There's no Khadija Bunny Shaw because Manchester City forgot to apply for a visa for her. They sent her to the French Embassy yesterday morning in the hope of getting an expedited visa, but the embassy said no.
naptu2: [size=14pt] WORLD CUP MEMORIES [/size] PART 3
My favourite World Cup.
It was billed as Careca's World Cup, but it didn't quite turn out that way (I thought it would be Van Basten's World Cup).
NTA's advert for the World Cup was spectacular. It had the visuals of Pele's miss in the game against Uruguay.
For advert and sponsorship details, contact NTA Commercial Services, 15 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi .
This is my favourite World Cup. The most colourful, the most spectacular and the most satisfying World Cup for me.
Old Man and Chief did everything possible to ensure that we qualified, but loses to Angola in Luanda and Cameroon in Yaounde put paid to their efforts (RIP Okwaraji). It was around this time that Chief brought Westerhof to Nigeria (I still believe that The Wonder Bee deliberately ensured that we lost in Yaounde, because he wasn't happy about Westerhof's presence).
It was reported that Paul Biya made a special appeal to Roger Milla, that he should come out of retirement. There was some concern because Cameroon's coach was Valerie Nepomniachi and the Lions were in the same group as the Soviet Union. I was a bit disappointed in Cameroon and Egypt for sending second string teams to the Nations Cup.
The anticipation was incredible. Segun Odegbami had started his Sunday morning Serie A show a year before and great things were expected from the A.C Milan Trinity, the Inter Milan Trinity and the two gods at Napoli. The tv graphics were wonderful, the stadiums were beautiful and the models at the opening ceremony reminded me of *****
The first match set the scene for the drama that would continue throughout the tournament. That man came out during the warm up before the game and started juggling the ball with his shoulders. The crowd went crazy. Neat trick. It was impressive, but why was he showing off?
I watched the match with bro and at a point he referred to Cameroon as "we". We? I never thought that I would hear a Nigerian refer to Cameroon as we. Then there was the roar when François Omam Biyick scored that goal. The whole neighbourhood screamed GOAL! That kind of roar was usually reserved for the Nigerian national teams! Nigerians were cheering the enemy of 1984, 1988 and 1989! This was incredible. I told some of the inmates that Cameroon won the game, but none believed me.
There were so many stars on display, great football on the pitch and drama off it. An appeal was made to the citizens of Naples to forget about their god and support their national team.
There was the clash of the trinities, which was overshadowed by the spitting war. I thought that the referee would only send off Rijkaard and was a little surprised when Voellar was also sent off. Extra police had to be deployed to the border.
Then there was the Italian crowd. They didn't understand Cameroon. They didn't know that their whistling would have no effect on the Lions. I had studied Cameroonian and Egyptian football and I knew their characteristics very well. Cameroonian footballers were ginormous monsters who enjoyed manhandling their opponents. They were also very good at the dirty tricks game (like the Argentinians and North Africans) and they played the most delightful form of negative football. This consists of knocking the ball around in their own half without any intention of attacking the opponent's goal or trying to score. There were regular back passes to Nkono or Bell (this was before the back pass rule) and they would manhandle any opponent that tries to disrupt their game. It was quite funny, if you were neutral, or frustrating if you were the opponent. I was quite used to it, but the Italians would whistle like crazy when the Cameroonians started knocking the ball around in their own half. The Cameroonians couldn't be bothered.
The shock of the tournament for me, was the discovery that England could actually play football. This was amazing. Gascoigne, Lineker, Platt, Waddle, Beardsley and of course Shilton were all amazing (It was a flash in the pan. They won't play like that again until Euro '96).
There were so many stars at this World Cup (partly due to the fact that Serie A was collecting stars like crazy, despite the three players rule). We had Enzo Francescoli, Daniel Fonseca, Ruben Sosa, Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, Jurgen Klinsmann, Lothar Matheus, Andreas Brehme, Rudi Voellar, Ronald Koeman, Careca, Marius Lacatus, Roberto Baggio, Diego Maradona, Roberto Sensini, Claudio Canniggia, Jorge Buruchaga, Abel Balbo, Romario, Andreas Moller, Franco Baresi, Giuseppe Bergomi, Walter Zenga (the cat), Salvatore Schillaci, Thomas Hassler (the free kick god), Brian Roy, Hans Van Breukelen, Gheorge Hagi, Tomas Skhuravy and many more.
Those three painful matches.
It was 20 years since Brazil had won the World Cup. This was supposed to be Careca's World Cup, so I was sure that Brazil would do me a favour and get rid of those Argentinians. The skillful Brazilians vs the rough and dirty tricks playing Argentinians. But it was not to be. That man Canniggia.
Ok then, my second favourite team would do the trick. Baggio, Schillaci, Baresi, Bergomi and Zenga. Another appeal went to the citizens of Naples, "Support your national team". Schillaci did what he does best, but it was not to be. This result was very painful.
Cameroon had played beautiful football throughout this tournament and produced, what for me was the goal of the World Cup (I know that Higuita likes to pretend that he's an outfield player, but didn't they tell him who Roger Milla was? Wasn't he informed? ), so I should support them, but these upstarts had beaten us in 2 Nations Cup finals (1988 hm!) and I didn't want them to have bragging rights over us. Now, England usually play rubbish football and their media make too much noise, but things were different this time. They actually showed that they could really PLAY. So I was neutral before the game. I just wanted to enjoy good football. It was great, but unfortunately Cameroon went back to their bad habits in the latter stages of the game. Rough play! This was one of the reasons why I hated them in the 1980s. I said unfortunately. Yes! I went from being neutral to supporting Cameroon. Isn't that strange?
Something must have happened in heaven on the day of the World Cup final. They might have been spring cleaning or mourning someone, or there was a huge leak somewhere. It rained elephants and hippos! It had rained for most of the week, but this particular storm started around 1pm. This was the first time in my life that I was afraid that my house would get flooded. it was that bad. It was still bucketing down at 7pm. NEPA did what they do best and the gen was bad. I made my decision around 7:15. I would go to the place that never suffers power cuts to watch the match. There was no way that I'd miss the World Cup final.
There was something strange about this storm. It seemed like the world was about to come to an end while I was in both compounds. There were almost gale force winds and the large drops of water (which were falling almost horizontally) felt like stones, but it was much calmer on the street between both compounds. It felt like there was just a mild shower, despite the fact that the street was flooded
I had faith in Germany. They were not as spectacular and entertaining as Italy and Brazil, but they knew how to absorb pressure and hit you with their counter attacks. Dirty tricks don't work on them. They'll just calmly manage the situation. So the final was between one of the trinities vs one of the gods (and a brand new superstar).
That man was even more annoying that night. His trick was to fall down anytime the wind blew and then get up and beg the referee on behalf of the person that he was trying to get sent off, but like I said, the Germans knew how to manage it. In fact, this time, the Argentinians got a taste of their own medicine. Sensini fouled Vollar in the boxand one of the trinity, Andreas Brehme, scored from the spot. There was commotion on the pitch. I was happy. Beckenbauer became the first person to captain and coach a World Cup winning side. Maradona cried.
There were lots of stars at this World Cup, but my players of the tournament were Walter Zenga, Salvatorre Schillaci, Roger Milla, Roberto Baggio, Claudio Canniggia and Sergio Goycochea.
Alh. Aminu Dantata donated N1.5 billion to Maiduguri flood victims. Which means two business men from Kano, from same family donated the sum of N3 billion. Huge!
Dantata visits Maiduguri, donates ₦1.5bn to flood victims
Elder stateman and business mogul, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, has donated N1.5 billion to victims of the flood which ravaged parts of Maiduguri, Borno state capital.
Dantata made the donation when he led a delegation from Kano to Government House, Maiduguri, on Tuesday.
He extended his heartfelt condolences to Governor Babagana Zulum, the government and the people of the state, especially those who lost their beloved ones to the flood.
Dantata, 96, who lamented how the deterioration of the economy in the country, urged the elites and political leaders to repent and fear Allah in their dealing.
He also prayed for the peace and harmony of the Borno State and Nigeria at large.
Responding, Governor Zulum expressed heartfelt gratitude for Elder Stateman for his compassionate visit, acknowledging that its serves as a powerful beacon of hope and solidarity during the trying times.
“The people of Borno deeply appreciate this show of humanity by a 96-year-old to visit us. Let me say it, Our Baba has donated the sum of N1.5 billion to support the flood victims. May Allah bless and reward you with Aljannah. Mu gode, Baba,” Zulum said.
The development comes after Dantata’s nephew, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, also made a N1 billion donation to the flood victims.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs denied bail after pleading not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering charges
Sean Combs, also known as P Diddy, was regarded as one of the most influential figures in hip-hop but the past 10 months have seen him face allegations of rape, sexual assault and forced drugging.
By Claire Gilbody Dickerson, news reporter Tuesday 17 September 2024
A judge has ordered Sean "Diddy" Combs be sent to jail after he was indicted on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.
The rapper-turned music mogul, 54, was arrested by officers at the Park Hyatt hotel in Manhattan, New York, on Monday.
He pleaded not guilty to three felony counts during an initial court appearance in front of US Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky on Tuesday, before he was denied bail and told he would be detained.
This was despite his lawyers offering a $50m bond with the condition of home detention with electronic monitoring if he was released on bail. They said they would appeal against the decision to deny bail.
The indictment detailed allegations dating to 2008 and accused Combs of abusing, threatening and coercing women for years "to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct".
He is accused of inducing female victims and male sex workers into drugged-up, sometimes days-long sexual performances dubbed "Freak Offs" in the indictment.
His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said outside the courthouse on Tuesday morning that Combs would plead not guilty and that he would "fight like hell" to try to get his client released from custody.
In a press conference this afternoon, US attorney for the southern district of New York, Damian Williams, said: "I'm not taking anything off the table" when asked about more charges being brought against Combs and his associates, adding: "We are not done."
Mr Williams alleged that Combs used his business empire "to carry out criminal activity, including sex trafficking, forced labour, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and the obstruction of justice".
The indictment also alleges that Combs used his employees "including high-ranking supervisors in the business, personal assistants, security staff and household staff.... to facilitate the Freak Offs".
Mr Williams said: "They booked the hotel rooms and stocked them with the supplies, including drugs, baby oil, personal lubricant, extra linens and lighting.
"When the hotel rooms got damaged, they helped clean it up. They arranged for victims and commercial sex workers to travel for the Freak Offs, and they delivered large quantities of cash to Combs to pay for the commercial sex workers."
Mr Williams also said that Combs often recorded the "Freak Offs" and used the recordings "as collateral against the victims".
Combs maintained control over his victims "by giving them drugs, by giving and threatening to take away financial support or housing, by promising them career opportunities, by monitoring their whereabouts, and even by dictating their physical appearance," Mr Williams said.
The drugs allegedly used by Combs - which included ketamine, ecstasy and GHB - were intended to keep victims "obedient and compliant", the attorney said.
"When Combs didn't get his way, he was violent and he subjected victims [to] physical, emotional, and verbal abuse so that they would participate in the Freak Offs, and... Combs hit, kicked, threw objects at, and dragged victims at times by their hair," Mr Williams said.
"The indictment alleges that the victims did not believe they could refuse Combs without risking their security or facing more abuse," he added.
Combs, formerly known as Puff Daddy and P Diddy, was recognised as one of the most influential figures in hip-hop until November, when former girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie, filed a lawsuit saying he had beaten and raped her for years.
Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, accused Combs of coercing her, and others, into unwanted sex in drug-fuelled settings.
The suit was settled in one day but months later CNN aired hotel security footage showing Combs punching and kicking Cassie and throwing her on a floor.
After the video aired, Combs apologised, saying, "I was disgusted when I did it."
Combs has faced several civil lawsuits by women and men who accused him of sexual assault and other misconduct.
His lawyers have been fighting those cases in court. Federal agents raided his homes in Los Angeles, and Miami Beach, Florida, six months ago.
Singer Dawn Richard, formerly of Danity Kane, last week accused Combs in a lawsuit of sexual assault, battery, sex trafficking, gender discrimination and fraud.
A Michigan judge this month ordered Combs to pay $100m (£76m) to Derrick Lee Smith, who said Combs drugged and sexually assaulted him at a party almost 30 years ago, after Combs failed to show up to defend himself in court.
A lawyer for Combs said he would seek to dismiss that judgment.
Combs has also rejected claims in a February sex trafficking lawsuit by Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones, who Combs employed as a producer on his 2023 release "The Love Album: Off the Grid".
The indictment is not Combs' first brush with the law.
He was acquitted in March 2001 of bribery and weapons charges in a criminal trial stemming from a nightclub shooting that left three people wounded.
Following the indictment on Tuesday, Combs' lawyer, Mr Agnifilo, said his client's "spirits are good" and he was "confident".
AR-15s, drugs and 1,000 bottles of lube: ‘Freak off’ supplies found in Diddy’s mansion raids
By Grethel Aguila Updated September 17, 2024
When federal agents raided Sean “Diddy” Combs’ mansions in Miami and Los Angeles, they found weapons, drugs and evidence of the “freak offs” that the music impresario is believed to have hosted, according to a federal indictment. The indictment, which was unsealed on Tuesday, accuses Diddy, 54, of running a “racketeering conspiracy” by having “engaged in a persistent and pervasive pattern of abuse toward women and other individuals.” The embattled music mogul is charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Women and sex workers recruited by Diddy and his staff were forced to participate in “freak offs,” essentially sexual performances that Diddy directed and often recorded, the indictment states. Diddy’s employees would arrange his access to women and sex workers, often across state lines, and provided controlled substances to keep the women “obedient and compliant.”
When federal agents searched the Bad Boy Records founder’s enclaves in Los Angeles and at 2 Star Island Drive in Miami Beach, they uncovered “freak off” supplies — including narcotics like ketamine and ecstasy and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant. Agents also found three AR-15s with scratched-off serial numbers as well as a drum magazine. Diddy and his employees, according to the indictment, would track down victim and confront them with recordings of the “freak offs” to pressure them into silence.
Alh. Aminu Dantata donated N1.5 billion to Maiduguri flood victims. Which means two business men from Kano, from same family donated the sum of N3 billion. Huge!
Sports › Re: Nigeria Female National Teams' Thread by naptu2: 6:07pm On Sep 18, 2024
