Sports
Will Isaac be a Success at Watford?
It came as a big shock to most Premier League fans when Watford sacked Quique Sanchez Flores, after just one season at Vicarage Road. Watford played good football throughout the season, comfortably avoiding relegation and reaching an F.A Cup semi-final at Wembley along the way. As reported here, Watford’s owners have always done things their own way, believing that regularly refreshing the coaching and playing staff is the best way to keep everyone motivated and, if you look at the rise Watford have enjoyed under their chop-and-change leadership style, it’s hard to argue that what they are doing is wrong.
Former Inter Milan manager Walter Mazzarri is the latest to take up the Watford hot-seat and in an attempt to appease the fans concerns, he broke the Watford’s transfer record to bring in Nigerian forward Isaac Success.
The 20 year old was an important part of the Granada side who managed, against all the odds, to avoid relegation from La Liga last season. That experience will stand him in good stead, as Watford are likely to be embroiled in a fierce relegation battle during the course of the next 12 months.
It’s not sure yet where the lively attacker will fit into Mazzarri’s system. Capable of playing both out wide and through the middle, Success recorded six goals and five assists last season. His pace and skill make him ideally suited to playing out on the wing and will provide plenty of chances and good cover for fellow countryman Odion Ighalo and club captain Troy Deeney, who have struck up an impressive partnership over the last 18 months.
It could take Success a little time to settle and has been integrated slowly into Watford’s first team plans during preseason. Surprisingly, he was left out of Nigeria’s Olympic football squad, but that omission could prove a blessing, as he will now have more time to adapt to his English surroundings before the season officially kicks off.
Living up to the big price-tag will be another problem the young Nigerian will have to face, but he looks to have both the technical quality and mental strength to be able to cope and he will be confident of making a big impact on the Premier League next season.
-Okwum Uchechukwu
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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