Griezmann named La Liga player of the season for 2015/16….

Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann has been crowned the best La Liga player for 2015-16

Atletico Madrid and France forward Antoine Griezmann has taken home the award for the best player in La Liga last season. But the glitzy awards ceremony in Valencia was overshadowed with no Barcelona players attending after manager Luis Enrique was overlooked for the best coach award. Enrique was not even part of the nominee list despite guiding Barcelona to the title and the players reacted with a defiant protest. The squad were given a day off but despite that Carles Rexach, an ambassador for the club, collected their gongs on their behalf. It was a night of unprecedented success for Atletico – their manager Diego Simeone won the best coach award while Jan Oblak and Diego Godin were named best goalkeeper and defender respectively. Griezmann, such a vital figure for both club and country, scored 22 goals in 38 La Liga games last season, adding six assists without missing a game.

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Osaze Odemwingie joins Rotherham United….

Peter Odemwingie

Rotherham United have signed unattached former West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City striker Peter Osaze Odemwingie on a short-term deal until January 2017. The 35-year-old is Millers boss Kenny Jackett’s first signing since taking over the Championship’s bottom club on 21 October, replacing Alan Stubbs. He has also played for Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow, French club Lille and on loan at Bristol City last season. League One Bolton Wanderers revealed he was training with them on Friday. But the Bolton News reported that an injury to Wanderers midfielder Tom Thorpe could force the club to seek to sign a midfielder instead of a forward. Nigeria international Odemwingie, who has also played for Cardiff, last played a competitive match on 19 April.

Birthdays of Sports People – 25th October….

Shaun Wright-Phillips

Shaun Wright-Phillips (Football) – New York Red Bulls’ former QPR, Chelsea and Manchester City winger, born 1981, 35 today.

Michael Lynagh (Rugby) – former Australia fly-half, born 1963, 53 today.

Paul Anderson (Rugby) – Former St Helens, Bradford and Great Britain prop, born 1971, 45 today.

Birgit Prinz (Football) – former Germany women’s international, named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and runner-up on five other occasions, born 1977, 39 today.

 

Giggs reckons you don’t swap shirts and laugh after a thorough beating….

Ryan Giggs

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has criticized the club’s players for laughing and joking around after their 4-0 defeat by Chelsea on Sunday at Stamford Bridge. The Red Devils never recovered after conceding in the first minute. United sit seventh in the table, with only 14 points from their first nine games. “If you get beat 4-0, you congratulate the opposition, you thank the supporters and then you get off the pitch,” Giggs told the Premier League channel. “You don’t stand around on the pitch, swapping shirts and laughing, with the team that’s just beat you.”

You agree?

Dead wrestler will not lose medal after positive re-test….

Besik Kudukhov

Deceased Russian wrestler Besik Kudukhov will not lose his London 2012 silver medal despite a positive re-test for the banned steroid Turinabol. The four-time world champion, who won silver in the men’s freestyle 60kg, died in a car crash a year after the London Olympic Games. “The International Olympic Committee will not deprive wrestler Besik Kudukhov of his silver medal in the 2012 Olympic Games in London,” said vice-president of United World Wrestling Georgy Bryusov. Indian bronze medallist Yoheshwar Dutt tweeted that he did not want to be awarded the silver when the failure came to light in August. “If possible he must be allowed to keep the medal. It will keep his family’s honour intact. For me humanity is above everything else,” he said.

Anthony Ogogo suffers another injury setback….

Ogogo won Olympic bronze at middleweight in 2008

British middleweight Anthony Ogogo has a “serious eye injury” and needs time out of boxing to assess the damage. The 2012 Olympic bronze medallist, 27, lost his unbeaten professional record against Craig Cunningham on Saturday when he was retired by his corner. He was unbeaten in 11 professional contests before meeting Cunningham in Birmingham. “After seeing an eye specialist today it turns out that I have fractured my eye socket in two places,” said Ogogo. Ogogo spent a year out with an Achilles tendon injury in 2014 and dislocated his shoulder in his comeback fight. He added: “This is obviously an incredibly tough time for me. I have overcome a lot of adversity previously and now face an uncertain time in terms of my eyesight with now another mountain to climb.” Kalle Sauerland, Ogogo’s promoter, said the injury was “very serious” and that the Suffolk-born fighter would take time out to “seek the best possible medical advice”. Anthony Osezua Ojo Ogogo was born 24 November, 1988 in Britain to an English mother and Nigerian father.

EFL Cup Fixtures (25 Oct., 2016)….

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Tuesday 25th October, 2016:

Bristol City vs Hull City 7:45 pm

Leeds United vs Norwich 7:45 pm

Liverpool vs Tottenham 7:45 pm

Newcastle vs Preston 7:45 pm

Arsenal vs Reading 7:45 pm

Bayer Leverkusen boss banned for ‘nutcase’ jibe….

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Bayer Leverkusen head coach Roger Schmidt has been banned and fined for calling an opposing manager “a nutcase” during a Bundesliga game. Schmidt was sent off by the referee for insulting Hoffenheim’s Julian Nagelsmann in Saturday’s 3-0 home loss. “That was nothing, what sort of a nutcase are you? Just shut your mouth,” Schmidt shouted after going 2-0 down. The 49-year-old has been banned for two games and handed a 15,000 euros fine. The German was sanctioned after triggering a suspended sentence from February this year. He had been banned for three games, with a further two in the event of a repeat offence before June 2017, for refusing a referee’s order to leave the sidelines during a 1-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund. Schmidt will be unable to have any contact with the team for half an hour before, during and after Tuesday’s German Cup second-round match against Lotte and Saturday’s league match against Wolfsburg. Leverkusen’s director of sport Rudi Voller has sought a meeting with the head of the disciplinary committee.

2016 Ballon d’Or shortlist….

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Behold the nominees for 2016 Ballon d’Or award:

Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City), Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Neymar (Barcelona), Dimitri Payet (West Ham), Pepe (Real Madrid), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Luis Suarez (Barcelona), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) and Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich).

What’s your wager?

Sissoko to be banned for three games….

Moussa Sissoko

Tottenham have accepted the violent conduct charge against forward Moussa Sissoko, who will now be banned for three matches. Sissoko elbowed Bournemouth’s Harry Arter on the touchline after coming on as a substitute in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at the Vitality Stadium. The incident was not seen by the match officials. He will miss Tuesday’s EFL Cup tie at Liverpool, Saturday’s home league game against Leicester and the north London derby at Arsenal on 6 November.

Del Potro wins first ATP title for three years….

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Juan Martin del Potro is celebrating his first ATP title in three years after his victory at the Stockholm Open. He beat Jack Sock 7-5 6-1 to move back into the world’s top 50. He was 1,045 in the rankings in February after missing much of 2014 and 2015 with wrist injuries. “I’ve been trying to fix my problems for the past two years and I didn’t expect to win a title at this moment in my career,” he said.

Sissoko charged with violent conduct….

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Tottenham forward Moussa Sissoko has been charged with violent conduct by the FA after allegedly elbowing Bournemouth’s Harry Arter in the Premier League game at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.Sissoko clashed with with Arter on the touchline after coming on as a substitute in Saturday’s 0-0 draw. The incident was not seen by the match officials. Sissoko has until 6 pm on Tuesday to respond to the charge.

Renato Sanches wins European Golden Boy award….

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Bayern Munich midfielder Renato Sanches has won the European Golden Boy award, beating Manchester United and England striker Marcus Rashford. The 19-year-old follows Wayne Rooney, Raheem Sterling, Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero in winning the award for Europe’s best player aged under 21. Portugal international Sanches will receive the award at a ceremony in Monte Carlo on Monday. The prize, voted for by journalists across Europe, was established by Italian newspaper Tuttosport in 2003, who revealed this year’s winner on their front page. Sanches has played eight games for the German champions this season, having joined in the summer for £27.5m, and has 11 caps for Portugal. At Euro 2016 – then aged 18 – he became the youngest player to feature in a European Championship-winning side and won the Young Player of the Tournament award.

Ballon d’Or shortlist so far….

Cristiano Ronaldo

Here are the 15 names announced so far by France Football:

Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City), Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Robert Levandowski (Bayern Munich), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

Birthday of Sports People – 24th October….

Wayne Rooney (Football) – Manchester United and England captain, born 1985, 31 today.

Jonathan Davies (Rugby) – former Wales star in union and league, born 1962, 54 today.

Claudia Fragapane (Gymnastics) – British gymnast who won four gold medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, born 1997, 19 today.

Ilkay Gundogan (Football) – Manchester City and Germany midfielder, born 1990, 26 today.

 

Mamelodi Sundowns win 2016 African Champions League….

Mamelodi Sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns held out after being under siege for almost 90 minutes to be crowned as the African champions for 2016 after restricting hosts Zamalek of Egypt to a 1-0 win in the second leg of the Champions League in Alexandria on Sunday. It meant Sundowns won 3-1 on aggregate after a convincing first leg triumph in Atteridgeville last Saturday. It was a first triumph for the South African club, whose only previous final appearance came in 2001 when they lost to Zamalek’s arch rivals Al Ahly. Zamalek got their only goal after 62 minutes from Nigeria’s Stanley Ohawuchi despite dominating the game and bombarding the Sundowns goal. But stout defending and a little luck meant Sundowns were able to hold onto their healthy first leg advantage.

Naija EPL Corner (22 – 23 Oct., 2016)….

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  • Kelechi Iheanacho replaced Kevin De Bruyne at half time and scored Manchester City’s equalizer in the 55th minute as they drew 1 – 1 with Southampton at home at the Etihad Stadium.
  • Ahmed Musa started for Leicester and scored the first goal in the 42nd minute as they beat Crystal Palace 3 – 1 at home at the King Power Stadium. He was replaced by Gray in the 81st minute.
  • Alex Iwobi started for Arsenal as they drew 0 – 0 with Middlesbrough at home at the Emirates stadium. He was replaced by Perez Martinez in the 67th minute.
  • Victor Moses started for Chelsea and played the whole game as they beat Manchester United 4 – 0 at home at the Stamford Bridge.
  • Odion Ighalo started for Watford and played the whole game as they drew 0 – 0 with Swansea away at the Liberty Stadium.
  • Victor Anichebe was an unused substitute for Sunderland as they lost 1 – 0 away to West Ham United at the London Stadium.
  • Isaac Success was not selected for Watford’s game against Swansea. Mikel Obi was also not selected for Chelsea’s game against Manchester United – The inspiring Super Eagles captain continues to pay the price for leaving Chelsea’s pre-season to represent Nigeria at the Rio Olympics where he won a Bronze medal.

When copy and paste went bad for Anichebe….

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Nigeria international and Sunderland forward Victor Anichebe tweeted the above yesterday as his “heartfelt” message to Sunderland fans but it didn’t go quite as planned. It appeared someone had sent him the text to tweet and he just did “copy and paste” without proofreading. One of those moments…lol. Anichebe sat out on the substitutes bench as Sunderland lost one nil away to West Ham United.

Iniesta out for eight weeks….

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Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta will be out for six to eight weeks after injuring knee ligaments in the dramatic win over Valencia. The midfielder was injured by an Enzo Perez tackle after 14 minutes of the 3-2 win and left on a stretcher. He could miss the rest of the Champions League group games and is definitely out of the match at Manchester City on 1 November. Barca won thanks to a late Lionel Messi penalty, his second goal of the game. Luis Enrique’ side, who went top with the win, are also going to be without Iniesta’s fellow Spain internationals Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba through injury for the City game.