Sports

Former Green Eagles captain and later coach of Nigeria, Christian Chukwu, has spoken from his hospital bed in Enugu: “I sincerely thank Nigerians for their concern on my health. By the grace of God I’ll be back on my feet. It, however, feels bad that people have created controversy over my health. It doesn’t feel good. I have not been ...

Zinedine Zidane only interested in Chelsea job if club keep Eden Hazard and give him £200m transfer budget Maurizio Sarri is under growing pressure at Chelsea after a difficult season Chelsea’s top brass want Zinedine Zidane to replace him if results don’t pick up The former Real Madrid boss would need certain guarantees to take the job  Zinedine Zidane is ...

Some of the Cardiff City players are scared to fly after January signing Emiliano Sala’s flight disappeared over the English Channel last week, defender Sol Bamba has said. Cardiff played their first game since Sala’s disappearance on Tuesday, a 2-1 Premier League defeat at Arsenal, where tributes were paid to the missing Argentine forward and pilot David Ibbotson prior to ...

. . . Schools, Traders, Communities, Security Agencies to Take Part By Jude Atupulazi The maiden Anambra State Football Season will kick off on the first of February this year with a total of 1062 primary and 258 secondary schools participating. Disclosing this to local government sports officers at the Conference Hall of Government House, Awka, last Tuesday, the chairman ...

Real Madrid has topped the table of the world’s 20 richest football clubs, displacing Manchester United with record revenues of €750.9m (£674.6m). Man Utd slipped to third with Barcelona making it the first Spanish one-two since 2014-15, said Deloitte. Its Football Money League, based on season 2017-18, also shows the combined revenues of the top 20 clubs has risen 6% ...

By Ifeoma Ezenyilimba The CEO of FC Ifeanyi Uba Football Club and stadium, Dr. Ifeanyi Patrick Uba, has proposed Two Million Naira for football tournament for the Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON), Awka Diocese, within Anambra South Senatorial Zone. Uba, who is the Young Progressives Party (YPP) candidate for the 2019 Senatorial Election for Anambra South Senatorial Zone, made ...

Manchester United have sacked manager Jose Mourinho after their worst startto a season in almost 30 years, the club announced on Tuesday. The 55-year-old Portuguese’s last match in charge was the 3-1 defeat by Premier League league leaders Liverpool on Sundaywhich left them 19 points behind their opponents. Mourinho’s sacking comes just two-and-a-half years into his tenure and three years ...

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi received his record fifth Golden Shoe award on Tuesday for leading all of Europe’s leagues in goalscoring last season. Messi’s fifth win breaks the tie he had with Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo. The 31-year-old scored 34 goals in La Liga last season to lead Barcelona to the title. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah was the second leading scorer ...

Argentinean website Doble Amarilla reports that Lionel Messi has splashed out $15 million on a luxury jet to whizz him and his family between Europe and South America. The jet, which was purchased in the United States but will be registered in Argentina, is a 2004 Gulfstream V and comes with 16 executive seats, two bathrooms (one with a shower) ...

Former WWE legend Dynamite Kid who shot to wrestling fame alongside his cousin the British Bulldog but was left wheelchair-bound by injuries dies on his 60th birthday Wrester was one half of the British Bulldogs along with cousin Davey Boy Smith But star had battled health problems and spent last few decades in a wheelchair   Billington started out at 13 ...

Despite his dominance of the award alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, the Argentine has dropped down the list and finished outside the top three. Lionel Messi has failed to make the top three of the Ballon d’Or for the first time since 2007, finishing fifth in this year’s final vote. Luka Modric is being tipped to become the first player not named ...

Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric won the 2018 Ballon d’Or, becoming the first player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to claim the award in more than a decade. Modric, 33, won his third successive Champions League in May before helping Croatia to a first World Cup final. Former Brazil and AC Milan forward Kaka, in 2007, ...

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, on Monday visited the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, to seek his understanding over the choice of Mr Peter Obi as his running mate. On the entourage of Atiku were the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, who is also the President of the Senate, ...

Leicester City’s owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, died in the helicopter crash outside the club’s stadium on Saturday night, it was confirmed on Sunday night by the club. He was one of five people killed – all on board the helicopter – when the accident occurred around an hour after Leicester’s draw at home to West Ham United. The Thai owner’s helicopter ...

Rangers International FC of Enugu on Wednesday in Asaba stunned Kano Pillars in a dramatic comeback from three goals down to win the 2018 Aiteo Cup on penalties. The game which was played at the 25,000 capacity Stephen Keshi Stadium had ended 3-3 at regulation time, after Rangers fought gallantly from three goals deficit to level up the game. Pillars, ...

By Jude Atupulazi When the Anambra State Government pulled out sports from the Ministry and set it up as Anambra State Sports Development Commission, ASSDC, the reason behind it was not very clear at the time. Later, however, it turned out to be something of a master stroke. For the first time, sports stood out on its own, away from ...

Sprint superstar Usain Bolt has turned down a contract from Maltese champions Valletta and will remain in Australia to pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer, his agent said on Thursday. The eight-time Olympic champion has been on trial with A-League club the Central Coast Mariners since arriving Down Under in August. He scored two goals in a pre-season ...

Aston Villa have announced the appointment of Dean Smith as new Coach, John Terry as assistant Coach and Jesus Garcia Pitarch as Sporting Director. Villa’s options over a new coach reduced after Thierry Henry and Rui Faria rejected offers by the club, paving the way for Smith to take over at the club. Smith is known for his introduction of ...

Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo will be available to play former club Manchester United next month after Uefa ruled he must serve only a one-match ban for his Champions League red card. The Portugal captain, 33, was sent off during Juve’s 2-0 win over Valencia last week after appearing to pull defender Jeison Murillo’s hair. It was the first Champions League ...

Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modrić has been crowned the world’s best player at Fifa’s The Best awards. The 33-year-old was the favourite going into Monday’s ceremony in London, ahead of former team mate Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah. The Blancos maestro claimed the award at a star-studded ceremony last night after what’s been a superb year for the ...