Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Mikel Obi: How naughty I was at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho




Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has admitted he used to be a naughty chap during his early days at Chelsea under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho.

Mikel now 31, joined Chelsea from Lyn Oslo in 2006 after a long transfer battle with Manchester United following his impressive performance during the 2005 U-20 World Cup in the Netherlands where he was the tournament’s second best player behind Argentina’s Lionel Messi.

In an interview with the BBC World Service’s Sportsworld monitored by newsmen, Mikel recounted the struggles he encountered during his early days because of the demands of Jose Mourinho (Chelsea’s manager at that time), and the pace of the league.

The Nigeria midfielder played 372 games for the Blues over 10 seasons, but he admitted that he had a difficult time adjusting to the Premier League when he first arrived in the summer of 2006

“Got sent off on my first game against Reading. Mourinho killed me,” Mikel now with English Championship side, Middlesbrough told the BBC World Service’s Sportsworld.

“The speed of the game took me a while to understand it.


“I was a very naughty boy. I’ll get up to speed, but I was late for training many times. I was wearing the wrong dress codes.

“Mourinho was very firm with me because he wanted me to learn and learn very fast because he brought me in.

“With Mourinho, there are no excuses. I was put in a very naughty corner a few times. It took me a while to understand where I am and I had to learn very fast.”

Mikel is yet to feature for the Super Eagles since he led the team to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
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Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Pepsi Football Academy In Nigeria: How To Join Easily




The Pepsi  Football Academy in Nigeria have produced so many stars that have represented the country’s National team, and are still doing well in their various clubs across the world. Examples of players that went through the academy are John Mikel Obi and Elderson  Echiejile.

As a youngster, if you are interested in developing your football skills and you want to enhance your football career, then it is wise you follow the footsteps of those that had achieved greater heights by enrolling in a football academy during their early life. In this post you will find some few guidelines and requirements on how to register for the Pepsi football academy in Nigeria.


How To Register For Pepsi Football Academy In Nigeria

Background And Aim Of The Pepsi Football Academy

For over a decade now, the Pepsi and 7up bottling company have contributed immensely towards the development of youth programs in Nigeria, and the Pepsi football academy is one of such initiative. The academy have been an important initiative from the onset even up till this moment. The size of the academy is indeed large, and it is a clear picture of Pepsi’s commitment to youth development program in Nigeria. The intention behind the academy is to provide opportunity for so many youngsters who wishes to showcase their talent, in a well organised platform. Thousands of youngsters had benefited from the Pepsi football academy and many are still yet to benefit since the program is still ongoing.

How Students Are Assessed in the Pepsi Football Academy

Students who enroll in the academy are been assessed periodically by their respective coaches in order to ascertain their performance and to detect areas that needs improvement.

Personal skills

The academy is quite a disciplined environment, and this makes it possible for students to acquire skills that will be of great benefit for them in life, aside from the normal football skills. Such skills that they will learn include, humility, responsibility, teamwork, self-confidence, interpersonal skills, positive attitude and the likes. All these will be the hallmark of the Pepsi football academy students.

Football skills

Apart from the personal skills, football skills is the major aim of the academy. The academy is set to nurture and enhance the forthcoming talents of the youngsters by creating an opportunity for them to progress their career in football. Many of them might have the opportunity of representing the country and do well in their various clubs across the Diaspora.



Application Into The Pepsi Football Academy In Nigeria

Aspirants and youngsters (either male or female) who have an interest in enrolling for the Pepsi football academy should introduce themselves to coaches at any of the academy training centers, specifically on a Saturday morning. The coaches will first of all conduct a pre-registration assessment based on special talents and physical attributes such as speed and balance.

Any of the applicant that turns out successful by passing the test, such will be given an application form. The Pepsi football academy application and registration application form should be filled and submitted by respective applicants.

The completed application and registration form should be submitted along with:

The original and the photocopy of the student’s birth certificate
Three passport photographs of the student plus one passport photograph of any of the parent
Copies of the students school result
Photocopies of the students medical report
Eligible students are to come along with their parents during registration (it is compulsory).
All payments are to be made to the bank, please request for bank details.

Registration And Fees Into The Pepsi Football Academy In Nigeria

Once an applicant has been accepted, the registration requirements are as follows:

Requirements Age 5 – 14 years Age 15 years and above
Registration 1,000 3,000
Quarterly fees 2,000 3,000
Training uniform 2,000 3,000
Identity card  500  500
Training bag  500  500
 Maintenance fee 2,000
TOTAL N6,000 N12,000

Parent/guardians and aspirants should note that the joining age into the Pepsi football academy is 5– 16 years, and the academy does not provide accommodation or academic education.

These are the major information you need to know on how to join or register into the Pepsi Football Academy in Nigeria. You can can register today if you fall within the age bracket or pass the information to your parent, so that they can get you registered. Give that footballing career of yours a boost right from your juvenile age.

Today, the Pepsi Football Academy comprises over 3,000 registered students and operates throughout the year from 14 separate training centres and 54 coaches across Nigeria.



Addresses of Pepsi Football Academy Training Centres in Nigeria


1. Lagos Training Centre
Address: Cocoa Industries Field, Off Akilo Road, Ogba
Phone Numbers: 08023108335, 08032451880, 08023543676

2. Orile-Imo Training Centre
Address: The Football College Km 4, Sagamu/Abeokuta Expressway
Phone Number: 08023108335, 08032451880

3. Sagamu Training Centre
Address: AUD Primary School, Opposite Awolowo Market Makun
Phone Number: 08034092523

4. Ibadan Training Centre
Address: Olubadan Stadium Iyaganku
Phone Number: 08034657553

5. Ilorin Training Centre
Address: Kwara State Stadium Complex
Phone Number: 08032083789

Pepsi Football Academy Nigeria – Registration fees

6. Aba Training Centre
Address: Enyimba Int’l FC Stadium
Phone Number: 08035451812

7. Enugu Training Centre
Address: Rangers Stadium Nkpokiti Street, Independence Layout
Phone Number: 08037127050



8. Owerri Training Centre
Address: Dan Anyiam Stadium Imo State Sports Council
Phone Number: 08034347538

9. Benin Training Centre
Address: Western Boys High School Ikpoba Hill
Phone Number: 08038183097

10. Abuja Training Centre
Address: Government Senior Secondary School Tundunwada Zone Four
Phone Number: 08023266411

How To Join Pepsi Football Academy Nigeria

11. Kaduna Training Centre
Address: Murtala Mohammed Square Independence Way, Opposite the Hamdala Hotel
Phone Number: 08025940317

12. Jos Training Centre
Address: Methodist Primary School
Phone Number: 07093144959

13. Kano Training Centre
Address: Rumfa College, Along Buk Road, PMB 3079
Phone Number: 08036511010




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Wednesday, March 6, 2019

'Go F**k Yourselves' - Neymar Slams Man United Penalty Decision That Knocks PSG out of UCL




​Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar did not take too kindly to his side's elimination at the hands of ​Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, with the Brazilian going on to slam the UEFA officials on a penalty decision in a foul mouthed rant on Instagram.

Marcus Rashford's spot-kick in the fourth minute of stoppage-time helped United register an unbelievable comeback victory to progress to the quarter-final stage, but the penalty was awarded in controversial circumstances.


The penalty was awarded by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) when Diogo Dalot’s shot struck Presnel Kimpembe on the arm, but Neymar was adamant the visitors’ winning goal at Parc des Princes should not have stood.

The 27-year-old took to social networking site Instagram to express his unhappiness at the decision, writing, "This is a disgrace, they put four people that know nothing about football in charge of looking at the replay for VAR. There is no penalty. How can it be a handball when it hits his back! Go f**k yourselves!”

PSG definitely missed the striker who did not take part in the games due to a metatarsal injury and it will be interesting to see what this result means for the future of current manager Thomas Tuchel as the Parisian side are desperate to add the European trophy to their cabinet having dominated the domestic sphere in the last decade or so.
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Central bank to establish microfinance banks In 774 LGs




The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is targeting to have Microfinance Bank branches in all the 774 local governments of the country.

The capital base of the new NIRSAL Microfinance Bank will initially be N5 billion and as a first step, the apex bank said this new Microfinance banks which is a collaboration between the Bankers Committee, NIRSAL and NIPOST will see the establishment of seven Microfinance banks in the six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Thereafter the number will be scaled up to 50 Microfinance banks which are expected to become operational in the second phase of the launch of NIRSAL Microfinance bank. The first seven branches to be opened will be located in Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Bauchi, Kaduna, Enugu and Lokoja in addition to the one in Gwagwalada Abuja.

Governor of the CBN Mr. Godwin Emefiele made this known on Wednesday at Gwagwalada, in Abuja when he embarked on a facility tour of Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) microfinance bank, an agribusiness initiative which provides risk for framers.

According to Emefiele, “we are just inspecting one out of the first seven and we are scaling up to the next 50 in the next phase. We believe that before the end of this year, we would have moved substantially in making sure that they are set up and be able to provide finance to small businesses. This is collaboration between NIRSAL, bankers Committee and NIPOST and I want to say that we really need to set up Microfinance Bank that will reach out to the unbanked.”

The CBN Governor lamented the lack of access to cheap finance by small businesses but noted that with the presence of a Microfinance bank branch in each local government across the country, the problem would be tackled.

Emefiele told journalists that “the biggest problem small businesses always have, is access to credit; and I am happy that with the establishment of this microfinance bank which would be in at least one local government and we are talking about the 774 locations in all the country, we would be able to have a financial institution that will help deepen financial inclusion to make it easy for people to access credit particularly the small and unbanked people because we have always said that these are the very weak”.


The creation of NIRSAL Microfinance Banks across the country he said “is to improve access to credit and the technology that would be used will be a fintech technology. We have already set a target for ourselves that by 2020, the rate of financial inclusion must increase to 80 percent from about 48 percent a year and a half ago. So this is just part of our initiative to deepen financial inclusion in Nigeria.”

Mr. Emefiele said the hurdles of collateral for loans and interest rate, have been removed as the asset being financed will serve as collateral.

According to him, “we know that those who are weak in terms of those who are unable to access credit, the big issue for them is inability to provide collateral. So they will be able to access credit without providing collateral. The asset that we are financing for them will act as the collateral which will be registered in our national collateral registry as something that is eligible to serve as collateral for loan”

He added that “the loan is going to be disbursed from our AGMEIS scheme which is five per cent of profit after tax that is being set aside by the banks to support the small and medium enterprises that will be in agriculture or those that are into different type of small businesses that badly need to raise finance to be able to set up and earn livelihood. Interest rate for this will be at five percent and the loan will be for tenure of seven years with two years moratorium.”

Reacting to concerns raised in some quarters that the creation of NIRSAL Microfinance Bank across the country will crowd out other Microfinance Banks, the CBN Governor assured that the fear of crowding out is unfounded stating that “the existing microfinance banks are doing their best. I have heard this is an attempt to crowd them out. This is not an attempt to crowd them out, but to complement their services and see to it that whatever service is being provided by these microfinance banks should be seen to be fair to their customers.”

Emefiele also said he has heard about “the rural communities where the microfinance banks charge very prohibitive interest rate. But here, we are talking about making funds available to these people. This will help to create some form of competitive landscape so that those kinds of practices will no longer arise.”
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Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Man dies days after bathing, drinking drainage water to celebrate Buhari’s re-election



The reported death of Bala Haruna, went viral yesterday. Haruna, a staunch supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari in Bauchi State, had vowed to spend 10 minutes inside a gutter and drink the drainage water if Buhari wins the presidential election.
Immediately Buhari was declared winner of the February 23 presidential election in the early hours of last Wednesday, Haruna made good his promise as he swam in a gutter and drink dirty water from it. He immediately made social media blitz after his feat.

But yesterday, he was reported to have died after battling with Gastrointestinal bleeding in the hospital for days after his public stunt.

According to reports, Haruna was rushed to the hospital after complaining of severe abdominal pains and severe stooling of blood for two days.

After series of tests conducted, he was diagnosed with Gastrointestinal bleeding, which was contacted from the contaminated water he drank.
May his soul in peace.
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Real Madrid fans demand Jose Mourinho appointment after Ajax debacle in the Champions League




​​Real Madrid's shock 4-1 defeat to Ajax in the round of 16 second leg of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday has angered the club fans, with a number of furious supporters chanted former manager Jose Mourinho's name and calling for current incumbent Santiago Solari to resign from his post.

The Los Blancos have had a poor fortnight off late, with the Los Blancos knocked out of the Copa del Rey, falling 12-points behind rivals Barcelona in the La Liga and now being dumped out of Europe.

As per ​Spanish publication AS, a number of Los Blancos fans were seen staging a protest outside the Bernabeu, calling for under fire boss Solari to stand down. The fans were also heard calling for Mourinho to return, with the Portugese currently available after being sacked by Manchester United in December.




Mourinho has been strongly linked with a return to the Bernabeu and recently spoke glowingly about his former club.

"I have fantastic memories. Working at Real Madrid is a unique experience and different to the rest of the clubs I have been at. We did fantastic things and we won the league in a unique way. We also had bad moments, I made mistakes, but the experience made me a better manager and person."

The recent run of results has put Solari's future in doubt and it will be interesting to see how club president Florentino Perez reacts to their struggles this season.
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Monday, March 4, 2019

Barcelona fan stabbed to death in Kano after El Clásico




The longstanding rivalry between two giant Catalan football clubs, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, has claimed the life of a Barcelona fan in Kano after the latest showdown weekend.

Tragedy struck when a 17-year-old diehard Madrid fan, Salisu Muhammad of Yakasai quarters in Kano, was said to have stabbed Mujittafa Musa three times on his chest shortly after an encounter that favoured FC Barcelona.

Family sources told newsmen that the assailant laid in ambush for his victim after the match, and the unsuspecting deceased walked into his death.

An eyewitness identified as Suleiman was not spared by the irate football fan who also stabbed him twice on his knees.

The family account confirmed that “passersby in the neighbourhood apprehended the suspect and handed him over to the police.”

The family source explained that “it is our hope that the departed soul will get justice”.


Confirming the tragic incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abdullahi Haruna, told newsmen in Kano weekend that the state CID had commenced investigation into the matter.

According to him, “Salisu Muhammad, 17, stabbed Mujittafa Musa three times on his chest over an argument on football match on Saturday night.”

He said the suspect who is cooling his feet at Bompai police headquarters similarly stabbed one Suleiman on his knees.

Haruna disclosed that the police had recovered the exhibit used by the suspect, adding that the accused person would be charged to court soon when investigations are completed.
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Sunday, March 3, 2019

Kamaru Usman becomes the first African-born and the first Nigerian champion in UFC history



Kamaru Usman the Nigerian nightmare beat Tyron Woodley of America to win the UFC welterweight title.

Kamaru Usman is the first African-born and the first Nigerian champion in UFC history after recording a victory over American Tyron Woodley in a UFC 235 encounter on Sunday, March 3.


The 31-year-old Usman from Auchi beat Woodley across all five rounds to get a winning decision from the judges.

Usman nicknamed the Nigerian nightmare was very cautious in the opening round in the Octagon at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He attempted several take downs but his opponents had answers but was unable to connect his punches to Usman.

Kamaru Usman beat Tyron Woodley to emerge champion [UFC]

Usman suffered minimal knocks and won all five rounds convincingly, controlling Woodley with some dropping elbows and punches as well as a huge take down.

Speaking after the encounter he said, “You think I’m going to wrestle and then I strike you, you think I’m going to strike and I grapple you. I confuse them and I break them. This is mixed martial arts for a reason and I’m the best, I’m the champ.”

Classy tribute from new welterweight king Kamaru Usman to former champ Tyron Woodley.


And a touching moment with his daughter. Enjoy it champ, you’ve earned it.
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Saturday, March 2, 2019

Nigeria’s refineries post N114.3 billion loss in 11 months



Nigeria’s refineries posted a cumulative loss of N114.3bn in the first 11 months of 2018, latest industry data have revealed.

Figures obtained from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation on Friday in Abuja showed that the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, Port Harcourt Refining Company and Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company made losses in the months under review.

The KRPC made a deficit of N31.62bn, PHRC recorded N44.2bn loss, while WRPC lost N38.5bn. The losses were from January to November 2018.

Further analysis of figures received from the national oil firm showed that the expenses incurred by the refineries were higher than the revenue they generated during the specified period.

Among the three refineries, it was observed that Kaduna refinery earned the lowest revenue of N3.1bn, while its expenses in the same period was put at N34.73bn.

Port Harcourt refinery garnered a revenue of N140.82bn, while its expenses for the 11-month period was N185.03bn.

For Warri refinery, it spent N178.32bn, higher than its total revenue of N140.23bn.


Figures from the NNPC also showed the budgeted revenue, expense and surplus that were expected from the refineries during the period.

The corporation’s budget for Kaduna refinery, in terms of revenue, was N294.8bn, while an expense of N265.2bn was also budgeted, leaving a surplus of N29.55bn.

This, however, did not happen as budgeted.

For Port Harcourt refinery, the NNPC expected a revenue of N441.43bn, an expense of N377.2bn and a surplus of N64.25bn. This also did not manifest in the actual figures from the refinery during the 11 months.

Similarly, for the Warri refinery, the expected revenue was N348.1bn, with an expense of N305.82bn and a surplus of N42.3bn. But just like the first two refineries, the Warri refinery could not also meet the projections.

Nigeria’s refineries have been performing below standard over time, a development that made the government to search for international financiers to revamp the facilities, although this move had yet to succeed.
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