Paul Pogba Hails Role
Model, Deschamps
iInspirational captain of the Fifa U-20 World cup winners, Paul Pogba of France and Juventus has voiced out his admiration of his countries National team gaffer and French ex-international Dedier Deschamps.
The 20-year-old midfielder is hoping to enjoy a similarly successful career to his national team boss. Pogba has admitted that he wants to emulate Didier achievements for France and Juventus, after leading his country to victory at the Under-20 World Cup in front of his watching “role model”.The midfielder turned in another commanding display as les Bleuets overcame Uruguay on penalties in Turkey on Saturday evening, with the former Manchester United man netting in the shootout before later being recognized as the tournament’s best player.Pogba was left struggling to take it all in, admitting that the evening had been made all the more special for the fact that current senior squad coach Deschamps had been in attendance.”After the final, he came to the dressing room and complimented us,” the 20-year-old explained in an interview with the press “It was so beautiful to triumph in front of him. “I thanked him and now I want to imitate him. For me, he is a role model: he was a great midfielder for both France and Juventus.”Pogba acknowledged, though, that while he has established himself as one of the best young midfielders in the world over the past 12 months, he still has much to learn.”This must be just the beginning,” he explained. “The goal is to achieve the success of Deschamps, but to do that I have to work a lot.”Deschamps, a World Cup winner in 1998, won three Serie A titles and a Champions League during his time in Turin.
Heartland Begin Cup Defence
Heartland football club, back-to-back Federation cup champions will on Wednesday begin at the national level the journey to the defense of their trophy at the U J Esueni Stadium, Calabar, Cross Rivers State.
The team who has been in a closed camping at the Rejonny Sports Center, Oba was expected to depart Oba Monday July 15s to Calabar venue of their Round 32 game with Ingas fc of Enugu to decide who moves to the next level of.
Reports reaching Trumpeta however indicates that the team is in good shape and that the players are rearing to go as everyone understands the importance of the game against the Nation-wide league team from a fellow Oriental State, Enugu.
In a chart with Heartlands media Officer Mr. Cajethan Nkwopara, he did reveal that the boys are in high spirit as the house looks full with the presence of Super Eagles trio Obinna Nwachukwu, Daniel Akpeyi and Benjamin Francis.
Also in camp is the newly married Ikechuwu Ibenegbu (Mosquito), top strikers Happy Akuoka and Isah Akoh Umoru both who were reportedly ill during their NPFL week 20 and 21 games.
It would be recalled that in three games the Naze Millionaires have failed to score a single goal as the lost to Enyimba back-to-back 0 1 while they equally lost to Nembe City 0 2 in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State
Heartland are the defending champions of the Federation Cup, a trophy they have won two times in row, first in 2011 against Enyimba and 2012 against Lobi Stars making a total of three occasions it has won the competition which stated in 1949 as Governors Cup later Challenge Cup, FA Cup and now the Federation Cup.
The Federation Cup games which will be played in several centers across the nation also have some games pitching some of the NPFL teams against each other. In Lafia by 4pm El Kanemi will for the 3rd time in one Month face Kano Pillars as the two teams fight for the round of 16 places.
Other games involving two NPFL games are Nembe City taking on Sunshine Stars in Rejonny Sports Center and the ABS fc match with Bayelsa United at the Sam Ogbemudia Stedium, Benini City.
Turkey 2013: A Failed Expedition For Nigeria
The Flying Eagles failed to impress at the 2013 World Youth Championship, and here are some of the reasons why the John Obuh led team failed in Turkey.
Despite Nigeria’s second place finish at the 2005 World Youth Championship, fans across the country celebrated the national U20 football team for a mind-blowing and heroic performance in Holland. However, since that feat, the Flying Eagles seem to have been caged in subsequent editions as they have found it near impossible getting past the quarter finals.
The 2013 edition of the Fifa U20 World Cup was not an exception as the Flying Eagles went, saw and returned with clipped wings after the Round of 16. As Nigeria football fans continue to bemoan our ill-fated flight in Turkey, the question begging for answer is what actually went wrong?
John Obuh’s young outfit failed to re-ignite the spark that has made the country a force to be reckoned with in the world when it comes to youth football – the ‘Damman Miracle’ readily comes to mind.
With the quality on parade at this year’s tournament in Turkey, one is tempted to ask, are there no longer football talents in our country? It appeared that the country’s glory days are over with too many uninspiring performances and the pedestrian pattern of play.
Obuh definitely got it all wrong for failing to scout for promising, talented and hungry boys after the Africa Youth Championship show of shame where his boys wobbled and fumbled to pick the bronze medal. One begins to wonder if there are no brighter prospects in the country rather than re-cycling Abdul Ajagun, Kayode Olarenwaju and Edafe Egbedi who were part of the last edition in Colombia. Or could that be his philosophy on football development?
Bemused Ikechukwu Okorie expressinf his disappointment after their ouster by finalists Uruguay
Although Ajagun got on the scorer’s sheet thrice, one still feels the coach shot himself in the leg by bringing back some of his old boys at the expense of fresh blood because it never created room for stiff competition in the team. Perhaps, if Olarenwaju never got his place on a platter of gold as his attitude on the turf tells, he could not have gone on a goal-missing spree that cost the country crucial goals in the opening match against Portugal and also in the knock-out game against Uruguay.
The defense was shambolic, with Ikechukwu Okorie, Kingsley Madu and Abdulahi Shehu looking disorganized without cohesion or understanding. Little wonder they let in cheap goals that could have been properly curtailed. For goalkeeper Samuel Okani, he was simply splendid in a negative way as he carved a niche for himself by uncharacteristically rushing outside his own territory at any attacking move from opposing attackers. He single handedly sent Nigeria parking in the round of 16.
Going by this no-show from the pint-sized goalie, coach Obuh should be asked why Jonah Usman who put up a better showing at the AYC was left to wither on the bench at the expense of the Enyimba goalie who looked jittery in goal.
Upfront, the attack line spear-headed by Aminu Umar and Salisu Gero proved to the world that they are great sprinters with no goal scoring instincts. Nigeria carved out 35 shots on goal in four matches but could only score seven times. Against Portugal and Cuba at least, the Flying Eagles should have won very comfortably but for the inability of the strikers to convert their chances. Ajagun who played more as a midfielder provided the goals for the team in the absence of the misfiring strikers and when his goals dried up, the team was poised for trouble.
As Nigeria will be hoping to qualify and make meaningful impact at the 2015 Fifa U20 World Cup in New Zealand, the time to start preparation is now instead of embarking on the usual fire brigade approach that has done more harm than good. Players of the right age should be scouted for and placed under a well-structured program that will make them tick.
Hopefully if other administrative strategies are properly put in place, Nigeria is capable of going neck-to-neck with the rest of the world and probably lift the World U20 title which remains elusive to the country.
FEDERATION CUP ROUND OF 32 (17/7/13)
Heartland — Ingas @ Calabar
J. Atete — Sharks @ Abakaliki
Akwa Utd — Makwada fc @ Katsina Ala
Rangers — Samaba fc @ Abuja
Plateau Utd — Tornadoes @ Kaduna
Wolves fc — Spotlight fc @ Ilorin 4pm
El Kanemi — Pillars @ Lafia 4pm
Fc Taraba — Gombe Utd @ Lafia 2pm
Nasarawa fc — COD fc @ Ilorin 2pm
Nembe City — Sunshine Stars @ Rojenny
Remo Stars — Enyimba @ Lokoja 4pm
3SC — Juth fc @ Mina
Dolhpins — Akwa Starlets @ Umuahia
Abia W. — Kaduna Utd @ Lokoja 2pm
ABS FC — Bayelsa Utd @ Benin City
MFM fc — Lobi Stars @ Nnewi
FEMALE FED. CUP FIXTURES
Dynamite Sportd — Ibom Angels @ Aba
Real Dynamos — Ogini Queens @ Ibadan
God City Queens — C I Angels @ Rojenny 2pm
Taraba Queens — Yaba Queens @ Abuja 2pm
Adamawa Queens — Shettima Babes @ Katsina Ala 2pm
Martins White — Florence Babes @ Akure
INTERNATIONAL CLUB FRIENDLIES
Thailand All Stars 1 0 Man Utd
Bournmouth 0 2 West Ham
FSV Frankfuet 1 0 Hoffenheim
Preston N. 0 4 Liverpool
Columbus Crew 1 2 Wigan Athletic
14/7/13
Indonesia Stars 0 7 Arsenal
Super sport fc 2 0 Man City
Dussedolf 3 2 Monaco
Osnabruck 1 0 Dortmund
A Aachen 1 6 Schalke
Bochum 1 1 Aston Villa
Hannover 0 3 PSV
Karlsruhe 2 1 Valencia
Austria Vienna 2 1 Everton
H. Rostock 0 4 B. Munich
CHAN RESULTS (14/7/13)
