ENGLISH Premier League giants Chelsea have recalled Nigerian-born goalkeeper Prince Adegoke from Stoke City where he was undergoing trials with a view to a transfer to the Championship club.
Originally signed as an U13 youth academy product, Adegoke, 18, came through the ranks at Chelsea and signed his first professional contract with the club last year upon turning 17.
Bechem United FC and Diaspora Africa Forum in collaboration with Miracle Africa International Foundation is organizing the First Annual Football Tournament in Accra Ghana, hosting prominent football teams and scouts from various countries such as Mali, Togo, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and France.
In an effort to make an impact in society and to showcase what young Africans have to offer Diaspora African Forum launched the initiative Education through Sport.
OFFICIALS representing small clubs in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) have continued their ongoing tour of UK football sides with a visit to English League One clubside Burton Albion yesterday.
Organised as part of a programme to take on board best practices and introduce them to Nigeria, the tour has seen the Nigerian delegation already visit Sheffield United and MK Dons.
Basketball superstar LeBron James has come out fighting after Swedish football legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic told him to stay out of politics.
Ibrahimovic said in a TV interview sports figures like James should not get involved as "it doesn't look good". James fired back: "I will never shut up about things that are wrong." Pointing out Ibrahimovic's own past complaints about racism in Sweden, James said: "I'm kinda the wrong guy to actually go at... I do my homework."
The two are megastars in their respective sports.
Ibrahimovic, in an interview with UEFA and Discovery+ in Sweden, criticised the political activism of sports stars. "Do what you're good at. Do the category that you do. I play football because I'm the best at playing football, I'm no politician. If I'd been a politician, I would be doing politics.
"This is the first mistake famous people do when they become famous and come into a certain status. For me it is better to avoid certain topics and do what you're best at doing, because otherwise it doesn't look good." James's response after his LA Lakers beat the Portland Trail Blazers was unequivocal. "I would never shut up about things that are wrong," he said.
"I preach about my people and I preach about equality, social injustice, racism, systematic voter suppression, things that go on in our community. There's no way I would ever just stick to sports, because I understand how powerful this platform and my voice is."
James also appeared confused at Ibrahimovic's statements, as the football star has regularly spoken out against racism. He said: "He's the guy who said in Sweden, he was talking about the same things, because his last name wasn't a [raditional Swedish last name, he felt like there was some racism going on when he was out on the pitch."
Ibrahimovic did indeed in 2018 tell French broadcaster Canal+ he did not receive the same treatment as other Swedish athletes, saying: "This is about racism. I don't say there is racism, but I say there is undercover racism." But he has also had to defend himself, particularly after certain comments to Romelu Lukaku in a heated exchange in January's derby with Inter Milan.
For his part James has faced criticism for his political activism before. He clashed with then President Donald Trump over the act of kneeling to protest against systemic racism. Fox News journalist Laura Ingraham told him to "shut up and dribble".
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 39, is an ex-Sweden international who has played in the top division of seven countries in a career that started more than two decades ago. He has won more than 30 trophies, scored more than 500 career goals and is still going strong in the top leagues at 39 - now back with AC Milan. Before that he was with the Galaxy in Los Angeles – James's current home town.
LeBron, 36, is widely considered one of the greatest players in NBA history.
He has won the NBA title with three different franchises - the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers - and has been the finals MVP for all of them.
NIGERIA - Eligible former Tottenham Hotspurs academy product Noni Madueke is expected to square up against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow when his current club PSV Eindhoven face the Gunners in the UEFA Europa League.
He’s one of the world’s most decorated sports stars, with an enviable list of achievements, the likes of which would be a massive array any successful team, as a whole,would be proud of. But, despite the NBA championship rings, multi Finals MVPs – amongst his other playing recognitions – his place in Basketball’s Hall of Fame and endless other achievements, the one ‘prize’ that Hakeem Olajuwon would say he has over all is his family.
The Nigerian-born American nicknamed ‘The Dream’ and a true legend of his sport, throughout the world, would always tell you that he is overwhelmingly grateful for what he has achieved in therough-and-tumble of what is the game’s greatest league, but all of that will always pale into relative insignificance when compared to the importance of his family.
An example of that is the fact that hehas swapped the sunny climes of his home in Texas, in the US, for the ‘not so-sunny’ temperatures of the UK, as he follows his daughter, Abi, who is studying at the University of Birmingham. Lagos-born Hakeem has made the city his home whilst Abisola which, means "born into wealth and the wealth is greater than them," completes her studies and whilst following his daughter’s dreams, he’s taken the opportunity to impart some of the wealth of knowledge and experience he has onto a generation of basketball players in and around the city in no uncertain way.
Following the announcement of his own camp in Birmingham, along with plans for an academy, Olajuwon has been seen around the city, including an impromptu appearance at the university practice where he went one-on-one with a player. Now fully ensconced in the UK’s second city he set up the ‘Hakeem Olajuwon City of Birmingham Basketball Club Summer Camp,’ the first of its kind, for all players on a residential and day basis.In addition to the presence of the NBA Hall of Fame inductee, he has managed to engage coaches from Houston,together with some of the UK’s leading Coaches in basketball development.“I am proud to be a partner with theCity of Birmingham Basketball Club,”Olajuwon said.
“It confirmed to me that there is a thriving basketball community n Birmingham and CoB Basketball Clubis something I want to be involved in.Seeing all those young people, boys and girls, together with coaches and parents supporting all that was going on is how the game must be.”Club directors Kirk Dawes and Robert Palmer were delighted to be able to assemble a fantastic coaching staff including Camp Director Peter Mintoft and Houston skill trainers Donte Mathis and Kenneth Gamble to work alongside an array of experienced coaches from the club and around the UK. Our dedicated staff of 40 ensured that our child welfare programme was meticulous and every camper was treated to a very personal service.
With campersfrom all over the country and as far awayas India and Hong Kong it truly was adiverse experience! He (Hakeem) has surpassed expectations spending an amazing amount oftime inspiring the campers – with care taken to ensure everyone is developed fully. We are truly blessed to have him here.”Now age 54, Hakeem ‘The Dream’ Olajuwonis proving a man of great excellence,both on and off the court, as he follows daughter, Abi’s, ultimate dream– whilst making others, here in the UK – come true.
