Nigeria coach Manu Garba talks about his team’s chances at the 19th edition of the Orange CAF U-20 Championship Senegal 2015. Garba says his charges are “ready for business” ahead of their opening match against hosts Senegal on Sunday at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium in Dakar.

Below are excerpts of his interview with Cafonline.com ahead of the tournament opener;

Cafonline.com: How are you preparing for your first game against hosts Senegal at the tournament?
Manu Garba: The first match is as important as the final. Like they always say, a journey of 1000-miles begins with one step. So winning will help us go all the way. When you lose, it becomes a bit of a struggle in the remaining games.

Does playing the host nation come with pressure?
We are very confident. We won’t underrate any opponent. We will do all it takes to achieve our target. We are a team with a good record as far as first matches at major tournaments are concerned. At the African U-17 Championship in Morocco in 2013, we beat...continue here >> http://sportshubng.com/ayc-2015-business-manu-garba-declares/

Cameroon and West Ham midfielder Alex Song has retired from international football after his exclusion from his country’s Africa Cup of Nations squad.

The Barcelona loanee, 27, will now be available for the Hammers this month after talks with Cameroon about a late call-up broke down.

He said on Instagram: ”My love for my country will never change.

“I want to take time to focus purely on domestic football and start to rebuild my career at West Ham United.”

Song has not played for his country since...continue here>> http://sportshubng.com/cameroon-midfielder-alex-song-retires-international-football-nations-cup-snub/

Former Enyimba Int’l of Aba captian, Romanus Orjinta is dead, aged 33.

Orjinta who captained Enyimba to their 2003 CAF Champions league triumph, was found dead in his home in Enugu on New Year’s eve.

Born on the 12th of August 1981, the defender also played for...continue here >> http://sportshubng.com/former-enyimba-captain-caf-champions-league-winner-romanus-orjinta-dead/

Italian media claim Lazio could receive Fabio Borini in exchange for Nigerian midfielder Eddy Onazi to Liverpool.

It would be a return to Rome for the striker, but on the other side, as he previously played for Lazio’s arch rivals Roma.

According to La Repubblica, the Biancocelesti have spotted Borini as the player they want in exchange for Onazi.

Ogenyi ‘Eddy’ Onazi is...continue here >> http://sportshubng.com/transfer-gossip-lazio-liverpool-set-onazi-borini-swap-deal/

Fernando Torres is close to agreeing a move back to Atlético de Madrid. Negotiations between the La Liga champions and Chelsea continued on Wednesday morning and everything points to a...continue here >> http://sportshubng.com/fernando-torres-return-home/

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has indicated its intension to find a new kit supplier for the national team after the federation parted ways with sponsors, Adidas.

According to thisdaylive.com, the Adidas contract will officially lapse at the end of the month and will leave the national teams without a major kit supplier.

Adidas had been the official kit sponsors of Nigeria since...http://sportshubng.com/nff-ends-kit-deal-adidas/

Former Chelsea manager, Avram Grant, has been confirmed as the new head coach of Ghana’s senior national team, the Black Stars.

The appointment was confirmed at a press conference by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) on Thursday by the association’s president, Kwesi Nyantakyi.

The GFA had already announced that Grant would be given the job, subject to the agreement of personal terms.

However, Nyantakyi told journalists that “all outstanding issues with Mr. Grant have been cleared and we believe he is the right man for the job.”
The Israeli will officially take over the position on...continue here >> http://sportshubng.com/former-chelsea-boss-avram-grant-appointed-new-ghana-coach/

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) have concluded plans to award out of contract Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi a new contract despite failing to qualify the nation for the 2015 AFCON in Equatorial Guinea, reports africanfootball.com.

According to Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) executive committee member Emeka Inyama, “The board has mandated the...continue here >> http://sportshubng.com/nff-set-award-keshi-new-contract-despite-afcon-2015-failure/

Midfielder Jack Wilshere will be out for about three months after ankle surgery, Arsenal have revealed.

The England player injured ligaments in his left ankle during Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Premier League rivals Manchester United at Emirates Stadium.
“Everyone at the club wishes Jack a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back on the pitch as soon as possible,” read a statement.

He added the following message: “Ankle needed surgery in the end, went well thanks to...continue here >> http://sportshubng.com/jack-wilshere-three-month-ankle-surgery/

Confederation of African football (CAF) and Adidas has revealed the official match ball of the 2015 African Cup of nations (AFCON) which will take place in Equatorial Guinea.

The ball called Marhaba, which was revealed via CAF twitter page will be officially unveiled on...continue here >> http://sportshubng.com/marhaba-afcon-2015-official-ball-unvieled/

Howard Webb has retired as a referee to become technical director of Professional Game Match Officials Limited.

The 43-year-old, widely regarded as one of the best referees ever produced in England and highly respected in the world game, brings to an end a 25-year career to be responsible for overseeing the on-field performances of PGMOL match officials.

Webb said: “I am very excited to start this new chapter in my career after a wonderfully rewarding 25 years on the pitch.

“I have spent over...continue here http://sportshubng.com/howard-webb-retires-refreeing/

Xavi Hernández will go down in history as the puppet-master behind Spain’s best ever international side.

His brain contained the blueprint for success that lead to his national side lifting two European Cups and one World Cup. He held the secret designs of a playing style admired and envied all around the world.

On 15th November 2000, at the...continue here >> http://sportshubng.com/spanish-brain-box-xavi-retires-international-football/

Boxing legend Mike Tyson has revealed Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx is set to play him a new film about his life.

The former heavyweight champion has claimed Foxx will playing him at various stages of his life using CGI.

According to reports, Foxx, having previously impersonated Tyson in the past, has asked the 46-year-old for help as he trains for the role.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Tyson said...continue here >> http://sportshubng.com/iron-mike-tyson-story-jamie-fox-play-mike-tyson-new-movie-boxers-life/

Mourinho’s bad mood following Chelsea’s 3-0 loss away to Werder Bremen has resulted in him criticising the Bundesliga.

“The English League is not like the German one, where you know who will finish first and second. In England you might finish first or sixth. The Premier League is tough”, Mourinho said on Sunday night following defeat in a pre-season friendly against Werder Bremen.

According to Mourinho, his players were comprehensively beaten by the German side because of the referee. “We were expecting a fast game, a competitive game, but we come here and the...continue here >> http://sportshubng.com/bad-losser-mourinho-blames-referee-criticise-bundesliga-werder-bremen-defeat/

Samir Nasri has hinted his international career could be over after missing out of the world cup in Brazil.

The 27 year old wasn’t included in Didier Deschamps’ final 23 for the tournament in Brazil a public fall out.

And while he won’t yet make the decision public all signs point to him hanging up his Les Bleus boots for good.
“I made it a while ago but I will announce it when...continue here >> http://sportshubng.com/samir-nasri-hints-national-team-retirement-aftre-world-cup-miss/

Manchester United will confirm a record kit deal of around £70million-a-year with Adidas on Monday afternoon.

The staggering figure is more than double the amount they currently pocket from current partner Nike.

They have beaten competition from US brands Warrior – kit-makers of Liverpool – and Under Armour.
The United deal will kick off for the....continue here >> http://sportshubng.com/manchester-united-signs-record-70-million-year-kit-deal-adidas/

Benfica defender Ezequiel Garay will move to Manchester United in June with the deal already agreed by all parties according to a tweet by Portuguese football journalist Goncalo Lopes.

The 27 year old Argentine was on United’s radar in the summer and has been touted to be the replacement for tiring Nemanja Vidic .
http://sportshubng.com/transfers-manchester-united-signs-ezekiel-garay/

The annual CAF Awards enters its 22nd edition this year and the Awards Gala will take place Lagos, Nigeria.

Today, Thursday January 9, 2014; the King of African football will be unveiled at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos; amongst the trio of Yaya Toure, past winner of the last two editions; his Ivorian counterpart Didier Drogba and John Obi Mikel (Nigeria).

From 1992 to 2012, from Ghana’s Abedi Pele to Ivorian Toure, 14 players have laid claim to the most prestigious individual honour in African football. Eto’o has been crowned an unprecedented four times – 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2010, whilst Senegalese forward, El Hadji Diouf won the award twice in succession; 2001 and 2002 just as Toure in 2011 and 2012.

However, the first player to have been named CAF African footballer of the Year on two occasions remain ex-Nigeria captain Nwankwo Kanu, in 1996 and 1999 before Drogba duplicated the feat in 2006 and 2009.

Winners of the prestigious honour have come from either the midfield or attack; and that tradition will be respected yet again this year as the contenders are within that scope.

In addition, the 14 players to have been decorated since 1992 had and continue to remain amongst the foremost African ambassadors of the world’s most popular sport.

They are also several others who were closer yet too far, including Ivorian goalkeeper Alain Gouaméné in 1992; Moroccan defender Noureddine Naybet (sixth in 1993); Nigerian Daniel Amokachi regularly featured among the....CONTINUE HERE >> http://sportshubng.com/caf-awards-22-years-history/

Showers of blessing came pouring down at the UJ Esuene stadium in Calabar shortly after Obinna Nsofor’s 88th minute strike sealed the 2014 world cup ticket for the super eagles, ensuring Nigeria appears at the world cup for the fifth time.

It wasn’t a performance worthy of the African champions, but it was enough to see off the very impressive Ethiopian, securing a 4-1 aggregate score line over the two legged play-off.

For the first time in as many world cup qualifiers, the super eagles had their destiny in their own hands, not waiting for other teams to do them a favour, although the campaign had its own scary moment.

The Kenyan national team was on the verge of their first ever victory over Nigeria when Francis Kahata sublime 35th minute free-kick seems to be enough for the Kenyans, but for Nnamdi Oduamadi 88th minute equalizer which saved the day for the eagles.

In this piece, we will be sharing some of the statistics on how the super eagles qualifier for the 2014 world cup in Brazil.
Nigeria was drawn in group F of the second round of qualifiers alongside Kenya, Namibia and Malawi.

The coach Stephen Keshi led team played all matches at the U.J Esuene stadium in calabar, the first game coming against the brave warriors of Namibia with the super eagle edging out that one with a solitary goal courtesy of an IK Uche strike.

The team then went on to win the group, amasing a total of 12 points, 5 points ahead of second place Malawi, with Kenya and Namibia earning 6 and 5 points respectively.

Nigeria won 3, drew 3 and lost none of its 6 group stage matches to earn a play-off berth against the wyla antelop of Ethiopia.
The super eagles scored a total of...CONTINUE HERE >> http://sportshubng.com/road-brazil-super-eagles-made-2014-world-cup-mundial-brazil/

Heat Win Third Straight

LeBron James scored 32 points to lead the Heat past the Pelicans 107-88.

Bulls Use Balanced Attack To Top Suns

Five Bulls scored in double figures en route to defeating the Suns 92-87.
Knicks Hold Off Pistons

Carmelo Anthony scored 34 points to lead the Knicks past the Pistons 89-85
Mavs Down Lakers To End Home Losing Skid

The Mavericks snapped their four-game home losing streak, beating the Lakers 110-97.

Results :

Trail Blazers 119 - Kings 123
Wizards 97 - Bobcats 83
76ers 93 – Cavaliers 111
Raptors 79 - Pacers 86
Pelicans 88 – Heat 107
Pistons 85 – Knicks 89
Suns 87 – Bulls 92
Spurs 110 – Grizzlies 108
CONTINUE HERE >> http://sportshubng.com/nba-round-standings-heat-blow-pelicans-lakers-stumble-mavericks/

Manchester City are tying up a work permit for Nigerian wonderkid Kelechi Iheanacho.
According to Mirror Uk, the 17-year-old is set to join the Blues after starring in the Under-17 World Cup last summer, but it has proved to be a complex deal.

City backroom duo Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain have used their contacts in Barcelona to take him to Spain for training before he comes to England to start work with Manuel Pellegrini’s men.

Iheanacho won the Golden Ball for tournament’s best player as his homeland won the U17s finals in the UAE this summer.
He scored six goals in seven matches – including one in Nigeria’s victory over Mexico in the final and four in one match against the same opposition in the group phase – and also provided seven assists.
http://sportshubng.com/transfers-man-city-tying-work-permit-kelechi-iheahacho-deal-edges-closer/

According to ‘The Sunday Times’, Juan Mata’s agent has offered Spanish player Juan Mata to Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter and Napoli. The side from Naples is the best-placed club to secure a deal.

Rafael Benítez’s position as coach of the Italian team is the key to shaping Mata’s future. The Spanish manager has already worked with him while he was at Chelsea, where the player was an indisputable starter. At this stage of season, he had played seven more games last campaign than he has this time around.

After the arrival of Mourinho, Mata has often ended up on the bench
Who would have thought that things would change so drastically for Juan Mata in less than six months? The fans’ choice for the Premier League’s best player last season was a Chelsea icon and established himself as the London club’s star player.

New signings and the arrival of Portuguese manager José Mourinho mean that the Spaniard has had to fight for his place, often ending up on the bench and occasionally failing even to make the squad.

This is not a pleasant situation for the former Valencia man, who appears to be looking for an exit in the winter transfer window.
Reports claim that he...continue here >> http://sportshubng.com/transfers-agent-offered-mata-real-madrid-barca/

Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed he will be present in Zurich for the Ballon d’Or ceremony on the 13th January to perhaps pick up the award he is the favourite to win. “I am going to the gala; I don’t know if I should win, if I do, great, if not, life goes on”, he told the press after the match on Monday with Celta.

The 2014 FIFA award gala will take place on 13th January at the Kongresshaus, Zurich (Switzerland)

On Eusebio’s death he said: “It is a special day on which I want to thank everybody, especially all of Spain, for the tributes that have been made to Eusebio. For the Portuguese people it is very important”.

http://sportshubng.com/2013-fifa-ballon-dor-iam-going-gala-ronaldo-confirms-attendance/

So, who is this guy?
Name: Bertrand Traore
Club: Chelsea
Age: 18
Position: Attacking midfielder

Born in Bobo-Dioulasso, the second-largest city in his home country of Burkina Faso, Traore has been on Chelsea radar since 2010, and finally joined the club’s academy in 2011.
On his return to Stamford Bridge as manager, Jose Mourinho was impressed with the youngster on DVD viewings of academy games, and decided to take him on the club’s pre-season tour of Asia.
Traore shone among Chelsea’s top international stars, and even capped off his displays with goals against Malaysia and Indonesia.
Chelsea’s main problem, though, was obtaining a work permit for him – he was only in the UK on a student visa. However, with those legal criteria now met and Traore now 18, the Blues finally officially got their man to open this month’s transfer window.

So why the fuss?
Well, he’s been featuring in the Burkina Faso team since the age of 15, and turned out for them at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
Asked in the summer, Mourinho earmarked him as ‘one to keep,’ while Chelsea defender Gary Cahill was gushing with praise, saying: ‘He’s certainly not looked out of place among some top international players. He’s composed on the ball and has great confidence for such a young lad.’
There’s no better way than to get yourself noticed playing with the first team, and Traore certainly did that in the summer, prompting Chelsea to pursue their long interest in navigating the work permit minefield and tying him to a permanent deal.

What’s his style?
He featured out wide in the summer, although many see him as a more central midfielder.
His use of the ball is his main asset, with the youngster adept at a range of passing, able to beat a man and offers a vicious threat from long range.
Armed with technique to burn and a conisderable goal threat, Frank Lampard is a name that springs to mind for many. However, the man himself idolises playmakers like Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil.

How much is he worth?
It’s impossible to say at the minute, but it’s clear Chelsea...continue here >> http://sportshubng.com/betrand-traore-spotlight-dont-know-chelseas-new-signing/

Cristiano Ronaldo saw out his most prolific year, in which he racked up his highest ever year-end goal tally: 69, a total only ever bettered by Messi (90), Müller (84) and Pelé (75).
However, this flood of goals was not matched by trophies. Real Madrid was unable to piggyback on Cristiano’s standout year and ended the season empty-handed, falling at the semi-final stage of the Champions League for the third year on the trot, losing the Spanish Cup final and barely putting up a fight in the league. Here is a month-by-month recap of Cristiano’s goal-den 2013.

January • 10 goals
Two braces and two hat-tricks
Ronaldo comes racing out of the blocks. He goes on a real tear in the league, scoring seven goals in three games, with doubles against Real Sociedad and Valencia and a treble against Getafe, and notches up as many goals in 20 days as he had over the previous two months.

February • 7
Sends Barça packing in the cup
The Portuguese ace adds to his legend with another historic performance at the Camp Nou, bagging a brace that takes Real into the ‘Copa del Rey’ final. He also levels the Champions League last-16 first leg against old club United with a header.

March • 5
Scores on Old Trafford homecoming
Cristiano returns to the Theatre of Dreams with the tie hanging in the balance, scoring the winner but refusing to celebrate.

April • 7
Outdone by Dortmund
Another Champions League disappointment. After scoring three times in the quarter-finals against Galatasaray – one in the home leg and two in Turkey – his goal away at Dortmund in the semi-final first leg is not enough to prevent a 4-1 thrashing. Draws a blank in the return leg.

May • 4
Cupset
With Real’s hopes of salvaging its season pinned on the ‘Copa del Rey’, Cristiano delivers, putting Mou’s men ahead against Atlético at the Bernabéu. However, Simeone’s men roar back and leave ‘Los Blancos’ trophyless.

June • 1
Against Russia with love
Cristiano features in a crucial World Cup qualifier against Russia. Portugal wins 1-0, although Ronaldo isn’t on the scoresheet.

July • 0
Revving up in pre-season
No competitive action. Scores a double in the first pre-season game against Bournemouth, but fails to hit the target against Lyon or PSG.

August • 1
A goalscoring curtain-raiser
Cristiano is straight off the mark as the season gets underway in earnest, scoring for his country in the friendly against Holland. However, the Portuguese ace is unable to open his ‘La Liga’ account in the first two league fixtures.

September • 12
A deadly dozen
CR7 turns on the style, notching twelve times over the course of the month. This includes two hat-tricks – one for Real against Galatasaray and one for his country against Northern Ireland – and six goals in five ‘La Liga’ games.

October • 9
Takes the Champions League by storm
Cristiano moves to the top of the goalscoring charts in Europe with ...continue here >> http://sportshubng.com/goal-den-2013-cristiano-ronaldos-goals-month-month-2013/

Veteran former Barcelona player, Ronaldinho was Latin America’s best player of 2013 according to a poll of 200 sports journalists from the region which was undertaken by Uruguay’s El País newspaper.

The Brazilian star was already honoured by the “America and Europe respond to El País” poll – which started in 1986 – on three other occasions, although as ‘The King of Europe’ for his performances at Barcelona between 2004 and 2006.

Ronaldinho, currently at Atlético Mineiro received 156 votes, ahead of ..continue here >> http://sportshubng.com/ronaldinho-dethrones-neymar-wins-latin-america-best-player-2013/

The giant flashing scoreboard at St Mary’s provided Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho with the most robust armour available against any complaints from the rain-soaked and marginalised figure of Juan Mata.

Mata has taken his move to the periphery at Chelsea this season with as much dignity as can be reasonably expected from a world-class performer, the player of the year in his two seasons at Stamford Bridge, who is suddenly no longer the automatic choice.
In fact Mata has been the model of good grace – but the slow, resigned trudge past Mourinho after a frustrating 53 minutes at Southampton offered evidence that perhaps the patience has now worn thin.

Eyebrows were raised among Mata’s many admirers, especially with the scoreline blank and Chelsea in need of something more than a blunt instrument to break down an energetic Southampton side that just seems to be running a little short of gas.
Fast forward 37 minutes to a comfortable Chelsea victory, inspired by the replacement of Mata and Andre Schurrle with Oscar and Willian, and Mourinho had offered up his answer to any dissent Mata might have wished to offer.

This is a thorny one for Chelsea fans. Mata, with good reason, is a favourite son of Stamford Bridge – but no-one tops Mourinho in their affection and trust.
To revisit an old subject, if Rafael Benitez had excluded Mata there might have been protest marches down Fulham Broadway. Mourinho’s law is more readily accepted, especially when it comes with a victory.

After the match the Blues boss made it clear, several times, that he does not wish to see Mata leave Chelsea. The message was emphatic, although the rider that his and the club’s door was always open appeared to offer the tiniest wiggle room to clubs such as Paris St-Germain, who take a keen interest in the Spaniard.

Much will depend on whether Mata is prepared to bide his time and show patience at the start of a World Cup year or whether he now has serious doubts about his place in his club manager’s plans.
At Southampton on Wednesday, he could have no complaints.

Mourinho is a master of the opportunist switch. Who could forget how he cruciallyslipped substitute Luka Modric into Real Madrid’s Champions League win at Manchester United last season when Sir Alex Ferguson was too busy raging at the gods following Nani’s red card?
He was at it again here, reacting quickly after the opening moments of the second half and seeing Oscar and Willian act as the catalysts for this ominously efficient and classy 3-0 win.

Oscar was right at the centre of the action immediately, booked for diving over Southampton keeper Kelvin Davis’s leg, before brilliantly setting up a second for Willian then applying the final gloss himself.
It was almost fate that Mourinho would be involved in a diving debate after his fierce criticism of Liverpool striker Luis Suarez’s “acrobatics”at Stamford Bridge over the festive period.

Those hoping the Portuguese might employ double standards were to be disappointed as he praised referee Martin Atkinson for showing the young Brazilian the yellow card – although it was accompanied by an explanation that Oscar was expecting to be “smashed” by the keeper and was surprised when he was not.

His side’s win made it 10 points out of 12 over the holidays and added to a growing sense of momentum surrounding Mourinho and his team.
He once again tried to sell the “we are not title contenders” line but...continue here >> ... http://sportshubng.com/mourinho-vindicated-chelsea-defeats-southampton-mata-substituted/

Super Eagles 2013 Nations Cup hero, Sunday Mba, may not be available for the tournament, according to Head Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi.
Mba is one of the players being relied upon to pull the strings at the forthcoming CHAN African Nations tournament in South Africa.

Keshi said on Thursday that Mba, is on his way to France to join Bastia, the French side that first indicated interest in the player after the Nations Cup triumph.

Assistant Coach, Dan ‘the Bull’ Amokachi was to add that the player could leave camp as early as Friday, as he was not one of the players listed for the friendly game in Port Harcourt on Saturday against a Rivers selected side.

Amokachi said..“We have resigned ourselves to fate and working hard to discover those who can fill Mba’s shoes, as he seems to have nicked a deal with Bastia”.

“He may not be part of CHAN tourney. We just to brace up and wish him the best because it’s a career thing, he said”..he continued.
CHAN African Nations Tournament will hold in South Africa from January 11th – February 1st 2014.
http://sportshubng.com/chan-eagles-mba-leaves-camp-bastia-miss-chan-tournament/

Stephen Keshi who addressed the players, once again told them that they have all it takes to play for the national team but there was not time enough to fit into the system and he would continue to monitor them for future call ups.

“Take heart because as I always say, many are called but few are chosen, we would soon be back knocking on your doors”, keshi explains.
Those who left camp on Thursday were Sunshine Stars Kingsley Onome Eduwo, Bendel Insurance’s Bello John Ikeleji and Eric Kwame of Plateau United.

7 more players are expected to exit the camp of the national team after.....>> http://sportshubng.com/chan-eagles-keshi-drops-3-players-remaining-30-fight-23-shirts/

Its that point of the premier league season where title contenders are separated from title pretenders, as man City play host to table topers Liverpool.
The last time Liverpool led the premier league table at Christmas was in 2008/09 season, but they eventually surrendered the title to Sir Alex’s United.
With all 20 teams doing battle on Boxing day, one thing is obvious, the table will once again change. Indeed, what an “unbealivable championship”.

Hull City vs Manchester United (12:45)
Manchester united will travel to Hull city hoping to continue their resurgence and get back in the “mix” come January, a victory for David Moyes men will be their fifth consecutive victory in all competition.
United should be wary of hull”s threat, as table toppers Liverpool left the KC stadium with a bitter pill to swallow, losing to Steve Bruce side by 3 goals to 1 on the first day of December.
Verdict : Hull City 0 – 2 Man united

Chelsea vs Swansea City (15:00)
Call him “boring” all you want, Jose Mourinho proved once again that he’s too intelligent to lose to Arsene Wenger, as Chelsea left the emirates with a vital point on Monday night.
The Portuguese tactician and his lads knows there wont be any margin for errors at this point of the season if they want to see the premier league trophy back at the Bridge come May, getting 3 points off Swansea wont be too much of an asking.
Swansea city has become the shadow of its self, struggling to regain that form that won them the Carling cup last season (beating Chelsea en-route the final).
With Michu and Dyer out of this one through injury, perhaps, some would argue that the Europa League is already taking its toll on Swansea’s season.
Verdict : Chelsea 2 – 0 Swansea

Everton vs Sunderland (15:00)
The Toffes have surely surprised many bookmakers with their start to the premier league season, having lost just once in 17 Epl games.
With the spotlight beaming on English sensation Ross Barkley, not forgetting the Barcelona loanee, Gerard Deulefeu who has also made the headline’s for the right reasons with his performance this season.
The voice in my head tells me Sunderland’s relegation battle will only get worse after 90 minutes at Goddison Park.
Verdict : Everton 3 – 0 Sunderland

Westham vs Arsenal (15:00)
The Sam Allardyce led men are strapped in attacking crisis, as Andy carol has not kicked a ball yet in the premier league this season due to injury, with Mali’s Modibo Maiga not potent enough in front of goal.

Arsenal will go into this game like a wounded lion, after Chelsea left the Emirates stadium with a vital point in a game the gunners should have won, but thanks to Olivier Giroud lack of top class finishing quality, that didnt happen.
Monday night result means Arsenal have only managed to...continue here >> http://sportshubng.com/epl-match-week-18-preview-verdict-boxing-day-special-liverpool-test-title-credentials-etihad/

The arrival of Peter Lim in Valencia is not the first instance of a multi-millionaire entering the world of football. Here are a few of the better-known ones:

Roman Abramovich
He was the first oligarch to take an interest in football. In 2003 he acquired Chelsea, a club which he is still the proprietor of. His record is one Champions League, one Europa League, 3 Premier Leagues and 3 FA Cup wins.

Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani
The visible spokesman at PSG is Nasser Al-Khelaifi, but the actual owner of the club is the Emir of Qatar. He is not on the Forbes List, but his fortune is incalculable.

Peter Lim
Heads the list of those interested in Valencia. Has the fifth-biggest fortune in Singapore, nowadays the nation with the greatest transparency in business the world over, together with Denmark and New Zealand.

Alisher Usmanov
From Uzbekistan. One of the 40 biggest fortunes in the world. The owner of Arsenal, and he is also president of...>> continue here...http://sportshubng.com/football-money-bags-top-5-football-millionaires/