Why Sports Stars Go Broke- Sunday Oliseh

Sixty-five per cent of sportsmen go broke (bankrupt) after they quit the limelight.

In England wages of footballers average £30 000 a week (more than many households earn annually) but seven out of every ten ex-footballers are said to be 'broke' and having serious difficulties making ends meet.

Legendary sportspeople like Mike Tyson(earnings: $350 million, )Evander Holyfield ($250 million), Allen Iverson ($154 million), Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and Steffi Graf all declared themselves broke after their illustrious careers.

In Africa the figures are worse but the fact that most ex-African stars are smart and stay away from the public eye when it happens has helped mask the magnitude.

One is forced to ask how on earth this is possible, judging by the enormous sums earned during their active days?

LACK OF FINANCIAL EDUCATION

Contrary to what most people think, sportsmen are not complete illiterates or un-educated. They are educated in the art of sports and not finance. To get to the top of the world, you have to focus all your time to your sport and school education suffers. Hence, in most cases, top athletes are not educated in financial matters. This is no excuse but they hardly devote time to learn how to manage money.

Most superstars originate from acutely poor backgrounds and, in most cases, are raised by financially poor but not necessarily morally poor parents. They generally have a good heart but when the riches come to these sportsmen, they are found wanting in the know-how to handle this sudden wealth.

Case Study: Mike Tyson, ex world heavyweight boxing champion

FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Especially among Coloured stars and Africans, a man's wealth is shared among his family and we do have huge families.

Once these sports stars hit the big time, these family members and friends have to be catered for: school fees, feeding allowances, house rents, burials and house purchases etc all are billed to the sports star who erroneously thinks it is his duty to pay this. They become the sole bread winners for family and friends.

The financial burden that these stars inherit from their family and extended families is so huge that it practically drains them dry.

How much to share with family, friends and their savings account is a dilemma for African stars. The African culture is a communal kind of life and a lovely one at that, where it is deemed normal to share your earnings among family, unlike the western style where your family is just you, your wife and children.

Case Study: Aranxta Sanchez Vicario of Spain, a top ex tennis star

EARNING TOO FAST

A "normal" millionaire builds his millions gradually but athletes make the majority of their income in a short period of time, at a very early age. The entrepreneur can save over that lengthy period and learn to manage wealth at his own pace, unlike young professional athletes.

This wealth breeds stubbornness and advice from well meaning people is often ignored. Youth is synonymous with errors, due to inexperience, and it is difficult to tell a rich, young sports star that his ideas are wrong. He will simply ask you, “If you know it better, why aren't you the rich one instead of me?”

Case Study: Mike Tyson, ex world heavyweight boxing champion (world champion at age 17)

LACK OF POST-CAREER PLANS

Very few athletes plan for their post-career life during their active days. The preparation of body and mind for the next stage in their lives is not there. Some even erroneously think they will continue in the sports system for long periods after retirement, as coaches, managers, journalists or analysts. However, there is limited space to accommodate all and these functions need some form of education and study, which most athletes lack.

SPENDING A LOT AND SAVING A LITTLE

Everyone earns money (if you work) but not everyone saves in the same degree as they earn. Some sports stars mostly think that these huge earnings are not temporary but will last a lifetime. A successful career lasts at the most 10 to 12 years but the athletes sometimes forget that if you retire at the age of 35 and God let's you live till 70, you still have another 35 years to live. Boy those years run slowly when the wealth is not there.

"I spent over a million dollars on jewellery"- Andre Rison, former NFL star

EXPENSIVE DIVORCES

Most sports stars meet their other halves when they are active and are at their best. Retirement means a change to their lifestyle and social standing and also to that of their spouses. This and the more frequent presence at home stifles and pressurises marriages. The end result is divorce and they usually are expensive. The effects are devastating and the inability to cope causes bankruptcy for many.

Case Study: Kenny Anderson (Ex basketball star) lost $60 million to ex-wives

BAD BUSINESS INVESTMENT

Naturally, with so much money earned, many athletes try to invest and follow bad advice from managers and so-called friends. In most cases they invest in ventures that they have no expertise in and often these deals go bad.

The success most athletes have as sportsmen seems to blind them from the fact that they might not be successful as businessmen, even in sports business.

Case Study: Evander Holyfield, ex world heavyweight boxing champion

"THE LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL SYNDROME"

At retirement, several sportsmen continue spending and living like they used to when they were active or at their prime. Hundreds of thousands are still spent on jewellery, mistresses and holiday homes in areas they hardly visit. These are quiet drains on their fortune and by the time they realise it, it is too late.

Most athletes have a problem transforming from active to passive sportsmen.

Case Study: Allen Iverson kept spending $360 000 every month after retirement

This piece is written with the aim of sharing with aspiring sportsmen the errors they should avoid and with parents so they know how to mould or guide their children.

In conclusion, to err is human but with success comes envy and jealousy and even criminality from dubious minds. One has to be careful and not err in a big way. The harder you try to earn honest money through sport success, the more there are people working even harder to separate you from that wealth.

As a sportsman people will love you but you have to love yourself most by being cautious and prayerful. od help us all!

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Oboabona Set For Trials At Arsenal

Arsenal look set to hand a trial to Nigerian international Godfrey Oboabona,


The 22-year-old was instrumental in his national team’s performance at the African Cup of Nations, and his impressive displays have brought him to the attention of Gunners gaffer Arsene Wenger.

Oboabona currently plies his trade in defence for hometown club Sunshine Stars, an Akure-based football club who finished last season second in the Nigerian Premier League. His time at the club has also seen him win 18 caps so far for his native Nigeria.

Despite success in his homeland, Oboabona appears keen to complete the switch to North London in a deal which could be worth around £1m.

He said: “Arsenal are my favourite club from childhood. It is the club I want to play for.”

The news furthers the growing feeling that Wenger has a desire to shake-up various aspects of his squad in the summer, and with a new keeper also appearing top priority it is clear that the Frenchman wishes to strengthen his lot at the back.

Source: The Sun.

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[NEWS]: Oliseh Gets FIFA Job

Oliseh with FIFA boss, Blatter

Former Super Eagles of Nigeria’s captain, Sunday Oliseh, has been appointed into the FIFA Technical Study Group.
Oliseh broke the news of his appointment by the world soccer governing body on social media networking website, Twitter on Saturday .
The ex-Super Eagles’ captain wrote via his Twitter account: “BREAKING NEWS: F.I.F.A (Federation International de Football Federation)Appoints Oliseh…am honored!”

The former Ajax Amsterdam man is however “flattered” by his appointment into the FIFA Technical Study Group.
“It is with great honour that I share with you my appointment by the world’s football governing body, FIFA as a member of its Technical Study Group amongst other functions.
“I am flattered to be a part of this football family and I believe that this is a blessed period not only for me personally but for my beloved nation, Nigeria!” Oliseh, a SuperSport Soccer Analyst further stated on his official website, www.sundayoliseh.tv.
Oliseh holds a UEFA Pro Licence in coaching and made more than 60 appearances for Nigeria between 1993 and 2002.

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Onigbinde – "No football club exists in Nigeria"

Chief Adegboye Onigbinde

Former Super Eagles coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, has said that no football club exists in Nigeria.

Onigbinde, who recently turned 75, spoke with our correspondent in a telephone interview on Sunday.

He said the general definition of a club is a group of people coming together for a common purpose, stressing that no Nigerian club satisfies such a definition.

Onigbinde said, “In FIFA statute, Article 17 states that any football body must be capable of handling its affairs without interference from a third party.

“It also states that the executive of any football body must be democratically elected. For these reasons, we don’t have any football club in Nigeria.

“Even in the days of Abiola Babes, Stationery Stores and others, we had decisions being taken by a third party or a group of very few people.”

Explaining that football is a lucrative enterprise, Onigbinde emphasised that a group of 5, 000 people could come together to form a club.

He said, “I’m still hoping to establish First Football Club of Nigeria; that would be the name, First Football Club. I hope to get 5,000 people to contribute N1,000 each. After this, we will incorporate it. This is my next objective.

“This was what I wanted to do with Prime FC of Osogbo before the idea was scuttled. Some people would not like the idea of a club generating its own source of funding because they know that such money donated by members of the club cannot be embezzled.

“They would love to have money from government to run a club because they know that nobody would query them when they squander such type of money. At 75, it is too late for me to learn how to defraud.”

Culled:Punchng

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Okocha, Kanu made me choose Nigeria –Moses

Victor Moses

Chelsea forward Victor Moses has revealed how former internationals Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu talked him into choosing Nigeria over England, especially after he was overlooked by England coaches.

The former Crystal Palace sensation was named the Player of the Tournament at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa following his spectacular display as Nigeria won the African title for the third time.

Moses played for England from Under-16 to U-21 level and was tipped by former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan to be one of England ’s finest. But unfortunately, U-21 boss Stuart Pearce and former England manager Fabio Capello had little or no interest in Moses.

“I played all through the age levels for England and when Nigeria first asked, I wanted to concentrate on my club football,” the 22-year-old told Mirror.co.uk.

“Stuart Pearce may have spoken to my agent about England, but he never spoke to me directly and Fabio Capello never spoke to me or showed any interest in me.

“Nigeria asked again and it just seemed like the right thing to do.

“Jay-Jay Okocha and Kanu encouraged me as well before I started playing for Nigeria and it was great to speak to two legends of the country.”

Moses has yet to recover from the excitement of winning the AFCON, and he has set new targets of winning more trophies with club and country.

“It was amazing to win the tournament (AFCON). We did it for the nation. It means so much to everyone in Nigeria and it was great for me as well,” he said.

“Growing up in Nigeria, football was obviously a lot different. We just played on the streets, often on bare feet, and you used anything you could for a football.

“There were no facilities or teams. So it was a lot different when I came to England.

“It took me a little while to get used to playing organised games, on proper pitches with all the gear.”

Having started at Crystal Palace, Moses joined Wigan for £2.5m before making his summer move to Chelsea where he has already impressed in a club full of stars.

“There were a lot of big clubs interested in me when I was at Palace, but Wigan was the right move,” said Moses.

“Wigan gave me that chance and after playing in the Premier League for a while, I felt ready to make the next step.

“I joined Chelsea to improve and to win some medals. I’m confident both of those things will happen.”

Culled:Punchng

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Nigeria Coach Stephen Keshi Resigns One Day After Winning AFCON 2013

The Nigerian coach has submitted his resignation to the Nigerian Football Federation, after a dramatic falling out, and states that he will not change his mind The Nigerian football fraternity was dealt with a huge blow on Monday evening, when their coach Stephen Keshi announced his resignation from his job as the coach of the national team, just less than 24 hours after he guided the Super Eagles to Afcon glory at the National Stadium. Keshi claims that he was sacked prior to their quarterfinal clash against Ivory Coast, because apparently the Nigerian Football Federation booked a plane back to Nigeria as soon as they found out that they will play Ivory Coast. However, Keshi claimed on Metro FM that he heard about the arrangement made by the NFF after the Mali game, and that he did not want to take it to mind as it would have affected his teams preparations. Keshi’s resignation letter still has to be discussed by the NFF, and the coach says he is unlikely to change his mind, because he believes that NFF did not trust and respect his tactics as a coach. The coach did tell Goal.com a few days before the final, that he would 'pack his bags and leave' if he felt he was not wanted, and it is a surprising turn of events after the coach was highly praised from all quarters.

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Memorable quotes from AFCON 2013

SOWETO, South Africa, February 11 – The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations ended Sunday with Nigeria taking the title and AFP reviews who said what during the three-week competition:
 
You don’t want to know what was going through my mind in the last few minutes — Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi after a tense finish to a 1-0 final win over Burkina Faso

You have to be big when you lose and small when you win — Burkina Faso coach Paul Put reacting with dignity in defeat

It feels great — this is my sixth Nations Cup, and my last. I was praying to God I could win it. I feel so blessed, so grateful to God — emotional Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo on what it meant to be handed the trophy

There were a lot of doubters when I first arrived in Ouagadougou to take up my post. I believe many were hoping for a Jose Mourinho-type coach, not Paul Put — Put on initial reactions to his appointment

Everyone realised that this referee did not officiate well — CAF president Issa Hayatou on Tunisian referee Slim Jdidi’s bad day at the office in the Burkina Faso-Ghana semi-final

The fact that Burkina made the final is a positive sign for the development of football in Africa — Hayatou again on the improbable Burkinabe journey in South Africa

I want to kiss him! — Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi after unheralded Sunday Mba scored the winner to put them into the semi-finals at the expense of Ivory Coast

It is over — Didier Drogba’s terse evaluation of his Africa Cup of Nations career which ended in frustration when Ivory Coast failed to justify their favourite’s tag for the fifth consecutive tournament
The coach was not a help! Me, I was on the pitch, so I couldn’t do both jobs (coaching and playing)

— Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor’s bleak appraisal of coach Didier Six’s contribution to the quarter-finalists’ campaign

My boys lost with dignity, pride and passion — South Africa coach Gordon Igesund after the hosts’ last-eight defeat to Mali

I get goosebumps when speaking of Mali. There is nothing that compares with the joy of giving to a country that is suffering — Mali captain Seydou Keita’s emotional take on how his semi-finalists have helped lift the mood back home where Malian, African and French troops are confronting Islamist extremists

The worst pitch in South Africa — Nigeria captain Vincent Enyeama’s scathing critique of the Nelspruit ground

The pitch wasn’t awful, it was the colour of the grass which wasn’t good — CAF president Issa Hayatou defends the much-maligned Mbombela Stadium surface

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AFCON 2013: Super Eagles of Nigeria Are Champions of Africa

The Super Eagles under the tutelage of Coach Stephen Keshi have ended a 19-year Africa Cup of Nations title drought with a 1-0 final victory over Burkina Faso at Soccer City, Johannesburg.

 

 
Home based Sunday Mba’s goal gave the Super Eagles a deserved 1-0, 40 minutes into the first half.
It was an opportunist goal by Mba and his second of the tournament, having struck a superb match-winner in the 2-1 quarter-final defeat of pre-tournament title favourites Ivory Coast.
Among the rewards for the Super Eagles is a $1.5 million first prize and a place at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, where they will face world and European champions Spain, Tahiti and Uruguay.
It was a result that took winning coach Stephen Keshi into the record books as he equalled the feat of late Egyptian Mahmoud El Gohary by winning gold medals as a player and a coach.

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Taribo "Hungry players behind Keshi’s success"

Former Inter Milan defence ace Taribo West has attributed the main reason for the Super Eagles’ qualification for the final of the South Africa 2013 Africa Cup of Nations to coach Stephen Keshi’s decision to arrive at the venue with players hungry for success.

Nigeria on Wednesday beat Mali 4-1 to set up Sunday’s cup   final against Burkina Faso, who dumped out favourites Ghana from the tournament, after a penalty shootout in the second semifinal of the day.

 Speaking to our correspondent on the telephone on Thursday, Taribo, who confessed that he did not give the Eagles a chance of reaching the stage, said Keshi had been rewarded for keeping faith with  young players such as Sunday Mba, Godfrey Oboabona, Kenneth Omeruo, Victor Moses, Ogenyi Onazi, Elderson Echiejile and Brown Ideye at the expense of  the likes of Taye Taiwo, Obinna Nsofor and Osaze Odemwingie.

“They are hungry  for success, and  they learn fast,” the Atlanta ’96 gold medallist said.

“They keep improving with each game at competition because they want to make names for themselves.

“I believe Nigeria will win the trophy because we deserve it.

“Having beaten Ivory Coast, I was sure we would beat Mali.

“The Ivorians have a strong side and you don’t play against the likes of (Didier) Drogba and Yaya Toure and expect to win.

“Our  team sprang an upset  and they deserve commendation for their efforts.”

The ex-AC Milan star,who  represented  Nigeria in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, paid tribute to Keshi for building a team “working to be a Dream Team that will do Africa proud in the future.”

Taribo said, “Keshi has built an umbrella of love over  the team. You can see that right from the bench everybody is happy. Success comes when there is love.

“I think Keshi has done well in this area.

“Again, he has injected his winning philosophy into the team, and the players have imbibed it.

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NFF holds emergency meeting over Keshi’s future

There could be a major shake-up in the Super Eagles technical crew except Stephen Keshi leads the team to victory over Ethiopia on Tuesday.

The Eagles have drawn two matches in Group C against Burkina Faso and Zambia and must beat Ethiopia to progress to the next round of the competition. But the Nigeria Football Federation seems to have lost patience against the coach leading to a crisis meeting held in Nelspruit on Saturday.

A reliable source present at the meeting said Keshi could be on his way out despite NFF’s earlier promise to retain him no matter his achievement in South Africa. The source, who pleaded anonymity, said it would be an embarrassment if the Eagles failed to reach the next stage.

“They got all the financial assistance needed and all the support from the FA, so what is the problem?” said the source.

“The team is not playing well and that is why the late goals are painful. We have been hanging on dangerously and that must not continue. The Eagles must show commitment and play beyond the average level. But if it continues this way, we may seek an alternative to solve the technical issue,” he added.

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Zambia clash will be like final – Yobo

 

Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo is still in pains after seeing his record outing with the national team at the continental stage end in disappointment.

The 32-year-old Fenerbahce defender was almost certain that Nigeria would overrun Burkina Faso in their first Group C game on Monday, but to everyone’s surprise, the Burkinabes waited until the last seconds to deny Nigeria of full match points.

Nigeria conceded the late goal after a defensive blunder but Yobo believes the result should have gone the Eagles’ way.

Nigeria play against Zambia in their next game on Friday.

“We played a good game and had controlled it well for the greater part of it but that’s football for you. We were supposed to get all three points so credit to Burkina Faso they found the equaliser,” Yobo said in the post-match briefing.

“As far as the result is concerned, it wasn’t the best start for us. We were supposed to win this game; it is like a lost game to me. The match against Zambia is going to be like a Cup final because we want to make sure that we qualify for the next stage.

“We have to show character in next game against Zambia.

“We know what to expect in the game because they are the defending champions and we respect them for that, they know what we can do as well and know what we will come for in the match.

“It will be a difficult game because both teams need the three points.”

Meanwhile, Burkina Faso captain, Moumouni Dagano, revealed they were expecting Nigeria to play the way they did, saying the 1-1 draw was good for his side.

“It was a hard game against Nigeria as we expected but to get a draw is good for us. We know that as a team we can play even better, so we are going to work hard for the next games,” Dagano said.

Source:Punchng

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AFCON viewing right: Shame of a nation

After watching Cyril Stober and his panel of analysts at one of the weekly Tuesday-Live programmes on the Nigeria Television Authority, a friend who watched the programme simultaneously phoned me and asked rhetorically, “So, an average Nigerian won’t get to see live pictures from the 29th African Cup of Nations in South Africa on an indigenous television station – where Nigeria is a major force and participant?” Promptly, I replied him, “What more can you get in a land where absurdities thrive?”

But wait a minute! How on earth has the mighty fallen and descended to this ludicrous stage? By the way, who plunged Nigeria into this mess? These are questions, among others, that a majority of the people cannot answer with all modesty and honesty.

The 29th edition of the AFCON, apparently the biggest sporting event on the continent, is underway already with Nigeria in firm participation. But back home, an average Nigerian has been sardonically denied the opportunity to watch the Super Eagles take on other countries. No thanks to the failure of government and lackadaisical approach of some administrators who are just there for their hedonistic benefit and pecuniary affluence.

It is a known fact that football is the common language every Nigerian speaks and it’s apparently the only unifying factor in the Nigerian system. An average septuagenarian can easily recall the names of some footballers but may never know the head of the Nigerian Sports Commission or even the Deputy President of the Senate.

Having listened to several analyses on why Nigerians won’t get to watch their darling Super Eagles and the entire Nations Cup via their preferred indigenous television stations, I came to the surreptitious conclusion that they were all saying the same thing with different mouths and from different perspectives. The bottom line is, Nigerians are not watching the Nations Cup live from their terrestrial stations. Smacks of crass lugubriousity!

The reasons postulated were that the Confederation of African Football solely handed over the televising right to a company in South Africa (SportsFive) which is expected to link up with other participating or interested countries for expansive transmission worldwide. The company was reported to have demanded six million Euros from their Nigerian counterparts through the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, before they’ll grant them the indulgence to beam the soccer fiesta live on terrestrial stations. BON was said to have negotiated the “astronomic” price to 3million Euros but the company insisted and stood their ground. The administrators too couldn’t shift their ground as well, so it became a battle between two elephants and at the end of the day the grass (the average Nigerian) bears the brunt. In one of the fora, the question raised by an analyst was that, “how can the same company charge Ghana 1.5 million Euros and then ask Nigeria to pay 6million Euros?” This question is not just sick in content but also warped in comparison! How can anybody be thinking of Ghana whose population is not even up to the population of Lagos state alone (with all due respect) and comparing it to a country with a staggering population of 160million?

The fact is, Nigeria is a strategic market for any investor or market to thrive. There’s simply no logic they can tender to Nigerians for not beaming the competition live to Nigerians who don’t have easy access to DSTV – which obviously is the only remedy.

Furthermore, it is not just the brunt of high transmission charges that have thronged Nigerians into the state of utter bewilderment and profound frustration; our football administrators also didn’t deem it fit to put the right peg into the right hole at the right time. How can you go bidding for transmission rights a few weeks before the competition when others started queuing up immediately after the last edition in Angola? It is often said that “no man goes to the stream early and fetches dirty water”. It’s all a business affair. You don’t come late and expect the best of the deals! It is either you get crumbs or you’re plunged into a tight corner where you’d lose. It is not the businessmen in SportsFive that have brought pains to the Nigerian football-loving people rather it is the failure of government and its administrators! “Businessmen will forever remain son of bitch” as J.F. Kennedy was once quoted to have said. That’s why Roman Abrahamovich, the Chelsea FC of England owner could whimsically dismiss nine coaches in eight years for all he cares – it is business!

Sincerely, it is quite painful to see how the joy, support, passion and enthusiasm of an average Nigerian soccer faithful have been reduced to nothing. Coincidentally, as if the National Orientation Agency foresaw this imbroglio that it staged a campaign nationwide a day before the kickoff of the Nations Cup, with the theme “Do the right thing”. Our football administrators’ inability to do the right thing at the right time has brought another untold pains to Nigerians. “Tell it not in Gath and publish it not on the pages of Askeleon” that Nigerians are paying through their nose to catch a glimpse of a competition that is played on their own continental soil.

Do you know how much each public viewing centre rakes in from the sale of tickets for each match? Multiply it by the total number of matches (32). Sum them up nationwide and then tell me why six million Euros became a herculean task for the acclaimed giant of Africa? But a National Sports Commission secretary once told Nigerians last year January that they spent millions of naira to open a Facebook account for the commission. We are not all fools in this country!

What more can we ask from a nation where N28m could be spent to renovate 26 toilets? What more can we ask from a nation where football administrators just convene at the Glass House to collect allocations without  doing the right thing at the right time? What more can we ask from a country where a mere Local Government Chairman has the capacity to single-handedly sponsor the Nations Cup from his profligate affluence? What more can we ask from a nation that parades itself as the giant of Africa? What more can we ask? And how much is much? By the way, the 2014 FIFA World Cup, I am told, is just by the corner.

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Nigerians, Ethiopians, Zambians, Unlikely To Watch AFCON 2013

VENTURES AFRICA – LC2, the broadcast right owners of the Orange AFCON 2013, has said it maintains its stand on the approach and charge for media rights “in the interest of African football, and for the AFCON 2013,” thereby leaving some major African populations still unable to watch the tournament on their national terrestrial TV or on other African televisions broadcasting on satellite by illegal overflowing.
Cape Verde, Gambia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Zambia and Mozambique are countries which have been affected by LC2’s decision on the appropriate media rights charge, which the broadcasting organizations of the countries said “they cannot afford” because they are “too expensive.”
LC2 said in an official statement that it developed an “innovative approach… based on a respectful and faithful dialogue,” adding that the authorities and personalities of Gambia (whose national team is not qualified), and those of Cape Verde (whose national team is qualified) supported the new economic model “whose results were immediate and beneficial to all.”
The licensed broadcaster of AFCON 2013 explained that “the lack of both anticipation and marketing knowledge” and also “mistrust against the current economic model” has blinded some African televisions to the feasibility of profits that could be generated from “the world’s second biggest football competition” by “selling advertising space to sponsors.”
The media company said it has identified at least 22 international and/or African companies, with an average annual turnover of over 106 billions euros ($141 billion) across eight different business sectors, that wish to increase their media exposure.
According to LC2, the African Cup Of Nations tournament represents a great marketing opportunity to many companies because of the viewers it attracts.
It said in an official statement: “LC2 – AFNEX has been working to develop and implement a different approach to managing and marketing CAF broadcasting rights it is licenced for since 2003. This means, for instance, adapting licence fees to individual country profile and working over time with national televisions to find adequate financing for licence purchase and to capitalise on the marketing opportunity.
It is obvious that with such an economic model, African Football becomes a creator of wealth for television and advertisers by bringing them closer to supporters (viewers) and populations (customers).”
The company urged televisions of Nigeria, Ethiopia, Zambia and Mozambique to subscribe the new “income-generator mechanism… for the sake of football, media and African supporters.”

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Win or lose Keshi stays – NF

The Nigeria Football Federation has said that Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi would keep his job irrespective of the performance of the team at the 2013 Africa Nations Cup.

The NFF president Alhaji Aminu Maigari explained the stand of the federation during a live call-in interview on SuperSportmonitored in Lagos on Monday. The NFF boss was responding specifically to the question if Keshi would lose his job or continue in his position should the Eagles fail to reach the semi-finals.

He said, “It is not in our character to kick people out of their jobs unceremoniously. We are not asking him to go and win the cup. There’s no agreement between both sides that says he must win the trophy. He (Keshi) is the one leading us to Brazil 2014 World Cup.”

The former coach of the team Samson Siasia was sacked for failing to qualify for the 2012 edition.

Also on Monday, the team captain Joseph Yobo assured that they will do very well in South Africa where the competition kicks off on Saturday.

Yobo said from the team’s training base in Faro, Portugal, that it was worth highlighting the fact that the Eagles have not conceded a goal in their last two warm-up games even though the matches were far from satisfactory to many Nigerians.

The Eagles played out a goalless draw against Cape Verde and defeated Sparta Rotterdam 1-0 after they forced Catalonia to a 1-1 draw in Spain.

“We hear back here (in Portugal) that many Nigerians are beginning to have doubts over the team. There is no cause for alarm. The essence of these friendly games is to test players’ pairings, team formation and make corrections,” he told MTNfootball.com.

“Personally, I think we have achieved a lot already because the team is bonding real fast. Remember we have not lost a game from our last three friendlies and we won the last one.”

The most capped Nigerian player emphasised that the team’s dream to win a third African crown is still very much intact.

“I think everything is possible by the grace of God. I have had the privilege to be at the last five AFCONs and we only missed out at the last one due to luck or our mistake whichever one you want to call it.”

Eagles will play their final test game against Portuguese second division side Farense on Tuesday before they depart for South Africa the following day.

Goalkeeper Austin Ejide, resumed light training on Monday following the injury he sustained during the friendly match against Cape Verde.

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Barca set La Liga record

Barcelona players celebrating a goal

Barcelona, the unbeaten leaders, ended the first half of the La Liga season with a record 55 out of a possible 57 points when Lionel Messi scored one goal and had a hand in two more in a 3-1 win at Málaga.

An 18th victory in 19 games for Tito Vilanova’s side restored their 11-point lead over second-placed Atlético Madrid, who secured a 10th win in 10 home matches this season with a 2-0 success against Real Zaragoza.

Barça’s win also extended their lead over Real Madrid to 18 points after the champions, mired in third, were held to a 0-0 draw at the bottom side, Osasuna, on Saturday.

Málaga have the meanest defence in the league but a howler by Ignacio Camacho handed Barça their opener in the 27th minute. Messi intercepted the midfielder’s wayward back pass and after leaving the goalkeeper, Willy Caballero, sprawling on the floor stroked the ball into an unguarded net.

It was the World Player of the Year’s 28th league goal of the campaign and the ninth straight game in which he has scored, a personal record and one short of the La Liga mark last achieved in the 1996-97 season by the former Barça striker Ronaldo.

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AFCON 2013: Super Eagles full team revealed

Mikel Obi

Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi, Joseph Yobo have made Nigeria’s final list of footabllers expected to make the 2013 Africa Nations Cup finals starting on January 19, 2013 in South Africa.

They will lead 21 others led by team coach Stephen Keshi.

The final team list was released while the country engaged Cape Verde in a friendly match in Faro, Portugal on Wednesday night. The match ended goalless.

Nigeria is drawn in Group C along with Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and 2012 champions Zambia.

FIND THE FULL LIST BELOW

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheba, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria)

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (SC Braga, Portugal); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Israel); Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce, Turkey); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves, Nigeria); Kenneth Omeruo (ADO Den Haag, Netherlands); Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria).

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis, Spain); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Obiora Nwankwo (Calcio Padova, Italy); Fegor Ogude (Valerenga FC, Norway); Reuben Gabriel (Kano Pillars, Nigeria);

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Spartak Moscow, Russia); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria); Ikechukwu Uche (Villarreal FC, Spain); Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine); Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria).

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SPORT: LIONEL MESSI has netted the prestigious Ballon d’Or for an unprecedented FOURTH time.

PROUD WINNER ... Lionel Messi shows off the Ballon d'Or awar

Barcelona ace Messi, 25, pipped Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo and team-mate Andres Iniesta at the glittering awards ceremony in Zurich.

The European Ballon d’Or, last won by the Argie in 2009, merged with FIFA’s World Player of the Year award in 2010 to become the FIFA Ballon d’Or.
And Messi, who broke Gerd Muller’s 40-year-old record last month by scoring 91 goals in a calendar year, had backed Iniesta to scoop the prize.
But the humble hitman got the nod to add to his growing collection of gongs — compunding what has been a miserable season so far for rival star Ronaldo.
With his side currently a whopping 16 points adrift of La Liga leaders Barca, Ron made his feelings clear in the build-up to the big night by claiming “life would go on” if he failed to win.

FINE MESS ... Messi receives the 2012 Ballon D'Or from Fabio Cannavaro

The former Manchester United man, 27, said: “If I win, perfect — if I don’t, never mind, life goes on.
“But obviously I’d love to win. I’m not going to lie or be hypocritical.
“Fair or unfair, the decision will be what it will. I’ll be very happy maybe or very sad, but that’s life.”

WHAT A LINE UP ... the FIFA/FIFPro World XI, top (l-r): Ronaldo, Marcello, Ramos, Pique, Alves, Casillas. Bottom (l-r) Falcao, Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Alonso

EUROPE'S FINEST ... Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Andres Iniesta

POLKA FACE ... Messi at the Ballon D'Or awards ceremony in Zurich

THREE AND EASY ... Lionel Messi has won the past three Ballon d'Or awards

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SPORT: Recall Osaze now, Owolabi tells Keshi

Felix Owolabi, a member of Nigeria’s 1980 Nations Cup winning team, has called on Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, to recall striker Osaze Odewingie into his squad for South Africa 2013.

The ex-Green Eagles left winger told theNews Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan that it was not too late for the Super Eagles coach to recall the West Brom goal poacher if Nigeria must make a mark at the event.

“Much as the issue of players selection is the exclusive right of the coach, I think Keshi should bend backwards to include Osaze in his team for the Nations Cup in South Africa,

“At the same time, it would be counter productive to keep a quality, experienced and seasoned player who could make a turn around when the chips are down,” he said.

The former Shooting Stars left winger, who urged Keshi to give every player equal opportunity, called on the coach to play a fatherly role by reconciling with Odemwingie before it was too late to do so.

“I am not saying that with Osaze, Eagles will win the cup, neither am I saying without him Nigeria will win, but the two of them should dialogue in the interest of the nation,” Owolabi said.

Owolabi lashed out at Odemwingie for overheating the controversy on the pages of the newspapers while also asking Keshi to develop a relationship with the player who could be important to his match plan.

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Wenger denies contacting Henry for loan deal

Henry (left) and Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claims not to have spoken to Thierry Henry about the striker joining the club on loan in January, although refuses to rule out a move.

The Frenchman has been strongly linked with a third spell at the club for which he is the all-time leading goalscorer.

Yet despite all the talk, and the fact Henry is currently training with the Gunners, Wenger says he is yet to speak with the 35-year-old about a loan.

“I’ve not lost interest in him … but I haven’t spoken about it with him at all,” Wenger said.

The New York Red Bulls striker is training at Arsenal’s Hertfordshire base during the MLS off-season, and is in theory available to join the Gunners on loan in a repeat of the deal which saw him return last season.

During that spell Henry scored two match winning goals and provided a lift for beleaguered fans. Yet despite last year’s famous return, Wenger is exercising caution about another spell at the club for which Henry has scored 228 goals.

“He has had a second spell at the club that was very successful. You have to be cautious that it’s not one time too many.”

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Eko 2012: The good, the bad, the ugly

The 18th National Sports Festival tagged Eko 2012 ends today in Lagos. ’TANA AIYEJINA reviews the competition, which held the country spell-bound in almost two weeks

 Memories will linger on and tales told in years to come of the 18th National Sports Festival tagged Eko 2012.

The festival, which began on November 27, comes to an end at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, on Sunday (today).

For a long time to come, the event will be the major topic in the sports public for varying reasons. As expected, the 13-day festival hosted by Lagos, like previous ones, brought together once more, the entire country, the major reason it was initiated by then military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, 39 years ago.

But the event would be remembered more not just for its unifying force, but also for its good and bad sides, including events that took place while the games lasted.

The good

Signs that the festival would be a success were evident during the colourful opening ceremony at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

The rich culture and history of Lagos was in full display with fireworks, Eyo masquerade, contemporary and royal dancers and calisthenics were part of the highlights of the opening ceremony of the festival.

Secretary-General of the Local Organising Committee, Kweku Tandoh, said the closing ceremony would even be more glamorous.

He said, “It would be more colourful than the opening ceremony, it will be a carnival atmosphere and an environment of festivity. The gates will be open by 12pm.”

President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented at the opening ceremony by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, announced a reward of N20m, N15m and N10m respectively for the first, second and third teams respectively.

It drew a wide applause from the states delegation at the arena and expectedly, added a new and competitive dimension to the games as states braced up to win the financial rewards at stake.

One of the major positives of the festival was the huge participation of the private sector. Eko 2012 entered the record books as the biggest private sector driven festival ever held in the history of the competition. The Chairman, Marketing and Sponsorship Sub-committee, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, spearheaded the massive drive for sponsorship from the corporate organisations in the state.

And the result was massive as venues were branded with sponsors logos while products were given out to fans.

Lagos set the tone at this year’s edition by insisting that they were not hosting to win the festival at all cost. In the past, hosts states, after spending heavily on the event, were alleged to have cut corners to ensure that they emerged winners.

Rivers however proved critics wrong that their win last year at home was not a fluke. They romped into an early lead before they found themselves behind favourites Delta for the larger part of the festival.

The bad

The festival was certainly not about good stories alone. In fact, observers were disappointed as early as the beginning of the festival with the low turnout of fans at the opening ceremony.

While the 24,325-seat Teslim Balogun Stadium was sparsely filled, thousands of fans were kept outside by the security operatives for reasons best known to them.

Credit goes to Lagos though for agreeing to host the biennial event. But ahead of the opening ceremony, officials had secretly complained of the poor state of facilities against Lagos insistence that they were ready.

It was obvious that some facilities and equipment ranging from sports venues to accommodation areas were not available for the festival. In fact, an official described the festival as “work in progress.”

While the major attention was focused on Teslim Balogun Stadium, the National Stadium, which hosted the field events, was not renovated for the games.

Fans complained of power outage leading to disruption of matches and poor ventilation inside the Nigeria Institute for Sports gymnasium, venue of the boxing matches. 

While there were massive complaints about the cricket pitch, the scoreboard of the Agege Stadium was non-functional when the games started.

The swimming event had to be postponed by four days due to high concentration of chlorine in the swimming pool.

On Thursday, football and basketball semi-final matches had to be abandoned due to non-functional floodlights at the Agege Stadium (football) and Rowe Park (basketball).

After full and extra time between Lagos and Kwara ended 2-2 in the men’s football semi-final match, the game had to be abandoned due to poor vision. Penalties were played the next day.

The issue of poor officiating didn’t go unnoticed at Eko 2012. The problem got to a height during the football match between Enugu and Osun states, which ended 1-1. The ensuing fracas led to ex-BCC player and Enugu coach, Benedict Ugwu, being quizzed by the police.

Anambra exposed their unpreparedness for the festival as their women hockey team played with borrowed sticks during the competition.

There was accommodation and food rows too.

Several states complained of poor accommodation facilities. In fact, Ogun State Director of Sports, Adesola Faleti, said they were ‘choked up’ at Yaba College of Technology, where they were earlier camped before they were relocated to the Federal College of Education, Akoka. But they also complained of power outage there.

Athletes and officials alike complained about the unavailability of food at the venues. “We paid N10, 000 for the feeding of each athlete and what they are getting, as food is not edible,” Niger State Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Abdullahi Hassan, said.

Though Tandoh admitted that there was food shortage, he insisted that states that came with unregistered athletes caused the problem.

He said, “It’s not true, we actually provided in excess of the numbers we got but we investigated the matter and found out that a lot of people were brought to the games village without accreditation. We now had to make separate plans for drivers and other people not in the list earlier given to us. At least the issue was sorted out in the first three days of the competition.”

The ugly

There was drama, accusations and counter-accusations on the opening day of the boxing event over the usage of foreign boxers by some states. While most people waved off the accusations, a foreigner was caught representing a state in the men’s weightlifting event few hours later.

Anambra, nicknamed Light of the Nation, brought a major shame to the festival when it was discovered that they employed the services of a Cameroonian weightlifter, John  Baptis. Baptis, who represented Cameroon at the 2012 Olympic Games qualifiers in Kenya, was stripped of his three gold medals while the Main Organising Committee promised to sanction the state’s DOS and weightlifting coach.

There were series of bans at the games.  In women football, ‘Onu Peace’ of Enugu was banned for life after it was discovered that her real name was Chikodi Nwachusim and that she had played professional football before, against the festival rules.

Table tennis player Fatima Bello was suspended for three years for dual registration. She registered for Lagos and Delta states. Kehinde Oladele, who registered for Rivers and Oyo in the men’s table tennis event, was banned as well.

The hammer equally fell on Ekiti men’s hockey team for fielding ineligible players.

Bello’s suspension was a slap on Lagos, who preached the gospel of not winning the festival at all cost.

“The Bello issue was rather unfortunate and I am pleased with the way the Lagos State sports commissioner acted swiftly. He wrote to the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation to ban the athlete to show that we won’t tolerate that,” Tandoh said.

Soldiers detailed to several venues were also in the news during the festival, for the wrong reasons though.

The military men went gaga on Tuesday hitting Lagos Dambe athlete, Amao Usman, with their boots and gun butts after he protested the result of his match inside the National Stadium. A photojournalist, Dele Ojo, who took the shots, was forced to delete the pictures or have his camera destroyed.

Same day, another soldier slapped a policeman at the Agege Stadium but they sheathed their weapons after Brig-Gen. E. Okaroh (retd), a member of the MOC vowed to get any soldier found wanting punished.

 Tragedy was averted in the swimming event inside Teslim Balogun Stadium when Ondo’s Adamolekun, winner of the women’s 2oom butterfly race, collapsed while celebrating. A burial ground silence enveloped the entire arena until she was revived few minutes later to wild jubilations from the fans.

But Osun State was not as lucky as the leader of their delegation to the festival, Mr. Alade Yesufu, died after complaining of discomfort during a traditional sports match.

Best or mediocre festival?

Tandoh believes Eko 2012 is the best festival ever hosted in the country.

“I am not saying this because we are the organisers of the festival. You look at the success of a festival through athletes’ welfare, transportation, medical, security and feeding. There were no athletes who missed their events.

“All venues were packed meaning there was a secure atmosphere in terms of spectatorship and viewership.

“We also had live streaming for the first time in the history of the festival and 45 countries watched the games live worldwide. It propelled the festival beyond the country and set the tune for the next edition in Calabar in two years time.”

But a former Edo State sports commissioner and a past star of the festival, Brown Ebewele, disagrees.

Ebewele said, “Lagos have done well in terms of facilities; the fans I have also seen here are about the highest I have seen in recent times at the festival.

“But at the end of the day, it’s going to be a mediocre festival because the medalists here will be people who are 24 years and above. The athletes we were hoping to see are youngsters between ages 16 and 21.

“We are happy though because subsequent editions of the festival will be thrown open and then we can catch them young again just like it was in my time as an athlete. As a matter of fact, the closure of the festival to certain athletes has killed sports in Nigeria.”

But all would agree that while some states tried to project the beautiful side of Nigeria at the 18th edition of the festival, some exposed the country’s ugly side.

The prayer is that Cross River State has learnt big lessons from this edition and would work on hosting a better festival in 2014.

“That is what we plan to do,” the state’s Director of Sports, Jude Amadi, said.

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