Rohr claims Eagles are solid between the sticks
by 11 November 2016
The
absence of erstwhile first choice goal keeper Carl Ikeme for Saturday’s 2018
Fifa World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Algeria will not affect the Super
Eagles..
This
is the view of the Nigeria Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr.
Rohr
is currently working with three goalkeepers, Daniel Akpeyi, Dele Alampasu and
Ikechukwu Ezenwa for Saturday’s game against Algeria and the trainer is adamant
the trio are in fine fettle to face the Fennec Foxes.
“I
am confident (in the ability) of all the players who are here (in Uyo); it is
not just the goal keepers.
“I
have been monitoring all the players and what they have been doing at their
clubs.
“Daniel
(Akpeyi) for instance has played seven games in the last three weeks for his
club (Chippa United).
“He
was substituted just before the end of the last game he played for his club but
it was only done as (a precautionary measure) so there is really nothing to
worry about as far as fitness is concerned for him.
“He
has big experience; he played in Egypt (for Nigeria) with about sixty or
seventy thousand people present in the Stadium and did very well.
“He
has also been producing good performances for his club (Chippa United),” Rohr
said.
The
experienced tactician then discussed the prospects of Alampasu who he described
as one ‘for the future’
“I
am also confident in the young Dele Alampasu. He is playing now in the second
division having been loaned to Cesarense (a Potuguese side that campaign in the
Terceira Divisão Série B).
“We
know that perhaps Alampasu is one for the future. Since I came in (became coach
of the Super Eagles), I tried to see a lot of young players because I believe
we have a lot of good young talent.
“We
also have some experienced players like our captain (John Mikel Obi) who can
help the young players.
“So
the mixture of young and experienced players is good for our team,” he said.
Barcelona
Suarez in blockbuster contract talks
European Golden Shoe winner LuisSuarez said negotiations to extend his contract with Barcelona until 2021 were
running smoothly.
The 29-year-old, who claimed the
award for a second time after finishing top scorer across Europe last season,
originally joined Barcelona on a five-year deal from Liverpool in 2014.
"Negotiations are moving along
nicely in the right direction," Suarez told a press conference in Uruguay,
where he is preparing for a World Cup qualifier with Ecuador on Thursday.
"Both parties want this deal to
go through," said the centre-forward, who scored 40 Liga goals in 35 games
last season and 59 goals from 53 games in all competitions.
Barcelona-based sports daily El
Mundo Deportivo reported on Wednesday the Spanish champions had offered Suarez
an improved deal until June 2021, two years beyond his current contract.
"Luis Suarez, ready," read
its headline, while Marca also reported the imminent deal.
"His salary rise will be
substantial," said Marca.
"Right now he earns €16 million
a season, his new deal will push that to €25 million a season," it added.
Brazilian superstar Neymar signed a
new five-year contract in late October that will keep him at Barcelona until
2021.
The deal, which had been agreed in
June, includes a buy-out clause of up to €250 million as Barca seek to ward off
interest from potential suitors.
Argentina's Lionel Messi is
contracted to Barcelona until 2018 and will be offered a contract extension in
the coming months, the club said recently.
-AFP
Spain
Spanish court wants Neymar trial
The prospect of Barcelona superstar
Neymar standing trial moved closer on Monday as a Madrid judge accepted an
appeal by prosecutors for corruption charges to be brought against the
Brazilian, a court filing said.
The decision overturns a ruling in
July that said irregularities detected in the Brazilian's 2013 transfer to
Barcelona were an issue for a civil court, not a criminal one.
Neymar's parents, Barcelona
president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his predecessor Sandro Rosell – who resigned
over the scandal in 2014 – also face corruption charges.
Both the defence and prosecution
have 10 days to present their arguments before a final decision over whether
the case will go to trial will be made, a statement from Spain's National Court
said.
Should he be found guilty, Neymar,
24, faces a prison sentence of between six months and two years and a heavy
fine.
Barcelona said on Monday it would
appeal the judge's decision, with which it expressed its "surprise and
total disagreement... particularly given that the same magistrate decided to
dismiss the case for all the defendants last July."
According to the judge's findings, a
pre-contract agreement between Neymar and Barcelona by which the player
received €40 million in 2011 to ward off competing clubs for his signature
"altered the free market of football transfers."
Bartomeu and Rosell also stand
accused of fraud over the transfer.
The case initiated with a complaint
from Brazilian investment company DIS, which owned 40 percent of Neymar's
sporting rights at the time of his transfer from Santos.
Barca initially announced the cost
of the move at €57.1 million, €17.1 million of which was paid to Santos with
the remaining €40 million paid to N&N, a company owned by Neymar's family.
However, Spanish authorities believe
the real cost escalated to €83.3 million.
DIS received €6.8 million, 40
percent of the fee paid to Santos.
The company believe it was cheated
of its real share because part of the transfer fee was concealed by Barcelona
and Neymar.
Moreover, DIS also argued the
pre-contract agreement between Neymar and Barca impeded other clubs from making
offers for the player, affecting the value of the transfer fee.
The decision is another blow to the
image of the Spanish champions and the player himself.
Barca hoped to bring an end to the
murky affair when the club agreed to pay a €5.5-million fine in a deal with
prosecutors in June to settle a separate case and ensure the club avoided trial
on tax-evasion charges over the transfer.
Meanwhile, Neymar also faces tax
evasion charges in Brazil.
© AFP
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