World Cup Goalkeeper Buys House With Bonus

The Ghanaian World Cup 2014 goalkeeper, Fatau Abdul Dauda (29), has put his match bonus earnings of $100,000 into a very good use, by buying a house with it.

Dauda who plys his club football with the South African clubside - Orlando Pirates revealed this information to the Sport File programme of Metro TV.

''I know people will say we got $100,000. I came home (from Brazil) on a Sunday (June 29th), and rested until Wednesday (July 2nd), when I went to buy a house, so that I know that I used the money that I got for something reasonable,'' Dauda said.

''Because I couldn't win (a single game at the World Cup to get a winning bonus), I went there (Barclays Bank) to withdraw money, and not to deposit money,'' the goalkeeper said.

Fatau Abdul Dauda

During the World Cup tournament in Brazil, the Ghana national football team, popularly known as the Black Stars, refused to play their last group game against Portugal, unless their football association first pay them their match bonuses. Read also. melvinsports.blogspot.com

So to avert a huge embarassment to the nation, the government had to airlift the sum of $3m, to pay the players their bonuses. The players then went on and played the match against Portugal and lost 2 - 1.

The team played three matches, but did not win any of them. In their first match against USA they lost it 2 - 1, and in their second match against the eventual World Cup champions - Germany, they drew it 2 - 2.

In 2010 the team reached quarter final in South Africa, but in this year's tournament, they did not even go through in the group phase, and that has raised a some questions from many football fans in the country.

Two major questions people are asking especially after the bonus issue are:
(a) How dedicated are the Black Star players to the team?
(b) What are the plans of the GFA (Ghana Football Association), in order to make sure that the issue of players bonus, does not come up again in any international game or tournament.

The issue of match bonus not being paid on time, is not limited only to Ghana. It happened with the Cameroon and Nigeria teams respectively. But not only these teams, many other African teams, have the same problems with their Football Associations.

I have noticed that this money issue, is gradually becoming very endemic to the African teams. In fact it is peculiar to black African teams. One has never heard of a situation, where the North African teams, where protesting for non payment of their bonus.

It is the right of the players to be promptly paid after matches, and not to have to wait for ages to be paid. One can understand why, players have resorted to demanding payment after matches.

In some instances, some of the Football Associations owe their players bonuses for many months, until another match comes up, which is not a moral boaster, as many of them have families they take care of with money.

Owing players bonus money is not in the interest of any nation. When players are owed money, it contributes to good players being reluctant to answer to national duties.

Apart from the bonus issue, some players when they come to national duties they got injuries and go back to their clubs, where they will receive adequate treatment.

But it is encombent on their FAs to follow it up and check on the players, and their injuries and encourage them, so that next time they will be happy to come and give 100% performance, without the fear of sustaining injury.
Read also. melvinsports.blogspot.com

Nigeria Is Suspended By FIFA

Nigeria has been suspended by the Fifa Emergency Committee with immediate effect, as a result of what they termed government interference.

The world football governing body cited article 13, para.1 and article 17, para. 1 of the statute of the organisation, which stipulates that member associations must manage their affairs, without the interference of a thrid party.

The suspension was as a result of a court case, brought against the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), NFF Executive Committee members and the NFF Congress.

The Super Eagles Of Nigeria

A high court judge seating in Jos Nigeria, gave an order that the above mentioned officials of NFF, were barred from performing any functions of the organisation, until the case before the court is settled.

The same high court ordered the Nigerian Sports Minister to appoint a care-taker, who will be managing the affairs of the organisation, until the court issue is resolved.

So the Sports Minister appointed a senior official in the organisation, to over-see the functions of the institution. The same official decided to convene an extraordinary general assembly on the 5th of this month, which Fifa says was in violation of the NFF statutes.

Fifa said that the suspension will be lifted, when the court case is withdrawn and NFF Executive Committee is elected, her general assembly and administration could function, without a third party interference.

The suspension means that no team whether national teams or clubs, can participate in any international activities - article 14 para. 3 of the Fifa Statutes. Read also. melvinsports.blogspot.com

The first national team to feel the impact of the suspension will be the Women under - 20. They are suppose to participate in the Fifa Under - 20 Women World Cup starting 5th to 24th August, next month. They can only take part in the Women World Cup, if the suspension is lifted by 15th July.

Fifa statement also said that no official of NFF or its member could benefit from any Fifa or CAF programmes, courses or training during the suspension.

The Nigeria Sports Council said today, that they are doing everything possible to get the suspension lifted. They claimed that the suspension was as a result of mis-understanding, that they have sent delegation to Fifa to explain clearly what actually happened.

And that there was no government interference as Fifa had believed. They claimed, that the government was not involved in the court case at all.
So let us all wait and see, what will be the out-come of their visitation to the Fifa headquarters in Zurich. Cheers.

Algeria Coach - Halilhodzic Quits His Post

The Algeria coach, Mr Vahid Halilhodzic (62), who led the national team (The Desert Foxes), to the knockout phase of the on going World Cup in Brazil, has left the team at the end of his three year contract, with the Algerian football federation, which just expired.

Halilhodzic left without renewal of his contract, inspite of the plea from the country's President Mr Abdel Aziz Bouteflika, citing the attraction of new sporting challenge and family obligations.

Vahid Halilhodzic

''Today, after living three years in Algeria, my family obligations and lure of new sporting challenges, weighed heavily in my choice,'' Halilhodzic said.

"I leave proud of my record after my tenure, complied fully with the targets set by the federation.''

On a negative part of his experience in the country, he said that some section of the media were insensitive, attacked not only his work and person but also his family and that he will never forget or forgive them.

''In a single false note, I want to address the insensitive behaviour of certain media - not all thankfully - who have not stopped stigmatising not only my work, but attacked my own person and my family, that I will never forget and never forgive,'' he added.

Algeria qualified to the knockout phase of the World Cup losing 2 - 1 to Belgium in their opening match, beat South Korea 4 - 2 and drew 1 - 1 with Russia.

In the knockout stage, they fought gallantly against mighty Germans and played 0 - 0 for the full 90 minutes, but was unfortunate to eventually loss  2 - 1 in the extra 30 minutes.

Mr Halilhodzic has coached many teams, both clubs and national teams among which were - Nantes and Paris Saint Germaine (PSG) where he also played as a gifted striker. Read also: melvinsports.blogspot.com

There is media report, that he is going to take up the appointment of coaching the Turkey football club, FC Trabzonspor. Anyway, whatever he decides to do in future, I wish him well in his endeavours. Cheers.

Super Eagles Coach - Stephen Keshi Resigns

Stephen Okechukwu Keshi (52), the Nigeria national football team chief coach, has resigned has post following the team's  2 - 0 defeat by France in the on going round of 16 World Cup in Brazil.

In the match against France, the team played good, held their own, against the 1998 World Cup champions. Both teams had chances to score in the first and greater part of second halfs but couldn't.

The Nigerian goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, who is also the number one keeper at the French Ligue 1 clubside - FC Lille, made amazing saves to deny their opponents.

Nigeria first scored through their energetic and fast paced striker, Emmanuel Emenike, but it was ruled off-side.

Enyeama made outstanding saves, particularly his blocking of the thunderous strike from Paul Pogba, the Juventus midfielder.

During the second part of the second half, the French boys increased their attacks and it was one of them that resulted in a goal, when Enyeama pushed a cross away with one hand instead of going for a punch.

Pogba who was in a very good position, headed it into the net at the 79th minute of play. Hugo Lloris, the French  and Tottenham goalkeeper made a number of saves to deny Nigeria scoring also.

Coach Stephen Keshi

In the injury time, on the 91 minute precisly, the Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo, inadvetently scored an own goal from a low cross, from Mathieu Valbuena. Read also: melvinsports.blogspot.com

It was a mixed blessing day for Joseph Yobo, the match was his 100th appearance for the Super Eagles, which is a record, nobody has ever played for the team that long.

The match was also another record breaking for Yobo, as it was his tenth appearance for the team in three World Cups - 2002, 2010 and 2014.
He has now surpass Jay Jay Okocha's nine appearances.

The coach Stephen Keshi, tweeted in his account about his resignation,

''Friends, it has been a good run and I have enjoyed every moment. It's been an honour, coaching the Super Eagles. It is however time to bow out.''

The coach whose contract with the Nigeria Football Federation will expire by the end of this month, said that, he has not received offer for an extention of his contract. He was appointed in 2011to replace Samson Siasia.

''I'm now going to spend time with my family. I haven't seen them in a long time, so it's time to take a break,'' Keshi said.

I think that it will be a big mistake on the part of Nigeria, to allow him to go, without extending his contract. He has been very outstanding in his job.

The man rebuild the national team by dropping most of the older and established players and brought in talented yet inexperience players, gave confidence in themselves, took them to the African Cup of Nations, where everybody were crying, against taking inexperienced players to such a big tournament.

But he proved to everyone that he knew what he was doing, by lifting the trophy and making every Nigerian proud again, after winning the Cup only twice before, and coming very close on many occassions only to fail.

Now the whole fooballing world, especially Africa have taken notice of his managerial skills. In 2006, he qualified Togo for the World Cup in Germany but was dropped for a German man. He also subsequently qualified Mali to an African Cup of Nations.

Even few months to Brazil 2014, he admitted the rumours that a number of African countries want to employ him as their chief coach, among them South Africa. Read also: melvinsports.blogspot.com

There is unconfirmed rumour, that the coach has agreed a two year deal to coach South Africa. I will say it once again, that Nigeria will be making a big mistake, if they do not renew his contract.

It is a known fact, that Keshi had an uneasy relationship with the football federation, because of a few disagreements. The Federation officials, should not allow personal egos to stop the progress, NFF President Maigari and coach Keshi has brought to Super Eagles.

Stephen Keshi, is very efficient as a coach and far cheaper to employ, than the massive amount NFF paid to foreign coaches, with exception of three that won the nation international titles - Otto Glory (ACN 1980), Clemence Westerhoff (ACN 1994) and Jo Bonferere (Olympic 1996).

The rest of the foreign coaches were waisted funds. They achieved nothing, inspite of massive salaries they were paid. The worst of them all, I think without any equivocations was the German Berti Voghts.

We will keep on watching to see if this latest resignation is going to be real, because this is not the first time Keshi is resigning. He resigned, immediately after winning the African Cup of Nations 2013, only to renounce it after the intervention of the Sports Minister Abdulahi.