FED CUP SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
Enyimba — Lobi Stars
Akwa United — Warri Wolves
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS
20/8/13
Shakhter K. 2 0 Celtic
Lyon 0 — 2 Real Sociedad
P. Ferreira 1 — 4 Zenit p.
PSV 1 — 1 AC Milan
V Plzen 3 — 1 Maribor
SELECTED EUROPA LEAGUE QUALIFIERS
22/8/13
D. Tbilisi — Tottenham
Jablonec — Real Betis
Kuban — Feyenoord
Atromitos — AZ Alkmaar
Molde — Rubin Kazan
Udenise — Liberec
Grasshopers — Fiorintina
Sevilla — Wroclaw
Wereem — Apoel Nicosia
Rijeka — VFB Stuttgart
Tromso — Beskistas
St. Gallen — Spartak Moscow
Swansea — Petrolui Ploiesti
NFF to Keshi: Your List Is Bogus
…You Must Drop Some Home Base Players
Few weeks to the all-important Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier between Nigerian Super Eagles and Malawi, the Nigerian Football Federation has fallen into disagreement with Coach Stephen Keshi on the size of invited players for the game slated for September 7 at the UJ Esuene Stadium Calabar.
The Technical Committee of the football body told the Eagles gaffer to prune down the 42-man list sent to the Committee for the vital game that will guarantee Nigeria’s passage to the last qualifying round.
Paul Bassy who spoke on behalf of the Committee after their emergency meeting on Tuesday in Abuja, revealed that they rejected Kshi’s list because it was too bogus.
“The list is bogus and we want a harmonized list for the World Cup qualifying match against Malawi on September 7, 2014.
“We have told that we want the list of 22 players that will prosecute the Malawi Match for now. That’s what we decided at the meeting and we will write him officially to do that,” Bassey stated.
Bassey argued that there is enough time between now and the period of African Nations Championship so Keshi should not call 42 players which are composed of 18 overseas-based and 24 home-based players with that he also wants to prepare for CHAN that would kick off in January 2014.
List of Foreign-Based Players
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyema (Lille fc, France), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er, Israel)
Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Sporting Braga), Efe Ambrose (Celtic, Scotland), James Okwuosa (Cippa United, South Africa)
Midfielders: John Mikel Obi, Fegor Ogude (Valerenga, Norway), John Ogu (Academica, Portugal), Victor Moses, Ogenyi Onazi, Nnamdi Oduamadi and Nosa Igiebor (Betis Spain).
Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Brown Ideye, Shola Ameobi,Emmanuel Emenike, Obinna Nsofor and Uche Nwofor (VVV Venlo).
Djokovic, Serena Top Seeds For Us Open
As the final Grand Slam of this year’s Tennis season starts this weekend in USA, the organizers of the game have made some strange changes in their seeding of the players naming Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams as the men and women top seeds.
Serbia’s Djokovic is top seed in the men’s draw but seeing five-time US Open champion and 17-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer as seventh seed is the oddest sight for tennis fans.
It is the first time the Swiss has been placed outside the top three in a Grand Slam in over ten years.
Spaniard Rafael Nadal is the number two seed, ahead of Britain;s Andy Murray, the defending champion and this year’s Wimbledon winner. As expected, world number one and defending champion Serena Williams has been given the top seed.
Gelarussia’s Victoria Azerenka, who beat Williams in Sunday’s final of the Cincinnati Open, is the second seed ahead of Maria Sharapovea of Russia and Poland’s Agniezka Radwanska.
Williams heads into the Open, which starts this August 26, looking to add to her French Open title from this year, her 16th Grand Slam singles triumph, which includes four championships at Flushing Meadows.
William’s sister Venus, a two-time US Open winner but currently ranked 60th in the world, was unseeded and the draw according to reports will take place today.
Top Ten Seed (Men)
Novak Djokovic (Serbia), Rafael Nadal (Spain), Andy Murray (Great Britain), David Ferrer (Spain), Tomas Berdych (Czech), Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina), Roger Federer (Switzerland), Richard Gasquet (France), Stainslas Wawrinka (Switzerland) and Milos Raonic (Canada). (Women)
Heartland Recall Suspended Duo
The Management of Heartland Football Club has lifted the suspension it placed recently on two of its Staff in a move designed to help move the club forward.
Coach Ramson Madu and Head of Protocol Officer Tonex Chukwu were on Tuesday recalled after being suspended indefinitely over a loss to Oriental foes, Enyimba in a GLO Premier League Match day 20 encounter at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri in July.
An Official statement released on Tuesday made available to the Press said the duo were recalled as a result of favorable report of the panel of inquiry that sat over their cases as well as other issues surrounding the home defeat.
“The decision which has been approved by the club chairman, Fan Ndubuoke was based on the need for all hands to be on deck in the ongoing effort to up the fortunes of the club to a more comfortable position on the league table by the end of the season,” the statement read.
It went further to strongly advice the two to work in harmony between themselves and with one another in the club’s overall interest.
Meanwhile, the statement further explained that the other technical crew headed by Nduka Ndubuisi, who were also suspended indefinitely after another home defeat to Kwara United in Owerri are to continue serving their suspension till further notice.
Coach Ramson Madu and Tonex Chukwu have since resumed their duties since yesterday in preparation for their NPFL week 27 game against Lobi Stars of Makurdi at the Emmanuel Atongo Stadium, Kastina-Ala.
Heartland presently occupies the 14th position on the 20-team elite league with 34 points from a possible 78.
