Stephen Keshi signs contract to manage Super Eagles

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Stephen Keshi has signed a new contract with the Nigerian Football Federation to manage the Super Eagles. Keshi’s contract with NFF had earlier expired in June 2014, shortly after the FIFA World Cup.

He signed the contract today in Abuja.

Stephen Keshi apologizes to Nigerians for all the pains he has has caused

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Stephen Keshi has apologised to Nigerians over his protracted contract talks with the country's football federation.

A very sober coach Keshi in an exclusive interview with AfricanFootball.com also apologised personally to NFF president Amaju Pinnick and entire executive committee of the Nigeria Football Federation.

"I have used the last few weeks for a deep sober reflections and I have realised that I have made mistakes," he said. 

I want to sincerely apologise first to Nigerians. Even though I did it when we failed to qualify for the AFCON. But no amount apology is too much for Nigerians, and from the
depth of my heart I am really sorry for the pains I may have directly or indirectly caused Nigerians. 

I ask for their forgiveness because I know that once Nigerians are behind you and support the team we will all succeed."

He added: 

"I want to personally apologise to the NFF president Amaju Pinnick and the executive committee members. I personally like the manner in which they have handled things. I want to ask their forgiveness in anyway I have erred. Like it is said, it is human to err and divine to forgive. 

Now that we have entered a new page, I want to say that the last few years as the Eagles coach was a learning curve for me. I have made mistakes and those mistakes have made me better and I learnt a lot from them. 

I want to also apologise and appeal to the media. They are my friends in the media and I need them to succeed. I ask the media to forgive me and put the past behind because I need them for the Eagles to succeed."

Keshi is expected to soon sign a two-year contract that would take him to the 2017 AFCON.

‘I was Mistaken for a Nigerian Fraudster’ - Samuel Eto'o

Friday, March 13, 2015

Samuel Eto'o is determined to rid football of racism. And in an eye opening chat with CNN has recounted the day he was mistaken for a Nigerian fraudster at a London jewellery shop. According to him, he had decided to purchase one particular model, one which cost $15,000.

For a former Premier League footballer, a hero in his native Cameroon, and one of the most successful African footballers of all time, the prospect of buying a watch was hardly the most daring of ordeals.

So after taking a glance at the watch and getting out his credit card, he says he asked the sales assistant for some help.

"I asked the saleswoman -- who was also black like me -- 'Could you show me that watch please?' 

"First, I saw her turn and look at her coworkers like, 'Uh, what should I do?' 

"Eventually, she let me see the watch. I looked at it and said, 'OK, I'll buy it.' 

"I took out my credit card and when she went to go run it through the machine, she came back and said that it was declined. 

"I asked her, 'Was it declined or did you not want it to be accepted?' because this has happened to me many times and she told me, 'No, it was declined.'"

Eto'o, who played in London with Chelsea last season, called his brother who was nearby and it was he who brought a new credit card so the transaction could be completed.

While Eto'o does speak English, his brother has a far wider vocabulary and was able to ask just what had occurred moments earlier.

"My brother can afford this and the way you're treating him shows that you think just because he's black, he can't afford this watch," said the sibling.

Eto'o then takes up the story, saying the lady in the store said she was wary of him because:

"we had some Nigerians in the store the other day who came with fake credit cards." 

"If one of my own makes a mistake, they judge us all. Tomorrow, if a white man in Africa makes a mistake, we should judge all white people? No! 

"The security guard from Senegal kept trying to justify what the lady said and I asked him where he's from. When he told me, I said, 'Ahh. If I gave you my name, you will recognize who I am?' 

"He shrugged and I said, 'I'm Eto'o.' He went, 'Nooooo! Just yesterday, my wife and I were talking about you! Can I take a picture with you and send it to my wife?' 

"I said, 'Yes, we can take a picture, but you made a mistake because you can't judge people by the color of their skin,' so he told me it wasn't because of our color. 

"I told the lady, 'In my next interview, I'm going to tell them about this and I'll name the store so everyone can know that you treat people differently here,' added Eto'o referring to the saleswoman. 

"She then realized that I could have reported what she had just done, but it was a mistake. It was a mistake of her to categorize. I don't think she's a racist person, but she stereotyped all black people as 'those people'."

Cameroon midfielder found dead in his French apartment

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Former Portsmouth FC and Cameroon midfielder, Valery Mezague has been found dead in his French apartment. The 30-year-old's corpse was discovered by French Police yesterday.

The midfielder who made 11 Premier League appearances for Portsmouth during his time on loan, returned to England in 2013 for a spell with Bury.

The cause of his death remains unknown but an autopsy will be carried out on Monday to determine what killed him, Police have said. The police have ruled out any suspicious criminal activity, until the autopsy is out.

Photos: Olympic-size Akwa Ibom Stadium to be opened tomorrow, set to host Nigeria vs Ghana

Thursday, November 06, 2014

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency Godswill Akpabio, will lead the government and people of Akwa Ibom state in opening the Akwa Ibom International Stadium aptly nicknamed the Nest of Champions.

The truly amazing sporting edifice is an Olympic Sized stadium is a 30,000 capacity ultra modern complex that is already regarded as the best in the West African region and compared with South Africa's Soccer city.

Modelled after the Allianz Arena in Germany, the home ground of reigning German Champions Bayern Munich, the Stadium boasts 4 -tier, covered, seating terrace,  all-natural grass, high-tech floodlights and security cameras, 36 emergency exits, bullet proof VVIP and VIP along with other ultra-modern facilities.

The stadium will be opened with a friendly match between long time rivals, Super Eagles of Nigeria and Black Stars of Ghana on Friday, November 7 at 3pm, with notable dignitaries from all over in attendance.

Sacked Keshi is back as Super Eagles coach

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Super Eagles Coach, Steven Keshi who was recently relieved of his post as the team’s coach is back. The media officer of the Super Eagles, Toyin Ibitoye announced this on twitter this morning.

Findings also revealed that Keshi has been asked to return to his post as part of reconciliatory moves in the Nigeria Football Federation as ordered by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The President also advised the faction of Chris Giwa to withdraw its case from court to ensure that Nigeria is not banned by FIFA. NFF is yet to release an official statement. 

South African Police release images of Senzo Meyiwa's alleged killers

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

The South African police has released composite images of two men suspected of killing Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper was gunned down after an altercation with burglars that broke into the house of his pop star girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo last Sunday. Police launched a manhunt and earlier on today released the sketches that were recreated from eyewitness descriptions. A reward
of R250,000 ($23,000) has been offered for any information leading to the arrest of Meyiwa's killer. Local media reports that Meyiwa's family have also hired private investigators to conduct a parallel probe of the death.

Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Senzo Meyiwa's best friend, Tumelo Madlala, told of the devastating moment he saw Senzo gunned down.

Tumelo Madlala was visiting the goalkeeper and his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, in Spruitview, Ekurhuleni, when three men broke in and demanded her mobile phone after a family Sunday lunch. The 27-year-old footballer intervened when one of the intruders became violent with his girlfriend but was shot at point blank range as Miss Khumalo's two children screamed in horror.
Tumelo said:

'Three men came into the house. They wanted Kelly’s phone and she refused to give it to them. There was scuffle between Kelly and one of the men. Senzo stood up and tried to intervene... 'That was when the man pulled out a gun and shot Senzo.' 

Meyiwa, who recently fathered a child with his pop-star girlfriend, is understood to have been on his way to meet his wife, Mkhize, at a party when he was killed in cold blood.

Meyiwa with wife Mkhize

Mkhize had met Meyiwa in Johannesburg in 2005. They got married in 2013 and barely a year later he was seeing Khumalo albeit without Mkhize's knowledge. Mkhize later found out and a saga ensued with Khumalo assaulting Mkhize. Meyiwa had reportedly gone back and forth between the two women over the past year but recently went public with Khumalo by his side.

Mkhize who has two small daughters with Meyiwa, is now said to be too devastated while Ms Khumalo has become the target of internet trolls who branded her an 'adulterous witch' over her relationship with the married footballer.

Senzo will be buried on Saturday in his home town in Durban.

South Africa's football captain shot dead in girlfriend's apartment

Monday, October 27, 2014

Senzo Meyiwa (middle)

South Africa's football captain Senzo Meyiwa has died. He was shot dead yesterday in Johannesburg few hours after playing a match, police have said in a statement.

The 27-year-old was pictured looking happy with on-off girlfriend Kelly Khumalo, a South African pop star, earlier before the incident.

Meyiwa, who played for Orlando Pirates, was shot when intruders entered his girlfriend's house in Vosloorus, a town 20 miles south of Johannesburg and died instantly.

Meyiwa pictured with his girlfriend earlier yesterday

Meyiwa pictured with Rooney

Meyiwa in action against Nigeria

Nigeria's Super Falcons win 9th African Women Championship

Sunday, October 26, 2014

The Super Falcons of Nigeria have won the 9th edition of the African Women Championship after beating the Lionesses of Cameron 2-0 at the Sam Nujoma stadium in Windhoek, Namibia.

In the final game, Coach Edwin Okon’s team showed supremacy as Desire Oparanozie and Asisat Oshoala scored in the first half to ensure Nigeria wins the trophy for a record seventh time.

The victory, also means the Super Falcons have avenged the 1-0 defeat they suffered to the Lioness's in the third-place play-off of Equatorial Guinea 2012.

Oscar Pistorius cries himself to sleep at night in jail

Thursday, October 23, 2014

After bagging a five-year jail term, it has been revealed that Oscar Pistorius cries himself to sleep at nights.

The Citizen reports that Oscar was taken to the Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria where he wept until he fell asleep.

'You could hear him. Shortly after the door closed you could hear the tears... he was torn up. Broken. The crying went on and on. We think he stopped when he fell asleep. It was really bad.' A prison source was quoted saying

Another source said he was being monitored constantly. It is reported that this week he would begin a 21-day risks and needs assessment. His orientation would include warning him of the dangers such as gangsterism and contraband, and determining whether he was a suicide risk.

The correctional services department refused to comment on his emotional state. Department spokesman Manelisi Wolela said.

'We have never given a blow-by-blow account of how an offender is progressing on a day to day basis. We have never done that for other offenders and we won’t do that for him.'

Because of  over-crowding, he is staying in the hospital wing and  is expected to serve just ten months of his five-year jail term before being placed under house arrest.

Oscar Pistorius jailed for five years

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

More than seven months after Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius' trial for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp started, Judge Thokozile Masipa today announced a punishment of five years imprisonment after finding him guilty of culpable homicide.

Pistorius was acquitted of murder. He had testified during his murder trial that he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder. Reporters in court in Pretoria say that Arnold Pistorius, uncle of the jailed athlete, has indicated there will be no appeal – the family expected him to go to jail.

Footballer DIES after injuring spine in failed somersault goal celebration

Monday, October 20, 2014

A footballer has died after suffering a serious spinal injury during his somersault goal celebration.

Peter Biaksangzuala, 23, fell awkwardly on his head after scoring the equaliser for his team Bethlehem Vengthlang FC in India last week. MirrorUk reports that the match was being televised and watched live by thousands of supporters.

Teammates were about to jump on the midfielder to celebrate the goal when they realised he was
seriously hurt. He was stretchered off the pitched and rushed to hospital where doctors operated to try and repair his spine which was badly damaged, local media reports. But Biaksangzuala died on Sunday after his condition deteriorated in hospital.

Lal Hmar, a football official in Mizoram state, told reporters in capital Aizawl that the young footballer had agreed to donate his eyes before his death.

Watch the very sad video below, from 2:22 minutes onward to see footage of Biaksangzuala’s fatal goal celebration.

  

EBOLA: Morocco withdraws from hosting AFCON 2015

Friday, October 17, 2014

The Ebola pandemic has led host of the 2015 African Cup of Nations, Morocco, to withdraw from hosting.

The Moroccan government had asked CAF to let them host the 2017 edition or to push the tourney to 2016, but following no response from CAF, they have announced their withdrawal from the event.

A member of the Moroccan FA, who spoke anonymously, said

'Since CAF rejected all our requests and suggestions then we are forced to withdraw from hosting AFCON 2015 with immediate effect to preserve the safety of our citizens and for that we are prepared to take any consequences that comes with our actions'.

South Africa have been tipped to replace Morocco as the host, but they have also stated they will not be hosting the tourney.
AFCON 2015 will not be held here. 'That issue does not exist and CAF must discuss this matter with Morocco,’ SAFA chief Danny Jordaan said.

NFF sack Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Stephen Keshi has been sacked as Nigeria coach.


And in his place is Amodu Shuaibu to lead a consortium of coaches for the final two games of the 2015 African Nations Cup qualifier. ColinUdoh reports that an expatriate coach will thereafter be appointed to take charge of the squad.

The decision was among others announced by the NFF Executive Committee after a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday night 'in the interest of Nigerian football and the desire to ensure qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals'. 

Keshi's two-year contract with the NFF lapsed in June, and the former national team captain has been working in a caretaker capacity since then. But after a disastrous qualifying campaign in which the Super Eagles only picked up one point from their opening three games, there were widespread calls for him to be let go. A 3-1 win against Sudan on Wednesday did little to ease those calls, and the NFF have now acted wielded the axe.

Keshi's technical and backroom staff were also fired along with him. In their place, Salisu Yusuf, Gbenga Ogunbote and Alloy Agu will join Amodu for the final two games of the qualifying series. Garba Lawal replaces Emmanuel Attah was new Team Coordinator, Toyin Ibitoye replaces Ben Alaiya as Media Officer, while Godfirst Chike will be the new equipment manager in place of Chidi Ngoka. Only Team Secretary Dayo Enebi retained his position.

Colin Udoh

The real reason my marriage crashed – Uche Ogbodo opens up

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Fair-skinned Nollywood damsel, Uche Ogbodo, who has just returned from the United States after the delivery of her baby girl, is no stranger to controversies. 

The current one rocking her boat is about her failed marriage to ex-Nigerian footballer, Ato Ubby. 
While some say she dumped the man because he had a brain tumour, others accused the actress of marrying the hapless footballer only for money. But Uche is back and has told her own side of the story about her marriage to Vanguard. Excerpts: 

• Have you left your husband for real?

The marriage didn’t work out.

• Was it really a marriage?

It was a marriage but we didn’t do any wedding. We didn’t do any court marriage or church wedding. We did nothing. We didn’t even do traditional marriage but in my culture, there are many processes 
to getting married and I did a few of those, so you can say I was married. In Igbo land, there are rites you adhere to before you can say this is my wife and I did a couple of them.

• Why did you do the rites in secret?

You cannot do rites openly; it’s just a family thing, family members only. It’s not a traditional wedding. If I had done traditional wedding, I would definitely invite people. If I had done a white wedding, I would have invited people. If I had done a court marriage, I would still have invited people but it was just rites. I didn’t do anything the public needed to know, so you can’t say I did any marriage in secret.

• What really made you leave your husband?

My marriage was full of   lies. I cannot tell you in detail what those lies were, if that’s what you’re trying to make me do but it was based on lies. It’s a pity it didn’t work out. I didn’t go into the marriage to crash it. I wanted a family; I wanted a loving home and a loving husband. That was why I went into it in the first place but as nature would have it, I didn’t get any of those. I still thank God my head is intact

• Did he cheat on you? What exactly did he do?

No, it’s not about women. Like I always say, you cannot build a home on sinking sand. You need to build a home on a rock. What I mean is that a marriage built on deceit and lies is no marriage at all. If you want a solid marriage, it must be built on honesty and trustworthiness. If not, it’s definitely going to crash. If it doesn’t crash today, it will crash tomorrow, so the lies are my reasons.

• When did you discover he was lying to you?

Well, it was good while it lasted; he was a good man to me. I felt all I saw was all I was supposed to see but later when one thing led to another and things started unfolding. I started finding out that everything was not what it seemed. Every relationship, you have problems in-between, there is no relationship that just goes on smoothly.
In the process of friendship and dating, we had issues that we resolved but when we took it to the next level we just couldn’t hold it together. There are things you can hide as friends but as married couple it is impossible because so many other things like families are involved.
As his girlfriend some things that were hidden were revealed when I became his wife. What happened between me and my husband is between me and my husband. We caused it, both of us caused it.

• For how long were you guys together?

The marriage lasted barely a month before we started having issues. We were having issues before I found out I was pregnant.

• Are you planning to raise your child as a single mother?

When I don’t have a husband, I’m raising her alone. I can’t throw my child away. It’s not her fault that the marriage didn’t work out, it’s not her fault that I got pregnant, it’s not her fault that we didn’t take our marriage seriously, so I’m going to raise her no matter what happens.

• How old is she now?

She’s a month and two weeks now

• What attracted you to your husband before you married him?

I saw something in him that nobody had ever seen. I saw a man that was a good man inside his heart. It’s not like when you’re looking at him everything is perfect but I saw that deep down somewhere, there’s a good man. Without the influence of society, he would have been different. I blame it on society and I blame it on him. He allowed things to influence but he was born a good man and I thought I could bring that goodness out in him. I thought that I could change something and make it better.   I tried but it didn’t work out.

• Was it completely his fault that your marriage crashed?

It’s our fault. We shouldn’t have allowed our marriage to crash. I wouldn’t know my mistakes; he would tell you my mistakes. Maybe I was a little too much to handle, maybe that’s why but I wouldn’t know until he tells you his own side of the story.

• Some people were saying you got into the marriage because of money?

I didn’t get into the marriage because of money in the first place. I got into the marriage because I wanted to be married and because I saw something in him that I felt would work out for me later in life. I didn’t go into it because of money; there were no millions to spend so it wasn’t about money. I don’t care what people say. What matters is the truth and I try to be very straightforward when I deal with people. So, it wasn’t about money because there was none

• Others are saying you left him because of his brain tumor?

He doesn’t have brain tumor. He was sick at the time, he had issues but his sickness is not the reason why our marriage crashed. Money was not the issue either.   I would definitely know about his health status before I would marry a man. I knew what I was going into, so how could I just leave a man because he had a brain tumor? It’s funny

• You said he didn’t have a brain tumor, what was really wrong with him?

I cannot tell you, he would tell you. He was sick, he was treated but it had nothing to do with the brain. He had surgery but it was  not brain tumor, it was not cancer, he was just sick and I thank God that he’s alive. I don’t know why people just wake up and conclude things out of the blue; you don’t know these people from Adam, you just read about people and then you go and comment rubbish. You write rubbish to tear people’s lives apart even when you know nothing about their issues.

• Is he still in hospital?

He’s not in hospital; he has never been in the hospital. I don’t know why that picture came up, that picture you saw online was taken like last year December

• Was your husband with you when you were pregnant?

No, he wasn’t. We were having issues, we weren’t together. He didn’t see me pregnant for one day
If you’re going to marry again, what would you do differently to make it work out?
I’m only going to keep praying to God to give me someone who wouldn’t lie to me, someone that would be plain, very plain to me.

• Are you still planning to marry again?

I’ve left the door open. I’m not going to close the door of marriage because one marriage didn’t work. The door is wide open. When I find someone that I’m going to be happy with but I wouldn’t want another experience where my marriage crashes because once beaten twice shy. So I’m going to take my time now and dig deep

• You said you were going to take on more daring roles back then?

Of course, I’m going to take on more daring roles, that’s my career and I’m only going to keep improving myself.

• Can you have sex on screen?

As an actress, there’s nothing I cannot do.

• Can you do a lesbian scene?

There’s nothing I can’t do in a movie, once it’s a movie. But in real life I’m not a lesbian, so, don’t get it twisted. That’s why I’m an actress, its make-believe, it’s not who I am. I’m only going to do my career the way I’m supposed to do it and it puts food on my table.

VIDEO: Moment Oscar Pistorius was found guilty

Friday, September 12, 2014

The moment Oscar Pistorius hears he is guilty of culpable homicide

Oscar Pistorius has been found guilty of the manslaughter of Reeva Steenkamp. And this video I just laid my hands on shows the moment that verdict was announced.

The court has taken a short break, and Oscar's sister Aimee was seen hugging her brother as he stands in the dock. Some of Reeva's friends are in tears in the court room. Her close friend Gina Myers is visibly upset. Reeva's mother June showed little emotion as Pistorius was convicted of manslaughter, while Reeva's father Barry shifted in his seat.

The moment Barry Steenkamp hears he is guilty of culpable homicide

Judge declares Oscar Pistorius guilty of culpable homicide

 

Oscar Pistorius has been found guilty of culpable homicide, or negligent killing, in shooting of girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

 

The athlete was cleared of murder yesterday. Judge Masipa said there was not enough evidence to support a murder conviction for Pistorius' killing of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius fatally shot Steenkamp in his home on Feb. 14, 2013. He said he mistook her for an intruder, while the

prosecution said he killed her intentionally after an argument.

 

The judge has said that Pistorius was negligent, which has now led to a conviction for culpable homicide, or a negligent killing. The sentence for such a crime is at the judge's discretion, and it can range from a suspended sentence and a fine to years in prison.

 

More details coming up. Armed security officers stood at each of the three entrances to the courtroom today, while others stood near red-robed judge Masipa as she explained her verdicts from her dais overlooking the court. There were also paramedics in the courtroom.

It's 'judgement day' for Oscar Pistorius

Thursday, September 11, 2014

“Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius appears in court on Thursday to face judgement over the killing of his model girlfriend, ending a six-month trial that turned the amputee’s private life into a global spectacle.

The 27-year old celebrity athlete faces life behind bars — and notoriety that would eclipse his athletic achievements — if found guilty of deliberately killing lover Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013. Judge Thokozile Masipa’s ruling on charges of murder and three firearms offences will likely be laid out in two days of careful legal argument and then a final verdict, perhaps on Friday.

The high-drama, half-year trial fed intense media interest worldwide, with live broadcasts veering into the realm of TV reality shows. Nearly 40 witnesses testified, including Pistorius, who broke down, weeping and at times vomiting as he heard how the 29-year old blonde’s head “exploded” like a watermelon under the impact of his hollow-point bullet.

Judge Masipa will begin proceedings by evaluating the evidence of each of the witnesses and she is assisted only by two assessors. She may decide that Pistorius is innocent, or that the state has not done enough to prove its case, resulting in an acquittal. But if she decides Pistorius deliberately murdered Steenkamp, he could face a life sentence, which in South Africa means 25 years in jail.

Ivory Coast must host match or face Cup of Nations exit

Tuesday, September 02, 2014

African football giants Ivory Coast will be expelled from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations if they do not host Ebola-hit Sierra Leone in their qualifier on Saturday, the African Football Confederation (CAF) told AFP on Monday.

The Ivory Coast government had said it was refusing to allow the game to be played in Abidjan but the country's federation had not announced a country ready to host it instead.

"CAF regulation which applies here states that: “If, for any reason whatsoever, a team withdraws from the competition or does not report for a match, except in cases of force majeure accepted by the Organizing Commission or refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorization of the referee, it shall be considered the loser and shall be eliminated for good from the current competition," CAF's head of media Junior Binyam told AFP by email.

"Till now no official letter has been sent to CAF cancelling the game."

The devastating Ebola outbreak has killed more than 1,500 people.

Many African governments have sought to isolate Sierra Leone, -- where 422 people have died from the illness -- Guinea and Liberia, the worst hit countries, throwing into doubt a number of sporting fixtures including the Leone Stars' Group D game against Ivory Coast.

The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) told AFP it was planning to go ahead with the fixture in Abidjan with a 20-man squad consisting entirely of players based abroad.

Sierra Leone were due to travel to the neutral territory of Ghana's capital,Accra, to play Democratic Republic of Congo on September 10.

The venue has been rearranged, however, and will now go ahead in DR Congo's second city, Lumumbashi, the SLFA said.

The spread of the virus to Senegal and the World Health Organization (WHO) warning that up to 20,000 cases could be reported mean more restrictions can be expected ahead of the Nations Cup finals in Morocco from January 17.

The CAF and the WHO had asked member nations "to avoid huge gatherings of people that could facilitate the spread of the Ebola virus."

Super Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike in N30m land dispute with Enugu state government

Monday, September 01, 2014

Nigerian star striker Emmanuel Emenike is currently at war with the Enugu State Government over 13 plots of land worth N30 million which he bought to build a sports academy in Enugu according to a report from AfricanFootball.

According to the report, soldiers have invaded the property in Enugu and have prevented any work on it, a development that hasn't gone down well with the footballer. Emenike said he bought the 13 plots of land after the World Cup in Brazil through a special assistant to the Enugu State Governor, Frank Ugwunweze, who handed all documents concerning the land in Emenike's name to the striker.

"I worked hard to make my money, I know what I pass through on the pitch before I earn my living and it will be unfair if what am hearing about my land in Enugu State was true.'' The striker said. Continue...

 "I visit Enugu whenever I come to Nigeria, my friends stay there as well as some of my family members. And I am the kind of person who allows for advise. Even before now, I had a dream to own an academy not only in Nigeria but I believe in the saying that "charity begins at home". About three, four months ago, I acquired 13 plots of land in Enugu State through the special assistant to Governor Sullivan Chime. And during the time of conversation of the land papers he never told me there was any problem on the land. He gave me all the necessary documents in my name after payment. I then directed for work to commence immediately, but the state government has directed soldiers to stop anybody from working there. I don't want to believe that this is fraud. I am ready to fight it all. I am not a politician and I see no reason why my money will be held by the government house. I have called some top government officials in Enugu, but all of them are not trying to be sincere. They could not help because the order came from the Governor. Nobody is trying to be sincere and as a matter of fact, I want my money back. I am very depressed that there is no confidence in investing in my country. I just don't understand the pranks. 

Right from time, I don't like going through government for anything. I prefer to do it with my money and I see no reason why my property will be held back by government. People go to government to get free land, but I will not do that because there is no sincerity in most of the things we do. And I will not be here and somebody takes my money, it will never happen. I just want to believe that His Excellency Governor Chime was not aware of the purchase of the land, in that case, I will like to have my money back." He said

Emenike is set to remain in the Turkyce lig with Fernabahce this season after a successful world cup with Nigeria in Brazil.