worldwideloaded

Who Should Win The Award?

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone lamented that losing a second Champions League final in three years was a “failure”, after seeing his side fall short against Real Madrid in a penalty shoot-out in Milan on Saturday.

– The player is yet to get his entitlement from the club – Club chairman said he is in their plans The issue of players being owed sign-on-fees and other entitlements has been a serious headache for years now in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) as many clubs have been found culprits. Many pundits are of the opinion that it is because most of the clubs campaigning in the Nigeria’s top flight football are being sponsored by the government, and the current financial dare straits in many States in Nigeria has made the government not to look into football. In Europe, most clubs are being owed by corporate bodies and other financial institutions in which making profits is their top most priorities. For example in the English Premier League, none of the clubs is being owed by the government, and this gives some business mogul to do business with their money in which profits is guaranteed. But in Nigeria where many States are still unable to pay their workers, it makes it difficult for them to pump in cash into the States owned football clubs.

Lack of sponsorship and over dependant on the government is the major problem rocking the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), and the players who are the major actors are finding it difficult to survive. Five round of games have been played this season in the NPFL, and the League Management Company (LMC) that controls the league are yet to get any major sponsors as Glo who has been sponsoring the League years back has now refused to extend their partnership this year. Enyimba defender, Idris Aloma last month disclosed to Naij.com Sports that the management of El-kanemi Warriors are owing him the sum of two-million naira which is for meant for his services rendered to the club last two seasons. The sad story is that Aloma’s mother was in severe condition in the hospital, and all his efforts to press for his money for him to take care of his mum were futile. El-Kanemi chairman, Malla Zannah did acknowledged the fact that Aloma is being owed, but he stressed that government is yet to release the money (a situation that would never happen in Europe).

Also last month, it would be recalled that Naij.com Sports published a story in which ABS FC which is being owned by the Nigeria’s Senate president, Bukola Saraki are owing the players 18 months salaries, and one would wonder how the affected players would cope. Nigerian international, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu has now cried out bitterly claiming that the management of Nigeria Professional Football League side (NPFL), Warri Wolves are owing him 8.8 million naira. Ibenegbu who is popularly called “mosquito” said to Naij.com Sports that the money is for the two years he had played for Warri Wolves who were runners up last season. He explained that all efforts to press his entitlements have been futile, and he has therefore taken the club to world football governing body (FIFA). “As I’m talking with you, my lawyer has reported Warri Wolves to FIFA as they have refused to pay me my money which is the sum of 8.8 million naira. GET for FREE: Get the latest sports news on Naij Sports “Can you imagine that when LMC gave Warri Wolves about 22.5million naira for the second position we took last season, the new chairman of the club Etu Moses paid d players about 6match bonuses they re owing without paying we that have that left the club. “We the affected players have had meetings with the chairman Delta State sports commission, Tony Okowa and the man said that out of 100% accumulated wages the club is owing us, that he will pay only 25% to the players that are currently with the club and they should forfeit the remaining. “For the two years that I played for Warri Wolves, it was hell for me and some other players, and all I want is for them to pay me my money because I have wife, kids, parents and families looking up to me,” Ibenegbu who has joined Enyimba exclusively divulged to Naij.com Sports. Speaking to the chairman of Warri Wolves, Moses Etu on the claims by Ikechukwu Ibenegbu that the club are owing him, Etu acknowledged that Wolves are owing the player. “The problem we are having is that the government has not yet release the money and as I’m talking with you now, we just paid our current players their bonuses for three games in which they are all happy with,” Etu said.

The NRL's match review committee may need to charge a second player for touching a referee this round after Brisbane centre James Roberts made contact with a whistleblower on Friday night.

In an incident that went largely unnoticed, Roberts lightly touched referee Matt Noyen on the chest after he blew a penalty following a scrum. There was no malice in the gesture, which occurred in the 78th minute of Brisbane's win over the Warriors at Suncorp Stadium.
However, the NRL has shown it won't tolerate players touching on-field officials, even if the contact is minimal. The governing body has charged David Klemmer, who has a chequered history with the whistleblowers, with contrary conduct for the offence. The Canterbury forward is facing two weeks on the sidelines after placing his hands on Ben Cummins in his side's win over Penrith on Thursday night.

"It would be very sad if James sat out for a week over that," said Roberts' manager, Jeremy Donovan.
"It doesn't look like James is looking at the person he taps on the chest. All of his teammates are around when he puts his hand out. I'd be disappointed if that was the case because there was no interaction between James and the referee, he wasn't engaged with or looking at him.
"He gets out of the scrum and he didn't approach the ref, he wasn't looking. It's a pretty different scenario to the David Klemmer situation and I think you could argue that fairly easily.
"You've got to remember the referee is wearing a yellow jersey and there are flecks of yellow on the Broncos' one. It could have been an easy mistake to make."
The Roberts incident, coupled with a shoulder injury to Corey Oates that will likely sideline him for between four and six weeks, are the only negatives in an otherwise strong start to the season for Brisbane. The Broncos have won both their opening matches, while Warriors coach Andrew McFadden is under increasing pressure after a winless start.
The star-studded Warriors host Melbourne next Sunday

Daily Mail UK reports that Benitez arrived at St James’ Park just after lunchtime today and was confirmed as boss before heading to the club’s training ground to meet his new players.
The 55-year-old, who will take training this weekend before Monday’s trip to Leicester, said: “I have the pleasure to confirm I have committed to a legendary English club, with the massive challenge of remaining part of the Premier League.
“It will be a challenge not just for me and my staff but for the players, the club and the fans.

“All of us must push together in the same direction and with the same target in mind. This is the reason why I’m going to ask for your total support to successfully complete this task.
“Personally, it means my return to the Premier League, closer to my home and my family. I can’t be happier.
“C’mon Toon Army! The club and I need your total involvement!’
Managing director Lee Charnley added: ‘I am very pleased to welcome Rafa Benitez to the club. In Rafa we have, without doubt, secured the services of one of Europe’s top managers.
‘He has managed some of the most successful teams at the very highest level of the game and we are proud to now have him as our manager