₦airaland Forum

Visiting fans to Russia that want to follow their teams all the way will need to have so much fund set apart for Air travels as moving from one venue to another may be as far as moving across continent. Safarigirl take note.

This will be a serious boost for the Russian Avatiation industry.

maidaboi:
Yes sir icon4s enjoying every bit of it bravo!

Thank you Sir.
We promised ourselves this and so we have to get it.

Note that all times shown in the games posted under "Sights and Sounds of Russia" are local times at the match venues.
So you have to know under which time zone each venue falls for you to determine what time it is in Nigeria.

Hint: Nigeria is currently on GMT.

SIGHTS AND SOUND OF RUSSIA



11. Ekaterinburg

With a population of 1.3 million, Ekaterinburg is Russia’s fourth largest city but it tops the list when it comes to unusual attractions. Among them are the mafia cemetery (complete with graves decorated with life-size images of late mafia members), and the circus building which is home to exactly the kinds of shows one would expect upon hearing the name. The strangest attraction however, is the QWERTY Monument, a giant keyboard replica built out of concrete blocks.

When Ekaterinburg Arena (aka Central Stadium) first opened in 1957, its seating capacity of 27,000 made it one of the largest in the world. While no one would describe the stadium as such in the present day, the stadium remains impressive nonetheless, and is one of only a few existing stadiums that will host World Cup matches in 2018. It is currently undergoing an extensive renovation (scheduled to be completed in late 2017) in preparation for the iconic tournament. The improvements include the addition of over 8,000 seats, 2 new metro lines, a press center, as well as improvements to the food vendors and security system.

SIGHTS AND SOUND OF RUSSIA



10.Volgograd

Formerly known as Stalingrad, the city is perhaps best known for the infamous battle that took place there during the second World War. Since then, the city was completely rebuilt and renamed. Present-day Volgograd has plenty to see and do. A visit to the Mamayev Kurgan memorial complex is a must-do, but the city is also well-known for its eco-tourism (due to its proximity to the Volga-Akhtubin floodplains) and its magnificent Soviet Baroque architecture.

Volgograd Arena is currently under construction on the site of its old stadium, which was recently demolished to make room. During the preparation phase, a thorough inspection of the building site had to be conducted after a number of unexploded WWII bombs were found in the vicinity. This modern-looking stadium will have capacity for 45,000 fans and a unique roof which will be held in place with steel cables, similar to the method used in suspension bridges.


See games to be played here:

SIGHTS AND SOUND OF RUSSIA

9. Sochi

Sports fans will fondly remember Sochi as the successful host of the 2014 Winter Games. It’s Russia’s largest resort city, flanked by the majestic Caucasus Mountains and the Black Sea. As the southernmost city at the 2018 World Cup, it has a mild climate that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. It’s a great place to try your hand at some adventure sports like mountain climbing or hang-gliding but also an idyllic spot to relax and lounge by the pool.

Home to the Opening and Closing Ceremonies at the 2014 Winter Games, the 48,000 seat Fisht Stadium will host 4 group stage matches, as well as a round of 16 match and a quarter-final match. The roof of the stadium, which was designed to look like snowy peaks for the Winter Games, has been partially removed to open it up for the World Cup tournament.

See games to be played here

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF RUSSIA

8. Saransk

With a population of just under 340,000, Saransk will be one of the smaller host cities at the 2018 World Cup. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in beauty. Located on the Saranka River, this European-influenced city has plenty of historical buildings, theaters, museums, and well-maintained parks. Saransk is also well-known for its sporting achievements, and is the hometown of many Olympic and World champions.

Specially for the World Cup, the city of Saransk is building an arena much bigger than they would otherwise need. Seating capacity for the World Cup will be in the 45,000 range, though the upper level seating will later be dismantled, resulting in a permanent seating capacity of approximately 28,000. The empty space will be filled with shops and leisure space. Located on the banks of the River Insar, Mordovia Arena’s design is built to resemble a solar sphere and is will make an exciting new addition to the city’s central core.


See games to be played here:

SIGHTS AND SOUND OF RUSSIA

7. Samara



Most people don’t associate Russia with beaches but Samara’s lovely beaches may just be the city’s biggest attraction. During the warm summer months, locals and visitors alike gather on the sandy shores of the Volga to sunbathe, swim, or stroll along the beach. It’s a great atmosphere with plenty of cafés and beer tents to be found. If the beach isn’t your thing, this city of almost 1.2 million has plenty of other attractions to take in during your World Cup experience.

Construction on the ambitious Samara Arena began in July 2015 with completion scheduled in the summer of 2017. Complete with a monorail that will shuttle fans to and from the matches, the stadium will be an architectural marvel. It is designed to resemble a gem, an 80-meter high dome of translucent glass panels. Samara Arena will seat approximately 45,000 people and will be home to the Premier League’s Krylia Sovetov Samara Football Club.


See games to be played in Samar

SIGHTS AND SOUND OF RUSSIA

6. Saint Petersburg

Second only to Moscow in size, Saint Petersburg is a picturesque port city on the Baltic Sea. Though it has long lived under the shadow of its larger counterpart, St. Petersburg has emerged as an appealing destination in its own right with a burgeoning arts and music scene. This modern city has 342 bridges atop its rivers and canals, not surprisingly earning it comparisons to Venice. The city is a feast for the senses, one of the highlights being the Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace complex, which houses over 3 million pieces of art from around the globe.

Future home to FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, Saint Petersburg Stadium opened in April 2017, nine years after construction began. The design of the stadium was decided by a competition, which was won by Kisho Kurokawa Architect & Associates for their ’spaceship’ submission. The arena has a retractable roof and holds close to 70,000 fans, one of the largest in the tournament.


See games to be played here

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF RUSSIA



5. Rostov-on-Don

This modern city of over 1 million inhabitants could almost be described as eccentric. Where else can you find monuments to a water pipe or newspaper reader? Though Rostov-On-Don may have its idiosyncrasies, it really is a fun and unique place to visit; take a scenic stroll along the riverside; spend an afternoon shopping for anything and everything at the Central Rinok (Bazaar), or take in a performance at the Rostov State Opera and Ballet.

Rostov Arena is currently under construction on the left bank of the River Don and is expected to be the start of development on that side of the river. This stadium, which is scheduled to be completed in late 2017 will be home to the Premier League’s Rostov Football Club.

See games to be played here

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF RUSSIA:

4. Nizhny Novgorod

With a growing population of 1.3 million, Nizhny Novgorod (or more commonly Nizhny) is Russia’s fifth-largest city and one of the country’s business, transportation, and cultural capitals. Beautiful Nizhny is located at the confluence of the Volga and the Oka Rivers. Though there are over 600 historic, architectural, and cultural monuments to explore, the highlight is the city’s Kremlin. This impressive 500-year-old fortress overlooking the Volga is surrounded by an equally impressive 2-kilometer wall.

Like many of the 2018 World Cup Stadiums, Nizhny Novgorod Stadium is currently under construction and scheduled to open shortly before the tournament. Nizhny’s brand new stadium will boast one of the best locations in the city, overlooking the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral where the Volga and Oka Rivers meet.

See games to be played here

SIGHTS AND SOUND OF RUSSIA

3. MOSCOW

HOST STADIUMS

Luzhniki Stadium and Spartak Stadium

With twice as many people as its closest competitor (Saint Petersburg), Moscow is the largest city in Russia. It’s modern, yet steeped in history and this attractive combination is a big reason it sees more than 4 million tourists every year. For most visitors, Red Square is the first stop in Moscow but there is so much more to see in this global city. While the mere mention of Moscow conjures up an image of ice and snow for many, the summers are warm but not too hot, perfect for sightseeing or taking in a match.

Moscow is the only city at this World Cup with more than one venue. Spartak Stadium (also known as Otkritie Arena) is the newer of the two, having opened in 2014 with capacity for 45,000 spectators. Home to the Spartak Football Club, the stadium’s distinctive red and white exterior pays homage to the team. The iconic Luzhniki Stadium is both the oldest and largest stadium in the tournament and will host the opening match, a semifinal and the World Cup Final on July 15th. This 81,000-seat stadium has witnessed plenty of history in the making, including the 1980 Summer Games.

See games to be played in Moscow.

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF RUSSIA.

2018 World Cup Host Cities:

2. Kazan

Kazan is a lively university city (population 1.3 million) with one of the highest standards of living in Russia, In fact, it could be considered one of the most widely appealing cities on the World Cup schedule in 2018. Tourism here is on the rise with plenty to see from historical buildings (Kazan recently celebrated its millennium) to live opera or ballet to trendy restaurants and boutiques. As one of Russia’s sports capitals, it’s a fantastic city to spend time in during the World Cup.

Kazan Arena, completed in 2013, is a modern entertainment venue, complete with offices, corporate event space, a variety of food options, shopping and a fitness area; no wonder it’s also known as a ‘city in the city.’ The unique arena seats around 45,000 and is easily recognizable due to its massive HD screen adorning the front of the building.

See games to be hosted in Kazan

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF RUSSIA.

2018 World Cup Host Cities:
1. Kaliningrad:
Although its dramatic history goes back over 750 years, the city of Kaliningrad was largely destroyed during World War Two. It was promptly rebuilt and played an important part in the Cold War. As a result, the architecture is an interesting mix of old and new with the oldest building dating back to the 13th century. The city of almost 460,000 is rich in culture with a number of museums and theatres. Its appeal extends to nature lovers as well, as the region has plenty of pristine beaches and untouched forests. Its location just south of Lithuania on an inlet of the Baltic Sea results in a mild climate, with June and July conveniently being the best time to visit.

Fans taking in a game in Kaliningrad will be treated to a brand new venue, Kaliningrad Stadium. The design of the new stadium is based on Allianz Arena in Munich, which hosted some World Cup games of its own in 2006.

See also the matches to be played here:

asha80:
that we actually believe the ages of these Nigerian players that were born and bred in Nigeria is laughable to me.

Was waiting for this comment to prop up all morning.

Awoniyi, is a boy I met at the U17 Camp in 2012. He was barely 14/15 then and he looked it. He has really transformed a lot physically from then till now. I posted a pix on here earlier on. Besides Awoniyi wrote WAEC the same year he played the U17. And that is usually a major pointer to someone's age.

pelezico:
Not to early - one of the qualifications for marriage is MATURITY which im sure he has

Emm... do you share room with him?

Just asking.

safarigirl:
oga icon, you know say na Igbo boys like to dey wait until their papa no fit waka again before dem marry. Yoruba people, if money show, marriage is not far....even if money no show sef .

See Ndidi disturbing us with his Chidinma upandan, but he will not marry her, he and Awoniyi no be mate?


Anyway, Awo baby, I wish you happy married life, may your new wife bring with her, best of luck and a magic key to unlock all the doors of success for you. You know say sometimes, na marriage dey help some people career eventually.

Hahaha, I don't want to go deep into this discussion so as not to derail this thread.

tbaba1234:
He is 21... 21 is not a bad age.

I thought the Post says he is 19. Just reconfirmed he will be 21 by August.

EmmGee:
lol.
this world is too hypersexual. its better for him than to taste the forbidden fruit. even me if i was his age and i was getting at least €5000 per week. It'll be one of the first things I'll do

Money is good in marriage but it is not the only ingredient.

The thing with marrying this early is a good number of the men would later want to remarry.

I wish Taiwo Awoniyi a happy married life in advance.

tbaba1234:
What is he waiting for? He is comfortable.

A wife might be good for him, keep him focused... Young players are often distracted by women and the night-life.

That is a stage of life typical of young people.Just that they experience it to varying degrees. If he doesn't experience it now he may want to experience it later. That is the truth.

TheSuperNerd:
Liverpool Loanee Awoniyi Keep Interested Teams Waiting For Him As His Wedding Draws Near

https://i0.wp.com/owngoalnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_4424.jpg

On loan Liverpool forward Taiwo Awoniyi is currently not in talks with teams interested in his services as he is focused on his wedding plans as the date draws near.
Awoniyi will tie the marital knot in June according to reports exclusively gathered by Owngoalnigeria.com, and that for now happens to be his many focus and not a new club.
The 19 year old has emerged as a shock target for several teams around Europe after a stellar season on loan at Belgium side Mouscron where he has scored ten goals in all competitions this season.
Liverpool are keen on sending him on loan to a team playing in the Europa League to ease their chances of getting him a work permit using other means aside the national team appearance which is the first requirement.
Presently out injured for the rest of the season. Aside his rehabilitation which is going on well, he has been very busy coordinating plans for his weeding which will come up in June in Nigeria.



**Ade Emmanuel

Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2018/05/01/liverpool-loanee-awoniyi-keeps-interested-team-waiting-for-him-as-his-wedding-draws-near/


Russia 2018 WC Countdown: 43 days 11 hours 48 mins to go

Isn't it just too early ? At 19!

Say you don get money no mean say you don ripe for marriage o.

Joebie:
We were considering a scenario. In fact I could say J.Obi instead. I would pick Onazi if I’m facing a selection headache between the two.

Ogu too is there. We are covered in the DM position.

Joebie:
The Star spangled banner is overplayed to me. I’ve heard it too many times. That may just be the reason. It doesn’t have a bad melody. The French anthem gives me memory of a particular stage of my childhood.

You see? now I understand.

Just like the American anthem gives me some particular memories of my earlier youthful stage.

safarigirl:
Icon79 this is a Super Eagles thread. Open one for Messi vs CR7

You no hear say Messi don change nationality to being Nigerian?

mbjane:
Ekong started warming bench now which is almost end of the league,if he keep on warming the bench next season I am sorry to say he will not be a regular.

I will choose onazi ahead of shehu

Rohr is not likely to play Shehu at DM. At least not at this stage of preparations. Rohr has a good list of DM options.

Joebie:
Sir music taste differs oh. Abi u no know?

Definitely!

For eg I belong to the Classical and Oprah School. Don't bring anything Rock near me.

But these anthems have been sang using different styles of Music.

MetalJigsaw:
You're asking me if I'm the coach??
Is it you that is the coach as you're backing him for the World Cup?

The same Success that is struggling to trap the ball in Spain that you're prospecting.

Who is he better than in the team you can't answer.

Where is my Guilder bottle sef.

You and bottles sef

Joebie:
I’m more about the melody. Of course I know the lyrics. Just personal preference

It has some good melody too you know.

So what will you say about the British Anthem?

Martz101:
please name 2 Nigeria players in last 6 players that has been more consistence

"in the last 6 years you mean".

Joebie:
I don’t like the American anthem. Nigerian anthem would sound great with some good symphony arrangement.
One of my favorite is that of France.

Maybe the lyrics of the American Anthem will help you love it.

And yes the Nigerian anthem will be so great with good symphony and orchestral accompaniment. I have heard a couple of such renditions.

MetalJigsaw:
Don't you think the bench role could affect his confidence a bit? Let's be realistic

Camping for the WC is enough time for him to shake it off, regain any lost form and get his confidence back

chrisooblog:
onazi 10 years? Actually he joined the national team in 2012
Agree with the rest of your comment plus I would add that onazi is good for the dressing room and brings good team spirit that said dude needs to lose weight sha

He didn't say Onazi has played over 10 years. He simply implies that when you look at our players over the last 10year period, Onazi is one of the most consistent.
Komekn abi no be so?