Fallout of CAF Champions League; We saw 'hell' in Togo--Baraje

HEAD Coach of Enyimba, Zachary Baraje has commended his wards for overcoming the hostility faced before they bundled Anges de Notse of Togo out of the 2014 CAF Champions League.
The People's Elephant after a 3-1 lead in Aba suffered a 1-2 defeat at the Omnisport Stadium, Lome last Sunday to qualify for the next stage of the competition on 4-3 aggregate.
“From the minute we arrived in Lome, all of us went through a lot of mental and physical torture from our hosts. They employed all kinds of antics to prevent us from winning but in the end our hard work and experience helped to sail through,” the former Gombe United coach said.
He stated that the journey to reclaim the African title has just begun as Enyimba are drawn with AS Real Bamako of Mali in the second round of the competition.
“Yes We are happy that we have eliminated Anges but we can’ celebrate as such because the journey has just started. We will continue to work hard until we achieve our set target,” the former Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) gaffer remarked.
The two-time African champions' lone strike in Lome came through new signing from ABS of Ilorin, Abdulrahman Bashir.
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Caption: Baraje.

Messi is from another planet----Thierry Henry

FORMER French international, Thierry Henry believes that Lionel Messi is "from another world" because his former Barcelona team-mate is capable of "unimaginable" things on a football field.
The Arsenal legend spent three years playing alongside the Argentine between 2007 and 2010 and said that he witnessed Messi do things that he did not previously think possible.
"You cannot define him in words," Henry told El Mundo Deportivo. "He's from another world; the best.
"To have him beside you every day is tremendous. He does unimaginable things. I do not know just how far he will be able to go in his career, but he's definitely already an incredible player."
Henry revealed that he also loved his time under the tutelage of former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, explaining that the Catalan proved nearly as big an influence on him as Arsenal boss
Arsene Wenger.
"For me, personally, Wenger is like a father," the forward explained. "He is untouchable.
"But I must say that Pep proved surprisingly spectacular. From a strictly business point of view, he is the best boss that I've had because he gave me discipline and a proper view of the game. Everything was planned; he left nothing to chance and was always one step ahead of the others. Pep and Wenger are my two reference points [in terms of coaching]; both are extraordinary."
Turning his attention to Barcelona's Champions League last-16 tie with Manchester City, Henry is hoping that Blaugrana prevail but freely admits that they are going up against a strong side.
"It will be difficult [for Barca]," the New York Red Bulls striker conceded. "Manchester are better than ever this year. They have made a very strong investment [in their squad] and are showing their full potential in the Premier League.
"But I also think that having a rival like this will work well for Barcelona because City like to play without closing things up at the back. So Barcelona should be able to attack as they please. I'll watch the game on television and I'll be cheering on Barca like a fan."
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Caption; Messi.

Yobo turns 'bride' at Norwich City

NIGERIAN international Joseph Yobo is now being celebrated like a bride in the English Premier League side, Norwich City following his five-star performance since his arrival. He joined the EPL side from Fenerbahce of Turkey on loan in the January transfer window.
The Super Eagles captain on his debut against Manchester City was a delight to watch just as his presence has continued to thrill Norwich City chief executive David McNally.
Yobo was signed by the Canaries alongside Jonas Guttierrez and the duo are believed to be 'first class' signings.
"Those two were crucial reinforcements," he said. "Joseph has played 95 times for Nigeria and Jonas 22 times for Argentina and bringing them in on a short-term basis, knowing the character of these men is first class, was better for us than investing in a four-year contract on someone of less quality. That was the judgement we made.
"Having been in the game many years now, January is about short-term measures to ensure the squad is complemented rather than a wholesale re-shaping of the staff,” McNally.
The form displayed by the former Everton defender since his arrival in Norwich City also earned him a recall to the Nigeria camp for the friendly against Mexico on March 5 in the United States.
Yobo last's last international appearance was when he led Nigeria to win the 2013 Africa Cup of
Nations (AFCON) in South Africa.
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Caption: Yobo in the colours of Norwich City.

NNL opener: Prime lose as coach lauds players

Newly-promoted Nigeria National League side, Go Round FC on Friday began the season on a good note with a 1-0 victory over Prime FC of Osogbo.
The NNL debutants waited till 82nd minute before they got the lone strike off a penalty kick converted by Ali Chiwendu in a game played at the Krisdera Hotel Stadium, Omoku.
Speaking after the match, coach of Prime FC, Samuel Abimbola lauded his wards despite the defeat just as he called for fair officiating to make the season a memorable one.
"I give kudos to my boys for playing according to instructions, it was a good game and I must commend my players. Though we lost the match but we were not disgraced, you all saw the game and how controversial the penalty was.
"We will go back to the drawing board and correct all the errors we have noticed and prepare well for our double home games. We are still in the right track and by the grace of God this will be the last game we will lose at away," Abimbola said.
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Clubs forced LMC to shift league kick off date--Irabor

CHAIRMAN of the League Management Company (LMC), Hon. Nduka Irabor has said that the kick off of the 2013/14 Glo Premier League season had to be shifted by two weeks based on the requests by some clubs.
The league initially scheduled to kick off next weekend will now be on March 7 as LMC granted the prayers of clubs which borders on registration and documentation.
"We've agreed to accommodate the popular request to extend the registration deadline to enable the clubs to tidy up their documents for certification," Irabor said.
He stated that LMC also acceded the requests on the shift in kick off date to take care of logistics adding that "We've considered reports of the stadium facilities inspection teams and the need to allow the clubs a two-week period to correct observed deficiencies in their facilities".
Irabor added that "there will be no further extension after this period and the league will start
with only clubs that meet the minimum requirements".
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I knew Yobo will return to Eagles----Keshi

NIGERIA Coach Stephen Keshi has said that Joseph Yobo has convinced him enough of his readiness to
return to the Super Eagles after one year of absence hence, the invitation of the defender for next month's friendly against Mexico billed for the United States.
Keshi said that there was no way he could have left Yobo out of the national team again given his awe inspiring form.
Yobo on loan from Fenerbahce of Turkey to Norwich City dazzled in his debut game last week
against Manchester City in a Barclays Premier League game which ended in a goalless draw leaving many Nigerians satisfied that he could still play for his fatherland.
The former Everton player remains the most capped Nigeria player with 95 caps and his chance of
hitting 100 caps has now received a boost with his invitation for the Mexico clash.
"I had told you before that Yobo was a part of this team. That when the time is right, he would make a return. Now Yobo is ready and he is making his comeback," Keshi said from his base in the Unites States on holidays.
The former coach of Togo stated that "there are several players I invited also whom I have not seen since last year. There is a need to see them again and know how ready they are and see if the fresh ones can fit in to our plans for the World Cup".
It will be recalled that Yobo last played for Nigeria in February last year at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa won by the Super Eagles.
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Caption: Joseph Yobo set for return against Mexico.

Mexico friendly: Why I dropped Agbim--Keshi

HEAD Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, has explained why he left goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim out of the international friendly against Mexico billed for Atlanta, USA on March 5.
Though, Agbim's exclusion did not surprise many soccer-loving Nigerians who were enraged by his not too impressive performance at the just-concluded third African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa where he let in a number of cheeky goals.
On arrival from CHAN where Nigeria finished third, Agbim also lost his place in Rangers FC as the club's technical crew headed by former Flying Eagles coach, John Obuh excluded his name on the list of players to be registered for the new premier league season in Nigeria which begins next weekend.
But Keshi said there was no big deal not inviting Agbim for the friendly as he wants to try some of the players who have been absent from the national team's matches for sometime now.
"I don't think there is need to start raising issues on players left out of the friendly against Mexico or those named in the team for the game. It is just a test game to see a few new players and those who we have not seen in a long while. So leaving out Agbim and a few other players is no big deal.
"We have just one international game to play next month at the moment except things change, and it will make no sense inviting three goalkeepers for just one game. Remember football is a game of two halves. So how do we integrate a third goalkeeper in a friendly match if we decide to play two different teams for each half? Also Agbim had a good test at the CHAN recently so I don't think we have to take three goalkeepers to just one match," explained Keshi.
The former coach of Mali however, denied the insinuation that Agbim's performance at CHAN 2014
led to his exclusion from the list.
"That's totally untrue. It is not possible for a player to feature in every match. You'll see that we have a number of players on the list who have never played at senior international level before and we have others making return to the team. As I said it's a test game and it's just one match and it will be needless to bring in three goalkeepers," said Keshi who coached Togo to the 2006 World Cup.


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Caption: Chigozie Agbim.