Seedorf Appointed New Milan Coach

Former AC Milan midfielder, Clarence Seedorf has announced his retirement from his playing career to take up the vacant coaching job at San Siro.

The Dutch great made over 400 appearances in his 10 years at Milan, during which he won two Serie A and two Champions League titles.

The managerial seat at Milan became vacant as the club parted ways with Massimiliano Allegri on Monday, following Milan’s shock 4-3 defeat to Sassuolo on Sunday.

The former Holland star had been playing in Brazil for Botafogo after leaving Italy, but is new boss at the San Siro and is charged with improving the club’s fortunes.

“I’m here to announce that I’m quitting professional football. After 22 years, it was the right move. It was a very difficult night, but I’m very proud of what I’ve done in my career.

“I’m very satisfied with what I’ve done with Botafogo. Helping the team to get back to Libertadores Cup was very important as it was winning the state championship, but this was just too good an opportunity to turn down.”

“I leave an improved club, especially in terms of their mentality and team spirit.

“Milan? We will meet again. This experience of the last year and a half has made me grow up a lot and will help me in my next step, as coach of Milan, who have hired me in both an elegant and correct manner.

“I like challenges and coaching Milan will be another challenge in my career,” Seedorf said in a press conference at the stadium.

Allegri won the Serie A title in his first season at the San Siro back in 2011 but the Italian giants have been on the slide ever since, and are 11th in the table, 30 points adrift of table-toppers Juventus.

Allegri, 46, was going to leave the club at the end of the season, but was told to go earlier in the wake of Sunday’s 4-3 loss to minnows Sassuolo. See More....

Cristiano Ronaldo Breaks Down In Tears As He Wins 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or

After years of hardwork clouded by Lionel Messi’s magic, Cristiano Ronaldo has been crowned the World’s Best Footballer.
Ronaldo was crowned as the 2013 Fifa Ballon d’Or winner in Zurich on Monday, breaking down in tears as he received the award.
The Real Madrid forward beat Barcelona’s Lionel Messi
and Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich to
win the 2013 Fifa Ballon d’Or.
The Portugal captain, 28, was named as the world player of the year for the first time since 2008 by national coaches, captains and journalists.
Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer won the women’s world player of the year.
Former Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes picked up the coach of the year accolade.
Ronaldo claimed the award with a total of 1,365 points, ahead of Messi (1,205) and Ribery (1,127), with the votes cast by 184 coaches, 184 national captains and 173 members of the global media.
Messi, 26, had won the award for the last four years, however Ronaldo had been viewed as the frontrunner this time after scoring 66 goals in 56
games in 2013 for club and country.
They included a sensational hat-trick for Portugal against Sweden in their World Cup qualifying play-off second leg, which sealed a place in the finals in Brazil.
“First of all, I have to say a great thanks to all of my team-mates with the club and the national team,” Ronaldo said as he cried during his
speech. “Without all of their efforts this would not have been possible. I am very happy, it is very difficult to win this award.
“Everybody that has been involved with me on a personal level, I have to thank. My wife, my friends, my son. It is a tremendously emotional moment. All I can say is thank you to everybody
that has been involved.”
Women’s player of the year Angerer, 35, saved two penalties in Germany’s 1-0 win over Norway in the 2013 European Championship final and
was named player of the match.
German national manager Silvia Neid won the women’s coach award, while Heynckes, who retired at the end of the last season after guiding Bayern Munich to a historic treble , said: “Maybe 10 years ago, I wouldn’t even have dreamt of this. I am humbled and happy to be standing here.”
The Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur was awarded to Brazil legend and three-time World Cup winner Pele . “I promised to my family that I would not
cry but I am emotional,” he said.
“I got so many trophies and prizes but I was jealous of all of those guys who got the Ballon d’Or, which I couldn’t get because I didn’t play in Europe. Now I thank God that I can complete my trophies at home.”
The Puskas Award for goal of the year went to Zlatan Ibrahimovic for his 30-yard overhead strike for Sweden, his fourth goal of the game against England in November 2012.
Former president of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge won the Fifa presidential award, while the Afghanistan Football Federation won the fair play accolade for the strides they have made advancing the
game in the war-torn country.
Some football fans are of the belief the award should have gone to Ribery. Do you think Ronaldo deserved to have won?

Man City’s Nasri Ruled Out for Two Months

Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri will be sidelined for eight weeks due to a medial knee ligament injury he sustained in Sunday’s win at Newcastle.

Manager, Manuel Pellegrini, was curious of the Frenchman’s condition following a challenge by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa at St. James’ Park.
He had said the player will undergo a test on Monday to determine the extent of what he termed a serious injury.

Samir Nasir Was Substituted Following a Challenge By Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa on Sunday.

Nasri tweeted today (Monday): “Thank you everyone for your kind words and overwhelming support, I suppose its kind of good news that i will be out around 8 weeks”.

AC Milan Sacks Coach, Allegri.

AC Milan have sacked coach Massimiliano Allegri following a disappointing Serie A campaign.

The 46-year-old got the boot a day after a below par performance in their 4-3 league defeat by minnows Sassuolo.
The Italian giants are 11th in the standings, having won just five of their 19 games in the ongoing season.
Allegri was due to leave the side on conclusion of his tenure at the San Siro, but will have to pack his bags earlier than expected alongside his backroom staff.
Assistant coach Mauro Tassotti has been ordered to take charge of the first-team on temporary basis.

AC Milan Sacks Massimiliano Allegri A Day After the Disappointing Loss to Sassuolo.

“Massimiliano Allegri and his staff have been relieved of their duties,” read the club’s statement.
“AC Milan would like to thank Mr. Allegri and his staff for their time with the club and wishes them the best of the future.”
Allegri led Milan to a Serie A title in his first season in charge after replacing Leonardo in June 2010.
They were runners-up in 2012 but finished last season’s campaign 15 points behind winners Juventus

Keshi Set to Test Home-Based Eagles’ Strength Against Ethiopia.

See: AfterEffet.com

Coach Stephen Keshi says Saturday afternoon’s international friendly against Ethiopia presents him with an opportunity to visualise the loopholes in his team, ahead of the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The coach revealed to MTNFootball.com that Warri Wolves forward Oghenekaro Etebo, who, though wasn’t name in Nigeria’s squad for the tournament, has had to stay behind because Rangers winger Ejike Uzoenyi has emerged a major doubt.
Keshi said: “Ejike Uzoenyi had a injury and we needed to observe him, so as not to have a vacuum should he not make it, we had to keep Oghene in camp.”

Italy-Bound: Super Eagles Defender Azubuike Egwuekwe Says He May Leave for the Serie A Before CHAN 2014.

Nigeria are drawn in Group A of the 2014 CHAN tournament, alongside South Africa, Mozambique and Mali while Ethiopia plays Ghana, Congo and Libya in the preliminary round. The East Africans are expected to field regular national team players, which is mainly made up of a bulk of St. George players.
Both nations met three times last year- starting with Group C final game of the Afcon 2013- with Nigeria winning all three.
Keshi will use the match to effect finishing touches on his squad ahead of their debut CHAN appearance in South Africa. There’s a lively mood in the Super Eagles camp as the players are upbeat of another victory.
“The game against Ethiopia is a great one. It will help me see the loop holes left in my team, so we can make final corrections before heading to South Africa,” Keshi added.
The venue is the Abuja National Stadium; kick-off time is 4pm.

Enyeama is Europe’s Best Goalkeeper.

Super Eagles Vice captain and Lille of France safe hands, Vincent Enyeama, has been picked as the best goalkeeper in the major leagues across Europe in the 2013/14 football season.

Research by supersport.com showed that the ratio of saves made to goals conceded by the Nigerian is by far and away the most impressive, compared to any goalkeeper at any football club in any of Europe’s top leagues this season.
The 31-year-old conceded eight goals in 19 league appearances for Lille OSC this season and was voted best player in Ligue 1 on two consecutive occasions ahead of stellar individuals like Thiago Silva, Edinson Cavani, Mathieu Valbuena, Radamel Falcao and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Vincent Enyeama.

Enyeama’s saves made to goals conceded ratio stands at seven, well ahead those of established goalkeepers like Victor Valdés (FC Barcelona), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus) and Morgan de Sanctis (AS Roma). Valdés’ saves made to goals conceded ratio in the 13 league games he played for FC Barcelona this season stands at 4.4 while Neuer’s in his 16 Bundesliga games this season was pegged at 3.9.
Italy, the land famous for tight defences, catenaccio and legendary goalkeepers produced the fourth and fifth best stoppers using statistics in the first half of the 2013/13 season as the yardstick.
Veteran Juventus man, Buffon’s figures as far as the ratio of goals conceded to saves made stood at 2.3 while De Sanctis who has been in supreme form for AS Roma managed 2.2.
Buffon has made 16 league appearances for La Vecchia Signora this season while De Sanctis has made 17 Serie A appearances for the Giallorossi this term.
Enyeama’s recent accomplishments have attracted words of adulation from Nigeria’s goalkeeper trainer, Ike Shorunmu who believes the former Enyimba star has had a barnstorming season.
“I work with (Enyeama) whenever he’s back on international duty so this news brings a smile to my face. He is making us proud and more importantly the fact that these things are happening during the season leading to the World Cup is fantastic,” Shorunmu said yesterday.
Enyeama made his debut for Nigeria in 2002 and has been capped 88 times by the Super Eagles.

SEE ORIGINAL SOURCE

“Eagles Will Win 2014 World Cup If…” – Guru Maharaj Ji Predicts Victory, Gives Condition

The Spiritual Leader of One Love Family, Satguru Maharaj Ji, has predicted victory for Super Eagles at the forthcoming 2014 World Cup in Brazil. 
SEE ORIGINAL SOURCE

He made this known to Daily Independent at his Spiritual Village, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, while speaking on plans to mark his spiritual birthday on January 1, 2014.

Maharaj Ji was determined speaking about it:

“I have said it and nothing will change it. If the Super Eagles handler, Stephen Keshi, shows more love to Maharaj Ji, the true name of the Almighty. He will lead the team to victory that will shock the world.

“I want him and top shots of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to visit Maharaj Ji Village and let us have a discussion. Let them come and put Maharaj Ji’s power to test. I cannot be here and Nigeria won’t be able to conquer the world.

“I told them before that Eagles will win the Nation’s Cup and so it was. The powers of Chukwujekwukwu will touch the players again and they will have strength to run faster as children of the light than any other team at the tournament. Nigerians should come and avail themselves of the opportunity of the power now. 

“Keshi should humble himself more. I foresee the cup coming to Nigeria in 2014. Nigerians should stop doubting because the Living Perfect Master is talking. I think by now government in its own wisdom would have shown appreciation to me for the victory of Eagles at the last Nation’s Cup. They should know that it is only by encouraging me that they receive more.”

The Spiritual Leader proceeded:

“The players, particularly the goal keeper, should avoid wearing blue jersey which was one of the things that caused initial problems for the team during the Nation’s Cup before an NFF top shot got across to me to intercede. Blue is the colour of mermaid. That is not ideal for any progressive development. 

“I have said it loud and clear that the cup is within reach and definitely it will come to Nigeria if the sports administrators and the coaches take the advantage. I cautioned Samson Siasia, the former Eagles’ handler, but he retorted saying ‘is Satguru God’? That affected him and he was booted out. 

“However, not only the Super Eagles, tell other national teams to come and receive the power to excel and it shall be well with them at any tournament,”he assured.

Women’s Rugby Team Go Completely Unclad For Charity [+18]

Oxford University’s women’s team are likely to have gripped the attention of rugby-phobics by releasing their unclad charity calendar for 2014.

The classy black-and-white shots were taken around the idyllic city, and the calendar is being sold for £10 to raise money for Oxford’s mental health awareness campaign, Mind Your Head.

The team members decided to go ahead with the idea after the men’s team released their own edition last year, and were told: “If it was you in the pictures then we’d buy one.”

“It was mostly hilarious, really very cold, and absolutely worth it for such a good cause. 
It was a bit nerve-racking at first but after a minute it was good fun and great for team bonding.
We were lucky it was a sunny day, but I was still absolutely freezing in the picture. We ended up in the river twice, it was utterly miserable,” Tatiana Cutts said.

Club president Elizabeth Dubois added: “With this calendar the club hopes to highlight the inclusiveness of women’s rugby.
When you play women’s rugby people have a stereotypical image of you and we wanted to confront that.

We have girls of all shapes and sizes, and studying all types of academic subject.”

Source: Huffington Post

Brazil World Cup Stadiums to Miss FIFA Deadline

Three of the 2014 Brazil World Cup Stadiums presently under construction will now miss the year-end deadline earlier set by FIFA.

Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, Curitiba’s Arena da Baixada and Sao Paulo’s Arena Corinthians stadium are all set to miss the 31 December date.
The world football governing body also extended its condolence to the families of two worksmen who lost their lives in an accident in Sao Paulo last month.

Fifa Secretary General Valcke not Sure of the Possible Time of Work Resumption in Sao Paulo.

“We are feeling sad for the families,” said president Sepp Blatter. “Sao Paulo will be ready for the opening match.
“We deplore the loss of the two people who lost their lives.”
Meanwhile, the 43, 000 Arena Pantanal and the 41,000 Arena da Baixada are also behind schedule, but Blatter does not expect the issues with the stadium to course further delays.
However, FIFA secretary general, Jerome Valcke, says they will be ready by February.
“We don’t know when the green light (to resume works) will be given (in Sao Paulo).
“We are not in a crisis mood, looking at an alternative to Sao Paulo but Curitiba is facing the most problems and clearly won’t be delivered before February 2014.
“The people from Curitiba attended a meeting (on Monday) and promised to organise themselves to get the stadium ready by the end of February 2014,” said Valcke.

I see Nigeria in the finals – Jay Jay Okocha

I see Nigeria in the finals – Jay Jay Okocha Former Super Eagles captain,Austin Jay Jay Okocha,has stated that Nigeria get to the finals of the 2013 African Nations Cup. A joyous Okocha who watched Nigeria stun tournament favourites,Ivory Coast,said that the criticisms back home,spurred them to prove their skeptics wrong,and show that they can rise up to the occasion. “I don’t think words can express the way I feel right now; I feel happy and proud of these boys,” Jay Jay Okocha told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). “The name Cote d’Ivoire alone motivated the players to prove themselves, because people have already written them off.” “And when you are pushed to the wall, there is nothing you can do but to attack,” the 1994 Nations Cup winner noted. Nigeria will on Wednesday take on Mali in the semi-finals of the competition,and Okocha believes that they will do enough to secure a final berth on Sunday. “If the team can continue to play as they did on Sunday(against Ivory Coast), I don’t see them not playing in the final,’’ Okocha added. So do you align with Jay Jay Okocha,that Nigeria will get to the final?

NFF yet to pay Super Eagles promised $15,000

NFF yet to pay Super Eagles promised $15,000

It has emerged that the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF)are yet to redeem the $15,000 bonus promised to the Super Eagles,if they could defeat Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals of the 2013 African Nations Cup. The Super Eagles have fulfilled their own part,by defeating Ivory Coast 2-1,but the NFF are yet to fulfil their own bargain,owing to a paucity of funds. “We don’t know exactly what is going on. We are still expecting money from the NSC so that we can pay our debt and fulfill other responsibilities to the team. They have done well by reaching the semi-finals and we should show our appreciation,” said the source who spoke to The Punch. It is understood that the NFF are yet to get all the funds they sent to the National Sports Commission for approval,with the NSC releasing only N400m before the tournament kicked-off in South Africa. NFF is fretting over demoralising the players,ahead of the semi-finals game with Mali on Wednesday,as they feel the players might not be adequately motivated for the game,but they were hopeful of getting the remaining money before they take to the pitch against Mali. “We have hope that with the progress we have achieved, the money will come before Wednesday,” the source added.

NFF dangles $20,000 to the Super Eagles to defeat Mali

NFF dangles $20,000 to the Super Eagles to defeat Mali

In order to adequately motivate the Super Eagles players,ahead of their semifinals game against Mali at the 2013 African Nations Cup in South Africa. The Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) have promised to reward the each member of the Super Eagles with the sum of $20,000. It has not been confirmed whether the NFF have rewarded them the promised $15,000,for their victory over Ivory Coast in the quarterfinals,but there reports that the NFF are making frantic efforts to pay the bonus before the game today. Image maker of the NFF,Ademola Olajire who spoke to The Punch said,that the football house is doing everything to motivate the team. “The NFF is committed to the team’s welfare. It has the responsibility of making sure that the team is motivated to be at their best. The team has been working hard to improve on its performance and Nigerians must be happy to see the greatness in them with the defeat of Ivory Coast which was considered impossible before then. “If they move to the final by beating Mali on Wednesday, each of the players will receive $20,000. It is not the first time the NFF is showing such gesture. We did it when they moved to other stages of the championship and there is a provision for winning the title as well.” If the Super Eagles win the trophy,the total bonus they would get from the NFF could swell up to $100,000.