Author: Brila

Usain Bolt will make his debut for the Central Coast Mariners in an Australian A-League pre-season exhibition game against an amateur team. The eight-time Olympic sprinting gold medallist from Jamaica is on trial with the Mariners, hoping to win a professional contract. He has been practicing this week on the left wing and expects to play about 15 to 20 minutes in that position during Friday’s exhibition match. Club officials are predicting a crowd of 12,000 for the home game in Gosford, north of Sydney. Bolt, who is at home on a much larger stage, expected to…

Former Manchester United player and legend Gary Neville says the club needs to stand by under-fire Manager Jose Mourinho to turn things around. Monday’s 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur was the second loss of United’s opening three matches and they now languish in 13th place ahead of next weekend’s trip to Burnley. “We saw Louis van Gaal sacked after an FA Cup Final victory, we saw David Moyes sacked with four games to go of a season, so we are no longer talking about a club that is behaving as it has historically done,” Neville told Sky Sports. “I accept these are different times and…

Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun could be rested by coach Chris Hughton for their Carabao Cup clash against visitors Southampton tonight (Tuesday) at the AMEX Community Stadium. Several players are unavailable heading into tonight’s game against the Saints, making Hughton’s selection task a bit more difficult than anticipated. He said, “I shall use the squad and it gives those that haven’t played an opportunity to get competition levels under their belts. “Bruno, [Florin] Andone, [Jose] Izquierdo and Dunky [Lewis Dunk] are all unavailable, so we’re a bit lighter than what we would like to be. “We have a couple…

Reims have reportedly emerged as the surprise frontrunners to secure a season-long loan deal for Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo. The England Under-21 international is surplus to requirements for the current campaign, and the attacker has been linked with a number of Championship clubs. However, according to L’Equipe, Liverpool are in negotiations with Reims over allowing the 21-year-old to play in France for the rest of the season. The report has claimed that Ojo is keen to finalize the temporary switch, with Liverpool likely to extend his contract before any departure. Reims have made a strong start to the new Ligue 1…

CHAN Eagles star Austin Oladapo has expressed confidence in the People’s Elephant ahead of Wednesday’s CAF Confederations Cup clash with CARA Brazzaville. Enyimba will be playing in front of their home fans for the first time in 28 months and are in dire need of a win if they want to progress to the knockout stages. Meanwhile, Austin Oladapo has stated their readiness for the vital clash. Oladapo also noted that they have been well motivated for the game, stressed that every member of the team knows what is at stake. Also assuring that they will not…

Enyimba FC will on Wednesday 29th August host Congolese side, CARA Brazzaville in a make or mar group C CAF Confederation Cup fixture at the Aba Township stadium. The Nigerian representatives will be playing in front of their home fans for the first time in 28 months and are in dire need of a win if they want to progress to the knockout stages. Enyimba fell 3-0 in Brazzaville the last time the two teams met on matchday two of the group stages. CARA Brazzaville, who arrived on Monday, sit atop group C and need just a…

New Super Eagles invitee and Rotherham United defender Semi Ajayi has expressed his delight after getting a call-up to the Nigeria squad for the upcoming AFCON Qualifier. Ajayi has only ever previously represented the Super Eagles up to Under 20s level and receives his first full call-up ahead of their games against Seychelles and Saudi Arabia. The 24-year-old centre-back was a key member in Paul Warne’s promotion-winning side last season and has appeared six times for the club in the early stages of the current campaign, scoring against Wigan Athletic in the Carabao Cup first round. Speaking…

Former Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Carl Ikeme is set to join up with the Nigerian national team and assume his place in manager Gernot Rohr’s technical team after their next match. Ikeme, who survived a battle with leukaemia but has been forced to retire from the professional game at the age of 32, has been offered a position as a goalkeeper trainer with the Super Eagles, but he will only take up the role after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to the Seychelles next month. Rohr says Ikeme will not only help to train the Nigerian national team’s…

On-loan Arsenal forward Kelechi Nwakali said he is pleased to have received his first senior call-up for Nigeria after he was named in the squad to face Seychelles next week. Coach Gernot Rohr released the list of invited players for their African Cup of Nations qualifier on Friday, with Nwakali making the list along with Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi. He certainly seemed pleased to get the opportunity, posting on Instagram to express his gratitude. Nwakali has technically appeared for the Nigeria senior side once before, playing in an unofficial friendly against Atletico Madrid at the end of last…

Former Super Eagles winger Garba Lawal has expressed his concern over the non-inclusion of former Watford’ Forward Isaac Success and Uche Agbo in the Super Eagles team to face Seychelles. Lawal questioned the non-inclusion of Isaac Success and Uche Agbo from the list of invited players called up by Gernot Rohr to prosecute the AFCON qualifiers between Nigeria and Seychelles. Lawal who described both players as been creative & disciplined opined that such talents deserve a place in the national team, even though he believes that luck plays its part in whom is considered for a call-up. …