News Agency of Nigeria

Manchester City record 3 more COVID-19 positive tests

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Manchester City reserve goalkeeper Scott Carson, midfielder Cole Palmer and a member of staff have tested positive for COVID-19, the Premier League club said on Wednesday.

The result came in hours before their League Cup semi-final at Manchester United.

The trio join a growing list of individuals who have contracted the disease at the club.

Manchester City missed six players due to positive tests in their 3-1 league victory against Chelsea last weekend.

The club said in a statement that they would observe a period of self-isolation in accordance with league and UK Government protocols on quarantine.

Manchester City’s game at Everton last week was also postponed due to several positive cases in their camp.

The Manchester club have joined Newcastle United, Sheffield United and Fulham among those who have suffered virus outbreaks.

The Premier League returned 40 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the highest in a week this season, after two rounds of testing last week. (Reuters/NAN)

NLO felicitates with Christian Chukwu on 70th birthday

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By Stanley Nwanosike

The Nigeria Nationwide League One (NLO), on Tuesday, felicitated with former Super Eagles Coach and Captain, Christian Chukwu, on his 70th birthday.

Ebere Amaraizu, Director in-charge of South-East of the NLO, in an interview with a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu, said Chukwu has played significant roles in the lives of youths especially sportsmen and women in Nigeria.

”We are joining millions of soccer loving personalities, administrators, fans, coaches and veteran players to felicitate with Christain Chukwu who marked his 70th birthday on Jan. 4,” he said.

Amaraizu, who is also the National Coordinator of Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), said Chukwu over the years also displayed high level of patriotism to his fatherland.

“Chukwu, popularly known as Chairman, has contributed immensely in the placement of Nigeria name in the annals of history in sports especially football.

“He is been a role model to upcoming sports stars to discover their potentials devoid of involvement in cultism and other vices as well as to upcoming football coaches,’’ he said.

Amaraizu revealed that Chukwu, in his usual characteristic, was among professionals that offered great technical assistance to the Crime Busters FC, Enugu under Enugu State Police Command.

“We join millions of lovers of the round leather game in Enugu, Rangers International his traditional club-side and his family to wish him a very happy birthday and continual good health of mind and body,’’ he said.

NAN reports that Chukwu, MFR, was born in Obe in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State on Jan. 4, 1951.

As a player, he became the captain of Enugu Rangers football club and the Nigeria National Team in the late 1970s.

He was the first Nigerian captain to lift the African Nations Cup trophy after a 3–0 victory over Algeria in the final of the 1980 tournament.

Chukwu started his coaching career in Lebanon in the mid-1990s, before being appointed coach of the Kenya national team in 1998.

Later, from 2003 to 2005, he coached Nigeria, leading them to reach semifinals at the 2004 African Cup of Nations. (NAN)

Elite sports to continue in England in spite of national lockdown

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Elite Sports will be allowed to continue in England in spite of Prime Minister Boris Johnson announcing a new national COVID-19 lockdown on Monday.

The new lockdown was due to surging infections in the country caused by a more contagious variant of the novel coronavirus.

The United Kingdom has had more than 2.65 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and recorded over 75,000 deaths.

A record 58,784 new cases of the coronavirus were reported on Monday.

England have followed neighbours Scotland in implementing a stringent lockdown with stay-at-home instructions but allowing professional sports to continue.

Outdoor sports venues including outdoor gyms, tennis courts and golf courses will close and outside team sports will not be permitted but elite sports, including Premier League football, will continue.

In football, the League Cup semi-finals are set to be played on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by FA Cup third round action which begins on Friday.

The Premier League also has a fixture crunch to contend with after four matches were postponed due to COVID-19 outbreaks at Newcastle United, Manchester City and Fulham.

The outbreaks at Newcastle United and Manchester City led to the clubs closing their training centre for a deep clean before the players could return.

The Premier League recorded a season-high 18 positive cases in a week last month and a total of 131 individuals in the English top flight have tested positive in 17 rounds of testing.

The situation is worse in the lower tiers of the football pyramid.

English Football League (EFL) clubs’ players and staff are not tested as regularly and a number of outbreaks led to more than 50 matches being called off this season.

Premiership rugby is also set to continue in spite of a number of games being called off due to outbreaks.

However, unlike the Premier League, cancelled Premiership rugby matches will not be replayed, with four points allocated to the team who were able to play the game and two points to the other club. (Reuters/NAN)

Australian Open players to be shifted to new quarantine hotel

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Australian Open organisers have been forced to tear up a quarantine accommodation plan for international players a month before the Grand Slam.

The development followed a threat of legal action from apartment owners at a luxury hotel in Melbourne.

Tennis Australia and government authorities had arranged for players to serve a 14-day mandatory quarantine at the Westin Melbourne ahead of the Feb. 8 to Feb. 21 Australian Open.

On Tuesday, the plan was scrapped after apartment owners at the Westin complained they had not been properly consulted and would seek an injunction against it.

“Following consultation between the owners of The Westin Melbourne, the hotel’s existing residents and COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria, the decision has been made to accommodate players and their support teams arriving in Melbourne for the upcoming ATP at an alternate hotel location,” the Westin said in a statement.

Graeme Efron, a lawyer representing the owners, told Reuters the quarantine plan was “never going to get through”.

“It was the epitome of hubris that they thought people would go along with it without being consulted,” he said.

International players at the Australian Open are expected to arrive in Melbourne from mid-January.

Victoria state Police Minister Lisa Neville told reporters on Tuesday an alternative quarantine hotel had been secured for the players, which would be “stood up today or tomorrow”.

Many of the world’s top players are planning to compete at tournaments at Melbourne Park in the week before the Grand Slam.

World number one Novak Djokovic and second-ranked Rafa Nadal are scheduled to play at the team-based ATP Cup.

This means they will need to arrive in Melbourne at least two weeks before the Feb. 1 to Feb. 5 tournament to complete quarantine in time.

Melbourne, capital of Victoria state, was the epicentre of Australia’s largest second wave outbreak of COVID-19, which started at two quarantine hotels for international arrivals.

More than 18,000 infections were recorded in Victoria during the outbreak and nearly 800 deaths.

Victoria recorded four new cases of COVID-19 in Melbourne on Tuesday, including one in hotel quarantine.(Reuters/NAN)

COVID-19: Cricket Federation postpones National Under 17 championships

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By Ijeoma Okigbo

The Nigeria Cricket Federation has postponed the second edition of the National Under 17 championships earlier scheduled for Jan. 7 to Jan. 31.

The federation made this known via its official twitter handle @cricket_nigeria on Monday.

According to the statement by NCF Secretary-General, Taiwo Oriss, the decision was necessary “to enable the federation put all modalities in place in line with COVID-19 guidelines.

“The proposed new date for the tournament is Jan. 15 to Feb. 7 2021,’’Oriss said.

The period will witness the zonal qualifications for both girls and boys as well as the finals.

The tournament sponsored by Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) did not hold in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (NAN)

Post-Brexit rules adding to West Brom transfer woes – Allardyce

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West Bromwich Albion manager Sam Allardyce believes the January transfer window could be the toughest of his career.

This is a period when he deals with post-Brexit regulations and the COVID-19 pandemic while looking to bolster his struggling side.

New rules that came into force from Jan. 1 mean Premier League clubs will not be allowed to sign players from European Union countries without a work permit.

Also, foreign players under the age of 18 cannot be signed at all.

Allardyce, whose side are second from bottom with eight points from 17 games, said deals for three potential recruits had already fallen through as a result of the new rules.

“I have found three players already who were capable of coming here and they’re not allowed. It’s a shame,” Allardyce said.

The criteria to sign players are based on a points system.

The system considers the number of senior and youth international appearances, club appearances as well as the quality of the selling club, its league position and the league itself.

“Due to the new regulations in terms of the permit they were unable to come to this country, whereas (previously) they would have done. I have to look at that and think `can he qualify?’ ” Allardyce added.

“That has made life a bit more difficult. It’s not so much the pandemic, it’s the change of rules because of Brexit.

“We’ll do what we can… Finding a player in this pandemic is going to be the hardest window I have ever worked in.

“No disrespect to my players because they’re all working as hard as they can, but I do have to find (a) better (way) to lift the squad.

“Whatever player comes in, they have to be better than what we have and capable of going into the team almost immediately.”(Reuters/NAN)

Martinez scores hat-trick as Inter Milan go top of Serie A

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Lautaro Martinez’s first hat-trick for Inter Milan helped his side crush Crotone 6-2 to earn their eighth successive Serie A win on Sunday.

This result has sent Antonio Conte’s team to the top of the standings above AC Milan.

With their local rivals in action later on Sunday, Inter Milan knew a win would see them go top, if only temporarily.

But it was not looking promising as second-bottom Crotone took a shock 12th minute lead through Niccolo Zanellato.

However, Romelu Lukaku sent strike partner Martinez through to level eight minutes later, before an own goal from Luca Marrone put Inter Milan in front.

A Vladimir Golemic penalty kick then levelled things up once again.

With the quality Inter Milan possess upfront, it was only a matter of time until they put Crotone to the sword in the second half.

Martinez brilliantly gave Inter Milan the lead in the 57th minute, before Lukaku added another seven minutes later.

Martinez completed his first Inter Milan hat-trick 12 minutes from time.

This was before Achraf Hakimi put the icing on the cake with a late sixth to put Inter Milan top on 36 points.

They are however only two points clear of AC Milan and seven clear of Roma, who also play later on Sunday.

Crotone remain 19th with just two league wins all season. (Reuters/NAN)

Manchester City’s Garcia tests positive for COVID-19

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Manchester City defender Eric Garcia and a member of staff at the club have tested positive for COVID-19, the Premier League club said on Sunday.

“Both personnel will now observe a period of self-isolation in accordance with Premier League and UK Government protocols on quarantine,” Manchester City said in a statement.

On Friday, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said five first team players had tested positive for the novel coronavirus and would not be involved in their game on Sunday at Chelsea.

The club said last week that striker Gabriel Jesus and defender Kyle Walker had tested positive, though Guardiola did not name the other three infected players.

A surge in infections at Manchester City among players and staff forced the club to lodge a request with the league to postpone Monday’s game at Everton.

Manchester City are eighth in the league table with 26 points after 14 games. (Reuters/NAN)

2020/2021 NPFL: Rangers International beat Akwa United 1-0

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By Nicholas Obisike

Rangers International Football Club of Enugu on Sunday defeated Akwa United FC of Uyo 1-0 in a Match Day 2 of the 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

Isreal Abia scored the only goal in the 60th minute of the match played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the victory gave Rangers their first three points of the new season having lost their Match Day 1 fixture 1-0 against Rivers United in Port Harcourt.

Speaking after the match, Rangers’ Technical Adviser, Salisu Yusuf, praised his players for picking the three points at stake.

Yusuf said the match lived up to its billing, noting that his players gave their maximum attention throughout the match.

”It is our utmost desire to win every match we play in the league and I believe this will boost the players’ confidence,” he said.

The coach added that the three points won from the game mattered a lot.

”It is not the number of goals at this point in time. We need the points and not the goals for now.”

He however urged the players not to let the victory get into their heads because they still have a lot to do in the league.

NAN reports that Rangers International FC will on Jan. 10 visit Jigawa Golden Stars of Dutse in their Match Day 3 fixture.

Following are the results of other Match Day 2 fixtures played on Sunday:

Kano Pillars 2-0 Katsina United

Heartland FC 1-2 Nasarawa United

Dakkada FC 2-1 Jigawa Golden Stars

Sunshine Stars 1-0 FC IfeanyiUbah

Lobe Stars 1-0 MFM FC

Warri Wolves 1-0 Adamawa United

Played on Saturday:

Abia Warriors 0-1 Rivers United

Postponed till Jan. 4, 2021:

Wiki Tourists vs Plateau United

Postponed till Jan. 20, 2021:

Kwara United vs Enyimba International. (NAN)

Miss Football Nigeria 2021 pageant to feature internationals – Organiser

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By Emmanuel Afonne

Organisers of Miss Football Nigeria pageant say they plan to include the country’s foreign and home-based female footballers in the contest for its Football Ambassadors Awards for 2021, Moses Ebahor, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the pageant has said.

In a statement on Sunday, in Abuja, Ebahor said the players would be included in the contest for their outstanding performances in their various clubs, just as the pageant aimed to also make football attractive and entertaining to the female folk.

Ebahor said apart from honouring deserving distinguished Nigerians with Football Ambassadors awards, they also planned to make the pageant a source of motivation for female footballers and those willing to play the game.

“Miss Football Nigeria pageant is poised to redefine Nigeria football with entertainment, and it is an avenue for models, girls, ladies to inculcate moral values, discipline and ability to attract them to sports, especially football.

“As part of the activities to mark our fifth year Anniversary, which took place in December 2020, we honoured some distinguished Nigerians that have contributed to the development of sports and human capacity in Nigeria.

“The recipients include Hon. Stella Oketete, APC National Woman Leader/Executive Director Business Development, Nexim Bank; Chief Isaac Balami, Chairman, 7 Stars Groups; Hajiya Fatima Abbas Hassan, General Manager NTA Abuja (Unity Station), and Bash Ali, World Boxing Champion.

“Others who received the Football Ambassadors Award are Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed, FCT APC Woman Leader; Engr. Rotimi Omoboriowo, Chairman Rotiphet Construction Company and Mr Chinedu Obialo, Chairman Neduprize Nigeria Limited.

“Mr Azania Omo Agege, Senior Special Assistant on Youth and Sports to the Deputy Senate President, Dr Sowho Akpos Darlington, CEO Liberty Multipurpose Corporative Society Limited and Mr Hussani Misari, Business development Manager, Nivea, were also honoured,” Ebahor said in the statement.

He stated that the group had entered into partnership with government media organisations like the News Agency of Nigeria, Nigeria Television Authority, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, and other private media houses, for a successful 2021 programme.

Ebahor also stated that they were already in partnership with bodies, such as the Nigeria Football Federation, Sport Writers Association of Nigeria and Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, National Youth Council of Nigeria, National Association of Nigeria Students, among others.

Miss Football Nigeria was unveiled in Abuja on Oct. 20, 2015, while its maiden awards took place on Dec. 20, same year, with 20 contestants.

Miss Blessing Peters won the first edition of Miss Football Nigeria, while Miss Precious Osita, a student of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, who hails from Anambra State, was crowned the Queen for Miss Football Nigeria 2020. (NAN)

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