Showing posts with label SPORTS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SPORTS. Show all posts

Wednesday, 13 April 2016

'Mario Balotelli regrets choosing Italy over Ghana'- his Biological dad who abandoned him as a child says


AC Milan of Italy striker Mario Balotelli regrets choosing to represent the Azurri of Italy over the Black Star of Ghana according to his biological father, Thomas Barwuah. Thomas Barwuah is the man who gave Balotelli up for adoption while he was a child, before he was adopted by his now Italian parents, who the Italian striker refers to as his 'real parents'.



The Ghanaian FA tried to convince him to represent the West African country back in 2011, but he opted to represent Italy instead, a decision the father says he striker regrets due to the constant racist abuse he endures in Italy.

Himself [Balotelli] has started realising he made a big mistake playing for the Italian national team and he has told friends about it,” Barwuah told GazzettaGhana.
“He is not being treated well, true they don’t show him the love he deserves for his great talent and skill. I think that all he gets is abuse, especially from the media here and that is because he is black”. 
“They don’t like him and it started from the beginning, they didn’t want to see a black boy like himself taking glory of the Italian national team.”
His biological dad was a Ghanaian immigrant who lived in Italy with wife Rose. They had Mario in Sicily, only to give him up for adoption at the age of three in 1993 to the Balotellis, a family of Italian Jews, for unexplained health reasons.
Mario with the Balotellis

Tuesday, 12 April 2016

The sky will be Alex Iwobi's stepping stone - Kanu Nwankwo says


Two-time African Player of the Year Kanu Nwankwo has lavished praise on fast rising Arsenal starlet Alex Iwobi, saying the attacker can do wonders as he has the talent and the right manager to guide him. The 19-year-old nephew of Jay Jay Okocha, Alex Iwobi has started Arsenal's last three matches, scoring three goals and providing three assists.
“He has the talent, he can do wonders in his career,” said Kanu Nwankwo, an Arsenal icon himself. “He has grabbed his own chance and he is doing well. I’m happy for them.
“Age is on his side and with focus, the sky will just be his stepping stone. I am not surprised about Iwobi’s rapid progress after I saw what he could do during Arsenal pre-season. Wenger will always give the young players opportunities to showcase what they have and it is left for the players to take their chance” the legendary footballer said

Full list of 30 players invited to camp by Samson Siasia for Rio Olympics


Samson Siasia has invited 30 players to camp for the 2016 Olympics that will take place in Rio, Brazil this summer. A statement released by the NFF said the invited players are expected to arrive at the Starview Hotel in Abuja on Tuesday with their passports, and that training would commence on Wednesday.
The Invited players include: 
1. Emmanuel Daniel (Rangers) 2. Yusuf Mohammed (Kano Pillars) 3. Daniel Emmanson (Akwa United) 4. Omasteye Alex (First Bank) 5. Sincere Seth (Rhapsody FC) 6. Oduduwa Segun (Nath FC) 7. Obanor Erhun (MFM FC) 8. Ahamefule Chizoba (Abia Warriors) 9. Ndifreke Effiong (Abia Warriors) 10. Chima Akas (Enyimba FC) 11. Timothy Danladi (Katsina United) 12. Stanley Okorom (MFM FC) 13. Harrison Ibukun (Akwa United) 14. Ubong Ekpai (Akwa United) 15. David Itoho (Nath FC) 16. Kabiru Moshood (Ikorodu United) 17. Bright Onyedikachi (FC IfeanyiUbah) 18. Ifeanyi Mathew (Kano Pillars) 19. Tiongoli Tonbara (Bayelsa United) 20. Olisah Ndah (Rivers FC) 21. Julius Emiloju (MFM FC) 22. Joseph Osadiaye (Enyimba FC) 23. Daniel Etor (Enyimba FC) 24. Austine Dimgba (Sunshine Stars) 25. Ezekiel Mbah (Kano Pillars) 26. Abdulrahman Taiwo (Kwara United) 27. Godwin Obaje (Wikki Tourists) 28. Kufre Ebong (Akwa United) 29. Uchenna Agha (Freestans FC) 30. Godwin Aguda (Rangers FC)

Wednesday, 6 April 2016

New Chelsea coach Antonio Conte faces prison sentence for Match fixing allegations


An Italian court on Tuesday called for incoming new Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte, to receive a six-month suspended prison sentence over match-fixing allegations during his time in Italy. The Italian, who was confirmed as Chelsea's new coach on Monday has been accused of sporting fraud during his time as manager of Siena, in Serie B in May 2011.

Siena gained promotion to Serie A that season, with that success earning Conte the job at Juventus, the club he graced as a player for 13 years. In 2012, when he was in charge of Juventus, Conte was hit with a 10-month ban by the Italian football federation over the affair, reduced to four months on appeal.

According to Conte's lawyer, an Italian prosecutor wants incoming Chelsea boss Antonio Conte to get a six-month suspended prison sentence and fine over his alleged role in match fixing. Prosecutor Roberto di Martino has cited a match against Albino Leffe, claiming Conte knew of match-fixing efforts.

He requested the sentence and 8,000 euro fine in a closed-doors hearing in Cremona on Tuesday. Conte's lawyer, Leonardo Cammarata, said the defence is due to make its final statement to the court on 11 April and a verdict is due in mid-May.

Source: BBCSports

Tuesday, 5 April 2016

Yaya Toure will leave Manchester City in June, says his agent


Manchester City's midfield powerhouse Yaya Toure will leave the club at the end of the season having not been offered a new contract, his agent said on Monday.
The 32-year-old Ivory Coast international, who was the African Footballer of the Year four times in a row from 2011, joined Premier League City from Barcelona for £24 million ($34.23 million) in July 2010.
Six years ago Toure was sold by Barca boss Pep Guardiola, who will replace Manuel Pellegrini as City's coach when the Spaniard leaves Bayern Munich at the end of this season.
"We have waited too long. Manchester City promised a deal but nothing has materialised so Yaya will leave in June," his agent Dimitri Seluk told Sky Sports television.
"Yaya is disappointed, of course, but he is a professional and he remains under contract so he will continue to do his best for City."

Toure has been linked by the media with a move to Inter Milan who are coached by former City boss Roberto Mancini.
"Various offers have arrived for Yaya and we're evaluating them," Seluk said. "Inter? We're definitely talking about a great club. Everyone knows about the relationship between Yaya and Mancini but... we haven't made any decision yet. The Nerazzurri's project is great and Inter is a fantastic club so it's normal that they want a player of this level."
Toure won the Premier League with City in 2012 and 2014, the FA Cup in 2011 and the League Cup in 2014 and 2016.

'Lionel Messi isn't human, Cristiano Ronaldo is best of the humans' - Gerard Pique


Ronaldo and Messi went up against each other in Sunday's Clasico where Madrid walked away with a 2-1 win at the Nou Camp, with the Portuguese scoring the winner for Zinedine Zidane's side.
And in a rather subtle shade at former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, Gerard Pique says Lionel Messi is definitely in a league of his own.
 
"I think that they are both amazing," Pique told BT Sport. "We are talking about two of the best players, not just in the world but the history of this sport. I always said that Messi has some talent that no one has. I mean, he has the ball and his speed controlling the ball. The ball doesn't go two metres far from his foot, it's always there. It's impossible to catch him, this talent I didn't see from anyone'
"Cristiano Ronaldo is such a different player, they are very different. He is tall, strong, he's really complete. He can do anything. He can do goals with the head, free-kicks, penalties, take one on one.
"But for me it's like Messi is not human but Cristiano is the best of the humans."