Felix Chidi's Blog: Sports

Friday, December 2, 2016

PHOTOS: COFFINS OF THE BRAZILIAN FOOTBALLERS KILLED IN PLANE CRASH LAID SIDE BY SIDE IN FUNERAL HOME

United for one last time, these are the coffins containing the remains of Brazilian footballers killed in the devastating Colombia air crash.

The bodies of Chapecoense players killed when the LaMia airline plane smashed into a mountain have been identified and are being embalmed and prepared for transport by military aircraft back to their homeland.

Heartbreaking pictures show the coffins laid out in the Colombian city’s San Vicente Mortuary with chairs dressed in white left out for grieving friends and relatives.

The caskets are due to arrive in the club’s home city of Chapeco as soon as midday on Friday and be taken directly to the club’s stadium for a collective wake that Brazilian President Michel Temer is expected to attend.

Pics: See Heartbreaking plane selfies taken by two players of the Brazilian team moments before it crashed

This haunting image shows football players and other passengers inside a doomed jet moments before it crashed in Colombia leaving dozens dead.

Defender Alan Ruschel and goalkeeper Danilo Padilha, two players for the Brazilian side Chapecoense look happy and relaxed, but just moments after this footage was taken, the plane, which was travelling to Medellin airport, fell from the sky after suffering electrical problems.
Authorities have confirmed 76 people were killed.

Images show two footballers, Defender Alan Ruschel (right in the two pictures) and goalkeeper Danilo Padilha (next to Ruschel), posing for selfies during the journey from Brazil before the crash with Ruschel, 27, telling fans:

'We're coming Colombia'. Both Ruschel and Danilo were pulled alive from the wreckage but Danilo later died in hospital.

The jet split in two when it crashed in mountains shortly at around 10pm local time, shortly before it was due to land.

The hero pilot is reported to have opened a fuel door to release fuel and prevent a huge explosion in the seconds after the crash. Had the plane exploded then it is likely all onboard would have been killed. Five people survived however the pilot also died.

Ruschel - who suffered a broken hip and head injuries - was heard asking medics to look after his wedding ring as he arrived at hospital, local media reports.

ISIS bans referees in Syria because they enforce 'laws of FIFA not Sharia'

Isis has reportedly banned football referees in one of its Syrian strongholds because they uphold the rules of Fifa and not Sharia law.

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, Isis commanders told organisers of local games that referees would be banned because their decisions ‘do not judge according to what Allah has revealed’ and are ‘a violation of Allah’s command and the Sunnah.’

Commanders have also drawn up a list of rules, the SOHR reports, which describe how an injured player can receive compensation from their opponents, or exact revenge, under Sharia law.

We’re lucky because the football we play does not run using Fifa’s name – then the organisation [Isis] would have stopped games once and for all and not just refereeing,’ a player told the SOHR.

Isis has banned a string of other activities including smoking, dancing and watching foreign television. Those who breach the rules put in place by Isis can be flogged, shot, beheaded or burned alive.

In fact the name FIFA is not used at all under the command of the terrorist organisation.

Tough luck for the beautiful game, and the fans and players are the ones suffering.

Hot Football Transfer Deadline Day Gossip: Wilshere to Palace, Luiz to Chelsea, Pogba to Sunderland

Some people believe transfer deadline day is a matter of life and death. Hot Football Transfer Gossip is very disappointed with that attitude. We can assure you it’s much, much more important than that.

With the short-term future happiness of millions of football fans hinging on whether their clubs can plug gaps in threadbare squads while offloading their expensive flops to someone stupid enough to buy them, today is in many ways bigger than Christmas, Brexit and World War Three all put together. That is roughly the level of importance the papers are assigning to it anyway.

And the hyperbole has been further fuelled by the surprise appearance of two of the game’s most loveable characters at the heart of the action. Jack Wilshere and David Luiz could be moving today and, whatever happens, it’s going to be funny.

Arsenal midfielder Wilshere has apparently received 22 offers in 24 hours after being put up for loan by the Gunners, although the proposals can’t have been that exciting because the Mirror says he’s going to end up at Crystal Palace.

The Sun makes the more encouraging suggestion that Wilshere will sign for AC Milan, who reportedly want to buy him for £30m at the end of the season, but it’s possible the player wrote that story himself.

As for Luiz, the Mail’s claim that Paris Saint-Germain’s PlayStation defender could be set for a £32m return to Chelsea brings great happiness to us all (except maybe N'Golo Kante), but the Standard doesn’t seem to think it’s a done deal.

According to the London paper, Luiz would need to hand in a transfer request to force a move, which he won’t do because he’s too nice.
Moussa Sissoko will be glued to Sky Sports News more than most today, but the wantaway Newcastle midfielder is unlikely to get his dream “Champions League” move unless the Magpies reduce their silly asking price of £35m.

Fiji's English Rugby coach who led them to first ever Olympic medal given three acres of land

44-year-old Englishman, Ben Ryan who led Fiji's Rugby team to Olympic glory in Rio and delivered the island nation's first ever medal has been rewarded with three acres of land, he has also been honoured with a traditional chief's name, Ratu Peni Raiyani Latianara. Fiji's gold medal, the first in the history of the small island nation, sent shockwaves around the country - catapulting Ryan to the level of national hero.

Ryan has already received the Companion of the Order of Fiji - the highest honorary title that can be awarded under the Order - from Fijian president Jioji Konrote. He received his new land and titles in a special ceremony on Sunday with hundreds of Fiji supporters in attendance.

However, he is expected to step down from his position with the Fijian rugby team in the coming weeks. Ryan, who was also England's rugby coach between 2007 and 2013, has been reportedly been offered a lucrative contract by Japan.

Retired Nigerian Football stars Daniel Amokachi and Nwankwo Kanu pictured with their Olympic gold medals after winning the football event at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

Youth and Sports Minister Barrister Solomon Dalung has appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation NFF to pay the U-23 National team's Coach Samson Siasia. The Minister gave the charge when Siasia paid him a visit Monday in his office in Abuja. Siasia visited with his wife Sandra to thank the Minister for his support to the Dream Team from Atlanta to Rio where they won Bronze in the football event of the Rio Olympics and to officially inform him that his contract with the NFF has ended.

Barrister Dalung directed the Secretary-General Dr Mohammed Sanusi who was also present to ensure that Siasia gets the arrears of his five month's salaries. "Please pay him his five months' salaries.
They said he has resigned but he just said that his contract expired after the Olympics.

His contract expired but you are owing him 5 months' salaries and you have gone to employ a foreign coach and will pay him in dollars. It means you don't like yourselves and nobody will sympathize with you. Please spare me the stress of talking about this salary issue or going to war with you on it. Please pay him and other coaches their outstanding salaries" Dalung said.

The Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Federation Dr Sanusi however said that efforts were already being made to pay the coaches their salaries.

"We have held meetings and we are waiting for the money to drop. The money is already there in our account but we need to regularize the TSA procedures before we can claim the money. We are almost through with the process. Once that is concluded, we will pay them" Sanusi assured.

"How We Shared Japanese Billionaire’s Money" - Siasia

Coach of the Nigerian U-23 team that won Bronze in the just concluded Olympic games Samson Siasia has explained how the money given to them by Japanese Plastic surgeon and billionaire Katsuya Takasu was shared.

The doctor had given the team $390,000 to share for winning the bronze medal, Nigeria’s only medal, at the Olympics.

Siasia also criticized the Nigerian Football Federation for their objections to the money gifted to the team saying that the investigations called for by the top dogs in the federation were unnecessary.

“What actually happened is that the man was just curious how a team that was neglected and abandoned could arrive Rio under five hours and defeat the Japanese team that had all they needed and have been put together for over three years, that was his
amazement.” Siasia said explaining what transpired.

He continued,

“These guys who are saying they want to do all manner of checks, what have they done for us? Do you know that since we returned, nobody from the NFF or Ministry has called us to say that we did well. The president came and just talked and that was it, well it is not the first time he will be talking.

“When players don’t even have $100 dollars in their pocket and you want to come and preach to them.” Siasia said the entire amount of $390,000 was shared equally among all the members of the team including the supporting staff.

“The Japanese benefactor said $200,000 and $190,000 was supposed to be for bronze medal and it was split among the players and officials equally. It is not my personal money and this must be made clear.

“What I got was what every other player of official in the team got about $14,000 dollars each. The man came to Salvador where we played and gave $200,000 as draft to me and $190,000 to Mikel because he cannot write cheque to every member of the team, he made it simpler so that we all can share the money and now we are paying to the individual accounts of the boys.

“So make this issue clear to everybody that has been following it, the money was never meant for me or Mikel alone but for the entire team including the doctors and other backroom staff”.

Pa Michael Obi has expressed his disappointment over the treatment of the Dream Team VI, after winning bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. While speaking with Punchng, yesterday, he said: “I was surprised to read that there are no plans to receive the team.

It is very unfair, especially after the team won the only medal at the Games. The least they had expected was a hero’s welcome and a presidential handshake to appreciate their superlative performance, especially when nobody had expected that they would go far at the Games.

I had expected Mikel to lead the team back to Nigeria, accorded a befitting reception, before going back to their various clubs. This is want an appreciate sports authorities and the Federal Government would have done.

We are all aware of the shoddy preparations for the Games and how they were stranded in another country before they got to the venue, a few hours to the start of their first game against Japan. Despite this, they struggled to make the country proud and if this is all they could get for their efforts, I think it’s very unfortunate.”

Adorable photo of Mikel Obi and family in the pool (Photo)

The footballer sure needed this family time out after the Rio Olympics games.

He just shared this lovely photo with his twin daughters and girlfriend Olga.

Ancelotti Names Son As His Assistant Coach At Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has appointed his son, Davide, as an assistant coach at the Allianz Arena. The announcement came as a surprise, as the 27-year-old has little experience. Davide is a former AC Milan youth player, where he failed to make the grade. He eventually left to study sport science.

He worked with his father briefly when he was manager of Real Madrid as a fitness coach. Speaking to Bayern’s official YouTube channel, he said: “My job at Bayern is to support the coaches both in training and in pre-match preparations, as well as during games.

“On the training pitch, I explain exercises or just help out with the language. My father speaks German but doesn’t understand everything yet. I can speak German well because I’ve been studying the language for eight months. I like the language – it’s difficult but I find it very interesting.

“I’m looking forward to learning many things here as a coach, but also as a person, like a new culture and a new language. The atmosphere at Bayern is incredible. You can sense the tradition. Despite being such a big club, it’s like a family and the atmosphere reflects that.

“I felt that way at AC Milan too and it’s very difficult to find something like that.”

Following the poor performance of Team Nigeria at the just-concluded Rio Olympics, the proprietor of Rojenny Stadium, Oba, Anambra, Rommy Ezeonwuka, has urged the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, to resign. Ezeonwuka told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Wednesday that resignation was the “best apology or explanation that will be acceptable to lovers of sports in Nigeria from the minister’’.

He said that the measure would be one of the urgent steps that should be taken toward restructuring sports in Nigeria to forestall further woes in the international arena. While lauding the Samson Siasia-tutored Dream Team for registering the country’s name on the medals table at the games, Ezeonwuka described the general performance of the nation’s contingent to the games as “dismal’’.

“Nigeria only got what they prepared for from the Olympics because the minister, Solomon Danlong, did not show or give the competition even the seriousness it deserved. The minister should honourably resign because he has shown himself to be more of politician than a sports administrator.

“It is good that our soccer team won bronze but we’ve known the story; they won because of their individual commitments to the country. The team was stranded in Atlanta and it took the intervention of Mikel Obi before they could go on to Brazil and we had a minister; we need genuine change in all sectors, especially sports.

“Our government refused to invest in sports that unite us as a country but they continue to fund religion that tears us apart. If you remember, all that matters during the games when our colours were competing was Nigeria, not the tribe or religion,” he said.

Ezeonwuka said that it was time Nigeria identified her area of sporting advantage and streamlined her contingent to international meets instead of going with many events and not excelling in any. “I think this jamboree should stop; let us train Olympians in events we have advantage and not go with eight or nine events and flop in all of them when smaller countries like South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia with smaller teams do better,” he said.

Republic of Ireland international, Robbie Keane has announced his retirement from international football.
The 36-year-old will end his 18-year career with the Republic of Ireland in the friendly against Oman on August 31.
Keane made his debut for the Boys in Green in 1998 against the Czech Republic and he has gone on to make a total of 145 appearances for his country, scoring 67 goals.
IN FULL: ROBBIE KEANE STATEMENT
“Today, I am announcing my decision to retire from International football following the upcoming game with Oman on 31st August in the Aviva Stadium. It has been a wonderful journey for me to have played with the Irish national team for over eighteen years since I made my senior international debut back in 1998. I have enjoyed it all.
“It has also been a great honour, for both me and my family, to have been given the opportunity to captain my country for over ten years. As a young boy growing up in Dublin playing football on the street I could never have imagined the path my life would take – it has exceeded my wildest expectations.
“I have been extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to play for and captain my country – it was my ultimate goal all those years ago and it has been, by far, my greatest achievement. I would never have believed all those years ago that I would get the opportunity to play for my country 145 times and to score 67 goals and through it all, I have never stopped chasing the next one!
“I have been on the most incredible journey with the Irish team and fans over the last 18 years and words cannot express how proud I am to be Irish. Each and every time I put on the green jersey it is such an honour.
“I have grown up playing for Ireland & look back at the 17 year old kid making his international debut, taken under the wing of Mick McCarthy & the FAI, and think of the person I am today and realise how playing for Ireland has been such a huge influence in my life.
“My teammates over the years, the backroom staff, managers, FAI and the fans became my second family. I always looked forward to meeting with the team – it became a home away from home no matter what part of the world I was living in.
“I have so many fantastic memories of days with the Irish team and have made so many friends both on and off the pitch over this time. I have been very fortunate to play at major tournaments for Ireland over the years and I will cherish all of those memories but one in particular stands out – the 2002 World Cup and scoring the late goal in Ibaraki, Japan against Oliver Kahn. The atmosphere, the adrenaline & the buzz from the fans that night is something I will always remember.
“I would like to thank all those who have supported me throughout my international career and who helped to make it all possible. There are too many people to thank each personally but a few I must recognise.
“Thanks to my parents and my family for everything they have given me and who have always helped me throughout with their absolute support and advice. I would also like to acknowledge the guidance of my uncle, Noel Byrne, for encouraging me to convert into a striker at Fettercairn and to Larry Fox & Jem Loughran who looked after me so well at Crumlin United.
“Thanks to the coaches and managers I have worked with at all stages of my international career and who helped me develop as a player.
“To Mick McCarthy – thanks for taking a chance and giving me my international debut as a 17 year old and to all the International managers I have played for since then right up to the present day with Martin & Roy and the special backroom staff. “Euro 2016 was a great experience for the team – we can look forward with a lot of confidence.

Two unnamed clubs were willing to pay more than €50m to lure Casemiro away from Real Madrid, reports Marca.
The Brazilian became a key figure under Zinedine Zidane last season as the Spanish giants ended their campaign with success in the Champions League final.
He is considered an indispensable player at the Bernabeu – Real Madrid are not willing to listen to offers for him – but that did not prevent two teams from making enquiries about the Brazilian.
According to Marca, one English club and one Italian club were both willing to pay a transfer fee in excess of €50m to secure the anchorman’s services, in addition to paying him a lucrative salary.

Nigeria midfielder Mikel Obi is looking forward to winning more trophies for English Premier League side Chelsea following his return to the club after helping his country to secure bronze medal in the men’s football event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Mikel played a key role as Samson Siasia’s charges won the West African nation’s lone medal at the games. The former Lyn Oslo of Norway player is now expected to battle for a starting place at Chelsea under new manager Antonio Conte. He however seems ready for the task ahead as he resumes training with the Blues.

“Back in the UK. Now hard work with #C FC begins. Eleven seasons, Eleven trophies and I’m not done yet,” Mikel wrote on his Twitter handle on Wednesday.

Chelsea who are unbeaten in an official game this season will take on Burnley at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Back in UK. Now the hard work with #CFC beings. Eleven seasons, eleven trophies, and I'm not done yet. 🔵 ⚪️ #KTBFFH pic.twitter.com/ZxirUVna91
— Mikel John Obi (@mikel_john_obi) August 24, 2016

Former Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo has agreed to join Kano Pillars as the League Management Company (LMC) Ambassador and could make his debut against Sunshine Stars next week.
The 35-years-old defender, who snubbed interests from other clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) – FC Ifeanyi Ubah, Akwa United and Wikki Tourists of Bauchi – agreed to put ink on the dotted lines for the former League champions, africanFootball.com reports.
The presence of the former Everton of England star in the domestic league club is to promote and add value to the league by attracting more spectators to the various league match venues.
The Elite Players Scheme assigns players of international repute to Nigerian club sides in a bid to further improve the quality of the league.
Sani Kaita was a beneficiary of the scheme when he joined Enyimba for a three-month stint in 2014.
Yobo is likely to debut for Pillars in their next home game. The Kano based team are currently on sixth position in the league table with 45 points from 30 matches.

Check out the 'best' images from the Rio Olympics 2016

Over the last two weeks the Olympics have provided moments of brilliance, joy and excitement across 28 sports in Rio.

With athletes of all shapes and sizes on display, the games also provided an incredible array of photos, capturing the emotion and beauty of elite sport.