One Direction, Rihanna, Drake Celebrate Miami Heat’s NBA Championship

The Miami Heat wrapped up their third NBA
Championship — and second of the LeBron/D-
Wade/uh, Bosh “Big Three” era — on Thursday
night, closing out the San Antonio Spurs in a
grueling Game 7.This was, of course, met with
much jubilation by the Heat’s celeb fans, who
took to Twitter to revel in the team’s victory.
Others, like Drake, attempted to join the
celebration in the Heat locker room, only to be
turned away in spectacularly hilarious fashion
(don’t worry, Drizzy eventually ended up
partying with LeBron and Dwyane until the
wee hours of the morning).Rihanna
congratulated the Heat on Instagram, posting
a pic of her mean-mugging in a LeBron James
jersey (and Heat sunglasses), and writing to
the two-time Finals MVP “I tried to tell ’em
King! They didn’t hear me doe! Shout out to
you for giving us yet ANOTHER legit reason to
talk that s—!” She also added several
hashtags, including #HEAT, #KING, and, of
course, #PhuckASpur.
Justin Bieber
was actually at Game 7, though the on-court
action apparently left him speechless, as all he
could tweet was “Great game.” Meanwhile,
One Directioner Niall Horan was much more
verbose, posting a lengthy congratulatory
tweet that read “Go Heat! Lebron James is a
monster! Talk about stepping up to the mark
under pressure,” and posting an adorable
Instagram pic of him decked out in Heat gear.
Of course,
there were a whole lot of Miami residents
rejoicing, too, including Rick Ross ( very
demurely), DJ Khaled, who went ALL CAPS, Flo
Rida’s manager, Lee “Freezy” Prince — who
loves the Heat so much he was willing to fight
about it — and, of course, unofficial Miami
ambassador Pitbull, who was ready to party.
Its all about @MiamiHEAT back to back world
champs @NBA daaallleee
— Pitbull (@Pitbull) June 21, 2013Ed Sheeran
was watching Game 7, too, though, he
obviously didn’t grasp the gravity of the
situation, tweeting “I’m watching a basketball
game, I haven’t a clue what’s going on.”
Meanwhile, noted Heat antagonizer Lil Wayne
has refrained from weighing in on the team’s
championship, instead using Twitter to send a
happy birthday message to his “lil homie
Cameron.”

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Poor Tahiti thrashed 10-0 by Spain

Spain thrashed Tahiti 10-0 at the Confederations
Cup on Thursday to set a new record for the
biggest margin of victory at the finals of an
international FIFA tournament.
The world and European champions broke the
record previously held by two countries: Hungary,
who beat South Korea 9-0 at the 1954 World Cup
and overcame El Salvador 10-1 at the 1982
tournament; and Yugoslavia, who crushed Zaire
9-0 at the 1974 World Cup.
Fernando Torres scored four goals and David Villa
claimed a hat-trick in the Group B match at the
Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, with David Silva
scoring twice and Juan Mata also finding the net. No team had previously won by 10 goals at an
international FIFA event, with Hungary (9-0
against South Korea at the 1954 World Cup, 10-1
against El Salvador at the 1982 World Cup) and
Yugoslavia (9-0 against Zaire at the 1974 World
Cup) the co-holders of the previous record.
Tahiti, who sit 138th in the FIFA rankings,
equalled their heaviest defeat — a 10-0
demolition by New Zealand in 2004 — but Spain
fell short of matching their 13-0 annihilation of
Bulgaria in a 1933 friendly.
Spain will be assured of a place in the semi-finals
if Nigeria avoid defeat against Uruguay in
Salvador later in Group B. The same outcome
would also end Tahiti’s mathematical chance of
reaching the last four.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque made no less
than 10 changes to his starting line-up, with only
centre-back Sergio Ramos keeping his place in
the team from the 2-1 win over Uruguay.
Tahiti’s players presented their opponents with
necklaces and pendants prior to kick-off, but the
pleasantries did not last long, as Torres beat
goalkeeper Mickael Roche at his near post to give
Spain a fifth-minute lead. Roche was drafted into the Tahiti team in place of
Xavier Samin, who shipped six goals against
Nigeria, and the newcomer momentarily looked
set to play the hero, saving at Torres’ feet and
repelling Santi Cazorla’s half-volley.
His resistance did not last long, however, as Spain
ran in three goals in the 14 minutes before half-
time to banish any hopes of a shock result.
Silva found the bottom-left corner from Villa’s
pass in the 31st minute, with Torres dinking the
ball over the advancing Roche and rolling home
before Villa got on the score-sheet from Silva’s low
cross.
Tahiti surprisingly enjoyed 37 percent of
possession in the first half, but Del Bosque added
another attacking player at half-time in Jesus
Navas and Villa soon made it 5-0 from a low
Nacho Monreal cross.
Torres completed his hat-trick in the 57th minute,
side-footing home from Navas’ cut-back, before
Villa matched his strike partner by tapping in
after Roche allowed a long pass to squirm
through his grasp.
Mata drove in Spain’s eighth shortly afterwards,
and although Torres then put a penalty against
the crossbar, he quickly atoned by rounding
Roche to roll in his fourth goal.
Navas teed up his new Manchester City team-
mate Silva for the record-breaking 10th goal in
the 89th minute, by which time Spain’s
celebrations had become rather sheepish

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LATEST FOOTBALL NEWS

1. Gonzalo Higuaín has agreed personal terms with
Arsenal of around £130k/week ahead of a
£22million move. (Telegraph)
2. John Obi Mikel confirms he’s agreed to join
Galatasaray & will quit CFC when fee is finalised:
“It’s a good chance.”
3. West Ham have agreed a two-year deal for
Stockport County youngster Danny Whitehead.
4. Spanish court has charged Lionel Messi and his
father due to tax fraud. Both will appear in court on
17th September.
5. Gervinho told Ivorian newspaper Le Patroite that
he is “flattered” by Marseille’s interest
6. Manchester United are increasingly confident
they can lure Spain Under-21 midfielder Thiago
Alcantara. (Mail)
7. Southampton are close to a £15million double
swoop for Celtic’s Victor Wanyama and ex-Chelsea
winger Miroslav Stoch.
8. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has flown
to London as the Spanish giants step up their
pursuit of Gareth Bale. (Mirror)
9. Andre Villas-Boas is quoted in Spanish national
daily sports newspaper Marca, saying Gareth Bale
will not be leaving White Hart Lane.
10. Chelsea defender David Luiz requires surgery
after suffering a broken nose playing for Brazil
against Mexico.
11. Rio Ferdinand says Man Utd have a tough start.
Will they struggle to get going under David Moyes?
Let’s see.
12. Andy Carroll admits that his move to West Ham
United could improve his chances of playing at the
World Cup next year.
13. Shakhtar Donetsk say that Liverpool haven’t
bid for Henrikh Mkhitaryan yet, but they’re willing
to listen to offers.
14. Jamie Carragher: “Suarez can’t stay at Liverpool
forever just because they’ve supported him in
certain situations.”
15. Napoli striker Edinson Cavani says that he
would like to play for one of ‘the biggest clubs in
the world’.
16. Liverpool is very close to sign Atsu from FC
Porto.
17. Mario Balotelli penalty record: Taken 21 Scored
21.
18. José Mourinho’s Chelsea have entered the race
to sign Manchester United target Thiago Alcântara.
19. “The press has been talking a lot about me, but
there’s nothing concrete. All are rumours” – Luis
Suárez
20. Chelsea are the most hated team in the Premier
League, according to a survey conducted by
Manchester Evening News.

BeeCube Bwala

LATEST FOOTBALL NEWS

1. Gonzalo Higuaín has agreed personal terms with
Arsenal of around £130k/week ahead of a
£22million move. (Telegraph)
2. John Obi Mikel confirms he’s agreed to join
Galatasaray & will quit CFC when fee is finalised:
“It’s a good chance.”
3. West Ham have agreed a two-year deal for
Stockport County youngster Danny Whitehead.
4. Spanish court has charged Lionel Messi and his
father due to tax fraud. Both will appear in court on
17th September.
5. Gervinho told Ivorian newspaper Le Patroite that
he is “flattered” by Marseille’s interest
6. Manchester United are increasingly confident
they can lure Spain Under-21 midfielder Thiago
Alcantara. (Mail)
7. Southampton are close to a £15million double
swoop for Celtic’s Victor Wanyama and ex-Chelsea
winger Miroslav Stoch.
8. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has flown
to London as the Spanish giants step up their
pursuit of Gareth Bale. (Mirror)
9. Andre Villas-Boas is quoted in Spanish national
daily sports newspaper Marca, saying Gareth Bale
will not be leaving White Hart Lane.
10. Chelsea defender David Luiz requires surgery
after suffering a broken nose playing for Brazil
against Mexico.
11. Rio Ferdinand says Man Utd have a tough start.
Will they struggle to get going under David Moyes?
Let’s see.
12. Andy Carroll admits that his move to West Ham
United could improve his chances of playing at the
World Cup next year.
13. Shakhtar Donetsk say that Liverpool haven’t
bid for Henrikh Mkhitaryan yet, but they’re willing
to listen to offers.
14. Jamie Carragher: “Suarez can’t stay at Liverpool
forever just because they’ve supported him in
certain situations.”
15. Napoli striker Edinson Cavani says that he
would like to play for one of ‘the biggest clubs in
the world’.
16. Liverpool is very close to sign Atsu from FC
Porto.
17. Mario Balotelli penalty record: Taken 21 Scored
21.
18. José Mourinho’s Chelsea have entered the race
to sign Manchester United target Thiago Alcântara.
19. “The press has been talking a lot about me, but
there’s nothing concrete. All are rumours” – Luis
Suárez
20. Chelsea are the most hated team in the Premier
League, according to a survey conducted by
Manchester Evening News.

BeeCube Bwala

Eagles go for Tahiti’s jugular

Today in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte,
African champions, the Super Eagles will
begin their Confederations Cup chase with a
Group B match against Tahiti, who are the
champions of Oceania.
Sixty three years ago, the Brazilian city was
the location for one of the biggest upsets in
footballing history, USA’s win over England
during the 1950 FIFA World Cup. Should
Tahiti emulate that result, shock-waves will be
felt across world football.
Eddy Etaeta’s Tahiti have been in Brazil since
7 June, while Nigeria touched down eight
days later, laving many to think that the extra
preparation time benefit the islanders?
The Super Eagles will be looking to take an
early lead at the top of Group B by giving
their goal difference a significant boost
against a team who are 107 places below
them in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.
With Uruguay and Spain lying in wait,
Stephen Keshi’s side will be looking to put
their part-time opponents to the sword. Tahiti
meanwhile are daring to dream.
This is the pair’s first meeting at international
level, although they did square up at the FIFA
U-20 World Cup 2009 in Egypt. Nigeria
prevailed 5-0 on that occasion, a first-round
match held in Cairo when Obiora Nwankwo,
Ibok Edet, Kehinde Fatai, Nurudeen Orelesi
and Daniel Adejo were on target.
Nigeria are one of two undefeated sides in the
FIFA Confederations Cup, the other being
Denmark. The Super Eagles went unbeaten
in their previous participation in 1995,
earning one win, two draws and losing only
on penalties to Mexico in the match for third
place.
Eagles defender, Efe Ambrose said that the
Eagles are ready for the Tahiti tie
“It is a match we know we need to win and,
to do that, we need to be fully concentrated.
We cannot afford to take any chances. Big
shocks have happened before in these kind of
tournaments and we don’t want to be the
victims this time,” said the Celtics defender.
On his part, Tahiti striker, Steevy Chong Hue
said that they were not going to be awed by
their more illustrious foes.
.“For an amateur player it is a dream to face
the best players in the world. However for it
not to become a nightmare we have to keep
working really hard so we are ready for the
first game,” he said.

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“No, we don’t have money … yes you have”

I bet the last has not been heard of the
diplomatic embarrassment suffered by Nigeria
as a result of the Eagles decision not to
honour their FIFA Confederations Cup
engagement over match bonuses.
In far away Malabo, the news hit me courtesy
EURONEWS and I was taken back, totally
shocked and ashamed.
Maybe I should rewind.
I first heard it mooted in Kenya that Skipper
Vincent Enyeama was threatening a show
down over the 5,000 dollars winning bonus,
claiming that he and his colleagues were not
briefed.
I then made enquiries only to be told that in a
meeting Coach Stephen Keshi had with the
NFF President, he was told about the financial
position of the NFF that also led to the
reduction in the number of back room staff of
all the national teams.
Though Keshi made a case for his dropped
coaches his plea was turned down “ for now”
and he then decided to assume the
emoluments of one of them.
It was my belief therefore that Keshi should
have told his players and explained the
financial position of the NFF. Despite that, the
NFF President went ahead and met with the
players in Kenya and explained to them why
the bonus had to be slashed.
My happiness was that Coach Keshi was
reported to have told the players to accept
the situation. This to me was key because he
had a strong hold on the players and there
was no way the players were going to strike
without his approval.
While all the meetings were going on prior to
a major match, I considered it a great
distraction. I believed the players should have
been focused and concentrated. Did this
affect their showing against Kenya? Anyway,
we managed to win and this was enough, for
now.
It was when I returned to Nigeria that I was
told that despite the meetings and
assurances, after the match the players
refused to collect the bonuses, saying that it
will be “resolved in Namibia”
Before Namibia, the Kenyans favoured us
greatly by holding Malawi in Blantyre and all
we needed was to beat Namibia and qualify
for the next round with only a match to
spare, yet these Eagles again subjected
Nigerians to mental torture before managing
a late draw. This is not the team that should
hold us to ransom, this is not the team that
should blackmail this nation on the eve of a
major FIFA competition.
Perhaps a military regime would have called
their bluff, disbanded them for their ignorant
belief that they are doing us a favour.
Thousands of countries will pay with an arm
to be part of the FIFA Confederation Cup.
Millions of players world wide will do anything
to be afforded this pedestal to showcase their
wares to the rest of the world, yet our own
players can afford to selfishly short circuit
FIFA logistics, waste seats reserved for them
in a plane cancel hotel reservations in order to
force their believed due.
Let it be said here again that the NFF NEVER
PAID 10,000 Dollars as winning bonus.
Running into the world Cup and given the
perceived need for motivation, the Federal
Government set up a Presidential Monitoring
Committee under Governor Amaechi that
COMPLEMENTED the Nigeria Football
Federation with 5,000 dollars.
I was in a meeting that recommended a
return to status quo the moment the
Amaechi committee was no more, yet the
board of the NFF believed they could go on
given the availability of funds. How come the
same players that have benefited all the
jumbo largesse when it was available now
refuse to believe there is no money?
If the players and their officials know what we
do not know, they should come out in the
open. Enough of baseless allegations
bordering on“NFF officials are eating fat while
we are suffering” this has to be proved,
substantiated.
In Kenya while the players were busy
rejecting 5,000 dollars the First Vice President
of the NFF Chief Mike Umeh signed and
collected 1,200 Dollars as his due for the
period!
My shock was complete last Saturday when I
read that it was the coaches who instigated
the players to go on strike because for
everything the players collect, they collect
double! That some back room staff whose
bonuses had been cut are now using the
players to fight back.
I thought we had grown beyond those days of
strikes and threats and blackmail perpetuated
by National team mafias. What happened in
Namibia will remain a black dot in the history
books of not only our football but our sporting
history as a nation.
Here in Malabo, the leader of the Tunisian
delegation said “Nigeria has money” that is
why we can afford to pay such “extravagant”
bonuses for “mere qualifiers”.
The Tunisians pay 3,000 Euros for away
victories, 1,500 Euros for away draws and
home wins and nothing for home draws,
(some Eagles back room staff were getting as
much as 8,000 dollars for victory and half of
that for a draw whether they played at home
or away!)
Their players do not fly business class like
ours, nor do they get 100 dollars daily camp
allowance which the Eagles get.
Yes, we are not Kenya, Botswana, Central
Africa Republic, Congo…….and other
countries who pay 1000 dollars and less for
bonuses, but can we for now boast players
who are considered in the top 100 in world
football?
Five thousand dollars even by world standard
is a lot of money, when you add it to return
tickets, five star hotel accommodation and
feeding, camp allowances……
The NFF says it is broke. That they do not get
one quarter of their budget from the federal
government. They say verify from the
National Sports Commission, ask the
Presidency. They say they have been
borrowing money to meet their programmes.
Are the players saying this is not true to
warrant such a disgraceful and mercantilistic
stand?
Must our footballers don the toga of touts,
who damn the consequences of their actions
as long as they can get squeeze out money
albeit illegally?
Assuming the players had a case to prove,(?)
was that the best way to go?

BeeCube Bwala

Brazil beat Japan 3-0 in Confederations Cup opener

Brazil enjoyed a winning start to the
Confederations Cup on Saturday when they
defeated Asian champions Japan 3-0.
Neymar, after three minutes, Paulinho, in the
48th, and Jo with an injury-time strike saw
the 2014 World Cup hosts enjoy the perfect
start to the eight-team tournament.
Pop idol Neymar delivers in style
The clock showed two minutes and 57
seconds as Luiz Felipe Scolari, who said before
the Confederations Cup that Neymar needed
protecting as the idol of 200 million Brazilians,
afforded himself a tight smile of vindication.
Brazil coach Scolari’s policy of simultaneously
playing “good cop-bad cop” with the 21-year-
old — effusively praising his performances but
also pointedly demanding he be “a team
player” — paid an early dividend Saturday as
the Barcelona-bound forward struck a brilliant
goal to underpin a 3-0 victory over Japan.
If the half-volley finish, which ended a goal
drought of nine matches for former club
Santos and the Selacao, was rip-roaringly
brilliant, it was not the product of one man.
It was a glowing example of the team ethic in
which Scolari takes such pride, for all that he
and his compatriots have been weaned on
individual magic down the decades.
Real Madrid defender Marcelo crossed
languidly from the left and in-form number
nine Fred chested down, rather than look for
a sixth goal in his last seven appearances for
his country, allowing Neymar to crunch home
an unstoppable drive from 20 metres into the
top corner of Eiji Kawashima’s net.
“It all happened in a flash,” said Neymar.
“Fred collected the ball and laid it off, I
connected full on and happily the ball found
the target.
“I am very happy to score and help Brazil to
achieve a victory,” said the spiky-haired star,
substituted with some 20 minutes remaining
after picking up a knock.
Pele’s exalted 1958-1970 reign as O Dez
(number ten) for Brazil created a mythical
shirt which has hung heavy on the shoulders
of those others who have worn it since.
Neymar himself has just switched from 11 to
10.
Of the switch he says: “The number doesn’t
matter one jot — what does is the Brazil
shirt.”
The starlet rounded angrily on the media
ahead of Saturday’s game by insisting that
the Neymar who plays for Brazil and the
variant who starred for Santos could not play
exactly the same way.
He would not change his style, while Scolari
said the player always did as he was asked for
the national side.
“If I am called into the Brazil squad on the
basis of how I have been playing for Santos
then I must be doing something right,
whether I score goals or not,” he remarked in
midweek.
“I just play my normal game — I have never
changed the way I play, be it for club or
national team.”
His goal aside, Neymar was a true thorn in the
side of the Japanese defence and it took a
rough challenge from Japan skipper Makoto
Hasebe, which earned a booking in first-half
injury time, to prevent him from doing even
more damage.
Paulinho and Jo added the gloss with two
further goals but it was Neymar who took
away the man of the match accolade as Brazil
made a convincing start.

Brazil kick off Confed Cup with Japan

Brazil clash with Japan in Brasilia Saturday in the
opening game of the Confederations Cup, an
appetizer for the World Cup, which they will host
next year.
Brazil are not in any way under-estimating the
Asians and are indeed desirous of beating them to
prove Brazilian legend, Pele wrong that the
Samba boys still have the quality to beat
opponents.
With Italy and Mexico, who embarrassed the
Selecao in the Olympics final last summer, to
come in a tough group, the Brazilians cannot
afford to slip up under their 2002 World Cup-
winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari as they lay the
foundations for next year’s World Cup on home
soil.
Scolari has insisted since returning to the fold last
November, ironically a matter of days after
predecessor Mano Manezes’ Brazil side spanked
the Japanese 4-0 in a friendly in Poland, that the
Confederations Cup is a sideshow and that he
cannot deliver a second dose of alchemy
overnight.
Complaining Friday that the Brazilian media and
fans are always quick to be critical, Scolari said
Japan had to be respected not just as four-time
Asian Cup champions but as the first side to have
booked their berth at the World Cup after their
draw with Australia ahead of travelling to Brazil.
“I would not be embarrassed to lose to Japan. We
will play our football and play to win but if Japan
did not have qualities they would not be here,”
Scolari insisted to reporters in Brasilia.
Brazil’s star man Neymar also says the hosts will
not take the Japanese, coached by hugely-
experienced Italian Alberto Zaccheroni, lightly.
“Japan are a tricky proposition and not to be
underestimated. Keisuke Honda and Shinji
Kagawa are superb players and the team as a
whole mark you very tightly,” said Barcelona-
bound Neymar.
The two-week tournament, which ends June 30,
gets underway after nationwide protests over
higher transport prices and amid resentment over
the huge investments made for sporting events
while deep social inequality festers.
A three-time winner, Brazil are aiming for a fourth
title but face stiff competition from Spain, Italy,
Uruguay, Mexico, Nigeria, Japan and Tahiti.
The eight teams are divided in two groups of four,
with the two top teams from each group
advancing to the semi-finals.
If Brazil win Group A, they will then travel to Belo
Horizonte — for a June 26 semi-final against either
reigning South American champions Uruguay or
African champions Nigeria, assuming current
World Cup champions Spain win Group B.
But a young Brazil squad, under Luiz Felipe
Scolari and currently in 22nd place in the FIFA
rankings, first needs to get past four-time Asian
Cup champions Japan.
“We need to beat Japan,” coach Scolari said
Friday. “Losing the first game puts you in an very
uncomfortable position.”
Brazil’s young prodigy Neymar, who has just
signed for Barcelona from Santos, warned that
the Japanese, coached by the hugely-experienced
Italian Alberto Zaccheroni, should not be taken
lightly.
The two teams have met nine times since 1989,
with seven wins for the Brazilians and two draws.
The Confederations Cup is seen as a key test of
Brazil’s readiness to stage its first World Cup since
1950 a year from now.
All eyes will be on Neymar, widely viewed as Pele’s
heir apparent, who has come under fire from the
demanding Brazilian fans for failing to score a
single goal in nine games for club and country.
“We are going to do our very best to win, not only
to win the Confederations Cup, but more
importantly the World Cup (next year),” said the
flashy 21-year-old star, with his eccentric,
perpetually changing haircut.
On Friday, Scolari, who led the Selecao to a
record fifth World Cup in Tokyo 11 years ago,
sprang to Neymar’s defense, telling reporters: “He
does not wear 11 jerseys but one — he is part of a
team.
“He has done what is requested of him with a lot
of dedication,” he added. “We want him to be a
useful, team player — that is what makes a good
player.”
The build-up to the tournament has been
overshadowed by at times violent demonstrations
in several cities over higher mass-transit fares and
the high cost of organizing the sporting events.
Police made hundreds of arrests in Sao Paulo,
Brazil’s business capital, as well as Rio de Janeiro
and Porto Alegre after thousands of youths
blocked thoroughfares to protest hikes in
transport fares.
Authorities in Sao Paulo condemned acts of
vandalism by angry youths but also promised an
investigation into charges of police brutality.
In Brasilia, 400 homeless activists burned tires
and blocked access to the National Stadium, one
of the six host arenas for the Confederations Cup,
to protest what they see a land grab by
authorities to prepare for the major sporting
events.
Many people are frustrated at the millions being
spent on the football facilities – $475 million
dollars for the Brasilia arena alone – rather than
on reducing deep social inequality.
Late Friday, 200 people marched peacefully down
Sao Paulo’s main Avenida Paulista, also to
condemn the country’s huge investments in the
sporting events.
Some 355,000 Brazilians and foreign tourists are
expected to watch games in the six host cities:
Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Recife, Rio and
Salvador.

BeeCube Bwala

Kevin Durant to Join Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports

Jay-Z is set to raise the stakes in his new role as a
sports agent with the acquisition of an NBA
superstar. Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin
Durant is reportedly close to joining Jay’s Roc
Nation Sports agency, according to Sports
Business Journal.
The move from his current agency, Landmark
Sports, to Roc Nation would make Durant the
highest profile NBA player to join Hov’s upstart
sports agency.
“KD doesn’t want a traditional NBA agent
anymore,” a league source told Yahoo! Sports.
“He wants Jay-Z to handle his branding. …He had
a chance to be with his idol and couldn’t say no.”

BeeCube Bwala

Nigeria leaving late for Confed Cup – FA

African champions Nigeria,
who stayed in Namibia after their World Cup
qualifier in a row over bonus payments, have
delayed their departure for the
Confederations Cup in Brazil, officials said on
Friday.
The Super Eagles failed to catch their flight to
South America for the tournament, which
begins on Saturday, after players insisted
they should be paid their usual win bonus for
the 1-1 draw in Windhoek on Wednesday.
The president of the Nigeria Football
Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari, met the
team to explain that the organisation is broke
and as result, they would only be $2,500
(1,873 euros, £1,594) each. Players had demanded double that amount.
Now, the NFF said that Nigeria’s sports
minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, had
intervened in the row and the Super Eagles
would now fly to Brazil on Saturday.
“We are most grateful to the minister for his
intervention in the matter, which means the
team can now travel to Brazil on Saturday
and arrive in Belo Horizonte before the first
match against Tahiti on Monday,” said NFF
general secretary Musa Amadu.
Amadu said the NFF, like most Nigerians, was
taken aback by the actions of the players to
stay back in Namibia.
“We are shocked like every Nigerian at the
attitude of the players,” he said.
“It is incomprehensible because the NFF
president and myself sat down with the
management of the Super Eagles, including
coach Stephen Keshi, to explain why we had
to slash the bonus and other measures taken
as a result of our financial constraints.”
The NFF also dismissed reports that they were
queried by the National Sports Commission
over the bonus saga.
“We did not receive any query from the
National Sports Commission. Before taking the
decision to slash the win-bonus and downsize
the team’s crew, we briefed the minister,”
Amadu added.

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