Okocha should not have joined Bolton — Ronaldinho

Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho has faulted the decision of former Nigerian captain, Jay-Jay Okocha to have joined Bolton Wanderers in the English Premier League.

Ronaldinho, who was Okocha’s teammate at Paris Saint-Germain, thinks the move to England restrained the full potential of Okocha.

Ronaldinho, who was full of praised for Jay-Jay, said, “Jay Jay Okocha, wow!! That man made football listen to him. At training, we would watch him doing a freestyle; whatever he wanted to do, the ball would do it. But his problem is that he was too keen to move to England.”

Ronaldinho was close to moving to Manchester United but opted out of the deal to join Spanish giants, Barcelona.

According to Ronaldinho, Okocha would have been better off moving to Spain or Italy, where skilled players like him are highly valued.

Ronaldinho said: “In La Liga or Serie A, he would definitely get a chance to play for a big team because they love skilled players over there. In England, you stand no chance of playing for a big team if you’re that skilled. They think it’s not necessary.”

Okocha spent four years at PSG before moving to Bolton in 2002.

The midfield maestrro made 84 appearances for the French side, scoring 12 goals. At Bolton, he made 124 appearances and helped the team qualify for European football for the first time.

Okocha had in an interview with talkSPORT in 2021 admitted himself that his move to Bolton was poorly thought out.

He said, “I will say that it’s obvious that I didn’t really do my research before signing for Bolton. As a football person, football comes first, not the city, not the lifestyle, but one thing that’s clear is that the training ground was different, the attitude towards the games was different.”

Despite knocks for his move to England, Okocha is still widely regarded as the most talented football player to come out of Africa.

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My father needs prayers, support from Nigerians – Tinubu’s daughter

Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, daughter of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, has urged Nigerians to support and pray for her father in order to govern the country successfully. 

Tinubu-Ojo said this at the Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria (ADSN) 28th annual Ramadan Lecture and Special Prayer for the Nation, held in Abuja, on Saturday. 

At the event themed: ‘Ramadan: Islam and Good Governance: the Role of Muslims’, which took place at the ADSN Central Mosque, Maitama, she said her father must succeed for the good of Nigerians. 

“I called on Nigerians to pray and support our president-elect to make him succeed in making Nigeria the best for all. He cannot do it alone and Nigerians must support him, even after the elections,” Tinubu-Ojo said.

Speaking on the theme of the lecture, the Chairman, ADSN, Northern States Council of Missioners, Sheikh Muhydeen Ajani Bello, cautioned against frivolity and wastefulness and sought help for the needy to engender societal and national development and wellbeing.

“Those at the helm of affairs must help the needy and those also not at the leadership positions must also help the needy to engender societal and national development,” Bello said.

The renowned Islamic cleric noted that Prophet Muhammad had said that “We should help the needy even if the person asking for help was riding on a horse and you are walking.”

Speaking earlier, Abuja branch chairman of the society, Alhaji Mohammed Kabir Olayiwola, said that helping the needy should not only be in the month of Ramadan.

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Super Eagles will redeem image in next game, Iwobi assures

Midfielder Alex Iwobi says the Super Eagles are eager to redeem their image in their reverse fixture against the Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Eagles on Friday lost 0-1 to Guinea Bissau in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.

Iwobi admitted that he and his teammates failed to capitalise on the numerous goalscoring chances they created in the match played at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

He however added that he was confident that they would beat their opponents convincingly in the next game.

“We tried to play as a team and created so many chances in the game. I think Guinea Bissau probably had only about three opportunities if you check the stats.

“So, it is one of those games we want to term as ‘bad luck’. We created so many chances, it just wasn’t for us today (Friday).

“I am sure if we play them again, luck will definitely be on our side and we will beat them convincingly,” Iwobi said.

The Everton Football Club midfielder however pleaded with Nigerians not to relent in their support for the team.

He assured them that they would give their all in the next game to redeem their image and make the country proud.

“First and foremost, as players and the technical crew, we have to react, look at the game and analyse where we need to improve.

“So, the only thing I want to say to our teeming fans is that they should stick by us and support the team as we are ready give a 100 per cent and fight for not just ourselves but the nation.

“Every time we come here to represent the country we fight for so many people and count ourselves privileged and honoured to wear the national colours.

“We assure you all that in our next game, we are going to do our best to make sure we get it right and make our nation proud,” Iwobi said.

NAN reports that the Wild Dogs will play hosts to the Super Eagles in the reverse fixture of the qualifiers in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday.

Guinea Bissau has Morocco as the home venue for now as they do not have a Confederation of African Football (CAF)-approved playing turf.

Guinea Bissau currently top Group A of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, with seven points from three matches, while Nigeria with six points are in the second position.

The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone are in third position with two points, while Sao Tome and Principe are with one point and sit at the bottom of the log

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Messi reaches 800 career goals with Panama free-kick

Lionel Messi has reached a new milestone, scoring his 800th career goal off a free kick against Panama.

The World Champions, Argentina, were in action for the first time since their triumph in Qatar 2022 in the early hours of Friday against Panama.

Coach Lionel Scaloni put out the same line-up that started against France in the FIFA World Cup final, and captain Lionel Messi was on target again to reach a new career landmark.

After a drab first half, the Argentine broke the deadlock in the 78th minute when Leandro Paredes found Thiago Almeida who tucked in the ball neatly.

The PSG star’s strike against Panama was his 800th career goal in his legendary career after scoring his 799th against Nantes in the Ligue 1.

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Be hopeful, stolen mandate ‘ll be reclaimed — Dafinone charges Deltans, APC

…Say party leaders are behind Omo-Agege’s quest to recover the APC mandate

The All Progressive Congress, APC Delta Central Senator-Elect, Chief Ede Dafinone, has called on Deltans, APC faithful, supporters and lovers of the Deputy President of the Senate and APC Governorship Candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege to be calm as the party and its candidate are making frantic efforts to reclaim the mandate freely given to the APC and Omo-Agege on March 18 polls.

He also debunked insinuations in some sections of the press that there is a crack amongst the leaders of APC in Delta State, noting that the genuine leaders and members of the APC in Delta are solidly behind DSP Omo-Agege in his quests to recover the party’s stolen mandate.

The newly elected Senator speaking on the outcome of the election, noted that against Deltans expectation, the just concluded gubernatorial election in Delta State was marred by irregularities, nevertheless, INEC went ahead to declare the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Sheriff Oborevwori as the winner.

According to him, “the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and our party’s legal team are currently reviewing the overwhelming evidence of massive electoral infractions in at least 20 local government areas allegedly won by the PDP with the aim of sitting outside the fraudulent results and reclaim the mandate given to Omo-Agage by Deltans.

“It’s an open secret that majority of the electorates in Delta are tired of the PDP’s 24 years of bad governance, and they prefer our candidate, DSP Ovie Omo-Agege, to that of the PDP and other candidates and they validated this fact by casting their ballot in Omo-Agege’s favour.

“However, those who were afraid that they would fail due to their irresponsible style of governance in the last eight years orchestrated all manner of illegality in a bid to sway the outcome of the election in their favour by hijacking the electoral process through the help of some compromised INEC staff and stole our mandate.”

Speaking further, the Senator-Elect emphasized that in many places, there were obvious cases of over-voting, results were manually fabricated, entered into the result sheets, and collated as against the content of BVAS accreditation.

Dafinone, however, urged supporters to remain calm stating that the result would be challenged using all legal means, stressing that he is hopeful that the stolen mandate would be reclaimed.

“I want you all to be calm. We are going to reclaim the stolen mandate. The leadership of the party in Delta are united in support of our governorship candidate in the quest to recover our mandate.

“I want to implore you all, especially my teeming supporters and APC faithful, who are pained by what has happened to keep hope alive. This is a temporary setback, victory is certain. We are going to bring back the stolen mandate,” Dafinone said.

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PDP suspends Fayose, Anyim, others

…refers Ortom to disciplinary committee

The People Democratic Party (PDP) has referred Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom to its Disciplinary Committee for alleged anti-party activities.

The party however suspend former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose and a former Senate President/Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim. Other party officials suspended include; Prof. Dennis Ityavyar and Dr. Aslam Aliyu.

The party in a statement signed and released by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba said the suspension of the aforementioned party officials takes effect from today, Thursday, March 23, 2023.

Read full statement below:

Press Statement

PDP Refers Ortom to Disciplinary Committee, Suspends Fayose, Anyim, Others

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has after very extensive review of the affairs of our Party in the country and pursuant to the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) referred the Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom to the National Disciplinary Committee over his reported involvement in anti-party activities.

The NWC also approved the suspension of the following from the Party with effect from today, Thursday, March 23, 2023.

1.Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti State)

2.Sen. Pius Anyim (Ebonyi State)

http://3.Prof. Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State)

4.Dr. Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State)

The PDP urges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our Party across the country to remain united and focused at this critical time.

Signed:

Hon. Debo Ologunagba

National Publicity Secretary

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Chukwueze nominated for LaLiga player of the month

By Oluwaseyifunmi Awobiyi

Villarreal forward, Samuel Chukwueze has been nominated as one of the candidates for the La Liga player of the month for March award.

The contest for the POTM is a six-way battle between Antoine Griezmann, David Silva, Raphinha, Iago Aspas and Borja Iglesias.

The 23-year-old registered three assists in the league in March, adding to his tally of 11 goals and 11 assists in all competitions this season.

The Yellow Submarines secured seven points from three league matches before the international break.

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