Archive | 2015

Daniel Sturridge may be out for rest of season….

Daniel Sturridge

Liverpool and England striker Daniel Sturridge may not play again this season, says boss Brendan Rodgers. Sturridge, 25, has been sidelined by hip and thigh injuries and has not played since the FA Cup quarter-final win over Blackburn on 8 April. Rodgers said: “We’ll see if he’s going to be back this season or pre-season.” Sturridge has managed to play just 18 games for Liverpool this season, scoring five times, compared to a haul of 24 goals from 33 appearances last term. He was sidelined for more than five months from September with a thigh injury, and was forced to miss England’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania in March with a hip problem. “It has been difficult for Daniel. He’s a good lad who wants to play and be working and helping the team,” said Rodgers. “It’s just been one of those seasons for him where it has been very unfortunate. We are going to have to monitor that day by day and see where he’s at. “When he’s been fit he’s been brilliant for the team. We need to get him back fit and consistently playing.”

Asisat Oshoala up for BBC Women’s player award….

Award nominees Veronica Boquete, Nadine Kessler, Kim Little, Marta and Asisat Oshoala

BBC World Service has revealed the five names in contention for its inaugural Women’s Footballer of the Year award. Spain’s Veronica Boquete, Germany’s Nadine Kessler and Scotland’s Kim Little are joined by Brazilian forward Marta and Liverpool and Nigerian youngster Asisat Oshoala. The winner will be revealed on BBC World Service on 26 May after being decided by a public vote. Voting is open now and closes on 11 May at 10:00 BST. A panel of experts – including administrators, journalists, coaches and former players – decided the shortlist. Fans can vote online through the BBC website or by SMS. To vote for BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2015 by SMS, text the number of the player you wish to vote for to +44 7786 20 20 04 . Text 1 for Veronica Boquete, 2 for Nadine Kessler, 3 for Kim Little, 4 for Marta and 5 for Asisat Oshoala. Oshoala said: “I worked hard last year but I am surprised to be nominated and I feel very appreciated. This award is a very good thing for women’s football. It can really help us by encouraging other countries to support their ladies more and treat them the same way they treat the men.” Asisat!! Go girl!!!

Gerrard and Lampard shares PFA Merit Award….

Former England midfielders Steven Gerrard, 34, and Frank Lampard, 36, shared the PFA Merit award. The veteran pair will leave the Premier League for Major League Soccer in the United States in the summer, having collected 220 England caps between them. “I’m a young boy from a council estate who has worked ever so hard to get to where I am today,” said Gerrard, who will bring his 17-year career at Anfield to an end this summer when he joins Los Angeles Galaxy. “I have been lucky, I have had a fantastic career, it has been full of highs and lows but some of the highs I have achieved have blown me away and I achieved a lot of my dreams playing for Liverpool and England. “Frank is an unbelievable player, a world-class player and I couldn’t ask for anyone better to share it with.” Lampard, on-loan at Manchester City from New York City FC, added: “I have been fortunate enough to have had a long time playing in the Premier League along with Steven. “It is a great honour to be alongside a player who himself has done so much for the game. For the two of us to get it, it is a nice send-off and a nice ending for me.”

Harry Kane is PFA Young Player of the Year….

PFA's Young Player of the Year, Harry Kane

Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane, 21, was named PFA Young Player of the Year. The 21-year-old was voted Young Player of the Year despite only beginning to feature regularly for the White Hart Lane club in November. Kane has 30 goals in all competitions for Mauricio Pochettino’s side this season and also scored on his England debut against Lithuania in March. “It is amazing. It is a very proud moment for myself and my family – hopefully the first of many to come,” said Kane about his award. “I have got to keep working hard, but to be recognised by your fellow players is something special and it is a night I won’t forget. “I got the opportunity with the gaffer and I have really enjoyed my season so far – I have taken my chance.”

Hazard is PFA Player of the year….

Eden Hazard

Eden Hazard has won the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award, BBC reports. Hazard, 24, has scored 13 goals and made eight assists in 33 Premier League games to help leaders Chelsea move to the cusp of the title. The award was voted for by the Belgian midfielder’s fellow professionals. Hazard, who won last season’s young player accolade, was handed the prize at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on Sunday. “I’m very happy. One day I want to be the best and what I did this season is play very well, Chelsea played very well,” he said. “I don’t know if I deserve to win but it is good for me. It is better to be voted by the players – they know everything about football. “Personally I have played a good season, I have been there in the big games and I scored a lot of important goals, this is why I’m better this season.”

Wladimir Klitschko Retains His Crown Against Bryant Jennings….

Wladimir Klitschko wasn’t nearly as dominant as the 14-1 odds suggested he’d be Saturday night. The long-reigning heavyweight champion beat Bryant Jennings by unanimous decision in a 12-round title fight at Madison Square Garden, but it was much more competitive than experts expected. Two judges – Robin Taylor and River Vale’s Steve Weisfeld – scored Klitschko a 116-111 winner. The third judge, Max DeLuca, credited Klitschko with a wider win than the action indicated he deserved (118-109).

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Juventus suffer first derby defeat in 20 years….

Matteo Darmian scores

Torino came from behind to beat runaway leaders Juventus to secure their first Turin derby victory for 20 years. Juve would have wrapped up a fourth consecutive title with a win, coupled with a Lazio defeat, and led when Andrea Pirlo curled home a free-kick. Matteo Darmian levelled in style as he chipped the ball into the box with his first touch from a cross and lashed home with his second. And Fabio Quagliarella tapped home against his old club for a famous win. At least 10 Torino fans were injured in the first half when a paper banger exploded, causing splinters from seats to hit supporters. Second-placed Lazio drew 1-1 with Chievo, meaning a Juventus win would not have secured the title anyway. But for Juve, the game was about more than the title as their 17-match unbeaten run and seven-game winning streak in the derby came to an end. And they almost rescued a point late on, just moments after Josef Martinez had a goal disallowed for Torino. Alessandro Matri’s cross hit the post and Simone Pepe was unable to turn in the rebound. In injury time, Pirlo had a glorious chance to level but shinned his shot from 18 yards out, firing well over.

Bayern Munich wins 25th Bundelisga title….

Pep Guardiola

Bayern Munich clinched their third consecutive Bundesliga title courtesy of Wolfsburg’s 1-0 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach, BBC reports. Pep Guardiola’s side beat Hertha Berlin 1-0 on Saturday to put them within sight of the title. Wolfsburg had to beat Gladbach, who move up to third, to make Bayern wait another week for their 25th title, but lost to an injury-time Max Kruse goal. Treble-chasing Bayern are in the Champions League and German Cup semis. They will have little time to celebrate this success as they face rivals Borussia Dortmund in the last four of the domestic cup on Tuesday. Bayern are bidding for their third consecutive domestic double, and second treble in three years. Guardiola has won five domestic titles in his six years as a manager; three out of four with Barcelona and now two in two for Bayern. The Bavarians face Barca in the Champions League semi-finals in May. Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: “Retaining the title is a magnificent achievement. All credit to the coach and the team. They’ve been fantastic throughout, in a season following a World Cup where we had a host of players in action. “We’ll have a magnificent party at some stage, no worries. But all in good time. When we do, it’ll be a huge celebration.”

PFA Premier Legaue Team Of The Year….

PFA Team of the Year

GOAL KEEPER:

David De Gea – Manchester United

DEFENDERS:

Ryan Bertrand – Southampton

Gary Cahill – Chelsea

John Terry – Chelsea

Branislav Ivanovic – Chelsea

MIDFIELDERS:

Nemanja Matic – Chelsea

Eden Hazard – Chelsea

Philippe Coutinho – Liverpool

Alexis Sanchez – Arsenal

STRIKERS:

Harry Kane – Tottenham Hotspurs

Diego Costa – Chelsea

 

Football player sacked for sex with fan in manager’s dug-out….

Jay Hart

A semi-professional footballer has been sacked after he was filmed having sex with a supporter in the manager’s dug-out. Striker Jay Hart can be heard laughing on the mobile phone footage as he was caught still in his club T-shirt with his tracksuit bottoms around his legs. Father-of-two Hart, 24, scored with the woman after his team slumped to a 4-1 defeat. His team Clitheroe had been playing away at Mossley AFC, who had promoted their final game of the season as a “ladies day” to attract more female supporters. The face of the fan cannot be seen. Within hours of the footage being circulated to team-mates and fans Hart was sacked by the club, who play in Evo-Stik Division 1 North. Club chairwoman Anne Barker, said that Hart had brought the club into disrepute. She said “Any players, while wearing a Clitheroe tracksuit, represents the club . “We expect a certain level of behaviour and discipline. And that wasn’t it.” Hart, of Accrington, Lancs, said: “I’m full of regret. I’d had a couple of drinks. I was away from everyone and thought I was hidden.” Clitheroe boss Simon Garner has also told Hart to return his club tracksuit.

Most Successful Champions League Players….

 

Clarence Seedorf

The players below has won most Champions League trophy:

  • Clarence Seedorf (4) – (1 with Ajax, 1 with Real Madrid and 2 with AC Milan)
  • Samuel Eto’o (3) – (2 with Barcelona and 1 with Inter Milan)
  • Fernando Hierro (3) – (3 with Real Madrid)
  • Andreas Iniesta (3) – (3 with Barcelona)
  • Iker Casillas (3) – (3 with Real Madrid)
  • Paolo Maldini (3) – (3 with AC Milan)

Europa League Semifinal Draws….

Thursday 7 May 2015:

Napoli vs Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 8:05pm

Sevilla vs Fiorentina 8:05pm

Thursday 14 May 2015:

Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk vs Napoli 8:05pm

Fiorentina vs Sevilla 8:05pm

Champions League Semifinal Draws….

Tuesday 5 May 2015:

Juventus vs Real Madrid 7:45pm

Wednesday 6 May 2015:

Barcelona vs Bayern Munich 7:45pm

Tuesday 12 May 2015:

Bayern Munich vs Barcelona 7:45pm

Wednesday 13 May 2015:

Real Madrid vs Juventus 7:45pm

Nike and NFF strike partnership deal….

SIGNING: NFF President, Amaju Pinnick (l) signs the dotted lines with a Nike representative in London Thursday.

Leading sportswear manufacturer, Nike is the new technical sponsor to the Nigeria Football Federation, supporting all national team levels and grassroots development, Vanguard reports. Nike and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have announced a new partnership in which Nike, the world’s leading football brand, is designing and developing football kits for the men’s and women’s national football teams of Nigeria from April 1, 2015, until at least 2018.

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Henry hits out at Hernandez….

Javier Hernandez should have celebrated with Cristiano Ronaldo after his vital goal against Atletico Madrid, says Thierry Henry. Hernandez struck an 88th-minute winner as Real Madrid beat their Madrid rivals 1-0 to secure their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Hernandez missed several chances in the match before his goal, but Sky Sports pundit Henry was more disappointed that he chose not to thank Ronaldo for the assist and ran off to celebrate by himself. “That’s Ronaldo’s goal,” he said. “At that particular moment he couldn’t shoot, so he didn’t take the risk of doing something stupid and silly with it. “He saw a guy in a better position, which Chicharito was, and he gave him the ball. “What I don’t like is Chicharito seems like he’s won the World Cup with that.” The other pundits in the studio questioned whether Henry was being too harsh on Hernandez, who has not enjoyed the best time on loan at Real from Manchester United. “It’s a tap-in,” he added. “Turn around and celebrate with Ronaldo. Even the camera knew – the camera is on Ronaldo for a reason.” “I think the pressure went through him. He knew he had to perform today and he had a couple of chances to do it. “If Ronaldo had done that I would have said the same thing. You have to pass the ball, but it’s still a tap-in and you have to turn around and say thank you.” After receiving criticism for his comments on Twitter, Henry added: “Football is a team game. Yes CH14_ scored the all-important goal but the work of Cristiano made it possible. It cannot be underestimated. “I love it when players celebrate and acknowledge the player that made the assist. The pass can be just as important as the goal.”

Ivanovic says Hazard is the most important player….

Eden Hazard

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic says team-mate Eden Hazard has “made a difference in very game” as the Blues close in on the Premier League title. Ivanovic, Hazard and skipper John Terry have started all Premier League games this season and the Serb, 31, believes the Belgian has had “the best season of his career”. He added: “All season he has got a lot of kickings but he never complains. He’s a hard worker on the pitch. He’s improved massively from last season and for us he has been the most important player. “He’s the guy who when you pass him the ball you just have to leave him alone. He will do everything. He’s something different.”

Nadal beaten in Barcelona….

Rafael Nadal

A shock at the Barcelona Open as eight-time champion Rafael Nadal is knocked out by Fabio Fognini 6-4 7-6 (8-6). The Spaniard converted only three of 18 break points in the two-hour match, while Italian Fognini took four of eight. It has not been a great start to the clay-court season for Nadal, who lost in the semi-finals of Monte Carlo last week to world number one Novak Djokovic. The 28-year-old is seeking his 10th French Open title at Roland Garros when the second Grand Slam of the season starts in Paris next month.

Dossena treated like a terrorist….

Andrea Dossena

Former Liverpool and Sunderland defender Andrea Dossena has claimed he was treated “like a terrorist” after he was arrested for shoplifting in Harrods. Italian Dossena, 33, was detained with his wife, Deborah, and young son, Romeo, at the Knightsbridge department store, but all charges were later dropped. Dossena, who is now at Leyton Orient, told Corriere dello Sport they were handcuffed, “as you would do with a terrorist”, adding: “I was obviously in disbelief, not only because of that gesture but because I didn’t know what was going on – I hadn’t realised the mistake we’d made. “They asked to see our documents that prove our status as residents of London, and obviously I didn’t have them with me – I’d left them at home. So then they took us to the police station, where they held us until 22:30, despite the needs of a two-and-a-half-year-old child. It’s absurd to treat a child this way.”

Adam Johnson charged….

England and Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson has been charged with three counts of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl. The 27-year-old, from Castle Eden, County Durham, was initially arrested on 2 March. He was also charged with one offence of grooming when he answered bail at a police station earlier, Durham Police said. He will appear before Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on 20 May. Sunderland AFC initially suspended the winger pending the outcome of the investigation, but this was lifted on 18 March. The club are yet to comment on the charges. Gerry Wareham, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said he had authorised police to charge Johnson under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. He said the offences are alleged to have been committed on a single victim between 30 December 2014 to 26 February this year. “May I remind all concerned that the defendant has a right to a fair trial,” he said. “It is very important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings. “I would also remind people that the complainant in this case is entitled to lifelong anonymity under the law. For these reasons, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.” Born in Sunderland, Johnson began his career at Middlesbrough FC before moving to Manchester City and then Sunderland for £10m in 2012.