Toyin Ibitoye's Blog

Monday, 9 December 2013

KEANE GOES IN ON FERGIE AGAIN!

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has lashed out again at retired Old Trafford manager Alex Ferguson in a ITV4 documentary set to be aired on Tuesday.

The fiery Irishman claims the Scottish coach is trying to exert "control and power" at the struggling defending champions and has a "massive ego".

Keane, who was the midfield driving force in a glorious spell for the club between 1993 and 2005, but who has fallen out with Ferguson since then, said his former boss at Nottingham Forest, Brian Clough, was the best manager he worked under.

United have endured a difficult start to life under Ferguson's successor David Moyes, having already lost three league games at Old Trafford, leaving them in ninth spot and 13 points behind front-runners Arsenal.

Keane said of Ferguson, now a director at United: "Everything is about control and power. He's still striving for it now even though he's not manager. There's massive ego involved in that."

Keane, who left United in 2005 after a disagreement with Ferguson, was speaking in an ITV4 documentary called 'Keane and Vieira: The Best of Enemies' concerning his rivalry with former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira.

He said that his relationship with the former United boss is now "non existent".

The Irishman even took issue with Ferguson praising him in his recently released autobiography for "covering every blade of grass" in the 1999 Champions League semi-final second leg against Juventus.

Keane added: "Stuff like that almost insults me. I get offended when people give quotes like that about me. It's like praising the postman for delivering letters."

Keane admitted he had cried in his car when his United career came to an abrupt end over a candid interview he gave to the club's in-house television station criticising his team-mates.

He said: "Of course I was upset: I did shed a few tears in my car for about two minutes.

"But I also told myself I had to get on with my life.

"I walked out with nothing, I had no club lined up and I was injured.

"I told David Gill I had been injured playing for Man United.

"I could have played for Manchester United easily for another couple of years."

Keane said Ferguson's strongest trait was his "ruthlessness", while labelling "loyalty" his biggest weakness.

Ferguson said in his autobiography that his authority at Old Trafford would have been undermined had he not forced Keane out in 2005.

The Scot said Keane had "slaughtered" several of his team-mates in the MUTV interview. Ferguson said Keane invited the United players to watch the interview, but that the decision backfired when several senior players, including Dutch duo Edwin van der Sar and Ruud van Nistelrooy, rounded on the captain.

Ferguson said at a press conference promoting the release of his book in October: "'We had to react to the situation so quickly because his actions were so quick. For one reason or another he decides to go and criticise his team-mates.

"We decided we had to do something. The meeting in the room was horrendous. I just couldn't lose my control in this situation.

"Throughout my career I have been strong enough to deal with important issues like that. Roy overstepped his mark. There was no other thing we could do."

Keane told ITV in October: "I do remember having conversations with the manager when I was at the club about loyalty and, in my opinion, I don't think he knows the meaning of the word."

CULLED FROM AFP

BRAZIL STADIUM VIOLENCE: 3 FANS STILL IN HOSPITAL!

Three fans remained hospitalised on Monday a day after violent clashes erupted during a football league match in southern Brazil, hospital officials said.

On Sunday, fans of Atletico Paranaense and Vasco da Gama fought running battles in the stands at the stadium in the city of Joinville from as early as the 17th minute when Atletico took a 1-0 lead.

A police helicopter was forced to land on the pitch to bring the violence, which lasted more than one hour, to an end and allow medical help to the injured.

Four spectators were rushed to San Jose hospital in Joinville, in the southern state of Santa Catarina, but one was released shortly afterwards.

Two more were still under observation and expected to leave the hospital Monday, while the other, who is in more serious condition, was to be moved to a private clinic, the hospital said.

"He is in a more serious condition, with head trauma," a hospital spokesman said.

The match was held up for an hour before being restarted. Atletico won the game 5-1.

Military police did not respond quickly because security was handled by a private security firm, a spokesman said.

The violence erupted six months before the kickoff of the World Cup as the country races against time to complete the 12 host arenas for the high-profile event,

Several stadiums, including Sao Paulo's Arena Corinthians which was hit by a fatal crane accident, will be delivered behind the initial December 31 deadline set by football's world governing body FIFA.

Joinville stadium is not hosting a match in the World Cup which starts on June 12.

CULLED FROM AFP

TURKISH MINISTER UPSET WITH T-SHIRT ACTION

Turkey's sports minister lashed out on Monday at moves by the football authorities to punish two top Ivorian club players for paying homage to Nelson Mandela.

Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Eboue have been threatened with disciplinary action by the Turkish Football Federation for violating a ban on wearing political slogans on T-shirts -- triggering outrage on Twitter.

Turkish Sports Minister Suat Kilic called on the federation to review its decision against the two star players with Istanbul giant Galatasaray.

"I don't find it a healthy choice in terms of Turkey's image abroad and the two footballers' (freedom of) expression," he said.

Drogba removed his club shirt after a match Friday against SB Elazigspor to reveal a T-shirt that read "Thank You Madiba", using Mandela's clan name.

Teammate Eboue also honoured the South African anti-apartheid hero who died on Thursday with a T-shirt that said "Rest in Peace Nelson Mandela".

The federation defended its decision to summon the two players, saying they had not sought permission for their action.

But the move caused fury among scores of Twitter users, with some accusing the body of "fascism".

"There's a minute of silence for Mandela before a match in Britain but in Turkey, there are fines," said one tweet signed by Erce Sahin.

ALAMPASU SET TO MOVE TO BELGIUM!

The Best goalkeeper at the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup Dele Alampasu is set to complete a move to Belgian side Genk.

Alampasu, who was instrumental to the Golden Eaglets victory at the tournament, has been invited to the home-based Eagles preparing for the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) billed for next month in South Africa.

The agent who brokered the deal for Alampasu, Goke Oshotoba, revealed,"Everything has been concluded with the club but the player won't join the team until after CHAN.

"The good thing about this deal is that Genk came after the player on their own after watching him at the U17 World Cup. So, they have agreed to have him go get more experience at CHAN if he eventually makes the final squad to the Championship."

However, Oshotoba will not divulge the financial details of Alampasu’s contract.

“It would not be right to give you details of the contract. When the time is right we will let all that out but now all I can confirm to you is that Dele Alampasu has agreed to join the Belgian side Genk."

CULLED FROM MTNFootball.com

BALLON D'OR FINALISTS REVEALED!

Cristiano Ronaldo, Franck Ribery and Lionel Messi are on the three-man shortlist for the 2013 Ballon d'Or.

The trio were chosen from the 23-man list, which included Gareth Bale, and the world player of the year will be revealed on 13 January.

Barcelona's Messi has won four years in a row but Real Madrid forward Ronaldo is the favourite to win this year.

The women's final trio are Nadine Angerer (Germany), Marta (Brazil) and Abby Wambach (USA).

Fifa has also confirmed the final three for coach of the year - with former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson vying with ex-Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes and Borussia Dortmund's Jurgen Klopp for the award.

The winners, to be announced at a ceremony in Zurich, will be decided by a vote among the captains and head coaches of all Fifa-affiliated men's national teams, as well as by international media representatives selected by France Football magazine.

FIFA has also confirmed the final nominees for the FIFPro World XI 2013, a team of the year.

The British candidates are England defenders Leighton Baines and Ashley Cole, midfielder Steven Gerrard, striker Wayne Rooney and Wales forward Bale.

The other Premier League nominees are: Chelsea's Petr Cech, Branislav Ivanovic and David Luiz, Manchester City's Vicent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta, Toure and Sergio Aguero, Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic and Van Persie, Arsenal's Ozil and Liverpool's Suarez.

SODJE ARRESTED FOR MATCH FIXING!

Former Super Eagles defender Sam Sodje and his brother Stephen were arrested on Sunday after being secretly filmed by an undercover reporter claiming he could arrange for players to pick up yellow cards in exchange for cash. Sodje demanded £30,000 for a booking and £50,000 for a player to get a red card during a match. He even claimed he punched a player in the groin during a match to be deliberately sent off - and pick up a £70,000 bribe. The former Reading and Brentford defender also boasted that he could rig Premier League and World Cup games.

He said some African players could be easily tempted because they do not get paid much to represent their national teams. The brothers were arrested by detectives from the National Crime Agency at their homes in Abbeywood, south London. Cops were seen carrying away evidence, including a desktop computer, from Stephen’s £120,000 home.

Another of Sodje’s brothers, Akpo, 33, who plays for Tranmere Rovers, was also captured discussing spot-fixing. A third man was arrested in connection with the case today but police refused to reveal if it was Akpo.

Sodje told an undercover investigator that he had “sorted” one former Premier League player to deliberately pick up a booking.

He said the star, who cannot be named, received £30,000 in exchange for the yellow card during a Championship match.

“This guy came to meet me at my house and it was sorted,” boasted the former Nigeria international.

“That’s how easy it is - it’s nothing. The booking one is easy. You just push someone, swear at the referee, kick the ball away.

“A yellow card is a standard thing. No one would even be suspicious.”

Sodje allegedly demanded a Rolex watch and a Range Rover for acting as “fixer” for the dodgy deal.

He said he picked up £70,000 after deliberately getting sent off while playing for Portsmouth earlier this year.

The player received a red card after punching Oldham’s Jose Baxter twice in the crotch. Sodje also claimed he could rig Premier League games and had discussed match-fixing with several top names.

Friday, 6 December 2013

HUGE SUCCESS AT OLUMIDE OYEDEJI'S LONDON EVENT!

Former Nba star and current Nigerian basketball national team captain Olumide Oyedeji hosted a charity basketball clinic at the Damilola Taylor centre in the heart of Peckham London. The Nigerian sports icon's foundation ( Olumide Oyedeji youth foundation ) themed the 3 day event '' pick a book not a knife, shoot a ball not a gun'' and Olumide describes this as '' the use of sports to engage the young kids from inner city areas, discouraging them from joining gangs whilst encouraging them to stay in school''.

He continues to say '' the alarming number of kids of African decent getting involved in knife and gun crime in London and my British roots helped make the decision to put this event together''.

After successfully running his foundation for over 13 years by himself and hosting clinics all over the world including yearly events in his home country Nigeria, the basketball star said London was just another place where a role model like him could make a positive impact in the kids lives and the benefits of such events will be felt by the community as a whole.

The event itself turned out to be a huge success with parents and children coming out in mass to the basketball clinic and celebrities like tv host's Adora Oleh, Mimi Fawaz and Adesope Olajide and other popular personalities like Dj Abass, chart topping producer Bayoz Muzik and his protege Moelogo and many more came to support the star as well.

See more pictures of the 3 day basketball clinic including Olumide Oyedeji's stop at the Deptford Green College where he gave an inspirational talk to the students as well as taking charge of their basketball class for the morning.