Sports
Salah Fit, Ready To Star For Egypt
Mohamed Salah is in line to start Egypt’s opening game of World Cup 2018 against Uruguay, with Hector Cuper “100 per cent” confident the Liverpool forward is over a shoulder injury.
The 25-year-old has been a fitness doubt for the Pharaohs since picking up an untimely problem in a Champions League final clash with Real Madrid on May 26.
Salah’s tears in Kiev suggested that he knew his international dreams were in danger of being dashed, but a positive period of rehabilitation has got him back in contention sooner than expected.
With Egypt resting much of their ambition on the shoulders of a talismanic presence who fired them to a first finals in 28 years, they are understandably keen for him to be involved as much as possible.
National team coach Cuper told reporters on the progress being made by his star turn: “Salah is doing very well indeed, he’s recovered very quickly. We’ll see how it goes today. I can almost assure you 100 per cent he’ll play.
“We’re trying to make him feel confident. The doctors are giving him the option to play or not. I know him very well, and I’m sure he’s not afraid.
“A risk of playing a match is something we can’t hide. In terms of him on the pitch, he’ll have full guarantees. If we do see at the last minute there’s an issue, we’ll see if it can be resolved.”
Salah has worked tirelessly in an effort to get himself back to match fitness in time for a first World Cup outing in Russia.
Some training sessions have seen him working alone with medical and coaching staff, with Cuper adamant that individual exercises away from the group should not be considered a sign that he is lacking competitive edge.
He added: “Salah has three training sessions per day. He does training with the doctors, by himself and with specific exercises.
“He’s recovered from his injury but he still trains a lot. He has to do physical training and mental training. Why? That’s what he feels he needs to recover.”
If Salah is ready to face Uruguay, then a man who netted 44 times across all competitions for Liverpool during the 2017-18 campaign will be in the strongest possible position to make his mark on the grandest of sporting stages.
With further Group A fixtures to come against hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia, a fast start from the Reds icon, who is being billed as a potential Ballon d’Or winner, could put him in contention for the Golden Boot, a prize he has already claimed in the Premier League this season.
On Salah’s chances of outscoring some illustrious rivals, Cuper said: “He could be the top scorer and one of the greatest players.
“He’s shown he’s got great personality, talent and character. No-one thinks he can’t [be top scorer]. We’ll see great players here and he can be the greatest player [of all] at this World Cup.”
Port Harcourt the capital city of Rivers State will be at the centre stage in Nigeria as Port Harcourt Arsenal Community will hold her maiden edition of Football Fans Fiesta (FFF).
The Fiesta scheduled to hold on the 13th December, 2025, at Eddiz wine bar GRA, promises to be all football fans carnival in the State , as there will be a lot of fanfares.
The Coordinator of Port Harcourt Arsenal Community (PHAC), Ugochukwu Oputa has said that the forthcoming Football Fans Fiesta was basically to promote peace, unity and love among football fans in irrespective of the cub.
He stated that sports is a catalyst to bring peace, love and Unity in any given society, hence the occasion was initiated.
Oputa said this in an interview with sports journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, saying that arrangements are on top gear for a successful programme.
” This event is for all football fans irrespective of your club. It is basically to promote peace, love and Unity among fans.
“It is like stating the obvious that football is the catalyst of peace and unity in the world. So the Port Harcourt Arsenal Community want to use this avenue to bring people together and foster friendship.
“There is no gate fee, but it is expected to put on jersey of your club as to make the event look unique” Oputa said.
The Coordinator used the forum to advice football fans in the world to love one another, and equally urged fans that will attend the occasion to be of good conduct and behaviour.
Tonye Orabere
Consistent with its project execution routine, Dunamis-Icon Limited, Project Consultants of the Niger Delta Games, has concluded the first phase of physical inspection and evaluation of facilities for the event, 24 hours after the presentation of the hosting right to Edo State was performed.
The project management team was guided round select facilty locations in Benin City by Desmond Amadin Enabulele, Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, and the team leader, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo expressed satisfaction with the sports infrastructure assets of the host.
“Edo is a ready-made choice based on all the factors that are necessary to host this kind of big event. We are expecting over 3000 athletes coaches, alongside journalists and technical officials, with an approximate number of people outside spectators in the range of 5000. So, we need facilities that work for the games itself”, Ikpokpo explained.
He commended the Edo State Government for the good state of facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, and promised that the state will be assisted with the renovation of some of the facilities as may be necessary to ensure good competition experience for the athletes.
“I have been to the iconic Ogbe Stadium and must commend the Edo State Government for maintaining the facilities there. We are also considering taking some events to the University of Benin, so that people in that part of the city can also feel and enjoy the fun. Where need be, we will also see how to assist the state and the University of Benin to add value to some of the sporting facilities”.
Dunamis Icon Limited is the franchise rights owner to the games conceived and designed to provide a platform for unity and integration, and identifying and grooming talented youths from the region into national and international stars.
The NDDC as the flagship interventionist agency for the nine states that make up the region, is the prime sponsor of the games as part of their strategic focus on youth engagement and human capital development.
The inspection tour began at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, after a brief meeting with Enabulele and the Sports Commission team at his office.
Areas inspected include the stadium’s main bowl, the tartan track, the state box, the VIP lounges and other key areas like the ceremonial room, the media studio and other indoor facilities.
Other facility locations assessed are the Wire Road Sports Centre being listed to host basketball and volleyball games, the University of Benin Sports Complex, and the Etete Sports Centre.
In the entourage of Dunamis-Icon were the Project Director, Mr Fred Edoreh; Director of Facilities and Equipment, Dr Emmanuel Ochuko Igbigbisie; the head of Communications, Harry Iwuala; Head of Transport and Logistics, Israel Umueri Afoke. Others are Theresa Ineke, Head of Secretariat, Godwin Enakhena, the Head of Scouting, Mr. Edi Lawani, the Head of Culture Affairs and Entertainment and Elder Siegha Porbeni of the Technical Department.
The Edo Sports Commission Chairman was also supported by Hon. Frank Ilaboya and Mrs Sabina Chikere, Executive Directors, with Mr Baldwin Bazuaye (MON) also in the company.
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