s main team this season may have been dashed after manager, Antonio Conte, told the Nigerian international to look elsewhere in the January transfer window.
Mikel, who is Chelsea’s current second longest serving player has been told in unmistakable terms by Conte to leave the club as he has no place in his plan.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria captain is still waiting for his first competitive appearance for Chelsea under Conte, but it appears he will stay frozen out of the team as he doesn’t feature in the plans of the coach.
The midfielder had expressed the hope of an opportunity to feature in the EFL Cup game against West Ham on Wednesday but was ignored by Conte as his team lost 2-1.
Coach of Ni g e r i a ‘ s national team Gernot Rohr, reportedly met with Chelsea’s Technical Director Mike Emenalo on Wednesday, who revealed to Rohr that Mikel is not in the plans of the Italian manager.
“Talks were held between Mikel and the manager. As for now he has been told he can leave in January, mind you his contract is set to expire in the summer” a source close to the midfielder told Owngoalnigeria. com.
“The re’s every possibility for him to leave Chelsea either on loan or permanently in January. But the summer looks more likely. Every story must have an end. After 11 seasons, Mikel wants to move on and so do Chelsea too,” the source said.

The poster boy of Nigeria Rio 2016 team Oghenekaro Etebo has been handed a recall to the Nigeria senior national team by manager Gernot Rohr, Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal.
Etebo was omitted from the list for the game against Zambia, no thanks to work permit issues in Portugal where he presently plays for CD Feirense in the top division.
However, Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal that the former Warri Wolves forward is in the list for the November 12th tie against Algeria in Uyo.
Famed for scoring four goals in Nigeria opening game at the Rio Olympics, a 5-4 win over Japan. He last played for Nigeria during the double legged tie against Egypt during the AFCON 2017, which Nigeria picked up one point from to miss out on qualification for the cup of nations.
He however scored on his debut for Nigeria, in the 1-1 draw against Egypt in Kaduna. He is also the current holder of the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) most promising player award.

This sort of advance preparation is now becoming a Rohr special. Ahead of the game against Zambia, some players told ESPN FC they were given very specific information about their potential opponents’ strengths, weaknesses and style, with directions on how to solve problems on the pitch.
The homework paid off and it showed in how the Chipolopolo were neutralised on the day. Another source revealed how Rohr not only expressed concern about the state of the pitch at the Uyo Stadium where the game will be played, but also kept abreast of progress made with the work done to repair the pitch.

Not many fans were enamoured when Gernot Rohr was named Nigeria coach in August.
Firstly, the German was not a big-name coach at the same level as Frenchman Paul Le Guen, who had turned down the job despite participating in the interview process.
And, despite a good coaching record with Bordeaux, his international credentials did not go much higher than the likes of Gabon, Niger and Burkina Faso. Not exactly a CV that stirs the blood of passionate Nigerian fans wanting someone to return their team to the top of African football and make an impression on the world stage.
Neither did Rohr’s start inspire much confidence. A laboured 1-0 win over Tanzania in a meaningless African Nations Cup qualifier had many wondering just what the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had got itself into, despite the team playing with more coherence and creating chances that they failed to finish.
But in the time since, Rohr has set about his task with the single-minded determination and laser-sharp focus of a man who will countenance nothing but success.
After masterminding a 2-1 away win in his opening 2018 World Cup qualifying win over Zambia on Oct. 9, Rohr immediately turned his focus to the next game on Nov. 11 — the big one against Algeria, Africa’s top-ranked side.
Make no mistake, if Nigeria are to qualify for Russia 2018, nothing but a win against the North Africans will do, and Rohr knows it.
A source close to the national team told ESPN FC that the coach had held a meeting with his players immediately after the Zambia victory to impress on them the importance of getting game time at their respective clubs to prepare for Algeria.
Over the course of this last week, Rohr has taken time to travel to Europe to see and talk to his players and their managers.
So far, Arsenal, Chelsea, Watford, Manchester City and Leicester have been covered with the rest of Europe to follow.
At every turn, Rohr has emphasised game time and a focus on the task ahead. According to NFF President AmajuPinnick, Rohr’s only request before embarking on the trip was permission to do what he wanted, not any extra funding.
“He did not ask for any money,” Pinnick said. “He just sent in his programme for what he wanted to do and as soon as he got approval, he was off.”
This should not be the norm (unless of course it is part of the contract between both parties), but it is a welcome breath of fresh air. Not just to see a Nigeria coach doing his job with consideration for his employer’s terrible financial status, but to see both sides working without rancour. Hopefully, this will go on for as long as the contract exists.
What Rohr is doing is not rocket science. But too many times, both NFF and their coaches have worked at cross purposes; the NFF (and its technical committee) not trusting the coach to do a job for which he carries the can at the end of the day, and the coaches not only bristling at the NFF’s interference, but also at their inability to meet financial obligations.
Peace, it would appear, has broken out. And Nigerians will hope it lasts long enough to carry the Super Eagles to World Cup qualification.
Otherwise, Pinnick and his board could well be on their way.

The Coach of Amateur Badminton Sports Club in Owerri has called on the government and non-government agencies in Imo state to support the game of badminton to encourage youths engaging in the sports and ensure its representation for the next Olympics in Japan.
Coach Kamalu Kelechi in a chat with Sports Ambassador Newspaper at the All Saints Cathedral Anglican Church, Egbu venue for their trainings said that he is all out to grooming young lads and youths with the requisite skills, rules and regulations governing the sport and his aim is to raise future Olympians and spiritual leaders for spiritual balance and Physical Fitness.
Sports Ambassador Newspaper learnt that since inception, the club had been funded by Coach Kamalu Kelechi. “We will do better if government, NGOs and well- meaning individual take up the responsibility of sponsoring badminton in the state,” Kelechi said.
The club’s first major tournament will come up December 2016 as free registration for intending members are still ongoing at the training grounds every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays .

A close source to the Nigeria Football Federation has revealed that there are strong indications that super Eagles handler Gernot Rohr will drop players of the Nigeria Professional football (NPFL) as Nigeria set to host Algeria in Uyo on the 12th of November, 2016. The source noted that the reason is because the NPFL season has ended, thus domestic players are not in action.
The match against Algeria is in continuation of the qualifying series for Russia 2018.
“The players from the domestic league will be left out of the Algeria match because the season is over and the coach cannot   vouch for that fitness.
“He would rather use the position taken by these players from the league to try out some other professionals based overseas,” the top source said.
For this month’s world cup qualifier in Zambia, five players from the NPEL made the final squad: goalkeepers Emmanuel Daniel and IkechukwuEzenwa, defender JamiuAlimi as well as strikers Godwin Obaje  and ChisomEghuchulam .
Sometime last week, FC IfeanyiUbah shot stopper, IkechukwuEzenwa revealed that he had hired a trainer and has been working to keep himself  fit  for national assignments.

The National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers (NANPF) otherwise known as Players Union has appealed to all clubs that qualified for the 2017 Confederation of Africa football (CAF) competition, to settle all outstanding debts owed players and coaches or face disqualification.
According to a release signed by the Union National Public Relations Officer, Ogidi Mohammed Mutairu, the clubs: Rangers International FC of Enugu, Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt and Wikki Tourists FC of Bauchi face debarment from CAF competitions.
The release reads in part : in the light of the above, was as the recognized labour union passionately championing the cause of professional football in Nigeria are concerned that in the midst of the jamboree and fanfare that followed the achievement of these clubs, the purported cash gifts and  allocations, to these clubs following their success, they seem to have sworn to starve players and coaches of these salaries and as usual disobey NFF Arbitration Committed decision it is our insistence that this culture of clubs depriving players and coaches of their livelihood must stop.
It threatens to invoke Article 3.1 of the CAF Club licensing Regulation, which disqualifies clubs on the ground of no breach of contract by not paying its players and coaches their entitlements.
Consequently, we have written to the Nigeria clubs that qualified for 2017 CAF competition and their Commissioners of Sports in their respective states clarifying the following: that it is in the best interest of the players, coaches, the club, the country and image of the game, that the clubs liquidate all these debts for current and former players and obey the NFF arbitral decisions without delay.
That refusal, delay or neglect of payment is a mortal sin that will lead to unintended consequences and embarrassment, as the club will have to contend with the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) in express breach of Articles 3.1 of the CAF Club Licensing Regulations.
The Players Union claims to have received complaints from players and coaches that these clubs heavily owe players and coaches huge sums of money in form of salaries including the 2014/2015 season salaries.

Ex-International, Daniel Omokachi opened a can of worms in the nation’s sporting arena, alleging that Nigerian youths cough out as much as N250,000 each to get into the U-17 team in Nigeria.
Amokachi spoke when he joined forces with coalition of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, operating under the aegis of National Support Groups for Good Governance, NASUGG, protesting in support of war against corruption in Abuja.
Amokachi who hailed the Department of State Services, DSS, over the arrest of alleged corrupt judges, in Abuja, described the sport arena as den of corruption.
Amokachi, while addressing Senators Barnabas Gemade and OvieOmo-Agege, when the group stormed the gate of the National Assembly, said corruption is endemic in sports.
According to him, “My name is Daniel Amokachi. I have said I will support the movement, because in my field, which is sports, corruption is endemic.
“Corruption has invaded sports so deeply that even in FIFA headquarters in Zurich, we saw how the world stood up and said, “Enough is enough!”
We saw how the president, SeppBlatter was not spared. He was removed from office because integrity matters when it comes to the constitution.
“President Buhari is one who doesn’t take nonsense when it comes to fighting corruption. I concur with everything he says.
“For instance, in Nigerian football today, the youths, when invited to the national team, a coach will ask them to bring N250,000 each to get into the U-17 team when he already has the talent. If a person has talent, he should be allowed to showcase what he has in the interest of the nation.”
“A small team cannot win the Nigerian league because all the people in Nigerian football are corrupt. If a referee is bribed and a match is won here, the match cannot be won there.
“The judiciary is not above the law. Mr. President is on a good path”, he said.
In his reaction, Senator Barnabas Gemade, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing, corroborated Amokachi’s position on the rot in the sports sector.
He said, “I’m very particular about your comment on football because I’m one of those who love football. And I started a club called BCC Lion, which you know.
“And I have witnessed all that is happening in the sports arena. And I know that corruption is killing it just as it is killing all other aspect of our national life. We must fight corruption”, Gemade assured.

Mourinho’s United side encountered criticism for playing without fervor in their 0-0 stalemate at Liverpool on Monday, but whether through parking the bus or not, a share of the spoils was their deserved reward.
Now attention turns to whether we can expect to see a more aggressive approach in Sunday’s meeting at Stamford Bridge, with ESPN FC’s Liam Twomey questioning whether the same tactic would work:
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte comes into the meeting having finally rediscovered some momentum and winning his last two Premier League games, pushing his side up to fifth in the table.
It’s not all bliss in west London, however, as Eurosport UK reported there is tension between Conte and striker Diego Costa after he motioned to the bench that he wanted to be taken off in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Leicester City:
he Red Devils will have an extra distraction on their plate this Thursday when they face Turkish giants Fenerbahce in the UEFA Europa League, but Mourinho’s priorities suggest key faces could be rested for that clash.
Expect United to come to Stamford Bridge with a similar mentality to the one that saw them strip a point from Liverpool, but their opposition may be more susceptible to the counter this time around.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-2 Manchester United

The father of late Shooting Stars defender Izu Joseph, who was shot and killed by Nigeria security forces on Sunday night, says he wants justice for his son and has called for an end to extra judicial killing in the country.
Martin Izurube, speaking from his home in Port Harcourt, told KweséSports that his son was murdered by an officer of the Joint Task Force, a combined security service set up to fight militants in the Niger Delta region.
Describing the circumstances of his son’s death, Izurube said his son went to visit his family in the village at the end of the football season.
“He went to the jetty to take his bath, a common place where villagers normally go to swim,” Izurube tells KweséSports. “As he was bathing, he heard series of gunshots. Sporadic shooting. Everybody was scampering for safety and so he too started trying to find his way.
“As he was coming up, he met one of the soldiers, who shot him. After he shot him, my son produced his ID card and gave it to the soldier saying: ‘I’m not a criminal, see my ID card. I am a footballer, I just finished the season, I’m from Ibadan.’”
“The soldier shot him a second time. They took his phone and started taking a video of him. Then they pushed him into the water. He started struggling in the water. They didn’t allow anybody to go near him to save him.
“But he was strong, so he swam to the shore. Still, they left him there. It was then that some boys from the village got the courage to go and pick him up.
“By then he had lost a lot of blood. So they now took him to a nearby clinic to remove the bullets. But they could not. The doctor told them he would not make it.
“Not giving up hope, they took him to the hospital in the Bayelsa State capital, Yenagoa, but before they could do anything, he gave up.”
Izurube says his son was treated like a criminal, but stressed the point that even criminals have rights.
“What I want to know is, what is his crime? And if he is really a criminal, all this time he has been at Ibadan, what was his offence?
“Why did they not carry him away after seeing the criminal to make a case and produce the evidence? They dumped this boy there. They took his purse and took his ID card.
“Nigeria has to curb extra judicial killing. Police and soldiers have no right to shoot indiscriminately. Many people have been dying innocently in Nigeria because police fabricate stories against them.
“This is a great loss for us. Losing him means there is a big gap in our lives. The son should bury the father, not the other way round.”