RDM: MIKEL IS MY ENFORCER

John Obi Mikel has been hailed as an unsung hero at Stamford Bridge by Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo.

The Nigeria international has not always been among the first names on the team sheet during his time in England, but has been an ever-present in the 2012/13 Premier League campaign.

Now 25 years of age, Mikel has been rewarded for his growing maturity with an important holding midfield role - a position in which hard work often goes unnoticed.

"Over the years he has been almost ever-present, and he has been very important over the back end of last season and this season he started in good form," Di Matteo told Chelsea's official website.

“We all make mistakes in games and I don't think he gets the credit for the work he does for the team.

"It's a thankless task really, and I understand because I played in that role myself a little bit, and it's a role that is important for the team.

"His team-mates and the management team understand and appreciate it, but maybe the fans are more focused on the more creative players and goalscorers, but that role is vital in our team.

"He and the player alongside him have to have a good understanding and communication, so that we always have one of the two behind the ball who is able to provide an outlet for us, to switch play, and also be the first player thinking about if we lose the ball, to be able to give organisation in front of the defence."

KESHI : EAGLES ‘LL FIGHT FOR AFCON TROPHY

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, tells BAMIDELE BOLUWAJI that he is determined to win the 2013 Nations Cup in South Africa. The Big Boss, as Keshi is called, speaks on other salient issues…

Congratulations on your victory over Liberia which has given your team the Nations Cup ticket.

Thank you so much for all the support, it is not a victory for me alone but to the entire nation. We were just here to play the match but many people at home were busy praying and supporting the team, so it is a victory to all of us.

You must be very relieved now having gone through all the difficulties to qualify Nigeria for the Nations Cup. How do you really feel now?

I feel great and happy to qualify Nigeria for the Nations Cup because I know that that was what Nigerians had been waiting for. I told the players before the match that we have no option than to go out there and get the ticket and I must say I am happy with the performance of the players.

Were you under any pressure before the match?

No, I am always surprised whenever you ask me if I am under pressure to play a match. I am not (under pressure) but the truth is that for a game like this, we need total focus and concentration to achieve the result we want and that is what we have exactly done but it has not been easy coming this far. I just thank God for what he has done for me, the players and the nation.

You said you were going to resign if you failed to qualify for the Nations Cup, what actually informed this?

Laughs…this is the job I was employed to do and if we cannot get the ticket, we have no business being here. But on a more realistic fact, that has really put us on our toes and today, we are all happy that at least we are not going to resign but to work harder to see how we can make our people happier.

Aside from winning this match to qualify for the Nations Cup, you have also set a record as the first African Coach to qualify three different countries for the Africa Cup of Nations. How do you feel  about this lofty achievement and what is the secret behind it?

 First, I must thank the Almighty God for making that possible through me and it is to the honour of this great nation because I am a Nigerian and I am proud to be a Nigerian. Well, I never knew this before the match but now that it has happened, I again give thanks to God for that and I must tell you that it has not been easy because in each of the three countries, I have passed through an experience that made me stronger and I think I still have a lot more to offer as far as football is concerned.

That’s very interesting but on a personal note, what does it mean to you qualifying Nigeria for the Nations Cup having represented the nation as a player in the same tournament?

Well, like I said earlier, I feel happy and I am always ready to do whatever  will give this nation a good image in Africa and beyond. Football is a sport everyone loves so much and if we can use it to give our nation good image out there, everyone of us will be happy doing it because we too will be happy each time we travel out.

What should Nigerians be expecting from you at the Nations Cup next year?

Nigerians should be expecting nothing but the best from the team. We are going to do our best to make sure the team is stronger than what we have seen against Liberia. We still have some months to prepare and we are going to make use of the months ahead to monitor the players and prepare very well. Now that the qualifiers are over, we are going to sit down, review all our activities and come up with a programme for the Nations Cup proper. We are not just going there to make up the numbers but we want to reclaim the trophy we won some years ago.

How do you think the Super Eagles can win the Nations Cup?

We need early preparation and good programme to achieve that and I am happy with the interest everybody is showing in the whole thing. I thank my employers, the NFF, for the support they have given to the team in the past and I want to ask them to do more because we are now at a stage where we need a lot to prepare for the Nations Cup.

How will you rate the Liberians in the match?

They are a good side, they came here with the hope of getting the ticket but they failed. The fact that we beat them 6-1 does not mean that they are not good. They really tried their best but the early goal we scored gave us the confidence we needed in the match and the players capitalized on it to score more. If we had not scored those early goals, the match would have been tougher. I will not say they are not good but they were not fortunate to win and they have to wait for another time.

Then what would you say about Mikel Obi performance in the match?

Well, the young man has done his best likewise the other players and I am happy from what I have seen in the team. He said he was coming to do his best and he tried but I still need more from these players because we are now going into a more difficult stage of the tournament which is the tournament proper.

Which team would you not like to meet in the main draw of the Nations Cup proper?

We don’t need to start talking about that for now, we have just qualified for the tournament but as a team, we are ready to play any team because it is a football match and when you prepare well, you should be ready to play any team.

Finally, when do you intend to resume camping for the Nations Cup competition proper?

We are going to submit our programme to the NFF and as soon as it is approved we will know what to do next.

Dimeji Lawal Unhappy With Eagles Defenders

Nigeria may have won convincingly in Saturday’s 2013 Nations Cup Qualifier against the Lone Star of Liberia, but former Nigeria international, Dimeji Lawal has maintained that the Super Eagles’ team still needs some technical input in the defense-line, writes Kayode Ogunbanwo.

The Super Eagles wallopped their Liberian counterparts 6-1 on Saturday to finish on 8-3 aggregate and secured the South Africa 2013 Orange Nations Cup ticket.

Lawal told Complete Sports in a chart that he could not hide his feelings as he expressed excitement over the victory of the Eagles, while also commending Keshi and the entire team for a job well done.

Despite the wide margin victory, the former Eagles player feels that the team is a little bit shaky at the defense line.

“Our defense line needs to be worked upon seriouly; there was no solidity so to say at the backline in that game. I want to believe the coach himself would have also noticed this as well.

Ikpeba Tips Eagles For Semi Finals

Hails team’s return to Nations Cup


Former Nigeria international Victor Ikpeba has stated that the qualification of the Super Eagles for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa has brought back the team's lost glory, while tipping the team for the semifinals.

The Eagles defeated the Lone Star of Liberia 6-1 on Saturday inside the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar to join 15 other countries who will be taking part in the tournament.

Speaking as a guest analyst on Monday Night Football on SuperSport the former AS Monaco forward said: “I would like to say a big congratulations to the Super Eagles. They’ve restored some respect and pride back to Nigeria, especially to the fans who were disappointed that they didn’t make it to the last tournament,” he said.

“I can’t remember the last time we scored six goals in a football match. I think it was only during the time of the late Rashidi Yekini when we defeated Burkina Faso 7-1. The positive from the game against Liberia was that we were scoring goals unlike in the past when we used to struggle to score goals.

“With the quality of players we have, we can play any team in Africa. Though we are not in the same category with the likes of Cote d’Ivoire who are a bit above us I'm confident with the quality of players we have. I'm sure we will get to the last four,” he said.

The Atlanta 1996 Olympic soccer gold medalist hailed the impact of coach Stephen Keshi on the team so far, but advised that he should work on the tactical aspect of the team.

“Keshi comes with a lot of experience. He qualified Togo for the AFCON and the World Cup, Mali for the AFCON. We have quality players but the tactical approach to the modern game is still lacking. I think what he has to do is work on the tactical aspect of this squad.

“The team have to know when to attack and when to defend. Sometimes we attack in numbers and get punished on the counter. The Liberians had good counter attacks which they would have punished us with. This is the time to work on this. Rome was not built in a day like what Keshi said, some of the players were playing for the first time and second time. What I'm saying is that the tactical approach is not yet there but if we can get this in place we will be dangerous in South Africa.”
 

Cr7, Messi Fight Pleases Blatter

The competition on the pitch between the Argentine Lionel Messi and the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo makes the FIFA president very happy. "They are two men with different playing styles, different physiques and conflicting personalities. This is great for football", Joseph Blatter said after speaking at a conference in Geneva.

Blatter, who spoke about "the social impact of football", believes that "this battle to decide who the best player in the world is and who the second best is has a lot to do with their styles. Imagine if both of them were like Messi or both were like Ronaldo. It just wouldn't work," he added.

At the end of October, FIFA will announce the names of the 23 players nominated for the 2012 Ballon d'Or before naming the three finalists in Brazil on 29th November. Messi and Ronaldo are the two favourites to win the award next January, if European champions Casillas, Iniesta or Xavi let them.

"It isn't FIFA that chooses the best player and the president has neither the right to veto nor vote. It's something sporting", Blatter said, recalling that it's the national football associations, plus the votes of national coaches and captains that make the decision along with a number of media representatives chosen by France Football.

Cazorla: Iniesta Is My Role Model

Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla says fellow Spain international Andres Iniesta is a complete footballer who he aspires to emulate.

Cazorla is playing in his first season in the Premier League and has been impressive so far for the Gunners.
The 27-year-old, who moved from Malaga in the close season, regards Iniesta as a role model.

"Iniesta is the standard against which I measure myself. Playing by his side is something else. He's a total footballer in every sense," Cazorla told Marca.

"I try to copy the things he does, but it's very difficult. The problem is that when he does them he makes them look easy, but then you try it and you get all tangled up. Andres is a role model on and off the pitch."

Cazorla also spoke about how the transition from Malaga to the Gunners has been made easier because both teams have similar playing styles.

He added: "I've adapted to my new team really well. The change hasn't been as drastic as you might think. The football is quicker and more intense, but I wasn't shocked by that.

"Plus I've joined a team, Arsenal, whose playing style is very similar to the one at Malaga."

Welcome back Fernando

You wanted to leave. And you still do. When they realised that, your fans wanted you to leave too. Well, some of them did. Some of them have thrown abuse your way. Worse, they have called you a Spaniard. There has been graffiti against you sprayed across the windows of the club shop. The manager has not included you in a single squad yet the club wouldn't let you go. They're pointing at your buyout clause. But you'll go anyway.

In January, you'll be free to negotiate with whomever you want and in July you'll walk for nothing. It's week four and you finally get included in the squad. In the second half you even get thrown on, with your team struggling. So what do you do? You score with your first touch, of course.

Welcome back, Fernando Llorente. Mallorca defender Nunes and Osasuna striker Llorente were sent off during their draw on Sunday. In the same move. For simultaneously trying to assault each other, using the rough proximity of the ball to throw an elbow and a fist respectively.

Javier Saviola: golazo! Leo Messi was left on the bench for Barcelona's trip to Getafe. But still scored twice. He now has six league goals, 61 in 2012. His best total yet. And it's only September. There was a goal too for the returning David Villa. The bad news for Barcelona is that Carles Puyol will be out for four to six weeks with a knee injury, meaning that he will miss the clásico in October. 4-0 up with nine minutes to go, Atlético Madrid had to hold on for a narrow 4-3 victory. "We lost because of what we did for 70 minutes," admitted Rayo Vallecano's manager Paco Jémez, "and we almost drew because of what we did in seven." Falcao only scored one.