Scholes: Manchester United should not have sold Welbeck to Arsenal

The former Manchester United star believes the England striker could have flourished at Old Trafford had he not been sold to rivals on deadline day
5 Sep 2014 08:27:03
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes insists his former club have made an error by allowing Danny Welbeck to join Arsenal.

The England international completed his move to the FA Cup holders in the final moments of the transfer window with Arsene Wenger paying £16 million for the 23-year-old who will provide cover for Oliver Giroud who suffered an ankle injury last month that will keep him out for four months.

Welbeck’s position at Old Trafford was further undermined by the signing of Colombia superstar Radamel Falcao, also on deadline day, but Scholes believes Welbeck could still have played a significant role in United’s long-term future and that the Old Trafford giant’s loss will be the Gunners’ gain.

“Naturally, I was sad, as a United fan, to see Welbeck leave this week,” Scholes told the Independent. “My feeling was that if he could have got through this transfer window and stayed at the club he could have been a part of United’s future over the next few years.

“It shows how highly regarded Danny is that a club as big as Arsenal signed him. He will be a good signing for Arsène Wenger. Danny will never be a 20-25 goals-a-season man but he could get Arsenal 10 to 15.”

Despite Welbeck’s departure Scholes is excited at the prospect of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and the newly arrived Falcao terrorising defences this season, although he admits that with only two spots for three players Louis van Gaal faces a tough challenge to keep all of his superstar strikers happy.

He added: “When I watched Radamel Falcao play for Porto, Atletico Madrid and Monaco I saw a striker with excellent movement and a goalscoring record that is simply out of this world.

“At United, on loan for this season initially, Falcao creates competition in United’s forward line. There is no way that Louis van Gaal can play Rooney, Robin van Persie and Falcao together. It will have to be two from three and which two it is hard to say as yet.

“I don’t think the league title is realistic but Champions League football is the aim. Now it is over to Van Gaal to shape the team.”

Sport Headline

Ozil could miss Arsenal’s clash with Manchester City
Mesut Ozil is an injury doubt for Arsenal as he is still struggling with an ankle injury picked up against Leicester. The Germany internatinal missed his country’s clash with Argentina and may not be fit to face the champions.
Source: Metro
Friday, 5 September 2014 12:07
Monchengladbach eye permanent deal for Kramer
Christoph Kramer is currently on loan Borussia Mönchengladbach but the club hopes to make the deal permanent by offering Bayer Leverkusen €15m for the midfielder.
Source: Bild
Friday, 5 September 2014 11:35
Manchester City & Liverpool monitoring Rolando Aarons
Manchester City and Liverpool are targeting Newcastle youngster Rolando Aarons. The 18-year-old has forced his way into Alan Pardew’s side this season and has two years left on his contract at St James’ Park.
Source: Daily Star
Friday, 5 September 2014 10:38
Klopp to replace Van Gaal at Manchester United in 2018
Manchester United have identified Louis van Gaal’s successor and want to replace the Dutchman with Jurgen Klopps when his contract with Borussia Dortmund expires in 2018.
Source: Daily Express
Friday, 5 September 2014 09:59
Arsenal to return for Carvalho after he rejects new deal
Arsenal are set to return for William Carvalho in January after the midfielder rejected a new deal with Sporting Lisbon. The midfielder is keen to leave the club and has his heart set on a move to the Gunners.
Source: Metro
Friday, 5 September 2014 09:33
Van Gaal to sign Hummels and Strootman in January
Louis van Gaal is set to sign Mats Hummels and Kevin Strootman in January as he continues his spending spree, with the club keen to ensure they do not miss out on Champions League football again.
Source: The Times
Friday, 5 September 2014 09:04
Real Madrid still want Guarin
Real Madrid are still keen on Inter’s Fredy Guarin and may return for the midfielder in January. The Nerazzurri are willing to sell Guarin to fund a move for either Ezequiel Lavezzi or Fabio Borini.
Source: Tuttosport
Friday, 5 September 2014 08:33
Juve line up January bid for Mata
Juventus are reportedly lining up a January bid for Juan Mata, whom the Serie A side believe can be lured away from Old Trafford following a summer of imports.
Source: Tuttosport
Friday, 5 September 2014 08:00
Man Utd give up on Hummels
Manchester United have conceded defeat in their bid to sign Mats Hummels. The Red Devils believe Borussia Dortmund are entirely unwilling to let the Germany international leave in the next two windows, so will put their faith in Marcos Rojo instead.
Source: Daily Telegraph
Friday, 5 September 2014 01:05
Liverpool scout Norwegian wonderkid
Liverpool have sent scouts to watch Norwegian wonderkid Martin Odegaard. The Reds’ talent-spotters were impressed by the 15-year-old’s displays for Stromsgodset and are ready to gazump Premier League rivals with a January bid for the teenager

Suarez: I’m suffering on the sidelines

The prolific attacker is going through a difficult time as he’s banned from playing for Barcelona and does not feel any extra pressure as he is edging closer to his return
5 Sep 2014 11:17:00
Luis Suarez Barcelona Leon Joan Gamper 08182014
Luis Suarez has admitted that it’s not easy for him to watch Barcelona in action without being able to help his team-mates on the pitch.

The Uruguayan attacker was handed a heavy suspension after biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup and will be forced to watch his team from the sidelines until October 25 as a result.

And the former Liverpool and Ajax star says he is finding it extremely difficult to cope with the la

“The truth is that I am really suffering,” Suarez was quoted as saying by Marca.

“I’m banned for quite a few games and I have only missed a few now. I feel so powerless that I’m not able to do anything from the outside.

“I can only talk and scream. It’s the only thing I can do. I have to accept my situation, though.”

The attacker then went on to stress that he doesn’t feel any pressure to return to the pitch after his suspension for biting an opponent.

“I know that I have to be very cautious. I am calm about it because I used to live in England and went through a similar situation there. I am used to playing under this pressure. I don’t feel any extra pressure because all eyes will be on me.

“You have to be wary and take responsibility after everything that happened to me. I have to be smart in this regard.”

Nigerian weightlifter in doping shock

GLASGOW (AFP) – Nigerian teenage weightlifter Chika Amalaha has been provisionally suspended from the Commonwealth Games after testing positive in a doping test taken after she won gold in the women’s 53kg category, the Commonwealth Games Federation announced Tuesday.
The 16-year-old Amalaha provided an ‘A’ sample on July 25 which revealed traces of diuretics and masking agents.
She will have a ‘B’ sample tested at a laboratory in London on July 30.
Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Mike Hooper said: “We [have] issued a formal notice of disclosure to an athlete following an adverse analytical finding as a consequence of an in-competition test.
“That athlete is Nigerian weightlifter Chika Amalaha who was tested on July 25th. That athlete has now been suspended from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.”
Amalaha snatched a best of 85kg before managing 111kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 196kg, to become the youngest Commonwealth weightlifter gold medallist.
It was the first doping case of the Glasgow Games and will likely once again call into question the legitimacyof weightlifting as a Commonwealth Games sport given its history of drug-related incidents.
Hooper though insisted that the sport had its place in multi-sport events.
“I think weightlifting is a fantastic sport and a strong Commonwealth and Olympic sport,” he said.
“I think the issue here is about showing we have a robust anti-doping programme in place. We want to send a message to anybody in any sport who would go down the route of taking any substance to enhance performance that they will be caught.”
Nigerian weightlifting also has a history of drugs offences.
The Nigerian Weightlifting Federation was suspended for repeated doping violations by the International Weightlifting Federation in 2001 and banned from competing in the following year’s Manchester Games.

Posted By Valentino Godwin

We’ll wrestle more medals for Team Nigeria – Ohaike

Team Nigeria’s chances of adding more medals to her kitty gets brighter with the beginning of events in Wrestling at the ongoing XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
The venue for Wrestling is at the Scottish Exhibition  and Conference Centre and Technical Director of Nigerian Wrestling Federation,  Damian Ohaike has predicted more medals swoop for Team Nigeria.
‘’We’ve never disappointed when it comes to Wrestling. We’re going to do well and I am sure that more medals will be won by my matsmen and women”, Ohaike said.
Nigerian wrestlers have made their marks in the mats and are equally known by their opponents as tough nuts.
‘’We know ourselves by virtue of the fact that we meet at events. But we hold the ace. But they will be surprised by the skill and technicality of the female wrestlers. They are so good that they will rule the mats”, Ohaike said noting that the males, too, would win medals for Nigeria.
At the Commonwealth Games, the Wrestlers would only wrestle in the Freestyle events as the Greco-Roman was not approved. ‘’We’re taking part in the Freestyles. We’re good to go”, Ohaike assured.

Posted By Valentino Godwin

Maigari splits NFF

Impeached President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Aminu Maigari is leaving no stone unturned to overturn his ouster from the Glass House.
Maigari, we gathered from a close confidant is bent on reclaiming his mandate during the Extra-ordinary Congress of the NFF, where he hopes that delegates, especially those from the northern section of the country will fault his impeachment process last Thursday by some members of the Executive Committee in Abuja and return him to office.
It was learnt from another reliable insider that Maigari, who is the Bauchi State FA Chairman, has already swung into action by allegedly telling northern delegates that his impeachment was spearheaded by southern elements, who planned on enthroning their own dynasty, a strategy, which we gathered, has been bought hook line and sinker by some FA chairmen and secretaries from the northern region.
“Maigari is not going to give up easily in his fight to overturn his impeachment as he has already reached out to delegates from the north, prompting them to believe that his impeachment was orchestrated by ethnic elements and begging them to overturn it at the next Congress.
This message is gaining grounds amongst these delegates, most of whom feel pity for him and want to help him regain his mandate”, said a reliable source, who spoke to Sports Vanguard on condition of anonymity.
Another pro-Maigari force said last night that Maigari was going to use everything within his resources to get his mandate restored, adding that “ we also need to fight back with our might, which Maigari has promised to make available”.
But as Maigari is strategising ahead of the next Congress, those who orchestrated his impeachment are also plotting to seal his fate once and for all.
An arrowhead FA Chairman from the South-South, told Sports Vanguard last night that there was no way Maigari can get his impeachment upturned at the Congress, adding that Maigari was impeached for genuine reasons and that the impeachment was for the interest of Nigerian football and not on North-South divide.”
“Maigari thinks he can get his impeachment overturned at the Congress by bringing tribal sentiments. We have gone beyond that.”

Posted By Valentino Godwin

Chika Amalaha, Nigeria’s 2014 Commonwealth Games weightlifting gold medallist, said in Glasgow, Scotland that her target was to win at the 2016 Olympics scheduled for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Amalaha won gold on Friday in the women’s weightlifting 53 kg category.
The gold medallist revealed that dedication, determination and discipline were the three Ds which would propel her to victory at the 2016 Olympics.

GOLDEN GIRL . . . Nigeria’s gold medalist Chika Amalaha competing in the women’s weightlifting 53kg class, at the SECC Precinct during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, Photo: AFP PHOTO
Amalaha said she was already working on her strategy for the Olympics the same way she did with the five Ps of “Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance”.
She said this ensured her success in Glasgow.
“Before I landed in Glasgow for this Commonwealth Games, I prepared very well. I always worked with my five Ps, which is ‘proper preparation prevents poor performance’.
“So, I had to work hard to prevent poor performance and I worked for the gold and for the record.
“The next thing is for me to be determined, discipline and dedicated, which is what I will use to work for the next Olympics,” Amalaha said.
She also pointed out that the series of competitions lined up for her would help prepare her for the Olympics.
“I have some competitions ahead and I have to train for them. This is to prepare very well to ensure I go for the gold in Olympics.”
“I hope to sustain this feat with my three Ds of ‘dedication, determination and discipline’. That is the only way to prosper.
“So, I have to prepare well for every competition and I always dedicate myself with a sense of discipline to achieve result.
“At my first attempt, I told God that I need him to be the rope of my hand and the strength of my body.
“When I was going for the second attempt, I was nervous and, due to tension, I had to go back and a spirit told me to go there and pull the weight speedily, and that it is a baby weight for me.
“I then commanded the weight and it moved with me,” Amalaha said.
She commended other Nigerians and her coach for the opportunity given to her to showcase her talent at the ongoing Commonwealth Games.
It would be recalled that Amalaha had also won gold in the 58kg weight category at the African Youth Games in Gaborone, Botswana in May.
She lifted 87kg in snatch then, to set a new African record.
The athlete went ahead to lift 102kg in the clean and jerk which was equally an African record

Posted By Valentino Godwin

Okagbare wins gold

Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare sensationally became the Commonwealth champion last night when she ran 10.85 seconds to beat the pack that included Jamaican duo of Veronica Campbell-Brown and Kerron Stewart who took the silver and bronze in 11.03 and 11.07 respectively.

Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare celebrates winning the women’s 100m athletics event at Hampden Park during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on July 28, 2014. AFP PHOTO
On the stands cheering was Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State who has been the pillar of many Nigerian athletes including Okagbare. He was emotional about the victory, jumping and sending high fives to Nigerians around him.
“It was a deserved victory. She has made Nigeria proud and we are happy about this sweet victory,” Uduaghan said.
After the World Championship in Russia last year, Uduaghan approved special training grants for Okagbare. Blessing was so emotional that she shed tears and promised Uduaghan that she would deliver a world title in his honour. She did so yesterday.
“This is great for Nigeria. Uduaghan is a powerful motivator. He inspired this victory,” Amaju Pinnick, the Delta State chairman of Sports Commission said.
Uduaghan had visited Nigerian athletes yesterday to motivate them.
The athletes jumped in celebration to receive him.
“It feels great to get this far and win. I’m grateful to God. I thank all those behind this success especially our Governor who is here to support us morally after his financial support,” Blessing said.
She had pulled out her spike shoe to celebrate immediately after the race that saw another Nigerian Blessing Asumnu placing last. She hopes to make up with the relay event.

Posted By Valentino Godwin

I defied Doctors warning to win medal for Nigeria – Obioma Okoli

With her precious silver medal dangling on her chest, she beams her toothpaste smile as she acknowledged banters from her colleagues.
‘’I’ve never felt this good in my career”, Obioma Okoli winner of Nigeria’s silver medal in Weightlifting at the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow said.

GOOD LIFT: Obioma Okoli competes in the 63kg women’s weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games. She won a silver medal for Nigeria.
She had won gold medals for Nigeria in the last Commonwealth Games  in New Delhi. She also repeated her golden lift in Malaysia but seems to appreciate and savour the silver medal more than gold.
‘’This silver is more precious than Gold. In short, it is Golden silver”, she said as tears glistened in her eyes. Using her backhand, she wiped the tears of joy and revealed why she so much cherishes the silver medal.
‘’I had a bad injury on my knee(she pulled up her track to reveal her knee that was bandaged). ‘’My knee cap shifted from my first lift and the pain was so agonising.
The Doctors took me to ascertain the extent of injury and ruled me out from the rest of the lifts. I was devastated. I felt lonely and could not believe that I will no longer defend my last gold in India. I tried to plead with the medics to find a way to treat me but they warned me not to lift again. I rebuked them.
But I had that urge in me and I didn’t go back to the medics again as I bore my pain alone. Unknown to them, I went back when my next lift was called.
I limped and held the babel, looked up to heaven and prayed a silent prayer. The crowd roared when I held the weight over my head with one leg. My opponent also lifted the same weight with me but because my body weight was more than hers, she won gold.
Winning silver with one leg was so amazing that all the lifters could not believe it. The Doctors were shocked when they saw me lifting. I did that because of my love for Nigeria and my love for lifting. That is why I think that this silver(pointing) means everything to me. I am happy. I am happy”, she said as tears began to drop from her eyes.
‘’I thank my coaches and colleagues and our Nigerian officials. They stood by me. They knew what I can do when it comes to lifting weight. I dedicate this medal to God for having mercy on me”, she said.

Posted By Valentino Godwin

Arsenal sign Colombia keeper Ospina

David Ospina joined Nice from Colombian side Atletico Nacional in 2008
Arsenal have signed Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina from Nice on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee.
Ospina, 25, had been with French Ligue 1 side Nice since 2008 and helped his country reach the quarter-finals at the recent World Cup in Brazil.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said: “David is an excellent goalkeeper. He will add strength to our squad and we are very pleased that he will be joining us.
“He has good experience and a proven record of performing.”
Wenger had earlier suggested (external) that Ospina, who is expected to make his debut at next month’s Emirates Cup tournament, could displace Wojciech Szczesny as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Meaner Ospina
With David Ospina ever-present, Colombia conceded fewer goals in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup (13) than any other South American team
Speaking after Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at New York Red Bulls, Wenger said that Ospina had proved his worth at Nice by replacing France keeper Hugo Lloris, now at Tottenham.
Wenger said: “I’ve known him for a long time because he played for Nice – he went there a few years ago and slowly became a very important player for them.
“Hugo Lloris played for Nice before he moved to Lyon. After he moved, they played Ospina. He had a big impact straight away and Lloris was not an easy player to replace.”
Nice coach Claude Puel, speaking to Sky Sports News after Nice were beaten 3-2 at Brentford in a friendly on Saturday, said: “It’s a good affair for Arsenal because he’s a very good player. You will see next season the quality of this player.”
Aresnal welcomed the player to the club and added that the move “is subject to the completion of regulatory processes”.
New York Red Bulls 1-0 Arsenal
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry gained victory over his former club in a pre-season friendly in the Red Bull Arena.
The only goal came on the half-hour when former Southampton striker Bradley Wright-Phillips poked home from Henry’s corner.
Wenger said: “We had no Olivier Giroud, no Theo Walcott, no Alexis Sanchez and no Lukas Podolski. Chuba Akpom did well but he’s a young boy and he has to learn a lot but he has potential.
“We were dominated physically in the first half, we came back into it in the last 10 minutes, their keeper made a few saves and our combinations were better. We lacked a bit of pace without any centre forward.”
Arsenal (4-3-2-1): Szczesny (Martinez 46); Jenkinson (Bellerin 46), Hayden (Miquel 46), Monreal, Gibbs; Arteta (Diaby 46), Wilshere (Coquelin 46), Ramsey (Flamini 46); Zelalem (Akpom 46), Cazorla (Olsson 71 ); Rosicky (Toral 71).

Posted By Valentino Godwin