Sports
Nigeria Premier League Begins Against Odds
Certainly, the 2010/2011 Nigeria Premier League season would begin tomorrow in all centres across the country.
The league had faced several postponements due to the crisis in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) which led now been resolved based on a gentleman’s agreement.
The reinstatement of the Aminu-Maigan led board had to the setting up of the Referees’ Appointment Committee and other bodies responsible for the effective monitoring of the league.
Despite the positive development, stakeholders are still concerned over the many problems which had affected the poor standard of the league.
Among them is the absence of a title sponsor for this season after telecommunications giant, Globacom pulled out of a deal to renew its sponsorship of the league.
The absence of a sponsor, means the league board would be lacking the financial power to properly administer its secretariat.
Most leagues in the world depend on the proceeds of sponsorship, endorsements, branding and TV rights, to survive.
Another major problem is the lack of interest by fans in attending league matches. Poor attendance during league matches in recent history has been due to insecurity at league venues and poor officiating by referees.
Most fans who had unwillingly visited league venues have had cause to complain on how referees openly favour home teams.
Besides, fans prefer to sit in the comfort of their homes to watch European league matches.
To reverse the trend, the Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye and other sports personalities have advocated a change in the timing of the league.
The Commissioner, when asked on how the interest of Nigerians in the league can be revived said matches should be played in the evening under floodlights.
The absence of strong followership for the league has led to the loss of revenue for clubs, which could have been ploughed into infrastructure development and improvement of player’s welfare.
The whole problem confronting the growth of our league to other leagues especially in Africa is the problem of leadership, said John Amaowoh, a journalist and soccer enthusiast.
“Just like the larger political terrain, our football has been infested with characters that are fit only for school sports and their end interest is not for the advancement of the league, but how they can share in the booty that comes into the system,” he said.
Amaowoh believes that ex-internationals should be given the chance to manage football for the country, noting that politicians are interested in their personal gains.
On his part, Mainayo Igani, said until the body responsible for the appointment of referees is independent, the issue of fair officiating would be a mirage.
Igani noted that a situation where referees who are sent to officiate a match are being pampered by the state football association was unhealthy.
“The referees committee has to be independent to guarantee fair officiating, a situation where they are being treated by state Football Associations as demi-gods when they are sent down is not good,” he said.
The chairman of the Sharks FC Supporters Club also called on fans not to intimidate referees during league games.
The league opens this weekend with Kaduna United entertaining neighbour, Kano Pillars with both sides looking for a positive start to the new season.
Kano Pillars are without their prized striker, Ahmed Musa who notched in 18 goals last season that propelled the team to second place but officials of the team are upbeat that the opening match would be competitive.
All other teams would play on Sunday, with Rivers State-owned teams Dolphins FC and Sharks FC eyeing the league title.
Sharks would lock horns with JUTH FC at home, but would be banking on their devastating form at the continental level to get the three points at stake.
Akonte Samuel/Grace Nwaimo
Sporting have not received an offer for striker Viktor Gyokeres and there is no gentleman’s agreement for him to leave for £59million, says club president Frederico Varandas.
Sweden international Gyokeres, 27, has been heavily linked with Manchester United and Arsenal after scoring 97 goals in 102 matches during two seasons in Portugal.
He has a 100m euro (£85m) release clause in his contract.
It has been widely reported that, after staying at Sporting last summer, Gyokeres and Sporting agreed he could leave for 70m euros (£59m) this summer.
However, Varandas said the club’s only promise to Gyokeres was that they would not demand his full release clause.
“I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for 60m euros plus 10m euros because I never promised that,” Varandas said.
“To this day Sporting has not had an offer for Gyokeres, neither today nor last season.”
Gyokeres spent three seasons with Coventry City in the Championship before joining Sporting under Ruben Amorim.
Manchester City director of football Hugo Viana was sporting director at Sporting last summer, when Gyokeres’ agent sought assurances about his leaving if a suitable offer arrived.
“One of the agent’s biggest concerns was whether we would demand the termination clause,” said Varandas.
“He wanted to guarantee certain things. And what was agreed? That Sporting would not demand a release clause now.
“For one reason: he was going to be 27 years old and no player leaves Portugal at 27 for 100m eurors or 90m euros.
“In that same meeting the agent wanted to anchor the exit to a value. I said this sentence: ‘It’s not worth us setting a value because I don’t know what will happen in a year’s time. I don’t know if it will be 40m euros, 60m euros or 80m euros. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand 100 million euros.’”
Concacaf President Victor Montagliani has criticised a proposal to expand the 2030 men’s World Cup to 64 teams.
The plans, put forward by South American governing body Conmebol, have also drawn opposition from Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
The tournament will be hosted by Spain, Morocco and Portugal, after the opening matches are held in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
The 2026 World Cup, which will take place across the United States, Mexico and Canada, has already been expanded from 32 to 48 teams.
But Conmebol said it wanted to add more participants to mark the competition’s 100-year anniversary.
“I don’t believe expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams is the right move for the tournament itself and the broader football ecosystem, from national teams to club competitions, leagues, and players,” Montagliani told Tidesports source
“We haven’t even kicked off the new 48-team World Cup yet, so personally, I don’t think that expanding to 64 teams should even be on the table.”
Concacaf is the governing body of football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
The decision to expand the 2026 World Cup to 48 teams was taken in 2017 following a unanimous vote at a Fifa congress.
Fifa’s 75th congress will be held in Paraguay on 15 May, when Conmebol’s proposal could be discussed.
If the proposal is accepted, the 2030 edition would consist of 128 matches, double the number played under the 64-game format used from 1998 and 2022.
In March, Ceferin described the proposal as a “bad idea” while AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa said it would cause “chaos”.
“If the issue remains open to change, then the door will not only be open to expanding the tournament to 64 teams,” said Salman.
“But someone might come along and demand raising the number to 132 teams. Where would we end up then? It would become chaos.”
Brazil qualified for the 2026 World Cup this week with a 1-0 win against Paraguay in South American qualifying to give Carlo Ancelotti his first win as manager.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jnr scored from close range in the second half, finishing after fine work from Manchester United-bound playmaker Matheus Cunha.
The victory, Ancelotti’s first after a 0-0 draw against Ecuador on his debut last week, means Brazil has now qualified for every edition of the World Cup.
“We needed to win and qualify for the World Cup,” said Vinicius Jr.
“Now the coach will have more time to work. Of course today wasn’t one of our best performances, but the important thing is always to win.
“Now it’s time to celebrate qualifying.”
Elsewhere, World Cup holders Argentina played out an entertaining 1-1 draw with Colombia in Buenos Aires.
Liverpool winger Luis Diaz opened the scoring with a fine individual goal, dancing through three defenders before finishing past Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Argentina was reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes remaining when Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a high-boot challenge on Colombia’s Kevin Castano.
But Lionel Messi’s side found an equaliser nine minutes from the end through Lyon’s Thiago Almada, leaving Colombia four points clear of seventh-placed Venezuela.
Ecuador, Argentina’s nearest challengers, booked their spot at next summer’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States after a 0-0 draw away at Peru.