the best

Chelsea Football Club chief executive Ron Gourlay has announced today that the board has decided not to renew Ray Wilkins' contract. This will take effect immediately.

Gourlay said: 'On behalf of everyone at the club I would like to thank Ray for everything he has done for Chelsea Football Club. We all wish him well for the future.'

http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~2216469,00.html

I guess whenever she asks genuinely, if u hav got d cash why not help

inspired, please how much will i get a 2003 lexus rx 300

lol i got the same thing and it seems to be very fast now

Please i would love to know if the MTN all day browsing plan was upgraded to 5GB by mtn. I checked my usage today and i was told i have used 3.1GB of my 5GB monthly plan. anyone got any info about this?

@OP You need to look for a very hot ring boiler then french kiss it very hard. That will teach u senses.
douche bag

Nigeria winssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Most African football stars started life from a humble and rather difficult background. However, their economic and social status went through jet-speed transformation and began to live opulent lifestyles in Europe forgetting where they started from.

African players are under no obligation to give back to society what they have earned legitimately, but impacting society is part of their social responsibilities.

While some show off their material gains such as wrist watches valued at prices that can put up a school block in rural areas, a few good ones - despite finding fame and fortune in Europe - have never lost sight of those they left behind in hardship.

Goal.com dug out 10 of such top players in no particular order.

1. Michael Essien (Ghana & Chelsea)

The midfield general is robust on the pitch but he has a soft spot for the less fortunate in society. He has set up the Michael Essien Foundation to raise funds to give the underprivileged of his home town access to basic amenities like health care equipment, libraries, public toilets and clean drinking water. He is also involved in charity work including the ‘Reading Goals’ to improve reading habits in students.

2. Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast & Chelsea)

The shots from the Ivorian striker might be hot to many goalkeepers but for the masses back home and throughout Africa they bring a lot of joy. He is an epitome of peace in his west African country and is a demigod to many. Drogba has promised to donate all his endorsement earnings to charity. He kick started the effort with the $5 million [£4m] he received from Pepsi. The money will be used to build a hospital and orphanage in the Ivorian capital of Abidjan and he has also used his influence to stop five years of continuous conflict in Ivory Coast.

3. John Utaka (Nigeria & Portsmouth)

The Super Eagles and Portsmouth forward has launched the John Utaka Foundation to empower Nigerian youths at the grassroots level. He would be providing scholarships with the help of the Central Bank of Nigeria. "I believe that giving back to the society is very essential because I was in the system before I travelled abroad where I started playing my professional football,” he recalled when unveiling the foundation.

4. Aaron Mokoena (South Africa & Portsmouth)

The South African captain is known for his humanitarian qualities above his football skills, and has done a great deal for various charities and foundations, as well as setting up his own foundation in South Africa. He is also one of the major personalities involved with the 1Goal initiative, and is often seen giving his time to those less fortunate, and children in particular.

5. Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)

The man with the heart of a lion in football circles has left his mark off the playing field when it comes to social responsibilities. The Cameroonian is involved with many causes. The Inter striker set up several scholarship programs, donated ambulances and has been involved with building of hospitals and setting up football academies. Moreover, he has been involved in several charity games in aid of the poor in many African countries and beyond.

6. Mohamed Aboutrika (Egypt & Al-Ahly)

The Al-Ahly striker has participated in several charities and humanitarian work. He joined UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors plus 40 international football stars in 2005 for a ‘Match Against Poverty’ in Germany to raise funds. He volunteered to appear in a World Food Programme 30-second public service announcement in which he drew attention to the tragic fact that 25,000 people die from hunger every day, 18,000 of them children. He is a WFP Ambassador Against Hunger. He has appeared in some PSAs for free for a worthy cause back home in Egypt.

7. John Paintsil (Ghana & Fulham)

The Black Stars defender has just set up the Paintsil Peace Kids Project geared towards promoting the interest of children. The Foundation is to improve the values of respect and guide young children towards the path of success. It would hold football clinics to impart these values in the children. The Fulham defender donated $20,000 [£16,000] for football competition in his hometown Berekum.

8. Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria & Portsmouth)

As one of the most decorated African footballers, the Nigerian icon is arguably almost as famous for his philanthropic work. He has the Kanu Heart Foundation and, inspired by his own brush with death due to a heart defect, the striker - who is also a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF - has arranged for over 1,000 children to travel abroad for live-saving surgery.

9. Stephen Appiah (Ghana & Bologna)

The humble and inspirational Ghana midfielder established StepApp - his own self-designed clothing range - some few years back. All proceeds are channeled into his StepApp foundation, a charity that works towards providing health insurance and medical facilities in some deprived areas in Ghana. He is also active with the UN children’s fund UNICEF to promote education in Africa.

10. Joseph Yobo (Nigeria & Everton)

The Everton centre-half has through his Joseph Yobo Charity Foundation handed out over 300 educational scholarships to the poor ranging from primary school to university. Also, he has established a football academy in the country's Ogoni region. He spends much of his summer breaks doing charitable work.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2886/africa/2010/07/22/2036851/ten-african-footballers-with-a-social-conscience

What is happening in this country

Interesting. DBR got a strong and powerful army but HJ murders with his little sword. He is tha fu-ccking best.

President Goodluck Jonathan has withdrawn the Super Eagles from all international tournaments for two years following the poor performance at the World Cup, Ima Niboro, the president's spokesman, told reporters today in Abuja.

More to follow.
http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5587826-146/nigeria_withdraws_from_soccer_events_for.csp

Lagerback's indifference disgusts me.

luizworld:

rubbish. .thats y i cant watch nigerian football.

Lagerback's indifference disgusts me.

My friend go and solve the problem of injustice in Nigeria before you talk about that of another man's land

sorry. error on post

that word is not new
Check for your self.

http://www.ngex.com/news/public/article.php?ArticleID=1043

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/sports/2010/may/03/sports-03-05-2010-002.htm

The Federal Government will pay a fine of $250,000 as penalty for canceling the booking of the mosquito infested, no-security New Hampshire Hotel initially chosen by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the Super Eagles.

The Nigerian delegation led by the Sports Minister, Ibrahim Issah Bio, after a meeting with the hotel management agreed to cough the huge sum being charge for contract cancellation.

During a tour of the New Hampshire Hotel, Bio had expressed concern about security at the hotel.
"I am concerned about the noise and unsure of the security of this place. We can not toy with the safety of our players who are ambassadors of our great country." he said.

The Nigerian delegation was in Pretoria and Johannesburg with the Nigerian Ambassador, Buba Marwa, to look at other hotels for the Super Eagles and eventually settled for the Richards Bay Hotel Sheena Mistri, from FIFA Match's accommodation office, said the Nigerian delegation had visited the province last year December and were shown all the available match-approved hotels. The New Hampshire Hotel was originally not a FIFA-approved hotel but the NFF was insistent it was the property it wanted. The federation requested us to approve the hotel for its team accommodation."

Phindani Nene, who assisted the provincial government in securing World Cup team base camp accommodation, said the most important person to make the decision about the hotel was the coach. "Our mandate was to satisfy the coach, which we did. But since December, Nigeria has changed her coach."

The high cost of the change in base camp by Nigeria may be a result of the insistence of FIFA last week that no country would be allowed to change its base camp for the World Cup.

THIS is getting out of hand, believe me. Our men are becoming uncontrollably reckless with fire arms and this calls for great concern. We have to tell ourselves the truth. The other day, it was a violent protest in Ajegunle over the killing of a defenseless young boy by a police Corporal who was on illegal duty.
Three days later, another trigger-happy police man attached to MOPOL 49, Lekki who was on a special duty at a bank on Marina , unwarrantedly shot dead a bureau d’ change operator while he alleged attempted to defraud an old woman.
The matter is still on as I speak with you, Then just last Thursday, another one opened fire on another young boy at Lekki Phase 1; claiming that the victim was hysterically laughing at him. Can you imagine that? In those days, it used to be accidental discharge, but we are no longer confronting accidental discharge today. It is now willful shooting of innocent persons.” These were the words of a senior police officer at ‘Area A’, Lion Building Lagos.
Perhaps, the above reaction of a senior police officer who craved anonymity aptly summed the unprofessional and reckless attitude of some of our policemen, especially the rank and file on the street today. Their latest victim is 27-year-old Udeme Akwa-Jackobson, an Akwa-Ibom state born construction worker.

It is only a medical miracle that would prevent the promising young man from being amputated as he has since been moved out of the private hospital he was being treated for lack of funds. He has resorted to traditional herbal treatment for now pending when police authorities or other kind-hearted Nigerians, might come to his aid.
How it all started.
Visibly writhing in pains at his Shell estate one-room apartment, in Lekki Phase1, Udeme whose bandaged but swollen left leg is already emitting offensive stench as a result of the gunshot wounds; was however, able to muster the strength to speak with Crime Guard. To him, the incident could not have been ordinary because, “I was not the only one there; so how come the police took on me? I believe there is spiritual undertone.” He said, “that day was on a
Thursday, April 15, 2010 and time was about 5.00pm. I was outside in front of my house chatting with some of my friends about sundry issues. We were talking about a maid who desperately needed another job and we mentioned one lady in the area that might help her. Just then, the lady we mentioned passed by and we all laughed at the coincidence”.
The shooting
Soon after, a bus painted in Lagos commercial colour popularly called Danfo pulled over and stopped beside us. Inside the bus were two mobile policemen. One of them alighted and came to me, held me by my shirt and asked why I was laughing at him.
I was confused and shocked altogether; to say the least. But he was serious about his allegation because he was violently pulling me towards the parked bus. All entreaties from my friends that we were not laughing at him fell on deaf ears.
We were shocked the more, when another mobile police man who had long parked his motorbike by the gutter where we were, came up to corroborate the allegation. As the argument raged, one of the mobile policemen that came with them tried to calm the situation by saying that we could not have been laughing at his colleague.
When the argument degenerated into slaps and blows, a Pastor who lives on my street came to the rescue and was able to free me from his grip. But just then, he grabbed a pistol from the waist belt of his colleague and tried to hit me on the head and I dodged it and jumped over the gutter. At that point, he pointed the gun at me and before I could turn to react to my friends shout of Udeme, Udeme, I heard a gun shot.
The police man had shot me on the leg and blood started gushing out. At the hospital after the shooting, the Mobile Policeman disappeared into thin air with his colleagues while my friends and neighbors rushed me to a nearby private hospital and later, Mainland General hospital. But after five days in the hospital, things did not improve and, of course, there was no money to procure some of the prescribed drugs.
So, my wife and some of my friends came and took me home where they contracted a traditional herbal healer for the purpose. As you can see for yourself, it is not improving. Matter not reported and police not aware
Perhaps for fear of the unknown, the unprofessional conduct of the mobile police man was not reported in any police station; and therefore, the Lagos police command which jurisdiction the offence was committed is not aware of it.
“The matter was not reported because one, my friends are afraid that the police might turn the whole thing against them. Two, we did not know the identity of the policeman who shot me, but the one who was begging him to leave me alone is a known person.
Though I do not know his name, he is attached to the Shell estate,” Udeme said.
But the Command’s spokes person, Mr. Frank Mba said he was yet to be informed about the shooting incident. “I am not aware of it. A policeman shot somebody just because he claimed that person was laughing at him? I am not aware,” Mba maintained.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/05/01/i-n-c-r-e-d-i-b-l-e-mopol-shoots-man-for-allegedly-laughing/

A 72-YEAR-OLD granny is having an incestuous affair with her own GRANDSON — and the pair are set to have a BABY.

Grey-haired Pearl Carter has shocked family and friends after beginning a bizarre relationship with her 26-year-old grandchild Phil Bailey.

Pearl, from Indiana, US, is now using her pension to pay $54,000 (£35,000) to a surrogate mother so they can have a child, say reports in New Idea magazine in New Zealand.

Pearl said: "I'm not interested in anyone else's opinion. I am in love with Phil and he's in love with me. Soon I'll be holding my son or daughter in my arms and Phil will be the proud dad."

Kissed

Phil is the son of Pearl's daughter Lynette Bailey — who the pensioner put up for adoption when she was just 18.

When Lynette died, Phil tracked down his long lost gran — 46 years his senior — and they started their strange relationship.

Pearl added: "From the first moment that I saw him, I knew we would never have a grandmother-grandson relationship. For the first time in years I felt sexually alive."

The pair spent their first week together shopping, bowling and eating out. During the second week, giggly on wine after a night out, Pearl decided she wasn't going to deny her feelings anymore.

Pearl said: "I called Phil into my bedroom, sat him on the bed, and then I leant over and kissed him.

"I expected rejection but instead he kissed me back."

Phil said he had the same feelings towards Pearl.

He revealed: "I wanted to kiss her there and then. My feelings were overwhelming.

"I love Pearl with all my heart. I've always been attracted to older women and I think Pearl is gorgeous. Now I'm going to be a dad and I can't wait.

"Yes, we get laughed at and bullied when we go out and kiss in public but we don't care. You can't help who you fall for."

The pair have asked 30-year-old Roxanne Campbell to carry their child.

Pearl said: "I am finally going to be a mum and not forced to give up my child. Phil's going to be a great dad. I never in a million years thought at 72 I'd be 'pregnant' and in love with my grandson.

"I make no apologies and I believe God's given me a second chance."

Pearl says the relationship is not wrong after a friend told her about Genetic Sexual Attraction (GSA) syndrome, which occurs when close relatives meet as adults and find they are attracted to each other.


She said: "I could now understand my feelings and realise they weren't wrong."

Pearl was 18 when she fell pregnant with daughter Lynette. She was living with her Catholic parents in Indiana and they insisted she give the baby away.

They organised a private adoption and Pearl never saw her baby girl again.

Pearl went on to marry but she never had any more children. Instead she searched for her lost daughter until finally giving up hope 15 years ago.

Phil met Pearl for the first time in 2006 after tracking her down when Lynette died from brain cancer.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2954310/Gran-and-grandson-to-have-baby.html

April 19, 2010. MediaTakeOut.com just learned that Beyonce Knowles was paid $2M . . . to sing at the wedding of Nigeria's richest man's daughter.

According to two separate Nigerian MTOers who are IN-THE-KNOW, Nigerian billionaire entrepreneur Chief Mike Adenuga Jr hired Beyonce to sing at his daughter's wedding. His daughter, Bella Adenuga and her fiance Jameel Disu are scheduled to be married next week.

Below is a pic of the happy couple and the Chief. Congrats to everyone (including Bey, who's 2 MILLI richer).



http://mediatakeout.com/40268/mto_exclusive_beyonce_gets_2m____to_sing_at_black_princess_wedding_pics.html

The family of a Nigerian, who wanted to play James Bond and perhaps, shock the world with his plan, is currently gnashing its teeth, as the venture has ended in tragedy.

Saturday Sun gathered that a young Nigerian, Mr. Emeka Okechukwu Okeke, recently wanted to do the impossible by smuggling himself into the United States, but ended up arriving not only in body bag but also as mangled body.

Impeachable sources at the Murtala Muhammed International, Lagos, revealed that Okeke had beaten all security at the airport, traced his way to the tarmac and sneaked into the tyre compartment of a Delta Airline’s plane scheduled to depart for Atlanta, United States.

It was gathered that the plane had departed Lagos, without Okeke being detected, and safely arrived Atlanta. Ground staff of the airline, in the United States, were said to have discovered pieces of flesh and blood smear on one of the tyres of the plane and raised an alarm.
A check on the plane revealed the mangled body of Okeke in one of the tyre compartments of the aircraft. The check also revealed a bag and a mobile phone on what remained of the body of the young man.
Saturday Sun gathered that shocked officials of Delta Airlines, in the US, had put on the mobile phone and scrolled through the numbers. To find out the identity of the man, they were said to have called the last number dialed and made inquiries. The man, who received the call, was said to have revealed that the owner of the phone had travelled to the United States.

Delta Airlines officials in the United States had transferred the case to Nigeria, where it was discovered that Okeke, who is married, had confided in some of his friends and relatives that he was travelling to the United States on the night he sneaked into the tyre compartment of the aircraft. His family has been contacted and its members have identified the corpse of Okeke.

According to our source, Okeke is from Anambra and had tried unsuccessfully for years to get a visa to America. Owing to desperation, he decided to embark on the risky venture, which eventually claimed his life. Although, he told his family that he was travelling to US, he never revealed that he was going to sneak into the tyre compartment of the aircraft.

According to our source, Okeke colluded with airport officials to gain access to the tarmac, before finding his way to the plane in the dark. He was said to have wrapped himself in a blanket, not knowing that the aircraft tyres would get to where he was and kill him.

Meanwhile, Delta Airline staffers, who guarded the plane at the airport on the day the incident happened, have been arrested by the police, to explain how Okeke sneaked into the tyre compartment of the plane.
Saturday Sun gathered that Delta Airline has a security policy, whereby its plane at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, is guarded from the time it arrives Nigeria, in the afternoon, till when it departs with passengers in the night.

With such security arrangement, the airline is, therefore, shocked that somebody could have access to the plane undetected and embarked on a suicide mission, which has caused the airline a scandal.
The police at the airport command are currently battling to find out how security was breached at the airport that day.

An airport official, who pleaded for anonymity, told Saturday Sun, that many people had been smuggled out of the country by sneaking into aircraft.

The source said: “That route is for people who have guts and all efforts to leave Nigeria have failed. The man has bad luck; it is not his destiny to leave Nigeria. Maybe he did not follow the instructions given to him on how to survive under there. This is not the first time people are sneaking out of Nigeria through that means. Sometime last year a woman travelled through that means and arrived safely.
“If this man arrived safely, we would not be talking about this. He was careless with his life. Now innocent staff of the airline are going to suffer for his mistake. Those who guarded the plane that night were arrested.”

The racket at the airport
The question being asked by people is, how possible is it that somebody would gain access to the tarmac undetected, considering the tight security in the airport? Our source explained that such illegal movement is being coordinated by a syndicate at the airport, which also works with airlines’ workers.
It was gathered that people who need such services pay as much as N800,000. They tutored on how to survive in the aircraft compartment. For one, it was learnt that they are given blankets and winter clothes with which they would keep warn while the plane is in flight across the Atlantic.
In the country of destination, the illegal immigrants are received by agents in the syndicate, who smuggle them into the country.

Our source blamed the level of corruption at the airport on poor working condition, alleging that some of staff are paid N30, 000 monthly.

“In this present day, how can one survive with such an amount of money? We have to survive; that is why there can never be a cure for the level of corruption at the airport. There is nothing like absolute security; the people at the helm of affairs smuggle things into the plane also, despite their fat allowance,” an airport worker said.
When contacted, officials of Delta airlines refused to comment. However, a policeman at the airport command confirmed the incident and said investigation was going on.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/apr/17/national-17-04-2010-003.htm

A brand new Bombardier‘s Global Express XRS private jet belonging to business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, made its maiden entry in the Nigerian airspace, as it landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, in the early hours of Saturday, from Montreal, Canada.

The eight-seater aircraft currently parked at the General Aviation Terminal, near Associated Airlines‘ hangar, SUNDAY PUNCH learnt, is valued at over $45m. Interestingly, the arrival of the aircraft coincided with Dangote‘s birthday. He was 53 on Saturday.

The aircraft which is laced with latest flight facilities, aviation sources said, is one of the most luxurious in the world.

The passenger jet which touched MMIA from Canada in a 9.3 hours flight at about 7:05 am, it was further learnt, could travel from Lagos to China in a non-stop flight.

The sources said another two business moguls in Nigeria had ordered for the same brand of aircraft, and the planes would soon arrive the country.

In a telephone interview with our correspondent on Saturday evening, the Sales Director for Africa, Bombardier Business Aircraft, Mr. Robert Habjanic, confirmed that he was in the team that came with the jet from Canada.

He said, ”This delivery marks an important milestone in our rapidly growing presence in Nigeria. Our Global Express XRS aircraft‘s combination of speed, range, safety, and efficiency makes it the perfect solution for the growing travel requirements and international activities of leading corporations, based in the region.”

According to Habjanic, Dangote is one of the first Nigerians to take the delivery of the aircraft, adding that few other business moguls in the country had ordered for the same Global Express XRS business jet, and that they would soon arrive in the country.

SUNDAY PUNCH further gathered that the superior long range aircraft was acquired in response to an increasingly busy travel schedule of the mogul whose business tentacles have grown beyond the African frontier.

Bombardier Incorporated is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended January. 31, 2009, were $19.7 b and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Bombardier is listed as an index component to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201004110284475

The controversial and hilarious hit song (and the video), Ekaette, sung by Nigerian returnee Maye Hunta, has been banned by the National Broadcasting commission (NBC) with effect from today, according to information contained in a memo obtained by NEXT.

The document, which was signed by the commission's zonal director, Ojone Otonoku, said the song and its video were banned because "of its graphic description of sexual scenes and expression not presented with fact and discretion. Stations are therefore requested to immediately stop further broadcast of this musical and air only a broadcast version (if any), "

However, reacting in a telephone chat, the singer defended his lyrics and concept. "If you listen through to the song it is very clean," he said. "I don't know what exactly they are getting at. For me I just feel that what will be will be they can ban it on radio and on TV but the fans are the people who are going to decide."

The artist, real name Olumayowa Adekunle Odejimi, also denied prior knowledge of the ban citing the April Fool's day as a major reason at first. "They haven't written to tell me; what happened was that I saw it on the net when some guy tagged me in a note then a friend of mine who works at a radio station called me to say the song has been banned, and I am like ‘Wahala' they just want to give me more publicity," he said, laughing.

He also added that plans are in a works for a sequel because ‘'fans are loving it, NBC are just a bunch of people who have issues. I mean I listen to the radio and hear foreign songs that are worse than mine. My song is about things that happens and have happened and so I all I did was just to bring it to the fore. I am not moved. I want to believe it is true, although I thought it was April Fool at first. Funny enough, normally NBC pick a list of songs but this time around it's just my song they picked. Bad belle people!"

Other Nigerian songs that have been banned by the NBC include Femi Kuti's Bang Bang Bang, Idrees Abdulkareem's Jaga Jaga, Konga's Baby Konga, Tuface's Enter the Place video and Dbanj's Suddenly. The NBC ban on Ekaette comes five months after its October release.


http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5549076-146/ekaette_song_gets_banned__.csp

After a guided tour of all the nook and crannies of Hampshire Hotel, Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, where the Super Eagles of Nigeria will camp for the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup, which begins from June 11, the General Manager of the hotel, Rodney Bull, still finds it difficult to show this reporter, Aisha Falode of AIT Television, and two other journalists based in South Africa, rooms in the hotel with two separate beds.

All the rooms we inspected had single beds. Falode and this reporter insisted on seeing rooms with double beds, since players normally stay two in room.

For the umpteenth time we asked again. "Just give me a minute, they will get the keys," Mr. Bull responded.

We were in Ballito for about two hours, and we never saw the rooms with separate beds.

Are the boys going to be sleeping two on a single bed? We could not answer the question since Bull did not show us rooms with two separates beds, nor inform us that the hotel is making arrangements for rooms with two separates beds before our boys arrive.

But it wasn't just absence of double beds in the rooms that arose our curiosity. The swimming pool in the hotel is the size that you find in most residence buildings. Small swimming pools that at best, could only be used by two or three adults at most at a time. When we asked Mr. Bull if the hotel has another pool elsewhere, he said no. Any plan to build one before our boys arrive, the answer is also no.

So assuming after training about five or six of our boys and they want to swim, what will happen?

"That is the pool we have. The players and the other guests in the hotel will use it."

We looked at each other in amazement. Share pool with guests? Other guests in a camp for players competing in the World Cup?

We got the biggest shock when we got to the gymnasium. Apart from its small size, it lacked the equipment and facilities one finds in a modern gym for average athletes, how much more of those campaigning in the World Cup. Like the swimming pool, Mr. Bull told us our players will share the gym with other guests.

The rooms, the swimming pool and the gym are not the only problem with the interior, when we visited last month. Men were still at work, putting finishing touches to ensure that the hotel is ready for the Eagles. A manager who identified himself as Vijay promised that the hotel will be 100% ready before the Eagles arrive Ballito.

Nature of Ballito

When the Nigeria Football Federation said it has found a base for Eagles in Ballito, anybody who is familiar with South Africa will be delighted, because Ballito is a holiday resort renowned for its excellent hotels.

Established in 1954 as a private town by the Glen Anil Development Corporation, it is about 40 minutes away from Durban. The town has been voted as the most popular holiday resort many times. Ballito boasts an abundance of sporting clubs and hotels.

As we drove to Ballito, we all commend the NFF decision to get a base for the Eagles in such a popular and exclusive holiday resort.

But our commendation soon changed into condemnation when our driver pointed at the hotel from the highway, "that is Hampshire Hotel." He pointed to the right, "we just need to turn at the untarred road and we will be there in two minutes." No, this can not be the hotel for our Eagles. Maybe this is just the hotel annex, and the main hotel should be somewhere.

One thing that struck one was that the hotel was still under construction, the security is porous, there is no fence, and there is no plan to construct one, and it is located by the roadside. In Nigeria where hotels are very expensive, when Eagles are playing the World Cup qualifiers in Lagos, they stay in TransCorp Hilton, Le Meriden, Lagos Sheraton or Eko Holiday Inn and Suites when they play in Lagos. So, in South Africa, why take them to hotels in the category of two or three stars?

Ballito is just 40 minutes away from Durban, the city with the highest population of Nigerians in South Africa, so who will stop fans from invading the hotels? With Nigerian police that apply force, it is a Herculean task controlling fans from invading Eagles camp when they stay in fenced hotels in Abuja and Lagos. How will it be with the South African police?

If the hotel is not good enough, the training pitch located at Ashton International College, Ballito, a few minutes from the hotel, is in terrible shape. Joe Erasmus, who introduced himself as Senior College Head, said the entire community is delighted to have the Eagles in Ballito. Erasmus said the school has made history after being chosen by the Eagles. Asked how the Eagles will train on a pitch that is in bad condition. He replied that he didn't want trouble, so he would rather not comment on that. But there has to be a miracle between now and June 3 before the Eagles could train on the pitch.

Our opponents' hotels

Whereas the Eagles are still talking about the suitability or not of hotel and training pitch, their opponents have put that behind them. Argentina, the country Nigeria will play come June 12, seem to have the best base of all the 32 teams competing at the World Cup.

Diego Maradona and boys have chosen the University of Pretoria's High Performance Centre (HPC), which is Southern Africa's first elite performance sports facility. It boasts of world-class training facilities, medical services, accommodation, nutritional food, scientific expertise, research and hospitality. The facility has local and international reputation for excellence and success.

Greece, another opponent of the Eagles, will be staying at Beverly Hills Hotel, Umhlanga Rocks,

KwaZulu Natal. This hotel is renowned for its superb personal service and luxury accommodation. It overlooks the Indian Ocean, and offers glorious views of miles of unspoilt beaches.

South Korea, another country in our group, will be based at Hunters Rest, a paradise beautifully situated in the foothills of the Magaliesberg just outside Rustenburg. This 6000-hectare resort, boasts many splendid facilities that help to make it one of the most sought after destinations in South Africa.

For Algeria, they have chosen Zimbali Hotel, a 370 hectare (925 acre) residential and resort estate, located on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. The hotel overlooks the incredible Indian Ocean. Its golf course is the first in Africa to be designed by former British Open and South African Open champion, Tom Weiskopf.

Our not so rich neighbour, Cameroon, will be based at The Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga. A review of the hotel by Sunday Tribune gives an insight into what it look like: "The grand dame of local hotels, the Oyster Box, is about to step back on the stage - not treading gently but making a sweeping entrance. It's been no ordinary revamp. The new Oyster Box Hotel splashes of colour, elegant bedrooms, a cool blue terrace, exotic detail and attentive staff like porter, Smanga Mthethwa."

Another not so rich neighbour, Cote d' Ivore, will be based at Riverside Hotel and Conference Centre. This unique hotel and conference centre is situated on the banks of the Vaal River (See box for list team hotels and Google their names for information and images).

Lagerback on Eagles' base

Surprisingly, the Eagles coach, Lars Lagerback, was said to have inspected the Eagles hotel and was said to have been pleased at what he saw, said the Media Coordinator, Idah Peterside.

"We visited the hotel and the coach is very happy with it. The place has been renovated and put in the right shape for the World Cup and it has been approved by FIFA. So, we don't foresee any problems. We also looked at the training ground and the pitch is in good shape," Peterside said.

If Lagerback is satisfied, as Peterside told the media, then the Swede's standard and taste must have taken a spiralling fall from the time he took Sweden to World Cup in 2006.

For the Germany 2006 World Cup, Lagerback chose The Park Hotel, Bremen, as base. The hotel is one of the Leading Hotels of the World, a perfect combination of a country idyll and city life (See image of Park Hotel and compare with Hampshire Hotel).

A diplomat with the Nigeria High Commission in Johannesburg said he was disgusted when he saw the hotel. He claimed that NFF members did not contact the High Commission before they settled for the hotel.

He said the hotel is insecure, and it does not befit Nigeria.

"Go and look at where other countries are staying and look at where Nigeria is staying; it does not befit us. There is no security, the gym and the pool are sub-standard. Well, we don't have any problem with NFF, we will get in touch with Rotimi Amechi.

"The Presidential Task Force seems to have all the money. We will get a befitting hotel for the Eagles. Lulu and NFF members can stay in Hampshire Hotel,'' said the diplomat.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Sport/Football/5546644-146/nigeria_last_among_equals__.csp


Lets compare with that of the three lions (England)
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/766289/Sneak-preview-of-20-million-South-African-pad-for-England-football-team.html

When the organisers of Gulder Ultimate Search Celebrity Showdown decided to camp 10 celebrities in the jungle for a reality show, little did they know that they would get more than they bargained for. The reality show, which was recorded a week back, was riddled with rumours of sex, infighting and injuries. It was more than a reality show.
The organizers we learnt have edited a lot of ‘reality’ out of the reality show, we are however serving you a version you will never get to see on TV.

Ghetto Soldier, Daddy Showkey was said to have beaten the comedian , Princess to a pulp and had to be arrested by Mobile Policemen and later released to avoid any scandal. Daddy Showkey was irked that Princess rebuffed his ‘elderly’ attempt to settle a fight between her and singer, Muma Gee.

Another thing you might not get to see is the in-fighting between Chioma Chukwuka-Akpota and Muma Gee. We learnt Chioma was pissed with the fact that Muma Gee sneaked in two full bags of make-up and was always on make-up mask. She poured water on the singer’s face and started to scrub in the bid to unravel the real face of Muma Gee. This led to struggle that was settled by the organisers.

We don’t think you will also get see the fact that Emeka Ike got a broken nose from the bunk of a bed as Dare Art Alade was trying to climb his bed. The wound was said to be so serious that the actor is receiving treatment at a hospital now. He and Daddy Showkey also sustained cuts on their legs in the jungle.

The rumour mill was agog in the camp that Emeka Ike and Muma Gee got to man and woman business in the bathroom. And the rumour was not helped by both of them as they stayed glued to each other like Siamese twins. Emeka however denied the story when we called him on phone. “How can I be having sex with Muma Gee in the camp? You know me now, I don’t do such things.

We had to form an alliance because a lot of the girls ganged up against her. They wanted to make life miserable for her and I had to protect her. I’ve spoken to her fiancé and she has spoken to my wife. The rumour is not true”. However, a contestant faulted Emeka’s claim saying they all heard the moaning of Muma Gee while they were in the bathroom. Muma Gee who spoke to us on phone from Ghana where she has gone to rest said the rumour is not true. ‘How can I sleep with Emeka where there were cameras everywhere? what Emeka told you is true, we did not do anything’.

Weird MC was said to be the strongest of all the girls, and she emerged the last girl standing. Chioma was described as a master schemer but she had to go out in a contest with Princess as the later pleaded with her that she needed the money more than any other person in the house. Obesere was described as the most gentle man in the house.
Emeka Ike, Dare Art Alade and Daddy Showkey were the last three in the jungle. They would go back in May to shoot the final episode of the show, where the winner would emerge.

Most of the contestants we spoke to said Genevieve Nnaji carried herself well as host of the show. One participant described her as a ‘very good host’. On the whole, contestants however said they all enjoyed themselves in the jungle. “It was like a breath of fresh air. I thoroughly enjoyed myself” a contestant told us.

It would be recalled that 10 celebrities including Weird MC, Funke Akindele, Princess, Chioma Chukwuka, Muma Gee, Bob Manuel, Emeka Ike, Daddy Showkey, Obesere, and Dare Art Alade were unveiled as contestants for the maiden edition of GUS.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/showpiece/2010/mar/14/showpiece-14-03-2010-002.htm

In the past few weeks, the internet has been inundated with offensive photographs of an accident scene where a driver allegedly crushed to death 19 robbery victims at the Obalende area of Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State.

Fresh details have, however, emerged on the incident, as the man who drove his truck over the robbery victims has cleared the air.
The incident, according to him, happened on July 31 2009. And contrary to the general belief that the driver of the ill-fated luxury bus was ordered to run over his passengers by the bandits, the man whose vehicle crushed the robbers was actually the driver of a truck.

The Edo State born driver spoke with Daily Sun at the police headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja at the weekend. He said he ran over the passengers thinking they were barricades put on the highway by armed robbers. Giving a graphic account on how the 19 robbery victims met their gruesome death, Osayande Idahosa, 40, said he was driving a Seaner Truck with registration number XN 808 BEN on July 31 last year from Benin en route Lagos.

According to him, he was in company with his conductor, Lucky, and the woman who hired him for the trip. The woman, he said, was going to supply some bags of garri.
Idahosa said he encountered a huge traffic jam at Ore but said he decided to continue the journey because of the nature of the goods in the truck.

He said he noticed that there were no other vehicles on the road until he sighted the headlights of some vehicles at Obalende area of Ijebu-Ode. “When I saw the lights, I was happy. I did not know that it was an evil light that will continue to haunt me till eternity,” he said.
Idahosa said immediately he approached the vehicle, he sighted some barricades that looked like logs of wood on the highway. “I thought it was a police check-point, so I slowed down. But I started hearing gun shots. I saw many people firing at me. Out of panic, I decided to run over what I assumed were logs of woods.

“As my truck ran over the ‘barricades’, I noticed that they were too soft. I also heard gun shots and agonizing cries of people. I suspected that I must have killed some people but I did not know who my victims were. I couldn’t control the vehicle and it ran into the bush. I immediately jumped down and took to my heels. “While in the bush, I saw about 20 armed men in civilian clothes searching for me. They were boasting that they would soon fish me out and slaughter me in pieces. At this time, I did not know the fate of my conductor or that of the woman who hired me.”

He explained that while the armed men where searching his vehicle, he ran deeper into the bush where he found a hole in which he hid. The incident, he said, occurred about 9.45p.m. He said he continued hiding in the bush till six the following morning, August 1. Idahosa further said that in the morning, he started hearing the sound of siren and he saw some of the robbers fleeing the scene. When he suspected that the robbers were all gone, he now traced his way to the highway, he explained.

According to him, when he got to the road, he saw another driver who told him that those he ran over were actually human beings. Idahosa was reportedly advised not to venture near the scene as he would definitely be lynched by the angry mob who were still in shock at the huge number of corpses that littered the road. His driver friend, he said, dropped him off at Ijebu-Ode junction where he picked a commercial motorcycle to the Obalende police station and surrendered himself to the policemen on duty. The cops reportedly took his statement and advised him to go back to the scene as the Commissioner of Police, the Divisional Police Officer and other senior policemen were there for an on the spot assessment.

Idahosa said when he got to the scene and sighted the havoc committed by him, he bent down and wept. He then allegedly surrendered himself to the mob who were walling uncontrollably. “But rather than stoning me to death, they all started listening to my story on how I unintentionally killed innocent robbery victims who I mistook to be robbers’ barricades. The sympathizers started consoling me, telling me it was not my fault. The policemen took me along with them and I was with them for four days before I was granted bail.”

He revealed that for the next one month, he couldn’t stand the sight of meat. “Right now, I won’t engage in a night journey anywhere. The pain is too much for me to bear. My wife is devastated. You can’t imagine the agony I go through everyday when I remember how I crushed 19 innocent people to death. But I trust that God will forgive me because I did not know that they were human beings.”
Driver of the robbed Young Shall Grow luxury bus with registration number XF 285 AKD, Okechukwu Okafor, blamed the tragedy on the bad condition of the road.

He revealed that, on the fateful day, he was on a morning trip from Enugu en route Lagos. The journey, he recalled, was smooth until 3.00p.m when he met a traffic gridlock at Ore. He said he was in the traffic for over four hours. In his words, on reaching a point between the Federal Government College, Odogbolu and Babcock University junction along the Ijebu-Ode/Shagamu Expressway, the luxury bus was forcefully stopped by a gang of armed robbers numbering about 50.

According to him, when he saw the intimidating number of the bandits, he jumped out of his bus and took to his heels. He revealed that while in the bush, he was hearing gun shots and wailing of people in agony. “I thought it was the robbery gang that was killing my passengers. It was not until the following morning when I found my way out of the bush that I learnt that it was a truck driver who refused to stop for the robbers that ran over my passengers.”

Okafor said he wept when he was confronted with the crushed bodies of the passengers. “You know, right from the park at Enugu down to the scene of the ugly incident, we had all become friendly. In fact, in my 22 years of driving, I had not seen or heard such a story that looked like a fairy tale.”
Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, said the incident happened on July 31, 2009.

“Following some offensive photographs being posted on the internet by some mischievous people who made the incident looked like it happened recently, the force would like to inform the public that the ugly accident happened on July 31, 2009,” he said.
He said 19 passengers of the luxury bus, including six females and 13 males, were crushed to death by the truck.

He explained that the file in respect of the case has been duplicated and forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.