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AYE Pepple Independent Soccer Tourney Holds Oct. 1

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All is now set for the sec
ond edition of the eagerly awaited 2014 ‘Old Port Harcourt Independence All Stars Soccer Tournament’. Just like last year, the one day tournament  holds on October 1st 2014 at the Governor Rotimi Amaechi  beautifully reconstructed No 1 field ground between Niger
and Bende Street in old Port Harcourt Township.
The 2014  edition among other things aims to commemorate Nigeria’s  54th Independence Day anniversary celebration.
Sponsored for the second year running by the Rivers state  House of Assembly Member Representing Bonny Constituency, Hon. Aye Atamah Pepple (Man 2 Watch), the event is expected  to feature eight teams as against six that featured last  year.  Speaking to newsmen on his choice to sponsor a football tournament in Port Harcourt instead of Bonny, he said, ‘ I  also sponsor football competitions every December in Bonny,  but however the Old Port Harcourt Independence All Stars  Soccer Tournament is somewhat a personal social  responsibility in which I decided to embark upon. For the records, I am a core old Port Harcourt township  personality and this football event to me provides an  opportunity for me to give back to society and the neighbourhood I grew up. It is another way of celebrating  Nigeria’s independence with some football funfair, spread the spirit of love because I believe in the biblical  doctrine of ‘Love thy neighbor as you love thyself” and  to expose our body to some level of physical training among other things.
Further speaking he noted that the tournament will provide an opportunity to unwind and encourage boundless social integration devoid of class, creed or affiliations. “Port  Harcourt Township will ever remain green in my memory” he  said adding that the tournament is another way to sustain  and reflect his deep love and appreciation for an area that saw him through some of his developmental stages in life.
The tournament is expected to spark up intense rivalry, teams expected to lock horns  for this year’s  tournament include; Kallongii Sports Club, All Stars FC PH, Ex Professionals, Cartel FC, Amalgamated All Stars, Club 58,  Crystal Stars and Liverpool FC.
It will be recalled that last year’s tournament was a  phenomenal success, as six teams locked horns against each  other. The atmosphere was absolutely electric and  that the spectators were  lamouring for more… This year’s tournament according to Chike Owakah, the Chairman  of the organizing  committee shall be bigger and  better.
He said that the  lawmaker has affected  an  increase in the take home prize money as the winner for this  year is expected to cart home a whopping N200,000,   while the first and second runners up smile home with N150,000 and N100,000 respectively. “There shall also be lots of individual prizes for the Best Goalkeeper, Highest Goal Scorer, and Most Valuable Player among others” he was quoted as saying.  He urged all and sundry to turn out en masse for the one day tourney.

Enyeama in action for Lille of France

Enyeama in action for Lille of France

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Inter Best Juventus To Maintain Serie  A Lead

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Andrea Cambiaso scored at both ends during the first half of Saturday’s Derby d’Italia, before Pierre Kalulu’s red card forced Juventus to play the entire second half a man light.

Substitute Francesco Pio Esposito got Inter back in front with a bullet header, then Manuel Locatelli’s pinpoint finish looked to have salvaged a point for the Bianconeri, before Zielinski struck on the cusp of stoppage time.

Juventus made the brighter start, but they were masters of their own downfall in the 17th minute, when Cambiaso deflected Luis Henrique’s cross beyond Michele Di Gregorio.

Cambiaso atoned within nine minutes, catching Henrique on his heels when Weston McKennie’s cross squirmed through to the back post and applying a side-footed finish.

But after Bremer cleared Zielinski’s dinked effort off the line, Juve’s hopes were damaged when Kalulu received his second yellow card for a 42nd-minute pull on Alessandro Bastoni, though the Inter centre-back appeared to go down theatrically.

Di Gregorio made a remarkable stop to thwart Hakan Calhanoglu, but as Juventus dropped ever deeper, they were punished when substitute Esposito guided Federico Dimarco’s searching cross into the far corner with 76 minutes on the clock.

It looked like Inter would have to settle for a point when Locatelli whipped a wonderful finish into the bottom-left corner in the 83rd minute, but Zielinski had the final say as his 20-yard drive fizzed through Locatelli’s legs and beat Di Gregorio.

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Szoboszlai’s Real Madrid Dream Sparks Concern At Liverpool 

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A cloud of uncertainty has settled over Liverpool after comments from Hungary head coach Marco Rossi reignited speculation about Dominik Szoboszlai and Real Madrid.

Rossi, who has worked closely with Szoboszlai since his teenage years, revealed that the midfielder’s lifelong ambition is to play for the Spanish giants.

“Because of the very close and direct relationship I’ve had with Dominik since he was a child, Real Madrid has always been his dream,” Rossi said.

For a Liverpool side building around Szoboszlai as a centerpiece of Arne Slot’s project, those words landed hard.

Within hours of Rossi’s remarks, Szoboszlai interacted on social media with two Real Madrid players, applauding posts from Vinicius Junior and Trent Alexander-Arnold following Madrid’s win over Real Sociedad.

His reaction to Vinicius’ post drew particular attention. The exchange with Alexander-Arnold, his former Liverpool teammate, was seen as less surprising.

Still, in the hyper-connected world of elite soccer, even a digital thumbs-up can carry weight. On Merseyside, fans and pundits quickly began dissecting the meaning behind the interactions.

Szoboszlai, Hungary’s captain, has become one of Liverpool’s most influential players. That status is precisely why Rossi’s comments triggered such an intense reaction in England.

The midfielder had just delivered on the field as well, scoring in Liverpool’s 3-0 FA Cup fourth-round victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield.

After the match, Mohamed Salah heaped praise on his teammate, calling Szoboszlai “the best player in the world.” Slot struck a slightly more measured tone but echoed the sentiment.

“I think there are many elite players in the world, but I definitely agree with Mo that he is one of them,” Slot said. “He is very important for us.”

Szoboszlai is under contract at Liverpool through 2028. However, the club is reportedly eager to open extension talks in the coming months to secure his long-term future.

The player himself addressed the situation recently with notable candor.

“There’s nothing yet, to be honest. Nothing from now on. It’s not in my hands. That’s how it works,” he said. “There’s no progress, but if the right offer comes, we’ll see.”

He was equally clear about his affection for Liverpool.

“We’ll see what happens. Hopefully everyone will be happy in the end. Of course I want to stay. I like the city, I like the club, I like playing with these guys. I love Anfield, I love the fans. Let’s see what the future brings. It’s not my fault. I’d love to stay. We’ll see.”

 

Inter’s dramatic victory boosted their lead over rivals AC Milan to eight points, ahead of the Rossoneri hosting Como on Wednesday. Juventus, meanwhile, could drop out of the top four as Roma visited Napoli last night.

The last four Serie A matches between Inter and Juventus have produced a total of 21 goals (an average of 5.25 per game), compared to just nine in the previous six (1.5 per game).

Cambiaso became the first player in Derby d’Italia history to score and put through his own net in the same match between these old rivals, but it was Zielinski’s fifth Serie A goal of the season that proved decisive.

Inter will argue they were deserved victors after amassing 21 shots and 1.88 expected goals (xG), while Luciano Spalletti’s visitors mustered 10 shots and 0.92 xG – though the Bianconeri actually attempted six of their shots while down a man in the second half.

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Wolves Beat Man Utd Conquerors

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Premier League strugglers Wolves overcame resolute Grimsby Town in challenging conditions at Blundell Park to reach the FA Cup fifth round at the expense of the side that eliminated Manchester United in the last round.

Santiago Bueno scored from Wolves’ only shot on target with an hour played, diverting Joao Gomes’ cross past goalkeeper Jackson Smith with his thigh to end the League Two club’s resistance.

Unrelenting rainfall caused heavy ground underfoot and one penalty area in particular- that of Grimsby’s Smith in the first half – was already a quagmire before kick-off.

Charles Vernam shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box with just 43 seconds on the clock as Grimsby sought to catch their top-flight visitors cold.

Wolves had to wait until the 17th minute for their first opportunity of note, forward Tolu Arokodare firing over with a first-time attempt.

The white paint of the pitch markings soon blended and blurred with the mud as the surface rapidly deteriorated, and both sides struggled to stitch together cohesive attacks as passes travelled unpredictably across the sodden ground.

 

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