Sports
Egypt FA May Sue S/African Newspaper
The Egypt Football Association (EFA) has threatened legal action against some South African newspapers over lurid allegations about the Pharaohs.
Three papers ran stories suggesting that the recent theft at Egypt’s team hotel happened when prostitutes hired by five players later took the money.
But the head of the EFA’s delegation at the Confederations Cup Mahmoud Taher says the reports are wide off the mark.
“We completely reject everything published in the papers,” Taher said.
“It is shameful, disgraceful and totally off-track.
“We are demanding an official apology from the newspapers that published all the false allegations. Otherwise, we are going for legal action.”
In South Africa to contest the Confederations Cup, the African champions are believed to have been playing, and beating Italy in Johannesburg at the time of the burglary.
The Egyptian delegation was so keen to address the issue it staged a hurriedly-improvised news conference shortly before departing South Africa last weekend.
The matter is now in the hands of Egypt’s ambassador in South Africa, whose World Cup CEO reserved praise for the North Africans.
“It’s an unfortunate incident but you leave this country with your integrity intact,” said Danny Jordaan.
“We hope to welcome you back next year for the World Cup.”
This weekend’s allegations were swiftly picked up in Egypt, where a vehement backlash against the players ensued – even from some of their partners.
“We come from a very religious country, our players are very religious, very disciplined and what was published has really hurt them back home,” Taher added.
“Due to our culture, the players have been subjected to terrible damage in Egypt and they’re in a very bad mood right now.”
The Egyptians have now been informed that four employees at the Protea Wanderers hotel are currently under investigation.
The hotel’s computerised system allows the police, who have possession of the building’s CCTV tapes, to know who went into each room and when.
The theft of some US$2,400 was discovered shortly after the Pharaohs returned to their hotel after humbling world champions Italy 1-0 at Ellis Park.
And the newspaper allegations were blamed, albeit alongside injuries and fatigue, for Egypt’s early exit from the tournament after losing 3-0 to the United States on the final group game.
“Unfortunately the players heard about it back home and it made a heavy impact,” explained Taher.
“We tried our best to get them out of this mood but the whole team is in a very bad psychological state because of what happened.”
The Egyptians were keen to stress their enjoyment of South Africa despite the incident.
“The 2010 World Cup will be an honour for all Africa not just South Africa,” said Taher.
“We’re here to support South Africa for 2010 and want to make everything easier, but unfortunately it went another way because of the press.”
A spokeswoman for the South African Police Service (SAPS) said they were investigating the case and would not release any details until the probe was concluded.
Heartland Technical Manager, Emmanuel Amuneke has praised his players for not losing focus at the crucial moment in Sunday’s 2-1 home win over Shooting Stars in a NPFL Matchday 24 fixture in Owerri.
The Naze Millionaires defeated the Oluyole Warriors through Chukwuma Agor and John Bassey goals in the 31st and 88th minutes with Mustapha Adam’s 80th minute spot kick a mere consolation for the visitors.
Amuneke while speaking to journalists shortly after the encounter, said his boys showed the zeal and determination to seal the three points and that despite the shenanigans of the centre referee, Kolawole Emmanuel, the boys were never troubled.l
“We were eager to get the three points and we were aware Shooting Stars are a good side and won’t allow us to have our way easily,” Amuneke told journalists in Owerri.
“We planned for them and almost throughout the entire game, they were never a threat to our team. We were able to control the game from the beginning. It was unfortunate how the game ended. We were just focussed on the three points and we are thrilled we got it. It was a very good game from both sides but we subjected them to constant pressure almost throughout the game.”
While he was asked if he believed his boys could finish the season impressively, Amuneke was evasive but noted that he and his players would continue to work harder.
“Everything in line is possible but we know that nothing happens without hard work. We will continue to work harder and continue to see how we can grow as a team. We have a lot of young players in the team. Some of them just got their topflight breakthrough.
“We didn’t lose focus at the time of the controversies. We continued to do the same thing we have been doing and taking the game to them.”
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, turned the sod of the new Olympic-standard 25,000-capacity Bayelsa Stadium project at Igbogene, Yenagoa, as part of the activities marking the fifth anniversary of the Senator Douye Diri administration.
The former Nigerian leader performed the ground-breaking ceremony as Governor Diri restated his appeal to the federal government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), oil firms operating in the state and the private sector to join hands with his administration to develop sporting talents.
The Federal Government through the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) equally thumped up Governor Diri for initiating the project.
Dr. Jonathan expressed delight over the project, saying as a Bayelsan, he was duty bound to celebrate with the state government for the progress so far achieved.
He lauded Diri’s developmental strides, urging him not to rest on his laurels and that the contractor and the state government should ensure the project met the highest standards.
Jonathan also called on the state and federal governments to set up a sports fund to cater for sportsmen after their active days and encourage younger ones to be involved in sports.
He said: “This is my state and I have to celebrate with the government for the progress so far made. This is an iconic project that will develop the state. Please do not rest on your laurels as we want this stadium to meet the best standards.
“I am happy with the presence of relevant federal government officials. I hope they will guide the state well and support where necessary.
“As a country, we must have a fund to care for sportsmen. The federal and state government can think about it so that the younger generation will be interested in sports.
“I am happy that you gave a target of 24 months and I hope that by that time I will escort President Tinubu to Bayelsa to inaugurate it.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has condoled the family of former Nigeria international midfielder, Ayo Ogunlana, who died in Kaduna on Friday after observing his early-morning walk.
NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, showered tributes on the departed midfield pearl, who was a star attraction during a number of important Nigeria FA Cup battles in the 1980s and held sway in the middle for the Super Eagles in the late 1980s, and at the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Algeria.
“We are very sad to learn of the sudden passing of Ayo Ogunlana, only a couple of weeks after the demise of another former Eagle, Moses Effiong (a member of the 1980 AFCON-winning Green Eagles squad, in far-away USA). Ogunlana was a great midfielder who made playing football look so easy with his majestic touches and turns, and his magnificent free-kicks.
“We pray that the Almighty will grant both of them eternal rest and grant the families they have left behind the fortitude to bear the losses.”
Ogunlana was magisterial in the midfield as Nigeria overhauled Guinea and Zimbabwe to qualify for the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations, and was imperial against Cameroon in a 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Ibadan that the Super Eagles won with an emphatic 2-0. He also played in the 1990 ECOWAS Cup competition that Nigeria hosted in Kaduna.