₦airaland Forum

Humility017:
pinnick and his gangs don make Nigeria footbal matter tire me...

just imagine the foolish act that man every one was hitherto hoping he becomes CAf/FiFA bigwigs someday....

pinnick is a disgrace little wonder delta state have ever produced a least corrupt free politician since existence....

Honestly.....

Foolish act abi act......

He is always talking about the lack of sponsorship but is involved in the embezzlement of the scarcely available funds at his disposal

Truidstar:
This Adelabu fella is still living in the 80's. He obviously has no clue about what is going on.

Indeed. He doesn't want to change because he had no international club exposure.

tbaba1234:
What is this one saying?

It looks like Pinnick is out to destroy the only national team that is doing well.

Why are you surprised by his comments when himself was an ex-Green Eagles winger without international club exposure

They are in the league of home based advocacy for players and coaches in the super eagles

Other Sports
Sports in Nigeria: Goodbye 2019, welcome 2020


By Segun Odegbami
28 December 2019 | 4:14 am

The new Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare (third right) is enthusiastic, and is already demonstrating a seriousness and competency that is giving stakeholders confidence that a new era is in the offing.

I am not the best person to do a proper forensic on sports in Nigeria in the outgoing year. I may be biased.

It has also been very difficult seeing through the avalanche of crisis that plagued several of the federations.

There is also the risk of a total disconnect between the teams’ performances and the state of their federations that may make fair judgment impossible.

So, I shall pass no judgment and just skirt around a few sports, summarise my opinions and peer carefully into the future.

A few sports made little impact whilst most did not even ‘exist’, because we heard nothing about their activities and programmes. Sports is still rated more for the medals they fetch at competitions and less for their immediate impact on the lives of participants. Whereas, we can look at athletics and conclude the year was barren for them, the sport of ‘walking’ that almost does not exist in our firmament, influenced and benefited many ordinary lives.

In 2019, no sport was truly, outstandingly successful, including football. Indeed, that football did not succeed directly affected the fortunes of some sports that depend on the ‘feel good’ factor that the success of the Super Eagles brings to them in the market place of sponsorships.

Unfortunately, every time football runs into stormy weather as it did this past year, with poor international results across all the national teams, including the Super Eagles, the result becomes an infection that afflicts other sports.

Football is the undoubted king and enabler in Nigerian football. For most of the year, the national domestic leagues were on life-support in terms of funding to organise any of their domestic competitions. Television support, the fuel of the sports industry, left football in the lurch of its shenanigans, the scandals and allegations of misappropriation of funds taking their toll in the industry. The domestic league ran for two season without a major sponsor.

As we enter 2020, the music may change. There are new interests and promises of support.

At international levels of competitions, the internal crisis within the Nigeria Football Federation Executive Committee and some of their aggrieved former staff that degenerated into petitions about graft inside the federation and led to some courts cases and investigations by the financial crimes agencies in the country, the country’s national teams could not effectively function. The problems became an albatross that would not go away for most of the year, crippling any meaningful development programmes that could have gone on, and rendering the NFF very unattractive to once-eager prospective sponsors of its teams and programmes. At the end, all the national teams failed to make any impact internationally. When the final count is taken, 2019 may be the most disastrous year in the history of modern Nigerian football.

There were very serious internal and external crisis within the basketball and athletics federations. These are the two federations that come close to football in terms of their followership in the country.

The scouting and use of Diaspora basketball players and athletes has become a very attractive option. These are the athletes that still managed to qualify the country for the women’s Olympics basketball event, and that the country would depend on for track and field at the Tokyo Olympics next summer.

Wrestling, under Olympic gold medalist (for Canada) Daniel Igali, did well and is doing well and achieving some results, even with the minimal support, the sport receives from the governments (federal and state). His passion, commitment and personal funding is sustaining the sport.

Table tennis is still benefiting from the foundation laid for the sport a long time ago, in the early 1970s, through the early adaptation of China as the base of Nigerian tennis. The impact of a few generations of Chinese coaches that came to transfer grassroots knowledge to Nigerians is what has sustained the sport till now. In 2019, Nigerian table tennis players have maintained high global rankings.

The most interesting developments of 2019 are the establishment of an increasing number of State Sports Commissions to replace State Ministries of Sports, and the appointment of a new minister of youths and sports to truncate the trouble-prone regime of the last minister who did his best that was surely not good enough to take sports to higher pedestals.

The new minister is enthusiastic, and is already demonstrating a seriousness and competency that is giving stakeholders confidence that a new era is in the offing.

There was the health situation of a few notable former athletes. Their poor state of health after several years in retirement raised the fundamental issue of a welfare structure for athletes that serve the country for a minimum number of years. The conversation about retired athletes is muted in the corridors of power, even though public cry out for help an increasing number of them is attracting public sympathy and some action, and has kept the matter on the front burner through most of the year.

The relevance of sports academies is becoming more acknowledged. The football academies are serving as a compass. Between the football academies and the local clubs, which are producing more players of quality for the national football teams? It is now obvious that it is the academies, even though most of their products migrate at very young ages into the wilderness of foreign leagues scattered particularly in Europe and South East Asia. Well-structured and the migration regulated and controlled, academies even in other sports, could be the answer to the challenge of grassroots sports development through the federations.

Personally, the domestic football leagues need a little more depth in terms of the technical capacity of those running it. Beneath the surface of what is going on now, development of the game itself is not growing. The present group cannot see it and do the needful.

The leagues must inject persons deeply rooted in the technical aspects of the game. As it is now, through the quality of fields the development of the players is shallow and limited. The level of coaching is also affected for the same reasons.

Funding continues to be a major challenge for all federations and for sports as a whole. This is because there is no clear understanding and delineation of the roles and responsibilities of the different stakeholders in sports.

Even in football, teams are not making any money from the league, particularly in the absence of television revenue, and the exceedingly mindboggling cost (we have just learnt) of running the board and secretariat of the League Management Company, LMC, the body responsible for the professional league in the country.

All in all, sports did not grow in 2019.

2020 is here with the Olympic games as the major international event that will engage Nigerians during the year.

Unfortunately, there is little hope that anything tangible shall come out of it. So, the best bet is to use the Olympics as exposure opportunity for young athletes in various sports that require exposure at that level to build morale and the spirit to excel down the line into the future.

I wish all my readers and followers of sports the very best in 2020!

maidaboi:
WHO IS BETTER BETWEEN YOU AND
TAMMY ABRAHAM ?
" I think we're kinda different, the way we score
goals is really different, I tink we have to leave
that for the fans, I can't really pick."
guess who said this?

Victor Osimhen abi?

Football
‘New clause in Rohr’s contract means redemption for Nigerian football’


By Samuel Ifetoye
28 December 2019 | 4:15 am

Former International, Adegoke Adelabu, has described the inclusion of a new clause by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) before Coach Gernot Rohr’s contract can be renewed as a welcome development.

NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, had on Thursday admitted an error in the first deal signed with Rohr, saying that the new pact for the Franco-German coach would now include living in the country, which allows him only to travel twice or thrice in a year and that his list of players for any national engagement must be sanctioned by the NFF technical committee before the players are invited.

Speaking to The Guardian yesterday on the new condition by the NFF, Adelabu stated that aside the new clause for Rohr’s deal extension, that competent coaches must also be engaged to assist him with a view of taking over from him by the time the new deal ends if he agrees.

Adelabu said: “My concern with Rohr is to find out whether he was able to fulfill the objectives of his first contract before extending it. Another one is has there been any improvement in our game and the mode of selecting players?

“If the NFF technical committee has to approve of any player he invites to the camp, then we have to find out why they want that now?

Adelabu stated that it was worrisome that a coach would solely rely on foreign-based players, and do things in his own way before every international engagement.

“I think what the NFF needs to do now is to engage a coach that must be ready to sacrifice for the country. The mistake made in the past shouldn’t be allowed again. They must employ local coaches that will assist and learn from any foreigner they engage so that when he goes, our coaches can take over.

“The coaches around Rohr how competent are they? Are they good enough to take over from him when he leaves? There must be a take-over process because we can’t continue to rely on a foreigner to steer the affairs of the Super Eagles,” he said.

Adelabu also stressed the need for Rohr to abide with the new clause because Nigeria needed a coach who will look into the league for players good enough for the national team. “Anything short of that means he is not interested and they should allow him go,” he stated.

zayyadidris:
Is NFF trying to sign pep or klopp as head coach of super eagles.??

I wonder too oooo my brother.

And I won't bother reading the remainder of the pages that I have missed in the regard of klopp and Guardiola comparison and attributes though

Joebie:
kai the euro club digression don do!!!!

I agree with you 100%

The focus should be on Rohr now as a matter of urgency please house

daveP:
The glass house building yeah.


Also discovered 350million was spent on the new site plus 50milla from Akpabio... And $150,000 on furniture alone.


I laugh in Krikritunese

So na only name change from NFA to NFF na him sani Lulú dey brag about?

daveP:
They wana control player selections again despite it being a large part of structure disorganization in th SE for the last 30yrs??

Who is pressing this reverse button please?

Rohr too should stay in Nigeria more now.



All these just shows the NFF no sabi draft simple contract, terms and conditions.

Like imagine the shifts, remodifications over the years......


Sad sad.


And wait, NFF aren't on their own Permanent site all these years? Sharing building with a federal ministry?


Urgggghhhhh

Are you sure about the below?

And wait, NFF aren't on their own Permanent site all these years? Sharing building with a federal ministry?


But I don't honestly like the path NFF is toeing of recent with respect to Rohr's contract renewal thingy though

andrewbaba44:
Agreed

But he was still valuable at europe at age 35

I cant see any defender that will be so valuable that at age like alves so soon

Very true.

But one could be tempted to vouch for Liverpool's TAA though. However, His English nature coupled with fragility injury-wise could alter that

andrewbaba44:
Football is not judge the way you guys think, even if osimhen is better than tammy or not

I will stop talking most of you guys serious because of double standard

Maybe tammy was poor against Southampton , so that means someone else is better than him

Remember all players do have a bad game

Andy Baba, How is football being judged again with all the arrays of points pushed forward for the Tammy vs Osimhen's debate already?

Or were they lacking in substance?

Well, with the above being said and much more already, There is no double standard anywhere ooo

Being poor against Southampton further butress his flop nature against the top 6 sides in the league this season and a change against my Dear Arsenal next come Sunday could spare him even though we are not a top 6 team this season which would still mean he scores against another struggling team

Of course players do have a bad day/games but not withstanding that with my position on himself

daveP:
Chelsea and Man u better watch out. Arteta has ignited a spark.


See the way Ancelotti was unveiled today?
Epl sabi press hype. Something the serie A lacks.

This man likes Iwobi already.

I keep wondering how its still 5 losses for Arsenal this season. Very strange.

A spark indeed. I'm loving his touchline inputs and screaming already

Of course and that's why the EPL is rated number 1 with La Liga, Seria A, Bundesliga and league one in that order

He does love Iwobi

Very strange but to me, 2 draws equals a loss as well point-wise

daveP:
yeah i watched the game all through.

I know these youngsters are seeing game time cos of no other option..... Esp that Nelson and Willock.


Epl and its funny strides

The Southampton battered by Leicester, drew with Arsenal and eventually beat the Chelsea team that tutored Mourinho's Spurs days ago. The same spurs team that beat Southampton o.

Good

Exactly and they are not willing to mature up with the opportunity

Indeed it's quite pathetic actually.

I can't believe Arsenal would go 11 EPL matches with just a victory all along but here we are at the mercy of failure.

Interestingly, Chelsea and Man United are up next for Arsenal in the EPL on Sunday and Wednesday next week

mansakhalifa:
Arsenal's problems started the very minute they started signing Greek philosophers and businessmen as players.

Sokratis sounds like the name of a legendary philosopher while Mavropanos sounds like the name of a famous Greek business tycoon.

And now, they have found their way into the Arsenal team...

Indeed it's quite pathetic actually.

I can't believe Arsenal would go 11 EPL matches with just a victory all along but here we are at the mercy of failure.

Interestingly, Chelsea and Man United are up next for Arsenal in the EPL on Sunday and Wednesday next week

Eizzy003:
No need for argument again with wat I saw on the pitch today osimhen is better than Abraham

I didn't bother joining the discuss because I had already rated Batshuayi ahead of Abraham in one of my Post in here.

As that potentially summed up my position already

daveP:
i wish saka was utilized more in his preferred winger role. Ozil being there sucks to me. Hopefully, Xhaka scores today.


And we finally see Arteta isnt a Guendozi fan.....

Saka is actually deputizing as a full back because of injuries to the 2 natural holders in Kolasinac and Tieney though.

Ozil surprisingly played well today by the way.

In Truth, Arteta isn't a Guendouzhi fan from the look of things but he has been one of the best players so far this season

Nelson played more minutes than necessary today ooo to me indeed while the strike Force was just too wasteful also

Jossy98:
Hopefully they'll impress Arteta today Hopefully they'll impress Arteta today Hopefully they'll impress Arteta today

Ameen

Omooba77:
After suffering a 1-0 loss to Burnley in front of home fans, Bournemouth will be looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they host Arsenal at their Vitality Stadium. The Cherries are only four points clear of the relegation zone ahead of the Boxing Day clash, meaning that they are likely to fight tooth and nail against the Gunners. Arsenal, on the other hand, played out a goalless draw with Everton on Matchday 18, with the team giving fans some cheer following a heavy 3-0 loss to Manchester City.
As always, a man to watch in the away team will be Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has netted 11 goals in the EPL so far this term. Anyhow, both teams to score betting option should be considered as both sides are likely to go for a win in the Vitality Stadium showdown.

Saka starts on the Left full back position once again for Arsenal



Ozil, Laca & Auba start: Bournemouth v Arsenal Team News
By Andrew Allen - December 26, 2019 4



Mikel Arteta’s first team sheet as Arsenal head coach has seen him make three changes from the side Freddie Ljungberg sent out against Everton last week. The big guns are back.

Here are today’s official line-ups.

Bournemouth: Ramsdale, Stacey, S.Cook, Mepham, Simpson, L.Cook, Lerma, Gosling, Fraser, C. Wilson, King

Subs: Boruc, Surman, Kilkenny, Billing, Stanislas, H. Wilson, Solanke



Arsenal: Leno, Maitland-Niles, David Luiz, Sokratis, Saka, Torreira, Xhaka, Nelson, Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette

Subs: Martinez, Mustafi, Mavropanos, Guendouzi, Willock, Smith Rowe, Pepe

Saka starts on the Left full back position once again for Arsenal



Ozil, Laca & Auba start: Bournemouth v Arsenal Team News
By Andrew Allen - December 26, 2019 4



Mikel Arteta’s first team sheet as Arsenal head coach has seen him make three changes from the side Freddie Ljungberg sent out against Everton last week. The big guns are back.

Here are today’s official line-ups.

Bournemouth: Ramsdale, Stacey, S.Cook, Mepham, Simpson, L.Cook, Lerma, Gosling, Fraser, C. Wilson, King

Subs: Boruc, Surman, Kilkenny, Billing, Stanislas, H. Wilson, Solanke



Arsenal: Leno, Maitland-Niles, David Luiz, Sokratis, Saka, Torreira, Xhaka, Nelson, Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette

Subs: Martinez, Mustafi, Mavropanos, Guendouzi, Willock, Smith Rowe, Pepe

OMANBALA1:
Too much going on. But Emenike suffer shaa...a good look at him will tell you he saw he'll. We dont know how exposed he is.

Absolutely. After all, He is a Nigerian to the core

safarigirl:
look at how Emenike's house looks like the vomit of a Saudi Monarch's house.

It's another telling sign that money doesn't always equate fine taste. Man just choked the house

A choked house indeed. Too much interiors

[quote author=post=85230342]More[/quote]

More

How Osimhen, Aribo,Iheanacho, Iwobi and other Super Eagles stars celebrate Christmas

Gbenga Adewoye
26/12/2019


The Super Eagles stars joined the rest of the world in celebrating the Yuletide season

Victor Osimhen, Joe Aribo, Kenneth Omeruo, Alex Iwobi, Joel Obi, Oghenekaro Etebo and Kelechi Iheanacho celebrated Christmas in style.

Christians all over the world mark December 25 of every year as Christmas day, in remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ.

And the current Super Eagles stars were part of the celebrations along with former Nigeria internationals Odion Ighalo, Joseph Yobo, John Obi Mikel and Emmanuel Emenike.

Subzero047:
Chukwueze signs for Chelsea

When the window is not even open yet?

Photoshop Bro

Why Leicester City's 'Most Important' Player Will Not Join Arsenal In January


With the winter transfer window poised to open for business in the coming days, one of the hotly-anticipated stories will be centered around Nigeria international Wilfred Ndidi and his links with a move to a top European side.

Several fresh reports in the media (whether confirmed or not) had recently emerged re-linking the youngster with a move to Arsenal in January, on the back of his sterling displays for Leicester City, and the Emirates Stadium outfit continue to stutter.

While the player's camp has yet to veto the speculation, or even the Gunners manager Mikel Arteta comment on it, it is envisaged that there can be very little chances of the deal happening anytime soon.

And the reasons can't be starker.

Firstly, the Leicestershire club are currently embarking on an eye-catching project following their impressive start to the season, and have drawn comparisons with their title-winning team of 2016.

As a result, Brendan Rodgers is expected to build on the current crop of players, of which Ndidi has been labelled the most important player in the entire squad.

Starting 17 of his team's league games so far, he is readily the first name on the club's team sheet on match days.

Moreover, the Foxes gaffer has already ruled out such sort of move happening in crystal clear words, thus: "There will be no one leaving in January. Categorically".

''It's pretty clear we want to keep this squad together, it's a very exciting team with a lot of growth and development in it."

And then, there can also be little to suggest the player himself will be sold on Arsenal at the moment. There is, perhaps a greater chance of him accomplishing more and having better exploits with the Foxes come the end of the season, rather than leaving midway to join a side currently sinking without trace.

Emmanuel Chinaza

Super Falcons’ new coach ready early next year, says Pinnick

By Alex Monye

25 December 2019 | 4:11 am

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick has disclosed that the federation is working round the clock to employ a quality coach for the senior national women team (Super Falcons) early next year.

Speaking at the finals of the Oshoala Football Championship For Girls, which ended at the Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos yesterday, Pinnick, who expressed concern over the performance of the Super Falcons in recent times, said the federation was not in any way neglecting the women national teams at any level.

He also boasted that the body was on course to take Nigerian football to an enviable height in 2020.

While congratulating Asisat Oshoala for the large turn out of girls at the championship, Pinnick said the competition would help attract more girls to football in Nigeria.

“The NFF has been having series of meetings to discuss the way forward for our national teams,” he said.

“Top on the agenda is getting a new coach for the Super Falcons. With this on the pipeline, I can assure you that a credible coach will be appointed to the Super Falcons soon. The NFF is planning big for the female national team.

“On the Oshoala Football Championship, I must commend Oshoala for bringing up this beautiful idea to encourage the girl/child to play football.

“When she called me to attend the finals, I could not resist… out of my busy schedule I ensured that I attended the event.

“Playing a celebrity game alongside Super Eagles players like Odion Ighalo, Victor Osimhen, Omeruo, Awaziem and Asisat gives me joy.

“As the Oshoala Football Championship progresses, I believe it will attract more teams to participate in the female league. The NFF will not relent in supporting the development of Nigerian football in any capacity,” he said.

BREAKING| Kanu Nwankwo loses ‘daughter’

by Ikokwu Ikemba on December 25, 2019


Former Super Eagles player, Kanu Nwankwo Wednesday announced the death of the first beneficiaries of his heart foundation turned daughter Enitan.

“Why why why one of Kanu heart foundation gone,” Kanu posted on Twitter. “My daughter gone gone gone I can’t believe this R I P Eniton God knows all.”

Kanu’s wife Amara Kanu on Instagram said the 21-year-old died of complications from malaria.

Enitan who was 2-year-old when she benefitted from the former Arsenal player’s foundation just completed her university education before moving to Nigeria.

Amara said she moved back to Lagos to work for the Kanu’s prior to her death.

“Enitan was just 2 years old when she had her open surgery done in London courtesy of the Kanu Heart Foundation,” Amara said on Instagram on Wednesday.

ChrisKels:
It only came up in the previous page, things are back to normal now.

Alright Brother and congratulations for the restoration of parity

ChrisKels:
Plz who else is experiencing this thing below? I no dey see the names(monikers) of posters again, on their posts, I can only see a quoted moniker

Maybe it's something else because I am not experiencing such as you are doing