ALLEN JOBIS

Wednesday, 10 April 2013

sports

Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid progress to UEFA Champions League semi-finals after stunning matches

Borussia Dortmund scored twice in injury time to shatter Malaga and progress to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in the most extraordinary of circumstances.

On a staggering morning of action in Europe, Real Madrid held on to reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals 5-3 on aggregate after losing 3-2 to Galatasaray in a pulsating second leg in the Ali Sami Yen Stadium.

In Germany, Spain's Malaga looked to be going through when Eliseu put them 2-1 up with eight minutes remaining, before Marco Reus and Felipe Santana broke Spanish hearts in a thrilling climax.
Malaga took the lead when Joaquin rolled the ball in after 25 minutes, before Robert Lewandowski levelled the scores before half time.

But the away goal saw Dortmund become increasingly desperate, and Malaga looked to have qualified for the last four until the hosts' willpower saw them home.

In Turkey, Jose Mourinho's men looked to be home and hosed when Cristiano Ronaldo increased their 3-0 lead from the first leg in only the eighth minute, only for a dramatic burst of second half goals from Emmanuel Eboue, Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba to set up a tense finale, before Ronaldo had the final word.

Galatasaray's hearts were broken early, when Mesut Ozil's precise through-ball found Sami Khedira, with the midfielder's drilled low cross turned home from close range by Ronaldo for his 47th goal in 47 games this season.

Mourinho's men were only denied a second on the night by a sensational save from Muslera in the 24th minute as Ronaldo dragged the ball back and flicked it between his legs to release Di Maria into the area, but his first-time shot with the outside of his boot was somehow tipped over the bar by the goalkeeper.

Sneijder forced Diego Lopez into a diving save seven minutes before the interval as his snap-shot from the edge of the box following a short corner flew through a forest of legs, but the Spanish giants were rarely troubled in the opening period.

Ronaldo missed a glorious opportunity to make it 2-0 on the night and 5-0 on aggregate with 57 minutes gone when he was found eight yards out by Di Maria, but got the ball tangled up in his feet and could only shuffle a shot wide of the far post.

Galatasaray finally got on the scoresheet in the tie seconds later as Eboue let fly a first-time shot with the outside of his boot from the edge of the area which arrowed beyond a static Lopez and ripped into the top corner of the net.

They should have taken the lead on the night in the 62nd minute as Sneijder was inadvertently set up by Fabio Coentrao's hashed clearance across his own box, only for the Holland international to somehow skew his shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

But the former Inter Milan made amends in the 71st minute as he burst into the Real box to finish confidently beyond Lopez to place just an element of doubt in the minds of the Madrid players.
And Drogba then produced a stunning finish 60 seconds later, flicking the ball between his legs with his back to goal from substitute Nordin Amrabat's cross to find the bottom corner of Lopez's net with the goalkeeper again helpless.

Ronaldo smashed a rising drive narrowly over and Drogba had the ball in the net with 10 minutes to go only to be correctly given offside. Substitute Alvaro Arbeloa was dismissed for two quick-fire bookings in the closing stages before Ronaldo struck deep into added time

NFF cuts Eagles bonus, coaches salaries

The Nigeria Football Federation has taken a very significant step to curtail overhead cost in the administration of football in the country. The Technical and Development Committee of the federation, which met in Abuja on Tuesday, recommended for immediate implementation, a list of decisions that would substantively cut down the cost of prosecuting games involving the national teams.

One of the major decisions is the review of the salaries of all the national team coaches, including that of Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi. Even though he has a contract still running, The PUNCH learnt that every coach in the employment of the federation would be affected as soon as the implementation begins.

The General Secretary of the NFF, Mr. Musa Amadu, told our correspondent on Tuesday that the federation was simply facing the reality on ground.

He said, “If you take just a simple look at the period around June and the cost implication for the country, for instance, you will understand that the measures being taken have become very necessary. We cannot continue like this; there has to be sensible auditing.”

The NFF added that based on the poor financial situation, the committee has also recommended the staff auditing of the technical crew and backroom staff of all the national teams. This move will see the national team coaches being cut down to maximum of two assistants and a goalkeeper trainer. The Eagles have three assistant coaches plus a goalkeeper trainer. The other backroom staffers are to be cut down too.

The players themselves were not spared in the latest decision. Their win bonus, which was raised to $10,000 some years ago has been cut down to $5,000. The bonus became an issue after the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa as the NFF could not pay the final game bonus after it was nearly doubled from the pre-tournament rate.

“The Committee regrets the financial situation that has also necessitated the pegging of bonuses, review of allowances and salaries of coaches of the national teams,” the committee communiqué read.

The committee also considered the employment of coaches for positions of Technical Director of the NFF and the coaching staff of the U-23 national team but no names were listed.

The committee also deliberated on the war of words between Keshi and his players and assured that peace would reign before the country embarks on the series of matches for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, as well as the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.,..

Driver rapes 15-year-old housemaid, blames the devil

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested a driver, Olusegun Ajayi, for allegedly raping a 15-year-old housemaid in Arepo, Ogun State.

The NSCDC authorities said the suspect had canal knowledge of the girl which caused her to bleed for two days.

Ajayi, however, told PUNCH Metro that his act was not rape since the victim consented. The suspect, who claimed to be a devout Christian, said he did not know the victim prior to the incident.

He said, “On Saturday night, I was returning from a party and was about to enter my house when I saw the girl sitting outside. I asked her what she was doing outside late at night but she said she was working in a house not far away from my workplace and was sent to buy sweets by her employer.

“She said she was locked outside and that she had been knocking for hours but no one came to open the door for her. I then told her to follow me to an uncompleted building on the street. On getting to the building, we saw a mattress there which had been left behind by labourers. I asked her if she could sleep alone there but she said no.

“So, I went back to my house to get a wrapper and a pillow. Although my wife was not at home, my mother-in-law was around. So, I left her with my children and told her I would not be coming back that night.”

Ajayi, who claimed to be a father of three, said on returning to where the victim was, he laid beside her and began to caress her.

He said the victim did not resist his attempt but requested for money before she would allow him to sleep with her.

“I don’t know what came over me but I found myself touching her and she did not resist. Rather, she said I should pay her N10, 000 for having it together and I promised to give it to her the following day. However, a few minutes after we started, she started bleeding profusely which scared me,” he said.

The indigene of Lagos State said he went back home to get drugs as well as toiletries which he would use to stop the bleeding.

He said when it was daybreak, he set out for work but was summoned back home after which the employees of the victim accused him of rape.

“I was on my way to Iporni in Lagos when my wife called me that people were asking of me at home. When I returned home, residents just started beating me before handing me over to the civil defence,” he said.

In a desperate plea to the civil defence authorities, the suspect said he did not know that the victim was a minor. He added that his predicament was the handiwork of the devil.

“I have three children, including a daughter. I would never have touched that girl if I knew she was 15. I am a devout Christian and I am a responsible man. The devil preyed on my weakness and I promise never to do such again,” he said.

A source at the NSCDC, who craved anonymity, said the victim was taken to hospital and that the bleeding had stopped.

She however added that investigations were ongoing and that medical report would determine what happened.

“We believe that the victim was not only raped but the suspect must have done something to her because she lost so much blood. Once the medical report is out, we will know the next line of action,”

Kim K proves once more that she's not faking her pregnancy

I guess this is in response to MTO's claims. These are screen shots from the trailer of the new season of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, which premiers 2nd of June. She looks very pregnant to me

Rapper 2shotz set to wed, holds introduction ceremony today.

Music star William Orioha, popularly known as 2shotz is one step closer to being a married man. His introduction ceremony with his girlfriend Precious Jones held today Tuesday April 9th at the bride's village in Imo State. The last photo on the right is from their introduction ceremony today. Friday is their court wedding in Lagos. Congrats !!

Man Sells 6-month- Old Son To Raise Funds For Visa

One Mr Onyekachi Ekwelum, who allegedly sold his six-month-old son to raise funds to process his travel documents, would be appearing before a magistrate in court to defend his action.

Mr Ekwelum allegedly hatched and executed the act without the consent of the wife, but the lid was blown off by his 20-year-old spouse Ozioma when she could not find their son and reported the matter to the police. Her husband had wanted to travel to Greece.

The Abia State commissioner of Police, Mr Usman Abubakar Tilli, who disclosed this to newsmen in his office on Monday said the police mounted a man hunt that led to the rescue of the child and the arrest of the suspects.

CP Tilli warned criminals to stay off the state as there would be no hiding place for them and said the suspects have been charged to court.

The Commissioner who expresses concern over spate of child trafficking said that on March 4 this year Mr Chidiebere Samuel of Ovungwu in IsialaNgwa south Local government area that his wife Odinaka Samuel connived with a nurse Monica Benjamin who delivered her baby girl and sold the child at N150, 000.

Describing such acts as inhuman, he said the suspects in the criminal transaction have been apprehended and charged to an Umuahia Magistrate court.

In a similar incident in Amoji Isiala Ngwa north local government the commissioner said that a man Mr Oluchukwu Ogidi reported that his wife Kelechi on March 16 connived with one Dr Williams Oruwa who delivered her baby and sold the newborn baby boy for N350.He also said the suspects have been arrested and charged to court even as he revealed that in the course of investigation three pregnant women allegedly harboured by the suspect possibly to have their babies sold after delivery were discovered.

Final Top 2 Performances... Banky W joins Nigerian Idol 3

Finally, Nigeria's top TV reality music competition, Nigerian Idol season 3, has reached its last set of performances. With 3 performances each on Sunday night, the Top 2 contestants, Debbie rise and Moses, delivered beyond their best. During the final performances, Debbie and Moses performed Cyndi Lauper's 'Time after Time'. It was the first, and perhaps last, duet for the two contestants. The judges - Yinka Davies, Femi Kuti and Jefrey Daniels - all agreed that both contestants deserved the crown.

Banky W was guest judge at the Top 2 final performances. He was down to earth, as always. The Nigerian pop singer did not disappoint the audience when he took to the stage in an immaculate getup and performed .
The decision of who becomes the next Idol is completely in the hands of voters. Moses or Debbie will go home with a brand new SUV, 7.5 million naira in cash and a contract with a record label. Second place winner will receive a saloon car and 1.5 million naira in cash. So, who's your winner?