Floyd Mayweather May not Show Up for $300m Mega-Fight Against Manny Pacquiao - Freddy Roach

Floyd Mayweather will not show up for $300m Mega-fight against Manny Pacquiao- Freddy Roach fears.
        
Freddie Roach - Manny Pacquiao's seven-time  trainer of the Year- suspects Floyd Mayweather may not show up for the Fight of the Century on Saturday.,

That feeling has grown as the rancour between the two camps has continued this week with argument about the gloves each fighter will wear, how their hands will be wrapped and even the protective cup Pacquiao will wear.

Roach says: 'I dont know why Floyd has gone quiet for this fight. I really wonder if he's going to turn up on the night.

'His speech is very low-key subdued. I dont think any fighter is afraid but I don't think he wanted this fight.

He was forced into a fight he didn't want to take.'
The storm in a jock-cup obliged Pacquiao to have that item of apparel cleared by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Roach says: 'They made a protest about Manny's cup. They came to training this week, inspected it and approved it.

The commissioner marked it and signed it to make sure it's the one he's wearing on the night. But it's the regular cup.

"As for the gloves, the commission have approved our gloves but they say theirs are not ready yet!

'I will be the one in their dressing room watching them wrap Floyd's hands.

'Manny wraps his own hands. Sometimes people put too much wrapping on.'

Pacquiao agreed with his mentor that he has always been keener than Mayweather: 'This is the first time I've felt this excited about a fight. I thank God for keeping me at peace.'

When asked about Mayweather's assertion that he is only in this for money, Pacquiao said: 'My life before was living in the street, with nothing. It is still beyond my imagination that this boy you are talking to could become known to every person in the Philippines and so many around the world.

NPFL attends inaugural World Leagues Forum

          LMC calls for Redistribution of Income derived from Nigeria

Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) was among the 24 leading Professional League organisations from across the world of football that met in London on Tuesday, April 28 for the first ever Global Leagues Forum.

This historic meeting brought together Presidents, Chairmen, Chief Executives and General Secretaries from Professional Leagues that represent over 1100 of the world’s top Clubs. 

Professional Leagues from Bolivia, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, England, France, Germany, Honduras, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, UAE, USA, as well as the European Professional Football Leagues Association, were represented. Players of clubs in these leagues provided just under 90 per cent of the players who took part in the FIFA World Cup 2014.

In the NPFL delegation including Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), Shehu Dikko and Chief Executive Officer, Hon. Nduka Irabor, made a strong case for the redistribution of incomes derived by the developed Leagues from the Nigerian territory.

The discussion between the leaders of Professional League football was wide ranging and focussed on strategies for the successful development of Professional League football in each of their countries. These focussed on relationships with players and fans in particular, and Professional League business models.

Dikko said he was very hopeful that some of the contacts made would soon begin to yield dividend particularly in the areas of human capacity development and technical overhaul of the game.

"The LMC Is absolutely delighted to be part of this inaugural meeting as a pioneer member of the forum. This clearly signifies that the LMC is making huge progress and in the right direction to be so recognized on a global scale.

"The contacts made will surely impact positively on our efforts to improve on the fortune of the NPFL", Dikko said.

According to Renata Affonso, the Planning and Projects Manager of the Conference, it is recognised that whilst all Professional Leagues are different, the issues they face are the same as each looks to develop the professional game in their country. The World Leagues Forum thus provided a platform for sharing of experiences and approaches, with established Leagues committing to assisting developing Leagues across the world.

The Leagues agree that wherever a common view on issues can be achieved, Leagues should speak with a single voice, as leading members of the global football family. A focus of the next meeting in the USA (19-20 October 2015) will be on formalising a new way of working more closely together.

Reported by npfl.ng 

Messi grabbed his 48th goal of the season in panenka way

Barcelona and Argentina super star Lionel Messi grabbed his 48th goal of the season in fashion after burying a panenka penalty against Getafe on Tuesday night.

       

World class penalty delivered to open up the scoring 9" and 47 min for his team with Suarez 25' and 40', Neymar 28', and the legend Xavi 30 to secure them 6-0 victory over Getafe.

Barcelona's comfortable victory against Mid-table Getafe stretched their unbeaten run to 15 matches, wining 14 and draw one, in all competitions.

NFF risk losing Kit sponsorship deal

According to reports the Nigeria Football Federation could be at risk of having their $ 750,000 3 and a half year deal cancelled or not extended should the players of any of the National teams breach terms of the contract as was the case with the previous kit sponsors.

Google Image: NNF        

General Secretary NFF, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi told players of the Super Falcons they would be the first to don the new Nike kits and not the Flying Eagles as was early reported by the sports kit makers.

According to the NFF African champions, Super Falcons will be given the honour of being the first team to use the new kits in a competitive game when they lock horns with Mali in an Olympics qualifying match on May 9 in Abuja.

Sanusi said: "I urge you to be disciplined and desist from acts that will bring problem between Nike, our new kit sponsors and the Federation. I must say here that one of the problems we had with Adidas was because some players were not respecting the terms of the contract. I urge you to assist the NFF in every contract we enter into."

The NFF will be supplied kits worth the sum of $1million in the year 2017 and 2018.

There are also various bonuses specified for any of the National Teams that qualifies for major international championships, with the Super Eagles to earn up to the sum of $500,000 at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.

Iheanacho's goal not enough to save City in Youth FA Cup against Chelsea

Manchester City starlet Kelechi Iheanacho scored a goal but wasn't able to rescue his team from going down 5-2 in the final of the 2015 Youth FA Cup final.
       
City trail Chelsea 3-1 going into the second leg of the FA Youth Cup final at Stamford Bridge but with lots of hope and something to play for. The big news before the start of the game was the inclusion of Iheanacho who impressed for the club in last summer's pre-season.

Though Plagued with many injuries since he joined City, the tie was his first in  the FA Youth Cup and he did mark his debut in a nice way.

In the 6th minutes of the game, Kelechi struck for his side to peg the game back at 3-2 but a fine performance from the Chelsea lads saw the game finish off at 2-1 and 5-2 aggregate win.

Reports curled from footballlive.ng 

OSHOALA Celebrate her goal for Liverpool Ladies in Style

Nigeria Super falcons forward Asisat Oshoala took to his Facebook page to thank Almighty Allah, below is the pictures and comment she posted.

          
Oshoala wrote "Thank you Almighty Allah for the fantastic goal I scored and the 2-1 victory over Manchester City. I'm so happy. Alhamdulillah!"

She has also been nominated for the first ever BBC Women's Footballer of the Year award.

Read more of the report here:   Empire of the Kop

Hazard named PFA Player of the the Year

Chelsea and Belgium star Eden Hazard has been named PFA Player's of the year after a wonderful performance throughout the season.

        
Hazard has been debated to be among the World best player in the next years too come, when the likes of  Ronaldo and  Messi would have been fading off.

Congratulations to the Belgium star....

UEFA Champions League Semi-Final Draws

This is the Semi-final draws of Uefa Champions league, Barcelona vs Bayern Munich & Juventus vs Real Madrid. First legs 5/6 May, Second Legs 12/13 2015.
           
It going to be a cracker as the Champions League is getting close to the end. This is just the beginning there is more to come!!!!

UEFA Europa League Draw

The Semi-final draw of Europa League is out, below is the pictures showing the fixtures.
       
Ties to be played May 7&14 2015..

No room for bench warmer says- Keshi

New appointed Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has stated and emphasize that players who are not featuring regularly in their club wont be having space in his new regime.
                             
The big boss who was just re-appointed on Tuesday has the head coach of the senior national team said in media briefing that he would need to begin work immediately toward the AFCON 2017 qualifications.

"We have to get players that are playing regularly for their teams and have at least three or four training sessions before a game, but it's always very difficult, big boss said.  

"So what we have to do is to concentrate on a lot of tactical work most of the time because I think they are physically fit for their clubs.

"So we just need to try and get it done because we don't have a lot of time so most of our work will be tactical and positional play."

Referee Appointed for FA Cup Final

FA Cup final referee Jon Moss has been appointed to take of the match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at Wembley on May 30 2015.

      
Former Premier League official Mark Halsey says that Jon Moss is a "Political Pawn" whose appointment does not make sense. Reported BBC

Moss will officiate Aston Villa v Arsenal at Wembley on 30 May but Halsey claims the 44-year-old "has not had a particular good season".

Halsey says Mark Calttenburg should take charge and wants the Football Association to review the process.

"I'm amazed that they've not given him the final," Halsey said on Wednesday.

"I would imagine that Jon Moss will feel a little bit sheepish that he doesn't really deserve it Mark Calttenburg does." More report on BBC.Com

Stephen Keshi signs two years contract to continue as Super Eagles Coach

Stephen Keshi has been re-appointed as the chief coach of Super Eagles sinning a two years contract with the Nigeria Football Federation.
        
The big Boss initial contract ran out at the end of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in July, after Nigeria crashed out in  the Round of 16, losing  2-0 to France.

"It's a fresh start Keshi told BBC Sport. We need the support of our fans, media and every Nigerian to return  the team to where we truly belong.

"As a coach and former player i was also hurt that we failed to qualify for the last Nations Cup.

"I remain confident that this this time around we will see an improvement, change in attitude and positive results" Stephen Keshi Stated.

"To succeed we all need to come together as one because Nigeria belongs to us, this is not Stephen Keshi team but our National Team."

Keshi's first assignment is to deliver Nigeria the 2018 World Cup Ticket which begins in June.

Two Sunshine Stars Player ban for stripping to celebrate

Nigeria Professional Football league, Prince Aggrey and Kunle Odunlami of Sunshine Stars have been slammed with a one-match ban and a fine of N50,000 for stripping to their underpants while celebrating one of their goals against Dolphins at the just pass weekend.

Image Source: Footballlive.ng   

According to a statement released by the League Management Company, both players have 48hours to either submit to the League Management Company (LMC) decision.

The statement read, - "Two players of Sunshine Stars who stripped themselves to celebrate their winning goal against Dolphins FC on Match Day 4 in Akure have been suspended for one match each and also fined N50,000 for indecent exposure and conduct capable of bringing the league to disrepute."

An injury time winner from Prince Aggrey condemned the Port-Harcourt side to a painful 2-1 defeat on Sunday evening but moved them seven points from four matches.

Liverpool Vice-captain Henderson signs new Five-year deal

Liverpool and England Midfielder Jordan Henderson has agreed terms on an improved contract at Anfield, having had just 14 months left on his current contract
       
 He will now sign a new £ 100,000-a-week deal with Liverpool. As Mirror Sport revealed on April 12, Henderson will ink a five-year deal to remain at Anfield having earlier turned down an £80,000-a-week offer.

The former Sunderland midfielder, who joined the Reds £16 million back 2011, follows Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho in agreeing a contract extension.

The 24-year-old vice-captain is in line to take the club captaincy from Steven Gerrard when he leaves for LA Galaxy at the end of the season.

His current contract had just 14 months left and his new deal ties him to the Reds until 2020.

Aston Villa Celebrate after defeating Liverpool in FA Cup Semi-final

Aston Villa celebrate their victory over Liverpool in the dressing after wining the game by 2-1 to reach final they will now meet Arsenal who are the defending Champions on May 30.
        
Goal scorers where Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool and Christian Benteke with Fabian Delph secure them the victory to FA Cup final for the first time in 15 years.

Keshi wants NFF to Sack Amokachi

According to reports on the Sun News a staggering revelation has been made on the latest request from the about to be re-appointed national team boss, Stephen Keshi as whisper from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Glass House suggests that he wants Daniel Amokachi sacked as assistant manager of the Super Eagles, FCNaija.com can exclusively report.
     

The former Everton forward was in charge of the Eagles in Keshi's absence when the team prosecuted two friendly games- first, a disgracefully defeat against Uganda in front of home fans at Akwa Ibom international stadium which was followed by a lackluster 1-1 draw in South Africa against the Bafana Bafana.

Amokachi told an unnamed NFF official after the Cranes friendly that it was the big boss that selected the team and he was just a figurehead- that news got the ears of Stephen Keshi and got him furious.

Now, he wants Amokachi out and the former Mail coach is pushing the NFF chiefs to re-engage the services of his former assistant, Togolese Valerie Hounandinuou who was fired by the NFF in April 2013.

Keshi who recently agreed a new deal with the Nigerian football body to continue as manager will sign the contract papers this week.

EPL: List of English Premier League Player of the year awards nominees

The Nominees for EPL Player of the Season and Young player of the year have been announced by the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA)
       
With no surprises, the six players unarguably merit the call as they pose the most attacking threat to any team.

Four nominees from London namely, Chelsea duo Diego Costa and Eden Hazard, Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez and the golden boy of English football, Tottenham striker Harry Kane.

Liverpool Midfielder Phillippe Countinho has been nominated as has Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea.

Nigeria cruising in Seychelles with Easy after straight 3 match win in African Beach Soccer Championship

Nigeria Sand Eagles continue there good performance in the on-going Beach Soccer championship in Seychelles after defeating Cote d'Ivory 7-6 in their 3rd match to progress into semi final in the tournament.
           

The Eagles thumped host 10-1 in their opening game and also went ahead to beat Egypt 4-1 in their previous two games.

The win against Cote d'Ivory now make the Super Sand Eagles to keep 100 percent record run through out the group stage.

Nigeria now finished top of Group A and have now scored 21 goals in three games with Ogbonna banging in six of them.

The Sand Eagles will now battle group B runners-up on Saturday in the semi-final stage.

Super Sand Eagles smash Seychelles in African Beach Championship

The Nigerian Super Sand Eagles pummel the Seychelles 10-1 in their African Beach Soccer Championship opener.
           
The 10-1 win recorded by Nigerians over host country Seychelles didn't start as early as the Super Sand Eagles would have thought but when the goals started coming and hitting the back of the net, the Nigerians never stopped going forward.

Seychelles who were playing for the first time in the African Beach Soccer Championship gave a good account of themselves. After holding on strong in the early stage, Seychelles gave in. The Super Sand Eagles got two goals in the opening frame, goals from Emeka Ogbonna and Ikechukwu Ibenegbu gave Eagles the lead.

Though the host committed display was obvious as the game progressed into the second but the Nigerians added a third goal from Emmanuel Ohwoferia and after that the Nigerians kept hitting series of shots at Seychelles which resulted into a 5-0 lead with goals from both Abu-Azeez and Captain of the team, Isiaka Olawale.

Read Full Reports Here: SL10.ng

FIFA Ranking: Nigeria drops more further in Ranking as Germany retain number spot in the world

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have dropped four places and are now ranked 45th in the latest FIFA rankings.
           
It is the worst slide for the former African champions, after they failed to win their last two international friendlies in March.

The Eagles were beaten 1-0 on home soil by Uganda and drew 1-1 with South Africa in Nelspruit for days later.

Other Africa country are ranked as follows, Algeria remains the highest-ranked side on the continent despite dropping three places to 21st. Cote d'Ivoire (23rd), Ghana (26th), Tunisia (30th) and Senegal (36th) complete the top five.

World Champions Germany remains the number one team in the world. Argentina, Belgium, Colombia, and Brazil are ranked within top five in the world.

Siasia picks Taiwo Awoniyi after impressive performance against AFC

Head coach of the U23 football team of Nigeria Samson Siasia after watching Taiwo Awoniyi score a brace in friendly game against Abuja Football College.
        
Siasia said " I am satisfied with him of course,"  said the coach. "A player cannot score two goals that won you a match without you being satisfied. "He has really lived up to expectations even before this match.

He had been scoring in our training sessions and I am happy he has done that in a match setting, "Maybe there was a bit of doubt because he's a very young boy with no league experience and coupled with his lean frame, but I never doubted his talents. "I always knew he could score goals and I am happy he has proved me right."  

Breaking News: Gabon to Host 2017 African Cup of Nations

CAF have this afternoon announced that Gabon have been selected as the host of next edition of AFCON which is set to be 2017.
         
The tournament will comes less than five years since Gabon co-hosted in 2012 with the Equatorial guinea.

The AFCON 2017 qualifying draws:

Group A- Tunisia, Togo, Liberia, Djibouti

Group B- DRC, Angola, CAR, Madagascar

Group C- Mail, Eq.Guinea, Benin, South Sudan

Group D- Burkina Faso, Uganda, Botswana, Comoros

Group E- Zambia, Congo, Kenya, Guinea Bissau

Group F- Cape Verde, Morocco, Libya, Sao Tome

Group G- Nigeria, Egypt, Tanzania, Chad

Group H- Ghana, Mozambique, Rwanda, Mauritius

Group I- Cote d'Ivorie, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Gabon

Group J- Algeria, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Seychelles

Group K- Senegal, Niger, Nambia, Burundi

Group L- Guinea, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Swaziland

Group M- Cameroon, South Africa, Gambia, mauritania

The group winners and two best second placed teams join hosts Gabon for Finals in 2017

Man city Plots Summer move for Liverpool Henderson

According to reports by 90Min with James Milner set for a summer exit and Frank Lampard due too jet off to New York at the end of the season, Manuel Pellegrini has become painfully aware that he needs some new English blood in his team.
         
With Joe Hart the only regular English starter this campaign, the boss has identified some-grown talent for his summer shake up at the club.

As by the Mail Online, Manuel Pellegirin has put Liverpool's Jordan Henderson and Arsenal's Jack Wilshere on his summer shopping list, as he looks to inject some English steel into his City side.

Warri Wolves Calls for Support:

The Managing Director of Warri Wolves, Davidson Owumi who arrived with the team from Ethiopia on Tuesday afternoon after qualifying for the next of the CAF Confederation Cup at the expense of Dedebit FC has said that he believed in the Warri based team to go far in the competition based on what he saw in their last match.

Owumi who celebrated his birthday last weekend however revealed that for the team to achieve this, the boys must be well motivated and therefore urged the Government to provide what it takes to ginger the boys.

According to him, with the next match coming up on the 18th, April against MK Entancheite from DR Congo at the Warri City Stadium, the boys will have to move straight into a close camping because the higher you go in this competition, the tougher it becomes.

Owumi known as Okada in his hey days further said for this to be achieved, it depends on the fund available and so all hands must be on deck to see that the club achieve its aims.

"I sincerely believe these boys can go far from what I saw in Ethiopia but they must be well motivated to achieve the desired goals. We need fund now to move straight into a close camping because the next match is around the corner, It is on the 18th of this month and we are playing the first leg so we need to do well. We are the only hope of the Nation now with all other clubs eliminated and we cannot afford to let the Nation down now. You know that the higher you go in this competition, the tougher it becomes and we just have to work hard. We need a lot of things to succeed".

Owumi equally appealed to the fans to come out each time the club plays in Warri as that will go a long way in motivating the players.

"At this time, we need the fans now than before and they must come out in thousands to support the team. They should be our 12th player and with them, we can achieve what we set to do by going far in this competition. said Owumi. 

David Bentley to join the Philadelphia Eagles as a kicker next Season

According to reports footballfancast.com this morning from the USA, former Tottenham, Blackburn and Arsenal star David Bentley will join the Philadelphia Eagles as a kicker next season after a series of successful training sessions with the NFL franchise.
             
The ex-England Midfielder, who once moved to White Hart Lane for £15million, retired from football last summer at the age of just 29, citing how the spot had become too driven by social media and corporate sponsorship, leaving it "predictable and a bit too calculated."

In a surprise press conference held at Lincoln Financial Field last night - The Eagles" stadium- Bentley revealed: "Everybody knows the real reason I retired from football is because of all the running around you have to do, especially in training.

"Running in the wind was not only tiring, but also extremely detrimental to may hair modelling career - which is now going very well, by the way.

"So when I discovered Kickers in the NFL spend hardly anytime on the pitch but can earn anything between $450,000 and $4,500,00 per season, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for me.

"But I am quite worried about my hair under those helmets," the Peterborough-born former winger added.
"Me and Benoit Assou-Ekottto are looking into gels specifically designed to helment hair. If it becomes a problem, I might have quit."

Bentley then signed a two-year contract worth $500,000 per-annum in front of Eagles owner Jeffery Luire, head coach Chip Kelly and the assembled press.