Putin: Blatter deserves a Nobel prize

"We all know the situation developing around Mr. Blatter right now. I don't want to go into details but I don't believe a word about him being involved in corruption personally," he said via Swiss broadcaster RTS.

The president of Russia says heads of sporting organisations deserve greater recognition and has criticised the timing of the corruption investigation

Fifa chief Sepp Blatter deserves a Nobel prize for his work, according to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The head of football's governing body met with Putin on Saturday in St. Petersburg to declare the organisation's support for Russia's World Cup in 2018, the qualifying draw for which took place on the same day.
And Putin - who has been outspoken in his condemnation of the corruption investigations targeting Fifa - has launched a staunch defence of Blatter and the heads of similar sporting groups across the globe.
"I think people like Mr. Blatter or the heads of big international sporting federations, or the Olympic Games, deserve special recognition. If there is anyone who deserves the Nobel prize, it's those people."
Blatter announced in June that he will step down as Fifa president following the corruption scandal which has blighted the organisation and seen a number of officials indicted after a US-led investigation.
Putin, who criticised the timing of the initial arrests earlier this summer, has now suggested the continued investigation is intended by some nations as a last-ditched attempt to secure the rights to host the World Cup.
"The way there is this fight against corruption makes me wonder if it isn't a continuation of the bids for 2018 and 2022," he added.

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Alexis Sanchez: We knew we'd win Copa America after the World Cup

The Arsenal star says that having their impressive World Cup campaign cut short last year is what inspired Chile to secure their first title this summer

Alexis Sanchez has claimed Chile 's belief that drove them to Copa America success stems all the way back to last year's World Cup.

The tournament hosts beat Argentina 4-1 in a penalty shootout in Saturday's final to end their 99-year wait for major international honours, with Sanchez securing the win with a chipped effort from 12 yards .

Having racked up 10 goals in an entertaining group stage, Chile showed the other side to their game in the knockout rounds, conceding just once in the last three matches.

Jorge Sampaoli's high-intensity style also turned heads in Brazil last year as Chile eased through the group stage, beating then-holders Spain 2-0 as they finished behind Netherlands to proceed to the knockout rounds.

Despite falling to Brazil on penalties in the second round, Sanchez believes their exploits 12 months ago provided the perfect platform to secure glory in front of their own fans.

"We talked about it in Brazil that we were going to win the Copa America," Sanchez said.

"This is really a great generation, we deserve this."

Chile forward Eduardo Vargas ended the tournament as joint top scorer with Peru's Paolo Guerrero and echoed Sanchez's belief that success was well earned.

He added: "It is a very important achievement for me, now I will enjoy it and hopefully we can continue on the path we are on. 

"It was an extra-special tournament, because we were champions. Not to detract from the other teams, because they also did things right.

"It is very special. To beat our rivals leaves more content, but mostly because we won at home."

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Is it time to find an ‘Oyinbo’ coach for Nigeria's youth teams?

Sports Verdict    By Prof Patrick Omo-Osagie      Follow on Twitter 

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This is an undisputable football fact; Nigeria has the best youth programme in the world of football. We have won four FIFA U16/17 tournaments and we have placed second (twice) and third in the U20. So why are we finding it difficult to field a competitive Super Eagles team when we have such good competitive teams at the youth levels?

The answer by many football analysts is that these youth players flame out by the time they are ready for the Super Eagles because they were not of the proper age when they played in FIFA youth tournaments.

Another well used reason is that we do not have a continuity programme; many feel that the teams should be ‘shepherded’ along from U17 to U20 to U23 till Super Eagles for us to see results. 

I cannot fault these reasons but I will ask this question; why do many of these same players who play for us at this level never really become good players even when they go play for clubs in Europe? They never become that great player we saw at seventeen; but I do have an interesting reason or in new sports language, I have a take on this issue.

Every time we have won the U17, there are always great expectations that we would win the U20 in the next go around, but this is yet to happen. The three previous U17 wins were followed by U20 teams that did not even finish in the last four. Maybe that is where the continuity argument holds, but not so for me.

I believe the problem is our lack of good coaching at this level; this is the level where all basic football knowledge is acquired. The use of sophisticated methods, drills and management are applied at this level and the results following our U17 success says that the teams are tactically unprepared and therefore out-played. The advantage we gain by using players over 17 in the U17s is nullified at the U20s, because boys of age 19/20 or men of 23/25 are physically the same, they are all in their physical prime.

We won the last U17 in 2013, we are playing in the U20 later this month, we are all very hopeful about this U20 team. Many are dreaming of the cup coming back to Nigeria, and I hope it does come to Nigeria. But if we fail as our records have shown, then I will be advocating for a foreign coach at this level and not at the Super Eagles level. This is where I believe we need help, real modern day football expertise, our players need this. They need it for their own football development and for a better Super Eagles. 

There is a reason the present football federation is seeking Nigerians born and footballers bred outside our shores for the Super Eagles, there is a reason that the federation instituted a committee to find our young players at home and send them to foreign academies, the reason is that we don’t breed our young players the right or modern way. Our coaches are behind in the grooming of young players. We all witnessed the federation’s absurd suggestion to Keshi and his crew to go and get some coaching education and see how quickly it was rejected or ignored. The simple truth is that our coaches need sound and modern education in the field of player development and the U17 and U20 teams will be better served for now with an Oyinbocoach. 

An Oyinbo coach at this level for us should be young, vibrant, full of ideas and cheap. He must come with an academy background from Europe and must have the ability to retain access to his academy so he/we can tap into their complete package of modern day football resources.

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Portugal risk Madrid row over plans to pick Ronaldo for Olympics

The nation's Under-21 side have secured a place in Brazil next summer and the Blancos forward is part of their plans

Portugal are risking a club versus country row with Real Madrid after revealing Cristiano Ronaldo is under consideration to fill one of their three over-23 slots at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Should the 30-year-old still be at the Santiago Bernabeu heading into the 2016-17 campaign, Madrid are likely to heavily object to his participation in Rio de Janeiro, with the event scheduled to run from August 5-21. That would mean it would cut heavily into Madrid's pre-season programme and, potentially, a lucrative overseas tour.

Barring injury, Ronaldo is also certain to be involved in the Euro 2016 finals, assuming the Selecao qualify.

Portugal Football Association (FPF) president Fernando Gomes said planning for Rio 2016 is still in the early stages but admitted Ronaldo could feature at the Games.

"It's a possibility," Gomes told Globo Esporte when asked about Ronaldo being involved in the Olympics.

"We can take three players aged over 23. Ronaldo is one of our current options but we have not thought too much about it yet."

Sixteen teams will compete for the gold medal in the men's football event in Rio, with the three other European entrants confirmed as Germany, Sweden and Denmark.

Ronaldo has enjoyed a glittering career at club level but silverware on the international scene has eluded him, with a runners-up medal at Euro 2004 the closest he's come to winning a trophy with his country.

Portugal booked their spot in next summer's Olympics due to the Under-21 side reaching the last four of June's European Championship finals and, on Tuesday, they could win the tournament with a victory over Sweden.

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Stephen Keshi fired as Super Eagles coach

Keshi

The Big Boss has been shown the exit door by the Nigeria Football Federation for lack of commitment to achieve the federation’s objectives

Stephen Keshi’s contract as head coach of the Super Eagles has been terminated, the Nigeria Football Federation has announced.

The 53-year-old who was re-appointed as the country’s senior national team coach in April was kicked out on Saturday evening, with assistant Salisu Yusuf and the Technical Directorate of the NFF led by Amodu Shuaibu to take offer till a substantive handler is announced.

“Having thoroughly reviewed the reports/findings of the NFF disciplinary committee and NFF Technical and Development Committee, as well as having reviewed the actions and inactions of Mr. Stephen Keshi, in the performance of his duties as Super Eagles’ head coach, which we found to lack the required commitment to achieve the ederation’s objectives as set out in the coach’s employment contract,” a statement by the NFF Executive Committee read.

“To this end and pursuant to the provisions of clause 4.3 of the employment contract between Mr. Stephen Keshi and the NFF (the contract) and the various clauses therein, the Nigeria Football Federation has decided to exercise its option to summarily terminate the employment contract of Mr. Stephen Keshi with the Federation with immediate effect.”

“It added that the termination was “without prejudice to the settlement of any existing and due financial obligations between the NFF and Mr. Keshi.

“In the interim, the Super Eagles’ team affairs will be jointly managed by assistant Coach, Salisu Yusuf and the Technical Directorate of the NFF headed by Coach Shuaibu Amodu, until the Federation names in due course a new head coach, who, along with the NFF will chart a new direction for the Super Eagles to ensure credible participation in international competitions and assist in building a sustainable football culture for the country,” it concluded.

The former Mali and Togo handler job came under intense scrutiny since the 2-0 victory over Chad after he put a non-league player on the bench and his name also appeared on the FIF website as one of more than 50 coaches applying for Cote d’Ivoire national team job.

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Awoniyi, Yahaya top Nigeria U23 list for Congo game

The Flying Eagles players have been picked to face the Congolese U23 squad in next week’s African U23 Championship qualifier

Coach Samson Siasia has picked a strong 25-man team for July 19’s African U23 Championship qualifier against Congo. 

Three players from the Flying Eagles’ squad to the 2015 Fifa U20 World Cup squad made the list (Taiwo Awoniyi, Saviour Godwin and Musa Yahaya) made the squad, while others consist of the names that have been a part of the team since inception.

According to Siasia, he selected players would be joined by Imoh Ezekiel, Aminu Umar, Sodiq Popoola and Gabriel Abalo for the final phase of preparations for the crucial game billed for the Adokiye Amiesiemaka Stadium, Port-Harcourt while urging players who failed to make the cut not to be discouraged as they  could be called up for future  assignments.

 FULL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Daniel Emmanuel, Yusuf Mohammed, Emmason Daniel

Defenders: Segun Oduduwa, Erhun Obanor, Iroha Ebuka, Amuzie Stanley, Chima Akas, Atanda Sadiq, Ikechukwu Okorie, Nnaemeka Uzoma

Midfielders: Azubuike Okechukwu, Usman Mohammed, Tiongoli Tonbara, Godwin Savior, Emeka Kenneth, Etor Daniel, Olisah Ndah, Eteobong Elisha, Oladapo Augustin, Musa Yahaya

Strikers: Taiwo Awoniyi, Peter Onyekachi, Junior Ajayi, Etebo Oghenekaro

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Ronaldo: People told me I was too skinny to make it

The Portugal international has revealed he used the negativity to motivate him to become the impressive physical specimen he is today

Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed being told he was "too skinny" as a youngster drove him to become the player that he is today.

The Portugal international first came to prominence as a slender, teenage winger at Manchester United but he began putting on more and more muscle before departing for Real Madrid in 2009.

Nowadays, Ronaldo is renowned for his sculptured physique and the 30-year-old explained his success is all down to the extra hours that he puts in at the gym.

"You have to work so hard," the forward stated in a promotional video. "I do this every day. This is why I have been at the top level for many, many years.

"It's not a coincidence. I do so much extra work outside of the pitch.

"When I was younger most people told me: 'Cristiano, you are a very talented player but you are too skinny.'

"So I put it in my mind that my body can improve. With dedication and hard work in the gym I improved a lot on that - at the end of the day it's down to the person's mindset.

"Athleticism also means a huge amount - these small details make a huge difference. So it's very important to do this work and it's going really well for me.

"That's why I'm always in good shape all year round. I do that kind of work because I have to, it's part of me."

Ronaldo scored a personal-best 61 goals in just 54 appearances in all competitions for Madrid last season.

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