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NPFL: GTI Thumbs Up Clubs, Lauds Media Coverage
Partners to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited, has expressed delight at the level of support and spirit of competitiveness among clubs featuring in the NPFL 2023/2024 season and also lauded the media for their coverage following the smooth kick-off of the elite league on September 30.
According to GTI Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba in Lagos on Thursday, he commended the clubs for keying into the vision of GTI regarding implementing the business aspect of the game in all its activities.
“We believe that with time the plans of the Nigeria Premier League Board will see the light of the day given the massive coverage the NPFL is receiving.
“With the take-off grant of N10 million given to each of the 20 clubs this season by GTI and many other deals secured by the various clubs, we can see that the clubs have hit the ground running which has consistently reflected on the Matchday results,” Ekejiuba enthused.
“It is not surprising to see that home teams have stepped up their game as we are yet to record a loss in that regard. The worst-case scenarios are two draws recorded by visiting teams in Matchday 1 and Matchday 2 respectively.
“Also, the 2-0 annihilation of Enyimba International of Aba in Gombe by Gombe United in Matchday 2 is an indication that the gap between the so-called big teams and the lesser ones is nonexistent this season. By implication, the N150 million prize money expected for the winning team this season, courtesy of GTI is going to be keenly contested.”
The veteran sports journalist and author commended the clubs for painstakingly going out of their way to secure shirt deals and embarking on other sponsorship drives to assist them in navigating this season and becoming financially solvent.
“The efforts of Rangers, Sporting Lagos, Remo Stars, Bendel Insurance and other clubs to secure sponsorship deals ahead of this season are quite commendable and also an indication that these clubs are gradually queuing into GTI’s quest at seeing clubs being administered as a pure business enterprise.
“Therefore, we call on the clubs and match officials to maintain the tempo as we continue to partner with Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye’s NPL Board to deliver a flawless league to our great country.
“However, GTI as a strategic partner to the NPFL is leaving no stone unturned in laying a solid foundation for the league to thrive in the country and we believe that with the way NPFL is developing and evolving, by the next few seasons the elite league in the country will rank among the best in Africa.
The visibility the elite league is currently enjoying, following the weekly live streaming of the matches on the Over-The-Top (OTT) platform, is heart-warming and a step in the right direction. Our broadcast partner Propel Sports Africa should be commended for the innovation to enhance the visibility of the NPFL matches to local and global audiences.
“The introduction of The Nigeria Football Fund (TNFF) by GTI has also brought a positive turnaround to the NPFL such that the issue of funding for our elite league is no longer a problem. The Clubs, FA, match officials and NPFL staff can give testimony to the level of support and attention given by GTI in this regard.
“It is also worthy to note that the N1 per Unit cost of TNFF at the launch of the Fund has appreciated to N1.23 per unit which depicts a positive future for the growth of the Fund. Therefore, we call again on Corporate Nigeria and individuals who love our beautiful game to invest in TNFF,” Ekejiuba concluded.
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RON ON HIS WAY! Ronaldo Makes New Portgual Decision After Red Card Nightmare
Cristiano Ronaldo has LEFT the Portugal camp after his shocking red card in their defeat against Ireland.
The Portuguese icon was dismissed in his nation’s 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland earlier this week.
Ronaldo was given his marching orders for an alleged elbow on Ireland defender Dara O’Shea. He was initially awarded a yellow card, only for VAR to intervene before the referee upgraded the punishment.
Ronaldo has now been handed a one-match automatic ban for the red card, which will see him miss Portugal’s clash with Armenia on Sunday. And according to reports in Portugal, he has now been released from international duty.
The 40-year-old will now return to Saudi Arabia ahead of making his return to action with club side Al-Nassr, who take on Al-Khaleej next weekend. Speaking after Ronaldo’s red card, Portugal boss Roberto Martinez said: “The red card is just a captain that has never been sent off before in 226 games – I think that just deserves credit – and today, I thought it was a bit harsh because he cares about the team.
“He was 60 minutes or 58 minutes in the box being grabbed, being pulled, being pushed and obviously when he tries to get away from the defender.
“I think the action looks worse than what it actually is, I don’t think it’s an elbow, I think it’s a full body, but from where the camera is, it looks like an elbow. But we accept it.
“The only thing that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth is at the press conference yesterday, your coach was talking about the aspect of the referees being influenced, and then a big centre-half falls on the floor so dramatically at the turn of Cristiano’s body.”
Meanwhile, Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrímsson said: “He complimented me for putting pressure on the referee. It was his action on the pitch that cost him the red card. It had nothing to do with me – unless I got into his head.”
News
Oscar Health Update Emerges After Ex-Chelsea Star Collapsed
A health update has been provided on the former Chelsea midfielder, Oscar, after he collapsed and was admitted to the ICU earlier this week.
The Brazilian star fell unconscious during a training session and has remained under observation
Oscar, 34, was conducting an interval test on an exercise bike at Sao Paulo’s training ground when he fell ill. Brazilian outlet Global Esporte reported that he was unconscious for two minutes. The issue comes after Oscar suffered a fractured vertebra in August.
Since then, Oscar has made the bench twice, but it has been claimed that he has been monitoring a heart issue after he showed signs of an abnormality during tests on his fracture.
In a statement on Tuesday, Sao Paulo said Oscar ‘presented an incident with cardiological changes’ and was ‘promptly attended to by the club’s professionals and the medical team from Einstein Hospital Israelita. They have now offered another update and have confirmed a diagnosis of vasovagal syncope.
“Midfielder Oscar remains hospitalised at Einstein Hospital Israelita, where he was admitted on Tuesday afternoon (11) after presenting an incident with cardiological changes during tests carried out at SuperCT.
“An extensive investigation carried out at the hospital confirmed the diagnosis of vasovagal syncope. Oscar remains clinically well and stable, hospitalised in a cardiology unit and will undergo an electrophysiological study this Friday.”
The condition causes a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure. This can reduce blood flow to the brain and cause an individual to briefly lose consciousness. Vasovagal syncope can occur when the body overreacts to heat, hunger, or emotional distress.
Oscar returned to Sao Paulo in December on a three-year deal after beginning his career with the Brazilian side. The attacker’s reputation grew in his spell with Chelsea as he won two Premier League titles.
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Thomas Tuchel Breaks Silence On England Records
Thomas Tuchel said he has not spoken to England’s players about any potential records they could set in Albania as his only focus is on the hunger to compete and kick on towards the World Cup.
Gareth Southgate’s successor began his reign with March’s 2-0 Wembley win against Albania and ends his first year in charge against the same opponents in Tirana on Sunday.
England arrive in Albania having followed up last month’s early World Cup qualification by winning a seventh Group K match without conceding — an impressive record that opposition manager Sylvinho joked was “disgusting.”
Sunday offers them the chance to become the first European side to play at least six World Cup qualifiers and win them all without conceding, but that could not be further from Tuchel’s mind.
“We didn’t speak a single word about that,” he said at Air Albania Stadium on the eve of the game.
“We made sure yesterday that we had yesterday the training session that we had. The quality and the mentality of the guys that didn’t play was on the highest level, which was a pure pleasure.
“It just showed me that we are going in the right way.
“Everyone is ready to play, everyone is ready to start. Competition is still on, the hunger is still on to be on the pitch tomorrow. That is the most important.
“Everything we talk about is about the process and the things we can influence. We need to get the foundation right to have a chance to get these records.
“Just by thinking about it or talking about it, nothing will change.
“We need to deliver tomorrow again and, like I said, the feeling and the trust is absolutely there because I witness this in the camp so I trust my players to perform again tomorrow.”
England arrived in Albania with a 23-man squad after Ezri Konsa withdrew from the camp with a calf complaint.
That means there will be at least one change from Thursday’s 2-0 win against Serbia, when Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze and Phil Foden impressed off the bench.
The latter was deployed in a false nine role having replaced captain Harry Kane but Tuchel says he is unlikely to go into next summer’s World Cup with just one out-and-out striker.
“No, I don’t think so,” he said when that was mentioned. “It is possible but I don’t think that will happen. There is still a long way to go.
“We will go with a very balanced squad, I guess this as I’ve never picked a World Cup squad.
“This is something for between March and May but the general idea is to pick a balanced squad with different characters and qualities.
“I cannot rule out going with just one striker but it is very likely we will have more classic number nines.”
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