Sports
Real Madrid Academy: Admission Process Will Be Fair, Transparent – SA
The Rivers State Government has assured that the ongoing admission processes into the state-owned Real Madrid Football Academy, Port Harcourt, will not only be fair to all applicants, no matter one’s status but very transparent. This was the declaration of the Special Adviser to Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike on Real Madrid Academy, Barr. Christopher Green, on Monday during the first part of screening exercise (aptitude test) on the candidates for admission at the Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokwuta, Port Harcourt.
Green, while speaking with news men said that there would be a level playing ground for everybody as far as admission into the academy was concerned. According to him, “It’s going to be as transparent as can be, there’s no favouritism, it is neither for the high nor for the low, it is for everybody as long as you meet our criteria, as long as you do well in academics (Aptitude Test) as well as in the art of football (Practical)’
‘All will be screened under the same environment, atmosphere and it is open for people to come and see. In fact, the result of the screening exercise would be apparent even before official announcement as every parent would have the opportunity to watch his son or ward perform”
“The SA reiterated that Governor Wike had warned and directed that the ground must be level and the process fair to all. There is no partiality, no external influence.” The screening exercise witnessed a huge turn- out of prospective students for the academy, with over 1,200 children thronging the aptitude test venue with their parents. The SA described the turn-out as very impressive and an eloquent testimony that people have bought into what Governor Wike is doing to provide a platform for the development of future leaders and talents of the state and Nigeria.
“What is happening here is very impressive. The Real Madrid Academy is a deliberate plan by the Governor to provide for the youths of Rivers State and Nigeria in general. With this kind of project, he has secured the future of our youths, he is building human capacity, creating jobs and wealth for the empowerment of the young ones who would develop to become stars and leaders tomorrow. The academy is one project that can never go wrong in the sense that if you cannot make it via football, you make it through academics. Facilities at the academy are the best one can find anywhere in Africa and it presents a very big opportunity, perhaps, that’s why we are having this number coming from every state in the country”, he added.
Also speaking earlier, Commissioner for Education in the state, Kaniye Ebeku, whose ministry supervised the aptitude test, agreed that Governor Wike’s vision for the academy has been a huge success considering the extent parents across the country have embraced the opportunity. He described as wonderful the enthusiasm of parents and the sheer number of candidates on ground for the screening exercise.
By: Gabriel Nwanetanya
The Kenya Football Federation (FKF) has launched an investigation into allegations that goalkeeper Patrick Matasi has been involved in match manipulation.
The 37-year-old, who plays for Kenyan Premier League club Kakamega Homeboyz, has won over 30 international caps.
His most recent appearance for the Harambee Stars came in October last year, in a qualifier for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
An undated video posted online appears to show Matasi agreeing a deal to influence the outcome of a league game.
“I have spoken to him. He was also shocked at what he was seeing in the video and he told me he doesn’t know about match-fixing,” Homeboyz owner Cleophas Shimanyula told Tidesports source .
The FKF said it would work with world governing body Fifa, the Confederation of African Football and other “relevant authorities” during its investigation.
“We reaffirm our zero-tolerance policy on match manipulation and are committed to safeguarding the credibility of our competitions,” a statement added.
“This investigation will adhere to FKF’s anti-match manipulation regulations and Fifa guidelines, ensuring a fair, transparent, and thorough process.
“The rights of the player and his club will be respected, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings.”
Shimanyula backed Matasi, pointing to the fact the veteran has kept three clean sheets in as many games since joining the club a month ago.
“When we watched this video, we found that Matasi has not wronged the club,” he said.
“In a video there can misinterpretations and false narratives and we cannot trust everything.
“He will keep playing for us because there’s no wrongdoing on his part as far as we are concerned – unless there’s evidence or the FKF writes to us to say they are suspecting the player of some wrongdoing.
“He is innocent until proven guilty and then we will act.”
The FKF has called on anyone with credible information to assist its investigation, with any reports to be handled with strict confidentiality.
Shimanyula also challenged the Kenyan footballing community to provide evidence against Matasi.
“Kakamega Homeboyz is against any form of match manipulation,” he said.
Uefa has opened an investigation into allegations of indecent conduct by four Real Madrid players during their Champions League last-16 win against Atletico Madrid.
Antonio Rudiger, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Dani Ceballos allegedly made gestures towards the home fans after Real Madrid beat their city rivals on penalties to book their place in the quarter-finals.
TV pictures showed German defender Rudiger appearing to make a throat-slitting motion, apparently towards the crowd after the shootout victory, while Mbappe was shown seemingly making a crotch-grabbing gesture.
Spanish media said Atletico reported the actions to Uefa last week.
The players could be at risk of suspension but there is no guarantee the case will be heard before their quarter-final with Arsenal. The first leg for that tie is at Emirates Stadium on 8 April and the return leg a week later.
In a statement, Uefa said: “[An] ethics and disciplinary inspector has been appointed to investigate allegations of indecent conduct” made by the four Real Madrid players.
“Further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course.”
The Premier League has announced it will have two transfer windows this summer to allow Manchester City and Chelsea to sign players before the Club World Cup.
The window will open between Sunday, 1 June and Tuesday, 10 June, then close for five days before running again from Monday, 16 June until Monday, 1 September.
This summer features the first expanded Fifa Club World Cup, which involves 32 teams and adopts the format of the regular World Cup of the past few years.
Chelsea and Manchester City are the Premier League teams in the tournament which takes place in the United States from Sunday, 15 June.
But the Premier League can only have 12 weeks of a summer window – hence the five-day break in order to run it until 1 September.
Fifa has allowed new players to be registered for the Club World Cup from 1-10 June, and again from 27 June-3 July for the knockout stage.
This is happening firstly, to bring order to the global registration system, world governing body Fifa only permits the transfer window in any individual country to be open for 16 weeks in any calendar year.
In Europe, precedent dictates four of those weeks are for the winter window, leaving 12 in the summer. In 2024, the Premier League transfer window opened on 14 June and closed on 30 August.