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[b]Aleksander Ceferin, 49, head of the Slovenian Soccer Federation and candidate for the UEFA presidency speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Athens, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016. European soccer federations will gather in the Greek capital on Wednesday to elect a new UEFA president to replace Michel Platini, who is serving a four-year ban from the sport.

UEFA and its top clubs have enraged the rest of the continent with an unacceptable, secret deal to guarantee more Champions League spots for the elite, according to the favorite to lead European football from Wednesday.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, UEFA presidential candidate Aleksander Ceferin expressed frustration the governing body caved into the demands of Spain, Germany, England, and Italy to allow them to seize 16 of the 32 Champions League group-stage places.

Ceferin viewed threats that leading clubs could break away to form a closed completion as a bluff, warning that a Super League for the elite and rich is “out of the question,” and would create a “war with UEFA.”

Ceferin is challenging Michael van Praag of the Netherlands for the UEFA presidency in Wednesday’s election. Although lacking experience in international football politics, the 48-year-old Slovenian federation head has swept up endorsements to complete the remaining three years of banned president Michel Platini’s term. Ceferin said he has the public backing of 32 of UEFA’s 55 members, while his Dutch rival has four so far.

The winner of the vote in Athens will have to seek re-election before UEFA’s next major event, the 2020 European Championship, which Ceferin said should never have been spread across the continent for the first time.

Declaring himself as being “not part of the football establishment,” Ceferin is hoping his forthright approach can help him win over fans, whose trust in the sport’s leaders has plummeted after years of scandals at FIFA.

Coming from an eastern European country of 2 million, the lawyer said he will have the interests of the whole continent at heart rather than just the powerful and wealthy.

Ceferin is concerned lower-ranked leagues like Slovenia will suffer as a result of Spain, Germany, England, and Italy being guaranteed four Champions League places each from 2018-21, rather than 11 currently between them, following the deal in August.

A document by the influential European Club Association, obtained by the AP, said “UEFA accelerated the process” in part to “avoid interference with UEFA presidential election process (do not allow the topic to be subject of political capture).”




“The problem is we didn’t know anything that was going on — that shouldn’t happen again,” Ceferin said. “It’s not frustrating just for me; it’s frustrating for all 55 national associations ... there was a group who decided, and the lack of communication is the main problem why clubs and national associations are mad now.”

The current qualification system, which makes one of the teams from the English Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, and Serie A contest a playoff to reach the Champions League group stage, is the “ideal model,” Ceferin said.

“(The Super League threat) is a bargaining chip,” Ceferin said. “I am sure they do not want to leave UEFA and UEFA’s competitions. It would be boring to play in some closed league and it will mean war with UEFA. They pushed it more because we didn’t have any leadership and that was a problem with UEFA.”

Here are other issues discussed by Ceferin:

EURO 2020
The European Championship has been staged only in one country or co-hosted by neighbors, but Platini decided to take the tournament across the continent to 13 cities for the first time in 2020.

“It’s quite a risk for us. It will be a problem for fans to travel from one part of Europe to another. So I would prefer that it changes after 2020 because it’s a bit risky.”

POWER

“UEFA is not very broken — public opinion is worse than actually UEFA is. We have to
work on transparency. We have to adopt term limits for presidents and ExCo
(executive committee) members because you cannot stay in a certain position for 20
years.

We have seen in the recent past what is happening if you are there for too long.
You think you own the organization.”

LEADERSHIP

“I am a new person, not part of the old establishment. I have new ideas. I am transparent. I have a good life at home. I have a very big law firm so I don’t need it (the presidency) for my CV or to get something for me personally. We need a new wind also in European football.”


Asked if he will leave his law firm, Ceferin said: “It’s a bit hard to say but I’m afraid the majority of the time I will need to be in Nyon (at UEFA’s Swiss HQ).”

FIFA’S HELP

Ceferin dismissed claims that advisories for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, UEFA’s former general secretary, are lobbying to assist the campaign.
“One day I’m Infantino’s puppet, next day I’m Platini’s puppet, third day I’m (a) Russian puppet, then I’m (an) Italian puppet. It’s obviously a problem for people to understand you can be independent ... some people are nervous because I get so much support.


WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
“We didn’t do much about it. We are years in front of the USA concerning men’s football but concerning women’s football we are at least equal if not worse, so we have to work on that.”
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[b] Graham Hunter explains the mood in Barcelona's training camp as they prepare for their Champions League opener against Celtic.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were among the Barcelona players on show at the club's training complex ahead of their Champions League clash with Celtic.
The duo started on the bench for last Saturday's shock 2-1 home defeat by Alaves, alongside influential midfielder and captain Andres Iniesta.

Also involved in the training session was central defender Gerard Pique, one of a number of first-team regulars left out as coach Luis Enrique rotated his squad ahead of Tuesday's visit of the Scottish champions.

Brendan Rodgers' side, buoyed by their derby-day demolition of Rangers, received a further boost with the news that captain Scott Brown will be fit to start at the Nou Camp.
Newly promoted Alaves shocked La Liga champions Barcelona with a stunning 2-1 victory at the Nou Camp.

Barcelona, who also welcomed fit-again goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to training, begin their Champions League campaign at home to Celtic on Tuesday in a group which also includes Manchester City and German side Borussia Moenchengladbach.
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There's no doubt that Cristiano Ronaldo is playing some of the best football of his career and as a reward, Real Madrid have handed him the captain's armband.


In the absence of Alvaro Arbeloa, recently transferred to West Ham United, Los Blancos needed a fourth captain and the Portuguese has assumed the role.

He joins Sergio Ramos, Pepe and Marcelo in the quartet 'responsible' for the first team.


Ronaldo came to Madrid in the summer of 2009 and is beginning his eighth season in the all-white.

A veteran of the squad, he's earned the right to be bestowed with the honour of leading the team.

Read More:[url] https://salamispycee..com.ng/[/url]

Manchester city football club of England have confirmed that 19 year old striker Kelechi Iheanacho is their youngest player ever to score in the Manchester derby.

Iheanacho scored Man City’s second goal in the 2-1 win over Man U on Saturday at Old Trafford and City confirmed the Nigerian has broken the record aged 19 years and 243 days.

In their review of the Premier League clash, City wrote on their official webpage : “Kelechi admitted that he hadn’t expected De Bruyne’s shot to fall to him but he showed none of this surprise when he instinctively clipped the ball past David De Gea.

“In doing so, Iheanacho became the youngest City player to score in a Premier League derby and scored his ninth Premier League strike from his 13th shot on target. ”[b][/b]

[quote][/quote]View Related Sport News @ http://salamispycee..com.ng/

A Chinese student in Guangzhou, China, recently proposed to his bets friend in an elaborate way in public and the pictures have gone viral. The man used over hundreds of pomelos (a popular citrus fruit native to Asia) to form a big love symbol on the floor.


His love interest is a fellow student named Mumu. She loves pomelos and eats them all the time which gave the man the idea of proposing to her with her favourite fruit.

The love-struck man boldly asked her to marry him in public thinking she would not refuse his thoughtful proposal. With flowers in his hand the pomelo love symbol on the floor, he sang his heart out in a touching song saying:

“She is my idol. She likes eating pomelos, so I’ve bought a lot of them for my proposal.”

Click: https://salamispycee..com.ng/2016/09/see-how-chinese-woman-rejects-her-best.html - To Read More and View Photos

[b]Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola have dismissed suggestions there will animosity between them during the Manchester derby – they may well even share a glass of wine once the action is over.


Manchester United play neighbours and rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford on Saturday (12:30 BST) in one of the most eagerly anticipated Manchester derbies for decades.


Both United and City have new ‘super coaches’ in Mourinho and Guardiola respectively and have started the Premier League season with 100% winning records.


The clubs spent heavily in the record-breaking summer transfer window, with United re-signing Paul Pogba for an £89m world record fee, and City making £47.5m John Stones the second most expensive defender in history.


But former Barcelona boss Guardiola suggested any personal rivalry with ex-Real Madrid manager Mourinho was created “from the media”.


“We can’t control that,” added the Spaniard. “I said it many times – I have a lot of respect for Mourinho, I always try to learn from all of my colleagues – it’s the same with him.


“He was my coach, my assistant coach with Sir Bobby Robson. OK, the last period at Barcelona and Real Madrid was not easy for both of us but we met each other two, three weeks ago at the managers’ Premier League meeting.


“Of course I’ll accept a glass of wine after the game if he invites me.”


Portuguese Mourinho added: “I know what the derby means. I’ve played them everywhere, but I always want to be in a position of emotional control. If we want to win we have to be at the top.


“(City) have a very good manager. They always have very good players and bought more. They are what they are since I returned to England. They are a title contender and you have to respect them.”


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Amanda Ebeye is a Nollywood actress – She recently revealed she has a crush on fellow actor, Richard Mofe-Damijo aka RMD, who is married

Amanda Ebeye is a Nollywood actress and part-time model. She graduated from Benson Idahosa University in Benin with a degree in International Studies and Diplomacy. Her movies include Burning Tears, My Last Wedding and Weeping Tiger.

In a recent interview with Punch, she spoke on her celebrity role models and crush. She said: “I have just one celebrity crush and that is Richard Mofe-Damijo (known as RMD). I don’t care about his age (55), he is my celebrity crush.” “I don’t have role models. In Nigeria, I love Richard Mofe- Damijo, Genevieve Nnaji, Bimbo Akintola, Omotola Jalade–Ekeinde, and Mercy Johnson. I love Majid Michael too.” On her personal life, she said: “I am currently not in a relationship. Some blogs keep associating me with a man that I met just once at an event, but he is not my boyfriend. I am single and people will know when I decide to get married.”
The actress recently dispelled rumours that she was romantically involved or pregnant for Hon. Bello Bina, a former Director of Niger Delta Peace and conflict Resolution committee and chairman of NNPC pipeline surveillance.

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Source: https://salamispycee..com.ng/2016/09/amanda-ebeye-reveals-she-has-crush-on.html

Bravo, bought from Barcelona for £17.1million to replace Joe Hart, will be thrust into the white-hot atmosphere of the clash with United
Safe hands: Bravo will start in goal against United
Pep Guardiola has confirmed Claudio Bravo will make his Manchester City debut in tomorrow's derby at Old Trafford.
And City boss Guardiola has said he will share a glass of wine with arch rival Jose Mourinho after the game – if the United boss invites him to join him.
Bravo, bought from Barcelona for £17.1million to replace Joe Hart, will be thrust into the white-hot atmosphere of the clash with United, with Guardiola confident the Chilean will not be fazed.
“He's fit, he's ready,” said Guardiola. “This kind of player, 32 or 33-years-old, has the experience. He has to save the goals.

Read More:[url] http://salamispycee..com.ng/2016/09/pep-guardiola-confirms-claudio-bravo.html[/url]

Things would have been completely different if the trophy was determined on a squad's average height.

Manchester City are looking to dominate this season but they might have a problem when it comes to aerial challenges.
Out of the competition's favourites Chelsea are the tallest.
But where does Antonio Conte's side rank?

Read More: https://salamispycee..com.ng/2016/09/which-team-has-tallest-players-in.html

Arsenal are reportedly considering Bournemouth manager, Eddie Howe to replace Arsene Wenger with the Frenchman’s contract set to expire this summer.

It is understood that the hierarchy at the Emirates admire Eddie Howe who kept Bournemouth in the Premier League last season and also prefer him due to diligent approach to the game.
Arsene Wenger who has spent almost two decades at the North London club is yet to make a decision on his future at the club.

Read More @ https://salamispycee..com.ng/2016/09/see-premier-league-manager-who-may-come.html

FIFA 17 is set to be released and EA Sports has been releasing the ratings for players in the Premier League, French Ligue 1, Bundesliga and La Liga.

And according to the new ratings, former Nigeria skipper Vincent Enyeama is the highest rated Nigerian at 83 and one of two of Nigerian origin to be ranked above 80.

Enyeama, who is the no 1 goalkeeper at French club Lille OSC was rated among the top 20 players in the French Ligue 1 division after an inspired campaign last term where he joined the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Angel di Maria on the French football all-star XI.
The 34 year old former Enyimba shot-stopper was ranked 11th overall with a score of 83, tying him with eight other players who made the same rating.

He was awarded 78 points in diving, 80 in handling, 77 in kicking, 90 in reflexes, 50 for his speed while he got a rating of 78 for positioning.
It shouldn’t be too long before the likes of Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi are all rated above 80.

Source:https://salamispycee..com.ng/2016/09/vincent-enyeama-ranked-nigerias-best-by.html[url][/url]

Manchester City striker, Kelechi Iheanacho is now the top Nigeria earner in the Premier League on multi-million naira per-week pay to knock off Mikel Obi.


Super Eagles star forward, Kelechi Iheanacho is officially the top Nigerian earner in the English Premier League on £85,000-a-week to knock off Chelsea star, John Mikel Obi who earn £75,000 weekly
According to Vanguard, the Manchester City starlet who signed a new 2-year contract extension at City till 2021, revealed that his new contract will “change the lives of his family.”

He earned less than £18,000 pounds-a-week when he first joined Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Mikel who moved to England 10 years ago, has been the biggest earner from Nigeria for many years and he is now on £70,000 a week at Stamford Bridge.

Mikel’s team-mate, Victor Moses bagged a £50,000 per-week deal when he joined Chelsea from Wigan Athletic in 2012. While Watford striker, Odion Ighalo is believed to have improved on his £25,000 per-week deal after he recently signed a contract extension.
Defender, Kenneth Omeruo is on £15,000 every week even though he has yet to play an official match for Chelsea.

This Football money na Ritual oooo… Check below to see how much they earn weekly in Nigeria’s naira.
❖ Mikel Obi = £75,000 | ₦31,000,000 (31 Million Naira weekly)
❖ Kelechi Iheanacho = £85,000 | | ₦35,000,000 (35 Million Naira weekly)

Source: https://salamispycee..com.ng/2016/08/kelechi-iheanacho-beats-mikel-obi-now.html[url][/url]

[url[b]]"I am as good as Messi and Ronaldo" - Alexis Sanchez[/[/b]url]

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez says he is good enough to be compared to football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Alexis played alongside Messi’s at Barcelona between 2012 and 2014 but left ahead of Luis Enrique’s first season in charge for Arsenal where he has become a firm fan favourite, scoring 30 goals in 68 league appearances for the Gunners.

Messi and Real Madrid rival Ronaldo are widely considered as the best two players on the planet and have held a monopoly over the Ballon d’Or award for the past eight years. But Alexis is confident that he can be considered on their level. In quotes published by Sport, he said:

“I have reached a level where I can compete with great players. “I do not feel inferior to anybody. I liken [my qualities] to Messi and Ronaldo. I have the same abilities as them.” Alexis won Liga and Copa del Rey medals with Barca and has also won one FA Cup with Arsenal.The Gunner’s next game is in the Premier League against Southampton on Saturday.[quote][/quote]