NEWFANZONE FOOTBALL TRANSFER RUMOURS, DEALS AND TITBITS

Here’s the latest instalment of our Daily football transfer deals, updates and titbits as put together by our man Pual Ayorinde.

We’ve also included a mail from Manchester United Fan Duane, please remember that you can follow @EL_Pauleta And @NewFanzone on twitter for an instant follow back, you can also send us your comments, Sports News, Sport Media release, Feedback and comments to fanzone.fans@gmail.com

Done Deals:

– Stoke have confirmed that Maurice Edu has completed a permanent move to MLS club Philadelphia Union.

– Ajax have completed the signing of young Barcelona goalkeeper Andre Onana on a three-and-a-half year contract.

– Manchester City have confirmed that Matija Nastatic have joined Schalke on a six month loan. The Bundesliga club have the option to buy out his Manchester City contract, which runs through 2017.

-Wolves have completed the signing of Benik Afobe from Arsenal for an undisclosed fee

– Manchester City have completed the signing of Wilfried Bony from Swansea City for an undisclosed fee

Wilfred Bony, credit mcfc.co.uk

Today’s football reports and transfer rumours:

– According to reports,Sunderland and Toronto FC have agreed to a deal to swap strikers,Jozy Altidore will be heading to the MLS and 32-year-old England international Jermain Defoe heading back the other way.

– Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke admits the club cannot stop Marco Reus from leaving should the Germany international take advantage of his 25 million-euro release clause which can be activated this summer.

– FIFA has confirmed Hatem Ben Arfa will have to wait until next season before making his Nice debut, having already played for two clubs,Newcastle and Hull this season.

– Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has revealed he turned down an offer from Manchester United for Paulo Dybala and that the Argentinian will not leave Palermo for less than €40million

– Thiago Motta has brushed aside media reports linking him with a move away from Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window, saying: “I will remain at this club.”

– According to reports, Roma are willing to let Mattia Destro leave on loan this January

– Werder Bremen have confirmed their interest in bringing former Germany international Miroslav Klose back to the Bundesliga.

– Queens Park Rangers midfielder Adel Taarabt has said Inter Milan have made an enquiry for his services.

– According to reports in Italy, Former Juventus striker David Trezeguet could return to Italy to play for Serie B side Modena.

– According to Skysports, West Brom have made an enquiry to Manchester United for midfielder Darren Fletcher.

– Liverpool are reportedly close to signing Ezequiel Lavezzi from PSG for a fee as low as £8million

– Southampton boss Ronald Koeman appears to be lining up a 15 million-pound bid for Braga’s midfielder Rafa Silva

– Roma president James Pallotta says Manchester United will have to pay a “huge” fee to sign Kevin Strootman.

– It’s reported Juventus are close to an agreement with Tottenham for midfielder Paulinho.

Edison Cavani, photo credit, zetaboards.com

– According to reports,Manchester United are in talks with PSG to buy Marquinhos this transfer window

– West Brom boss Tony Pulis wants to offload striker Georgios Samaras to bring in Blackburn forward Rudy Gestede.

– West Ham are looking to complete a permanent move for Alex Song

– Arsenal sent a scout to watch Espanyol’s Mexican centre-back Hector Moreno during their clash with Valencia on Tuesday evening.

– Inter boss Roberto Mancini wants to sign Chelsea centre-back Kurt Zouma on loan for the rest of the season.

– According to reports, Arsenal have offered Chuba Akpom a new three-year contract. The 19-year-old’s current deal expires at the end of the season

– According to reports in The Netherlands, Ajax have rejected Lille’s bid for striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson.

Football tit bits:

– Manchester United midfielder Angel Di Maria has given his full support to the new style of play boss Louis van Gaal has introduced. “There are some people saying we’re not playing in a particularly good style or it’s not the old Manchester United – but it’s not,we’ve got a new style. We’ve got a new manager and we’re all working hard to make sure we’re putting Manchester United back where it belongs.” Di Maria said

– Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says that if it were possible he’d love to have both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at his club.

– Thierry Henry feels Arsenal fans’ taunting of Arsene Wenger was ‘out of order’. “I thought it was a joke when I first heard about it. You can be upset, I totally understand that, but when I saw what had happened at Stoke it was totally unnecessary. Fans do have a voice but that was out of order. But in the game we have at the moment, that, unfortunately, is the way it is.” Henry said

– Ghana’s sports ministry will make the Black Stars’ Afcon 2015 budget a matter of public record. “The Minister [Mahama Ayariga] will make the budget known before the tournament starts. We don’t want a repeat of what happened in Brazil. We are aware of the fact that the general public need to know the team’s budget for the tournament hence the sector minister has decided to make the budget known before the tournament starts.” deputy minister Vincent Oppong Asamoah said

– Former Brazil international Ronaldinho has backed the current side ahead of this year’s Copa America, insisting Dunga’s men have what it takes to claim the title in Chile. “I think Brazil have everything to have a great Copa America campaign and fight for the title,[There will be less pressure than in the World Cup] football is about the now, and it will be calmer not playing at home.” Ronaldinho said

– All teams arriving in Equatorial Guinea for the African Nations Cup must travel through the capital Malabo and have tests for the Ebola virus, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said on Wednesday.

Louis Van Gaal

From Our Mailbox:

Hi I’m a Manchester United fan and I do like van gaal but United will never be 3 at the back team and he needs to recognise this before will fall to far behind the leaders or even out of the top four race. He
needs to go back to a 4 at the back and a diamond in mid-field

Duane

Pinnick Off To Malabo, Mandates Akinwunmi To Act

President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick flew into Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday as the African football fraternity got into the mood for the 30th Africa Cup of Nations kicking off on Saturday.

The NFF supremo will commission two matches in the group phase at the championship with opportunities for more in the knock –out rounds.

Seyi Akinwunmi, NFF 1st Vice President

However, the Confederation of African Football has once more rued the absence of 2013 champions Nigeria, who failed to reach the finals after finishing behind South Africa and Congo in Group A of the qualifying campaign.

Before jetting out of the country, Pinnick transmitted a letter to Members of the NFF Executive Committee notifying them that the 1st Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi will act in his stead.

“I will be away to the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea from 16th January – 9th February, 2015 on the invitation of CAF and in official capacity.

NFF President, Mr. Amaju Pinnick.

“The First Vice President, Bar. Seyi Akinwunmi should thus oversee the workings of the Office of the President for the period I will be away. All official correspondence should be channeled to him.”

Host Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Burkina Faso and Gabon will contest in Group A of the three –week, 16 nation finals, with Zambia, DR Congo, Tunisia, Cape Verde battling it out in Group B.

Group C has Ghana, Senegal, Algeria and South Africa while Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali and Cameroon contend in Group D.

The finals, scheduled for 17th January – 8th February, will be played across four cities: Malabo, Ebebiyin, Mongomo and Bata

Race For ODI Top Spot Heats Up For ICC Cricket World Cup Contenders

Leading nations to face off as preparations continue for cricket’s pinnacle event

Australia and India will have the chance to put daylight between one another at the top of the Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings, when they compete alongside England in a tri-series, which starts in Sydney on Friday.

Friday’s opening clash at the SCG will see Australia host England with Michael Clarke’s men keen to edge a point clear of MS Dhoni’s side at the top of the ODI team rankings. It will be a dress rehearsal for the eagerly anticipated ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 opening match, which will see the same sides play each other in exactly 30 days’ time in Melbourne.

Following its 5-0 home series victory over Sri Lanka in November, reigning champion India will be bidding to gain further momentum and become only the third side in ICC Cricket World Cup history to successfully defend its title (after West Indies in 1975 and 1979 and Australia, who won the coveted prize three times in succession between 1999 and 2007).

Meanwhile, South Africa, bidding to lift the 50-over title for the first time after reaching the semi-finals when Australia and New Zealand last hosted the ICC Cricket World Cup back in 1992, welcomes West Indies to Durban on Friday in the first of a five-match ODI series, with two of the world’s top three batsmen in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI Batsmen set to feature.

AB de Villiers, credit abdeVilliersfans.com

Proteas captain AB de Villiers is in pole position in the batting rankings on 887 points and the 30-year-old Pretorian holds a 25-point advantage over second placed India batsman Virat Kohli, with Hashim Amla one place further back in third spot.

There are several permutations that could emerge over the coming weeks as New Zealand and Sri Lanka are also battling it out in their seven-match series, with the Black Caps currently holding a 1-0 lead after its three-wicket victory in the first ODI on Sunday.

After this series, New Zealand will complete its ICC Cricket World Cup preparations when it plays host to Pakistan – who lifted the CWC trophy back in 1992 – in two ODI’s ahead of its opening game of the tournament in Christchurch against Sri Lanka, also on 14 February.

To find out exactly how the forthcoming series will affect the rankings table, please click here. The ODI and T20I rankings tables, unlike the Test ranking table, is updated after each match.

Forthcoming fixtures:

Tri-Series:
Friday, 16 Jan – Australia v England, Sydney (d/n)
Sunday, 18 Jan – Australia v India, Melbourne (d/n)
Tuesday, 20 Jan – England v India, Brisbane (d/n)
Friday, 23 Jan –Australia v England, Hobart (d/n)
Monday, 26 Jan – Australia v India, Sydney (d/n)
Friday, 30 Jan – England v India, Perth (d/n)
Sunday, 1 Feb – Final, Perth (d/n)

South Africa v West Indies
16 Jan – First ODI, Durban (d/n)
18 Jan – Second ODI, Johannesburg
21 Jan – Third ODI, East London (d/n)
25 Jan – Fourth ODI, Port Elizabeth
28 Jan – Fifth ODI, Centurion (d/n)

New Zealand v Sri Lanka
15 Jan – Second ODI, Hamilton (d/n)
17 Jan – Third ODI, Auckland (d/n)
20 Jan – Fourth ODI, Nelson
23 Jan – Fifth ODI, Dunedin
25 Jan – Sixth ODI, Dunedin
29 Jan – Seventh ODI, Wellington (d/n)

Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings (as on 14 January, ahead of Australia, England and India tri-Series, South Africa-West Indies and after first ODI between New Zealand-Sri Lanka)

1 Australia 117
2 India 117
3 South Africa 112
4 Sri Lanka 109
5 England 104
6 New Zealand 99
7 Pakistan 97
8 West Indies 96
9 Bangladesh 75
10 Zimbabwe 53
11 Ireland 39
12 Afghanistan 38

(Developed by David Kendix)

Halilu Grabs 100th Goal As Eaglets Rout Giodano 8-1

Defender Lukman Halilu rose from the bench on Wednesday to score Golden Eaglets’ record 100th goal after 33 friendly and official matches as Nigeria’s U-17 team cruised to an 8-1 win against Giodano Football Academy of Kano at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project in Abuja.

Ebere Osinachi also got a rare hat-trick and a brace for Ndu Iheakam; there were also goals for Captain Kelechi Nwakali as well as Suleiman Abdullahi while Ahmad Sabo got Giodiano’s lone goal.

“We have never been thoroughly beaten like this before,” confessed Giodano’s Coach Ismail Ismail.”We have always thought we were the best especially in Kano but today, we have seen that we still need to learn
new things.”

After earlier misses , Golden Eaglets went in front in the 29th minute when Giodano’s Hamza Abdullahi brought down rampaging Abass Ibrahim in the box and Nwakali converted the resultant penalty kick as
he sent goalkeeper Rabiu Adamu the other way.

Four minutes later, Nwakali provided Abdullahi with a pass and the stylish midfielder warded off his marker to glide the ball beyond the reach of Adamu. Within minutes to spare in the first half, Golden Eaglets’ Victor Osimhen was penalised for handling the ball in the box and Ahmad Sabo converted the penalty to make it 2-1.

Golden Eaglets line up against Gabon

In the 53rd minute, Halilu Zakari who came in as a second half substitute for Ernest Agenor, scored his first goal for the Golden Eaglets following a swift pas from another substitute, Jack Ipalibo. Five minutes later, Maxwell Gold broke free from the left flank and sent a pass to Ebere Osinachi to effortlessly guide the ball into the net.

Diminutive midfielder, Ndu Iheakam nearly broke his duck of scoring a goal for the team in the 67th minute as his header off a pull out by Suleiman Muhammed was firmly held by goalkeeper Adamu. Yet, it was the
fleet-footed Muhammed who was the provider of the six goals when he dribbled his way into the box and his pin-point cross pushed into the net by Iheakam in the 79th minute.

Four minutes later, Osinachi would grab his second goal when he evaded his markers and sent an angular
shot into the net. Minutes later, Osy as Osinachi is fondly called, grabbed his hat trick of the day. But it was Ndu that got the final goal on the stroke of full time.

Golden Eaglets Vs. Giordano

E. Nwokeocha(A.Udoh 45)-E.Akpan(A.Muhammed 45)A.Usman (M.Gold); A. Bamidele(M.Ibrahim); U.Douglas(J.Ipalibo 45);E.Agenor(L.Halilu 45);K.Nwakali(K.Michael 45);S.Abdullahi(K.Ayinde 45);A.Ibrahim(Suleiman Muhammed 45);(;S.Chukwueze(C.Ndu 45); V.Osimhen(E.Osinachi 45)

Can The Lionhearts Tame The Dragons To Begin WSB Season V?

After seven long months, the World Series of Boxing (WSB) returns on Thursday, 15th January, and the first match of Season V is a mouthwatering battle between two Franchises returning to the competition.

London’s York Hall is one of the most iconic boxing venues in the world, and its humble location in East London is the home-base for British Lionhearts who compete in Season V after missing last season.

Their opponents are China Dragons, who are back aiming to replicate the success of the Beijing Dragons Franchise which competed in the first two WSB seasons.

Boxing fans in Britain can view the event live at 8.00pm GMT on the BT Sport 2 television channel, while the rest of the world can watch free, live and on demand at AIBABoxingTV.com.

Light Welterweight (64kg) Askhat UALIKHANOV Astana Arlans Kazakhstan (R) vs Yasnier TOLEDO Cuba Domadores (L). Credit AIBA World Series Of Boxing

Kicking off the action at Light flyweight (49 kg) is an intriguing contest between Commonwealth Games bronze medalist and British Lionhearts representative Ashley Williams and 2014 China Open Tournament silver medalist He Junjun.

The Light flyweights are the quickest boxers in WSB, and this opening clash will be exciting from beginning to end.

Eight medalists from the 2014 Commonwealth Games are in the British squad, including Bantamweight (56 kg) Qais Ashfaq who won a silver medal in the competition, and he squares off against China’s Diao Jianhao in match two.

In the third fight of the evening, Sam Maxwell is in action, and the Light welterweight (64 kg) has valuable WSB experience having competed for the Lionhearts in Season III.

His opponent is China’s Sairike Tuoliaowutayi who won the Chinese Youth National Championships in 2011.

Anthony Fowler has emerged as one of the best Middleweights (75 kg) in the world over the past two years, and the Commonwealth Games gold medalist and the AIBA World Championships bronze medalist won his lone WSB match in Season III by stoppage.

China’s Zhou Di will be in the opposite corner, and Di made the quarter-finals of the 2014 Asian Games.

The regulations of WSB state that all teams must select at least one overseas boxer for every match, so therefore the Heavyweight (91 kg) match which closes the evening is a match between Romania’s Ionut-Mirel Jitaru representing the Lionhearts, and Croatia’s Mediterranean Games silver medallist Josip Bepo Filipi who is an honorary Dragon for China.

Heavyweight boxing in WSB has to be seen to be believed, as the heavy-hitters always look for the knockout, and this fight has the capabilities to be the most entertaining scrap on a night of pure quality.

Youth Alive Junior League Jumpoff This Weekend In Lagos

The 2015 season of the Lagos state Junior Basketball tagged “Youth Alive” Junior Basketball League will Jump ball on Friday 16th January, 2014.

The annual developmental league for Under 15 and 19’s which has been remodelled, will for the first time feature schools and Academies in seperate a category and 4 different traditional basketball venues across the Lagos metropolis will entertain the best amateaur basketballers in the state.

According to the Technical Director of the Lagos State Basketball Association who doubles as the Cordinator of the Youth Alive Junior League, Mr Gbade Latona said the idea is to avail all interested schools and basketball Academies an opportunity to participate and reduce travel time of teams to the playing arena during game days.

Lagos Youth Alive Basketball Holiday League resumes at Rowe Park

Traditional basketball courts Mobolaji Johnson Sports Center, Rowe Park, Yaba; Police College, Ikeja; Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos Island and the Ilupeju Basketball Court will all be utilised for the League. As matches will hold simultaneously at all venue on Fridays and Saturdays for the 6 month period the League will run.

Opening day fixtures set for this Friday, will see Dodan Warriors Academy A against Raptors Academy U19 s and Del Basketball Academy battles Raptors Academy in the Under 15 category at the Ilupeju center. At the Police College center, Police Rookies will battle Warlord Academy in the U19s, while Phidell play Police Rookies and Diamond Academy against Police Rookies on Saturday.

The Rowe Park Center will see the River Dragons U19s’ against Deepbond U19s’ while Strong Tower and River Dragons battle in the U15 category on Friday. The following day will feature Top Field against River Dragons while we will witness the first female match up of the season when Raptors faceoff against Hope 4 Girls at same venue.

Togo 2015 ITF Junior Circuit: Nigeria Clinches Top Place With 4 Gold, 1 Silver

Nigeria have emerged the overall winners of the first phase of the 2015 ITF West and Central Africa Junior Circuit holding in Togo with 4 gold and 1 silver medals.

At the Stade Ominsport, Lome on Wednesday, Nigeria started with a setback as Martins Abamu fell to Togo’s Antione Gbadoe 6-2, 6-3 in the Boy’s 16&U category but Michael Oshewa restored the nation’s pride when he triumphed with a 6-3, 7-5 over Ehaya Isaac of Cote d’Ivoire.

Oshewa’s feat sparked off the winning spirit of the Nigerian players as Mathew Abamu, a junior sibling to Martin, bagged a resounding 6-1, 6-1 win over Sodik Nougbessi of Benin Republic while in the girls’ 16&U Adetayo Adetunji defeated No 1 seed, Joanne Celestine Abommo of Gabon 6-3,6-2. Moments after, Barakat Quadri beat Becoude Karmine of Benin 7-5, 6-4 in the girls’ 14&U final to highlight Nigeria’s dominance at the double-phase tournament which is featuring nine countries.

The final phase is scheduled to start on Thursday with no fewer than eight Nigerian players listed for action.

National junior tennis coach, Mohammed Ubale said the team is poised for a better haul of medals. He assured that some of the lapses noted in his wards play will be effectively worked on for effective performance of the players.

Nigeria, which had a rigorous five-day close camping in Lagos for the point-earning tournament, is being represented by eleven players, who are featuring in the four categories.

Lagos Basketball Association Organise 2-day Coaches /Officials Seminar

The Lagos State Basketball Association is inviting all Basketball Coaches, Referees and Table Officials for a 2-day refresher clinic and regularisation exercise at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Center, Rowe Park, Lagos tomorrow.

The seminar which starts up on Thursday 15th- Friday 16th will afford the Lagos State Basketball Association an opportunity to certify and monitor grassroot coaches, their programmes and progress of the talents they are grooming under their various developmental programmes. Is also aimed to sanitise and improve the officiating aspects of the game of basketball (both floor and Table officials).

FIBA Badged Nigerian Ref

According to the release from the secretariat, the seminar comes with a participation fee of N3000 (Three thousand naira) at will be holding at the Lagos State Sports Council, Rowe Park for the 2 days, and new coaches and officials are invited.

APB Matches For Champions (56 kg): Preview

AIBA Pro Boxing has announced that the final “Matches for Champions” will take place on 15 January in Paris according to the schedule below.

BANTAMWEIGHT 56 KG – THURSDAY, 15 JANUARY (20:00 GMT+1)
Location: Paris – Venue: Palais des sports Marcel-Cerdan

French star Khedafi Djelkhir will look for his Inaugural Title Match ticket against the Brazilian surprise package Robenilson Viera de Jesus. Djelkhir comes into the fight after a defeat in his second APB bout, but he will hope for the support of his French fans.

Alberto Melian (ARG) and Jiawei Zhang (CHN) also clash with the objective of competing in the APB Inaugural Tittle Match. The Argentinian will fight this semi-final full of confidence having won both of his two bouts in the competition, and although Zhang lost his last bout against Viera de Jesus, he defeated the World Boxing Champion Sergey Vodopiyanov (RUS) in his debut APB match.

APB “Matches for Champions” Bantam (56 kg) Match (Paris) credit: AIBA PRO BOXING

Match schedule:

1. 20:00: Benson NJANGIRU (KEN) W.O. vs Sergey VODOPIYANOV (RUS)

(Exhibition Match: Benson NJANGIRU (KEN) vs. Selcuk EKER (TUR))

2. 20:30: Javid CHALABIYEV (AZE) vs Yoni BLANCO (VEN)

3. 21:00: Alberto MELIAN (ARG) vs Jiawei ZHANG (CHN) (winner competes in the APB Inaugural Title Match)

4. 21:30: Robenilson VIEIRA DE JESUS (BRA) vs Khedafi DJELKHIR (FRA)(winner competes in the APB Inaugural Title Match)

Busy Calendar Ahead As CAVB Beach Commission Meets In Cairo

CAVB Beach VB Commission is set to meet today in Cairo, Egypt to discuss the busy Calendar of 2015 headed by CAVB President Dr Amr Elwani and attended by the whole commission members.

The meeting discusses the busy African calendar in 2015 as it includes the most prominent event, the CAVB Continental Cup, which acts as a qualification for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

Namibia Ladies Rosi Hennes- Simone von Wietersheim- Stephanie Palmhert-Kim Seebach

The second edition of the competition attracted more than 40 NFs throughout 4 different rounds until it produced the team which eventually represented Africa at the elite event.

Among other important events, the qualifications for All Africa Games will be another important competition where the qualifications will be on zonal basis to qualify 24 teams for the finals in Congo Brazzaville September 4 to 19, 2015.

The first ever qualification for the 2015 FIVB World Championships will be another important issue on the table of discussions after the FIVB granted Africa 4 vacancies among 32 teams in the finals for each gender.

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