Newfanzone Bookies Corner (Game week 13)

Finally the International break is over and football lovers can get back to enjoy the exciting club football that we love so much. Some key players have returned to their clubs with injuries, some with a low morale from their country’s poor performance. Some players have ended their goal droughts and some have travelled thousands of kilometres to represent their various countries which could result in fatigue and jet lag. We have to be mindful of these factors as it could affect them and their teams either positively or negatively which will influence the matches.

Ademola Adejuwon’s (@demydemo) predictions:

GERMAN BUNDESLIGA

Borussia Mönchengladbach vs Hannover-Monchengladbach Win:

Monchengladbach are in good form right now under their interim manager winning five of their last six matches in the Bundesliga and also getting good points in the UCL. They are at home this weekend against Hannover 96 who are languishing in 15th in the table, I see them getting all three points this weekend.

Schalke 04 vs Bayern Munich- Bayern Win:

League Leaders Bayern Munich travel to face Schalke this weekend. Schalke have not be doing well in recent times compared to their visitors who welcomed back back winger Arjen Robben back into the team. The Dutch man should pose a lot of threat going forward for the Bavarians coupled with the finishing prowess of Robert Lewandowski and trickery of Douglas Costa,they should get all the maximum points in Schalke.

Hamburg vs Dortmund-Dortmund Double Chance:

Hamburg hosts free scoring Borrusia Dortmund. Dortmund have scored 35 goals in the Bundesliga this season with 21 of those coming off the boot of Gabonese Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Marco Reus. Hamburg have not been so convincing at home this season scoring only 4 goals in total. Dortmund have lost 1 of their last six games away from home in the Bundesliga and the least they can get away from Hamburg should be a draw.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic PSG
photo credit: Nazionale Calcio
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FRENCH LIGUE 1

Lorient vs Paris Saint-Germain- PSG Double Chance:

Seventh place Lorient host league leaders PSG this weekend in the Ligue 1. Lorient have lost only a game at home this season,but they are yet to face an attack as fierce as the Parisians. Zlatan helped his team qualify for the Euros and hopefully he’ll bring the form back to the Ligue 1 this weekend. Its very tricky to call as Moukandjo can be a very tricky customer for the PSG defence to handle. I tip the Parisians to get at least a point away from home.

ITALIAN SERIE A

Fiorentina vs Empoli- Fiorentina Win:

League leaders Fiorentina hosts Empoli this weekend. Fiorentina have been in fine form this season Kalinic,Babacar and ilicic all in fine form this season. They should be too hot to handle for Empoli who have lost 3 away games out of 6 in the Serie A this season.

Inter Milan vs Frosinone- Inter win:

Inter have been grinding out the 3 points this season that sees them behind the league leaders Fiorentina with just goal difference. Roberto Mancini’s team are too strong to break with Melo,Kondogbia, Guarin in the midfield for them. They hosts Frosinone this weekend and they should be able to get all 3 points from Frosinone who are yet to win away from home.

Hellas Verona vs Napoli- Over 1.5goals:

Napoli are away to strugglers Hellas Verona. Napoli have been player Scintillating football this season as Higuain seems to be finding the back of the net quite easily coupled with the effort of Lorenzo Insigne. Hellas Verona have been a shadow of themselves last season as they are yet to manage a win this season.

SPANISH LA LIGA

Valencia vs Las Palmas- Valencia Win:

Valencia seem to have gotten their season right back on track and this weekend they welcome newboys Las Palmas to the Mestalla. Las Palmas are yet to win away from home this season and they shouldn’t expect any pity from Valencia who are firing from all cylinders at the moment.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Watford vs Manchester United- Over 1.5goals:

Watford have done relatively well in the EPL this season with Nigerian Odion Ighalo banging the goals for them. They host title hopefuls Manchester United this weekend. The Red Devils have not been too convincing this season though they are two points behind the leaders. The last four times United have visited Watford they left with a win but this time it looks tricky as United might miss the service of Frenchman Martial while Watford seem to be getting better every game.

Tottenham vs West Ham- Over 1.5goals:

Spurs hosts WestHam in a London Derby at White Hart Lane this weekend. WestHam have the 2nd highest number of away wins this season beating Arsenal and Manchester City in the process. Bilic is without Star Man Dimtri Payet this weekend which will definitely affect his team going forward. Spurs are also Unbeaten in the league since their opening day defeat to Manchester United and they are a free scoring side and also very compact too. It’s difficult to predict the winner in this derby but there would be goals.

Harutyunyan, A True Champion On And Off The Ring

Artem Harutyunyan (GER) the new APB Light Welterweight (64 kg) Champion who defeated Armen Zakaryan (RUS) on 22 September is also a champion with remarkable off the ring activities which attracted attention among local media and boxing fans alike. Indeed, Harutyunyan took the initiative to invite 500 Syrian refugees to his fight in Hamburg in order to show his support and solidarity with them.

He said: “I invited 500 refugees to my fight. I had previously been in a refugee camp in Hamburg and was teaching some boxing lessons. In 1991 my family fled from Armenia to Germany so I know what a hard time the refugees have. I want to offer them a future with the sport of boxing and be a role model for them. Sport can connect people no matter where they are from. I like to help people as much as I can”.

Harutyunyan, a true champion on and off the ring

Surrounded by his supportive fans, friends and family, as well AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu and German Boxing Federation President Jurgen Kyas, Harutyunyan was awarded the prestigious APB Light Welterweight bout following his triumph.

AIBA President Dr Wu praised the boxer’s initiative: “Boxing has the power to change the world and Harutyunyan’s actions embody the values that our sport stands for – respect, solidarity and humility. I am very proud that one of our APB Champions is living these values both inside and outside of the ring”.

AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) World Championship bout in Hamburg was the last in the series of the title events in the pro competition identifying one champion in each weight category of Cycle I of the competition. Fighting in front of a hugely supportive audience in Hamburg, Harutyunyan was awarded the victory by split decision after 12 rounds of intense action.

Majestic Mihai Nistor TKOs Erik Pfeifer To Win The APB Super Heavyweight Championship

The APB World Championship Matches series finished in spectacular fashion on Tuesday night in Hamburg, Germany when Mihai Nistor (ROU) stopped Erik Pfeifer (GER) to become the new APB Super Heavyweight (91+ kg) Champion.
Nistor was the very first man in APB history to win a match in this competition, and added to his legendary status by winning his first title away from home in Pfeifer’s own country.

Pfeifer had never previously lost in APB and also defeated Nistor last year, and he controlled the opening three rounds of their rematch in efficient fashion.

The 28-year-old boxed with intensity on the back foot, while he avoided Nistor’s frequent power shots with consummate ease.

Pfeifer vs Nistor II will decide the world Super Heavyweight champion

Things began to change in the fourth round when Nistor began to hit Pfeifer with more regularity, and though the former Champion resumed his lead in the fifth and sixth rounds, he seemed vulnerable to the hooks of the Romanian.

Nistor spoke in the build-up of his intent to reduce the advantage of Pfeifer’s movement, and his tactics began to prove successful in the seventh and eighth rounds when his energy levels began to overwhelm the German.

The crescendo climaxed midway through round nine when a ferocious left hook from Nistor dropped his taller rival to the canvas.

Although Pfeifer courageously made his way back to his feet before the referee’s count had been completed, he was unable to continue due to the effect of the punch.

An emotional Nistor immediately celebrated his TKO victory, and he was awarded the Super Heavyweight title belt following his triumph.

Majestic Mihai Nistor TKOs Erik Pfeifer to win the APB Super Heavyweight Championship

Pfeifer vs Nistor II Will Decide The World Super Heavyweight champion

A sell-out crowd is guaranteed at the Inselparkhalle Wilhelmsburg in Hamburg, Germany, for Tuesday’s AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) World Super Heavyweight (+91kg) Championship match between Germany’s reigning champion Erik Pfeifer and the Romanian challenger Mihai Nistor.

Boxing fans around the world can catch all the action from 20:00 (GMT +2) on Tuesday night via https://www.youtube.com/user/AIBAproboxingTV.

Pfeifer vs Nistor II will decide the world Super Heavyweight champion

Pfeifer remains undefeated in the ABP format, having won all four of his previous matches including an earlier victory over Nistor, and is full of confidence ahead of the first defence of the title infront of his home fans.

“I feel very happy, but I don’t feel any pressure. It’s always nice to fight at home, but I can be efficient when I fight anywhere else too!”, he said.

Blessed with lightning quick hands and a sizeable reach, Pfeifer’s rapid combination punching is a rare sight in the heaviest weight class, and he also possesses devastating one-punch knockout power in both hands.

Meanwhile, Romania’s Mihai Nistor has consistently been one of the most exciting of the APB Super Heavyweight boxers, registering an impressive win over Russia’s Magomed Omarov and producing a tactical masterclass to overcome the Morroccan Mohammed Arjaoui and set up the bout with Pfeifer.

“It is difficult to fight on my opponent’s home turf… but it just pushes me on and makes my desire to win even greater,” Mihai said.

The Romanian is one of the shortest fighters in the weight division, but he uses it to his advantage by creating unexpected angles from which to launch punches and maintaining constant movement in the ring.

“It is simple,” he continued. “I reduce the distance that they can use to their advantage by getting closer to them and working on the lower part of the body.”

Fireworks are expected in Hamburg as the outstanding champion and challenger battle it out for the coveted APB belt, and fans wont want to miss a single second of the action.

Five world-class cities in strong competition for Olympic Games 2024

IOC to contribute USD 1.7 billion to the local organising committee

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is delighted to announce a very strong field of candidates for the Olympic Games 2024. Five cities – Budapest (HUN), Hamburg (GER), Los Angeles (USA), Paris (FRA), and Rome (ITA)* – will compete to host the Olympic Games 2024 after submitting their applications to the IOC by last night’s midnight deadline.

In line with Olympic Agenda 2020, the Host City Contract 2024 was published today. The IOC will contribute USD 1.7 billion in cash and services to the organising committee for the Olympic Games 2024.

“We are welcoming five outstanding and highly qualified Candidate Cities,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “Olympic Agenda 2020 has shaped the Candidature Process more as an invitation and the cities have responded by engaging with the IOC through dialogue and cooperation. In the new invitation process the IOC learnt that all the candidates are embracing Olympic Agenda 2020 from their respective vision for the future of their city. Sustainability and legacy are the cornerstones of each candidature.”

In keeping with its commitment to good governance, transparency and ethics, following Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC today published all the documents related to the Candidature: Candidature Process Olympic Games 2024, Candidature Questionnaire Olympic Games 2024, Host City Contract Principles, and Host City Contract Operational Requirements. This is the first time that the full package of documentation has been made public at the very outset of the process.

With their candidatures, the five cities commit themselves to respect the Olympic Charter and the Host City Contract for all participants of the Games and all Games-related matters. In this context, the IOC made changes to the Host City Contract, including:

– Reference to sexual orientation in the non-discrimination clause as part of the Host City Contract Principles with overarching significance for the entire Olympic Games’ project. The IOC is clear that sport is a human right and should be available to all regardless of race, sex or sexual orientation as stated in the Olympic Charter

– The freedom of media to report on the Olympic Games is now integrated in the Host City Contract Principles

– An amendment on labour law compliance that states: “The City, the NOC and the OCOG shall take all necessary measures to ensure that development projects and other projects necessary for the organisation of the Games comply with local, regional and national legislation and international agreements and protocols, applicable in the Host Country with regard to planning, construction, protection of the environment, health and safety, labour and anti-corruption laws.”

In light of Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC has distilled down over 7,000 pages of Technical Manuals into fewer than 350 pages of contractually binding Host City Contract Operational Requirements. For the organisation of the Games, the IOC is providing the future organising committee an extensive transfer of knowledge including the Olympic Games Guides.

With their applications, the cities have to follow the strict Rules of Conduct for Candidate Cities, which regulate all forms of communication between the Candidate Cities, IOC Members and oth

WORLD CHAMPION HUNGARY MEETS ROMANIA

FINA

The second round of games is underway in Europe for the 2015 edition of the FINA Men’s Water Polo World League. On December 9, Group A’s Greece defeated Slovakia 10-16 (4-4, 0-4, 3-5, 3-3) in Novaky (SVK); 2014 FINA World Cup and World League winners Serbia crushed Germany 10-19 (4-3, 2-5, 3-6, 1-5) in Hamburg (GER, Group B); in Montpellier (FRA), reigning Olympic champions Croatia beat France 7-14 (2-5, 0-4, 4-3, 1-2).

In the two most tight games of the day, 2012 Olympic runner-up Italy edged 2013 World silver medallists Montenegro 13-15 (3-1, 3-4, 1-4, 4-2, 2:4) after penalties in Budva (MNE, Group C) while an upbeat Russian team stunned 2012 World League runner-up Spain 11-14 (4-2, 4-3, 1-3, 2-6) in Terrassa (ESP).

On December 10, current World champions Hungary will play Romania in Miskolc (HUN) at 18:25 (local time) for the last game of round 2. The third round is scheduled for December 29, 2014 in Rijeka (CRO vs MNE) and February 2, 2015 in Istanbul (TUR vs FRA).

Among women, the second round will take place on December 16, 2014 with the following match-ups: HUN vs ITA in Szentes (HUN); FRA vs RUS in Montreuil (FRA); NED vs ESP in Utrecht (NED) and GER vs GRE in Krefeld (GER).

ROWERS READY TO GO FOR 2014 WORLD ROWING JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS AS NIGERIA MAKES FIRST APPEARANCE

The entries for the 2014 World Rowing Junior Championships have been released. The event will take place in Hamburg, Germany from Wednesday 6 August to Sunday 10 August 2014.

More than 730 junior athletes, under the age of 19, from 57 nations will compete in the 13 different boat classes. Germany, Italy and the United States have entered the largest teams; they have entered all 13 events with a total of 49 athletes each.

The women’s single sculls has an impressive turnout and with 35 crews entered, it is the largest field competing at the event. The men’s single sculls has 32 crews entered and the men’s pair and men’s quadruple sculls both with a field of 27.

This is the first FISA World Championship appearance for Nigeria and Togo, who will both compete in the women’s single sculls, with Nigeria also entered in the men’s quadruple sculls.

The course is located on the Dove-Elbe Water Park, which was officially opened as a regatta course in 1985. It is situated on a peaceful arm of the Elbe River and has hosted numerous national and international rowing events including the World Rowing Cup in 2011.

For rowers to be eligible to compete at the World Rowing Junior Championships, they must be 18 years of age or under. A rower can compete as a junior until 31 December of the year in which he or she reaches the age of 18; after that date the rower is classified as an under-23 rower.

Some participants from developing nations are able to attend the World Rowing Junior Championships through donations from participants at the World Rowing Masters Regatta (whose participants are all over the age of 27).

Live race tracker, audio streaming, results, race reports, live blog and a photo gallery will be available throughout the junior championships on http://www.worldrowing.com.

A 23-NATION MEDAL SPREAD AT 2014 WORLD ROWING UNDER 23 CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 2014 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Varese, Italy began with a large and enthusiastic field of 800 athletes and ended with the new 2014 under-23 World Champions being crowned. The performances showed why these are the best under-23 athletes in the world.

At the end of two days of finals gold medals were spread among 23 nations, with both New Zealand and the United States earning three golds each. For New Zealand they came in the lightweight women’s double sculls, men’s eight and women’s pair. The women’s pair of Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler completely dominated their final and set a new under-23 World Best Time – the only one set at this regatta.

The United States had gold medal success with Andrew Campbell in the lightweight men’s single sculls, the women’s eight and the women’s four. Campbell’s win saw him defend his 2013 title with the women’s eight also successfully defending their title.

The women’s single sculls had senior World Champion from the women’s double sculls, Milda Valciukaite of Lithuania, dominating her race and finishing just a fraction of a second outside of the under-23 World Best Time. Former junior, Sara Magnaghi of Italy, was the popular silver medallist with Germany’s Anne Beenken earning bronze.

Spain and Turkey both had medal success. Spain earned a gold medal in the lightweight men’s four, beating Great Britain and the 2013 under-23 World Champions, Italy, to the line while Turkey’s Enes Kusku earned silver in the lightweight men’s single sculls.

A number of these athletes will now join their nation’s senior team in preparation for the 2014 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam (NED) at the end of August. These include Ilse Paulis of the Netherlands who won the lightweight women’s single sculls.

Overall New Zealand topped the medals table with a total count of six from the 21 boat classes. The United States was second with five total medals and Italy came through in third with seven medals, two of them gold.

The next World Rowing event will be the World Rowing Junior Championships to be held in Hamburg (GER) starting 6 August 2014.

To relive the World Rowing Under 23 Championships action visit http://www.worldrowing.com for full results, race reports and photos.

Chukwumerije dazzles at German Open, garners points for world rating

Barely a week after clinching gold medal at the 35th Belgian Open, captain of Nigeria taekwondo team to the 2011 All Africa Games, Uche Perez Chukwumerije at the weekend in Hamburg, made it to the last eight of the German Open.

Chukwumerije, who had to fight through injury, which he copped on his way to victory at the Belgian Open last week was impressive in his fist round fight against Serikzhan Abdrassilove of Kazakhstan.

The tactical encounter saw the two athletes fighting save but it was the Nigerian champion that emerged winner with a 2-1 win.
His second fight – the last eight (quarterfinal) pitched the 2011 All Africa Games gold medallist against, the current Military World Champion, Sajjad Mardani of Iran.

The Iranian, who was one of the top rated athletes in the men’s +87kg of the competition had earlier this year claimed gold medal at the 2014 Dutch Open when he defeated Olympics champion, Gabon’s Anthony Obame knew that he had to be at his best to overcome Chukwumerije.

Despite signs of competition fatigue in his first fight, Chukwumerije managed to shrug off stiff challenge from his first Kazahstanian opponent. However, his efforts to rally against the experienced Iranian, who also won a silver medal at the last 2013 World Championships in Mexico, were not enough to secure a win for him. But he fell 10-0 to the Iranian.

With his efforts, Chukwumerije had garnered points to improve on his world rating scheduled to be released this month.
Speaking from Hamburg, after his loss, a disappointed Uche Perez reflected after the fight, “I did not get my tactics right, and I was a little tired from last week. In this sport, you get punished for not getting your tactics spot-on. A huge positive is that I gained 2.6 ranking points from getting to the Quarter-finals, but I am a bit disappointed I could not secure the whole 10 points”.

He however, emphasized the need for the young upcoming players, as well as the current Elite athletes to compete more internationally and gain international ranking points.

“In the space of two weeks, I have gained about 12.6 points. By the time the next ranking comes, I would have moved up a lot of spaces on the World Ranking list. The more Nigeria taekwondo athletes compete and gain those points, the more likely we would we can qualify more people for the Rio 2016 Olympics, since top six in the world qualify automatically”.

He noted that it was impossible to compete against nations that sponsor their teams for practically every point-ranking tournament, thus canvassed for more private sector and public sector support/investment for taekwondo, who is claimed is getting massively popular every other day, especially amongst teeming Nigerian youth.

President of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), George Ashiru again sent his congratulations to the self-sponsored Uche Perez in Germany, urging him to maintain his current form until the crucial African Senior Taekwondo Championships, billed to hold in Tunisia on May 6 to 8, this year, where a massive 40 ranking points awaits gold medallists.

Ashiru also urged other elite and upcoming athletes to be inspired by Uche Perez’s recent form, and seize every opportunity to gain global ranking points wherever they can.