Jamaican Coach Faults American Mode

As Nigerians continue to mull over the disappointing performance of Team Nigeria to the London 2012 Olympics,  legendary Jamaican National and Track Athletics coach, Bertland Cameron,  has ruled out living and schooling in America as a means of realising one’s Olympic dream.

The Jamaican coach who spoke yesterday in Asaba in the Delta Sports Summit said that Olympic dreams are not and cannot be realised in America.

“American coaches don’t coach you to be become Olympic champion. Instead, they use you to their benefits and make you burn out before major events,’’ he said at the Grand Hotel venue which was packed with all the stakeholders in sports.  

‘’No Jamaican athlete goes to the US for scholarship or to develop his or her talents.  That is why Olympic champion, Usain Bolt, did not go America. We’re competitive-driven and are based at home.”

BABANGIDA: EAGLES CAN WIN IN S/AFRICA IF...

Former Super Eagles winger Tijani Babangida believes that Nigeria can win the Nations Cup trophy in South Africa if the players show enough commitment. He spoke with BAMIDELE BOLUWAJI

Having known Super Eagles’ opponents at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, what do you think Keshi should do before the kick-off next year?

 Well, it is a tough group because I always believe that no team is small or weak anymore having played to qualify for the main tournament, so Keshi should try as much as possible to make sure he invites players that will share the same team spirit with him and he should try as much as possible to use the rest of this year to prepare the team for the Africa Nations Cup.

 In a group where you have the defending champions, Zambia, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Ethiopia, who do you think could make it to the next round among these four teams ?

 All the teams in the group have the qualities to qualify for the second round but on paper, you may say Nigeria and Zambia will qualify. Burkina Faso and Ethiopia can play the spoilers game as well, so every team in that group has to be very careful. For me, I will go for Nigeria and Zambia but that does not mean they should underrate both Ethiopia and Burkina Faso because anything can happen in that group.

 You seem not too sure that Nigeria can make it from that group, do you have any fear?

 Not really, what I am trying to say is that the group is not going to be as easy as people thought. Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Zambia have all been there at various times and they have the experience already, so for us to qualify from the group, our players must show enough commitment, readiness and patriotism at the Nations Cup if they want Nigeria to go far. What we saw during the qualifying round will be different from what is going to happen in South Africa, so we need to prepare very well and set a target for ourselves even before they travel to South Africa.

 Keshi is planning to try few new players before the kick-off of the 2013 AFCON in South Africa, do you think the time is right for that purpose?

 I don’t think anything is wrong with that because we still have at least two months before the competition will start. But he should have it in mind that the time for experiment is over and the new players he is planning to introduce should not be more0 than two or three so that it will not affect the good work he has been doing in the last ten months. Keshi must have seen reasons for that and the only thing we can do is to support him so that the team can excel at the Championship.

 Which of the teams do you think could give the Super Eagles problem during the Nations Cup?

 Like I said earlier, all the team can give Nigeria problem but the preparation towards the tournament will determine how the team will perform. Ethiopia which everyone is seeing as the easiest team in the group could end up causing an upset. So every team should be treated the same way and they must not underrate them.

 With your experience in the game of football, do you think that the present Super Eagles squad has the quality to win the 2013 Nations Cup?

 We could all see that the team was improving during the qualifying games and the last match which they won 6-1 in Calabar was evidence that the team can always get better. If they improve on what they did during the qualifying rounds, I am sure that they will do well in South Africa. Winning the tournament is another thing and what will determine that is the team they meet in the second round, the quarter final, the semi-final and the final. I think our concentration should be on how to qualify from the group stage first. If we can qualify from the group, then we will know how to approach the other games because they would have learnt one of two things in the tournament.

 What is your assessment about the home based players so far?

 Personally, I will score them high because they have been able to prove that with time, they will be on same level with their foreign-based counterparts. We also have to thank Keshi for the confidence he has in these players because not many coaches can do what he is doing with the team. The only thing I can say is that they should be focused and concentrate on everything they are being thought in the camp.

 Nigeria will be playing Venezuela on November 14 in Miami, United States of America, what do you expect from this match?

 It is a friendly match and it should not be seen as a do or die affair. Normally, a match like that should help the coaches to know the fitness level of their players and the match will be a perfect opportunity for the coaches to try two or three new players that will be introduced  to the team. Nigerians should also be made to understand that it is a build-up game to the Africa Nations Cup, so anything can happen.

 Do you think the team needs more friendly

games to prepare for the Nations Cup?

 Yes, that is what they need but they should try to avoid unnecessary injury so that the team will not have problem of missing any important player at the Nations Cup.

 Finally, Nigeria will open her campaign against Burkina Faso, what do you expect from the match?

 It is a match we must win if the team must go far in the Championship. A victory in that match will definitely give the players confidence that they can do it. They should go out for victory and nothing less.

Joel Obi Out of Sampdoria Tie

Inter Milan coach, Andrea Stramaccioni will be looking for his eighth consecutive away win in all competition tonight at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in the San Siro district of Milan against Sampdoria without his Nigerian import, Joel Obi.

 Obi is not among the 21 players the coach has listed for tonight's game due to injury and it will be the second consecutive game the Nigerian will be missing since he made his first start of the season for the Nerazzurrini against city rivals,AC Milan penultimate weekend.He was not in action last weekend when Inter defeated Bologna 3-1 due to injury.

The Nigerian only returned to action this month after almost five months on the sidelines due to injury which ensured he missed all of Nigeria's 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and 2014 World Cup qualifiers since June.He is however expected to return for this weekend's game against Serie A leaders and defending champions,Juventus.

Williams Sisters on Women's Rights Tour in Nigeria

American tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams arrived in Lagos on Tuesday on the first stop of a two-country African trip aimed at promoting women's rights.

First to arrive was Venus who landed at the Murtala Mohammed International airport at 3pm.She came in from the United States of America while her younger sister,Serena,who arrived at 9.30pm came in aboard a Turkish Airline flight from Istanbul in Turkey where she won the WTA tennis championships title on Sunday.

 Serena told Complete Sports on arrival that she was delighted to be in Nigeria.

 'It's nice to be here'',said the Wimbledon,Olympics and USA champions.

Both sisters are counted among the world's' most accomplished athletes,sharing 22 major women's singles championships between them.

Their trip is aimed at promoting "the role that women play in shifting perceptions and encouraging development at all levels across the African continent," said a statement from the Breaking The Mould initiative they are representing.

Serena, 31, and Venus, 32, are due to meet the governor of Lagos state,Babatunde Raji Fashola, hold a tennis clinic at an exclusive club, visit a puberty education class for girls and play an exhibition match before heading to South Africa on November 2.

"They are coming to Lagos to encourage more women to break moulds that have stood between them and their potentials," the statement said.

Akpeyi Dreams Eagles Place

Super Eagles invitee, Daniel Akpeyi says he looks forward to make the final list of players that Coach Stephen Keshi will present against Venezuela in an international friendly game scheduled to hold on November 14 in Miami, United States of America.

The Heartland of Owerri goalie is one of 24 home-based players invited by Coach Stephen Keshi for the international friendly game.

Speaking on his inclusion in the team, Akpeyi, a former Flying Eagles goalkeeper said he will be happy to be picked in the final list of players that will play the match in the USA.

“Let me start by saying that I am happy to be invited to the team again. It is a good opportunity for me and I will do my best to be considered for the match because this could be the opportunity I have been looking for to play for the national team,” begins Akpeyi.
 

Efe Ambrose: The new Nigerian ambassador in Scotland

The new Celtic defender’s performance is earning plaudits with locals as a Nigerian student learns first hand in an encounter with a shuttle bus driver

New Celtic defender Efe Ambrose is getting very popular in Scotland. After a yeoman’s job in the 3-2 victory for his club against their Russian opponents Spartak Moscow in the Uefa Champions League, the Scots might just have another Nigerian player to celebrate alongside former Rangers forward Sone Aluko. 

This did not occur to me until my current method of beating the Aberdeen cold was halted by a curious bus driver working for a popular bus service.

After seeing Ambrose in action alongside his Kenyan counterpart Victor Wanyama during the recent Champion’s League match that banished the side’s group stage hoodoo - 17 defeats in 18 fruitless attempts to secure a win in the European top flight - the driver was moved to question my Afro-centric hairdo and green Nike top that rekindled memories of the memorable win at the Luzhniki Stadium which had Celtic manager Neil Lennon and their fans over the moon.

“Did you watch yesterday’s match,” the bus driver enquired.

Having spent the greater part of my first evening in Scotland perching in various locations, it sounded strange until he dropped my countryman’s name with rare proficiency.   

“Efe Ambrose played very well last night against the Russians,” added the fellow with obvious pride.

 It was then it all came back to me. Not one to watch the Scottish League or its Belgian and Dutch counterparts that litter my Startimes bouquet back in Naija, I did recall a prelude to the match on a local newspaper  I picked at Heathrow Airport en route to Aberdeen.  

“Oh yeah,” I replied. I didn’t get to see it but I saw the score line on TV.”

“Why didn’t you watch it,” he queried with another inquisitive look in his face.

Unable to start arguing on the level of my patriotism or a bland league with sparks of occasional genius, I replied that I would make sure I got a Celtic jersey at the nearest Sportsdirect shop to mark the occasion.

To even make things better, I would put “Ambrose” behind it to celebrate my country man’s exploits. This reply was based on my phobia for not counting my eggs before they hatch. 

Also, with back to back games against Barcelona FC, regarded as the best club in the world at the moment, it might be too soon to pop the champagne given the array of stars the Spanish side pack. But weirder things have happened in the round leather game and the eventual winner when Celtic and Barcelona clash should be football.

Still, I wish Ambrose all the best as he continues to lay down great performances for the Bhoys and fly the Nigerian flag high here.

- Ajao, a journalist, has just moved to Scotland in pursuit of a masters degree in Communication at the University of Aberdeen.

Caf unveils Afcon 2013 draw procedures and seeded teams

Caf has published the procedure for the drawing of lots for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final tournament beginning next January.

With the exception of hosts South Africa and defending champions Zambia, the 14 qualified teams will be ranked based on their performances in the last three editions.

A system of points has been adopted to classify the teams according to their performances in 2008, 2010 and 2012 editions, with the winner in any of those competitions receiving 7 points, while runners-up, 5, semi-finalist, 3, quarterfinalist, 2, teams eliminated in the group stage getting 1 point.

Points obtained by each of the 14 teams in 2012 edition will be multiplied by 3, by 2 in the 2010 edition and by 1 in the 2008 edition.

In conformity with the regulations of the competition, host nation South Africa will be the top seeded team of group A and title holder Zambia will be the top seeded team of group C. Both will bear letters A1 and C1 on board respectively.

Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire obtained 22 points each after multiplications and are the best ranked teams amongst the remaining 14. Both have been placed in Pot 1 and will be the top seeded teams of groups B and D respectively.

The remaining twelve teams will be categorised into three Pots (Pot 2, 3 and 4) based on their total points from results in the last three editions.

The Stage 1 of the Draw will be to do an integral draw to determine which of Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire will be awarded the letter B1 and D1.

The Stage 2 will be to proceed to the repartition of the 4 teams of Pot 4 (DR Congo, Togo, Cape Verde and Ethiopia) in the four groups.

In stage 2, a designated representative will draw from the first jar that contains the 4 groups (A,B,C,D) the letter that will determine the group where the next drawn team will play. The first team to be drawn shall belong in that group in position 4 (i.e. A4, B4, C4 or D4).

The procedure will be repeated for the three other teams of Pot 4.

Stage 3 of the Draw will involve the 4 teams in Pot 3 (Algeria, Burkina Faso, Morocco andNiger). The first team to be drawn shall belong in that group in position 3 (i.e. A3, B3, C3 or D3).

Stage 4 of the Draw will concern the 4 teams in Pot 2 (Mali, Tunisia, Angola and Nigeria), following the same procedure as described above.

By the end of the four stages the sixteen qualified countries will be distributed within the four groups.

The official draw will be held on October 24 in Durban, South Africa.