Osaze Confirms Siasia No-show!
West Brom Manager Issues Osaze Warning |
| Peter Osaze Odemwingie |
Super Eagles striker, Osaze Odemwingie did not parley with coach Samson Siasia in England as widely expected, the 29 year-old himself told Complete Sports from his base.
The West Bromwich Albion forward’s revelation also confirmed earlier release by the Nigeria Football Federation that the bad weather condition which prevented most Premier League clubs from playing over the weekend and also grounded airlines and road transportation in England was reason for the visit which Siasia intended to use in fostering a cordial working relationship with coaches of the Super Eagles stars in England and sell his plans and visions for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier next year had to be put on hold.
The West Bromwich Albion forward’s revelation also confirmed earlier release by the Nigeria Football Federation that the bad weather condition which prevented most Premier League clubs from playing over the weekend and also grounded airlines and road transportation in England was reason for the visit which Siasia intended to use in fostering a cordial working relationship with coaches of the Super Eagles stars in England and sell his plans and visions for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier next year had to be put on hold.
Meanwhile, West Brom boss Robeto Di Matteo has warned that Peter Odemwingie could be at risk of burnout this season.
The Nigerian striker Has been a revelation for the Baggies since signing from Lokomotiv Moscow, settling into life in England with consummate ease.
Niggling knocks have started to creep in, though, with the 29-year-old having played virtually non-stop for the last 12 months.
Domestic duties in Russia and then World Cup commitments in South Africa have ensured that he has gone without a prolonged period of rest.
That could prove costly in the long run, with the Premier League no place for tired legs.
Risk
The Nigerian striker Has been a revelation for the Baggies since signing from Lokomotiv Moscow, settling into life in England with consummate ease.
Niggling knocks have started to creep in, though, with the 29-year-old having played virtually non-stop for the last 12 months.
Domestic duties in Russia and then World Cup commitments in South Africa have ensured that he has gone without a prolonged period of rest.
That could prove costly in the long run, with the Premier League no place for tired legs.
Risk
Odemwingie trained with his team mates on Friday and Saturday to put himself in contention for a place in the derby with Wolves before Sunday’s match was postponed.
But the loss of the game to the weather means he will have an extra week to recover properly from his knee, groin and calf niggles – injuries Di Matteo believes were due in part to his trip with Nigeria to the summer’s World Cup.
He said: “Peter hasn’t had a break and you can see a lot of players that were involved in the World Cup are having problems at this stage of the season, which was expected.
“We know it’s something we have to deal with. He has played in the World Cup and the Russian season is different, because they play through the summer as well.
“We just have to do our best to keep him fit for as long as possible. I think he only got nine days off, so it is difficult.
“The risk of injuries is higher for those players that haven’t had a break because of the World Cup.”
But the loss of the game to the weather means he will have an extra week to recover properly from his knee, groin and calf niggles – injuries Di Matteo believes were due in part to his trip with Nigeria to the summer’s World Cup.
He said: “Peter hasn’t had a break and you can see a lot of players that were involved in the World Cup are having problems at this stage of the season, which was expected.
“We know it’s something we have to deal with. He has played in the World Cup and the Russian season is different, because they play through the summer as well.
“We just have to do our best to keep him fit for as long as possible. I think he only got nine days off, so it is difficult.
“The risk of injuries is higher for those players that haven’t had a break because of the World Cup.”
IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING
Arsenal Captain Says Barca Are Not Invincible
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas intends to drive belief into his side by insisting they have the ability to beat Barcelona.Arsenal’s penalty for failing to top their group is a last-16 meeting with Pep Guardiola’s in-form side. The Gunners have taken a walk in the betting for the Champions League, but Fabregas – a product of the Catalans’ academy – has no fears about taking on Barca.
“Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool have knocked them out in recent years. Maybe it’s our turn now – and why not?
“If we want to be champions of Europe, we have to be able to beat anyone and everyone – and that includes Barca.”
Fabregas broke his leg against Barcelona when Arsenal drew with them in their Champions League quarter-final first-leg last season, and was missing for the return tie at the Nou Camp, which the Catalans dominated thanks to a four-goal salvo from Lionel Messi
ENYEAMA, TAIWO MAKE AFRICA’S BEST ELEVEN
Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama and left back, Taye Taiwo have been named in CAF’s Best XI released by the Africa’s continental football ruling body in Cairo on Monday.
Enyeama had a decent 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, especially in the Super Eagles first game at the Mundial against Argentina in which he kept the Lionel Messi – led Albelesti attack at bay, albeit he conceded one goal controversially scored by Gabriel Heinze.
Enyeama had a decent 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, especially in the Super Eagles first game at the Mundial against Argentina in which he kept the Lionel Messi – led Albelesti attack at bay, albeit he conceded one goal controversially scored by Gabriel Heinze.
The Hapoel Tel Aviv safehands is not the only Nigerian that was recognised as Africa’s finest players for the outgoing year as Olympique Marseille’s Taye Taiwo also made the cut for his contributions to the great feat of his Ligue I side who are currently the champions in France and for the Nigerian national team.The other players who were named in the African XI include Africa’s Footballer of the Year, Samuel Eto’O (Cameroun), Didier Drogba (Cote d’ Ivoire), Asamoah Gyan (Ghana), Wael Gomaa (Egypt), Andre Ayew (Ghana), Madjid Bougherra (Algeria), Kevin Prince Boateng (Ghana), Ahmed Hassan (Egypt) and Ahmed El Mohamady (Egypt).
Meanwhile, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Alhaji Aminu Maigari was one of the seven soccer federation chiefs across Africa who received a special recognition award for their immense contributions to the development of football on the continent.
Maigari was in the Egyptian capital alongside Ghana’s Kwesi Nyantakyi who is a candidate for a place in the CAF executive committee whose election comes up in February 2011.
Others include Egypt’s Samir Zaher, Algeria’s Mohamed Raouraowa, Jacques Anouma of Cote d’ Ivoire and the duo of Iya Mohammed and Kirsten Nematandani from Cameroun and South Africa respectively.
Under Maigari’s administration since taking over the reins from impeached Sani Lulu, Nigeria’s U-20 female national team, the Super Falconets became the first African women’s side to reach the final of a FIFA Women’s World Cup.Others include Egypt’s Samir Zaher, Algeria’s Mohamed Raouraowa, Jacques Anouma of Cote d’ Ivoire and the duo of Iya Mohammed and Kirsten Nematandani from Cameroun and South Africa respectively.
The Falconets gallantly lost 2-0 to hosts, Germany at the U-20 Women’s World Cup held this year.
The women’s senior national team, Super Falcons also reclaimed their crown as the continent’s queens when they defeated Equatorial Guinea 4-2 on November14, making it the sixth time the country would be winning the title in seven editions since the championship started in 1998
PERPETUA, SUPER FALCONS SWEEP WOMEN AWARDS
What Nigeria lost by not having any nominee in the men’s category in last night’s awards ceremony in Cairo,it more than made up for in the women’s where she made a clean sweep of the available awards.The Woman Footballer of the Year went to front runner Perpetua Nkwocha whose prolific goal scoring exploits won the SuperFalcons the 7th CAF Africa Women’s Championship this year. Its Nkwocha’s third title after wins in 2004 and 2005.
Nkwocha was chosen ahead of two of her compatriots,Stella Mbachu who was voted the most valuable player of the last CAF Women’s Championships in South Africa and Falconets star,Ebera Orji.
The clean sweep was completed with the Falcons beating their U20 side,the Falconets who made it all the way to the final of the FIFA U-2- Women’s World Cup in Germany to the Women’ National Team of the Year award
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