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An ode to Obi: Mikel took the armband on Sunday and headed home on his 300th game... this is how Chelsea man has turned from red card villain into crucial component
By Rik Sharma

PUBLISHED: 13:22 GMT, 6 January 2014 | UPDATED: 14:09 GMT, 6 January 2014

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Everybody was surprised when Michael Essien handed the captain's armband to John Obi Mikel on Sunday.

Even Jose Mourinho admitted after the game that by right Ashley Cole should have received it when the Ghanaian was substituted.

But Mikel and Cole were both signed by Mourinho in July 2006 and it's clear that the former, rather than the latter, will play the more crucial part in a Chelsea title bid.
In dreamland: John Obi Mikel scored his second goal of the season for Chelsea - his only other goals came in his first year at the club, also under Jose Mourinho

In dreamland: John Obi Mikel scored his second goal of the season for Chelsea - his only other goals came in his first year at the club, also under Jose Mourinho
Picture perfect: Mikel rose to meet Willian's free kick and headed it home with panache

Picture perfect: Mikel rose to meet Willian's free kick and headed it home with panache

During the past seven-and-a-half years, since signing as a 19-year-old, Mikel has matured immensely.

He's 26 at the moment - 27 in April - and approaching the peak of his career.

Everybody was even more surprised, on Sunday, when Mikel scored; his header was only his fourth Chelsea goal, arriving in his 300th game.

Mikel is the fourth non-British player to reach that total for Chelsea, behind undisputed club legends Petr Cech (459 appearances), Didier Drogba (341) and Gianfranco Zola (312).

He has been consistently selected since he joined, by no less than eight managers. Mourinho, Hiddink, Ancelotti and the rest can't all be wrong.

And yet Mikel still divides opinion among Chelsea supporters. Many chide him if he ever misplaces a pass and wonders what he adds to the team.

Perhaps this is a hangover from his early, ill-disciplined days, where he would lunge in rashly for tackles and pick up red cards.

The transfer itself was controversial; he had signed for Manchester United from Lyn Oslo, but Chelsea had agreed a deal with his agent.
Back in the day: Mikel playing for Lyn Oslo
Mikel holds the Chelsea shirt after signing

Back in the day: Mikel playing for Lyn Oslo and (right) after signing his Chelsea contract

A press conference where Mikel sported a Red Devils' shirt only clouded the matter and after lengthy legal wrangles, Chelsea eventually emerged with their prize - at a cost of £4million to Lyn and £12m to United.

Subsequently, Lyn director Morgan Andersen was convicted of fraud and Chelsea issued a High Court Claim against him and the club, to try and recoup the money.

The matter was settled out of court, confidentially, but it likely means that Chelsea paid less than £16m for the defensive midfielder - a pittance given his service over the years.

It did not appear that way at first though; despite Mourinho putting his faith in Mikel, playing him 42 times in his debut season in England, the player's attitude was not quite right.

He was late to training a handful of times and on the pitch some of his decision making left plenty to be desired.

Mikel was booked nine times and sent off twice in 2006-07, and had two reds the following season with eight bookings (39 games). He hasn't been red carded since, and now averages seven yellow cards a season.
Bad times: Mikel, pictured being sent off against Reading in October 2006, and below, against Arsenal

Bad times: Mikel, pictured being sent off against Reading in October 2006, and below, against Arsenal

You're gone: Mikel sent off against Arsenal in 2007 League Cup final

You're gone: Mikel sent off against Arsenal in 2007 League Cup final

As his discipline improves, his awareness of the game and his surroundings increases as well. Or perhaps it's the other way around.

Mikel is composed - he can receive the ball under pressure from several opposition players, drawing them in, before sliding it along to a team-mate in a better position.

This draws criticism that he can only pass sideways or backwards, but if Chelsea are trying to keep possession those balls are crucial.

He is a player that Chelsea's defence can trust to come deep and sit in amongst them if needed, someone who never hides and will always make himself available for a pass.

You notice when Mikel does make a mistake or misplace a pass, because it's so rare for him to do so.

Mikel is the best screen in front of the defence that Chelsea have - and is one of the best in the world at this role.

Ramires makes plenty of tackles but when he's left as the most defensive player in the Blues' midfield, they can look exposed.
Tough tackler: Mikel is not afraid of putting in a shift and makes many crucial challenges

Tough tackler: Mikel is not afraid of putting in a shift and makes many crucial challenges

Following in the master's - Makelele - footsteps was always going to be difficult but some Chelsea supporters may not appreciate what Mikel offers until it is gone.

As you will know, in his youth, Mikel used to be an attacking midfielder. Mourinho saw the potential for him to play as an anchorman and deployed him there from the start.

It does lead people to wonder why he hasn't contributed more goals and assists, but given his role in the side it's safety first for Mikel.

However, given his aerial prowess, he should have scored more goals from set piece situations, like the one against Derby County, rising to nod home Willian's free kick.
Heads up: Mikel is strong in the air defensively... but he should be more threatening from set pieces

Heads up: Mikel is strong in the air defensively... but he should be more threatening from set pieces

Andersen had stated, during the transfer debacle: 'Alex Ferguson said to me that Mikel would be the new Roy Keane and he was offered a contract that was even better than the one they gave Cristiano Ronaldo when he came to the club.'

Perhaps a weakness is his speed; Mikel is not the quickest, and, infrequently, still throws himself into tackles which he might not be able to win.

Mikel is also a big game player. His finest performance to date for the club came in the Champions League final, against Bayern Munich, the greatest night in Chelsea's history.

He was arguably man of the match on that day, although Didier Drogba's brilliant equaliser and cup-winning penalty kick overshadowed him on that day.

That's often the story for Mikel. A quiet, under-appreciated but crucial part of a trophy-winning side.
Key component: Mikel put in a superb display against Bayern Munich on Chelsea's greatest night

Key component: Mikel put in a superb display against Bayern Munich on Chelsea's greatest night



John Obi Mikel's Chelsea goal collection

1. Chelsea v Macclesfield (Jan 6 2007, FA Cup)

A quite superb volley from the edge of the box, rifled into the top corner.

2. Chelsea v Nottingham Forest (Jan 28 2007, FA Cup)

An ugly tap-in after a deflected Frank Lampard corner.
Unbelievable: Branislav Ivanovic (left) looks stunned after Mikel ended his goal drought against Fulham

Unbelievable: Branislav Ivanovic (left) looks stunned after Mikel ended his goal drought against Fulham

3. Chelsea v Fulham (Sep 21 2013, Premier League)

Hooked in strike from close range to break six year plus goal drought. Cue pandemonium

4. Derby v Chelsea

A flicked header from Willian's free kick



John Obi Mikel's trophy cabinet

Premier League (2009-10)

FA Cup x 4 (2007, 09, 10, 12)

League Cup (2007)

Champions League (2012)

Europa League (2013)

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2534573/John-Obi-Mikel-How-Chelsea-man-transformed-seven-years-crucial-component.html#ixzz2pi1AAeTa
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2534573/John-Obi-Mikel-How-Chelsea-man-transformed-seven-years-crucial-component.html#ixzz2pi11gNsg
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2534573/John-Obi-Mikel-How-Chelsea-man-transformed-seven-years-crucial-component.html

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lol

Born Without Anus, Rescued By Nigerian Doctors

Towards the middle of last year, 2013 in Abuja, Baby Abdullahi was born without anus. However, DAVID ADUGE-ANI reports that this baby underwent series of surgeries conducted by Nigerian doctors and today he is normal.

At about 4 am on June 1, 2013 in a remote village along the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Road, Abuja, a baby boy, Abdullahi Abubakar, was born to the family of Mallam Abubakar and Mrs Hadiza Abubakar. The baby was successfully delivered in a tent, without any medical care, where the parents lived, since they are Fulani herdsmen. However, on a close look at the new born baby, the parents discovered that the child has no anus for passing out stool.

While the mother, Hadiza, continued to breast feed the baby, she noticed that the stomach kept swelling up, since he does not pass out any stool because the region has remained blocked. He only passes out urine. Worried by this situation, LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that the parents and other relations within the camp suggested the child should be thrown away, since there was no hope for its survival.

But on June 28, the baby was taken by her mother to a housing estate close to their tent where she works as a cleaner. It was in this housing estate that she met one of the residents, Mrs Charity Davou Dawang, who is the president, Dependable Basic Child Foundation, an Abuja based non-governmental organisation.

Mrs Dawang disclosed that the baby was brought to the foundation in a critical condition by the mother who has lost all hope on the child’s survival since he has serious complications. “The baby was brought to the foundation on June 28, in a critical condition by his mother who happens to be a cleaner in our estate. When this child was brought to us, he was already struggling to breathe. She told us that since the birth of her baby, which was close to a month, he was yet to pass out stool, because he has no anus.”

The child was rushed by the foundation to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, where doctors recommended series of operations to save the baby. Medical experts believe that absence of anus or imperforate anus in a new born baby is a defect that is present from birth (congenital). And as a result, the opening to the anus is missing or blocked.

The head, paediatric department of the hospital, Dr Samson Olori, told our reporter that when the child was brought to the hospital, he had developed so many complications and was already giving up. But a team of surgeons in the department worked round the clock to ensure that he was stabilised.

“The time the baby was brought he was almost giving up, but we worked round the clock to ensure that he was stabilised and had his surgeries. He underwent three series of surgery. The first stage was colostomy which is the opening and removal of the intestines for the baby to be able to pass waste temporarily. The second stage was the opening and the creation of the new anus which is the major surgery, while the final stage was the colostomy closure. All these stages of the surgery were all successful,” Olori said.

Olori who explained that the operation was done by a team of paediatric surgeons of the hospital which is made up of Nigerian doctors, added that this is one case that has tasked everybody in the department and in the entire hospital.

“Today the boy is passing out stool normally on the anus we created for him and the parents are happy and we too are happy. Baby Abdullahi is not the first, second or the third that we have handled in this hospital. So it is what we have been doing here,” he added.
It was observed that imperforate anus may occur in several forms such as when rectum ends in a pouch that does not connect with the colon, or when the rectum has openings to other structures. These may include the urethra, bladder, base of the penis or scrotum in boys, or vagina in girls.

The cause of the problem, according to Dr Olori, could be traceable to infection of the parent. “With exposure to some toxins, that can happen. For instance the mother during early pregnancy could suffer some form of infections or viral infections. It can also affect the process of movement of some tissues, and that can be responsible for some of these effects. But if you are able to go deeper, you may find out that some of them may be due to genetic reasons.”

The chief medical director (CMD) of the teaching hospital, Dr Peter Alabi, noted that Baby Abullahi is a milestone, even though the hospital has been doing it before. “For us in the hospital, it is a great opportunity because all the doctors who carried out the operations on this child are Nigerians and also members of staff of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada.”

Dr Alabi who spoke through the chairman, medical advisory committee (CMAC) of the hospital, Dr Haruna Abubakar, said doctors in the hospital would even do more if all the resources they need to do their work are made available.

“We are ready to do a lot for the patients in the hospital, but because of the challenges in the health care system, we need to have funds to access these services, because they are not for free,” he said.
He called on Nigerians to look inwards for solutions to their medical challenges instead of travelling abroad on medical tourism.

Mrs Dawang whose foundation picked the hospital bills for this operation told LEADERSHIP Weekend that it spent over N2.9m as expenses for the successful operation. “We have spent over N2.9m for this project because we have to feed the parents, we have to do everything including transportation and other expenses,” she said.

She explained further that the foundation raised the needed fund through the assistance of both the media houses and many philanthropic Nigerians especially Alhaji Aliyu Dangote and others who contributed, adding that her foundation took up the operation because Baby Abdullahi, as a Nigerian, has the right to live.
http://leadership.ng/features/1196/born-without-anus-rescued-by-nigerian-doctors

Lol

Choco, i just stated the independence i mean.

Hmm, b4 i go, independence doesn't have to be finance. Weather you are a stay at home mum or working, independent reasoning is a key to sustainable family life.

.

What is hmm

Noted. However, i only helped a partner post about it.

MARRIAGE CANNOT BE FAIR. It is a common beleive that men are mostly independent in nature,while women cannot be entirely said to be so. In relationship/marriage,women are suppose to be helper/partners,but how can a dependent woman sucessful provide the fruit of partnership? In my view,only an independent woman can be a partner and helper to a man. Without independent to either men or women,marriage cannot be fair. No wonder many young couples are seperating. Get independent.

You are right

EVERY WOMAN DERERVE TO BE PROUD AND INDEPENDENT. I love independent women, i adore them, i respect them and i can't do without them. While some men don't like them as wives,though men want them as business partners. Others want them as both wives and partners. I want. Some women also thought every man don't want them to be independent,but in reality, men like me wish every woman is independent. Although, some independent ladies get lost and comsumed by independence,thereby taking other peoples freedom unconciousely,others get unnecesarilly arrogant,harsh,autocratic,disrespectful and others. But in all,every woman deserve to be proud,fair,respectful,truthful,considerate and independent. To the ladies, get independent.

.

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I wonder o

5 BEST NIGERIAN MUSICAL ARTISTS IN 2013. 1. King Saheed Osupa (the best fuji artist released 4 different music albums in 2013 and all are wonderful with great lyrics) 2. 2face Idibia (i can't stop listening to the lyrically sound away and beyond album). 3. Olamide aka Badoo (YBNL and baddest guy everliveth says much about him) 4. Flavour ( His album and the classic video of Ada Ada can't be ignored). 5. Tiwa Savage ( Her voice is unique,her album is tight and the way she combines yoruba and english just make her stand out). You can choose yours.

Lol

Na wa o

Hum

I think i need to sit again...

pls read the content of the letter and explain it to me.

Dear Iyabo Obasanjo,

I read with acataleptic disgust, the asinine projected in the letter written to your father. Let me remind you, that we live in a country that holds tradition and culture in high esteem, especially when it comes to relating with the elderly ones, not to talk of one's biological parent. Using words as expensive as madness and stupidity to describe one's biological father in the name of pouring out the pains of the past is the greatest show of stupidity on its own.

Reading in between the lines, one would sense that the letter speaks more of family issues than the profuse display of patriotic zeal you intend to portray. The only national issue brought was the issue of third term agenda, a dead issue for that matter, when we are busy deliberating on moving the nation forward, you are busy digressing and calling our attention to the issue of the past. However, there is no need disputing the fact that the third term agenda was an height of greediness tendency, and that characterizes an average Nigerian politician, yourself inclusive, evidential in you craving for more terms even after your much lamented humiliation in the office. You should understand that your father understands that an average Nigerian is greedy and will want to crave for more terms in office, he's only against someone preying on the vulnerability of our differences, ethnic and religious, to gratify his selfish interest, and that's why the letter was titled.. BEFORE ITS TOO LATE.

People like you, who grew up in rich homes hardly have an understanding of what's obtainable in the real word, what you presented with the intent of generating sympathy for your family and hatred for your father, is what I'm seeing differently in my opinion. Your father is not responsible, yet you wrote that he called you while you were in DENMARK telling you what he was passing through during Abacha's regime. How else can a father relate with his children? Telling you his problems even when he knew you can't be of help at the moment. He never took care of you, but you lived in his houses in Abeokuta as written in your letter, while serving the state and even as a senator, despite the fact that you are married. Obj maltreated your mum, but yet he left one bungalow for her where she lives, and you too stays anytime you are in lagos.. I'm sure these among many other points you raised in your letter were mistakenly written so that God can vindicate your father even when you try to cover all the good things he must have done as a father.

You are talking of how much you stay outside the country and the good schools you went, when many are living in abject poverty and can only day-dream of traveling abroad, you spent most of your post university lives outside the country as stated in the letter, so, on whose influence did you get all the political post you've held? Your father is careless, stupid and mad, but yet, you refused to drop his name even after getting married..

What I only feel from your needless and incoherently jointed epistle is your crave for personal recognition, luxury and over pampering, which your father refuses to gratify. I wish you know what yoruba will call someone like you, who chose to wash the dirty linen of his parents in the public?

Yours sincerely,
Aloyinlapa S.K

Lol

Hum

Ha ha ha, ogogoro at work again