Mikel resumes Chelsea duty Monday

NIGERIAN international John Obi Mikel barring any hitch will resume on Monday at Chelsea according to his manager and agent Olatunji John Shittu.
Shittu, claimed that the management of the English Premier League side gave Mikel and other players who played beyond the early rounds of the just-ended Brazil 2014, till Monday to report
for pre-season training.
The other players who are directed to resume on Monday are Thibaut Courtois of Belgium, Kenneth Omeruo, Eden Hazard of Belgium, Victor Moses, Ramires of Brazil, Andre Schurrle of Germany, Willian of Brazil, and Romelu Lukaku of Belgium.
When Chelsea began it pre-season training a few days ago without Mikel and other listed players, the media was awash with news that Mikel's future with the London side is uncertain, as arrangements had been concluded to ease him out by manager, Jose Mourinho.
But Shittu described the report as inaccurate,
“I don’t know where the story emanated from, but I can tell you authoritatively that it is false. Mikel and other Chelsea players who played beyond the first round of the World Cup will resume club duty on July 28.
"He came home briefly to see his family after the World Cup, he returned to London last week to collect visas for the countries where Chelsea will play pre-season, so the report is not true, he still a Chelsea player," he said.
Shittu also described as untrue reports that Chelsea wants to sell Mikel for £5million.
“Mikel has a subsisting contract with Chelsea and he intends to respect that contract, I also know that Chelsea is not planning to sell him; he is part of Jose Mourinho’s plan," Shittu maintained.
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Caption: Mikel set for Chelsea return.

Federation Cup: Enyimba at war with Sharks

TITLE holders, Enyimba will on Wednesday (July 23) in Abuja face Sharks in one of the quarter-final pairings of the 2014 Federation Cup.
Pundits believe the match could go either way, given the pedigree of both sides. Enyimba in the first round of the Globacom Premier League this season held Sharks to a 1-1 draw in the Garden city.
In another tough fixture, Lobi Stars will face fellow premier campaigners Dolphins at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
It is going to be a battle of Odua brothers as Gateway United handled by ex-international Henry Nwosu (MON) confront Prime FC being managed by veteran football administrator, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi.
The game is scheduled to hold at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.
The Egba soccer landlords it will be recalled eliminated Kano Pillars in the early round of the competition other wise known as the Challenge Cup, while Prime it will be recalled in 2012 clinched the bronze after reaching the last four for the first time in the history of the club.
Also, cash-strapped Crown FC of Ogbomoso will entertain Giwa FC handled by former Shooting Stars Sports Club forward and ex-international, Duke Udi at Rojenny Stadium, Onitsha.
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Quarter-final fixtures, Wednesday, July 23

Lobi Stars        vs  Dolphins--Enugu
Sharks             vs  Enyimba--Abuja
Gateway  Utd  vs  Prime FC--Kaduna
Crown FC      vs  Giwa FC--Onitsha

Caption: Enyimba players set for the big clash with Sharks.

Ideye will change West Brom's style of play--Anichebe

West Bromwich Albion striker, Victor Anichebe believes the coming of compatriot, Brown Ideye to the Hawthorns would change its style of play given his immense attacking instinct.
Ideye had on Sunday signed for West Brom from Dynamo Kyiv of Ukraine in a £10m (N2.6billion) club record signing.
Anichebe in an interview with the Birmingham Mail noted that playing alongside Ideye would no doubt create a sensation as never witnessed in the English Premier League (EPL) side.
He stated that the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) gold winner is a team player who usually play supporting role in the national team and the pivotal role in his former club where he always run in behind.
“Everyone knows the way I play, but to have someone who can make powerful runs in behind,
that will be great for us. I’ve seen him pop up in several different positions. He can adapt to different ways of playing and flexibility is always good.
“Judging from what the gaffer said, I think he sees Brown as someone who can run in behind and that’s something that we do really need. If he can do that, it will create more space for the rest of the team to play in. Brown coming here means we will have different ways to play and if we can bring in a couple more quality players like this, I’m sure this season will be a lot better than last season," said the former Everton of England forward.
Anichebe who had 11 international caps is amazed by the qualities of Ideye as a player.
“He’s very quick and strong. He’s also got a good eye for goal and we’re looking forward to him
coming in and helping us,” Anichebe said.
He believes the EPL would provide the Edo State-born Ideye a quick platform to return to the Super Eagles in no time, after being left out of the just-ended 'mundial' by coach Stephen Keshi.
“He missed out on the World Cup (Brazil 2014) and that will be a big motivation for him. He’ll work extra hard to get back in the Nigeria set up. They adore the Premier League in Nigeria so this will give him another platform to show everybody exactly what he can do.
“Playing in the Premier League is a lot different to playing in other leagues. There are some great leagues around the world but, with all due respect to them, I think playing in the Premier League is more special. I would say the Premier League is more respected, especially back home in Nigeria.
“He’s done well in Ukraine after moving there for a lot of money, just like he has in moving here. Hopefully, he can come here and also do well for us," said Anichebe who joined West Brom in 2013 and finished the season with 13 goals in 16 appearances.
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Caption: Ideye, can he justify his £10m move to West Brom?

I don't keep facebook account-Amuneke

It appears funny but former international, Emmanuel Amuneke is anti-social media if you will say and this he adopts for reasons best known to him.
The clarification became necessary against the backdrop of a facebook account credited to the
Imo State-born hero of USA '94 World Cup, saying it was the handiwork of internet fraudsters.
The head coach of the national U-17 soccer team, the Golden Eaglets said an impostor was trying to deceive unsuspecting public, by running a facebook account claiming to be the 1994 African Footballer of the Year.
"I'm not on facebook and I'm not ashamed of saying so. The only thing I do on my phone is receiving calls and at worst, use the short message service (sms) but count me out of anything outside that," said the former Zamalek of Egypt forward.
The former FC Barcelona player described the fake Emmanuel Amuneke as 'one clown'.
"As I said, I'm not on facebook and I don't tweet and in fact, I don't have any social media account for that matter. I don't have the time for such and my colleagues here know I'm not part of the crowd on social network.
"Any Emmanuel Amuneke with my photograph on facebook is a fraud and I'm using this opportunity to warn the public so that nobody fools them," said the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner.
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Caption: Emmanuel Amuneke.

NNL Week 20 results

Wikki maintain lead

Wikkii Tourists are leading the pack in group A with 38 points following a 3-2 win over Adamawa United, as Kwara United maintained second with 33 points despite the 0-1 loss to Mighty Jets in Jos last weekend.
In Group B, Shooting Stars who lost 1-2 to Go-Round FC at away remain the leaders with 33 points.
Results:
Group A

Mighty Jets    1   Kwara Utd      0
Wikki Tourists 3 Adamawa Utd     2
Jigawa Stars   1 Spotlight      0
FRSC           1 TEAP           0
Tornadoes      1 Plateau Utd    0
Kogi Utd       2 Supreme Court  0
Ngr Prisons    ? Ranchers       ? (inconclusive)

Group B

COD            1 Ekiti Utd       0
UNICEM Rovers 1 ABS      0
Go-Round      2 3SC       1
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NNL Week 19 results

Group A

Sokoto    1  Kogi Utd       0
Kwara     5  DSS            0
Ranchers  1  Mighty Jets    0
TEAP      2  Prisons        1
Spotlight 1  FRSC           1
Adamawa   1  Tornadoes      0
Supreme   3  Wikki Tourists 0

Group B

ABS            2  Akwa Starlets  0
Gabros         3  UNICEM Rovers  0
Ekiti Utd      2  Remo Stars     0
MFM FC         3  COD Utd        1
Shooting Stars 3  S/Stores       0
Gateway Utd    1  Go-Round       0
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Federation Cup quarter-final fixtures (Wed, July 23):

Sharks vs Enyimba
Dolphins vs Lobi Stars
Crown vs Giwa
Prime vs Gateway

NNL actions resume Wednesday

FOLLOWING the conclusion of the World Cup in Brazil, actions will on Wednesday (July 16) resume on the domestic soccer scene with matches in the Nigeria National League (NNL) groups A and B.
Wikki Tourists who led group A after 18 round of matches will tackle Supreme Court FC in Abuja, as Kwara United who placed second on the table host DSS of Kaduna in Ilorin at 4pm, after a group B clash between ABS and Akwa Starlets billed for 2pm.
Unarguably, the star match in group B holds at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan between league leaders, Shooting Stars Sports Club and their arch rivals, Stationery Stores FC of Lagos.
Interestngly, Stores hammered the Oluyole warlords during their first meeting at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos by two unreplied goals thus, Wednesday's match serves as an opportunity for the homers to avenge the defeat and also brighten their chances of returning to the Globacom Premier League at the end of the season.
Ibadan fans are still nursing the exit of 3SC from this year's Federation Cup and would only wait for victory over Stores to get over the psychological trauma.