My World of Sports

Wednesday, 7 September 2011

GUINNESS FOOTBALL CHALLENGE SEASON II ATTRACTS RENOWNED FOOTBALL LEGENDS

Season II of the exciting TV reality game show the Guinness® Football Challenge™, an exciting activation platform for all lovers of the Greatness™ of Guinness and Greatness™ of football has been launched.

Guinness, the number one stout in Ghana and the world over bring the Guinness® Football Challenge™ football game show to Ghanaian football fans to give them an opportunity to step up and take on a set of physical and mental challenges while demonstrating their passion for football.

The not-to-be-missed season II of the exciting TV game show promises to be full of excitement as four African football legends join the actions to guide constants through new challenges as well as partake in the season’s finale dubbed the “Guinness® Football Challenge™ Legends Special.

The new season will feature four renowned football legends namely Ghanaian-born French World Cup winning star Marcel Desailly, Nigerian football icon Austin Jay Jay Okocha, former Cameroonian tough tackling defender Rigobert Song and 1988 African footballer of the year Kalusha Bwalya who doubles as the present president of the Zambia Football Association.

Renowned for their talents and skills, these four great football legends will be working with Guinness® throughout season II as they step up to demonstrate the exciting new physical challenges to the contestants they will show how the challenges should be done and offer their tips on success, before the contestants get their chance to take on the same challenges live on the show, and see if they can do better.

The four legends will also take centre stage in the culmination of the series in an action packed Guinness® Football Challenge™ Legend Special episode where they will pair up with Ghanaian football fans in the Guinness® Football Challenge™ game show themselves. During this special episode, the legends will take on the physical challenges, and Ghanaians have the opportunity to win a place next to them to act as the brains just by playing Guinness® Football Challenge™ on their mobile phones. To book your place to partner with the legends you should visit m.guinessvip.com, register and start playing now.

Commenting on his involvement at the launch at the Lizzy Sports Complex last Tuesday night, Marcel Desailly said, “I am really looking forward to being involved in season II of the show. There are some really tough challenges in store for the contestants and it will be interesting to see how they tackle them. I am looking forward to having a go myself in the Legends Special and Partnering with whoever comes out top on the Guinness® Football Challenge™ mobi game”

On his part Jay Jay Okocha promised an incredible fun loving and exciting Season II with incredible new challenges, bigger and better prizes and even more opportunities for football lovers to get involved. “We are going to be at our best, but we are asking that everyone has a go at the Guinness® Football Challenge™ TV show and Legend Special for a true battle of skill. I am in it to win, so the other legends better watch out, he adding.

Performing the official launch of the show, Marketing Manager at Guinness® Mr. Kweku Sekyi-Cann said they were equally happy to have on board four world soccer greats to grace the entire show.

“We are very excited with the great constants we have for this new season, working with such great footballing legends and having the chance to bring to our loyal Guinness® consumers and even more captivating TV show and promotion is our hallmark and we would stop at nothing to bring you the best.

He announced that the consumer promotion returns with a bigger fund worth GH¢, 1000,000 and the opportunity for the winners to comeback on the show to win more cash.

He further urged all football fans to get on the mobi game at m.guinnessvip.com to secure a place on the Guinness® Football Challenge™ Legend Special.

While stating that there is Greatness™ in every drop brewed and savored Guinness® which is the authentic beer of choice for football fans on the basis that football unites and inspires men like no other sport, Mr. Sekyi-Cann announced that everyone can play the challenge on the TV show, on their phones and in the bars.

An exhibition game involving the legend team made up of Desailly, Okocha, Song and Bwalya beat a select media side 3-0.

Performing the official launch of the show, Marketing Manager at Guinness® Mr. Kweku Sekyi-Cann said they were equally happy to have on board four world soccer greats to grace the entire show.

He announced that the consumer promotion returns with a bigger fund worth GH¢, 1000,000 and the opportunity for the winners to comeback on the show to win more cash.

He further urged all football fans to get on the mobi game at m.guinnessvip.com to secure a place on the Guinness® Football Challenge™ Legend Special.

An exhibition game involving the legend team made up of Desailly, Okocha, Song and Bwalya beat a select media side 3-0.

The four renowned football legends namely (from right) Rigobert Song, Kalusha Bwalya, Marcel Desailly and Austin Jay Jay Okocha in a pose with Mr. Sekyi-Cann

Ghanaian-born French World Cup winning star Marcel Desailly takes his turn to address the gathering while his fellow legends look on

Nigerian football icon Austin Jay Jay Okocha speaking at the launch

Austin Jay Jay Okocha outwits his marker during an exhibition game

Former Cameroonian captain & tough tackling defender Rigobert Song

Austin Jay Jay Okocha does the overhead kick to beat his marker

Marcel Desailly

Sunday, 8 May 2011

Ekigho nets again as Nigeria reach semis

Holders Nigeria are through to the semi-finals of the WAFU Cup after brushing aside Niger 4:0 at the MKO Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta on Saturday afternoon.

A first half brace by midfielder Bartholomew Ibenegbu and second half strikes by serial striker Ekigho Ehiosun and substitute Agwacha White completed an outstanding display by the hosts.

The Nigerians have won their two matches in the three-team Group A to bag the maximum six points and advance to the last four. This leaves Niger and Liberia to battle for the group's second semi-final ticket.

The Liberians have a healthier goal difference over the Mena after losing by just a solitary goal to Samson Siasia's men on Thursday, and a draw will be sufficient to send them through
Ghana played Togo in the first of two games between them yesterday in Group B at the same venue.

SOURCE" African Soccer
PIX: Bartholomew Ibenegbu

Saturday, 7 May 2011

Diarrhea Stricken "Sugar" Ray Narh Forced To Quit on stool After Three Rounds

The Showtime pay-per-view broadcast for the bout between Manny Pacquiao and "Sugar" Shane Mosley kicked off with a bout between "Sugar" Ray Narh (25-1, 21 KO) and Mike Alvarado (29-0, 21 KO) for the WBC Continental Americas Light Welterweight Championship.

Narh looked to use his height as the fight started to neutralize the aggression of Alvarado. The strategy of Narh kept Alvarado from really unloading with shots until the opening round was almost at a close. The second round saw the same strategy by Narh of using his speed and length but Alvarado started to land his counter shots and find space to hit Narh with power that was clearly affecting "Sugar" Ray.

Heading into round three it appeared that the fight was even at a round a piece, but Narh fought the round much more aware of Alvarado's power and off his heels while Alvarado came forward throwing hard.

Between rounds Ray Narh quit on the stool after the ref asked him if he wanted to keep fighting or not. Narh and his camp answered with "no" and the fight was stopped.

Dr. William Berliner said Narh has been vomiting and had diarrhea since yesterday and had no strength. That's why he quit.

Hard to fault Alvarado for landing hard punches in the 2nd and 3rd rounds but Narh entered 25-1 and quit on the stool after three rounds on a massive pay-per-view, not exactly something that will be easy to bounce back from in his career.

Thursday, 5 May 2011

Ehiosun strikes again in Eagles win

Super Eagles striker Ekigho Ehiosun scored the only goal of the game for holders Nigeria as they edged Liberia 1:0 in the opening match of the 2nd West Africa Football Union [WAFU] Cup tournament Thursday at the MKO International Stadium in Abeokuta.

It was a game of two halves with the Super Eagles clearly the better side in the first 45 minutes, while the Lone Stars played the better football in the second period.

Ehiosun struck after just 20 minutes after a neat exchange of passes, to continue his rich vein of form for the Nigerian national teams. He has now scored for the Super Eagles Team A, the Olympic team and the Team B.

Hopes of a resounding victory however did not materialise as the Liberians - represented by their Olympic squad beaten 6:1 by Nigeria at the weekend, grew in confidence as the game wore on.

With the home-based Nigerians not having played competitively for two months following a suspension of the Nigerian Premier League, the players lost steam after the break.

Liberia took full advantage to torment the Super Eagles, but poor play in the final third cost them at least a draw.

Nigeria's assistant coach Simon Kalika admitted the team played below standard and observed that the Liberians deserved a draw, but was happy that the Eagles managed the necessary result.

"To be honest, they [Liberia] deserved an equaliser" Kalika told Supersport after the game.

"The result is quite good, but we didn't play too well" the Dutchman said. "But I'm happy, it's always good to start well".

His Liberian counterpart Thomas Codjoe conceded that his team played poorly in the first half, but said the half time talks helped. He however noted their poor finishing was a problem, promising to work on it ahead of their next game against Niger.

"In the first half we did not perform to expectations" he said in his post-match TV interview. "We need to improve on our finishing".

Hosts Nigeria had been due to play Mali in the Group A opener and the change meant that Niger had a rest day.

No official reason has been given for the withdrawals by Senegal or Mali.

The absence of Senegal means that Group B has also been reduced to three teams - The Gambia, Togo and Ghana.

The organisers have revised the timetable of games and Friday will now be a rest day.

The next matches will be on Saturday with Nigeria playing Niger and Togo up against Ghana.

Line-Ups

NIGERIA: Sunday Rotimi, Chibuzor Okonkwo (Captain), Adedeji Adeyinka, Ubido Julius, Gege Toriola, Wasiu Sowemimo, Udoenyi Chrisantus, Ekigho Ehiosun, Osas Okoro, Ibenegbu Bartholomew, Okoronkwo Stanley. Coach: Samson Siasia

LIBERIA: Nathaniel Sherman (Captain), Bill Paycoe, Michael Jaesue, Crokon Zeon, Maya Gardo, Meurlin Karndu, Gadafi William, Archie Harvey, Emmett Wleh, Patrick Wleh, Samuel Thompson. Coach: Thomas Codjoe

Wednesday, 4 May 2011

Nigeria begins WAFU trophy defence against Mali today

The home-based Super Eagles team will today begin their quest to retain the West African Football Union (WAFU) title they won last year, when they confront the Eagles of Mali in the first match of the annual regional tournament.

The match, billed for the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta is scheduled to begin by 2.00pm local time and the Nigerian team will be hoping to do a double over the Malians whose Under 20 team was recently defeated by Flying Eagles en-route to been crowned Africa Champions in South Africa.
While many Nigerians believe that the team led by Coach Samson Siasia should be able to retain the trophy won by Daniel Amokachi and his lads last year, the Beijing Olympic silver-winning coach was quick to say that much should not be expected from his hurriedly-assembled team.
"These boys have been on break for weeks now, without playing any football, because the league is on break and we had only two days or less to get them ready to play a football match" Siasia had told a sports website.
"That is not right. We should have been told on time, so we could have had more time to prepare these boys.
"I don't know what their conditioning is right now, and you can't knock somebody who has not been playing into shape in two days. But we'll have to do our best," he added.
Point to prove
Siasia noted that the local league could boast of good players and for him the WAFU tournament is a stage for them to prove their worth:
"We have good players in our local league and we need to prove it on the pitch" he said.
"The boys will have to hit the ground running against Mali, as defending champions we are the team to beat" he said.
The second match of the day will see the other two teams in Group A, Liberia and Niger take on to pitch as they both gun for a perfect start to their campaign in the regional tournament.
Meanwhlie David Duncan selects 18 into the Black Meteors to represent Ghana at the WAFU Cup of Nations in Nigeria.
Ghana would open their campaign against Togo on Friday in Group B before coming up against Senegal and Gambia.
The 10-day championships which begins this afternoon will run till May 15, 2011.
The WAFU championship would serve as a good build up towards the Olympic team's qualifying campaign for a place at this year's All Africa Games.
SOURCE: 234next.com

Flying Eagles of Nigeria treated to a heroic welcome

New African U-20 champions, the Flying Eagles of Nigeria were yesterday treated to a heroic welcome on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The Nigerians, who defeated Cameroun 3-2 on Sunday to clinch the African Youth Championship (AYC) title, were led into the country by the President of the Nigeria Football Federation Aminu Maigari, and welcomed by hundreds of singing fans and eager journalists who came to catch a glimpse of the new set of football heroes.
Coach of the team, John Obuh thanked everybody that supported the team en-route to being crowned champions of Africa for a record sixth time. .
"It wasn't an easy tournament no doubt but we thank God we came out victorious," he said. "We will continue to work hard and improve the team."
Through the streets
Unlike the Super Falcons, who on their return to the country after their victorious conquest at last year's African Women's Championships were conveyed to their hotel aboard a truck not befitting of champions, the Flying Eagles were placed in an open-roof bus made available by the Lagos State government.
The team also displayed the Africa Youth Championship trophy as they were driven through the streets of Lagos From the departure lounge of the airport the players were taken to the presidential lounge of the airport where the sports minister Taoheed Adedoja was on hand to receive the team.
Adedoja told the victorious team that President Goodluck Jonathan was very pleased with their performance in South Africa and had given his word that they will get a befitting reception from the presidency.
"The trophy you won is a sign of hard work and team work, I will call this trophy Nigeria's Goodluck Cup," Adedoja said.
Adedoja urged the team not to relent on their achievement as much would be expected from them at the World Championships in Colombia later in the year.
"We are happy that you are the new African champions but we will pray that you will also go ahead to rule the world," he added.
The players and officials of the Flying Eagles were later treated to a dinner at the Sheraton Hotels in Ikeja.
The Flying Eagles' victory gave Nigeria its first AYC title since 2005.
SOURCE: 234next.com

Flying Eagles get heroic welcome

Africa newest champions, Flying Eagles were received in Lagos on Monday by appreciative Nigerians who trooped out enmasse to receive their heroes.

The nation’s ambassadors defeated perennial arch-rivals, the Junior Indomitable Lions of Cameroon 3-2 in the final of the 17th Orange Africa Youth Championship in South Africa on Sunday. The entourage led by the president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Monday afternoon and was received by the first vice president of the NFF, Chief Mike Umeh, the NFF technical committee chairman, Barrister Chris Green, Sports Ministry/National Sports Commission dignitaries as well as top shots of Lagos state sports ministry.

And in a far departure from the ramshackle motorcade ride given to Super Falcons on their arrival from South Africa after winning the 2010 African Women Championship, Flying Eagles were driven in a state-of-the-art air-conditioned Busscar double deck open roof bus from the international airport to the presidential wing of the local airport where they were received by the Sports Minister and Chairman, National Sports Commission, Prof Taoheed Adedoja among other dignitaries. The leader of delegation, NFF president, Alhaji Maigari presented the trophy won by Flying Eagles to the minister.

An excited Adedoja who praised the team for their heroic performance at the biennial football showpiece told the equally appreciative ambassadors that the number one citizen, President Goodluck Jonathan, at the moment observing a retreat at the Obudu Cattle Ranch, Obudu, Cross River state will officially receive them immediately they arrived from their four-nation invitational in South Korea.

“I have been asked specifically by Mr President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan to welcome you back to Nigeria. It is rare of a president of a country to have a team welcomed at the airport; this is the first time president of a country is doing it.

“He also told me to congratulate you and to say that when you return from Korea he will give you a befitting reception. Like I said this cup is being named ‘Nigeria Goodluck cup’.

“All the promises made to you by the chairman, your coach will be fulfilled 100%. You have done Nigeria proud, you have done Mr President proud, you have done all of us proud and you will get the best football development under Mr President.”

The minister further charged the Under-20 African champions to work hard to replicate the feat in the AYC at the world stage in Columbia.

“You have ruled Africa in football, I ask you to also rule the world, and with your performance Nigeria football will continue to move up,” the number sports citizen told SuperSport.com.

Responding, the golden coach John Obuh thanked the minister and promised to work harder to ensure that the team excels at the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Columbia which starts later in July.

“We thanked Nigerians for the show of love given to us, we promise not to let them down, we know their expectations from us, we will work hard to meet it. We appreciate Mr President warm wishes, we will not disappoint him,” he said.

After the reception at the presidential wing of the local airport, the motorcade moved through Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja to the Westown Hotel, Ikeja where they team was given a sumptuous dinner and rested for the night before travelling out to Korea later on Tuesday for the four-nation invitational tournament.

SOURCE: African Soccer

PIX: Flying Eagles rejoice on their arrival at Murtala Muhammed Airport