‘Nigerian Drogba’ wants to score goals for Eagles

Anthony Ozoh

After having rejected invitations to play for Spain and Romania at junior and senior levels, France-bound Nigerian youngster, Anthony Ozoh, is ready to contribute his quota to coach Stephen Keshi’s rebuilding process, reports ’TANA AIYEJINA  

Barely four years ago, then Real Madrid B team striker, Anthony Ozoh, looked set to turn his back on Nigeria after he was offered invitation by Spanish officials to play for the European giants’ youth national team.

The invitation was coming after another Nigerian-born striker, Sunday Stephen, had represented Spain at the Canada 2007 U-20 World Cup.

The offer was “irresistible and tempting” admitted the player born on May 6, 1990.

But Ozoh, who just joined French Ligue 2 side, Le Havre, on a two-year deal, was not one to let down his fatherland. He would rather bide his time with the Nigerian national teams than ditch them for another country. And so he “politely turned down the offer” and instead, resolved to fight his way into Nigeria’s teams.

Then Flying Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, spotted the tricky youngster and immediately handed him an invite to the national U-20 team.

He didn’t disappoint.

“Siasia invited me to camp in 2009 during the preparation for the Egypt 2009 U-20 World Cup. Actually I came late but I was the highest goal scorer in camp in the friendly matches we played,” Ozoh said.

Although left out of the final squad for the World Cup, the 23-year-old had already created a positive impression.

“I don’t know why I was dropped from the U-20 World Cup squad because I performed very well and coach Siasia gave me a good recommendation.”

He would soon be faced with another ‘tempting offer’ after he moved from Spain to top Romanian club side, FC Brasov.

He became an instant fans favourite after he scored in each game he played for Brasov and ended the season with 18 goals in 15 matches.

The fans nicknamed him (Didier) Drogba because of a similar style of play to the deadly Ivoirian striker. Impressed Romanian officials extended an invite to him in 2011 to play for their senior national team.

However, Ozoh turned down the invitation once more. “Yes they did invite me but I can’t play for them; I want to play for my country, Nigeria,” he says.

He adds that he is not under pressure to perform despite being likened to a big player like Drogba.

He says, “I feel great being compared with such a great player but I don’t let it get into my head.

“I have learnt a lot from him (Drogba) and will like to follow his footsteps. But I am Anthony Ozoh and I always try to be myself and play my own game.”

In the 2010/11 season, Brasov loaned Ozoh to CFR Cluj to garner UEFA Champions League experience and he now hopes to get a chance to stake a claim in coach Stephen Keshi’s forward line.

“I believe my Champions League experience as well as my transfer to France will help me in breaking into the Super Eagles.  It has always been my dream to play and score goals for Nigeria.

“Nigerians follow French football unlike in Eastern Europe. I am hoping to score goals as usual in France and help Le Havre gain promotion to Ligue 1.

“I also hope to play my way into the heart of coach Stephen Keshi but first of all, I know I must prove my worth in Ligue 2,” he admits.

 

 

culled from Punch

Bale: Let me leave Spurs AVB rocked as £90m Gareth eyes Madrid

BALE OUT … Spurs star wants to quit

GARETH BALE has rocked Tottenham by telling chairman Daniel Levy he wants to join Real Madrid.

According to Spanish paper Marca, Bale has accused Levy of broken promises after Spurs snubbed an offer from the La Liga giants.

It had been thought that Andre Villas-Boas could tempt the PFA Player of the Year into one more season in North London.

But Villas-Boas’ hopes have today been torn to shreds by the dramatic revelation that Bale wants out.

Marca have claimed that Bale spelled out his desire to quit Spurs in a powderkeg meeting with transfer supremo Levy last week.

He is reported to have said: “You made me a promise. You promised me if we didn’t qualify for the Champions League and a good offer turned up you’d listen to it.

“Well that offer has arrived and I want to play for Real Madrid. So keep your word and negotiate.”

 

FORMER Liverpool boss Roy Evans has accused Luis Suarez of treating his old club “abysmally” — and urged the Reds to get rid of him quickly.

Evans was Kop chief from 1994-98 and the 64-year-old blasted: “I have nothing good to say about his character. He’s treating us abysmally. He wants Champions League football, so he considers himself too good for Liverpool.

“We have stood by him but he wants to walk and I find that unforgivable.

“All Liverpool can do is get as close to £50million as possible and move on.

“When Steve McManaman and Michael Owen left this club, they had given us everything. Suarez will always owe us.”

Ba: I’ll stay Striker would welcome Roo

BA-CK IN ACTION … Chelsea striker Demba Ba against Singha All-stars

DEMBA BA insists he will not try to quit Chelsea if they sign Wayne Rooney.

The Blues striker says he would welcome the Manchester United star and the increased competition for places at Stamford Bridge.

Ba reckons that would bring the best out of him and fellow front men Fernando Torres and Romelu Lukaku.

He said: “I think we need competition and we welcome the best players in this club.

“More competition is going to make me better anyway.

“Of course all players want to play, not only centre forwards.

“But we will all work in the same direction, for the club, to try and win the games. So yes, I will stay.”

Ba scored a cracking goal in Chelsea’s 8-1 demolition of an Indonesian XI here last night in front of 65,000 noisy fans.

And he predicts it will be exciting working with new boss Jose Mourinho.

Ba added: “It’s always good to score but at this stage it’s more about the work and running a lot on the pitch to get you condition back.

“I feel good. It’s been a good week’s work with the new manager. We will see in the next few weeks. It will be exciting.”

Chelsea Supporters Rips-Off Shirt From Manchester United Fan’s Back

Wayne will be my Special One

 

 

Mourinho ups ante to woo

Culled from SUN.UK

WAYNE ROONEY will be Jose Mourinho’s first-choice striker if the Special One can tempt him to Stamford Bridge.

The unsettled England star, 27, would not play second fiddle to anyone at Chelsea — unlike at Old Trafford, where he has been usurped by Robin van Persie as the main man.

Playing for the Blues, Rooney would lead the attack in Mourinho’s favoured 4-2-3-1 system, which he intends to employ for most games next season.

He sees the forward’s pace, power and goal threat as the perfect fit for the formation.

France win U-20 World Cup

France U-20 players celebrating with the trophy.

France have won the FIFA Under-20 World Cup for the first time in the competition’s 36-year history after beating Uruguay on penalties in Saturday’s final.

Neither side were able to break the deadlock during a tense 120 minutes in Istanbul, as both goalkeepers enjoyed largely quiet games prior to the shootout.

However, Uruguay stopper Guillermo De Amores did produce one stunning stop to deny Jordan Veretout late in normal time.

Neither side could find the necessary spark to avoid a dramatic penalty shootout to decide the destination of the title though.

It was De Amores’s opposite number, Alphonse Areola, who was the hero once the spot kicks got underway.

The Paris Saint-Germain stopper saved efforts from Emiliano Velazquez and Giorgian de Arrascaeta.

Meanwhile, France scored all four of their penalties as Pierre Mankowski’s side ran out 4-1 winners to clinch the trophy for the first time since the inception of the competition.

culled from punch

Mourinho vows to play attractive football

Jose Mourinho
Culled from Punch

Jose Mourinho has promised Chelsea fans a more attractive brand of football next season.

The Portuguese’s first spell at Stamford Bridge was largely successful but the Blues still came under criticism for a perceived negative approach to matches. The 50-year-old says that his aim is to make the supporters happy by the results and the style in which they are achieved this time around.

“I want to make the Chelsea fans happy – by results, by our playing style, by the mentality and the personality of the team,” Mourinho told The Sun. “They have to know that we always give everything. I know from my record at Chelsea, also at Inter and Madrid, that I made many decisions that helped my teams.

“If I gamble with a very risky decision, it can go the wrong way. How many times did I play here with three defenders? I remember against West Ham (in April 2006) we were losing 1-0 and we were playing with 10 men after Maniche got a red card early in the game. I still gambled because I wanted to win with 10 men — and we did win, 4-1.”

The Blues have announced the arrival of youngsters Andre Schurrle and Marco van Ginkel already this summer but the former Porto coach says that the Chelsea old guard still has a part to play.

“This is the legacy of the club culture – as some guys are arriving they have others who can transmit to them immediately what this club means,” he said.

 

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Lost, dazed and slumped at a hotel, legend Gazza pleads for another drink

Desperate state … England legend Paul Gascoigne

By PAUL SIMS

Published: 16 hrs ago

DRUNKEN Paul Gascoigne lies in a heap outside a hotel — and pals fear he could be dead within weeks.

The troubled football legend, who collapsed on Monday after a massive bender, was pictured propped up against a litter bin by worried passers-by who then ran for help.

Another snap shows hotel staff, who called 999, standing over the England hero who had been staggering around on crutches.

 

Concern … paramedics arrive to tend to Gazza at hotel

A motorcycle paramedic rushed to the Royal National Hotel in central London to tend to Gazza before an ambulance took him to hospital. Last night ex-England cricketer Ronnie Irani — who helped pay for Gazza to fly to a US rehab clinic earlier this year — said he feared the worst.

Ronnie, 41, said: “He’s had a major relapse. I hope he can come back again and fight it off but whether his body is capable of doing it is the key issue.

“There are cases daily of people who die from alcohol addiction. We hope not.”

Irani urged Gazza’s pals to get behind him again — adding: “We must all keep trying. You should never give up on anybody.” But he admitted: “He’s got mental health issues as well so it’s going to be very tough for him.”

 

Looking gaunt … Paul Gascoigne

The Sun told yesterday how before collapsing at the Royal National Hotel in Russell Square. a dazed Gazza had broken down in tears, called out for ex-wife Sheryl and pleaded for more booze.

He had two gin bottles in his pockets. Onlookers said he looked lost and confused.

Pals said Gazza’s latest booze battle began a month ago after he had hip surgery. Last week he was arrested for allegedly assaulting Sheryl, 47, in a drunken row at Stevenage train station in Hertfordshire.

 

Super star … Gazza in 1990

The ex-Newcastle and Spurs star was freed on bail but went straight to an off licence where he bought gin and swigged it on the spot.Family and friends pleaded with him to return to rehab in Bournemouth. He had planned to go to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting with close pal Jimmy “Five Bellies” Gardner on Monday — but instead headed into London.

Last night a friend of Gazza said: “He’s hit the self-destruct button again. He is drinking himself to death.”

 

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/5005862/Lost-dazed-and-slumped-at-a-hotel-legend-Gazza-pleads-for-another-drink.html

NFF suspends four clubs following 79-0, 67-0 results

Maigari

The Nigeria Football Federation has placed indefinite suspensions on four clubs after two scandalous results of 79-0 and 67-0 in a promotion play-off.

In promotion play-offs into the Nigeria Nationwide League, the lowest tier of Nigeria’s domestic league, on Monday, Plateau United Feeders beat Akurba FC 79-0, while Police Machine FC demolished Babayaro FC 67-0. The incredible results forced the NFF to suspend the teams.

All the teams were involved in promotion play-offs in which the winners would qualify to play in Nigeria Nationwide League Division 3.

Before this, Ghanaian clubs had the record of such scandalous goals but they didn’t score more than 25 goals.

Chairman of the NFF organising committee, Mike Umeh, who is also NFF First Vice President, said he was alarmed when informed and promptly directed that the four teams at the centre of the scandal be grounded, pending further sanctions on all involved.

“It is unacceptable. This is a scandal of huge proportions. The four teams involved are suspended immediately and indefinitely, pending further sanctions. We will investigate this matter thoroughly and get to the bottom of it,” Umeh said on Tuesday.

NFF director of competitions, Mohammed Sanusi, assured that the organising committee would mete out severe sanctions on all persons and institutions indicted by the investigation.

“For now, that centre is suspended. The teams involved, their players and officials, match officials, coordinator and anyone found to have played some role in this despicable matter would be severely dealt with,” Sanusi said.

http://www.punchng.com/news/nff-suspends-clubs-after-79-0-67-0-results/