Connect with us

Nigeria Premier League

Europe’s giants kick off UCL with Man City at home to Red Star, PSG facing Dortmund

Published

on

Champions League

Manchester City begin their title defence of the Champions League at home to Red Star Belgrade to kick off the European club season in earnest tonight.

Following a busy summer of football with the Women’s World Cup taking centre stage and domestic seasons returning back to action, memories of City’s first-ever Champions League win – a 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in a tedious final in Istanbul – may seem distant, but Pep Guardiola’s mind on Tuesday will no doubt flashback to that June night when his club at long last lifted the European Cup.

With an insatiable desire for victory, the Spaniard is confident that City have what it takes to retain their title, a feat last achieved by Real Madrid in 2018.

“It’ll be easier,” said Guardiola, who will be without the injured John Stones, Jack Grealish, Mateo Kovacic and Kevin de Bruyne for their home opener against Red Star. “The most difficult to win is the first one. It is incredible for us but it is just one. It’s important the players don’t feel relaxed.”

“For our club to win the Champions League is incredible but in perspective how many (clubs have) won one Champions League? A lot. We haven’t done anything special with just one, but we are incredibly proud.”

Top of the Premier League table, City will be favourites to reach the final at Wembley with other traditional powerhouses like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich currently lagging well behind, both in terms of match performance and resources. It will be the first Champions League season without Lionel Messi, who is stateside, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who is in Saudi Arabia, though making waves in the Asian Champions League tonight in Iran.

Owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, Newcastle United return to Europe’s premier competition for the first time since the 2002/03 season. They kick off their campaign against AC Milan at the San Siro.

Paris Saint-Germain vs Dortmund is another standout fixture on Tuesday. Since Qatar Sports Investment took over the Parisian club in 2011, PSG have won nine Ligue 1 titles, but the Champions League trophy remains elusive. They reached the 2021 final but succumbed to Bayern Munich 1-0. Instead, City, last season, became the first state-backed club to win the competition.

“When a club is obsessed with something, it’s never a good sign,” said PSG manager Luis Enrique.

“You have to have ambition but obsession doesn’t work in any area of life. You have to wait and see how the competition goes, football is a wonderful sport, any result is possible. You can play an incredible game and lose, play badly and win. As a club, we play all competitions to win them, that’s the objective. It’s very ambitious but it’s necessary.”

This will be the last season of the existing 32-team format in the group phase before the competition moves to a Swiss model featuring 36 clubs in the group stages in a league model.

Author

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Nigeria Premier League

Jigawa Governor Approves New Appointments At Jagawa Golden Stars 

Published

on

Governor Malam Umar A. Namadi, has approved the appointment of Muhammad Barde Zakar as Technical Assistant to the Governor on Sports Development.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the Government of Jigawa State Malam Bala Ibrahim.

Similarly, the Governor has approved the appointments of new Management crew for Jigawa Golden Stars Football Club.

“The appointment is coming as part of His Excellency’s commitments to ensure continued success and growth of the Jigawa Golden Stars Football Club” The SSG said.

The SSG listed the composition of the newly appointed Management crew are as follows:

1. Gambo Umar Labbo – Chairman

2. Engineer Idris Zangi – Vice Chairman

3. Abdulmajid Auwal Ali – Team Manager

4. Baba Garba – Asst. Team Manager

5. Hauwa Garba – Welfare

6. Ado Mato Gwaram – Coach

7. Sabo Abdullahi – FA Representative

8. Ibrahim Isyaku – PRO

9. Dodo Isah – Member

10. Jafaru M. Shu’aibu – Member

11. Abdulkadir Kalla – Member

12. Ali M. Ibrahim – Club Secretary

“Furthermore, as part of his efforts to improve the home-based players confidence in the State, the Governor has also approved the establishment and appointments of the Management crew for Junior Golden Stars (Danmodi Strikers) which will serve as feeder team for Jigawa Golden Stars main team with purely Jigawa State indigenes” the statement said.

Malam Bala Ibrahim said, those appointed as pioneer Management crew of the newly established Junior Golden Stars (Danmodi Strikers) are as follows:

1. Ibrahim Auwal Kwiachiri – Chairman

2. Babangida M. Shalla – Team Manager

3. Hassan Magaji – Welfare

4. Nura Arma Maigatari – Coach

5. Muhammad Ado – Asst. Coach

6. Suleiman Isyaku – PRO

7. Sabo Saleh Gantsa – Member

8. Ibrahim Jibrin – Secretary

The statement further explained that, the new Management Crews have been carefully selected based on merit, competence and experience.

“While congratulating the appointees it is hoped that, they will bring a wealth of knowledge and experiences that will be instrumental in managing and overseeing the affairs of the Clubs” the SSG said.

He disclosed that, the rationale behind the formation of the new Management crew is poised to implement initiatives that will enhance the Golden Star’s performance, attract private sponsorships and increase community involvement in Sports development statewide as well as to provide stability, continuity, crucial for long term success and resilience in line with Governor Malam Umar Namadi vision.

The SSG stated that, the Management Crews are expected to collaborate closely with the State Ministry of Information, Youth, Sports and Culture and other stakeholders in the Sports industry to promote the Clubs.

All the appointments take immediate effect.

Author

Continue Reading

Nigeria Premier League

Governor Alia Sets Up Forensic Audit Panel For Lobi Stars FC 

Published

on

The Governor of Benue State His Exellency Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormen Alia has set up a forensic audit panel to investigate Lobi Stars Football Club’s finances.

This is due to persistent complaints of non-payment of salaries by players and officials ,despite Government financial obligation to the club.

Governor Alia disclosed this when he received Daniel Amokachi, the new Technical Adviser of the Club at the Government House Makurdi on Tuesday.

Governor Alia praised Amokachi’s international football career and urged him to turn around the fortunes of the club for better.

He also presented him with a branded jersey of the club.

Amokachi thanked the Governor and the people of Benue state for the warmed reception accorded him since he arrived

The former Super Eagles player emphasized the importance of paying players salaries, which he described as a big motivation for team to perform well in the football league .

The forensic audit team consists of experienced auditors:

Mr. Sam Chir, Assistant Director ( auditl,Mr. Bishop Dzungwe, Assistant Director (audit),Mr. Akpusugh Terungwa,Assistant Director ( audit ) and Dr. Gberindyer Abraham Chia ,(AG).

Earlier in his brief remarks Dr. Philip Nongu, Chairman of Lobi Stars FC, said he was in Government House Makurdi to present to the Governor ,the new Technic adviser of the club.

Author

Continue Reading

Nigeria Premier League

NPFL Rescheduled Tie: Rangers Target Maximum Points As Bayelsa Utd Visit Enugu

Published

on

NPFL Rescheduled Tie: Rangers Target Maximum Points As Bayelsa Utd Visit Enugu

The main-bowl of ‘The Cathedral’, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, will come alive on Thursday, October 3, 2024, as the reigning NPFL champions, Rangers International seek for the maximum point at stake in the rescheduled match day 3, NPFL 2024/2025 fixture as Bayelsa United come visiting.

Still feeling the pains of the 2-1 loss to current table topping side, Remo Stars, at the weekend in Ikenne, the coach Fidelis Ilechukwu tutored side look fit and trim to do the needful against the coach Laddan Bosso led side that picked a draw at the weekend in their backyard, Yenagoa when Kwara United visited.

The ’Flying Antelopes’ will be welcoming back midfielder, Kazeem Ogunleye who was greatly missed in the Ikenne debacle as he served a match suspension just as wing-back, Effimi Nsi, captain, Chinecherem Ugwueze are expected to be at their best to help the Coal City side mount the expected pressure on the early pace setters of the league.

With four points from three matches played in the NPFL this season and currently occupying the 12th spot on the log, the players appreciate the task at hand as expressly stated by the captain of the side, Chinemerem Ugwueze, who stated that the team is determined to give its best and get the expected result that will enhance their resolve to successfully defend the title they won last season.

“No team is a small team anymore. Bayelsa United is a respected side under a great coach but we have our work cut out for us. It is the maximum point that we are targeting and I am optimistic that we shall get our acts together to make our supporters happy at the end of the encounter,” said the young skipper of Rangers.

In sixteen matches between both teams, Rangers have won 5 matches with the Yenagoa side winning 4 while seven matches have ended in draws with the Enugu side spanking their opponent, 3-0 in their last encounter in May, 2024 after earlier suffering a 2-0 loss in Yenagoa in December, 2023.

Author

Continue Reading

Trending