Manu Garba, the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup-winning coach, believes the Niger 2015-bound Golden Eaglets being managed by Coach Emmanuel Amuneke can go all the way at the 11th African cadet championship.
Watching the new lads for the first time during Saturday’s 2-0 winover Nigeria National League side, Sokoto United at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna, Garba drew out some positives, advising Nigerians
to rally behind the team’s quest for glory in Niger.
He said he has already hinted his predecessor on some technical tips, saying he was confident that the Amuneke-led team is also on the threshold of history with good preparations for their upcoming competitions.
“It would be wrong to start comparing this present team with the one that won the World Cup,” began Garba now tinkering with Flying Eagles.
Manu Garba
“I was particularly impressed by the two well planned goals. The team will surely qualify for the world Cup and with inclusion of other good players and good preparations; we can conquer the world again.
“Good luck to the team in Niger as we shall keep on praying for all our national teams especially under- 17 and U20 because they are the future of the senior team,” he added.
Meanwhile, Coach Aminu Happy of Sokoto United in a spirit of sportsmanship conceded that the Golden Eaglets were better off on Saturday, even as he counselled the coaching crew on the task at hand.
“I think the national team did well and they were lucky because we are just returning to camp ahead of the new season,” he said.” The coaching crew should work more on the attacking force because they need goals to win matches but overall, I’m impressed with their performance against us.”
The Golden Eaglets in the meantime, returned to Abuja from Kaduna on Sunday and would continue with their preparation ahead of next month’s CAN U-17 Championship to be hosted in Niger between February 15 and
March 1.
Koos de Ronde (NED) flew to victory in the super exciting winning round of the last FEI World Cup™ Driving qualifier of the 2014/15 season held in Leipzig (GER) over the weekend. His compatriot IJsbrand Chardon was the last in the arena and was well on his way to victory when his carriage tipped over in the last part of the course which resulted in immediate elimination. Wildcard driver Boyd Exell (AUS) had one knockdown and finished in second place.
FEI level 4 Course Designer Dr Wolfgang Asendorf (GER) had laid out a challenging course for the seven drivers taking part in today’s event combining technical parts with fast lines. “I am well aware that Sweden’s Dan Henriksson, who has been appointed as Course Designer for the Final in Bordeaux, is known for his fast courses and prepared a really technical course here at Leipzig,” Asendorf explained.
Change of horse
Koos de Ronde’s experienced leader horse Kasper was not fit to compete this morning and the Dutch driver decided to replace him by the equally skilful Palero. De Ronde kept the reins short and drove with power which resulted in a very fast and clear first round. The winner of the qualifiers in Budapest (HUN) and Mechelen (BEL) went for it in the Winning Round, which took place over a shortened course. He set a fast time again and crossed the finish line recording a single knockdown.
The outcome of the competition was in the hands of his fellow countryman, last starter IJsbrand Chardon.
Aladin
IJsbrand Chardon knew before the start of the competition that he had nothing to loose and decided to use his new trump Aladin in the lead of his team. Chardon had already used the piebald gelding in the first competitions at previous FEI World Cup™ Driving events but never when competing for the precious World Cup points. The nine-year-old gelding set Chardon’s team on fire and took three seconds off De Ronde’s time in the first round, securing their leading position with a clear round. The four-time World Champion entered the arena for the Winning Round, knowing he had a comfortable eight-second advantage. Chardon flew through the course again and was on his way to victory when his carriage tipped over in the last phase of the course. The team was eliminated and no one was injured in the incident.
Driver’s mistakes
Boyd Exell had two unusual knockdowns in the first round and was first to start in the Winning Round. The five-time World Champion set a very fast time, but another knockdown gave De Ronde additional space and made the Australian finish in second place.
Switzerland’s Werner Ulrich drove a clear round, taking his team of three Swiss-bred horses and one Lipizzaner to fourth place.
New left side
József Dobrovitz (HUN) used two new horses in his four-in-hand, the left leader and the left wheeler horses having never competed in an FEI World Cup™ Driving event before. The Hungarian felt that the left leader horse he had used on home ground in Budapest and in Geneva (SUI) was not of the necessary standard. The driver replaced this horse by the young and fast Lipizzaner Pandur. The left wheeler horse was also a new Lipizzaner named Platon. It was the first time for the 11-year old Pandur as a leader horse in a big competition, Dobrovitz only having started using him in his four-in-hand two weeks ago. Dobrovitz was very concentrated in the first half of the course but lost speed in the second half. One knockdown prevented him from qualifying for the Winning Round.
The Netherlands’ Koos de Ronde and his four-in-hand on their way to victory in the last FEI World Cup™ Driving qualifier of the 2014/15 season (Karl Heinz Frieler/FEI).
Fax
One of Georg von Stein’s fast Lipizzaner horses, with which he finished third in Mechelen, was injured and the German driver replaced him by the experienced Fax, which he had lent to his compatriot Christoph Sandmann for the World Cup season. Second wildcard driver Von Stein finished in sixth place, ahead of the reigning European Champion Theo Timmerman (NED).
Family affair
Carriage driving is a family sport, this was proven once again by IJsbrand Chardon and József Dobrovitz.
Chardon’s eldest daughter Jeannette, an international Eventing rider herself, was navigating for her father, while his son Bram, double world pony four-in-hand champion, was his back stepper.
Dobrovitz’s son József, a very successful international pony and horse four-in-hand driver, acted as his navigator. His nephew Krisztóf Osztertag, who is also very successful on the international circuit with his horse pair, was his back stepper.
Quotes Koos de Ronde (NED): “I won in 2013 in Leipzig. Back then it had been the last competition before the Final too which I won! I hope this victory brings me good luck for the Final this year as well. I won because IJsbrand tipped over and, of course this is not the best way to win but the feeling was very good today. This gives me a good feeling for the Final.”
Boyd Exell (AUS): “I made two mistakes in the first round which was a little disappointing, but I am happy with my horses. I had a very good feeling. My team is good and I am not worried about the Final.”
IJsbrand Chardon (NED): “I had a super feeling, I drove for a 10 and I did not make any mistakes. I knew that I was on my way to victory. It is a pity that I turned over, but it had nothing to do with the course. This could have happened anywhere. The most important thing for me was that I had a very good feeling, also towards the Final.”
Australia’s Boyd at London (Trevor Meeks/FEI).
Results FEI World Cup™ Driving, Leipzig (GER), 18 January 2015:
1. Koos de Ronde (NED) 242,32
2. Boyd Exell (AUS) 251,99
3. IJsbrand Chardon (NED) – elim.
4. Werner Ulrich (SUI) 138,26
5. József Dobrovitz (HUN) 138,57
6. Georg von Stein (GER) 154,11
7. Theo Timmerman (NED) 163,20
FEI World Cup™ Driving, standings after 7 of 7 events:
1 Boyd EXELL AUS 30
2 Koos DE RONDE NED 25
3 Fredrik PERSSON SWE 24
IJsbrand CHARDON NED 24
5 Christoph SANDMANN GER 17
6 Georg VON STEIN GER 13
Jozsef DOBROVITZ HUN 13
8 Werner ULRICH SUI 10
Glenn GEERTS BEL 10
10 Theo TIMMERMAN NED 7
bold = Qualified for the Final. Georg von Stein (GER) is qualified because he had one higher placing than Jozsef Dobrovitz (HUN).
The 2014/2015 FEI World Cup™ Driving series now moves on to the Final in Bordeaux (FRA) on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 February 2015.
The FEI World Cup™ Driving competition in Bordeaux will be broadcast live on FEI TV, the FEI’s official video platform, on 8 February at 12.00 CET.
Musa Yahaya and Chidera Eze are set to join up with the rest of the Flying Eagles squad in training camp in Kaduna, just as several other players have confirmed their own arrivals.
According to Flying Eagles secretary Aliyu Auwal Ibrahim, Musa Yahaya from Tottenham Hotspur youth academy and Chidera Eze of FC Porto have confirmed they will join the Nigeria U20 team on Sunday.
Defender Wilfred Ndidi, who last week signed a professional deal with Belgian club Genk, as well as skipper Musa Muhammed and Ifeanyi Matthew, who are away in Europe, have informed the team they will join up not later than Tuesday.
MUSA YAHAYA GOES FOR GOALS VS TANZANIA
“We will soon have a full house in camp,” disclosed Aliyu Auwal.
“Alhassan Ibrahim ‘Muazam’ has already rejoined the team, so too Sulaiman Abdullahi. Both players have been away in Europe on trials.
“And Kingsley Sokari has also promised to join up this week after he featured for the Eagles in friendly matches in the United Arab Emirates.”
The Flying Eagles will feature in a Super 4, which will also have Nigeria league champions Kano Pillars, Enyimba, Warri Wolves and Dolphins.
– Benfica forward Yannick Djalo has joined Mordovia Saransk until the end of the 2014-15 season.
Today’s football reports and transfer rumours:
– According to reports,Manchester United are interested in signing Barcelona defender Gerard Pique.
– Gonzalo Higuain has poured cold water on speculation about a possible move away from Napoli, insisting he is happy there
– According to Skysports, Blackburn Rovers wants £5million for striker Rudy Gestede.
– Emmanuel Adebayor has said he does not intend to leave Tottenham, insisting he has got over his recent off-field issues.
– Manchester United and Chelsea have been alerted to the potential availability of Real Madrid’s Luka Modric, according to the Sunday Express.
– According to reports,Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City have inquired about Radamel Falcao’s availability
– Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly opened talks with Dnipro winger Yevhen Konoplyanka
– Sampdoria President Massimo Ferrero confirmed “Samuel Eto’o will arrive and score many goals.”
– Lazio confirmed AZ Alkmaar defender Wesley Hoedt “will join us either in January or in July.”
– According to Canadian media,Juventus winger Sebastian Giovinco has already agreed a move to Toronto FC.
– Cristian Rodriguez confirmed he wants a move from Atletico Madrid to Parma. “I intend to get a change of scenery.”
– According to reports, Manchester United are willing to offer Real Madrid goalkeeper David De Gea with £50million for Gareth Bale.
– Arsenal are preparing to offer Francis Coquelin a new deal. His current deals runs out at the end of the season.
– Borussia Dortmund are eyeing a move for Everton forward Kevin Mirallas.
– Manchester United have reportedly delayed plans to sign Kevin Strootman and Mats Hummels and will wait until the summer to move for the duo.
– Lille have reportedly reached a provisional agreement with the Portuguese club Benfica over the loan signing of the Brazilian forward Derley
– According to reports, Parma are interested in signing French midfielder Etienne Capoue on a potential 6 month loan deal from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.
Football tit bits:
Claude Le Roy
– Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan is suffering from “a mild bout of malaria” and may not play against Senegal on Monday.
– Congo coach Claude Le Roy again criticised Africa Cup of Nations organisers on Saturday as his team spent more than a hour fighting through the crowds to reach the stadium for the tournament’s opening match.
– Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says win versus Man City reinforces Arsenal belief. up to fifth and Wenger said in a news conference: “What is for sure is that it increases the level of belief and confidence. The five months in front of us are very important in the lifespan of the team. What you make of that will decide our season. We looked in control away from home and we finally got a big win in a big game away from home. What is pleasing is that reinforces the belief of the team.” Wenger said
– Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said a moment of magic from Karim Benzema had been the key to his side’s 3-0 La Liga win at Getafe on Sunday. “Karim’s play in that move was spectacular. The whole team played well, but the key to the game was Karim’s play,he did something extraordinary.” Ancelotti said
Cuba Domadores begin a perfect defence of their WSB title against Morocco Atlas Lions
Defending World Series of Boxing (WSB) Champions Cuba Domadores opened up their Season V campaign with a resounding victory over debutants Morocco Atlas Lions.
Havana was the location for a convincing 5-0 victory for Cuba, but Morocco will take confidence from many of the fights, as their talented fighters never gave up.
Cuba’s 2013 AIBA Junior World Champion Joahnys Oscar Argilagos Perez opened the evening off with a bang at Light flyweight (49) kg winning comfortably on points against Moroccan National Champion Zouhair El Bekkali.
Olympic champion Robeisy Ramirez is one of the smoothest boxers in WSB, and the Cuban cantered to an easy Bantamweight (56 kg) victory over Mohamed VI Trophy winner Mohamed Hamout.
Two-time AIBA World Championships silver medalist and Olympic bronze medalist Yasniel Toledo took his overall WSB record to 6-2 after defeating Morocco’s Hamza El Barbari for the second time in months at Light welterweight (64 kg), while Arlen Lopez is a boxer to watch this season in the Middleweight (75 kg), with the dominant Domadores star stopping Olympic Badreddine Haddioui in the third round.
WSB boxer of Season IV Erislandy Savon sealed the whitewash 5-0 victory for Cuba, taking his WSB record to 9-0 at Heavyweight (91 kg) when he stopped Amine Azzouzi in just 51 seconds.
Astana Arlans Kazakhstan are one of the favourites to top Group B, and they began Season V of World Series of Boxing (WSB) with a resounding 5-0 win over debutants Caciques Venezuela.
The Light flyweights (49 kg) opened the action at the Baluan Sholak Sports Palace in Almaty, with home favourite Mardan Berikbayev winning a unanimous points decision over Venezuela’s rookie Yoel Finol, who pushed the Kazak star all the way.
WSB veteran Bantamweight (56 kg) Meirbolat Toitov then won a wide points decision over Venezuela’s José Vicente Azocar, before Samat Bashenov eventually won a close points win against Venezuela’s Luis Arcón.
The dominance continued at Middleweight (75 kg) as Kazakhstan’s exciting Meiirim Nursultanov stopped Juan Rodríguez in the fourth round, a surprise result considering the past WSB experience of Rodríguez.
Another stoppage occurred in the last fight at Heavyweight (91kg) with Vasiliy Levit continuing his menacing form from Season IV as he stopped Alfonso Flores at the end of round three.
Azerbaijan Baku Fires enjoy wide opening victory against Italia Thunder
A battle of two World Series of Boxing (WSB) superpowers opened up Season V in Group B, and Azerbaijan Baku Fires enjoyed an impressive 4-1 home victory over the always dangerous Italia Thunder.
The fans at the Guba Olympic Complex were treated to five fights of supreme quality, which fully displayed the international flavour and talent that the competition enjoys.
Italy enjoyed their sole victory in the first fight, with dynamic Light flyweight (49 kg) Paddy Barnes showcasing all of the characteristics which have earned him two Olympic medals as he won a wide points victory over Azerbaijan’s Magomed Ibiyev.
Michael Conlan, an Irish teammate of Barnes who also competes for Italia Thunder could not keep the winning run going at Bantamweight (56 kg) he he lost a close points decision to Magomed Gurbanov who maintained his winning WSB run.
Gaybatulla Gadzhialiyev has been one of the standout Light welterweights (64 kg) across WSB history, and he showed why he is a legend of the competition as he dropped just one round according to one judge against Italy’s Olympic and AIBA World Championships bronze medalist Vincenzo Mangiacapre.
A close contest at Middleweight (75 kg) followed, and Belarus Middleweight (75 kg) Mikalai Vesialou won the contest for Astana Arlans with a tight split decision win over Italy’s Salvatore Cavallaro who will take confidence from his performance in the fight.
Powerful Heavyweight (91 kg) Abdulkadir Abdullayev continued his excellent form against Italian boxers in the last fight in Guba, as he knocked out Fabio Turchi towards the end of the third round.
A night of stoppages in Puerto Rico as The Hurricanes win over Rafako Hussars Poland
It was a dream World Series of Boxing (WSB) debut for Puerto Rico Hurricanes, as they stormed to a 3-2 win over WSB veterans Rafako Hussars Poland.
Coliseíto Pedrín Zorrilla in San Juan saw five superb fights of much quality, with Puerto Rico winning the first three contests, before Poland hit back with a brace of victories.
Light flyweight (49 kg) and Olympian Anthony Ortiz began the night off in style for the Hurricanes as he comfortably dispatched Poland’s Dawid Jagodzinsk on points.
At Bantamweight (56 kg), Puerto Rico’s Garibaldy Gomez superbly stopped Poland’s Marek Pietruczuk in round one of their contest, a result which has sent shockwaves throughout the entire Bantamweight division.
Not much was known of Jan Rivera prior to his Light welterweight (64 kg) fight, but the Puerto Rican reacted superbly well to losing the first round against Damian Kiwior by taking all but one of the remaining rounds to seal the victory for Puerto Rico.
In WSB however, all bouts count towards the group tables, and Poland’s Igor Jakubowski relied on all of his three prior seasons of WSB experience to knock out Middleweight Jean Alicea in the third round.
Heavyweight (91 kg) Igor Jakubowski claimed Poland’s second victory of the evening in the last fight, as he stopped home star in round one.
Chris Broad has become only the second member of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees to reach the 250-mark in One-Day Internationals (ODI’s) when he took the field to officiate in the second ODI between South Africa and West Indies on Sunday at Wanderers.
Broad, a former left-handed opening batsman, played county cricket for Gloucestershire and Nottinghamshire, as well as first-class cricket in South Africa for the Orange Free State. Broad was a mainstay in the England side in the mid-80s, representing his country in 25 Tests and 34 ODIs, in which he scored 1,661 and 1,361 runs, respectively. During an illustrious first-class career, he scored a total of 21,892 runs (including 50 centuries).
Following his retirement and a brief stint as a commentator, the 57-year-old soon made the transition to refereeing and marked his debut in the first Test between New Zealand and Pakistan in Hamilton in December 2003. A month later, made his ODI debut as a Match Referee in the same series in Auckland.
Chris Broad credit ICC.com
He was included in the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referee in 2004.
Speaking at the milestone, Mr Broad said: “I have many happy memories in my career as a Match Referee and this is a huge honour for me to reach this landmark.
“As an ex-cricketer, to remain involved in a sport which has given me so much, I feel privileged to work alongside some outstanding match officials and retain a strong affiliation with the game I love.
“I would like to acknowledge the encouragement of the ICC, especially former CEO Malcolm Speed, who employed me initially but also Vince Van Der Bijl who has brought a much more professional approach to the job in the last few years and continues to offer leadership and guidance to all the match officials. Last but not least, I am indebted to my family and friends for their love and support throughout the years.
“It is an incredibly exciting time to be involved in the game and with an ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 on the horizon, there’s so much to look forward to.”
Paying tribute to Mr Broad on reaching his 250th ODI, ICC’s Senior Umpires & Referees Manager, Vince Van Der Bijl, said: “Chris Broad is passionate about his role as ICC match referee and has always felt that it is the best job in the world. He officiates with a wealth of cricket experience behind him, with a straightforward, no-nonsense approach and has done sterling service for the game and the ICC. Congratulations Chris on this special milestone and thank you for your committed service.”
List of match referees to have refereed in 150 or more ODIs:
1 Ranjan Madugalle 288
2 Chris Broad 250
3 Jeff Crowe 207
4 Roshan Mahanama 207
5 Javagal Srinath 150
…Team Returns To Nigeria…Yemen Coach Concedes Defeat
After two exciting friendly games against Cote D’ Ivoire In Abu Dhabi and Yemen in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), losing the former 1-0 and winning the latter by 2-0, the Super Eagles made up entirely of professional players from the Nigeria Premier League have commended the leadership of the NFF under Amaju Pinnick, for the friendlies even as it has asked for the sustenance of friendly games culture.
Speaking on behalf of his teammates, Skipper of the side, Chigozie Agbim, said all the players were very happy that they were not redundant in January, following the mishap of non-qualification for the ongoing Nations Cup championship in Equatorial Guinea.
He said he was speaking the minds of his teammates, who made the same remarks after the friendly against Yemen on Saturday in Dubai. “All the players were unanimous in saying that playing friendly games is a way of making the team jell together and building the unity of the team, the coaching staff and the ensuring that the players are active throughout the year.”
Super Eagles Training
“What we want to demand is that this laudable development should not be a one off thing. We want a sustenance of the culture of friendly matches in the Nigerian soccer system, so that we will get to know ourselves better and we will not have the problem of blending when we have crucial qualifying games like it happened in the ACN qualifiers”.
The team returned home on Sunday, with Assistant Coach, Dan ‘The Bull’ Amokachi, like Stephen Keshi admonishing the players to keep the same level of discipline and focus at their various club sides if they hope to receive future invitations to the national team. He praised the team’s level of concentration during the friendlies and said it must be sustained at their various clubsides in the course of building a more virile national team.
Yemen Coach, Miroslav Skopp, who is a Czech, also had kind words for the Nigerian side, even as he conceded defeat to the reigning African champions. “Your team played tactically and technically well, as expected they were hard on the ball and they deserve to win” he said in Dubai on Saturday night.
Hope Akpan, credit Reading fc.co.uk
Hope Akpan Awaits Final Clearance For Action…Eagles Medics Keep Tabs On Star
Reading of England midfielder, Hope Akpan, has started training with his club’s first team in the United Kingdom and should be cleared fit to resume competitive football action by the end of this month, Super Eagles doctor, Ibrahim Gyaran, declared at the weekend.
Doctor Gyaran, who said he has been mandated by the Nigeria Football Federation to keep tabs on all injured national team players, said he has been following up on Akpan after the star midfielder pulled a shoulder in the Super Eagles 2-0 away win over Congo Brazzaville in Pointe Noire in the run-up to the ongoing Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea.
He noted that it has become a tradition in the NFF and the Super Eagles for officials to keep tabs on the welfare of players in particular and the entire staff of the team in general. “Team’s Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, has been working on that alongside the Head Coach and the medical team to ensure that players and officials of the national team are in good health at all times”, he said.
He further announced that following his interaction with Akpan, he got to know that he has a final clearance to do with doctors in England by the end of January to enable him resume active football action with his clubside. “I want to re-emphasise that Hope Akpan has started active training with the first team of Reading and only awaits final clearance from the doctors who operated on his shoulder by the end of this month to resume full action with his club side”, Gyaran declared.
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