Sports
Spain Captivates Football World In S’ Africa
How things have changed. Spain, once regarded as the serial chokers of world football, a side so averse to the big time they made the Leeds team of the 1970s look like the most resolute finishers in history, are closing in on the prize with all the lynx-eyed resolve of real champions. They may have started the competition with a defeat, but if they wind it up with a win they will demonstrate the fundamental truth of tournament football: it is those who improve who prosper.
Even as they were losing to Switzerland in that first game, however, there was manifold evidence that this was a team that was not about to fold. Unlike France, Italy and England, you could see the quality even in the defeat. The passes were going to feet, the movement was good, all that was lacking was the finishing touch.
And to a degree, that has been their one problem throughout this World Cup: like a big stage Arsenal, they seem to find it aesthetically demeaning to score a goal without first stringing together at least twenty passes.
Which made the goal they scored in the semi to see off the magnificent Germans even more telling. A thumping header of the least sophisticated sort pointed out that their previous failing was being addressed at precisely the right moment: Puyol’s terrific strike indicated this was a team prepared to do whatever it takes to win, even retreating to route one.
Yet, their goal-shyness will have been noted. Spain have won their last three encounters by the only goal scored in the match. If the Dutch can get an early strike (perhaps hoping for an English referee’s first minute penalty indulgence as they benefited from in 1974) that would enforce the Spaniards to do something they have not managed yet to do in the knock-out phase: score twice. That will be the instruction to Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder: get in there.
The trouble is, that is easier said than done. It is almost impossible to see how you can score against this Spain side. Sure, Switzerland managed it, but that was against a cold team, barely awake. By the time they had roused themselves they prevented even the Germans, who had run riot in three of their previous games, from finding a way through.
And it is little wonder. Not only do the Spanish boast defensive talents of the strength of Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique and Iker Casillas, they protect them with the finest midfield in the world right now. Actually some might dare to claim they are more than that: they are the finest midfield in World Cup history.
Watching Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Xabi Alonso in action is to see the most perfectly balanced central unit it is possible to imagine (it is also to see what Liverpool lost when they allowed Alonso to head home to Real Madrid).
While English midfielders prefer to work in space, Xavi and Iniesta actually seem to relish it if they receive the ball with three men around them. That way they can create space for others. While clod-hopping Englishmen, sulky Frenchmen and arthritic Italians have found the abulani ball impossible to control (Emile Heskey, to quote an ancient joke, was trapping the thing further than Xavi can kick it) the Spaniards quickly mastered its idiosyncrasies, caressing the thing with perfect weight in the pass. Indeed, well as Sneijder, Bastien Schweinsteiger and Mesut Ozil played, it would be hard to argue against the Spanish midfield forming the heart of any best-of XI from this World Cup.
The Nigeria Football Federation has defended the recent quarter-finals draw for the 2025 President Federation Cup, saying it was conducted in line with best global practices.
A member of the NFF Executive Committee Board, George Aluo, stated that criticism over venues for the quarterfinals was unfortunate.
Going by the fixtures released on Saturday by the football body, Abakaliki FC will take on Nasarawa United in Benin, Wikki Tourists will clash with Ikorodu City in Bwari, Abuja, Akwa United and Kwara United will fight it out in Enugu, just as Area 3, Abuja, will host the encounter between Rangers International and Plateau United. All matches are scheduled for May 3rd for the emergence of semifinalists in a leg affair.
However, there have been criticisms over the Ikorodu United vs Wikki Tourist tie billed for Abuja, with a section of the press saying the venue is skewed in favour of the Bauchi team.
Aluo, also the Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), said: “Some of our media men need better education, and newsmen should not be like the fans out there on the streets. In the English FA Cup, it is always a one-legged pairing that can see a club like Arsenal host Manchester United at home”.
A new contract that will see Act Sports Di Oyibo Limited managing the career of Nigerian teqball specialist, Victor Oyemade, has been signed in Lagos.
The deal gives exclusive rights to Act Sports to manage, and exercise power of attorney over issues relating to the player’s welfare as it concerns his transactions, engagement for professional, promotional, sponsorships, endorsements, and exhibition purposes.
In signing the document, both parties also agreed that proper safeguards would be put in place to protect and promote the player’s interest at all times.
Director of Act Sports, Di Oyibo Limited, Pastor Samuel Robinson Oyibo, excited about the deal, said it would benefit both parties in the area of spreading the message of the sport, as well as laying a firm foundation for his new client’s future.
“Teqball is one of the world’s fastest-growing ball sports, and Victor Oyemade is the face of the sport here in Nigeria and Africa. That is why we are excited about this partnership that gives Act Sports official authorisation to manage his career, just as it will lay the foundation for its rapid growth in our country,” Pastor Oyibo said.
Oyemade was no less excited about the deal, saying it would help his growth in the sport.
Coaches of Nigeria’s U-18 and U-20 women’s handball teams have released their final lists of 14 players ahead of the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase, which will be held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, that commenced yesterday to end 24th of this month.
The two teams have been training at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos, for close to two weeks and departed for the competition on Thursday.
Coach John Uzor of the national U-18 team has included Omole Joy of Defender Babes and her sister Omole Shola alongside Ojie Princess of Funad Academy alongside right back Faisat Balogun in the mix while Success Duru, Chetachi Ngaodurubie of COAS Babes and Sharon Okonkwo make the cut, amongst other players.
In the U-20 team, Coach Shittu Agboola has largely stuck with the players he has been grooming since their U-18 days. The team is led by Captain Chidera Ogbusimba alongside, her Rima Queens teammates the Samuel Sisters, Amina Mohammed and Joy Peters.
Israel-based Rahima Bello, Kehinde Babatunde of ASPAC HBC of Benin Republic and Esther Mathew, who is also based in Benin Republic, keep their places.
Coach Shittu believes his team will make Nigeria proud just as they did previously at the U-18 level.
“I am really upset that Taiwo Babatunde will not be part of the team for this competition as her school, Yaba College of Technology, insisted that they will not release her for national service because of examinations.
“We did everything humanly possible to secure her release and they didn’t care that it is a national service for the interest of Nigeria and the growth of sports. We have other players who are also students and they got a release from their schools but for no tangible reason, Yabatech refused to release Taiwo despite the fact that we did everything possible to secure her release. It’s sad and I hope the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission will work in tandem so that schools will support our goal in making Nigeria proud in sporting events”.