Monday, 3 October 2016
Alex Iwobi Reveals How He Was Almost Dumped By Arsenal
Super Eagles and Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi also revealed he was twice almost dumped by Arsenal before turning professional. Iwobi graduated through the ranks at Hale End but his path was far from smooth. “I was almost released at 14, again at 16 and just about got a professional contract after that,” he told the London Evening Standard.
“Especially at 14, I thought I was very close to not making it. It was stressful as I was going through school, trying to balance that and make sure I was still signed for Arsenal. It was really difficult for me.
“We usually found out in December who might be kept on but I kept on getting the question ‘is he good enough?’ So they extended it to see if I could do something and it went to March and then April. Luckily I did enough.
“At 16 I got the option to leave but I always felt at home at Arsenal and that was where I wanted to be. At 16, there were a lot of good players, a few internationals in the team at a young age so it was difficult for me to stand out in the games. They always want the best and I wasn’t really up there at that age. The fact that I kept getting chances makes me feel lucky.”
Buhari Sets Up Electoral Reform Panel, Names Ex-Senate President As Chair [See Members]
Ken Nnamani |
President Muhammadu Buhari has yesterday constituted a 24-man committee to address perceived defects in Nigeria’s electoral laws and constitution.
The ocommittee is to be headed by a former Senate
President, Dr. Ken Nnamani.
The Committee, which members were drawn from Civil Society Organisations, academia, legal profession, traditional institutions, as well as former legislators, would be inaugurated tomorrow by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.
The AGF, in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Salisu Isah, said the Constitutional/ Electoral Reform Committee was set-up as part of the effort by the Buhari-led administration to rejig the current configuration.
The statement read: ‘’The Committee is expected to review the electoral environment, laws, and experiences from recent elections conducted in Nigeria and make recommendations to strengthen and achieve the conduct of free and fair elections in Nigeria.
‘’The former Senate President, Nnamani, was okayed to head the Committee, with an expectation that he would bring his wealth of experience to bear on the reform process.’’ Dr. Mamman Lawal of Bayero University, Kano, would serve as the secretary, while other members include Dr. Muiz Banire, SAN, Dr. Clement Nwankwo, Chief A.C Ude and Mr. Tahir, the Director, Legal Drafting, Federal Ministry of Justice.
ONDO ELECTION: Fresh Crisis Looms In APC, As Top Politician Decamps To AD
A freah crisis seems to be looming in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State as some notable leaders of the
party kicked against the choice of Mr Agboola Ajayi as the running mate of the party’s candidate, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN.
This is coming as one of the frontline aspirants in the September 3 governorship primaries, Olusola Oke dumped the APC for Alliance for Democracy, AD.
Oke said he has the support of APC leaders to contest for the governorship election on the platform of the AD. Meanwhile, APC leaders who kicked against Agboola as deputy governor include Hon Bola Ilori and a septuagenarian, Chief Samuel Ikujuni. They said the choice of Ajayi as the deputy governorship candidate would spell doom for the party if the leadership failed to substitute him before the deadline allowed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
They said: “Even when the NWC just upheld the fraudulent primaries that produced Akeredolu, the nexus of fraud in the party is trying to perpetrate another fraud to enforce the initial fraud. And while we are still on the fraudulent primaries through fake delegates and delegates’ list padding that produced
Akeredolu as the candidate, another fraud is also being foisted on the party as the deputy governor. This is a man whose election was annulled by the courts for certificate forgery.”
They said that Ajayi should not be allowed as the running mate because he is from Kiribo in Eseodo Local Government, the same town and Council Area of the mother of Akeredolu.
Why I left APC — OKE
Meanwhile, Oke said his “defection was necessitated by the injustice perpetrated by some leaders of the party over the primary election of the party.” Oke said: “I was the first person to raise alarm over the giant fraud in that primary. I was later vindicated by the appeal committee which ruled that the primary be cancelled and a new one conducted where a popular candidate will emerge. But Oyegun and his cabal proceeded to submit that name to the INEC thereby killing the dream and the vision of Ondo state people in APC to have a true change they have been yearning for.”
Oke is a political harlot — APC
Reacting to Oke’s defection to the Alliance for Democracy, AD, the APC described him as a “political harlot, who jumps around from one party to another for selfish interest.” The party, however, assured its members across the state that the defection “will not affect the chances of the party in the November 26, governorship poll.”
Labour Leaders endorse Jegede to succeed Mimiko
Similarly, Labour leaders in Ondo State have thrown their weight behind the candidature of the Mr Eyitayo Jegede.
The labour leaders expressed their confidence in the ability of Jegede to deliver on his electioneering campaign promises at a meeting the PDP standard-bearer held with head teachers across the state at the Labour House in Akure, the Ondo State capital at the weekend.
Present at the meeting were representatives of head teachers across the state in their hundreds who used the forum to bare their minds on expectations from Mr Jegede if elected as Governor Mimiko’s successor.
Speaking through its State Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, the party said none of his core members defected along with him to AD.
“We are relieved that Oke has finally left our great party, we can now sleep with our two eyes closed. The fear of mole in our party has vanished, we can now hold political discussion without fear of betrayal. “This forthcoming elections will be a contest of integrity versus valueless images, we are sure that the people of Ondo State are watching and they ready to follow the path of integrity. We thank God that our party is finally free from pretenders, those who love their ambitions than the good people of Ondo State.”
Meanwhile, the candidate of the PDP in the state, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, said that the party would defend her vote during the forthcoming election.
Again Mario Balotelli Shows His Ugly Side Despite Scoring Dramatic Late Winner
Italian forward Mario Balotelli scored a brilliant late winner before being sent off in stoppage time against Lorient as Nice moved top of Ligue 1 with a dramatic 2-1 victory.
The 86th-minute strike, a superb finish into the top corner after being set up by Wylan Cyprien flick, gave Lucien Favre's men a win that moved them back above Monaco at the top of the table. That looked like the perfect response from Balotelli after he was left out of Giampiero Ventura's Italy squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Macedonia despite a start to the season that has seen him score six goals in all competitions.
However, after being booked for removing his shirt as he celebrated the winner, the former Liverpool striker controversially received a second yellow card in the second minute of stoppage-time, apparently for moving his head in the direction of opponent Steven Moreira, who had just conceded a foul.
The late drama came after Lorient had pegged back Nice after they had taken a lead through Ricardo Pereira's low strike, which goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte should have kept out on 11
minutes. Lorient's equaliser came on 61 minutes, a neat passing move resulting in Benjamin Moukandjo sliding in his finish after Mohamed Mara's throughball.
The visitors also had a shot deflect off the crossbar, but it was Balotelli who went on to steal the limelight.
Barcelona Manager Luis Enrique Takes Responsibility, Defends Goalkeeper Over Loss
Luis Enrique |
Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has sought to take responsibility for Barcelona's 4-3 loss at Celta Vigo on Sunday following an error-strewn display from goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The German's individual mistakes had a major influence on the outcome as the champions suffered their second defeat in seven LaLiga matches so far this season. But former Celta coach Luis Enrique attempted to shift the blame away from the 24-year-old shot- stopper following a result that left Barca fourth, two points behind leaders Atletico Madrid going into the international break. "The defeat is for everyone," he told Barca TV.
"First for me, myself, I am the one responsible for the team. Now we have to pick ourselves up. "It was an important day for us as we had the chance to go top and we did not take advantage
of it.
"We started the game well and in the first 15 minutes I was pleased, but from then on we entered a negative dynamic and began to lose individual duels in which they got the better of
us. "The players are not machines, we must pick ourselves up and compete in the next game." Luis Enrique also defended his decision to name Andres Iniesta among the substitutes at Estadio
de Balaidos.
"Do not [ask] the easy question now," he was quoted as saying by Canal+. "I have to decide before the game, not after. I do not regret anything. I accept it as part of my job."
Pressed on the impact of Ter Stegen's mistakes, he added: "Another easy question. Barcelona's goalkeepers always have to [take] risks. Today all the team has lost. There is much to improve." Barca are back in action at home to Deportivo La
Coruna on October 15
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