Sports
Ajax, Pirates To Face Charges Over Kit
Orlando Pirates, Ajax Cape Town and Witbank Spurs will appear in front of the PSL DC next week to face charges to do with their playing kit.
Orlando Pirates will appear in front of the PSL DC next week to face two charges, one being a failure to produce an alternative kit against Bidvest Wits at the weekend.
The second charge is for failing to change their outfit when the referee asked them to.
Pirates were requested to change their shorts and socks from black to another colour, because the home team, Wits, were wearing navy shorts and socks.
Both requests are part of rule 12.2 and 12.3 of the PSL kit manual.
Ajax Cape Town are also being changed by the PSL DC, for failing to put a sponsor logo on the right side of their jersey.
In their match against SuperSport United on November 18, Brent Carelse wore a jersey that did not have a sponsor [Absa] logo on the right-arm sleeve, contravening rule 9.1 of the kit manual.
hird, Witbank Spurs failed to produce a team jersey at the pre-match meeting ahead of their match against Chippa United on November 18, contravening section 4.2 of the kit manual. This is classed as ‘misconduct’ in the compliance manual.
Ngcongca Escapes UEFA Punishment
SPORTS;
Bafana Bafana right-back Anele Ngcongca sat out last night’s UEFA Champions League clash with Valencia after yet again arriving home late from international duty … but is probably happy he did!
Genk were thumped 7-0 by the Spanish La Liga side and Ngcongca never made it onto the pitch after coach Mario Been left him out as punishment for his repeated late arrivals back in Belgium from South Africa.
The result confirmed that Genk would finish bottom of Group E, which means they will not drop down to the UEFA Europa League either. The team that finishes third in the pool goes into Europe’s second club competition.
Ngcongca and his teammates could still have a major say in who does finish in the top two though, with Bayer Leverkusen currently on top with nine points, followed by Chelsea and Valencia, who each have eight.
Genk will host Leverkusen in their final pool match on December 6 and if they eke out a win over the German Bundesliga side, it would mean that a draw between Chelsea and Valencia at Stamford Bridge would leave all three top sides on nine points.
Meanwhile, the debacle in Valencia is likely to see Ngcongca restored to the Genk starting line-up for the Jupiler League clash with high-flying Gent yesterday.
South Africa’s other UEFA Champions League representative, Thulani Serero, also did not make it off the bench for Ajax Amsterdam as they drew away in Lyon last Tuesday.
Sports
CAF Postpones CHAN To August
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the postponement of the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN), originally scheduled for February 1, in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, to August 2025.
The decision followed recommendations from CAF’s technical and infrastructure experts, who reported that more time is needed to bring the facilities in the host nations up to the required standards for a successful tournament.
CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe, in a statement on yesterday, January 14, 2025, expressed appreciation to the presidents of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda for their support.
He emphasised that the postponement is intended to ensure adequate planning and infrastructure readiness for the competition.
“I would like to express my deep gratitude to President William Ruto of Kenya, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania and President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda for their leadership, commitment and the good progress that has been made in building and upgrading the stadiums, training fields, hotels, hospitals and other infrastructure and facilities in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda for hosting a successful TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda 2024.
“I am impressed with the ongoing construction and renovations of the football infrastructure and facilities in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. I am confident that the stadiums, training fields, hotels, hospitals and other infrastructure and facilities will be at the requisite CAF standards for hosting, in August 2025, a very successful TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (“CHAN”) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda 2024″, he said.
However, the exact date for the completion was not disclosed but the CHAN 2024 Draw is scheduled for Wednesday 15 January, 2025 at the iconic Kenyatta International Conventional Centre, Nairobi.
Sports
Chelle Sure To Qualify For 2026 W’Cup
New Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has expressed his desire to lead Nigeria to the ‘pinnacle of world football’ starting with the ticket to the 2026 World Cup as he takes the reign of the three-time African champions.
Chelle was unveiled on Monday at a brief ceremony at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja by the Nigeria Football Federation, one week after his announcement as the 37th coach of the Super Eagles.
He was handed a two-year deal with an option to extend if he gets the 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket.
Since his appointment last week, the NFF has constantly hammered the coach’s task of leading Nigeria to the tournament which will be played in the USA, Canada and Mexico despite the precarious situation of the Eagles in the qualifying series.
After four rounds of matches in the series, Nigeria are fifth in Group C with just three points having only drawn three and lost one.
To avert the danger of missing out on a consecutive FIFA World Cup, the Eagles must win all their six remaining matches in the group or even hope for favourable results in other ties – a task Chelle fronted at his unveiling.
Asked if he would take responsibility at the end of the qualifying campaign, the ex-Mali coach said, “If you want to be a great coach, you need to take some risks, you need to make some sacrifices.
“I want to be in the history. The first thing, I need to talk to the players. I will be a big brother. It is my prayer that we are going to the World Cup.
“I want to thank my agent, the NFF, the NSC and indeed all Nigerians for this big opportunity. Coaching the Super Eagles of Nigeria is an amazing job; I do not take this appointment for granted. I am elated and will do my utmost best.”
For most of the reactions that have trailed his appointment, the rallying point was his enterprising and attacking style with the Mali national team at the AFCON, which he emphasised he would be bringing to Nigeria.
“Football is about scoring goals, so I favour an attacking style. I know the expectations of Nigerians and I will settle down and work diligently with assistants towards the goal of qualifying the Super Eagles for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”
The 47-year-old also relished his long-time dream of getting the Super Eagles job, having been a fan of the Nigerian national team in his boyhood.
“Nigeria’s team is more than a team. When I was young, this was my favourite team. I owned a shirt; I watched all the games at the World Cup in France. I was in Marseille and it was my team.
“From this very moment, I am already hard at work. My goal is clear: to restore the Super Eagles to the pinnacle of world football, where they truly belong. This will require hard work, discipline, and a strategy that is both ambitious and realistic. I will rely on the exceptional talent of our players, whether they play at home or abroad, and build a team that reflects the unity, strength, and excellence of Nigeria,” the coach added in a social media post.
Chelle, who took Mali’s Aiglons within breathing distance of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals, left his job at top Algerian side MC Oran – 1989 African Champions’ Cup finalists – to team up with the Super Eagles.
Sports
Gokana Chairmanship Cup Symbol Of Unity Peace – Chairman
Gokana Local Government Council, Chairman Hon. Monday Dumiye has said that 2024 Gokana Chairmanship Cup symbolises unity, peace and love for Gokana people.
Hon. Dumiye said this during the grand finale of the 2024 Gokana Chairmanship cup titled “Unity Cup” as the fourth edition of the Chairmanship Cup ended last Saturday at Kpor, the council headquarters.
He expressed gratitude to the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara for his tremendous support, most especially the peace Rivers people are enjoying including Gokana LGA.
He also applauded members of the local organising committee of the tournament and all those that contributed towards the success of the championship.
He hinted the huge crowd witnessed during the tournament shows peace has come to stay in Gokana,saying that it has been his intention to ensure that there is peace ,unity and togetherness among the people.
” Without peace we all know that there will be no meaningful development. I want to say that it is the first of its kind in the annals of the people to use the instrumentality of sports to develop talented Gokana youths.
“The mamoth crowd you are seeing here today shows our people have embraced peace. This is exactly what we intend to achieve uniting our people through sports.
On his part, former Super Eagles player and current coach of Rivers United, Finidi George, commended the Gokana Chairman for organising such a wonderful tournament for the youth.
He advised the chairman to form a formidable team from the tournament, admitting the unprecedented crowd that witnessed the championship shows that the chairman is on the right direction.
The Leader of the Simplified in Gokana, Hon. Friday Beema thanked the Chairman for his zeal to develop Gokana.
He also commended the Rivers Governor forgiving them well focused Chairman who reason like him.
The leader called on the people of the area to support Governor Fubara for the development of Gokana.
-
News3 days ago
Don’t Attend Nocturnal Meetings To Declare War On Rivers, Fubara Tells New CP
-
News3 days ago
AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria To Electrify 1m Rural Communities In 2025
-
online games2 days ago
How to Get Bonus at 1xBet Website?
-
Niger Delta3 days ago
You Have Our Ears, Fubara Assures Civil Servants
-
News3 days ago
Nigeria Ready To Host UNESCO Media, Information Literacy Institute – Minister
-
News3 days ago
Fubara Inaugurates Road Project To Celebrate Jackrich On Birthday
-
Featured3 days ago
Nigeria, S/Arabia, Deepen Ties On Solid Mineral Exploration
-
Niger Delta3 days ago
RSBOPP Moves To Review Procurement Processes