Sports
Ebi Egbe To Speak At Africa Football Business Summit In Kenya
![](https://spazr.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Ebi-Egbe-To-Speak-At-Africa-Football-Business-Summit-In.jpg)
One of the leading African sports facilities experts, Ebi Egbe, would this month grace Africa football business summit in Kenya as guest speaker....Read Full Article
Egbe, a certified grounds man and FIFA licensed agent is being invited to speak based on his pedigree which is being acknowledged globally.
The letter of invitation from the organizers of the football summit said Egbe’s invitation as a guest speaker was to share his knowledge on the importance of sustainable sports facilities in developing African football, innovations in hybrid synthetic football pitch construction, saying his presence and expertise would greatly enrich the discussions at the Africa Football Business Summit.
“Your extensive experience and significant contributions to the football industry, both as a former football agent and now as the Managing Director of Monimichelle Sports Facilities Construction Ltd, make you an ideal speaker for our Summit. Your expertise in turnkey sustainable sports facilities construction and hybrid synthetic football pitch construction would be invaluable to our audience in light of the ongoing investments in sports infrastructure developments.
“We are particularly interested in having you share your knowledge on the importance of sustainable sports facilities in developing African football, innovations in hybrid synthetic football pitch construction and the role of quality infrastructure in enhancing player performance and fan experience.
“Your presence and expertise would greatly enrich the discussions at the Africa Football Business Summit 2024 and provide valuable perspectives on the importance of sports infrastructure in football development. We are confident that your participation will inspire and inform our attendees, contributing significantly to the event’s success,” letter read in part.”
Reacting to the invitation yesterday, Egbe said he would be in Nairobi for the all important summit which he noted falls in line with the vision of his company to eradicate bad pitches in Africa.
“It is a big honor to be recognized by the organizers. I will be there to share my experience with other attendees at the summit. And I am happy people are watching and acknowledging the good work we are doing at Monimichelle,” Egbe said.
Egbe’s outfit, it would be noted, constructed the pitches at Enyimba stadium, Aba, Remo Stadium Ikenne, Kakanda Stadium, Katsina and the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos the venue that last weekend hosted Nigeria’s President Federation Cup final.
Discover more from SPAZR
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Sports
Euro 2024: Messi hasn’t scored in Copa America – Ferdinand slams Ronaldo’s critics
![](https://spazr.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Euro-2024-Messi-hasnt-scored-in-Copa-America-Ferdinand.webp.webp)
Rio Ferdinand has slammed critics of Portugal legend, Cristiano Ronaldo....Read Full Article
There have been calls for the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star to leave the national team, following a very poor performance at the European championships.
Ferdinand wonders why Ronaldo’s critics do not attack Lionel Messi, who is not also having the best of times at Copa America.
He said that though the Portugal captain did not do well in Germany, but it has been the same for the Argentine at Copa America.
Ferdinand said on Vibe with Five that the critics have been disrespectful of Ronaldo.
“He [Ronaldo] didn’t have a good tournament. He didn’t play well to the levels that he played [before]. You are [being disrespectful when you say he must leave the national team].
“For what he’s done, you can’t be saying that, I don’t care. They [should] just let him go out, when he wants to go out.
“What was Portugal doing before Cristiano Ronaldo? Messi hasn’t scored in the Copa America and I haven’t heard a sniff.”
Discover more from SPAZR
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Sports
Minister Tasks Team Nigeria On Performance, Hands Over Contingent To NOC, NPC
![](https://spazr.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Minister-Tasks-Team-Nigeria-On-Performance-Hands-Over-Contingent-To.webp.webp)
Sports development minister, Senator John Owan Enoh, has charged Nigerian athletes to compete favorably and achieve podium performances at the forthcoming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France....Read Full Article
He gave the charge yesterday in Abuja during the official handover and farewell ceremony of the Team Nigeria contingent to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
He urged the contingent to strive for podium feat at the Games, emphasizing the importance of hard work and dedication.
He announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has fully approved the budget for the Games, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to excellence in sports. He therefore tasked members of Team Nigeria to make the President and the entire country proud in Paris.
“We have no excuse whatsoever,” said Senator Enoh. “The President has approved the entire budget for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, so it is up to us to try to reciprocate the goodwill of the President and give him reasons to continue to do more. It is not the first time he has done this. In December, he did the same for our male and female football teams by paying backlogs of salaries. He has done the same for our contingent going to the Olympics and Paralympics.”
Senator Enoh also highlighted the importance of the foreign training tours for different sports, aimed at ensuring the physical, technical, and tactical readiness of the athletes for the Games.
“Given the effort of both the Government and the Ministry, as well as well-meaning agencies, it is important that the athletes involved in this national call of duty regard themselves as performing an ambassadorial function, as ambassadors of Nigeria. We expect discipline, honesty, commitment, and responsibility to perform creditably well for podium placements.”
“Our expectations are high, and given my interactions with our athletes, I have no doubt that these expectations will be met,” he added.
The event was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, Atinuke Watti, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Abu Gumel, President of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria, Sunday Odebode, Charge D’affaire of the France Embassy in Nigeria, sports federations presidents, among others.
The ceremony also featured the official unveiling of Team Nigeria’s kits to be used in Paris.
Discover more from SPAZR
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Sports
NPFL transfer: Rangers, Enyimba battle for Okafor’s signature
![](https://spazr.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/NPFL-transfer-Rangers-Enyimba-battle-for-Okafors-signature.jpg)
Onyekachi Okafor is attracting interest from reigning Nigeria Premier Football League champions, Rangers and Enyimba, DAILY POST reports....Read Full Article
The Oriental rivals are desperate to add the player to their squad.
Okafor is a free agent after leaving Nigeria National League (NNL) side last season.
He recorded seven goals for the Naze Millionaires.
Rangers and Enyimba have made key additions to their squad in readiness for the new season.
The 30-year-old forward started his playing career with Enyimba.
Discover more from SPAZR
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Sports
NNL: Abia Comets give reasons for sacking 21 players
![](https://spazr.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/NNL-Abia-Comets-give-reasons-for-sacking-21-players.jpg)
Abia Comets have revealed the reason behind their decision to sack 21 players....Read Full Article
The Nigeria National League (NNL) side announced the sacking of the players on Monday.
Chairman of the club, Boniface Uche said that the gesture was aimed at re-engineering the team for a better performance next season.
Uche stressed that the players dropped were mostly those whose contracts have expired and those who are on loan with the club.
He assured that more quality players will be recruited ahead of the new season.
“I want to be quoted anywhere, Abia Comets is not owing any player nor staff. Everyone has been paid as at when due,” he told the media.
“We didn’t sack any of our staff, unless those whose contracts elapsed with the season. As we prepare for the new season, those of them that their services will be needed, will be recalled.”
Discover more from SPAZR
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Sports
Southgate Urged To Drop Kane Against Netherlands
![](https://spazr.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Southgate-Urged-To-Drop-Kane-Against-Netherlands.jpg)
Ex-England player Wayne Bridge has called on Gareth Southgate to drop Harry Kane in favour of Ivan Toney for Euro 2024 semi-final against Netherlands....Read Full Article
Bridge, who played for England 36 times between 2002 and 2009, suggested he would rather have seen Southgate drop Kane in a game that didn’t have much riding on it – like the third group stage fixture against Slovenia – but would still personally bench Kane in favour of Toney…or perhaps Ollie Watkins.
Kane has scored twice in five games at Euro 2024, including England’s extra-time winner against Slovakia in the last 16. But he has struggled to make a consistent impact with his overall performances, failing to fully click with the wingers and midfielders supporting him. Overall, England have progressed as far as the competition’s last four by grinding out results rather than blowing teams away, with Southgate and Kane in particular taking the brunt of frustrated criticism from fans and pundits.
Bridge told Betfred: “It would be a big statement for somebody to come out and say ‘drop Harry Kane’, but if you’re in the manager’s position, then can you really drop him? I would like to see it however, just to see how things change.
“I’d love to see either Ivan Toney or Ollie Watkins get more of a chance. It’s a big call to drop Harry Kane, but it’s one of them that I wish they did in the final group game which they didn’t desperately have to win because it would have been good to experiment and see how it goes. If you asked me whether or not to drop Harry Kane, then I’d probably say yes and have Ivan Toney up front but in Gareth’s position, it would be a very difficult call to make.”
Discover more from SPAZR
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Sports
Euro 2024: UEFA sticks with ref banned for match-fixing for England vs Netherlands
![](https://spazr.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Euro-2024-Two-teams-qualify-for-quarter-finals.jpg)
UEFA have opted to stick with referee Felix Zwayer for the Euro 2024 semi-final between England and the Netherlands on Wednesday....Read Full Article
Zwayer’s appointment raised a lot of eyebrows because of his history.
The 43-year-old served a six-month ban for accepting a €300 (£253.82) bribe from fellow referee Robert Hoyzer in a 2005 scandal.
Mail Sport contacted UEFA for comment, querying why Zwayer would be chosen to officiate the fixture.
The UEFA bosses conducted a review and decided to go on with Zwayer for Wednesday’s semi-final.
The England vs Netherlands game kicks off 8pm in Dortmund.
Discover more from SPAZR
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Sports
England Vs Netherlands Ref Served Match-fixing Ban
![](https://spazr.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/England-Vs-Netherlands-Ref-Served-Match-fixing-Ban.webp.webp)
UEFA has appointed a referee who previously confessed to match-fixing — and whose integrity was publicly questioned by Jude Bellingham — for England’s Euro 2024 semifinal against the Netherlands....Read Full Article
Felix Zwayer will officiate Wednesday’s clash in Dortmund despite being banned for six months in 2005 after taking a €300 ($325) bribe from another official, Robert Hoyzer.
A 2005 investigation found that Zwayer accepted a bribe to favour German club Wuppertaler SV in their match against Werder Bremen Amateure in May 2004.
Bellingham referred back to that incident in a postmatch interview in 2021 after Borussia Dortmund lost 3-2 to Bayern Munich in a huge Bundesliga game.
The England midfielder, who played for Dortmund at the time, said: “You can look at a lot of the decisions in the game.
“You give a referee, that has match-fixed before, the biggest game in Germany. What do you expect?”
Bellingham was subsequently fined €40,000 for his comments, which came after Dortmund were denied a penalty at one end and conceded one at the other.
Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke added at the time: “To be clear, Jude was not spreading lies, but what happened in the past. This statement shouldn’t have been, but I don’t see anything untrue there. I don’t expect that to have any consequences for Jude.”
Zwayer officiated the Netherlands’ 3-0 win over Romania in the Euro 2024 round of 16 on Tuesday.
The FA declined to comment on Zwayer’s appointment when contacted by ESPN.
England defender Luke Shaw was quick to dispel any thoughts of conspiracy when asked at a news conference Monday if the refereeing situation was uncomfortable.
“No, not at all,” the Manchester United player said. “We have to respect UEFA in whoever they decide to pick as the ref. That won’t change anything about us.
“We still just focus on the game in hand, not too much about what refs we’ve been given or this and that. For us, it won’t make any difference.”
Shaw went on to say he had never played in a game where he thought the officials were acting against his team.
“Sometimes in the heat of the moment, you get angry in games and you might think that, but no,” he said.
“Whatever ref has been picked has been picked. We just have to be ready and not focus on that.”
Discover more from SPAZR
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Sports
Euro 2024: Supercomputer predicts semi-final results, trophy winners
![](https://spazr.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Euro-2024-Supercomputer-predicts-semi-final-results-trophy-winners.jpeg)
Opta’s Supercomputer has predicted the likely winners of the two Euro 2024 semi-finals....Read Full Article
It has also revealed which country has the best chance of becoming European champions on Sunday evening.
There are four teams left after a month of the tournament – France, Spain, the Netherlands and England.
According to Opta, England have a 51.51% chance of qualifying for the final as opposed to 48.49% for the Netherlands.
Spain are seen as slight favourites in the other game with a 53.51% chance of making the showpiece event in Berlin.
England have been given just a 22.58% chance of winning Euro 2024 – with only the Netherlands given less chance.
France are the new favourites and have been given a 30.49%, while Spain have a 30.3% chance of success in Germany.
Discover more from SPAZR
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Sports
Transfer: Greenwood, Sancho, six other Man Utd players to leave this summer
![](https://spazr.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Transfer-Greenwood-Sancho-six-other-Man-Utd-players-to-leave.jpg)
Mason Greenwood and Jadon Sancho are set to lead an eight-player exodus at Manchester United this summer....Read Full Article
According to the Daily Mail, Greenwood has held talks with senior officials at Carrington on the first day of pre-season training.
During the meeting, the 22-year-old was informed he was up for sale.
Greenwood is already in talks with several clubs and could be playing for Marseille next season.
Sancho is also on the market and Juventus are believed to be leading the chase for the £40 million-rated winger.
Donny van de Beek is close to finalizing a move to Girona with United ready to accept £450,000, a huge loss from the £35million they paid Ajax four years ago. However, the deal includes potential add-ons of up to £16million and a sell-on clause.
United are also desperate to get rid of Casemiro’s £375,000-a-week wages from their bill, with Saudi Arabia looking like the Brazilian’s possible destination.
Victor Lindelof has attracted interest from Fenerbahce, while Galatasaray and West Ham are monitoring Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Scott McTominay has emerged as a target for Fulham and Everton.
It is understood that United have entered the summer transfer window with a modest £50million budget and are hoping to augment that money through player sales.
Discover more from SPAZR
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Sports
Transfer: Mourinho to make ex-EPL winger first Fenerbahce signing
![](https://spazr.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/EPL-Man-Utd-have-given-Ten-Hag-what-I-didnt.jpg)
Fenerbahce manager, Jose Mourinho, is ready to make Allan Saint-Maximin one of his first signings at the club....Read Full Article
Mourinho was confirmed as the new head coach of the Turkish club last month.
The former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss has been tasked with winning the league title with Fenerbahce for the first time since 2014.
Mourinho has now pinpointed former Newcastle winger, Saint-Maximin, as a player that could make a difference.
Football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, tweeted on Tuesday: “José Mourinho wants Allan Saint-Maximin to Fenerbahçe as one of the priority targets, negotiations are ongoing also on the club side.
“He’s already approved the move, waiting for a club-to-club agreement.”
Discover more from SPAZR
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
-
Latest2 days ago
Declare State Of Emergency On Hunger, Starvation – APC Chieftain, Oyintiloye Urges Tinubu
-
Latest3 days ago
Tinubu Not Nigeria’s Messiah, Will Struggle For Second Term – Primate Ayodele
-
Sports3 days ago
Euro 2024: England’s hero – Piers Morgan singles out one player after win over Switzerland
-
Latest2 days ago
Expect Political Coup Against Tinubu – Primate Ayodele
-
Latest2 days ago
BREAKING: NDLEA Busts Cocaine Cartel In Lagos Raid, Arrests Couple, Seizes N2.1Billion Worth Of Cocaine (Photos)
-
Latest2 days ago
Return Diverted N30,000 Sallah Gift To Workers Or Face Serious Consequences – Sokoto Governor Warns Officials
-
Sports2 days ago
Euro 2024: Sutton predicts England vs Netherlands semi-final clash
-
Sports2 days ago
Euro 2024: Koeman reveals team he wants Netherlands to play in final
-
Latest3 days ago
Dele Momodu Opens Up On Davido’s Child Custody Battle With Sophia
-
Sports3 days ago
Transfer: Lazio sign Dele-Bashiru from Hatayspor
-
Latest3 days ago
This Is Not How To Handle Differences
-
Latest3 days ago
EFCC Is The Most Corrupt And Useless Govt Agency – Mompha Says
-
Sports2 days ago
Copa America 2024: Brazil coach names who to blame after quarter-final exit
-
Latest23 hours ago
Amaewhule-Led Assembly Gives Fubara Deadline To Resubmit 2024 Budget
-
Latest3 days ago
‘No Petrol Supply By NNPCL’ – Marketers Explain Return Of Fuel Queues In Nigeria
-
Latest3 days ago
Four Declared Dead As Rescue Operation Ends In Anambra Market Collapsed Building
-
Latest3 days ago
Police Kill Kidnapper, Arrest Three Others In Delta
-
Latest6 hours ago
Atiku, Peter Obi, Kwankwaso, El-Rufai Must Unite Against Tinubu – APC Chieftain
-
Latest3 days ago
Nigerian Lady Attends Class In Heavy Rain, Finds Empty Classroom, But Gets Rewarded By Lecturer
-
Sports3 days ago
Kerr & Johnson-Thompson Head GB Olympics Athletics Squad