Eduok vs. Udoh could have been Nigeria's Messi vs. Ronaldo

Could the NPFL's leading men have taken the top division to new heights? Sadly, their imminent departure would rob the domestic scene of potential star power and quality

The Nigerian Premier League came of age in a big way in 2014. The problems are still there, make no mistake, administrative and logistical. However, for the first time in a long time, it looked like we were on the road to getting things right again; furthermore, on-pitch events overshadowed the ugliness behind the scenes.

One of the really engaging subplots was the race for the Golden Boot between Emem Eduok and Mfon Udoh. A rivalry to set the blood racing; the shot in the arm the league needed to get everyone interested. It is the same sort of duel in La Liga that has captivated the imaginations of many, the eternal slug-fest between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Who is better? That is subjective. In the interim though, it stimulates debate and discussion, fuelling interest and drawing attention to the league.

It was this phenomenon that truly highlighted the Nigeria Premier League in 2014. A shame then that, just when the appetite has been whetted, the league is set to lose both its foremost stars. It has the potential to reach Messi vs. Ronaldo proportions, but we are unlikely to ever see it now.

A recent Goal Nigeria exclusive has revealed that Udoh and Eduok are seeking moves abroad. This is not at all surprising: the local league lacks the financial muscle to compete even on the continent, let alone with European sides looking for the next big thing.

However, it is hardly ideal that the top goalscorers of a league season are set to leave at the same time. It creates a vacuum at the top for the likes of Osaguona Ighodaro, Gbolahan Salami and Peter Ebimobowei to step up and make a name for themselves, but then again it will take a while to build up interest: all three had more goals at the mid-way point of the season than Eduok and Udoh, but struggled for consistency in the second stanza.

Consider also that both Enyimba and Dolphins are pencilled in for continental competition in February. Enyimba in particular will play in the CAF Champions League, where Nigeria’s coefficient has been dropping consistently since the People’s Elephant last won the competition in 2004. Failure to reach the group stage brings the very real prospect of losing one of the two places allotted Nigeria in the Champions League.

As it stands, both teams must replace the goals of Udoh and Eduok quickly, but will need to either buy proven quality (Enyimba followed this route in acquiring Udoh at the end of last season from Akwa United) or look within. The latter is not a promising avenue: Dolphins’ second-highest scorer in the league was Ifeanyi Egwim, who only got eight; Emeka Nwanna scored five for Enyimba.

Of course, there is also the (very slim) possibility that either or both stay. However, both were pretty categorical in their statements to the contrary.

"I will not be playing in the league next season. I'm hoping to play in one of the top class leagues in Europe. There are offers for me from Norway, Israel and others. Though, I will fancy playing in Spain," Mfon Udoh revealed to Goal.

"Where I will play depends on where the best offer comes from. I wish all the attackers that will play in the league next season will work hard and break my record," he said.

Hardly the words of someone likely to change his mind. Eduok was similarly dismissive of the possibility, and admitted, as before, that the local league really does not have the resources to keep hold of them. What they do next though is of paramount importance.

Their goals broke Jude Aneke’s record of 20 goals in a single league season, but it is the former Kaduna United striker among others who should serve as a cautionary tale. The forward presently turns out in the Kazakhstan Premier League, a victim of bad choices especially in moving to Egyptian club Al-Masry in 2013. Former Nigerian Premier League goal-king Akarandut 

One can only wish both players the best, but the local league will be poorer for their absence. Then again, it is worth noting that league scoring records are becoming easier to break: it took 19 years for Ishaya Jatau’s 17-goal haul to be equalled by Orok, but in the five years since, that record has been surpassed by Ahmed Musa, Aneke, Udoh and Eduok. In the last player’s case, it was not enough to even win the Golden Boot!

So maybe we have nothing to worry about, and the next great marksman of the Nigerian Premier League is waiting to reveal himself. The trend supports this, and it is something to look forward to in the 2015 season, as is the sad certainty that, if he does present himself, he is unlikely to stick around for the 2016 season.

Poyet calls for mid-season break

Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet believes English football should implement a mid-season break.

Poyet's men start a run of three games in a week on Boxing Day when they host Hull City at the Stadium of Light.

Visits to Aston Villa and Manchester City follow that encounter for a Sunderland side that claimed only their third Premier League win of the season last Sunday by beating rivals Newcastle United 1-0.

While most major European leagues enjoy time off in December and January, the busy festive schedule is a tradition in English football - and one that Poyet feels should be scrapped.

"I think it's [the Christmas schedule] wrong. The players are fresh at the beginning of the season, not in the middle," Poyet said.

"I would not have a problem playing Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday for the whole of August. It's warm, the pitches are at their best. I don't see a problem in coming back for pre-season earlier and playing six league games in August and six league games in September.

"Some people are going to hate me for this, But I believe we only need a month off in the summer. Two months is too long, it's too much.

"You'd have to change it a bit when there's a major tournament but other countries manage it. I don't think it's a big matter if we start the season two weeks earlier and finish it two weeks later if it means we can have a two-week break in January in the middle.

"To ask footballers to play this many games in December is unreasonable. It's quite crazy. We could start the season earlier, finish it later and keep the tradition of playing on Boxing Day or even New Year's Day but then we stop.

"The England team would be much, much better in July and August. Other nations fit winter breaks around World Cups. It's only England that doesn't.

"We batter players in December. We played 10 or 11 games until the end of November and eight in a month when the weather's cold and wet all the time. How do you keep them in the best possible physical shape? How do you prevent them from getting injured?

"Then there's the mental exhaustion involved. It's not just physical, it's mental as well. And players can't rest over Christmas. They have family in the house. There's always lots going on. You want to sleep during the day - no chance."

Lampard hope lights Man City’s striker gloom

Manchester City’s attacking injury problems remain ahead of Friday’s trip to West Bromwich Albion, but manager Manuel Pellegrini expects better news concerning on-loan midfielder Frank Lampard before 2015 arrives.

Lampard’s loan move from City’s sister club New York City in Major League Soccer is due to expire at the end of the month.

But Pellegrini is confident he will sign the 36-year-old for the remainder of the season, regardless of whatever difficulties it may present to the American club as they prepare for their inaugural season.

“I hope Frank’s situation will be resolved in the next days,” said Pellegrini, whose side trail leaders Chelsea by three points in the Premier League.

“I said in the beginning it will be during December we are going to have the last decision. I repeat, Frank is very important for our team so I hope he will stay here.

“I don’t think it will upset New York. That is why we have long conversations with all of them. That is just one club, so I think that what is better for the club is better for all the clubs.”

While Lampard will be part of the City squad at The Hawthorns on Friday, Pellegrini will be without his injured front-line forwards Edin Dzeko, Stevan Jovetic and, most damagingly of all, leading scorer Sergio Aguero.

Jovetic may play again before the turn of the year, with City hosting Burnley on Sunday, but Dzeko and Aguero are expected to be sidelined until the second half of January.

Club captain Vincent Kompany is also due to return from injury over that period, but in any case, City have hardly stuttered during their current personnel problems.

The defending Premier League champions will take an eight-game winning run in all competitions to West Brom, while the four games since Aguero injured his hamstring at the start of the month have all ended in victory.

“I think we need them as soon as we can,” said Pellegrini of his injured players.

“They must be fresh, but it is better for them to be playing so they will be playing in 100 percent of their possibilities.

“When you come back from long injuries, you always need some games to return to your normal performance.

“We have a team. We have a squad for the whole year. We make some rotations. It is important the whole squad arrives at the end of the year with the freshness.”

James Milner, pressed into emergency action as a lone striker in City’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace last Saturday, is likely to continue in that role against West Brom.

West Brom head coach Alan Irvine said: “A lot has been made of the fact that they didn’t have any striker for the game against Crystal Palace, and they won 3-0. It just shows the quality of the players that they’ve got in the squad.”

Irvine is looking for a reaction after the disappointment of watching his team surrender a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 at Queens Park Rangers last weekend.

“I am still desperately disappointed and I need this game to move on completely, but as far as the performance overall was concerned, it was a really good performance,” he added.

“I’d take a scrappy win every week and then start getting fussy about the level of performance. I don’t know too many managers who wouldn’t say the same thing, because in the end it is about getting the points.”

West Brom striker Victor Anichebe is unavailable with a groin problem, but captain Chris Brunt is in line to return following hamstring trouble.

My Super Eagles place not threatened, says Michael Babatunde

The Eastern Europe-based forward has expressed confidence in his ability to return to the Nigeria fold after overcoming his injury setback
Nigeria international and Volyn Lutsk player Michael Babatunde has said he is ready do all it takes to return to the Super Eagles team.

The midfielder, who clocked 22 on December 24, is yet to play for the country since suffering an injury against Argentina at the Fifa World Cup in Brazil.

While expressing his delight at returning to full fitness after his five–month absence from the national team, he said he is willing to work very hard to get a call up for future games.

"I feel very bad but that is the game for you. I was injured twice and went for surgery twice but thank God I’m back on my feet again,” Babatunde told Goal.

"Football is a game where people get a chance to exhibit their skills and you expect the coach to seek for alternatives in the absence of others.

"Well, I’m not worried whether I will lose my place in the team or not – it is just a wakeup  call for me to get back to my best towards getting a national team call up while I leave the rest for national team selectors to invite me.”

Babatunde also revealed that his best moment in 2014 was representing the country at the 2014 Fifa World Cup while promising to do better in 2015.

"It is was no easy feat playing for my country at the Fifa World Cup – which I think is the biggest thing to have happened to me this year, he continued.

"I would have expected to play more games in the tournament but to the injury. All the same, I give God all the glory.

"Since my return from the Brazil World Cup, my fans have tasked me to do more which I think is my driving force. In 2015, I hope to do more while praying I stay out of injury too,” he concluded.

'Ancelotti is the best coach in the world'

Goalkeeping coach Franco Tancredi believes the former AC Milan boss is the perfect fit for Real Madrid and says Luis Enrique is the right man to rebuild Barcelona
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is the best coach in the world at the moment, according to former Italy international Franco Tancredi.

The distinguished former AC Milan and Chelsea boss became only the second coach to win three European titles when he guided Madrid to the Champions League last season in a year which also saw his side lift the Copa del Rey and Club World Cup.

Tancredi, a former goalkeeping coach at Santiago Bernabeu, believes the way in which Ancelotti has restored balance to the side and the glowing testimonies from his players proves he is the finest in the business. 

"At the moment, he's the best in the world, because he makes every team play well," he told Marca. "This year, Madrid lost two of their best in [Angel] Di Maria and Xabi [Alonso], and despite that, he's perfectly got the team back together. 

"Plus, all the players talk about how brilliant he is, even the ones who aren't playing.

"He's a gentleman, a man with a lot of discipline. He likes to joke, but when he gets angry, he gets really serious. To listen to a global star like Cristiano [Ronaldo] talk so well of him makes me feel proud.

"His personality is a perfect fit for the philosophy of Real Madrid."

Tancredi, who worked alongside Luis Enrique during his spell as head coach of Roma, also backed the Barcelona boss to rebuild the side into a dominant force once again.

"He will be a great coach. Everyone liked him at Roma but he paid the price for the lack of patience in the capital," he added.

"He's trying to rebuild the team. I think he's the right man to do it. I think he has the right players to develop something they didn't have there."

Passengers stranded at Lagos airports over increased fares

Hundreds of intending passengers were on Thursday stranded at the two domestic Lagos airports over hike in ,

*Airport

fares by airline operators.

The operators capitalised on the Christmas rush to increase their fares.According to the reports gathered, the air ticket for an hour flight currently ranged from N30, 000 to N43, 000, depending on the carrier.
This was against N18,000 to N30,000 a few days ago.

Officials of some of the airlines said the rush for tickets was more pronounced on Lagos, Enugu, Abuja, Owerri, Calabar and Port Harcourt routes.

The carriers currently operating commercial services in the country are Arik Air, Aero Contractors, IRS Airlines, Med-View Air and Overland.

Findings at the Lagos airports as well as enquiries from airline representatives showed that the average fare on the Lagos-Enugu route, which was less than 45 minutes, was N35, 000 as against N20, 000 about two months ago.

Similarly, the Lagos-Abuja route attracted an average ticket price of N40, 000.
This was against an average of N24, 000 recorded some weeks ago.

On the Lagos-Port Harcourt and Lagos-Owerri routes, it costs between N38, 000 and N45,000.
NAN recalls that, Mr Yakubu Dati, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), had on Dec. 11 advised Nigerians to make use of passenger service portals.
Dati said that this was to help them plan their trips ahead in order to avoid last-minute stress.

He said the platforms empower passengers with tools to make the traveling experience seamless for them during periods when there is an upsurge in demand for air transports
Some of the passengers who spoke to NAN wondered why fares were always hiked during the festive periods.
Mr Olumide Faleti, a traveler who was heading to Enugu from Abuja said: ``it is funny how things operate here. This is a time to share and not to exploit your passengers.’’

According to him, domestic airlines should learn to introduce low cost promotional fares to attract travelers instead of exploiting passengers as a result of the season.

He regretted the dearth of local carriers in the sector, adding that, the few in the business were cashing on the development at the detriment of their customers.
Another passenger, Dr Mayowa Olawale, said before now he had been searching for low cost fares online but could not get any.

``I’m on my way to Abuja where my parents reside. I searched on the Internet for promotional fares but was disappointed when I found out that all the carriers going my way had their ticket prices above N35, 000,” he said.

Meanwhile, some ticketing officers, who pleaded anonymity said that the difference in airfares when compared to what they used to be was normal at this period.

``It is normal for airfares to rise, especially during Christmas and as the year comes to an end. It is not only our airline that has increased fares,’’ he said.

God will intervene in Ekiti – Adeboye, Kumuyi

Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi, the General Superintendent,Deeper Life Church,  have predicted  a brighter future for Ekiti State, saying God will intervene in the various problems confronting the state, otherwise known as the Fountain of Knowledge

Pastor Adeboye and Pastor Kumuyi  who were in the state on evangelical visit during the  Christmas celebration prayed that Ekiti State would witness a breakthrough and total transformation.

Pastor Adeboye was at the Governor’s Office, Ado Ekiti, yesterday ,where he had prayed for the state governor, Mr Ayo Fayose and some members of his cabinet.

Adeboye who was in Ekiti , for the programme, ‘Let’s Go A-fishing ‘ said that it was not in his character to visit governor’s in their offices , except on invitation ,  prayed that his visit to Ekiti  State would herald good tidings and bring rapid transformation in the coming years.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Peter Ayodele Fayose distributing chicken, rice and money to the widow and aged in Ado Ekiti yesterday for the Christmas under the stomach infrastructure programme of his administration

“Everything you proposes to do for Ekiti State will succeed . God will take Ekiti to greater heights .You are the burden bearer , come and bear the burden of the governor in all areas of his life.

“As from now ,we shall continue to hear good news from  Ekiti State.

“Earlier in his remark , Governor Fayose expressed his concern over the economic problems confronting the state, noting that only prayers can get the state out of the woods

In his  sermon at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium ,venue of the crusade, Adeboye urged Christians to take advantage of the yuletide to review their relationship with God

Also, Pastor Kumuyi  during his own programme predicted that Ekiti State would be blessed bountifully in the years ahead, despite its current challenges.

Pastor Kumuyi who arrived Ado Ekiti on Wednesday for a three-day crusade tagged,
“Extra Ordinary Encounter with God’s Miracle’ told newsmen that God has directed him to end this year crusade in the state.

“This is a dream come true, I have travelled to all parts  of the country for evangelical work, but God has directed me to round this year’s crusade  in Ekiti State.

“Ekiti State and indeed Nigeria shall witness peace, prosperity and love.

The state governor, Mr Ayo Fayose , his wife, Feyisetan, the Deputy Governor, Dr Kolapo Eleka and his wife attended the crusade which took place at the Church’s Camp Ground, Ajebandele, Ado Ekiti