Category: Front News

Thessaloniki owner Ivan Savvidis for invading the pitch — a gun in his hip holster — in Sunday’s Super League clash with AEK Athens.
Although Savvidis reportedly has a licence for his revolver, he is wanted by police for entering the playing area, police sources said.

The Greek-Russian businessman marched on to the pitch armed with the firearm after a disputed goal. The match was suspended in the 90th minute after PAOK defender Fernando Varela’s tgoal was initially ruled offside, prompting an angry protest from the hosts that led AEK to walk off the pitch. AEK had complained that Savvidis came on to the pitch with a gun in his hip holster and threatened referee Giorgos Kominos, who was reportedly told “you are finished” by PAOK technical director Lubos Michel.

Kominos some three hours later changed his decision and awarded the goal to PAOK – if the 1-0 scoreline stands they would take over first place in the Greek table from AEK. The referee could not convince AEK to return to complete the final few minutes after they expressed concern for their safety. The visitors also complained that Savvidis attacked AEK director Vasilis Dimitriadis. Savvidis had asked his team to leave the pitch in protest after Kominos’s decision, but PAOK’s Portuguese captain Vieirinha refused and the team did not go to the locker rooms, unlike AEK. Greek media reported Monday that the leftist government is seriously considering suspending Super League contests until judicial authorities clear up pending decisions on matches involving violence.

Deputy Sports Minister Giorgos Vasiliadis is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and measures are certain to be announced. “There is no need to talk, but to take tough measures,” Interior Minister Panos Skourletis told Athens News Agency. “The scenes that we have seen have hurt Greek football. Anyone who comes on the pitch with a revolver is provocatively unacceptable.” AFP

President George Weah of Liberia yesterday announced that Nigeria’s Super Eagles will going to Russia represent Nigeria as well as the continent of Africa.

The Liberian President, ‎who talked in a meeting with the State House journalists subsequent to meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday, likewise cautioned those accountable for the Sports Ministry to cease from altering monies implied for the welfare of players amid competitions.

He expressed dismay over the state of mind of African pioneers, who dependably gripe with regards to putting resources into sports, and expressed gratitude toward President Buhari for the capability of Super Eagles to the World Cup.

He said he was astonished when he met the President of France, Emmanuel Macron who talked enthusiastically on his games motivation and how he intends to assemble limit through games.

“I have been battling for so ache for my national group to qualify. Envision, on the planet best here in Africa, the main world best. What’s more, I said to President Macron, that FIFA fabricated one stadium in Liberia and we have one Balloon d’Or, so on the off chance that you assemble 10 stadia in Liberia, you will have 10 ballon d’Ors.

“I think Nigerian group is a model, we as a whole tailed them. I have played with extraordinary Nigerian players… I played against them. Presently you have another age, the way that they qualified is something to be thankful for Nigeria.

In any case, I trust that they will plan early in light of the fact that they will speak to Africa and we will be there to watch them, for them to bring the trophy out of the blue in the event that it is conceivable.”

He included that the occasion isn’t in heading off to the World Cup, including, “I need each African government to realize that in the event that you win the World Cup it is a pride to Africa, it isn’t simply to Nigeria, so we should do everything to guarantee that the players are not focused. We should ensure they focus, ensure their impetuses are given to them to persuade them.

“A portion of the things you see at the World Cup, you will see a whole group go to speak to an entire nation and you will hear that one priest took the cash… they didn’t pay these players and the players are causing issue. At the point when players will camp, it is to unwind and center. Also, for them to be in camp they should have everything there for them not to stress.”

Weah utilized his involvement in Europe as a player to additionally brace his point.

“When we go to camp, we don’t have anything to do. The main thing we need to do is to clean up and get ready for the amusement, everything is set down there thus you have no reason.

English Foreign secretary, Boris Johnson brought alerts up in the House of Commons yesterday when he seemed to propose that the England group could blacklist this present summer’s World Cup in Russia.

Talking following the fall of previous covert operative Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, Johnson disclosed to MPs that it would be troublesome for England’s support at the World Cup to “proceed in the typical way” and said the United Kingdom would react “vigorously” if any proof of Russian association in the Skripal undertaking was found.

The Foreign Office moved rapidly to elucidate that the remote secretary implied just dignitaries and authorities would skip going to the competition and not Gareth Southgate’s squad, who are the main British side to have fit the bill for the competition.

“On the off chance that things end up being the same number of individuals presume that they are I figure we should have a genuine discussion about our engagement with Russia,” said Johnson.

“For my own part, I figure it will be exceptionally hard to perceive how — thinking ahead to the World Cup this July, this mid year — it is hard to envision that UK portrayal at that occasion could proceed in the ordinary way. We will unquestionably need to think about that.”

Requires a brandishing censure of the competition have been made in the past by previous Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, who said in 2016 that “we shouldn’t turn up” at the World Cup because of Russia’s charged shelling of Syrian regular people for the benefit of the administration drove by Bashar al-Assad.

The possibility that the England group could haul out of the competition was invited by Labor MP, Anna Turley.

“This is the correct strategy,” she said. “Not slightest for this but rather likewise for their activities in Syria.”

Britain will be based close St Petersburg amid the World Cup, where they have been attracted a gathering with Tunisia, Panama and Belgium.

The Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations in Imo State Government House, Hon (Chief) Kingsley Uju has continued to receive commendations over his efforts to actualize the objectives of the rescue mission government of Governor Owele Okorocha in developing the youths from the Niger Delta area in the State.
These commendations were made during the final of the Niger Delta Youths Unity Football Competion ably powered by the DOCS at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri last Sunday.
Speaking to Sports Ambassador at the event, the Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon Solomon Daloung who was the special guest of honour expressed his satisfaction with the event and the zeal exhibited by the participants. Daloung commended the donor and the government of Owele Okoeocha for promoting youth friendly programme especially for the troubled Niger Delta areas in the state.
He however lamented the need for private organizations and well meaning individuals in the nation to support the development of sports equipment and activities through investment which according to him will go a long way in not just engaging our youths but improve the nation’s economy as well.
In his comment, Hon Kingsley Uju while congratulating the winning team during the presentation of trophies, awards and certificates said the competition was one of the many programmes lined up by the rescue mission government to help re-integrate the youths of the Niger Delta communities in Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta LGAs emphasizing that the choice for sports is to help unite the area as well as discover talents in the game.
Also, Hon Amaechi Adibuo, chairman of the Local Organizing Committee thanked God for successful and hitch free tournament commending the donor and Governor Okorocha for the amnesty programme.

The final which was between Egbema Ward A and Oguta Ward A was won by the later 2 – 0 as the also received the sum of N500, 000 and the trophy.
The first and second runner-up also got N300, 000 and N100, 000 respectively while awards were also presented to the Most Valuable Player, Best Keeper and the Faire play Award for the best behaved team of the tournament.
Some of the dignitaries that attended the final include; Rt Hon Acho Ihim, Speaker Imo State House of Assembly, the two house members for Oguta and Ohaji/Egbema LGAs with their TC Chairmen, Hon Marcel Odunze, House Member for Orlu State Constituency, High Chief Rodney Ajaeleu, Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Public Safety and many others.

Former Heartland captain Chinedu Efugh (Chicago) has joined Oriental neighbors, Abia Warriors. The former Mighty Jets and Rangers defender has finally quite Heartland he failed to inspire remain in the top flight.
Efugh has not made his debut for Abia Warriors, but was among the contingent that defeated Katsina United 2-0 in the Nigerian Professional Football League Match Day 2 encounter, as he sat on the bench all through the encounter.
Sports Ambassador gathered that Egugh’s decision to join Okey Emordi’s tutored side is not far fetched. The defender is due to retire, since age is not on his side and he is an indigene of Abia state, which makes it easier for him to get a decent retirement programme.
While Heartland FC is sorting out issues to reconcile and prepare for the Nigerian National League, Chinedu Efugh is enjoying an impressive start to the premier league season.

One of Nigeria’s all-round sports legend, Chris Enahoro, 80 early this morning passed on, in Lagos after a brief illness.
Enahoro, a former captain of the Nigerian Cricket team and All-time school athletics record holder as well as former Chairman, Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), spoke with the NationSport early on Wednesday.
The late sports legend was supposed to have a meeting with NationSport on Wednesday but had to cancel the scheduled meeting following a brief illness.
According to his PA, Razak Adedigba, the deceased died around 6:30am today (Wednesday).
“When the doctor came on Wednesday, he attended to him and told him to rest. He later woke up in the evening to have his dinner and told me he was getting better. Early today (Wednesday), he woke up at 5am to visit the toilet on his own. but he told me to lay him on the floor and I had to on the fan for him where he laid and breathed his last breath around 6:30am. It was painful for him because I have been with him for more than one decade. I was actually living with him before I got married last year but I still resumed each day to assist him. His death was painful and I noticed that he was passionate about sports,” he said.
Meanwhile, Former Kaduna State Commissioner of Sports Alhaji Shehu Adamu and ex-Super Eagles player Garba Lawal and other Nigeria Football lovers have described the death of the Vice-Chairman of the Nigeria National League, Abdulkadir Magaji as a huge loss to Nigeria.
Magaji, who was also chairman of the Kaduna FA, gave up the ghost in a Lagos hospital on Tuesday morning at the age of 52, after a battle with cancer.
Adamu described Magaji’s death as ‘sad’ and a monumental loss to the country’s football, adding that his departure came at a time his wise counsel and active participations in programmes aimed at uplifting football was needed the most.
While Lawal who was among the early callers to Magaji’s family residence in Kaduna yesterday said the late FA Chairman lived for the game of football and was ready to do anything that will uplift it anywhere.
“It’s a sad day for all of us. He was so deeply involved with football and was ready to go to any length to promote the game, may his soul rest in peace,” the former Roda JC star noted.
Also yesterday, the Kaduna state chapter of Sport Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) expressed grief over Magaji’s death.
The chairman of Kaduna SWAN, Isaiah Benjamin described his death as a great loss to his family and the entire sport lovers in the state and country at largeý, adding that he would be missed for his administrative qualities which he said recently earned him the independent vice chairmanship of the Nigeria National League (NNL).
“Late Kapaka will be missed for hisý numerous contributions as Special Adviser sports, Match commissioner, FA State chairman and independent vice chairman NNL among others. We join millions of Nigerians to commiserate over his death, particularly Kaduna State Government, Ministry of Youths, Sports and Cultureý, NNL, LMC, NFF and the entire sport lovers within and outside Nigeria,” he said.

World football –ruling body, FIFA, has named the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, into one of its most important committees – the Organising Committee for Competitions.
Hitherto, the world body had different committees for organization of its several competitions, including the FIFA World Cup, FIFA Confederations Cup, FIFA Women’s World Cup, FIFA U20 World Cup, FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, FIFA U17 World Cup, FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Pinnick was a member of the Organising Committee for the FIFA U20 World Cup.
However, at its 66th Congress in Mexico City on 12th – 13th May 2016, and in accordance with the revised FIFA Statutes that came into force on 27th April 2016, the model of the standing committees was reviewed, cutting the number from 26 to 9.
The new model has only the following committees: Governance, Finance, Development, Member Associations, Referees, Players’ Status, Football Stakeholders, Medical, Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions.
Pinnick’s letter of appointment, dated 18th January 2017 and signed by Fatma Samoura, the Secretary General, read inter alia: “We are very pleased to inform you that you have been appointed member of the Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions. We wish you our sincere congratulations on this appointment.
“The FIFA administration is at your disposal through the following Administration Officer, who will be in contact with you regarding the upcoming meetings and any further aspects relating to your office as member of this committee: Colin Smith, Chief Competitions Officer.
“We wish you great success and enjoyment in this role at FIFA and look forward to welcoming you soon to Zurich.”
The Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions is headed by Aleksander Ceferin, President of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). The tenure of members is for 2017-2021.
In line with the new FIFA reforms, each proposed member of any of the committees was made to go through a comprehensive integrity check conducted by several organisations of global relevance and stature.
Pinnick’s appointment, and in particular the thorough and painstaking checks that he passed with full marks, is a big thumbs –up for Nigerian Football, and puts out the light on the unsavoury innuendoes and deliberate mischief of a few individuals intent on putting the country’s game under a cloud.
As a member of the CAF Organising Committee for the Africa Cup of Nations, Pinnick is presently at the 31st Africa Cup finals ongoing in Gabon, and will be match commissioner for Saturday’s potentially –explosive West African derby between Mali and Ghana.
The new member of the Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions, who swivelled through the ranks of football administration (from board member to second vice chairman, first vice chairman and chairman of Delta State Football Association, to Executive Chairman of Delta State Sports Commission before his election as President of Nigeria Football Federation in September 2014), is also a candidate for election into the Executive Committee of Confederation of African Football.
The CAF elections will take place at the 39th Ordinary General Assembly of the organization in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 16th March.

Former Ajax Amsterdam midfielder Sunday Oliseh has spoken of his experience as coach of the Nigerian National Team.
The newly appointed Fortuna Sittard manager has sensationally revealed that his family almost got into trouble after the Nigeria Football Federation president announced that he was paid six months wages in advance in the wake of his appointment as the Super Eagles coach.
“They were playing political games. Contracts were not fulfilled and it was full of lies, ” Oliseh was quoted as saying by Elf Voetbal.
“They tried to abduct someone from my family. There are often kidnappings in Africa. I’m glad nothing happened. ”
Oliseh penned a one-and-a-half-year contract with Fortuna Sittard this month

Super Eagles forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, has revealed how he struggled to save some money back home in Nigeria to watch Manchester City beat city rivals Manchester United to the Premier League title in 2012, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.
Iheanacho who was 15 years old back then, says he paid to get into a bar to watch the final day of the season and how current teammate Sergio Aguero scored the crucial goal in stoppage time in a 3-2 win against Queens Park Rangers to win the title for City.
The 20-year-old forward who confessed prior to the last day of the 2012 season, he had never watched any Manchester City game, also stated that he never imagined that one day he will be teammates with Aguero.
“I saved some money and went to the game centre on the last day of the Premier League season,” Iheanacho told The Player Tribune.
“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 Manchester City the title- and that took it away from Man United.
“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 said.
Iheanacho, who has four league goals this season, also revealed how he honed his skills.
“You see, when I was young, I loved playing football. But where I grew up in southern Nigeria, it was kind of like a ghetto. It was a tough place to be a kid.
” You had to work very hard to make a living there, and my family did not have the extra funds to buy a real ball.
“Most of my friends didn’t have one either, so we would run around the streets and use whatever we could find to kick around. We would make balls out of socks, or sometimes we even used a balloon,” Iheanacho recalled.

Promising Nigerian midfielder Nathan Tella has to look for a new employer in the summer.
Arsenal youth-team expert Jeorge Bird has reported via his blog,
arsenalyouth.wordpress.com, that the Gunners higher-ups have informed Tella that he won’t be offered a professional contract at the end of this season.
He joined Arsenal as an Under-9 player and was promoted to the U18s after rising through the ranks.
This season, the youngster has recorded 9 appearances ( 5 starts) for the U18s, logging 538 minutes.
Sources close to Tella earlier informed that he will not reject an invitation to the Nigerian national teams in future, so long as the NFF approach him before his country of birth, England.