Messi:World’s Best player(Ballon d’Or 2010)

Argentinian player Lionel Messi last night won the  Fifa Ballon d’Or title for World’s best player. The winner of the award was decided by a poll in which the captains and head coaches of national teams as well as international media representatives were made to vote.

The event which took place at the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala, Zurich was attended by retired and currently playing footballers, top personalities to mention but few. The event also saw the ‘FIFA World Player of the Year award‘ and the ‘Ballon d’Or prize‘ merged into one single title.

Even though Messi’s hands did not lift the Champions League Cup last season, winning the Spanish League with his club Barcelona was enough for him to outshine the other contestants Andrés Iniesta and Xavi who coincidentally happen to be his club team mates.

Similarly, Brazilian female player, Marta won the ‘Women’s World Player of the Year award’ for the fifth time in a row ahead of her German counterparts Birgit Prinz and Fatmire Bajramaj.

Coaches Jose Mourinho and Silvia Neid picked up the first ever awards for FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football and FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football awards, respectively.

John Terry: Chelsea Are Not As Strong As Before

Defender believes Blues can regain form and successfully defend the title

John Terry has conceded that Chelsea do not have a squad capable of coping with the kind of injuries they have had to endure this season.

The Blues chose to sell or release several players during the summer, as experience made way for youth. But a recent rough patch of form has seen a few fingers pointed towards the west London outfit, concerning whether it was wise to allow so many players to leave.

OFFICIAL: Inter And Rafael Benitez Part Company

Rafael Benitez is no longer the Inter coach, the club said in a statement after rescinding the contract by mutual agreement.

Inter and Rafael Benitez have parted company by mutual consent, the club said in a statement on Thursday.

A note on the club's official website reads:

"F.C Internazionale and Rafael Benitez communicate that, mutually and with reciprocal satisfaction, they have reached an agreement for the resolution of their working relationship.

Stop Voting For Me: Berbatov

Dimitar Berbatov   Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov told reporters to stop voting for him after being named Bulgaria's Footballer of the Year for a seventh time on Monday. "I prefer to see some of the younger lads winning the award," the 29-year-old said after coming top in the poll of sports journalists. "Please, don't vote for me anymore." Bulgaria's all-time leading scorer, with 48 goals, quit the Balkan country's national team in May citing fatigue and family commitments but enjoyed a successful year at United. Last month, he became only the fourth player to score five times in one Premier League match when he helped destroy Blackburn Rovers in a 7-1 win. Berbatov expects to spend the rest of his career at United. "I fought to have a chance to play for United and now I can only go down if I leave," he told reporters. "Why I should do this? It would be better to retire." Gaziantepspor striker Ivelin Popov and Twente Enschede goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov came second and third in the poll.

Samuel Eto'o Fils Wins CAF PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2010

Peacefmonline can confirm that Samuel Eto'o Fils of Cameroun and Inter Milan fame has surprisingly been adjudged CAF African Footballer of the Year, beating Ghana's Asamoah Gyan to it. Per this award, Eto’o is undoubtedly one of the most decorated players of his generation. The Inter Milan striker has thus achieved a feat unparalleled in African Football history by winning the coveted prize a record four times; 2003, 2004, 2005 and now 2010. Despite the Indomitable Lions’ unexpected debacle at the 2010 World Cup where they were the first of the 32 teams to leave the tournament, much of what the 29-year-old player acquired in the course of the season still glitters with victory and prestige.

Gyan Chosen as Top African Footballer

Ghanaian soccer star Asamoah Gyan has been named "BBC African Footballer of the Year," the broadcaster reports.

Gyan won the award "well ahead of fellow Ghanaian Andre 'Dede' Ayew, Ivorians Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon," the BBC said on its website. He received more than half the votes cast.

Asamoah Gyan of Ghana celebrates a goal.

He was chosen in a poll by BBC listeners and viewers. Fans chose from a shortlist selected by experts from across the continent. Gyan has also been nominated for the Glo-CAF African footballer of the Year award, reports The Vanguard from Lagos.

Footballer whose fiance had affair with Terry's brother found hanged

Dale Roberts, 24, killed himself after his 25-year-old partner Lindsay Cowen had an affair with his football team-mate Paul Terry. Paul Terry is also former England football captain John Terry's older brother.  Earlier this year John Terry was caught in a scandal that rocked England where it was revealed that the Chelsea skipper had an affair with the girlfriend of fellow England teammate, Wayne Bridge. Roberts was found yesterday hanged at his £150,000 (S$310,000) flat he shared with childhood sweetheart Cowen until they split earlier this year. Friends said Roberts never got over the news that his fiance was seeing Paul, 31, and was unable to face his first Christmas without her, reported British newspaper The Daily Mirror. Roberts had been due to play for football club Rushden & Diamonds in an FA Cup Trophy replay against his old club Eastwood Town but failed to turn up for the match. The police said there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.. Paul Terry (L) with his brother John Terry (R)..

Champions League Draw: Bayern Munich Meet Inter Again, Barcelona Await Arsenal Test

Last year's finalists Inter and Bayern Munich will meet in the round of 16 this season, while 2006 finalists Barcelona and Arsenal face a rematch of their game as well.

 

Friday's draw for the first knockout round of the Champions League resulted in a number of interesting ties.

Juventus 1 – 1 Man City Europa League Results.

At the end of a poor first half, Juve debutant Niccolo Giannetti nipped in front of Dedryck Boyata to score.

With Lech Poznan winning, City seemed set to finish second in the group and potentially face a tougher draw.

But after 76 minutes, Jo spun on a pass from the excellent Adam Johnson and slotted home a low shot from 12 yards.

Jo, one of only two players retained from the weekend win against West Ham, and Johnson will have been relatively happy with their night’s work, but few others shone in a game that often had the feel of a not particularly taxing pre-season friendly.

Both sides already knew their fate in the competition, the starting line-ups were unfamiliar with fringe players getting rare outings and it was all played out in front of a near-empty Olympic Stadium.

Hull City sold for £1

Hull City has been sold for £1 just three years after the club was bought for £10 million.

The Hull Daily Mail reported that former Tigers owner Russell Bartlett has sold his controlling interest in the club for a nominal sum to local businessman Assem Allam and his son.
Essex-based property tycoon Bartlett bought the club in 2007 from Adam Pearson as part of a consortium involving Paul Duffen. Duffen left the club last year in acrimonious circumstances that led to Hull beginning legal proceedings against Duffen.
As part of the deal the Allams will pay off the club's estimated £21m debts, with a tax bill of £833,000 already having been paid and £9m expected to be handed over straight away.
Source: Eurosport

David Beckham aims to become American club owner.

David Beckham is close to fulfilling his dream by owning his own football club in America.

Under the terms of his contract with LA Galaxy and the MLS that runs out in November next year, Beckham has an option to purchase an existing club or create a new one.

Becks, 35, will be a free agent next year. He knows that despite his veteran status he will receive a deluge of offers from clubs in the US, England and Europe ready to exploit his status as a football icon.

But with his family settled in Los Angeles it looks increasingly likely that Beckham will buy a club and extend his playing career in the United States.

The former England captain has all but ruled out going on loan in January despite widespread interest from Europe and notably from clubs in the Premier League.

Drogba to join Ronaldo, Zidane in global match against poverty.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador Didier Drogba will join top footballers Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane in the 8th Annual Match Against Poverty to be held on December 14, at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, Greece.

The match collection will be channeled into recovery efforts for the catastrophic disasters that hit Haiti and Pakistan this year.

“I always wanted to participate in the Match Against Poverty,” Drogba, who was appointed as UNDP Goodwill Ambassador in 2007 was quoted as saying by www.undp.org.

“This is the first year the English Premier League calendar allows me to be present. I am thrilled to be with Ronaldo, Zidane and many other players to help the people of Haiti and Pakistan, and contribute to the global fight against poverty.”

UNDP will receive half of the match proceeds, which will be used to support the nearly 25 million people affected by the Haiti earthquake and Pakistan floods.

Funds from the 7th Annual Match Against Poverty, which took place in Lisbon, Portugal, in January, were used for a UNDP employment creation programme in Haiti.

Olympiacos Football Club, which hosts the event, will donate its share of proceeds to Argo, the Navy Union for parents of children with special needs, as well as to homeless and disadvantaged communities in Piraeus.

As in previous years, the Goodwill Ambassadors will mobilize their team from across Europe to take on an all-star team from Olympiacos in a friendly match.

Massimo Bussaca, a Swiss referee for the 2010 World Cup, has been confirmed as the official in charge for the match.

Osazie Odemwingie’s brace sinks Newcastle.

NIGERIA’s Osaze Odemwingie notched a brace as West Brom comfortably beat Newcastle 3-1 for the first time in 26 years at the The Hawthorns.

The victory moved the Baggies to seventh position in the English Premier League (EPL) table, and only one point from 6th place as they picked up where they left off after last weekend’s 4-1 drubbing of Everton.

Odemwingie expressed his pleasure at West Brom’s current form after the brace to help his side beat Newcastle.

Odemwingie said: “The last two games, getting six points makes us very happy. I think it’s a very good response from our team after losing especially at home in the derby [against Stoke] 3-0.”

When asked about his first goal, the forward replied: “I wasn’t aware of Steven Taylor, I thought it was one against one, but I was a lucky a bit. The ball finally came to my left foot and I was able to touch it in.”

Speaking about his positioning for the his second and West Brom’s third, the striker said: “There was instruction from the coaches to stay high with the defenders because I was all over the place in the first half, so I tried to do that and it paid me, so it’s good sometimes to listen.”

Both promoted teams began the day on 19 points but West Brom looked sharper throughout and deserved their victory.

After a flat opening half-hour, Somen Tchoyi fashioned the breakthrough with some neat control on the edge of the box and curled the ball beyond Tim Krul after 32 minutes.

And the lead was doubled after 71 minutes when Danny Guthrie cheaply lost possession in midfield and Odemwingie burst clear before squeezing the ball home with his left foot.

The Nigerian wrapped up the win in the 89th minute when he burst clear to a simple long ball by Marek Cechl and rounded goalkeeper Krul and fired in his sixth of the season

Chris Hughton’s men grabbed a late consolation goal through Peter Lovenkrands in the final minute after a defensive mix-up in the Baggies box.

www.nairabrain.com

Blackburn Rovers sack manager Sam Allardyce.

Allardyce, 56, was relieved of his duties along with his assistant Neil McDonald by the club’s new owners, the Venky’s Group from India.

Rovers have lost three of their last five games, including a 2-1 defeat by his former club Bolton on Sunday.

“I am very shocked and disappointed to be leaving Blackburn,” said Allardyce in a statement released through the League Managers’ Association.

“I am extremely proud to have managed this club and I enjoyed a fantastic relationship with the players, my staff and the supporters during my time in charge.

“I now wish them and the football club every success for the future.”

Rovers are currently 13th in the Premier League, five points above the relegation zone.

The club announced that the first-team coach Steve Kean will take temporary charge of the club.

Former Bolton and Newcastle manager Allardyce joined Blackburn in December 2008 and guided the Lancashire club to a respectable 10th place in the Premier League last season.

The club made a steady start to the current campaign, taking 18 points from 14 games to leave them 11th in the Premier League at the end of November.

But a poor run of recent results, including a 4-2 defeat by Tottenham and a 7-1 loss at Manchester United, have seen Rovers slide closer to the relegation zone.

However, had the club taken three points against 10-man Bolton on Sunday, they would have moved to sixth in the Premier League.

Blackburn captain Ryan Nelsen said he learned of Allardyce’s sacking after receiving a text from a reporter in his native New Zealand.

It is coming to the time of the season when troubleshooters are required, and Allardyce is sure to get the call sooner rather than later

“Not in my wildest dreams did I see this coming, nor did anyone else because of the job he has done since he has come to Blackburn,” he told BBC Radio 5 live.

“When he took over, it was a club that was absolutely in diabolical trouble and he turned it into a very efficient, streamlined club that has spent no money and has done extremely well.

“A huge big leadership has gone from the club and the Premier League is unforgiving if you don’t have anyone directing the ship.

“They [Venky's] have a plan for the club – they must to have made a decision like this. But it’s ruthless.

“I feel gutted for the man, the players liked him, the club liked him.”

Blackburn striker Morten Gamst Pedersen added on his personal website : “The table situation does not reflect on how our performance has been in this year’s Premier League season.”

The Rao family completed their £43m takeover of Rovers through their newly formed company, Venky’s London Limited, on 19 October.

I’ve not met the owners formally – Allardyce

And Venky’s chairwoman Anuradha Desai had told the BBC last month that the group had “promised manager Allardyce funds to spend in the January transfer window”.

But in a statement on Monday, the club said: “We have taken this decision as part of our wider plans and ambitions for the club.

“We would like to put on record our thanks to Mr Allardyce for his contribution to Blackburn Rovers Football Club.”

Allardyce earned his reputation with Bolton, guiding the club to the Premier League in 2001 as well as helping the Trotters to their first appearance in Europe in 2005.

He resigned after eight years at the Reebok Stadium in April 2007, joining Newcastle the following month.

But his tenure at St James’s Park lasted just 24 matches and he left in January 2008.

606: DEBATE
Unless they have someone lined up and are prepared to back them in January, then this is a ridiculous decision

Wilsbowski

After 11 months out of football, Allardyce joined Blackburn in December 2008 after Paul Ince was sacked with the club lying second bottom of the Premier League.

Under Allardyce’s guidance, Rovers finished 15th in 2009. Last season he steered them to the Carling Cup semi-finals in which they lost 7-4 on aggregate to Aston Villa.

Richard Bevan, the chief executive of the LMA, said: “When new owners take over a club, sadly, the manager’s position often hangs by a thread.

“To Sam’s great misfortune this has now happened twice and, on both occasions, it has been extremely difficult to understand the thinking behind the dismissal.

“It is ironic that one minute Sam can be proposed as the next England manager and the next, he finds himself out of work.”

The club have not indicated when a new manager will be appointed.

Former Tottenham boss Martin Jol, who resigned as Ajax coach last week, ex-Aston Villa and Leicester City manager Martin O’Neill and former Rovers player Alan Shearer have been linked with the Ewood Park job. 

Source: www.nairabrain.com

Nigerian footballer collapses and dies on the pitch

Emmanuel Ogoli

The camp of Nigeria Premier League side, Ocean boys is in mourning as their left full back; Emmanuel Ogoli slumped and died during a League match yesterday Sunday Dec 12, in Yenagoa.

The incident occurred in the 39th minute of their League game at home to Niger Tornadoes but Ogoli was confirmed dead on the way to the hospital in an ambulance.

May his soul rest in peace...amen!

Tevez confirms: I want to leave City

Manchester City captain Carlos Tevez was adamant he still wanted to leave the club despite his transfer request being rejected and said his relationship with some executives was "beyond repair".

The Premier League club had said earlier in the day that the Argentina striker had handed them written notice of his desire to leave but that it had been turned down with Tevez later releasing a statement saying the situation was regrettable.

"It is something I have felt for some time and have spent many hours thinking this through," the 26-year-old forward said in a statement.

"Now I need to clear my head and think because this is an important part of my career. My feelings have not changed and it is regrettable that we have reached this situation.

"My relationship with certain executives and individuals at the club has broken down and is now beyond repair. I do not wish to expand on this at this stage. They know, because I have told them."

Newspaper reports had suggested a rift with manager Roberto Mancini but Tevez denied this was the case.

"I wish to clarify that I have no personal issue with the manager Roberto Mancini," said Tevez, who also thanked the club's owner Sheikh Mansour for his understanding and support.

City said they were disappointed by Tevez's request, particularly as they had been so accommodating of his personal circumstances of his family living in South America.

"This is both an unfortunate and unwelcome distraction and the club will remain focused on the games ahead in what is turning out to be a very promising season," the club said in a statement.

2000 Nigerian Players Stranded In Europe – Makinwa

 Widely travelled Nigerian footballer Henry Makinwa has revealed that a number of Nigerian footballers are stranded in Europe. 

Makinwa‘s career has seen him play in 10 countries namely Spain, Portugal, Scotland, Romania, China, Israel, Malta, Egypt, Cyprus and Indonesia. 

He told our correspondent on the telephone from Spain on Thursday, ”I made some investigation and found out that we have almost 2000 Nigerian footballers in Europe without clubs and are afraid to go back home because of the poor situation.

These players are too young to waste away like that.

”In Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Holland these players are wasting away. Some of them get jobs outside football while some play in the lowest divisions without resident permits; they remain illegal immigrants. When I was in Holland, Lisbon, Madrid, Brussels and Oslo, it was the same thing.”

Makinwa, who played under ex-Tottenham Hotspurs manager Juande Ramos at Rayo Valecano and was once a signing target for Jose Mourinho when he was at Vitoria Setubal, said a viable domestic league would solve the problem.

He said, ”Something has to be done and I think the solution is back home. Why can‘t we organise a standard professional league at home? 

“I have my facts and I will hand them over to the government if they will listen to me. It is on how to solve this problem and how to make practical changes in one month. If government is interested, then I will come home to present it.

”We must organise our league so that these boys can go back home to play. It‘s alarming; they play football on Sundays and hope to get a breakthrough but it‘s impossible. I tell them to go back home but they always say ‘what are going to do when we get back home?‘ They prefer to remain illegal immigrants.

”Brazilians go home to play when they are not wanted in Europe; a big player like Ronaldo did it. Why is Kanu not back home to play the last years of his football? It‘s because we don‘t have a good league in Nigeria, no sponsorship and money.”

The player said most of the players were tricked into travelling to Europe and did not pass through the right process. 

”They were not signed. Some came in through youth programes in Sweden, Portugal, Spain and other countries. Some others spent a lot of money coming; thinking when they come in, it will be easy to get a club. Some were lured by dubious agents,” the 33-year-old striker, who holds an EU passport, said.

http://www.punchontheweb.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201012100364198

Tottenham 1-1 Chelsea: Gomes Saves Late Drogba Penalty To Deny Champions Vital Win After Gifting Blues’ Leveller

Chelsea winless streak extends to five games

Heurelho Gomes went from zero to hero as he let Didier Drogba's shot to bounce over the line to cancel out Roman Pavlyuchenko's first-half goal before saving the Ivorian's last-gasp penalty as it finished 1-1 between Tottenham and Chelsea on Sunday.
The Russian striker latched onto a Jermain Defoe pass to fire in the only goal after 15 minutes, with a first touch to take the ball past John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic and John Terry and a second to power past Petr Cech.

Report: Liverpool Plan £10m Bid For Fulham's Clint Dempsey

Roy Hodgson is set to raid his former club Fulham in January by bringing striker Clint Dempsey to Liverpool, according to reports.

Hodgson is desperate to add some more attacking players to his goal-shy Liverpool side and reportedly believes 27-year-old Dempsey would be a valuable asset in the final third.

The USA international can play in a number of positions going forward and, after Fulham’s poor start to the season, may look to move to a bigger club.

Fulham lie 17th in the Premier League with only two wins, having succumbed 2-1 to Arsenal at the weekend. While the west London outfit has struggled, Dempsey has thrived — scoring six goals in all competitions this season.

Arsenal 3-1 Partizan: Supersub Walcott Eases Nerves Before Nasri Clinches Place In Last 16

Spirited win marred only by Bacary Sagna's late red card.

Arsenal progressed to the knockout stages of the Champions League with a nervy 3-1 win over Partizan.

Despite being the vastly superior side on paper, the Gunners were, for long periods, not their fluid best against the Serbians, who had brought over a team bent on stifling the home team.

Predictably, Arsene Wenger’s men started the more composed, controlling most of the play and looking – where it was evident – the more likely to grab a lead. That said, the English side were not playing with the urgency their fans or their group position suggested.

In the other game in Group H, Braga could hijack second place if they won at table toppers Shakhtar Donetsk. While Arsenal were failing to take the lead, their situation was precarious.

After a prolonged period of possession the Gunners provided the first piece of dazzling football. Samir Nasri, who was looking spritely, showed a slick piece of skill to turn away from his marker.

After passing to Bacary Sagna, he made a darting run into the box as the Frenchman returned the compliment. His weighted ball to Robin van Persie was precise, but the Dutchman could only steer wide from a near-impossible angle.

Although Partizan were not looking like a dynamic attacking force, playing as they were with a lone striker, they started to look more comfortable and were having their own share of possession.

As a drab half meandered into its final third, Arsenal warmed their shivering fans with the opening goal. It was testament to the stuttering game that defensive errors were the cause.