SHOLA AMEOBI: I JUST FEEL HONOURED TO PLAY - NIGERIA vs VENEZUELA

SHOLA AMEOBI: I JUST FEEL HONOURED TO PLAY - NIGERIA vs VENEZUELA

Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi has expressed his delight over an opportunity to finally play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria in a international friendly in which they beat Venezuela in Florida on Wednesday.

The former England Under-21 star was handed a second-half debut by coach Stephen Keshi in the 3-1 victory and, despite only playing for half-an-hour, the striker was pleased to have made the step up to international football. According to him, “It’s my first game, I just feel honoured to play international football,” he told BBC Sport.

The striker has been praised by fans and officials after helping set-up the third goal and the 31-year-old insists he has nothing but respect for his team-mates: “This game will prepare us for what to expect at the Nations Cup… We played good and made life hard for them,” he said.

On his contribution to the victory, and the quality of the opposition, Ameobi said, “It was nothing personal, we fought hard and gave our everything… They had great support here but we took the game to them. The lads were superb and I’m delighted to have contributed to a good win,” he said, praising the opposition as a quality side too.

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LEVANTE vs REAL MADRID: WE EXPECTED A WAR SAYs OBAFEMI MARTINS

LEVANTE vs REAL MADRID: WE EXPECTED A WAR SAYs OBAFEMI MARTINS

Nigerian international and Levante of Spain forward, Obafemi Martins has revealed he is expecting a tough encounter when his side meets Real Madrid on Sunday in La Liga. Los Blancos lost the same fixture 0-1 last season, and their winless run away to Los Granotes now stretches to more than four years.

Martins stated that he fully expects Real Madrid to fire on all cylinders in order to put an end to their horrible run at the Ciutat de Valencia.

“Real Madrid are coming to our home to win, because they lost last year in Valencia,” Martins told reporters.

“We expect a war, because this year they want to do better, but we have to play our own game.”

The 28-year-old striker refused to discuss who of him and Cristiano Ronaldo was faster, but said that he hopes his team-mate Sergio Ballesteros can get the better of the Portuguese ace just like the last time around.

“Ronaldo is a great player, one of the best in the world, though I wouldn’t like to say if he’s first or second.

“We are both fast forwards, but surely we will not face each other because I am not a defender. Hopefully [Sergio] Ballesteros will do the same as last year,” he said

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Watch Out Ronaldo: Messi Is The Best…Nobody Can Do The Things He Does – Neymar

Watch Out Ronaldo: Messi Is The Best…Nobody Can Do The Things He Does – Neymar

Santos striker, Neymar has voiced his opinion that Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is the world’s finest footballer and dropped a hint that he would like to play for the Catalans one day.

The young Brazilian believes that while Cristiano Ronaldo and Andres Iniesta are great players, no one is more deserving of the Ballon d’Or than the Argentine, reports Goal.com.

“For me, there are three players who are better than the rest: Iniesta, Ronaldo and Messi,” Neymar is quoted as saying by Marca. “But, the best is Messi. There is nobody who can do the things he does. To play alongside Messi would be a dream. Even just training with him would make me very happy.”

Messi himself recently praised the young Brazilian, who has been turning heads with his blistering performances for Santos, and Neymar was quick to acknowledge his gratitude.

“Can you imagine the best in your profession giving you praise? It made me very happy and I can only thank him for his words,” he concluded.

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Gerrard Apologise For Criticising Everton

Gerrard Apologise For Criticising Everton

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has apologised after criticising Everton for playing long-ball football in the 2-2 Merseyside derby draw.

The England midfielder was frustrated after the Toffees came from two goals down to draw at Goodison Park on Sunday, and felt Everton’s style of play resembled Stoke’s aerial approach.

However, after reviewing the game, Gerrard believes he went ‘too far’ in his criticism of his rivals, confirming he has the ‘utmost respect’ for both David Moyes and Tony Pulis.

“Just to clarify, I’ve watched the game again, and I’ve seen some of Everton’s matches this season, and what I said in relation to their style of play went too far,” he said.

“It wasn’t my intention to disrespect Everton or Stoke for that matter and I certainly didn’t intend any disrespect to their manager or players.

“I have the utmost respect for David Moyes and Tony Pulis and the job they have done at their respective clubs.”

The 31-year-old admitted his reaction was partly down to his anger at Luis Suarez’s late effort being incorrectly ruled out for offside, and feels the Uruguayan has been unfairly treated in recent weeks.

“I was frustrated by the disallowed goal from Luis when I spoke and also some of the things that have been said about Luis in recent weeks which haven’t been fair in my opinion,” Gerrard said.

“As captain I have a duty to stand up for our players when I feel they are unfairly singled out.”

Everton defender Phil Jagielka had earlier responded to Gerrard’s criticism by accusing Brendan Rodgers’ team of ‘passing it around for half an hour for the sake of it’.

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Berbatov: I Want To Play Until I Am 40

Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov has insisted he plans to carry on playing until he is 40-years-old, after an impressive start to the season at Craven Cottage.

The 31-year-old has scored three league goals in five appearances for Martin Jol's side this season, including one last time out in the 3-3 draw against Reading.

The west London club is the third Premier League side Berbatov has represented after Tottenham and Manchester United, and the Bulgarian has not ruled out joining another English team when his time at Craven Cottage comes to an end.

"I'm not a keeper, Ryan Giggs or Paolo Maldini, but I want to play until I am 40," Berbatov told reporters. "I want to play in England for several more years. I like England as a place. I like the mentality, culture and its football."

When asked if Fulham would be his last club, the former Tottenham player replied: "I really don’t know."

However, one thing Berbatov is sure about is that he will not return to international football with Bulgaria, insisting that his time has passed.

"I'm standing by the decision I made more than two years ago," he said. "My time has passed."

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Nigerian FA to investigate league over suspected fraud

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is investigating the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) for suspected fraud.

The leadership of the NPL has come under severe scrutiny amid accusations by external auditors that it mishandled millions of dollars in broadcast fees.
And the NFF has been ordered by the country's sports minister, Bolaji Abdulahi, to carry out an inquiry.
In a statement, Minister Abdulahi said: "The content of the external auditor's report, without prejudice to the veracity of the allegations made, is inimical to the development of football and sports in general.

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“The NFF is highly concerned for the integrity of the Nigeria Premier League”

Aminu Maigari NFF president

"While we will exercise utmost restraint in interfering in these matters, we will not hesitate to discharge our full responsibilities as the foremost custodian of sports in Nigeria.

"The kind of issues at stake appears to neither serve the interest of Nigerian football nor that of Fifa."
The minister also revealed that he has referred the case to the NFF, which is the primary agency responsible for football, in order to avert an infringement on Fifa rules barring governmental intervention in football.
Premier League clubs have often threatened to boycott the league if the supervisory body (NPL) does not distribute outstanding revenue due to them.
Some are of the opinion that the body's failure to pay their share of sponsorship and TV rights stretched the lean finances of the clubs.
As the investigation escalated on Monday, the NFF president Aminu Maigari said the scandal is all the more embarrassing for football because it has always presented itself as being above the corruption that blights so much of Nigerian society.
"The NFF is highly concerned for the integrity of the Nigeria Premier League, which has been built to a presentable brand as a result of over 20 years of hard work, and which was recently rated as best in Africa," Maigari complained.
"We cannot afford to fold our arms and remain silent over such a matter that directly attacks the credibility of an important aspect of the Nigeria game.
"The NFF is deeply concerned and we are determined to get to the root of this matter."
Since the start of a huge television broadcast rights deal with Supersport in 2007, the NPL and all the country's clubs have been at loggerheads over remuneration.
The clubs demand a bigger share of the sponsorship money and have threatened not to play in the competition, although they have made U-turns in the end.

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